Page 65 of Scion

“What about Crimson?”

“Decapitated by a Hed.”

Smug Exec frowns. “By… a head? What?”

“No, by a Hed. By… de Alwes’s biosecurity.” I really wanted to let him stay confused, there, because it would have annoyed him to no end, but the words spill out anyway.

“Ah. Crazy old bat.” He nods his understanding. All cheerful, calm self-assurance as he examines me. Like I’m some sort of project that’s been brought in for his approval. “I didn’t think you were good enough to beat Crimson. It do that to your hand?”

“No it was the other way around, actually. But then I did it to mine as well, just in case you knew.” Damn. Apparently they didn’t know. That’s unfortunate.

“Ah.” A little more uncertainty in the response this time. A slight backing away before he recovers. “Well. Come along then. I need you to verify all this to my betters before we finish up with disposal.”

“Any chance we can do the verifying, but skip the disposal?” I know I should be panicking at this point, and I think maybe something deep down inside is, because I’m not feeling great. Certainly worried. Maybe even a touch dismayed.

He smiles sadly at me. “No, Azure. I am afraid not.” We walk up the stairs, trailed by the two Argoses. Smug Exec taps a few times on the terminal; suddenly the massive screen flickers to life, and a bored-looking man in another, possibly even more expensive, suit appears.

“Jasa de Alwes is dead, sir.” Smug Exec motions to me. “Tell him, Azure.”

“Jasa de Alwes is dead,” I agree to the screen. “And can I just say, your ears are enormous. Like an elephant’s. A Reconstruct would go a long way toward—ow.”

The man—his ears are pretty big—scowls as Smug Exec slaps me hard in the back of the head. “Azure, you are only to speak to answer questions.”

I don’t say anything more, despite wanting to. I do, however, do my best to tell him with my eyes how displeased I am.

“De Alwes is dead. Confirmed,” Big Ears says, twisting and tapping away on another terminal next to him. “Crimson?”

“Dead too.”

“Hm. A shame to lose two assets. This one can’t be reset?”

There’s an odd pause, and then Smug Exec shakes his head. “De Alwes’s work indicates the malleability period was too long ago. She postulates—”

“Fine.” Big Ears waves a hand tiredly. “Disposal, then.”

The screen returns to NO Q-VID CONNECTED.

“Well. That was easy,” says Smug Exec, stretching. “Now, Azure. Please follow me to the incinerator. It’s not far.”

My feet are just beginning to aim me after him when in the corner of my vision, the screen flickers to life once again. Smug Exec, ahead of me, turns. His brow furrows. He stares for a long second at the image. Apparently very, very confused.

I roll my eyes to the side enough to see a craggy face, far too close to the camera, leering down at us.

“Hello, Azure dear,” says Jasa. “Lachrymose effulgent hippopotamus.”

NOBODY MOVES OR SAYS ANYTHING for a long, confused second. I realise at least a part of what’s just happened at roughly the same time as Smug Exec, who’s starting to look decidedly less smug. “Sonder apricity defenestration.” He begins backing away from me. “Sonder apricity defenestration!”

I take a cautious step forward. And then another. Then smile slowly at him.

“I’m afraid Azure’s just consciously processed the stand-up code,” Jasa explains apologetically through the q-vid screen to the increasingly terrified man. “You’re just saying nonsense words now.”

“It does sound a bit weird when you keep repeating it like that,” I agree to Smug Exec, cracking my knuckles.

“Callipygian peregrinate psithurism.” It comes out as a little gasp from the man. Immediately to his sides, the Argoses stir.

Ah. “Limerance petrichor… clinomania?” I say quickly.

The Argii clomp menacingly toward me.