Chapter 149: Chapter 148: Educating Kyubi

“So the people of the hybrids escaped notice initially because their nature was misunderstood… Interesting.”

Klaire blinked, a little confused. “You hadn’t become a recluse at that point, I’m surprised you didn’t know.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but most of us didn’t take much interest in humans beyond their unique origins. I only care now, because I want to understand you and Carl more. We immortals tend to be blind to things we don’t care to see.”

“No offence, but that seems very short-sighted…” Scylla stated sheepishly.

“None taken, you’re absolutely right and if we considered such a thing, many tragedies may have been averted, our approaches drastically different and our failure to see that brought calamity on everyone.”

Klaire shifted over to offer a shoulder for Kyubi to lean on. “Sometimes I think Carl’s tendency to hyper-focus, practically obsess over things to the point he can’t see the entire picture, is a result of his dormant immortal nature. It seems to be a massive issue for all of you.”

“You aren’t wrong, it is a matter of identity for us. We embrace what speaks to us completely and reject everything else.” Kyubi said as her head rested on Klaire.

“Did you want to hear about committee society and how that influences the humans?”

“Yes please, it’s fascinating.”

Scylla tried and failed to stifle a laugh. “Isn’t that a contradiction? You just said Immortals only care about the things that speak to them.”

“Yep and I love a human and a very unique girl who is two species and not two halves blended together. Knowing what I love is something that speaks to me, so I want to know it all.”

“Well I think rather than just speaking about the history of my homeland, it’s better to talk about the various means of control and enforcement.

First is the currency they issue; this allows them to control the people that would be otherwise free as refugees on Earth. They issue it with no foundation of worth, a person invests time into something and says “I want this much for it” and as a result, things often fluctuate in price wildly on the surface.

Second is class. Now we know the variants sit at the top, then you have the committee who act as their public face. I’ve been wondering lately if they are descended from the variants, but I’ve been too scared to bring it up.”

“Why scared?” Scylla asked. “Any ideas Kyubi?”

“Hmmm, I’d say she’s scared about what Carl would do. They offered two of them up for Klaire to kill and his sense of familial obligation is intense, he would find the answer and then act on it, he wouldn’t hesitate to make an enemy of anyone who abuses family.”

“Got it one. He was always devoted to them and desperate to make their lives better, but since he found out Ishtar and Margo might be his parents, it’s become a hair-trigger for his temper. I was so worried he’d lose himself after Leanna got hurt, I can never thank you, Lydia and Bahamut enough for all you did to help her.”

“You don’t owe me anything Klaire, but why don’t you continue and change the subject.”

“Right, well next in the hierarchy is the system magistrates that govern the other worlds controlled by the committee, after that it is pure-blooded humans, then hybrids, then the earth-dwellers and finally the Realm-gate orphans.

Third and finally are the facilities. The IDCs. the SAT-Stations, the vehicles etc.”

“So there is more than one of the SAT-Stations?”

“Yes, they needed more as the population grew. The one we studied at, only became the primary facility after Leanna took in Carl, we were supposed to go to the one above Sectura Prime.”

“Oh right! They had an assembly before you guys officially started, I had forgotten, but Gil told me once. “Yeah, like just before we started they changed it. Call me paranoid, but I think it’s to keep that stuck-up human with a plus close, that kid is so annoying”. Flash-forward a year and he’s talking about how impressive that annoying kid is.”

“Were they really so bitter toward each other? They always speak so fondly of their history.”

“Yeah, those two were like despised each other in the beginning, partially because Gillian used to dislike humans in general, he told me it wasn’t until he started at SATS he got past that.”

“Yeah Gil used to love picking on Carl, it was only later, after watching each other put so much effort into everything and they matured a bit, that the animosity turned into a proper rivalry and helped them push each other to new levels… Even if Carl never actually levelled up.”

“Oh, so seeing what they’ve achieved trying to one-up each other has made them value even the bad bits… I’m astonished, if immortals ever did that, we would all be much stronger. We tend to just let such things fester into bitter grudges.”

“Well, if Gil’s plan pays off, we’ll have the coordinates of every IDC and SAT-Station, then we can evacuate anyone who wants to leave if things go badly with the variants.” Scylla said, her tone a strange mix of pride and anxiety.

“You mean with Saboteur?…” Klaire asked as she ushered Kitsunoko over to start washing her tails with Kyubi. “…I wondered what the end game was for that, it seemed more like an attempt to plan mass guerilla attacks.”

“That too, but anyway, is there anything else you want to know, Kyubi?”

“Yeah, how does anyone on earth make use of the currency they have? It’s not like there are shops.”

“Oh right, there are supply vehicles that go around and trade with the settlements. They have the absolute worst supplies, they don’t want them comfortable enough to be content. The people on currency are also paid by those same vehicles for what they’ve managed to scavenge and hunt.”

Kyubi thought about it for a while, so she could focus on tail washing, then leaned back when they were done.

“It all seems so shallow. How have they managed to enforce everything? If the variants were on display, I could understand, but they keep their existence hidden.”

“That’s because of the military, they stay out of day to day affairs for the most part, but every so often you see them and it’s never good when you do. They aren’t normal, they’ve been enhanced somehow, they smell wrong and feel wrong.” Scylla answered, scrunching her face at the thought of them.

“Oh that’s most likely the effect of several variants changing them, I don’t see those awful creatures ever letting their military retain their sense of self. Now what about their society? They must have settled worlds, places where the humans can farm and gather resources.”

“They do, most of which are actually the result of the same program we used as cover on Archyon.”

“That optional settlement program?”

“Yeah, but that’s another form of control, by spreading everyone out, no one knows exact population numbers.”

“So they keep everyone blind to how many potential allies they have.”

“Yeah, I was friends with a girl in a higher year. We spoke at first, then she gradually called less and less and started looking worse and worse, like she was working herself to death. In the end, the calls just stopped and when I asked why I couldn’t get through, I was told that several large-scale solar storms in the distance between had rendered communication impossible.”

Scylla gritted her teeth. “What species?”

“That’s the weird part, her group were all humans, I think they were most likely taken into custody of the military. I also hate to admit it, but as suspicious as it was, it might well be true. Planetary settling is dangerous, I think we take it for granted because of how easy Carl made it, but if it weren’t for diplomacy we’d all be starving right now.”

“That doesn’t make sense, sorry girls. Klaire, please don’t hate me, but I think your friend was already dead while you were talking. I think an incursion gate opened and something came through.”

Klaire looked at Kyubi, jaw slack and trembling. “What could do that though?”

“Sounds like Croatoan, they are a unique breed of ghostly entities that specifically target settlers, they are actually the most recently created breed of spirit. When they appear, they force the settlers to endure every possible hardship of settling and destroy their minds and souls, leaving their bodies to carry as normal until they fall apart.” She leant in and hugged Klaire, joined by Kitsunoko and Raziel.

“Thanks, I’m okay, I kind of expected her to be dead and I’m happy to have closure…”

“Klaire, want me to try and find the spirits?”

“No, I don’t want to sound detached, but spirits don’t know any better. They act on nature and there’s no such thing as a ghost without a reason. I’m sad, but I’m not going to go hunt down some spirits to make myself feel better. I’ll just hope they come to me at some point.”

“Well ladies, I have enjoyed the bath, but I think it’s time we get back.” Scylla interjected. “…Or do you want to see how much nonsense those two can get up to without someone watching them.”

“Yeahhhh, you’re right. We can’t let Tiamutael babysit them forever.”

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