Chapter 13-11 The Shattered Dream (II)

Chapter 13-11 The Shattered Dream (II)

Once upon a time, there were Nine pantheons. Nine pantheons for the nine great and terrible tribes who carried with them twelve different histories. In each history

What happens before?



Hm?

Before the once upon a time? What happens before then?

...Thats a good question. Might be something better answered by your mother, but I believe the clearest answer is that its of dubious canonicity.



Dubious?



Yes. Its a terrifying thing.



Why?



Because the story which we tell of time past might just change who we are nowah, its too complicated



No. I understand. If the past is different, the present has to be different too Dad, why are you staring at me?



Nothing. You got the wit in you, Veylis. You know that?



Yes.



[Loud guffaw] And the confidence too.



Mother says fear and cowardice are for those I feed to my glaive. Do not remind me of them, my girl.

...



Story!



Okay, alright. So, as years passed and the gods warred to rule humanity, each of them began building a throne for their scripture. Many of the things they wrote about never were, but if they won If their thrones grew taller and they claimed the others



Are the thrones the Arks?



...Yes. How did you



Mother took me to one. She showed me the worlds inside them and told me they were all lies, but their lies were like seeds and they could grow into something real if if the soils of time were settled.

...Im going to need to talk with her about taking you to these places without telling me.



She calls it character building.

More character-ending sometimes, Im afraid.



Mother will protect me.

Yeah. Yeah, she will.



Daddy, why are the stories different? The voiders say we were all from the same place once. Why are the stories different?



...Because of want. Because the gods want to be moreto take up more of reality. Because everyone wants to win and win, and never lose and always be happy. Because within every person is a dream for paradise to silence the fears inside and light joys with higher form of fire. One that never stops burning. Were afraid. But we also dream of being more. Thats what I think makes us human. We are the marriage between base impulse and heightened conception. From the former we flee, and into the arms of the latter we run.

So why do you make it sound so bad.



Because there cant be more than one paradise, my heart.

Not even between you and mom?



No. Not between me and you. I love your mother more than my words can express, but we are very different people in our hearts. And you will be too. All too often, a paradise for one is a hell for someone else.

But wouldnt you be happy forever?



Only reactively. The heart is a fickle thing, Veylis. There are things in the world that can change how you feel.



Like the ghosts in mothers sword?



Yes. They can make you happy. Change your mind. Hurt you. But with what we know, I dont think its right.



Right?



Existence is about more than us. We have a responsibility to other people. Just like I have a responsibility to you and your mother.



But then what about the gods? Why dont they care?



Because they are more like things than people. They care for nothing but eating and growing. And eventually, they will be nothing because everything will be them, and all of reality will bleed into itself and they will lose the ability to separate themselves from the pattern.





+Or a whole new one,+ Denton suggested.

+In two years' time, this will all be over,+ DRongo said. +The Ladder will return across the span of time as the unifying centerpiece of our worldJaus final masterpiece and the prize of ultimate salvation.+



+Then why fight?+ Avo asked. The beast coiled in muted outrage at such a question. +Why. If everything can be saved+



+You arent listening. Nothing will be savedeverything will be rewritten.+ DRongo lapsed into silence. +That is why the war should be won beforehand. Not after. If the Saintists are defeated before the day of re-emergence, then can focus on the others, and then I can focus on reaching the final floor.+



+The others.+ Avo understood. +Youre going to turn on your allies as well. Does Ori-Thaum+



+We all know,+ DRongo said. +There could be no other way about this. There cannot be two paradises. There cant even be a shared interpretation between two people.+ Her ego shuddered. +And if one is torn of will and want I have seen what the tower does to the uncertain, the wavering. It tries to fulfill all desires, no matter how contradictory.+

The shudder grew into a quiver. +Oh, but poor Jaus. He was too good a man to suffer such a wretched fate. I will see him saved and spared of eternal torment if we win.+

+If you win,+ Avo asked.

The elder laughed. +I cannot win. Its impossible. I am an Council Elder of Ori-Thaum. I have foresworn my right to bear the privilege of a Liminal Frame, and only a fully intact Nous within a Frame rise the ladders of resurrection.+ DRongos ghosts closed in, all of them undulating at him like beckoning fingers. +One. If two ascend at the same timewell, imagine two absolute rulers of reality trying to dictator the rules at the end. Who is to be canon? What history is to be true? And what happens if there is a conflict between their thoughts?+



+One,+ Avo said. +Or all aligned to one. Project Godshaper+



+Yes,+ DRongo agreed. +We couldnt let Highflame have its power. There is too much at stake for the war to carry over as things are. Or if a multiplicity of conditions are true. We are trying to create a new paradise, not paradoxical ruination.+

+Thats why youre still hunting for Agnos Kusanade,+ he said, guiding her. +You need her to stop the Imitators if they spread.+



+That is the lowest of our hopes. Yes. I+



A squeal of alarm sounded in the back of Avos mind. His cog-feed flashed multiple warnings as someone triggered his high thoughtwave tripwire back in Oversec-C1. Additional indicators followed. Someone jacked into one of his subverted Exorcists. Another was accessing the Auto-Seance he built into the administrative node.

And then, across the Unwhere network, he felt a presence that wasnt quite his own or an Exorcist brush the inner confines of Abrel Greatlings mind.

Unknown Necros were moving through the system from multiple angles. The only uncertainty that remained was if they were Incubi responding to save their elder, hired jackers who didnt know they were about to get nulled, or the Low Masters steering toward inevitable confrontation.

The conversation with Elder DRongo wasnt done, but the threats were a priority.

There were hunters in the deep, and soon he was to be among them.

+Oversec C1 is compromised,+ Avo said, casting the thoughts and mem-data over to his allies. +Time for you all to jack out.+

+What?+ Kae said, her voice spiking in outrage. +No. Were not done. Shes+



+Going to tear her memories clean,+ Avo said. +Also going to put an Auto-Seance in her mind. Youll get your pain. Easy promise.+



Dentons mind offered a sour response to his offer. +Are you staying?+



He turned off his Morality Injector. The beast clawed its way out from his throbbing skull as bloodlust filled him across skin, sinew, and soul. +Going to greet the other intruders. Want to see what theyre like. Learn what they want.+

She only offered mute acknowledgment to the sadistic hunger edging his thoughts. +Alright. Tell me if you leak any memories into the Nether.+

Avo didnt bother responding. Her lack of confidence in him was insulting at this point. +Kae. If I get nulled you kill me.+

The Agnos mind reeled back, stunned by his request.

He stuck a claw into her wound. +My father sold you like you were FATELESS to suffer. You are discussed like a tool. Traded. Only valued for what you know. And all this is partially because of me. Should get that gun you used earlier. Should get Draus to teach you how in case I go mind-dead.+

At his prodding, her disposition hardened with returning hatred blended with uncertainty. +I liked the feeling of your spear more, honestly.+

That surprised him. +...Use it then.+

+I+ Her chest was a knot of frustration, confusion, and conflict. She was mad. She was confused. She was unfulfilled. She was thinking. +I want to talk to you. When you come out.+

He agreed. +We all need to talk when Im done.+

Denton and Kae jacked out. Their ghosts vanished before his perception.

Beside him, Chambers lingered.

+Why are you still here,+ Avo asked.

+Well,+ Chambers said, awkwardly. +Maybe you could use backup. A partner! We could be like team here. Avo and Cha+ Avo cast a pack of jumbled mem-data into the man. Chambers voice twisted into a note of raw surprise. +What the f+



Avo tore the mem-data back out. +Too late. Didnt sequence fast enough. Not good. Not a Necro. Useless. Jack out.+

A trickle of genuine hurt slipped free from Chambers. +Jaus, consang, you didnt need to say all that. Just tell me to fuck off or something.+

His ghosts blinked and faded as well.

That just left two.

Two within DRongos mindscape.

Avo turned his attention back to her as he prepared to access his Ghostjack. He was going to leave a backdoor in her as well, but before that, he wanted to indulge himself.

All the talking he suffered was worth a reward

+You were wrong,+ Avo said, spearing his ghosts directly into DRongos being.

Her confusion spiked high like a mountain erupting free from soil. +Oh. And what was I wrong about?+



He peeled away all the modifications and disguises behind his ghost before manifesting his physical shell as an avatar. As he came into form before a congress of leering ghosts, he also cast another packet of mem-data directly into her mind, stinging her with the truth of his Frameof all that he knew.

DRongos mind rattled and fissured. Cracks ran up through her serried palace. The sneer behind her word faded as she gasped, dread and panic both rising within her. +I how could this y-you+

+Yes,+ Avo said, enjoying the moment before he tore these memories out from her. +Not Chambers. Not Walton. Me.+



+You you cant be realyour kind cant oh, gods it's inside you+ Her being went frigid and stiff as he sank his ghosts into her memories. +No, wait! I propose a new bargain! I have things you want+



+And I will take them from you,+ Avo said. +After you forget. I will take from you. Knowledge. Phantasmics. Suffering. I will take everything from you. And I will burn away all the parts I dont desire.+

+No, wait! Wait+

He fired his reflexes and tore his ghost back. Her memories snapped loose, thoughtstuff spilling free as her mind rose into a maddened scream of absolute dread.

Within a few seconds, she would remember nothing of this conversation; but within those few seconds, all she would know was him.