Artificial Absolutes (Jane Colt Book 1) Read online

  A message window appeared on the slate.

  Corsair: I have more instructions from the Seer.

  “Adam, it’s for you.” Devin tossed Adam the slate.

  The Seer had responded to Riley’s attempts to contact him two days before and, using Riley as an intermediary, sent Adam several cryptic suggestions. To hide his intentions from Pandora, the Seer had encoded his instructions in a manner so abstract, the few times Devin had tried interpreting them resulted only in headaches.

  Adam read the Seer’s message. “This doesn’t make any sense. I think he’s saying it’s like meditation, but I also have to… I don’t understand.”

  Jane rested her chin on her knee. “I think he’s telling you to knock it off already. You’re not a freaking computer. You can’t data transfer your consciousness.”

  “I must’ve been transferred to begin with. The AI workshop on Viate-5 was full of incomplete androids, so she must’ve developed the minds and bodies separately. I just need to figure out how to… get out of my head. Maybe once I do, they won’t need a virus to defeat her. I can engage her in an eternal cyber battle like the warring immortals in the Book of Via.”

  Jane lifted her head. “Adam, c’mon. You should forget the whole thing.”

  Something moved in the forest. Devin got up and went nearer for a better look. An open-air transport full of armed people flew toward him.

  He ran back. “Jane! Adam! Get inside!”

  Jane grabbed Adam by the wrist and ran toward the ship. Devin followed a few steps behind, keeping an eye on the transport. Its passengers raised their weapons and fired in the air.

  A second transport swung around from the other side of the ship, blocking Jane as she approached the ramp.

  A man with a thick beard jumped out and aimed a rifle at Devin. “Don’t move!”

  Devin raised his hands. “Easy. We don’t want any trouble.”

  A woman with a red tattoo across her face landed in front of Jane and aimed two handguns at her. “Who’re you?”

  “Just another bunch of lost refugees.” Devin chose his words carefully to avoid anything that could be mistaken for a threat. “I thought this area was deserted.”

  A large, muscular man with spiked hair and a square face pointed a massive gun at Adam. “The boss decided the whole continent belongs to him and sent us out looking for trespassers.”

  “I didn’t know we were trespassing. We’ll leave.” Devin looked around. They were surrounded. Any attempt to run would be suicide.

  Meanwhile, a few thugs entered the ship. He hoped they wouldn’t notice its cannon. The other transport arrived. Several more thugs approached.

  A woman with a black braid sauntered toward Jane. “What have we here?”

  The tattooed woman sneered. “More entertainment for the Ringmaster.”

  The square-faced man jabbed Adam’s injured shoulder with the barrel of his gun. “Hey, what the fuck is this?”

  Shit. “A prosthetic.” Devin gave the first lie that came to mind. “He lost his arm in an accident.”

  The man shoved his gun into Adam’s chest. “Freak! You’re a fuckin’ insult to life!”

  Jane’s eyes radiated fury. “Leave him alone! Get away from—”

  The black-haired woman backhanded Jane hard across the face. Jane fell to the ground.

  “Jane!” Adam cried.

  Devin started toward her, only to be shoved back by the barrel of a rifle.

  The bearded man snarled. “I said don’t move.”

  With a glare, Jane balled up her fists.

  Devin recognized the mad glint in her eyes. “Jane, no!”

  She sprang up and threw a punch at the black-haired woman’s stomach.

  Dammit, Jane!

  The woman stumbled. “Little cunt!” She reached for her gun.

  The tattooed woman grabbed her arm. “Don’t! The Ringmaster will like her.”

  The first woman scowled as she let go of her weapon. Devin released a breath and relaxed the hand that had been milliseconds away from seizing the rifle digging into his chest.

  Jane glanced at her still-clenched fists, mouth open as though surprised at herself.

  A thug exited the ship. “It’s empty! Should we strip it?”

  “Just grab any weapons or valuables,” the tattooed woman said. “We’ll send out a prawn to tow the whole thing back later. Let’s bring ’em in.”

  The square-faced man glowered at Adam. “Except this one. What the fuck are you?”

  Adam looked terrified. “Please. I—”

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  Jane screamed.

  “Bastard!” Devin felt a hard blow against his head.

  When he opened his eyes, he was on the ground. Must’ve lost consciousness. He couldn’t have been out for more than a minute or so, since the scene had barely changed. He was still in the meadow, surrounded by thugs. Adam lay on the ground, his chest gaping with wounds.

  Jane knelt beside Adam. She took him in her arms, her words barely intelligible through her sobbing as she begged him to stay with her. Adam moved his lips as though trying to speak.

  Devin could sense the kid’s life draining away. Gripped by rage, he started to get up. The scorching shock of a stunner flared through his back. He fell.

  The tattooed woman grabbed Jane, who screamed in anguish.

  The other thugs shouted in disbelief at the sight of Adam’s mechanical body.

  “What the fuck is this? It’s a fuckin’ machine!” The square-faced man stood over Adam and shot him in the head.

  But it wasn’t necessary. The kid was already gone.

  Chapter 22

  Keep Sane, Entertain

  Jane screamed tearfully, hardly aware of her own words, as the thugs dragged her from Adam’s side and forced her onto one of their transports. She flailed her arms in their grasps until it felt as if she would tear them off. A man shoved her against the wall beside her brother.

  As soon as the man let go, she launched herself at the group of thugs. Devin caught her and held her back. Unable to shake him, she continued screaming.

  “Shut up!” The woman with the black braid raised her fist.

  The tattooed woman caught the fist before the strike could land. “Don’t damage the goods.”

  Goods. Jane mentally spat the word. They saw her as just another pretty young thing their boss might find entertaining.

  Her wrath gave way to unspeakable sorrow. She collapsed against her brother’s shoulder, crying harder than she’d imagined possible. After what felt like hours, the tears subsided. But the grief remained, a violent wave that struck her repeatedly and threatened to drive her from sanity. She could still see Adam’s lifeless body even though the thugs had left it miles behind; she still felt as though she looked into his vacant eyes, pleading for him to come back. He’d been nothing and no one to the thugs, so they’d cruelly prodded him with fascinated disgust, as if he were an interesting piece of garbage.

  “I’m sorry, Jane,” Devin whispered. “I know how much he meant to you.”

  Jane wiped her eyes. “He can’t be gone. He can’t… He—”

  “Shut up!” The black-haired woman scowled. “It’s a fucking machine!”

  “He’s more than you’ll ever be, you bitch!” Jane wanted to rip the woman’s eyeballs out. The tattooed woman once again stopped the black-haired woman from striking her.

  Devin’s arm tightened around her. “Jane, stop it. Adam wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, so quiet down before they run out of patience.”

  Jane closed her eyes and breathed deeply, willing herself to calm down. “He had a life. He had a—a soul, and they act like he was just—just—” She couldn’t finish.

  “They didn’
t know him,” Devin said. “All they see are synthetic skin and machinery.”

  Jane opened her eyes. “Is that what you see?”

  Devin looked past her. “No.”

  She waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. The image of Adam’s body ravaged her mind—his lifeless eyes, his cold hands. The faint smile frozen on his lips, as though he’d been trying to tell her not to grieve with his last breath.

  Breath?

  Yes, breath. To hell with science. In Adam, Pandora had somehow created the breath of life. All Jane saw when she thought of him was a light that once shone, gone.

  “What’s going to happen to Adam now? He believed in the Absolute so much, so… he’s gotta be… he can’t just be…” She broke down into another spell of uncontrollable crying, unable to understand the power of her own agony.

  Jane glanced around the cavernous palace with immeasurable disgust. The woman with the red tattoo gripped her tightly and pressed a gun into her back. Devin stood beside her in icy silence, held at gunpoint by the square-faced thug who’d murdered Adam.

  The Ringmaster, an obese man with a red beard and beady eyes, sprawled in a gaudy throne, guffawing as he fondled a petite blonde on his lap. The girl had a mournful, resigned look, one mirrored on the faces of several other girls who stood by the throne in barely-there clothing. Jane tried not to think about having to join them. She looked up at the guns on the walls and wished the Pandora program would use its favorite modus operandi to off the bastard and his soulless followers.

  Thick columns supported the high ceiling. An opulent chandelier illuminated the place with a sickly yellow glow. The circular area before the throne, outlined by a low wall with breaks in the side, displayed holograms of mythical winged women and several live female dancers. They moved to music emitting from a thin set of speakers. The Ringmaster’s thugs hooted and jeered at the show.

  Large screens lined the walls, showing various views of a band led by a skinny man. Looking closer, Jane noticed the same man standing motionless in the ring. He had on what looked like a metal blindfold—he produced the music. The virtu-world he occupied projected the sounds in his head for the physical world to hear.

  The Ringmaster threw the blond girl off his lap and stood. “I’m sick of this shit! Get me a new musician!”

  The girl ran to the skinny man and pressed the buttons on his VR visor. When nothing happened, panic crossed her face. She scrambled to do it again.

  The Ringmaster bellowed, “Hurry up!”

  “He’s—he’s not leaving!” the girl cried.

  A thug strode into the ring. “Ah, just yank ’im!”

  The girl shook her head and pressed the buttons again. The thug threw her down, grabbed the visor, and jerked it off. The music cut out. The skinny man fell backward, staring up with empty eyes.

  The thug pulled out a gun and shot him through the head. He put a foot on the dead man’s stomach. “Now you can play for the angels. They’ll kick you to hell when they hear your fuckin’ bullshit!”

  The Ringmaster roared with laughter. “I am entertained!”

  I’ll kill them all. Jane wanted to grab a weapon and go on a murderous rampage, not caring if the thugs killed her, as long as she took as many of them with her as possible. She held still. Devin was right about Adam not wanting anything to happen to her. Besides, if she did it, he’d go down by her side.

  The Ringmaster roared at the dancers, “Did I tell you to stop?” He strode toward Jane. “What have we here?”

  “Pair of trespassers.” The tattooed woman shoved Jane forward. “We thought this one would amuse you, boss.”

  The Ringmaster leered at Jane. “Ah, fresh meat! And what can you do, princess?”

  Jane glared at him. She didn’t know what she could say that wouldn’t get her shot through the head.

  An ugly grin spread across the Ringmaster’s ruddy face. “I’ll find a use for you, I’m sure.” He turned to Devin. “Now, what is this? Hmm… I can always use new blood.”

  Devin gave him a cold look. “You’re insane if you think I’ll work for you.”

  “Oh? Rebellious, are you?” The Ringmaster clucked. “Too bad. Such a handsome young man. But no matter. If you won’t cooperate, I’ll have to kill you.”

  “Devin, just do as he says!” Jane cried.

  Devin betrayed no emotion. “Fine. You leave me no choice.”

  “Ah, that’s the spirit!” The Ringmaster looked Jane up and down. “What the hell is she wearing? Pretty little ass like that should be flaunted!”

  “You sick—” Devin fell to the ground unconscious as the square-faced thug struck him in the head with the butt of his gun.

  Jane screamed.

  Square Face aimed the gun at Devin. “I think we should get rid of this troublemaker!”

  Jane bit down a vicious string of curses. Play nice. The Ringmaster’s the boss here, and he’s just another guy. She looked up at the Ringmaster, widening her eyes. “Please, sir. He’s my brother, and he’s all I’ve got. I’ll do anything you ask, just… Please don’t kill him.”

  The Ringmaster regarded her. “Hmm… Indeed?”

  Jane smiled as sweetly as she could. “I’ll be a better performer if I have incentive. You must be a… highly intelligent man to run a beautiful court like this. Surely you understand the power of motivation.”

  The Ringmaster grabbed Jane’s chin and pressed his slobbery lips against hers. Jane was too startled to react before he released her. It was the most sickening thing she’d ever experienced. She clenched her fists at her sides, digging her nails into her palms. Don’t move.

  The Ringmaster guffawed. “You’ve got a sweet mouth, princess! Entertain me, and I’ll let your brother live!”

  Jane did her best to keep her disgust from showing. “Thank you, sir.”

  Her stomach turned. She wiped her mouth. She knew what he meant by “entertain.” Maybe if she got close enough, she could kill him… or better yet, sweet talk him into killing Square Face for her first and then kill him.

  The Ringmaster roared, “Where’s my musician?”

  “Which one do you want, boss?” asked one of the thugs.

  “Ah… I’m sick of them all. So hard to get good help these days!”

  Jane lifted her chin. “I’m a musician.” Maybe I won’t have to join the harem, after all.

  The Ringmaster raised his eyebrows. “Are you, princess? A singer, no doubt? What do they call you?”

  “Kitti.”

  “Aw, isn’t that too sweet.” The Ringmaster barked at the tattooed woman, “Get her in a costume! Make it a fancy one! I want to see what my new princess can do!” He stretched his arms beside him. “Entertain me!”

  Jane walked into the ring. Her shimmering green gown looked almost bronze under the yellow light. She might have liked it if she hadn’t been wearing it under such abhorrent circumstances. The collar fell off her shoulders, and the smooth, thin material hugged her waist and cascaded onto the floor.

  A thug hooted as she stopped before the Ringmaster. “Hey, itty-bitty pretty Kitti!”

  Jane held back the urge to retort with a chain of insults. Just play nice…

  Around her, dead-eyed dancers moved in silence. They looked more like floppy puppets than performing artists.

  The Ringmaster leered. “Now, that’s more like it!”

  “Where’s my brother?” Jane demanded.

  “Over there.” The Ringmaster jerked his head to the left.

  Devin stood along the wall with the thugs, watching her anxiously. Jane smiled to tell him she was okay. It’s all right, bro. I’ll keep you safe.

  The Ringmaster snapped at the blond girl, “Get her in the visor!”

  Visor?! “I thought you wanted me to sing.” There was a reason
Jane had avoided virtu-games. She had a tendency to get lost in her head as it was, and she dreaded ending up stuck in her virtu-world like her unfortunate predecessor.

  “Only singing?” The Ringmaster frowned. “No, I want to hear the instruments! Imagine all the strings! And the horns! I want to hear it all!”

  Jane widened her eyes innocently. “I have a really pretty voice, and—”

  “That’s not enough for me! Shall I remind you of your incentive?” The Ringmaster nodded at Square Face. Square Face raised a gun to Devin’s head.

  “I’m sorry. I… I didn’t mean to challenge you.” Jane lowered her eyelids demurely. “You intimidate me with your greatness.”

  The Ringmaster howled. “You must be the sweetest little lady I’ve ever seen! Go ahead, princess! Entertain me!”

  The blond girl approached Jane with a VR visor. Jane hesitated, then took the device and put it around her face. The visor closed around the back and clenched her head like a vice.

  The blackness faded, and she entered her dream world…

  She’d been there many times in her fantasies. Those images had been distant whispers, appearing in undefined glows out of the darkness of her mind, the details obscured because they didn’t matter.

  This is real.

  She stood center stage in the majestic auditorium of the Kyderan Presidential Palace. Instead of facing the orchestra of the galaxy’s most talented instrumentalists, she looked out into the shadowy audience of politicians, celebrities, and other important people.

  Choir… I need a full choir…