Blasting through the long night they came, silver needles flying in perfect formation. And in and around them, matching their speed and purpose, came an army of flying humanoid shapes. Naked and unprotected in the void, surrounded by flaring auras of unknown energies, the battle droids went to war. The Swarm and Humanity’s Fleet—two vast forces heading towards each other, for a confrontation only one could survive.
“We were the defenders of Terra of Sol,” said Grey’s voice. “All that stood between Humanity and the awful force that threatened it. We met the Swarm on the outermost edges of the solar system and stopped them dead. They shall not pass, we sang. And then we bought that victory with countless dead.”
The living alien ships exploded silently in the dark, torn apart by ravening energies. Nightmare shapes, awful creatures erupted out of great holes in the ships’ sides, scattering slowly across the long night. The silver needles of Humanity were sliced open, gutted by unknown weapons and sent somersaulting slowly through open space. Venting precious air and trailing long lines of space-suited corpses. Battle droids shot back and forth at impossible speeds, darting in to strike again and again at Humanity’s attackers. But the droids took their losses too; blown apart in silent explosions, or falling endlessly through the long night, brilliant energies discharging from ruptured bodies.
Ships from both sides slammed into one another, in the only tactic left: to take the enemy with them. Locked together, trailing vicious energies, they plummeted into Jupiter’s sprawling mass. Others slammed head-on into the shimmering moons, their explosive ends hardly registering at all. And still the battle raged.
• • •
Deep Space disappeared, and the Old Library returned. Grey stood alone, calmly telling his tale.
“Towards the end of the battle I was caught up in temporal energies released from a ruptured stardrive and sent plunging back through Time. Horribly damaged, unable to control most of my systems, I shot through the orbits of the planets until finally I returned home to Earth. I crash-landed in the middle of nowhere, barely functioning, barely alive. Black Heir found me and handed me over to the Droods. And once they had me in their Armoury, pinned down and helpless, they rebuilt and reprogrammed me according to their needs.”
Grey stopped talking. I couldn’t think of anything to say. I wanted to believe my family would have acted differently.
“Was it the Droods who made you take on this form?” said Molly.
“Yes. They found the Grey easier to deal with. The Armourer did what he could to restore me to full functioning, with access to all my stored bodies, but only in order to make me a more useful weapon for the family. A better killer, on their behalf.” Grey looked at me for a long moment. “Did your family never impress others, to be their agents?”
“Not like that,” I said. But I couldn’t help thinking of missions I’d undertaken for my family, that I’d been tricked or pressured into. We say Anything for the family, and we mean it. But is that always our decision, or just what we’ve been brought up to believe?
I realised Grey was still looking at me. I chose my words carefully. “Whatever my family does, for good or bad, we do it, and take the responsibilities on ourselves.”
“Were things really so different in the Twenty-Third Century?” Molly asked Grey. “With you and your makers?”
“Very different,” said Grey. “Machines and makers work together as equal partners. Because all that lives is holy.”
“What did the family here want you to do?” I said. “That they weren’t prepared to do themselves?”
“They wanted someone they could send where even Droods feared to tread,” said Grey. “A weapon they could release into the world to do awful, unforgivable, and, most important, plausibly deniable things, on their behalf. Secret actions in secret wars; things I was ashamed to do. And I am a battle droid, programmed for war.”
Molly looked at me. “What kind of monsters had your family become in this world?”
“Did you kill people for them?” I asked Grey.
“People,” said Grey, “and other things. Too many to count. I had no choice. I had to follow my orders; the new Drood programming made sure of that.”
“What would you do if we let you go free?” said Molly. “Take your revenge? Go on killing?”
“Not without orders,” said Grey. “And Eddie is the only Drood left who could give them to me.”
I considered my next words very carefully. “What if I ordered you to destroy yourself? So you couldn’t be a threat to anyone any more?”
“I would have no choice but to obey,” said Grey. “But I would advise you to put a great deal of distance between us first. My self-destruct mechanism was set in place by my makers so that if all else failed I could take my enemies with me. The energies released would be enough to take out the entire Hall.”
“You didn’t have to tell us that,” I said.
“No,” said Grey. “I didn’t.”
I looked at Molly. “You see?”
“See what?” said Molly. “It just talked you out of using its self-destruct!”
“My family did Grey a great wrong,” I said. “I have to put that right.”
“It wasn’t your family!” said Molly.
“But it’s my decision,” I said. I looked directly at Grey. “What do you need from me? An apology?”
“No,” said Grey. “They weren’t your family. I know that. But you are still a Drood. The last one who can still give me orders.”
“Hold it,” said Molly. “Why didn’t the Droods order you to defend them when the Great Invasion started?”
“Because when it happened, I was in here. Working my way through the Library, looking for a way to break the chains of my conditioning. I didn’t know anything had happened until it was all over. When I finally emerged, the invaders had come and gone, and the Hall had fallen. I spent some time walking through the ruins, counting the dead Droods. I would probably have rejoiced, if such a thing had been in my nature.”
“Why didn’t you just leave?” said Molly.
“Because I could not leave Drood Hall without direct orders from a member of the family.” Grey looked at me meaningfully. “During my missions I was forbidden to speak to any outsider about who and what I really was and what had been done to me. When my work was over, I had no choice but to return to Drood Hall. To my prison, and the chains of my condition.”
“It’s hard to keep secrets in our line of work,” I said. “What if some outsider tried to help you?”
“In case anyone tried to take me away from the Droods, I was programmed to self-destruct,” Grey said steadily. “Your family really doesn’t like to share their toys.”
“Damn,” said Molly. “They had you blued, screwed, and tattooed.”
“You could say that,” said Grey. It fixed me with its dark gaze again. “I thought I was trapped here forever. You are my only hope, Eddie Drood.”
“Are you sure?” I said. “I’m not part of the family who put their controls inside your head.”
“You are a Drood. It is enough. Please, Eddie. I want to go home.”
“Of course,” I said. “What do you need me to do?”
“Speak the Words of unbinding. Say your name, and tell me I am free to go.”
“My name is Eddie Drood,” I said loudly. “And I declare the battle droid known as Grey free from all restrictions, and free to depart from Drood Hall.”
Grey seemed to stand a little straighter, as though some invisible weight had been lifted from its shoulders. I could feel Molly tensing at my side. I faced Grey squarely, ready to call on my armour if necessary. Just in case I’d gotten it wrong and released a monster from its cage. I wasn’t actually sure what I could do against a battle droid from the Twenty-Third Century, but I was ready to try. Because I had made it my responsibility. Grey laughed softly ins
ide my head.
“Relax. My makers never programmed me for revenge. It’s not in my nature. Thank you for your kindness, Eddie Drood.”
“You’re welcome,” I said.
Grey looked at me. “Don’t you want something in return?”
“No,” I said. “Just doing my duty to the family. You already helped me once, with the information about Moxton’s Mistake. And, anyway, setting you free was just the right thing to do.”
Molly nodded solemnly to Grey. “He’s like that.”
“I was correct,” said Grey. “You are a different kind of Drood, Eddie.” The tall, spindly figure hesitated, studying me with its dark gaze. “I scanned you automatically as you entered the Old Library. You do know you’re dying?”
“Yes,” I said. “I know.”
“Can you do anything to help him?” said Molly, her voice suddenly hopeful.
“I’m sorry,” said Grey. “I was never programmed for medical emergencies. Just killing and destruction.”
“Well!” I said, doing my best to sound positive. “This has all been very pleasant, I’m sure. Always happy to help out a soul in need and all that, but Molly and I still have to work out how to get back to our own world.”
“Hold your horses,” said Molly. “Let’s not rush into anything. I’ve been thinking about this.”
“Oh, that’s always dangerous,” I said.
“Edmund said he brought his poison with him from this world,” Molly said stubbornly. “That’s why your doctors couldn’t do anything. But there could be a cure here! Maybe somewhere in the Old Library, or the Nightside, or . . .”
“I’m more concerned with what my other self might be doing back home,” I said steadily. “All the people he might kill in my family.”
“Stop being so damned noble!” said Molly. “Think about yourself for a change!”
“You don’t get it,” I said patiently.
“Of course I get it! You’re worried Edmund might be walking around your Hall, impersonating you, doing anything! But do you really think they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference?”
“I can’t take the chance,” I said.
“Ethel would spot that he wasn’t wearing one of her torcs!” Molly said triumphantly.
“She should,” I said.
I thought but didn’t say, She didn’t spot the Immortal who disguised himself as a Drood and very nearly killed me. And she didn’t spot Edmund while he was in the Hall before, poisoning me. Even though she should have.
I’ve always suspected Ethel only tells my family what she thinks they need to know. For her own inscrutable reasons. There’s a lot about Ethel my family doesn’t understand. Hardly surprising, when you’re dealing with an other-dimensional traveller who might not even be real, as we understand the term. I realised Molly was still speaking and made myself pay attention.
“Of course, the Matriarch isn’t listening to Ethel at the moment,” said Molly, scowling heavily. “Though why she thinks it’s a good idea to pick a fight with the only one who can supply you with your armour . . . No, wait a minute—hold everything! Eddie, if this Hall’s Heart is gone, what’s powering Edmund’s torc?”
“The Immortals made him a new one,” said Grey. “Part of the price he demanded before he would agree to lower the Hall’s shields and protections and let them in.”
Molly looked at me for a long moment, as though bracing herself to ask a question she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer to.
“Eddie, what’s powering your torc, now we’re in another world and completely cut off from Ethel? Are you going to have to put on Moxton’s Mistake again, just to survive here?”
“No,” I said. “After what happened here the last time, Ethel made some changes. All our torcs now contain a reserve charge, to keep us going until contact can be reestablished.”
“How long will this reserve last?” said Molly.
“Long enough.”
“Eddie . . .”
“I don’t know exactly! It’s never been tested.”
Understanding dawned in Molly’s face, as she finally realised why I was in such a hurry to return home. Only the power in my torc was keeping me alive, slowing the relentless progress of the poison in my system. If the reserve ran out while I was still in this world . . . I would die, very quickly. Molly nodded stiffly, thinking hard.
“Edmund hates your family, whichever world he’s in. Passing as you, he could go anywhere he wanted in the Hall, and poison any number of Droods. Maybe even reach out to your family’s enemies and organise another Great Invasion.”
“Well done,” I said as lightly as I could. “It’s taken you a while, but you’ve finally caught up to what I’ve been worrying about ever since we got here. We have to get back to our Hall.” I turned to Grey. “Are you familiar with the Alpha Red Alpha mechanism down in the Armoury? Could you operate it?”
“Of course,” said Grey. “The Armourer liked to boast about his toys, but from a Twenty-Third Century perspective you people are working with flint knives and bearskins. I can work the mechanism and send you back to your own world.”
“You can,” said Molly. “But will you?”
“Of course,” said Grey. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“Could Alpha Red Alpha send you home?” I said. “Back to the future?”
“That is what I’m hoping,” said Grey. “After I’ve made a few simple adjustments.”
“If things don’t work out,” I said, “you’re welcome to join us at my Hall. You said it yourself: We’re a different kind of Drood. My family would make you welcome. You could have a home for as long as you wanted.”
“He does this,” Molly said to Grey. “He’s always picking up strays. You should see our dragon.”
“Let’s wait and see what happens,” said Grey.
• • •
Back down in the Armoury, the Alpha Red Alpha mechanism was standing right where we’d left it. Towering over everything else with magnificent disdain. Grey walked straight up to it and started manipulating what I really hoped were the controls with complete confidence. I tried to follow what Grey was doing, but had to stop because the decisions it was making made no sense at all to me. Just trying to follow its rapidly moving hands made my head hurt. After a while, Grey stepped back from the huge machine and looked it over with a proprietary air.
“Yes, that all seems straightforward enough. Just a matter of setting the right Space/Time coordinates.”
“How do you know what they are?” said Molly, trying not to sound too suspicious, but not trying all that hard.
“Edmund stored them in the machine’s memory,” said Grey. “He’s been going back and forth between this world and yours for some time.”
“So you can get us home?” I said.
“Oh yes,” said Grey. “Right now, if you want.”
Molly whooped loudly, jumped up and down, and punched the air. She grabbed hold of me, whirled me round, and hugged me tight. I hugged her back, grinning over her shoulder at Grey.
“This is another of those human things I’m never going to understand, isn’t it?” Grey said solemnly.
Molly let go of me and turned to face Grey. He took a step back.
“Please don’t hug me.”
Molly sniffed loudly. “Never even occurred to me.”
Grey made a quick series of final adjustments to Alpha Red Alpha and the air tore apart before us, forming a ragged dimensional Door. Fierce energies crackled up and down the uncertain edges. I peered cautiously through the gap, but all I could see was a grey haze of visual static.
“What if you’ve made an error with the coordinates?” said Molly. “What if that isn’t our world, exactly, but just something very like it?”
“The odds are you’d never spot the difference,” Grey said kindly. “I woul
dn’t worry about it, if I were you.”
Molly looked at me. “Is the Grey alien-robot thing joking?”
“I really hope so,” I said.
“It’s your world,” Grey said patiently. “The coordinates are exact to more decimal points than your limited minds could cope with. Now you really should go. I’m almost sure I know what I’m doing, but I don’t like the look of . . . certain things about this machine that I can see but you can’t, for which you should be very grateful.”
“I really would feel just a bit happier if I could see where we were going,” I said.
Grey sighed inside my head. “Perfectionist.” He made a few more adjustments. “How’s that?”
On the other side of the gap, the grounds outside Drood Hall stretched off into the distance. I looked back at Grey.
“That’s it? That’s as close as you can get us?”
“Apparently,” said Grey, looking thoughtfully at the huge mechanism. “Something is interfering with Alpha Red Alpha’s . . . thing that it does.”
“Could you be more condescending?” said Molly.
“If you like,” said Grey.
“Edmund’s done something at his end,” I said.
“Of course he has,” said Molly. “Let’s get back and punish him for it.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” I said. I nodded quickly to Grey. “Sorry, no time for good-byes. We have to be going.”
“Of course you do,” said Grey.
I jumped through the opening, being careful to avoid the crackling energies at the bottom in case they took my feet off. I landed awkwardly on the wide, grassy lawn, with Molly right behind me. The opening in the air behind us slammed shut and was gone. Familiar scents of grass and flowers and gryphon droppings filled the air, and it smelled like home. I looked around, smiling happily, and only then realised the grounds before Drood Hall were packed with members of my family. There was an awful lot of running around and general shouting going on.
“What the hell is everyone doing outside the Hall?” said Molly. “What’s happened here?”