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There was shouting just a few feet from where I was on the beach. I'd gone
looking for Lucere in hopes of sharing a few more intoxicating kisses. Instead
I'd found shouting.
There was shouting just a few feet from where I was on the beach. I'd gone looking for Lucere in hopes of sharing a few more intoxicating kisses. Instead I'd found shouting.
Upon inspection, I found that my boss was causing a scene. Not that she wasn't
justified in being absolutely pissed. She was making a lot of good points.
Its not like I even got a choice in being here. It was either do this or get
merc'd by a corpo security team.
Upon inspection, I found that my boss was causing a scene. Not that she wasn't justified in being absolutely pissed. She was making a lot of good points. Its not like I even got a choice in being here. It was either do this or get merc'd by a corpo security team.
I should have kept my own bodily autonomy, like Marv presumably had. Not
getting an implant directly in my brain would have been a much smarter idea.
But I supposed I was a bit too impulsive. It was too late to worry about in
any case.
I should have kept my own bodily autonomy, like Marv presumably had. Not getting an implant directly in my brain would have been a much smarter idea. But I supposed I was a bit too impulsive. It was too late to worry about in any case.
I heard a little chime in the back of my head. It was different: more like a
thought than an actual sound. It was the notification bell I'd enabled while
waiting for Vivian to collect herself.
I heard a little chime in the back of my head. It was different: more like a thought than an actual sound. It was the notification bell I'd enabled while waiting for Vivian to collect herself.
I opened the messaging application.
\textbf{Manafed:} Can you deescalate that? You're closer and I can see that
Vivian already trusts you a lot more than me.
\textbf{Manafed:} Can you deescalate that? You're closer and I can see that Vivian already trusts you a lot more than me.
I thought up a quick reply and sent if off.
\textbf{Cantlin:} Viv is making some good points and I'm not sure I should
interrupt the angry boss woman. She's got a lot on her mind and y'all haven't
exactly been helpful to her it sounds like.
\textbf{Cantlin:} Viv is making some good points and I'm not sure I should interrupt the angry boss woman. She's got a lot on her mind and y'all haven't exactly been helpful to her it sounds like.
A moment of silence before the notification 'sound' chimed again.
\textbf{Manafed:} Alright, fair. I shouldn't be asking you to break up
arguments between officers anyway. They have rank over you. I don't expect
that'd be anything actionable here, but you may not be used to our culture yet.
\textbf{Manafed:} Alright, fair. I shouldn't be asking you to break up arguments between officers anyway. They have rank over you. I don't expect that'd be anything actionable here, but you may not be used to our culture yet.
Yeah, Lucere could've said that again. This place, despite being on the
surface and anti-corporate safe-haven, was still a part of a corporate entity.
That alone gave me the fuel for every nightmare I could think of.
Yeah, Lucere could've said that again. This place, despite being on the surface and anti-corporate safe-haven, was still a part of a corporate entity. That alone gave me the fuel for every nightmare I could think of.
How was I supposed to be a runner? How was I supposed to get Berdie's meds?
How was I, working for an extension of a corp, supposed to exist as me? This
was the antithesis of everything I stood for.
How was I supposed to be a runner? How was I supposed to get Berdie's meds? How was I, working for an extension of a corp, supposed to exist as me? This was the antithesis of everything I stood for.
Do I just get into contact with Anna the Pale Goddess and like, convince her to
say no to the corporate games? But how would she create new mages without
killing them?
Do I just get into contact with Anna the Pale Goddess and like, convince her to say no to the corporate games? But how would she create new mages without killing them?
I'd heard of groups of runners that could afford such lavish facilities as
this, but what then? Wait until they got attacked by a corp? Maybe even
Eastern Hills?
I'd heard of groups of runners that could afford such lavish facilities as this, but what then? Wait until they got attacked by a corp? Maybe even Eastern Hills?
This was a complicated line of thought and the answers weren't always what
you'd expect. Nor what you could immediately think of, for that matter.
This was a complicated line of thought and the answers weren't always what you'd expect. Nor what you could immediately think of, for that matter.
\textbf{Cantlin:} Why don't you take care of it? I think I have to seek the
Pale Goddess and give her a piece of my mind.
\textbf{Cantlin:} Why don't you take care of it? I think I have to seek the Pale Goddess and give her a piece of my mind.
\textbf{Manafed:} You do you. You'll find it helpful to go to your mind,
though. Its unlikely that she'd appear here.
\textbf{Manafed:} You do you. You'll find it helpful to go to your mind, though. Its unlikely that she'd appear here.
\textbf{Cantlin:} What, the goddess a bit shy?
\textbf{Manafed:} No, she's just incredibly tricksy and a bit of a pain in the
ass.
\textbf{Manafed:} No, she's just incredibly tricksy and a bit of a pain in the ass.
Deities. Figured they'd be problematic with their own set of rules and shit.
I focussed on my mind for a moment before disappearing into a completely void
'scape. I saw my thoughts as they bubbled into existence before disappearing
again just an instant later. The implant must enable some weird types of
self-introspection.
I focussed on my mind for a moment before disappearing into a completely void 'scape. I saw my thoughts as they bubbled into existence before disappearing again just an instant later. The implant must enable some weird types of self-introspection.
"Yes, it does," someone said from behind me. The entire environment blinked
pink then red as I snapped around ready to attack. I saw a young looking
blonde floating upside down.
"Yes, it does," someone said from behind me. The entire environment blinked pink then red as I snapped around ready to attack. I saw a young looking blonde floating upside down.
"Anna, I presume," I offered as I forced myself to relax. "You could warn a
girl before just barging into her head-space."
"Anna, I presume," I offered as I forced myself to relax. "You could warn a girl before just barging into her head-space."
The space became weirdly calm, no longer reflecting my thoughts instants at a
time.
The space became weirdly calm, no longer reflecting my thoughts instants at a time.
"But where would the fun in that be?" she asked, sticking her tongue out in a
playful manner. Little bubbles of Anna's face intruded on my vision before
disappearing again.
"But where would the fun in that be?" she asked, sticking her tongue out in a playful manner. Little bubbles of Anna's face intruded on my vision before disappearing again.
"What's with the corporate love?" I asked, frankly.
"No love," she giggled, "just trying to throw a wrench in the other deities'
plans so I can go back to my set of universes." Vast trees of light sprouted
and disappeared. Much like lightning, but somehow much more complex.
"No love," she giggled, "just trying to throw a wrench in the other deities' plans so I can go back to my set of universes." Vast trees of light sprouted and disappeared. Much like lightning, but somehow much more complex.
"Your set of universes?" I asked, confused. There were other universes? But
why? I mean, science said it might be possible, but we were nowhere near
exploring what that might mean.
"Your set of universes?" I asked, confused. There were other universes? But why? I mean, science said it might be possible, but we were nowhere near exploring what that might mean.
"Yes," she said, her playful tone vanishing instantly, "I miss my home and I
miss my power. Omnipotence doesn't work in this universe due to some weird
limitations." Her face turned sour. "It means I can't just alter timelines to
get what I want and instead I have to keep powerful players in power. Why do
you think the free states exist at all? If it weren't for me, corporations
would rule every inch of this hellscape."
"Yes," she said, her playful tone vanishing instantly, "I miss my home and I miss my power. Omnipotence doesn't work in this universe due to some weird limitations." Her face turned sour. "It means I can't just alter timelines to get what I want and instead I have to keep powerful players in power. Why do you think the free states exist at all? If it weren't for me, corporations would rule every inch of this hellscape."
"Alter timelines?" I asked, alarm radiating through every ounce of my voice.
My headspace was reflecting my alarm, bubbling up slightly in obtuse ways,
showing me all sorts of 'what ifs' that could have happened.
"Alter timelines?" I asked, alarm radiating through every ounce of my voice. My headspace was reflecting my alarm, bubbling up slightly in obtuse ways, showing me all sorts of 'what ifs' that could have happened.
"Yes," she replied, "but alas, I can't just say 'no more technomage dragon god'
in this universe." A dragon burst forth, its large form threatening to pin me
to the ground. Its hot breath left me ghasping for air. Its metalic scales
bending what little light there was in ways that didn't quite make sense.
"Yes," she replied, "but alas, I can't just say 'no more technomage dragon god' in this universe." A dragon burst forth, its large form threatening to pin me to the ground. Its hot breath left me ghasping for air. Its metalic scales bending what little light there was in ways that didn't quite make sense.
I screeched at the dragon's sudden appearance. I could see Anna's smirk from
around the beast before it disappeared.
I screeched at the dragon's sudden appearance. I could see Anna's smirk from around the beast before it disappeared.
"By the way," Anna continued, "I haven't taken care of that issue, but at least
she doesn't control every aspect of technomancy here. In fact, killing her in
this universe could cause a massive schism that would end all life. Fucked
that one up one too many times in my own timeline."
"By the way," Anna continued, "I haven't taken care of that issue, but at least she doesn't control every aspect of technomancy here. In fact, killing her in this universe could cause a massive schism that would end all life. Fucked that one up one too many times in my own timeline."
Earth as I knew it was suspended above me. It was a perfect marble of blues,
greens, and whites. As I watched it, it slowly turned more red, the oceans
dried and the clouds thinned.
Earth as I knew it was suspended above me. It was a perfect marble of blues, greens, and whites. As I watched it, it slowly turned more red, the oceans dried and the clouds thinned.
"Magic is wildly interlinked," she laughed.
"There's a dragon somewhere that can control all 'technomancy'?" I asked,
bewildered, "what the hell even \emph{is} technomancy?"
"There's a dragon somewhere that can control all 'technomancy'?" I asked, bewildered, "what the hell even \emph{is} technomancy?"
"Oh my young fledgling," she cooed, "you'll hopefully never meet someone who
can use it. They exist far beyond the stars at this moment. Due to the
expansion of your universe, its hopeful your entire species will never have to
meet them."
"Oh my young fledgling," she cooed, "you'll hopefully never meet someone who can use it. They exist far beyond the stars at this moment. Due to the expansion of your universe, its hopeful your entire species will never have to meet them."
I began seeing flashes of a new planet far different and much larger than the
Earth I knew.
I began seeing flashes of a new planet far different and much larger than the Earth I knew.
"There's life beyond the stars?" I asked, I didn't think I could be any more
alarmed, but it seemed my patron deity was just dropping bombshell after
bombshell on my fragile psyche.
"There's life beyond the stars?" I asked, I didn't think I could be any more alarmed, but it seemed my patron deity was just dropping bombshell after bombshell on my fragile psyche.
"Gods yes," she laughed, "you thought you were all alone here in this big ol'
universe? Pah." Bubbles of human-like figures towering over me flashed by
before Anna explained further.
"Gods yes," she laughed, "you thought you were all alone here in this big ol' universe? Pah." Bubbles of human-like figures towering over me flashed by before Anna explained further.
"The Kirtischians would wipe this sorry excuse for humanity into oblivion. If
they could ever figure out how to tear a hole through space-time, that is." A
spacecraft was flying by, then suddenly disappeared in its entirety. My brain
latched on to 'sorry excuse for humanity'. It was a phrase that gave me an odd
hope.
"The Kirtischians would wipe this sorry excuse for humanity into oblivion. If they could ever figure out how to tear a hole through space-time, that is." A spacecraft was flying by, then suddenly disappeared in its entirety. My brain latched on to 'sorry excuse for humanity'. It was a phrase that gave me an odd hope.
"Luckily, every other deity also appears to take the stance on them that I do:
don't let them touch anything they already haven't."
"Luckily, every other deity also appears to take the stance on them that I do: don't let them touch anything they already haven't."
"So humanity is better where you're from?" I asked.
"Yes and no," she began to explain, "gods above, I haven't talked about my own
origins in this much detail since the first mage I made." She materialized a
chair next to me and lounged in it. I wasn't sure if she had influence over my
mind or if I was sharing mind space with her.
"Yes and no," she began to explain, "gods above, I haven't talked about my own origins in this much detail since the first mage I made." She materialized a chair next to me and lounged in it. I wasn't sure if she had influence over my mind or if I was sharing mind space with her.
"In my universe, the one I was able to cultivate from its very inception,
humanity wouldn't 'just happen'. I tried so many things, but from the
beginning to the end, humanity never showed up."
"In my universe, the one I was able to cultivate from its very inception, humanity wouldn't 'just happen'. I tried so many things, but from the beginning to the end, humanity never showed up."
Another vision of Earth appeared before me. The continents looked like they
were in different positions to what I knew them as, but it was at least
iconically Earth. I saw a spaceship crash into one of the continents.
Another vision of Earth appeared before me. The continents looked like they were in different positions to what I knew them as, but it was at least iconically Earth. I saw a spaceship crash into one of the continents.
"So I caused a few malfunctions on Kirtiscian spacecraft and crash-landed them
on Earth to finally jumpstart humanity. After that, I was able to gently nudge
the right people into power and Earth, by the time it all ended, was finally
populated by humans that had setup a true utopia."
"So I caused a few malfunctions on Kirtiscian spacecraft and crash-landed them on Earth to finally jumpstart humanity. After that, I was able to gently nudge the right people into power and Earth, by the time it all ended, was finally populated by humans that had setup a true utopia."
Many spaceports appeared around the planet as the continents moved. It was
beautiful.
Many spaceports appeared around the planet as the continents moved. It was beautiful.
"How many timelines did you shave off into oblivion to get that to work?" I
asked. My lack of trust in people clearly showing through my awe.
"How many timelines did you shave off into oblivion to get that to work?" I asked. My lack of trust in people clearly showing through my awe.
"More than you could count, but less than infinity," she laughed, "of course,
that's a lot less than I thought, too."
"More than you could count, but less than infinity," she laughed, "of course, that's a lot less than I thought, too."
"Why the special care for humanity?" I asked, curiosity finally boiling over.
"Why not? I am, after all, human," she admitted, "or at least I was,
originally." She pointed to a weird little tattoo she had on her shoulder. A
grid of spaces, some filled with dots, others not. "My hacker emblem. Someone
who found a bug in the universe was awarded with one. Mine? Ascension. I was
able to um, without making it sound too much like an RPG, level up my
abilities. Until I was omniscient."
"Why not? I am, after all, human," she admitted, "or at least I was, originally." She pointed to a weird little tattoo she had on her shoulder. A grid of spaces, some filled with dots, others not. "My hacker emblem. Someone who found a bug in the universe was awarded with one. Mine? Ascension. I was able to um, without making it sound too much like an RPG, level up my abilities. Until I was omniscient."
"You played a lot of strategy games, then?" I asked, a smile cracking across my
face.
"You played a lot of strategy games, then?" I asked, a smile cracking across my face.
"Not as many as you'd think," she dismissed, "I was more of a hacker. A lot
like you, actually. Just, a lot more into maths. That was so many years ago,
though. Many universes worth of time ago, actually."
"Not as many as you'd think," she dismissed, "I was more of a hacker. A lot like you, actually. Just, a lot more into maths. That was so many years ago, though. Many universes worth of time ago, actually."
I saw glimpses of her memories. Her past. They looked nearly faded, like she
was trying to hold on to them. I could see tears in her eyes. The space
looked like it was shrinking.
I saw glimpses of her memories. Her past. They looked nearly faded, like she was trying to hold on to them. I could see tears in her eyes. The space looked like it was shrinking.
I felt the agoraphobia of infinite time. And I felt the most lonely I'd ever
been. I felt the feelings of her excitement the first time she kissed another
woman. I felt her casual indifference from her first kiss from a man. I felt
her loss when her love was taken from her.
I felt the agoraphobia of infinite time. And I felt the most lonely I'd ever been. I felt the feelings of her excitement the first time she kissed another woman. I felt her casual indifference from her first kiss from a man. I felt her loss when her love was taken from her.
I \emph{felt} her. What it was to be her before she ascended. Before I could
feel any more, whatever connection let me feel her feelings faded.
I \emph{felt} her. What it was to be her before she ascended. Before I could feel any more, whatever connection let me feel her feelings faded.
That was a lot. A lot to take in. A lot to process. That was a lot. I mean,
the fact that I was sitting there talking to an actual goddess was also a lot,
so I suppose my idea of 'a lot' was suddenly very broken.
That was a lot. A lot to take in. A lot to process. That was a lot. I mean, the fact that I was sitting there talking to an actual goddess was also a lot, so I suppose my idea of 'a lot' was suddenly very broken.
My mind wandered back around to why I wanted to talk to her in the first place,
not wanting to unpack all of the information that was just dumped on me. "So
why don't we split from the corp now that we are clearly big enough?"
My mind wandered back around to why I wanted to talk to her in the first place, not wanting to unpack all of the information that was just dumped on me. "So why don't we split from the corp now that we are clearly big enough?"
"Oh," she laughed, "quite the topic change. Um, currently we're actually in
the process, but really it comes down to ensuring that the Free State here
still exists. Eastern Hills is under constant pressure from Tamaki, under my
direction mind you, to keep other corps in the area in check. We leave and the
entire area will be 'up for grabs' in the eyes of the corps."
"Oh," she laughed, "quite the topic change. Um, currently we're actually in the process, but really it comes down to ensuring that the Free State here still exists. Eastern Hills is under constant pressure from Tamaki, under my direction mind you, to keep other corps in the area in check. We leave and the entire area will be 'up for grabs' in the eyes of the corps."
"So a bit of a catch-22, then?" I asked, pondering the politics that corps play
with eachother.
"So a bit of a catch-22, then?" I asked, pondering the politics that corps play with eachother.
"Yeah," she replied, "I'd opt for an all out revolution from the people living
here, but that would cost more blood and life than its worth."
"Yeah," she replied, "I'd opt for an all out revolution from the people living here, but that would cost more blood and life than its worth."
"So living in a Free State, despite the massive corps exerting their power
anyway, is preferable to letting the citizens decide?"
"So living in a Free State, despite the massive corps exerting their power anyway, is preferable to letting the citizens decide?"
"No," she laughed, "but they wouldn't get a say in any case. The corps have
more power, money, and resources. They would simply wipe any opposition out.
Or, as is tried and true, and much much cheaper, run psyops until other
citizens removed the opposition for them. Takes a little longer, but they
already control the media, so ultimately it cuts the cost by a lot."
"No," she laughed, "but they wouldn't get a say in any case. The corps have more power, money, and resources. They would simply wipe any opposition out. Or, as is tried and true, and much much cheaper, run psyops until other citizens removed the opposition for them. Takes a little longer, but they already control the media, so ultimately it cuts the cost by a lot."
So she was saying its better to live in a facade of equality than to live in an
open tyrany. I wasn't sure I agreed, but I'd think on it more later. I sighed
and slumped down as I realized I had an absolute tonne of information to unpack
and process later.
So she was saying its better to live in a facade of equality than to live in an open tyrany. I wasn't sure I agreed, but I'd think on it more later. I sighed and slumped down as I realized I had an absolute tonne of information to unpack and process later.
"Looks like I gave you too much at once," Anna said laxidasically. "Maybe you
should head back to the party and be with others. You have definitely been
winning friends."
"Looks like I gave you too much at once," Anna said laxidasically. "Maybe you should head back to the party and be with others. You have definitely been winning friends."
"No winning about friendship," I stated, "friendships are bonds that are
forged. They aren't won. Competition in this context simply doesn't make
sense."
"No winning about friendship," I stated, "friendships are bonds that are forged. They aren't won. Competition in this context simply doesn't make sense."
"Fair, but my point still stands," she giggled playfully. Again, treating me
like I was a pawn in a game. I didn't like it.
"Fair, but my point still stands," she giggled playfully. Again, treating me like I was a pawn in a game. I didn't like it.
"We're people," I said, "we all have feelings just as real as yours, and we
shouldn't be played with."
"We're people," I said, "we all have feelings just as real as yours, and we shouldn't be played with."
She gave me a puzzled look before realizing that my mindspace was becoming more
violent in its shifting thoughts. She nodded and was gone in an instant.
She gave me a puzzled look before realizing that my mindspace was becoming more violent in its shifting thoughts. She nodded and was gone in an instant.
Some goddess. Using people for playthings to enact her will in the world. At
least she was a lot more limited here than wherever the hell she came from.
And to be using us to get home was simply shameful.
Some goddess. Using people for playthings to enact her will in the world. At least she was a lot more limited here than wherever the hell she came from. And to be using us to get home was simply shameful.
I finally slumped down and cried, the space reflecting my suddenly
deteriorating facade of composure. Maybe this was a good way to get
introspection on myself. Maybe it was a decent way to disappear forever,
forgetting the outside world.
I finally slumped down and cried, the space reflecting my suddenly deteriorating facade of composure. Maybe this was a good way to get introspection on myself. Maybe it was a decent way to disappear forever, forgetting the outside world.