Chapter 13-23 Infection

Chapter 13-23 Infection

[Exorcist Vero Kelkanan]: At 4:54 in the morning today, an unknown party launched a Nether-based attack on Exorcist lobby designation Oversec-C1. So far, we are compiling and verifying all memories from the attack to generate a proper simulation of events. Presently, the Ad-Necs have been repelled thanks to the efforts our active personnel, though the extent of damage and casualties remains delayed due to the destabilization experienced by the lobby and necessary deep-memory mem-data examinations. I open the session to additional questions. As always, standard rules apply. No slurs. No trauma-patterns. No dumping of simulated nudes or other titillating content generated using the likeness of rivals from competing outfits in an attempt to trigger the rash in them.

[SESSION RESTRICTIONS REDUCED]

[Yue Lie-Dawn - False Tone]: Lie-Dawn. Black. Speaker for the False Tone. When will the Exorcists be issuing a formal declaration of censure against Ori-Thaum for their egregious actions today?

[Exorcist Vero Kelkanan]: Thank you for the question, Ms. Lie Dawn. We, however, cannot confirm nor deny Ori-Thaums involvement in the attack. We encourage members of the public influence and other propagandistic outfits to promote your theories responsibly.

[Yue Lie-Dawn - False Tone]: Understandable. It is wise to be restrained, but when there is a fire in the Nether, one should not be so cautious as to pretend they are not being castrated by obvious foes. Such an action is only befitting of a Scaarthian.

[Exorcist Vero Kelkanan]: Okay, yeah, tonetone down the factionalism.

[Yue Lie-Dawn - False Tone]: The False-Tone speaks only the truth.This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

[Exorcist Vero Kelkanan]: Right. Thank you. Next.

[Nune Vetona - The Enduring]: Nune Vetona. Green. Proparazzi of The Enduring. Ahem. I just want to say thatYOU TELL THAT SUBSTANCE THAT FLOWS FROM THAT SANG-SOWS CUNT IS SHIT! YOU HEAR ME, LIE-DAWN? IM GONNA CUT OFF YOUR DOGS FACE AND WIDEN YOUR DAUGHTERS ASSHOLES WITH MY BAREHA

[THE ENDURING HAS BEEN CENSORED FOR THIS SESSION]

[Exorcist Vero Kelkanan]: Next.

[Abdulmanap Sahandrapar - Bravely Burning]: Abdulmanap Sahandrapar. Blue. Bravely Burning. I have a question for you especially, Exorcist Kelkanan. Its very important.

[Exorcist Vero Kelkanan]: Me? I, uh alright, lets hear it.

[Abdulmanap Sahandrapar - Bravely Burning]: Whyd you lick it?

[Exorcist Vero Kelkanan]: Lick it? Lick what?

[WARNING! RESEQUENCING DETECTED]

[Abdulmanap Sahandrapar - Bravely Burning]: Lick my nu-dogs balls! Nice technique, Exorcist!

[UPLOADING MEMORIES]

[SESSION ENDED]

[LUSTAWAY ACTIVATED]

[Exorcist Vero Kelkanan]: Godsdammitfuck, shit, halt the session! Halt it! Good. Fuck me, not again! Cleanclean the fucking sequences! And tag that half-strands FATE-Skein. Godsdamned rash-trolls AND WHICH ONE OF YOU SICK FUCKS GOT OFF ON THAT?

-Official Exorcist Press Session Regarding the Incident at Oversec-C1

13-23

Infection

If there was a final thought in Abrels mind that truly counted as her own, it was that she tried to fight it.

With what little of her there was, she tried. She really did.

In the end, it didnt matter.

Her struggle was less than a flea fighting the forces of a hurricane. She could no more resist the fire than a wick could choose not to burn when kissed by an open flame. She was of one way, and then she was another.

The alternations spread through her mind like viruses streaming through the cells in her body, the constellation of her memory sequences twisting even in the subtlest capacities. As the infection fused with her mind, certain desires felt beyond her, while new wants rooted themselves in place like an anchor descending into the deepest waters of her ego.

No longer could she fathom hatred for Avo. They were the same, after all, smelted by the dreaming blaze from hateful heterogeneity into an aligned alloy. She understood him, and all his wants, and from her did he glean new insights into the Guild she once served and the ethics that ruled her FATED heart.

As the conflagration settled around them, the illusion of Jhreds island sanctuary returned. She found her brother as presented from the perspective of the ghoula soft pitiful being, one that should never have born the crown of divinity upon his weak brow.

I still love him, you know? Abrel said, measuring her brother with soft words of sadness. To her silent surprise, she found her emotions related to her brother unchanged by her recreator. From what agency he left coded into her cognition, she expected him to fashion her into a dagger poised at the heart of all that she cared for.

Such was not the case.

It became obvious that though she carried a strain of Avo within her mind, she was but a carrier and not the plaguemaker himself. His manipulation was more clandestine than anticipated.

Any reason why they shouldnt? she asked, teasing him as much as she could using her limited allotment of autonomy. You afraid I might revert back to my snarling, screaming, rageful self you met before?

No. Still have access to your mind. Can cripple you with a thought in the worst case.

You know, I would have had you the first time if you didnt batter me with your wards.

He released his feral bemusement through the vicarious link they shared, and she felt the ever-tugging urge of violence that swam beneath the rivers of his every thought. Youre a bit like Draus. He chuckled lowly. Shes going to hate it when I tell her that.

Draus? Abrel said. Well, there was another thing the greater fire was hiding from her. Still, she knew the name but not the context in which he referred to her. She was the bio-rigged street squire? Jelene Draus?

The past has a long shadow, the ghoul said, its tone wry with sarcasm as its Echoheads mimed the vagueness of a bow.

Abrel cringed. Yeah, listen, while youre still connected to me, maybe take some of my taste in humor? This is just I dont know if I can accept that as a standard.

Will take your suggestion into consideration.

All around her the fabric of the memory began to untangle into threads of flowing flame. Burning ghosts were surging free on the torrent of an unseen will, with more of the burning presence rushing in. The beginning of a painful ache began to build at the center of her mind. It like was another presence was grinding into hers, slowly pressing its way through and mangling the wholeness of her cognition.

Whats. Happening now? She asked.

Going to move the entirety of my mind out of my vessel, he said. Self-moving now. Want to see what happens when I settle into your body and kill it. See if you maintain my changes even without the Conflagration after resurrection. See where I come back after resurrection as well.

You?

Scheduled to have someone shoot me.

Well, good on you for thinking ahead. So wont lie, you squeezing in heres giving me a splitting migraine.

Wont be much of you left much longer. Sorry. Simulation works. Two egos in direct proximity cant. Presences clash. I dont break. You do.

Yeah, yeah, rub it in half-strand, she hissed. The last flickers of the island dissolved. She turned to catch a glimpse of her brother one final time before he went as well. Bye, Jhred Bye.

Will see him again if you want. Can give that to you.

She could feel the ponderousness of his mind crashing down against herself. Parts of her perception dissolved as a fugue began to settle in. +Sure yeah. Thatd be nice Just one last+

Her ego shattered. The thoughts slipped from her.

Abrel Greatling dissolved in the currents of Avos gestalt.

***

Avo drew the last of his trailing ghosts through the session just as Draus shot his vacant body in the head. He only realized that happened due to the memories carried over by his subminds as he nested himself within Abrels body.

The oddities of her biomechanics didnt last as he loaded in Abrels mind template to interface with the meat. He also didnt intend to stay for long. He just needed to confirm his ability to anchor himself in place with another vessel before triggering their mutual death to see what followed.

If honesty were to prevail, he had multiple concerns burning inside him, but as he could still hear the Woundshaper admonishing the Galeslither for its sullen disrespect, he at least knew his Frame was still with him, though he wasnt certain how it functioned for him without a body.

Perhaps that had to do with his altered noology as well. If he was a traveling mind, and if his theory behind Essence being derived from the sacrifice or murder of the functional vehicle of a thinking being, then perhaps he could only be considered death by the cessation of his thoughts.

Something to be explored shortly.

Pouring himself to suit the shape of Abrels body, he found her eyes to be sharper than his by far, her movements crisper and responsive, with each of her nerves fine-tuned to mind-shuddering levels of sensitivity. It felt like he just crawled out from a rusted war-drone into a sgolem on the cutting edge.

Regardless of what happened, there was nothing that taught you inferiority than walking in the flesh of your better.

He would need to make further improvements to his original sheathe after this.

Taking a moment to check for any issues, he reached out and lifted her hand to draw upon his Heavens

But they werent the only ones that answered.

VOLUME 3

THE BURNING DREAM

ACT II

A PLAGUE OF FIRE