Note: the commentary below was written when I rewrote this chapter about a year back. The rewrite has been slow as a lot of unfortunate things have happened in my life. The most recent is my mother's passing. This may effect some of the future chapters since I have a tendency letting out my emotions when writing my fanfictions.
There is a structure in this place, one all must follow. Everyone working here full time has been granted a room, one they must keep presentable. If they don't, the captain that checks each of their rooms once per week will either command them to clean their mess or take it up with this person's superior for further discipline; depending on how often the person does not keep up to it the facility's standards. This cleaning rule is extra strict on the doctors, as they tend samples and tools that no one can risk getting decontaminated.
This rule isn't much of a problem for Josef, he likes to keep his room nifty and organized. The same with the laboratory given to his research, but he has a problem with the captain's interruptions when doing the checkup. That man had an infuriating habit of removing objects from their given spots, opening shelves, and sticking his sweaty fingers through the folded clothing. It's like he wants to find something so he can tattle on the higher-ups, but all he can do is nitpick, something they both know Josef can't get in trouble for.
The captain has never liked him, but maybe it's because he isn't like the other doctors there who likes to spend all day behind a magnifying glass, wanting to keep people at a distance.
Josef is not like that, for him, personal space is overrated and he wants to get his hands dirty. Preferable blood.
He has always been fascinated by how the body works, and for as long as he can remember, been dissecting whatever he could get his hands on. Might have caused a minor mass extinction in his father's private pond, but those critters paid their life for a good cause, helping him to get one step further in reaching higher education. One which allowed him to dissect people. He learned a lot, but medical school was relatively lacking in what Josef wanted.
So he started to seek other means to widen his medical knowledge, making him (in his own opinion) one of the greater doctors in Europe. But even after all that medical experience, Josef had to take this low-grade job.
Instead of carving up new inventions to expand the art of medicine, he is struck to play nurse for a bunch of kids.
It is his structure, and Josef hates it; he finds no joy in starting to work, knowing what he has to do is something a novice doctor could do. The only time he finds his job just a tad interesting is when the facility needs to tend to whatever platoon of soldiers passing through. It gives him a tiny taste of what he wants; to be out on the field, to see what battle does to the body. Those times are like a light of a candle for him, but he's not allowed to try any of his theories about mending a body after such traumas. Did once try, but the higher officer wasn't pleased with the outcome at all. Josef still is annoyed the man hadn't appreciated his attempt to save one of his soldiers: that soldier could walk again. So what was the problem he took the leg of an already dead man? It wasn't like that one was going to use it.
The routine is not only about the cleaning duty; it also involves when they are allowed to eat. This rule is highly irritating for someone like Josef. He does not like when people tell him when he's allowed to eat. Tried to argue with Ross about it, but that man is stuck in structure as a pole in cement. Ross is impossible to argue— let alone have a constructive conversation with. Straying from the rules just a tiny bit is insurrection and Ross will put the hammer down hard on the offender. Josef learned about that trait when he tried to have more freedom when he ate. Now, Ross monitors him sharply if he shows up in the cantina and will punish him if Josef decides to ignore the structure.
If Ross didn't hold his entire reputation thanks to his connections with the Magisterium, then Josef would have quit this job ages ago. But for now… he has to endure this bore of a job and keep kissing up to the higher-ups. Maybe soon, they will throw him a bone and allow him to get a job more suited for his personal presence.
Maybe fixing up that unique scrawny young man will be what it takes. If not, then perhaps it's time to find a job out in the middle of nowhere. Might be fun, he could be lucky to encounter a plague.
After having dressed himself for today's grind, Josef feeds his doves, all which are inside a large cage, trapped as he feels. It's one of the other things Ross hit hard down over him, Josef is allowed to have his pets, but they may never leave the cage. It has affected his birds mood, they aren't as sociable as they used to and Josef has more than once considered setting them free. This isn't fair for them, but he just can't make himself release the only source of joy he got in this place.
Archimedes coos on his shoulder and giving him a quick pet, Josef heads to the cantina before Ross tightens the noose around him further.
Like any other day, the cantina is filled with people, all waiting in line to get whatever they now eat as breakfast. Magisterium might be a bully regarding rules, but they serve a nice variety of food. Too bad Josef is not hungry to actually enjoy it. Still, with one of Ross's cheerleaders, he takes whatever food is now near him and finds a spot to force it down. He finds a spot near where other doctors are and tries to engage in conversation, "Any new command from the top up?" he asks, figuring it's best to be in the loop.
The nearest to him, is a man whose years are really starting to show. He always looks so tired, and Josef sometimes wonders if Hans here ever gets any sleep or if he drones away in reaching the unlikely promotion. "Weren't you at the briefing?" Hans asks him; he sounds surprised and understandable so, Josef does not fancy missing these briefings. He likes to know what is going on in his workplace.
"No, our head engineer wanted my attendants." He replies to the once blond man, now that hair looks white and it suits him, but Josef doubts Hans sees it that way. "He assigned me to be some young man's personal doctor." Which makes him wonder, "What do you know about that one?"
"Only in need to know." Another doctor, one Josef yet has learned the name of, but he is easy to recognize. That guy got the most annoying lisp. "He's not allowed near the children, and any question asked shall be directed to Frank Conagher."
Huh, interesting. Why all of these safety measures for that young man? Is he really that much of a troublemaker? "Frank did mention he was an unruly sort."
"You got your hands full with that one." Hans remarks. He chews a bit on the cold-cut bread he made himself before pointing his butter knife at him. "But why you got this special command is leaving me confused."
Please, Hans knows why. "Because I am the best in the field." He voices, the others might not like it, but Josef is proud knowing he is good at what he does.
"Rule breakers shouldn't get rewarded." Fabian grumbles; he likes to do that. Still bitter that even after all of his years wasted here, he's still nothing near the rank as Ross. But that's the man's fault. He won't rise in ranks with his field of expertise. Fabian would do better in a lap that studies medicine, but that guy is too stubborn to realize his talents are wasted here.
He can't help but laugh at what the oldest of the group said: "For me, it looks like what I have been doing is why they wanted me for this special task." The three stare annoyed at him, but they know he is right. Josef is brilliant and has proven how good he is with his past stunts. They and the higher-ups will never say it, but they know he is more than capable; that is why they assigned him to make that unique daemon settle into one form. It's a pity they don't see the potential in more people having a daemon that can continue to change shape, but they want to keep their structure, and an adult with a child daemon does not fit that mold.
"Doctor Ludwig." Surprised, he turns away from his coworkers to face Frank Conagher, the man waves him over, and he abandons his mostly untouched food to see what the head engineer wants to speak about. The head engineer brings them away from the cantina and to the mostly empty hallways. "I would like you to start right away with thuh boy. Thuh sooner his daemon settles, thuh better."
Not even having time to gossip or pretend he enjoys eating food this early. 'I wonder why he's so impatient for me to fix that daemon?' Isn't anyone interested as to why this abnormality occurred? How they can use it and maybe in later terms, repeat this abnormally on others. "I need time to understand why he has such a daemon," Josef voices and never missing an opportunity when it occurs. "and better equipment. This isn't a simple medical exam after all."
"Whatever you need, as long it will lead to thuh resolution; I will grant thuh permission."
Well, that's nice to know this young man is his ticket to get better gear for his own research. Now to the catch; "How do you suggest I gain this one's trust?" Honestly, Josef is not exactly the person people will come to trust after he's done with the procedure. He doesn't console to ease his patient's fear, and lying feels like a waste of time for him.
Frank Conagher looks at him as if he had said a vulgar joke. "I know kindness isn't exactly in your personality resume, but you don't have to bay kind. Just make sure he obeys thuh rules and stops makin' a fuss."
"Like coming near the children."
Frank nods, "Exactly. Reunitin' him with them is his goal, and he will bay denied until he submits to thuh rules."
Okay, so he has to use those children as that young man's motivation, not how he would've done it. Bodily threats worked better when he dealt with the annoying sort. "Can I decide when he can the children, or do I need to go through you first?"
"Such decisions are up to me."
Figures, no way he would be allowed such control over that young man. "Understood." He nods to the old engineer and Mr. Conagher dismisses him. Josef heads straight to his laboratory to set up for the checkups and examinations he will be doing during the day. It's a tedious task but important. Has to be sure his testing isn't contaminated or screwed up by something simple as a misplaced medical tool.
But what the head engineer has commanded of him, it's not just yet another checkup; it's an experiment, a mystery that involves that young man's daemon. One who has given him a ticket to perhaps the best technology that exists, which should help him "cure" that young man, and such gear would help him further his personal research. An opportunity Josef can't let pass.
"Hm, I wonder how long I can string them along." Josef wonders to himself, for that young man will allow him technology and materials he couldn't get his hands on otherwise, but there is a fine line in how long he can delay curing that one.
The sound of tiny claws clicking against the shelf where Josef keeps most of his disinfected tools. Archimedes lets out a small 'coo,' and he glances up at the white dove above him. "Agree, this is a great opportunity. And who knows." Josef chuckles as he closes the glassy door, shielding the rest of the tools from dust and whatnot outside the shelf's wooden walls. "Maybe I will figure out how to make you talk. Wouldn't that be fun?" He asks the white dove. Archimedes responds by flying back to his shoulder, making a few soft 'coo' sounds. Josef smiles, partly at his companion's gentle antic, but mostly amused by the thought of his silly idea becoming a reality.
Knowing Frank, the young man will arrive about an hour after breakfast. So he got plenty of time to prepare the paper— "Hey doc, whatcha the test about?" the young man steps into the room.
Josef slowly turns away from his desk and to the young man, debating if he should be bemused or straight out annoyed that this young man came stupidly early. Does makes up for it when noticing that the daemon is no longer a swallow but a terrier mix, trotting around the young man's legs. 'He does indeed have a child's daemon.' and the quick observing, 'And it looks like she's not like a moving statue like most daemons around here are.' for the young man's daemon does not hide that her human is rather anxious.
Quite interesting, and he looks forward of doing a few tests. But alas, a routine must be followed. "You came too early. I haven't finished the papers." But since the young man is here, he might as well spare him for the tedious work. Josef grabs the identification papers and hands them to his new patient, not moving from his spot. "So you can kill time filling this one out."
"Oh, okay." The young man takes the paper, snatches a pen, and walks to the nearby table to write. For a while, the only sounds are the pens against paper and his birds chatting inside their prison. This semi-silence does break at the young man asking; "What does it mean by "regoised feathers?"" Josef looks up at this, at first confused about what this one spoke about, but then he realizes; 'Has he trouble reading?' If that's the case, then Josef has to figure out the reason. It better not be out of plain stupidity; he hates dealing with stupid people. "Recognizable features," he translates and after a short frown, the young man asks: "Like what? Do you want something that puts me apart from other people— because that's my daemon"
So he noticed, and it looks like this young man may perhaps not be a genius, but he isn't dimwitted either. If lucky, he only got an issue in reading, maybe a fixable eye problem. But back to topic, "No no, not like that. Marks on your body, something a doctor should be able to identify you if you turn out dead." The young man pales at his insinuation. Josef ignores it, busier at adjusting his papers to this unusual young man. "You can put the scar under your left eye, and if you got any birthmarks or scars. Add them to this list too."
The young man hesitates but slowly returns to the paper, writing down what he thinks will separate him from others.
Josef finishes his papers, gets up and collects the paper the young man did. The very first thing he does is look at the name. Next he skims the rest of the paper, which is filled with spelling mistakes. Josef inwardly groans at what that means: extra work. Ross won't tolerate this kind of mess, but for now, cleaning this writing mess up can wait. "Take off your shirt and go to the weight." He instructs Nathan, pointing at the spot with his pen. The young man does as told and reveals a bruised body; by how dark these bruises have become, that one has been beaten up not long ago. Josef wonders if the crew on the ship had done this or if the one Frank spoke about took the entire honor. Not it matters.
Checking the scale, Josef is not surprised at what the weight says. Writing that down, "Take a seat on the table." he points at said table, and Nathan leaves the scale and does just that. Josef grabs the gear needed for this, and is surprised that Nathan is incredibly healthy. His heart and lungs are strong, his reflexes superb and when checking his senses. Josef quickly realizes that sight is not the issue regarding this terrible grammar. His eyesight is fine, and hearing is good too.
"You are quite healthy; no medical issue I can find." He voices to Nathan while writing everything down. "Only thing you lack is a sense of grammar. Have you completed school?"
"Uh yeah." Nathan replies mockingly, like it should be common knowledge. Indeed it is; the Church demands that every child get at least ten years of education. Most schools teach children how to read, write, do match and believe in the Authority. There are other classes, but Josef can't remember, it was ages ago he was such a student.
It seems Nathan has gone through the basics, so either this one was a terrible student, or he got the worst teacher. 'perhaps I can persuade Frank to school Nathan.' for Josef rather be free of doing extra work. Speaking of which. "It will be all for today. You may leave."
Nathan seems a bit surprised by this, "That's all? No major tests?"
"They will come later." Josef replies and gestures at the door as the sign of this young man has to leave. Nathan does and with him out, Josef begins to clean up the many notes he made during the medical examination. When done with these, perhaps it's best to speak with the head engineer if he is planning on schooling Nathan alongside the children. 'It may improve on Nathan's poor reading and writing skills. If he refuses, then perhaps Frank is trying to remove the children entirely from that one's mind.' That might be the case, Josef has seen it happen to soldiers with strong family bonds. Such indoctrination takes time, though, and if they plan on sending Nathan to The Station, then really there's no need— unless Frank has other plans with Nathan. Josef stops writing on the cleaner medical papers, pondering further on that stray thought. "What is his goal with that young man? Doubt he's doing anything to help Nathan." Most likely only using him to figure out what is causing this quirk of the daemon.
Josef has heard stories about such people; the defiled. Said to be the descendants of the man that disguised himself as the snake, tempting the rest of humanity's ancestors; Adam and Eve. Josef has never been the biggest believer, been more likely to tear that old book apart with his natural curiosity that caused him to ask a ton of questions. His need to understand the world made him ask controversial questions and, in the end, made him very unpopular among his peers. Josef does not believe in the Authority, but he does think there might be some truth to that old book. "If Nathan is one of these Defiled, then what does Frank want?" Rolling the pen between his fingers and pondering this question, Josef quickly concludes that he needs to ask the man that question if he ever wants an answer.
He decides to ask the question right after having thrown the medical papers at Ross; finding the head engineer is tricky, more so when there is a big chance that Frank has left the facility altogether. Fortunately, Frank is still around, and with a bit of guidance from the patrolling soldiers, Josef finds the man.
Frank is tinkering with one of the security machines, and Josef cannot entirely say what it does, only that it will make it harder for the terrorists to invade. Hasn't happened in his time here, but Josef does know how dangerous these small teams of terrorists can be when they first decide to cause trouble. Frank hasn't noticed him, busier working and talking with one of the leading sentinels. No idea what this other old man's name is, only that he looks to share a close friendship with Frank from how both their daemon are relaxing. This sentinel does not look to be one of those charged to patrol the building, he's too frail to be a physical threat. That's where Josef notices a sniper rifle and that also explains the light-grey uniform that looks to have been hanging out in a dust field. It's like the dark-grey uniform most soldiers of the Magisterium wears, but this one will make him harder to spot on the roof. Josef is not sure if that man's long beard is naturally dusty grey, or if it turned like that from lying on the roof most of the time. The man's daemon; having the shape of some sort of owl, spins her head towards him. The sentinel says a few words to Frank and the head engineer turns to him. "Dr. Ludwig, what brings you here? Anythin' goin' well with your patient?"
He approaches the two men, not bothering himself with the dusty sentinel and ignoring the second question, "I am here regarding the young man you sent my way." Frank lifts his head ever so slightly upward towards him, his gaze now sharp. Knowing that look, he assures the head engineer. "He's not doing anything I can't handle. But there are a few things that got me quite puzzled."
"And what is them things?" Frank asks him, his voice might be leveled, but Josef can easily sense that Frank does not like he's asking questions. Figures. Most of the higher-ups want people to obey, not ask why they have to do what they are told.
Makes him wonder how much Frank is willing to tell him. "What's the end goal in the research of his daemon?" and quickly add, "Not that I complain, it is an interesting subject and might teach us the true reason for Settling, but what do you get out from it?"
The sentinel turns to Frank. His face is like stone, no emotions show and those beady eyes are as cold as a frozen lake. What I understand, Frank didn't spare him just so we can research somet'eng we already know."
"We don't know what truly causes Settling." Josef argues with the sentinel.
The man eyes him, but if he's pushing this subject too far, Josef does not know. that face is like a rock, unmoving and cold. "Dust is de cause."
He has researched these mysterious particles, like how Dust is only attracted by adults while ignoring children. Which makes the question, "But what in us attracts these particles? Are they attracted by that young man, or is he untouched like children? He's certainly not innocent or naïve, but with further research, we may find the answer of the true nature about our—"
"Dr. Ludwig." Frank interrupts him, "Don't git distracted from your given task; curin' this poor boy." Spoken condescending, as if he's a child that doesn't understand what he's talking about. It pisses Josef off, but he hides his true emotions behind a neutral face. "Nathan is a descendant of thuh snake thet tempted Eve. He must realize his ancestors' wile mistake and join thuh rest of us."
Oh, so they are going this way. "But isn't it the Church's goal to cleanse humanity from original sin? That young man does not carry that sin; his daemon is the proof of it." Josef argues, though finds this entire discussion about what some person wrote in an old dusty book has anything to do with this.
Frank's eyes narrow, he did not like that comeback at all. "Your job is to make Nathan's daemon settle. Don't ask these sorts of distractin' questions." The head engineer straightens up, a subtle sign of his superiority over him. "Do I make myself clear?"
What is it with these people not wanting to leave their comfort zone? 'Is everything not like them such a big threat?' Apparently so, and unfortunately, going against the grain has a very steep price. "Very much so."
"Good, now I think you should be conductin' some of your latest research."
Guess that's it. Josef leaves, but he does stop halfway out when overhearing the sentinel speak to Frank: "Better not get too attac'ed; if de doctor fails, then de Defiled has to be put down like de rest."
"I'm aware, Vigil." Frank replies and sighs, "It would be such a waste if they turn out to be truly dammed."
Having no wish to be caught eavesdropping, Josef quickly leaves, but it does reveal that if he didn't force a Settling onto Nathan, the young man would be killed. 'Not the first time someone's life is in my hands.' He muses to himself, and is used to such pressure, so he will not change his plans. There might be a stricter time limit, meaning he has to gather as much data as possible before the higher-ups pull the plug.
He may not be fully in the loop about what is going on with the scientists, but from what Ross has told him, Dr. Ludwig is the best in the field when it comes to daemon, though it was clear that he rather not give this other doctor his vote of confidence. Frank had to prod Ross about what caused so much chagrin from the head doctor. Turns out Dr. Ludwig is a rule breaker, and if not held in a tight leash, he will start wasting time and money on whatever experiment he finds interesting.
"It pains me to admit, but that man often finds success in his resolve. Unfortunately, Ludwig will always try to gain more ground, more resources and liberty for his own self-interest." Ross had explained to him.
After the conversation Frank had with that doctor, he can see that Josef will take the entire pie when he was permitted a slice. Something he has to be vigilant about, especially when Dr. Ludwig seems more interested in doing further research on Nathan's daemon instead of figuring out how to make it settle. "I don't like curious people." His old friend, Vigil remarks at his spot. The sniper of the facility stares after the leaving doctor. Frank does the same and is somewhat surprised that although he shut this doctor down, Dr. Ludwig has a strut of confidence. "Less so w'en they have an ego to boot."
Frank can see where his friend comes from; an inquisitive mind is a sort that constantly seeks questions, which can lead to asking questions no one should ask. The word of god is not to be questioned, less so by lesser beings such as themselves. "You'll let mah worry about this man." Instead, Vigil should focus more on the Intel he got from the facility in the Andean Nation. "You spoke about somethin' that has happened with our research facility in Biscucuy?"
Vigil nods curtly and out from his jacket, a slim folder. "It has been destroyed." Frank is startled to hear that, more so at his friend's following words; "Intel is sketchy, but from what I got. It was de terrorist's work."
"I thought we had gotten rid of them." Frank says, this past year has been blissfully quiet with the news of so many of these split groups going under the same title got destroyed. But if they missed one of them, then how in heaven's name did they know about that place? "How did they find that facility? It was hidden and got sum of thuh best security I have ever designed." Only higher buildings, such as the Magisterium headquarters and the Bishop's church have better security. "How did they git past thuh security?"
"I was hoping you could tell me that." Vigil says as he skims through the papers he got from that facility before he hands them to him. "All I know is that de entire building is gone. Very few surviv'rs."
Reading the little intel they got about what happened. The description of how the building got leveled from the ground, Frank quickly realized what the terrorist used to cause such destruction. "They went for thuh generator," This is a sort of consultation, "meanin' they got killed too. Few know how tah work on an Anbaricity generator."
"Can you name those people?"
Frank can't see a reason as to why, as he knows where each of these engineers is located practically all the time. "It won't bay any of mah top engineers. I keep tap on them and thuh one near thuh facility has been in Juliaca these past three months." He highly doubts this man would've sabotaged the facility, less so aiding the terrorists. He strongly disdained that group, considering he lost a leg during one of their past raids. "He's loyal, it couldn't have been him."
Vigil nods slowly, "Best you rep'rt this to the Deacon of Defence. He would demand answers as to why we lost that facility." he reclaims the papers, flipping a single page with; "at least our enemy lost men as well."
Frank nods, but cannot shake a crawling thought; about one he hasn't kept taps on for several years. No, Dell would never join the terrorists; he's not stupid enough to throw away everything and tarnish their name. 'He has been awfully distant after thuh tour father sent him on.' It troubles him as his father had some choice words against him after the family cleanup. That and Radigan rarely agreed with his employers, something Frank couldn't understand, less so when the Church did so much good for everyone. "Of course, and if it will make Grey feel better, I can inspect thuh site." Vigil nods before leaving him to finish his job on the machine. Frank turns to the machine, but before resuming work, he does a prayer. "Holy grace, help my son find his way." For if it was Dell who caused the destruction of that facility, then there's no way he did it of his free will.
Not when he got everything, a good family, a worthy job and a name most would recognize. And yet, for some reason, Dell keeps walking away from the good life placed before him... Exactly like his brother did. No, Dell isn't like that; he can't be. "What in tarnation does mah son want?" Frank has no idea but wishes his son soon will get a grip and stop acting so childish by pretending he's not a third generation of the Magisterium's best engineers.
Josef decided to speed up the progress a bit, by ignoring further physical examinations and schooling the young man's poor grammar. Instead he jumps right to the tests involving Nathan's daemon. Josef first wants to know how many shapes the daemon can take, "Do you know how many forms she has taken during your lifetime?" he asks, taking a comfortable seat at his desk chair. Nathan sits on the medical table; his daemon is currently in the shape of a multi-colored cat and stares intensely at Archimedes, who hides behind his neck from the predatory stare.
"I don't know" Nathan shrugs and retorts back a quite legit question. "Did you eva keep count back when your daemon could change shape?"
Fair point, but it does reveal that his daemon changes shape like a child; by the reaction to her human's emotions. That does lead to: "How often will you say she changes shape?"
"Usually most auf the time." Josef notices the slight sneer in the young man's voice; curious to what angers Nathan, he asks. "Care to elaborate? What changed?" Nathan sends him an angry look but voices his anger. "You people, everyone here wants me to become normal! Mr. Conagher won't get auff my back that I have to stick to one shape— and a part auf me wants to be normal, but it doesn't feel right!"
This is interesting, unlike most when they go through puberty, Nathan never went through the thoughts or emotions of wanting to see his daemon in a settled form. It does not bring him euphoria, quite the opposite in fact. "So, the longer your daemon sticks to one shape, the tension in you increases?" Nathan shrugs, but by how his daemon's gaze softens, she drops her gaze and that hunting posture. It's apparent his words hit quite right. Tapping the pen against his chin. "Interesting," Josef writes this down. Now to an observation, he made during these few days of visitations. "I have noticed your daemon prefers certain shapes; one of them is this calico cat." The young man huffs and continue to avoid his gaze altogether. Josef takes note at the worried look his soul partner gives him, 'hm, I wonder' and decides to put it to the test. "She is free to change shape in here."
Nathan straightens up at this, much more focused on the talk than he was a moment ago, "Really?" and visibly relaxes when the daemon changes into a rabbit.
He smiles, mostly at where this research is heading. "The question; does she have favorite forms?"
"Oh yeah, she has a few. I like them too, each close to my personality." A scowl appears above Nathan's eyes. "but I can't pick my favorite, so don't ask me."
Sounds like a certain head engineer may have been trying to solve that little mystery. But Josef is not interested in a singular shape. He's much more fascinated by the different forms showing Nathan's personality. "Can you tell me each of these favorite shapes and how they connect to you personally?"
"Uh well, I have neva really thought about this." Nathan admits, shifting slightly position on the bed. That's where his daemon speaks, "I want to be nimble and fast, and I enjoy company, so I like to be a rabbit, dog and swallow, but if someone pisses me off, then I will claw them in my cat fohm." It surprises Josef to hear someone's daemon talk directly to him. Yet, it is intriguing. In the Magisterium, severe punishment if a daemon speaks to someone other than their human. Which is why barely any daemon speak. This young man hasn't gotten through such a lesson, which quirks Josef interest. "Yeah, I really like to run, be where the action happens before any other." Nathan agrees with his daemon, having a big grin on his face.
"And you like being around people?" He asks, the daemon did say that.
Nathan nods. "Yeah, I mean, I don't like silence. Growing up with seven brothers, you gotta get used to constant noise. They are all slow as hell, so I'm always the one getting the first punch." Indeed someone living in the harsher part of a city and it may explain the lack of obedience, for it's not like the Church's laws abide in a place where it's pretty much every man for himself. The young man's face drops, and the daemon takes the terrier mix form. "Bet they are tearing up the city in their search fah me. It sucks I am an entire ocean away from them."
He misses his family, that much is clear. Josef does not fully know the feeling; he never had a strong relationship with either of his parents, and it's unclear if he got any siblings running around. Josef knows that he should lie by assuring Nathan here that he will see his family again, but from how things are, then there is a small chance he's ever going to leave this place. "So, your daemon's favorite forms are animals of speed or the social kind. Fascinating, there is a theme in the shapes." He writes that observation down. "What shapes does your daemon most often take?"
Nathan title his head upward, a small furrow at his brow. "Uhh, I think dat would be the rabbit, swallow, cat, and terrier."
Josef writes them down, and for such different animals, they carry the theme of either speed or being highly social. The only one that does not is the cat. "When does your daemon take the cat shape?"
"Mostly when I am about to bash someone's head in." The young man replies, and his daemon adds, "Best to have claws that leave a mark, am I right?" both the current dog and human grin at these words. They are very in tune with one another; it's intriguing to see as Josef is used to be around people whose daemon is acting either like living statues or not at all in tune with their person. Meaning they seem to gain an entirely different personality compared to their human.
An interesting observation, one Josef would like to investigate further in the near future. But right now, he's more interested in the "attack" form Nathan's daemon got. Does she only take cat form when Nathan feels threatened and wants to go on the offense? Or does the daemon take this shape to give Nathan the needed boost to defend himself? Josef wants to test this out. If the daemon gains new shapes the way a child does, then he won't have too much problem. If not, then Josef may try to persuade the higher-ups to give him some photograms about exotic animals. Leaving his spot, Josef pulls a book out from his personal shelf, and with some brief searching. He finds a very life-like drawing of one of the big cats found in Africa's frontier. "Let's see how wide this ability of yours reaches." He hands the young man the book with the picture of a lion. That one is a male though, so not sure if the daemon can figure out that a female lion does not have a mane. "Try and take this form."
The daemon shimmer and does indeed takes the male form of a lion, though it only lasts for a couple of seconds before Nathan's daemon retakes the terrier form. Looking at the young man, Josef notices that Nathan seems a bit weary. "Any reason she couldn't keep the shape?"
"Big shapes take a lot outta me." Nathan replies, and eyes his daemon. "But darn, that was one hell auf a powerhouse of an animal. Felt like I could take down an entire army."
Interesting, it sounds like the shape affects this man's temperament. But Josef needs more tests before he comes to a solid conclusion. "Let's see the limit of the size you're capable of." He reclaims the book and flips through in search of a smaller feline, as that is one of Nathan't chosen battle form. He finds one that might be suiting, a cheetah. Speedy, and fairly big compared to any other shapes the daemon chooses. "Try this instead." After a moment of staring at the picture, the daemon takes shape and instantly Josef notices a difference between the lion shape and the cheetah. "Tell me, how this shape makes you feel."
Nathan shifts his position, contemplating what the cheetah shape brings up in him. "Well, it makes me angry- no feeling powerful, like I can run circles around some chucklehead and get away with it." This intrigues Josef, it's much like the lion, except the sense of power is on speed and not physical strength. So closer to what Nathan here may have his natural prowess. The now cheetah-formed daemon jumps a bit around, before setting into a quick sprint. Did startle Josef, but quickly replaced with intrigue at how well the daemon and young man took to this form. "I kinda like this form, very much like me— but now I just feel like doin' something."
Can't help but chuckle at that small complaint, "You can go on a rampage later, for now; let us continue the tests." It's clear that Nathan prefers animals of speed. But what about forms drawing out the social side? Well, dogs are social and obedient— hence why most soldiers got a daemon with a dog shape. Natha's daemon has a dog shape too, but a breed known for their feisty and energetic behavior, and instead of a hare, the daemon choose the rabbit; a very social animal. But what happens if the daemon takes the shape of a social but not speedy animal? Another book from the shelf, one having drawings about Brytain's wildlife, and with it, he shows Nathan a drawing of a social species of seals. "Try this form."
"What the hell is that sort auf animal?" Nathan asks, but his daemon takes shape and when she begins to wobble awkwardly around— Josef has to look away so as not to start laughing. "Seriously, what kind auf lame animal is this? It's like a big fat caterpillah. Just bigga and with fur— how has it survived this long? Does it have any special abilidee? I ain't seeing any and what's the—" Josef tunes the young man's rant out by then, writing down that the seal shape not only irritates Nathan as it will slow down his speedy ways but does draw out his social behavior. Glancing over to Nathan, who has now changed topic: "— the brother not much older than me, he got a slow daemon, but as least she's small enough fah him to carry around. Doubt you can do with this— was it a seal you called it? Yeah, I think that's why I haven't seen anyone with such a daemon. That would be one hell auf a hindrance; maybe a lazy fatass would get a daemon. Perfect excuse not to move around, you know. Ken's not like that, but he doesn't have a seal. He got a small turtle but still got one hell auf a bite—" he tunes the young man out again, instead to write his notes and must say that these few tests are quite fun. Haven't had this much fun since he left the North.
Now, what happens if the daemon takes a shape that is against Nathan's entire personality? "I want your daemon to take a turtle shape."
Nathan looks at him as if he told a terrible joke, and his daemon takes a swallow shape, perching on a chair not far from her human. "Why?"
"I would like to see how it affects you." Josef replies and with a quick raspberry sound from the young man, the daemon takes a turtle form, but unlike the cheetah and seal, it does not seem to affect him personality-wise. Nathan just looks annoyed by this shape. "How do you feel?"
A shrug, "Dunno, it's definitely not a form I usually would pick. Maybe aunly if some other ass daemon bit Nalini." Interesting, there's no change. This shape does not affect Nathan. Can it be because it's not an animal that resembles some part of his personality?
"Fascinating, very fascinating indeed. You may help scientists to understand why the daemon in a child picks certain shapes before Settling."
"Yeah? And what's that?"
"Patience, such research is not complete on a single day." Josef says, he needs to do more tests. Take samples and cross-examination. So much to do! This is so much worth his full attention, and has more than piqued his interest. "First, I have to figure out the differences between you and other people. Why your daemon can continue to change shape, and others do not." Too bad there aren't more people like him; that would make it easier to distinguish the abnormality, but this is better than nothing. "Now," Josef takes out his medical tools, one is a special scalpel he uses for skin samples. "Let's get some skin samples." Nathan suddenly becomes very pale, and it amuses Josef so much. It's as if the young man thought he would tear off a section of the skin and not just the surface of it. "Oh, don't give me that. It won't hurt." He lightly scolds the young man as he claims the left arm from him. "Only will if you wiggle too much." As hoped, it makes Nathan sit completely still, allowing him to scrape off some of the skin for future testing. These skin samples get into a tube for safekeeping, but Josef is not yet done. "I need some of your daemon skin." He eyes the rabbit-shaped daemon lying beside the young man and frowns at the glaring issue of it being someone else's soul. "Now, I don't wish to actually touch your daemon."
"I don't want you do that eitha." Nathan voices without missing a beat. Josef eyes him, not surprised by this refusal to allow anyone to touch his daemon. Touching one's soul, no barrier can protect the person from the sense that someone else has invaded their very core. It's a very strong… violation of intimacy. It's taboo for others to touch someone else's daemon, not even families touch each other's daemon. Josef does admit that he rather not go this far to breach someone's personal space; his morals is not that twisted. Josef hands the young man the scalpel and a half-folded paper for the scraped-off skin. Nathan hesitates how to do the task, but his careful manner is always a good first step. He gently brushes the scalpel over the hairless cat daemon, getting Josef a nice sample out from it. "Is this enough?" He nods and takes the paper, in a swift move, and puts the sample into a new tube. "So, uhh, what's that skin fah?"
He places the two tubes over on his small chemistry lap, already looking forward to checking out the several theories he got. "I am hoping they will reveal why your daemon can still change shape, however, to be extra certain in knowing what I am looking for." Josef takes another tube. "I need a skin sample from a child and an adult. Then compare them with your sample and see where you lie. who knows, maybe you happen to be stuck in between." He grins over to the young man, finding some humor in the thought that something inside Nathan got a wrong signal and screwed up the Settling. "Of course, your skin may not hold any answers, which means I have to take some blood samples."
"How are the kids?"
Frank did tell him not to give Nathan any satisfaction in knowing about the children he came along with, however, the head Engineer did also give him the command to gain Nathan't trust. And that incline throwing this one a bone. "Could do worse, I suppose." Josef replies, all the while preparing a small bag for the skin sample extraction of one of these kids. "They are well fed, got nice beds— better than the one I got." Nathan frowns slightly at that remark, but is also eased by it. "And those I had didn't have any medical issues." Physically, they are all fine. Mentally, on the other hand… yeah, not the greatest, but that's to be expected from how each of them has been removed from everything they have ever known and trapped inside a place that will recite verses and the social norm the Church wants to stick. Those who confine will return home, and Josef wonders if the parents will be too relieved to notice the change in their child? At least those will be the lucky ones, for those who resist this early brainwash will be bought to Bolwanger, and there… well, rumors have it that is the place where top secret research is conducted, which means that those children are the lap rats.
"Any chance I can see them?" Nathan asks, sounding awfully hopeful, but Josef is not stupid enough to break that rule.
Josef does find some amusement in this young man's tenacity. "You're not giving up, are you? Those wounds on your hands are meant to discourage you, not earn you a date." Nathan turns his bandaged hands, and Josef takes notice that those bandages need to be replac—
A knock on the door, and not long after, Mr. Conagher steps inside. "If you are examinin' thuh boy, end it as soon as possible." Why does Frank keep calling Nathan a boy? He's nineteen, and although still got a baby face, he's clearly an adult.
Knowing that man, he most likely does it to remind Nathan that he's not "worthy" to join society. "Five minutes, and you can have him." Frank nods and takes a seat at one of the chairs, watching his every move. Josef has to bite down a sneer from how irritated he feels by that. He does not mind people watching him perform surgery, but not when someone watches him in a passive-aggressive attempt to make him hurry it up. Doing his best to ignore the head engineer. Josef grabs a new pair of bandages and some antibiotics. The injured skin underneath the old bandages is healing quite nicely, but will definitely leave several scars. 'I bet it's what Leonard wanted when he did this. I'm more surprised he didn't break every bone in this young man's hands.' Most likely because Nathan won't be much use if he can't use his hands. Nathan winches and lets out a swear from the stinging effect of the antibiotic spray. He will have to deal with that stinging pain for quite some time. But will be thankful for it later as it will allow his skin to heal without complications. Josef makes sure to bandage the hands tight, yet sure not to stop the blood flow. "There, you can have him now, but Nathan shouldn't under no circumstances be using his hands for other than light work, the next couple of weeks."
"Or what? Eez 'e going to lose function in zhem?" A new voice. One Josef hasn't heard before, but that person sounds like there's a constant sneer trapped down his throat.
Turning away from his current patient and to the owner of the voice. It's an old man, age is definitely showing, yet he's standing around as if he's still in his prime. Still on the job, too, for this man is dressed in his infiltrator uniform. The long neckcloth hides most of this man's face; only the eyes are visible, but that is enough for Josef to see this isn't a young soldier. Slithering behind him, a big black snake with just as black eyes. Unlike Mr. Conagher's daemon who only moves when she has to do something, this snake moves her head slowly from side to side, acting very much like the real deal when out on the hunt. Seeing that and Josef knows this man is one of those people who will slit throats with little to no warning. "Worst case scenario, yes." He replies this Magisterium infiltrator, doing his utmost to stay collective as he has no wish to reveal how nervous this man is making him. He does not want to give such a man that kind of ammo to hold over him. "Some of the shards cut deep, and if Nathan put too much stress onto the healing injury, the wounds will reopen and—"
"How big of a chance?"
Josef narrow his eyes at this rude interruption; he was getting to that. This guy better not end up on his medical table, otherwise, he might "misplace" the tool that will save his life. "The injury is still fresh, so a fairly big chance."
The Infiltrator walks over to Nathan, and takes control of the young man's head by holding a firm grip around Nathan's cheeks. Nathan isn't pleased by this one bit, and Josef wouldn't either if that had been him. The Infiltrator forces Nathan to turn his head, and stops when the left side of the face points toward him. Josef notices that this old soldier seems quite interested in the scar on Nathan's cheek. As sudden the man took hold, as quickly he let go and walks out. "I'll take 'im." And with that, he's gone.
"What the hell was that about?" Nathan asks, not having a clue what is going on. Josef does not know either, but he got a bad feeling about it. For it sounded like that man just bought himself a dog to train for the next dogfight.
Frank seems pleased by this examination though. "Viper, our best spy has personally picked you tuh bay trained by him." That's Viper? Oh, Nathan is going to be going through hell if the stories about that man hold any truth. "Very few catch his eyes. You should bay honored."
But it's clear that Nathan isn't honored by having been chosen. "The hell I am. I don't wanna be a spy. I ain't a sneaky, backstabbing snake!" Frank's before happy face drops to a look of disapproval. What? Did he think Nathan would be happy about this? Not all are like him. "You said I could become a professional baseball playa!"
"This is much better than bein' a baseball player, Nathan." Frank counters with that soft-spoken voice of his. "Y'all will be thuh eyes and ears for thuh Church."
"I don't give a shit about the Church!" Nathan snaps back at the head engineer. "I don't care if I can get a mansion outta it; I ain't being that guy's apprentice or whatever! I am going to be a baseball player and if that's not possible, then I would rather stay as your son's assistant than work fah that guy!"
Frank lets out a long, tired sigh. He leaves the room, but does at least closes the door after him. Josef finds himself staring at the spot, then remembers he's not alone in this room. Nathan glares at the door, still worked up from his loud tirade about his refusal to become Viper's apprentice. But from how Viper was, then Josef doubts that man takes no for an answer. "At least he didn't claim you straight away." He remarks and ushers the young man away. "Now, I don't want you to use your hands unless it's the daily routine, like eating, changing clothing and such things. No hard exercise, and if I hear you have been climbing, I will restrain you to the nearest bed."
At first, Nathan does not respond to his word, and when he does, it's not about him being careful using his injured hands. "Who does he think he is? Thinking I will be alright with that." Josef brow furrow behind his spectacles, but won't say his thoughts about this as it only will make Nathan start yelling again. "What? You think I should kiss that old freak's ass."
"Does not matter what I think." Josef brushes the young man's words off. He has played this game long enough to know that opinions he holds will get him in deep trouble. "When a role has been chosen for someone, they should stick to it and be content. If they are not, then strict discipline must come into play."
"That ain't fair."
He can't hold back a dark grin. "The law of the Church: Obey and you will be rewarded. Resist and you will be punished."
The young man's face turns pale, Nathan is starting to get it. "B-But I thought aur role in life was decided by aur daemon shape." That is the "wonderful" thing about this young man.
His daemon hasn't Settled, which means he is free to grab to be molded. And it looks like Viper choose to do just that. "Figures Viper would like to teach you a few things before your personal Settling takes place—" a sudden, sharp pain. Josef flinches at how it arrived in his left arm, as if someone just snapped it in half. But checking the arm, he sees no blood, no sign of injury, only feels pain. That's where it hits him. 'Oh no… what has happened to her?' It cannot be anything good, less so when he knows how much she was protected...
"Doc? You..." Nathan's voice is hesitant and confused, but Josef cannot pay him any mind. Not when something terrible has happened; the pain in his left arm is the sign. "Ya alright?"
He needs this one out of his laboratory this instant. Cannot risk he figures out why he's like this. "I'm fine." He briskly tells the young man, and ushers him out. "Leave, I got some samples to attend— and don't use your hands!" He adds hard; now, he's even less in the mood to attend a reopened hand-wound. He shuts the door before Nathan can ask further questions. Finally, alone inside his little domain, Josef does not start testing the skin samples. Instead, he sits at his desk, right brushing over the left from the ghost pain he feels from her.
It troubles him that she has gotten hurt, but more so as that means something has happened to her protector.
Have they died, or is this person still alive? Josef takes off his glasses, caressing the upper part of his eyes. Never before been so worried about someone else's life, less so when he had never seen that person.
'Will I ever feel their strong, gentle touch?' He does not know, can only wait, and Josef is fairly certain that he won't get any sleep.
Archimedes flaps down before him, 'coo' and he likes to think his little companion asked if he's alright.
"I don't know, Archimedes." He admits to the white dove. He leaves his spot, over to the bird cage and although he most likely will get in trouble for it, Josef still opens the cage door, allowing his beloved pets to come outside once again. They fly around, happy to have gotten the space to do so, and they find a spot around him one by one. It helps with his deep worries about what has caused her pain.
But not even his birds can help the fear that the person he never met, one who own his soul, may have perished before he ever got a chance to see them with his own eyes.
A massive rewrite like some of the other chapters, we followed mostly Nathan last time, but I wanted to shift focus more around the other protagonists. So at this, I choose Josef, he was an obvious choice, honestly. The rewrite did force me to remove large parts and rewrite them into something else entirely. I am happy with this new outcome, though it does mean I have to find a new place to put a certain section of this chapter to the future ones.
I am wondering if I should make a section where we perhaps follow Frank Conagher and hear the reason for what he is doing, or do you prefer I stick to the protagonists? I admit there are a lot of those and turning the focus on some of the antagonists might be a tad off-putting.
I would like to hear your opinion on it.