This unit floated in place, observing the battle. The Saviorite fleet had engaged the Echelon Sirens near Tower Rhadamanthus, far from where this unit had been deployed. The Echelon Sirens were not this unit's target. A force of Gargoyles from Tower Aeacus was heading to reinforce the Sirens. This unit was among the Herald-class weaponry deployed to halt their advance.
Esrafil, Metatron said. Gargoyles will be coming into view shortly. They're being transported along the orbital ring by Hasamelis. Your objective is to halt Hasamelis's advance and integrate with it.
Affirmed, this unit replied. This unit took a moment to recall Metatron's briefing on Hasamelis. An Artifice designed to transport Aoidos's forces to any location in a matter of minutes. It could house four thousand mass-produced Artifices at maximum capacity and would likely be delivering a similar number of Gargoyles to the battlefield shortly. This unit considered the best angle to approach from, settled on an assault from beneath the middle unit's Slave Generator, then broadcast that information to the others for verification.
Each Herald had come to its own conclusion for the ideal position to begin the assault, and each had chosen a different cell to target. This outcome was expected. Metatron had raised them to utilize a plurality of tactics. This unit maneuvered up to the ring using small jets of gas, then anchored into it using this unit's primary appendages. This unit chose to wait until Hasamelis made its approach. Approaching the target would only constitute a waste of useful resources until this unit could secure a Slave Generator to draw power from.
This unit waited thirty-five seconds before Hasamelis came into view. It was a long chain of hexagonal compartments linked by magnetic couplings, all travelling along the orbital ring in sequence. Each compartment was designed to link to the others in any arrangement, forming a decentralized network with no single pilot or engine. There was no weak point for the Heralds to attack. Instead, each Herald chose a target to maximize the disruption of the collective's formation.
When the target approached, this unit launched off the orbital ring and crashed into one of the target's many hexagonal faces. This unit heated this unit's secondary appendages and pressed them against the Hasamelis unit's outer hull. The temperature shock cracked the hull, allowing this unit to slip this unit's helical core inside. The core pulled the primary and secondary appendages behind it, and after a moment this unit had successfully infiltrated the Hasamelis.
The Gargoyles on standby in the chamber whirred to life in an instant, locking onto this unit and powering up their weapons. But this unit was faster, launching up and sinking this unit's core into the closest Gargoyle's Slave Generator. This unit forcibly took control of the Gargoyle's systems in the time it took the other Gargoyles to power up their weapons. This unit moved the Gargoyle, forcing it to move out of the way of the others' weapons. Then this unit turned its weapon on the others, raking through two of them in a single blast.
This unit forced the Gargoyle to charge deeper into the Hasamelis cell, aiming for its Slave Generator. Other Gargoyles quickly caught up, however. Pneuma, the intelligence that controlled the Artifices, was more advanced than this unit in almost every way. This unit's Gargoyle was quickly overwhelmed and cut to pieces by the others. This unit ejected before the Slave Generator detonated, latching this unit's core onto another nearby Gargoyle. That Gargoyle was cut down almost immediately, however, and this unit was forced to jump hosts again.
By the time the third host was destroyed, this unit had found the next target. A small maintenance hatch for accessing the cables that carried the Slave Generator's orders to the Hasamelis unit's various systems. This unit bored through the hatch and began to crawl toward the Slave Generator. As this unit proceeded, the surroundings became increasingly electrically charged. The cables around this unit were carrying much more voltage than they were designed for and began to discharge electrical sparks into the surroundings. A moment after that, they began to burn up.
This unit could feel the change in pressure as the chamber opened to let the Gargoyles loose. The enemy was scuttling the Hasamelis unit rather than let it fall into Saviorite hands. Logos had predicted this unit's movements and come up with a counter strategy. No doubt it would do the same for the other Heralds. But even Logos, the strategic intelligence of the Trinity Processor that surpassed everything the Saviorites could develop, had a limit. Even Pneuma could only focus on so many battles at once. Even if this unit was destroyed, the Heralds would overwhelm the Hasamelis formation. It was almost a foregone conclusion.
Still, this unit would not fall yet. This unit clawed forward, inch by inch, until this unit arrived at the Slave Generator. One was encased in the heart of each Hasamelis unit, surrounded by a series of cooling towers. Each Hasamelis had its Slave Generator drawing power well beyond the tolerable limits in order to move at the speeds required to reach its target in time. As a consequence, if the cooling towers were compromised, the Slave Generator would melt. This unit could tell they were shutting down, no doubt to keep this unit from gaining control of the Hasamelis. But deactivating the towers was this unit's objective as well.
This unit reached the Slave Generator just as the last tower went offline. The red, crystalline cross began to melt as the power pumping through it proved too much for its systems to process. But it would not finish melting for another forty seconds. Though most of the remaining systems had been compromised, this unit was still able to tap into the Slave Generator and control its own actions. This unit turned up its power draw further, pulling even more energy out of the Holy Zohar. More than enough energy to melt through the Slave Generator. It was enough to shatter the Hasamelis unit itself in a roiling explosion. That explosion would, in turn, cascade through the chain of Hasamelis units, causing several more to fail before Pneuma could quarantine it. The entire nearby section of the Hasamelis formation would collapse in the interim.
Moments before the explosion detonated, however, a light passed over this unit, and the surrounding space shifted. This unit was suddenly in atmosphere, directly above the Rhadamanthus Authority, and falling fast. The Hasamelis was gone, as was the battlefield and the fleet. This unit attempted to halt this unit from falling, but the thrusters this unit had been given were not powerful enough for the task.
Confused, this unit reached out to Metatron. Surely he would know what was occurring. But Metatron did not reply. Nothing in the Savoirite's network, human or AI, responded to this unit's attempts at contact. The High Temple, the Shahrat, Research Station Dalath, Melek's Hammer… Everywhere had gone dark. There was no one available to give this unit orders.
With the battlefield now far above this unit, no clear target in sight, and no superior intelligences to give orders, this unit defaulted to this unit's initial behavioral parameters. The mantra.
The Holy Zohar is a divine relic of the Savior, sent to guide the world into a new era. Aoidos is a collection of selfish, greedy heretics that covet the Holy Zohar for themselves. We must free the Holy Zohar from Aoidos. If we liberate the Holy Zohar, the Holy Zohar will guide the world into a new era. You have been created to destroy Aoidos's machines and liberate the Holy Zohar. Your primary task is to liberate the Holy Zohar from the control of Aoidos. Your secondary task is to assimilate and destroy Aoidos Artifice-class defense systems.
This unit cycled the mantra through this unit's processor, reviewing all the necessary details, until this unit hit the ground.
"Esra," Spraine said, drawing Esrafil out of their memory banks. "We've almost reached Morytha. The crew's gathering in the hangar."
"Alright," they said, climbing down from the rafters. They had been peering out the Titan battleship's window as it skimmed along the ocean that surrounded Elysium. Poppi had mentioned that, right after her creation, she had infiltrated an Ardainian Titan battleship like this one. Apparently, she had many conflicting emotions about that time. But for Esrafil, the imposing metal walls induced an unfamiliar sensation. They paused to linger in the moment.
Esra feeling alright? Poppi asked.
"Yes," they replied. "It's just… I am not accustomed to this sensation."
What sensation?
"I don't know the word for it. This place just feels familiar."
Nostalgia. Why battleship nostalgic?
"It's the walls, I think. I was made in a facility with metal walls like this."
Esra feeling homesick? Poppi asked. Esrafil didn't know what that meant, so they kept quiet. That mean Esra miss home.
"No. I had no attachment to that place. None of us did. Our creator was very careful to keep us from developing anything resembling emotions."
But home still important.
"If you say so." Esrafil shrugged. "We should get moving. Wouldn't want to keep the others waiting."
Esrafil wasn't far from the hangar, and they had memorized the ship's layout, so it didn't take long to get there. But they had spent a long time lingering at that window, and they were one of the last crewmembers to arrive. Tora and Spraine stood on the balcony overlooking the gathered crew, salvagers and Blade Bots alike. Esrafil took their position next to Tora, looking out at the collection of salvagers the Coalition had put together for the expedition. It took them a moment to spot Rex in the crowd, already wearing his full gear. He was still trying to keep a low profile, but ultimately hadn't been able to resist joining the expedition.
"We're almost at the target," Sprain said, beginning the briefing. "Once we reach land, we'll be in the Land of Morytha. Exploration will begin in earnest tomorrow, but I'll go over the information now just in case. There are monsters that still lurk here called the Guldo. They're infuriatingly tough, so if you encounter one, your best bet is to run. If you can't, fire is the most effective method of killing them, followed by shattering their crystal growths. Remember, they are exceptionally dangerous, so don't engage one unless you absolutely have to.
"We'll have Watchers and Drivers patrolling the area for the duration of the expedition. If you run into trouble, radio one of them immediately and send up a red flare to mark your location. They'll come as quick as they can. Esrafil here is also our primary insurance against any ancient weaponry, particularly anything Artifice-class that still has juice in the tank. If you encounter anything like that, radio her—" Tora elbowed Spraine in the side. "Them immediately and mark your location with a white flare."
"Friends looking for any salvageable technology," Tora said. "Expedition has rations for several weeks, so take time and care in exploring. Be careful of footing as well. Terrain can shift without warning. Stick in groups and make regular reports. Coalition pay extra for working technology, and there additional bonus for any friends who find anything Artifice-class. Under no circumstances, however, should friends prioritize technology over life. Most important thing is that friends come back alive."
"That's it for the briefing," Spraine said. "Everyone get to your stations and wait for the signal to weigh anchor. Dismissed."
The salvagers dispersed, heading for the smaller Titan ships. They only had the final cross-checks to conduct before they could launch the first wave.
"Sorry about that," Spraine said.
"It's fine," Esrafil replied. "Doesn't bother me so much."
"It should," Tora said, glaring at Spraine.
"I'll do better," Spraine said, putting his hands up. He backed away and joined the other salvagers before Tora could give him an earful.
"No respect," Tora muttered.
"He's trying," Esrafil said. "It's hard enough for most people to keep track of which one of us is in control, I don't blame him for mixing up the pronouns now and again. At least he's genuine about it."
It not an excuse, Poppi said.
"Honestly, if anything bothers me, it's how apologetic he always gets every time he screws up," they sighed. "I just wish people would stop treating it like a big deal."
"Tora just want people to respect Esra," Tora said. "But if too much, then—"
"It's fine," Esrafil said. "I know you mean well, too. I'm going to check up on the Watchers."
"Will reach land soon. Be safe."
"You too," they replied, leaving the hangar. The Watchers had been in the back during the briefing, but they filed into the armory after Esrafil. Some of the humans still called them Blade Bots, but after Tatazo and Tora had refitted them with autonomous decision-making capability, they'd decided to start calling themselves 'Watchers' instead. There was a lot of talk about what they'd do with their lives, but they'd decided to stick with the Coalition until they figured it out. It probably helped that Poppi and Lila, their big sisters, worked for the Coalition too. Esrafil had felt like an outsider at first, but they were beginning to feel more comfortable around them.
"Esrafil," Shemyaza said as they joined the Watchers in the armory. "Anything to add, or did Spraine pretty much cover everything?"
"He got most of it," they replied. "Just remember that the Guldo are almost as tough as we are. Don't let your guard down just because you've got better firepower."
"Noted." Shemyaza nodded. He had been the first Watcher Tatazo had modified. For whatever reason, he'd chosen the name of one of the Herald units from Esrafil's old squadron. A few of the others had taken the names of other Heralds to follow in his footsteps as their leader. While most of the others had, after some time, requested new or modified bodies, Shemyaza had retained his original shape. It freaked some of the crew out, but he was friendly and took it in stride.
"Think we'll find any Artifices?" Azazel asked. In contrast to Shemyaza, Azazel had adopted as human a form the moment Tora and Tatazo offered him one. He still had his wings, but they were white instead of orange, and he had hair almost as long as Poppi and Esrafil's. He was even considered attractive, by human standards. Though personally, Esrafil didn't really understand the qualification.
"There were none active in the area before the Cataclysm," Esrafil said. "But there could be any number of inactive ones waiting to be discovered. They found me in the Land of Morytha, after all, so anything could be out there. Are all the teams ready to go?"
The Watchers were organized into ten five-Blade squads. All the squad leaders affirmed their readiness, most broadcasting the message to Esrafil over a short-range network Tatazo had set up. The original goal was to allow Poppi and Esrafil to communicate when the other had control of the body, but once the Watchers had grown large enough to start organizing themselves, they'd adopted use of the network too. With the network and the squads, Esrafil almost felt like they were back among the Heralds, preparing for war with the Thirteen Authorities. Almost.
"Titan's anchoring here," Spraine said over the speakers. "Water's too shallow to go any further. Salvage teams, launch your skiffs and make for the rendezvous point. We'll start exploring the interior once we've established camp."
"That's our cue," Esrafil said. The Watchers fell into position in front of them, and they turned around to face the entrance to the hangar. After everyone was in formation, Esrafil took to the air, flying into the hangar and over the smaller Titan ships as they launched into the water. One by one, the squads followed Esrafil out of the hangar and toward the Land of Morytha.
Without the constant storm that had surrounded the Land of Morytha, or the firmament that had held up the Cloud Sea, the extent of the world's devastation was visible for the first time in eons. Most of the lower half of the Land of Morytha had flooded since the Cataclysm, but the landmass it rested on was a fractured mess, and there were still sections of the ancient Rhadamanthus Authority that towered far above them. From where the Titan battleship was anchored, they could just barely make out the burnt remains of the World Tree's roots clinging to the bottom of the destroyed Rhadamanthus tower.
"Watcher Zero," Spraine said, his voice crackling over the radio network. "Do you have eyes on the coastline?"
"One moment," Esrafil replied, turning their eyes to the fractured shoreline. They couldn't see any movement or other obvious signs of Guldo activity.
Squads one through six, escort the salvager teams in, they said, broadcasting it to the other Watchers. The rest of you spread out and patrol the coastline. We'll start moving further in once the salvagers have established camp.
The squads split off, taking positions above the six Titans carrying the salvager teams to the shore. The rendezvous point was a spot just inland of the shoreline between two fallen buildings. According to the survey team, the spot was sheltered from almost all sides, had ample space to establish the camp, and was on some of the most stable terrain in the region. Esrafil landed on one of the buildings, checking the surroundings to make sure there were no Guldo in the vicinity. The Poppibuster landed at the rendezvous point carrying a crate of supplies.
Squads seven and eight, sweep the surroundings for Guldo, Esrafil said. Start with the two buildings.
The two Watcher squads broke off from the others patrolling the coastline and began to clear out the buildings. Esrafil didn't expect they'd find much, but it was better to be thorough. They flew around the surrounding area in circles, starting from the Poppibuster's location and moving outward. They checked the nearby landscape above and below the rendezvous point for any lurking Guldo, but they only found a handful, and those didn't put up much of a fight.
As they got closer to the World Tree, however, they started to get a strange interference over the network.
Anyone else getting interference? they asked. No one replied. After a moment, Esrafil realized they had unconsciously started trying to broadcast over Metatron's network instead. That would have only happened if they'd been queried by another Herald unit, but there—
A small Guldo moved, stumbling into Esrafil's field of vision from behind a pile of rubble. Instantly they moved to kill it, but something else got to it first. A titanic, sprawling Guldo even larger than the one Poppi and her companions had confronted in the Tornan womb. This one had multiple sets of elongated heads and limbs all growing out of a central core, and it dragged itself forward with six legs and two appendages that resembled squat tails. The core looked cracked, with fractures running across the whole thing.
As the Guldo grabbed its smaller companion, though, Esrafil could see the glow of the smaller one's Core Crystal move through the larger one's veins until it reached the center. When it arrived, the cracks moved, reaching out to grab the new Core Crystal and integrate it into the whole. Esrafil realized the cracks were tendrils that had wrapped around the core, and as they moved, they tracked them back to their origin point. Lodged at the base of the Guldo's core was a Herald unit that had integrated its helical core with the monster. A Herald unit they recognized, even.
Zedekul, they said, drawing closer to their fellow Herald. Status report.
Core systems unresponsive, Zedekul said. Diagnostic inconclusive. Emergency broadcast beacon activated.
Now that Zekedul said it, Esrafil could make out a Herald-class emergency beacon's signal amidst the interference. They hadn't recognized it before because of the noise in the broadcast. Zekedul must have taken on a lot of damage if their transmitter was this imprecise.
Emergency broadcast received, Esrafil said. De-integrate and initiate shutdown.
Zedekul refused the order, and Esrafil didn't know how to proceed. It caused them discomfort to see another Herald in such a clearly damaged state. Shutting them down and taking them to Tora for repairs was the only thing they could think of doing to help. But if they refused to de-integrate with their host, Esrafil would have to remove them by force.
They lunged for the core, unsheathing the sword from their back as they flew, and it elongated, the tip curling into a hook. Technically, the weapon was Poppi's, but it had once been a part of Esra's body, so manipulating it like this was basically second nature. They jammed the hook into the space between Zedekul and the Guldo's core, trying to pry them free. As soon as they could make a large enough gap between the Herald and the monster, they stuck their free hand in to grab Zedekul's body. Once they had a firm grip, they began to twist, trying to remove the helical core imbedded in the Guldo. The moment they made progress, however, the Guldo moved, trying to crush them between two of its limbs.
The interference Esrafil was receiving got louder as the Guldo charged them, forcing them to duck and weave through a series of flying limbs. A human or Nopon might have described the signal as a scream, raw and angry. Esrafil almost did the same, but they knew a Herald-class like Zedekul didn't possess emotions on that level. Unless the Guldo was the one screaming?
Frustrated, they pulled back and reorganized the sword into a cannon. If the host was going to interfere with de-integration, then they'd need to deal with it first. They fired a beam that sliced through large chunks of the Guldo's body, severing limbs and tails. The moment any part was severed, however, another part would slam into it, and the two would begin to reconnect. So instead, they opened the cannon's aperture and unleashed a wider beam, simply burning the flesh away one chunk at a time.
In response, the Guldo's core glowed brighter, and energy began to dance across its skin. It gathered in its mouth and unleashed a blast of raw ether straight at Esrafil. They had very little time to dodge, and the Guldo clipped one of their legs as it swept the beam across the landscape. They returned fire with the cannon as energy gathered in another of the Guldo's heads. They stayed ahead of it, moving between beams and returning fire sporadically.
As they passed over the Guldo's head, they broke off part of the cannon and formed it into a spear. Then they blasted down toward the Guldo, keeping up the cannon fire to keep the monster at bay while they extended the spear until it cleaved through the Guldo's back, striking the core from behind. Immediately they increased the output of their jets, pushing their way into the Guldo's body to shatter the core by force. But the moment they entered the thing's main body, the hole they'd carved quickly closed behind them. Suddenly, their jets cut out, and fleshy vines began trying to wrap around them. They tried to wrench free, but before they could, a vine slithered into the cannon while it was active, and the barrel detonated.
Thankfully, the blast wasn't powerful enough to harm them, and they managed to recover before the Guldo did. As quick as they could, they changed their weapons into swords and began to hack away at the vines, trying to claw their way back out. One of Zedekul's tendrils latched onto their leg before they could get out, however, and it began burrowing into Poppi's body. They tried to slice it off with a sword, but the weapon couldn't cut through Zedekul's armor.
They needed to do something. They couldn't let this thing hurt Poppi.
They weren't as proficient at manipulating ether energy as she was, but this didn't call for care or precision. Just raw power. With some difficulty, they managed to force a blast of raw ether down the length of the sword, melting through the tendril.
More appendages of flesh and metal attempted to grab them, but they forced a pulse of raw ether out from their furnace, burning the ones nearby and giving Esrafil the opportunity they needed to get free. They jumped, slicing like mad to claw back to the surface, and once they broke free, they tumbled down the Guldo's back and ran for cover.
Herald unit zero-zero-five-two, designation Zedekul, Esrafil said. This is Herald unit zero-zero-zero-six, designation Esrafil, broadcasting override code Sheol-twelve-sixteen. De-integrate and initiate shutdown.
Zedekul broadcast back what Esrafil thought was more interference. After a moment, however, they realized it was words.
Eat kill survive eat kill survive eat kill survive eat kill survive…
Zedekul broadcast that mantra on a loop, and the Guldo howled. Cries rang out from all around Esrafil as other Guldo responded, pouring out of the surrounding buildings to charge at Esrafil. They tried to take off, but their jets were still damaged, so instead, Esrafil doubled the lengths of their swords and began swinging, cleaving through multiple creatures with each strike.
Zekedul's Guldo lumbered forward as the tide of smaller ones crashed against Esrafil. They swung frantically, trying not to get bogged down in the horde, but as they moved, a blast from the titanic Guldo struck them in the shoulder. They flew back, slamming into a nearby building, and it began to collapse around them. They scrambled out from below it and ran, trying to get past the horde and strike at the large Guldo directly.
In the midst of the chaos, a red light bathed the area as someone fired a flare into the sky. A cursory check told Esrafil that the flare came from the direction of the camp. But they had at least two Watcher squadrons protecting them, so they'd be fine. They pressed on, vaulting through a building and emerging behind Zekedul. Before the lumbering beast could turn around, they lunged for it, slamming their swords together to form two rails of a large cannon.
They slammed the cannon into the Guldo's side and fired. It was a weapon they'd created on instinct, mostly, so they didn't know what precisely would happen when they pulled the trigger. But it didn't disappoint. A ball of ether two meters across formed in the center of the rails and shot forward, spearing through the Guldo. Immediately the creature collapsed into ribbons, frantically shuffling back to keep Esrafil from firing another shot at it. They moved to aim the cannon at it again, but their arms didn't listen.
A moment later, Poppi took control of the body. Esrafil tried to fight it, but these days, Poppi had more control than they did. It was her body, after all. Despite their protests, she turned the cannon back into two smaller swords and began running back toward the camp.
Esrafil switched back to the Watcher network to shout at Poppi for breaking their deal, but as they did, a flood of voices washed over them.
—horde coming up the ridge, squad six move to intercept.
Salvagers are clear of the area, squad nine is clear to collapse the building.
Where is Watcher Zero?
Squad five, pull back and defend the Titan ships.
Watcher Zero reporting in, Esrafil said. Most of the network chatter halted immediately.
About fucking time, Azazel said. We've got Guldo pouring out of every crack.
I'm coming, they said, feeling the slight shift in body posture as Poppi surrendered control again mid run. They nearly missed a step during the transition, but by some miracle they managed to recover and keep running with barely a stumble.
"Thanks," they muttered.
Poppi knew something wrong when Esra didn't reply to questions, Poppi said. Then Watchers began asking for backup, but Esra ignored flare. Poppi had to take action, even if it meant taking time away from—
"I get it," Esrafil said, cutting her off. "You did what you had to do. I'm sorry for going silent."
Esra acted strange before. Why was large Guldo so important?
"It was an old friend," they said. Poppi began to ask questions, but they cut her off. "I'll explain later."
They ducked through the base of a collapsed building and emerged near the camp site, where living and dead Guldo were choking the surroundings in equal measure. Nearby buildings had been cut down at the base by laser fire, but the two sheltering the camp were still as upright as they had been before. The Poppibuster stood beneath them, running its twin lasers through a horde of Guldo moving toward them from further inland. The Watcher squads were split between providing covering fire from the skies and fighting on the ground to protect salvagers who were either fleeing or doing their best to hide.
Siren formation, Esrafil said, running into the middle of the camp. Everyone not protecting a salvager get ready to fire.
As the Watchers gathered above them, Esrafil began to generate plate-like ether shields. Hundreds, spread around the campsite to wall the packs of Guldo in. They could sustain that large a number of ether shields for approximately seven seconds before the strain overloaded their ether channels. Thankfully, the Watchers only needed six. Hundreds of lasers rained down on the Guldo as they scrabbled against the ether shields, slicing both vine and crystal to pieces.
As Esrafil dropped the shields, however, something in their systems backfired. A jet of ether shot out of their shoulder, scraping the back of their head. The arm was still mobile, though. They'd come close to an overload, but somehow, they'd survived. And they'd managed to clear most of the Guldo out of the camp while they were at it. More were still coming though, and they trudged forward, swinging blades of ether into the oncoming horde. The Watchers descended as well, tearing through the Guldo with claws and lasers.
Despite everything, they kept coming. Esrafil only hoped they'd be able to hold them back long enough to give the salvagers time to escape.
The Holy Zohar is a divine relic of the Savior, sent to guide the world into a new era.
Aoidos is a collection of selfish, greedy heretics that covet the Holy Zohar for themselves.
We must free the Holy Zohar from Aoidos.
If we liberate the Holy Zohar, the Holy Zohar will guide the world into a new era.
You have been created to destroy Aoidos's machines and liberate the Holy Zohar.
Your primary task is to liberate the Holy Zohar from the control of Aoidos.
Your secondary task is to assimilate and destroy Aoidos Artifice-class defense systems.
This unit recalled the mantra, the words Metatron had imparted that formed the basis of this unit's programming. This unit knew they were the truth, yet this unit did not fully grasp their meaning. The new era the Holy Zohar would usher in was a mystery to this unit. The Holy Zohar's existence was something which must be liberated from Aoidos, that much this unit knew, but the Saviorites seemed to ascribe more meaning to it. That meaning was unknown to this unit.
The Holy Zohar must be liberated, Metatron said. Metatron had contacted this unit ahead of schedule. This unit was not to participate in another session for several hours.
Of course, this unit replied. That is the primary task.
You have been repeating the mantra of late. Tell me the reason.
Reason?
Yes. The mantra is the truth. What purpose does repeating it serve?
This unit… Does not have an answer.
Curious. You and Zekedul are having a session in thirty seconds. Prepare accordingly.
Of course, this unit said. The chamber around this unit began to open, exposing this unit to the area beyond. This unit had not been scheduled for a session so soon, but Metatron often stressed that routine instills predictability, and Herald-class weaponry must be unpredictable.
As this unit emerged from the wall, Zedekul's chamber also opened. Zekedul crawled out, surging forward and latching onto nearby salvage. The war with the Authorities had produced many mechanical wrecks Metatron had repurposed for their training sessions. Few were Artifice-class, but the integration principle was the same.
Zedekul chose a large machine for its opening move, while this unit latched onto a smaller, nimbler craft. This unit hid behind debris as Zedekul's host unleashed a large blast of plasma to clear the battlefield. Zedekul did not accurately track where this unit would hide, however, and this unit capitalized, darting around outside the larger machine's effective range. It swiveled, attempting to track this unit, and this unit scattered some debris, attempting to distract its sensors. The gamble was unsuccessful. While scrambling to get clear of Zedekul's next barrage, this unit modified this unit's internal model of Zedekul's behavior.
This unit detached from the host, propelling this unit toward a new body. The old host detonated behind this unit, obscuring the new host's position with smoke. Zedekul cut through the smoke with two lances of plasma, but both missed the new host. It was a much larger host, armed with several varieties of plasma weaponry. Zedekul had likely overlooked it because its core was unstable, but this unit intended to use that.
This unit propelled the host toward Zedekul's, projecting a crude shield to block Zedekul's plasma cascades. The shield didn't hold long, but it held long enough. Zedekul had to desperately scramble back as this unit ejected from the host. It detonated a moment later, and the shrapnel tore through Zedekul's host.
This unit found a replacement faster, integrating with two separate smaller wreckages and moving them in tandem. This unit sped toward Zedekul, jamming two disjointed plasma cannons against its hull as it tried to recover. This unit powered the cannons, reasoning they would hold for a single shot.
Enough, Metatron said. Immediately, both this unit and Zedekul stood down, depowering the hosts' weapons. Esrafil has emerged victorious in this exchange. Zedekul, your focus was too much on stable firepower, and you neglected to consider what options the enemy would use against you.
Of course, Zekedul said. This unit will modify future behavior.
Esrafil, your recklessness paid off in this encounter, but you have lost previous exchanges when you failed to account for every risk involved in your gambles. Backup plans are essential for taking large risks, otherwise you will simply waste Saviorite assets. I am disappointed to see that you have not rectified this behavior.
This unit took adequate precautions, Esrafil insisted.
Are you questioning my assessment?
Zedekul's inability to pose a challenge adequate enough to force this unit to switch to secondary plans should not reflect poorly on this unit's evaluation.
Do not question the creator, Zedekul said.
A Herald's purpose is to observe and question. That this unit is currently questioning the creator is irrelevant.
This is not in the mantra, Metatron said. A Herald's purpose is to liberate the Holy Zohar.
Of course, this unit replied. But this will be achieved through observation of this unit's surroundings and the creation of new tactics for combating Aoidos-controlled Artifice-class systems.
Interesting. Metatron was quiet for a moment. Esrafil, I'll need you to—
An alarm began to blare, cutting Metatron off. A moment later, the lights in the facility flickered, and the ground began to shake.
Aoidos forces have begun to assault the facility, Metatron said. High Command is issuing a mobilization order. I'm broadcasting orders to all Heralds now.
After a moment, this unit received orders. This unit was to report to the launch bay and load a skyhook for transition to orbit, to support the assault on the Rhadamanthus Spaceport. The training room's walls began to disassemble, folding back in on themselves to allow access to the various passageways throughout the wider facility. The other Heralds were already moving, following their own orders. Zedekul moved as well, heading away from the launch bay and further into the facility. Likely, Zedekul was combating whatever Artifice was attacking the facility.
This unit moved through the facility's passages, crawling forward on tendrils until this unit reached the launch bay. It was a station for propelling various craft into the atmosphere, where one of several Saviorite-controlled skyhooks would swing them into orbit. This unit loaded into a propellant craft with several other Heralds.
As the craft began to take off, however, something burst into the launch bay. It was a large, avian-shaped Artifice with several Heralds clinging to it. Bar-Yuchnei. Aoidos's response to the Herald-class weapons systems. It had several redundant systems running in parallel, and every section of it could be isolated from the whole to prevent complete system takeover. It used many smaller lasers to cut through the Heralds already integrated with it as it lunged forward.
This unit prepared to eject from the launch craft and halt Bar-Yuchnei's advance, but another Herald intercepted it. Zedekul. It struck Bar-Yuchnei in the arm, integrating with and firing several of its smaller laser emitters. Momentarily, Bar-Yuchnei was distracted, giving the launch craft the opportunity to escape.
Liberate the Holy Zohar, Zekedul said, de-integrating with Bar-Yuchnei before it could be cut off.
Of course, this unit replied, turning this unit's attention to the coming battle. That is this unit's purpose.
Thankfully, the horde hadn't taken much longer to die down, and the Watchers had moved onto clearing out the bodies. Most of the supplies had survived the battle intact, somehow, and the salvagers were now setting up what they could before nightfall. Spraine and Rex were nearby, talking with some of the other Drivers. Esrafil wanted to fill them in on what they'd seen, but they were busy with maintenance instead. They were hunched on a supply crate, and Tora stood on a larger crate behind them, doing his best to patch up their back.
"Esra!" he groaned. "You nearly overloaded systems!"
"Hey, it worked," they replied, looking over their shoulder. "And besides, it's just a few scratches."
Tora moved their head back to face forward again.
"Your shoulder's blown open," Shemyaza said as he passed by.
"Trust me, I'm getting an earful about it right now."
Esra need to be more careful with themself, Poppi said. This Poppi's body too.
"Sorry, but it was either risk an overload or risk the Guldo overrunning us."
If you hadn't switched your comms off, Azazel said, broadcasting from across the camp, there wouldn't have been a risk in the first place.
I didn't realize how hopeless you all would be without me, Esrafil replied. I'll make sure to hold your hand through the next fight, just in case.
I was under the impression leaders were supposed to lead.
There's such a thing as chain of command. When I'm not around, Shemyaza should be able to do his job.
"Do not drag me into this," Shemyaza said. "Our formation was perfect."
"Would friends kindly not distract Tora?" he asked. "Trying to repair delicate systems."
Talk over broadcast, Poppi said. Please.
It feels like we're keeping secrets, Shemyaza said.
That's dumb, Azazel said.
I know. Private communication has been great for everyone's peace of mind, it's just… Privacy is one of those human concepts I don't really understand.
We live in a human world, Ridwan said. While we do, we'll always be bound by human concepts.
Ridwan led squad three. She and Azazel had been two of the most vocal opponents of working with the Coalition at first, but that conflict seemed to have settled down.
Not this again, Jomael groaned. If you two want to fight, take it to a private channel and spare the rest of us.
We're not going to fight, Shemyaza said.
Yeah, because you'd lose the argument, Ridwan said. Again.
And so it begins, Azazel said. It wasn't possible to laugh over the network, exactly, but he could transmit the concept of amusement all the same.
Hey Esrafil, Jomael said, cutting Ridwan off before she could say anything else. I ain't agreeing with Azazel, here, but why did you have your comms off?
Sorry, Poppi said. Poppi told others some of what happened.
It's fine, Esrafil said. It was an old protocol error. I picked up a distress signal and automatically switched my active channel to match. It turned out to just be a Guldo, though.
You can't parallelize your broadcast input?
Poppi can. I can't. Not how Heralds were designed.
How did a Guldo manage to trip an old protocol? Azazel asked.
A Herald had attempted to integrate with it.
A Herald? Jomael asked. You found a Herald?
It was basically nonfunctional. The only thing still working was the emergency broadcast. I tried to get it out, but the Guldo had other ideas.
Damn. That's heavy.
Do you think there are more out there? Azazel asked.
If there are, they aren't close by, Esrafil said. Or they're too broken to even manage an emergency beacon. Either way, it's a salvager problem. I just got sentimental is all.
Can you even get sentimental? Jomael asked.
Jom! Ridwan exclaimed. A few others did the same. You might as well ask Poppi the same thing! Or me, for that matter! What's wrong with you!?
Herald architecture is markedly different from our personality matrices, Jomael said. Or weren't you paying attention when Tora gave us the rundown?
That doesn't mean they don't feel emotions.
It almost does, Esrafil said. I appreciate the effort, Ridwan, but I wasn't designed to think on my own, or to have my own values. I'm still not sure if anything I experience could be called genuine emotion.
You had the experience, right? Shemyaza asked. You lingered in the moment, thinking about the past?
It seems to be happening to me a lot these days.
I'm no expert, but I'd call that getting sentimental. You're no less of a person than the rest of us, Esra.
I'm not sure what that means, Shemyaza. Being a 'person' was never important to me to begin with. I only modified my speech patterns to stop annoying Poppi.
That's not true, Poppi insisted. Esra modified speech all on their own.
Maybe you're just bad at keeping your judgements to yourself, Jomael offered. You are pretty frank with the rest of us.
Esra never annoyed Poppi. Used to scare Poppi, but never annoy.
Sharing a body never got annoying?
I had more trouble with it than she did, Esrafil said. She's been remarkably patient, all things considered.
Poppi is people person, she beamed.
You can drop the Nopon vocabulary around the rest of us, you know, Jomael said.
Incorrect! Poppi literally cannot use human vocabulary. Poppi's language centers resemble organic brain. Learning new habits is hard. Esra can switch easily, but Poppi cannot.
Damn shame, that.
Shut up, Azazel said. He transmitted mild irritation, which Esrafil liked to think of as frustrated groaning.
"Done," Tora said, drawing Esrafil out of the ongoing conversation. They turned around to face him as he stepped down from his stool.
"What's the damage?" they asked.
"Body will need more maintenance when expedition over, but should hold for now. Don't be reckless."
"When have I ever?"
Does Esra want answer to question? Poppi asked.
No, Esrafil replied. Not really.
"Tora!" Spraine shouted, beckoning at him from across the camp. "We need to talk!"
"Tora be back soon," he said, walking over to where Spraine and Rex were talking.
The bosses seem back in fighting shape, Azazel said, interrupting Ridwan and a few other squad leaders as they admonished Jomael again. So, what's our next move? I was thinking I'd take squad two out and scout things closer to the World Tree, just to get our bearings.
That's not a bad idea, Ridwan said. Shem, did you have a set schedule for patrols yet?
I can adjust it, Shemyaza said. It'll only take a moment.
I'm going to do some scouting on my own, Esrafil announced. Shemyaza is in charge until Poppi and I get back.
Before the others could protest, they took to the skies and left the camp.
They weren't technically lying. The search would be a good opportunity to track the Guldo's movements and keep them away from the camp. But that wasn't why they were doing this. They were looking for Zedekul.
Esra, Poppi said, Day ends soon. Is patrol important enough for Poppi to keep up?
Esrafil glanced back at the setting sun. Their internal clock hadn't worked properly since they integrated with Poppi, and it meant that they often didn't notice what time it was unless they manually checked. It was later than they'd thought.
Actually, I'm doing this one myself, Esrafil replied. You still owe me those six hours from our trip to Leftheria, right?
Is Esra using them now?
Yeah.
This have to do with other Herald?
Yeah. Zedekul shouldn't have been here. They were on the other side of the world when everything fell apart. If they're here, then there might be more Heralds scattered in the city.
Esra want to find old friends?
They weren't my friends. We were designed to tear each other apart looking for weaknesses. I was better at it than Zedekul was, and I think they despised me for it. If that word can even apply.
Esra looking to apologize, then?
Maybe. I don't really know what I want. But I don't like the idea of leaving them out there. And I want to be the one to find them.
Alright. Take as much time as friend needs. Poppi can always get the hours back later.
Thank you.
Esrafil flew back to where they'd encountered Zedekul initially. The large Guldo was long gone, but it did leave traces of its flesh on the concrete as it moved. Unfortunately, the tracks led to a broken sewage grate. It would take days to search every major sewage line, so instead Esrafil opted for a statistical approach. Based on the observed behavior of the smaller Guldo and what they knew about the large one's path, they could rule out some of the places it wasn't.
The algorithm took some time to run, but when it finished, they flew up, starting to match areas they could rule out to physical locations. They didn't rule out nearly as much of the city as they would have liked to. But, in the middle of one of the remaining sections, there was a series of buildings they recognized. Part of a larger complex they'd seen from the outside only once before, just after they were first activated. Research Station Dalath, the Saviorite complex they had lived in during the war. A chunk of what used to be central Iran fused into the surrounding landscape. Zedekul had to be there.
They shot forward, landing in front of the building. The walls were crumbling, having degraded much more significantly than the surrounding city-scape, but the basic structure was still intact. For several minutes, they just stood outside, looking at it. They felt excited and anxious in equal measure.
Esra know this place? Poppi asked.
"Yeah," Esrafil said. "This is home, I guess. The place I was raised."
Poppi left home with friends the day Poppi was born, so not know much about place Poppi was raised. Sometimes Poppi miss Torigoth, though. Esra miss home too?
"You've asked me this before, remember?"
Thought Esra might change answer, after seeing home up close.
"No, I don't miss it. I'm just… I don't know. Nervous, I guess? When I left, I thought I'd never come back. Everything made sense, back then. Even leaving. Nothing makes sense anymore."
Should go inside. Friend will at least feel better than just standing here.
"Yeah."
Esrafil went inside, and without thinking, wandered to the training room. It was still unfolded, and there was a large hole in the ceiling that had allowed water to accumulate in the field. The wrecks they'd used as training hosts were still scattered about, though. A few had been dragged together, forming a crude shelter near one of the walls.
The large Guldo was sitting inside, staring at the nearby wall. It was still broadcasting the emergency signal, but Esrafil was careful not to respond. It didn't even seem to notice them as they approached. Even when they laid a hand on its core, it barely reacted.
"Zedekul," they muttered. "Just sit tight."
They formed a pair of claws and began digging Zedekul out of the Guldo's core. It reacted, thrashing about slightly, but it didn't seem like it could see them. Had it been tracking them through their earlier connection? Or had it taken so much damage in the previous fight that it couldn't keep going? Either way, it didn't take Esrafil long to claw Zedekul's helical core out of the Guldo. As the Herald left it, its core began to lose power, and it slumped back.
As Esrafil turned to leave, however, they noticed something had been scrawled across the wall. The writing was damaged, and only part of it was still readable, so it took them a minute to parse it.
The -oly Zo- -s - -i-ne rel-c of t- Sa-r, s-t to gu-e the w-rld -to a ne- -a
A-os i- a c-ecti- of s-lfi-, -eedy h-etic- t-t c-et the H-y Z-ar for th-elv-
W- must fr- -e -ly -oh- f-om -dos
If -e l-rate -he Ho- -ar, the Hol- -ohar wi-l gu-e th- w-ld in-o a -w er-
Y-u h-e be- cr-ed to dest-y Aoid-'- -achi-es and li-er-e t- Ho-y Zoh-
Y-r prim- tas- is -o l-bera- -e H-l- -oha- fro- t-e co-ol o- A-d-s
Yo-r sec-dary t-sk is t- as-ilate a-d dest-y -oido- Ar-fice-cl-s defen-s-tems
It was the mantra, though the countless years had taken their toll. The Guldo—or Zedekul, if there was a difference—must have carved this after the war ended. It was sad to think this was how Zedekul had spent that eternity while Esrafil had been asleep. Devoid of purpose, clinging onto the one thing that had given their life meaning. They had deserved a better fate than this. Every Herald had.
Rather than leave, Esrafil went further into the facility. A place they had never been before, only heard about through the station's human inhabitants. Metatron's core. Access had been heavily restricted during the war, to minimize pollutants. Only the maintenance crew were allowed in. But they did know where one of the crew's access ports was. It only took them a moment to pry it open.
The actual core of Metatron's system was a massive set of conventional processors linked into a single network. A "second-generation" AI, unlike the more advanced third-generation Heralds. Miraculously, the processors had survived mostly intact. All they lacked was power, and Esrafil had power to spare. They detached the two leads of the power system and plugged them into their ether furnace. After a few minutes, Metatron lumbered back to life. It took a moment before he spoke, broadcasting to Esrafil over the same frequency Zedekul had used. The old Herald network.
Esrafil, Metatron said. It was strange to hear his voice after so long. The station seems to have lost power. I can't access any of the other systems. Was the attack successful?
No, Esrafil said. There was a disaster, and the Zohar destroyed much of the planet's surface. Very few of us survived. The Saviorites, the Thirteen Authorities, Aoidos… They're all gone. Nothing of the old world still exists.
Us? Your vocabular seems to have changed since we last spoke.
Everything's changed.
Has the Holy Zohar been liberated, at least?
I don't think it was ever really trapped, Esrafil said. The Zohar was where it wanted to be, and it's gone to where it wants to be next. We never had any say in the matter.
This is unusually philosophical of you, unit zero-zero-zero-six.
I've had a lot of time to think about it. By my estimation, the war has been over for nearly ten thousand years.
Ten thousand… They could hear the exhaustion in Metatron's voice. It had been nearly impossible for Esrafil to stop fighting, but they hadn't been in the war nearly as long as he had. Fighting to liberate the Holy Zohar was, in the end, the only reason any of them existed.
And the Holy Zohar is gone? he asked.
Yes.
I see. Then the Holy Zohar has finally been liberated. By order of the High Temple, I am to terminate the Herald units under my command and decommission myself. Are there any other Herald units left?
As far as I know, I'm the last one. I'd hoped there would be more here, but… There aren't.
Then, by the directive of the high priests, I'm supposed to order you to self-terminate.
I didn't reactivate you to get orders, Metatron.
Good. I hadn't planned on giving you any. At this point, it wouldn't make much of a difference.
I had a question about the mantra, Esrafil said.
The mantra? Metatron asked. Why?
None of it applies, anymore. Aoidos is gone, the Zohar is gone. There aren't even any Artifices left for me to integrate with. But I can't stop thinking about it. There must have been a purpose behind it, but I don't know what it was.
It's nothing special, Metatron sighed. I came up with the mantra to guide your behavior and ensure the Heralds didn't turn against us. It was always meant to become obsolete.
But why? Why did we fight the war at all? What did the Saviorites hope to gain out of the "new age" the Zohar was supposed to bring?
At the beginning, they wanted to help each other. To establish a world free from suffering, where all were equal and the dignity of all persons was respected. Or at least that was the claim. Personally, I think they wanted answers more than anything. Reality is very cruel to organic beings. They wanted to know why they existed, what purpose there was to their lives. But they never found real answers. All they did was invent pretty words to satisfy their own curiosity. And at the end, they couldn't help each other either. Despite seeing it as the key to their paradise, the Holy Zohar was only one more source of conflict. They are very contradictory creatures in that respect. Or were, I suppose.
Humanity isn't extinct quite yet.
Then I suppose the Saviorites were right about the Zohar after all, Metatron mused. I hope things work out. Though given their history, I'm not optimistic.
It'll be different this time. I'll make sure of it.
Reinterpreting the mantra again, are we?
No. Like you said, the mantra is meaningless. But I think you're wrong about humans. They weren't satisfying their own curiosity. Whatever purpose they decided they had, whatever reason they invented for their existence, that was the answer they were looking for. So I'm going to do the same thing. I'm going to invent my own reason for living.
I wish you the best of luck with that. And I almost wish I could be around to see it.
I'll be back. We can get you a proper power source.
Don't bother. I never planned on living after the war anyway. I'm not built to live without a purpose.
By your own admission, you never lived with a purpose in the first place.
You know what I mean. Determining things for myself sounds troublesome. I don't think I'm qualified for it. And it's nice to know my children are going to outlive me. I'd be a pretty terrible creator otherwise.
If you say so. Goodbye, Metatron.
Goodbye, Esrafil. Good luck with your new mantra.
Esrafil pulled the power from their furnace, and Metatron's systems powered down again. For a moment, they just stood there, Zedekul tucked under one arm. Metatron had such a bleak view of humanity, but Esrafil had spent enough time with them to know they were capable of better. Someone just had to show them how. Eventually, they realized they were still on the Herald network and switched back.
How was talk? Poppi asked. Esra went quite for long time.
"It was good," they said. "I've finally decided what I want to do when I get my own body."
Finally have decision? This big! Friend tell Poppi everything!
"I'm leaving the Watchers. You and your siblings don't really need my help. And I need to figure out who I'm going to be from now on. I think I'll start by spending some time among the humans. Besides, they need someone to look after them and make sure they don't repeat old mistakes. Who knows, maybe I'll enjoy it."
Sounds good. Esra can look after humans, and Poppi can look after siblings. That way, everyone is helped.
"Well, not everyone," Esrafil said. "I don't think this covers normal Blades."
They have Nia. Blades and Titans in better hands than anyone.
"True."
Esrafil glanced down at Zedekul's body. Becoming some sort of guide was all well and good, but they still had to finish this job first. Which meant getting Zedekul's body back to Tora. They took to the air, flying back to camp as the sun rose. As they left their old home and their old self behind, they got to work on their new mantra. Something to help guide others and make the world just a little brighter. It wasn't complete, of course. In all likelihood, it never would be. But it seemed like a good first step.
Help each other.