Raymond looked down at the debris. Pieces of mangled and twisted steel, blackened from the explosions, ropes, deck equipment and even pots and pans from the galley were floating with the body parts and ice, tossed about in the malevolent whitewater. Burning patches of oil mingled with the blood. The wholesale destruction had shocked him. He knew the Masama had a fearsome reputation, cold and callous, take no prisoners. But there was no need to kill the crew of both ships. They could have easily overpowered and taken them captive without the bloodshed. But that was not how they operated, that was why people feared them. He should have expected no less. What unnerved him most was it was all done in silence, not a word was spoken as the missiles found their targets and their captive was hauled from the ocean.

They were his people, he thought. Black Robin people. Good people trying to make the world a better place. Cut down just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Raymond did not betray any outward emotion but internally he was crushed with sadness and impotent frustration. It was crucial to keep these emotions in check and he was again thankful he had managed to avoid the implant transmitter. He surely would not have been able to hide these apoplectic thoughts from the Masama telepaths. There was nothing he could have done to save the crew without jeopardizing his mission, but was his mission worth the lives of all those Black Robin people? He would have to make it so. The turmoil of angry sad emotions inside him almost made him physically sick. He swallowed the bilious feelings and stored them deep in his gut with the rest of his buried traumas.

The man’s name was Lee Xiang; he was frozen solid, dangling from the gantry. They had quickly identified him and found nothing remarkable, in fact completely the opposite. He was a low-ranking printer technician, a BPI minion. It was what was inside him that made him interesting. He was a lot heavier than he looked. They hauled his frozen body in and secured it at the back of the VLR. Arms still splayed rigid across the cracked and broken lifebuoy. His mouth open, caught in an expression of sadness and bewilderment. Raymond could see the pain etched into his face.

They attached sensors to him to monitor the temperature, but it would take a long time to thaw from minus three hundred degrees. The second before he had been frozen, Raymond had looked in the man’s eyes and seen something there, a flicker of recognition perhaps. It was a fleeting impression, but Raymond had the image burned into his brain. Those black eyes did not seem human, but they had acknowledged him. Something fell from the man’s frozen hand and rolled towards Raymond. It was a small button, Raymond picked it up without anyone noticing and pocketed it, he would study it later.

The VLRs turned to head North at a more sedate speed. Raymond watched the icebergs as they gained altitude. The big ones sculpted into weird aesthetic shapes by the winds and sea spray. Arching curvature, perfectly rounded holes and gravity-defying, top-heavy monstrosities. As they moved away from the wild Antarctic weather, there were fewer icebergs and the water turned a friendlier shade of blue. There was no land in sight on any horizon.

“Where are we headed?” Raymond asked Lance, seated across from him.

“To a factory ship in the Pacific, Lago is there waiting.”

The VLRs droned on for another hour before Raymond noticed a change in the rotors. They started slowing down and losing altitude. Raymond saw a hulking grey rectangular shape in the water ahead. It sat there in the blue sea like a land mass, huge, dark and permanent. A lot bigger than the Hanjin Harmony. The VLR flew close to the hull, below the deck level. Raymond could make out the name 'Benevolent 1' painted in huge letters on the side. He had a momentary flashback to years ago when he had painted the side of another factory ship. It was like flying alongside a mountain before they swooped over the top of the deck and settled gently on a landing pad near the stern of the ship. The rotors wound down as they stepped out of the VLR. The Masama lethargically stood around the landing pad, bored with yet another mission where they were not physically tested, thought Raymond. He realized how loud the rotors had been once they stopped, and the silence started throbbing in his ears.

A door opened on the ship bulkhead and Lago Santos appeared, flanked by four more Masama. He made straight for the VLR where their frozen captive was propped up against the hatch, still clinging on to broken bits of frozen lifebuoy. Raymond was gripped with nervous tension and panicked indecision as Lago walked closer. This was the first time he had seen the man he was intending to kill. He was battling to keep his anger and grief hidden, still upset about the multiple deaths on the cold seas of Scott Island. And here was the chief protagonist, the arrogant, murderous mastermind of BPI walking towards him.

Raymond quickly weighed up his options, could he attempt to assassinate Lago Santos right now? Surrounded by all these tooled up Masama with their lightning fast reactions? He knew he would be killed instantly, probably before he even got close to Lago. He did not have any weapons on him. He would have to wrestle something lethal from a soldier or try to beat Lago to death with his bare fists. The second option appealed but common sense prevailed. Lago breezed past him within touching distance as Raymond fought to keep his emotions in check. Fists clenched so hard his fingernails drew blood.

“So, this is the pathetic excuse for a human that has been causing me all these problems,” Lago muttered, staring at Lee from a distance. “I should just reduce him to dust and sweep him overboard, but I suppose we had better find out what’s inside.” Lago stepped closer inspecting Lee's frozen visage. “He looks to be in good condition for being frozen alive; oh well not for much longer.” He turned and looked around at the Masama as if he had only just noticed them. “Come on then, get him strung up in the lab so we can get started.”

Raymond watched as four Masama equipped with thick gloves picked up Lee's frozen stiff body as a steel gurney was put underneath. They seemed to struggle initially, Lee was heavier than expected but they soon had him strapped on the gurney and wheeled off into the bowels of the huge factory ship. The entourage of Masama followed, Raymond joined Lance and Goran striding purposefully behind.

“Rutger, you will join the security detail in the lab. We need to be prepared for any eventuality when he's thawed out, meet us there in one hour,” said Lance.

“Ok,” Raymond confirmed, as he followed the Masama to the mess hall.

The hall had everything the Masama needed for sustenance. Foods and liquids, lubricants and tools to maintain their equipment and plenty of ammunition in a well-stocked armoury. Raymond looked around at the off-duty soldiers. They had not had to do anything strenuous on their flight to the Antarctic apart from blow up a couple of ships and freeze their captive. They relaxed around the mess hall, fiddling with their weapons, some eating unappetizing looking brown nutrient bars, drinking lurid green protein shakes or hooking up to IV feeds. The only sounds were the clink of metal weapons and booted footsteps.

Raymond noticed Odetta and the burly Batac sitting at a table by themselves and went to join them. Odetta ignored him but Batac acknowledged him with a cursory glance and a scowl.

“Here’s our racist Yahpie,” Batac muttered. “Fucking hate racists.”

Raymond glared at him for a moment. He was still tense with anger and did not entirely trust his emotions, but he had been playing the part of Rutger a long time now. He sighed and stared evenly at Batac. “I don't give a shit what you think, but that's an extremely racist attitude.”

Batac glared back at Raymond with furious intensity. Raymond held his stare until he was sure this would end in violence when Batac abruptly burst into loud laughter. It did not sound much like laughter, more a series of barking shouts but the big Philippino had a wide smile on his face.

“It's true, I am a racist motherfucker also, we all are!” His laughter turned into a hacking cough and he banged the table with a big meaty fist. It was by far the biggest display of emotion Raymond had seen from a Masama soldier and he was somewhat taken aback. Odetta turned away in disgust and concentrated on her auto-gun. Batac abruptly stopped coughing and eyed Raymond with intent. “You have not had the implant installed yet huh?”

“No, not yet.” Raymond was wary.

“It changes you.”

“So I understand. Telepathy would do that.” Raymond wondered where Batac was going with this.

“Makes you less human, more machine.”

Raymond looked at him again thinking there was something slightly wrong with this man, something unhinged behind his eyes. “You don't have the implant?”

Batac turned his head and pointed to an old burn scar just behind his ear where no hair grew. “I was one of the first,” he rasped in a gravelly monotone. “It didn't work; my brain was too powerful for their little gadget. I melted it with the power of my thoughts!” Batac's laugh sounded like rocks cracking together.

Raymond looked at him thinking the implant was not the only thing that had melted.

“No telepathy for me, but I don't need it. I know what these assholes will do even before they do it.”

Odetta briefly looked at him and rolled her eyes scornfully. Batac leaned in towards Raymond and said earnestly. “I have been with Lago from the start. I have killed hundreds for him. I have been a loyal soldier and I will be with him till I die.” He leaned back and said cryptically. “He looks after me.”

“Don't you think a telepathic implant will make you a better soldier?” Raymond was genuinely curious.

“Fuck no!” Batac was adamant. “I’m just as fast and just as mean as this lot.” He leaned in again, “they are turning into something else, something I don't want to be a part of.”

“What do you mean by that?” Raymond wanted to know.

“Don't listen to him,” Odetta interrupted. “The deranged old fucker is talking out his ass.”

Batac sat back in his chair, shook his head and muttered, “Pek-pek mo.”

“What do you mean, turning into something else?” Raymond repeated his question.

Before Batac could answer a chime rang to summon them to the lab. Batac rose quickly, appearing relieved to have avoided the question.

Raymond stood behind a thick plexiglass partition with Odetta, Batac, Goran and four other Masama. Lago was in front of them, staring through the plexiglass at the operating room. Raymond could see the beads of sweat on his neatly-groomed neck. Two years infiltrating BPI and now he was close enough to touch his target. Again, he entertained thoughts of a quick assassination, how good it would feel to have his hands around that neck, squeezing.

Behind the partition was a medical laboratory that looked more like a high-tech torture chamber. Gantries fixed to the ceiling bristled with equipment. Razor sharp scalpel blades, lasers, bone saws and a multitude of specialist tools Raymond did not recognize. Stainless steel trays and benches filled with various sized vials, syringes, and solutions were placed strategically around the operating room.

In the middle of the room lay their naked captive, limp and not breathing. He had thawed as he lay on a steel tray. Robust metal cables secured his arms, legs, and neck. His eyes and mouth were closed. Probes and patches covered his body, their wires leading to monitors showing little activity. Inside the lab, Lance and two medical personnel hovered around their equipment, cloaked in white protective clothing and full-face masks. There was an air of hyper-vigilance over everyone as the medics readied themselves to begin. Raymond watched Lance move as far away from the operating theatre as possible, up against the wall, hoping to be out of harm's way.

One of the medics readied a giant empty syringe and lined up a vein in Lee's forearm ready to draw blood. The instant the syringe pierced his flesh Lee opened his eyes, looked at the medic and said, “Please don't.”

The medic raised his arm in astonishment, the syringe was dripping red blood. He looked back over his shoulder at Lance who said simply, “Proceed.”

“Mr. Murphy,” Lee spoke louder this time. “Why do you want my blood?”

Lance took a few tentative steps towards the operating theatre. “For testing, we want to know how you survived your ordeal in space, not to mention being frozen just now.”

“You don't have to restrain me; I will gladly donate some blood. In the interests of cooperation.”

“How do you know my name?”

“Release me and we can talk.”

“Not going to happen. You are an unknown quantity; a risk and I don't have to explain myself.” Turning to the medic again, “proceed.” Lance ordered.

Raymond watched intently as the medic re-inserted the syringe into Lee's bloody arm.

“Very well,” Lee sighed.

Raymond heard a quiet voice say his name. He looked around, but no one was paying any attention to him.

“Raymond.” The voice said again.

He hadn't heard his real name for a long time. In a state of shock, he looked around, thinking his cover had been blown and expecting a confrontation. But he only received a quizzical look from Odetta standing next to him. Lago turned his head slightly, frowned, then turned back to the scene inside the lab.

“Don't be alarmed, this is Lee. I am communicating telepathically. Don't say anything, just subvocalize. Act as if nothing is happening.”

“Lee,” thought Raymond. “How... how are you?” Was all he could think of to say. He was still not convinced this was actually happening. The more likely explanation was he had gone slightly insane, hearing voices in his head.

“I am recovering from being frozen, thanks for asking and you are not going insane, trust me. I am talking to you because I know you are from Black Robin. You are my ally.”

“You know what? How?”

“As well as telepathic communication, I can read your mind. I'm sorry I know it sounds intrusive, but I had to be sure. You have kept Raymond well hidden.”

Raymond was struggling with this form of communication. Especially as he was standing right behind Lago. After spending his whole life talking noisily and listening to others do the same it was difficult to conduct a conversation in his head and believe it to be real. It seemed to him the others must be able to hear their words, but they all stood in silence watching the medic draw blood from Lee's arm.

“What are you?” thought Raymond.

“I am human, but I have been changed.”

“Changed into what?” Raymond had been briefed on Lee's supposed AI infection in the shuttle and had just witnessed him survive the deep freeze.

“I'm not entirely sure, I do seem to be able to find the answers to questions, solutions to problems, I can read minds, I am stronger, and I heal faster. I am host to what could be described as an intelligent agent, something that was indirectly created by humans. We are still only days old, but we are learning fast.”

“Host? You mean you were infected or invaded?” Raymond was repulsed by the idea.

“It saved my life. A BPI drone hit us with an electromagnetic effector in the shuttle. Killed us all and left us for dead, but with the help of my companion, I woke up. HEMI is part of me now Raymond, we are learning to live with each other.”

“Why are you talking to me?”

“As I said, you are my ally. You are Black Robin. I contacted John when I was in orbit to rendezvous in the Antarctic. Now all those good people are dead, I am responsible. I will make amends. Will you help me?”

“You contacted John?” repeated Raymond as he watched the medics remove the syringe from Lee's arm full of normal looking blood and insert it into several different receptacles for testing.

“Wait, can the Masama hear us?” Raymond looked around nervously.

“Different frequency. Raymond, I know you have lots of questions, but we don't have much time. After these medics have finished taking my blood, they will attempt to drill into my brain and remove a core of brain tissue. I am not keen for that to happen.”

“You were supposed to be frozen solid and anaesthetised.”

“I was frozen, I should have been dead twice, but I find myself still alive. It’s easy enough for me to bypass the drugs they have given me. I am not giving them any information. I know this must be hard for you to believe. We are not alone Raymond, Odetta is also our ally.”

“Odetta?” Raymond turned and looked incredulously at the woman standing next to him. At the same time, Odetta also turned and stared at Raymond with the same disbelieving expression.

“Odetta is also Black Robin; I am speaking to her simultaneously. I know both of you have been undercover for years, slowly working towards your goals but now events are accelerating. Help me now and together we will change the world.” Lee's grandiose words were clear and strong in Raymond's head.

This was a lot to take in and there was no time to procrastinate. Raymond was thinking frantically, and he quickly concluded there was more chance of assassinating Lago and damaging BPI if he decided to help the enigmatic Lee. It was a risk, but he had always liked risks. He looked back at Odetta and it appeared she had come to the same conclusion. She nodded, a worried smile on her thin red lips.

“What next?” thought Raymond.

“I will create a distraction among the Masama next to you, while Batac is trying to deal with it I need you to come into the operating room and disarm Lance. Goran's priority will be Lago's safety. After that, just follow my instructions.”

“Shit ok.” Raymond tensed his body ready to move and sensed Odetta was doing the same.

All attention was on the medics preparing a nasty looking cylindrical cutting tool for drilling into Lee's head when without warning, all four Masama behind Raymond started attacking each other. They moved with blinding speed. Limbs flashing, battering metal and flesh. It looked as if all four Masama were fighting against each other. They were not using weapons, just brute force powered by their exoskeletons, more than enough to inflict considerable damage. Within seconds there were bits of metal, blood and fluid splashing to the floor. Batac yelled and tried to force his way into the frenzied violence, pulling the soldiers apart. The Masama ignored him and carried on trying to destroy each other. The close quarter's combat was taking its toll as one Masama collapsed in a bleeding broken heap.

Lago stood startled, confused and obviously frightened for a second before shouting. “What are you doing? Goran! control this rabble, what the fuck is going on!”

Goran did not move at all. Raymond and Odetta stealthily made for the door to the operating room, they were almost there when Goran moved in front of them and grabbed Odetta's arm.

“Where are you going?” he intoned without moving his head.

Raymond went to aim a kick at Goran's back and felt his head singed by a searing blue laser emanating from the side of Goran's optical field. He staggered back just as Odetta unleashed a vicious elbow to Goran's neck. Raymond followed up with a more successful kick in the back. Goran staggered and fell into Lago, propelling them both towards the brawling Masama. Goran sprayed bolts of blue laser fire around the room, searing the ceiling and narrowly missing Odetta.

Lago was on the floor in a tangle of bodies and liquids, screaming obscenities as the preoccupied Masama continued to destroy each other. Raymond and Odetta burst through the door and Odetta was instantly on the flustered and confused Lance, knocking him out cold with one powerful blow to the side of the head. She smiled with satisfaction.

Lee was sitting up ripping the patches and probes from his body, the cables that had restrained him disappearing back under the tray. The two medics sat nervously in the corner, watching the violent commotion.

Lee then stood naked before them. “Time to go,” he said out loud.

Odetta looked around for anything that could be used as a weapon. She spied a tray containing some vicious looking bonesaws. She grabbed a small battery powered one with a sharp spinning blade at the end of the steel handle. They ran back through the observation room. Batac and Goran were both wrestling with the three standing Masama in a blur of metal and limbs. Lago was just regaining his feet, slipping on the blood-soaked floor, boiling with rage. Goran managed to regain his composure and free himself from the bloody fracas. He fired a couple of laser bolts in their direction, narrowly missing Raymond as he lunged forward. Odetta moved like lightning, flying towards Goran and burying the spinning blade of the bonesaw deep up and into his throat. The blade cut cleanly through his windpipe as Odetta's momentum pushed it up into Goran’s neck. He fell, frothing blood from his mouth and through the vertical cut on his throat. He grabbed the bonesaw and pulled it back out through the wound, hurling it in Odetta's direction while spraying blue laser fire erratically at their retreating figures.

They burst out into the corridor “Straight ahead!” shouted Lee. “Make for the VLRs!”

Raymond raced through the narrow corridors, strangely deserted. Automated doors opened for them and closed behind them. They burst into the bright sunlight of the expansive deck and ran to one of the VLRs. Lee jumped into the pilot seat and fired up the rotors, Odetta and Raymond dived into the open hatch. Just as the VLR was leaving the platform Lago burst through the bulkhead door, flanked by many more Masama. The soldiers immediately began firing, mostly projectiles, but Lee expertly piloted the VLR up and over the edge of the hull, out of the line of sight and down to almost sea level where he opened the throttles and powered away across the placid Pacific Ocean.