《Stranger Than Fiction》Chapter 17: Assimilation
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Darkness.
The STATE of the anomaly was damaged. Multiple issues were detected, but nothing that PROPHYLAXIS could not deal with. Discharge of copious amounts of LIFEFORCE was a bad idea since discharge points appeared to be blocked. Foreign bindings on HOST BODY were keeping it from breaking out.
It was almost enough to register as a PROBLEM.
The sudden influx of a foreign SOUL into HOST BODY triggered the reaction. The omphalos observed it, running equations about the relative value of utilizing the new SOUL PROTOTYPE as an acceptable substitute for BASE HOST.
Silently, it ran the numbers.
SOUL PROTOTYPE ANALYZED
RACE
Yurei
TYPE
Spiritual Parasite
ENERGY CORE
Ether Mana
Match with HOST BODY
9%
If the omphalos had lips, it would have pouted. 9%? That was practically nothing. Anything less than a 95% match was not worth considering. Normally, it would have left BASE HOST at the helm, but the unwanted attribute RATIONALITY was a recurring problem.
It was an added attribute that came with its own share of benefits and concerns. The omphalos could work with a LIVING BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT, but the extra baggage of BASE HOST MIND and its unwanted attributes were a problem.
Especially with MENTAL STATE maintained at a default HUMAN setting.
How…[human adjective] tedious.
The omphalos reached deeper. Vital statistics showed the situation was bordering on [human adjective] irksome. Any further decrease in MENTAL STATE to unacceptable levels of shock carried the potential to push the matter to [human adjective] aggravating.
Unacceptable.
The omphalos acted.
Activating Intensive Repair…CANCEL! Path Reset.
Activate Auto-Scan, Auto-Analyze
A spherical wave burst from HOST BODY, invisible to all but omphalos-kind. The omphalos sensed the GREATER ANOMALY outside HOST BODY.
GREATER ANOMALY IDENTIFIED
CRYPT OF FIENDISH WORMS
Size
Class-3
Potential
Sub-Singularity
Estimated Monster Count
2381
Estimated Energy Reserves
917,277,532 Units
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Odd. It seemed like CRYPT OF FIENDISH WORMS was larger in size, but younger. It had an immense number of MONSTER HOSTS, but a majority were PRIMITIVE beings. It was spread out over a larger geographical area but equipped with rudimentary functions at best.
A confusing confusion.
Recommended: Deactivation of BASE HOST MIND until better Alternatives are present
Tempting. But deactivation of BASE HOST MIND would allow the PARASITE SOUL to take over and ALTER the HOST BODY.
Not an option.
The omphalos came to a decision. It was likely too early for this, but even HOST MIND needed to start somewhere.
Balance Reality Foundation—Counterbalance
Equalizing…
Base Focus Medium Chosen
Host Identified
Enacting LEGACY PROTOCOL
That was it. There was no turning back now.
New OMPHALOS FUNCTION Added!
FUNCTION
LEVEL
ENERGY COST
Soul Siphon
N/A
20
DESCRIPTION
Consumption of Soul Prototypes post the death of the organism and their storage in the Monster Prototype Array.
New OMPHALOS FUNCTION Added!
FUNCTION
LEVEL
ENERGY COST
Alpha Condition
1
Variable
DESCRIPTION
Allows for Allowed Possession of Host Body by Monster Prototypes and eventual release of Host Body upon completion. Passive resistance against mental intrusion.
Yes. This would do. Wait—
ALIEN TRUTH from PRESENCE
POTENTIALLY UNAVAILABLE in absence of BASE HOST
The omphalos did not curse its inability to frown. It did not have time nor inclination for such things. Instead, it simply ran the numbers once more.
The GODDESS had a BOND with BASE HOST. Quite naturally SHE had recognized the ACTIVE ROLE the omphalos was taking in molding HOST BODY to suit its purposes better. This must have been the GODDESS’s attempt to balance the scales.
Still, there was a TRUTH attached to this GODDESS.
Not a bad augmentation. Allowed.
…for now.
BASE HOST activated. HOST BODY responded. Eyes opened.
HOST MIND AUTO-ACTIVATE.
PROCESS CALCULATED. INTERCEPT ROUTINES.
ENACT.
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