Helix Nexus, Chris Lofts [best android ereader .txt] 📗

now transparent, the front wall retained its buzzing threat. A menacing familiarity filled the space beyond. The seat, with its sinister array of instruments that had contained him during his previous encounter with Lytkin, was the same, now reclined and angled towards the three cells. A free standing metal rack stood to one side of a pair of double doors. His breath caught in his chest. Amongst the other paraphernalia lay Ethan’s stubbies. Was he wearing them before? Helix replayed the foggy images from the last time he’d seen his brother. When he was manacled in that dungeon. Why were they on that rack? He hadn’t missed the deadline. He was early. Movement behind the frosted rear wall snatched his attention away. Two silhouettes. One speaking, the other nodding. Helix clenched his fist, needing no further clues beyond the height, build and beard of the one on the left. Archer. The other shape suggested a woman. The deportment conveyed confidence, maybe arrogance. An accusatory finger wagged in the fog at the unmoving giant. If his life wasn’t already at stake, Helix might have wagered that it was Ulyana Lytkin. Holograms didn’t cast shadows or silhouettes. Her hubris would be her downfall.

The rear wall transitioned into what Helix assumed was a one-way mirror throwing back reflections of himself and Sofi. The white-coated Archer took his seat at a control panel in the back left corner separated by a curved partition.

Turning to the back wall of his cell, Helix flexed his arms and legs, frustrated at the heaviness down his right side, the darkness in his right eye. ‘For fuck’s sake,’ he said, hammering the glass. ‘Get a fucking grip! We can do this.’

‘You can do what exactly, Major?’

Helix snapped around, his eyes meeting those of Anastasia Sachman. ‘You again. Let me guess, you’re the warm-up act.’ Pushing away from the wall, he glanced past the hologram. ‘Or maybe she’s got stage fright?’

‘As I said before, I work very hard to maintain my anonymity.’ The holo folded her arms. ‘Hello, Gabrielle,’ she said, flicking something from her sleeve. ‘Ulyana Lytkin, Valerian’s sister. Pleased to meet you.’

‘I wish I could say the same,’ Sofi replied. ‘He never mentioned—’

‘I’m pleased.’ The holo nodded approvingly. ‘He wasn’t meant to.’

‘Did he know you were alive?’ Helix interrupted.

‘Of course, he did.’ She pursed her lips. ‘The original plan didn’t work out as expected. We had to adapt, but things turned out rather better. Up to a point. Until you, your brother, assorted others and dear Gabrielle…’

‘So much for plans. Shit happens eh?’ Helix said, shoving his hands in his pockets. ‘Where’s Ethan? Why are his stubbies on that shelf? I did what you asked. Gabrielle is here, let him go.’

‘He’s quite safe,’ she replied, nodding over her shoulder at Archer. A holographic screen floated into view.

‘So release him then.’

‘Not yet,’ she said. ‘If you remember, I said that Archer wouldn’t begin Ethan’s metamorphosis until you were back. ‘Look. Here he is. He’s getting to know Dmitri.’

It was better than the last time Helix had seen him, but only just. ‘Strapped to the floor?’

‘Dmitri likes a challenge. It’s good for his mental health,’ she added, pointing to the screen. ‘The partition between them is held in place by the bar that Dmitri is gnawing on. It’s made of collagen and calcium phosphate, bone to you and I, but much stronger. It’s a by-product of artificial meat production. They always leave a few scraps and sinews attached to get him interested. He’s not eaten since you were last here.’

Helix gathered a couple of deep breaths. ‘I want proof of life.’

‘You’ll have to trust me, Major.’ The holo sighed, dismissing the screen with a swipe of her hand. ‘Believe me, you’ll know he’s alive when Dmitri gets through that bone.’ She glanced towards the control room. ‘It normally takes him between 45 minutes and an hour. That’s right, isn’t it, Archer?’

Archer nodded.

Helix ground his teeth. ‘I’m warning—’

‘They’ve been watching the video of what we did to Dmitri.’ Her tongue flicked over her glossed lips. ‘Over and over and over. With the sound.’ Her eyes flared. ‘Very realistic. Almost as if you are in the same room.’

Lunging at the wall, he staggered as it responded with its characteristic fizzing warning. He thrust his fist towards it. ‘You’re sick!’

She smiled and turned away as Archer emerged from a side door. Wheeling an upright stand with IVs and a monitor, he made connections and repositioned the chair parallel with the three cells and the rear wall. The instruments surrounding the chair unfurled like the tendrils and petals of a salivating carnivorous plant, light glinting from their edges and teeth. Archer and the hologram exchanged glances. A shake of the head from Archer answered an unspoken question. With his preparations complete, he returned to the control room.

‘Waiting for somebody else?’ Helix said. ‘There’s space for one more at the end,’ he added, nodding to the empty cell to his right.

The hologram sighed. ‘As I said, Major. Sometimes plans don’t quite work out. You should know that.’

‘Not sure I do. I’ve always been a fan of the old saying: prior preparation prevents piss poor performance. Aka the six Ps. You should try it.’

‘Thank you. I’m not sure what your point is exactly, but how do you think all of this got here?’

‘Impressive, but not quite. The devil’s normally in the detail.’

The hologram waved her hand dismissively towards Sofi’s cell.

Helix flew at the side wall of his as the rear wall of Sofi’s began to slide forward, narrowing the gap between her and the shimmering electric barrier. ‘What are you doing? No!’

Sofi pressed her hands to the wall, her confused eyes turned to his. ‘Helix?’

‘You wanted her alive. What the hell—’

Continuing its relentless slide forward, Sofi’s attempts to hold it back were as futile as her attempts to find grip on the polished floor.

Helix hammered the wall with his fists. With his eyes fixed on hers, and deaf to the buzzing from the