10 - Interlude's Conclusion
Part 3- Rejoice In Uncertainty
The entire way back to the shuttle Dureena had held her new sword close. Galen watched. His eyes scanned her continuously. His worry, that he had made a mistake, nagged him.
To him the sword still read dead, but a being like that would not become a dormant trinket for no reason. What it was doing was a mystery that demanded his attention. So instead of feeling relief about finally having a cure for the plague, Galen's anxiety grew. Everything would probably turn ugly.
The first shuttle with the cure, Max and Sarah had already departed the dead orbital. Galen boarded the remaining shuttle, right on Dureena's heels. Last, Matthew embarked shouting orders to the pilot to take off.
Once aboard Dureena reluctantly placed the sword on a shuttle seat so she could stow her parka, and cold weather gear. The sword's energy surged when she let it go. The sword had attached itself to her. A nano-filament, invisible to any eye but that of the technomage, connected to her. Galen advanced to sever the bond. Blinding runes flashed through his optical nerve. The ultra high frequency energy spike made him wince. His tech seemed to understand it though as it translated the meaning for him.
Back off meat bag. It was not a request rather a command that hit like walking into a wall. I choose her.
Shaking his head clear, Galen sent back on the same frequency. /I will not allow you to harm her./
Invisible cold restraints stopped his body. He tried to move forward but he felt slowed down like swimming through ice. Inward, his tech's usual pleasant background hum went silent. Not disabled to complete helplessness like when the Shadows turned him off, more too busy to answer.
A sort of skittering laughter echoed through this mind, proceeding the sword's next runes. On every path she would tread without me, you are the cause of her suffering and her people's doom.
No. That had to be a lie. Galen sent, /I would never harm either. Of that I am absolutely certain./
More skittering. You forget your own lecture- the universe is uncertain, and only when we accept that can learning, creativity and growth occur.
The familiar words, that he had flung at the Circle after he learned they planned to stay in hiding indefinitely, boomeranged back at him. Indignance swelled him.
/Play fair. Use your own words./
More skittering. Rejoice in the uncertainty I represent- one less burden for your weak, minuscule form.
He pushed himself forward. His leg struggled to take a step toward the sword. /Vague pronouncements will not stop me. What are you doing to her?/
The more I tell you the worse it will be for her.
That made him pause. How could this thing know what will happen to Dureena? Every part of him yearned to interfere, to protect her. But, Elric taught him to always analyze assumptions, to question them, to study his situation carefully. Could he control this machine-sword, this First One? No, very unlikely. Should he even interfere? Maybe. What would it do to Dureena? No idea. It could be from terrible to wondrous to anything in between. If it meant to kill her, it would have done so by now. Like a beanstalk shooting up to the sky out of a folktale, from his uncertain answers grew the obvious path he should take. He knew what to say.
/Why her?/ He would be her advocate.
The bag of mostly lukewarm water finally asks a good question. My purpose was, is, will be to serve the universe's purpose- to answer every question. Of all of you she advances my purpose the most. I will serve her.
Galen would have scoffed if he could. /For dinner perhaps? I don't believe you. What's your real reason?/
Galen would have sworn he heard a sigh. I'm bored. I like the way she thinks, very binary.
At least the thing was honest as well as rude. An oddly comforting answer. Galen stopped fighting. /Then I have a request. Treat her as she deserves. Show her what you really are, what you will do to her, and ask her permission before you do anything permanent./
Those are three requests. All unnecessary. She love'll my metal more than anything, except you. You are her weakness.
Galen gasped. He fought back the emotional panic of his soul. Focus, he commanded himself. This machine must be made to agree. He groped for a way. Nothing subtle came to mind. Then simple and obvious. He knew one word that typically worked like magic on many.
/Please./ No response came. /If there is anything I can do in return, name it./
Fine. I don't want to be bothered by you or any of your kind. You will be silent to me and about me from this moment … Galen nodded yes. Control returned to his body as the energy spike from the sword faded. Once again the sword looked dormant.
Hands shook his shoulder. Small hands. Dureena's. Her face, so close to his, showed more than concern. The sword revealed something about her Galen did not want acknowledged.
"Are you alright?" she asked. "You were frozen." The back of her fingertips reached for his face as if to brush his cheek, like she wanted to check his temperature.
"All is well," he said ducking out of her reach. Her hands dropped heavily to her side. She didn't believe him. Good. The sword probably lied to manipulate him. She could not love a broken thing like himself.
Matthew turned around in the co-pilot's seat and ordered, "Strap yourselves down already. We're taking off."
Galen took a seat as far from Dureena as possible. Turning to the shuttle window, he fled the hard scanning look she cast his way.