The news broke a few days later, and then she understood at once. It seemed the scientists working on Haden, studying the Madness Maze from what they fervently hoped was a safe distance, had been keeping a secret. Ten thousand brave souls had passed through the Madness Maze some two hundred years earlier, only to die horribly— which was why the Maze had been placed off limits ever since. Only now, that turned out to be not strictly true. Twelve men and women had survived. Strangely gifted and completely insane, they were still alive after two centuries, confined to one special annex of the Maze.
Finally, the news had got out. The twelve were no longer a secret. Anne swore loudly. Of course Finn had to go to Haden, and see these people for himself. Because if people could go through the Madness Maze and survive, that changed everything.
Finn Durandal headed for Haden on the starcruiser Halcyon, captained by one Elspeth Wagner. Both she and the rest of the crew were Finn's people, loyal directly to him rather than to Pure Humanity and the Church Militant. Finn trusted them, in as much as he trusted anyone. He had to get to Haden first. He didn't want Church Militant fanatics anywhere near the Madness Maze or the twelve survivors. The Church demanded access to the Maze as a central part of their dogma, and this news would only inflame them. Finn needed to learn as much as he could, and then get the hell offplanet and slap down a major quarantine around Haden so that no one else could get in.
Knowledge was power.
As for Pure Humanity; God alone knew what those crazy bastards would do. Could you still be Pure, after you'd been through the Maze and it had worked its changes on you? Finn wouldn't put it past them to try to turn their transmutation engines on Haden. So, in and out, and then the quarantine.
Finn paced impatiently back and forth in his cabin as the fastest ship in the Imperial Fleet took him to Haden, that ancient and treacherous world of transformation and dark miracles—and apparently even more secrets than had been suspected. He studied the limited available information over and over again. Twelve survivors, out of ten thousand. All of them very powerful, all of them extremely insane. Still alive and thriving after two centuries of captivity. Finn owed his advance knowledge to the robots of Shub, who were repaying him for the access he'd got them to the Maze. Human scientists had chosen to keep the survivors secret, but the AIs of Shub didn't believe in witholding data.
It seemed the survivors exhibited powers and abilities far beyond any of the Empire's espers, and the then—King and Queen, Robert and Constance, had backed the scientists to the hilt when the news was first presented to them. They didn't want the survivors to be used as weapons by terrorists, or to give false hope to all those people still clamoring to be allowed into the Maze. Twelve crazy uber-espers were enough. Especially since they were all decidedly… disturbing.
Finn wasn't traveling alone. He'd brought with him one of his creatures from the Rookery, a certain Dr. Happy. However, since the good doctor was also in his own way pretty damned disturbing, Finn mostly insisted Dr. Happy remain in his own cabin, if only so he wouldn't freak the rest of the crew. Dr. Happy was a dealer in drugs and potions, as much alchemist as scientist, who'd raised altering states of consciousness to an art form. From love potions to battle drugs, uppers, downers, and the occasional trip sideways, Dr. Happy had more ways of messing with your brain than a butcher with a new cleaver and a really nasty sense of humor. The good doctor could make you feel any way he wanted, which included some emotions that had been considered purely theoretical until he came along. Dr. Happy could make you sing in colors, plait lightning, or speak in tongues with people who weren't even in the same time zone as you. For the right price, of course.
The man himself was unnaturally tall, unhealthily slender, and was never seen out of one of his severely stained white lab coats. He wore protective gloves at all times, and never touched his own stock. Probably because he didn't need to; he was born wired. He had a long thin face with a wide toothy grin, bulging eyes, and a shock of frizzy white hair that stuck out like a halo. His hair always looked like he tugged at it a lot, and his eyes changed color according to his mood. He giggled more than was acceptable, darted agitatedly around, and bit his fingernails savagely when he got excited. His eyeballs were yellow as urine, and his teeth weren't much better. He smelled of something antiseptic.
Finn brought him along in the hopes the good doctor would be able to come up with some extreme new drug to calm and/or control the twelve survivors—or failing that, the human scientists working with them. Finn felt very strongly that he didn't want any more surprises coming out of Haden. His alliance with the robots of Shub gave him some measure of control, but that wasn't enough. He wanted to slam the lid down hard on Haden and the Maze, and for that he needed Dr. Happy. That meant he had to spend some time discussing matters with the good doctor—a man so lacking in moral and ethical principles, or any form of restraint, that even Finn felt uncomfortable around him.
So he sat in his comfortable chair in his comfortable cabin, and sighed inwardly as Dr. Happy capered around him, examining everything with disquieting enthusiasm, giggling loudly and clutching his bony hands to his sunken chest. He hadn't wanted to leave his precious underground laboratory on Haden, but Finn had tempted him out with thoughts of the amazing new drugs he might be able to derive from the altered biochemistry of the twelve survivors. Plus, he would be allowed to treat the survivors with any drug he fancied, in doses that would undoubtedly kill a normal human—just to see what happened. Finn believed in experimentation, particularly on other people. And, Finn said that if Dr. Happy didn't come with him, he would kill the good doctor—right there and then. Dr. Happy believed him. People tended to believe Finn when he said things like that.
Dr. Happy spun round several times, gurgled loudly, and fixed Finn with goggling eyes. "Are we nearly there yet? No? Hey ho… I am so excited at the possibilities before us! I am! Such potential! Yes. I have always believed that esper abilities have their basis in biochemical patterns in the brain, but the oversoul would never allow me to experiment on any of their bodies… All right, I wanted to do it while the bodies were still alive, but… Wimps. Some people just don't appreciate the miracles of science. Oh, just let me at those twelve survivors with my scalpels and my genetic sequencers! Yes! From the deepest secrets of their various vitals I will concoct such potions as will push Humanity up the evolutionary ladder so fast it'll blow away all the rungs!"
"I hear you've been running experiments in the ship's med bay again," said Finn. "I thought we'd agreed that you were not to test any of your concoctions on members of the crew? And particularly not on anyone in navigation."
Dr. Happy stuck out his lower lip sulkily. "I have to keep my hand in, Sir Durandal. No one's died yet, have they? And I'm sure that nice young lieutenant will stop screaming any day now. I must practice my art, I must! Oh, my word, yes. I must be at my very best when I come face-to-face with the Madness Maze, and begin my greatest work." His eyes became dreamy as his long bony fingers tangled together, and his toothy grin became actually wistful. "Such miracles I shall work in the twisted minds and altered flesh of the Maze survivors! I shall change and transform the very nature of human consciousness, stretching it in undreamed-of directions. I shall warp consensual reality and storm the very barricades of Heaven and Hell! Yes!" He stopped abruptly and studied Finn with his head cocked to one side. "I do wish I could persuade you to try some small part of my inventory. Only the very broadest of perceptions will allow you to appreciate the probabilities inherent in the Maze and its creations. We must never allow our humanity to hold us back from what our ambition can conceive. Are you sure I can't tempt you to try a little something?"
"Quite sure," said Finn. "And if you try slipping something into my coffee again, I will remonstrate with you most severely. You do remember what happened the last time I had to remonstrate with you, don't you?"
Dr. Happy nodded sulkily. He remembered. "I still feel you overreacted somewhat."
"Just be gr
ateful there was a regeneration tank handy. Next time, I won't stop with your extremities. I might need you, but I don't necessarily need you intact."
The Halcyon came at last to Haden and took up a high orbit. The robots representing the AIs of Shub below teleported Finn and Dr. Happy down to the scientists' observation post, right on the edge of the Maze. Finn wasn't at all happy about entrusting his well-being to anyone other than himself, but he kept his concerns to himself. Partly because he needed Shub to see him as a trusted and trusting ally, and partly because he was so very eager to see the Maze and the survivors. Dr. Happy giggled loudly through the entire teleport experience until Finn hit him.
They materialized in what looked like just another steel-walled corridor in any scientific outpost, but they had to be there on Haden only a few moments to realize that they had come to a very strange place. Everything felt different, eerie, threatening. Finn's hand dropped immediately to the gun at his side. He could feel all the hairs standing up on his arms and the back of his neck, as though he'd just entered the lobby of a haunted house. Part of him wanted to turn and run and keep running, which was a shock to Finn. He'd never felt that way before, about anyone or anything. He pushed the feeling aside. He hadn't come this far to leave empty-handed.
Dr. Happy stood very still, gnawing on a fingernail, his eyes wider than ever. He was trying to smile, but his heart wasn't in it.
A human scientist in full blast armor came round the corner at the end of the corridor, and Finn almost shot him on sight. He made himself take his hand away from his gun. Whatever the threat here was, it definitely wasn't human. One of the blue steel robots from Shub came round the corner to join the human scientist, and Finn relaxed a little. If anyone understood the true nature of this unnatural place, it would be Shub. He walked forward, nodded courteously to the robot, and stuck out his hand to the human scientist, who shook it grudgingly. He was short and bald and scowling, and didn't look at all happy to have visitors.
"Welcome to Haden, Sir Durandal. It's an honor to meet you, of course, but I could wish it had been under happier circumstances. I have to tell you that I'm not at all happy about this situation. The existence of the twelve survivors was kept secret for good reason. But, Shub went over my head, so… What is that, behind you?"
"That is Dr. Happy," said Finn, not looking round. "And whatever disturbing thing he's doing, don't worry, because he's going to stop it right now. Unless he wants me to slap him silly."
"Charmed to be here," said Dr. Happy, blinking owlishly at the robot. "Absolutely charmed. Is there a toilet anywhere handy?"
"Shut up," said Finn. He gave the human scientist his best sincere look. "For better or worse, the cat is out of the bag, Doctor…"
"Dr. Ramirez. Well, if someone had to find out, I suppose I should be glad that it's someone like you who got here first. Let me show you around. And then maybe you'll understand why we kept our secret so long."
He led them off, back down the corridor and round the corner, into another identical corridor. "This is all part of the observation structure my predecessors built directly around the Maze, deep under the surface of Haden. Normally we don't come this deep and venture so close to the Maze itself, but the survivors can only be… appreciated, up close and personal."
"I take it the blast armor you're wearing isn't just a fashion statement," said Finn. "How dangerous is it, down here?"
"To your body or your soul?" Dr. Ramirez tried a laugh, but it wasn't very succesful. "We take every precaution we can when dealing with the survivors, Sir Champion. Theoretically, they're completely secure, but normal scientific theories tend to break down around the Madness Maze. You should be safe enough as long as you stick close to me, and don't do or touch anything without checking with me first."
"Is that your opinion too?" said Finn to the robots.
"Every worthwhile endeavor involves risk," said the AIs of Shub.
"I just know I'm going to love it here," said Dr. Happy.
Dr. Ramirez shook his head. "I knew we should never have agreed to Shub being involved here."
"Now, now," Finn said calmly. "You must learn to work alongside your Shub colleagues, Dr. Ramirez, or I will have you removed from Haden and replace you with someone who understands their duty to the Empire. At least Shub doesn't withold valuable information."
"That's not fair!" Ramirez said immediately. "We've shared every discovery that was safe to reveal. But if there's one thing we've learned the hard way in our time here, it's that we have to proceed with the utmost caution. Just being around the Maze is enough to drive perfectly reputable scientists crazy. This place gives you ideas… dangerous ideas. There's something about the Maze, about its nature…"
"We do not have to proceed so cautiously," the robot said. "The nature of the Maze does not frighten us, and these remote-controlled bodies can be exposed to any risk. They are easily replaced. Perhaps robots should replace human scientists completely, since humans are so physically and mentally weak."
"Boys, boys, don't fight," Finn murmured. "Still, the robot has a point, Dr. Ramirez. What have you been doing here, that justifies your continued presence?"
"Well," Ramirez said reluctantly, "we've been examining the remains of the abandoned Hadenman city nearby, and we've uncovered some startling new additions to Hadenman and Human history. At first, we were mostly concerned with recovering new technologies from the city, and indeed we still are, but just recently we stumbled across a stash of data crystals whose contents shed a whole new light on what we thought we knew about the origin of the Hadenmen. The basis remains the same; a group of Humanity's finest scientists came here long ago, and passed through the Madness Maze. Most died, horribly, but a few came out mentally transformed. These new intellectual giants made themselves into cyborgs, and became the progenitors of the Hadenman race, of infamous legend. But we now know one of these surviving scientists followed a very different path. She was already an esper before she entered the Maze, and when she came out her psionic abilities had been boosted and altered almost beyond belief. She had become Humanity's first uber-esper."
"What were the nature of her new abilities?" asked Dr. Happy, sounding almost sane for once.
"According to the data crystals, she had become an extraordinarily powerful telepath, capable of forcing other espers into a gestalt consciousness, which she could then dominate. Through the gestalt, all their powers became increased, and she was able to wield them all. She traveled the Empire, collecting other espers and absorbing them into her gestalt. The new Hadenmen followed her progress with fascination, but they were still human enough to be scared of her. When she had enough espers under her control, she returned to Haden and forced them all through the Madness Maze. The Hadenmen… kept out of her way. It also seems she used her powerful mind to drive all the other espers crazy, before putting them into the Maze. Perhaps she thought it would protect them. Perhaps she thought it would help her control them afterwards. Either way, most of the espers died, and the few that emerged… were monsters."
"We all have monsters within us," said Dr. Happy, blinking owlishly.
"How true," said Finn. "Do carry on, Dr. Ramirez."
"I think you know who I'm talking about," said Ramirez. "These monsters were the legendary uber-espers: the Shatter Freak, the Gray Train, Blue Hellfire, Screaming Silence, the Spider Harps. The terrible minds that run the Esper Liberation Front these days. The original uber-esper had intended to use the power of these minds to force all espers into one great esper consciousness, like our oversoul today, but under her control. But for the first time, her ambition exceeded her abilities. The pressure of so many minds fighting to be free destroyed her. The gestalt collapsed, the woman died, and what remained of her mind was sucked into the mass subconscious of the espers; later to emerge as the Mater Mundi. The other uber-espers disappeared, fearful of being controlled again, and developed their own agenda."
"Fascinating," said Finn. "Do you have any clues as to the iden
tity of this remarkable woman?"
"Yes," said the blue steel robot. "We have a name: Alicia VomAcht Deathstalker."
"Well," said Finn, after a while. "I didn't see that one coming. You've given me much to think about, Dr. Ramirez, but it's not why I came here. Where are the twelve survivors?"
"This way," Ramirez said reluctantly. He led them through more corridors, still talking. He sounded increasingly nervous. "The twelve survivors are kept in a holding area attached to the Maze. It appeared quite literally out of nowhere, an outgrowth of the Maze, because it was needed."
"There are those who have suggested the Madness Maze is alive," said Dr. Happy. "And quite possibly aware."
"It's alien," Ramirez said shortly. "It could be anything."
Dr. Happy clapped his bony hands together. "Oh, the possibilities…"
"All twelve are imprisoned behind force screens," said Ramirez, deliberately not looking at Dr. Happy. "The shields allow nothing in or out. We haven't been able to come up with anything that can affect these screens."
"Then how do you feed the survivors?" said Finn.
"We don't. They haven't eaten or drunk anything in two hundred years. And that's just the beginning of how… altered they are. I should warn you; you'll find just being this close to the Maze disturbing. You'll experience a constant feeling of being watched, and studied, or weighed in judgement. And not by the survivors. In this, as in everything else we do here, the Maze watches us all."
"Yes," said the Shub robot. "We feel it too. It is disturbing."
Finn shot a quick glance at the robot, and then decided not to pursue the matter. "Can we communicate with the twelve?"
"We can talk with them, but I don't know that what we get is actually communication." Ramirez shuddered suddenly. "We're almost there, Sir Durandal. Soon you'll know why we've kept these… abominations secret for so long. The force shields the Maze provides are a blessing, and a protection for all Humanity. It is my fervent hope that they will never be lowered. Or at least not until the rest of Humanity has evolved to a point where we have some hope of dealing with these creatures." He gave Finn a hard look. "I have to ask, Sir Durandal; what are your intentions towards the twelve?"