New to Grim Khonsu? Cick on the button below for an introduction.
The story so far: Grim Khonsu is a serialised sci-fi detective noir story, set aboard a vast generation ship. It started with Aveline Peron hiring Grim to investigate the changes in her partner, Xavier. It progressed through two murders, attempts on Grim’s life, and connections between Freedom Alley and biotech research. It ended with a confrontation with the Perons, the revelation that the artificial sentience Xavier had infected himself with was slowly taking him over, an attempt by Aveline to shoot Xavier, the death of Colville Peron at Xavier’s hands, and Indrana Cordray injecting Xavier with a kill-switch for the sentience.
But things aren’t quite finished. There are always more details.
I reclined in my chair, feet up on the low table, glass of chilled water in my hand. Across from me sat Minerva. Straight back, usual clothes, usual attitude. Some things never changed.
“And that’s all you can tell me?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Still details to be worked out.”
Because a case like this, there were always details to be worked out.
Indrana Cordray had never totally trusted Xavier Peron. She’d had people pull data from Lin Leven-Jacobson’s research, had Xavier’s lab team work on a version of the kill-switch, specific for the artificial sentience. That infection might’ve been life in some kind of form, but she’d reckoned on it still being data. And data could be over-written.
Only, it wasn’t perfect. The insertion — she called it the insertion rather than artificial sentience — bonded strongly with the test-subject’s biological system, tight enough to be at one with it. The longer the insertion remained in-situ, the tighter this bond became.
She tried to explain, later, that there was a tipping point at which the insertion became dominant. Xavier’s insertion hadn’t reached that stage yet, but it was closing in. So when Indrana’s little surprise got to work, the data it removed screwed with Xavier’s body and mind.
I’d told Lola to call in the authorities. Nobody — not Natuche nor Indrana nor Aveline — seemed surprised my assist could get through the building’s security. Xavier probably wouldn’t have been surprised either, but he was unconscious.
Malo’s hounds did their business of sniffing around and taking evidence. They escorted Aveline to the kennel for a little chat. They’d interviewed Natuche and Indrana in separate rooms. Office Anard asked me what happened, listened to what I told him without interrupting too often. He hadn’t looked impressed.
Medics carried Xavier out. A couple of butcher-boys came for Colville, took the body away. Their prelim observations agreed with my story, which pissed Anard off.
“And where did they take Xavier Peron?” Natuche asked.
“He’s in some medical research place, details in my report.”
“And you know I prefer confirmation.”
“Sure. Cosy post-case chat. Nothing I’d like better right now.” And I wasn’t going to get a rise out of Minerva. “Anyway, had Lola summarise the data. He’s screwed. Conscious, but his brain’s fried. Doesn’t make sense when he speaks. Doesn’t have much control over his body. They’ve got him plugged into their machines, feeding him then taking away the waste. He’s not going to be laying into colleagues any time soon.”
What I didn’t mention, and what Minerva would know anyway, was that the facility had him on strict lock-down, had a bunch of white-coats monitoring. Lola’s digging said they’d reached out to Riya Leven-Jacobson, had her go through Lin’s research. Looking for anything that might help.
“And what of the others involved in the incident?”
I was tempted to refer her to my report, but I didn’t want to waste my breath. “Sure. Colville’s a corpse, no surprise over cause. Aveline’s still in custody, all kinds of charges against her, most of them around finances and conspiracy, but the hounds also have her for the Damsel’s murder. Caught the guy that did the deed, and he coughed a plea, sold her out.”
“You don’t sound upset about that.”
“That he sold her out? She didn’t care about him, so why not? Only looking after himself. And Aveline’s in a bad situation. Even if the Peron arrangement is nullified, she won’t get much. Looks like she’ll be moving from the Heights to the pound.”
“And Natuche Peron?”
“A few charges, nothing she can’t brush off with a few back-handers. Knew high-level what Xavier was up to, wasn’t directly involved in the dodgy stuff. Has full custody of the kids now, and temporary full ownership of the old Peron gaff. Still things to be sorted out.”
And, if Natuche played things that way, she could keep things going for years, stay in that residence with the kids. With her connections through NatLegal she’d ensure all the delays were legit, too.
Which would be some stability for those ankle-biters. And kids are resilient. So long as Natuche didn’t bring in any bad influences, they might be fine.
“Smart woman, Natuche.”
“I was under the impression you didn’t like her.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate her mind.”
“Of course. And that leaves Indrana Cordray.”
“Guilty of stuff all over, most minor but some pushing major. But she’s smart, too. Knows when to cop a plea. Malo says she’s being very open regarding Xavier’s little project. Also helping him with another matter.”
“Another matter?”
“Way things stand, Zhusie hasn’t been able to stop Regina the Rodent making trouble outside the Alley, and that makes the rat Malo’s problem. But the chief’s confident he can set a trap, now that he has the rat’s sister being so helpful.”
“So she helps Chief Malo bring Regina the Rodent in, and in return she receives a reduced incarceration?”
“Don’t know the details. But, like I said, she’s smart. Knows when to pull out of a screw-up. Knows when to push for a bargain and when to accept what she’s already got.”
“It sounds as if you almost pity her.”
I shook my head. “Respect her, to a degree. But I’ve seen others escape the Alley. She’s nothing special. Only ones in this mess I do pity are the stiffs.”
Minerva nodded. “The Damsel didn’t go out of her way to harm anyone, and Lin Leven-Jacobson died because of her conscience.”
“Something like that. One I feel sorry for the most is Colville. Only honest part of the Peron arrangement, and he ends up being choked to death by the love of his life. Undeserved and unnecessary. A part of me wants Xavier to come round enough that he lives the rest of his days with the guilt of his actions, you know?”
Minerva tilted her head. “It’s not like you to be vindictive.”
“Most of the cases I get, everyone’s out to screw everyone else. It’s rare to come across someone like Colville. And then he gets offed like that. Makes me wonder if we really deserve to spread to new planets, you know?”
“You’re becoming maudlin. You solved the case, and you uncovered a serious tech ethics breach. You’ve done a good thing here, Grim.”
“Sure. And with Aveline bankrupt and pounded, I don’t even get my fee.”
“Weren’t you also working for Chief Malo?”
“Sure. Haven’t broached the subject of payment yet, though.”
“I’m sure you’ll arrange a fair reward for your work.”
I knew she was trying to bring a touch of levity into the conversation, but I wasn’t feeling it. The whole Peron case had left a sour taste in my mouth.
“Research isn’t going away,” I said. “Destroy all Xavier’s data, there’s others out there pushing along the same lines.”
“And, so long as they keep the research theoretical, there will be no problem.”
I didn’t say anything. Because she already knew what I thought. There would always be problems.
And, when Malo’s hounds couldn’t sort themselves out, when the authorities were tied up in protocols, things would once again fall to Khonsu’s leading investigative consultant.
I was damned good at my job. Too good.
Minerva smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll get another case soon.”
Of course I would. She’d make sure of that.
I didn’t know why they’d called me Grim, but right there and then, sitting in my office, with Minerva trying to comfort me, the name suited my mood perfectly.
And so, we come to the end of the first season of Grim Khonsu. Thank-you for reading. I’d love to hear what you thought of this story.
Grim will return later in the year.
