Chapter 2 – Echoes of the past

512 A.R. February 8, Pasloe – Allen’s House, Early Morning

There was a slam which sounded like the door of a car being shut. It stirred my mind, and I awoke to the feeling of being surrounded by fluffy pillows. Something was on my tongue, and as I pulled it back into my muzzle I could feel the presence of fur.

I blinked carefully, still felt a bit hazy, and saw what looked like a forest of gray fur. John seemed to have thrown his arm over my head, and my nose was almost poking into his armpit. Someone else stirred in the pile, and I felt claws brush along my midsection.

It felt like we were a tangled bundle. Warm, soft, and surrounded by rich scents. Someone drew a deep breath, and a snout nuzzled my chest. I tried to glance down, and could see that Allen was still cradled in my embrace.

It was a nice morning.

Allen stirred as he lifted his head, and managed to make eye contact with me. It made his ears wiggle a little, while his lips curled back in a smile of sorts.

John stirred moments later, and with a soft grunt he pulled his arm away from my head.

“No… touching,” John mumbled as if he was still dreaming, and reached down as he grabbed something.

I could feel Allen shiver a little as his eyes went wide.

“Wrong… uh, tail,” John said with another dazed mumble.

I stifled a chuckle while Allen pulled his tail out of the way, and then began to ease himself into a sitting position.

“Morning,” I said.

Allen stretched his arms, and yawned by opening his muzzle to a point where I could see his gullet, “M- morning.”

“Do we have to get up?” Peter mumbled into my neck.

*Creak!*

The noise came from behind us, and I turned my head to glance back. The door to the room had opened a little, and from the darkness of the hallway outside, two golden eyes peered into the room. Our eyes met, and then the door shut once more.

Gulp…

“Hrrn?” Allen murmured in confusion.

I glanced over at him, “I think your parents are home, and they just sneaked a glance at us.”

Allen shut his eyes, and his shoulders slumped with a groan.

Can’t say I feel like it, but I should probably say hello…

Carefully, I eased my way out of our pile, and looked around in search of my uniform. The pizza boxes were still spread about, as were a few scraps. It looked like a mess, and our appearance probably didn’t help either.

I stepped up to the nearest uniform, and picked it up. A quick sniff revealed it to be Allen’s uniform, so I looked back, handed it over, and moved up to the next.

This one’s mine… A bit bigger than the others, and oozing my scent...

I held up the uniform, and eased my paws inside one at a time. Once done I pulled it up over my crotch, and made a quick adjustment to keep the fur out of the zipper. With uniform hanging onto me, I widened the gap in the back, curled the tail up, and wedged it through the hole. It took a few moments of fiddling to properly get it into place, and then I slipped my arms through the top.

Once tiptoeing over the others I pulled up the rest of the zipper, and glanced back, “Help Allen clean up, will you.”

“Yes, Boss,” John murmured, and waved his hand.

I opened the door, slipped out, and shut it once more. Hushed voices were coming from downstairs, and for a moment I cocked my head to listen. To my relief, there was a bit of chuckling involved, rather than anger.

I made my way to the stairs, descended, and made my way to an entrance beyond the living room. It looked like a kitchen, and I knocked on the wall before stepping into view.

Peering into the kitchen revealed a pair of wolves sitting by a kitchen island. The male of the two was a little stockier, had gray fur like John, and was already looking at me with a pair of golden yellow eyes. He was dressed in a black suit, and a pair of fine trousers with the same color.

Allen’s dad… I remember seeing him once before, Raul...

Sitting next to him was Allen’s mother. She had a gentler curve to her snout, had similar colors as her mate, and was dressed in what looked like a greenish-blue business suit. I could feel her gaze travel down and up my body, and couldn’t help but wonder if I should have groomed myself before walking up here.

“Please excuse the intrusion to your home,” I said, and added a nod in their direction.

As I looked up, Allen’s mother had grown a subtle smile, and tipped her head at me.

“You’re excused,” Raul said.

A good start, I guess…

Allen’s mother stood up from the chair, and glanced over at her mate, “No need to be so stiff,” she then looked over at me, “You’re welcome here, Vilkas, as are the rest of you.”

“Thank you,” I said, and made another nod, as she approached.

As I watched she stepped up in front of me, and I couldn’t help but lean back a little, as I saw her sniff at the air, “You smell like your father.”

I blinked in surprise, “… Thanks.”

She then reached up with her hand, and caught something along my cheek. As she pulled her hand back, I could see what looked like a small piece of cheese.

Yeah, definitely should have cleaned up before coming down here…

“Sorry about that,” I whispered.

She smiled a little, and walked over to the sink, “I’m Annette, and this is my mate Raul.”

“Pleased to meet both of you,” I said.

“So, did you have fun?” Annette asked as she walked over to a cupboard, and opened it.

“It was an eventful day, and a fun evening,” I said.

Raul observed in silence, while Annette leaned back from the cupboard, and focused on me, “Tell me, Vilkas... Are you one for tea, or coffee?”

I smiled back, “Tea will be fine, John drinks coffee, and Peter has no preference… If you intend to share with everyone, that is.”

Annette brought out two small containers, and brought them over to a machine on the counter, “And Allen?”

It took me a moment to grasp what she’d said, “… I don’t know, to be honest.”

Annette opened the coffee machine, and got to work as she started talking, “Allen’s always been a private person who doesn’t share his thoughts… Even with us. Tell me, is he…”

Raul stood up, and walked away, which caused Annette to stop talking for a moment.

As he left the room, Annette turned to focus on me once more, “Is he doing well?”

I nodded, “He is, and we all care about him a great deal.”

Annette smiled to herself and nodded as she looked back at the machine, and pushed a button, “I’m happy to hear that, any preference when it comes to tea?”

“Gunpowder?” I asked.

She looked back at me, and her ears perked with a smile, “Good choice.”

The sound of claws clicking along the floor made me glance back, and I could see the others heading down the stairs.

I looked back toward Annette, and saw her motion to the room next to the kitchen, “Sit, and I’ll prepare breakfast for you all.”

512 A.R. February 8, Pasloe – Allen’s House, Morning

I brought the cup to my muzzle, and took a sip.

Gunpowder… A strong tea, if a bit earthy…

It was good, but the atmosphere at the table felt a bit subdued as I looked around.

A lot of things were left unresolved since yesterday…

“John,” I said and looked over at him.

John stopped in his tracks, just as he was about to bite into a sandwich, “Yeah?”

“What happened yesterday, after you were dropped off?” I asked.

John bit into the sandwich, lowered his gaze to the table, and seemed to think as he chewed. After a few moments he swallowed, and looked up at the rest of us, “Well… Ares basically told me to walk along the street and keep my eye out for something suspicious, so I did.”

“And?” I asked.

“Well, the place was something like a graveyard… deserted and silent. So when I heard voices coming from behind a bunch of bushes I couldn’t help but sneak a look. There was a guy with a hoodie, meeting a bunch of people, and they were making some kind of deal behind a house. They-” John stopped talking for a moment, and blinked, “We forgot the package in the car yesterday.”

I shook my head, “Ares took care of the car, and the package is in safe hands.”

“But we didn’t find out what was-”

I raised my hand and interrupted him, “It was a bunch of glass bottles containing a drug called Reventrol. We use small doses to treat humans with different forms of PTSD. Unfortunately large doses are rather pleasant, and misuse will eventually cause you to become a psychopath.”

Peter leaned over the table, and looked at me, “… Psychopaths?”

I motioned to my head, “It burns out parts of the brain, notable those used to empathize with others.”

“Well damn,” Peter whispered.

I nodded, and then focused on John, “Continue, what happened next?”

“Well, the guy with the hoodie handed over a bag, and received a package in return. He then walked off, and Ares told me to stop him for an inspection.”

My ears perked, “Oh?”

John tipped his head, and scratched the thick fur along his neck, “I circled the property to avoid the group, and caught the guy by surprise as he turned a corner. I didn’t even have time to even speak up before the guy was bolting the other way.”

Peter looked over at John, and smirked, “Too quick for ya?”

John threw Peter a glance, and huffed, “I caught him quickly enough, wrestled him to the ground, and grabbed the package. The guy was screaming bloody murder, and the group by the house noticed.”

“I suspect a tactical retreat,” I said.

John nodded, “Ares advised me to do that, yeah… and those folks didn’t exactly look friendly. Anyway, I lost them pretty quickly, or that’s what I thought. More and more people started pouring out onto the street, and it felt as if the whole neighborhood was waking up to hunt me. You only saw a couple of them, but that’s because I had just jumped a few fences.”

“And then the car pulled up, and you jumped in,” I said.

John nodded in silence.

I looked over at Peter, “Your turn.”

Peter idly chewed his sandwich for a few moments, and swallowed, “I walked around, people stared from their windows, and nothing happened… After a while Ares contacted me and ordered me to run to the Bonaparte. So I ran, and encountered a group of humans with a bunch of makeshift weapons… Had to take a detour around that, and got stuck behind the droids that were marching into the plaza. Once everything cleared and I was finally allowed to rush in, it was over.”

Sounds a bit disappointed…

I nodded, and looked toward Allen, “And you, Allen.”

Allen was idly stirring his cup of tea and he seemed to be staring into its depths, “It’s a bit like John’s experience. You dropped me off near the plaza, and I started to walk around.”

Allen’s looked up, and his gaze wandered as he seemed to think back, “There were a lot of people around, humans that is. A few of them shouted mean things, and wanted me to leave.”

I nodded, but stayed silent.

“Ares contacted me after a while, and well… He convinced me to go for a snack at the Bonaparte.”

Peter raised his brow, “Ares convinced you to go for a snack, in the human district, at a cafe?”

Allen clasped his hands, and seemed to ponder it himself, “… Yeah.”

John leaned over the table and looked at Allen as he raised his brow, “Okay, so who are you, and what have you done with Allen?”

Allen chuckled a little, and lowered his head with a curious smile that made his fangs show, “It took some convincing, but it was fun.”

“Fun?” Peter said, and chuckled.

Allen shrugged, and drew a deep breath as he looked up toward me.

I nodded at him, and then motioned with my hand, “So what happened next?”

“Have you ever seen one of those old movies? With guys riding around in a desert, shooting at stuff, and then they walk into a bar?” Allen asked.

“Yeah, I think they call it a ‘Western’,” I said.

John grew a sly grin as he twisted his voice, “Ya mean when everyone turns to look at the stranger, dead silent, and someone spits on the floor?”

Allen’s nodded, “Yeah, like that, but without the spitting. Anyhow… I walked up to the counter, and I had no idea what to do… or what Ares wanted me to accomplish, but…”

“But?” I asked.

Allen gulped, “I looked at the menu, was about to order, and then people began to move. They blocked the exit, and a whole group started walking toward me. I just faced them at first, but as the knives started coming out I started jumping across tables… Hell, I even swung myself across half the cafe by grabbing hold of a hanging light…”

“There needs to be a video of this,” John whispered.

“Sounds like you had fun,” I mused.

Allen glanced at me, now smirking as his tail wagged, “It was a bit fun at first, then I was just scared. Felt as if my heart was going to jump out of my throat…”

Compared to Athena, Ares methods seem loose and dangerous...

“And then?” I asked.

“Ares told me to keep moving, and said that you were just moments away, which turned out to be the truth, and you know the rest,” Allen said.

John motioned with his hands toward the rest of us, “So what was all this about? Because this seems more like a major operation than putting a pack through the paces.”

I looked over at John, “The sect which was being led Hedwig basically collapsed as they migrated into the wastes, and it left a power vacuum that another group is capitalizing on. They call themselves the Luminaire, and I’m not sure why, but they’re trying to distribute the drug we found among as many humans as they can. The Steamin Bonaparte was one of those operations, and they served it in the coffee.”

John tipped his head, pondered it for a moment, “So we were what? Bait?”

I sighed, and nodded, “Yes, on the positive side I think we made excellent bait.”

Allen chuckled, “Stir the nest, see what moves.”

“Exactly, so-”

John interrupted me, “So is this our mission? We can keep working on it and track down these assholes?”

Always eager to get into the action…

I looked over at John, “Not at first, but soon...”

“What do you mean?” John asked.

“Hold that thought for a moment,” I said, and then looked toward the others, “This is a question for everyone. Do we want to do this, join the defense force, and work like this?”

Peter glanced around, “It beats sitting at home, and we’ll be together as a pack. So, yeah.”

Allen was silent at first, and then tipped his head, “It was an interesting experience, and I’m curious to see what all this is about.”

I looked back at John, who now stared at me intently, “Do I need to ask?”

John grew a big wolfish grin, “When are we leaving?”

“When we’ve had some more training. Ares will be contacting you regarding it, and you’ll be joining a training camp.”

Peter’s ears perked, “Not what I expected given what we’ve been through so far, but fine… But you’re coming along, right?”

I propped up my arm against the table, and leaned onto my hand, “I’ve got a meeting… Apparently someone or something wants to discuss all the stuff that’s been going on lately.”

“But you’ll join us when you’re done?” Peter asked.

I smiled back, “I will, otherwise I guess you’ll just have to bail me out of the capital.”

512 A.R. February 8, Pasloe – Allen’s House, Midday

It took some pushing, but with a pop my paw slid into the boot once more. A shadow soon moved over me, and as I looked up I could see Allen looming next to me.

“Hmm?” I murmured.

“I need some air, do you mind if I tag along?” Allen asked, and tipped his head a little.

“Wasn’t Ares transport arriving in the hour?” I asked.

Allen rolled his thumbs and glanced at the wall, “It is, but that’s plenty of time.”

I stepped up to the door, and touched the handle, “All right, I don’t mind…”

Allen smiled back as I opened the door, and stepped out to hold it open. He marched out, tail wagging, and I couldn’t help but glance at his backside as I shut the door. I joined his side as we started walking, and expected him to start talking at any moment.

That didn’t happen, and minutes passed as we kept walking. To my surprise the sun was strong enough that I could feel its heat radiate through the fur on my face, it made me look toward it, and I shut my eyes to enjoy the moment.

For a few moments there was peace, and then I felt the presence of something that had bothered me for a while. A dull headache in the back of my mind, and a murmur around me. Voices that whispered, and some that screeched like claws on a chalkboard.

It made me frown to myself, and I opened my eyes once more. My gaze wandered, and it caught on the moon. The sun made it seem murky, but one could still see Moonbase Alpha and its crystal palace. Trails could be seen in the distant horizon, and a rocket could be seen climbing into the sky.

One has to wonder what the human nations think of it…

An odd feeling made me glance to the side, and revealed that Allen was now looking at me.

“Yes?” I wondered.

Allen drew a deep breath, and looked in front. It made me raise my brow, and for a moment I had the sudden urge to reach out and grab his tail.

“Athena talks to me sometimes,” Allen said without warning.

“Oh?” I said, and felt my ears perk.

Allen idly scratched his chin, “She says I’m resisting… That I’m fighting my own body.”

“… There is some truth to that,” I said.

Allen glanced over at me, “… I’m not sure how to deal with this.”

“Go on?” I said.

Allen looked at me, and for a moment it seemed as if he was angry at me.

Wrong thing to say?

“… Is this about the pizza, or Ares and the Bonaparte?” I asked.

Allen shrugged, and tipped his head back and forth, “A bit of everything.”

I motioned at him, “If you want to speak your thoughts, I’ll listen.”

Allen’s ears flattened, “Do you have any idea how it feels when you give orders to us?”

I leaned back a little, “… Peter was Alpha before me, so… Yeah.”

“Describe it?” Allen asked and looked at me.

“Mostly it was annoying, a hint of anger and frustration. Though, there was a bit of… well, let’s call it a desire to abide,” I said.

Allen seemed a bit stumped as he squinted while looking at me, and then his ears perked up as he looked away, “Peter was never a good Alpha, and he needed to be replaced, so we all felt something like that…”

“So,” I whispered.

“Argh,” Allen groaned a little, and rustled his body in annoyance as he looked back at me, “You’re different than Peter, Vilkas. You changed, you’re bigger than us, your scent changed, even your fur is a bit different… You ‘became’ our Alpha.”

I sighed a little, and raised my brow, “Yes, I’ve noticed.”

Once more, Allen’s ears flattened, and his shoulders slumped, “When you order us around I can feel my heart thumping, and there’s a pressure inside my chest. It’s as if something comes to life in the back of my head. At first, it scared the shit out of me, because it felt as if there was something taking me over from within. But Athena says it isn’t like that… She says the symbiont is just breaking down the barriers to what I actually want, but that… That’s just…”

“That’s just as scary… To have someone telling you that you’re changing for the better, as if you’re supposed to just trust it,” I said.

Allen opened his muzzle, hesitated for a few moments, and then nodded, “Yeah… It’s something I’m struggling with, and it’s getting worse. I feel new things when I’m around my parents, whenever I’m near you, or the others… when I lay by myself at night, feeling lonely. I’m angry… I’m sad… I’m confused. I feel like parts of me are being torn apart.”

I watched him in silence as he spoke, and gesticulated with his hands. He then stopped, and looked up at me again.

“I… don’t know who to talk with, at the same time I don’t want you to think that…” Allen’s voice trailed off.

“Think what?” I asked.

“That I’m unstable… or pathetic, and weak, and...” Allen looked in front, and shoved his hands into his pockets, while his ears clamped against his head.

“I don’t think that, Allen. I promise,” I said.

Allen kept staring ahead, but nodded slowly, “I… I know that. I can feel that, but I can also sense that you’re worried about me.”

“Ah...” I said.

Allen grew silent, and looked in front.

I reached out my hand, and put it on his head. He squirmed for a moment, but then let it stay as I rubbed the soft fur between his ears, “Allen, about your parents...”

Allen eased out of my grip, “What about them?”

“… Are you fighting? Is there...”

“No… We’re not, they’re just… disappointed, I guess,” Allen whispered.

“… Why would they be disappointed?” I asked.

Allen frowned as he fixated on me with a stare, “My parents have always been kind to me, but deep down they’ve always longed to have their pup. A wolf, not an awkward human that they need to be treated like porcelain… and now, when they finally get their pup, it turns out I’m mostly the same as I always was. That is why they’re disappointed.”

“I would suspect that this is a problem in our society, but… that’s not the impression I got when I spoke to your mother this morning,” I said.

Allen knit his fist, and I could see his lips twitch with a sudden anger. He stayed silent though, even if he kept staring at me.

I softened my tone, “When I spoke to her, she seemed sad, not disappointed… Saddened that you don’t open up to them.”

His expression shifted, between anger as his hackles flared, and pain that made it seem as if he shrank down a little. After a few moments of it, he looked away.

I drew a deep breath, pondered for a few moments, and then began to speak.

“Listen… I don’t know your parents, and to be honest I don’t even know you well enough to try and understand your life. But I do know a thing or two about doubt, fear, and mistrust. Sometimes it’s rational, sometimes it isn’t, and sometimes it’s a mix of everything. You feel like an outsider as a human, you know that your friends tend to disappear as they get a symbiont, and you can’t help but wonder who you are in a world like this. At some point you wish for someone else to take over your life, and in the next it’s the thing that scares you most. Then there’s the anger that makes you wonder whether others actually care about your life, or the potential that you might have as a hybrid.”

Allen’s ear was perked in my direction, but his gaze remained elsewhere.

“Maybe your parents should and could have acted differently as you grew up, maybe the same applies to you, or both of you for that matter. But even if it hurts the past is in the past, and the only way move forward is to consider the present, and then take steps to deal with it.”

“And how do I do that?” Allen whispered, and glanced over, while his gaze still stayed low.

“This might seem ridiculous, but when is the last time you spent some time with your parents?”

Allen reached up to scratch at his ear, and mumbled, “I see them all the time…”

“You know what I mean, Allen. Something more, deeper… When is the last time you looked into your father’s eyes and smiled, or gave your mom a hug? You know, something to broach the divide between you.”

Allen’s muzzle wavered, and after a few moments he shrugged, “I… I don’t know. I don’t like to be touched…”

“Oh?” I whispered.

Allen looked back at me, and the anger seemed to have drained, “I didn’t mean like… I meant…”

You have changed, Allen… Probably more than you think…

“You don’t mind being intimate with us?” I asked.

Allen’s ears flickered, and his tail lashed as if he just blushed, “That’s… different.”

I leaned closer to him, “We’ll be out of town after this, and you won’t see your parents for quite a while. I’m not saying that something like this will resolve itself overnight, but consider doing something, a gesture, something to strike a new path forward.”

Allen drew a deep breath, and sighed, “… Like what?”

“Surprise me,” I said.

“… Is that an order?” Allen said and looked up to meet my gaze.

I smiled back, and shook my head, “No, it isn’t.”

Allen made a somewhat annoyed sigh as his shoulders slouched, “… I’ll try, okay?”

I nodded, and smiled, “That’s just fine, Allen.”

512 A.R. February 8, Train, Afternoon

The capital...

There was something of a rumble as the train shifted from travel in a vacuum to regular air. It forced the train to slow down, and the lights within the cabin grew brighter in preparation of what was to come.

I kept my eyes glued on the window, and waited. A sudden flare of light followed, and the world opened up to reveal what looked like a massive crater in the landscape. Set within the center of the crater was a towering city which was surrounded by walls of varying heights.

The train was traveling on the rim of the crater… The same rim that had acted as a natural barrier against the monstrosities that now ruled Earth. Those monsters, the Lusus, had since long been banished from the island, but the rest of the planet was still infested.

Veripolis, the first city of Sophos, settled 800 years…

I was reminded of a time-lapse I had seen in school. At first the city had been little more than a set of makeshift walls and a camp, but for each year that passed it grew, and changed. Walls were replaced, and steadily grew outward as more of the crater was claimed.

A hundred years later, the city had come to take on the appearance of a twisting factory, desperately trying to feed the needs of a budding nation.

Soon enough the city had expended its local resources, and a renaissance was spurred into action. The city spread outward in every direction as it secured more space and materials. Technologies of old were rediscovered, and new fields of science were developed as hybrids began to tap into the power of symbionts.

With time Veripolis shifted its purpose from an industrial hub, to that of an administrative center.

To this day, it still served that purpose, and the factories along with its twisting infrastructure had since long been replaced by gleaming glass and plasteel that reached toward the sky.

Without warning the view disappeared, and the train had entered the tunnel once more.

512 A.R. February 8, Veripolis – Central Tower, Evening

I stepped off the train, adjusted my backpack, and glanced back as the doors closed. Moments later the train began to move once more, picked up pace, and disappeared into the tunnels beyond.

As I looked back in front I could see large empty spaces, pillars of marble, and a central column that was dotted with elevators of various sizes. While strangely pretty, if seemed as if the station was utterly deserted.

How strange… This is supposed to be one of the central towers in Veripolis…

I looked around in wonder of where everyone could be, when the floor suddenly lit up. A green line flowed from the spot I was standing on, and stretched toward the central column before entering one of the elevators.

I began to smile to myself, and lifted my gaze toward the ceiling as I began to walk, “Athena, was that you?”

A sensation washed over me. It felt as if the hand of a ghost had just brushed past the fur on my head, and now loomed above me. It tingled in my fur, and I heard a voice emanate from the ceiling.

“It’s me, just offering a guiding hand,” Athena said, with a feminine and rather cool if distant voice.

“It’s nice to hear your voice again,” I said.

“So close, yet so far,” Athena said as if pondering something.

“Excuse me?” I said, and slowed down.

“Focus, not with your ears, but with your mind,” Athena whispered from above, while that ghostly touch brushed past my mind once more.

I stopped walking, and shut my eyes. The presence remained, nudging my mind somehow from above. It made me frown as I felt it dig into my brain, and then there was a pop. The noise and pressure became like a void, and a voice soon followed.

‘Can you hear me now?’ Athena whispered.

‘Yes,’ I thought.

‘Good… Speaking with you using sound was starting to become annoying,’ Athena said.

‘This… I still have the communicator on my shoulder, but it’s not active,’ I thought.

‘Your body has matured to a point where wireless communication shouldn’t be a problem, at least not over short ranges,’ Athena answered.

‘I see,’ I thought.

‘You do seem to have a lot of control over your thoughts, but I assume that’s due to your… other self,’ Athena mused as if peering at me from above.

‘Volkov, yes,’ I thought.

I opened my eyes once more, and saw the elevator in front of me had opened, ‘What is this place?’

‘This is Tower 01. It’s the central tower of the city, in other words, the biggest and tallest one.’

‘Then why does this place seem abandoned?’

‘Imagine what would happen if a city like this was attacked.’

I stepped into the elevator, and turned around to face the doors, ‘Plasteel is strong... But I’m guessing the towers would topple like-’

Athena interjected, ‘Domino pieces, yes. Towers like these may be pretty to look at, but they’re not suitable for housing large portions of the population.’

The doors closed and I looked down at the floor, ‘I guess most of the city is actually underground?’

‘Correct,’ Athena answered.

The elevator started moving, but to my surprise it accelerated upwards, ‘Next question, why am I in an elevator going upwards if the city is actually underground?’

‘You’re meeting with a woman named Arjali Denay. She settled in the top of this tower, and despite our best attempts, she has insisted on keeping the ‘good view’ as she calls it. Arjali claims that it helps with her work. As such, we’ve reluctantly agreed to her request, under the condition that she stays near an emergency elevator.’

I tipped my head in wonder as I caught on the way she had worded it, ‘We? Who partook in the decision exactly?’

‘Technically, all decisions can be weighed in on by all citizens. But in this case it was I and the local expert systems that weighed the benefits compared to the risks.’

The elevator kept accelerating, and without warning the walls began to shimmer. As I watched the metallic gray of the walls shifted to a view that displayed the outside of the city.

I could see the towers, people mulling about on the streets, and drones soaring through the air.

‘How real is this view of the city?’ I wondered.

‘Footage from cameras on the outside of the tower are merged through software, but it isn’t altered beyond that, thus it can be trusted.’

‘Really?’ I wondered.

‘Skeptical as always. Here, let me show you what happens if I try to manipulate the feed…’

A burst of static filled the screens for a moment, and then the view returned, though with the addition of a rather colorful UFO that floated in the scene. A black pulsating bar also appeared, and it showed a glaring red text which said…

-QED-E-5 – Quantum Entanglement verification failure – Visual feed should not be trusted-

‘Do you have complete control over the elevators?’ I wondered.

‘Not really. I can give recommendations to the local expert systems, but they are the ones who decide whether to obey or not. For example, the local system had no problem opening the doors at my request, though it did mutter at my request to activate the emergency guiding lights in the floor. Of course, it would vehemently reject a command to make the elevator plummet into the depths, and would inform other systems of my attempt to cause harm.’

It’s becoming clear to me that I need to learn more about how intelligent these local systems are…

‘I see, by the way, what is the purpose of this building?’ I said, as the elevator began to slow down.

‘Tower 01 is primarily a processing hub, as well as a drone platform. The top of the tower acts as uplink with Moonbase Alpha.’

The view of the outside began to fade, and the elevator was slowing down. It made me look toward the floor indicator, and as I watched it came to a stop on floor 251. A gentle chime followed, and the doors opened once more.

Upon stepping out, I was met with a wide open space. There were reflective black tiles on the floor and ceiling, while the walls consisted of glass. Interspersed throughout the floor were pillars that seemed to be made out of computing clusters with flickering indicator lights.

Straight ahead, situated near the glass wall was a desk that seemed to float in the air. On it was a simple screen, an empty glass, and what looked like a black rectangular box. Sitting in a chair behind the desk was a slender but tall hybrid with a set of small glasses that were perked on a petite nose.

So, that’s Arjali...

I sniffed the air, and while it confirmed her sex, I couldn’t make out what she actually was. Arjali looked up from her floating desk, adjusted the glasses on her nose, and then clasped her hands as if waiting for me to approach.

Desolate tower… Creepy office… No greeting… This is an intimidation technique...

As I walked, there was a pinch above my eye. It hurt and felt as if the headache had suddenly become worse.

It made reach up and rub the spot, ‘Volkov, are you doing something inside my head?’

Volkov presence rose within my mind, ‘Nice of you to say hi, Vilkas.’

‘I have a headache, are you the cause?’ I thought, and walked toward the desk.

‘Maybe? Who knows?’ Volkov answered.

‘I thought we were fine, is there something you haven’t-’

Volkov interrupted, ‘We’re fine, Vilkas. You can munch pizza and interact with the others, while I’m stuck in here, so… Just lovely, you know.’

I had almost reached the desk as I began to tune him out, ‘I don’t have time for this, Volkov.’

‘Uh huh,’ Volkov murmured as his presence faded once more.

As I regained focus I was now standing in front of the desk, and Arjali had stood up as she gave me a courteous nod, “Welcome, Vilkas. Please, have a seat,” She said, and motioned for the chair on my side of the desk.

As I glanced back at the chair I noticed something. There was a glimmer in the air, subtle and almost invisible. I looked at it, and noticed that there were others as well. They were strands that held the desk afloat, and more of them could be seen underneath the desk as well.

“You noticed,” Arjali said, and tipped her head a little.

I looked up at and focused on her appearance for a moment. Her ears were curved rather than pointy, and pink on the inside, while covered with white fur that stretched downward along her face. Brownish black fur covered her eyes and part of the cheek, but the facial structure didn’t fit a raccoon.

The ears… Lithe body… Almost a bit alien in appearance… A ferret?

I smiled back, and eased my backpack off, “It had me fooled for a moment.”

Arjali huffed and glanced toward the chair behind me.

I sat down, propped the backpack up next to the chair, and looked up at her, “I was never informed whether I had a choice in this meeting.”

Arjali eased herself down into her own chair, and raised a brow, “There’s always a choice, Vilkas. Some may be better than others, but there’s always a choice.”

I forced a courteous smile, “Why am I here, and on whose authority are you acting?”

She leaned back in her chair, and observed me in silence for a moment, “I wonder whether your aggression stems from fear, or pride.”

I motioned toward her, “That’s rich, coming from someone who has shaped her surroundings to be as intimidating as possible.”

Arjali frowned, and clasped her hands, “Why do you think you’re here, Vilkas?”

I leaned back in my chair, “You’re obviously here because you serve some function in our society, the intimidation tactics most likely add to that purpose. Thus there are few options… One is that you’re someone who hunts down corruption within Sophos, the other is that you weed out the ones that malfunction in some way.”

She might be a weasel as well...

Arjali motioned to me, “Some would say that there’s no difference between the two when it comes to us hybrids. After all, why would someone be corrupt or end up a criminal unless they were malfunctioning?”

I couldn’t help but smile a little, “True, in a way… but is there anyone that’s truly without fault?”

Another amused huff followed, and she adjusted her glasses while observing me, “I do enjoy a bit of philosophy from time to time, but this isn’t the place or time for it.”

I motioned to her with one hand, “As you wish.”

Arjali looked to the side, and motioned to the room at large, “It’s true that these surroundings are meant to be intimidating, and the security in this place is more than capable of incapacitating anyone who gets violent. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen very often.”

“Honesty is good, so what is it that you actually do here?” I asked.

Arjali looked back to me, “My ‘function’ is to find those that resist the symbiont to a point where they become dangerous to themselves and others. The intimidation scares the human part of young hybrids. That makes it easier for me, and the expert systems in this room, to judge the individual in question. You seem to have seen through that ruse, but the subject at hand remains just as serious.”

“So you, or the system at large consider me a threat?” I asked.

Arjali pointed to herself, “From now on I ask the questions,” and then aimed a finger at me, “and you answer.”

“Uh huh,” I said.

Arjali clasped her hands once more, “I know that you have a medical condition referred to as the Dualist Syndrome, basically two minds living in one body.”

“Mmhmm, do you have experience with Dualists?” I asked.

“I’ve met one of you before. You’re rare, powerful in a way, but often unstable.”

“Ah, so that’s the real reason I’m here?” I asked.

“There are several reasons, but do remember which side of the table that you’re on,” Arjali said.

“Then ask your questions, and let’s get this over with,” I said.

A few moments of silence followed, “… Are you a violent person, Vilkas?”

I blinked, and pondered how to answer, “… If I could walk through the forest without hurting an ant, would I do so? Sure. Would I tear someone apart if the situation required it? Sure. Does that make me a violent person? No, I don’t think so.”

She tipped her head a little, and squinted, “Your father tore someone apart. The father of your human friend, Jason.”

I felt a twitch in my tail, “He did not tear anyone apart, and Jason’s father had just attacked me… Dad was just trying to protect me, and he’s been cleared of any wrongdoing.”

Arjali’s gaze moved along her desk, “Still, your father lost control, and a man died because of it.”

“Your point?” I asked.

Arjali reached out with her hand, and wiped a finger along the surface of her desk, “This lack of control seems to be a common streak in your family… and it seems to extend to you as well.”

I remained silent.

She looked up from the desk, and looked me in the eyes, “Your incident a few weeks ago, tell me about it?”

I squinted, “You should know everything about it already.”

“I do, I just want to hear you repeat it,” Arjali said, and leaned onto her hand.

“… Jason had a lapse in judgment and joined the human cultists. I followed and convinced him to come with me. We were on our way home when a car with cultists collided with us.”

“And then what?” Arjali whispered as she stared into my eyes.

“… The car toppled over, the battery was damaged, I was about to get Jason out, but one of the humans survived the collision, and he had a gun.”

“Yes?” Arjali asked.

“I dealt with the threat, and made sure Jason was safe,” I said.

“There are a few missing details, yes?” Arjali said, and perked her brow.

“I was shot during the altercation, if that’s what you’re referring to,” I said.

Arjali smiled, and sat up straight, “You tore the man’s arm off with your bare teeth, crushed his windpipe, and smashed his ribcage in seconds flat. There was blood all over the street.”

I swallowed, “As said, he shot me.”

“You lost control, and tore him apart like a wild animal,” Arjali said.

“…”

My heart was pounding as I looked at her, and I was reminded of the blood that had tainted my muzzle. Like iron, with a sweet hint to it, cloying to everything, a taste which had made me want to puke.

“Was there any need to use such excessive force?” Arjali asked.

“… No,” I answered.

“Then why?” Arjali asked.

I felt heat rise to my face, and my ears folded back, “I lost control…”

She raised her hand to point at me, “You lost control… Yes. Because you’re weak.”

I felt my ears twitch, and I clenched my teeth together.

She’s right… I did lose control, and if I had been stronger… Then…

I gulped, and lowered my gaze.

“Do you remember the taste?” Arjali asked.

I gulped again, and felt the thump of my heart reverberating inside my head, “Yes.”

Arjali lowered her voice to a whisper, “Did you like it?”

I looked up at her, and stared as my hackles began to itch, “No.”

“Describe it?” Arjali asked, still observing me like a doctor peering down at a specimen.

“It was sweet, and sticky like tar. I could taste it days after, and it stuck in my nose like as if I couldn’t wash it off… It was revolting, disgusting… vile.”

“Do you hate humans?” Arjali asked.

The question caught me by surprise and my ears perked as I looked up, “… No, I don’t.”

“Why not?” Arjali asked, and raised on hand in the air, “They destroyed what was going to be our new colony. They almost took your friend. They hate us, and try to destroy us from within and outside our borders… Humans have in essence made life considerably harder for you.”

Any anger she’d managed to stir within me seemed to vaporize, and I tipped my head in wonder, “Mind you, but I've already had this discussion plenty of times, and it always comes down to observation that humanity may be shitty as a collective, but that they have potential as individuals.”

“There are a great many individuals out there that have anything but potential,” Arjali said.

I nodded, “Sure, but that doesn’t give you the right to judge them all as a whole.”

Arjali exhaled, and sank back into her chair, “I’ve heard that you want to visit the human nations?”

“… Yes,” I said.

Arjali started rolling her thumbs as she watched me, “That is a most… unusual desire.”

“Sometimes you need to step outside the box, in order to see yourself,” I said.

Arjali raised her brow, “I see… Then why not visit the virtual world? They have plenty of simulations when it comes to humanity, old and present.”

I tipped my head a little, “Do you mean the archives? Or…”

Arjali shook her head, “You do know what the political sphere is, right?”

“I’ve never visited it to be honest, but I know it’s where hybrids gather to learn and vote on important decisions.”

Arjali nodded, “The political sphere is a part of the virtual world, a small part of it in fact. I’m surprised you haven’t explored it on your own...”

“I’ve been busy,” I said.

For a moment she remained still to a point where she didn’t even seem to be breathing. She then blinked, and seemed to almost wake up, “Ah, that explains it.”

I gave her a curious glance, “Explains what?”

Arjali smiled back, “There’s hardly a mention of you in the virtual world, let alone a profile of any sorts… Though, you do have a presence in the ‘plain old web’ that the humans use.”

“I-”

Arjali interrupted me, “Apparently you like old games, and worked with others to reverse engineer them.”

I gave her a tired stare, “… Yes.”

Arjali tipped her head, “Why not just ask an expert system for help?”

I stared back at her, and sighed, “We did make use of the expert systems, sometimes… But you misunderstand why we did what we did.”

“What do you mean?” Arjali asked.

“Truth be told, most old games are awkward at best, and the gems worth playing are few and far between. But the games themselves were only a bonus, we toyed around with old systems like that because of the challenge itself, and to prove we didn’t need expert systems.”

Arjali grew a sly smile, and adjusted her glasses, “You wanted to prove yourselves as humans? Your own little rebellion of sorts?”

I shrugged, “You apply far too much meaning to a bunch of teenagers with too much time on their hands.”

Arjali chuckled, “Perhaps, and these days? Do you still keep up with this hobby of yours?”

“Since becoming a hybrid, I haven’t had the time, even if the interest remains.”

“Things change,” Arjali whispered.

I gave her a careful nod, “Things change.”

Arjali observed me in silence, and then lifted her head to look at the ceiling. Once more she seemed to freeze in place as her mind was busy elsewhere. A blink followed, and she woke to life once more as she looked back at me once more.

“Based on what we can deduce you have a stable personality. As such, there is nothing I can demand, or do to you,” Arjali said.

A rather sudden shift…

“Oh...” I said, “Does that mean I can leave?”

Arjai smiled back, “Technically, yes. But I do have an interesting proposal for you.”

I tipped my head, “A… proposal?”

Arjali sat straight, and motioned at me with her hand, “Your weakness is that you haven’t learned self-control, and I know someone who can help with that.”

Can’t say I'm very enthused to be here, but let’s see where this goes…

“Go on?” I asked.

Arjali looked at the rectangular black box that was sitting on the table, and then reached out as she pushed it closer to me, “Do you know what Etemenanki is?”

I raised my hand in the air to indicate something tall, “It’s the huge tower in the mountains that’s responsible for keeping the island safe from the plague.”

Arjali leaned back, “It spreads spores to combat the Lusus menace, yes… It is also something of a hideout when certain individuals need a time out from the world at large.”

“Oh?” I whispered.

Arjali smiled and motioned at the black box, “My dear friend is staying at Etemenanki, and this is a gift he’ll appreciate. Go there, offer this gift with my regards, and he will help you… Impress him, and he might have some answers for you as well.”

I sighed, “… This was the expected outcome, wasn’t it? I’d come here, you’d ask your questions, and then I'd be sent off with this gift you just happened to have lying around.”

Arjali glanced toward the windows with a half-hearted shrug, “It’s a mystery how these things work out, yes?”

“… Yes, very much so,” I said, and reached out as I grabbed the black box.

To my surprise the box was rather heavy, and as I looked it over I couldn’t see any seams, or other ways to open it, “What’s inside it?”

“That, I won’t tell you,” Arjali said.

I looked up at her once more, “I meant, is it dangerous?”

“It is a simple but elegant gift, not a weapon, Vilkas…”

“Hmm,” I murmured.

Arjali motioned to me, “If you doubt me, just run it through a safety scan.”

I eased the black box onto my lap, “While I'm intrigued, I think I'm supposed to meet up at Ares training camp.”

Arjali raised her brow, and gave me a curious glance, “I can see that the AIs are sparse with information as usual.”

“… What do you mean?” I asked.

“Right now all new candidates for the defense force are gathering at various training camps around the nation. Each type of hybrid has their own training program. When it comes to wolves the Alphas are intentionally separated from their packs.”

“… Why?” I wondered.

She motioned to me, “Because as much of a strength your bond is, it’s also a weakness. This training seeks to exploit, and cure it. At least, that’s what I've been told. Anyway, Ares told me you’re expected at the nearby police station when you’re done here.”

“… I see,” I said, and pointed at the box in my lap, “So is this part of my training now?”

Arjali nodded, “According to Ares, yes…”

I squinted as I looked her in the eyes, “So… was our meeting just a formality, or did you actually suspect me of something?”

A sly smile spread on her lips, and for the first time since entering I could see her small but sharp fangs, “One prepares for all circumstances, Vilkas. Whether the AIs predicted this or not is personally irrelevant to me.”

Sheesh…

“… I understand,” I whispered.

“And now, you may leave…” Arjali said, and motioned toward the elevators.

512 A.R. February 8, Veripolis – Police Station, Evening

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but the police station was far from what I had expected it to look like. Subtle, yet mysterious, it looked like the entrance to an underground parking lot.

To the right was a big road, and on the left was a simple sidewalk. Along the sides of the underground entrance were a pair of gargantuan bulkheads that could lock down the facility.

As I stood there I heard a subtle rumble, and glanced back. A large, six wheeled APC of sorts rumbled past, soared down the incline, and disappeared into the underground facility.

I guess most people arrive by transportation of some kind…

I began to walk along the sloping sidewalk, and let my gaze wander. Bright lights along the walls illuminated the area, and I took note that the walls had discrete outlines that no doubt hid some kind of heavy weaponry.

Once I was past the large bulkheads I could see the end of the tunnel, and another set of shutters. On the side of the sidewalk was a smaller entrance, and what looked like a silver panel.

No markings, no physical locks… Humans would have no chance interacting with these systems…

I stopped in front of the entrance, reached out toward the silver panel, and placed my hand on it. A tingle followed in my palm, and I could feel a connection being made.

There was a murmur along the back of my mind. A buzz of activity, and while I couldn’t understand it, there was a feeling in my gut that it was verifying my identity. A spike followed, and while the interface hadn’t spoken with me, I somehow knew that it had accepted me.

The smaller entrance in front of me opened, and I saw a brightly lit area in front of me. To the right was a big parking lot, and to the left was a row of elevators, and a sprawling set of corridors. Like the rest of the facility it seemed oddly bare. No screens, no reception, no signs to indicate what this place was.

I stepped through the door, heard it shut behind me, and approached the area to the left. As I walked I saw a single figure step out from one of the hallways.

A hybrid clad in a blue police uniform. Brown fur, contrasted by some black and dusty gold. Big ears, alert eyes, and a wide muzzle.

Shepherd...

As I approached the hallways I could see that the Shepherd’s focus was locked on me, and from the subtle wag of his tail he seemed rather friendly.

I stopped to wait, and nodded in the Shepherd’s direction as he walked up, “Evening.”

The shepherd marched up, and almost lashed out as he presented his hand for a shake, “Hey Vilkas! I’m Chester! Nice to meet you!”

I reached out with my hand, and Chester caught it with his own as he leaned closer. He sniffed audibly, and I found myself leaning back. It didn’t seem to stop him, and Chester leaned up, his snout inches away from my own, and sniffed eagerly.

He smelled male, canine, almost pungent as if he’d been locked up for days in a small room without bother to change clothes or even sleep. The scent of coffee oozed off his body, and it blended into the already pungent smell.

He seemed oddly excited as he stared into my eyes, and as he held onto my hand I could feel a connection form between us. As it connected, the intensity of his emotional state seemed to spill over.

Chester had looked forward to this. He’d counted the hours, the minutes, and in his mind he knew both me, and… my father. I could feel my heart starting to thump as the link was grabbing hold of my own emotions.

I stepped back, and jerked my hand out of his grip. The connection was severed in an instant, and with a pop the world returned to normal.

Chester stumbled back a little, seemingly shocked as he blinked and he looked up at me in confusion, “Ah... Sorry, that was my fault...”

Whatever that was… He doesn’t seem surprised…

Chester’s big ears folded back with an audible flap, and he stepped back as he raised his hands, “Sorry... I just- I get excited, and yes… I know your father. That must be confusing to you, but I know you as well, so…”

I raised my brow in wonder and squinted as I looked at him, “… You do?”

Chester tipped his head while his shoulders slouched, “I meant… I’ve followed you for a while, uh… The news about you, that is.”

I opened my muzzle to speak, but Chester kept blabbering.

“I wanted to get back in touch with your father… But you know how wolf packs are, and I didn’t want to intrude. It wasn’t my place, so… I was pondering whether to send a postcard, but that’s kinda weird, so-”

I raised one hand toward him, and that seemed to catch his attention, “Chester, calm down.”

Chester blinked, and made the kind of sheepish smile that bared all his fangs, “Right… Sorry.”

I lowered my hand, “Let’s take it easy and start with the ‘news’ you’ve read about me?”

Chester clasped his hands, tail still swaying, “Oh you know, the big stuff… Hedwig’s cult has been a pain in the ass for decades, and the way you poked and prodded them set off an avalanche of opportunities for us to nail them hard. We’re grateful, and ashamed you had to stand up to them alone... We should have been there, wanted to be there, but we couldn’t… No interference rules, and all that… The car incident alone gave us an excuse to make a safety validation on every human-owned car in Sophos, and it’s a good thing we did because they had plenty of nasty stuff planned.”

Have I been bait for far longer than I suspected?

“I thought that-”

Chester interrupted me once more, “That you were off the grid? Athena did her best to keep the lid on your profile, but she can’t actually block access to the archives, so it’s basically in the open… Well, for those who know where to look at least.”

“And since you’re with the police…”

Chester nodded with eagerness, “We have some of the best hardware around, so no limit on the expert systems running here. Athena might be good at managing society as a whole, but we have precision tools, and don’t suffer from the latency that the ones up on the moon have to deal with.”

“I guess it makes sense that I'd be useful bait, but… why are you so excited and… what exactly did we do when we touched hands?”

Chester stared back, seemingly confused as he tipped his head and made the big ears flop once more, “You mean… the link?”

“… The link, yes,” I said.

Chester angled his head, and peered at me with a skeptical stare, “A lot of people think you’re one of Maxwell’s secret agents, one of his wings, part of the Space Initiative. If you’re trying to trick me into-”

“I’m not,” I said, and interrupted him.

“Uh huh, well… If you were a secret agent, then you wouldn’t tell me, right?” Chester said with a singing tone by the end.

I sighed, “I guess not, though at times I wish I was… Then I'd at least have a clue on what’s going on.”

Chester stepped back, and motioned to the hallway, “Anyway… We should get going.”

“Why am I here exactly?” I asked, while Chester began to walk, and I followed in his wake.

Chester glanced back at me as we walked, “You were briefed about the Luminaire, right?”

“Yeah, Ares told me,” I said.

“Well, we’re not exactly sure whether the cult ‘became’ the Luminaire, or whether they were simply absorbed by a new organization, but your pack was the perfect bait because they all seem to hate your guts.”

I stared back at him, “You sent us out there, as bait, because you knew they hated us?”

Chester shrugged, “I didn’t. Ares and the expert systems suggested it, and we allowed it after looking over the safety measures that were put in place.”

As we walked down the corridor, another hybrid came marching out from around the corner. It looked like a feline, and given the facial structure I guessed it was a female. She wore a blue uniform like Chester, and her puffy fur had patterns of white, gray, and black. The ears were short, but tipped with long strands of black fur. A short muzzle marked the face, and the petite nose made me think of a lynx.

The lynx didn’t exactly look happy, and she stared at Chester as she marched up. Chester stopped in a near instant, and his ears folded back as he raised his hands a little, “Rebecca!”

Rebecca moved up to him, and glared as if having caught a naughty child, “I told you to wait, and not to bother our guest. Now go back to your room, and we’ll talk later… Understand?”

Chester opened his muzzle, glanced back at me, and then moved to the side of the hallway, “Yes, Rebecca,” Chester said with a whisper.

There’s something odd going on here…

Rebecca pointed down the hallway, and Chester hurried off.

As Chester disappeared down a hallway, Rebecca drew a deep breath, and then turned to me.

“I’m… so sorry about that,” Rebecca said, and made a slow nod toward me.

“No harm done… Just a tad confused at this point,” I said with and forced a courteous smile.

Rebecca made another nod as she smiled back, “Chester’s a good guy, he just doesn’t know how to handle himself, or his abilities.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Rebecca motioned toward her chest, “He has a tendency to pull people inside himself, it’s almost like a trance… It can be very useful, but it can also lead to plenty of awkward situations. Did he touch you?”

I nodded, “He did, and I can see what you mean.”

“Please forgive him, I assure you that he didn’t intend any harm,” Rebecca said.

“I understand,” I asked.

Rebecca motioned to the hallway, and began to walk, “Come.”

As I followed she glanced back at me, “Are you familiar with the police?”

I shook my head, “No.”

“Well, we’re focused on internal security and we mostly work with Athena. That involves stuff like keeping the streets safe, making sure the humans behave, and keeping tabs on what’s going on. Technically the defense force is meant to only deal with external threats, but the two have overlapped a lot in recent years. Hardware wise we’re light on weaponry, but our surveillance is top notch.”

“I’m getting that impression, but I’m still curious why I’m here?”

Rebecca smiled back at me, “What do you know about memory extraction?”

“I know that it can be fatal if it’s forced,” I said.

Rebecca slowed down, and then stopped in front of what looked like a blank door, “It is, but we have ways of encouraging people to cooperate...”

I blinked, “… Well, that doesn’t sound ominous at all.”

Rebecca made an amused huff, “We don’t torture people, Vilkas. People may question how ethical it is to peer into a mind, but we have no need or desire to resort to something like physical violence to get what we want.”

“So, how do you do it?” I asked.

“Sometimes a carrot works just fine. Good food, a chance at a brighter future, you name it, but things can be quite different when you’re dealing with fanatics… or Glow-induced psychopaths.”

I looked at the door, frowned to myself, and looked back at her, “What’s behind this door exactly?”

Rebecca glanced back, “We captured someone who knew Hedwig, and who was caught at the Bonaparte as a Luminaire representative. His mind is… distorted by misuse of Glow, and we were hoping you could help us.”

“How exactly?” I asked.

“Strong emotions can make it easier to differentiate between delusion and reality. We want you to talk with the person inside the room, ask questions, and we’ll monitor from the outside. It might help, or it won’t.”

“So you want to preserve this person’s life?”

Rebecca looked away, “Ah… Well, no, not exactly.”

I tipped my head in wonder.

“We have received word from Moonbase Alpha that the subject should be delivered to them. We are not in a position to say no,” Rebecca whispered, as she looked back at me.

“Because of Maxwell?” I asked.

Rebecca’s ears perked up, “You know who Maxwell is?”

“He’s the person that founded Sophos, and has been its leader… or dictator ever since. No one seems to know who, or what Maxwell is exactly, but this being resides somewhere on the moon and rules from the shadows.”

Rebecca nodded in my direction, “Yes… As such one does not refuse an order from the moon, and they instructed us that no forced memory extraction can take place.”

My ears perked, “In other words, you want me to loosen this person’s resolve so that you can read his mind… without the need for a forced memory extraction.”

“Something like that,” Rebecca said.

“You don’t trust that Moonbase Alpha will share what they find out?”

Rebecca lowered her voice yet again, “It’s not that… It’s that there are rumors that some people, those that Maxwell has an interest in, tend to… disappear. In such cases there’s no information to gather.”

“So Maxwell is-”

Rebecca interrupted me with a forced smile, “The relationship between Maxwell, and the people of Sophos is a complicated one. We intend to abide by the directions of Moonbase Alpha, but it is also our duty to protect Sophos from internal threats.”

I guess the relationship between the AIs and Maxwell is rather complicated as well…

“And… They will not mind that we are… skirting their instructions?” I asked.

“Their instructions tend to be very precise, if this was forbidden, then it would have been indicated as such,” Rebecca answered.

“I see…”

Rebecca motioned to the door behind me, “I know you have questions, but I think our guest will be more eager to talk if you don’t know too much.”

I looked around, and motioned to the walls, “Is there anything in particular that you want to know?”

Rebecca opened her muzzle, hesitated for a moment, and then shook her head, “Focus on what you’d want to find out, and we’ll be happy with that.”

Who gave the order to cause the car crash? What are they planning next? Why spread Glow?

She then raised her hand, and lifted her index finger, “A few rules before you head inside.”

“Go on,” I said.

“1: Don’t get within reaching distance of the machine or the subject.”

“2: Act natural. If you get angry, show it, if you feel hurt, act like it.”

“3: Try to engage with him, the more emotional he gets, the better.”

“4: There are screens inside the room that only you’ll be able to see, they will show an approximation of what he’s currently thinking about. Try not to focus on it too much.”

“All right,” I said.

Rebecca nodded, pressed a silver panel next to the door, and stepped aside. The door opened to reveal something similar to an airlock.

“Step inside, and I’ll cycle to doors to let you inside,” Rebecca said, and motioned to the inside.

I moved inside, glanced back once, and then faced the closed door inside the airlock.

The door shut behind me, and I heard the airlock engage.

512 A.R. February 8, Veripolis – Interrogation Room, Evening

The inner door to the interrogation room opened, and I found myself in a surprisingly small room. There were a pair of screens hanging down from the ceiling, and there was a red line in front that divided the room in two.

On the restricted side of the room was a sight that made me pause. There were parts of a big machine that seemed to emerge from the wall at the end of the room, and it loomed like the front of a big spider.

Dozens of large and small tendrils had emerged from the mechanical spider, and it had trapped a human male within its confines as if trying to portray a vitruvian man. Lying on the floor were torn clothes that had seemingly been ripped off.

I stepped inside the room, and began to realize that the tendrils weren’t just holding this man. They had pierced his spine, sides, and it had surgically removed the rear portion of the man’s skull. Finer tendrils, like hundreds of glittering threads appeared to reach into the man’s exposed brain.

Stepping into the room seemed to wake the man, and he blinked in confusion. He tried to move at first, but nothing happened as the tendrils forced him to look forward. After a few moments, the man seemed to give up, and his eyes came to rest on me with an annoyed expression.

The screens along the ceiling came to life, and I could see flickering images. Sometimes I could see myself from the man’s point of view, in the next I could see other flashes of people, humans, hybrids, and wolves in particular.

Is he trying to identify me?

As the man searched his own memories, he seemed to find what he was looking for. I could see a human hand holding up what looked like a tablet with a profile that had my picture on it. Soon after the man looked up from within his memory and I could see other humans scattered throughout the room.

A briefing of some kind? With me as a target? Why?

More images began to flicker, and it was clear he was reliving some kind of memory.

Without warning the screens went black, and showed an error: Subject is blocking memory access

I took a step closer, and lifted my gaze to look up at the man. There was tension in his lips as if he was clenching his teeth, and the harsh glare made me feel as if he wanted me dead.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” I asked.

For a moment, the screens flickered, and went dark once more. The man didn’t answer.

I found myself sniffing the air. There was a tinge that reminded me of the hospital. Medicine, antiseptic, a hint of iron and blood. It tainted the scent of the man, but there was enough of it for me to work through it.

Male, human, sweaty, diseased?

Something was strange with this person. Anger had something of a harsh tinge to it, scared people had their own reeking scent, and panic felt chaotic to my nose, but this man was like a blank slate.

The man seemed invisible in a way, as if he was a corpse that hadn’t yet started to rot.

I stepped closer to the red line that divided the room, and sniffed the air. The man kept eyeing me, but didn’t react as I looked him over.

Scars…

The man had scars on his inner elbow, like dozens upon dozens of pinpricks that had healed over and over again.

Injections… Scars? Just how long has this drug been in circulation? Or is Glow just the latest one?

“The marks on your arms, what are they?” I asked.

The man’s expression hardened a little, and the screens grew livid with new imagery. It looked like a dark room, sitting on a bed, staring at his own arm, with a syringe in his hand. A moment later the screens went dark once more, and the man turned his gaze to focus on the wall.

I leaned closer, “I’d ask who you are, but it might be more relevant to ask what you are?”

There was a twitch near the man’s eyebrow, and another flurry of images flashed on the screen. One moment it was a bright light, in the next I could see books, letters, and symbols flashing like mad.

Suddenly, the tone of images changed, and I could see blood, and violence as he was beating someone with what looked like a hammer. It didn’t stop, over and over he beat someone lifeless with a hammer. Blood squirting, bone breaking, and chunks breaking off. Then the image seemed to freeze in place, focused on a bloody pile, filled with broken bone and split organs.

I looked back at the man, and to my surprise he now carried a wicked, shit-eating grin that made his eyes glitter with emotion.

“Who did you kill?” I asked.

The images began to flicker once more, but they were fuzzy and indistinct.

“Does it matter,” The man said as if making a statement, rather than a question.

To my surprise the man’s voice was surprisingly gentle, and lacked any hint of tension.

I felt anger, and held my tongue until I remembered what Rebecca had said, “You’re revolting.”

The man smirked, but the screens didn’t shift.

“Are you aware of what has happened to you?” I asked, and motioned to him.

The screens shifted, and I could see flashes of his own perspective. He could see his arm, and chest, but seemed unaware of what had occurred to his backside. Within moments the images shifted to focus on me once more.

“You keep looking at the screens, the others did as well. I’m guessing you’ve tapped into my brain,” The man said, gentle and calm, with a smile that made it look as if he was hungry.

I looked back at the man, “Doesn’t that scare you?”

The man rolled his eyes side to side, and shrugged his shoulders, “No, not really.”

“Were you always like this, or did the drugs cause you to become like this?” I asked.

The images on the screen were a blur. One moment I saw books, violence, a dirty room, anger and frustration as he slammed his hands into a table and seemed to scream at a blurry figure in front of him.

I tipped my head as I met the man’s gaze, “You don’t answer, is it because you think the answer would be lost on me, or because you’re afraid?”

The man frowned, “Afraid? Of what? I knew my fate the moment you caught me.”

“Oh? Did you?” I asked.

The screens flickered to life once more, but the images made little sense. There were outlines, bright flashes, a person looming over others, and more violence. Beatings, a flying bottle, blood smeared on the walls, a shade sitting in a room, a light at the end of a tunnel.

What on earth is going on inside this man’s head…

It didn’t seem like the images could be depictions of real life, so what were they? His perception of reality? Madness?

The man spoke out loud, and caught my attention, “I have become something else, and the world is laid bare to me.”

“… I fail to understand,” I said.

The man’s eyes widened with another insane smirk, “You cannot understand, you cannot possibly understand. You, your kind are little more than machines running errands for your precious dictator. You are pathetic slaves.”

“Try me, you might be surprised by what I can understand,” I said, and bared my teeth.

The tendrils held his arms, but that didn’t stop him from struggling as if he was trying to reach for me, “Answer this then, what is life?”

I blinked, “Life is physics, and chemistry. It is a process that once got started, and to this day it keeps working, endlessly caught in a cycle where the ones that adapt have the best chance to survive.”

“What you mean to say, is that life is competition itself,” The man said.

I nodded, “That’s one way to look at it if you want to anthropomorphize it.”

The man stretched his fingers, and bared his teeth, “I adapted. I competed. What’s wrong with that? Why do I deserve to die simply because I see the truth of this world?”

“You’re a psychopath, it’s not clear whether you were always like this, but that’s quite irrelevant at the moment. Based on your memories alone you’re a murderer, and that makes you dangerous,” I said.

The man stared back as if what I said didn’t make sense, “Oh, and I guess you’ve never killed anyone, right?”

I frowned back, “That’s different.”

The man let out a wild chuckle, “Is it? Why? Let me guess, self-defense, huh? It’s not your fault others chose to die by your hands? Well, guess what… I’ve only defended myself as well.”

“… Somehow I doubt that,” I said.

The man rolled his eyes, “It’s the truth though. I would have been killed long ago if I didn’t do what was asked of me, so what choice did I have? To seek shelter among you people? The ones who have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to people with my ‘condition’.”

I drew a deep breath, “… Do you feel anything when you think about what you’ve done? Guilt? Regret? Do you dream of having other choices?”

The man sighed, and managed to shake his head a little as if feeling pity for me, “Guilt? No. Regret? Why would I feel something like that? I am who I am, I do what I do, and I don’t deal in fantasies like you.”

“These people you’re forced to kill, who are they, and why?” I asked.

The man let his gaze wander the ceiling, “Oh, it varies… Some annoyed me, others were a threat, some just needed to die in order to set an example.”

“… But why? Who do you work for?” I asked.

The man looked down at me, and frowned, “You have no idea what’s going on out there? Do you? In the cities that are no longer marked on the map, in the wastes where you’ve exiled those that don’t fit in. In the enclaves where the hopeless gather.”

“Sophos is open to all who are willing to coexist,” I said.

The man gritted his teeth in anger, “To coexist!? To be coddled like your damn pets, and to be pointed at as an example of what not to become. You are vile! Your species is disgusting! You deserve to FUCKING BURN!”

As I watched, the man gasped for breath, and his lips twitched while the arteries along his throat throbbed with exertion.

As I glanced toward the screens, I could only see myself from the perspective of his eyes.

The man suddenly drew a deep breath, and his expression relaxed as the anger drained from him in mere moments, “Did you think that life would just stop? That humans would just give up? That a bit of infertility would keep our numbers in check? That we’d lose our drive and just fade away in the background? It doesn’t work like that.”

“… There are only supposed to be a few thousand humans in Sophos,” I said.

The man began to chuckle, “Yes… Within Sophos. Within the areas you’ve designated as secure, those privileged little sanctuaries that are constantly patrolled by drones and other machines. There’s a lot more humans like that, living in the caves of the wastes, and in the Enclaves that don’t count as Sophos territory.”

I stared at him in silence.

Slowly a sly smile spread across his lips, “Ah, the AIs can’t lie, but sometimes they choose to omit a bit of information.”

I smiled back a little, but kept my silence.

The man stared into my eyes, “What did they tell you about the collapse? When old humanity died, and the monster you call the Lusus were unleashed?”

“The details are messy, but from what I’ve understood it was a nanite plague that wiped everything out. This island was the only one which was spared,” I said.

“… Humanity was on the brink of an evolution that would have unleashed our true potential. One of the researchers disagreed, and activated a backdoor. It was meant to kill everyone, instead it made the nanites go haywire, and the result can be seen by all…” The man said.

I motioned to him, “What is this evolution that you speak of?”

The man tried to shrug, “I am but a stepping stone in this evolution. Unshackled, and free. I compete, like life intended. I am a reflection of the true humanity that should have inherited this planet.”

I stared back, and a few moments passed before the man began to laugh.

“… What’s so funny?” I asked.

The man chuckled, “You really should see your own face. It’s quite amusing.”

“… Are you saying that old earth was trying to turn everyone into psychopaths?” I asked.

The man let out a deep sigh, “Psychopath this, and psychopath that… We simply seek to remove the shackles that bind us. If only you could see…”

I drew a deep breath, “… Do you know what happened several weeks ago? The car crash?”

The man hung listlessly, and gave me a tired stare, “Yes, I do.”

“Who issued the attack?”

“You ask boring questions,” The man whispered, and glanced toward the wall.

A glance at the screens revealed nothing but blanks.

“You said you knew your fate, do you, really?” I asked, and looked back at him.

The man fixated on me, with another bored glare, “I’m a psychopath, you’re going to turn me into one of those scaly reptiles that you call guardians. No passion, no emotion, a machine that will inherit my memories and then it will spend the rest of its life doing your bidding.”

“They’re not machines,” I said.

“Do they have free will?” The man asked.

“… To some degree,” I said.

“But it won’t be me, and there’s no point to life it’s not me,” The man said.

“True, it wouldn’t be you, though that’s not what’s going to happen to you,” I said.

The man gritted his teeth, “You will all die soon! You deplorable, vile, shit-infested-” He stopped without warning, and blinked in surprise, “Wait, what did you say?”

“I said, it’s not what’s going to happen to you,” I said.

“Oh, so you’re just going to kill me?” The man asked.

“No, they have something far different planned for you,” I said.

Since the first time I set eyes on the man, he seemed curious, or rather… concerned.

“What… are you going to do me?” The man asked.

“How about a deal?” I asked, and tipped my head as I looked at him.

The man frowned, “A deal? For what? You telling me what’s going to happen? I already know you can’t change my fate, so I’ll find out where I’ll be going either way.”

I motioned toward him, “That’s not necessarily true, you know? Somehow I doubt they’ll keep you conscious, so I might be the only way for you to know your fate.”

The man stared at me in silence. Half a minute passed before something finally seemed to give way.

“… What do you propose?”

I smiled back, “You seem to like talking… So let’s take turns asking questions, and I'll tell you where you’re heading when we’re done.”

The man raised his brow, “You think something like that is going to work on me?”

I nodded, “Yes, I do.”

The man stared, long and hard, “Do something for me… and I will humor your deal.”

“What?” I asked.

The man’s lips shifted a little, and took on a hint of malice as he licked his chops, “Get on your knees, prostrate yourself in front of me, and beg.”

I observed him in silence for a moment, “… Why?”

The man shook his head, “No, that’s not how this works. You do what I ask, and I shall play your silly game. Oh, and don’t make a mockery of it, I want to see your brow pushing against the floor as you stand on all four, tail between your legs, like the filthy animal that you are.”

I chewed air as I considered it. This man had something I wanted, and the price for it was a moment of submission to his vapid ego. There was no cost to it, other than my own pride, but…

What will others think of me?

What will others think if I don’t do what’s necessary, just to save my own imaginary pride?

Hybrids were rational creatures, and if this action could help society in any way or form, then it would be deemed as the right thing to do.

But what if this man was lying? What if the right answer was a display of defiance, to go against what seemed like the cold but rational choice?

No... This guy may have been intelligent, but not intelligent enough to go underground when the shit hit the fan. This human, despite all his claims, was a creature of pride, and he had an intense desire to control his environment.

I clenched my muzzle shut, stepped forward, and looked down at the floor.

For a moment I let my discomfort shine through, and then I eased myself down, placed my hands on the floor, and spread them out. I kept my eyes focused on the floor as I bent my body, and let the top of my head press against the floor.

“Please, do me this honor, and play my game,” I said out loud.

“… No, that won’t do,” The man whispered from above, “I want you to call me by my name, I want you to plead, to acknowledge your subservience… I want you to look up, and see that despite everything… You had to beg… ME.”

“What be thy name?” I whispered.

“Alistair,” The man whispered with a shudder to his breath.

“Despite all that we are, in the end I was forced to kneel beneath you, Alistair...” I then lifted my gaze, “Please, give me the answers I seek.”

The man’s expression was wildly different from before, his eyes seemed to bulge, and a sickening grin of delight twisted his mouth. A bit of drool rested by the edge of his lips, and his chest seemed to tremble in delight.

“You… are pathetic,” The man whispered in glee.

Maybe this was a mistake…

In some ways it looked as if the guy had reached some kind of ecstasy, a triumph at the end of his road, a final victory that made it all worth it. A display of power, that even when captured and strapped to a machine, he’d still been able to exert his will on an opponent.

The drew a slow, shuddering breath, and as he gulped, “Ha… Haha… Ha-hah…”

I eased back, and sat on the ground, “Are you satisfied, Alistair?”

“Yes… Yes, I am,” Alistair answered.

“Why does the Luminaire seek to create psychopaths?”

The man licked his lips as if savoring it, and then shut his eyes, “Civilization requires infrastructure to exist. Infrastructure requires many individuals to pool their resources. Thus society is born, and is in turn held together by genetics that favor altruism, empathy, sympathy. Someone needs to herd and control this sprawling chaos, thus rules began to form, and a culture evolves. A culture of which its followers feel justified in their actions, and their cruelty.”

“Your point?” I asked.

“A society fuels itself from sheer necessity… But what happens when a society advances to a point where individuals can become self-sufficient, not through group effort, but by their own labor?”

I looked at him in wonder, “In such a case society is forced to adapt, or it collapses.”

The man opened his eyes once more, and looked down, “Yes, it adapts… Just like it did in the old world. There were over 14 billion people, and most of them were of little benefit to anyone.”

“... I fail to understand,” I said.

The man raised his brow, “It’s not a difficult concept. The biosphere was already degrading before the collapse, and resources were becoming scarce all over. Anyone of any reasonable intellect knew that, and realized what was coming. They built bases on the moon, and they were about to settle on Mars, but there’s no way to move millions of people off-planet, let alone 14 billion. A purge, intentional or not, would have to occur.”

“You’re saying that… the collapse was intentional?” I asked.

“Who knows? What I do know is that it’s what I would have done, and there were a lot of people like me back then,” Alistair said.

“… What?” I asked.

The man’s smile grew once more, “Look at the screens, and you’ll see it...”

I stepped back, and looked over at the screen. It appeared to be one of Alistairs memories, and he seemed to be watching a screen that showed an ad of sorts. There was a hand holding a sparkling bottle, and a name, ‘Reventrol’, the drug now referred to as Glow.

Text appeared as the ad played out on the screen…

-Do you feel depressed?-

-Can’t focus?-

-Are your coworkers or fellow students performing better than you?-

-Do you want control?-

We can help...

I looked back at Alistair, “What is that?”

Alistair smiled, apparently pleased once more, “Why live a life of pain, tortured by emotion, when you can simply… erase it?”

I gritted my teeth, and pointed at the screen, “What is that?”

“An ad from before the collapse… Fully legal, promoted even to help those that wanted an edge over others. The nanite plague in its original form was just a way to create Reventrol within the body itself.”

“The plague in its original form?” I asked.

The man pushed out his chest, stretched his head as far as he could, and stared down at me, “You still don’t get it? Do you? The monsters that you call the Lusus are the humans that existed before the collapse. People like you decided that a world of people who could live free couldn’t be tolerated, so you turned them into monsters, and then hid on this island!”

I drew a deep breath.

A mocking laugh followed, “People like you dehumanize your opponents until they are nothing, and no method of torture is too cruel for a monster. Right?”

“We defend ourselves,” I said.

The man looked down at me, “Yes… Just like how people defended themselves against witches and then burned them on a pyre.”

“You’re beyond twisted,” I said.

“Me!? Twisted?” Alistair snapped, “The crowds who gathered at the pyres to jeer and cheer weren’t people like me, no… For such cruelty, you need your kind!”

“What drives someone like you?” I asked.

The man raised his brow, “Desire, what else? Why would you do anything in this world if it didn’t serve your own interests? It shouldn’t be a hard concept to grasp!”

I stared back.

“What’s wrong, pup? Have you had your fill? Did my words pierce the delusions you’ve painted for yourself? How will you ever rationalize your way out of this one? Huh?”

I exhaled, slowly, “You’ve certainly given me a lot to ponder, that is… If anything you’ve said can be believed.”

Alistair cocked his head with a shit-eating grin, “It’s been a pleasure, truly… Now tell me, what are you going to do to me?”

I stepped back, “You’re going to the moon, Maxwell himself wants you.”

Alistair’s brow perked high, “Oh… I’m going to meet the god of Sophos itself? What a delight…”

“… Uh huh,” I said, and stepped back into the airlock.

Alistair raised his voice, “We’d welcome you! You know! We might not represent kind of benevolent coexistence you aspire to! But we… my kind, we survive! We compete! We strive! We kill!”

I stared at him, teeth bared in disgust, and slammed the button to cycle the airlock.

As the door began to shut, the last of Alistair’s words slipped through, “-and we reach for the stars!”