The Skane - Prologue The downpour was incessant.

Executive Anna Rossi idly watched the rivulets streaming down her window as her driver manoeuvred the car smoothly off the free-way. The Memorial security guard had all but ignored the entry pass flashed by her driver. He was satisfied by a scan of the Exec vehicle plates and having raised the barrier he waived the long dark car in through the main gate. Even through the rain Anna was aware of the approach to The Memorial and its surrounding man-made expanse. This was one of only a few places with a null data field which suppressed all electronic communications, supposedly to instil a sense of awe and reverence. In a dual sop to cost and the pace of events, the construction contract had been hurriedly awarded to a local firm which had also submitted the lowest bid. The instantaneous death of more than a thousand Texans had subsequently been immortalised in a functional polished granite island set adrift one of the largest tarmac plains ever constructed outside of an airport. Relatives of the deceased had complained and questions had even been raised in congress but their cries were long forgotten. The views of the bereaved had gone unheeded in the wake of events so shattering they had toppled several governments and nearly destabilised the United States. Anna sighed to herself, aware that most adults wanted to reap the benefits of the portal rather than be reminded of its tragic birth. The numbers of visitors to the Memorial had fallen year on year and in this weather the entire site was deserted. Nevertheless the null field was operating at full strength and she was acutely aware of all the greyed-out icons on her executive implant. Her driver eased the official vehicle to a stop in front of the rugged stone monument at the centre of the plain and switched the engine to charge. Rain thundered onto the roof of the car as the downpour intensified. A few minutes later a fourth generation Ford hybrid pulled up nearby and its sole occupant, a grey-haired man in a ragged rain coat got out. The designers of the memorial had not thought to provide any shelter so he pulled up his collar against the weather and stared expectantly at Anna's black Chevrolet. She exhaled deeply, shook her head and emerged from the air-conditioned safety of her car. Cassia, her dark-suited driver, stood as close as protocol permitted and adjusted the umbrella against the driving rain. Scarcely had the doors to the vehicle been closed before the man began shouting. ...six months since the last shipment... Six months! Even allowing for time displacement... His voice faltered as he caught her eye and he self-consciously adjusted the rain-Mac over his dishevelled lab-coat. Anna was broad and compact next to the rangy figure of the man but she held his gaze easily and pulled her coat tighter. How long have we known each other Paul? She took off her glasses and dried them with a small micro-fibre cloth. Beneath the heavy coat resting on her shoulders she was dressed in her customary black and muted slate colours. Cassia noticed a tiny memorial brooch discretely pinned to one lapel. Ever since... this he said spreading his arms indicating the memorial, his agitation contained for the moment. So you'll be aware that all I can tell you is that 'the UNP has been and will continue to monitor the situation.' Please Anna, don't just quote me the latest sound-bite. I need to know if something has happened to the portal. They've shut me out of the damn system, you know!? Me! There wouldn't even be a system without me. I was there from the beginning, they need my help. He locked eyes with Anna. I still have friends in the project. I know there's been problems... He ran his hand through wet greying hair.

The Skein

Rich Blackett

You've been under a lot of stress for a very long time. She glanced for the briefest of moments at Cassia and then gave a sympathetic smile to Paul. Decades of late-nights and overwork had furrowed his brow and sunken his cheeks distorting into caricature his once handsome face. I was NOT talking about me. I reviewed the data from before they locked me out and I don't think they know what they're up against. I hope you haven't just sent a diplomat and a few data-miners like you did to New Eden. I didn't come here to grovel with you and beg my way back in, things have changed, more than you know. I came to give you the terms under which I will consider rejoining. Anna stared at him. So you're.... Not completely without resources, I know where a lot of the 'bodies' are buried and I've got a lot of favours to call in. The underlying agitation was still there but he was almost smiling now. But once you realise what's actually going on you will be glad of all the help you can get. Paul, if you want back in, I can't help you. It was a board decision and out of my hands. And even if I could, somehow, get them to give you a second chance, meetings like this are not going to help your case. Your work made you a pariah, you're a hazard to yourself and to others. The colour was rising to her face. The fact is: people died. No matter how loyal your old friends might be, you're still the man who built... I built the future. No Paul, you built a soulless obscenity that killed six people. Anna shook her head, noticing Cassia's grip tighten on the umbrella. It was not fair on her to be hearing Paul behave like this, it had only been six months. She had humoured Paul enough and his dismissal of those deaths showed how detached from reality he had become in just a short time. This is all irrelevant, I... You've never lost anyone have you Paul? Anna cut him off before he disgusted her any further. What...? He stared at her, confused. None of those who died were your friends were they, just little pawns you sacrificed to justify your theories. She turned towards the car. He reached to stop her. There was blur of movement from behind Anna. Seconds later the man was in agony. The full force of Cassias knee was in his back while she twisted his right arm into a full lock with one hand and ground his face into the wet tarmac with the other. He flailed at her uselessly with his free arm. She cursed at him and tightened her grip rotating the arm until he cried out loud enough to be heard over the rain. Several metres behind them the discarded umbrella rolled in the wind. Let him go. Cassia paused at Anna's request and then relented. When she retrieved the umbrella and resumed her place by her employer she saw that Paul had not moved. Anna's face was a mask and after taking the umbrella she instructed Cassia to Turn him over... carefully. Cassia knelt down and rolled Paul over on the wet ground. One side of his face was twisted while his lips were
The Skein 2 Rich Blackett

moving silently as he reached again for Anna. You never did have the surgery did you? Anna said with no emotion in her voice. Ma'am, we need to get him to a hospital. Cassia's face was paler than usual as she loosened Paul's collar, and put her coat under his head I'm calling... Don't bother, there's no signal here, it's why I agreed to meet him, and why I brought you with me. She walked over and crouched down beside Cassia. Paul, you always were an arrogant fool. You probably hacked your implant 'cause you thought the warnings were a nuisance. He did not seem to hear her and continued to mouth silent words. Anna signed and kneeling down beside him she moved close to him to catch his words. ...the unity... we need the unity... the only way. Get your coat. Anna rose to her feet and walked towards the car. Minutes later they were heading away from the dead-zone and Anna's implant display began populating with missed calls, policy updates and diary requests. She ignored them and pressed the in-car intercom. Ma'am? Cassia said without taking her eyes off the road. It wasn't your fault. Really, it was a tragic accident. Yes ma'am Anna wondered how deep the Skane conditioning ran. After... what happened, he won't be missed. Yes Ma'am... I... Go on Cassia. Was he always... Was he always crazy and arrogant? Probably. He was brilliant for a time, back when no-one understood what had happened. He was the first to realise what the portal meant and how it would change everything. But the knowledge changed something in him and he kept changing until he was so different from who he'd been that... well it seems poor taste to rubbish a man we've just seen die in front of us but he was what he was. Yes Ma'am. And when the time came when he didn't have all the answers the craziness only got worse. I think the AI project was his last gasp at trying to be the smartest guy in the room. Cassia gripped the steering controls more tightly for a few minutes, until Anna broke the silence What did he say to you. Ma'am? Cassia's eyes were fixed on the road When I was getting into the car he said something to you, what was it?

The Skein

Rich Blackett

He asked if I was Skane, Ma'am.... She met Anna's eyes in the rear-view mirror. And...? ...and when I said 'Yes' . Yes? Anna leaned forward. He said 'Thank you.'

The Skein

Rich Blackett