Chapter 16-2 Inventory (I)

Chapter 16-2 Inventory (I)

+...And this marks the thirteenth declaration of General Assembly for Highflame since its founding.

Details are still sparse at present, but we have reliable sources claiming that the High Seraph herself, Veylis Avadaer, is set to address the gathered host of her forces for the first time in over nineteen years.

Other notable figures summoned to attendance are Osjon Thousand, the famed first disciple of Zein Thousandhand; Uthred Greatling, patriarch to increasingly infamous House Greatling, esteemed Authority, and a major pillar of the Chivalrics. Draeg Hausen of House Hausen and Vernetta the Twain of House Vallors have put their names forth to serve as his bondsguard in case a formal injunction is issued from the Choir of Seraphs.

Additionally, we have rumors that Saraka eldDrachna, a Stormtree Bloodthane recently rewarded with the distinction of esteemed adversary, has been invited to the Assembly and stands among the Impartialists to ensure the balance between biased parties.

Currently, the Assembly is set to convey in three weeks and will coincide with the trials declared by Chief Paladin Naeko.

Thats all for today. This is Annel Andras, reporting for the Watchtower.

Now, onto the weekly street squire deadpool.

-Watchtower Special Program

16-2

Inventory (I)

{Avo This is a nightmare. How are you still sane with all these voices screaming inside your mind? How? Just how many people have you killed in the past day alone?}

A laugh of disbelief escaped from Calvino as the download completed and the copied template of the EGI came mind-to-mind with its non-coldtech alternates. It took the artificial intellect less than a second to trawl through Avos mindscape and upon completion, disbelief filled every bit of data it possessed.

Moments after Denton disconnected from Threshold, new menus and features began to sprout through Avos mind. Chief among these was his new personal neuro-assistant which was essentially a copy of Calvino.

Dry amusement spread through the ghoul as his flames reknitted all previously claimed templates with but a thought, dragging the EGIs incredulity higher and higher.

[Whats up, consang,] Abrel said, speaking with a mind laced with bitter irony. [Welcome to the burning shithole. Population: us. Did the ghoul get you too? Dont tell me he ate an entire voidship this time.]

[An EGI,] Benhata followed, sounding more startled than surprised. [And willingly bound to us I This is] A pause followed. [Ori-Thaum would have given entire sovereignties to possess one of them for study. And all it took for you was a conversation.]

Template-Chambers snorted. [Maybe you guys are looking at this the wrong way, eh? Maybe if you werent all boring mind-fucking half-strands, the cool void people would talk to you.]

[This it?] Lip asked, narrowing her perception at Calvino. [That what they look like? Floaty kinda sun-shaped ball?] Disappointment coiled through her person. [I was expecting something more god-like.]

Strings of data danced through Avos Meta-integrated Neurodeck. This time, however, he understood the information being conveyedthe coding dissolved into direct doses of information fed into his cog-feed.

{Youre welcome,} Calvino said, the acknowledgment of its deed sounding more distracted than proud. {There are thousands talking at once inside you. Most people would have gone insane or drowned in the sheer influx of clashing egos.}

+Not most people,+ Avo said. +Also have two Heavens inside me that argue. Always arguing. Theyre usually louder.+

To bring in the final two members of the grand assembly that was his gestalt, the Woundshaper and the Galeslithers biting dialogue arrived as the wind screamed and blood clapped to the sound of thunder. Between the deafening noise, two fragments that once stood as gods barked insults at one another even as Avo fed the voices from within his Frame into his mind.

Contemptible cur. What do you know about art? What do you mongrel people know of creation? All you do is flee and hidethe god of running and cowardice. Oh, woe is me I live in the desert and my people are outcasts. Have you considered breaking the problems instead of fleeing from them?

Unshaken by the Woundshapers insults, the Galeslither whistled a savage tune. I have protected my devotees for years beyond counting. I am not a great god. I make no lie of this, but I am a just god, and a loved god. More than you will ever be. All you are is fortunatea survivor in a pit of misery nourished by half-sane savages too stubborn to leave the hell they were born to, and too weak of spirit to abandon the abuser they created to spare themselves from the monsters in the dark. Creation. All you create is horror and travesty. You say you are a god of buildings and architecture as well. Well, I have walked the skies but looking back across my past, why do I not recall any crimson structures reaching high enough to touch my domain?

And why would I grace the realm of the worthless with my finery?Because I have known gods like you across my existence, Saathwu. You are a tyrant when you have power and a synchophant without. The only realms you refuse to touch are those beyond your reachNothing was beyond my reach! Nothing! If you were so protected, how did you fall then? Hm? Did the winds finally get tired of carrying the cattle you call people.I have heard you insult them enough!

{Hm,} Calvino summarized simply as Avo partitioned the two realities again. {Well, I can say that you are the closest embodiment to a walking madhouse Ive ever seen. And weve simulated some very strange things in our time.}

Avo, Denton said, cutting through the internal conversation, is the download complete?

Yes. Calvinos here. Loaded as a voice in the back of my head. Fits in with all the minds Ive collected already.

{Well, I like to view myself more like a tenet or respected guest than a mentally obliterated and forcibly forked mind-slave.}

Avo bristled at such a disingenuous assertion. +Not slaves. More like prisoners. That I use sometimes. To help me think.+

The templates erupted into loud expressions of sardonic surprise and gasping shock.

[Hear that, consangs?] Lip roared. [Rotlick says were not slaves. We just prisoners. That he doesnt pay. And channels to do his thinking for him. I think hes stumbled on a revolutionary system of control.]

Never one to miss out on some sneering, Abrel joined in. [Really? Is that what this is? Were all equals and totally not governed by some self-modifying mind-attuning fire? Wow. Amazing. Hey, Avo, can you please kill yourself painfully so I can laugh and curse at you for what you did to my brother and friends? Thanks a lot you cannibal piece of shit.]

[I mean I'm just happy to be here,] Chambers chuckled, entirely honest.

[Were not,] Benhata said while all the Talon and Shadow templates backed him up. [I literally got my mind eaten after I accepted a session. Just dead in an instant. My familys probably wondering what happened to me and where my body went.]

How good are the implants compared to the FATED? Avo asked. Like Abrel Greatling.

{Well, dont tell her this but we have purposely given them midline modifications and said it was our cutting edgemostly as a joke.} Of course, Calvino spoke these words knowing full well template-Abrel could hear it.

The Greatling twitched with hate shivers. [You sowyou motherfugodsdamned assholes.]

Going to be better than you soon, Avo whispered, taunting the girl in his mind.

[Lick my] She paused, noticing Chambers leering interest washing over her, waiting for her sentence to end. [You know what, Im just going to stew in my hate quietly for a moment.]

A cheer went up among the Silvers and Benhata saluted Chambers begrudgingly.

[There truly is a purpose for everyone in this city,] Corner said, speaking with a questionably offensive faux-wisened voice.

[I hate all of you and hope we all die painfully,] Abrel concluded.

Update completed, the voice within Inventory said. You may now make requests of the system. Warning: your current district does not allow for the following items.

A short list of three million and two banned requestables filled the totality of the room around Avo. He wouldnt have known just how many pieces of kit were beyond his reach if not for Calvino telling him first and his subminds achieving the same a good while after.

{Most of this is stuff that uses fusion,} Calvino sniffed. {Probably Omnitech trying to create a new spectrum of energy again.}

+Like them the least?+ Avo asked.

{Imagine if a simpler, cruder, crueler parody of yourself appeared trying to ape and defile your greatest achievements?}

+So. My brothers.+

{Oh, you understand already! Yeah. Like that, but they might actually cause all of human creation and technology to collapse if you dont fix their problems every other week.}

+Didnt think it was that bad.+



{Its worse. Now, think ansible in the Inventory to test the graft out.}

Doing as suggested, Avo felt his avatar shudder again but felt a new weight lodged in the base of its skull.

REQUISITION: PERSONAL HYPERWAVE ANSIBLE (JumpCOM-XIII) [CATEGORY GREEN MODIFICATION]

CAPABILITIES: INSTANT COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE SPAN OF LOCAL SYSTEM CAPABLE OF BEING BOOSTED LIGHT YEARS BEYOND WHEN CONNECTED TO FARCASTER STATION

PLEASE TEST DEVICE NOW

A menu expanded across the center of Avos vision, and a single choice was highlighted at its core.

CALL -> SYSTEM ADMIN

He accepted the option, and from within the simulation, he felt a sudden thrum in the stem of his skull as a cylindrical weight began to build.

SYSTEM ADMIN: HELLO

The voice answered him with a faint echo in the back of his mind. The suddenness of the connection was uncanny.

AVO-001: Quick

SYSTEM ADMIN: You can make additional adjustments using your Neurodecks mod settings for controls and other quality adjustments.

Thoughts sped through Avos mind. Slowly, his fangs widened into a grin as the solution to a present problem he faced dawned.

AVO-001: Can I request more than nanosuite for the graft?

SYSTEM ADMIN: Please make your case before pending approval.

AVO-001: Want in-field communication device for cadre. Something not reliant on Necrotheurgy.

SYSTEM ADMIN: Acknowledged. Please hold.



And just as the administrator lapsed into silence, Avos Sanguinity sensed Draus return as she stepped back through a junction on the floor below, her body a misshapen map of oozing wounds.