Chapter 17-17 New Angles

Chapter 17-17 New Angles

+Rab. Im inside Layer One. Our consang made a tunnel complex of some kind all the way down through the districtcouldnt stay topside, streets and skies are crawling with glassers right now. Had to snuff two that were following me earlier.

Nethers still stabled here, so that was a concentrated bomb they dropped. Good thing too. My Incog kicking in earlier was the only thing that kept me alive.

My drones are fried, but I think I have someone to shadow. Pale armorlooks like voider coldtech. Im keeping up for nowtry and make contact before they vanish. See if I can make some new acquaintances with the two Paladins I killed. Risky, but what the hell. Let it ride and lets see where the dice land.

-Quail Tavers

17-17

A New Angle

+Jaus, Kare, Im sorry Im so sorry. I couldnt. I had to stayI couldnt go to her. I heard her screaming for me and I still couldnt because I had to I had to protect. Fuck+

Grief stained every word that left Shotin Kazaharas mind, and the weight of his implications fell like dirt from the sky, burying Kares younger self beneath. The bedroom of her memories was a den of astounding luxurysixty square meters. Nearly two hundred square feet. Far larger than the hab-cells allotted to the FATELESS and ordinary wagers.

Sampling mem-data wrought from both the terrified Paladin simulated before him and the girls younger, number self, Avo found himself delighted with the goldmine he just struck.

Here was an intersection of trauma. Here was an individual shaped by history itself. Here was someone special for his needs.

Patterns of blue and silver formed the backdrop that were Kares walls and a locus dangled from a metallic port at the center of the ceiling, serving as a light and entertainment system both. Ghosts flowed in constant rivers through her room, the wisping trails bathing the material world with their ethereal hues.

Seated on her magnificent bed of white linen, and with a golden-furred nu-dog puppy clutched tight to her chest, the Kare Kitzuhada of yesteryear stared empty-eyed as the news of her mothers demise sank in.

Mother. Gone. Forever.

To both her sides, a collage of physical pictures trailed up the walls from two nightstands. Moments of growth mingled with family photos; her first junior strategist competition; a picture of her father, Valhu Kitzuhada cradling her as an infant, boasting about something or another to her laughing mother.

Yelet Kitzuhadaformerly Yelet Kazaharawas just taking off her earrings in those photos. Jewelry made from purest silver. One of the pair was in Kares drawer even now. It took less than a glance to detect blood relations between the girls mother and her uncle. They shared the same sharpness in their cheekbones, the same skin fold of the upper eyelids, the same olive skin tone, and the tasseled hairs similar to strands of midnight silk.

Kare herself seemed to lean more toward her father in appearance. Her fatherah, Ambassador Valhu Kitzuhada. Squarer face. Heavier build. Dark brown eyes instead of emerald green that were further apart as well. The hair color and cheekbones remained present. Avo more than suspected that some delicate tweaking was conducted long before the girls birth to shape her eventual visage.

Most flat children her age were supposed to have a set of perfect teeth, anyhow. Perfection was a thing artificially ensured and naturally abhorred.

As Shotins choking sobs grew louder and louder through the Nether, Kare tightened her hold around her dog as it began to lick at her falling tears. The creature was a tiny, yipping thing, unaware of why the salted waters flowed down its masters face, interfacing with sensed sorrow the only way its animalistic instincts told it how.

Humans desired such contact. Such touch. Before he was reborn through the Conflagration, he could have never fully empathized with such wants. Even now, he regarded these needs as oddities.

Sorry, he said, using one of his Echoheads to gesture toward her mothers photos. Life treats many of us so poorly. Some wounds cut too deep.

The Paladin he burnedKare of the presentonly brought her fists higher and tightened her guard. Abrel scoffed at the spacing between the girls feet while Corner found something to judge why she hadnt attacked yet. Thousands of different opinions filtered in from all his templates, but none truly took in the fullness of she who stood before him.

I saved your father, he said. Did you know that?

Her features collapsed into confusion. What? What are you talking about?

Your father. The ambassador. Valhu Kitzuhada. The Greatlings werent finished with you.

Kare swallowed and took a step back. How how do you know that my father

He made his Conflagration crackle, and suddenly the memory around them broke apart into errant flames, each flicker manifesting as one of his many templates, countless avatars floating in the inferno, all gazing upon Kare, each armed with a different expression. I know everything you know. And I know everything I know. We are of a mind. But you are part of me. See what I let you see. Understand and think as I allow.

The disbelief in her lasted but a second before Avo infused her template with enlightenment. Kare choked as she clutched her head, staggering back as her childhood room loaded back into sequence, the end of her bed giving her something to rest against.

Its a lot, Avo breathed, offering her a second to acclimate. The impatience inside him wanted to accelerate her acceptance, but he granted the girl a chance to settle in on her own accord. Part of him liked her more than most others. Here was someone genuinely dedicated to service in spite of suffering, turning from anger and malice toward a proper solution.

He looked forward to integrating her gestalt with his mind. It made the decision to spare her true self easier as well, shifting his mind further from Corners as he abandoned all thought of claiming her Frame.

Its you, she whispered, finally looking up, facing him again. Aedon Chambers is hes just a template a little less than a pawn

A swirl of flames manifested Chambers in her room. The half-strand shot Avo a glare and gave the girl a shrug. Hey, listen, juv. Uh, sorry about your mom and shit. And the exploding babies. I was just trying to

Avo dissolved Chambers, the point made. Chambers isnt less than a pawn. Hes a person. Stupid. Foolish. Half-strand. Impulsive idiot. Amoral. But still a person. Like all of us.

The Paladin offered no reply.

Cycling and stitching her memories and experiences closer to his base mind, Avo sped through the twenty-four years Kare Kitzuhada had been alive. Even with her maturation process shortened to eight years instead of a decades-long affair, it was for baseliners, the fabric of her thoughts was unblemished and youthful.

She had her share of trials and setbacks, but her uncle and father protected her well, regardless of how much the two men despised each other.

You knew that Elder DRongo was working with Jhred Greatling already. The words left Avo as a statement. She saw Naekos rampage through the Fires Height like most others, but she hid her relief well. Not that it fooled her mentor any bit.

Surprised they accepted you. Let you be part of the Nu-Scarrowbur incident. Avo said, scanning through her experience joining the Paladins. So much family baggage.

Kare folded her arms. Thats not special. Most Paladins are either ancients like Paladin Maru or the Chief. The rest of us are all sourced from within the Guilds because of disillusionment. Or spying. Thats a thing too, but its also a double-edged sword. It lets us have some operation leeway against each of the Great Eight that someone outside of the family wouldnt have. She massaged her temples and struggled to face her current reality. But you youre Noloth is gone. The empire fell almost four hundred years agothe last cells of the Low Masters were scoured during the Uprising How are you

Her voice trailed off as Avo found himself amused. It wasnt just this girl who needed to face conflicting information. Details of the Nolothic collapse was mixed across the board and different between all the Guilds. Issues with living in societies that viewed truth as malleable or a weapon to be denied.

Again, the Paladin wanted to throw up. Oh, gods.

Yeah, Abrel said, sounding genuinely sympathetic this time. What a thrill, huh? Coming to a halt next to Avo, she pointed up at him and sighed. Heyou might not like itis likely Idheims best shot at continued survival. Kare shot Avo another look and shook her head in disbelief. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Im not crazy about his ass either, but hes the only one doing anything real about the Syndicates right now, the only one preparing to fight the Guilds right now, and the only one who wants everyone to live their own lives, but not escape from any consequences they deserve.

He killed your entire cadre, Kare whispered.

Yeah, Abrel said, through gritted teeth. And fuck him to death for that. But hes also spared a Bloodthane from Stormtree. Ensouled a FATELESS. Liberated a bunch of slaves from a Syndicate. And has voider citizenship.

What?

I know, right? Those half-strands take the weirdest people. Abrel shook her head. If you help him, he wont hurt your uncle. Or your dad. I mean, he already saved your dad from my idiot brother once, so you already owe him there. But also, youll be making sure justice is done. Dont you want that? Dont you want to live up to your oaths?

I

And Ori-Thaum doesnt need to be eradicated, Abrel said. Nor Highflame. Or any of the Guilds. If we manage to push into the Tiersto remake everyones mind, then maybe empathy might just reign, and a better end than some giant war might take shape. That, and you have a chance to do something good. Undeniably good. You can help end the Rash. You know, the one that were all suffering from? Avo. Pull Kae to the front of her mind. And show her what her people do.

Avo did as his template suggested and this time the Paladin just sagged. She was with you? The entire time?

Yes, Avo said.

The Chief just Kare blinked as disbelief blossomed inside her. He just cut a deal with you. Let you go. Jelene Draus. Kae Kusanade. Theyre the witnesses hell use. But he doesnt know what you are yet. Your Frame, and what it can

One revelation after another slammed down on Kare. Her template cracked from the trauma but Avo fused her back with his flames.

Too much, he said, frowning at Abrel.

Nah. Thats necessary. Changing your mind hurts.

I didnt know, Kare said, clutching her head, voice strained. I didnt know

Abrel leaned down and laid a hand on the Paladins shoulder, fighting the urge to sneer at this open show of weakness. Listen. Consang. If you help, the ghoul will trade with you. Like he did that FATELESS girl. Youll get your choice and then some. Youll be powerful enough to decide what you want and seek whatever justice you want for the Paladins. If you dont hell let you go.

Kare looked up and blinked. Abrel continued. Hell let you go, but youre uncle will still be his target. Your dad will still be in danger of whatever the fuck else the DRongos are planning with Mondelles and his lot, the Guilds will be as shit as they always were, and well probably end this affair on one large bloodletting. Youre a good one. A nice one. You should have had a better life. But guess what? So do the trillions of other people on this pebble. Now, are you going to live up to your oaths and make sure they dont get a moms not coming home moment too, or are you going to stick to your guns and maybe come home to no dad as well?

Each word made Kare flinch. Abrel looked over her shoulder and grinned at Avo before reasserting her sympathy and playing the game to its conclusion. Take it from a Greatling, huh? Theres always more to lose. Do the right thing. Do it for New Vultun. Do it for her. She pointed at the younger self of the Paladin, and Kare turned to look.

That was the moment Avo felt it. That was the moment they had her.

Helping Kare back up, Abrel patted the other woman down and stood position beside the ghoul again. [And thats how you prepare an asset.]

Avo found himself very glad that Mirrorhead was the sibling that found him.

I have conditions, Kare said, forcing her mind back under control. Theres so much, we can F-first, if you want my help, I wont kill for you. I am not your asset. I am a Paladin of New Vultun. Force me to break these oaths and I will do all that I can to stop you.

Which was nothing. The realization sent a pang of coldness through Avo. Yes. What else?

My uncle and my family live. You dont touch them. And as for the DRongos and the corruption we can bring them to justice instead.

A priest doesnt banish a god, Avo said. Your authority is beneath theirs. No arrest. It will be seen as open defiance. Open conflict. See you culled again like in the Second Guild War.

But they can be voted out, Kare said. The Council is of the clans. We vote for our chosen representatives The very ideas she was harboring could be considered treason if she was still an Ori, but anything was better than letting a monster burn away all her people.

Politics, Abrel said, smiling. This should be fun.

And potentially useful.

Fine, Avo said. We can deal. Come to an arrangement. Ill let you go right now. Show of faith. But Ill contact you when you sleep. Change your memories to remember Chambers. Thats not negotiable. Thoughtscans reveal too much. Need to keep this quiet.

The Paladin swallowed. Fine. But I want to know everything down the line. If you are who you say you arewho you present yourself to be, then I want to know. And I want this to be done right.

Of course, Avo said, clicking his fangs together. Why shouldnt it be?

Okay, Kare breathed. Then

Upon hearing her affirmation, he burned her mind again and altered her recent memories. The changes he made were minute, taking out more than he put in. She remembered everything up to Chambers unleashing his Conflagration on her and laced everything thereafter with deception.

She remembered his laughter, his mocking chortles as her mind faded within the fire. Then, before her consciousness completely eroded, she saw his face looking down on her, nodding with satisfaction.

Oh, the DRongos are going to like these sequences.

[Come on, consang,] Chambers said. [Making me sound like a shitty two-bit vicarity villain.]

+Hm. Might be too sophisticated then.+

[Hey, double fuck you for that.]

He cemented the memories in her mind and surfaced from the dive.