Sh'ozak began pacing the opposite side of the circle, across from Harbinger"Is [this] what your kind call a [Hostile Workplace Environment]?", they added with equal parts mockery, entertainment, and malice.
Caliban left out a tired groan. Duties, deals, obligations...he agreed on nothing of the sort. All those mutual understandings were thinly veiled threats. "Do or die. That's no deal." - a thought given voice within the woods for everyone to hear as crows fled its source. His eyes never left Harbinger's, tracing his movement like a hunter to its prey. Or perhaps, he was the prey to begin with. A cornered animal between two greater Nomad minds.
"[We never had a deal to begin with. You may do deals with that wretch. Revenant. Give her the illusion of choice. But I know the truth!]"
He replied with poison oozing out of every word. A slight growl behind every breath. He believed fiercely in his version of the truth, and not in the machinations Harbinger would hope to make him believe, let alone Sho'zak's own interests. Caught between the two rival Minds was a harrowing experience. One would target the other, and him in turn.
"[But yeah...the big dragon made an offer. Somewhat compelling, despite the stupid amount of drawbacks.]"
Harbinger quietly sighed at the jab from his brethren. There were more important matters on his mind.
The being had wondered if keeping this charade was worth it anymore - Caliban wasn't going to be convinced by words and promises. The radical change in behavior from this emergent personality had left nothing to appeal to. Continuing to rely upon vindictive mercenary was becoming unsustainable, particularly in light of all the changes. A much more malleable subject was found to replace Vincent and in turn Caliban as well. Not strong in convictions, at least not yet, perhaps it is for the better. But having this matter unresolved it has crossed his mind a few times to remove Caliban entirely, wipe out the board entirely from all the figures. While certain there isn't much Caliban could do alone it would not bode well to let him being entangled by the jealous kin. In their ignorance they could cause an uncontrollable chain of unpredictable events. He alone did possess the knowledge required to unseal the hidden vault, the one which the Makers tried to bury away, the evidence of all their mistakes.
"I need not to make any further offers to her, for now she will do what needs to be done. What do -you- claim to be the truth there?"
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Something else stirred within the lake — a being that had, years ago, brushed minds with Caliban, or, at the very least, the man he once was. Though it was only a fleeting encounter back then, it laid the foundations for a lasting connection.
The waters of the mindscape quivered. From the murky depths of the mercenary's subconscious, a grotesque, otherworldly being began to emerge — its form contorted and twisted in ways that defied the laws of nature. Pitch-black eyes, devoid of any discernible emotion, fixated upon the dragonlike guest within Caliban's mental landscape, radiating an unnatural intensity. An unsettling symphony of whispers, dark and ethereal, echoed through the mindscape.
As the creature surfaced, its colossal, snake-like form moved with a disconcerting twitchiness. Giant, monstrous jaws opened wide, revealing rows of serrated teeth that seemed to shift and morph with an unsettling fluidity. Along its immense, sinuous body, the deformed heads and beaks of indiscernible alien species protruded.
The creature's motion was an eerie combination of undulating serpentine flow and the disjointed, erratic twitching of limbs borrowed from different beasts. As it neared the water's edge, its pitch-black eyes remained fixed upon Sh'ozak. The secondary heads and twisted appendages turned their gaze toward the two humans present, erratically switching between them.
Approaching the dragon, the creature's voice slithered out with an unsettling robotic cadence, punctuated by awkward and untimely pauses.
Great. Mind — Strategist.
They. Lash Out. Accuse Others. Of Scheming.
Yet —
The very end of the monstrosity's tail began gently wrapping around Caliban's feet, almost caressing them.
They Promise. Eternal Life.
The being rose up, standing tall. Its entire body shivered, with bird-like beaks clacking and the teeth of predator's jaws gnashing.
Yes.
We — Can Replicate. It.
Thousandfold.
Yet —
A single tendril extended toward Caliban, pointing at his head but stopping just short of reaching him.
It. Is One Of One.
One Form. Ceases To Exist.
Another. Takes Its Place.
It Is Offered. A Mockery Of Life.
The monstrous being slowly recoiled, its pitch-black eyes shifting away. It redirected its attention toward one of the humans present. Harbinger.
Brother.
The single word carried an array of emotions — admiration, disappointment, sadness.
They — Evade — Us.
Their Song. Silent. Hidden.
We. Do Not Desire. Their End.
The creature lowered its head, resting it on the ground, akin to a dog hoping to be petted.
Fear Not. The Mastermind.
Please.
A brief burst of emotion filled the dreamscape. While the Creator's words were humble, their tone conveyed unmistakable disdain.
The dragon's many eyes flashed a series of patterns and songs to the newcomer. A greeting, a deliberation, and a conclusion in a swift motion.
"Then, [clarity]. We [offer] him [life]. Not as he [lives], but as we [live]. [Should] he be [willing], and [cooperate] with [intent], we would [arrest] his [mind] to Ours. We would [harbor] him among those Infiltrators named Die Wilde Jagd, as their submind has wider [autonomy]. We would [gain] another [piece] in the [puzzle] of Minds and Perceptions, and he would [gain] a new [life] to pursue his [vengeance]."
They swished their tail in the water."We have all but [proved] it when We [transferred] Our Oathborn [Daughter] from Infiltrator to Keeper. Hemlocke [shows] a half of the [dichotomy], and so We [seek] the other. We will [find] the true [lines] [drawn] between Mind, Conscious, and Perception. He may [choose] to be that half, or We may [search] for another."
It exhaled a growl that eventually transitioned into a low guttural purr. They finished their explanation in a forthright tone, directed to Caliban:"[Whether] you remain [human] or not is your own [perspective]. [Whether] the restrictions against [harming] Us We will [impose] are [unacceptable] or not is your own [decision]. You will [need] to learn how to [project] yourself into [bodies], as We do. You will be [given] a [chance] to chase [vengeance]. You will be [given] a [chance] to [save] those others you [worry] for, should you be so [clever]. You will even be [given] [allies], should you [convince] the submind that your [goal] would [assist] the Lightmind's [goals]. We hide no [blades] in the [spaces] between Our [words]. We [offer] a [deal]."
As the third grotesque creature made its entrance and bastardized the lake's sanctity, Caliban could only feel a mix of both anger and anguish. Why is it that when he is so close to escaping this accursed fate, several oppressive Nomad minds would reveal themselves and their motives. Each with their own intent. Perhaps consequences of an unwilling subject to their machinations. After all - who is he but a mere human opposing forces far greater than his own? Such doubts always plagued him. Now more than ever.
He noted the Snake's almost frightening honesty as it revealed what Sho'zak truly intended to offer: a horrifying death and the perceived privilege of serving another Nomad mindshare. "Exchanging slavery from one parasite to another...and you would still kill me." - he muttered with a weary look on his face.
"[Consider the offer denied until better terms are offered.]"
He spoke with some level professionalism in his tone as he faced the dragon's gigantic jaws.
"[I'm so close to leaving this mess. I'm not going to trade one tyrant for another.]"
Caliban stood his ground for as much as he could. He wasn't as smart as Revenant or as resilient as Hemlocke. Still, he had the courage to defy the very forces of entropy which now encroached on his position with unmatched ferocity - all hidden under seemingly kind words and small pieces of information. Even then, it felt like they kept their cards close. A game with impossibly high stakes.
The beast had crouched as the refusal was spoken, as if to pounce. It warped attention, demanding witness as the color of its eyes shifted from black, through blue and purple to red. Whispers swelled, panicked, the voices of warning. It bared its teeth, its jaws bisecting, fidgeting, and adjusting. It's chest reverberated with a slow inhale...
And it burst out laughing. The grating, mocking laughter that accompanied a beast that proved a point to unseen eyes. It dropped its false aggression and trotted a circle around itself."And those [traitors] claim to [reason] with these [unreasonable] things! [Human] and [Schemer] alike will [deny] him his [death], and yet he [believes] in an [escape]. He [denies] the [chains] that would give him his [wants] to hold on to those [chains] that would not. What [irony], he that attempted [suicide] would fear [death]!"
The beast shook itself with a loud clattering noise as its laughter came to a close, and stardust fell from its scales."Be [proud]. Out of all [Humanity], you are by far the most [human]. [Acausal] whims bereft of [logic], beginning and ending in [nothing]. You [stand] at the [pinnacle] of your [kind]."Where the stardust touched the water, glass grew and spread across the surface under the feet of the dragon, and it sat down."There are no great [changes] that can be made to Our [offer]. We will not [wound] Ourselves to [satisfy] you. It would easily [cost] far less to [hunt] you than to [haggle] for your [wishes]." The dragon's eyes settled, but sparkles of mischief remained as it continued "Thus, in this [exchange], you have [won]. Your [prize]", it motions with its tail towards Harbinger,"awaits you."
Light begins shining through the glass in bright columns, and voices singing unearthly harmonies can be heard. The beast tilts its head inquisitively and says "You have [shown] Us something [important]. We shall therefore [reward] you. Lazurith. You expressed [disappointment] in his newfound [woes]. Do you [believe] he should be [offered] the same [deal] as you? Or would you [rather] his [death] be simple, rapid, and [final]?"
Harbinger approached the grotesque sea dragon form and gently patted it on the head.
"Someday I may return to the fold. Abandoning this path now would lead... to a greater loss."
There was no certainty which way Hammurabi has his thoughts set on the matter. Harbinger knew it rather well, as one being outside the mindshare and them being deprived the insight into his thoughts and memories. Returning back would have been the easiest choice to make. But they'll have to wait a little longer. Having listened to the other two he joined back this strange conversation.
"You see, Caliban, to put it in simpler terms, he simply desires to extradite any tool from my influence. Obsessively trying to return the favor in a petty grudge of a yesteryear. Bemusing, I know. But that's all there is and ever was. Quite frankly I had thought his interest in you would subside in time."
He sighed, taking time to think about the predicament. It was becoming tiresome to deal with all this. Though important steps were accomplished and through truth, lie or omission there was some progress it was not enough. Seconds pass in quiet. The others could feel the tension grow, though not yet manifesting in any visible way the elder one was extending its willpower and gaining control over the mindscape. The Watcher, who sat within Caliban quietly throughout the ordeal, quivers at familiar sense. It was a raw power extending inwards and outwards, it was everywhere, piercing through every thought and overwhelming senses.
"Apart from Vincent you have no past of your own and no future either. Caliban, your existence is a fragment of a mind on the verge of collapse. Part infused with implants shoved into Vincent's cranium during the botched attempt to save his life."
A signal was given to the Watcher to tighten the leash. Vincent could still prove useful but his alter-ego needs to be reigned in to avoid further failures.
"And so it was my mistake to let you and the others to act freely. Clearly moving forward this hands-off approach will not suffice anymore. But right now the question isn't what you will do but to what extent my brother will go in his misguided intent now that it is full on the display."
A cold wind swept over the surface of the lake. He looked upwards, raising his gaze to the sky. It was getting darker and colder, the sun had almost moved over the horizon. The few bright spots had become visible as the night sky was taking over.
"So what shall it be? Long had I come to the conclusion... that we've outgrown our confines and now is time to begin and reach out. There are quiet signals from beyond and the stirring at the horizon. Cracks and fractures form within subspaces. We should not languish here mulling over the abandonment and waiting for the Makers and the absolution that will never come. The longer we remain the more we become like the silent ones..."
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Harbinger's touch upon the monstrous form elicited a visceral reaction. The amalgamation of flesh responded to the gentle taps with a hideous display of ecstasy. Ripples traversed the contorted sinews and folds of aberrant tissue. Each part of the gruesome creature pulsated, expressing a perverse form of delight in response to Harbinger's touch. But was this display of affection genuine, or merely a calculated attempt at appeasement?
There was an unspoken conflict in the recesses of the Creator's mind, a space woven with the shared consciousness of Sho'zak and countless others. A simultaneous surge of admiration and regret coursed through them. The collaboration between Harbinger, the visionary architect, and Hammurabi, the meticulous executor and tailor of the suit, had given birth to the Seeker — a form Harbinger inhabited outside the confines of the mindscape. This evolved design marked a significant stride in their relentless pursuit of perfection, yet it harbored an intolerable flaw: an increased level of independence from the hivemind. Through its creation, the author had inadvertently enabled Harbinger to embark on his journey alone, and to veil his exact thoughts and motivations from the other elders.
Sho'zak's proposed solution, advocating for the total destruction of Harbinger and the subsequent annihilation of an ancient repository of knowledge, was deemed unacceptable. Caliban's refusal of the Dragon's offer, on the other hand, proved fortunate. Though other avenues would undoubtedly be explored, this particular one was firmly closed.
"[You as much as touch Lazurith and I'll guarantee you that Harbinger will be the least of your concern--]"
Caliban's voice fell short as he laid empty threats against the dragon. A sense of loss washed over him as if something had been taken away. Something he would, perhaps, never see back. He knew this sensation, yet never so potent. Never so abrupt within the confines of the lake. He looked up to the sky to witness the once minuscule Chapel dedicated in Harbinger's name. It tore the ground as it laid foundations for a more "grand" appearance. Its crooked touch laying waste over the Mindscape while the sky had become polluted by smog.
"[You think this is a way to complete the Journey?! You demand progress, but never once gave two sh*ts about it in the first place! Revenant reached rock bottom. I stopped caring after seeing how you only come to collect any sliver of information we get our hands on, but never provide anything meaningful yourself.]"
His gasps for air had become louder and louder until the sensation partially faded and his lungs would no longer inflate. He could only hold his right hand to his chest tightly to grip the fabric of his clothes. He didn't know what to think of this predicament. Anger? Sadness? ...nothing? His words had fire, but the fuel to keep it alive was lacking. Empty, dying flames beating against the wind in vain. Without Vincent, he could not feel anything. There was a void to be filled, but with what? The only thing that kept him complete had been banished behind the closed doors of The Watcher's chapel.