The Time Thieves Read online

  ‘I can run like a cheetah. You will be hopelessly outpaced.’

  ‘You’re on,’ said 005, and then spoke to his SimulSkin. ‘Can you give me Hoplite software, please, Skin.’

  ‘Affirmative, BA005.’ Skin’s nano-computers hummed and whirred. ‘Hoplite software Version 4.3 activated,’ Skin reported.

  Five smiled to himself, glad to hear Skin’s voice again after all the crazy chaos they’d just been through. There was something reassuring about it.

  BA005 was the only Battle Agent who still had his original SimulSkin. The others had chosen to upgrade to newer, non-vocal models when they became Time Troopers. Those models were quieter and slicker and faster, with full Automatic Body Control. But they were also impersonal; they didn’t talk. Five couldn’t imagine a mission without his ‘vocally interactive’ Skin.

  ‘Thanks, Skin,’ he shouted, peeping over the window ledge. ‘The Exit Beam is in place. Ready, TEX?’

  ‘Always,’ TEX replied. ‘Let’s do it.’

  They vaulted through the window together, landing on the pavement metres below. Skin activated a dual ShieldField at once. Moments later they were peppered by a hail of bullets, harmlessly absorbed by the invisible force field. TEX and Five nodded to each other and took off.

  They sprinted across the city square in a straight line. They leapt bomb craters, buckled tanks and other bits of mangled military gear, the scabs and scars of war. Swarms of bullets buzzed around them like angry wasps, rockets and mortars hissed and roared, but they were safe in the ShieldField. It would take a really big rocket to knock them out, and they hadn’t seen any of those yet.

  The Exit Beam was about twenty metres from Battle Agents 004 and 009 so Five and TEX headed straight for the bomb crater. TEX grabbed Four and tucked him under his arm like a football.

  ‘Knew you’d show,’ shouted 004 as TEX whisked him away.

  Nine leapt into the ShieldField. ‘Thanks,’ she muttered. ‘For saving me from 004. Much longer and I would’ve topped him myself.’

  They turned as a single unit and sped towards the Exit Beam, leaping into it just as a M-31 rocket was about to slam into them.

  ‘How’s that for teamwork?’ BA005 yelled as the shaft of light sucked them out of sight.

  THREE

  ‘Teamwork?’

  Professor Perdu eased back in her black chair and looked at the bedraggled Battle Agents standing in front of her.

  The Battle Agents glanced at each other; they had expected this. They knew they’d be in for it when they got back to the Special Reading Room. They were hardly out of their SimulSkins before the debriefing sign flashed in their cubicles. TEX was put straight into his BioCapsule and they were soon lined up in front of the professor.

  ‘I suppose we could call that last effort of yours teamwork,’ said the professor. ‘But only just. And to be honest it’s the first bit I’ve seen from you so far.’

  She cracked her knuckles. The agents flinched. Knuckle-cracking was not a good sign.

  ‘I’ll be frank, Omega Squad. You’re a disappointment. You’ve been operating for a couple of months now, eight training missions, and you’re still acting like individuals. I’ve told you time and again: you must work together, you must be a unit. It is vital.’

  She paused to let her words sink in.

  ‘The other squads have left you for dead. Especially Sigma Squad. Dr Vandakrol says they’re shaping up to be one of the best teams we have.’

  ‘Dr Vandakrol would say that,’ said 005. ‘Sigma Squad is his unit. He always makes sure they get the best gear, the best conditions and the best missions. I bet he gives them the best reports as well.’

  ‘That’s enough,’ said Professor Perdu. ‘You’d do a lot worse than to emulate Sigma Squad.’ The professor cracked her knuckles again, harder than usual. ‘Especially because,’ she raised her voice, ‘they obey orders.’

  She repeated the last three words slowly, as if she was talking to Team Stupid, and then fixed the Battle Agents with her most withering glare.

  ‘So who’s going to tell me what happened, hmm? Who’s going to explain how you managed to become separated when I gave strict orders to stay together?’

  The agents stared at the floor. Professor Perdu waited, drumming her fingers.

  ‘I told you, Prof,’ BA005 said eventually. ‘It just happened when the Battle Book explo —’

  ‘Don’t treat me like a fool, 005. We all know that had nothing to do with it.’

  Five shrugged, glancing at the others. Nine shook her head to make it clear she had nothing to say.

  ‘Okay,’ said 004 after a while. ‘I admit it. I’m to blame.’ He threw his arms in the air. ‘I really am sorry, Prof, but you know how it is. It’s that urge I get sometimes. It just comes over me and takes control. Half the time I don’t even know what I’m doing. I’m in another world, caught up in one great big adrenalin buzz. I honestly can’t help it. Know what I mean?’

  ‘I know exactly what you mean, 004. And I suspect your mind was probably also preoccupied with a mathematical problem. Am I correct?’

  ‘Of course it was, Professor. There’s always at least one of those in here.’ Four tapped his head. ‘I was trying to work out a formula for —’

  ‘I don’t want to know, BA004. My point is that your mental peregrinations are a liability. Keep the brain teasers for leisure time, but above all tame that adrenalin addiction.’ Professor Perdu glared at Four. ‘Know what I mean?’

  ‘Yes, Prof.’

  ‘Because if you don’t, you’ll be out of Omega Squad.’

  ‘Yes, Prof,’ Four stammered. ‘I’ll try. I really will.’

  ‘And I joined him,’ said 009, ‘because … ’

  ‘Yes?’ The professor flicked her fierce eyes on Nine. ‘Why did you do such an irresponsible thing?’

  ‘Because I asked her to,’ Five intervened before Nine could reply. ‘I thought Nine would be able to get Four back.’

  ‘I see.’ The professor narrowed her eyes. ‘So in other words all of you are to blame. Is that a fair assessment of the situation?’

  The Battle Agents nodded, each wondering what the professor had in store for them. Would she strip them of their Time Trooper status? Suspend missions for a while? Or, worse still, make them part of Sigma Squad?

  ‘Excellent,’ Professor Perdu said after a while, the hint of a smile on her face. ‘You’ve just shown me your second bit of teamwork. Perhaps there is hope for you after all.’

  She dismissed them with a flick of her wrist. ‘Go home and reflect on today. I need to see much more improvement from you.’ As they prepared to leave, she added, ‘Please wait behind, 005.’

  When they were alone she addressed him in a low voice. ‘The flashbacks,’ she said. ‘Are you still having them?’ He nodded. ‘Are they the same as ever?’ He nodded again. ‘And as strong as ever?’

  ‘They’re stronger, Prof. And more real. Otherwise it’s the same each time: I’m clutching Polyxena’s hand. We’re on the walls of Troy watching the city burn, hearing the screams, the slaughter. I pull her into the Exit Beam. She fades and vanishes, of course. In a way it’s as if part of me is still back there with her. And yet at the same time I feel as if part of her is here with me, in me.’

  Professor Perdu shook her head. ‘So the MemRay treatment didn’t help?’

  ‘Not a bit. If anything it’s more vivid, more real.’

  ‘I suspected as much. It’s all to do with the peculiar nature of your case.’

  Professor Perdu had discussed with 005 the various ailments that Battle Agents could contract from Battle Book Operations. Reality Confusion Complex was common. So were Past Particle Overload and Excessive Time Absorption. But these conditions were all basically treatable. His case was different.

  ‘You got too close, 005, too involved. That’s your problem. I’ve always told you that there’s no room for emotions in this business.’

  ‘I know it now, Prof. But that was one of my
first missions. I was green and she was about to die.’

  ‘I know, 005 – you wanted to save her life. I’m not blaming you. I’m simply pointing out the reason. You got so close to Polyxena that a link between the Past and the Present was forged, far stronger than anything I’ve ever encountered before. We need to break that somehow before it breaks you.’ The professor thought for a moment. ‘That’s why I’m recommending a turn in the Refresher. Nothing too heavy to start off with; a Category One session.’

  ‘If you think it’ll help, Prof.’

  ‘I don’t know if it will help, 005. But it’s worth trying. I’ll set up something and keep you posted. Off you go.’

  Professor Perdu watched 005 leave and then activated AutoSecretary to begin her report.

  ‘Debriefing Session 8 – Omega Squad. Subject: Routine mission – Battle Book 17 – Stalingrad.’

  She paused the recording so she could consider what to say, aware of the need to be careful. Others could access this report, others who might not share her interests or those of Operation Battle Book. Words could be twisted, facts fiddled, information misused. After a while she continued.

  ‘Mission terminated 13.34 minutes after launch due to interference from unidentified source. Will investigate at earliest opportunity. It could indicate another serious security breach. If so, that will be the third in as many weeks.’

  As she talked, Omega Squad profile data appeared on the wall screen:

  BATTLE AGENT 004

  Code BA004/ Full Name: Winston Garibaldi

  Hague/ Age:13.6 years/ Military Genetic

  Factor:7/ Assessed Squad Suitability: 5.8/ Mental

  Acuity Quotient: 125 / Experience: Former

  Battle Boy 004; 9 missions.

  BATTLE AGENT 005

  Code BA005/ Full Name: Napoleon Augustus

  Smythe/ Age:13.2 years/ Military Genetic

  Factor:9/ Assessed Squad Suitability:8.4/ Mental

  Acuity Quotient: 92/ Experience: Former Battle

  Boy 005; 15 missions.

  BATTLE AGENT 009

  Code BA009/ Full Name: Amazon Diana

  Noble/ Age:13.4 years/ Military Genetic

  Factor:7/ Assessed Squad Suitability: 7.1/ Mental

  Acuity Quotient: 93/ Experience: Former Battle

  Girl 001; 10 missions.

  A long data stream for each squad member followed. Professor Perdu scrolled through the information, not that she needed reminding why she had chosen these three as Time Trooper candidates and put them in the same squad.

  It all came down to a few simple facts and some gut feeling, as far as she was concerned. These agents had good attitude, good skills, good military genetics. They’d all had plenty of previous experience in the Battle Book world, and had proved themselves at different levels. They just needed to work as a team. Achieve that, and Omega Squad could be the best.

  Professor Perdu nodded to herself and continued with her report.

  ‘Battle Agents 004, 005 and 009 performed according to expectations, and Uber Trooper Experiment One provided valuable backup and support. Omega Squad is making steady progress towards stated objectives. I have every confidence in them.’

  The professor finished her report and sat back, thinking. She’d made no mention of the squad’s failure to follow her orders. That’s precisely the sort of thing some MANIC official will use against them at a later point. Or against me. There are plenty who would love to take over Operation Battle Book for their own ends.

  There was a soft knock at her door.

  ‘Enter,’ she said and glanced up.

  Alpha Agent One, Omega Squad’s team leader, stood in the doorway, worry etched on his face.

  The professor stood. ‘What’s the matter?’ she said. ‘What’s happened?’

  * * *

  When Five caught up to the others, 004 was blabbering away non-stop.

  ‘I thought we were history. But we managed to wriggle out yet again. Not bad, huh?’

  ‘I’ve had enough of you,’ said Nine, turning on him. ‘You got us into that mess. You do it all the time. But not out of it. No way. Five and I and TEX got you out of the mess. We always do. Always. And it’s about time you realised it.’

  Four looked like a rabbit caught in headlights. ‘Okay, okay, I get the message.’

  ‘No, you don’t,’ snapped Nine.

  ‘Okay then, I don’t get the message.’

  Nine planted herself right in front of Four, her face flush with his.

  ‘I went after you in Battle Book 17 against my better judgement. I did it because Five asked me to. He thought I might be able to talk some sense into that big ugly block of wood you’ve got for a head. What a joke, except that no-one’s laughing. I could’ve died out there, and all because I tried to do the right thing for the squad. The prof is right – we’re a disappointment, and it’s mainly because of you.’

  Nine jabbed Four in the chest and stormed off.

  Four scratched his head for a while after she’d gone, and then looked at Five. ‘Where did that come from?’

  ‘Are you serious?’ said Five. ‘It’s been coming for a while. And let’s be honest, you deserve it.’

  ‘Me? How so?’

  Five rolled his eyes. ‘Where do I start? I know. Work on your mouth.’

  ‘My mouth?’

  ‘Yeah. Keep it shut it a lot more than open.’

  ‘Okay, if you really think it’ll do any good. What else?’

  ‘Just work on the mouth for now, eh?’ Five slapped him on the back and ran after Nine. ‘Wait.’

  Nine kept walking, but Five caught up and rested his hand on her shoulder. ‘Hold on, will you?’

  ‘Leave me alone.’ She pulled away, but Five stayed with her.

  ‘This is important, Nine. Just stop for a second. Please.’

  ‘All right, but don’t lecture me. I know exactly what you’re going to say: We need to talk this through, sort things out, make sure we’re on the same page, etcetera etceteraaaaaah. Well, don’t bother, Mr Peacemaker. I don’t want to talk this through. We’ve got nothing to talk about on this.’

  Five shrugged. ‘Who said anything about talking?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I just wanted to buy you a drink, that’s all.’ Five pointed at the sign above them.

  Nine looked up. They were outside Pendulum, the juice bar where Battle Agents usually went after a mission before heading home. The barista, Lorenzo, made the best Rocket Shakes on Earth.

  ‘I owe you one,’ Five continued.

  ‘You owe me a lot more than one.’

  ‘If you say so.’

  Nine softened a little. ‘Okay. But don’t try to talk to me about Four.’

  ‘Not a word.’

  ‘Promise?’

  Five smiled. ‘Those Rocket Shakes will do all the talking.’

  ‘Did you say Rocket Shakes?’ Four joined them, looking as if nothing had happened. ‘Thanks, Five. I’d love one.’ He opened the door and waved the others through. ‘By the way, did I tell you that I’ve almost worked out the molecular structure of your average Rocket Shake?’

  Five shook his head in despair, Nine gave Four a death glare, and they entered the bar.

  FOUR

  Pendulum was a pokey little establishment with a central area around the main bar and private alcoves off to the side. It was usually crowded at this time, but today only a few agents were standing near the bar, talking and laughing. They stopped and stared when Omega Squad entered.

  ‘Oh no,’ Nine groaned. ‘Sigma Squad. Cancel my order.’

  She turned, but Four stopped her.

  ‘Hey, this is our space, too,’ he said.

  ‘Lost my appetite.’ She pushed past him. But before she reached the door one of the Sigma agents called out.

  ‘Look who’s just washed up. It’s Amoeba Squad.’

  BA005 moaned out loud. The Sigma gang had been cracking that joke for ages, ever since the two squads formed.
/>   ‘Okay, we get it,’ 005 droned. ‘Amoebas are primitive forms of cell life. And we get it that amoeba sounds like omega. But it wasn’t funny the first time and it’s not the fiftieth.’

  The Sigmas ignored Five, and broke into the same old routine they’d done before – flopping around like jellyfish and hooting with laughter.

  BA009 stopped. She clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, and slowly turned. As soon as the Sigmas saw this they sang even louder; they loved winding her up.

  Five stepped across to calm Nine, but Four stopped him. He had a cheeky grin. ‘Can you smell something, Five?’ He sniffed the air and screwed up his face.

  ‘You mean that totally foul smell?’

  ‘Yeah. That really awful smell. That I-wanna-be-sick awful smell.’

  ‘Sure can, Four. But where’s it coming from?’

  ‘Good question.’ Four looked around, nosing the air, searching for the smell. ‘Hang on. There it is, over at the bar. Of course,’ he said after a pause. ‘I should’ve known. It’s Stinkma Squad.’

  Four and Five staggered about holding their noses, while Nine stood back and watched, a big smile spreading across her face as Four sidled up to the Sigmas.

  ‘Hi, guys. And I mean HIGH, if you nose what I mean. Nice to see you. Not so nice to smell ya, but. Get it? Not so nice to smell ya butt.’

  He laughed over-the-top loud and gave one of the Sigmas a friendly thump – except it wasn’t friendly at all, and it was much harder than it needed to be.

  The Sigma agent tensed at once. But Four didn’t even notice. He was having far too much fun.

  Nine saw trouble coming and fired a glance at Five, hoping he’d step in and defuse the situation. But Five was laughing too much.

  Unless I act fast, Nine thought, Four is going to get punched. For a moment she considered letting it happen. A good thump might knock some sense into him. But the thought of a Sigma jerk flooring one of her squad – and then boasting about it – made her act.

  As the Sigma agent pulled back his arm, Nine sprang into action. In one fluid movement she ran from the door to the bar, leapt a table, knocked a pile of chairs out of the way, and slipped in front of Four just in time to grab the Sigma’s wrist, stopping his fist only centimetres from Four’s nose.