He ignored her, kneeling beside Bash and carefully arranging the snake-like cords across his skull, with the join positioned at the back. Sifra stood behind Bash, holding Bashs head steady while Tarrant worked. Each cord ended in a broad, flattened pad that adhered to the skin of Bashs head.

Now lets wake him up, said Tarrant, stepping back.

Sifra nodded, lowering the back of Bashs head onto the couch. Then he walked over to Megan and dragged her into an upright seated position on her own couch, before stepping around behind her and placing both of his gloved hands on her shoulders.

Megan tensed, her breathing constricted, as she watched Tarrant remove a pressure-hypo from the silver case and touch it to one side of Bashs neck.

The unconscious man jerked in response, then drew in a deep, shuddering breath, his eyes flickering open. He blinked and looked around him, his gaze turning baleful when it finally settled on Tarrant.

What the hell is going on here? Bash demanded. First you shoot me, then you

Bash, I want you to listen to me very carefully, interrupted Tarrant.

Fuck that, said Bash, twisting from side to side as he attempted to pull his hands free of the plastic ties. He started pushing himself up on to his feet, his mouth becoming a grimace of anger.

<You have to get free,> Megan sent to him. <You mustnt let them>

She saw Bash glance towards her. Then Sifra activated his gloves, and Megan screamed. The pain wasnt as bad as before, but it was still bad enough. She twisted wildly, but he had a tight hold on her. She tipped forward, vomiting between her knees onto the floor of the lounge.

The pain kept coming.

What the hell are you doing? she could hear Bash shouting. Dont you understand youre going to fry her implants?

Im using a low setting, said Sifra, from behind her. Too low to cause any permanent damage to her implants. But I can make up for that by maintaining the pain for hours, Bash, or even days. However long it takes to get you to cooperate.

Please, said Bash, his voice cracking. Let her go. Just stop this.

As soon as you stop resisting us, said Tarrant, he will.

Shit. Fine. Bash sat back down, his face pale and sweating. Stop the fuck now. Now.

Suddenly, the pain was gone. Megan collapsed back onto her side, her breath wheezing and her teeth chattering.

What the hell is this thing youve got on my head? said Bash.

Should we go ahead now? said Tarrant, glancing at Sifra.

Sifra nodded. All ready.

Tarrant made a gesture, and a virtual control panel shimmered into existence next to him. He reached out and began tapping at it.

Has this got something to do with the Wanderer? asked Bash. Because if youre . . .

Bash fell suddenly silent, as if he was trying hard to listen to something.