Gap Stories #24

[We Dream of Monstrous Things]

Log Date: 12/22/12768

Data Sources: Sunthorn Bastion Archived Records

Event Log: 12/22/12768

Sovenor Starport: Security Checkpoint

9:03pm LPT

If I have the misfortune of being consigned to hell when I die, I imagine it will probably be similar to this.

That was the dominating thought occupying Kaiser’s mind as he made his way through the Sovenor starport on Talingrad, weaving through the packs of holiday travelers that filled the halls. It had been some time since he had been obligated to transverse a starport, and he did not enjoy doing so; they were places of controlled chaos and forced proximity with large numbers of people he did not know. It was, in his own words, a distasteful experience, as much of mass transit often was. And holidays, with the inevitable surge in travel volume, only made it so much worse.

Still, the job demanded his presence here on Talingrad; and so here he was. He was using civilian transit only as a matter of maintaining a lower profile; with the growing legitimacy of the Valiant came attention to their movements, particularly when they were traveling in ships known to belong to the Valiant. Blending in among the common masses was a way to elide some of this attention, hence his election for this method — after all, this was a solo mission, and the Valiant were still at the stage where they had to be mindful of their travel expenses. Fueling a ship so it could ferry a single person across the stars was not the best return on investment, and it was something that was currently reserved for only the most important of missions at the moment.

Making his way through the terminals and security checks, Kaiser made a point of escaping the masses as expediently as possible, slipping into a prepaid courier car outside the starport. The paint job was black and the windows tinted, and it hummed away into the night the moment he closed the door; the Cyber that was piloting the car didn’t ask any questions, and Kaiser didn’t give any orders. Instructions had already been given when he made the reservation, and he had made sure to pay for his driver’s silence — both inside the car, and outside of it.

The drive was not a short one, on account of his destination being a smaller city further out in the Sovenor District. There was a modicum of urgency to his travel; there would be an event at his destination sometime in the dead of night, and if he missed it, there likely would not be a second chance to sneak into an event of this sort. The intel that had led to this opportunity had been hard to come by, very much a matter of luck and coincidence, and it was not the sort of thing he expected to happen twice.

Despite the long drive, Kaiser was not the sort to sit idle when he could be working, and once they were out of Sovenor city proper, he pulled out his data slate and a portable encryption relay, setting up both in the back of the car. It was not long before he established a connection with the DIRT satellite in orbit around Talingrad, and from there, a connection to the Sunthorn Bastion. Once that was established, he opened up a text channel with Legaci — a voice channel would usually be more efficient, but he didn’t want the Cyber integrated into the courier car to hear anything that might be profitable enough for him to break his silence.

>>Channel active

Kaiser: Checking in. Channel is secured through an encryption relay.

The All-Seeing Eye: Received. How’s the weather on Talingrad?

K: I do not need to be coddled with small talk, Legaci. If you would bring me up to speed on the Halcyon campaign.

TASE: Right, I forgot who I was talking to. Alright, the Halcyon campaign… not looking too hot. The frequency of Leviathan emergences has remained steady; every time they attack, they’re trying to capitalize on the breach in Genista’s wall. The Marshy Republic has sent one of their contracted construction companies to try to shore it up, but it’s not looking good.

K: I assume they’re unable to make much progress with the consistent Leviathan attacks.

TASE: Pretty much. Like slapping a bandage on a broken arm, when what it really needs is a splint.

K: I assume the frequency of attacks is also wearing down the pilots and causing the repair schedule to fall behind.

TASE: To a degree. There’s still several days between each attack, so the pilots for both our squad and Genista’s have enough time to mentally recuperate between deployments. The hangar crews, on the other hand… they can only work so fast. The operations crew is having to make choices about how to deploy the squads. If they think they can run an operation with only five Titans instead of seven, then they’ll cut the two Titans that are most damaged so they can continue to receive repairs while the other five are handling the operation.

K: War frequently requires such decisions. Has any progress been made on locating the hive?

TASE: We’ve located it. Reaching it is… a different matter.

K: Far from land and on the seafloor, then. Genista will not have the means or the forces needed to make that assay.

TASE: I’m not sure we can either. The hatchery is down in the bathypelagic layer, at a depth of more than two miles. Sunthorn can’t do anything from orbit; even if physical projectiles and beam weapons could reach that deep, the ocean would sap all the destructive power they have by the time they get to that depth. The only alternative I see is depth charges that detonate on contact with the ocean floor, but we’d need to carpet-bomb the area, and it would take minutes for the charges to get down to the detonation zone, which would give the hatchery time to send out creatures to intercept the charges before they hit the seafloor. Even if the charges do reach the seafloor, it may only collapse the tunnels and chambers just below the ocean floor. The shockwaves won’t reach deep enough to collapse the deeper chamber structures.

K: We wouldn’t need to reach the deeper structures. Anything that breaches the tunnel network will immediately flood the tunnels at a pressure commensurate for that depth. They will undoubtedly have protections built in to mitigate catastrophic failures of that kind, but a tunnel breach at any point along the hatchery’s upper layer will still do massive damage to the rest of the hatchery. A partially-flooded hatchery will severely impede their operations until they can remediate the damage or excavate around it, but that is dependent on whether we have those tools in our arsenal, which I suspect we do not.

TASE: Not exactly. We’ve got some chaser mines that can be used for orbital defense, and a single one can likely be repurposed for a deep-sea environment without much trouble. But then you’d have to repeat that process across however many mines you want to convert, and we’d have to commit a lot of them, which would probably wipe out our entire stock. We don’t keep many of those in inventory.

K: We’ll not be doing that. Chaser mines have sophisticated sensors, propulsion, and chaff systems designed specifically for detecting and hunting down interstellar vessels. All of those would be rendered inert if we convert them into deadweight charges to be deployed in a carpetbombing campaign that may not even work. That is a poor use of expensive resources.

TASE: Agreed. But this means we don’t really have a way to attack the hatchery.

K: Relay what we’ve discovered to Genista and tell them to requisition the Marshy military for the appropriate shipment of ordnance and the proper vessels to deploy it. We do not have the needed time and resources to manufacture adequate depth charges in the Sunthorn Foundry, and there are no shortage of Marshy worlds that have planetguard resources going unused.

TASE: Will do. But in the meantime, what’s our victory condition here on Genista? We were only supposed to be here for six months, and we’re four months in with no clear end in sight. The Genista pilots are decent fighters now, but that’ll only carry them so far when they’re dealing with a numbers problem, which is what these Leviathan attacks are turning into.

K: We have done everything that is within the boundaries of our partnership with Genista. If the outpost falls, it will not be because we have trained their pilots inadequately; it will be because they have not dedicated enough Titans to defending Halcyon. Our assessment to Genista will be that they need to requisition the Marshy military for additional resources to defend the outpost. A second Titan squad, and the construction of an additional Titan hangar to keep up with repairs.

TASE: Only so much juice that you can squeeze from the lemon before you need to reach for another one, huh.

K: Inelegant, but correct. Beyond that, the Marshy Republic is the only major human nation that is not officially at war with the Collective. They can afford to commit resources to this.

TASE: Got it. I’ll start drafting it into the monthly assessment. Should we give them a reminder of our departure date?

K: Please do. We do not want them to act surprised when we prepare for our return to evacuation work on the warfront.

TASE: Got it. Is there anything else you need?

K: Further information on the anomaly that helped defend the outpost when the wall was breached, if any has been attained since my departure.

TASE: We do actually have a new development there. Genista finally handed over the streetcam footage we were asking for.

K: The one from the site of the energy spike our sensors picked up during the event.

TASE: Yeah, that one. The footage is a little rough in spots, but we had Boaris take a look to confirm, and we’re pretty sure that bigass dragon thing was an arcane construct produced by Maskling magic.

K: Indeed?

TASE: Yeah. Runes all over the place, transformation sequence, the whole nine yards. Imagine a Starstruck transformation, except instead of turning into a magical girl, you turn into a bigass snake dragon.

K: By this you seem to imply that this anomaly originated from an individual.

TASE: A couple of individuals, one of them got turned into star juice or something and the other one used that to power their transformation. Probably has something to do with the ‘tangling’ stuff that Masklings do with each other.

K: Were Zero One and Zero Two able to provide any insight?

TASE: Songbird and Kiwi? We haven’t shown them yet; they’ve been busy trying to prepare the Genista pilots to survive without our backup. We did confer with the Masklings we’ve got on Sunthorn, though. They said they weren’t familiar with what they saw in the recording. The largest arcane construct most of them had ever seen was hardlight power armor — nothing even remotely close to the scale of what we saw in the footage.

K: I see. Were they able to provide any insight as to the presence of Masklings on Halcyon?

TASE: None of them professed any awareness of it, and couldn’t provide an explanation for why they’d be there. The Maskling Republic hasn’t advised us that they were deploying any assets to Halcyon, so either it’s a covert deployment, or independent actors.

K: By that, you mean Makalu’s faction.

TASE: They’re really the only Maskling faction that has the means and wherewithal for something of this sort, outside of the orthodoxy.

K: Agreed. But what is the motive?

TASE: Only thing that comes to mind is the Cherriki assets. It’s literally the only thing of value that Genista has.

K: That does not bode well for Genista if it is true. Their ability to keep secrets has so far proven abysmal; the Collective clearly knows what they are after, we found out within weeks of arriving here, CURSE had one of their spies present in the outpost, and there is a distinct possibility that the Masklings might also be aware. As for why they want it… with their need for Maskbearers, it stands to reason that they would have an interest in the Cherriki clones, if that is their reason for being here. There is a particular value in it for them, since they assume the attributes and powers of their Maskbearers.

TASE: Should we do anything about it?

K: No. The vultures are circling, but none of them will confess to their motives, even if it is plain for all to see. We will remain on our current trajectory, and take advantage of the situation if and when the opportunity arises.

TASE: So we’re one of the vultures too.

K: More like hawks that have returned to find the carrion crows have stolen our meal, since the Cherriki clones were ours to begin with.

TASE: Maybe… but in the end, we’re all fighting over the same carcass.

K: Is this an attempt to make an observation on the nature of power and the indignity entailed in the constant struggle over who controls it?

TASE: Inelegant, but correct.

K: Your preference for metaphor and allegory is noted. With all that said, I would like the latest reports from our affiliate branches across the warfront; I have some time available to me, and I would like to come up to speed with how the war is progressing outside of Halcyon’s little corner of the galaxy.

TASE: I’ll have those compiled and sent to you. Any other strings you want me to pull for you while you’re on Talingrad?

K: That will not be necessary. A quiet entry and a quiet exit is the only thing this mission requires. Unless we suffer from an unplanned disruption, I require no additional assistance for this deployment.

TASE: Got it. Well, those reports are sending to you now. Once I’ve got the delivery receipt, I’ll close the channel and leave you to it.

K: So noted. You will be apprised if I need anything else.

With the conversation closed on that note, Kaiser checks the top bar of the channel, and seeing that the promised file transfer is in progress, sets aside his data slate while waiting for the reports to finish downloading. While he would not go so far as to say he enjoyed his interactions with Legaci, he did have a certain appreciation for them. Though she maintained a nonchalant persona, peppered with faint hints of sass and sarcasm, she was exceptionally efficient and intelligent, something that was often masked by the more casual demeanor. He found that despite the occasional quips, she did not tax his patience nearly as much as the other members of the Valiant did, and it was easier to view her as an equal, something that he did not experience very often.

The drive continues in silence, with Kaiser eventually taking up the data slate again to peruse the reports once they have all downloaded. Outside of the car, the dim glow of the suburbs has given way to the true darkness of the countryside, the dark fields and trees only occasionally broken by a lonely fuel station or burger joint. Without the light pollution of the city, the stars above are far more prominent in the night sky, though the beauty of such things is lost on individuals of Kaiser’s disposition.

It is only when they are nearing their destination that Kaiser’s immersion in reports and data is broken, though not all at once. It begins first as what one might describe as static; indistinct background noise that one does not truly notice until it starts resolving into something more. And resolve it does, into faint whispers that surface here and there, carrying snatches of words and emotions before fading away again. Setting down his data slate, he covers both of his ears, finding that it only makes the whispers clearer and more distinct. Glancing out the window, there is little to be seen but the occasional billboard and, somewhere over the trees, the dark towers of the mineral enrichment and processing plant that was their destination.

“Driver. Are you picking up anything on local frequencies?” Kaiser speaks for the first time in the entire trip.

There is a delay before the digitized voice of the Cyber driver filters into the rear of the car. “There are the usual local radio broadcasts, but there appears to be a local transmission being broadcast on an unused frequency. It does not appear to be licensed.”

“Put it on.”

There is another delay before the speakers in the rear of the car click on, and crumbly, heavily degraded audio starts to dribble out of the speakers. It seems to be a voice, lethargic and so crackly that one can’t tell if it’s organic or cybertronic, slurring out the words like a dying, damaged musicbox.

“Si…iiiiiiiilent ni…iiiiiiight… hoooooly niiiiiiiiight… h’alllllll is caaaaaalwm… h’aaaaaaall is brrrrriiiight…”

Kaiser’s brows furrow. He was not the type to subscribe to superstition, or sentimentality in general, but there was something inexplicably perverse about the singing. As if there was some force corrupting the carol, twisting it into this fragmented, broken version being gurgled out at half-speed. “Can you determine the origin of this broadcast?”

“I do not have that capability, sir.”

“Noted. Turn off the speakers; proceed as planned.”

The Cyber complies without a word, and the tortured carol goes silent as the speakers switch off. But the whispers remain, and every now and then, Kaiser picks out a giggle nestled among them. Packing up his data slate and the portable encryption relay, he turns his attention to the world outside the car, watching as the dark forest swallows up the road leading to the defunct mineral plant.

It isn’t much longer before they arrive, with the trees gradually thinning out to reveal the grounds of the plant. The site was once a complete operation; a quarry, enrichment site, and factory all bundled into one. It was hard to tell the buildings apart in the darkness, but many of them had been built not far from the terraced mining pit that dominated the site for miles. Beneath the starlight, he could faintly make out the switchback roads that snaked down the sides of the pit, leading down into depths that lay beyond the line of sight. Normally such sites would remain lit at night as a matter of security, but with the site being idled long ago, much it it is draped in darkness, a shadowed monument to the industrial machine.

But not all of it. There was light in the depths of the complex, a wavering orange glow cast by makeshift fires, starting at the site’s entrance and leading deeper into the buildings. And the parking lot outside was far from abandoned; it was peppered with cars, trucks, vans, even buses, some of them parked neatly and others completely ignoring the painted lines on the asphalt. The most vehicles were congregated around the main entrance, with the density thinning out the further back one went.

“Try to park close. Lights off and doors locked until I get back. I would rather not draw attention here.” Kaiser orders as the courier car enters the parking lot behind a few other vehicles. It works its way through the parking lot, easing around other vehicles and people leaving their cars so they can head towards the main entrance. Pulling in to a parking space on a nearly-filled row closer to the entrance, the courier car parks, with Kaiser’s door unlocking. Pushing it open, he steps out, tugging on his whitesilk gloves before pushing the door shut behind him. As soon as he hears it lock, he turns and starts making his way towards the entrance of the complex.

The walk there is not an entirely silent one. There is the sound of other people getting out of their vehicles and slamming doors behind them; the scraping of shoes over the crumbling asphalt of the parking lot. The psi whispers that Kaiser was hearing earlier have been replaced with actual whispers, the excited murmuring of those that have come to attend this event with others accompanying them. And over it all is the crackling slurring of the holiday carol, which brings Kaiser to a stop at the complex’s entrance as he stands there and considers its source.

Hung from the entryway is what looks like the top half of a Cyber security guard, his bottom half ripped away, and not in a clean manner. Sparking wires and cables dangle from the breached abdominal cavity, and the damage looks recent; chains have been looped around the arms and torso, used to bind it to the entryway’s frame with the arms outstretched, like a makeshift crucifixion. The faceplate is cracked and broken, as if someone had taken a pipe to the head unit and stoved it in; where it would usually display expressions, only flickers of erratic light now dance across the fractured glass. The vocal emitters also seem to be damaged, and they appear to be the source of the corrupted carol playing on repeat. A set of wires have been forced into a seam at the rear of the head, which has been pried open, probably for access to the neural core. They run along the arm to what looks like a handheld device, gripped in metal fingers that have been taped together to hold the object.

Most people, lacking the technical comprehension needed to understand computers and digital intelligences at large, would not be able to grasp what had been set up here. Kaiser, however, possesses both the technical understanding and interrogatory expertise to understand what is before him. He was mostly certain this corpse was not alive, though he could not say for sure; the damage to the head unit and the core within was almost certain fatal and irrecoverable. But enough function remained that someone had been able to hardwire a connection, take control of the vocal system at the very least, and push a script that forced the vocal system to ‘sing’ the carol on repeat as best it could in its damaged state. Digital necromancy of a sort — and to cap it off, they had mounted this corpse to the entryway and taped its hand shut around the device that was enabling this coercion.

Something like this took effort, and technical expertise. It wasn’t something done on a lark; there was certain level of deliberation and sadism aforethought required for this endeavor.

“Beautiful night, isn’t it?”

The question interrupts Kaiser’s ruminations; he turns his head ever so slightly to the left, seeing one of the other attendees standing at the entryway, grinning at him. The man can be best described as grungy; the dishevelment of homelessness clings to him, manifested in clothes that are slowly losing their color and integrity, and the grime collecting in the folds of his skin. But he is smiling, as if he has something to be happy about despite his current station in life.

“For certain definitions of beautiful. The air quality is acceptable considering the history of this location, and the stars are exceptionally clear when this far removed from light pollution.” Kaiser answers. His tone, cold as the night air, betrays no discomfort for the sight before him, possibly because there is none to betray. What others might consider an affront to decency, he views as the work of a fellow professional, skilled in both the dispensation of suffering and the messaging that it conveys.

“Ah, you’re a funny guy. Don’t like talkin’, do you?” the homeless man says, waving away Kaiser’s decidedly bland answer. “You know what I was talkin’ about.”

“Your attempt to find a kindred spirit in me is, at best, misguided.” Kaiser says, returning his spectacled gaze to the Cyber corpse mounted on the entryway. “I am not someone that appreciates company, and you would be better served by seeking others who are less cognizant of the dubious value of your presence.”

“Whu-hu-ho, talk about a backhanded compliment!” the homeless man chuckles as other attendees walk past them and into the complex, and Kaiser notices they are of various persuasions; many of them do appear to be on the lower end of the societal spectrum, but there are some sprinkled in that clearly enjoy the benefits of being higher up the ladder. “She wasn’ jokin’ when she said you had a stick up yer arse. That ain’ a stick, that’s an I-beam. A whole damn concrete pillar.”

That gets Kaiser’s attention, his gaze coming back down. The insult was of little consequence to him; more important was who it was likely coming from. If she knew he was here, it was not surprising that this would be the way she chose to respond. “Do not waste my time, then. What does she want?”

The homeless man grins. “You don’t have anything she needs. I’m just here to make sure you have a buddy. And that you make it to the main event on time. Kinda like a… butler, yeah? You look like the kind o’ buttoned-up fella that could use a butler and a big ol’ fortune to sit on.”

Kaiser’s eye very nearly twitches at the suggestion that such a vagrant could act as his ‘butler’, but he maintains his composure, knowing that this is was all deliberate. Such a grating provocation was entirely in-character for her, and she had probably arranged this knowing how aggravating he would find it. “I will decline your offer of servitude, more for my sake than yours.” he replies, now gazing deeper into the complex. “If you are to act as my guide, then begin. If I find that you vex me overmuch, I will dispose of you and find my own way there.”

“Whatever you say, bigshot.” the homeless man smirks, shuffling through the entryway. “Follow me. It’s gonna be a bit of a walk.”

Giving a last glance up at the crucified corpse, Kaiser steps through the entryway, buttoning up his overcoat and turning up the collar as he goes. Past the fence, the buildings of the complex are lit by barrel fires that have been set up, almost like markers along a path. They form a corridor of sullen orange light that twists and winds between the buildings, twitching and shimmering and casting long shadows against the faded walls as the other attendees walk past them. Until, at last, they lead down a ramp that delves below the site, once guarded by reinforced doors that have long since been graffiti’d and forced open by means unknown.

“So, what brings a fancy fella like you out here?” the homeless man asks as they descend into the tunnels beneath the site. Without power running to the complex, only discarded glowsticks and neon graffiti lights the way. “I’m guessin’ you ain’ here for the cause.”

“We are both aware that I am not going to disclose my business to you. If you desire small talk, then you will elaborate on this ‘cause’ that I presume you and others are here for.” Kaiser answers, his violet gaze taking in their environs. The tunnels down here were little more than perfunctory structures; there were no walls and ceiling to hide the framing supported them, though effort had been taken to grade the floor so that it was flat underfoot, and descended at a steady angle.

“Ah, but you don’ wanna hear about that, do you?” the homeless man says dismissively, waving off the suggestion. “That’d be borin’ to a big ol’ important guy like you. What do the dreams o’ little people like us matter to people like you? Best you just keep to yer shiny towers and fancy cars and let us little people dream about somethin’ that’ll never happen.”

“It requires a special sort of naïveté to believe that the dreams of the discontent are harmless. I am not in the habit of making the same mistakes that autocrats and dictators often make.” Kaiser replies as the tunnel they’re in widens out to a series of rugged elevators that descend deeper below the site, with other attendees stepping in as soon as the elevators come back up from the depths. “I do not pretend to walk the circles of the disenfranchised; I do not pretend to understand their struggles. But it would require an abnormal level of stupidity to ignore them altogether.”

“Heheheh. You don’t give a shit about us, but you know better than to look the other way, is that it?” the homeless man chuckles as he steps into one of the elevators with Kaiser following. “Least you’re honest. People like you can be reasoned with. Better than all the rest that think they’re smarter than us just because we’re poor and they’re rich.”

“Unfortunate. I was hoping for something more engaging than an economic revolution.” Kaiser replies as the homeless man pulls the grate shut and hits the button for the elevator to descend.

“Heh. As if she’d be that narrow.” the homeless man says, one side of his mouth hitching up as the elevator starts to descend. “It’s been done before. Never sticks, does it? Things just go back to the way they were in a century or two… she wants more. We all want more. We want change. True change.”

“How very… nebulous of you.” Kaiser remarks drily. “I suppose it is difficult to preempt a revolution when the participants cannot decide on what, exactly, they are trying to overthrow.”

“We know what we’re fighting for. A true change, one that will reorganize the galaxy. One that will give us freedom… one that will give us a second chance.” the homeless man says as the elevator clanks and hums down into the depths. “Gonna be honest, not sure I’ll live to see it. But I think I’ll be mighty entertained if I’m still around when it happens.”

Kaiser’s eyes slide towards the grimy man while the rest of him remains still. “Is that all you seek out of this great change? Entertainment?”

The homeless man scoffs. “Look at me. I ain’ young enough to get anything out of it even if it does happen. It’ll be good for the kids, though… they’ll get a chance to shape the galaxy into something else. Burn down all that old shit that hasn’t changed for centuries, and build something else on top of it. Might not be better, but… it’ll be different. I think we could use a little bit of different.” He rubs his nose, glancing askance at Kaiser. “What about you, stiffcollar? Whatchoo want out of the great change?”

“As I find it unlikely that there will be an event that changes the galaxy on such a fundamental level, there is no point in answering that question.” Kaiser says as the elevator starts to rattle to a halt. “You, however, are welcome to continue daydreaming about such scenarios.”

“Pchaaa. You’re no fun.” the homeless man says, grabbing the grate and opening it as the elevator settles. “She said you’d be a stick in the mud, but I didn’t know it’d be this bad.”

“Then you are not the only one disappointed by the quality of assigned company.” Kaiser replies as he follows the homeless man out of the elevator. Down here, the tunnels have become noticeably more stony; support frames are no longer needed for the tunnels, which seem to be at least partially natural — like there was an existing cave network, and the extraction company had come down here and widened them out. The glowing graffiti does not appear to extend this far down, so many of the attendees are using their phones as flashlights as they make their way into the depths.

“Well, we’re almost there, so I won’t have to put up with you much longer.” the homeless man says, reaching down to scoop an old and dim glowstick off the ground, and moving towards one of the side tunnels. “Right this way.”

Kaiser stops. “That does not appear to be the correct route.” It seemed clear, from the flow of attendees, where the meeting would be taking place, and it was certainly not in the direction of the tunnel that the homeless man was heading towards.

The guide turns around, waving his glowstick. “Look man, you’ll be fine. She wants you to attend, so I’m not gonna lead you into danger or anything. We’re making a detour down this tunnel so you can get your buddy, and then you can go join everyone else in the pit, okay?”

Kaiser remains where he is. “You will explain what you mean by that before we proceed further.”

The homeless man sighs, running a hand through his grey hair. “Lord have mercy, you’re even worse than a Cyber.” Walking back to Kaiser, he starts making simple gestures as he talks slowly, as if he was explaining things to a toddler. “You. Are not the only tourist here. There was another one. We. Told him to wait in a cave. Down that side tunnel there. She. Thought it would be nice. If you had a buddy. To keep you company during the sermon. You followin’ along, smart guy?”

Kaiser simply gives the man a cold, impassive stare.

The homeless man rolls his eyes. “Look, this is what she wanted. You got two choices here. You can walk down that tunnel with everyone else, show up in the pit, and piss her off when she sees you in there alone, or you can head down the side tunnel, go pick up your buddy, and make her happy by showing up in the pit together. I suppose you also have the third choice of fuckin’ off and going back to the surface if you want. Honestly I don’t care at this point; you’re not my problem anymore. I’ve told you what your options are; you figure out what you wanna do. I’m gonna go find a good spot in the pit.” Tossing the glowstick over his shoulder, the homeless man turns and shuffles down the main tunnel, following the flow of other attendees and leaving Kaiser behind without another word.

Kaiser watches him go until he has moved beyond sight; in the flickering darkness of the tunnel, it is easy to miss the faint twitch of aggravation on his countenance. He was accustomed to being shown more deference than this, though, upon reflection, he realizes he may have set the bar too high in expecting that from this crowd. It was yet another unpleasant reminder that one ought to keep their expectations of others as low as possible, so as to avoid disappointment or inconvenience when they inevitably failed to measure up to any higher standard.

Eschewing the glowstick that the homeless man dropped, Kaiser turns back towards the side tunnel he had been directed towards. Reaching up, he taps the corner hinge of his spectacles, the lenses shifting to filter through the darkness and provide a monochrome night vision of sorts. It gave him no pleasure to be yielding to the games that were being played here, but aggravating the person he had come here to check on was simply not judicious, especially as it seemed she was aware of his presence. Playing along, at least for the present, might yield more mileage than being obstinate.

So it is that he heads down the tunnel that the homeless man tried to lead him into, and finds that he does not have far to walk before it reaches its end. It deadends in a cul-de-sac less than a hundred feet from the main tunnel, and in that small excavation, sitting on a shelf carved out of the wall, is an elf in an off-white tunic with wide sleeves. A faint yellow magelight hangs in the air beside him, prompting Kaiser to tap the hinge of his spectacles again, turning off the night filter.

“I presume you are the companion they intended for me to have.” Kaiser states, tucking his gloved hand back in his jacket pocket.

The elf’s brows furrow as he stares at his visitor. “You are Kaiser, of the Valiant.” he says, sounding somewhat in disbelief.

“I am. Is that an issue?”

“Perhaps it would be, if you knew who I was.” the elf says, gathering his magelight a little closer to himself.

“I know who you are.”

“But—”

“You are Seer, one of CURSE’s Peacekeepers. Your role is strictly non-combat; forensics and investigation only.”

Seer shifts nervously. “I did not realize I was that well-known.”

“You are not. My recognition is a function of my job, not of your popularity. I am obliged by my position to be familiar with the rosters of organizations opposed to the Valiant.” Kaiser answers, his responses clipped and brutally sterile. “I assume CURSE sent you here to conduct surveillance on 5402 as well.”

“On— pardon, what?” Seer stutters, thrown off by the number.

“Challenger 5402. You may know her as Laughing Alice.”

“Oh. Yes, that is why I was here.” Seer admits. If Kaiser is surprised by this, he does not let it show. “Had I known you’d be here, I might’ve taken a rain check on this assignment.”

“Many such cases. If you are ready now, we can return to the main tunnel.” Kaiser says, turning back the way he came.

“Wait, you’re not going to kill me?” Seer says, his confusion returning.

Kaiser looks back over his shoulder. “Killing you would be counterproductive. 5402 is expecting both of us in the pit, and given how unstable she can be, vexing her is not in my interest, nor in yours. Are you coming?”

“I suppose I am.” Rising from the spot where he’d been sitting, he moves to follow Kaiser, folding his arms into the wide sleeves of his shirt. “Do you know if she… intends to do anything with us?”

“It would be a poor decision on her part. She knows this, so I doubt she will attempt anything that would be truly damaging.” Kaiser says as he leads the way through the short tunnel he had taken to get here. With the magelight following Seer, he doesn’t need to reactivate the night filter on his spectacles. “But she can be petty, and will happily inflict minor inconveniences on others for her own amusement, such as forcing the two of us to keep each other company. She may have other inconveniences in store for us before the night is over.”

“Well… I suppose that’s some comfort. She’ll want us alive if she plans on tormenting us.” Seer says. “Did you come with an exit plan?”

“Several. I assume you did the same.”

“A few, but plans rarely survive contact with reality…”

“Are any CURSE personnel on standby to retrieve you if the situation degrades?”

Seer glances warily at the back of Kaiser’s head. “Even if they were, I doubt I should tell you.”

“Then I will assume that there are CURSE operatives on standby for your extraction, and that if the circumstance deteriorates, you will not require my assistance or protection.” Kaiser replies as they reach the main tunnel, and rejoin the trickle of attendees filtering deeper into the depths.

“You can’t honestly expect me to disclose information like that to someone like you.” Seer says in a lower tone, now that they’re among others. “Not when we work for groups that are at odds with each other.”

Kaiser’s reply is in a different language, smooth and flowing. “Indeed, and you would do well to remember it. 5402 may have forced us to accompany each other, but I am under no obligation to protect or aid you.”

That catches Seer off guard. “I did not know you spoke elvish.” he replies in the same language.

“I speak many languages. The role requires it.” Kaiser answers without looking at Seer. “I will be keeping communication to a minimum moving forward. The less attention we draw to ourselves, the better.”

“Very well.” It’s clear that Seer is not happy with that, or with the situation at large, but understands that it’s wise to defer to someone that has experience with navigating these situations — even if that someone is an enemy commander. Following the flow of attendees, the pair soon find themselves emerging into a wide cavern whose excavation appears to have been abandoned. Whether it was because all the useful material had been mined out, or for some other reason, is unclear. Piles of rubble are heaped on the uneven floor, waiting to be carted off for years now, and a jagged outcropping of rock rises from the center of the cavern floor, as if the miners had worked through the softer material around it, rather than try to break it down.

Filling the room are people of every stripe and persuasion — from the downtrodden and indigent to those with means and material wealth, although the former are far more abundant. They range from young to old, male and female, represented by every race. Many have already taken up places sitting on the floor or on the heaped rubble, some of them huddled close for warmth against the cold that permeates through the tunnels from the fall weather above. Pale light filters down from tube lights that have been strung up from the support beams in the ceiling, drawing their power from cables connected to a portable generator that was carted down here.

As those coming from the main tunnel fan out across the cavern, Kaiser leads the way towards one of the rubble heaps where a larger group has congregated. Though he does not join them directly, he takes a seat on one of the mid-sized boulders near them, and Seer does the same. Even when others start to settle in around them, he does not move, though Seer’s discomfort leaks through now and again.

“Wouldn’t it be safer closer to the tunnel entrance?” Seer asks quietly as his eyes rove around the cavern. “In case we need to excuse ourselves quickly.”

“If we would like to draw attention to yourself, then by all means, go ahead.” Kaiser replies, pulling out his phone and checking it. As suspected, there was no signal down here. “People have not come this far to hang back. Only the unfaithful will linger at the edges, and you will stand out because of it.”

“Is that why you sat us close to the center?” Seer says, still looking around the cavern and noting that the attendance was several hundred strong by this point, with more still arriving. “To blend in?”

“Inasmuch as we can do so while speaking elvish, yes.”

“I mean, this seems like a pretty diverse gathering…”

“Made possible by the use of galactic common. Anything that is not the lingua franca will draw attention.”

The implication is clear, and Seer goes quiet, still looking around and taking note of the many walks of life that have shown up here. It occurred to him that someone here in this congregation had to be responsible for the atrocity seen at the front entrance, with the hacked Cyber chained to the entryway, and his lips press tight. No matter how eager and excited these people seemed, each of them had seen that depravity and chosen to enter this place regardless, knowing that one of their own was responsible for it.

Laughing Alice was dangerous, but so were these people that had come to see her.

It is not long before the awaited event seems to commence, with the air above the rock spur starting to flux and bend. A harsh and sudden tension fills the cavern, with a hush falling across the congregation as all eyes turn upwards, watching as a massive shard of psi crystal surfaces from the fluxing air as if it was breaking through water. It’s at least fifteen feet in length and four feet across, widest at the middle and tapering towards the end; bright red in hue, it immediately fills the cavern with a vermillion ambience, washing out the pale glow cast by the hanging tube lights. The fluxing air does not settle, though; half a dozen smaller psi crystals surface from the distortion, spiraling around the main shard and extending the distortion down to the rock spur, where a dark figure steps forth from the roiling air.

The tension in the room sharpens into anticipation; Seer can feel it all around himself, and realizes that there must be a critical mass of psions in attendance. Their emotions, heightened by the moment, leak into the space around them, joining together in the same way that drops of water will merge on a windshield if they get close enough. As the distorting air starts to calm and straighten out again, the dark figure, wrapped in a tattered cloak, makes its way along the rock spur to its tip — and Seer notices a dark circle hovering in the air over it head, akin to a black halo.

He has questions, and hopes that Kaiser could answer them, but doesn’t dare break the silence that has taken hold of the chamber. Instead he watches as the figure reaches up, pulling off their hood and revealing the cinnabar hair underneath. It has grown out in the last four years, as if she has not bothered to cut it since she escaped from the Pallus Psi Penitentiary; but more striking are the eyes. They give off an electric, neon-green brilliance that cannot be washed out by the oppressive hue of the crystals that brought her here, and command the attention of those who look to her.

After a moment to take in the hundreds of attendees congregated in the cavern below her, her cloak parts as she lifts her arms and spreads them to either side, breaking into a smile that sends a feeling of approbation washing through the gathered crowd. The tension in the room is lifted, easing into a sense of relief as she greets her rapt audience without a sound; her voice washing over every mind in the cavern, even though not a word is spoken. 

We dream of monstrous things, my little ones. How beautiful; how thrilling.

A shiver racks Seer’s spine; hearing her voice in his head was already uncomfortable enough, but the sentiment was downright unsettling. It was like a song being played on an out-of-tune piano, but with confidence and surety; you could recognize the melody, but everything sounded wrong, and set the ear on edge.

A better galaxy, perhaps? A more equal society? More opportunities for your children, more opportunities for yourselves? Some of you dare to dream of stable lives. Some of you dare to dream of adequately providing for yourselves or your loved ones. Some of you dream of being more than what you presently are. You dream of improvement, of betterment. But these are monstrous things in the eyes of the gigacorps and the powers that be. These things do not increase shareholder value, or consolidate legislative and executive power. These things have no worth because they come at the expense of the rich and powerful. That is what the rich and powerful would have you believe.

Seer can hear a rustling rising across the cavern, fabric rubbing together as some people stand while others nod in agreement. And with that rustling comes something akin to a hunger; he can feel it all around him. The hollowness of people that have been deprived of both meaning and happiness; who are left unfulfilled by the lives they must live by necessity of the system in which they are trapped. It is a ravenous, bottomless thing; an unsettling thing.

A change is needed. This war is not enough. It is a shock to the system, yes; it will breed a new generation of heroes and selfless leaders that know the value of freedom. But they will not be enough. They will labor in vain against structures that have calcified and are incapable of change. The only way to change a calcified structure is to break it, and there are too many that will stand in the way of that. People that will protect the status quo even to their own detriment.

There is no audible response from the gathered crowd, but there doesn’t have to be, because a silent question wells up from the congregation, replacing the hunger that was pervading the cavern. It’s an odd sort of call-and-response, one that takes place without a single spoken word; viewed from afar, it would be hard to make sense of it, as it would appear to be a silent crowd staring up at a silent person that moves and gestures at certain points. But being in the middle of it, sensing Laughing Alice’s voice in your mind, and feeling the swelling emotions of the crowd in return, is a uniquely intense experience, akin to being in the ocean — feeling the push and pull of the water as the waves roll in and retreat again. Seer found his own emotions moving in the same directions, as if they were being shaped and influenced by the greater consensus around him.

You ask me what is to be done about this. If heroes and virtuous leaders cannot break the cycle of ambition and avarice, then what can we do? Where will change come from? If this war, stretched across a dozen worlds, is not enough to force a meaningful rearrangement of society, then what will it take? Coming to the cliff of the rock spur, Alice crouches down, hooking her hands on the edge as she stares down at her congregation like some shrouded, profane angel. There is a way. There is a way to render a change that will overturn the galaxy, that will shatter the calcified chains, that will cast open the doors of limitless futures. There is one, and one alone, who can open the gate, and give us a freedom unlike any other. He was gone, but he has now returned, and carries with him the key to our monstrous dreams.

Seer spares a glance towards Kaiser at this, but the assassin is already shaking his head, indicating that now is not the time for questions. Understandably so; breaking the silence at this juncture would immediately draw the attention of everyone in attendance, and there was no telling what would happen afterwards. Lacing his fingers tighter within his wide sleeves, Seer returns his attention to Alice as she goes on.

You know him, for he has fallen and he has risen; he was martyred, and exonerated. He bore the scorn of the galaxy, but one day, they shall exalt him, as we exalt him now. I have seen it — he is our salvation, the only way by which we shall grip our freedom. Her head turns as she casts about, eyes burning with green fire in the shadow of her hair as she takes in those that have gathered on the sides of the rock spur. But it is not guaranteed. It is not promised to us. We cannot stand idly by and expect to be rewarded, expect that we will gain what our hearts desire simply by waiting and doing nothing. He cannot open the gate alone — we must see him there. We must do our part to grasp the future we crave.

Rising up from silent crowd are swelling questions, inquiries about what must be done, of how to contribute, of when this salvation would come to pass. Alice releases the edge she is crouched upon, and stands tall again, taking in her gathered dedicants as she lets the questions wash over her. After granting them time to air their interrogatories, she silences them all with a single pulse of will.

There will be work for each of you. Sometimes it will be small. Sometimes, we will ask much. But everyone will have a part to play in this. Some of you will be asked to give money, or other resources. Some of you will be asked to give time. Some of you will be asked to share your knowledge and connections. She pauses for a moment. Some of you will be asked to give your lives, and you will not live to see that glorious day. I am one of them; I will never lay hands on this future I reach for, because bringing it to pass will require my life. But still I reach for it. Do you know why?

Coming forward again, she folds to one knee, resting an arm on the other one as the congregation waits in reverence for her answer. Because it will be there for your children. For your brothers and sisters, for your friends and family. Because even if I will never get to experience it myself, I want other people to have this, to enjoy this freedom, this opportunity for change. This is the monstrous truth that those in power fear, because they cannot comprehend the concept of sacrificing their own welfare for the benefit of others. They do not understand that we build for others the world we wish we had for ourselves; the world we never got to have. We may never see the better galaxy that we reached for, but our children, and those who survive, will live in that galaxy. And that is worth fighting for.

Rising up again, Alice folds her cloak back around herself. The time is swift approaching us. Within five years, possibly even sooner, the day shall come when our futures are opened unto us, and true change shall be within our hands. But the way there is treacherous. It is an uncertain road. And it will only be there if we help carve out a path, and see the exalted one to that day. So go now, and tell the others. Tell them to prepare, for it will not be long before we begin to call on some of you to help clear the way.

There is a clear sense of conclusion to the declaration, an unmistakable signal that the address is over. Yet it does not dull the simmering excitement of the crowd, paired with a faint anxiety around the edges; many of the dedicants have begun talking to each other in low tones. Others, compelled by existing obligations, are already making their way back to the tunnel so they can return to the lives they have briefly taken leave of.

“Were the Valiant aware she had established a cult with this level of reach and influence?” Seer asks Kaiser, now that there is chatter that can mask their conversation.

“We are not in the habit of monitoring entities that have no impact or connection to our current or future operations.” Kaiser replies, even though that was a lie of sorts. The Valiant did keep an eye on Laughing Alice, but usually from a distance. His attention remains on her as she makes her way along the rock spur to others that seem to have attended her here — trusted advisors, one would presume.

Seer looks at Kaiser. “She’s very clearly talking about Songbird.” A probing statement, intended to see what might pop out in response.

“She certainly is. To what end is unclear; of the many figures one could choose as a savior, 5377 leaves much to be desired.” Kaiser answers as he starts to stand. “I can only presume that she truly believes what she is saying, because there is little else to explain such a baffling decision.”

Their conversation draws up short as Kaiser notices they are being approached by one of the attendees that had accompanied Alice; Seer likewise notices, and turns to leave, only to find a bulky orc standing in his way. Rather than attempting escape, Kaiser remains where he is, awaiting those approaching them. “What is it she wants?” he asks, switching back over to galactic common, and forgoing any introduction. There was no point in prolonging the confrontation, and he was a busy man; it was better to get this over with as quickly as possible.

“She wants to speak with you.” says a dwarf that has approached the pair, though the answer is directed at Kaiser. “The elf can stay here.”

“Keep him intact. I have need of him.” Kaiser orders, turning to follow the dwarf. “Take me there. I’m on a schedule.”

The dwarf turns and begins ambling away towards the back of the cavern, with Kaiser following behind him. Seer is left flanked by the orc and another human, looking miffed that he was so quickly left behind, and further offended that Kaiser does not even bother to look back at him as he walks off. Left with nothing to do while Kaiser goes to meet with Alice, he huffs, and sits back down on the boulder to wait in sulky silence.

At the back of the cavern, where the rubble heaps are more abundant, Kaiser finds himself being led deeper into the shadows between the piles. Though he does not display discomfort, he remains alert, silently absorbing his surroundings as he’s led through them. The journey ends when they arrive to a gap between piles, where Alice is picking through rocks from one of the piles and throwing them over her shoulder when they fail to meet some undisclosed criteria. The dwarf excuses himself at that point, heading back the way they came and leaving Kaiser with his wayward subordinate.

I’m glad you came. Her psi voice ripples past his mind, though she doesn’t turn around; evidently she can sense his presence without looking. It’s nice to see a familiar face every now and then.

“You know what I expect. Use your words.” Kaiser orders, checking his whitesilk gloves.

“Oh, this rusty old thing?” Alice rasps as she looks over another chunk of discarded rock. Her voice is just as creaky as it was after she was freed from the Penitentiary, almost as if it was permanently damaged. “Figures you’d like this one more. I typically only use it to scare people that won’t cooperate with me. My other voice is much prettier.”

“If you insist. I do not concern myself with evaluations of the aesthetics.” he states tonelessly. “What do you hope to accomplish with this, 5402? We both know that 5377 would not consent to what you are fomenting here; he lacks the ambition and the wherewithal to make use of this cult you are forming on his behalf.”

“I didn’t form it for him.” Alice says, throwing the current rock over her shoulder and reaching for another one.

“You are making him a central figure in its mythos.”

“Because he is a central figure.” she replies, her fingers tracing the ragged edges of the next rock she has picked up. “I have seen it, Kaiser. I have seen the future he will bring to pass, if we do what needs to be done. It is… beautiful. So beautiful. Horrifying, in some places. Fascinating, too. Sometimes all three at once. But mostly beautiful.”

Kaiser’s eyes flit towards the rocks she has discarded so far, then back to her. “He will help with this ‘change’ that you are obsessed with. Something which I assume he is wholly unaware of.”

Alice’s laugh is an uneven, threadbare thing, fading in and out at some points. Starting out slow, picking up speed, then skipping over itself, remaining soft all the way through, never too loud. It was almost like she didn’t know how normal people laughed. “Nooo… no, no no no, no no… he doesn’t know. How could he know? He doesn’t know what he will do. He only knows what he believes. We only need his conviction to remain strong, so that he will act on it when the time comes.” She casts away the rock she was examining, and the next one is lifted from the heap, though not with her fingers — it lifts into the air, floating over to drop into her waiting hand. “You will not tell him about this, about what he will do. Let this be our little secret. And even though I won’t be here to see it, you will see that I was right all along.”

“I am hardly an expert in the field of temporal forecasting, but I believe I am still qualified enough to remind you that such an exercise is fractal in nature.” Kaiser states; no part of him moves aside from his eyes as he watches Alice fiddle with her new rock. “If you have in fact seen the future, then what you have seen is a single scenario among infinite possibilities that divide exponentially with the progression of time. The further into the future—”

“I know how probability works, Kaiser, you don’t need to lecture me on it.” Alice snaps at him. “Branches upon branches upon branches on an endlessly dividing tree, I know. But those branches are not equal… the geography of time is not flat. Some branches are more likely to happen, others are less likely. And the actions we take now can prune some of those futures, while making others more likely… so that over the course of time, you can trim away enough branches until you have only the one you sought.”

“But it is never absolute. No matter how many branches you trim, you can never excise all of them. There will always be rogue possibilities and quantum uncertainties that you cannot account for.” Kaiser replies, refusing to be cowed by Alice’s retort. “And that is assuming you could even trim to that level of probability. As I told you before, the effort is fractal and exponential; new futures are branching with every passing second. You are trying to cut all the leaves off a springtime tree using only a pair of scissors, 5402.”

Alice looks over her shoulder, her green eyes smoldering in the dim redness of the cavern. “Then I’ll use a flamethrower instead. Who said I had to kill these futures one by one? It’s easier just to kill a bunch of them all at once, and cauterize the stumps so they can’t grow back.”

Kaiser’s brows draw together. Though it’s a crude metaphor, he understands Alice’s proposition. The means by which she would execute it, on the other hand, were not entirely clear. “By your persistence on this topic, I assume you already have a method in mind for pursuing this project.”

“One must be bold.” she says, returning her attention to the rock she is turning over in her hands. “Say there is a future in which someone crosses a bridge, but we want the future in which they do not cross the bridge. We could try to talk them out of it. Or send someone to intercept them. Or arrange circumstances around them so that they will never need to cross the bridge. But those are not guarantees. You must destroy the bridge — they can’t cross the bridge if there’s no bridge to cross.”

Kaiser’s lips tighten by the barest amount, because he sees where this line of thinking goes; the logical endpoint of such an absolute approach. “And is everything justified in the pursuit of the outcome?”

Alice pauses in caressing the rock in her hands, her head turning slightly to side-eye Kaiser again. “Would you try to stop me, Kaiser?… do you think you could?”

“I would prefer that you not give me a reason to answer that question.” Kaiser answers coldly. “Neither of us will enjoy the process by which it is determined.”

“I’m doing what I have to so that we can all have a better future. You know that the shining city on a hill is built on a mound of corpses.” Alice retorts as she goes back to scrubbing the dirt away from the rock she’s holding. “You’re the one that taught me that. Everything comes at a price.”

“I did. But you refused to learn the corresponding lessons of value assessment and risk management.” Kaiser counters. “Everything has a price. Whether or not that price is reasonable is another question entirely.”

“Well, that’s a matter of perspective, innit?” Alice says, holding up the rock up examine it by the sullen light given off by the psi crystals hovering in the center of the cavern. “If you had seen what I have seen, Kaiser, you would understand. If you had seen the future we could have, you would do what needed to be done. The alternative is to keep going the way we have for millennia now, where things change, but they don’t really change. This is a chance to make a lasting difference in the galaxy. To truly give everybody the freedom to decide who and what they want to be, regardless of their place in society.”

“Would you like to share the method by which you came by this vision, 5402?” Kaiser inquires, his eyes flitting up to the black halo hovering above her head. Now that he is closer, he can see that it is not made of an absence of light, but of what appears to be matte-black stone. The material bears a heavy resemblance to the Dragine artifact that she gave to the Valiant a few years ago, but instead of the lines of green-blue light that usually trace through such rarities, this one is occasionally riven through with scarlet circuit patterns. “I recall that you had some level of clairvoyance during your time in the Challenger program, though it was never this… crisp.”

Alice’s lips pull back in an unnerving smile; Kaiser cannot tell if they are still yellowed, because they are washed in the bloody light of the psi shard that brought her here. “Oh Kaiser, you charmer! You noticed my new accessory. You really know how to make a girl feel special, don’t you?” Reaching up, she taps the blackstone halo over her head, crimson circuit patterns rippling away from the point of contact. “The Dragine reward those who help them. I didn’t hesitate to give away the artifact that I stole from CURSE. So it wasn’t long before I was given this one to replace it.”

Kaiser’s eyes track the crimson patterns as they cycle around the halo. “Given, you say.”

“Given, found, you know how things are with Dragine artifacts.” Alice says, waving a hand. “Technically I found it. But Dragine artifacts often want to be found. They’re just waiting for the right person to come along, and they nudge things around until that person finds them.”

“Indeed. However, there is an important chromatic distinction that I am sure you are aware of.” Kaiser states, still watching the halo. “Standard Dragine artifacts exhibit circuit patterns in a greenish-blue tint. Your accessory is not a product of the mainstream Dragine; it belongs to their breakaway faction.”

Alice blows a raspberry at that. “Dragine, Dark Dragine, what does it matter? They’re on our side, either way.”

Rather than dignify the simplification with a response, he pulls out his phone to check the time. “I shouldn’t have to, but I’ll remind you again: if your escapades become a detriment to the Valiant, your belief in Songbird will not protect you. And if we hear that your people are doing questionable things in the name of Songbird, we will be meeting again on less cordial terms. We have poured far too much effort into whitewashing his image just to have others tarnishing it again.”

“Oh, Kaiser.” Alice says, turning towards him and brushing a dusty forefinger over his pale lips. “Don’t you worry. Once the change happens, his name will shine so brightly that it will burn away any criticism that was ever pointed at him. He will be a legend of Myrrdicato, a Star of the Galaxy. He will be worshipped and revered, and you will never have to worry about polishing his image ever again. I only envy that you will live that long — I will never get to see him in his full glory.” Lifting her other hand, she drops the rock she had been holding, forcing Kaiser to catch it before it hits his phone screen. “That’s for the elf. Keep him alive. Send him back to CURSE. I need him to deliver a message to Nova.”

Kaiser squints down at the rock, finding that it has what appears to be a gemlike inclusion along one side. “So you’ve finally learned the value of keeping your enemies alive. It’s just a shame it took two decades.”

“What can I say, I’m a late bloomer.” Alice says, putting her hands to her cheeks and tilting her head to the side with a facetious smile. Goodbye, Kaiser. I think this will be the last time we ever see each other.

Kaiser had started to turn around, pausing upon hearing the finality of the farewell. It seems almost as if he was about to remark on it; but he is not a man of sentiment. “Goodbye, 5402.” he says, and departs with that, following the dwarf that has returned to guide him back through the rock heaps.

The walk back to the center of the cavern is a silent one, with Kaiser weighing the rock in his hand. Much of the crowd has dissipated, with only a few groups lingering and talking about Alice’s sermon; the majority seem to have filtered back to the tunnels, ready to return to the lives they live during the day. Seer is still waiting in the spot where Kaiser left him; once he is within speaking distance, the dedicants that were guarding the elf turn and leave.

“I don’t suppose you’ll disclose what she said to you.” Seer remarks drily, glaring after the orc and human that had stood guard over him.

“This is for you.” Kaiser states, holding the rock out to Seer without breaking his stride. “She wanted you to take it back to 5371, who you know as Administrator Tenji, or Nova.”

Seer hurries to keep up with Kaiser, scrambling to catch the rock being dropped into his hands. “Wait, this is… what is this?”

“It’s a message.” Kaiser answers without looking at him. “It is likely the only reason she didn’t have her people kill you; dead men cannot deliver messages. I recommend you keep it close at hand.”

Seer looks around in alarm, swiftly tucking the rock into one of his wide sleeves. “What was the message?”

“If I knew what the message was, she would not have needed you.” Kaiser replies curtly as he leads the way to the tunnel entrance. “And I am not here to enforce her demands. I have told you what she wants you to do. Whether or not you do it is your decision.”

“This is ridiculous. I’m supposed to take a rock to Nova and tell her it’s a message from Laughing Alice?” Seer says, his exasperation clear.

“As I stated, it is your decision. I do not care what you do either way.” Kaiser says, reaching up to tap the hinge of his spectacles just before they reach the darkened tunnel ahead. “I will say this as a professional courtesy: 5402 has history with 5371, so the message will likely be something she understands, even if it makes no sense to us. 5402 is often obtuse, but when she actually has something to say, she will make sure she is heard. In this case, she doesn’t expect you to open the mail; she just wants you to deliver the letter — and it is probably for the best that you do not know what the contents are.”

Seer looks down at the rock in his hand. “You say you don’t care what I do, but your advice tells a different story.”

“Do as you will. I have disclosed all that I am willing to disclose on the topic.” Kaiser says, delving into the darkness of the tunnels with Seer reluctantly following behind.

The trip back to the surface is a quiet one, both men traveling in a silence that speaks to a wariness of the tunnels around them. Despite seeming empty, both of them seem to be aware that things may lurk unseen in the darkness, and voices travel a long way in enclosed spaces. It is not until they have fully departed the tunnels, and are on their way back up the ramp into the complex, that either of them feels comfortable enough to speak again.

“What will the Valiant do about her?” Seer asks as they make their way back along the wandering path of fire barrels, some of which have burned down to muted embers.

“There is nothing to be done. Fanatics cannot be reasoned with; CURSE knows this, after their dalliance with Prophet.” Kaiser replies flatly, his answer crystallizing in the cold air as he tucks his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “We will keep her at arm’s length, and disavow her as needed. Taking a page from CURSE’s playbook, if you will.”

Seer’s lips draw tight at the comparison. “I was not involved in the decision to work with Prophet. And for the record, there were many within CURSE that were opposed to a partnership with SCORN. Our objections were overruled.”

“That should’ve told you something about the prerogatives of its leadership.” Kaiser states, and though his tone is neutral as always, the words themselves are rather pointed. “But I suspect, given the fact that you are still working for them, that you have already reckoned with the implications and buried any discomfort you may have felt.”

Seer gives Kaiser an assessing look. “You are not a pleasant fellow to work with, are you?”

“I have been told on many occasions that my company leaves much to be desired.”

“Have you considered that they mean it as advice, and not just an observation?”

“When I desire the advice of others, I will ask for it.”

Seer takes it for the hint that it is, and the two of them continue through the complex until the strains of the profane carol become audible once more. The Cyber’s power source evidently has not expired yet, and it is still slurring the carol on repeat as the pair draw near to the entryway. “Raaaaadiance bee…eeaams from th… …oly face… th… dawn of redeeming graaaace…”

“Doesn’t it bother you?” Seer asks, his eyes up at they approach the gated fence. “That the people that worship her did something like this?”

“I could ask you the same about the Losinadae weapon.” Kaiser replies, walking right through the entryway without looking up. “Complicity is a delicate thing. You often end up incriminating yourself when you expand its boundaries to ensnare your enemies.”

Seer glares at Kaiser’s back, then turns and raises a hand towards the Cyber. Flickers of yellow light spark among the chains that hold up the corpse; the links snap, the body sliding loose and clanging to the ground with a loud crash. Reaching down, he yanks the wires out of the back of the Cyber’s head, breaking the connection with the hacking device and bringing the corrupted singing to a halt.

Through all this, Kaiser had stopped in the almost-empty parking lot and turned to watch, though his face remains cold and impassive as ever. It is clear that this carries no emotional weight for him, and when Seer drops the cables and turns to him, that expression does not change. “The Valiant claim that they’re better than the Challengers, better than CURSE, but you would just walk by something like this, and do nothing?” Seer demands.

Kaiser’s violet eyes go to the corpse, and then rove mechanically to Seer. “You seek a light where there is only a void. Whatever noble sentiments the others have advertised, whatever shining ideals they have championed, I do not share them. Do not look to me to validate your faith in the Valiant, or in society at large. You will not find what you are looking for.”

“Then why do you even bother, then?” Seer demands. “Why work for the Valiant? Why do any of this, if you don’t believe in what they aspire to?”

Kaiser’s gaze turns to the complex behind Seer; then to the night sky; then to the abandoned parking lot, as if the answer was hiding in one of those places. And at length, his spectacled gaze returns to Seer. “I imagine I would be very bored otherwise.”

With that, he turns and continues walking to his waiting car, leaving Seer alone beneath the site’s entryway. The elf is left to watch the assassin’s retreating back; and for a man that is accustomed to the sight of Gryffin, and perceiving the things that others try to hide, he finds himself unsettled by what he now sees. Though their time together was brief, it revealed a great deal, and only strengthened the conclusion he was now arriving to; there was nothing more to discover, because the Shanarae had told the truth.

Where there should be a light, there was only a void.