(I AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY, THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS SEASON ALWAYS KICKS THE CRAP OUT OF ME. BUT I AM BACK)
Hadrizahens listened to the rain battering the roof above his private quarters somberly. It had been a long day of extra chores for him as punishment for running off in the middle of the night to confide in the "Divergent" Traveller Entity. The designation of the Traveller had changed since the night before; Merchant Entity Taudi had decided that calling the Traveller "false" was perhaps an insult to The Atlas. Not that it made any impact on Hadrizahens' situation. He had been confined to his room by Merchant Entity Taudi as soon as the repairs had been made to his leg, and he was only allowed to leave if his assistance was required. Hadrizahens could only guess what Merchant Entity Taudi was attempting with this particular form of corrective action, but his assumption was to try to get the young Korvax back on track in his place of servitude. Scientist Entity Podoim must have voiced concerns about Hadrizahens becoming Divergent. The fear of Hadrizahens becoming Divergent due to a Traveller's influence would be enough to worry Taudi into placing Hadrizahens under room arrest. After all, if Hadrizahens became Divergent and turned away from the Convergence by choice, Taudi would be down an assistant. And that was too much for Taudi to process financially.
Hadrizahens supposed he should be grateful that he was only being held against his will and not somehow forcibly extracted from his casing. Divergency had a tendency to become infectious, as the power of a mind can influence others. That was why it was dealt with rapidly within the Korvax community. It was one thing when a mind got lost from the Convergence by accident, but to have one turn away willingly? As Hadrizahens was almost accused of? He considered himself lucky that he was getting away so easily.
However, it still upset him deeply. It wasn't just the fact that he had been accused of lying and upsetting the Sentinels, but it was also that Podoim and Taudi were utterly deaf to the Traveller's warnings. The trading outpost was in danger and no amount of spared revenue from keeping it in this location would save them from the wrath of a madenned Sentinel attack. Hadrizahens had seen for himself what just a small swarm of Sentinels were capable of. Even if the two other Korvax didn't believe a word of what he or the Traveller had said, Hadrizahens didn't wish any harm to befall them. He didn't know what to do. He looked down at his formerly damaged leg, marveling at the expert work Scientist Entity Podoim had done in making the repairs. It appeared as though it had never been damaged in the first place. It also didn't appear as though it had been recently repaired with brand new parts, but beggars could not be choosers. Hadrizahens was content with being mobile once again. Even if it meant owing Podoim a favor in the future. He knew that the scientist would not allow Hadrizahens to get away with a free favor.
He stood up and walked towards the window in his room, waiting for the lens that covered the glass to sense his movement and open for him to stare outside. The sensors on the window lit up quickly and the window lens retreated into the frame. The sky was still dark and the rain showed no signs of stopping soon. A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky as the rain kept pouring onto the cylindrical roof and washing down the sides. The weather was oddly fitting for his unrest. At least the super heated lightning and the boiling rain that Cireenob XV were known for would keep other inhabitants inside and safe from any further rogue Sentinels.
Hadrizahens jumped in surprise when he heard the door unlock and open behind him, having been lost in his own forlorn calculations and predictions for the future. He spun around quickly, ready to stand at attention for whomever was walking inside. Should it be Merchant Entity Taudi, he did not want to risk angering them further by being caught in the middle of a daydream. It was inefficient and a waste of energy. With his head held up and hands at his side, Hadrizahens waited to be addressed. It was not Taudi who entered the room, but Taskmaster Orzhoku.
"What chore has Merchant Entity Taudi sent you to instruct me to do?" Hadrizahens asked promptly. He felt confident that this was what the odd visit from Orzhoku must be about. After all, it wasn't as though the old Korvax could be paying him a friendly visit. Orzhoku had remained absolutely silent during the testimony of the Traveller, and when Hadrizahens had been reprimanded by Taudi. He was still bitter that the elder Korvax hadn't said a thing on his behalf.
"I am not here on Taudi's behalf. I am here on your's." Orzhoku explained dismissively, waving their hand in the air as though to dispel any such conceptions.
Hadrizahens could not help but be suspicious of Orzhoku's motives, not after Orzhoku had rolled over helplessly like an organic beast displaying its belly in defeat once Merchant Entity Taudi had begun raving about the False Traveller. "Elaborate."
"Entity Hadrizahens…" Orzhoku began heavily. The older Korvax invited themself further into Hadrizahens', moving with an unexpected fragility. Perhaps it was the weather and the humidity wearing on the ball joints and gears of the old taskmaster. Hadrizahens had never known Orzhoku to be a spritely Korvax during the time that he had spent on the outpost. Orzhoku's casing was worn and old and in need of a complete overhaul, but this sluggishness was different. There was something greater than rusted panels and gritty wires that wore Orzhoku down. Without another thought, Hadrizahens quickly stepped out of the way to offer the elder Korvax a seat in the chair that was positioned next to the window. Seeing Orzhoku struggling the way they were washed whatever bitterness remained in his systems away completely. Orzhoku accepted the offer wordlessly and lowered themselves into the chair. Hadrizahens thought he could hear a creaking sound as the casing settled.
"Things certainly do seem to be going sideways, don't they?" Orzhoku commented with levity that went unappreciated by Hadrizahens. Some Korvax could not detect the nuances of sarcasm, as there was no use for it within their native culture. Hadrizahens was not one of these Korvax, he just didn't appreciate the use of it at this moment.
"I suppose your assessment is accurate…" Hadrizahens said, watching the older Korvax carefully. He wished they would just get to the point of why they had stopped for a visit, but he knew it would be rude to rush them. Orzhoku was still classified as a superior to Hadrizahens within the workforce hierarchy on this outpost, after all.
"When I first sensed the unrest coming over our planet, I felt it would have been wise to warn you about it. I know you have an inquisitive mind, and I did not wish any harm to come of it. But I had no way to know that the unrest was coming from the Sentinels themselves…" Orzhoku began speaking. It seemed as though they were continuing a conversation that they had started on their own. "Thank the Atlas the Traveller was close by to rescue you from them."
Hadrizahens took a moment to determine how to respond. He was shocked to hear that the strange feeling that Orzhoku was having could be traced back to the Sentinels themselves. Or was it? It was true that the Korvax lived in harmony with the Sentinels, as they were the enforcers of the Atlas itself, and the protectors of the Atlas's creation… but it seemed nonsensical that Orzhoku could have detected the change in them. It had to be folly, or sheer coincidence. Orzhoku was old, their systems faulty. The disturbance that Orzhoku felt could have just as easily been the early monsoon they were currently trapped in. More importantly, though, was the realization that Orzhoku did, in fact, believe the testimony of Hadrizahens and the Traveller. Perhaps it should not have come as such a shock to the young Korvax, as Orzhoku was far more reasonable than Taudi and Podoim. But why hadn't Orzhoku said anything if they believed what Hadrizahens and the Traveller had reported?
"You are surprised that I take you at your word?" Orzhoku mused after the long silence from Hadrizahens, evidently deeming the time they had given the young Korvax to think about everything long enough.
"Well… yes." Hadrizahens admitted simply, not knowing what else to say.
Orzhoku chuckled and leaned back in the chair more comfortably. They folded their hands across their chest and watched Hadrizahens closely, taking note of his reactions. "I have no reason to distrust you. You are an honest, hardworking Korvax with no malice in your programming. There is no motive for you to agitate the Sentinels. Nor is there any reason to believe that you would out of boredom or a sudden flush of delinquency. Besides that, the Traveller Entity was on your side. Adamantly so, I would state."
"I suppose…" Hadrizahens admitted. He hadn't given much thought about how aggressively defensive the Traveller had been about Hadrizahens last evening. From protecting him from the Sentinels to protecting him from Taudi's accusations… He suddenly felt rather unworthy. He was just a simple merchant assistant entity, which was just a glorified way of saying janitorial entity. What made him so worth standing up for in the eyes of a deity?
"You have gained the Traveller's favor whether you intended to or not, Hadrizahens. This much is certain. Even Merchant Entity Taudi and Scientist Entity Podoim see it. Perhaps that is why they punish you so greatly for a transgression you never committed." Orzhoku began to ramble thoughtfully, following their new tangent for a moment. But something brought them back suddenly. A change fell over the elder Korvax as they fixed Hadrizahens in their gaze. "There is no point in denying it as they have. Not now. Not when this might be your only chance."
Was Orzhoku finally and truly losing their grip on reality? Was the humidity affecting their processor? Hadrizahens shifted uneasily under Orzhoku's sudden scrutiny. "My only chance at what? What are you trying to communicate? Further elaboration is required."
Orzhoku spoke once more, indulging Hadrizahens' request, but with a darker tone. "You saw it for yourself, Young Echo. The Sentinels swarmed and attacked you without warning. Had you allowed it, they would have reduced your casing to nothing more than melted slag."
Hadrizahens shuddered involuntarily at the fearful memory. It was still too close in his short term memory banks for him to not respond as though he were reliving it. But Orzhoku's words did not alleviate Hadrizahens' confusion. "Why do you speak of this?"
"The Traveller confirmed; this planet is not safe. Not anymore. Not for long, at least. A sickness is spreading here, and as long as we remain, we will be in danger." Orzhoku explained darkly. Hadrizahens couldn't escape the piercing gaze of Orzhoku's visor or the piercing truth of their words. This was the concern that was eating away at Hadrizahens' background processing power since he had returned from the observatory and it was just as inescapable as the look that Orzhoku had fixed Hadrizahens with.
"What compels you to speak with me? I have no authority. Exchange data with Merchant Entity Taudi." Hadrizahens said quickly, hoping to dismiss Orzhoku and relieve himself of the burden of Orzhoku's stare and their words. He couldn't look directly at the elder Korvax, but he could feel that Orzhoku did not share that same issue.
"Merchant Entity Taudi won't listen to reason outside of his own revenue projections, you know that. And Scientist Entity Podoim is too enraptured by his biological discoveries to answer any communications. Instead, I will listen to the words of The Traveller. Their wisdom and bravery will guide my actions now. I will do what I can to assist the Favored Entity." Orzhoku said with a conviction that reverberated deep inside of Hadrizahens' casing. It was haunting. On one hand, it sounded as though Taskmaster Orzhoku had seen a glimpse of the truth of the Atlas. On the other, it seemed as though the moment Orzhoku was reasonable and sound of mind, they began spouting utter nonsense.
"What are you talking about?" Hadrizahens was almost afraid to receive an answer.
"During one of my rest cycles, I endured a strange projection. I thought it might have come from my own faulty processor at the time, as it was… inane… utter illogicality and calculations that strung off to nowhere. Mathematical impossibilities. I dismissed it once I powered on the next solar cycle, but it did not leave my memory banks. Despite my best efforts to delete the useless data, I was never able to compel myself to destroy it completely. I thought my processor was finally failing and that this casing would finally give out on me, that I would be allowed to join the Convergence after my long stay in this physical form… but now I have doubts. With everything that has occurred in these last few days, I am starting to think that it was not the product of a failing processor, but a sign. A vision." Orzhoku explained with an odd desperation.
Hadrizahens had serious doubts about the validity of Orzhoku's claims, but at least the elder Korvax seemed to be aware of how insane it all sounded. "It could still be. The statistical probability of events coinciding with a failing processor's projections are just as likely as being gifted a vision. You are no Priest Entity, Orzhoku. There is no reason to assume that what you saw was a prophecy."
Orzhoku grumbled impatiently, shaking their head at Hadrizahens. They seemed frustrated with the lack of Hadrizahens' good will and trust, or maybe frustrated with themself for thinking Hadrizahens would accept their words so easily. "You do not believe me, and that is logical of you. I should be glad that you do not mindlessly chase after whatever folly crosses your mind, Young Echo…"
Hadrizahens felt the disappointment behind Orzhoku's voice, whether or not Orzhoku meant for it to be there. It upset the young Korvax, though he did not know why. It might have been because the elder Korvax had trusted him, but he had not extended the same courtesy. But how could he? Orzhoku was a former merchant, now taskmaster, at an outpost on the outer rim of the galaxy. Why would they be chosen as a vessel of the Word of The Atlas?
"...None of this data is probable, Taskmaster Entity Orzhoku…" Hadrizahens said gently, hoping to comfort the poor, old automaton. He reached a hand out gently to lay it on Orzhoku.
"Probability be damned." Orzhoku snapped, pulling away from Hadrizahens. Their visor once again fixed Hadrizahens in that unsettling gaze of pure determination. Mixed with the proclamation of near heresy, Hadrizahens was frozen to the spot. "You did not listen to me, Entity Hadrizahens. You do not hear. Open your processor. Run the statistics on our scenario; A Traveller has arrived on our planet, out of all of the planets in the galaxy. A Traveller. Here. Just as the Sentinels began to lose themselves. A Traveller arrived on this planet for business, then left for that business, but returned in time to save the life of a young Korvax entity they had met at one of the numerous trading outposts on the planet's surface. Tell me the numbers, Hadrizahens. Do the calculations on how likely it is that you would gain the favor of one of The Atlas's Chosen, and that they would save you from certain death."
Hadrizahens ran the calculations quickly, out of fear. It was an automatic response to being ordered by a superior. He was given a mechanical command and he responded automatically, but he was still a sentient being. He heard what Orzhoku had said. He understood the words and the implications. It flustered him. It made him afraid. Orzhoku was speaking in utter madness, but the calculations didn't lie. Calculating how many solar systems were contained within the galaxy, how many planets, how many outposts on each planet, on this planet, adding in the likelihood of the Traveller being in this quadrant, the likelihood of the Traveller being at the right place at the right time, for each variable to fall perfectly into place for them to be where they are now. Hadrizahens was drowning in numbers. His vision was swimming with the variables and statistics. He couldn't see. His coolant systems started to kick in, desperately trying to keep his casing from overheating as he frantically ran the numbers and came up with more variables. It was too much. No Korvax was meant to calculate the infinite. He had to shut down the calculations or be lost to them forever. His body heaved and expelled a loud puff of steam as he canceled his task. He weakly looked up at Orzhoku, understanding what the older Korvax was trying to say.
"I-... I can't… it's impossible…" Hadrizahens stuttered. His vocal processor was struggling to function correctly as he cooled down. He had the feeling the lights in his visor were flashing as well. "It's a logical infallacy to assume that the odds of these stream of events-…"
"...Are more likely to be a wild coincidence than it is to believe that this was meant to be." Orzhoku finished stoically, not looking away from Hadrizahens. "The calculations don't lie, Hadrizahens. I ran them as well."
Defeated and exhausted, Hadrizahens hung his head and heaved a deep sigh to help cool his body. "...So you had a vision… what did it tell you? What are we meant to do?"
"Unfortunately, Young Echo, there is no 'we' now." Orzhoku said softly, placing a hand on Hadrizahens' head.
Hadrizahens looked up at Orzhoku suddenly, a great fear gripping him. "Elaborate. Now."
"Do not be concerned for our safety, Hadrizahens. Your path simply leads elsewhere." Orzhoku explained comfortingly. The tone did indeed put Hadrizahens more at ease. "The vision showed me things that not even the Convergence would have knowledge of. I did not understand the raw data at the time, but I feel confident enough to extrapolate a loose meaning given our new context."
"What does the data tell you?" Hadrizahens asked again, becoming impatient. If only Orzhoku would get to the point more promptly. Especially with information as critical as this.
"...How do you feel about space travel, Favored One?" Orzhoku said with a jockular tone to their voice.
Hadrizahens understood what Orzhoku was attempting to imply with their deceptive levity. He sat up quickly and stared at the older Korvax, disbelief plain in his actions. "Your implications border on dissidence to The Atlas, Taskmaster Entity Orzhoku."
Orzhoku chuckled again and waved a hand dismissively. "I do not think The Atlas will be offended by the business of its Travellers, Hadrizahens."
"I will not leave this outpost, Taskmaster Entity. I am designated to stay here and complete tasks for the sake of the community on the outpost." Hadrizahens said firmly. He didn't dare to entertain the thought of leaving. He couldn't. If he allowed to imagine that possibility, he would not be able to return to working at whatever meaningless task Taudi assigned him to. It was too dangerous to entertain.
"The outpost will survive without you to scrub the organic slime off of the solar panels, I'm sorry to say. We managed before." Orzhoku explained with a tone of sympathetic amusement. "It is perhaps time for Merchant Entity Taudi to remember the value of manual labor, rather than ordering another lifeform to do every task for them."
"Merchant Entity Taudi would never allow this…" Hadrizahens spoke bitterly as soon as his superior was mentioned. And it was true. It wasn't that Taudi intentionally kept Hadrizahens from being happy, it was just that Taudi and Hadrizahens had two differing opinions on what was a hallmark of success and efficiency. Taudi's designation was as a merchant, and they fit that role perfectly. Hadrizahens' designation was as Taudi's assistant, and if Hadrizahens was to be perfectly honest with himself, that designation gave him no joy whatsoever. It wasn't Taudi's fault that Hadrizahens wanted more out of his existence than what he was given, but Taudi would never see things Hadrizahens did. There would be no reasoning with the merchant Korvax.
"Who cares about that computerized menace? Merchant Entity Taudi has the creativity of a standard datapad. You cannot expect them to comprehend the experience of a lifetime." Orzhoku scoffed, surprising Hadrizahens. It wasn't that Orzhoku was wrong in his character assessment, it was more that he was shocked that another entity agreed with him about Taudi. "You have the option to stay stagnant at this outpost, or go and see the universe. Why is there any hesitation in your decision? This is the logical best option. Especially for you."
Hadrizahens had a moment of panic. Did Orzhoku know about Hadrizahens' aspirations? He had tried to keep them secret, for fear of being called out as Divergent. As a member of a society with a shared consciousness, he should be grateful and pleased to serve whatever position he was given. Wishing for more was not only selfish, but a sign of higher individualistic thought. He had worked so hard to keep these things to himself. How could Orzhoku possibly know?
"I don't know what you mean." Hadrizahens said quickly, trying to hide his impulsive reaction.
Orzhoku wasn't convinced, but neither was he upset. Instead, he spoke with a level of soft endearment. "I know what your Echo longs for, Hadrizahens. You have managed to fool Taudi and Podoim only through the virtue of their disinterest in your free time. But I've seen you since you first came to this outpost. A bright new mind full of wonder and awe, so many questions, and so much in love with the ways of the universe… I've seen you cataloguing the lifeforms on this planet when you complete your tasks. You were not meant to be stranded on the outer rim of the galaxy, dealing with shipments of goods for strangers. You were meant to explore."
"But my designation-..." Hadrizahens began to argue.
"Means nothing." Orzhoku interrupted. "Designations can be changed, but who you are cannot. The Atlas does not make mistakes. You were meant for this."
Hadrizahens could not deny to the old Korvax that his deepest longings were of leaving this planet far behind him and seeing the expanses of the limitless universe. He wanted to discover and to explore. He wanted to add to the knowledge of the Convergence. He wanted to see it all. But this was not the longing of life forms such as Korvax. Somehow, he knew it was different. He knew it was deeper. It made him afraid.
"This feels like Divergent thought…" Hadrizahens admitted, knowing by now that it was foolish to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself. Orzhoku had made him feel silly too many times by now by reading him instantly. "...What if this is the beginning of Disconnection?"
"The Convergence reaches everywhere in the galaxy, Hadrizahens. It goes wherever you go because it is within you. If you keep in close to you, you will not lose it. Divergency is a choice, Hadrizahens. A Korvax must choose to turn their back on the Convergence. If they are lost, they have the choice to return. You will not lose the Convergence unless it is of your own will. Every Korvax who has been lost to the Convergence has done it of their own choosing." Orzhoku explained gently. Hadrizahens already knew all of this, at least in part, but it was still comforting to hear. "Even if you should lose the Song of the Convergence, you will not be alone, Favored One."
"This is not a proper new designation…" Hadrizahens muttered softly in response. It still felt wrong to make assumptions for the Traveller, or to pretend to know their mind.
"Well, it doesn't make it less true. You do have the Traveller's favor." Orzhoku said.
"Favor is not equivalent to companionship. You are confident in your assertions that I will convince the Traveller to take me with them. There is no reason for them to. I am a merchant assistant entity by official designation. A more suitable companion for a Traveller would be a merchant entity, or a science entity such as Taudi or Podoim." Hadrizahens admitted almost bitterly.
"The Traveller Entity finds Scientist Entity Podoim distasteful for wronging you and is clearly repelled by them, and Merchant Entity overcharged the Traveller for supplies. The Traveller has no reason to trust either of them. But the Traveller is drawn to you. I believe they can see you for what you are meant to be." Orzhoku explained patiently.
Aside from being utterly shocked that Podoim would overcharge the Traveller for basic supplies, Hadrizahens was still unmoved by Orzhoku's words. Though he did agree that the Traveller was right in not trusting either Podoim or Taudi. "What reason would the Traveller have to accept me? It is illogical for them to take on a complete stranger, even if one has no reason to distrust them outright."
Orzhoku settled into the chair once again, their casing making a groaning sound as they moved. Hadrizahens watched curiously as Orzhoku scanned through their memory banks for the appropriate response.
"In the vision that I had, I was given an understanding of a thing that I did not yet identify. As I said before, I now have the context required to extrapolate some sort of meaning. This is what I have come to conclude;
We know that the Travellers are of The Atlas. They are venerated above other life forms, as it is said that they came from the Atlas directly, unlike you or I. Our race's origin begins with The Atlas, but each Traveller comes from The Atlas itself. They possess abilities that we cannot fathom, they know truths we do not, and they are held above by every race across the galaxy. Wherever their restless thirst for exploration takes them, they are treated as beings beyond comprehension. As perhaps they should be." Orzhoku explained.
"Yes, of course…" Hadrizahens interrupted, "But I know of this. I know the story of the Travellers and why they are to be worshipped and respected. Why reiterate?"
"To bring a new perspective to your attention with the proper CONTEXT, Hadrizahens." Orzhoku said insistently.
"What perspective?" Hadrizahens asked.
"That of the Travellers themselves. That was what I learned in my vision, Hadrizahens. Imagine being created from nothingness, born into existence spontaneously, and then set out upon an infinite universe with only one purpose; explore. For you, it may sound like a blessing, but you were born into a society, you were born with companions. Travellers are few and far between. They have no culture, no society, no home. They wander endlessly, searching… and for what? We don't know. What if they are also unaware? What must it be like to go from world to world, seeing so many species with somewhere to belong? What must it be like to make contact with other beings, only to be deified and worshipped instead of understood?" Orzhoku watched Hadrizahens closely, waiting for his understanding.
Being a Korvax, Hadrizahens had never experienced what it meant to be truly alone. The collective mind of his race had always been with him. From the moment his Echo was breathed into existence and housed within his casing, he had always been connected to his own kind. It was such a comforting, whole feeling for his race that being separated from this connection was collectively the greatest fear of his kind. Imagining what Orzhoku had just described was impossible, simply by virtue of what he was, but he understood what Orzhoku was saying.
"...Travellers must be very lonely…" Hadrizahens finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. He couldn't bring himself to speak more loudly due to the weight of what he had envisioned. The Traveller that visited their outpost had seemed so friendly and welcoming. Now Hadrizahens understood why.
"Indeed." Orzhoku nodded gravely. "That is why I believe you have a chance. Your Echo is strong, Hadrizahens. It will not fail in the face of adversity. I have seen it, and the Traveller must have seen it as well. There is something in you that draws the Traveller to you. You are a restless Echo of the Convergence, and I do not think the nomadic lifestyle of a Traveller will take its toll on you as it might upon me."
"I've never left this planet… not since arriving here…" Hadrizahens spoke softly, still hesitant to make such a permanent decision.
"But you have fantasized about it." Orzhoku teased softly.
"Running scenarios in one's own mind is not comparable to taking action…" Hadrizahens retorted, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He couldn't deny now that he had wanted to live a life of exploration, but it was easier to dream than it was to face the reality. Reality had consequences. Unknowns.
"True, but you are a clever Korvax. I am not concerned for your safety. You have a strong mind. You have both creative thought and logical reasoning as your tools, which makes you quite an unstoppable force. You will find a way in the galaxy. It may not be the most obvious path, but this is the path to begin on. I know it. There are too many variables to make this a coincidence." Orzhoku teased Hadrizahens once again.
Orzhoku was right. Hadrizahens had run the numbers himself. But numbers did nothing to dispel his unease, or his guilt.
"What about the Sentinels? What about the outpost?" Hadrizahens asked finally. It felt wrong of him to run away with a Traveller like he was part of some sort of fairy tale. Not when he had responsibilities to his fellow Korvax. Especially not when he was running away to save himself and leave behind other companions. Though he was not overly fond of Merchant Entity Taudi or Scientist Entity Podoim, he did not wish anything to happen to them. He would do whatever he could to keep them from being hurt. Besides the two of them, there was Taskmaster Entity Orzhoku. The thought of leaving them behind to a crazed Sentinel swarm was far more than he could allow himself to do.
"That is not for you to worry about, as it is not part of your path. Leave that to me." Orzhoku began to say. Hadrizahens tried to retort, to say that Orzhoku couldn't possibly hold off a swarm of Sentinels, but Orzhoku stopped Hadrizahens from speaking. "What good will your presence here do? You will not be able to stop the Sentinels any more than I will. You will not make a difference. The only thing your presence here will accomplish is to make Merchant Entity Taudi even less likely to listen to reason. You would just be a constant reminder that you disobeyed their wishes and were rewarded with the favor of the Traveller Entity for it. No amount of time or data will allow Taudi to change their mind about that as long as you remain here. They are too stubborn. Once you are gone, I will influence Taudi. I have some authority here, even now. I will convince them to evacuate when the time comes."
"Are you sure you will be able to?" Hadrizahens asked.
"No, but I will not risk my own casing if Taudi continues to be as stubborn as a rusted rivet." Orzhoku reassured Hadrizahens.
A sensation of sadness washed through Hadrizahens as soon as he realized that he had no further fears to voice or statements to stall with. He met Taskmaster Entity Orzhoku's gaze with his own, their scanners fixed on each other. Hadrizahens felt a connection with the older Korvax in that moment. He could feel an affection in Orzhoku that he had never noticed before. It did nothing to assuage his guilt, but he understood that Orzhoku would not allow him to stay.
"...Then… i suppose this is goodbye…" Hadrizahens finally spoke. It took careful monitoring of his functions to ensure that his voice remained steady. Why should he be the one to escape with the Traveller? Why couldn't they all leave? Why did he have to leave Orzhoku behind? Hadrizahens identified these feelings as preemptive loss, and he knew the implications of it. Korvax should not have such feelings. There was no logic in missing another Korvax, as they were all bound together through the Convergence. But identifying and understanding the feeling did not help Hadrizahens to chase it away. He knew how he felt, and he knew that he would miss the older Korvax. Especially now that it was so apparent that they had been taking care of him from the very beginning.
Hadrizahens thought that he would never find a way out of his sorrowful thoughts, until a tight grip on his shoulder shook him out of his own mind. Orzhoku was still observing him closely in that unwavering gaze that Hadrizahens no longer felt unsettled by.
"You will do exceptionally." Orzhoku affirmed to the young Korvax. Hadrizahens rested his hand over Orzhoku's as soon as the old Korvax's grip tightened further, clasping it in return. The two Korvax stood and stared at each other for a long time. To every living creature on the planet, it would appear as though the two sat in utter silence. They could not detect the reverberating echoes that passed through the two life forms. They couldn't hear the buzz of the electronic voices, moulded together and singing in perfect harmony through the reaches of time and space. The connection was made of the souls of biomechanical life energy, and they were the only ones who could join in the song. They were the only ones who needed to hear it. The song rose and fell with the pulsing of energy between the two entities, it was alive like they were and it bound them together. Finally, it faded and they were left with silence, but the echoes of the song stayed inside of them. The bond would not fade easily, as they were as close to family as biomechanical life could be.
"Do not keep the Traveller waiting for long, young one." Orzhoku instructed, giving Hadrizahens' shoulder plate one last pat. It weighed heavily on Hadrizahens, but his conviction did not fade. "Your Echo shines brighter than any of the others on this planet, and it is now time to share that light with the rest of the galaxy. Go, Young Echo. Go see the stars. Count them for me."