[Story] The Future History of Jakob Pettersohn (11/Jul/09 - Final Chapter)

[Tapewolf]

Chapter 55 - Visitations

"Oh piss off!" said the voice and hung up.  Daryil sighed and typed in another number, carefully disabling the caller ID.  Just one more try, he thought.  As the videophone connected, he switched on a bank of lights, brightly illuminating the wall behind him.

"Good morning," the clerk said.  "K&C Flowers.  How can I... help... you?" he faltered slightly at the sight of the shadowed figure on the screen.  Bingo, Daryil thought.

"This is a stick up," the fox informed him in a calm, authoritative voice and produced a small handgun.  "Give me the money or die."

"Right away, sir!" the clerk said in a panic.  He opened up the till and brought out a wad of notes.  "Will that do?"

"Put it in front of the camera," Daryil told him.  The clerk hesitated as he belatedly realised what he was doing.  His expression became one of rage.  "Why, you..."

"Sucker!" Daryil called out and rang off quickly.  He glanced around with a guilty start as he realised Niall was standing in the doorway, looking at him with a mildly impressed expression upon his face.
Daryil glanced down at the gun.  He aimed it at the ceiling and fired, making a small jet of water that splashed the other fox.

"Milord," Niall said quietly, "Have you ever considered acting in a manner that befits your age and status?  More to the point, must we revoke your phone privileges again?"

"I've considered it many times," Daryil said.  "And the answer is always the same... it would be boring.  Anyway, you're not usually this much of a spoilsport.  What's eating you today?"

"We need a resurrection," Niall told him.  "This one will be more tricky, and if you're not busy I could use your help."

"Oh dear," Daryil said, his usual demeanour suddenly cast aside as Niall explained the situation.  "A child?  We've never done that before."

"Quite.  Do you have any suggestions?  Can you foresee any complications?"

"Well, there's the obvious one that android bodies can't grow," Daryil said.  "Eternal youth is one thing but being stuck eternally in the body of a 15-year-old is... not ideal," he concluded.  "Putting them in the body of an adult while their mind is still young creates problems of its own..."

"We can upgrade the body," Niall said.  "It'll be an effort, but it will work."

"But then he'll suddenly become older in bursts," Daryil pointed out.  "That's got to suck."

"So we do it every year, during the summer break.  When he goes back to school afterwards, their memories of what he looked like before will have faded slightly."

"It's a bodge," Daryil said, "But it sounds like the best compromise.  Let's do it."

"I may need you to do most of it if you can," Niall said.  "I have... an appointment.  Very bad timing."

"I'll do what I can."

"Thanks."

* * *

"Reports are coming in that there may be a number of android furres around Ha'Khun," the announcer said.
"Two Being-like men have been spotted in Ha'Khun performing feats with an unnatural combination of speed, strength and agility that would seem to rule out their being of Angel or Demon blood.  The mystery may have been inadvertently solved by a passer-by who paused to photograph his fiancé by a fountain."

The picture cut to a photograph of Sethir sprinting in front of an ornate water-feature in the city's central square.  The damage to his hand was clearly visible.  The picture froze.

"There we have it, gentlemen," Councillor Vraal said, pausing the display.  "While it may simply be a case of prosthetics, the fact that all four limbs would appear to have been replaced makes this seem less likely, to me at least.  Councillor Smithers, what do you think?"

"A cyborg would require a significant power source," Smithers said.  "While it is not impossible that someone would willingly consent to a quadruple amputation a wholly artificial body seems more likely.  This may also explain other recent phenomena such as the Mundesburg affair where an incubus returned from the dead some days after being hanged, while his corpse was later found to be still in his coffin.  There is also the little-reported case at the trial of Keaton Jyraneth where one of the chief witnesses admitted under oath that he was a cybernetic replica of his former self."

"If I may speak," Father Albina said, "I believe there is one thread linking them all.  Johan Cross.  I fear he may be preparing an android invasion to reclaim Ha'Khun."

"He is supposed to be dead," Vraal interrupted, but he looked pale.  "So was the Doberman at Mundesburg," Father Albina pointed out politely.  "There is now a worldnet page where people have been reporting sightings of him.  Cross may simply be the first to have returned."  Councillor Rogiir stared at the ceiling with a dreamy expression upon his face, but quickly wiped it from his face as Smithers snarled at him.  Councillor Vraal glanced around irritably.  "Where is Sanderssen?" he demanded.

"He will be in late," the Father said.  "But before he arrives there is something I would have you know.  It is my belief that Councillor Sanderssen may have erred, placing his own immortal soul in danger.  My understanding is that he has made a somewhat rash pact.  Indeed, my sources say that he is in league with Johan Cross himself, and his evil master, the incubus Daryil."

"He sold us out?" Smithers yelped.  "To Cross?!"

"I fear that may be so," the Father said unhappily, placing a sheaf of documents upon the table.  "But even Cross may not be such a threat to our fair city as his Ascended master.  Read this."

* * *

"You have come to investigate me so soon?" Jakob said, crestfallen.  "I had hoped for some more time to prepare."

"That is why we have moved as fast as we did," Ms. Strauss told him.  "Yours is not the first case of this kind.  Some, ah... less scrupulous... individuals have resorted to divine intervention in order to sway the Commission's opinion on matters which would otherwise be outlawed.

"In the interest of balance, I have come here today to investigate you unprepared.  While it may seem unfair, it is more likely to give us a true snapshot of your project."
"Please don't take this personally, but your race does have a reputation as one that has mastered deceit.  By arriving ahead of schedule, we give you less time to conceal any dirty secrets you may have, or make some holy alliance in order to get your way.  And that gives us a far more accurate picture.  The Commission has been hoodwinked before so it is now standard policy in such matters."

"Very well," Jakob said, his headwings drooping slightly.

The Demon took out an abominable-smelling cigarette and ignited the tip of her finger.  Jakob glanced at the packet as it was offered to him.  Printed even larger than the brand's logo was a sadistically graphic picture of someone being shot in the face and the statutory warning label underneath this read "Nine out of every ten smokers die in gruesome execution-style murders" in large, red type.

"No thanks," the incubus said.  "And I'm afraid I have a clean air policy in the lab - regulations, you know.  I'd offer to show you outside, but the Arctic is a bit chilly this time of year.  Do you mind if we go to the power plant?  You can light up there."

"Very well," she said.  "While I doubt you would be foolish enough to assault a member of the Commission, I must inform you that I have a recall amulet."

"Very trusting," Jakob said dryly and handed her a visitor's pass.  "I must ask you to keep this about your person at all times.  It's part of our security network."

"Thank you.  It is not for me to judge you, Mr. Pettersohn, but I must confess your your... past... does call your trustworthiness into question.  Indeed, you went so far as to fake your own death.  Still... take me to the power plant, if you would be so kind, and I will explain why I am here."

* * *

"Come in," Dougan said nervously as the welfare inspector and his partner entered the hallway.  He faltered slightly as he caught their expressions.  "Is there a problem?"

"You've been on benefit for some time," inspector Forsen began.

"Yeah, well, I haven't had much luck with the job market lately," the feline said and laughed nervously.

"I'll tell you why," the inspector's partner told him.  "Your speciality is in electronics, isn't it?"

"Yep."

"Vacuum-tube electronics," Forsen said, continuing from where his partner had left off.  "Not semiconductors, not DSP algorithms and definitely not spintronics.  Simply put, your knowledge of electronics is about two hundred years behind the times."

"But-"

"No-one uses valves anymore except in very specialist audio applications.  And I'll tell you something else.  We examined your credit records.  You don't spend very much on food, do you?"

"I live frugally," Dougan said.

"You don't spend ANYTHING on food.  You're an incubus, my lad," the inspector said, drawing out a gun and an undercover agent's ID.  "Get against the wall, Creature.  You deserve that much, if nothing else."

"You can't do this!"  Dougan protested, his headwings appearing.  "The law gives us equal rights!"

"We're not going to shoot you because you're in incubus," Agent Forsen told him.  "This will be counted as 'Benefit Fraud'".

"You can't kill people for that either!" Dougan yelped, and then stared as the tentacles wrapped around the Agent's neck and hands.

"Get out," Niall said, relieving the Agent of his gun as he and was dragged to the floor.  "Cross the border, you'll be safe there."

"What about you?"

"Oh, I do this all the time," Niall said.  "You'd better learn some self-defence as well.  You're a full-grown incubus and these two fools almost took you down like a Being."

"But I'm from a pacifist clan," the cat said, glancing with distaste at the Agent, who was lying inert upon the floor.  "Was that really necessary?  Is his life worth so much more than mine?"

"Oh, he'll be okay," Niall said.  "I'm from a pacifistic clan too.  But what looks good on paper doesn't always work nearly as well in practice.  A healthy dose of pragmatism usually works wonders.  Now go!"  So saying, he disappeared.

"Th-three guesses who that was," Forsen croaked a few minutes later.

"Niall," the assistant said and her face hardened.  "He has interfered too many times.  He has to die."

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

... Niall needs to learn to hide his colours.

Also, couple of typos. One, was Niall really impressed with Dariyl, or was that a typo? Secondly, the cat is from a pacifist clan clan?


And I liked the cigarette warning label...

[Gabi]

I liked the warning label too. It reminded me of the "Death" cigarettes that came out sometime in the early '90s.

[Tapewolf]

... Niall needs to learn to hide his colours.

Yes, I was going to work that into it but forgot.  Basically, Niall has built up something of a reputation to the point at which his actions will tend to give him away.

Also, couple of typos. One, was Niall really impressed with Dariyl, or was that a typo? Secondly, the cat is from a pacifist clan clan?

I got the name of the city wrong in the exchange with Father Albina.  "clan clan" was wrong.  I don't think I've spelled 'Daryil' wrong anywhere, though if you can point it out I'll fix it.
As for 'impressed', that should have been 'unimpressed' though I'm wondering whether I might change it.

And I liked the cigarette warning label...

Yes.  When "smoking kills" didn't work they started to get more aggressive about it.  Seemed like it might be fun to extrapolate.

[Tapewolf]

Chapter 56 - Albina

"What do you mean, 'gone'?!" Salomere started, looking upwards at Dorcan.  She had healed most of her other son's wounds.

"Kirian isn't in the bag anymore," Dorcan told her.  "It must have been recalled by its owner.  At least, I hope so - if it's been delinquent and just run off, we're in real trouble.  But be that as it may... Why would you want to leave without Amalia?"

"I don't, but I do want you to go back with Ingar.  Make sure he's left somewhere safe until he can recover.  Then, when he's been dropped off you come back with Kirian and if I haven't already found Amalia, you can help me find her.  That was the plan, anyway.  Without the warp-aci, it's a bit academic."

"I think he's coming round," Dorcan said.  Salomere glanced back at Ingar, his eyes slowly opening.

"Ingar," she said, "Where is Amalia?  Was she here?"

"She went to get help..."  As if on cue, there was a rustling in the trees and a female Doberman burst into the clearing.

"Oh!  Mum!  Thank the gods you're here!" she blurted.  "And hello, Dorcan," she added in a slightly frosty tone.  "Aren't you supposed to be dead or something?"

"Stop that!" Salomere snapped, her wings fanning out angrily.  "Your brothers - both of them - have been through quite enough.  I've healed Ingar up as best I can, but he needs peace and quiet.  Bickering over some stupid grudge is pointless.  We need to get back to base."

"What base?" the succubus asked.  "Where?  Whose territory is it?"

"A research facility belonging to Clan Daryil," Dorcan said.  "In any case I must report back to Jakob.  He entrusted me with a mission, and I'm not sure I've succeeded."

"Daryil?" Amelia frowned.  "Isn't he supposed to be some kind of powerfully dangerous nutcase?"

"He has offered to put the clan under his protection," Salomere informed her.

Her daughter's eyes widened for a moment.  "I guess any alliance is better than none," she said doubtfully.  Salomere's headwings drooped for a moment, but it soon passed.

Dorcan spun around as another figure emerged from the trees.

"Niall!" he exclaimed.  "What are you doing here?"

"Just come to pick you up," the fox said.  "I didn't expect so many people, though."  He paused.  "Some kind of family reunion?  And what... has happened here?"  His headwings fanned out as he took in the scene of carnage and death.

"May I introduce Ingar and Amalia," Dorcan said, with an exaggerated bow.  "My brother and sister.  Siblings, this is Niall Jakobsohn of Daryil Clan.  And Kirian."

"But why are there so many corpses?"  Niall asked pitifully.  "And is your brother hurt?"

"It was terrible," Amalia said, and her voice quailed.  "Two rogue 'Cubi... they were Jyraneth, I think.  Everyone was killed.  They tried to kill Ingar, but I fought them off..."

"Then we'd best get everyone away before they come back," Niall said.  "Kirian, do the honours please."

* * *

Following their escape from the Temple, it took Joshua and Sethir more than an hour and a half to reach the district of Ha'Khun where the Angel Islington resided.  Taking the subway was out of the question with Seth's arm damaged as it was, so they jogged.

As the inn came into view, Joshua froze and flattened himself against the wall.  Sethir almost bumped into him before taking his own place in the shadows.  Guards burst in through the door, emerging a few minutes later with Sanderssen, the innkeeper and various patrons.  They were led into a van.  Sethir noticed with some relief that Azrael and the rest were not among those arrested.

"Holy shit," Sethir whispered.  "There but for the grace of the gods go we," Joshua hissed back.  "Ten to one there's a warrant for us now as well as the others."

Carefully they stepped backwards, edging away from the inn whilst retaining their cover in the shadows.  For a second, Joshua thought he saw a tail-light in the distance, but then it was gone.

"Psst!"  Someone hissed.  Sethir nearly jumped out of his skin.  Joshua tensed himself, hands gliding into a defensive posture.

"Seth!  Josh!  Get over here!" the voice hissed again, and a hand reached out from the shadow, beckoning them into an alleyway.  Ready to defend himself, Joshua spun around into the alley and saw two red glowing eyes.  It was Azrael.

"Az!  What happened?!" Joshua demanded.  Azrael silenced him and gestured to an open manhole cover.  "Shussh!  No time to explain!  Get down here.  Quickly, both of you!"

* * *

"I suppose we should start with a bit of history," Jakob said as they walked.  "As you are no doubt aware, I'm over a thousand years old.  The prospect of eating souls to maintain my youth is not one that particularly enthrals me.  It would not make my Clan leader particularly happy with me either, come to that, but it was mostly my own ethical concerns that prompted me to research ways of prolonging my own life without inflicting such suffering upon others.

"I decided upon a multi-pronged approach, three different techniques, each with their own pros and cons.  Cloning was one such approach, but I abandoned it early on.  Too messy and unfortunately when it worked at all it lost the magical component.  The result was always a Being, never a Creature."

"And what happened to these... clones?"

"Some died young, poor things.  Others I gave up for adoption.  There were a couple I made without souls, so that they could be given the soul of their 'parent'.  I have saved lives by that method, and I also used the technique to fake my death, but it's not something I do willingly."

Jakob sighed and his voice became brittle.  "I brought lives into existence as... tools.  I know that there are 'Cubi clans who have done this by more conventional means, but it doesn't alter the fact that what they do - and what I did - is wrong, and I should never have attempted it."

He sighed again.  "After the fifth failure I realised that... that what I was doing did cause suffering and it went against all I was hoping for.  So I wrote the technique off."

A tear dripped down Jakob's muzzle and he wiped it away quickly, ashamed to look at the demon.

"Are you all right, Mr. Pettersohn?" she asked, a note of concern entering her voice.

"I think so," he said, and paused before continuing with some difficulty.  "In a way, this is like a kind of, well, a confession for me.  I... have a lot of pent-up guilt about what I've done.  Sometimes I wonder if I should have destroyed my notes on the process, but I kept them anyway.  Just in case.
"There are other uses for it, after all... 'Cubi clans where only the leader survives, for example.  Creating a Being clone of the leader and then 'Cubifying them, that might work, but I don't have the heart to try it.  Since then I have created only soulless clones because they cannot suffer, and I have only done this about twice.  As I said, I created a mindless clone of myself which - gods forgive me - I slew as a decoy.  More recently I have begun creating a similar clone of a friend, who currently exists only as an android.  But I do not intend to do this again, not unless a dire need arrives.  However, it is an option in my portfolio, as it were."

Strauss nodded.

"This dam," he said in a slightly more cheerful tone as they emerged from the tunnel, "Is the main source of the base' power, though we can also connect to the power grid in Thorsden if we need a backup for some reason."

"Pretty.  Does it have a name?"

"'The Daryil Dam'," Jakob replied.  "Daryil wanted it to be named after him.  I told him not to be an idiot because it was top secret.  He sulked for three days straight and eventually we had to relent."

"He provided the funding, I suppose?"

"Most of it, yes.  And while the cloning project was underway I also obtained funding for two other projects, the Android Project and 'Project Future'.  The former targets Beings and also Creatures who have had their bodies destroyed, but at a price of losing their magical powers.  The latter provides a compatible substitute for soul-energy, thus allowing Creatures who can take advantage of it to do so without harming anyone.  We call it 'Soul Food'."

The demon's eyes narrowed.

* * *

"This is the second time you have attempted to take over my realm," Daryil said coldly.  "I gave you one last chance, hoped that you would change your ways.  But no... sadly, it seems I was wrong."  He pointed an accusing finger.

"You dare to defy Lord Daryil?" he screamed.  "I will not stand for such insolence!  You shall pay very dearly for this mistake.  I shall scatter your remains across the land as a warning to all!  Have you anything to say?"

The hedge did not reply.

"Then die!" Daryil shrieked, and his wings became blades, knives, shears.  Within the space of five minutes, a large pile of branches stood at his feet.  "May the gods have mercy upon you," he said and strode out of the garden, victorious.  Niall shook his head and collared his leader.

"Daryil," he began, "I can't raise any of the team in Ha'Khun.  Last I heard were reports that Joshua had been captured.  Ashley and Sethir were sent back to get him."

"Indeed?  Remind me... they were investigating some kind of religious fanatic, weren't they?  Maybe I should pay him a visit.  Do you have any information about him?"

"We've got some video," Niall said.  "But I'm getting worried.  I heard news reports that Councillor Sanderssen had been arrested on corruption charges.  My guess is that the others are either in custody too, or on the run.  And Ash was the only spellcaster in the team."

"Sethir was with them?" Daryil asked, and a slightly dreamy expression drifted across his face for a second.  "Nevermind, just show me the video.  But first, what happened with that dead kid?  Is he okay?"

"He should be ready for power-up shortly.   I got a bit distracted by Dorcan's brother, but he seems to be healed up now.  You want to meet him?"

"Later," Daryil decided.  "Show me the grand high nutter first."

Niall touched his watch and a nearby screen flickered into life.  He navigated a few menus and the screen was suddenly filled with a newscast.  He froze the picture as Father Albina's face appeared on the screen.

"Holy shit," Daryil said.

"You recognise him?"

"Yeah," Daryil said.  "'Father Albina' is a new one on me, though."

"What's he like?"

"Cute butt.  Not much muscle on him, though."

"One of these days they'll invent a mind-shield that works on speech too," Niall retorted.

"Love makes the world go round," Daryil told him, with an expression of perfect innocence.

"I'll take your word for that, if you don't mind.  Aside from his body - however cute it may be - what is he like?"

"Evil."

Niall shrugged.  "I'm evil.  You're evil.  Everyone's a little bit evil.  No reason to hold it against him."

"Last I heard, he was willing to try anything that might help him achieve his goal, no matter who else got hurt.  We're talking 'Destania evil' here."

"Urgh," Niall blanched, remembering his introductory course in fear at the Academy.  His professor had just had an unhappy love affair and didn't see why anyone else should have a good time.  "So, uh... what does he want to achieve?  And what's his real name?"

"His name's Mathian," Daryil told him, "And he wants us dead."

[Tapewolf]

Chapter 57 - Deceit

"Don't worry, Am, your brother will be fine," Salomere said, as the other succubus paced the room.  "He's really not as badly injured as it looks.  And heck, even if he somehow died he'd still pull through.  He's in good hands here - these are the guys who saved Dorcan."

"I know," Amalia said, looking around nervously.  "I'm not so worried about him, it's just..." she hesitated.

"We left something of great value in the forest," Amalia continued, looking frankly at her mother.  "We weren't just there on a camping expedition.  We had a line on some antiquities which were supposedly buried in the area.  We found some too, but they were left at the camp.  I have to go back and rescue them before someone else finds them!"

"I'll need Kirian," Niall said, "But I can have her run you back into the forest if you give us the location.  I can give you a recall amulet to get back."

"That sounds good," Amalia said, and reeled off a set of FPS coordinates.  "Can you come with me?" she added to Salomere.  "You might find this interesting."

"I can," Salomere said, "But what about Dorcan?"  Amalia's face became expressionless for a moment.

"Come on.  You can't keep this up forever.  It's not worth it.  At least tell me what it's all about?"

"Later," she promised.  "First we must go, before it's too late."



"Hmm, I must have got the coordinates wrong," Amalia said when they were both in the forest once more.  "But I know where we are.  This way!" she barely glanced back at her mother before tearing off into the woodland.

"Someone's coming," she hissed and climbed into a tree.  Her mother followed.  In the distance they could hear voices arguing and as their owners came into view, Salomere realised with a start that it was the adventuring party who had killed Quangyre and threatened Dorcan.  There were just five of them left and they were in rough shape.

The band passed close to their tree, and before Salomere could quite register what was happening, Amalia let out a feral howl and dropped onto their leader, tentacles at the ready.  "They've found us!" one of them shrieked and the group scattered.  Without being conscious of what she was doing, Salomere descended from the tree and watched numbly.

"Don't just stand there, grab them!" Amalia yelled.  "Don't let them get away!"

"What are you doing?" her mother shrieked.  "What did these people ever do to you?" 

"I'll tell you later!"  she yelped.  "The archer!  Pin him down!  Quickly!"

Salomere watched in horror as her daughter slew the goat Being.  She raced over and took the soul, placing it carefully in one of the stones Jakob had lent her.

"That's more like it," Amalia grinned.  "You must teach us to do that one day.  Souls will make us strong... strength crushes enemies and harvests yet more souls..."

"You lied to me," Salomere choked.  "Your own mother.  You lied to me!"

"We are 'Cubi," a voice said.  "Our whole lives are lies."

She turned around.  Ingar stood there, hale and whole.  There were no scars upon his body anymore and he looked the part - a lean, fit and almost preternaturally handsome incubus.  His beauty was marred only by the cruel expression on his features, and the clan mark on his flat belly.  He cast a spell and the surviving Beings collapsed, paralysed but still conscious.

"We can finish them later," he said.  "First, we must talk.  You must hear our proposal, mother.  There is so much you must be able to teach us..."

Salomere stared at him in horror.  The clan mark on his abdomen had changed.  The extra lines and curves that Mordrith had etched upon it were gone - her son stood before her, a true Jyraneth incubus.

"It was a setup, wasn't it?" she said slowly.  Everything seemed unreal, like some kind of detective mystery.  This couldn't be happening.

"Ingar was faking his injuries," she continued dreamily.  "He was lying there as a decoy - Amalia was lurking somewhere ready to pounce on the first people who came to rescue him."

"Almost," Ingar said.  "We never thought the rescuer would be you.  Actually I was injured in the fight, but by swords, not tentacles, and nowhere near as badly as it looked.  I would never have been able to teleport back here if I was convalescent.  But as for lies?  Perhaps, perhaps not.  You see, everything we told you was technically true if it is taken from the right perspective."

"Mother, you must join us," Amalia said.  "Don't be afraid."

"Don't you see?" her brother put in, "What we are doing is but a small step towards a great masterpiece."

"Masterpiece?  What the hell are you talking about?"

"Every death is special," Amalia beamed, oblivious to her mother's distress.  "A rich and unique tapestry of pain and torment lovingly created by the artist's hand, each scream different to the last.  Death is a thing more permanent and lasting than a mountain.  What finer way to leave our mark upon the fabric of creation?  Truly, murder is the highest form of art!"

"But it is so easy to kill and destroy," Salomere babbled, still not quite able to accept that this was happening.  "Anyone can do that.  True art lies in creation..."

"Poppycock," Ingar replied.  On the ground, one of the Beings lay staring, his eyes wide as he watched the three 'Cubi arguing over their lives like two pimps arguing over a whore.

"What if it had just been Dorcan?"  Salomere asked, but she knew the answer.

"I'd have killed him," Amalia said softly.  "He would never have joined us."

Salomere looked away.  Jyraneth members, she thought.  When they twig that I'll never join them either, they'll kill me, my husband and my poor dear son...  Tears welled in her eyes as she realised that she'd have to slay her own children, the last truly living members of her line.

* * *

The Demon's expression hardened slightly for a moment.  "How did you discover this process?" she asked.

"Soul Food?" Jakob glanced at her in askance.  "The principles behind it were Azrael's invention, actually.  I discovered the theory among the notes he left following his death.  There were a few gaps in the theory, and many technical hurdles.  The biggest problem he had then was creating enough energy for the process to be practical.  That is an obstacle we have now overcome."

"Good.  I had worried that your quest to create artificial souls may have begun by dissecting the souls of the living.  It is said that you ate many, many souls during your reign..."

"...and refuted at my trial," Jakob pointed out smoothly.  "I do not kill souls.  If I did, I wouldn't have needed to bother with this project in the first place, would I?  Now, aside from the power consumption issue - which led to my own researches into matter annihilation - the missing piece was keeping the faux soul-energy stable in the long term without the benefit of a functioning mind.  For that I needed Azrael.  Daryil managed to contact him through the Void, and we were able to finish the project.  In exchange, I built him the android body which his soul now inhabits."

"And this began your android project?"

"Not quite.  We had already begun this as a backup project in case Project Future fell through.  Besides..." he paused.

"Go on," Strauss requested politely.  Jakob chuckled sadly.

"I don't know if you'll believe this, but I didn't undertake these projects purely out of selfishness.  I wanted them to be my gift to the world.  Call it an attempt to atone for my past wrongs, if you will.  The point is, I wanted to make immortality an option for anyone, regardless of their race.  Soul energy won't do much for a Being, but an android body will give them a new chance and indefinite youth."

"A noble goal, Mr. Pettersohn," the demon commented.  "Your altruism impresses me, assuming it is genuine, of course.  And on that note, may I meet one of your androids?"

"I don't think of then as 'my' androids," Jakob said.  "They are, after all, just people who lost their lives, and not my property per se.  Many of them have chosen to work for me, others who don't are free to leave and resume their old lives.  I place no restrictions on how their new bodies are used, though it is my general intent that they be used for peaceful purposes."

"That may be, but I would still like to meet one."

"That can be arranged," he said, but the demon was looking past him.  Jakob glanced around to see a figure heading towards them.  "Looks like you're in luck," he added.

"I'm sorry, uh, boss," Dorcan said, "No joy on the mission.  Someone killed the Master before we could finish negotiating..."

"Never mind," Jakob said.  "The time for such things is past.  Ms. Strauss, may I present to you the late Mr. Dorcan Ja'Fell?"

"Delighted," the Demon said, shaking his hand.  "And he is really an android?"

Dorcan removed his jacket and silently opened his chest panel.  Strauss whistled.

"What's it like?" she asked.  "How do you feel about what has happened to you?"

"Well, 'Cubi start out as if we were Beings," Dorcan said.  "When we get our headwings our Being life ends and we become a full succubus or incubus.  I guess I've simply gone through another transformation on top of that.  Though I do miss being able to cast spells, and the mental powers."

"We'll fix all that one day," Jakob said.  "Assuming the project isn't... cancelled."

Dorcan's eyes narrowed for a second before he forced himself calm and neutral.  "Forgive me, but I don't believe we've been introduced," he told the Demon.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jakob said.  "This is Ms. Leavander Strauss of the Being-Creature Commission."  The Doberman froze.

* * *

Joshua heard the sound of voices from above as they lowered the manhole cover.  He tensed himself for a minute, but the manhole stayed closed.  Evidently their escape route had not been discovered by the Ha'Khun officials.

"Okay, Az..." Sethir began, "Would you mind telling us what the hell is going on?  Where are we and where are we going?"

"We're in a disused sewer," Azrael said.  "I decommissioned this centuries ago when we built a replacement with higher capacity and it looks like this one has become some kind of hangout for the homeless.  Hence the lighting," he added, gesturing at the dim bulbs lining the wall.  "Probably stolen from the streetlighting grid."

"Okay.  So why are the guards after us?"

"Politics," he sighed.  "They came with an arrest warrant for Sanderssen and all associated with him.  We had prior warning from Petter and Jakob, but we couldn't get through to Sanderssen in time and it looks like they swept him up.  We think they got StarRunner as well."

"Shit!  Jakob won't be pleased."

"Tell me about it," Ashley butted in.  "Now, before we go any further, I've got to tell you what I foun-"  He faltered at a grating sound from above.

Everyone looked up except for Josh, who had assumed a defensive position.  The manhole cover moved slightly and lifted up.  Ashley's hand glowed as he readied a stun spell.

"Did someone call for a meat lover's pizza?" the voice called.  "Whoa! Holy crap! Take it easy guys! It's just me!" James hissed, lowering himself into the brick-walled cavern.

"You did make it!  What happened?  Did you break Sanderssen out?  Where is he?"

"Let me answer one of your questions first before you bury me with them!" James replied.  "I was in the washroom when it all happened. I heard a ruckus going on so I went invisible and waited until the place was empty before sneaking out."

"Is that all?"  Ashley sounded disappointed.  "Why couldn't you stun them all, or take their leader hostage at sword-point while giving Sanderssen time to escape?"

The squirrel looked at him, aghast.  "I'm an actor, not a SWAT team! Besides, the sword on me now is a stage prop. I doubt it can cut butter."

"Actor...?  From what Jakob has said, I thought you were supposed to be some kind of heroic adventurer!"

"We worked on the same frickin' movie about Jakob's history as Cross!  Remember, 'Captain Rikkard'?!" James fumed.  "I played Baron Fe'Stral (and henchman #3) in that film and I haven't stopped acting since!  My days as a bounty hunter were more than a century ago," the squirrel added, looking indignant.  "I run a chain of inns nowadays.  Maybe I could have managed their accounts or something, but that's about it."

"How did you get here anyway?" Joshua asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Well, when a mommy squirrel and a daddy squirrel get together they..."

"That's not what I meant!" Joshua squawked.

"Has he always been this slow?" James asked the others. "I followed your aura.  Angel, remember?"

Joshua's wings appeared.  He looked like he was about to punch the Angel, and it was probably a good thing he didn't have tentacles.

"Stop it!" Ashley said, and he looked rather haggard.  "I have to tell you what I found in the basement of the Temple.  They've got a store-room down there.  It was full of soul-gems.  Full soul-gems-"

"Excuse me," said a voice behind him.  It was one of the homeless.  "Our leader, Zevris, is ready to see you now."

"Very well," Azrael said.  "Take us to him."



"You seem somewhat familiar to us," Zevris said, staring at Ashley and rubbing his chin.  The King of the Homeless was sat upon a throne made from milk-crates and padded with cast-away cushions.  He wore a disused bathrobe as some bizarre surrogate regal attire.
"Be you kith or kin to one known as Ashley?  He was said to be Cross' right-hand-man and you do look like unto him..."

"A lynx is a lynx is a lynx," Ashley shrugged dismissively.  "In any case, Cross wasn't so bad as most people believe.  He was a bit unbalanced, but he firmly believed that what he was doing was for the best of the city."

"You're a Cross sympathizer?"  King Zevris clucked.

"Slightly.  I'm a historian.  These are the conclusions I've arrived at."

"Hmm," he said.  "Be that as it may... how long do you plan to stay amongst our people?"

"Not long," Azrael said.  "Father Albina is about to do something morally questionable by the looks of things and we have to stop him or persuade him otherwise.  Do you know of a quick way to get to the Church of the Omnitheistic Gnosis?"

"Indeed, my children," Zevris said, and his mannerisms fell away like snow in summer.  He removed his bath-robe to reveal the cloth of a Gnostic Brother.  "We shall take you straight to the Father," he pronounced.

[James StarRunner]

Beautiful chapter! And no, I'm not saying that because I was in it. At first I was thinking it wasn't going to be till after. XD

But ya, you may want to leave a note for the comic to look at page 36 since I used that as a reference. XD

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Bweeheehee. Meat-lovers and mommy and daddy squirrels, indeed. *grin*

[Tapewolf]

Oops yes, I forgot to credit James for helping out with the dialogue.

[James StarRunner]

Oops yes, I forgot to credit James for helping out with the dialogue.

I thought that was already assumed. XD

[Gabi]

Oh, I missed a chapter! O_O

I wonder why Niall said everyone is evil, and there's no need to hold that against him. What definition of "evil" is he going by? It doesn't sound much like him.  Other than that, I liked chapter 56, especially the family reunion and the part where they discussed the alliance with clan Daryil. But also the part where Jakob recalled his past experiments, and his reaction to his own confession. And Daryil has an interesting approach to lawn mawing.

As for chapter 57, the brief argument between Amalia and Salomere was interesting. Amalia reminds me a bit of one of my characters; it's an interesting challenge to write about someone with such a view on things (at least for me). It's hard to get it right, but Amalia still looks believable, so nice job there.

I liked the dialogue between Strauss and Dorcan.

James's entrance was so anti-climactic! But it was funny, nonetheless. It was also funny that he was calling Joshua slow yet it was him who couldn't seem to get the grasp on the situation (or at least take it seriously).

Was the repetition in "A lynx is a lynx is a lynx" intentional?

Oh, and nice cliffhanger.

[James StarRunner]

James's entrance was so anti-climactic! But it was funny, nonetheless. It was also funny that he was calling Joshua slow yet it was him who couldn't seem to get the grasp on the situation (or at least take it seriously).

If anything, James grew a bit numb to situations like this.

And it was to tease Joshua who still has lots to learn about creatures (even though he's now always in their company now).

[Tapewolf]

I wonder why Niall said everyone is evil, and there's no need to hold that against him. What definition of "evil" is he going by? It doesn't sound much like him. 

Might have something to do with the fact that he was brought up by Jakob in his less mentally-stable period and the fact that he often breaks the law in order to save people.  The point he's trying to get across is that people will do evil things, no matter how good they are normally.  That and it's probably a manifestation of the same thought process that makes me empathise with Aniz and company despite their evil deeds.

As for chapter 57, the brief argument between Amalia and Salomere was interesting.

Thanks.  There will be more of that.

Was the repetition in "A lynx is a lynx is a lynx" intentional?

Yes.

[Tapewolf]

Thanks to Keaton and James for their help and proof-reading.



Chapter 58 - Objectives

"One moment," Strauss said as Dorcan started to panic.  Judging from his expression he was expecting her to carry out some kind of execution there and then.

"Mr. Ja'Fell, I want you to know that whatever happens, whatever my decision is, it is not the Commission's intention to eliminate pre-existing examples of your kind.  At worst, a moratorium will be imposed on the creation of new androids."

"How likely is that, if I may ask?" Dorcan asked.  He seemed calmer, but there was a frosty edge to his voice which hadn't been there before.

"Somewhat more likely now, I'm afraid," she said.

"What?"  Jakob's wings fluffed out.  "Why?  I've been completely open and honest with you about the whole affair!  What more can you ask?"

"Have you?  I think not.  I see in your companion's mind that you sent him to try and influence the result of my investigation through divine intervention.  This does not count well in your favour, I'm afraid."

Jakob sighed.  "No, madam," he protested.  "I sent Dorcan to try and find a good lawyer.  He's only just returned and I haven't had a chance to speak to him about it.  If I wanted to cheat like that, I'd have sent Daryil to pay you a visit, now wouldn't I?"

"Wait a minute," Dorcan asked.  "Did you just read my mind?"

"I did," Strauss said.  "I'm not a natural like you once were or like Jakob is now, but I have learned spells enough to scan the thoughts and emotions of those around me.  It seems that you were sent to find Quangyre."

"Yeah," Dorcan said.  "Supposed to be some kind of legal genius.  Only it turned out he sacrificed other people's souls to one of the gods in exchange for legal favours."

"I hope you refused," Jakob said, aghast.  His wings had fanned out again.

"Sort of," Dorcan mumbled.

"Define 'sort of'." the incubus demanded, looking even more horrified than the Demon.

"Well, I spoke to his god.  He said that He'd influence the decision if I gave Him my own son to replace Quangyre.  I don't think I even have a son, so it got left a bit open-ended.  I'm not sure that using divine intervention would be... right.  My mother seemed to think otherwise, but I guess she is afraid of losing her son again.  I lost both my brothers when we were young."

"Perhaps I've misjudged you, Mr. Pettersohn," the Demon said thoughtfully.  "I have dealt with several cases of this nature, and I'm afraid to say that most of them were, to put it mildly, unscrupulous.  Perhaps I have dealt with too many such persons, if I'm becoming jaded and assuming that everyone is out to cheat."

"Would you be happier if I lowered my mind-shield?" Jakob offered.  "It's not something I do lightly, but I do truly want this project to succeed.  Not for my own sake, but for Dorcan, Azrael, Joshua, even your own Mr. Lutlakes.  All these people and others like them have been helped by my technology, and I feel that anyone who finds themselves in such a position deserves a fighting chance."

"Even your enemies?"

"Even my enemies," Jakob said.

"Later, I think.  It seems fair, though I have little doubt one of your skill - let alone Daryil's - would be able to conjure up some fake or 'censored' thoughts.  Right now, I am curious about your android technology.  How widespread is it?  Was it all designed in-house?"

"Not all of it, no," Jakob said.  "The fur and sensor arrays were designed by the Death corporation."

"The what?" Strauss exclaimed, stepping away from Jakob, and her wings fanning out.  She found herself closer to Dorcan and stepped away from him as if the android might reach out and slay her where she stood using only his bare hands.

"Calm yourself, madam," Jakob said with a hint of irritation.  "The Death corporation is a fabless nanoelectronics designer.  It was founded by Isildor Death after he left Pangea Semiconductor.  We acquired a majority stake in the company last fall."

"Let me get straight to the point.  The Being-Creature commission is not particularly concerned by the idea of androids who provide new bodies to the souls of the recently-dead.  Our primary concern is one of androids who have no souls and grow their own.  Such creatures would not only be difficult to predict, but thanks to your technology, would be very strong and difficult to control if they went rogue.  My understanding is that Dorcan here crushed the skull of Mayor Tiandrial with his bare hands."

"That was never my intention," Jakob said.  "My stated goal is to give the dead or dying another chance at life.  If you plan legislation against android technology being used to create entirely new persons from scratch, I will not object."

"What about Mac, though?" Dorcan asked.  "And Farlane?"  Jakob's headwings drooped.

* * *

"Forget Dorcan," Ingar told his mother.  "You know of our project.  You know that we are capable.  Join us, and we will bring back the old days!" he smiled confidently, holding out his hand to Salomere.  She just stared at him as if seeing him for the first time.

"Come, mother.   I know you are only of the Clan through marriage, but surely you know the old tales.  Harla'keth was a city of majesty where the strong ruled and brought justice upon their foes.  Hard times have fallen upon the Jyraneth, but the clan can grow anew.  It can rise again and become a power in this world once more... a force to be reckoned with.  Surely you can see the wisdom in this.  Join us and you shall have a firm place in the new order."

"It's no use," Amalia said, lip curling in disgust.  "She's gone soft.  Wishes she was a Being like our miserable brother does.  Yes, she always loved him more than us, and now we know why.  Being sympathizers...  Hah!  Your kind make me sick!"

"What's wrong with liking Beings?" she snapped.  "They outnumber us.  Their technology increasingly closes the gap upon our magic, and besides they're people too.  They have as much right to live as we do.  If we can protect them from monsters they will accept us..."

"Beings are prey," Ingar laughed.  "We're at the top of the food chain and we should make the most of it.  Look at this!" a tentacle extended, dangling in the air between them.  "You see that?  It has a head.  That means our Founder lives.  Why have we run from her power and her glory?  We are Jyraneth and we should live like Jyraneth, not skulk around pretending to be cattle like these wretches."  He gestured at the Beings.  "We will bring her souls and she will be pleased!  She will welcome her children and show us greatness!  Why should we not embrace the power she offers us?"

"Because she's a fucking psychopath!"  Salomere exploded.  "She was ignorant, vain, merciless and she heard voices in her head!  She was so completely bugnuts that she was expelled from her own clan and her ideals are not a sustainable way to live!"

"What do you know of her?" Amalia barked, taken aback at the outburst against her idol.  "You aren't even of the clan!"

"But my in-laws are," Salomere pointed out.  "They felt that I should know of the past they fled from.  By the sounds of it you've done nothing more than read the Principles..."

"...Of course..."

"...which Jyraneth herself wrote.  A cherry-picked version of history if ever there was one.  But I still don't understand why you have to kill all these poor Beings!"

"Our 'esteemed leader' claimed that the Clan was punished by the gods for its wrongs.  He was mistaken," Amalia said.  "It was not a punishment but a test to see who still had faith after all they had was taken from them.  And though we were as yet unborn, we alone have the faith to reignite the glory of our Founder.  These Beings?  They are our sacrament.  Their deaths shall atone for our sins."  Her eyes glowed with the ecstasy of her vision.  "Join us, mother," she entreated again.

Salomere's tentacles came out and she placed herself between them and the Beings.  "I won't let you hurt them," she said, her voice harsh and clear despite the tears in her eyes.  "I'll kill you first, the both of you.  These people may be Beings and they may be adventurers, but if you mean to carry out your insane plan, you'll have to come through me first."

"Then you must do as you wish, mother," Ingar said with a lazy smile.  "We have taken a vow.  It is our destiny to live as predators, and we shall.  We shall follow the ways of the Jyraneth as they were laid down, not live the half-lives of those who wish they were mere Beings!
We shall live freely, not shackled to the ridiculous whims of some superstitious old goat!"

"That 'old goat' has forgotten more about torture and murder than you've ever known," Mordrith said, stepping confidently out from behind a tree with Neremath in tow.  Though his son looked like he was attending an execution, the elder incubus was smiling.  All trace of age was gone from him - he looked sleek and tough.  Even Ingar stepped backwards.  The watching Being's eyes bulged with terror.

"Have you forgotten that I was one of Lady Jyraneth's own Raiders?" he asked.  "I slit the throats of prey every week... I fed upon their surprise and their horror as they died!  I tortured men and women to death, keeping them alive for days on end and enjoying every moment of their pain.  I glutted myself upon the souls of Beings and Angels!  And other 'Cubi!"

"So, you'll join us, then?" Ingar asked hopefully.

"No," Mordrith said, and his mouth opened to reveal a row of gleaming fangs.  "...but you'll join me.  Well, from one perspective anyway."  Five heads grinned evilly at the two 'Cubi.  They stood frozen like a pair of deer caught in headlights, rooted to the spot with the dawning realisation of what he meant, that he was going to end their existences completely.

* * *

Joshua, Azrael, Ashley, James, Sethir and Brother Abidan sat on a bench near the front of the Great Hall.  Their wrists and ankles were bound gently but firmly with enchanted bracers.  On a dais before them, the Father bowed briefly, his wings and headwings visible.  Behind him, no fewer than ten chests lay on the floor, wide open and brimming with sparkling jewels.

"All my Children," the Father began, "We have at last captured the sinners who have threatened our way of life.  But it comes not without cost.  Tonight marks the dawn of a new age, and things will never again be the same as once they were.  But sacrifices must be made for a better future.  In any case, all are one."

"Amen!" the Brothers and Sisters chanted.  "I don't like the sound of that," Sethir muttered.

"Tell me, my Children, are you full of faith?" Father Albina called out.  "Are you ready to perform the task for which you were called into this world?"

"YES!" the crowd yelled.  "No," Ashley said quietly.  Father Albina ignored this.

"Would you give up your freedom for our cause?" he called.

"YES!" the Brothers and sisters chorused.

"Would you give up your lives for our cause?"

"YES!" the Brothers and sisters chorused again.

"Would you give up your souls for the cause?" he called out.

"Y-es-ss.." the crowd replied somewhat hesitantly.

"Good," the Father said in a matter-of-fact tone.  "I want you to form three rows.  That will make this whole thing easier."

"What 'whole thing'?" one of the elder brothers ventured, a note of suspicion entering his voice at their leader's abrupt change in attitude.

"He means he's having a barbecue!" James shouted.  "And guess what?  All of our souls are the barbecue!"

"What's in the treasure-chests, 'Father'?" Sethir called.  "Soul-gems, right?  All the people you've had your pawns kill and replace!"

The Gnostics, conditioned almost from birth to obey their Father, fell silent.  Albina looked startled, having lost control of his flock for the first time ever.  Moments later the room was buzzing with small pockets of concerned muttering as the Children digested the idea that their Father intended to digest them.

[Gabi]

Interesting ending. Hmm... I think that sums it up.

[James StarRunner]

Can I get some ketchup for my soul burgers?

[!KCA]

Can I get some ketchup for my soul burgers?

Be patient. The streets are about to run red with "ketchup."

[Tapewolf]

I suppose I should mention that we're in the end-run here and there will only be a few more chapters to go.

Chronicles of Jakob Pettersohn just sort of faded away as it became harder to write and I swore I wouldn't let the same happen to Future History.  That and the rate at which it is written relative to the comic scares me.

Needless to say, this has been rather a bit of a hard decision, but I think it's probably for the best.  When it ends, I'll likely be returning to a short-story format as I have some new ideas to explore that don't really fit the FH frame.

[Tapewolf]

Chapter 59 - Justices

Niall sat up groggily.  His mouth was very dry.  There were enchanted bracers on his wrists and he appeared to be in some kind of dungeon.  The leather jeans of which he was so fond were gone, replaced by a pair of rough trousers made from the cheapest possible material.  His top was gone and his clan-mark was visible down his side.

How can this have happened? he wondered.  If someone had waylaid him during a rescue mission, that might have made some sense, but he'd been at the base the whole time.  What was the last thing he remembered?

Daryil...?  He froze, terrified.   Was it possible that Daryil could have gone bad?  If so... he found himself trembling.   Maybe it's a test, or one of his infernal jokes...?
The hopeful thought died almost as soon as it had come.  Daryil was not particularly authoritarian in the way his clan was run, and except where his children did questionable or offensive things such as stealing souls, he much preferred to leave people to their own devices for the most part.
As such, the clan had few specific laws or traditions to be observed, but one of the most important ones was that deliberately feeding on the fear of another Clan Daryil member was considered grossly offensive.  While Daryil was hardly the most respectful individual to have ever walked Furrae, he rarely went out of his way to upset his friends either.  This level of disrespect with no provocation was completely out of character... it had to be the real thing.  Niall shivered again... someone who could kidnap him right under the muzzle of Daryil himself was a dangerous adversary indeed.

Getting up off the sleeping pallet he studied the room.  It was spacious, had a high ceiling and was fashioned from blocks of dull granite.  The opposite wall to his bed had some kind of partition which he briefly examined, but the dividing wall was apparently a shutter of solid steel which he couldn't budge.  No doubt it was locked in place.  The only other feature of the room aside from the light fitting high on the ceiling was a door which proved to be just as impregnable as the partitioning.

Maybe they wiped my memory, he thought.  Maybe I WAS on a rescue...
Even if he had been, it didn't help much.  The adversary was unfazed by the fact that he had a Founder, or else Daryil really had sold him out.
Either way, there was nothing much he could do.  Bereft of his powers, his only option was to wait for his captors to take the initiative.  With a forlorn sigh, Niall lay back down upon the cold, hard bed and slept.

* * *

Jakob sat on the shore of the lake, watching idly as in the distance, Elyza removed one of the sluices of the dam for inspection.  It took both her hands, but a normal Being or Creature would have had to use a winch.
As they sat, Dorcan fidgeted nervously.  Ms. Strauss lay next to the wolf incubus, her eyes closed as she probed his memories.  It almost looked as if she was sunning herself.

"I'm satisfied," she pronounced at last, sitting up.  "It must go to a vote, of course, but my recommendation is that your android project continue, subject to certain conditions.  I don't believe there will be many objections."

"What conditions?" Dorcan asked.

"Nothing too major.  We'll be sending an inspector who will remain on-site to supervise the process and file regular reports to us.  We may also put restrictions on the number of androids created each year.  After all, it's a new technology and the Commission will want to monitor it closely at first.  These are details we'll work out over the next few weeks."

"It's reasonable enough," Jakob said.  "But I'm not sure I like the idea of an absolute cap.  If you wish they can be made available only on demand for the specific purpose of resurrecting the dead or dying..."

"A sensible proposal.  I will put it before the Commission.  Either way, if you keep your muzzle clean for the next decade or so I expect the restrictions will eventually be eased if there are no incidents.  Time will tell."

"Hear that, Dorcan?  You be on your best behaviour," Jakob said.  The Doberman smiled in spite of himself.

"But what about my panthers?  And the aircraft?"

"That we have still to decide upon.  I am happy that your existing examples were imported - either alive or in kit form - rather than created, and I will make this part of my report.  As I told Mr. Ja'Fell, we are not about to go after existing specimens unless there is some kind of incident.  But I must warn you, Mr. Pettersohn - do not bring any more into this world until the Commission has come to a decision.  It would reflect poorly upon you."

"I understand, madam," Jakob said, and shook her hand warmly.  "And thank you."

"Thank you too, Mr. Pettersohn," Strauss said.  "You have truly reformed since the days of Ha'Khun.  If one such as Cross can do that, then perhaps there is hope for us all."

* * *

As the argument raged throughout the hall of the Gnostic temple, the Father's attention was upon his children and not Joshua.  So while their captor was distracted, the husky fiddled with his bonds.  His new strength and his own training proved a valuable asset and before long the manacles were useless.  Though they looked intact, their locks had been shattered internally and could come off at a moments notice.  But this was only a small advantage - they were still in a room filled with hundreds of 'Cubi, after all.

"He means it," Brother Abidan said, as if to pour oil on the fire.  "The Father has kept us in the dark, suppressed our own powers so that we wouldn't be able to fight him when we realised what he wanted us for!"

"Do not listen to the oath-breaker..." the Father protested.  "He has fallen from grace..."

"It all makes sense on its own, though," Joshua pointed out.  "What puzzles me is why he would want to kill everyone at once," he added.  "Picking you off one-by-one over a long period would be a much safer way to perform a mass soul-stealing..."

"Is this true?" one of the elder Brothers demanded fiercely.  "Do you truly mean to absorb our souls?"

"In a sense," the Father said.  "But 'absorb' is such a very violent word!  I would gather your souls unto me.  It is for the best, a chance to become part of something far greater!  Then we shall truly all be one!"

"Like a cookie becomes part of you when you digest it!" James shouted.

"No, no, not at all..."

"But we'd lose our individuality, wouldn't we?" Brother Ezriphael interrupted, his eyes narrowing.  "We'd cease to exist as people!"

"The Father wishes it," one of the Sisters pronounced piously.  "We should be grateful that we can serve him in this manner."  There was a murmer of agreement from some of the Gnostics, but most remained silent.

"And why should we believe a word he says?  We were told that Brother Abidan had sold his soul to Councillor Sanderssen and been murdered for his pains.  He seems to have injured his finger, but he's certainly not been stuck on a trophy mount.  And we were told that killing people was a mercy that would aid their journey to paradise.  Now it seems that we were doing it to provide snacks for our dear Father."

"He's trying to ascend," Azrael said suddenly.  "If he succeeds he will become horrifically powerful.  He will become as a minor deity..."

"It is necessary," the Father said.  "Daryil is a threat to us.  Alone we can do nothing, but together we shall be more than a match for his evil.  But this step can only be taken if all our souls are joined at once.  Spread over time it would lose its effectiveness..."

First I've heard of that, Ashley thought, but kept it to himself - it was the only thing that had saved the souls of the Gnostics' victims, after all.

"Our Father created us," Sister Namiphan said primly.  "But for him, we would not exist.  We should show our gratitude for this.  If the Father believes we can serve him best by sacrificing ourselves to him, we should give it serious consideration."

"Bollocks to that!" Ezriphael snapped.  "We do the dirty work for him.  We get to sleep on wooden pallets while he has a four-poster bed.  He bred us like cattle and I'm damned if I'll allow my eternal soul to be slaughtered like a side of beef."

"Your own words damn you, soul and all," the Father said and one of his wings morphed.  Joshua leapt from the stall he was sat upon, knocking the elder Brother to the floor as a tentacle lashed out.  It sailed happily through the air, skewering Sister Namiphan behind them.  She reverted to her base form as she died.

"Shit," the Father said.  "What a waste of energy!"  A great cry rang through the hall, causing Ashley to quail at the sudden onslaught of pure, unabashed hatred and fury.

* * *

"Wake up, incubus," a voice said.  Niall jerked and sat up with a start.

"I didn't think your kind needed to sleep," the speaker continued.  He was a giant panda Being and he stood in the doorway of the cell, staring down at the incubus with a look of amused disdain and contempt.

"We don't, but it can help to pass the time," Niall said.  "Who are you and what do you want?"

"Some call me the Tuppenny Man," he replied.  "You may call me what you will, for our association will necessarily be brief."

"Just like that, huh?  Well, can you tell me who you represent, and what you want with me?  Come to that, how did I get here?"

"The Freedom of Kandarthia movement.  We've been following you for some time, Niall.  Think of us as the opposite of your fan club."

* * *

"No!"  Salomere shrieked.  "Not my children!  Not their souls!"  She leapt at the incubus, trying to drag him down.  "You can't... you mustn't... what about your creed?!"

"You and Dorcan both have blood on your hands," Mordrith told her, pushing her away from him without breaking his stride, "You both killed Beings, but you did so out of vengeance and to protect your child.  I dislike what you have done, but it is forgiven.  I would likely have acted thus myself, after all.
"But these... things have killed for the sheer pleasure of killing Beings.  There can be no redemption for this.  Not from me."

As Mordrith spoke, Ingar surreptitiously reached down with one of his tentacles and picked up a crossbow from the nearest archer's body.  A moment later it was loaded, in his hands and aimed it at Mordrith's heart.  Before he could pull the firing lever, a tentacle had lashed out of the elder Doberman.  A fraction of a moment later the husky was staring down at a pile of sliced flesh and wood.  His arm was gone.

"G-grandfather..." he gurgled, clutching at has side.  Mordrith looked at him and for a moment his face was twisted with regret.  "The pain will be over soon," he said.  "Forever."  His hand reached out to touch the husky's face.  It began to glow.

"No, Mordrith," a voice said.  The doberman glanced back to see Lord Daryil, his expression completely serious.  "No souls for you.  I won't allow it."

Mordrith glanced at the tri-wing and his face showed despair.  They deserve this death, he thought, But Daryil...

"Very well," he said bitterly, and released the husky, who collapsed to the ground and lay twitching.  Amalia gathered him up and ran, cauterising the stump of his arm as she fled.

"Yes, flee!" Mordrith shouted, his voice breaking.  "Flee, and find your precious Red Queen!  Maybe she will accept your offerings... More likely she will accept you as an offering!  But get out of my sight!  You are a part of the Clan no longer, and know this - if ever we meet again, whatever Daryil may do to me, I shall destroy you!"  His voice echoed through the woods.

"Oh Nem," Salomere said, hugging her husband and sobbing, "How did you get here?"

"That fox guy who checked out Ingar's wounds found that he was barely injured.  He got suspicious and told Daryil.  Daryil told Dad, and then brought me here.  I think he wanted to make sure he didn't do anything rash."

"Pretty much," Daryil said.  "Their souls have become twisted and evil.  Maybe in later years they will heal... either way, they deserve the chance to redeem themselves."  He knelt down in front of the paralysed archer.  The Being's eyes darted around with fear.  The fox reached down to touch the archer's forehead and he sagged slightly as the paralysis wore off.

"I'm very sorry," Daryil said, running his fingers through the Being's hair.  "This should never have happened."

"No..." the Being breathed.  "Do what you will... take my life, but leave my soul..."

"I'm not going to do any of that stuff," Daryil told him, "I'm going to tell you a story.  It's for Mordrith's benefit really, but you're quite welcome to listen."  He made a gesture and the other Beings found themselves free.  Daryil sat cross-legged on the forest floor.

"Once upon a time there was an Angel named Timanjurath," he began.  "I loved him very dearly, but he had a gambling habit, much as I tried to prevent it.  He got into debt with Clan Ti'Nera, who were, at that time, a big name in loan sharks among Creatures.

"Timmy couldn't make good his debt, and Ti'Nera spoke the words of his death.  I caught her enforcer as he left, but by then it was too late.  Timmy's soul had already passed on,"  Daryil looked at the ground.

"Before I killed him, I learned from that enforcer of Ti'Nera's habit of seducing pretty young men and destroying them in their sleep.  Now, I know ways of concealing my mind from other 'Cubi and presenting it as if I was a Being - the only give-away was my Clan Mark and that was easy enough to dye over.  It only needed to last for one night anyway."

"We made love," Daryil continued.  "And when it was over, she smiled to me and revealed her headwings.  Like her previous victims must have done, I screamed in terror as she made that final, fatal kiss of which she was so fond and began to suck at my soul.  Well, that's what she thought, anyway - I used her enforcer's soul as a decoy to distract her.  But anyway, as she prepared to eat him, she left her own soul vulnerable," he said.  "I had planned to simply kill her.  But this... it was like a gift from the Gods.  And so I took it.  She only understood who I was just as she ceased to exist," Daryil finished, his voice brittle.

"I realised then the horror of what I had done.   I freed the enforcer, but it was too late for Ti'Nera.  Her eldest daughter took control of her Clan and attacked ours.  There were deaths on both sides, but we were by far the stronger.  Their leaders slain, the survivors of Ti'Nera's clan fled.  Some went to ground, awaiting the day they could seek revenge, others simply hid and tried to live their lives as best they could.  Fearful of my wrath, apparently.

"All this death was my fault, but the worst of it was Ti'Nera.  Gone beyond all recall.  Death may in some cases be undone, but soul-death is forever..." Daryil looked at the ground and tears rolled down his cheek.

"...And that is why I won't allow soul-eating," he said.  "No matter how bad the crime, death is the harshest punishment I can condone, and that is a stretch.  One of my clan's goals is and has always been to try and live non-violently with other races, if not exactly peacefully.  We haven't always succeeded, I know.  But even so, there is a line that must not be crossed.  Soul-trapping I will accept in some cases, but no more than that.  The True Death is too final."

"You shame me, my lord," Mordrith said.  "I will strive to follow your example more closely hereafter."

"It happens to the best of us," Daryil said and pulled a metre-long handkerchief from the nearest Being's ear.

[James StarRunner]

This soul has a chocolate chip flavor.
This soul tastes like an oreo.
This soul...

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

... I like the hanky.

[Gabi]

The ending was quite anticlimactic, but I wouldn't expect any less of Daryil.

There was a part, while Mordrith and Ingar were fighting, where I wasn't sure who was saying or doing what. Other than that, the developments of this chapter were interesting.

Typo check: "Maybe it later years they will heal". Should that be in?

I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion of this story, especially now that you have hinted there'll be more after this one ends.

[Tapewolf]

There was a part, while Mordrith and Ingar were fighting, where I wasn't sure who was saying or doing what. Other than that, the developments of this chapter were interesting.

Yes - I guess it is hard to read if you can't picture them.  I was trying to avoid using their names because 'Mordrith said' and 'Ingar said' that all over the place just looks messy.  For what it's worth, Mordrith is a doberman, Ingar is a husky.

Typo check: "Maybe it later years they will heal". Should that be in?

Fixed, thanks.

I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion of this story, especially now that you have hinted there'll be more after this one ends.

I wouldn't hold your breath for it - it's a little slow in coming, but when it's ready, I will definitely publish it here.  I'll be bringing the stuff to AC anyway.

[Lysander]

Finally caught up, only took a few months to do so. I have really enjoyed reading every chapter. Very unique stories and ideas that are all interesting. I find it amazing that every character seems to be their own person with their own personality.

I'd say Daryl and Dorcan are my favorite characters. Daryl is awesome in many ways. I can't define exactly why I like Dorcan so much.   

[Tapewolf]

Finally caught up, only took a few months to do so. I have really enjoyed reading every chapter. Very unique stories and ideas that are all interesting. I find it amazing that every character seems to be their own person with their own personality.

Thanks.  To be honest, that sort of writing does not come easily to me, so it's good that it seems to have worked out well.  In the case of Dorcan, role-playing him in BotM has helped a lot, with Daryil it's not quite so clear how he's come to be so alive.  In nearly every case the characters have evolved a lot over the course of the series.

[Tapewolf]

Chapter 60 - Coda

Mathian bolted the door and cast a quick healing spell on the cuts down his arm.  He knew that the steel door wouldn't hold the rampaging brethren for long, especially not with the intruders helping them.  But this was only the outer door.  Just up the stairs was the magically-reinforced door of his inner sanctum, a fortified emergency bolt-hole he had prepared in case things went sour.  From there, he had access to the Church's computer systems and it would be a quick and easy matter to detonate all the rings.  Then...  Mathian sighed.  It would mean having to start the whole thing up again somewhere else.  And the whole thing had come so close to fruition!  Next time I'll lobotomize them all at birth, he decided and promptly tripped, falling face-first onto the stairs.

As he picked himself up Mathian found that he staring at another wolf, a white-furred wolf clad in black racing leathers.  The muzzle of his gun was inches from Mathian's forehead.

"Your time's up, 'Father'," Sethir said, his face expressionless.  "I'm sorry it has to be this way."

"Daryil sent you, didn't he?" Mathian snarled, reverting to his base form, an Irish wolfhound.  Sethir shook his head.

"You're one of the last members of the Subtle Paw who hasn't surrendered.  There's been a contract on you for a while now... I simply put two and two together.  Getting yourself 'Cubified threw me off the scent, but now..." he sighed.  "Now I can fullfill the contract."

"Contract...?"

"Indeed.  What you have done in the past and what you are attempting now are crimes so repugnant that they cannot be forgiven in this life," the wolf continued gravely.  "May the gods show you mercy, because I cannot."

He fired three times and walked away.

* * *

Niall looked at the panda dubiously and a cold chill ran down his spine.  Anti-wing group?

"For too long you have interfered with justice, Niall," the Tuppenny Man continued.  "Saving the wretched hides of your wicked kind from an extinction they have long deserved.  Now you have been delivered to us by Daryil himself, finally our justice can be done unto you."

Niall gaped in shock.  If Daryil had sold him out, there was little hope.  But why?  Could it have been some kind of feint?  He glanced down at his bracers.  They seemed to be made from a solid ring of metal.

"Yes," the panda continued with a smile.  "No lock.  Since you will be buried with them on, making them removable was an extra expense that would be a waste of time and effort."

"You do mean to kill me, then?"  Niall asked.  His hands were trembling slightly but aside from that he showed no fear.  The Tuppenny Man smiled and waved his hand.  As he did so, the partition wall clicked and retracted into the side.  Niall drew a sharp breath.

"This is the guillotine that will end your life, monster," the Tuppenny man said, gesturing at the apparatus which the partition had revealed.  It loomed before him, the blade held high and wickedly sharp.  Niall could see evidence that it had been used prior to him and he gulped in spite of himself.

"I give you time to contemplate your death and to make your peace with the gods.  This is your final hour, Niall Jakobsohn.  Enjoy it, for before the clock next chimes you will have met your fate beneath this blade.  But first... There is one thing which puzzles me," he continued.

"They say that as an incubus ages, he loses the need to breathe.  But all breathing does is provide oxygen to the body and in particular, the brain.  When your head is severed, how long will you last, poor Niall?  You are over five hundred years old...  How many hours will you lie there silently screaming for release?  It's a shame I won't be able to enjoy your agonies the way an incubus like you might, but be assured that your death - however long it takes - will be preserved on film for posterity."

Niall gave a great yell and leapt with a strength he didn't know he possessed.  The Tuppenny Man was caught unawares and bowled over as Niall made it through the cell door.  He shouted for backup.

The incubus tore down the corridor into a squad of guards.  They picked themselves up and ran in pursuit.  A hail of crossbow bolts slammed into the wall behind him, then in front of him.  He rolled and three of the bolts caught him, cutting, tearing his flesh and embedding themselves into one of his kidneys.  He screamed with agony but through some preternatural effort somehow managed to keep going.  He turned a corner and staggered into one of the first corridors he could find.

"NO!" the Tuppenny Man shrieked in the distance.  "I TOLD YOU!  NIALL MUST NOT DIE!  HE MUST PERISH 'NEATH THE LETHAL BLADE!  NO OTHER DEATH WILL DO!"  There came a swish followed by a horrible gurgling sound, probably one of the guards.  Evidently the Tuppenny Man was very, very displeased.

"Now, search the corridors!" he shouted.  Niall shivered, the exertion sending fresh agonies to his hip.  To his left was a reinforced door, evidently some kind of armoury, and wonder of wonders, it was open.  He crawled inside and the armoured door slid home with a satisfying clunk.

"He cannot have gone far," a voice outside said, "Not like that."  One of them rapped the door.  "Locked," he said.

"Can't be that, then.  We don't have the key, he certainly can't have found it."

"Don't be too sure," the other said.  "His kind is tricky.  But we'll try it later if we don't find him elsewhere.  You!  Guard this door - make sure no-one comes in or goes out of it."

Niall gave a faint sigh, and gritting his teeth, felt down to the wound.  He was afraid to look.  Whatever damage there was would be made worse still by removing the bolts, but either way that wound was going to mean his death unless it could be treated.  And unless he could get the bracers off too there was little chance of even that.
Niall pushed such thoughts from his mind and concentrated on the wall.  It was better to try then to give in, after all, and the soul-stone implanted in his head gave him some slim chance of revival.

As his hand reached down to the base of the wound, he quickly realised that something was amiss.  His hand came away and he studied it.  Slowly, disbelieving, he glanced down at his side.  It was true, there was no blood.  What the fuck?

A cold chill ran down him again and he realised with a start that he was not sweating, not breathing.  In a way, that made a lot of things easier.  Suppressing a scream, he pulled at the bolts and there was a brief moment of agony as they ripped through him.   He looked down at the wound.

Holy shit, I'm a machine, he thought.  He could see parts of his own frame, mechanisms he himself had helped design.  The nanomechanical layer of the body was already starting to knit itself back together.  How the fuck did this happen?!  Surely I'd remember dying...

There was a sound from outside.  A grunt.  A clank of armour hitting the stone floor.  Then the lock glowed faintly.  Niall panicked and hit the lightswitch as silently as he could, plunging the room into darkness.  He concentrated and his eyes suddenly flicked into infrared vision.  Glancing around, he chose a crossbow and aimed it at the door.

"Easy, easy..." said a voice as the door opened a crack.  It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it.  "I'm on your side.  The guard's unconscious.  Follow me."

Niall trotted along, following the figure.  It was a skunk, ostensibly a Being, but without any incubus powers there was no way to tell.  The skunk relocked the armoury door and then picked up the guard.  A spell flowed over the Being's head and he stood there, dazed.  "Hurry.  He'll snap out of it soon.  Probably think he was daydreaming," his rescuer said, and gestured him to leave.

The skunk gave point, beckoning to halt and continue at every junction.  They doubled back, his rescuer gesturing him into the shadows.  The guards had got the keys to the armoury and left in puzzlement.  As they left, the two men slipped back into the armoury.

"Okay," Niall hissed.  "Do you mind telling me what this is about?  And how did I die?"

"I'll tell you soon," his ally said.  "I promise.  But for now I'd prefer to keep you guessing.  It'll be safer that way."

"What about that Tuppenny Man guy?"

"Patience, my friend," he said.  "He'll get a justice of his own."

"Murder?  Dad won't be pleased."

"Oh, he'll get a fair trial," the Being said.  "However, I do need to distract him.  I must ask you to act as a decoy."

"But he'll kill me!"  Niall protested.  "What will Jakob say if his own son is beheaded?!"

"Look.  You've realised you're an android, right?  Even if the worst happens and he does decapitate you, your soul will be safe in the emergency soul-trap in your head.  Heck, you've got enough reserve power in your bonce to keep you conscious for at least three hours.  All I'd need to do is retrieve it and get you resurrected again.  But I doubt it will come to that at all," he added hastily.

"What you must do is go into his office.  It's around the corridor from here - head left then right.  All plush and fancy... you can't miss it.  While he's distracted with you, I'll be getting reinforcements.  But you've got to look scared and surprised."

"That'll be easy," Niall said.  "One question."

"Later."

"No.  Right now, if you want me to cooperate."  Niall's eyes narrowed.  "How do you know all this?"

"I'm of Daryil's clan," the skunk said.  "He briefed me very thoroughly."

"Daryil sold me out!" Niall spat, grabbing him roughly by the shoulders.  "He got me here in the first place!  Why should I trust anything you say?"

His ally looked at the floor.  "I know he did, but it was necessary.  I'll explain later, I swear.  Now go."

* * *

"Oh shit," Niall squeaked.  He had made it to the Tuppenny Man's office, only to find the man himself there.  His expression was filled with wrath.

"I don't know how you did that," he said, "But it will make your death all the more sweet."  A guard took Niall from behind, forcing him to his knees.  Four of them descended upon him, pinning him down and holding him in position.  The Tuppenny Man had taken a large broadsword from somewhere in his desk and was holding it in both hands.

Android or not, Niall whimpered with terror as the blade was raised.  "This will be well worth the mess on my carpet," the Being smiled.  Then he collapsed.

"Malcolm Forsen DeBrailey, ye are under arrest," said a voice.  It was an armoured wolf incubus.  He was flanked by several others in similar attire.

"Ye and ye men are under arrest for torture, murder and inciting racial hatred.  And by what ye are doing now, I'd say that an attempted murder rap is in ye future as well."



"I guess I owe you your explanation now," the skunk told Niall as they left the castle grounds.

"No shit."

"I'm very, very sorry.  I didn't want to have to do this at all, but I didn't really have a lot of say in the matter."

"Daryil got to you too, huh?"  Niall gave a grunt of bitter amusement.

"Yeah.  It was the only way, really - it could easily have been me instead.  And between the two of us, I have to take priority...."

"And how is that supposed to make me feel better?"  Niall snarled.  "I almost lost my head!  Twice!  Just because I'm an android doesn't mean I don't have feelings, doesn't make me expendable!"

"I didn't want you to get hurt either," the skunk said, looking upset.  "Really, I didn't.  But... well, I guess you'll understand."

He closed his eyes and shimmered.  Niall's jaw dropped as he stared at the person before him.  Like many incubi, he wore no shirt upon his back but around his waist was an expensive pair of leather jeans.  His fur became grey and his body shifted into another kind of mammal... a fox.  It was himself.

"N-n..." Niall gurgled.  "Gnng... How...?"

"I'm sorry, bro..." the other Niall said.  "Don't take this the wrong way, your life is very important to me, but you're a copy.  I'm the original."

"You copied me?" the android yelped, horrified.

"Daryil did it!  He jumped me.  As I understand it, he used Soul Food as the base and modified it, made it more like a true soul.  Then... he duplicated my soul into the fake one."

"Oh gods," the android whimpered.  "Oh gods, oh gods..."

"Yeah, my reaction was kind of like that," Niall said.  "Remember, I didn't know until afterwards and believe me, I was pissed at him.  But he had to do it that way, grabbing me in the corridor and drugging me - if I knew what had happened, you would too and the plan would fail, right?"

"So what's going to happen to me now?" Niall's twin wept.  "You just going to switch me off?  Dismantle me?  Chuck me in the trash? Just another tool that's outlived its usefulness?"

"'Course not," Niall said, hugging his twin and comforting him.  "You really think Dad would go for that?  He'd have kittens!  I told you, your survival is important to me, and not just because it was part of any plan."
When he had calmed his twin down, Niall grinned and his expression became shrewd.

"Listen.  You know that I have been planning to retire from the Scarlet Pimpernell business for some time now.  It becomes more and more risky every year, but despite the progress of the last century or so, there are still many 'cubi out there who need rescuing.  Too many to turn my... our... backs on.
"I want you to carry on the good work.  'Course you won't be able to shapeshift or read minds, but when we've rebuilt your chassis to Fendrick's design, you'll be tough enough that it will hardly matter."

Android Niall stared at his 'brother' for a moment, his eyes narrowing.  Then he grinned.  "Deal," he said.

* * *

It was evening, though since none of the people in the Arctic base needed to sleep, it didn't really make much difference.  Niall and Dorcan had been playing scrabble on the floor of the common room with Lilly and Wils, but the game lay forgotten as Ashley played off against Daryil.  Their glorious leader paused for a sip of coffee, and while he was distracted, Ashley surreptitiously removed a letter from his sleeve.  As he watched, Dorcan realised that Daryil was changing the print on the letters with his mind while Ashley wasn't looking.

Jakob settled into his usual chair and flicked on the wall display.  Plans were already underway to turn the Gnostic temple into a new campus of SAIA in order to complete their re-education.  Either way, the matter was out of their hands now.  Closer to home, Jakob had got a provisional statement from the Being-Creature Commission to the effect that the android project was okayed - subject to certain safeguards - and this was a big weight off his mind.  They had given their employees a day off as part of the celebrations.  And now?  Now it was time to relax for the first time in so many, many months.

The incubus glanced at his watch... it was almost time for the news.  Their Founder had been personally awarded a medallion by King Fairwater for his deeds in saving the souls of a number of Beings attacked by a pair of rogue 'Cubi, and since Founders were rare in and of themselves, it had made the headlines, or at least the 'strange but true'.  He found a channel playing back the award ceremony and tuned into it.

Daryil flinched as he saw it and turned away quickly.  "What did you do?" Jakob asked him accusingly, a crooked smile on his face.

"Not telling," Daryil said, and buried his face with embarrassment.  Even though he couldn't see, a hand slapped Ashley's wrist away from the board before he could touch one of the letters.

Ignoring his leader, the wolf incubus turned his attention back to the screen, watching keenly as the King turned, bearing the medallion on a ceremonial cushion.  There.  It was a brief flicker around the medallion as Daryil did the magical equivalent of a gypsy-switch.  He bowed gracefully, concealing his head-wings and making it easier for the doberman to place the thing upon his shoulders.
Somberly and very deliberately, Daryil took the medallion in his hand and peeled it, removing the chocolate core and eating it.  Jakob laughed.

The End

Epilogue

Joshua:
Replaced Ashford as head of the Starfire Intelligence Agency.  Upgraded to MK23 body, thus granting him most of the powers normally wielded by an incubus.  Studying part-time in SAIA.

Ashford:
Founded a popular magazine for conspiracy theorists

Niall and R.Niall:
Jointly awarded the Kantuki peace prize for their work in fighting 'Cubi persecution and a platinum disk for their concept double-album "And Cyra Answered".

Azrael:
Acts as council advisor in Ha'Khun

Daryil:
Continues to rule his clan with a just, fair and occasionally wise hand.

Jakob:
Jakob, Azrael, Daryil and Ashley were jointly awarded the Kantuki humanitarian (furmanitarian?) prize for their work to preserve the lives of Beings and Creatures.  Controversy remains over whether the prize had or had not been awarded to Johan Cross.

Dorcan:
Dorcan, Sethir and the other Creature androids were also upgraded to MK23 spec.  Dorcan had an incubus son named Sydney, currently at SAIA.  Dorcan was promoted to head of electronics at Jayhawk Cybernetics.  Celebrated by buying himself and his father a top-of-the-range Namorai NX1100HR sports bike.

Sethir:
Married Dasgard in a civil ceremony.  Became freelance adventurers.

Salomere:
Had two more children with Neremath.  In addition, Dorcan's dead siblings Amath and Fenholt were brought back from the dead by Lord Daryil as androids.

Neremath:
Died doing what he loved, competing in the Ashdorf 1100cc championships.  Returned to win the following season.  Legal wrangles over whether androids should be allowed to compete are still ongoing.

Wils:
Wils and Lilly became prominent writers of Feralist fiction.

Keaton:
Currently serving her sentence.  Sent an amulet by Daryil which allows her to talk on occasion with her late father.

James:
Set up the 300th Sleepy Tree Inn in Ha'Khun. After James' Inn was finished, he hung out with Azrael, played some Nintendo and enjoyed the time he spent with the role model he finally got to meet. It was all fun and games until Azrael asked James if he wanted a position in Ha'Khun at which, James promptly screamed like a little girl and ran home... across the ocean... since he's smart like that.

Ephrael:
In the twenty years it took to grow her a new Being body, android technology had improved substantially, narrowing the gap still further.  She almost chose to stay as an android until Jakob - who hadn't really wanted to make the clone in the first place - persuaded(*) her otherwise.



Well, there we have it.  I hope everyone has enjoyed it.  Writing it has had its ups and downs.

Some things, such as Dorcan's son, I will probably deal with in a future story.  If there are any other loose ends, let me know and I'll add them to the epilogue or explain them here.  (Or not, if they're usable in a future story)


(*)Rumours that he flew into a rage and threatened to deactivate her eyes are strictly unconfirmed.  Jakob himself was not available for comment.

[Gabi]

Yes, I did enjoy it. Both here and at AC.

I particularly liked the epliogue, and it's good to know you're going to keep writing.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

The scrabble continues to amuse me.

[Zedd]

When all good things come to an end,all you must do is take a bow my friend

[TheJimTimMan]

Ending on a Daryil note makes perfect sense, for some reason.
Though you'd think they wouldn't want to be within 10 miles of him, let alone give him a medal...