Chapter 171: Chapter 170: Evacuation Part 5

“I won’t lie, I’m interested, but I don’t really care that much. My sister on the other hand, she didn’t have adoptive parents like I did, so she’s a bit more focused on our origins. She deserves first look.”

“I see, I don’t really understand, but I was just curious regardless… I never dreamed we might have been related, but that certainly explains why your soul seemed so bright.”

“Is that important?”

“An aspect’s soul is bright enough to burn a shadow into the ground. Yours isn’t quite that intense, but still far beyond most others, I caught a glimpse when you let yourself become a part of me.”

Carl, digested the information, the underlying implication being that he was indeed not entirely human.

Another hour went by and finally they were seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

[ EMERGENCY MESSAGE RECEIVED : CARL, WE ARE CURRENTLY AT SEVENTY THOUSAND. THIS IS INSANE. JUDGING BY THE INFORMATION LEANNA SENT BACK, IT SEEMS WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH ALL THE FACULTY AND EVERY HYBRID IN THE SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH YEARS. MOST OF THE OTHERS ARE ALSO HYBRIDS AND THE REST ARE MOSTLY HYBRIDS FROM THE OTHER YEARS. ONLY ABOUT FIVE PERCENT OF TRANSFERS ARE PURE HUMAN. ]

[ EMERGENCY MESSAGE SENT FROM CARL : MAKE SURE THE HUMANS ARE SETTLED, THEY MIGHT BE WORRIED ABOUT BECOMING SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS WITH THAT KIND OF SCARCITY. CAN ANYONE FROM EARTH GO AND REASSURE THEM? ]

[ EMERGENCY MESSAGE RECEIVED : WILL DO. I’LL SEND SOME OF DANIEL’S FAMILY TOO AND SOPHIE WILL BE ON SUPPORT DUTY IF WE IDENTIFY ANY HYBRIDS WITH SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS. ]

[ EMERGENCY MESSAGE RECEIVED : HEY DUDE, I’LL BE ON CALL FOR ANY HYBRIDS RAISED IN THE ORPHANAGES. ]

[ EMERGENCY MESSAGE SENT FROM CARL : BLANC, IF WE DISCOVER TOO MANY WITH STORIES LIKE YOURS, EVACUATE THEM AND BURN IT TO THE GROUND. I’M DONE STAYING MY HAND. ]

[ EMERGENCY MESSAGE RECEIVED : GAIA JUST SAID SHE WOULD ALLOW THE FACTION TO TAKE OVER THE FACILITIES, SO NO BURNING THEM. APPARENTLY THE CONTRACT WAS STRINGANT ON THEIR VALUING THE PEOPLE RAISED IN THEM AND SHE IS NOT HAPPY WITH WHATEVER SHE JUST SENSED FROM BLANC. ]

“Damn, that was unexpected to say the least…”

“Carl!..” The voice came from one of the guards. “…The committee has decided that this must be brought to a close in three hours. Our commander cannot change that, but has ordered us to hel-”

“Attention everyone…” The voice was yet another unknown joining an already hectic situation. “…I am Warrant-Officer Second-class, Helio Maser, We have been sent to assist the venus-corps in their mission to help the transition to come to a quick close, we in turn are also being assisted by the logistic division of the Mars-corps.”

[ GROUP MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM KYUBI : IS IT WISHFUL THINKING THAT MAYBE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ARE MAKING THEIR SUPPORT KNOWN? ]

[ GROUP MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM LILLIM : NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR SPECULATIONS, WE MUST ACT ON CERTAINTIES TO ACT WITH DECISIVE PURPOSE. WE CAN DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE VARIANT’S LOYALTIES CHANGING LATER. ]

“Things are already changing…” Space sounded wistful, but with a growing hope.

“…I think being the Change is a little excited about being know.”

“Being know?”

“If you can see my system, feel free to take a peek, you’ll see what I mean.”

Space took the peek with Carl’s permission, then looked away. “I thought I was hearing things when I heard that one mention being the son of Change and Creation…”

“Excuse me? Did you say “that one”? I think Nergal mentioned something about a “that one” who was more powerful than any of the elder gods.”

“Well, it makes sense now… Aspects like myself are rare, being torn between two laws and not the child of the secondary law they make if you understand? So being born from fundamental laws makes elder gods as strong as their aspects. I am stronger than the average aspect or elder god and yet his power dwarfed mine.”

“I get it, so it makes sense because he’s an… I guess he’s the eldest god, born from the origin laws means he’s on the same level as the fundamental laws, or did I misunderstand somewhere?”

“No, you understood the point perfectly… What I don’t get, is how he is a villain, the system going haywire didn’t affect the fundamental laws.” Space said, surprising Carl with what he perceived as obvious.

“You should know… If I had to guess, he felt isolated, then Margo came and embraced him. That one, well, isn’t affected by the system. He’s just repaying the debt he owed Margo by honouring his original plan.”

“Very perceptive Carl.”

The voice left them cold, paralysed, every being on SATS frozen instantly and completely.

“Brother Infinity, Sister Nothingness. Please bring this evacuation to an end.”

Everyone with a desire to leave disappeared in an instant and reappeared on Mirage.

“I honour the first to accept me, but I won’t reject your understanding of me.”

“Sorry… Your… Power… Overwhelming… I wish… I could… Talk… Properly.”

“Excellent attempt, even better than Margo’s first attempt. I’ll be leaving now, I thought i-”

“Sis… Can…You… Tell… Her… Who… She… Is”

“I already had my brother give you the answer you seek, that was the only free favour you get. I hope you understand as much as I think you do…”

“Thank… You…”

“Carl, I look forward to a time you can speak in my presence.” With those final words, he disappeared.

[ EMERGENCY MESSAGE SENT FROM CARL : ALL FACTION MEMBERS WITHDRAW, RETRIEVE ALL TECH, WE’RE DONE. NEW EMERGENCY MEETING ON HAVE IN TWENTY MINUTES. ]

“Space, I felt like I didn’t even exist for a second there.”

“He has that effect. You did better than I did, I wouldn’t linger here if I were you.”

“I know, goodbye Space, my kid Tiamutael would love you by the way. Feel free to visit him.”

“I think not… Not until I no longer have to keep sealing the wounds in my body.”

Carl nodded, then Space left, leaving Carl standing in the vast hall alone.

He approached the doorway where a couple of soldiers were, they were all startled, looking around the now completely empty hallways of the station. “Thank you for your assistance, but we lost. Tell your commanders, “That one intervened and invoked the laws”. They will know what I mean, but in case you don’t understand the urgency, I have no doubt that failure to deliver the message would be a death sentence.”

“Rest assured, the message will be passed along to all commanders.” The soldier saluted then recommended that Carl depart immediately, which he did.

As he turned and stepped through a portal he was already prepared to be pounced on and sure enough, the moment he stepped into the living room he had to brace for impact.

“It sounds like you met that one? Are you okay?” The voice was Nergal’s and not one Carl wanted to engage with as his annoyance on the subject of his origins was already grating thanks to the unexpected progress in discovering them.

“Nergal…” He offered a half-hearted nod. “…When did you arrive?”

“I was here to be ignored when you popped home earlier. It’s a good thing I have thick-skin.”

“Yes, I met him, he isn’t under the influence of the system. Just doing his best to honour what he considers the last wish of the first to accept him.”

“I see… Seems I’m not privy to the information you gleamed.”

“Ugh, don’t be offended. I won’t be telling anyone but Klaire and Kyubi, I simply don’t think I have the right…” Carl turned to the others, to address more immediate matters. “…How are the transferees?”

“Things are going well, whatever that one did, they were all put in the arrival station and the inside space was increased exponentially. Like this living room, but to a much greater extent.” Lillim explained from one side.

“Dad, can I have a hug please? That man was scary.” Carl rushed to Tiamutael, with a level of paternal worry that surprised him, and scooped him up.

“You’re okay Buddy. He wasn’t there to hurt anyone, he just appreciated being understood to some degree. Why don’t we all go to Mirage? You can see all the good work you did, all the people you helped keep safe.” Tiamutael nodded wordlessly, as he buried his face into Carl’s chest.

“Nergal, thank you for sitting with the kids.” Klaire said, followed quickly by Kyubi echoing the settlement and finally by Carl after a delay, but only because he was trying to console the usually unshakable dragon-god hatchling.

“I’m honestly impressed by how brave he is. I first met him during the first war, had killed my share of elder gods, but found myself a gibbering wreck the moment I laid eyes on him.”

“Thank you… I don’t want to talk about it.” Tiamutael’s voice muffled through Carl.

“Anyway, let’s get moving.” Klaire said as she opened a portal to Mirage.

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