Chapter 57: Consumer-Class Entity

Subject: Caim Location: Vera's Domain

Some parts of Caim’s life story fit like a glove. He sunk into the depths and dredged up the relevant memories with ease.

Other details, however, did not sit well in his mind. Whether it was because he didn’t want to accept them or because they conflicted with his new identity, he couldn’t be sure.

“I was a student when Isaac Acord, my best friend, asked for help on a small project,” he mumbled. “He’d found this thing, this tool, and he had ideas for how he wanted to use it. Isaac was the ambitious one.”

It was neither a compliment nor an insult to his best friend. It was just a fact. It might have been a compliment, had things not turned out the way they did.

But a student where? Studying what? “Information technology” was the phrase that came to mind, but all that it meant was another matter.

This was why I could use the Infoboard at the Guild like that. I’ve worked with things like that before. I felt it then, but I guess my past experiences ran even deeper.

Swimming in this sea of information, Caim didn’t feel the urge to continue walking closer to Vera. This was enough for now.

“I had already been watching that child of the wealthy Acord family for some time, and I already believed he was a good choice. I wanted to see what he would do,” Vera ruminated.

“You gave him that thing. You made it. I remember you telling me that. Before that, I had no choice but to believe his story, but I was unable to rid myself of the suspicion that he stole it from one of his family’s business partners. I helped him anyway.”

It’s in the past, don’t get hung up on meaningless details.

He wanted to believe she was wholly responsible, but that was just his guilty conscience speaking.

“Our engineers made it,” Vera corrected. “But yes, it was our technology. Isaac thought he’d salvaged it from a forgotten warehouse lab, set to be cleansed and repurposed by his family. He would collect junk from these sad places. That human was always looking for something or someone overlooked.”

That so-called piece of “sourcetech” gave ARC the power to hijack, surveil, communicate, manipulate… everything.

“And because it was so advanced, no one knew we were even doing it. We wanted to help people, and we had the capability to find those people without making waves.”

“I know more human expressions now, especially those specific to your language. You made plenty of waves once you got a taste for power, just as I expected of that boy. I remember better than you how things turned out.”

She was right. ARC started small, but they were all kids. Caim was still fairly young, but there was a world of experience between him and his past self. They just didn’t have the capacity to understand how interconnected everything was. Every action had a reaction, It got out of hand fast.

“I remembered some of it, but the rest feels weird. For example… I know we were against violence, and we only recruited those who also disliked conflict, but I’m pretty sure we started a war...”

The freshly awakened guilt hurt like needles in his brain and warm ash in his lungs.

“That you did. It doesn’t matter so much what you meant to do, you have to accept the result. And you did, but then you specifically just gave up. Wallowing in self-pity, you threw away that chance to make a difference. The others kept trying.”

“That tool only made things worse for everyone. We didn’t know what we were doing and we shouldn't have ever fallen for your trap.”

Vera was like one of those mythological creatures that made deals with mortals, a price in every contract.

“It wasn’t a trap. I didn’t know what would happen either. I gave you the power to use how you wanted. You all taught me many things.”

It seemed like she was telling the truth. Yet, they hadn’t been a part of The Experiment yet. This was only Vera learning from their actions. It didn’t feel good to be used like that.

“You gave us a tool, and then we gave tools to…”

“Yes. You shared the power, but you were too trusting. You expected people to use it as you would, but these weren’t sheltered students. Those people were suffering all their lives.”

“Most of the other refugees were against taking action like that! We did our research.”

“Yes, but most of them allowed it to happen. You aren’t innocent if you know you’re harboring terrorists and you don’t do a thing. Most of your kin kept to themselves, wearing clothes made by captive laborers, using technology made by indentured workers one rung above that. Everyone thinks about themselves and maybe a handful of others…”

Vera’s body stood still, suppressing her emotions now. Why was she acting like this?

“And you, you can’t expect to have perfect information… ever,” she added. “Be grateful you learned this lesson on a small scale.”

“A small scale?! An entire continent I’d never even been to was gone in less than a week.”

Actually, this was probably the first time he’d traveled anywhere. In that way, the freedom to go where he pleased felt incredibly liberating… It was also frightening.

“Oh, the continent was very much still there. You’ve been living a more primitive life lately. I found that out when I looked into some things. You should know that electricity and other amenities aren’t essential to sustaining life. There are other ways to get by.”

“Other ways… What happened to Isaac and the others after I left?”

Caim remembered his friend fondly, but he had the sinking suspicion there was more he couldn’t remember. They didn’t leave on bad terms, but there was the guilt that he was abandoning someone he thought of like a brother.

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“Why didn’t you pick him? Shouldn’t he have been your choice before me? Everything you’ve told me points to that. I don’t understand why you chose me. I’m not as smart as Isaac or most of the others we picked up. I’m somewhat ambitious, but it pales in comparison to him. I... stagnated.”

He died. ARC must have been discovered. Even with the sourcetech device’s protection, the risks they were taking were immense.

“He was my choice, and then... he wasn’t. You were just a backup. I didn’t really choose you so much as I attempted to salvage a disappointing investment. You’re right that you are inferior in almost every way to him.”

Even though he knew it was true, the words still hurt.

“He didn’t die, but- Well, do you remember what I told you happened?”

Maybe she was willing to tell him after all.

Caim couldn’t really remember. For some reason, trying to think about it triggered thoughts of The Blight instead. Not the blightbeasts, but the general feeling he got when he entered festerfont territory.

Then, more memories surfaced and more grey glyphs littered the ground. They hadn’t been spreading for some time, so Caim had actually forgotten all about them.

“Do you see those things on the ground?” he asked, pointing to a cluster of glyphs.

Vera looked in the direction he was pointing and a small portion of the marks vanished, still leaving enough to be noticeable.

“Focus, Caim. We don’t have time for this.”

“I don’t remember, but you decided he was dangerous. And there was something about some kind of creature.”

Vera walked forward to where he stood. He thought about shying away, but he didn’t. Magenta light leaked from her eyes, wavering in the still air. Her lips pressed together in a serious expression, she looked away, and then she stepped closer to grab Caim’s shoulders.

He could feel her hands touching him. Though the grip was gentle, it actually felt like she was really here with him wherever this was.

“Not just a creature, you blissfully ignorant human. A consumer-class entity. We witnessed its genesis. The mandate is to fully withdraw whenever one of them is detected. Fortunately, our business on the planet had almost concluded and we remained unaffected.”

Vera’s kin were afraid of this thing? Just what was it? Caim couldn’t imagine what could possibly make a being like her feel genuine fear.

She went on.

“Your primitive language is capable of conveying this fundamental concept: ‘ceaseless hunger’. Some factions still think they can control them, but our leader assures us it is a fool’s errand.”

“Is this creature somehow related to The Blight? Oh, you probably don’t know-”

“I know the broken toy of which you are describing,” she interrupted.

Vera released her grip and stepped back. She’d calmed down.

“Don’t play with that thing, Caim.”

“What do you mean? It’s spreading and I’m the one down here on the planet, while you’re safe… wherever you are.”

She had the freedom to detach herself emotionally when he was the only one taking any real risks. Death was a very real danger for him, and…

I’m not even sure she can even die.

“It’s dangerous, but it probably only seems like it is spreading fast because you’ve never seen anything like it. I assure you, it is as safe as a slow-burning fire. Oh! That’s what I should have said, right? ‘Don’t play with fire.’”

She grinned innocently, a flicker of warm blue happiness in her eyes.

Was The Blight really not a concern? Everyone was saying it was getting worse. Well, the seekers and The Guild were the ones talking like that. Other people seemed to avoid it and go about their day.

“You’re the one that gave me that lagging power. I need to take small risks if I’m going to protect myself. I have plans and I’ve met-”

“I can’t control you and I wouldn’t want to if I could. Just take my words as the advice of someone with a broader perspective.”

Glyphs encircled the space where Vera was standing and her body froze in place for a moment. But, before long, she was moving again.

“Come to think of it, what were you doing in that fight? That sourcetech ability routine wasn’t among those I approved. I don’t even have data on it in the log. I just glanced at my data and it doesn’t make sense.”

“Legion? I don’t know much about it. I asked you for-”

Caim started to explain, but then he remembered the promise he’d made and shut his mouth. If Vera didn’t know, it was better for him. Unfortunately, she was already looking through the “logs”, whatever they were.

“This is concerning. I didn’t authorize that sourcetech routine in my final designs, and it isn’t even one of my designs. I don’t see the access log of anyone else clearing it either, not even the faintest imprint. What did you do?”

“When I woke up, I felt strange. Skip ahead to my meeting someone I absolutely needed dead, and I asked you for a stronger spell. More powerful sourcetech, I mean. I’d forgotten so many things but I remembered you.”

Vera, who’d been distracted, apparently multitasking, looked up.

“I’m flattered,” she said.

Her tone was emotionless, but she hesitated before refocusing on her other activities.

“Don’t let it go to your head,” he replied, affecting the same variety of detached concern, despite having nothing else to do but continue the conversation. “You know I’m not complimenting your genius. Your system gave me Legion. If the system malfunctioned, you can only blame yourself.”

“The day I let you start lecturing me on responsibility is the day I blame myself for whatever you choose to do. The people you’ve killed since I sent you off are partially the result of my actions, but it won’t break me. Remember, I’m not human. I have the freedom to look beyond your small field of vision.”

“I haven’t killed anyone.”

“Really? The way you were getting along with that dangerous native, the one you were so desperate to kill, I could have never guessed that. Well, it’s a little early to rule anything out.”

“Fair point, but I think I might have jumped to conclusions with that one. I need to learn more before I do anything, but I won’t be sitting around waiting for something to happen.”

Vera raised an eyebrow at Caim in surprise.

“I think you’ve grown. Anyway, that man isn’t behaving like someone trying to kill you. He was curious, possibly a little possessive, frightened, and saddened. These are emotions I have been learning to detect better. To tell the truth, I can understand his biology better than yours.”

“And I’m starting to think that I should have died back home, with my family in ARC. But I didn’t die, and I think I’m gradually gaining a new family. If I live, I want to protect them.”

“Death is tragic and all, but I can do you one worse. I think you are misunderstanding something about your typical consumer species. Typical in those that survive, at least.”

He waited for her to go on, but she didn’t. When Vera didn’t want to say something, he’d have better luck trying a different angle.

“Why would it be that you understand my opponent’s biology better?”

“You are of the Pulse blindspot. You do not use magic. Your physiology evolved without Pulse’s influence. You look mostly the same on the outside, a condition for your selection, probably, but you’ll find the rest is a little different. It shouldn’t be much of a problem.”

I’ve asked her about Pulse before, but she didn’t answer. Somehow, I feel like I know. It refers to the nebulous concept of the unknown. It relates to magic, chance, and the very nature of reality. You can use the term to refer to just about anything and it will apply in some shape or form. Why do I know this?

“You don’t think it’s a problem when a doctor doesn’t know how to save my life?”

“Magic should be fine for simple injuries. Depending on how primitive the environment is… you might have to rely on the sourcetech I gave you. Your second or third routine should have included something like that. Besides, how many mundane doctors have you encountered since leaving home anyway?”

He kept silent and she nodded, her point proven.

She seemed to be implying that his home was the exception, not the norm when it came to technological advancements and perceived uniformity of that technology. Caim always thought Shroud had gadgets and artifacts that didn’t belong in the same place.

“Magic is 'the great equalizer'. We don’t even know what we’ve taken for granted until we can’t use it. In my case, I’m describing sourcetech. Let it do the heavy lifting for you, and compensate for anything else. Oh, but don’t waste time trying to learn magic yourself. You’re impatient, so you’re better off using the sourcetech interface I granted you.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve been using magic ever since you gave it to me. Your sourcetech lets me use it… right?”

“That is not magic,” she corrected, somewhat irritated. “I only designed the system that you use to develop and manage your sourcetech powers. The difference is hard to explain, but the magic of those creatures is much more primitive and wild. Try not to rely on it too much if you can help it. Magic is not the same as sourcetech, though you can reduce them and point to certain similarities.”

“Is this why they can’t detect my... sourcetech? I know people can see it, but some of them seem pretty surprised whenever I… How do I say ‘use my sourcetech’?”

Vera’s lips curled upward in slight amusement. It looked like she was taking a little pity on him. She saw that he was trying to understand, but he didn’t like being talked down to by someone so irresponsible. Or maybe it was just that she didn’t care so much about the troubles of lesser creatures.

Something moved in the border of Caim’s visual field and he turned his head slightly to witness flat tendrils of deep purple winding their way from where he stood toward Vera. She couldn’t see them, so he considered that this might just be a natural sight in this place.

“I suppose I acted a little prideful and pedantic, from your perspective. You may call it magic if that’s easier. The way you might describe it in your language is: ‘I activated a sourcetech routine’. You may say: ‘I cast a spell’, if it’s easier.”

She shifted in place slightly.

“Those creatures around you have difficulty sensing it, but it can be detected. You only need to know what to look for,” Vera explained. “Describe what this Legion was like. I need to know how to fix this glitch in my system, if there even is one.”

Caim tried to remember what the sourcetech routine was like, how it felt to control a Shard of Legion. It felt similar to the other routines but more visceral and more powerful. Rather than locking functionality behind Vera’s usual hoops and hurdles, he could do so much with it from the start.

He began explaining this to Vera, starting with the first conjuring and ending with defeat at the hands of the Hexknight. At least, he tried to explain it all, but the pounding in his head came back.

Vision blurring, Caim collapsed. He heard Vera rushing over. He could feel her hands tracing his spine. The meld of organic and synthetic matter tingled.

He couldn’t do anything to stop her, but he didn’t want to. He just wanted the pain to go away. Already, Caim could feel the gap between his two lives, one much shorter than the other, tearing his sanity at the seams. If Vera could stop it, he’d let her.

Hands at his neck, she fastened something around it. He could feel it tighten, a slight vibration, and then nothing abnormal. The pain was gone too.

“What did you just do?”

“I reconfigured the SLATE. It will be easier for me to monitor you as it is now. Now, you won’t have to carry anything around with you. It will always be close, safely around your neck. It should lessen symptoms for now, and might even completely eliminate them for a time.”