The Soldier: Rise of the Jain, Book One by Neal Asher

Author:Neal Asher [Asher, Neal]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Published: 2018-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

ZACKANDER

Zackander powered up the lower sphere of his body and ran diagnostics to ensure it was now free of the sequestering programs the soldier had sent to all the Cyberat. As his search ran, he looked at the brace he had put around his broken forearm and then at the bruises all over his body. His neck still hurt from when his own lower body had rammed him into a wall. Luckily he trusted his grafts somewhat less than the younger generation, and had retained an off switch.

Soon, those of the Cyberat who had not been in the Cube or its vicinity started getting back into contact, and Zackander began analysing what they understood had happened. He was relieved to discover that, apparently, all they knew was that a legate had come to their world and some kind of drone had destroyed the Cube. They did not know that Zackander had been incubating a Jain super-soldier—they did not know where it had come from.

“This Angel brought that thing with him?” said the Cyberat before him.

Doshane’s upper torso sat upon the metallic body of a spider, but one armed with prador Gatling cannons on each side. The man had a military turn of mind, and Zackander might have been able to utilize him earlier had he been given the time. It was good that he hadn’t, else the man would have understood Zackander’s responsibility for what had happened here.

“Yes, he did,” Zackander lied.

“What did he want?” asked Doshane.

“Jain artefacts from my collection,” Zackander replied. “I was prepared to deal but then he attacked. I have no idea why.”

“And why did his own ship turn on him?”

“Again, I don’t know why,” said Zackander, and in this case he really didn’t. Maybe the Jain soldier had seized control of the ship? “Maybe another party was involved and there was a falling out. All I do know is that this legate must be dealt with.”

And fast, before he has a chance to speak . . .

“And then we must clear up the mess,” said Doshane. “We’ve lost many citizens. We have lost the Cube, a defence station and numerous satellites.” He paused, intense. “The U-space research facility survived and perhaps it is time to employ it for . . . its other use.”

“You mean disrupt U-space and stop anything else arriving,” said Zackander.

“Yes—it will give us time to recoup.”

Zackander felt he was getting away from the point. “But first this legate—we must eliminate the dangers here.”

“Yes, that we must do,” said Doshane. “We are gathering. My own robot soldiers are on their way and the others are providing what they can. We will be at the predicted impact site within four hours—presuming that sphere does not alter course.”

“I will meet you there,” said Zackander.

Doshane nodded smartly and his image flickered out.

Zackander let out a tight breath. He glanced around his ship home and considered what he would have to do. His main home was gone now along with all the work he had been doing there, but he still had other Jain artefacts and he still had his life.

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