The Cage of Zeus (24 page)

“Something called human folly. A part of Monaural nature that may be foreign to you.” Tei lowered eir gaze. Seeing the tears welling up around the corners of eir eyes, Shirosaki added, “You should try and get some rest, Doctor. You’ve been working around the clock.”

“There isn’t time for that,” said Tei, looking up. “I’ve been so consumed by the Rounds that I’d forgotten. You should get some rest yourself, Commander. You haven’t slept since the incident in the docking bay.”

“I’ll be fine—I’ve been trained for this sort of thing.”

“I’ve no problem working a twenty-four-hour shift.”

Shirosaki rested his hands on Tei’s shoulders, pushed em toward the bed, and sat em down. “Sleep, Doctor. It won’t do for you to collapse in front of your patients.”

“I can’t sleep now. I’m worried about the special district.”

“I’ll get you a sedative.”

“No, wait. I have to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Why are the Monaurals so bothered by our existence? And so extreme in the way they express their love and hatred for us?” Tei asked. “What is it about us that upsets you?”

“If you have time to dwell on such silly things, you really ought to get some sleep.”

“Silly?”

“What is the point in trying to characterize Monaurals on the strength of only a few examples? Regardless of their hate or love for you, they’re all acting upon their personal feelings, and those emotions are subject to change at any given moment. Someone that loves you today may very well hate you tomorrow. In a few years, that same person may even lose interest in the Rounds altogether. Our intense reaction isn’t directed at the fact of your being Rounds—it’s your humanity that inspires so many different feelings in us. In the end, the conflict between Rounds and Monaurals represents nothing more than one kind of human relationship. Why do you insist on stereotyping us? We are, like you, a diverse subspecies. There are people who are fascinated by the Rounds and people who aren’t. Many people never act upon that interest. Some may seek friendship and nothing more. While some people invest their heart and soul, others couldn’t give a damn about a relationship with the Rounds. You mustn’t try to pigeonhole us. We don’t want a conflict any more than the Rounds.”

“What about you, Commander? Don’t you give a damn?”

“If I’m honest, I don’t. But should the day come when Monaurals and Rounds have to work side by side, I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”

“That’s unfair,” Tei said.

“What is?” Shirosaki said.

“The day you’re referring to won’t arrive of its own accord. Such a world will only come to fruition by those willing to build a relationship and see it fail again and again, by those risking hurt to learn the truth about each other. But you say you’re happy to wait for others to lay the groundwork for you. To come as you please after the groundwork has been laid and the foundation built without getting dirty yourself.”

“It’s one way to live, wouldn’t you say?”

“Yes, but it’s an awfully lonely way,” Tei said.

“You may be right about that. But I doubt my thinking will change. Neither should you try to change it for me.”

Tei said nothing for a moment as ey lay down on the bed. “I think I’ll rest now. Don’t worry about that sedative. Just close the door behind you.”

Shirosaki muttered, “Of course,” and moved away from the bed.

“One last question,” said Tei. “If a Round were to confess eir love for you now, would you accept em or reject em?”

“It’s a moot question unless you specify to whom you’re referring. I’m not seeking a relationship with just anybody, and that goes for Round or Monaural.”

“That’s reasonable. But that person would be terribly sad to hear it.”

“Who is this Round you’re speaking of? Did ey ask you to intervene on eir behalf?”

Tei looked Shirosaki in the eye. “No,” ey answered. “It was a hypothetical question. Forget it.”

Tei closed eir eyes and said nothing more.

Shirosaki watched over Tei for a good several seconds before leaving the room without making a sound.

V

1

SHIROSAKI WALKED DOWN
the station corridor and made a mental list of the various matters he would have to detail in his report: the number of security staff casualties, the number of Round casualties, the current situation of the Rounds, the damage incurred inside the station.

His head was spinning. He had allowed three terrorists to inflict unimaginable damage on the station. What could he possibly say to explain the situation to the top brass? When he thought about the harsh censure he was sure to receive, the energy in his body left him.

Karina had yet to come clean about everything. The composition of and antidote for the dispersed agent were still unknown. At this rate, the Round fatalities were bound to increase.

Karina had demanded her freedom in exchange for the data. But she must have known the SSD would never agree to such an arrangement. Was she trying to strike some sort of deal? Or planning to negotiate directly with Kline and the superintendents of the special district?

Would Kline allow Karina to escape without his knowledge in exchange for the data? Regardless of the initial shock of having been betrayed, she and Karina had shared a ten-year friendship. There was no telling whether Kline still felt any attachment to Karina, and it was entirely possible she might resort to extreme measures to save Jupiter-I and the special district.

Shirosaki quickened his pace.

When he arrived at the control room, Kline was talking with five members of the station staff. Although like Shirosaki, Kline had not had a moment’s respite since the onset of the attack, she was barking out orders without any hint of fatigue.

Kline caught a glimpse of Shirosaki out of the corner of her eye and gestured with a finger for him to wait. “The engineers are working on repairing the diagnostic equipment in the lab and infirmary,” she told Shirosaki, after dismissing the staff from the room. “They’ll have to procure the necessary replacement parts out of the warehouse and from what astrometrics equipment they can afford to shut down.”

“Will they be able to make the repairs with what’s available?”

“Some things yes and some things no. But once we get the virus detection system and diagnostic equipment up and running again, we’ll be in much better shape. The station staff have pledged to do whatever is in their power to aid the special district. They’ve already started work on what they can.” Then Kline asked, “Any headway with Karina?”

Shirosaki proceeded to give Kline a succinct account of what Tei had told him. Kline could only tilt her head quizzically when Shirosaki asked about whether she’d heard of a parasitic machine. “It may be a type of molecular machine that Karina created herself,” said Kline. “Or a parasite from Earth, or Europa’s ocean, that’s been genetically altered.”

“If we’re dealing with an organism from Europa, what are our chances of finding a cure?”

“I doubt it’ll be as easy as prescribing a vermicide. It probably multiplies exponentially, making it hard to eradicate. And what about how it spreads? According to Calendula, the terrorists fired capsules into an area where the Rounds had gathered and achieved nearly 100 percent morbidity without hitting any of the Rounds directly.”

“Maybe the parasite burrows under the skin like scabies,” said Shirosaki. “With that disease, a mite about 0.4 mm in length burrows a tunnel beneath the skin and lays eggs inside the host. If left untreated, a person can host as many as two million mites inside the body. The mature parasites then spread, falling away with the dead skin cells.”

“Norwegian scabies. I’m getting itchy just thinking about it.”

“Karina said she’ll only talk on one condition.”

“Something we can live with?” Kline asked.

“Hardly. She demanded that we let her go—she wants to avoid trial.”

“But she might be able to plea bargain down to life imprisonment.”

“Apparently she’d rather take her secret to the grave than accept a life behind bars.”

Kline sighed.

“She may try to negotiate with you directly,” Shirosaki pressed. “But you mustn’t listen to her.”

“You think I’ll betray you in exchange for the Rounds’ lives.”

“Forgive me, but it’s my job to suspect everything.”

“I understand, and you’re right to suspect me. Even though I’ve tried to remain emotionally detached for the sake of the station, I’m not certain I’ve entirely succeeded.” For the first time, Kline revealed a look of dismay. As supervisor of Jupiter-I, she was bearing both a public and private burden that would make anyone buckle. “Don’t worry, Commander,” she said. “I would rather see the special district perish than let Karina go in order to save the Rounds. She’s lied to us once already. We can’t trust her to tell us the truth. Karina must be planning to buy her freedom by giving us fake information. We can’t fall for her tricks.”

Shirosaki realized that Kline had already made up her mind to sacrifice the special district. Was it because the help from Europa had been delayed? Even so, the decision could not have been an easy one. No doubt she had drawn the line in the sand and bet her fate through sheer will.

“Have any of Karina’s personal effects turned up on Europa?” Shirosaki asked.

“Nothing yet. But knowing Karina as I do, she wouldn’t have left behind anything that would put her at a disadvantage.”

“I’m convinced Karina has the data we need,” said Shirosaki. “She wouldn’t be as calm otherwise. But since we don’t know how Karina’s going to play her hand, I don’t want to rule out the possibility of a deal.”

“I understand. Getting that information out of her is your job, I know. But please don’t make any deals that give her the advantage. We’re prepared for the worst-case scenario.”

Shirosaki hesitated for a moment, and then asked, “Does that include the Rounds?”

Kline didn’t answer. “I realize this is a dangerous risk, Commander Shirosaki. But if we stand our ground, Karina will have to flinch first. If she realizes she isn’t holding all the cards, she’ll panic and lower her demands. That could turn the tide in our favor. Please tell Karina,” Kline went on, “that I have no intention of giving in to her demands. And that no amount of bargaining is going to break me.”

“I’ll pass it on. And of course I’ll continue to keep an eye on Karina as I discuss a new plan of attack with Harding.”

Shirosaki exited the control room and called Harding on his implant. Harding complained, “Later. I’m on break. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.”

“How much later?”

“Give me half an hour.”

“That long? The situation inside the special district is deteriorating, you know that.”

“The Rounds can all go to hell.”

“We’re here with a job to do, Harding. What do you plan on telling Hasukawa if the special district is annihilated?”

“That it was an act of God.”

“The younger Rounds are already dying—doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“They’re not my family or compatriots. I don’t give a damn what happens to them.”

“Thirty minutes. Not a minute more.”

“Yeah, and call Miles and Arino while you’re at it. When the time comes, I’ll get to work.”

“All right.”

“Why don’t you get some rest yourself?” Harding said without a hint of ridicule. “Best you give yourself a break so you can stay quick on your feet, or Karina will play you.”

After thanking him for the warning, Shirosaki ended the transmission and headed for the room where Karina was being held.

“Would you like to go in, sir?” the guard on duty asked. Shirosaki refused and activated the intercom by the door instead.

Shirosaki stood at the window looking into the room and observed Karina’s reaction as he told her Kline’s message.

Karina listened quietly, but once Shirosaki was through, she said hoarsely, “The fool. That woman is ready to turn her back on the special district because of her damn pride. Some supervisor she turned out to be. And the doctor? Ey ran straight to you after I’d told her to talk to Kline.”

“Who’s the fool here? You won’t get anywhere by holding out any longer. It’s best you give up while you still have some lives to bargain with.”

“At this rate, the special district will surely perish,” Karina said. “The entire world, not just the Rounds, will blame you and hold you responsible.”

“Better that than bend to your demands,” Shirosaki said. “I’ll be back. In the meantime, I suggest you think about it.”

“Wait,” Karina called out.

“You ready to talk?”

“No—what about you? Would you be willing to make a deal?”

Karina’s tone didn’t reveal a hint of panic. Either she was still sure of her position or she was determined to hide any vulnerability to the end.

Shirosaki was just as hungry for information as the others. In fact, he might have been even more desperate for it, since he was helpless to offer medical care to the Rounds in the way Tei and Kline could.

Should he play along or rebuff her to see what she did next?

“If the special district perishes, you’ll be held responsible,” Karina continued. “Don’t you want to absolve yourself even a little?”

“I have no opinion on the matter. I am nothing more than an arm of a very large system.”

“Forget the system. I’m asking about your pride and principles as a man.”

“You think appealing to my emotions will get you anywhere?”

“That isn’t my intention. I just thought you might like to talk. You just seem to be a more decent sort than Harding.”

“I’ll be back in half an hour,” replied Shirosaki. “We can talk then.”

Tigris and Calendula trembled as they gazed at a dead child, the offspring of two of their friends.

The tiny body, wrapped in soft cloth, lay lifeless in the cradle. It was hard to believe ey had been suffering and crying only moments before.

The soul had slipped away, leaving only the empty shell. But even the shell, ravaged by disease, was already starting to turn cold. All it would do now was decompose.

Choked sobs echoed throughout the assembly hall. Parents of the dead children held each other and let out mournful wails.

Tigris and Calendula wanted to shield their ears, afraid that they might go mad, that they were witnessing tragedy that would befall them soon enough. There was no telling when their own children would suffer the same fate. Or perhaps they were next.

None of the Rounds were in the state of mind to console the parents of the children that had died. Fortia had been shot and was in serious condition, and Album had been ordered to rest. Although the elder members assembled an emergency council, they proved mostly impotent and acted primarily as liaisons between the special district and the station staff. Afflicted with fever themselves, the elders took as much medication to reduce their fever as they could stomach. Having heard of the infants’ deaths, they were shaken by the fear that they were next.

Despite some variance, every one of the Rounds had been infected. Even to the untrained eye, it was painfully clear that the Rounds with weaker immune systems were suffering the most. To the Rounds, born and raised inside the hygienic confines of the space station without ever having caught so much as a cold, the suffering of even a two-degree spike in body temperature was unbearable.

When Wagi requested that the children’s bodies be frozen instead of being given a space burial, the Rounds were struck dumb with horror. The doctor reasoned that the bodies might help them find a cure, but none of the Rounds were satisfied with the explanation.

“Do you mean to cut these children to pieces?” Calendula shouted, making no attempt to hide eir hostility. “They died in such pain and you want to use them still?”

“Please, I’m begging you as a doctor,” pleaded Wagi, bowing his head.

“No,” said one couple. “We refuse. If you must, you can use my body when I’m gone.”

“You may still survive. I’m speaking of those who have already passed.”

“Please don’t touch the children. Surely you understand if you have children of your own.”

One after the next, the Rounds began to voice their opposition.

“Leave them be.”

“We’ve been nothing but cooperative with you in the past.”

“Let them be, just this once. Please.”

Wagi listened silently and finally spoke, his lips quivering. “Even so, as a doctor I implore you to reconsider. For the sake of those still hanging on, you must understand.”

“What was the security team doing?” Calendula spat. “So many of them and still they allowed the terrorists to attack us. Not only that, they allowed some mysterious substance to be dispersed in the special district. What good are they to us now? We would have been better off fighting the terrorists ourselves. We should have killed them the moment they came into the special district.”

“There’s no sense in talking about what’s done.”

Calendula slapped Wagi across the face, staggering the doctor.

“The incompetence of you Monaurals!” Calendula glowered. “Now I understand why Fortia wanted nothing to do with you.”

Wagi did not raise any objection. Saying nothing more about collecting the bodies, he turned and walked away to administer to the other patients.

“I want the terrorists dead.” Calendula seethed. “I’m going to form a party. I’m going to break out of the special district and kill the terrorists.”

“Just what good do you think that’s going to do?” Tigris asked.

“At least it’ll give me some peace of mind.”

“We can have more children—as many as we can stand. We’re still young, Calendula. We can always have more.”

“We can’t replace the children we lost by having more babies. You can’t bring back the children that died. Don’t you know that?” Calendula demanded.

“Calm down. I can barely keep from going crazy myself. Don’t do anything to make things worse than they already are.”

“Aren’t you bitter? Are you going to sit there and do nothing?”

“Of course I’m bitter. And sad. But don’t do anything stupid,” Tigris said.

“Stupid, is it? How about giving the others something to feel good about?”

Tigris grabbed Calendula’s hand as ey stirred to leave. “Wait, where are you going?”