Reaching the lift, he stepped in and said, “All the way up.”
“Oi, look at that!” Kostya said, pointing at the looming pyramid.
“What’s happening?” Tyoma said. Air cars were suddenly zooming out from the middle of The Pyramid like tracer fire he’d seen in war vids.
“They just keep coming,” Kostya said.
“Down there.” Tyoma pointed at the black maw of a lower parking entrance. “No one’s using that one.”
Kostya adjusted the car’s flight. They watched in fascination as the cars continued to boil out of the casino. “I hope Tyoma’s not a part of whatever spooked them. Oh, sorry! It’s hard to figure out how to speak about you when there are two of you.”
Tyoma smiled. “I can imagine. We need to come up with a nickname for me.”
Kostya studied him for a few moments. “How about meathead?”
Tyoma laughed. “You’re a shit, you know that?” He said it with affection. “Maybe you should call me Bunny. It’s what the gangster kept calling me.”
Now it was Kostya’s turn to chuckle. “Bunny? That’s a good one. You look anything but fuzzy and lovable.”
“Anyhow, you suggested I act like whomever this guy was, so if they called him Bunny, might as well stick with it. For now at least.”
The air car zipped through the garage entrance and slowed to a crawl. Most parking spaces were full, but there were some free ones farther from the door that led into the building. Kostya settled the car into one and the pair got out.
“Okay,” Tyoma said, “I’m going to play the mute once we’re around anyone in there. What reason are you going to give for hanging around with me?”
“We can say we’re going to pick up a wounded prisoner. Tyoma said they’re holding him hostage for General Andreykin.”
“The general is involved in this?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you everything once we get the real you and get the hell out of here.”
The door opened onto a corridor that ran left and right. Tyoma wrinkled his nose at the smell. To the right came the sounds of slot machines, clinking glasses, and lots of talking people. The corridor to the left had a small tube lift in one wall.
“This way,” Kostya said, pointing at the lift. “Tyoma’s in a basement somewhere.”
“Give him a call. Let him know you’re here.”
“Already on it.”
They entered the lift, though Tyoma’s bulky frame made it cramped and stuffy. Kostya tilted his head to one side.
“What’s he saying?” Tyoma said.
“He’s not sure what level he’s on. He’s consulting the AI.”
“The what?”
“I told you, I’ll explain later. Anyhow, he’s got it now.” To the lift speaker he said, “Subbasement six.” They began to descend.
“Ah, you’ve deigned to join us at last!” Viktor said, his death’s head mask grinning as always but his normally blue eyes flashing red.
The steel door slid down behind Tavik as he strolled into the penthouse suite. “You know where I’ve been.” He propped the stun rifle against one side of an armchair and, holding his ribs, lowered himself into it with a sigh.
“Yes,” Viktor said, “off letting a little girl get the best of you and your men. All day long! Look at your face.”
“Those combat cards are more effective than any of us imagined,” Tavik grumbled. “Plus she’s one lucky bitch.” He glanced around at the room’s other occupants, recognizing five of the seven armed guards. “You planning for an invasion?”
“You saw what she did downstairs. I watched you come in on the monitors. She shouldn’t be able to get past my door, but there’s no need to take chances. Who knows what surprises lurk in that card’s programming?”
The steel door slid up again and three more guards entered and took up positions around the room.
“You’re leaving all the other floors defenseless,” Tavik said.
“I don’t give a damn about any other floors right now. This one is all that matters.”
“She took the north lift. If she tries going all the way up, she’ll come out on the floor below us.”
Viktor’s eyes turned blue again. “Perhaps I should send you down to give her a warm reception? Why is your wireless off? I’ve been trying to call you for hours.”
“Didn’t Boris tell you?”
“He told me you ordered him to turn his off. Something about…it didn’t make any sense.”
“Zoya has some strange allies,” Tavik said. “A fat American fucker and his father. I have no idea how they’re involved in this except that they want to find the scientists. The father is able to get into your head through the wireless, break right in somehow. Says he can kill you.”
“Kill?”
“I didn’t believe him either. Then he very nearly turned my brain to mush. You wouldn’t believe the pain…” He looked at Viktor’s mask again. “…well, maybe you can, but—”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing being possible,” Viktor said. “We need that kind of technology. The things we could do with it…”
“Yeah, well…”
“This American has been in touch with us. He told us where to find Zoya and led Boris to them. His method for communicating with us was surprising, but at the time he wasn’t in the mood for explaining how he managed it. Just wanted to cut a deal. Next time he calls I’ll insist on a meeting.”
“Good luck with that,” Tavik murmured. “So you want me downstairs?”
“No, stay here,” Viktor said. “I’ll send the war bot.”
Tavik jumped up. “No, boss! We don’t need to kill her. She’s just a girl with a card. Give me a couple guys with stun rifles and—”
“What’s with you?” Viktor said. “Since when have you ever cared how we treated our guests?”
Tavik felt his face flush. “I…it’s just…well, I like Zoya. We stun her, get the card, there’s no need to off her.”
Viktor laughed. “Our very own Romeo. You think that after everything that’s happened today this girl will have anything to do with you?”
“She’ll come around,” Tavik said. “I’ll tuck her away in a safe house until she sees the light.”
“No!” Viktor’s eyes flashed red. “She’s embarrassed our organization enough. I paid a lot of money for that war bot; I want to see it earn its keep. If she somehow manages to get to us here, then you can try out your fucking stun gun.”
The big guard was back, followed by a hovering chair. Tyoma had been hovering on the edge of sleep until the door hissed open.
“We’re gonna get you out of here,” the guard said. “Boss wants us all upstairs.”
“What for?” Tyoma said. “Has the general come back already?”
“Viktor doesn’t tell me shit. He said get upstairs fast, so that’s what I’m doing.”
“You sure you’re supposed to bring me?”
The guard paused at this as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him. He shook his head. “Didn’t say, but I was told not to let anyone near you. No one took back that order, so you’re coming with me.”
The guard looked at the floating chair and pointed at a spot near Tyoma. “Over here, chair.”
The chair aligned itself next to Tyoma’s gurney.
“All right,” the guard said, “I’m gonna lift you over. Don’t do anything stupid or you’ll lose the other knee.”
“What am I going to do?” Tyoma replied. “I’m sixty-nine years old and I make you nervous?”