Stage two, then,erentz said. she brought her flare launcher up, aiming it at the gap. Lets see if this exposes anything.
We shouldnt rush into this,dariat said quickly.
Fine,the personality interjected. As you cant see anything from outside, and you dont want to use the flare, why dont you just go in there and take a look around.
It might think the flare is some kind of weapon,dariat said.
Then what do you suggest?
Im just saying, thats all. It doesnt hurt to be prudent.
Weve taken every precaution we can. Erentz, use the flare.
Wait!right out on the very edge of visibility, there was a perturbation in the curtain of darkness. Faint shadow-shapes moved sinuously, the surface distortion of something stirring deep inside. The blackness started to recede from him with the leisurely speed of an outgoing tide, uncovering the edges of the apartment.
His mind was aware of Erentzs finger tightening on the launchers release trigger. Determination in her mind not to come back without some useful information on the visitor.
No. Dont . . .
The flare streaked across the vestibule, a searing-white magnesium blaze that punctured the pseudoveil across the gap. Dariat looked directly into the shattered apartment.
Paradoxically, the new strength it had gained was weakening the Orgath as a whole. As it absorbed the life-energy contained within the stream of liquid, its once-quiescent riders began to rise out of their unity. It was no longer a singleton. The collective which had originally formed the Orgath was separating. Before, they had bound their meagre scraps of life-energy together, a synergistic combination which had allowed them to fly free of the mlange. Together, they had been strong. Now there was more than enough life-energy to make them strong individually. They had no real need for each other any more.
Physically, they remained in the same place. There was no reason to move. Quite the opposite. They needed to stay and consume the life-energy which would finally allow them their independence. That ultimate condition hadnt yet been achieved, though it was very close now. Already the Orgaths physical composition was changing in anticipation of the splendid moment. Internally, it had begun to compartmentalise; dividing in a mockery of biological cell multiplication, with each section attaining a unique shape. The Orgath had become a womb for a dozen different species.
Then it sensed the two entities approaching. Their flames of life-energy were too small and weak to be worthy of any active intervention. The liquid supply of life-energy was far more enriching than any it would gain by devouring individuals. The Orgath simply coiled the darkness protectively around itself and carried on consuming.
And Erentz fired the flare into the apartment. Dariat saw the vast bulk of the Orgath clinging to the far wall, a sagging glossy-black membrane with flabby protuberances that pulsed in discordant rhythms, as if something was scrabbling round underneath. Tentacle-like bands of raw muscle were wound round it so tightly they quivered with tension.
The flare smacked into a wall, bounced, dropped to the frost-sprinkled carpet where its started to burn through into the polyp. Heat and light drenched the apartment in equal proportions. The Orgath could ward off the light, but not the heat. That penetrated right through its fractions, bringing a wave of pain with it.
Dariat watched the Orgath peel apart like segments of rotting fruit as it fell off the wall. A torrent of ice-frothed sludge poured out of two puncture holes it had been suckling from. The thick bubbling tide swept a grotesque menagerie of malleable creatures across the floor before it. They tottered and rolled chaotically in the dimming light, churning up the slough. Multi-jointed legs scrabbled round in the same fashion as a newborn deer attempting to stand. Damp wings fluttered ineffectually, flinging off fantails of sticky droplets. Mouths, beaks, and gullets pumped and gasped in silence.
Oh fuck,dariat moaned. the habitats affinity band was stunned into mortified silence as he shared his vision with everybody.
Erentz started to back down the vestibule, fear sending cold shivers along her limbs. The flare sputtered and died, sending up a final spiral wisp of smoke. Just before the light vanished, Dariat thought the creatures were solidifying, their skin hardening. In the darkness, he heard a clack as might be made by teeth in an excessively large jaw snapping shut. Dizziness struck him like a rubber truncheon. He staggered away from the apartment, almost unaware of Erentzs suit lights bobbing about wildly as she started running.
Move, Dariat!the level of worry in the personalitys plea goaded him into taking a few shaky steps. Come on, boy. Get the fuck out of there.he took a few more steps, sobbing in frustration at the weakness that had infected his spectral limbs. Lodging in his mind, though not through the gateway of affinity, was an awareness of the visitors stupendous hunger.
Dariat had stumbled on for several metres before he even realized he was going the wrong way. Wretched despair produced a pitiful growl in his throat. Anastasia, help me.
Come on boy. She wouldnt want you to give up, not now.
Angry at the injustice of her memory being used against him, he glanced over his shoulder. Erentzs lights were almost out of sight as she raced away. He saw a halo of darkness eclipse the thin slices of fading light behind him. His legs almost gave out at the sight.
Keep going. Ive got you a way out.
He took a couple more fumbling steps before the personalitys words even registered. Where?
Next lift shaft. The door is jammed open.
Dariat could see very little now. It wasnt just the lack of light, his vision was misted with grey. Only his memory placed the lift shaft for him, and that was being reinforced by the personality. Four or five metres ahead, and on his left.
Hows that going to help?he asked
Simple, the lift is stalled ten stories down. You just jump. Land on top, and walk through the door. You can do that, youre a ghost.
I cant,he wailed. You dont understand. Solid matter is hideous.
While the visitor right behind you is . . . what?
Sobbing he ran his hand along the wall, and found the open lift door. The visitor was sliding smoothly and silently towards him; chilling him further. He sank to his knees, perched right on the edge as if in prayer.
Not ten stories. Thatll kill me.
Exactly which of those solid bones in your transparent body do you think youll break? Listen to us you little shithead, if you had any scarp of decent imagination at all youd just float up to the lobby. Now JUMP!
Dariat could actually sense the polyp dying all around him as the visitor swept towards him. Lady Chi-ri, help me.he topped over the lip and into the eternal lift shaft.
Erentz sprinted as hard as she could back down the vestibule. Something was stopping her frantic muscles from delivering their best. She felt feeble. She felt nauseous. The rucked carpet did its devious best to trip her.
Keep going,the personality implored passionately.
She didnt actually look round. Didnt need to. She knew something was coming after her. The floor was vibrating as a heavy body pounded along. Strident screeches were repeated again and again as some claw or fang ripped across the polyp. And cold was penetrating her suit as if there was no insulation at all. Without ever looking back, she waved the laser pistol behind her and fired off a series of wild shots. They had no apparent effect on her pursuer.