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-Omnitech NooSphere Report
17-19
Cling
Kare resurrected just in ti to see a giant in radiant armor striking the glass that surrounded her. Blinking as her cog-feed loaded and her phantasmics ca online, she realized she knew that armor–knew the shimring bronze plates and the person who wore it.
Shotin Kazahara. Her uncle. Not two ters away hovered her ntor, Paladin Maru Sandrupal, with a cluster of block-sized pylons sparking in the backdrop behind him.
How did they find her? Where was she? Her mories were coming back together, but the way her thoughts flowed was as if parted waves returning to a crashing union. There was a gulf inside her mind that was filling and clarity was slow to return, her focus broken by each ringing impact made by Shotin’s gauntlets striking her transparent prison.
The structure that held her possessed a strange luster to it, sothing between polished alloy and a sparkling mirror. Fragnts of clotted crimson clattered against her combat skin, and she noticed the deformation of her cage taking on abnormal aspects. It dented under Shotin’s fists like tal while also fracturing like glass, breaking instead of tearing, but deforming before each crack. The presence of the clashing properties made her skull spin as she tried to clear her head.
The lead-up to her death was a haze of conflict and chaos. She was swallowed by one of the enormous hydras and then found herself in a wind-wrought tunnel. Shadows swirled about her like they were currents to a tempest, the air whipping at her form like a hurricane. Then, she rembered the battle.
And her enemy.
Chambers. The Lushburner.
She was tearing him apart by the end of the fight. Shredding his Heaven away piece by piece.
But when she closed in to end things, the fire flowed, becoming a conflagration that boiled away her very thoughts.
A final mory lingered inside her mind. Vivid images of Chambers erging from the ashes of his Heaven, sneering down at her as he resequenced his own tamind. Ghosts folded and dove across both ends of his halo, rising and falling like cresting waves. Finally, she noticed a single trail of ghosts flowing back into the center of his mind as what appeared to be a spire rose from the phantasmal stratocumulus clouding the inner confines of his mind.
A Ghostjack? He had been holding it in reserve?
“Oh, the D’Rongos are going to like these sequences,” he said, snickering darkly to himself.
With each passing second, the fire ate away more of her perception–more of her consciousness. It wouldn’t be long until there was nothing left her to burn. With a wave of his hand, Chambers called upon miracles of blood and shadow as he flicked her body aside, entombing her upon a structural support within Layer One.
Looking down at the throne she sat upon, she wondered what the man ant by this gesture. To kill soone yet leave their body perched on a throne seed too polite to be an insult. Yet, during their encounter, he fought like a vile animal, deliberately trying to birth his homunculi all over her, tearing the stillborn infants from his body and detonating them like bombs when she was–and wasn’t–in the vicinity.
Shaking the whiplash from her mind, she pushed herself up and activated her skin’s thrusters just as her uncle shattered the blood-made walls that sealed her. She tried to stand up, but he forced her back down on her seat as he planted a heavy hand on her left shoulder.
I’m fine, she said, trying to brush him off. She hoped her helt’s phase shield obfuscated her face enough to hide her blush from Paladin Sandrupal. Nothing like family to embarrass you in front of a superior. You don’t need to–
He suddenly seized her by the other shoulder and shook her hard. Why… are… you… here…
She tried to push him off but found his Heaven an endless font of might and mass. Bouncing back and forth between his hands, Kare sighed and spat her lie, trying to save what face she could. I wanted to see what Rash-detail is like.
Why? Why? Why? With each question, his armored skull was pressed against her. She pressed her lips together and just frowned, eting his silver-bright eyes without difficulty. Uncle Sho always had these episodes when he was worried. Listen, there are vicarities for these things. Hells, there are vicarities for childbirth–those are hell too, you shouldn’t try them. But the point stands, why?
You know why! she snapped. Lightning flowed through her as she drew upon her Heaven and leaped behind him through his very fingers. She ignored him calling her na as she floated over to face her ntor, trying not to wilt beneath his flat gaze.
Funny who I ran into on the way down, Paladin Sandrupal said. Funnier how I had to stop him from beating Kassamon to death when the idiot got in his way. You got a real caring uncle, kid.
Kare didn’t know what to say, so she stayed silent.
So, Paladin Sandrupal continued, regarding her with a raised eyebrow, how’d you like Rash-detail.
Kare shrugged. I think I’m more suited for desk work.
Her ntor grunted a rumbling laugh. That’s what we all say. He looked past her and regarded Shotin. You know, I should start reading our op-briefs instead of letting you give the condensed version. Seems like you neglected to ntion a few things to this ti.
She straightened her back and drew in a breath. I have no defense for my perfidy and will submit to a formal inquiry if you deem it necessary.
Paladin Sandrupal groaned. Absolutely fucking not. Don’t think you get to juke my ass and then punish more with paperwork, rook. You know how much I hate filing forms and shit. You know I’ll be making you write the report in the end anyway. No. Let’s just call this an… unhappy coincidence. How’s that sound, Seeker?
Accurate, Shotin responded with a smile in his voice. I don’t suppose I need to leave a statent?
I don’t suppose you’ll co quietly if I try to bring you in?
Well, let’s not be reckless with your life, Paladin. What would your wife think?
I don’t have a wife.
What? A man with your face leads a bachelor’s life? A husband perhaps? Or are nu-dogs more your flavor? Sexually, to be specific.
Uncle! Kare hissed, voice cracking from sheer outrage.
Relax, turnip, it’s just a conversation.
Till its not, Paladin Sandrupal replied.
The two n just stared at each other, neither afraid but both wary. How’s a piece of shit like you have a niece like her? Maru asked.
She takes after her mother. Tell , do you amount to anything in this partnership, or is she both the muscle and the mind?
Well, that depends on how many drinks I’ve had between shifts.
Shotin laughed. That’s all you do? Drink?
A pause followed. I might indulge a little harder.
The Seeker cocked his head. Suncloud?
Maybe a little nova if things are about to be shit. End the day with suncloud to take the edge off. Paladin Sandrupal coughed.
My man, Shotin said. Old Thousandhand would be proud. Not bad, glasser. Seems like you only got a baton instead of the full stick living up your ass.
Kare found her eyes drifting between the two n as her head spun. What the hell just happened? Weren’t you two about to… uh…
Nah, we got over that, Shotin said.
Keep up, rook, Maru added.
What was this insane macho bullshit?
I–I rember who attacked , she said, redirecting the conversation toward a more worthwhile direction. She shared her mories with her superior and ignored her uncle waving at her. This is a Paladin investigation. You can leave now, Seeker.
She had the feeling he was glaring at her. Is the person who snuffed you Aedon Chambers?
Both Kare and Maru froze and faced him.
What exactly was it that you might’ve been doing here, Seeker, Paladin Sandrupal said, keeping his tone conversational.
Oh. Just taking in the sights. I wasn’t hunting a potential acolyte of the Low Masters or anything like that.
Sandrupal nodded. Good. Glad to hear that. So, about this hypothetical acolyte…
A disgusting, vile, subhuman half-strand piece of shit that whips his cock out in your face and sprays aratnids at you. Shotin illustrated.
Horror blood inside Kare as she realized how the Rash was triggered.
You know the thing I can’t figure out? Why he left your corpse so intact. Shotin looked Kare up and down. From our very unpleasant few minutes together, he didn’t strike as soone who had all his sequences. But he left you mostly unhard.
She shot a quick look at her ntor and he gave her a nod. Another wisp spilled out from her tamind and connected with Shotin’s accretion. Her near-term mories played, and in seconds disbelief spiked into quiet, thundering rage.
Those motherfucks, Shotin said, tone entirely calm. I was wondering how… I thought it was too easy for him… Godsdamned D’Rongos. Of course, those snakes are behind this. That just makes too much sense… He giggled mirthlessly to himself as he clenched and unclenched his hands.
Uncle Sho? Kare asked.
I’m good, he replied. I got another angle to dig through is all. Another angle, and a piece of shit I need to slowly kill. The hate he felt for Aedon Chambers ran like a molten stream – searing, slow, unceasing. Looking over the two Paladins, he shook his head. There was a breach at the Trident. A nexus was stolen. A Glaive is still missing. We are engaging in pre-war protocols.
Sandrupal exhaled. Shit. You’re saying clan politics followed my rook down the Tiers?
Maybe, Shotin said. But it feels bigger than that. Chambers was trying to et an informant here. A Godclad nad “Dice”?
The FATELESS girl’s a Fallwalker? Sandrupal said after a mont’s recollection. You’re sure of that?
No. She’s too well-equipped to be a Fallwalker. Two Heavens at the least with a full cadre backing her up. Chambers might be psychotic, but he’s got expert help behind him. And so of the most advanced coldtech I’ve seen in a while. There’s Guild support behind them, and consider all the Heavens and resources they had, a pretty wide range at that. You know what that ans, glasser. Shotin held a finger up to his armor, miming a shush.
Yeah, Sandrupal said, though his mind was thick in frustration. I know the score.
Good, Shotin said. No one’s excited to repeat the events of the Second Guild War, anyway. Keep yourselves safe. Kare. I’m gonna need you to request so leave.
What? Why?
Because I’m not waiting for the D’Rongos to take another swing at you, he said. I can’t keep you safe if you keep bouncing around the city playing peacekeeper.
Anger tightened in her gut but she kept it contained. He knew better than this. He was trying to rile her. Rattle her enough that she seed unbalanced before her superior so he could press his will. He always did shit like that. I don’t need your protection, uncle. I can manage myself. And I’m not playing at anything. I have a job. I’m going to do it.
Shotin cast a quick look at her forr enclosure and scoffed. Listen, Kare, you wanna be an adult? I’ll treat you like an adult. You got hit by a Conflagration. Incubi mind-burner. That’s the type of stuff we use to salt the Nether and burn entire lobbies. She opened her mouth, shocked at how openly he was talking about Ori-Thaum’s forbidden devices before she noticed Sandrupal’s perception splashing off to stare at a nearby way, as if unaware of his surroundings. Realization dawned inside her a mont later. When did you–
Spoofed in deep twelve seconds after running into him, Shotin said. Co on, turnip. It’s . And you tell him that he needs to stop using Sanctus wards. They’re shit. And double to my point, if I alone can do this, what’s going to happen to you if Clan D’Rongo decides to stop with the warning shots and just go for you? You’re not an Ori anymore. Not after you took those oaths. And the damnest thing is the Paladins can’t do a single thing to keep you safe.
I don’t want to be kept safe, Kare replied. And get out of his mind. H-have you been inside his mind this entire ti?
Well, yeah, I saved us another three pointless argunts, didn’t it?
I can’t fucking believe you… You absolute piece of shit…
And there you go sounding like her again. Shotin shook his head. Look. Whatever is happening, it’s more than the Paladins can handle. Naeko took you all over the deep end as is. Detaining an Instrunt of Highfla; arresting an Ori-Thaum Elder. You might just be an opportune victim. A target on the intersection to multiple parties they want to threaten.
Then let the threats co, Kare said. I’m not afraid.
Well, I am! Shotin snarled. I am! I am! I just… I just spent a day shitting dead babies out from my flesh, and I resurrect to find a literal flood of Paladins about to fuck everything up. I resurrect to find your na among the active personnel for Rash-detail. I resurrect trying not to throw up because I see you listed as missing in action.
And your response was to, what? Jack into the minds of my colleagues? Twist them to your own ends.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my clan and Guild safe. To keep what’s left of my family safe. You understand what that ans.
I–
It ans that I’ll be watching over you even if I have to frag every other Paladin there ever was. You understand? I failed once. It won’t happen again.
And there it was. The old wound that never healed in him. The shadow of her mother’s death cast a pall over both of them. Kare folded her arms as her insides turned into a screaming cocktail of anguish, resentnt, and concern. We can’t keep living this way. We can’t keep living in the past. I know what I want. You’ll do anything for ? I die to see this city made safer. So. Where do we go from here?
A silence settled between them. Sandrupal, still befuddled by Shotin, cleared his throat and began to hum to himself.
Sorry, Shotin said, turning away from her. I just… uh.
Kare wanted to reach out. To comfort her uncle. But anger won over compassion, and she kept her arms folded instead. Yeah. You’re always sorry in the end. We always end up doing this again.
He let out a breath. I’ll be going back up the Tiers. I’m not going to be telling the Council of Elders about this. Not until I can put whatever evidence I have before a Heaven of Truth. I suggest you do the sa. For both our sakes. In the anti, I’m gonna give you an Agnos to contact. Get your Fra boosted. No argunts about this. If our family ends up at war, I want your Sphere high and Soul bright. Do this for , right? Keep yourself safe for .
She didn’t respond imdiately, waiting till he began to move away. Who’s going to keep you safe?
Shotin paused. He turned back to look at her. What?
Do you think it’s easy for , knowing you or dad can die at any ti as well? she asked. He gave no answer. You’re a piece of shit, Seeker Kazahara. Selfish. And selfless.
Yeah, he said, strength bleeding from his voice.
Go, then. I’ll see if I can find anything on our “shared problem.” And let my ntor go.
That earned a chuckle from Shotin again as speed built around his body. In a couple of seconds, turnip. Just suffer for a few seconds more.
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