Chapter 19-5 Show Biz (II)
Make no mistake: were in the war-making business; the heart-stealing business. Fuck this and that about entertainment, role models, or whatever the shit for the children, this is about getting people into the cause, then driving them against the Massist fucks.
Do you wanna know what people want to believe more than anything else? They wanna believe they matter. Them alone. They wanna believe they're the ones who are gonna be in control, that they will be heroes and Godclads and drive their arms all the way up realitys asshole and use it as a rag to
[Sounds of vomiting]
Agh. Anyway, democracy and unity are cutesy and nice sounding and all, but you wanna know what? We dont imagine cities as heroes. We dont imagine armies as heroes. Sure, they can be heroic but we think rooted in ourselves. As ourselves. Projecting ourselves. Thats why were the ones in the pilots seat of all our fantasies. Its why were pretending to be the Stormsparrow in the final match of the Supremacy Games. Its why were Zein Thousandhand during the Miracle Minute. Its why were Samir Naeko burning the fucking faithers and gutting their children in front of them, and its why were the ones fighting, fucking, and winning at the end.
We dont dream of our neighbors winning the lottery, right? Its us. Its always been us. Our lives. Our dreams. Our Ensouling. Our apotheosis.
Its time to face facts: both reality and thaumaturgy have a Santist bias. We stomach the people we live with in so much as they improve our lives and keep things easy for us. Society is a big fucking nipple that we keep healthy so we can suckle another day, and get big and strong enough to live on our own.
Because that was the dream, wasnt it?
Utopia.
Too godsdamned bad that none of our utopias can coexist with each other. But hey, at least well have the pictures in the end.
-Vaedin Kasmet, Head Producer of ThrillMaxs Action-Epic Division after fifteen doses of nova and briefly dying of a heart attack
19-5
Show Biz (II)
It began when Chambers saw the coat, spotting the horrid piece hanging around a mannequin's shoulder on approach to the set proper.
Passing through the cluster of jack stations made for technicians and camera jockeys, the hall curved as glass exhibits lined the walls, memorabilia of previous works completed using said stage. Most of them contained noble Highflame warriors clad in plates of gleaming gold, soldiers from war propaganda pieces accompanied by Sang bioforms while wielding Omnitech-produced weaponryan image of material solidarity that also offered a hint of the power hierarchy between the trio.
Titles such as +Romance at the Siege of Brasson+ or +The Last Stand at Wall Nine+ flickered over the glass, keeping with the themes of epic action. Such was showcased within every glass display except for the third one down.
Here, Chambers spun to a sudden halt, facing the plastic model staring him down through the thin layer of glass.
What is it? Avo asked. As he turned to check what the man was looking at, he too saw the mannequin and realized what captured Chambers attention so.
Imbued with the half-strands memories, flashes of horrific sex acts exploded through his mind. The other templates roared with disgust, some desperately trying to empty their minds while others hurled slurs and insults at the cause of their trauma. No longer did Avo need to ask Chambers what he was looking at. He knew just as well.
That didnt stop the elaboration from coming. I never thought Id ever get to see the coat with my own two eyes, Chambers whispered. The title hovering over this display was the aptly titled +UNSODOMIZER.+ Its Dannis, Avo. Its the coat he wore in the single most action-packed vicarity of his career. You know they used fourteen nukes to film the final scene? And they had to spend two hundred million imps enhancing his sheathe so the spikes wouldnt pierce through his pelvic floor and stop him from performing?
Regrettably, Avo did know these things. It was one of the greatest downsides to having Chambers as a template.
[Aw, come on, consang,] template-Chambers muttered inside Avos mind as he enviously watched his real self gawk at the coat. [Just let me have this.]
Whyre we stoppin Draus asked, turning to glare at them from a few steps away. Walking back over, she affixed the coat draped across the back of the mannequin with a frown. The fucks this shit? Are those tubes running out the back? Into his The Regular blinked. Well, theyre definitely goin up his ass. What kind of shit do you two have me lookin at?
Its the Shroud of Sodoz. A special bio-coat variant designed by the nefarious Madam Zhu in her conquest to impregnate all the men in the world. But it ended up getting freed by Mas Stronger, played by Dannis Steelhard, and formed a symbiotic bond with him to save both of their lives when they were caught in a nuke blast. When they regenerated, they found Madam Zhu had taken over half of New Vultun with the help of Ori-Thaum, and discovered that the only man who could face the bio-coat menace unsodomized, is a man with his asshole already filled.
A long silence passed. Both Draus actual self and her template glared hard at Chambers, as if willing her perception to burn a hole through his skull.
What? Chambers asked.
Were goin in. Dont show up wearin that or Ill real death you. The Regular shook her head and waved for the others to move on. A twitch of disgust passed through Kaes features as she ushered Dice away.
What is unsodomize? The girl asked.
Something I hope continues to be the case for all of us, Kae replied, not even missing a beat.
As Essus walked by, the last of their cadre to leave, Avo stood next to Chambers as he continued taking in the coat. Honestly, the design wasnt particularly special. It possessed skin-like wrinkles down the shoulders, beard hairs sprouting between the beads of enamel serving as zippers, and feathers lined its back. Comparatively, the sinuous organs connected to the figures eyes, ears, mouth, bellybutton, and posterior had an insectoid look to them.
Chambers, Avo said. Lets go.
Yeah, sure, Chambers replied, blinking. You know why I liked Dannis, Avo?
The ghoul knew, but he let the man speak. It was less that he had something to say, and more that he just wanted someone to hear him. Tell me.
A few heartbeats passed. Chambers didnt speak immediately. The reason behind this was known to Avo as well. Flashes of his childhood came back, of a father drunk with rage as he caught his son watching something he wasnt supposed to on the family locus. Blows struck twenty years in the past echoed through both man and ghoul.
He got hurt all the time in his films, Chambers began. It was practically his thing. He wasnt the strongest, or smartestwell, he wasnt really smart at all, but Dannis could take it. Whatever it was. And by the end, after the blood, sweat, snot, and other shit covering him, hed still smile and move on to the next scene like nothing had happened. His body was more than killable, but his mind was indestructible. And I wanted it. Was so fucking jealous of him for it. Plus, he has like, sick abs and shit.
Hearing the words made Avo chuckle. He regarded Chambers once more and thought back to Calvinos advice after the Shotin encounter. Self-acceptance could be taught. People could be guided away from their fixations. All it took were the proper levers. And since he could simulate the mans very thoughts
The glass dissolved into red motes. Chambers blinked and twisted to face Avo, shocked. You mean Youre letting me
Not letting you, Avo said. Helping you. Wanted the coat? Means something to you. Fine. Can have a replica cloned in on the Washington. Draus can replace the glass.
Chambers pressed his lips together as they quivered. His eyes misted as he looked away. Sure. Thanks, consang. But, uh, the Reg gave her warning.
And he was right. Draus didnt like it. The template would judge him. But the Regulars judgment was the lesser reason that she thought so lowly of Chambers. The fact that he wouldnt push back, or would bend painted him as someone inconsequential. Easy to break. Barely a person.
What about her warning? Avo asked.
Chambers went still.
The ghoul continued. Going to be killing each other anyway. She wont real death you. Just a threat. And her judgment of you doesnt matter. Cant impress her. Not as you are right now. Cant be liked by everyone.
But
Stand in your own corner for once. Never mind the others. Do what Dannis might. In spirit. Not literally. No Rash today. Or Ill snuff you.
The half-strand laughed and nodded. Okay. Okay. Yeah Thanks, Avo. His face fell. I know Im kind of a fuck-up, but I just want to say
Say nothing. Put the coat on. Be who you want. Find your apotheosis. Become who you want to be. That is the purpose of living. I think. That is where power always leads. Do not drown in your addictions or emotions. Soar beyond them. Seek the horizon.
And with the necessary words spoken, Avo left Chambers alone to follow after the rest of the cadre. Inside his Conflagration, the template of the man was uncharacteristically silent amidst the murmuring mass.
From the Neurodeck flowed Calvinos wry amusement. {I must admit it pleases me to see you exercise the uniqueness of your thoughtform for outright positive benefit. Your psychotherapy potential might just be boundless even if you dont actively reshape the minds with your fire. Perfect knowledge of how someone might act means a perfect understanding of what to say and do, after all.}
But the EGIs words inspired another train of thought in Avo. If he could mend a heart with his limited omniscience, it likely also meant he could break someones spirit the same way. For what were words but a contagion of meaning across which he could inflame pre-existing traumas?
{And theres that spot of darkness that follows the rainbow. Ah. What a delightful monster you are.}
Avo! Wait! Chambers called out.
Avo turned and found the man dragging one sleeve over his shoulder, chasing after him. I just got an idea! A terrible, terrible fucking idea.
***
The set was almost an exact imitation of Kososo before its fall. The district was portioned by five immense battlements extending from the enormous tetrahedral prison arcology that occupied twenty percent of the total space. The streets ran like wire meshes between the leftover ruins of bombed-out blocks, and the hot wind rustled as trash and debris sang a skittering ambiance.
Yet, it was obvious this was a vicarity set from the lack of aeros and people. Draus guessed that was something to be added in the post-production anyway. The main point of the landscape was to increase performer immersion and allow for reversible wanton devastation that couldnt be achieved in the natural world. She didnt know what kind of Heaven this demiplane was supported by, but she could feel a pressure resting against her Domains of Space and now Matter.
Transitioning herself, Kae, and Dice to the top of the acology immediately after entering the scene to claim the high ground, she peered through shards of glass at the trapdoor leading out from the production space.
A minute passed. The ghoul didnt show. Neither did that idiot Chambers.
Should we go back, Kae asked, Meldskin already formed over her body to ward her form against the wind. Maybe they found Essus.
Maybe, Draus said. But she doubted it. Essus was currently jumping between open doorways across the city, trying to get more used to his own abilities. He declined to participate in the festivities, and Draus felt no loss in that.
The man didnt have it. Not even a little. Violence carved pieces of him away. Whittled him down. He would have been wasted as a soldier.
She was just about to move her shards closer when the light above the entrance flashed green. A full sixty kilometers away and nested between two partially collapsed blocks, Draus spied the opening hatch through a few of her local reflections, and discoveredmuch to her annoyancethat Chambers had indeed done what she explicitly requested him not to.
He was wearing that stupid coat. And even had the cords tucked into his pants.
Godsdammit Chambers, Draus muttered.
Someone else mightve respected the man for taking a stand, for this naked act of defiance. Not Draus. Draus interpreted non-compliance in a more direct, more hostile way.
Kae, Draus said. Get your rains ready. Form a dome around us and slowly move inward. Squeeze them deeper into the city. Ill fling a few shards into you as well. Keep em from trying to paradox their way through.
Okay, Kae said, drawing an anxious breath. Got it.
It was the best use for the Agnos. She was more than a bit better than Essus at handling combat, but that didnt mean she was any good at it. What she was more than capable of, however, was operational management and shaping the environment. Duels and active slaughter would likely never be true to her nature unless Avo altered her, but she had plenty of potential use on tactical and strategic levels.
It would just take practice to bring it out. Practice, and more than a few deaths.
On the other side of the coin, Draus and Dice had blunt force more than covered.
Chambers wasnt going to be the problemhe was a distraction. The real threat on their end was
The half-strands mind promptly burst aflame. Draus barked a snarling laugh as everything slipped into place. Oh, she saw the game the ghoul was playing. He wasnt just going to use Chambers to probe. No. He was going to use him as a conduit before coming in himself. Kae. Box us in. Dice, sic em.
The Agnos disappeared first in a burst of spray of moisture, spreading wide to encompass the space just beyond the hatch. Her Heaven manifested more akin to a mirage than a physical entity. Sheets of heavy rain cleaved down from the sky as the air screamed and spatial reality twisted. The entire landscape itself began to churn and spin, things moving faster along the edges while the center was left unaffected. Faint shifting structures resembling eyes melted into teeth lining the limits of Kaes ontology.
The Maelstormer was designed to choke and befuddle, affecting the spatial positioning, movements, geometric placements, and navigational capabilities of any enemies caught in its wake.
It was Kaes task to keep their foes locked in place.
Just as it was Dices to be the hammer.
Shining plates formed around the girl as she leaped from the top of the arcology, the sound barrier exploding as her acceleration climbed with her growing brightness. Her Heaven emerged as a headless beast with leaking shadows from its wounds. Six blazing hooves trailed a fiery scar across the sky as nine humanoid hands pulled an assortment of bladed weapons from within Dices blackened wounds. Pulsing runes lined the aero-sized Heaven, each symbol emitted from the darkness-spewing cracks that coated her body.
She bound from block to block with ever-increasing speed, each kinetic impact building her momentum, increasing the light around her. She was like an unstoppable bullet, the light granted her indestructibility while her Domain of Strength granted her velocity.
Yet, as fast as she was approaching, and caught in Kaes tides as Chamber was, the half-strands ignition blossomed to swallow entire blocks, his Heavens manifestation paired with the detonation of his Meldskins reactor.
From the inferno exploded a betentacled creature of blazing vitality. Its head was a hive of eyes and mouths, sores weeping molten gold and the insides, transparent pimples pregnant with unhatched bioforms, and clumps of organs bouncing from its body like skin tags. Chambers moaned as he wrapped his forelimbs around a nearby block, unmaking the structure into a burst of blooming flowers and aerial bioforms.
Thousands of shrieking insects the size of aeros tore out from Chambers into Kaes approaching tide and Dices charging form, spearing through the air like meteorites. A wall of explosions pockmarked the Maelstormers surface, causing the entire district to shudder.
Kae gave a surprised yelp across her ansible connection but otherwise maintained her approach. {Ah. It worked. Good. Chambers should be able to detonate any organic construct his flames touch now.}
Good thing she no longer qualified.
Standing, Draus cracked her neck as an alloy canon she briefly touched before leaving the George Washington suddenly appeared in her hands. In the depths of her Frame, she could feel the metaphysical ammo belts of her Arsenalist shift and rumble, hear the first snaps of gauss fire begin to build.
A fragment of glass came to a halt before her as it expanded into a full pane of glass. Pointing her canon out from a broken window facing Chambers, Draus gun began to fuse and infect her body, her physical form taking on aspects of its design and firepower. Her heart vanished. Her blood stopped flowing. Her skin ceased to be flesh and her bones joined the chrome of her canon.
As she stepped across the precipice between human and divine, her mortal being vanished into the heart of her subreality, and in its place rose the Arsenalist as what used to be a single Phy-Sim calculated firing trajectory grew exponentially.
With her shot aimed straight at Chambers, Draus squeezed her trigger and snapped out from her barrels, becoming gun and bullets both.
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