Read Online Beyond the Pale by Jak Koke - Free Book Online Page B

want me to think of something,” Talon said. Ryan nodded. “Jane said you were good.”
    Talon laughed. “I’m not sure I’m glad she thinks so.” Ryan joined in the laughter. He liked this mage.
    Dhin’s voice came over the speakers. “We’ve reached our cruising altitude of seven thousand meters,” he said. “Feel free to move about the cabin, but remember to avoid using firearms or high-explosives during the flight.” The ork’s chuckle sounded eerie through the electronic modulation of the rigger interface. “Such devices may cause a sudden change in cabin pressure.”
    Ryan stood up immediately and stretched his muscles. “Jane, you online?”
    "I’m here,” came her bubbly voice. “And I come bearing gifts—schematics and data.”
    “My hero,” said Ryan.
    Grind and Axler stood and paced about the small cabin, working out the kinks. “Anyone want soykaf?” came Grind’s gruff voice.
    Everyone did, so he made an entire pot. Ten minutes later, when the entire crew was ready, Ryan started the briefing.
    “Jane,” he said, “give me the satellite images of Chateau d’If.”
    A flat screen in a dividing wall powered up, showing an aerial view of a small island. The image was out of focus and distorted. “There’s some sort of permanent shimmer that keeps fragging up the resolution,” Jane said. “This is the best I can do.”
    Tan-colored rock formed a wall around the entire isle so that any sort of assault from the sea would be nigh to impossible. There was no beach, only sheer walls jutting fifteen meters straight up from the pounding surf. The only boat landing was a narrow wooden dock that led into a small cave in the rock.
    Ryan noticed what looked like a helipad sitting next to a few squat buildings. About thirty meters from the helipad was the old prison itself—a huge stone structure consisting of three cylindrical towers of different diameters. The towers were connected by high walls, forming a courtyard inside. This part of the building was covered with what appeared to be modern macroglass, and shielded with a mirror coating so that the sat image couldn’t show the inside.
    Another rock wall, three meters high this time, cut across the island, separating the castle from the rest of the buildings. The rear of the old prison shared the outer seawall with the perimeter. Ryan couldn’t see enough detail to tell if Harlequin had installed any sort of modern defense system.
    “Jane, you got any data on security—cameras, track drones, that sort of drek?”
    “Unfortunately not, Quicksilver. I think he’s got some of that, but it might be isolated from the Matrix.”
    “Frag,” said Grind. “I’d hate to have to assault this place.”
    Ryan smiled. “That’s why we’re taking the easy way in. We’ll come over from Marseilles in a chopper. Harlequin is expecting a delivery, and he has to sign for his inheritance. If all goes well, I’ll simply talk to him then. We only need to prepare for his response.
    “If he decides to help us, then all this prep will have been only for practice. But it’s just possible that Mister H was involved in the assassination of Dunkelzahn, and he could perceive us as a threat. If he decides to waste us, we need a plan of escape. And we need a way to keep him from taking the Dragon Heart. Any suggestions?”
    Axler stepped up to the screen. “We should conduct all negotiations in this area, outside the castle walls. And we should have a second mode of transport, perhaps a boat or a scuba sled.”
    Ryan nodded. “Good thinking. Jane, can you arrange for scuba gear and three scuba sleds?”
    “Consider it fait accompli .”
    “Nice French.”
    “Merci. ”
    Ryan looked at the dwarf samurai. “Grind, you and Axler will pilot the sleds to this location with the extra gear for Talon and Dhin and me. Plan Beta will involve escape over the side and under water. We’ll also need a boat or a T-bird to pick us up.”
    “I’ll get a safe house set