(Disclaimers in the prologue)
The remainder of the group were summoned to meet their leader within Mercury's working chamber. The Transient leader described the meeting he had witnessed between Sapphire and Steel, and set out the final plan he and his brother had devised to convince Sapphire that she was now among her only friends. If things progressed well, she would be announcing her new allegiance from the rooftops by the end of the day.
The other true Transient was to play Silver. Sapphire retained a memory of his 'betrayal', thanks to Mercury's influence over the real Silver back on the Hub. She would have assumed by now that the Technician was working with the authority to destroy her and her partner. The false Silver would attend her room while she slept, waking her to catch her at her most vulnerable. Access to her power would be restricted by a concentrated effort from the remaining Transients, overseen by Topaz. Sapphire's time control, empathy and teleportation abilities would be dampened. She would be helpless.
Just at the point when destruction would seem inevitable to her, the leader was to burst in. He and the false Silver would struggle, putting on a good show for their captive audience, and finally the false Silver would be vanquished. Charged with new urgency, following this 'evidence' that their greater enemy had located them, the man would suggest to Sapphire that she make her defection from the organisation known. She would be frightened and vulnerable; she could not refuse.
Mercury was to remain out of sight, completing the gateway. Nitro was to work on Steel and convince him to offer a similar statement of loyalty to the Transients; he was already partly turned. It was clear now that the two agents could offer them no long-term usefulness; they remained too suspicious. Therefore, once the statements had been extracted and the damage to the organisation had been wrought, Sapphire and Steel were to be destroyed. The slim device originally provided by Mercury had been cannibalised for the gateway, but the duplication created by Silver and taken from Steel after the confrontation at the service station was intact.
The two agents would be sent back two hundred million years, to their extinction in the Triassic period, and the Transients would step through the gateway to achieve near omnipotence.
~~~
Sapphire was thinking.
When Topaz had spoken of the way Steel - and indeed Sapphire herself - had been retrieved from the café, she had made no mention of Steel's injury. Sapphire dwelt on the memory of the dirty bandage binding her partner's arm and shuddered. Surely if Steel had made an attempt on his own life following his violence towards her, then Topaz would have mentioned it!
Perhaps, he had made the attempt after being brought here, but even then, Sapphire considered, she should have been informed.
Sapphire sighed, slumped on her pallet. She was emotionally exhausted and remained deeply confused.
~~~
Steel's head spun with all the events of the last few hours.
When Sapphire had taken his hand, he had really thought that his old partner was back and the treacherous wanton of the last days had been banished. His ring had been back on her finger; she had seemed genuinely concerned for his well-being and as they had touched, his mind had so very nearly brushed against hers again.
With stern discipline, Steel reminded himself that the meeting was the result of some kind of plotting his former partner had undertaken with Silver. What she stood to gain from this touch was beyond him, but there had to be some ulterior motive.
Her voice, though; in stark contrast to the earlier meeting, Sapphire's voice had been rough and grating. She spoke as though she had suffered some injury to her throat, though there was not a single blemish on that slender white neck of hers. What had happened?
Why not ask her?
Steel smiled grimly to himself. The worst that she could tell him would be some more lies, and he was getting used to those. He stood up and left his room, heading in the direction of Sapphire's cell.
~~~
Silver paced up and down in Jet's retreat. Diamond slept on the floor, near the arch, his body lying straight and neat. Jet stirred occasionally on the settle.
He knew that the authority would not permit him to port with Diamond to the Transients' base. They would not risk another two agents. What his superiors' plans were, Silver couldn't say, but the Transients still needed to be dealt with.
His imagination ran away with itself. If he and Diamond could sneak into the base and retrieve the device, they might be able to get back and formulate a plan. Then the odds would swing in their favour. So, Silver surmised, he and Diamond would have to undertake a rogue mission. Perhaps once they had safely ported off the Hub, Jet could report their intentions.
Silver turned to the beautiful empath on the couch. Her eyes were open and were velvety black with empathic power.
[Don't even think about it,] she stated with warning into his mind.
~~~
The cell was empty.
Where, a short time previously, he had stood and conversed with his incarcerated partner, Steel now faced an unoccupied room. The forcefield which had kept Sapphire a prisoner had vanished. Steel wandered cautiously inside, sweeping the floor and walls with his gaze for a sign that Sapphire had made this cell her home for more than two days.
There was nothing.
The sound of footsteps in the passage outside startled him. Steel's lingering confusion made him cautious and he remained in the cell, pressed to one side of the doorway. As he listened, holding his breath, he heard an individual approach, before the sounds receded.
He risked a short glance around the wall, and Steel's stomach flipped. Silver walked away down the corridor, very much a free agent. The Technician proceeded down the passage as though he owned the place.
Steel ducked back into the cell and staggered into a corner, shrinking down into a crouch.
Silver was free.
Had he broken out? Or had he been released?
Either way, the higher authority might know the Technician's location. Silver may even be on his way to finish him off right now, Steel considered. Was this with the blessing of the Transients, or did they remain unaware of the Technician's escape?
Steel clutched his head, overwhelmed by the frustration of confusion. He needed desperately to understand what the Transients' intentions were. There was only one way to find out. He stood up and looked around the doorway. After he had confirmed that all was silent again, he slipped out of the cell and followed in the footsteps of Silver.
~~~
"I will not lose both of you, too!" Jet said firmly, as Silver attempted to convince her of the need to go freelance.
"You won't lose us!" insisted Silver. "Look, we're dealing with Transient Beings. If they are not recaptured then all worlds, all dimensions are at risk!"
"There are higher authorities than ours who can intervene, if life is threatened!"
"And when was the last time you saw them 'intervene'? Come on, Jet, you know how it is! All Diamond and I want to do is a little surveillance, case the joint."
Jet narrowed her eyes. "Don't lie to me, Silver, you were thinking about breaching the Transients' base and retrieving a device!"
"All right, I was thinking about it! But I know it's a little bit optimistic. Really, I just want to watch Diamond's back as he tries to ascertain the status of our two agents."
"One agent. One. Singular. Steel is dead," bit Jet, disguising her grief with anger.
"We don't know that for sure!"
"I know it." Jet caught Silver's dubious glance. "I do!"
"Whatever you say," sighed Silver. "When Diamond wakes up, we'll discuss this with him."
~~~
Steel followed Silver until he took a side corridor and vanished from sight. He continued to track the Technician, glancing cautiously around the corner in time to see him trying the door at the end.
This passageway again ...
Steel remembered the tantalisingly brief warmth of Sapphire's connection before Topaz had found him and led him away. Sapphire had to be in that end room. Why was Silver paying her a call? Were the Transients permitting conjugal visits?
Again, there was only one way to be sure. Creeping silently, Steel progressed down the passage behind Silver.
~~~
Sapphire slept, and once again came the dreams. To sleep was a relief, because it was the closest she came to reestablishing the connection with her partner. She smiled gently as she slumbered, and did not notice the way the door to her room began to edge open.
~~~
"I'm already awake," said Diamond. Sardonically, he opened a single eye and used it to glare accusingly at this two companions. "How can I sleep with you two yelling at each other?"
"Sorry Diamond," muttered Silver, sheepishly. He studied his shoes as the empath climbed to his feet.
"I'm going to see our leaders," Diamond offered, straightening his jacket. "I think it's about time we got some answers about how they intend to deal with the Transients. If those answers don't convince me otherwise, I am then going to port Silver and myself to Cumbria."
Silver glanced at Jet, who looked about to argue, but then closed her mouth.
"You coming?" Diamond tossed over his shoulder, and he strode out of the retreat.
~~~
"Sapphire?"
A voice broke through her dreams, a softly spoken, seductive voice which oozed familiarity. Sapphire stirred slightly.
"Wake up Sapphire!"
Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around, her mind and reactions befuddled with sleep. In front of the door, stood Silver.
Sapphire jerked herself into a sitting position immediately. Her eyes widened with shock.
"Silver!"
"Ten out of ten!" The Technician moved closer, pausing when Sapphire edged away. "Now, Sapphire, is this any way to greet an old friend?"
"I don't understand," Sapphire muttered. Her mind told her to fear this agent's presence, and his very manner was malevolent. "What are you doing here?"
"Doesn't matter," shrugged Silver. "What matters is that I am here, and I've missed you."
"Don't come any closer!" demanded Sapphire, her bruised throat contracting even more with fear. She struggled to rise to her feet and backed away as Silver continued to slowly approach. "I'm warning you!" Damning Topaz's earlier cautions to avoid using her power, Sapphire reached for her talent, preparing to freeze this intruder.
But the taint was all around her and she couldn't break through.
~~~
Steel reached the door and cautiously placed his ear upon it. From inside the room he heard two voices; Sapphire and Silver.
"Come along, Sapphire, I think you've forgotten your manners! Maybe you've spent too long in the company of Steel!"
"You're working with them!" Sapphire accused.
Steel frowned. This was an unlikely conversation for two conspiring lovers to be having.
"Them? Do you mean the Transients?"
"No I do not mean the Transients! The higher authority!"
"Oh, found me out, have you?"
Steel backed away from the door. He had hoped that a spot of eavesdropping might clarify some of his confusion, but it was becoming intensified. Of course Silver worked for the higher authority!
But didn't Sapphire, as well?
Steel considered entering the room. Sapphire did sound very distressed. But then again, perhaps it was another trap. He shook his head in despair. Assignments were usually so simple; the enemy was obvious and they just had to find the best way of dealing with it. Here, he could not tell the difference between friend and foe.
Steel staggered away, returning to the main corridor. He would find Nitro and inform him of Silver's liberty. If Nitro was shocked about this, then that would prove that the Transients were allies. If not, then Steel would be certain that he had no friends left at all.
~~~
The central chamber was empty, but when Diamond sent a message to the authority a figure pulsed into view in the left hand alcove.
"Diamond?" it questioned.
"I need some answers," the empath demanded.
"Can this wait? We're a little bit busy at the moment."
"No it can't wait! Give me one good reason why I should ignore the danger my friends are in for a moment more! Persuade me that the Transients pose no threat to all life and order! If you can do that, I'll leave, but otherwise I want to hear about what we are going to do!"
The figure paused for a moment, and Diamond shifted uncomfortably beside his two friends.
"Your assistance has been invaluable," the figure finally sighed. "But the matter is now out of your hands. This last sortie is our responsibility alone."
"So you are actually doing something?"
"Diamond, we are faced with the freedom of the Transient Beings. Everything we know and rely upon is in peril. Do you truly imagine we would ignore this matter?"
"Then tell us!" insisted Diamond. "We may be able to help you. We want to help our friends!"
There was another pause as the figure appeared to consider.
"Very well. Join us in the ancillary chamber."
With that the alcove winked again into darkness, and the three friends looked at each other with confusion.
~~~
Steel burst into his room to see Nitro inside.
"Hello Steel, I've been looking for you!" the former specialist said jovially. "Where have you been?"
Wondering where he could possibly start, Steel leaned against the wall and recovered his breath.
"I've been to Sapphire's room," he finally ventured. Nitro's expression flickered and Steel knew he had struck a nerve. "That's right, not the cell with the barrier; the real room at the end of the side corridor." He drew a breath, afraid to blink in case he missed any expression on his companion's features. "Did you know Silver is free?"
~~~
Silver had backed Sapphire into the far wall and stood pressed against her, invading her personal space. Her breath came in rapid, sharp gasps. Silver's eyes looked wrong; somehow cold, cruel and malicious. They bored into her skin, leaving her exposed and violated.
Sapphire was terrified.
"Aren't you going to call out to your friends?" her assailant murmured, rubbing his body against her own.
"They are not my friends!" Sapphire replied defiantly, feeling very alone.
"I'm afraid that, right now, they're the only friends you've got!" suggested Silver, raising a hand and tracing Sapphire's jawline. "But that's all right. If you don't want to call for them, I understand. If you like this, I understand. It's my primary intention to make you feel good, sweet Sapphire, before I have to hand you over. There should be some pleasure before the pain."
Sickened by the sight of Silver's satisfied smile, Sapphire regained some composure. She waited until the most advantageous moment and then brought her knee up sharply into his groin. Although the damage was minimal, Silver fell back sufficiently to allow her some swing on an elbow, which she jabbed viciously into his abdomen. Silver staggered away, bent double, and Sapphire bolted for the door to her room. She grasped the handle and pulled.
The door did not budge.
Confused, Sapphire frowned at the handle. There was no lock on this door, and it opened inwards so nothing could be blocking it outside. She tugged again, but still it would not move.
A moment later she felt Silver's hand grasp her shoulder and found herself spun around and thrown to the pallet.
~~~
The Transient Leader, still hanging on to the door handle in the corridor, watched the scene play out through his brother's eyes and smiled his pleasure.
~~~
The ancillary chamber was busy, as Silver and his friends entered. The three figures were inside, surrounding another individual, standing stiffly to attention. His suit was a dull grey, his hairless skin ash black. He was the largest individual in the room by far, and his eyes glowed colourlessly with some lethal power.
Silver gasped as he recognised Plutonium.
"Are they crazy, they've involved the transuranics!" hissed Jet to one side, as she made the same connection.
Diamond was called forward by their leader. Silver watched his friend approach cautiously and discuss something in a low voice. The empath then motioned to Jet and whispered in her ear. Silver began to grow agitated. He did not understand what was happening.
When Jet and Diamond joined hands, he realised that they were creating a port. Silver assumed it was to the Cumbrian base. Once they had readied the way, they pulled apart slightly, watching nervously as the authority manoeuvred Plutonium into a position beside them.
Silver realised he was holding his breath.
Plutonium pointed with his arm to a position in between Jet and Diamond, glancing to one side for confirmation that it was accurate. The leader nodded once, and the transuranic's eyes glowed more brightly still.
As Silver watched in silence, Plutonium's body caught the glow from his eyes. Sparks crackled all over him, surging to the arm he held aloft. One of the figures materialised beside Silver and offered a reassurance telepathically.
<The plan is proceeding smoothly. Plutonium has offered no difficulties.>
[What's happening?] asked Silver, uncomprehending.
<Do you remember when Topaz first defected? How concerned we were in the organisation, that she might be the first of many?>
[I remember. The mass exodus didn't exactly happen, though.]
<Even so, at the time we couldn't be sure. So, we planted a sleeper within the Transients' group. And now we're going to wake him up.>
~~~
It was just as Steel had feared. When he had mentioned Silver to Nitro, the former specialist hadn't looked the least bit surprised. This whole setup had to be one massive conspiracy!
No more words were exchanged. Steel couldn't bring himself to speak, and Nitro seemed to understand that the deception was over. The two men simply stared at each other in silence.
Steel recalled that Silver had threatened Sapphire. He was still unsure how to reconcile this with the display of passion in the café, but the last hours had seen him move away from logical thought and on to instinct. There were too many lies here. He had to stop trying to analyse everything.
His instincts told him to protect Sapphire. Steel was about to turn and run to do just that, when all hell broke loose.
~~~~~~~
Continued in Chapter 13
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