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Chapter 37
By AC
When Ven reached his office, Lydon was already there, looking impatient. Ven wouldn't keep him long... but not before extracting his "pound of flesh".
"Minister," Lydon said, standing as Ven went to his desk. "It's an honour to meet you--"
"Quiet!" Ven turned on the detective, disgust and rage a fire within him. "You were instructed to bring back the Interface, Cisia, and the traitor Talehn to me as soon as possible. Alive and unharmed if possible, but alive."
Lydon's mouth clicked closed.
"Instead, we have several dead and wounded, mostly from YOUR ORDERS, and I recently learned you personally diverted resources to hunt down on Darian Ashley."
"Sir, Darian is a key to--"
"To nothing! I have neither the time nor the patience for your excuses, /detective/. Listen carefully." Ven approached the detective, eyes narrowed, hands clenched into fists.
"Our previous Interface is dead, and the only /viable/ replacement is on the streets, possibly hurt or dying thanks to your actions. We have managed to keep the news under wraps for now, but that will not last. In twenty-four hours, this district will have the first major panic since the Dalasius incident. In forty-eight hours we will be without power.
"This district will be torn apart in the chaos that follows. If - IF - there are survivors they will have to be evacuated to other districts afterwards. Do you want to be the author of that scenario, Dectective Lydon?"
Lydon said nothing.
"I didn't think so, because if you do not return Cisia to us, alive and unharmed, within twenty-four hours, I will insure that you will recieve the full brunt of the blame. I WILL NOT allow your petty vengeances to jeopordize this district, am I understood?"
"Yes, sir," said the detective finally.
Ven sat down at his desk and started reading papers. "You are dismissed."
Lydon took a step forward. "Minister, if I do return Cisia, what will I get --"
"YOU ARE DISMISSED!"
Lydon stood there for a second longer, one hand clenched into a fist, then he turned on his heel, and left.
Ven watched him go. Amibitious, are we, he thought. Disgustingly inefficient.
Talehn's head was spinning with the revealations of the past few minutes. He had read about the plagues that marked the first major event of his world's history, and now he learned that it was deliberate -- created by the very world they inhabited.
"All those thousands..." He said, looking at Cisia/Life.
"Distress. I/We did not anticipate so much death. Your Lifecode was strange to us. Many died, but a few were changed. And their offspring kept My/Our changes. They could hear Me/Us -- but faintly."
"The first mages; you created them? Why?"
"Curiosity. Companionship. I/We have no members that can speak your language. But if you can be changed to understand Mine/Our language, you can speak to and for Me/Us."
Talehn looked at Paula, who returned his wonder-filled gaze.
"So all the mages, the first Interfaces, that was all intended as a means to /talk to us?/"
"Yes." Cisia/Life looked at Talehn. "This one is the first which we can communicate with clearly."
"And what happens to Cisia?" Talehn found himself getting angry.
"This one you call Cisia communicates with Me/Us. I/We tell this one about us, and ask her permission for My/Our communication through her."
While Talehn was mulling that one over, Paula asked, "You said Dalasius was a threat. I'm not going to argue the point, but how is he a threat to you? I mean, he's immaterial while the Districts are a real threat."
Thanks, Paula, Talehn thought, your tact is refreshing.
"Districts? You speak of artificial hives your kind has built? A danger, yes, but not a threat. I/We integrate with the artificial pathways you build, and incorporate My/Our pathways in microscopic members. Even if I/We fail, I/We will experience something new: not being."
"But it doesn't have to be that way--" Paula stopped, as if her courage had run out. She glanced at Talehn, who nodded.
Encouraged, Paula launched into her reason for being here, and described the knowledge she brought. "The people here can use this knowledge to clean up the air and water, to repair you and your world. You won't have to die."
Cisia/Life canted her head to one side. "I/We are grateful -- but can this be done? I/We have learned your kind is stubborn."
"I'll try my best."
"I/We are grateful." Cisia/Life paused, as if listening to an unknown speaker. "I/We wish to speak more, but this one wishes to return. She is concerned for you, Talehn. I/We will speak again, and soon."
With that, the vermillon glow faded and Cisia slumped, raising her hands to her head. Talehn rushed to her side, concern mixed with... what? Affection? Relief, that she shared feelings for him?
"Well," said a new voice. Talehn and Cisia looked up to see Darian and two others walk into view, weapons in hand, but not threatening. "Seems like the rules of the game have changed," said Darian. "So could someone tell me exactly what's been happening?"
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