She radiated disbelief at his claims. You have a motive/goal/objective here.
Besides simple conversation? the Clockwork King giggled. The other wardens only bark
their threats, showing off their need to prove they're in control. The soldiers never talk to me, although I listen to them. Their words and sounds and
memories... I hear you have a new project. A human telepath.
Myrtirs eyes narrowed, irritation flickering over their conversational link. Your shields/cell walls will need to be
reinforced.
I'll that that as a yes. I have to admit, I'm curious. Why would such a high ranking Priestess take an interest in a
mere human. Anger rippled around him as he demanded. Planning to make another gateway? Torture a child to summon your
armies?
The Rikti held up a hand. Her power is not to such a level, she reassured him. My
interest is due to the nature/origin/design of her mental powers. Magical Telepathy is new/unknown/unexplained.
Which of those terms suits your peoples attitude towards it? the brain asked. No
matter, he added before she could respond. While they won't always be comfortable with the origin, your people
will welcome young Elice... Oh, don't worry, I'm not reading your mind, he cackled. I couldn't if I
tried... you're too powerful, well trained and frankly, almost all my power's being used to open the door for your armies.
There was a flicker, a stray thought, and the Priest seized on it, dragging it out for inspection. And not all of it was used
for this little tantrum/show, she realized. Because it is a power unsuited for such actions.
Oh yes! the King laughed, delighted by his jailers perception. This is a power I
didn't even know I had, until you left me with nothing else! Oh, it's a marvelous discovery. Honestly, it's the only thing that's kept me from
going mad, given you won't let we watch the old Freedom Phalanx cartoons. He laughed again at the flare of anger mentioning the Freedom Phalanx
brought about. I can see things. Other worlds, other times. I see a world where Requiem unleashed a never ending darkness,
where the Hamidon devoured all... a world where I killed everyone and everything... That one was oddly relaxing. That's probably not a good sign.
Most likely, she agreed dryly.
Sometimes I wonder if it's just my mind playing tricks on me. My imagination, whatever's left of it. But I've
learned things that even my Gear spies could never have told me before. Your peoples origins so long ago, when you became not more or less then human, just...
different. The dark wars of ancient Cimorea and their alien masters. What truly happened at the Well of the Furies, and what will happen again. I see the
Oncoming Storm, and the struggles of Ouroboros to stop it. Here, now, they will likely fail.
Myrtir took a step closer to the edge of the platform, her attention locked on the mutant brain and the words he shared only with her. She could barely sense
the Magus behind her, his arcane abilities drawing his attention to something he could never understand. Even with the power of magic, most Rikti minds just
could not understand prophecy.
I see a world where my Clockwork Princess was taken from me later, and rescued by... heroes... the air rippled with
hatred and disgust for a moment. The things I could tell you of that world... but not today. The moment ended.
That girl is important. Watch her. Protect her.
She mentally frowned. I do not serve/obey you.
I'm not ordering. I'm merely suggesting you do what will come naturally... I'm done now. Don't worry, I
won't interferre with the coming troop transfers, despite the pain. Good day Myrtir W'tin.
Myrtir frowned as the Clockwork King fell silent. For a moment, she felt rather foolish, considering the idea that the brain had merely been messing with her,
some game in his twisted mind. She dismissed that a moment later. The Kings thoughts were true and accurate to the best of his ability... whatever that means
in this case, as the Lord of War would put it.
Her mind considered the matter, even as she went to make sure that the great portals power chamber had been cleansed of Clockwork.
***
Several hundred meters above, a pair of Gears stopped to take a break in the long climb up an air vent. One of them sat down in a side vent as the other
stretched, working the connections in its back. After a minute, they seemed to hold a conversation, then resumed climbing.
***
Besides simple conversation? the Clockwork King giggled. The other wardens only bark
their threats, showing off their need to prove they're in control. The soldiers never talk to me, although I listen to them. Their words and sounds and
memories... I hear you have a new project. A human telepath.
Myrtirs eyes narrowed, irritation flickering over their conversational link. Your shields/cell walls will need to be
reinforced.
I'll that that as a yes. I have to admit, I'm curious. Why would such a high ranking Priestess take an interest in a
mere human. Anger rippled around him as he demanded. Planning to make another gateway? Torture a child to summon your
armies?
The Rikti held up a hand. Her power is not to such a level, she reassured him. My
interest is due to the nature/origin/design of her mental powers. Magical Telepathy is new/unknown/unexplained.
Which of those terms suits your peoples attitude towards it? the brain asked. No
matter, he added before she could respond. While they won't always be comfortable with the origin, your people
will welcome young Elice... Oh, don't worry, I'm not reading your mind, he cackled. I couldn't if I
tried... you're too powerful, well trained and frankly, almost all my power's being used to open the door for your armies.
There was a flicker, a stray thought, and the Priest seized on it, dragging it out for inspection. And not all of it was used
for this little tantrum/show, she realized. Because it is a power unsuited for such actions.
Oh yes! the King laughed, delighted by his jailers perception. This is a power I
didn't even know I had, until you left me with nothing else! Oh, it's a marvelous discovery. Honestly, it's the only thing that's kept me from
going mad, given you won't let we watch the old Freedom Phalanx cartoons. He laughed again at the flare of anger mentioning the Freedom Phalanx
brought about. I can see things. Other worlds, other times. I see a world where Requiem unleashed a never ending darkness,
where the Hamidon devoured all... a world where I killed everyone and everything... That one was oddly relaxing. That's probably not a good sign.
Most likely, she agreed dryly.
Sometimes I wonder if it's just my mind playing tricks on me. My imagination, whatever's left of it. But I've
learned things that even my Gear spies could never have told me before. Your peoples origins so long ago, when you became not more or less then human, just...
different. The dark wars of ancient Cimorea and their alien masters. What truly happened at the Well of the Furies, and what will happen again. I see the
Oncoming Storm, and the struggles of Ouroboros to stop it. Here, now, they will likely fail.
Myrtir took a step closer to the edge of the platform, her attention locked on the mutant brain and the words he shared only with her. She could barely sense
the Magus behind her, his arcane abilities drawing his attention to something he could never understand. Even with the power of magic, most Rikti minds just
could not understand prophecy.
I see a world where my Clockwork Princess was taken from me later, and rescued by... heroes... the air rippled with
hatred and disgust for a moment. The things I could tell you of that world... but not today. The moment ended.
That girl is important. Watch her. Protect her.
She mentally frowned. I do not serve/obey you.
I'm not ordering. I'm merely suggesting you do what will come naturally... I'm done now. Don't worry, I
won't interferre with the coming troop transfers, despite the pain. Good day Myrtir W'tin.
Myrtir frowned as the Clockwork King fell silent. For a moment, she felt rather foolish, considering the idea that the brain had merely been messing with her,
some game in his twisted mind. She dismissed that a moment later. The Kings thoughts were true and accurate to the best of his ability... whatever that means
in this case, as the Lord of War would put it.
Her mind considered the matter, even as she went to make sure that the great portals power chamber had been cleansed of Clockwork.
***
Several hundred meters above, a pair of Gears stopped to take a break in the long climb up an air vent. One of them sat down in a side vent as the other
stretched, working the connections in its back. After a minute, they seemed to hold a conversation, then resumed climbing.
***