Mainline (novel)
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| Author | Deborah Christian |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction, Cyberpunk |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
| Released | 1997 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 384 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-8125-4908-2 |
Mainline is a 1997 cyberpunk novel by Deborah Christian. The story follows Reva, an assassin with the ability to see multiple possible futures and choose which one becomes real, making this future the "mainline".
[edit] Plot Synopsis
A female assassin named Reva follows her current target, watching the possible future outcomes through a special talent of hers. Once the opportunity presents itself, she chooses a future line where she won't be seen by any passerbys and kills her target.
A few days later, she takes on a new job to kill an upcoming politician named Alia Lanzig, but part of the job involves assassinating Lanzig's uncle, Albek Murs, first. If Lanzig is killed, Murs will inherit her seat and is possibly a larger threat than Lanzig. After receiving her down payment for the job, she goes and speaks to a holdout, or a type of smuggler and black market dealer, named Karuu to get some needed items for the hit. Karuu doesn't have what she needs, however, and sends him to another holdout who does have it.
Murs, knowing that he's being targeted, hires Yavobo to act as his bodyguard. Yavobo is an Aztrakhani bounty hunter who initially protests the bodyguard role, but eventually takes it.
Reva tracks down Lish, the holdout Karuu recommended to her, and buys Inert Delivery Patches, a patch that can be placed on a surface that will release a chemical after a given amount of time. These patches are illegal due to their use as explosive detonators, time-delayed weapons, and other such activities. After a small conversation that leaves a good impression on both Reva and Lish, Reva takes the IDPs to Murs' submarine and places the IDP on the hull to cause a breach once it is well underway in the deep ocean.
The IDP acts as planned and kills Murs, but Yavobo manages to escape and swears a blood debt to Murs next of kin, vowing to protect this person, since he was unable to protect Murs.
