Chapter 18-4 Seize the Roots (I)

Chapter 18-4 Seize the Roots (I)

Can I light up some hiflass? You mind? No. Alright, good.

So. Trafficking. You cant stop it. You can never stop it. You wanna stop it? Thats a problem for the Agnosi. Ask them how many Heavens there are. Ask them how many gods there used to be.

Right now, New Vultuns perimeters? The liminal borders you can restrict at any time? Thats nothing. Its bullshit. Liminal space that doesnt let directionality in or out blah blah what the fuckyou have any idea how many Fallwalkers can walk right through? You know how easy it is for a specialized golem to make a gap?

Easy. Real easy. And if the last big brawl between the Guilds didnt provide enough of a surplus, you got plenty of Fallwalkers willing to take on some Rend debt to keep a golem running. Truth is you half-strands have so many leaks to plug it's hopeless.

The way I see it, the only chance you guys have of reducing thisnot stopping. Thats impossible. Reducing. Thats a more attainable goal. Is that you start getting smugglers to flip or start a whole series of gutter wars between the Syndicates funding them. Course, that would need you to step on the toes of your Guild-masters, and we both know how good of a stomping they gave your dog-asses the last time you got uppity.

So. Best solutions I can think of off the top of my head. You can risk it big and go for the Syndicates. Try to breach the trading rooms they host in the Deep Bazaar and bust up their key figures. Messy. Hard. Requires a calibur of Necro your Exorcists arent. Or. Or you can start poisoning the water. Start seeding some squires or Clads among the FATELESS and shred smuggling chains up from the inside, making my associates paranoid or worried about their supply.

You do that and Id say you can really cut down the trafficking across a few districts. But you gotta know that tricks dont work twice here and the chains of each Syndicate are far-o-part. Rumors will spread and Mawdivers will learn.

Just the way the game goes.

Supply. Demand.

All you can do is gut the former because, in New Vultun, theres always a need for more people to do the dying.

-Paladin Interview of Arir Moradin, Former FATELESS Trafficker

18-4

Seize the Roots (I)

I want to talk about the future, Avo began.

His cadre was gathered before him, half of them in seats newly grown from the ship, others occupied stray spots in the room. Draus, Kae, and Denton were among the seated, and behind them, Chambers had his back against the throne. Cas leaned against a nearby wall, his eyes distracted while he flicked messages across Threshold using his ansible. On the floor Tavers had found a place next to Dice and was rabbling about how the girl could improve her craft.

Even Essus was among them, though he remained a cold presence in the room, standing far and away from the others, his eyes locked on Avo.

Only a shame the Sunrise could not be here. A thing to be remedied in the future, if possible. Their capabilities would be more than appreciated for this undertaking.

Our time together has been short. But frantic. Efficient. Promising. Changes have befallen all of us in the weeks we shared. Souls. Opportunities. Lives restored. Pasts lost. He watched Kae in particular and knew the effect of his words was successful as she shuffled. Running Benhatas mind as his primary template, he infused himself with years of rhetorical refinement and sequenced away all his deficiencies using traits taken from other minds. His mastery over the spoken word came suddenly, and Avo was increasingly appreciative of the boons his softer skills offered.

We have enjoyed ourselves. Enjoyed our powers. Pressed our teeth on soft flesh and unbreakable armor. I have grown during this time. Found apotheosis. Climbed higher. Become more. More than something like me ever should have. I am grateful.

The admissions of his gratitude made Draus eyes widen in alarm. She shot Avo the closest thing she had to a worried look and he shook his head. I am well. Wanted to state things plainly. I am more than indulged of flesh. I am learning satisfaction. Happiness. Actualization at a level beyond description. Still. Want more. Will always want to change and become more. But it is a joyous obsession. A good chase.

He placed another pause between his words.

But that is I. And perhaps you are different. All of you. Some of us are bound by chance. Others by machinations of outside powers. I cannot change the past. But the future is open. A new force is entering the battle for the Ladder. One the Guilds dont know about. One growing inside them; a burning plague. I want to make sure the future we seek is one shared.

So, what, is this like the with me or not speech? Chambers asked, eyes flicking about. Im notuh, comparing you to him cause youre like twice the manuh, G-Godclad he was, but Mirrorhead also gave one of these and we ended up getting jabbed the next day.

Opposite, Avo said. Not about me. About you. Your future. Your choices. Your desires. Have my own interests. Perhaps someday ours will clash. But weve shared too much together for me to wish any of you in chains. I have come to appreciate each of you. For who you are. And who you might still be.

Then something changed across her face. A smile. A full and genuine expression, wide and feral. She was like a war-made nu-dog looking down at a bone. The weight came back, Avo. The weights back and heavier than ever. I felt it earlier. With Shotin. When we were in the Layer. When I was getting bloody with the Paladins. All I needed to understand was bigger game to hunt. Youre asking us if were with you? If we want this? I cant speak for any of them, but me? You just got me into a war so big it's beyond my dreams. This about fighting the real war. Against the real bastards. The last fucking duel that will ever matter. Us against all the Guilds. Us for the Ladder. Like echoes of Jaus. It aint about if Im with you. Im a bullet in motion. Im punching for flesh anyhow? This way? Yeah. You cant turn me from this fight if you tried.

[Oh gods,] Abrel muttered. [I knew the Regulars were insane but How the hell did we ever make someone like her.]

Avo never doubted Draus conviction. But hearing her excitement was another thing altogether. And how much it symmetry it had with his basest self. In this moment, loneliness was a distant thing.

I know Im kinda fucked up, Chambers said, softly at first. He looked around the others, oddly shy. And that I dont think too good sometimes, but these have been the best days of my life. And I Im scared. Im scared that none of you will want me anymore. I mean, I know that I dont deserve a Frame. I know that! But, like, this makes me matter now, I gotta keep it because I cant go back! Please dont make me go back to being who I was. I dont wanna be like that anymore. Ill change. Ill do anything.

Youll do, Avo said.

Ill do what? Chambers asked, trying to understand what Avo wanted.

Youll do. Avo said, simply. Not taking your Frame from you. Never taking your Frame from you. Might kill you if our paths diverge. But Ive given you choice. You live and die a Godclad now. The rest is what you desire. Be change. Dont wait for it.

Chambers mouth fell open and closed. For a few moments, he didnt have anything to say. I, uh. A trickle of something fell from one of his eyes. The tear surprised Chambers, prompting him to swipe fast and look up into the Cloning Pools. Ill never Rash you guys again.

Maybe you will, Avo said. Worked on Shotin. Could work on others as well. We just need more control. Spare the FATELESS.

Me and Val here were in this before you, Cas said. You know where we stand.

And Zein? Avo asked.

She is more invested in the outcome of this war than any of us, Denton said. She is beyond mistrust. The glance she leveled at Tavers implied enough.

Dont worry about me, Tavers said. I know the score. You can get one of your Necros to stay synced with me. Raldis gone quiet after his dive earlier. Probably trying to shake any Incubi from tracking him. But his stake here is personal. And so is mine. Ive run for and against the Guilds plenty. And that Frame of yours is too precious for them to ever give me what I want.

Good, Avo said. Will talk to Sunrise personally. First order now will be to use Elegant-Moon to

I wish to help. Essus voice was low, but his words held a weight to them. Heads spun and eyes fell upon him. A sliver of discomfort passed through his features but he endured. You are speaking of liberation. You are intending to do for them what you have once done for me. What you died trying to give my son time and time again. I have not forgotten this. So, I want this path. I wish to help you.

Avo tilted his head. Is this your choice?

Essus looked down at his massive hand. The transplants Mirrorhead installed remained after his resurrection. Whatever trauma he endured, the Embers ego now thought his arms to be artificial. Not his original limbs, now gone like his son was. Yes. Yes. I think this is the first real choice I have made since I since I decided to come here. He balled his fingers and made a fist. I have no taste for bloodshed. And unless you destroy what I am now with your fire, I will never hold violence close to my heart. But freeing people. Sparing them what I faced. This is purpose. This is an atonement that would please Artad. Please me.

Blessed be the peacekeepers, Cas muttered off from the side.

Avo nodded. The conversations with Voidwatchs specialists have done wonders for the man, it seemed. No need for a cognitive revision. Pleases me to see you with new purpose.

Essus shrugged. One must do something after choosing to live, yes?

Yes, Avo said, turning to regard Subject One again. We will use Elegant-Moon to finish our prototype. Then I will release her. Seed her back to Highflame and the No-Dragons. And turn our focus downward to the Maw. To the smugglers. To routes out of the city and the promises that lay beyond. Kae. Need to talk to you soon. Have some things.

About your ontologics? She asked, attention returning to him.

About all our Frames. New considerations. Upgrades. Countermeasures.

A soft smile crept across the Agnos face. Good. So do I.