Chapter 9: The Boy who is a Beast. Newter, Son of Echidna.
The air was cool and dry, no dirt covered the floors, and dust was a non-entity in the halls. Newter had seen technological marvels before. From a certain perspective, he was one himself. But most of those had been singular devices. A tool that allows the user to fly, a blade that can cut through solid steel. In this case, the mansion itself was the device. There was a harmony to it, nothing wasted, everything reused.
The man who had created it stood before him. Colin Wallis. He'd heard the name mentioned before. Apparently, he was rather famous. His owner hadn't liked the man, because he wouldn't sell them his weaponry. Never keep a mercenary from new, better weapons. They don't like it when you do that.
Standing next to the natural philosopher was his manservant, a young African man. From his stance, he was much more than just a manservant.
Not in the heretical sense. Or, at least, in the way that others would call heretical. Newter had often wondered if there was indeed such a thing as a kind and loving god. If there was, why did he exist?
Also in the room was a girl with curly brown hair, and a guilty look on her face. She was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. It was, after all, after midnight.
"So… what now?" The African man asked.
"I am… not quite sure yet. What do you think?" Wallis replied, gesturing towards Newter.
"I'm… I don't know…. Not really familiar with deciding stuff…" he replied.
"In that case, maybe we could talk a bit first? About the witch-hunters, and where you come from?" the older man replied again.
"I… uhmmm…" how was he supposed to handle this? Melanie had hated it when he talked, probably because she didn't want to deal with the fact that he was a person, you know, beneath the orange skin and everything.
"Well, I guess I can start by introducing myself. My name is Colin, and I'm a natural philosopher. This young man here is Brian, better known as the shadow of benevolence. And this over here is Taylor, whom I believe owes you an apology."
This time, it was the girl that spoke up. "It's not like I was able to do anything…"
"But you still tried to attack him, and it's the thought that counts." Colin replied.
"Fine… I'm sorry for attacking you with swarms of bees and stuff…. What's your name anyways? Can't really apologize if I don't know your name."
"The institute called me Newter." Newter replied.
"And what do you call yourself?" she replied.
"Dunno… just Newter I guess."
"oh…"
At that point, Colin interjected.
"Can you tell me more about this 'institute'?"
He gathered his thoughts. Wondering what to say. If these people were really freeing him, he wanted to tell them the truth. But what if they were lying? Or what if Melanie would come back for him? As far as he knew, she hadn't been killed. Alexander, too, had survived the fight, at least if he hadn't bled out from having a stump for a leg.
"I… Don't know that much… It's where I was born, created. I don't really remember though. They did something to my mind. I, well. I remember remembering more than I remember now, but those memories are completely gone. I have no idea what they were off."
Colin had grabbed a strange machine with lots of buttons, and started pushing on them with different fingers. At the top of the machine, a piece of paper extended, and every now and then, he would hear a "ping" noise, and the paper would move again.
"I know it was cold… back where I was born. In the east, I think. And I remember seeing my mother. Sort of. It was this big thing made of flesh, and the people from the institute, they threw people on top of it, and they'd get absorbed into the flesh, and then it would regurgitate something like me. Something wrong, but still a purpose."
"The Echidna…" Colin answered. "I've heard stories of it. Someone with an ability that malfunctioned somehow, creating new life by using other life as a blueprint."
"Mother of monsters… that fits, I guess…" the girl said.
"Anyway, I remember being put in a cage, and getting transported west, riding after the sun. I don't know how I knew that was west, and I don't remember learning it, but then I don't remember learning how to talk either… Anyway, after a while, someone reached a deal with Melanie, and I ended up with her."
"And Melanie… The Witch-Huntress… I used to think they worked on their own, but their reaction was too rapid… Do you know anything about her, or her organisation?" Colin asked
"Not really. I think they're related to the place that made me, but I never met all that many of them. At first just Melanie, later Alexander, and sometimes a few others as well, but not often."
"No structure or organisation that you could see? I could understand dividing up in cells to stop infiltrators or other such people, but even then they'd need to get their mission somewhere…"
"Don't know sir… Just… sometimes they'd stand still and start talking to people who weren't there, mostly when they thought I wasn't listening. I'm pretty sure they were completely crazy though… didn't make any sense what they said."
"I see… perhaps someone with a sound-based ability then, able to hear and speak long distances to specific targets… I should install some sonic shielding on the mansion to deal with that problem…"
Taylor started yawning, still tired after having been woken up in the middle of the night.
"Doesn't help us against reinforcements though…." Brian said.
"No, it won't… And if they're somehow all in communication with each other, there might be a lot of them coming." Colin replied
"Can we take them?" Brian asked.
"Probably, but we have to think further than that. We stay here and fight, they may just keep escalating the situation. We need another solution, And I think I have a way to catch two birds with one stone."
"How?" Brian asked again.
"A colleague of mine in Sweden, a natural philosopher called Rey Andino, has been doing research into artificial lifeforms much like young Newter here. Amongst other things, he has been studying what few things he could find relating to the Echidna. Perhaps he is able to help out young Newter here."
"You're going to make me a real boy?" Newter asked. Cheering himself up.
"I… will see what I can do, I can't make any promises though."
"Oh…"
"So, how is that two birds?" Brian asked.
"Because I was going to ask you and Taylor to go find him, and bring him a few samples from Newter here so he can do his thing."
"All the way to Sweden?" Taylor asked.
"Yes, Rey has his laboratory in the mountains, about fifty miles northwest of Stockholm, it's difficult to ensure a successful package delivery. If I send you two, you can ensure correct delivery, and at the samte time get out of the line of fire. If you're not in the city, they can't hunt you down, and we'll lose the heat, even if they bring a psychic."
Taylor's face was slowly getting a bit red.
"But… just me and Brian… I mean… I'm not sure…"
"I have to agree with Taylor…" Brian said.
"You'll be allright, both of you have powerful abilities, and I'll supply you with some weapons and enough coin to pay your way. You can take my coach to Lübeck, and book passage to Stockholm from there. No, wait… There's someone I'd like you to check out in Kopenhagen, a guy claiming to be a technological genius, capable of building whatever he wants. You can take a boat there, and go to Stockholm form there."
"But… just the two of us? A young man and woman on the road all by themselves? I'm not sure it's a good idea sir…" Brian said.
Newter grinned to himself, smart as he was, apparently Colin didn't quite understand appropriate relations between a man and a woman…. A young man like Brian, a young lady like Taylor… Even discounting the differences it would be inappropriate.
"Nonsense Brian, I'd trust you to do it on your own, there won't be any problems if you have some help, and you can help Taylor get familiar with her skills."
Brian looked like he knew how useless arguing would be. Perhaps if he'd said it explicitly, Colin would have understood. But it wasn't like Newter was going to help him with that, seeing both youngsters suddenly get nervous about something was way too much fun.
"Now, Newter, how about we get you something to eat, and these two can get to bed before moving out tomorrow?" Colin asked.
"Okay sir." He replied, standing up. He looked behind him, where he'd just been sitting. The small layer of slimy sweat that surrounded his skin had left a few drops behind. He hoped no-one would touch it, or they'd start hallucinating themselves into lala-land. Maybe he should say something about it… but if Colin knew what a bother his biology could be…
Better to ignore thoughts like that, the man probably already knew anyway… It was time to get some food.
Aisha had to admit, it was probably quite inappropriate, spying like this. But she had an excuse; she'd just been going to the bathroom. Wasn't her fault that she decided to take a quick walk around as well, nor was it her fault that, when standing in just the right place, you could hear what happened in other places in the house through the vents.
So, apparently, Brian was taking Taylor on a trip across Europe, just the two of them, and master Wallis had completely ignored how inappropriate such a thing would be.
If only there was a certain specific someone who could keep an eye on them, to make sure that, if something inappropriate happened, that person would be there to properly document the events.
A/N: An old german mile is approximately 7.5 kilometre, of 4.66 modern miles. It is 1/15th of an equatorial degree. The stuff you learn on wikipedia
