Chapter 58: Vera's Harbinger

Subject: Vera Location: Vera's Domain

Caim’s vessel looked up at her. She’d prepared a plain-looking puppet spun of strands of ethereal silver, but to him, he would feel very much like he was in his own body. His brain would rush to normalize the experience, and her tech would ease that process along.

Tethered to the boy’s thoughts, this projected persona was temptation incarnate for someone like her. She was someone who wanted to know what it was really like down there. The sparse details she siphoned away from encrypted upstream-bourne communications weren’t enough.

She spent her time pretending she couldn’t care any less, and it was more exhausting than the miserable span of years spent in Caim’s home.

I could go swimming in that torrent of consciousness, scry strands of perception and he’d never even know it.

So why didn’t she? He was just a human from a doomed solar system, perhaps even a doomed universe seed. Not even the one she wanted, he was insignificant. In short, he wasn’t worth this hesitance.

I know from the logs that he hasn’t been using “Comprehension”. He’s unlocked the routine, and I believe he already knows what it does. Why did I ever decide to base my actions on his? Pride? Guilt? Fear? If he uses Comprehension without restraint, so will I permit myself to indulge.

The sourcetech degeneration must have been influencing his connection. He would look around like there was something to see, even though there should be nothing there. Vera kept her meeting space empty for a reason, fewer distractions that way.

Though, it wasn’t like the rest of her “domain”, her tiny corner of faction territory, was particularly decorated. Leader always believed she would find her passion, supporting her every step of her flight from a meaningless existence. If only the passion weren’t something that could be construed as disloyalty.

The Experiment was indeed meaningful to her, just not for the reasons it should be.

“The pain really is gone,” Caim finally mumbled.

He was ready to speak, but his eyes still wandered around everywhere but to her. It was something more than a rebellious urge.

“Before, you didn’t know my condition. Why did you originally bring me here? What did you want to discuss? It sounded important.”

She revealed a portion of her curiosity to the human with a violet swirl in her eyes, following it shortly up with a crimson afterglow. That was the concern she felt for… so many things right now.

Presentation was important, and she was getting better at using this body to emote in ways creatures like him could understand.

“That’s right. There was so much to catch up on that I almost left out the most important message. We’ll have to leave the rest for another time. It would be good to see you again.”

It was easier to predict what they would do when they were afraid or angry. Even if they worshiped her, lesser sentients moved in predictable patterns. But she needed to treat him like an equal to gather the right data from him.

This creature may not have any hope of ever becoming my equal, but I suppose I can’t help but respect him a little. When you consider how frail and powerless they are, their pitiable flailing seems a little less pathetic.

“Something is wrong on the surface of that planet,” she explained. “My kin have always been chaotic, but the faction always preserved order through our loyalties. I don’t even know how to interpret what I’ve been seeing.”

That’s right. I’m not the only one acting odd.

“What does that mean for me? What use is it telling me anything about your kind?”

It was thanks to framing Caim in terms of what a human was capable of that she was able to acknowledge him as a middling individual.

“What I do know is that the planet has an old history. While trying to pinpoint where you were, I managed to learn that another faction once used the solar system to host one of their ‘harbinger games’. You don’t need to know what that rather tasteless form of entertainment entails, beyond making the location a hub for my kind for a time. When they grew bored, they picked up and left.”

Caim waited patiently now. The human could tell she was about to reveal something. There were no distracting questions, only the attentive eyes she preferred.

“They must have left something behind. Something you can use to endure and survive. What you do with whatever you find is up to you.”

She expected gratitude, but once again Caim proved to be an ungrateful creature.

“I’ve been dealing with one life-or-death situation after the other. While it is better to be ill-equipped than defenseless, you’re the one that wants it this way.”

“Yes, I do. It’s pointless if I give you everything. But I have modified your SLATE so that it can interface with our technology, should you find anything. If you work hard, you should be able to develop it until it can locate these derelict caches.”

“I heard an interesting story not so long ago.”

“Oh?”

“If your kind was here, I think they left an impression on the culture of this place… as gods. There are even more recent mythological references that bear a striking resemblance to this sourcetech of yours.”

Sourcetech madness or no, he was adapting to his new circumstances rather well.

“What is your point?”

“Are your people self-styled gods? Do you see yourself as a divine figure?”

Vera grinned innocently.

“Do you want to worship me?”

“No. Definitely not.”

A thought occurred.

“I’ve got a fantastic idea! I’m not interested in manipulating a flock of humans like some of my predecessors, but I do have a little side project that could benefit from a little attention here and there.”

“I don’t like where this is going, Vera,” Caim groaned.

She reached forward and touched the puppet’s neck. His real body would experience the true change, but it was easier to access the controls through a pre-prepared interface.

“You wanted me to give you a little more of an edge, right?”

“No. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t like that face you’re making.”

“Manners, Caim! Come on… it will be fun. Besides, you’ve already promised me a favor.”

She didn’t know why Caim made the promise, but he must have thought she was listening to him at the time. It was definitely something to look into later.

“You have no idea how dangerous it is to bring up religion in Shroud, Vera.”

“It doesn’t have to be religion. Paint me as a mentor who made a lasting impression on you. Spread my name with a concept of your choosing. When you look at me, what word comes to mind?”

“Sadist.”

“Savior? I suppose I did rescue you from a doomed world, but don’t you think you’re putting me on too high a pedestal?”

“Vera…”

“Oh? Does it seem there’s already a handful of people who know of me? I met one of them before, but she knew who I was already.”

Caim’s expression darkened.

“Don’t talk about them like you care. I picked up and made a new life for myself. It’s going to take work to keep them safe, more so if what you warned me about is true.”

“Then I’ll take the liberty of marking them as allies.”

“Allies?”

“Yes. You’ve nearly reached the stage where you can do it yourself, so I don’t mind reconfiguring some of the presets in your stead.”

The boy seemed to be getting angry, but he reconsidered at the thought of Vera helping him in this way.

“What is the benefit of marking them as allies?”

“You’ve only just begun to use it this way, but the sourcetech boon I gave you is much more sophisticated than anything I’m designed before. It needed to be this way. I couldn’t learn as much from you snapping your fingers and making problems disappear. There are a limited number of registrations you can assign to people and objects you encounter down there. You are the host, that can’t be changed, but one priority level below that is ‘ally’. You can use these settings when configuring tactics.”

“I’ve already been doing some of that, but I didn’t know people could be marked like that. That would actually make my life a lot easier.”

“It was always part of my gift to you, but perhaps a brief explanation would do you good.”

Subject: Vera Location: Vera's Domain

Time wasn’t halted here, nor didn’t it appear to flow in its usual course. That was the result of altered perception, nothing more, but it meant they had the freedom to talk a little more than she originally intended to.

In these spare moments, she trained Caim to use his new abilities, and it felt surprisingly good to see those eager intentions. Lesser sentients were pathetic creatures, but they did have an unusual amount of passion and an unfamiliar sense of urgency.

Vera’s eyes traced Caim’s puppet before sending him off. He might just survive. She wanted him to survive, but she really didn’t know what was happening on the planet or within her faction.

My kin...

“Your new family… What’s your plan for them? Plain curiosity.”

He didn’t even need to think of a response, which was evidence of the time he’d spent thinking about this question.

“It’s utter stupidity to attempt to rewrite the world as we are. I just want to protect these new friends. I’ll do what I can to consolidate strength, ask them to commit their talents to the cause. This much is within our reach.”

She simply nodded in response. She didn’t want to influence him. These motivations needed to be his alone. Yet, she did feel a compulsion to say a few last words.

“You can focus on your kind right now, but don’t forget my warning. Events tend to get chaotic when my kind gets involved. I don’t know the specific orders of those managing The Experiment, but I have no doubt they’ve been ordered to refrain from interacting with the natives.”

He nodded silently. She hesitated before sending him off.

“I don’t know how to feel about you.”

This made things a little easier.

“You said it yourself. I’m your savior and you’ve decided to dedicate your life to spreading my name.”

Before he could respond, Vera cut the cord and returned his consciousness to his body.

I have my work cut out for me.