Chapter 3-17 Performance Review

Chapter 3-17 Performance Review

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3-17

Performance Review

Within the elevator, the glass cracked, shards peeling inwards in jagged symmetry, like daggers dripping from daggers. The sheer presence of Mirrorheads Heaven manifested at such a close proximity gripped at Avos chest. It was like he was a flame burning with a flame, hoping the greater fire did not notice; did not swallow him.

Have you nothing to report? Mirrorhead asked, tilting his head at Avo.

The glass inched inward, drifting away from the walls toward Avo. The room shrank. Thirty square feet before. Now, perhaps twenty-five.

Yet, he stole inspiration from Mirrorhead himself, and took to being a expressionless reflection; betraying nothing, the ghoul turned to address its supposed master, face blank of expression, but not of thought. Was fun. Breaking Rantulas flesh.

He pushed forth his first lure to the Syndicate boss. The statement was obvious, but Mirrorhead sought more than meager feelings. They must have if they proceeded in an inquiry so deliberately tense.

Obtuse as always, the Syndicate Godclad gazed upon his unknown adversary and let the silence boil the atmosphere between them. Avo hated talking to Mirrorhead. Hated the lack of any tells coming from his enemy. For all intents and purposes, the Sydnicate boss was a blank spot in the rooma void which all flowed inward, but nothing came out, as if descending into a bottomless chasm.

The shards drifted inward another inch.

I believe, Mirrorhead said, I specified my will.

Avo grunted. You did.

And do you believe, Mirrorhead continued. Their voice was flat but the glass crackled with tension, like the snapping jaws of a beast half-submerged in reflection. that you followed my will?

The consideration, then, that Mirrorhead would just draw the glass in and shred him was not far from Avos mind. The beast inside him rattled against the will-wrought cage that was Avos discipline, trying to get him to attack pre-emptively, to escape. Stealing quiet breaths, Avo tempered himself.

No, Avo said, committing to Chambers advice. No point in denying what was obvious. A direct insult after humiliation might just drive Mirrorhead to see an end to this farce, regardless of investment or not.

The blades sank inthe jaws of the Heaven close. The Twice-Walker was near now, its leviathan sending ripples beneath the flesh of reality.

And why did you spite my will? Mirrorhead asked, voice dropping to a chilled rumble. Was the gift not enough? Was my attempt to make something from your mongrel existence too displeasing for you?

No, Avo said, trying to ignore the glinting shards in his periphery. Not your problem.

Then

Ghoul, Avo interrupted, leaning down to show Mirrorhead his fangs.

For the first time since he could remember, the Syndicate boss took a step back. The beast hissed with delight. A crack, perhaps. A show of human surprise or weakness? Avo let hope and elation wash through him without holding onto it. He continued.

You tried. I failed. More honesty. Twisted honesty. Interpretive honesty. But honesty nonetheless. Thats what Mirrorhead always wanted, but only honesty that was palatable to him; something that absolved the man at the top of all burdens or mistakes. Didnt touch her mind. Not directly. Just wanted to work on the flesh. At first.

Then. What. Changed? Mirrorhead asked. The Godclad had caught himself, replanting his heel and pressing back into Avo. Across the expansive of the Syndicate boss mirror-bright skull, Avo saw the sharded wings draw closer but burdened with a new languor.

Maybe this was all a game of pressure with the Godclad. Maybe in going along with what Mirrorhead wanted to hear but still no breaking, Avo had found himself slipping between the cracked edges.

Maybe.

She cried out, Avo said. She was in pain. Had to hurt her more.

Mirrorhead, for all intents and purposes, was a weaponized enigma. Someone to always keep you guessing, always a breath between praise and violence. Right then, the shards shivered. One pulled away from all the others, spinning and nicking through the surface skin at the base of Avos neck.

And so you defied my want?

Avo grunted. Yes. Shock. Stress. Not well.

Why did you notkill him? Mirrorhead asked. It is your nature, is it not?

Avo thought for a moment. Was full.

And that was all it took.

Not complicated.

Mirrorhead adjusted his collar. I suppose not. Tell me: what would you do of someone like him?

That made Avo wonder if he could even use the father as a mem-weapon platform anymore. If Mirrorhead wanted to make an example of the father, there wasnt much that could be done. Fix him. Then let him go.

Free of charge? Mirrorhead asked.

Made you money in the Crucible.

Ah, Mirrorhead said. I suppose you are right. And likely more than that tech was worth. The Syndicate boss considered his options for a moment. I will see if I can find a new use for him. Muscle is certainly out of the question. I saw how he fought. Perhaps as an organ farm

A twitching wince flashed across Avos face. Now the question was if Essus would be sane. Organ farms grown inside people were usually something north of agonizing.

More importantly, though, a slow understanding of Mirrorhead began forming in Avos mind. The man was addicted to a twisted kind of arithmetic. He didnt see the events in between, focusing only on outcomes. Pluses made him like you. Minuses in any form made him mad.

The task of appeasing him suddenly seemed a lot more surmountable.

Shame about the Reg, though, Mirrorhead said. Would have been nice to have one of those. He chuckled. I had an idea for her. Wanted to keep her with you, on the same team. The same circuit. Old enemies. Now allies. Quite a sell. Brings back the old days.

Avo grunted, playing along. Old days.

The elevator chimed. The door slid open.

Quite the first day, Mirrorhead said. Would you not agree?

Quite.

Are you going to insult me again with your defiance?

Insult? Avo planned to eat him and suckle the marrow from his bones. Perhaps even claim a new Heaven in the process. No.

Good, Mirrorhead gestured forward, allowing Avo passage. Be on your way then. Consider yourselfspared of duty. Until I call for you. Or send someone for you.

Tentatively, Avo made his retreat from the opened elevator doors. He was a step across the threshold when Mirrorhead called out to him again.

One more thing, Mirrorhead said, halting the closing doors. Do youhave any idea on how the Regular might have escaped. She supposedly had no offensive phantasmics. Yetthe guard I had watching her seems to be missing an intact ghost.

Avo went still. If he had a heart, it would have skipped a beat. Shes a Reg. Who knows what she has.

Mirrorhead considered his words with a languid chuckle. Words learned from experience. The Godclad released the door and faded from sight as it shut.

Avo found himself alone beneath a buzzing light. The halls were layered in hardened plascrete and lined with strip-shaped construction lights. Ahead, he could hear drones buzzing. Shooting another look over his shoulder, he proceeded onward, pulling the golems marker from his pocket.

One day and he already had enough of Mirrorhead. Enough of him, and his entire Syndicate. Avo wouldnt abide by this. Why should he when he had to power to change things? Just one more kill. Just one more and he could have a Hell

Avo considered that. He had no idea how that might manifest. If Mirrorhead would notice and realize he was also a Godclad. Paranoia rose from within. He needed to make the kill while Mirrorhead was distracted, and clean the evidence afterward.

To do that, he might just need a new phantasmic.

Before more trouble could find him, Avo redoubled his pace, making for his temporary shelter. Soon, he would slumber, and in waking dreams, he would reconstruct the fortress that his Metamind needed to be.