Nana was furious. The Hrun had left without so much as allowing the Katytans to state their demands. That wasn't right. They didn't even know Erak was alive. They probably didn't know what a buffoon the Hinyuudou was, either. And they were going the wrong way, south!
She was sick of this boredom, this so-called 'diplomacy', the antics of those who called themselves leaders of their ridiculous races... Fortunately, she wasn't alone.
"Friends! Peace has returned to us! A peace wrought by lies, threats, and misinformation!" She allowed the confused cheer that had been preparing to arise to break before continuing. "We have seen our enemies, we have spoken to them, we have looked them in the eye and defied them, and our lands are safe for now, but what have we taught them? Nothing! Even now, the Hrun settle on land we once claimed as our own, and 'Ranpu' whines to her council about the Big, Bad Katytans.
"I for one will not rest here while we wait for the high tide to come once again. Any who would wish to take action toward our true mission--to serve Katyn's will, not merely to scurry back and forth over parched earth, playing games with stones while we await the next challenger--follow me! Our divine quest is at hand. You shall all see what I have seen!"
The reaction was... mixed. Nana had been expecting a united cheer, not a bickering morass. Perhaps attempting the speech in front of both her own Katytans and Ringa's had been a mistake.
"What the 'ell is she talkin' 'bout, 'divine quest'?"
"Nanae is our spiritual leader. She means her visions have told her to go forward! If we do not follow, the Katytans will not survive!"
"Now see here, we woulda survived jus' fine without followin' ya'll way out east..."
"You have no children! Katyn only blesses her truest followers with children!"
"Lot 'o good that's doin' ya."
"Eh, I dunno, Kwem. This sure is a nasty spot t'be. I dunno 'bout 'bandonin' it none, but we c'do with a change 'o scenery."
"I'm with you guys, personally. I think Nanae's just gone off her rocker."
The sea of voices quickly became unintelligible from Nanae's position. She frowned, drummed her fingers on the podium, and hissed to herself. Finally, it dawned on her that she could deal with this.
"Shut...UP!"
The glow was bright enough to colour the whole area red for a moment. The smoky steam blasting out of her mouth, and now trailing out of her nostrils was a nice touch. She clamped her hands down on the podium, apparently to show her serious, but more realistically to distract herself from the intense pain creating that show had caused her. She breathed to calm down as stunned silence dawned on the crowd. Nanae's voice was raw.
"I do not expect all of you to come. I am not Nasha. This mission is a two-way trip. The exact parameters depend on the degree of cooperation I recieve. Come to the gates tomarrow, at dawn, if you wish to embark. If not, you have your own leaders. I am confident they will strive to follow Katyn's will to the best of their knowledge and ability, as well. Now go. Should any of you wish to continue to express your pettiest thoughts, please do so behind closed doors so as to not embarass the rest of us." After a meaningful glance, Nanae left the podium. The crowd dispersed with only civil conversation audible, and Nanae returned to her camp.
Six Katytans were arrayed at the gate when Nanae arrived. She was impressed to see Ison standing proudly among them. Two more appeared, dragging luggage that Nanae suspected also belonged to Ison. "We are here to serve, Nanae."
She nodded in thanks. "The goddess shall award those who serve her well. I am thankful for your support. Let us be off."
They climbed high through the pass, these lands had been travelled before. Their destination, of course, was uncharted territory...
Katyn's lessons continued for days, although time had lost meaning to Nasha. Food and drink were always available, and her goddess had constructed a bed for her in under a minute when she finally expressed her tiredness, and fully furnished it in a few minutes more. Bloodmetal and steel, all of it. Not the lap of luxury, but available and easily recycled.
Nasha thought about the firestalks above. Elna would have harvested them, but she couldn't possibly find the time to plant and tend them. Nasha was still needed at the surface. It was a thought for another day. Katyn was working on more Katytan children, now. It was routine work she had performed countleess times, and after she was done sculpting and making minor adjustments to her mold, she would soon go into a trance as the overwhelming mundanity of her amazing labours took over. Katyn would not like to be interrupted.
The night passed, or so Nasha thought. There was no way to tell what it was or how long, but she awoke only after many hours of dreams, she knew. She had not slept so much since she was a young child, or--considering the rests she'd had after injuries--at least not so well.
Katyn seemed to notice Nasha stir, and took a break form her long labours. "Ah, there you are. Come, there is much more to learn."
Nasha shook her head as she climbed out of bed, still groggy. She could see in the dim light, but it still did not seem bright enough to bring alertness to her. "I have learned much already, and I fear I am already forgetting some of my first lessons due to the rush you've put on me. Please, answer my questions before you lecture."
Katyn smiled. "Of course. What answers do you wish to hear?" Nasha rolled her eyes at the phrasing. "Truthful ones, and no games, please. I'm of a mind to return to bed as it is... You've brought me here to help you help Mika, and to help me, but what about the others... above? I'm still not clear on what you've done to me, either..."
"I'll answer your second question first. You should know enough to understand this by now, at least... I reset several of your non-vital components to defaults, to new defaults in the case of those involved in your lower layers. Your upper layer, the one which is soulbound, has not been damaged at all, the reset merely forced it to re-make 'you' from what already composed 'you'.
"You forced this reset to occur on your own when you fell on your head, but that was uncontrolled, halting, and poorly managed. While the materials were there--much to our surprise, in some cases--except for those you used most routinely, the majority were slapped aside, left touched, or wedged in uncomfortable places. I believe the problem has been rectified now, without causing undue harm. Although I'd prefer to exercise total control rather than merely providing a nurturing infleuence, I promised as much to you."
Nasha nodded, slowly. There was a sense of indignation, but also a hint of relief. "I will learn if you have kept your word with time. I am able. But please, explain to me these other effects."
Katyn waved her on, not wishing to continue talking idly, prefering to continue the conversation while they worked together. "Of course, it's simple. What I reset were the safeguards. They are there to keep your body under control while I am not supervising. They are what allow you what makes you unique; your regenerative capacity, your rapid growth and large size relative to other races, your great endurance and control over your body.
Nasha sensed a rant coming on as Katyn continued. "I've invested more time into these safeguards than any other part of Katytan design. It is easy to build a creature of any size, shape, and temperment, but as soon as you give them some autonomy--the ability to learn, grow, and heal themselves without intervention--you would not believe how difficult it is to keep them on a course that is sane, productive, and aesthetically pleasing. Some randomness is always desirable, surprises keep life interesting, but I can't stand watching entropy at work on my own creations..."
Katyn paused, to catch her breath, and pulled out the pin she'd managed to jam into her thumb while speaking. Nasha wiped up the tiny speck of blood with the back of her knuckle and looked down, waiting for Katyn to compose herself.
The goddess went on after a moment as though nothing had happened, her small wound already healed. "As I was saying... Safeguards. All races have them, to some extent, many take them for granted. They vary in power, they vary in efficiency. Magical creatures often have the best but most wasteful, mundane creatures weaker but astoundingly mana-efficient. I go for a combination of the two, that is, I invest a lot of energy in creating each Katytan, but you are able to sustain yourselves indefinitely through mundane means... Within certain limits, that are as yet insurmountable to me..."
Nasha watched Katyn closely. Her goddess was showing signs of depression. Two vulnerabilities in as many minutes. Nasha was impressed. Katyn's sideways look and fleeting smile told her that the goddess knew what she was thinking, but had no objection to it. Katyn went on. "...Without further breakthroughs, that is. You are unique, being my prototype. I know of few creatures whose production was less efficient than your own, I spent years devoted to the task. You may have relatively little in common with other Katytans, but they all have much in common with you, as their design was derived from your own.
"Your body, Nasha, has close to nine thousand unique components--magical, components, that is. I've never tried to count the number of mundane components, not being a fan of dissection. The number of redundant components--many of which have become unique over your lifetime, as you've subconsciously found new uses for them raises that value far higher.
"Of course, none of them exist as of this moment, or at any time you live and breathe, but in an abstract sense, they are there and they are working, and the majority of them do nothing but oversee and control the few that do. I've long since lost track of the specifics of how they work, I lost that knowledge before you even reached adulthood, but the bottom line is this: By resetting your safeguards, I'm allowing you a new life within your old life, very literally a second chance. I can neither control nor predict it; you will have to guide yourself after you leave here. I hope that your can regain the trust of the other Katytans--it does not hurt me while they still live, but when their souls are lost, it pains me deeply. Please try to understand."
Nasha was somewhat overwhelmed, and did not understand Katyn's words very well, but the emotion of the goddess was unmistakable. She nodded. "Of course. I do not want to see any deaths, but if sacrifices must be made, they must be made with the knowledge of your love for us firmly in mind. It is only fitting.
Katyn nodded as she worked, and Nasha noted a third emotion. Guilt. Regret. She laid a hand on Katyn's back, comfortingly. "I know you had a choice when you informed me of these lands to which we have come, and I know you knew the conflict was coming. I know that you are not as confident now as you were then, and I know you worry.
"Don't worry, my goddess. After seeing what I have seen and hearing what I have heard, I am more confident than ever. Your 'greatest creations' are greater than even you know--something you would see, too, if you were to come to us in person, though I would never make such a request. I do not know the purpose of this 'great war' you allude to, but still I trust your judgement. Have faith in us."
Katyn began to smirk and stopped her work, looking up at Nasha. The time for straight-talk was over. "Mmmmm. Perhaps I see what you mean, although it would be irresponsible for me to consider you a representive sample..." The smirk widened, and Katyn paused while she restrained her mirth. "Still, I appreciate the reassurance, and the invitation. We shall see in the months to come, what develops."
Nasha snorted in laughter a couple times as they continued. That had been fun while it lasted. "You can resume your lecture on the workings of Mika, now."
"I suppose I can. Where were we? The alacapula. Yes, the alacapula. Necessary for surviving an ambush, among other roles, the alacapula ensures a heightened state of awareness when attacked from behind, and quickly becomes programmed with new responses to new threats over a young Katytan's life.
"I've built my own culling mechanisms to use on copied pieces, though these are not actually installed. I mean, just how often does a squirrel rustling in the branches of a tree leap onto one's neck and go for the throat? Still, it seems appropriate that should this occur one time to one Katytan, they should be allowed a certain apprehension of future squirrels, just in case part of their unique character includes a bizzare animal antipathy..."
Nasha smiled. Katyn was already learning how to teach better. It was up to her to keep pace.
Oici approached the fortress. She hated travelling alone, but there was no sense in wasting her time or someone else's just to cross a few hills and climb a mountain in the heart of Katytan-controlled territories, and it did give her some time to think about what was coming.
She'd taken enough rations to last the journey, as fortunately, they were running out by the time the road became entirely uphill. Finding water had been more difficult, but it allowed her to practice skills she hadn't used in over a quarter-century. She ran the story through her head once again, scanning for inconsistencies. Yes, well, they were children, but they would grow up, and she wanted to save herself the embarassment of answering tough questions in the future.
"It was the eve of the night after the champion had been visited by the angel, and she approached the human town, taking the spirit's wise words to heart. The villagers were scared. Who was this strange visitor towering over them? When was the last time she had bathed? Why did she still smell so good? They asked themselves these questions, and more.
"Even though for this night, good food and a bed of hay that was not cold were all she desired, the champion looked into the eyes of the townsfolk, and saw that their fears and worries did not end with her. She waved to them, asked asked that they gather in the square of the town. There she addressed them, her voice high and clear:
'Friends! Do not fear me, I am a Katytan, a servant of the goddess who created the earth upon which you now stand. We are builders of wonders, crafters of beauteous works, and guardians of the good works of all races. I mean you no harm, and come to offer my aid where it is required.'
"A man in the crowd shouted, 'Just what aid can you give us? This world needs no wonders, no beauteous works, and it is our lives that need protecting!"
"The champion smiled. 'Ah, but you misunderstand. The wonders we build are domains of peace and prosperity, our beauteous works are the expressions of joy we give to the people who inhabit them. It is a world of great injustice, true, but the greatest works of any race are the children we raise for a brighter tomarrow. Let us build a peace, let us craft joy, and let us protect our future together.'
'The crowd was silent for a moment. At last the man came forward and extended his hand. 'I trust you. My home is yours. Let us work together.'
The champion extended her own hand, grasping his gently, and they shook, a gesture of peace and agreement. Other townspeople approached. 'If you're here to help, come to my inn, any time. Drinks are on me.' 'My dolly believes you! She's glad you came!' 'My, your clothes are in tatters. A hero needs to be well-dressed. Come by anytime, if you need a good hand with a needle and thread.'
"The champion graciously thanked the townspeople for their offers, and promised to repay them. But first she needed to rest--even a champion needs to take care of herself before she can take care of others. She found a stables and bedded there. Tomarrow she would help her new friends..."
Oici skipped a step as she walked, such was her good cheer. Though she'd been dreading it at first, she could hardly wait to reach the children now, to see their faces again, to hear their groans as she finished her tale for the day. She did not notice the traces of recent passage upon the road...
(I edited the wrong post. Nothing changed here!)
Author
Topic: Battle of the Gods IV (Read 71767 times)