Read Online The Blood Solution (Approaching Infinity Book 3) by Chris Eisenlauer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Chris Eisenlauer
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not.”
“You have the skill and the means then?”
“I believe I do.”
“Then all that’s left to discuss is your fee.”
“My fee, Lord Emperor?”
“Indeed. This is not business that can be concluded anytime soon, though your first target is already waiting for you. This will take centuries, perhaps even millennia. You may also find yourself at odds with Jav Holson. There will be risk, and if you are discovered, there will be no support for you and I will disavow any knowledge of your activities. I ask all this of you, but do not expect something for nothing.”
“My Lord Emperor is generous, as I have said, but what could I want that is not already available to me?”
“There is one thing, is there not?” the Emperor purred.
“I have everything that I could want. If there is something, then even I do not know what it is.”
“You do. You simply don’t know that it can be done.
“I know that you have one regret, Salton Stoakes. I know that you secretly curse the fact that your F-Gene did not blossom sooner. Since receiving your Artifact, you have not aged a day, but nor did you regain those years lost to you.”
Stoakes jerked in surprise, momentarily losing his composure. He licked his lips. “They can be returned?”
“They can. What do you say, Salton Stoakes? Do we have a bargain?”
“We do, Lord Emperor. I am happy to be in your service and will complete the task as assigned, no matter how long it takes.”
“Excellent.”
The Emperor’s terminal pulled gently at the umbilical stem issuing from the top of his head to give himself some slack, walked to the wall and placed his hand within it, parting the fibers as if they were folds of silk. He turned to face Stoakes again, presenting something sitting on the flat of his open hand.
“Take them,” the Emperor said.
“What are they?” Stoakes asked.
“Yellow Diamond Spectacles. They will aid in your identification of targets.”
“ Yellow. . . Diamond ?” Stoakes said uncomfortably.
“Yes, these were Crier’s. One of his first pairs, crude and lethal to anyone but a Shade.”
Stoakes took the glasses and examined them. Two small, round milky yellow lenses, translucent at best, were held together by a thin but sturdy wire frame. They didn’t look like they were any good for aiding one’s vision, nor did they look the least bit dangerous. “These are lethal to normals?” Stoakes said.
“You will find them maddening yourself, I believe. The lenses provide several layers of augmented perception, which would overwhelm and destroy a human mind without an Artifact to help sort and translate the otherwise alien information. You will need to concentrate on some layers while trying to ignore others. What you will see most clearly is an overlay of faults and cleave planes upon reality itself. These faults and cleave planes you must try to tune out. If you find yourself too interested in one of them, you may find yourself drawn into it, and into the interstices that only Pylas Crier could navigate. And I will be in need of a new agent.
“You will also perceive my unique energy signature, which may act as a beacon to you, should you ever find yourself separated from the Empire.
“Most importantly, though, you will perceive open doorways. These are similar to wormholes, which will also be visible to you, but they are not physical. These doorways are distinct from wormholes, and the faults and cleave planes, in that you cannot go through them. When you look upon your target, you will understand.
“There will be many details to discuss in the future, but now we must get you to Planet 1401 as quickly as possible.”
“Lord Emperor, how is it at all possible? You have just made planetfall, have you not? There are no jump decks or relays in place between the old and the new systems.”
“You will go by jump deck to Planet 1398. From there, I will see you safely to Planet 1401. The trip will not be pleasant, but should only
“You have the skill and the means then?”
“I believe I do.”
“Then all that’s left to discuss is your fee.”
“My fee, Lord Emperor?”
“Indeed. This is not business that can be concluded anytime soon, though your first target is already waiting for you. This will take centuries, perhaps even millennia. You may also find yourself at odds with Jav Holson. There will be risk, and if you are discovered, there will be no support for you and I will disavow any knowledge of your activities. I ask all this of you, but do not expect something for nothing.”
“My Lord Emperor is generous, as I have said, but what could I want that is not already available to me?”
“There is one thing, is there not?” the Emperor purred.
“I have everything that I could want. If there is something, then even I do not know what it is.”
“You do. You simply don’t know that it can be done.
“I know that you have one regret, Salton Stoakes. I know that you secretly curse the fact that your F-Gene did not blossom sooner. Since receiving your Artifact, you have not aged a day, but nor did you regain those years lost to you.”
Stoakes jerked in surprise, momentarily losing his composure. He licked his lips. “They can be returned?”
“They can. What do you say, Salton Stoakes? Do we have a bargain?”
“We do, Lord Emperor. I am happy to be in your service and will complete the task as assigned, no matter how long it takes.”
“Excellent.”
The Emperor’s terminal pulled gently at the umbilical stem issuing from the top of his head to give himself some slack, walked to the wall and placed his hand within it, parting the fibers as if they were folds of silk. He turned to face Stoakes again, presenting something sitting on the flat of his open hand.
“Take them,” the Emperor said.
“What are they?” Stoakes asked.
“Yellow Diamond Spectacles. They will aid in your identification of targets.”
“ Yellow. . . Diamond ?” Stoakes said uncomfortably.
“Yes, these were Crier’s. One of his first pairs, crude and lethal to anyone but a Shade.”
Stoakes took the glasses and examined them. Two small, round milky yellow lenses, translucent at best, were held together by a thin but sturdy wire frame. They didn’t look like they were any good for aiding one’s vision, nor did they look the least bit dangerous. “These are lethal to normals?” Stoakes said.
“You will find them maddening yourself, I believe. The lenses provide several layers of augmented perception, which would overwhelm and destroy a human mind without an Artifact to help sort and translate the otherwise alien information. You will need to concentrate on some layers while trying to ignore others. What you will see most clearly is an overlay of faults and cleave planes upon reality itself. These faults and cleave planes you must try to tune out. If you find yourself too interested in one of them, you may find yourself drawn into it, and into the interstices that only Pylas Crier could navigate. And I will be in need of a new agent.
“You will also perceive my unique energy signature, which may act as a beacon to you, should you ever find yourself separated from the Empire.
“Most importantly, though, you will perceive open doorways. These are similar to wormholes, which will also be visible to you, but they are not physical. These doorways are distinct from wormholes, and the faults and cleave planes, in that you cannot go through them. When you look upon your target, you will understand.
“There will be many details to discuss in the future, but now we must get you to Planet 1401 as quickly as possible.”
“Lord Emperor, how is it at all possible? You have just made planetfall, have you not? There are no jump decks or relays in place between the old and the new systems.”
“You will go by jump deck to Planet 1398. From there, I will see you safely to Planet 1401. The trip will not be pleasant, but should only
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