He was a new arrival, a tall thin Latino kid, gawky looking as if he was still trying to get used to the extra strength and musculature that Formula Nine had given him. “I watched the vid,” he said. “They started it.”

The fact that a couple of the boys had turned out to show their support was not reassuring. It meant they thought I needed it. Killing citizens never goes down well with the brass. Not unless they are ordering it.

The door out of the bay dilated and I strode into the webwork of tunnels. A golem in front, a golem behind. I could tell that their weapons were armed. I tried telling myself that it was just protocol but it did not feel like it. Someone was taking this very seriously. From old habit, I started plotting escape routes. Two armed combat golems would be difficult. Getting out of Orbital would be harder. I took a deep breath and told myself not to be so paranoid.

A shadow emerged from a side corridor. The golems did not flinch or swivel to cover it with their weapons. They simply stopped. Someone had over-ridden their programming.

Carla from Covert smiled at me. She was a good-looking woman. Long raven-black hair, wide lips, dark skin, deceptively warm blue eyes. “Done it again,” she said. “Haven’t you.”

“Go screw yourself, Carla,” I said.

Her smile never lost a megawatt. “You are just a walking, talking engine of chaos.”

“Wake up, golems,” I said. “Time to go.”

They did not move. Her clearance was higher than mine. Or she could make it so. Covert has all manner of cybernetic subversion techniques.

“Anyone would think you weren’t glad to see me,” she said.

“And anyone would be right.”

“I thought we had something special.”

It was astonishing how flirtatious she sounded. It stirred up a lot of old memories I had to suppress. Her smile told me she knew that. “I’ve often thought of slipping back into your room sometime.”

“I would rather drop a devil scorpion into my jockstrap.”

“Whatever turns you on.”

I looked at Carla. “What is it you want to talk to me about?”

“So you finally figured out I wanted to do that.”

“I’m clever that way.