Deeper Darker

Book 2: Chapter 45: Going Down

Third Quadrant.

Asteroid Tethari.

Unknown Antecessor Site.

Point-Two followed Ubik into the tunnel beyond the broken Clave. He was now in Nifells regulations suit, the kind found in most third-tier planets militia. Basic, functional, one size fits all. He found it more comfortable than the skin-tight model that was now serving as Nifs bodybag. Figs hurried footsteps crunched behind him as they chased after Ubik, who was striding ahead of them, carrying Nifell stiffened body under his arm.

The reduced gravity made him lighter, but it was still an inappropriately casual way to transport a corpse.

Hes heavier than he looks, said Ubik without turning his head. It was like he knew what they were thinking. Which was probably because he had put the thought there. Point-Two suspected most of the bizarre things Ubik did were just for effect. The more he filled your head with the things he wanted in there, the less room there was for the thoughts he didnt want in there.

Do you really need him for something? asked Point-Two. Leaving him to rest in peace seemed a far better way to treat him.

Youve obviously never been on a raid like this before, said Ubik. You have to pick up everything you find. You never know when it might come in useful. Nif will save the day, youll see. Right, Nif? Nif didnt reply. And lets not forget the team motto: leave no man behind.

Im pretty sure thats never been the motto of any team youve been in, said Point-Two. In fact, the only motto youve ever had is: Ubik, Ubik, Ubik.

I like the sound of that. Catchy.

The tunnel was narrow you could touch both sides if you put your arms out and very dark. Figaros suit provided some light but showed just the walls on either side. Above them, the darkness seemed endless.

Where are we going? Point-Two said.

I have no idea, said Ubik. Ive never been here before. Exciting, isnt it? The mystery, the adventure, the romance of it all. Nifells bubble helmet bounce off the tunnel wall. Oops. Sorry, Nif. He lifted Nifs body over his head and carried him like a surfer heading towards the ocean.

Point-Two had tried surfing on the small planet of O-982, Planet Oceania. The Liberator Garu rarely intersected with the planets orbit and having leave at the same time was even rarer. He had enjoyed surfing. The freedom of it, the vastness of the water and the sky. It had felt exhilarating.

The tunnel felt quite different. It felt like the walls might slam together at any moment and turn them into paste.

Why is this even here? he wondered aloud. Who is this tunnel for?

I think its a sort of service tunnel, said Figaro from behind. A way to access key areas without having to go through the different levels. Ive never heard of anything like this being found in any other site. Its a fundamental change in how we think of Antecessor structural design.

Thats right, said Ubik. This is all new ground, discovered by us. Were pioneers. Explorers. Scientists. Our discoveries will get written up in the most prestigious journals, followed by lecture tours at all the great scientific institutions. And then movies, songs, our names in lights.

People have made discoveries like this before, said Point-Two. None of them got turned into pop culture icons.

Thats because they didnt have the right management, said Ubik.

And whos going to manage you, Ubik? Point-Two could see that being the far more impressive feat.

Me. I am the manager. Im going to make you and Fig into stars.

What? No, no thanks, said Point-Two.

I get stage fright in front of big crowds, said Fig.

Come on, think of the screaming girls. And Ill only take ten percent.

If youre involved, said Point-Two, I imagine the girls will be screaming for an entirely justified reason.

Oh, thanks. Nice of you to say.

Point-Two had no doubt Ubik knew exactly what he had meant and was choosing to ignore it.

According to the map, said Figaro, were between levels two and three. We might be able to access three without even having to go through the door. If wed known about this place before

It was a little too easy getting through the arch, dont you think? said Point-Two. If you can just blow the thing up, whats to stop people strolling in whenever they want?

It was very convenient to have a back way into the site, one that avoided all of the carefully placed security measures; but the ease with which theyd gained access had set alarms ringing in Point-Twos mind. Then again, with Ubik leading the way, alarm bells were pretty much ringing all the time.

Still, he wanted to work out what Ubik was doing. He had allowed the head to escape on purpose, that much was obvious. Why?

Point-Two was sure Ubik really didnt know where they were going, so he must have deduced something about the site from the information they already had. Information Point-Two also was aware of, but hadnt given him any insights into how Antecessors thought or how they designed their creations.

I think the Clave was intentionally weak, said Fig. It wasnt really a barrier, more of a tripwire.

Point-Two considered for a moment. If the site was a giant trap waiting to be sprung, all they needed to know was when the intruder arrived and where from. The site would take care of the rest.

Once the site goes into high alert, continued Fig, it wont reset until the intruders are killed. We always take care not to push the site into this state if we possibly can. If you approach slowly and carefully, the Antecessor behavioural patterns respond with a similar slow investigative approach, like they want to make sure you really are an enemy.

Or like theyre waiting for someone, said Point-Two.

There are a lot of theories about why they take a non-hostile first look, said Fig.

Unless you smash your way in, said Point-Two.

Yes, said Fig.

Hey, shine your light over here, said Ubik. Hey, PT, want to carry Nif for a bit? My arms are getting tired.

No, said Point-Two. You killed him, you carry him.

Twenty percent chance hes still alive, said Ubik, like that might make the offer more tempting.

What is it? said Fig, directing the light on the wall Ubik had turned slightly to face, Nif still held aloft.

The light showed a series of cracks on the rocky surface, but unnaturally straight. They were grooves, cut into the rock to form a design. Point-Two could just about fit his gloved finger into the space. It was empty, just a gap in the rock that stretched across the surface.

Its a circuit, said Ubik. Very primitive. They cut it into the rock, then filled it with some kind of conductive material a fluid probably and then, I dont know, used it to run a giant asteroid-sized machine. That would be my guess.

Point-Two stepped back and looked at the layout of the grooves. He turned on the light on his helmet. The lines went all the way up, as far as he could see. What Ubik had suggested could well be the case. It was startling how he could jump to these conclusions so easily, and even more amazing that he made it sound so plausible.

Once you spent some time around Ubik, even the most unlikely things seemed less unlikely. And more terrifying.

Something changed. There was a glow from above, masked by their own lights. Point-Two turned off his helmet and Fig followed. There were silver lines falling down the wall.

The grooves in the walls were being filled, the lines spreading out horizontally as well as vertically. The phosphorous glow illuminated the entire tunnel wall, revealing it stretching up far higher than Point-Two had imagined.

Point-Two felt a sharp increase in weight. Gravity.

I know, said Ubik, struggling with Nifell. He tilted the body, putting it down gently to lean against the wall, upside down. Phew. Thought I was gonna drop him for a moment.

Point-Two was surprised Ubik hadnt thrown him to the floor. Standing him on his head seemed almost respectful.

What triggered that? said Fig to Point-Two. They both turned to look at Ubik.

I dunno, said Ubik. I was with you when it happened. Fig, can you unlock Nifs right arm?

Fig tapped his control panel and one of Nifells stiff arms dropped away from his side and hit the floor. Ubik picked it up by the wrist and placed it on the suits hip.

Great, turn it back on.

Fig looked confused but did as he was asked. Nifell looked like he was halfway to posing as a teapot.

Ubik grabbed the crook of Nifs arm and picked him up like a suitcase, using the bent arm as a handle. Okay, lets keep going. Bound to be something interesting at the end of this tunnel.

Ubik set off, luggage in hand. Point-Two and Fig followed, their eyes watching the walls as they filled with liquid silver. It did look like a giant circuit.

The glow gradually intensified and a thin strip of light appeared ahead of them. The end of the tunnel.

Is the gravity the same as on the surface? asked Fig. Feels a bit heavier.

About one point one, said Point-Two. Its fluctuating a bit. He grabbed Nifells feet which were bumping off the floor.

Was he really taking Nif along just in case he might come in useful?

Thanks, said Ubik.

They were soon at the opening at the end of the tunnel. Point-Two expected Ubik to at least slow down so they could see what they were getting into, but of course he didnt. Why wait for disaster to come to you?

They entered a large square cavern, at least a hundred metres high. The four walls were covered in the same silver circuitry.

There was a channel cut into the floor ahead of them, a pit that stretched across the room cutting them off from the other half.

This is between level two and three? said Point-Two.

I know, said Fig, his eyes on his control panel. There shouldnt be this much space, but its not on the map, either.

You dont want to take too much notice of the map Head showed us, said Ubik. That guy wasnt really trustworthy.

The wall to their right flickered and changed. The silver lines moved to form an image of a familiar oversized head.

Good, said a voice. You are here.

Ubik put Nifell down and looked up at the two-dimensional version of Big Head.

You had time to check-in and see what you missed? Found out your masters wanted us here, huh?

Only one of you. The rest may not proceed.

Nope, said Ubik. Wont work. We come as a package. Cant separate us no matter what. Bonded by blood, legends in the making. And if you try, I can always kill our boy Fig, and then what will your masters think? Cant let them out of jail without the key.

Ubik had gone from unbreakable formation to sacrifice the boy in a remarkably short amount of time.

I have studied humanity. You will not kill your own once a strong enough bond had formed..

He will, said Point-Two.

Definitely, said Fig. Feel free to help me when I try to stop him. Actually... He looked at his control panel. I should check he hasnt already rigged my suit to explode.

The face on the wall went from two eyes vertical to three horizontal and back again. Confusion. It said a lot that Point-Two found it easier to read an alien face than Ubiks.

See? said Ubik proudly. This is the power of being an unpredictable git.

The head flickered with indecision.

Take all of us, said Point-Two. You can always kill us after Fig has opened the door for you.

Very well. Two eyes became four. Relief.

You better reboot the site, said Ubik. Dont want it on high alert. Somethings likely to kill us before we breakout your chums.

The head flickered again and then disappeared, along with the silver lines on the walls. They were still there but dulled out.

Ubik picked up Nifell by his feet. Fig, helmet.

Fig tapped a button and Nifells bubble helmet disappeared. Ubik shook Nifell from his end and nanodrones came scurrying out. They ran across the floor and up the wall.

They like this gravity a lot better, said Ubik.

The wall blinked back into life. The head reappeared. It is done. Now wait, what is this? No, no, stop

The lines began to disappear as the silver fluid leaked out of their channels. The wall quickly turned to dust, removing the ancient circuit and the head along with it.

That was it? said Point-Two. You just wanted to turn the asteroid off and on again? What for? Whats that going to Point-Two stopped and looked up. Junior? You wanted to let out your pet?

Hes been cooped up in that room for so long. Itll be nice to let him stretch his legs. Ubik smiled. Droids gets lonely, too. Maybe hell make some friends. Anyway, we have things to do. Cant stay here.

How do we get across the chasm? asked Fig.

Across? No point going across. We want to go down. Ninth floor, right? We can skip every floor, I reckon.

They approached the edge of the pit.

We dont know whats down there, said Point-Two.

Good thing we brought Nif, said Ubik. He went back and picked up Nifell by the shoulders. He brought Nifs face up to his own. Hey, Nif, wake up. Hey, come on. Snap out of it.

Nifells eyes fluttered open.

Hes alive? Point-Two was stunned.

There were no life signs, said Fig, just as astonished.

Of course hes alive, said Ubik. You guys really think Id let him die?

What? Where am I? Nifell was disoriented, his eyes blinking quickly.

Youve been sleeping, said Ubik. Missed all the action. We even got you this nice suit.

I had such terrible dreams

Me too, said Ubik. You get used to them. Hey, Nif, its your turn to go first. Quick recon, nothing you cant handle. Youre the MVP, Nif. Ready? He pushed Nifell towards the chasm.

What? No. its not my turn. Its not my Ubik shoved him over the edge. ...tuuuuuurn.

***

Third Quadrant.

Asteroid Tethari.

Ollo Base - Control Room.

Special Analyst Glenn Flott crouched behind the main console, gun drawn. Their reinforcements had finally arrived. Now they just had to fight their way to the control room.

Were at the entrance, said Major Chukkas unmistakable voice over comms. The sites back up.

Flott activated his mic. No need to worry about an unsecured channel, everyone was already here. Yes, Major.

Any idea why?

No, Major. That was the truth and not his problem. He had been tasked with getting the team on the asteroid. The completion bonus was theirs, if they lived long enough to collect it.

Give me a sitrep.

Were holding the control room, Major said Flott. No casualties. Weve taken out six. Four are injured and holed up somewhere. Two are giving us trouble.

Only two?

Theyre not rank and file organics. Women. Seneca trained, we think.

Not official Corps? That makes sense. They wouldnt send in an authorised team. Too risky. Dont worry, weve got something for them. Were coming in hot.

Yes, Major. Be nice to see you. He meant it. Theyd been fighting for hours and it had only been Shivs ridiculous targeting skill that had kept them alive. Organics fought on a lot of different levels with many different methods, but they all went down quickly to a headshot.

But those two women had been ridiculous. They had to be Corps. Holding them off was about as much as they could do.

Bashir suddenly stood up.

Get down, Flott hissed at him.

Somethings here

What?

I dont know. Something

There was a loud growl. It sounded like a cat. A very big cat.