Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Severe tear above Bavaria. Repair in progress. Casualties stand at fourteen.

—Report to the Ruling Coalition from PsyNet Response Unit Foxtrot (21 October 2083)

"THERE WILL BE no third attempt," Kaleb said to the Ruling Coalition as they met in their secure PsyNet vault—which was holding for the time being. "There are no other sensible iterations of this experiment for us to set in motion."

"I agree with Kaleb," Payal said. "It's possible a small group—five or six—would hold, but at that level of fragmentation, we'd destroy the PsyNet anyway. We may as well advise that as the final in-case-of-emergency measure."

Ivy Jane's mind was the most dazzling in the vault, a cascade of colors in it that marked her as an E. "The Honeycomb can maintain for the time being—I've pulled all my Es off any non-urgent tasks so they can focus on shoring it up. It might buy us a little more time."

"It may be time to consider a physical contraction linked to a psychic one." Anthony's clear voice, his mind a stable presence with a cool silver center. "It would involve the physical migration of millions, so I don't say this flippantly. But we appear to have no other choices."

"The problem," Aden said, his presence Arrow black and martial, his shields present even here, "is that a contraction won't work with this level of damage. We'd just be delaying the inevitable and not by much. There are too many thin patches, too many holes in the fabric of the network—the tear above Bavaria is the largest in that region yet."

"At least the Scarab activity has died down." Nikita's mind was as hard and ruthless as the woman. "Though I'm concerned at their silence."

So was Kaleb; he'd rather know the locations and activities of the unstable Psy who were grenades just waiting to go off. "I have my bots watching for emergent activity."

"What are our other options?" Payal said. "Has there been any word from the Human Alliance?"

"Yes," Nikita said. "As well as the changeling groups in the Trinity Accord. All have agreed to assist in whatever way they can, but they can't offer us a silver bullet. They aren't Psy, don't have our need for biofeedback."

"Is that it, then?" Ivy Jane whispered. "We're out of options?"

On the physical plane, Kaleb's back grew stiff as he leaned his hands on the deck railing. He hadn't cared if the PsyNet lived or died once, but then Sahara had asked him to save it.

He'd made a promise.

Kaleb did not break his promises to Sahara.