Chapter 18-2 Initiative
+Another day, another outbreak. Pour one out to the unfortunates at Vengs Stand today, consangs.
Its looking pretty bad. But whats different about today?
[Hiccup; sound of cup hitting a table]
Details are sparse and censors are chewing up any leaking mem-data as best as they can, but my on-site sources and my Exoricist contacts are talking about a Clad on Clad incident. Three Ori-Thaum Knots playing gangbusters.
Why? Who? Well, I cant tell you about the former, but it seems that the group was led by none other than Seeker Shotin Kazahara. Planeshift. Part-time Ori-Thaum war hero and full-time tabloid icon. Seems another one of his operations has gone off the rail. Or on it.
You can never tell with that asshole.
Trust me, consangs: hes the type to leave even before hes done fucking you because he has a hair appointment at seven and hes running late.
And yeah, if that sounds like its personal, thats cause it is.
Its not every day that you get to report on the piece of shit that pushed your parents into a divorce.
Especially when they were both cheating on each other with him at the same time.
Fucker.
Shotin. Mom. Dad. Youre all whores, I hope you get the rot. But at least you guys got to rub bits in the real. Not like the rest of us kids. Our intimacy is secondhand. We try what you did and well be spewing homunculi from every pore.
Its all a godsdamned joke.
We cant hug our friends.
We cant fuck.
We cant even hold our children. That is if we decide to grow a bastard at all.
Whats left? The Nether? Alright. Sure. Fine. But Im tired, everyone. Im tired of looking misery in face and knowing that I am subhuman, knowing that no matter how good I get to be or what I do, I will always live a lesser life than the one my mother did, my father did, my ancestors did.
Call me an ungrateful bitch, but I want warmth. Actual warmth. No to soak in the memory of it. Or think of how Fated Kazahara got to feel it with both my parents.
Piece of shit. I hope it hurt for him. I hope one of them got their cords bundled up.
Jaus, I am so godsdamned tired of all this shit. I just wanna
[Sigh]
Sorry. Onto the next track+
-Cala Marlowe, the FATELESS Thoughtcast
18-2
Initiative
Revealing White-Rab to the others was a strange act, like giving away a secret that wasnt even really his.
He trusted Draus and Kae. Dice and Chambers were chained to his will by the boons he offered and the approval he granted. Tavers was the only true unknown among them, but her very presence bestowed a lightness upon his templatesthe very essence of hero worship.
Much of his base mind remained wary of the squire, but considering White-Rab had tasked her with being Avos shadow, the foundations of her integrity mustve been close to unbreakable.
Basically, he was doing what I taught him to do. Best practices in this city. I mean, I get not looking a gift-ghoul in the mouthmainly cause the fucking thing will just bite you most of the timebut Souls arent easy to come by and if someones going around handing them out like candy, well You wanna figure out their deal. What they want. Whats at risk. Tavers paused and took a breath. Once again, running into you all wasnt the plan. I was just gonna shadow our young friend Dice here until she ran into you. Didnt know you were about to hold your little cult meeting in a ganger hideout.
Jaus, Draus groaned. You got that close, huh?
Tavers snorted. My ass was right around the doorway. Trying to figure out just what was going on when we all got jumped. Godsdamned Silvers. Never saw em coming.
Yeah, cause they do a lot of dyin in a straight fight, Draus said, voice thick with derision. Still. Nasty run for some imps. Thats some hard business, maam.
The imps are a professional courtesy, Tavers said. And this business is good as it's always been. Rash aside. Chambers shuffled in place. Besides, I needed to see about this miracle ghoul. It just so happens that I need a Soul, along with someone who can rebuild or transfer an entire mind, if the need calls for it.
The implications behind her words intrigued Avo. Slowly, a guess took shape in his mind. Said you wanted my gifts for someone else? Family? Want to make them a Clad? Fix something wrong with them.
The squire grew impossibly still for a few passing heartbeats. A faint trickle of melancholy escaped her mind, but with its scent followed traces of hope. Its uh. My son. Third son. Eurun. He was in the circuits for a while. Ended up winning big and losing hard right after. Now, hes got a problem. Something that none of the Agnosi and Necrotheurges Ive helped with know how to fix.
A rarely encountered problem. His intuition told him that he might be looking at a case adjacent to Elegant-Moon. What else was beyond both cognitive restoration and the reach of resurrection? Still, it was an interesting problem. One he might fix if only to get more insight into what it truly took to real-death a Godclad.
So. Youve found me. Found us. What now?
Now? Tavers said. Now, I tell Rab the runs done and put forth a commission of my own. Got plenty to offer, so you just name your price. I dont know how much need you have for imps or golemic weaponry
Helpin her would be wise, Draus said, words immediately following the mention of metaphysical firearms. Avo turned to glare at her. Shes got contacts that take a lifetime to build. Hells, shes probably a livin network by reputation alone. Think about that. Could use her. After we vet her that is.
You just want something new to shoot, Avo said.
Damn right, I do. But Im also right. Do it, rotlick.
Wait, so, Taver looked between them. Ive been meaning to figure this out but, which of you is in charge of this little outfit?
Ghoul and Regular shared a glance. Well, Draus said. I do what I want. He does what he wants. Sometimes we agree and do the same thing. Sometimes shits fucked and we have to cover our own asses. That ones theres green and untrained as shit. Kae folded her arms even harder at Draus description. That one theres trained badly and needs to kick a porn habit. Chambers stared harder at the ground. That one theres doin pretty good despite bein untrained, but we basically only officially met her today. And got into this mess because one of us had to play ghoul behind the mirror. A low chuff of displeasure sounded from Avo. The last one we got is a cat. Aint worth nothing.
Unburdened by the Regulars words, the kitten purred in Dice's arms as she turned from person to person, trying to conceptualize just what exactly was happening before her.
Well. How about that. Consangs, you might just be the messiest cadre Ive ever seen. She shot Chambers a look. And, uh, dont make a habit of that. You owe me a hit of woundhound, son. Really dont enjoy burning myself.
I mean, it kinda worked, the half-strand muttered under his breath.
Kae glared at him. "Im going to tear every droplet of water out of your body and fill your lungs with them.
[Aw, they grow up so fast,] Abrel said, sarcastically cheering Kae on.
Template-Chambers was as sullen as his actual self. He had expected cheers and acceptance for his martial feat. All he got was scorn and loathing from someone who had been nothing but kind to him before.
Wasnt something we anticipated, Avo said. But fortunate encounter. Educational. Beneficial. Got several things we needed. Turned several people. Two Paladins. Ones Kare Kitzuhada. Niece to the Seeker that attacked us. He regarded Kae specifically using his next words. Shes our way back into Ori-Thaum. To that section of the Tiers. Didnt get a chance to resequence the other Paladin yet. Do that when he sleeps. Use him to be our eyes behind the scenes. Added to Abrel Greatling and Elegant-Moon, we have assets across the Guilds. A start. But more needed.
The Agnos just stared for a moment, shoulders tense and posture tight. I okay. Good. Good. We should also try and find more places to set up in the Tiers. I owned a few homes
A few! Chambers choked. Owned?
No can do, Kae. Probably got Guilder eyes crawling all over them. Draus frowned. If theyre still there at all. Guessing they either tore em down or resold em by this point.
Kae nodded, needing to hear the words from someone else. She looked upon the nu-kitten with tired eyes and sighed. I had a bird once. Pipi. I suppose shes gone as well.
Everything, Draus said.
Tavers studied Kae for a passing moment. Youre that Agnos. The one that murdered her team and seduced that Paladin.
What? Kae said, as if she was unable to comprehend Tavers words. What are you talking about.
Ori-Thaum propaganda, Tavers explained. Highflame says differently. Same with the Sang and Omnitech. Stormtree another line still. Seems like the only folks that dont have something to say about you are the Agnosi themselves. And Voidwatch. Seems like you ended up a piece in the great game, girl. Shits rough.
Piece, Kae said. Like I was ever meant to suffer such a fate.
Yeah. Well. Jaus wasnt supposed to die either. But here we are. Yesterdays fucked. Todays ugly. And tomorrows all we got left. Holding her arms out to her sides, the four whorls lining the frontal carapace of her armor rotated as plates hissed and the exoskeleton opened.
Somehow, despite the brief time he spent with her, Avo was unsurprised to see Tavers dressed in another, smaller suit of armor that resembled a series of interlocking chains. Her helmet was gone though, and he laid eyes on her face for the first time. The first thing that stood out was her skin and how layered it was. There was a greyness to it that just seemed unnatural. Thick. Like it had been replaced far too many times. Her hair was an auburn fire and her eyes glimmered just as bright. Despite the obvious modifications made to her, she still seemed far more human when compared to Draus.
Maybe it was in the lingering femininity of her features. Or the coloring of her cheeks. The pointed tip of her chin. Or how her musculature was still mostly natural instead of being strands upon strands of graphene or hyper-tensile carbon. A tattoosomething that Avo thought was a scar at firstalso ran diagonally across her lip. It was a thin red mark and nothing more, a single stroke rich with hidden significance.
With each detail revealed, the urge to burn her grew, and Avo resequenced himself every time. Here stood a wellspring of living knowledge and combat mastery. Years upon years of runs, battles, relationships, and epiphanies condensed into one woman. Leaning free of her molted rig, she greeted everyone in person for the first time and Avo found himself unnerved at how small she was.
Only a few inches taller than Kae. Dwarfed by Chambers and shadowed by Draus. Whatever augments she had under the skin, her sheath hadnt strayed far from the reach of baseline humanity.
In this, there was a testament, that through the accumulation of equipment, proper planning, and elevation of skill, one could thrive in New Vultun from Elysiums to gutters. That humanity was enough to face all comers, despite its frailties.
[I know, right?] Abrel said, her mind aglow with glee. [What a badass. I still cant believe the High Seraph never extended an offering to her.]
I kinda figured youd be older and bigger, Chambers said, blinking. You got that fugee build.
Yeah? Well, I got news for you, son. Before they started making freaks and monsters of all you boys and girls, most of us had to just deal with our heights because that shit was genetic. Now, they carve out your skull and spine and plant you in a new body. She looked Draus up and down. Like this one. I doubt she ever went through puberty at all. A juv one day and nested in the bones of a killing machine the next.
Draus shrugged. Doubt I missed anything.
Yeah? Youd be wrong. Tavers shook her head. Oh, Avo. I cast Rab a couple of seconds ago. He wants to meet again. This time with the rest of your friends too. Hes curious about your little rebellion scheme.
Will Reva be there? Avo asked.
Tavers paused and ghosts swam faster through her halo. She can be.
Good, Avo said. He fought to keep a grimace from his face. Wanted to keep them separate. Use Chambers to direct him through the Deep Bazaar.
The squire laughed. Oh. You wanted to be the puppeteer with the kid, huh? Sorry, ghoulie. Raldis never played that way. Hell find an angle on you sooner or later and turn things around. Youre just lucky he didnt... Shit, I guess he cant jack you now, can he?
It'd be a short attempt, Avo said. Memories are really quite flammable. Regarding Dice and Tavers again, he found himself increasingly pleased. Things didnt start out well at all. But now, regarding the changes he needed to make to his plans, his options were growing, and his personal contacts were expanding as well. He needed to keep thinking bigger. He wasnt just one person anymore. His reach exceeded that of his body.
He needed to intrude upon the highest and lowest reaches of the city, and with his current assets, what once appeared a struggle was now all too surmountable.
Draus, Avo said. Open a passage back to the Washington. Need to make introductions.
The Regular nodded. Need Chambers to scramble her mind or somethin?
He can try, Tavers said. I think White-Rab will be interested to see how his wards hold up against a competent intruder.
Kae scoffed. Competent. I think you will probably be fine.
Chambers winced.
Look, Tavers said. I know the score. Ill eject the memories from my mind right afterward. Ill even have one of you do a peek. Maybe not the ghoul since I actually like having thoughts.
Alright, then, Draus said. Dont think Denton or Cas are gonna like this.
Theyll be fine once I tell them about Kare. Kae. Need your input for new ontologic upgrades. Chambers. Get to the cloning pools. Contact the grafters. See if we can get Subject-One completed soon. Want to take them on a test run.
Vigor filled Chambers immediately, his body snapping to alertness. Avo felt him via the template. The ghoul was still being nice to him. Not insulting him. There was still some validation to be gained. If the Rashing of Shotin wouldnt make everyone love him, then what if he helped make the biggest, baddest, meanest bioforms there ever were? Or amp up the new sheathes somehow?
All this to be liked. All this so that someone else could tell him he matteredto ensure his continued position in the group.
Chambers was a dog desperate to be leashed. And that degraded him from becoming. That degraded his personhood.
An echo of Calvinos earlier words passed through Avo. The restored EGI, deliberately silent through the recent dialogues, spoke once more. {You know what you can do. Set him free. Lead him away from making himself someone elses play thing. Give him a path to grow.}
Chambers, Avo said, holding up a hand. Before this. Need to say something.
The mans face dropped.
Avo began. Youre a fool. Selfish. Impulsive. Killed thousands of innocents today. But saved us. Shotin likely would have killed us all without the Rash. You didnt think about the ones you killed. Only about making yourself matter. Consumed by your fixation with lust. Youre still the same jackal you always were. The half-strand at Burners Way. Casual murderer of FATELESS. And thank you for giving us a way out.
Heads turned and confusion spread. Chambers wasnt the only one who looked lost. I, uh
Didnt feel what it was like to kill the FATELESS. Wasnt jacked into them. Too focused on Shotin. But I did. With my Sanguinity. Tasted the pain in their minds. Felt the homunculi bursting from them still. Theyre getting scapeled now. Casual massacre born from your unorthodox salvation.
So I Did I do bad or good?
Both, Avo said, letting him think on it, turning to offer the Agnos a shrug. Drawing on the momentum of his words and guided by his templates, he turned to Kae. Kae. Life you had is gone. Buried. Cant have it back ever again. But you can decide your life now. Get revenge. And also stop Chambers when he does something stupid. Not a bystander anymore. Dont need let this city degrade you. Attack you.
Her eyes fell, unable to meet his eyes. You dont understand. The Rashwhen I felt them coming out of me
No. Youre right. Dont understand. Wont burn you for understanding either. I will let you stay yourself. But life wont. New Vultun wont. Can talk about this later. If you want. Will listen to whatever you have to say. But need you focused afterward. Need you ready to survive.
Okay. He barely heard her say it, but something in her tone felt different.
In the corner of his eye, he noticed that Draus helmet was gone and she was giving him a shit-eating grin. Got anything for me?
Yes. You have a gun addiction. Need therapy. Like Essus.
She made the ground beneath them turn to glass with a rude gesture. A moment after, radiance flooded its reflective sheen.
Dice, Avo said. Stay close. Might feel a bit of squeeze.
Picking up the nu-cat and placing it in her pocket, the waif gave him a quick nod.
So whats this supposed to be? Tavers asked. Some kind of glass Heaven? She froze. Wait, didnt that dead Greatling have one of those? What was it called
The Twice-Walker pulled them down, across, and back up in the George Washington.
Back in the gutters, an unnatural brightness faded from within an abandoned bar.
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