Kaleidocide Read Online Free

Min,” I said. “And tell the men coming up the steps to stay outside.” The giant’s head turned slightly toward me, the muscles and machinery inside him not relaxing a bit, despite my order. “It’s all right, he’s an old friend.” Min’s head turned back toward the figure in the chair, who smiled and lowered the guns. Then Min did relax, but remained still, silently issuing the orders with his brain to the approaching forces. The rumbling on the other side of the door stopped, and I stepped to the side so I could see the man in the chair better.
    â€œTerrey?” I said, and then it occurred to me that he could be an impostor, though it would have been an impressive disguise, because my old friend was so uniquely handsome. The squiggly upper lip, imperfect complexion, short but wavy sandy hair, sad but tough eyes, and the overall boyish but intelligent look … only the biggest money and best science could have duplicated him. But this intruder had beat BASS security to get in here—marks of big money and top science. So I cocked my head to the side and spread my hands in a query toward him.
    â€œOnly one way to find out,” he said in a half-Australian, half-British accent, which also would have been hard to duplicate.
    â€œLive forever, man,” I said in my half-British, half-American.
    â€œNever die young, mate,” he answered, and I knew it was Terrey, because this was the customary greeting from when we were younger. My part was from a song first recorded by Oasis in the 1990s long before I was born, then remade by Balls Out when I was a teen in England, and his part was from a popular movie made in Australia when he was young.
    I started to step toward him to greet him further, but then remembered Lynn and looked back to see that she was white as a sheet.
    â€œBloody hell, Terrey,” I said, gesturing to my half-covered wife.
    â€œHad to be, Michael,” he answered, studying the guns while he did. “Boas, huh? These are a bit of a step down from your Trinity, aren’t they?” He smiled at me, trying to ease the awkwardness of the moment.
    I ignored him and sat back down next to Lynn.
    â€œI’m so sorry, sweetheart. You okay?” I put my hand on the part of the blanket where the baby was underneath.
    â€œI think so,” she said, breathing hard. “Can I just get dressed?”
    â€œYeah, sure. Absolutely.” I stood up with her and walked her inside to the door to another room, helping her hold the blanket in place and keeping my naked body between hers and Terrey, in deference to her modesty and regardless of mine. When we reached it, I told Terrey and Min that I would be back in a second.
    â€œTry not to kill each other,” I added, and went into the room with Lynn, where I assured her further and slipped on some pants. Then I hurried back out to the main room.
    Terrey had tossed the guns onto another piece of furniture, obviously wanting to pacify the big cyborg, who still stood motionless and wary in the same place.
    â€œHow did you get in here?” I asked.
    â€œMagic,” he answered, spreading his own hands now.
    â€œHow?” I repeated. “Tell me.”
    â€œReally, Michael.” He smiled. “I can’t reveal all my secrets, you know, but I did it to reveal one that I have discovered about you: you are in some serious danger.” He crossed his legs and relaxed, now that any possible confrontation was past. “I could have taken you out easily before your machine-man arrived, and long before the others. And if I can do that, you’re going to have to make some big-time changes to survive what’s coming.”
    â€œHave the peacers outside conduct an investigation right now,” I said to Min. “Find out how we were breached.” The big man nodded very slightly, and dived into the net via the cyberware in his brain, while still listening to our