Chapter 16-4 Meldskin

Chapter 16-4 Meldskin

Theyre watching us, you know?

The voiders. From all the way in the deep void. Using modified bugs that fly around our cities. Even using some of our implantsjust read any Omnitech published reports on the tech infiltration being committed by our benefactors.

Thats not all though. You see, weve been keeping an eye on what the voiders have been doingthe movements of their ships and all the new deals they're striking with the Guilds, and some very troubling implications are appearing.The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.

Now, I cant say for certain what is going in in case one of our other masters in this eight-headed system decides to shut me down, but looking at all the tech permits being issued, something very has to be happening, right:

Immunoboost-Nine?

Plague Suppressants?

FerverClear?

All of this for free at your local grafters? And all of this requires a submission of your genetic material before it can be administered?



This inspires questions, consangs. Real pointed questions.

We know the voiders are the ones with all that advanced cloning technology. Hells, we would be in population free-fall if it wasnt for their birther vats but

What if theyre not just cooking up newborns in those metal-wombs? What if theyre going a bit further, planning for their better world?



Im not saying theyre doing anything yet, but imagine if you or I get cloned by the voiders? Perfect in every way. Better than us. Except theyre not us. Except their docile and obedient and listen to the words of our Guilder masters without any struggle.

Imagine that as the dream. Doesnt that just sound nice the Fateweavers at the top? Huh? Again, no claims are being made on this thoughtcast. Im just saying that if the Sang could grow one of their Incarnates from some organs and a sheet of skin, what kind of coldtech abominations can Voidwatch make of us?

-Watch the Watchers, Anti-Voidwatch Conspiracy Thoughtcast

16-4

Meldskin

Enlightenment left tastes of sweet and sour upon Avos tongue.

As time slipped from the group after they began sampling the gifts of Voidwatch, Avo felt a familiar ache returning with each item he tested. Where once the Bone Demon and his Echoheads left him pleased with the belief of his superiority to most, indulging in the use of instruments leftover from even the furthest days of Voidwatchs bygone past made him feel all but inadequate again.

This time, however, he faced such facts not as an expendable monster in the sway of indifferent cultists but as a pupil seeking to surmount the next steps of his ascension.

Exchanges between Calvino and Draus highlighted the intricacies of each new vessel he unveiled while platform specifications left even the hardiest veteran simulated within Avos immolation quieted.

The Butler series was but the beginning of his new education. The fact that it was officially classified for security and peacekeeping rather than outright combat made an even deeper impression.

Draus, for her part, grew ravenous. She was as if a ghoul let loose in a nursery, picking and sampling all that caught her eye. Guns became Avos world for a good while. Guns such as the Kassad II Mutivector Assault Weapon, with its hyper-precise delivery systems ensuring perfect accuracy within twenty-five kilometers and miniature cold-fusion ammo battery guaranteeing years of continuous use, or the LLA-12 Queen Bee, which functioned as an autonomous micro-drone launcher neuro-linked to the usera far more subtle implement than the former, but with each flea-sized drone capable of reducing an aero to burning slag, the damage potential was beyond denial.

Combat-programmed utility fog served as another essential acquisition for the group. It served Avo a bit less than the others considering the extent he could mold matter already with his Heaven, but having multiple options was always wise.

Though they were denied the requisition of heavy-grade drones or voidships, Avo found himself with access to interstellar surveillance satellites and the Sakuraba Disvow Stealthship

GENERATOR: Fjord Cold-Fusion Generation

Length: 8.50m

Height: 4.30m

Wingspan: 7.5m

Armaments: 2 GEPAR-GHK Linear Cannons and 1 Muti-Missile Nano-Fab for varied payload delivery

At the EGIs behest, Avo tweaked the training sim and increased the gravity of the room. In an instant, the weight of the world came crashing down upon his shoulders, and he found his avatar buried under an unseen mountain. Reactivating his armor, threads of metal poured out between his cermite plating and wove themselves back into shape.

GRAVITY AT: 8.8 STANDARD Gs

INCREASING FIBER DENSITY

An explosion of strength rushed through Avo as the fibers of the armor burrowed deeper to interface with the structure of his Bone Demon sheate. Nanotubes constructed additional supports within his Echoheads, inflicting their biology with additional rigidity but also durability. He planted his tendrils into the ground and pushed.

The weight was still there, still heavy, but his strength was growing at an alarming pace, and his generator poured more energy through the armors systems.

Within the span of ten seconds, Avo had gone from being crushed by the atmosphere to standing, to striding without the aid of his Echoheads. And all that strength was his, and his alone. No need to reach deep and rewrite the rules of reality. No need to call upon his canons.

He was a juggernaut unto himself. Enough as is.

A low chuckle sang out from Draus as she shook her head. Come time, you and I are gonna break this shit in. No Heavens. No guns. Just you and me and the good ol days. See how fit makes us feel.

Avo hissed a low note of amusement. This was her way of thanking him: Pain and brutality. She understood him too well. Going to bleed you, Reg. Bleed you like youve never been bled.

Well, you keep that hope close to your heart. Itll be a thrilll watching it leak out from the corners of your eyes.

[Were fighting the Reg soon?] Corner asked. A thrill rose in them as well. [Fuck yeah. Picked the right ghoul to die to.]

This is still nothing before the touch of my power, master. We can unravel this shell with but a thought. The Woundshapers words carried naked envy with them, but Avo remained unshaken.

It will mean everything if you are denied to me. If my Rend is too great. If our enemy masters our hubrises. I must be more. More in every way. More in reality as it is. More beyond. All are conjoined. He paused. And dont you want to understand how its structure comes together? How it can be strength so easily?

And with that, the Heaven of Bloods jealousy dimmed in place of aroused curiosity. The art of these interlopers is exotic. Of that, my admission is stated.

The Galeslither released a breath of disdain. What difference is there between you and that lust-addled creature the ghoul keeps as a personal fool.

Woundshaper began its retort, but it was Avo who cut in first. Chambers is trying to change. Changing like all of us. Slowly. Flawed still. But changing. He turned his eyes in the real upon the supposed half-strand and gazed beyond the performative lust and ridiculousness on display. All this debasement of the self for the sake of social acceptanceto be wanted. He is not my personal fool. I will not have it be so. I will him to be who he wants to be. I will see him make his own choices when the time comes.

The Heaven of Air offered but silence for a moment. And what of me? Am I to be different? Am I to be more organ and being?

What do you want? Avo asked.

To be free, the Galeslither said, a spark of hope entering its voice. I wish to take to the skies of my own accord and follow the contrails of a distant entity. To seek the horizon and round it again. I wish to be trapped no longer. Are you going to give that to me?

Idiot mule, the Woundshaper chided. Your fantasy is cessation. How long will you sail before you are claimed by these Guildsthese Agnosi? How long will you last before you are out of deaths to sustain yourself and come apart in being? As if the master would offer a free Soul to indulge in such fancies.

But Avo considered the proposition, and again, he thought of the armor before him, of how it interwove and became him, and he it as well; he thought of how he could burn his being into minds and vessels.

What if he could do so with his Heavens?

What if he could unleash the gods upon the world again?

{Avo} Calvino said, the first hints of alarm entering the EGIs tone. {You dont want to do that.}

But the Galeslither was silent again, and its emotions were peaked with astonishment at Avos consideration.

We will talk about this later, he said. All of us.

Directing his attention back to the simulation, Avo placed seven requests of Meldskin. Seven for each member present. Seven to be made better in the coming days.

+So, lets talk about that final something you might be interested in,+ Calvino said. +I understand youve been having trouble. Run-ins with your family. Do you want to hurt them where it hurts the most right now?+

Tell me, Avo said, interest fully aroused. He hadnt expected this. But then again, with the EGI, he didnt know what to expect.

A final influx of knowledge rushed through Avo and he found himself confused at what was being offered. These are bodies?

+Yeah. A collection of various sheathes to generate, as well as heightened access to vat-functions. Its hard to do espionage as a giant man-eating monster, you know? I decided to get you something of a wardrobe.+