Archangel Protocol

Michael? What, is he okay?

No, the page added. I found out he's going to be unleashed tonight at 0:00 GMT.

The LINK-Michael? Why didn't you tell me this before? I'd reached the last rung. I stopped to catch my breath and stared at the window floating in the corner of my vision.

The page looked sheepish. When I'm on the LINK, it's difficult for me to separate my feelings from Mouse's. He was off-line ... and, then, when I was here ... well, I had time to think.

I let go of the last rung, leaping down to the street level. I landed awkwardly and knocked into a garbage can. Sprawled on my butt, I groaned softly. The pavement was uneven, and sharp edges poked at me through the tough exterior of the armor.

Deidre, you have to warn people. Mouse means business with the LINK-Michael. Serious business.

What's so special about the LINK-Michael, Page? Haven't we already seen him?

The page shook his head. Not this version.

What's this version? I asked, dusting off my knees.

Ever hear the story of how the angel Michael single-handedly slaughtered 185,000 Assyrians in one night? Well, this is that Michael.

I stood up to assess the situation. Apparently, the noise of the garbage can overturning alerted someone in the car to my presence. The car door opened, and a man in a dark suit stepped out to get a better look. He was wearing sunglasses.

Shit, I said, crouching down quickly.

I held my breath; I could hear shuffling footsteps approaching. My back pressed against a Dumpster, and I watched the street for any hint that the man was within range.

When a long shadow came into view, I tightened my muscles, ready to spring. The second I saw a foot, I threw my whole body into a punch aimed at the knee. My fist co

Luck was with me, and the man's fall had knocked the sunglasses off his face. A shoulder holster was visible underneath his suit coat. I grabbed the gun. The pistol slid into invisibility as soon as my hand wrapped around the butt.

Fingertips brushed my ankle as I stepped over him, but I squeezed past. I ran toward the car. Cops and criminals were notorious for leaving keys in the ignition.

I could see heads craning out of the window of my office as I slid into the driver's seat. They all wore sunglasses, despite the muted outside light. My hands wrapped around the wheel, and I felt for keys. Smelling stale coffee in the upholstery, I decided this was, in fact, a cop's car. The engine revved as I put my foot down hard on the go pedal. I pulled the door shut, and the car sprang forward. Securing the safety belt, I just had to hope that they had left enough juice in the battery for me to make it all the way to a traffic tube. I was feeling confident. So far all my prayers had come true.

You know, this is pretty serious stuff, the page said, his face still scrunched into a pout. I don't know what you're doing that's more important than talking to me.

I checked the rearview. No one was in pursuit so far. I flipped open the fusebox panel under the dash. Feeling with my fingers, I pulled out the third fuse from the left. I smiled, twirling the small glass tube in my fingers. Unmarked police car manufactures have always understood the need for cops to drive occasionally with the homing beacon disabled. Sorry, Page, I said, finally, I was just trying to save my skin ... and yours, since you're in my uniform.

Like I care what the body does.

Maybe, in this case, you should. I'm not LINKed to anything but the uniform, so you don't have anywhere to go if someone blows a hole in me. The page looked unsatisfied, so I added, Tell me what this Michael can do?

Um ... the page hesitated, and checked over his shoulder.

Page, I already, know about Jordan Institute. You have the tech to access any LINKed person's pain and pleasure centers. That's how you pulled off the LINK-angel "miracles."

The page's eyes were wide. You knew?

I nodded. Well, I figured it out, anyway.

Mouse always said you'd remember eventually. No wonder he's come to kill you.

The ground-level road was bumpy. The wheels weren't adapted for the broken concrete of the street level. I had to get in a tu

I continually checked the rearview for other cars. There was nothing, but the battery light had started blinking a warning a block back. I could see the traffic tu

Flashing lights appeared above. The police figured out my only possible route. I hit the accelerator. I might be able to make the entrance before they could block both lanes with their vehicle.

The cop car swung around the exit curve; we were face-to-face. Nearly standing on the go pedal, the car shook beneath me. My teeth clenched, and I braced myself for possible impact.

A pop and a spark tore off the side mirror. Metal scraped against metal with a groan. My car fishtailed when I slid past the cops, and I had to struggle to regain control of the vehicle.

In the rearview mirror, I could see the cop car had swung around to cross both lanes. It bounced on its frame. I was satisfied it would take them a minute or two to recover.

What's the new LINK-Michael going to do, Page? I asked. Now that the electrified rail was beneath the car, the battery light was safely off. I took a deep breath and sca

He's an assassin program, the page said. Mouse intends to get rid of all competition.

He's going to take out other hackers? But why? He already has a corner on the market.

I don't know, the page said sadly. I'm not even supposed to know this much. I just happened to come across Mouse's files while he was offline. Then, when you were in the hub, you woke up Phanuel. He's been trying to capture me ever since.

You were with me in the hub?

I was there ... I left with you.

Suddenly, lights illuminated the rear window. I ignored an entrance ramp to an upper level. I'd have to move into heavier traffic soon, since it was only a matter of time before Traffic Control isolated this lower tube and cut power. I grabbed the gun from where I'd tossed it along with my backpack in the passenger seat. I checked to make certain the safety was on and tucked it into one of the pockets of the uniform.

To my left I saw an up-tube. Heaving hard on the wheel, I headed into the tube without letting up on the go pedal. The tires squealed in protest at the sharp turn. I decided to try a move that joy riders called the "stone-skip." Moving as fast as possible, I took the first exit one level up. The car bounced on its frame, moving through the tube like a pebble over water.

How can we stop Mouse, Page?

The page shook his head fiercely. I can't. He's my maker, Dee. That's seriously bad karma. Besides, he knows how to pull my plug.

All right, I said, how about the LINK-Michael? Do you know how to destroy him?

Mouse's page was silent. When I hazarded a glance away from the road, I could see his lips were stretched into a thin line.

I don't know, Mouse said finally. He's too scary, Dee. Better to just stay off the line, you know?

I shook my head. You can't hide forever, Page, and neither can I.

Sirens echoed in the tube. Dropping down from somewhere, the cops had picked up my trail again. Lights flashed behind me. I pumped down harder on the go pedal even though it was already pressed to the floor.