Against Gravity

To his surprise, Hardenbrooke bit him on the finger.

Kendrick screamed and jerked away, dropping the 'derm in the process. He felt an impact on his shoulder, and immediately a deep numbness began to spread through the flesh of his back.

Kendrick lashed out at Hardenbrooke, the force of his blow sending the medic slithering several feet across the floor to crash into the side of the treatment couch. Hardenbrooke had been carrying more than one 'derm, and the contents of the second one were already dulling Kendrick's senses.

It was probably the same drug that the security 'bot had shot into him, but it was taking longer to take effect this time. Still, he only had so much time before he slipped into unconsciousness again.

Kendrick stepped over and wrapped a hand around Hardenbrooke's throat again.

"I came here because I want information about whatever the hell it is you've been pumping into my veins for the past year. I came here because someone told me you'd set me up in some way that frankly doesn't make any fucking sense to me. I'm inclined to think my sources were right, so now I want you to tell me why."

"I can't," the other man croaked. "They'd kill me."

Kendrick placed one palm over Hardenbrooke's forehead and, with the precision and care of a basketball player, bounced the back of the medic's head off the hard floor. Hardenbrooke's teeth clicked together hard, his eyes briefly rolling up into the back of his head.

"Details," Kendrick demanded. A wave of nausea spilled through his thoughts and he released Hardenbrooke once more, swaying uncertainly.

If he didn't get out of here now there wouldn't be a second chance.

So he ran.

Kendrick's vision was blurring as he reached the clinic entrance and stumbled out onto the street. There was no sign of Malky, and he was obscurely grateful at not having to deal with any further obstacle. He caught glimpses of staring faces, shocked as he pushed his way past them in the street. He ran across the road, his limbs starting to feel like putty.

Somehow he kept moving, trying to get away from the Clinic – away from Hardenbrooke.

Kendrick woke to an early-morning sky.

The scent of grass and dog shit filled his nostrils. Something wet and rough slid against his face and he lurched upwards, wondering if he was again under attack. He found himself staring into the hairy muzzle of a small terrier. He pushed the animal away and lifted himself up from where he lay sprawled on neatly mown grass.

Bushes? He was lying behind some bushes. He heard a woman's voice calling the dog, which ran away with its stubby tail waggling stiffly in the air. Kendrick could hear traffic somewhere nearby.

Kendrick staggered upright and pushed his way out through the bushes, finding himself in the middle of a small well-tended park that fronted a large office building. A green-painted iron fence separated the bushes and a row of carefully tended yew trees from the street beyond.

He remembered fleeing the Clinic now, and ran his fingers through his hair, suddenly conscious of how dishevelled he must look. A snatch of memory of himself ru

Kendrick winced, feeling lucky to still be in one piece.

He glanced down at arms streaked with soil and grass stains, as well as with copious quantities of dried blood. Wondering just how much of a nightmare he must look, he let his shirtsleeves flap loose in a half-hearted attempt to hide the injuries on his arms.

Locating his wand, he called up Caroline, keeping back from the street while he waited for her to answer.

"Kendrick! Oh God, about what I said – I'm sorry I drove away like that. But, look, what happened? I mean, did you find anything there?"

"I've had some problems. Can you come and get me?"

"What kind of problems? Where are you?"

"I'm not sure, but I don't think I'm far from the Clinic."

"Set your wand's signal to mine and I'll come and find you." Her voice sounded terse and worried.

Kendrick stepped back into the shadows and waited.

Caroline's car appeared twenty minutes later, following the GPS locator signal in Kendrick's wand.

"Jesus, Kendrick, I mean-" she exclaimed, climbing out of the vehicle and seizing him by the arms. "You, you…"

"Look like I've been through a war?"

For the briefest instant he saw the tiniest hint of a smile, but then it was gone. "If you like, yeah," she said more coolly. Her earlier concern was now well hidden.

Suddenly, everything was back the way it had been between them for so long now.

18 October 2096 Above the Armoured Saint

"Haven't seen Malky since last night." Lucia let out a puff of blue smoke, the cigarette dangling from bejewelled fingers. A tattoo on her left arm glittered kaleidoscopically as she climbed down from the neck of her machine-monster sculpture. The tattoo she wore was a holographic design: twisting braids that changed colour depending on which way she moved.

"Last night? Did he seem – I don't know – worried or something?"

Her gaze flicked down to her cigarette and then back up at Kendrick. A small cool smile spread across her features. "You sound just like something out of a cop show. You look a bit rough too, if you don't mind me saying so. Everything okay?"

Caroline had helped Kendrick clean up and had bandaged the worst of his wounds, now hidden under a sweater. Once back at his own place, he'd crashed solidly for the rest of the day and had stayed in bed for most of the next day as well.

"I'm fine, but I'm concerned about Malky. I think he's in trouble."

Lucia cocked her head to one side. "Okay, what's he done this time?"

"Look, I just want to find him. I thought you might have some idea where he is."

"Right." She nodded slowly. "You just want to speak to him. That's why you look like you're ready to headbutt a gorilla."

"Okay, fine, you're saying he's not in." Kendrick turned to walk away.

"Ask Todd. He usually knows where Malky is, if anyone does," Lucia called after him.

"Nope, ain't seen him. Ain't like him, though," Todd commented. "Mind if I ask you a question?"

Kendrick looked at him closely. "Go ahead."

"Mikhail – he's mixed up in something, isn't he?"

"I think so, yeah. Know anything about it?"

Todd shook his head. "No, but I can make guesses. Malky's brighter than most people give him credit for, but he has a habit of getting into some things deeper than he intends to, till he can't necessarily get out."

"You're a close friend of his, so why are you telling me this?"

"Because he's a friend. He's helped me enough in the past. Sometimes you have to return the favour."

"So you know what's going on then?"

Todd sighed. "Can't say I do." Then he smiled. "I was kind of hoping you were going to tell me."

Kendrick shook his head. "Look, there's something you can help me with meanwhile. I need to find somebody."

Todd regarded him warily. "Who? And what for? And, by the way, I don't work for free."

"I know that," Kendrick replied testily. "Does the name Hardenbrooke mean anything to you?"

"Not sure." Todd looked thoughtful. "Might have heard it. Who is he?"

"A medic, from LA."

"This wouldn't be some guy with a serious overdose of LA tan, would it? I might have seen him in the bar."