Hostile Alliances: ShadowTech, #3

By TW Iain

The Ancients are coming.

There's no doubt now, not after the signal the company intercepts. And that means the fighting between them and the Heralds will intensify. That will force the shadowy Collective to work harder, seeking a solution before the Heralds and Kaiahive doom humanity.
And in the midst of the chaos, the crew are divided. They must trust themselves, and decide who around them they can trust. They must fight - for what they believe in, and for their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: TW Iain
• Release date: Nov 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215232699

Book preview

Before we start…

The third book in a series‌—‌do you re-read the previous books, or trust that you’ll remember enough? Maybe a short recap will help.

Let’s start with Kaiahive‌—‌the company that is so large and powerful, it effectively runs everything. Its greatest achievement is the lattice‌—‌a tech layer that sits beneath the skin, enabling greater control of the body. It incorporates lenses over the eyes, which give night-vision and heads-up displays. It enables people to directly interface with various systems, so pilots can fly their craft ‘by thought’, and techs can access systems that run buildings without using any kind of keyboard or touch-screen.

It also allows lattice-users to ‘suss’‌—‌a kind of telepathic communication. Any time you come across text <‍like this‍>, it’s people sussing. This can be tight (for person-to-person communication) or wide (for broadcasting, or group communication).

Sounds pretty good, right? But the company has a dark core. They’re constantly running dodgy experiments, looking to produce ‘the perfect human’‌—‌and they don’t care how many people die or get injured in the process.

At the start of Desert Bound, we’re introduced to a crew of five fugitives from Kaiahive. These are:

Ryann. She’s the leader, purely because she’s the most senior. She struggles with her position, though‌—‌she cares deeply about the rest of her crew, but doesn’t always make the best decisions.

Brice. He’s young, and bitter‌—‌especially after an accident plays havoc with his lattice. An expert has told him that his lattice is ‘becoming a part of him’, and he doesn’t seem to have active control over it. However, he can overhear susses, and even listen in to internal thoughts.

Deva. Her lattice never took‌—‌it sits inside her, but doesn’t do anything. She’s learnt to cope, though, and she’s tough. She can talk her way out of most situations, and if that fails she falls back on her weapon-of-choice, her screwdriver.

Piran. He’s a tech expert, and at the start of Desert Bound his lattice has been deactivated‌—‌which, for a tech, is like a painter losing the use of their hands. He gets his lattice re-started by a back-street hack, and finds it works better than before.

Keelin. She’s a pilot, but Kaiahive used her in their NeoGen experiments, turning her into a monster. She’s far taller than average, has grey skin, a snout like a wolf, and retractable talons in her hands. She’s very strong and fast, and her mind works better than it used to. But her appearance forces her to hide away, and she’s very troubled by what she’s become.

Over Desert Bound, the crew are forced to find an old relic known as the Cyastone. This artefact is from the Ancients, a (possibly human) race that existed thousands of years ago.

Rumours say the Ancients are going to return. Kaiahive see this as a threat, and want to learn all they can in preparation, so they want the Cyastone for themselves.

Then there are the Heralds, a quasi-religious group who believe the Ancients will be the saviours of humanity‌—‌so they want the Cyastone to stay out of Kaiahive’s hands.

It doesn’t end there. Ryann falls in with a character called Annys Reid, who has a colour-changing assistant called Tallia. They’re part of a shadowy organisation with people in high places. They disagree with both Kaiahive and the Heralds, and want a more measured approach to the Ancients’ return. Naturally, they want to keep the Cyastone away from their rivals.

Desert Bound ends with a chaotic struggle to take the Cyastone‌—‌chases through the desert city’s streets, a battle in a hidden building, Keelin going full beast-mode. The crew get the Cyastone, and fly off into the distance.

But they’re not free yet. Subtle Weapon starts with them being forced down on an island, in an extinct volcano’s crater. The island’s supposed to be uninhabited, but when Ryann, Piran and Brice explore they’re captured by Kaiahive, and taken to the company’s secret base. Meanwhile, Keelin and Deva climb out of the crater, fight their way through Kaiahive guards on the crater rim, and fall in with another group of people.

This group turns out to be more Heralds, but unlike those in Desert Bound these seem okay, and Keelin and Deva reluctantly join their fight against the Kaiahive. Deva shows off her mechanical skills, and Keelin pulls off some fancy flying. They’re accepted by Chiron Blake, the leader of the Heralds’ base, and his assistant Lise. Deva also gets to know a young tech/mech guy called Wrench.

The Heralds mount an attack on the Kaiahive base, but it doesn’t go well. Somehow (insider knowledge?) the company know about the attack, and counter hard, forcing the Heralds to retreat. They then attack the Heralds’ base, and Deva ends up escaping in the Heralds’ submarines.

And what of the captives?

Piran is forced to work for the company. The Kaiahive boss, Macklyn Grivas, wants him to uncover the secrets of another Ancients’ relic, a supposed weapon they call the Caduceus (Piran calls it the doofus). He assigns a woman called Casey to supervise Piran.

He goes deep into the Ancients’ tech, working out that the code in the relic can be used to influence and manipulate. After hacking into the base’s system and accessing his crew-mate’s cells, Piran uses the new code on Brice, but Brice’s lattice pushes back hard. He then tries on Ryann, when she’s in trouble.

Macklyn’s put her to work on a dig, deep in the bowels of the base. But an earthquake disrupts the work‌—‌and opens up a way into the tunnels that riddle the crater. Ryann sees a chance to escape. She doesn’t want to leave without her crew, but her hand is forced, though, when she gets in a fight with a couple of guards‌—‌and it’s here that Piran uses the Ancients’ code to influence her. Ryann kills the guards before escaping into the tunnels.

Once out of the base, she’s reunited with Keelin (who was forced to bring her craft down in a controlled crash). They discover another craft and fly away from the island.

And Brice? Kaiahive want to understand what’s happening with his lattice, so they plant another ‘prisoner’ in his cell, a woman called Fen. She encourages Brice to escape (to show what he’s capable of), but he overhears her private conversations with Macklyn. His lattice also forges a bridge with the base’s system, and when he follows Fen on her fake escape plan, he uses this link to get away from her and the Kaiahive agents laying in wait. He gets back to the crew’s ransacked craft, finds the bag containing the Cyastone, and climbs out of the volcano crater.

So the crew are split up. Deva’s with the Heralds. Piran’s still a prisoner of Kaiahive. Ryann and Keelin are flying away from the island. And Brice is still there, in possession of the Cyastone.

Which brings us to the third book, Hostile Alliances.

Ryann

She’d come a long way. From a childhood on her parents’ farm, hours of school-work alternating with tough manual labour, she’d joined Kaiahive, keen to prove herself. They’d latched onto her empathy, tweaking her lattice and training her as a tracker. She’d worked hard, rising to become a second, under Cathal Lasko’s command.

And then it had all gone wrong. She’d fought for her life, and she’d been forced to kill. She’d learnt secrets that terrorised her. She’d escaped a company that wanted her dead, had led a crew of outlaws as far as she could take them. She’d done deals with underworld crime bosses. She’d stolen ancient‌—‌no, Ancient‌—‌treasure.

And now, Ryann was in Enapoli, the planet’s first city. Kaiahive upheld it as an exemplar of a peaceful, perfect society. Technology, specifically the lattice, brought the citizens of Enapoli together, everyone connected, nobody forgotten.

And, like everything Kaiahive touched, it had its dark side. While the heart of Enapoli gleamed, the detritus spun to the edges, congregating in areas true Enapolians didn’t mention, areas they ignored.

Which meant fugitives like Ryann and Keelin could hide out, even this close to the company’s facilities.

It helped that, with a large chunk of the funds she’d already secured, Ryann was able to afford hacks for their lattices. She’d been dubious, but the false idents held up. After arriving in the city ten days ago, they’d yet to be accosted by company agents.

But the edges of Enapoli, especially over to the west, scared Ryann, and Donte’s Club was no exception. But this was the location for the meeting. This was where she’d come face to face with The Bear.

Keelin had offered to go in, but Ryann knew that wouldn’t work. Even with her hooded cloak concealing her altered features, and gloves to hide her hands, Keelin still stood out.

So Ryann entered the club alone, smiling at the bouncers before pushing through the doors. The bass pounded, and lights strobed‌—‌she turned off her lens filters, knowing the auto-adjust would struggle. She also knew she’d be ripped off at the counter, and would pay over the odds at the bar.

She kept to the edges, felt eyes watching. Her clothes‌—‌black, tight things that left little to the imagination‌—‌might’ve been fashionable, but they needed the right body and the right attitude to pull them off.

The club was crowded. People stood in shadows, or sat in darkened booths. On the floor, bodies writhed and jerked to the music. The air hung heavy with an assault of aromas‌—‌alcohol, smoke, perfume, and sweat. Hands brushed Ryann as she passed, some innocent, others squeezing. She gave no reaction, and ignored the twisting of her stomach.

She focused on traces. Most of the club-goers had limited lattices‌—‌basic company starters, without upgrades. A few were dark, either lattices switched off or never implanted. And others were enhanced and upgraded. The flavour of the traces varied too‌—‌many excited and intoxicated, others serious, a few angry and violent.

The girl behind the bar‌—‌she looked like a kid pretending to be an adult, but could easily have been in her twenties, the whole demeanour an act‌—‌charged her two-fifty for a plasti-glass of luke-warm water. Ryann paid with credit-slip, pre-paid, because a place like Donte’s wouldn’t take majors. Credit-slips were harder to trace.

Ryann stepped away from the bar, her back to the wall. She took a sip of her drink, the liquid splashing against her lip. The vibrations in her hand could’ve been down to the thumping of the music.

Through the slashing lights, Ryann studied the room, taking her time. She took another three sips before she spotted the one they called The Bear, seated in a large alcove. He wasn’t alone, but sat with four others, two male and two female. They all held glasses and leaned in as if engaged in animated discussion. But they watched the room, alert for trouble.

Ryann approached, hoping the tremors she felt in her legs weren’t visible. Her target glanced up, one bushy eyebrow raised in interest.

Are you The Bear? she asked.

The man’s companions turned to her, looking her up and down. They sneered.

The Bear studied Ryann with narrowed eyes. When he spoke, his thick beard barely moved. You must be Fox.

Ryann nodded. The name seemed to fit, when she’d come up with it. She had strong memories of her father cursing the animals while begrudgingly admiring them. They were the underdogs, forced into the shadows, and hard to catch. They relied on cunning over strength.

Keelin was the strength in their partnership, and Ryann was the cunning.

The Bear leaned on the table, forearms bulging. You’re Kaiahive, he said.

She shook her head. I got out.

They don’t let people leave.

I never said I went with their blessing.

She focused. The Bear’s lattice buzzed with activity. He glanced behind her, eyes glazing as he sussed‌—‌either with the girl, or with the bouncer who stood at the end of the bar.

Of the other four at the table, both women and one of the men had active lattices, the other man’s being dormant. But they were weak, hadn’t been upgraded for some time.

That didn’t make them any less dangerous, though.

So they’re after you, The Bear said.

Yes. There was no point denying it.

And you come to me? I’m no fan of the company. You bring them to my door, I can’t be held responsible for what happens.

They don’t know I’m here.

You think? Your pal outside keeping a good watch?

So they’d seen her arrive with Keelin. That was to be expected.

She sussed. <‍Kee? Any trouble so far?‍>

<‍Loads of potential. Don’t like this place.‍>

<‍Neither do I. I’ll be out as soon as I’m finished.‍>

<‍Sure. Here if you need me.‍>

We can take care of ourselves, she told The Bear.

That so? Your pal looks tough‌—‌large, at least. But you? City girl, right? Studied hard, pleased the instructors. Worked your way up the company ladder. Probably used that skinny body a few times, told yourself the means justified the end. And now you’re in here, acting like you belong.

I don’t belong here.

Then why come?

We arranged a meeting.

And when I suggested Donte’s, you agreed without hesitation. Tells me you reckon you’re tougher than you look. Or you don’t have a clue about this place. Reckon this is your first time in the dregs, isn’t it? City girl’s never gone past the outer circuit, have you? Never gone into the gloom, where the big bad bear hides out.

It wasn’t worth telling The Bear how wrong he was. I’m here, though, she said. I’m seeking information. When we spoke, you said you could help.

Stuck-up city girl comes to the dregs when she wants something. That what’s going on here?

If you want to see it that way.

Company girl wants to pick my brains?

I told you‌—‌I’m not with the company now.

He leaned over the table. Tell me, why should I listen to you?

I can pay.

He sat back, creaking his chair. The four around the table relaxed too, but they still kept their hands in their laps, close to weapons.

You can pay, The Bear said slowly.

That’s what I said.

And why should I trust your word? Why should I trust anything coming from the company?

What about your lattice?

The Bear’s eyes hardened. His trace flared, and he glanced over her shoulder again.

Ryann swallowed, realising her mistake. A man like The Bear looked for strength, not antagonism. He had a reputation to protect. He couldn’t let a slight go unpunished.

She focused, sensing how bodies shifted, how they formed an arc around the alcove. No, around her and The Bear‌—‌an audience for the entertainment.

Dance and drink might satisfy some, but many needed violence to make the night complete.

The Bear’s companions shifted, and the clicks of weapons being readied cut across the music.

You’re intruding on my solitude, The Bear said.

I apologise. Ryann took a step back, closer to the bystanders. I only wanted information.

The Bear snorted. Looks like you’ve found something different.

His eyes moved left, then right. His companions sat straighter. They lifted their hands, revealing three Prebens and one long, sharp knife.

<‍Kee?‍> Ryann sussed, as her heart pounded and her skin grew cold. <‍I’ve got trouble.‍>

Keelin

Keelin shuffled in the shadows of the alley, tried to make herself as small as possible. Which was ridiculous. Even if she hunched over, she was still too large. And if anyone got close enough to see under her large hood, they’d be suspicious of the full face-mask.

But the alternatives weren’t much better‌—‌stay a prisoner in the crappy rooms they’d rented, or show herself for the monster she was.

She watched the entrance to Donte’s‌—‌and something about that name bugged her, like whoever came up with it didn’t quite get a reference or something, like it was supposed to be meaningful but the owner wasn’t smart enough.

It was quiet, just a few people trying to get in. The bouncers‌—‌large, muscles, disdainful expressions‌—‌turned most away.

They only let Ryann in because she paid them, and acted nice. Didn’t get uptight when they leaned in and started checking for weapons. That’s the excuse they gave, anyway‌—‌Keelin’s NeoGen hearing picked up their voices, and their comments once Ryann had passed through the door.

They’d seen Keelin, of course. They looked over every so often, checking her out. They sneered, leaned in to whisper to each other‌—‌which meant they were easily distracted. Worth knowing, if things turned bad.

<‍Kee? I’ve got trouble.‍>

Keelin stretched to full height, almost laughed when one of the bouncers stared.

<‍Details.‍>

<‍I made contact, but The Bear’s four bodyguards have weapons drawn on me. I can feel the room getting ready for a fight.‍>

<‍On my way in.‍>

There was a back entrance, down a side-street, but that would take time. There would be corridors, storage, offices, stuff like that. Faster to go in through the front.

The bouncers stepped to block the entrance, arms folded, a wall of muscle.

You got an ident?

I need to help a friend out, Keelin said.

Ident. Or credit. The idiot smiled, a couple of teeth missing.

He wore an old Preben on his hip, a sheathed knife on the other side. Same as his colleague. They both watched Keelin.

<‍Things are getting serious,‍> Ryann sussed. <‍I’m surrounded.‍>

You going to let me in, Keelin asked the bouncer, or do I go through you?

The meat-head laughed. Like to see you try, freak.

She slammed a fist into his stomach, sent him flying back to the wall. She kicked, caught the other bouncer on the side of the knee. As he fell she grabbed and pulled, tossed him into the street. Then she pushed through the double doors.

Thump of music. Smoke in the air. Smells of sweat and perfume.

Three more bouncers. One had a finger to his ear, talked into a wire-mic. The other two held weapons‌—‌a Preben and a Tychon.

Keelin didn’t hesitate. The one with the Preben cried out when she snapped his forearm. She grabbed the Preben, spun, fired. The Tychon flew away, the bouncer grabbing his mangled hand. She jumped, slammed a boot into his face. Bone cracked. Landed next to the snitch, slammed the Preben on his head, knocked him cold.

Walked through into the heart of the club.

It took Keelin a second to assess. Too many shadows, too many people with violence in their bearings. Sounds‌—‌music, voices, glasses. Scents assaulted her. And traces knotted together.

She latched onto Ryann’s, strode through the crowds. Those who didn’t get out of her way she pushed past. Ignored their comments.

Ryann, surrounded by a crowd eager for blood, a few weapons already drawn. A large man seated at a table in front of her, flanked by four others, all standing. Ryann held her hands before her, palms out. Trying to talk her way out of the situation. Trying to be nice, when all these idiots wanted was blood.

So why not give them some?

Keelin ran. She slammed through the onlookers, drew up beside Ryann. Read the traces in the room, constantly rearranging her internal map.

Ryann breathed a sigh of relief. <‍That’s The Bear sitting down,‍> she sussed. <‍He’ll let others fight for him, but he’s still dangerous.‍> Keeping her eyes on the large man, she said, I should be going.

The one she called The Bear tilted his head. You think you can simply walk away?

Keelin stepped forward. She said she’s finished.

The Bear’s unruly beard rustled as he smiled. Oh, she’s finished all right. You too.

Ryann stiffened. Keelin placed a hand on her back.

The onlookers shuffled. Some climbed on tables. The kids behind the bar hit a button, dropped a clear barrier between them and the rest of the room. Bouncers watched from a distance.

Keelin pressed with her hand, turning Ryann until they had their backs to The Bear. Ryann trembled. Keelin pushed her forward. They took a step.

A couple of the onlookers’ eyes glazed, then they nodded at The Bear. They lifted their weapons.

<‍Keep down,‍> Keelin said. <‍Stay out of trouble. I’ll sort this.‍>

They wanted a show? She’d give them a show!

As she took another step, she planned. Before her foot had come down, she lifted her hand from Ryann’s back.

And acted.

The closest onlooker lunged, swinging a curved knife. Keelin dropped, kicked, heard bone snap. A woman aimed a Preben at Ryann. Keelin grabbed her wrist, broke it, let the gun drop. Another man, lattice-lock on his weapon‌—‌punch to the side of the head, yank the gun from his grip. Turn, fire at a man with a lash, send the weapon spinning from his hand.

Violence bred violence. Skirmishes amongst the crowd turned to fights. Where the fights came close, Keelin dodged, did what she had to. Protected Ryann.

And noticed how The Bear hadn’t moved, how his bodyguards hadn’t used their weapons.

Gunfire sounded, cracks at odds with the beat of the music. Screams rose. People ran.

A man lunged at Ryann, waving two knives. She ducked under a table and kicked out. He yelled, swung one arm back, ready to throw the blade.

Keelin swiped. Only realised her talons were out when he screamed, when three red slashes tore across his shirt, across his back. He spun to face her, and Keelin kicked him in the stomach, sent him away.

Ryann, still under the table. Direct line of sight to The Bear and his companions. The woman to his right raised her gun, lattice-locked.

Keelin didn’t think. She lunged. Snatched the Preben, grabbed the woman’s head. Saw the shock on her face.

Saw The Bear watching, amused. Knew things wouldn’t settle until the man realised the seriousness of the situation.

Keelin twisted her hands, snapped the woman’s neck. She lifted the dead body, slammed it down on the table, sent drinks flying. The Bear rose. Keelin leapt over the table. Grabbed his belt, ripped it free, threw his weapons away. Forced him back, one arm across his chest. Pushed her talons against his gut.

She leaned in close, his hair brushing her face-mask. You want more people to die?

His mouth twisted into a sneer, but it trembled, and he looked down, eyes widening. Keelin pushed with her talons, enough to break skin. The big bad bear winced.

Fighting close-by fell away as heads turned to watch. The Bear’s three remaining colleagues trained their weapons on Keelin. One of them, the man with jet black hair, tightened his finger on the trigger.

Without taking her eyes from The Bear, Keelin withdrew her talons from his stomach, reached for the dead woman, grabbed the second Preben from her belt. Lifted it, fired.

The man’s Preben exploded. He dropped it, clasping his hand.

Keelin placed the Preben on the woman’s body and stretched out her talons, pressed them into The Bear’s gut again. Next idiot tries to hurt me or my friend, I won’t hold back, she said.

His throat bobbed. He nodded.

What do you want? His voice was calm, but quiet.

My friend came in here for information. She get any?

I don’t deal with the company.

Glad to hear it.

Ryann shuffled closer. <‍I don’t want to be here longer than necessary,‍> she sussed.

Keelin nodded. We get what we want, we’ll be out of your way, she told The Bear.

He took another couple of deep breaths, then he looked past Ryann, to the shadows of the room. He raised a hand and his eyes glazed as he sussed.

You come here again, he said, I’ll have you shot in the street.

Doubt it. Won’t need to come back if you give my friend what she asked for, will we?

His mouth twitched. You have a contact?

I’m sure you can find us. You know what she wants?

The Bear nodded. Doubt it’ll help her much. Or you. Company property, both of you. They’ll get you eventually.

Can’t blame us for trying.

Suppose not.

Keelin lifted the arm from across The Bear’s shoulders, stepped back, then removed her talons.

The three remaining colleagues stepped aside, letting Keelin pass. With Ryann next to her, she walked through the now-unlocked front door, out onto the street.

Everybody watched them, but nobody tried to stop them.

Piran

Piran shuffled. He’d told himself he wouldn’t let his nerves show, but he couldn’t relax. Not here. This place was too formal, with clinical lighting and dark furniture. Nothing too posh, but it still reeked of expense. And those two art-pieces on the wall‌—‌looked like swirls of colour to Piran, could’ve been an accident with a couple of paint-pots, but he knew they were classics. Probably originals, too.

None of the rooms on the island had been this fancy, but they’d moved him, hadn’t they? Short hop to the mainland, then onto a Hermes and off to Metis.

Piran hadn’t thought he’d be back here. He’d trained on Kaiahive’s orbital station, a craft so big it was more like a city. Had good memories of the place, but also bad ones. Last time he’d been here was as a prisoner, before being shipped back to the planet, back to face those shade things.

And now he was back. Still a prisoner, even if he was let loose with the Ancients’ code, even if he was given his own room. Still trapped, and forced to sit in rooms like this, forced to be with the man sitting across the