Chapter 11

Once Edison had carried Bryce over to the bed and had made sure he was as comfortable as possible, he called Network 23.

Murray answered the vu-phone on his desk. "Edison," he said.

Before Murray could ask anything, Edison spoke. "Bryce is deteriorating rapidly, Murray. He can't see, he's paralyzed and when he tries to speak, it sounds like he had a stroke."

"Theora and I will be over as soon as we can be," Murray said. "Janie's in the field right now, and she's covering a rather dangerous assignment."

"It's not right," Edison said. "Bryce shouldn't have to go through this… humiliation."

"Edison…" Murray began.

"You haven't seen the shame in his eyes," Edison remarked, tears threatening to fall. "There's part of him that remembers what he once was. And it's heartbreaking to see how that part of him reacts to what he's become."

"I can't pretend to personally understand," Murray admitted. "I don't think any well person can ever understand something like that."

Edison nodded. "Come as soon as you can."

Edison disconnected and Murray returned to Theora's control desk.

"How's Janie?" he asked, morosely, his mind on Bryce's condition more than what was going on at work.

"What's wrong?" Theora asked. Then a terrible thought hit her. "Has Bryce…?"

"Not yet," Murray told her.

"Theora!" Janie cried out. "We've got a situation down here. We've got about fiftty men who just arrived in yellow and green flack jackets."

"ZLin troops," Murray told them. "My guess is they're itching for a fight with Zik Zak."

"Anyone remember when corporate competition didn't involve guns?" Theora wondered aloud.

"That was almost two decades ago," Murray pointed out. "Let's get this wrapped up so we go and see Bryce."

Theora nodded. "Janie, are you in a safe location?"

"I think so," Janie said through her vidicam link. "I can see them, but I don't think they can see me. Uh oh…. I think I spoke too soon."

Another voice could be heard over the link.

"Put the camera down, woman," it said. It was a man's voice with a slight accent.

Murray and Theora exchanged looks.

"Zlin soldier," Murray said. "Dammit. I'll call Edison and let him know we can't make it."

"I wanted to see Bryce," Theora agonized. "If he dies and we're not there."

"Theora," Murray explained, "we know Bryce is definitely going to die. But if we stay here, we could save Janie."

Theora took a long calming breath before saying "You're right, Murray," in a regretfully but determined tone.