Issue #27 RRP $8.95 Rory Douglas Abel Aliette ... - Upgrade Systems

The Case of the Overdressed Man
Svenson struggled to stand. Nick ran towards him, nearly tumbling over the wire
from the Elektron machine. Nick picked it up, his hands tingling slightly as he grasped
it. Thinking swiftly, he ran around Svenson, by now on his feet, using the wire to bind
his arms and legs tightly.
Nick glanced over to see that the mannequin seemed to getting the better of
Connaught.
“Quickly!” Nick called to the doctor. Dr Theosophus flicked over another page,
then stopped with a soft exclamation of triumph. He placed the book back on the
lectern, and chanted a spell. He waved his hands with a final emphatic sign. There
was a flash of light and the mannequin released its grip on Alex Connaught and
toppled in a lifeless heap onto the floor.
They all stood for a moment in silence and watched as Alex Connaught retrieved
his hat and scarf. He stood with them in his hands, no longer trying to hide his metal
face.
The Doctor turned to Svenson.
“I think we need an explanation,” Dr Theosophus said, a hint of menace in his
tone.
“Another scone?” Nick asked. He held the plate out to Lavinia Connaught.
“No, I couldn’t, honestly,” she said and smiled prettily. Nick was not surprised at
her refusal. He had spent much of the last hour attempting to pass her tea or scones;
anything to exchange a few words with her.
“You were saying, Doctor Theosophus, about Daniel’s demon?” Lavinia said. She
still looked tired, but the effects of Svenson’s drug had worn off and her eyes were
no longer dull and empty. She turned back to the Doctor, who sat in his comfortable
armchair, a plate balanced on his stomach.
“Yes, interesting type,” Dr Theosophus said through a mouthful of crumbs.
“Svenson had managed to summon a fairly rare creature, one he had no chance of
controlling. I suspect it was a similar creature he was attempting to summon when the
experiment went wrong and your brother was killed.” At this, they all looked across
to where Alex Connaught stood by the fire. He still wore the heavy coat and cloak,
but no longer hid his smooth metal face.
“I prefer to think of it as a transfer, Doctor,” he said in his flat tone.
“This is true, as you are clearly not dead.”
“Do you think it might be possible to do something for Alex?” Lavinia asked,
leaning forward on her chair. “Even though Daniel is now in gaol?” Though Svenson
had admitted to them that he was part of a much larger society who had been working
on combining Elektron energy and magic, Dr Theosophus had decided to keep that
information between themselves for now. There seemed no point in alarming Lavinia
or her brother.
“I don’t know, but I doubt that we need you ex-fiancée’s help. I would certainly
be willing to try myself.”
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