Kate Cotoner

Ismail and his ex-husband Toki are divided by class and circumstance. Toki is a cybernetic upgrade human and part of the city elite, while Ismail is a baseline human and a cop. Their brief marriage failed when Toki walked out, but now he's back, asking for Ismail's help against Hanuman, a malicious cyber-intelligence who plans to poison the water supply of all baseline humans in the city. Now Ismail and Toki must find the underground reservoir targeted by Hanuman before time runs out for them both.

"Ish, wait."

Ismail turned, more in response to the nickname than to the tone.

"I didn't call you here to reminisce." Toki tilted his head. He still had that direct, soul-stripping gaze, and Ismail almost got lost in it before he focused on what Toki was saying: "You've heard of PPs--portable personalities created by artificial intelligence programs..."

Ismail frowned, not liking the sound of this. "We call them porta-perps. Most organised violent crime can be traced back to those guys. No humanity, no morals. They're dangerous wee bastards."

Toki almost smiled. "It has come to my attention that one of these PPs, a male construct named Hanuman, intends on poisoning the water supply in Zones One to Three of the Old Town."

"The baseline containment zone?" This wasn't good. According to the estimation of the last census, two hundred thousand baseline humans lived in that area, including Ismail. "How can this porta-perp poison the supply? It's brought in from the Highlands in those overland pipes. The council has checks on filtration and all that crap. They'd notice if there was something wrong with it."

Toki shook his head. "The Old Town water supply comes from within the city."

Ismail stared. "What?"

"There's an underground reservoir somewhere between Castle Rock and the ruins of St. Giles. Zones One to Three are the only places in Dunn Eideann to receive this water supply, though the oligarchs are careful not to release this information."

"We have to pay the same water tax as the rest of the city when we could be getting it for free." Ismail's bark of laughter echoed in the shattered gallery. "Aye, that's clever."

"It's also classified." Toki put down his cup. "I need you to find Hanuman and stop him."

"Can't your pals on the council track this guy?"

Toki glanced out of the teahouse. "The situation is delicate. There are several of the oligarchs who, if made aware of Hanuman's plan, would support it wholeheartedly."

Ismail grunted. He could well believe it.

"My only option is to inform the police," Toki continued. "You have jurisdiction beyond individual city-state governance across the entire of Alba. The council may rule Dun Eideann, but the police have the authority to act in the best interests of the masses in times of threat."

He sounded like he'd memorised the Alban Police Force's mission statement. Despite himself, Ismail grinned. "Why me? Commander Sinclair is better placed to help you."

"Sinclair is an upgrade." Toki touched a fingertip to the interface socket below his left ear. "PPs reside in software plugs, transferring their personalities into new hosts whenever they wish. Hanuman could be anywhere, in anyone--or at least, in any upgrade. That's why I came to you... the only ranking police officer who doesn't have an interface socket." Toki paused, his expression softening from its habitual sharp lines into something affectionate. "You're the only person I can trust."