Chapter3Part2

The rain continues, which is good- the Delpini liked to hunt in the rain, and Jal doesn't
mind it. He sits next to the lake on the northern side of the city, water lapping at the jet
black sand of the beach, rain moving in sheets across its surface. An arc of strange
energy leaps from a distant factory roof, illuminating the entire lake in flickering light.
On the south-eastern shore, a great building once stood- smooth, seamless stone broken
off in a jagged edge a hundred meters up from its base. Pieces of it lie far out into the lake,
forming islands, black against the flickering light on the water. The closest of these Jal
watches, its surface in motion from the hundreds of Delpini that cover it- children of an
insane God, their cries echoing across the water. Several of them jump off, swimming
toward shore, then darkness.
The rain begins to slacken- looking up, Jal sees the wind beginning to blow the clouds
aside, their fleeing tatters sometimes revealing the half moon above. In this dim light he
can see movement in the water, thin spray from the Delpini swimmers as they make their

way toward land. They've scattered in the darkness- the first one will land a hundred
meters up the shore.
Sitting cross-legged on the sand, Jal raises his rifle, balancing his elbow on his knee, and
waits. The Delpini emerges, dripping water, and Jal fires. The creature starts, looks
towards him for a moment, then falls. Jal waits several seconds before approaching, giving
the paralyzing properties of the biomech virus time to work.
Shouldering the rifle, he draws a spark gun and advances slowly towards it. When he's
still several meters away, he glances up to make sure they're alone. The other Delpini are
still far from shore, so he sits next to the immobile creature to wait.
Glancing down, Jal notices the creature's face is slack, even though it must be in agony by
now. Watching carefully, he sees the physical changes brought on by the virus manifest,
resequencing the creature's DNA, making it human again.
Its eyes are fixed looking toward the sky- silent, silent pain. Jal wishes it could speak- he
would ask what it felt like- if it were true that changing its physiology would separate it from
its group mind, like Siah said. If so, would this lead to some sort of spiritual crisis, being cut
off from its God in this way? He could ask after the process was complete if it wasn't fatal.
The proper pain inhibitors could make it possible for them to speak- but no, there was no
time, and he should be thinking of more practical things. In previous incarnations he had
spent entire lifetimes on philosophical questions, but now, in this final life, in this last city,
time was short.
Looking up, Jal sees the other Delpini swimming closer, the group mind telling them that
their brother is in pain. There are only two close by, five more approaching- others are

diving from the ruin to assist, but he will be long gone by the time they arrive. Chambering
another dart, he centers his sight on another Delpini.

*

Jal drags the last of the seven still figures to the dunes that surround the beach. The wind
has come up, blowing the last of the clouds away, revealing the full light of the moon,
illuminating ribbons of dust that ripple along the slope. He has dragged them to a sheltered
basin, but he still has to brush sand from his charges to keep them from being buried- Siah
wanted the privilege of burying them for himself and his band of followers.
They would take each one, now looking as human as they, and bury them with great
solemnity and sorrow. Jal had watched them after the first time he had killed for Siah- their
tears and mourning seemed genuine, their cries carrying through the still air of that bright
afternoon.
Siah told them that they did this out of pity- that by doing this they were bringing these lost
souls back to God- their God- the one they said lived beyond this world and only took
those who had the patience to wait for Him. Siah also told Jal that by doing this, he was
reforming his own soul, and that if he waited as well, he might have a chance at
redemption.
Sounds of men approaching between gusts of the wind- looking up, Jal sees Siah
approaching with a group of his followers. "These now are saved," says Siah- Jal can
hear him just above the wind. Stepping forward from his disciples, he approaches Jal until
he stands just a few inches away, looking up into his eyes. "Thank you," he says,

then presses something warm into Jal's hand. "What you need," he says, with a look of pity
and contempt.
Looking down, Jal sees the packet of fluid Siah is pressing into his palm and takes it. Still
warm- several lifetimes ago, he would have shuddered with revulsion, but now- he looks
back up into Siah's eyes- now such things were necessary. Looking behind his nemesis,
he sees his followers- did they know? How much had Siah told them about the two of
them?
He stuffs the vile fluid into his coat pocket- it didn't matter. He even knew where Siah got
the substance- in violation of the the last city’s prime law, Siah and his followers were
introducing children into an environment that was not meant for young souls. When the
time came, he would make sure this secret was revealed. Turning away, Jaldeja leaves
Siah without a word, not looking back.

#

The moon's light can still be seen in the unevenly lit streets of downtown- streets that are
still crowded, even at this late hour. Jal notices the vendors’ stalls selling roasted meat or
electronics, and the smell of cities that has existed ever since they were first raised.
Looking over the heads of the crowd, he sees the sign of the faded red hand hanging
above a dimly lit, smoky window- Dr. Pendle.
Knocking, Jal hears slow footsteps approaching. The door opens a crack, revealing a
trembling eye.
"It's you!" whispers a voice, "Yes, please come in!" An unsteady hand pulls the door open,
motioning Jal rapidly inside.
"Feeling tired?" Jal asks.
"No," says Dr. Pendle, "not yet. The serum, though, has become so difficult to find. I keep
worrying that something will happen to you- that some day, you won't come back. You
promised- you remember, don't you? You promised that I wouldn't have to worry about that
any more." He looks up, pleading. "I want so badly to trust you."
Closing the door softly, Jal steps forward, putting his arm around the man's shoulder and
placing the vial of fluid in the man's hand. "A serum? An interesting word for extracted
memory engrams from children."
Seizing the vial, the doctor takes a step back. "I'll remind you that this was your idea.
Without this, I would have died the final death months ago."
Dr. Pendle was right, of course. The longer one stayed in the city, the more jaded one
became of one's surroundings. Then, the jaded feelings turned to inertia, and interia
became paralysis- eventually, the victim would not eat or drink and die. This process could
take centuries- the Doctor had been in the city for a very long time.
"You're right, of course. But the engrams are only a temporary solution. When you've
completed the operation, I'll help you modify the cybernetic component we designed- I think
it will help you.
Nodding, Dr. Pendle pats Jal on the back and leads him into his office.
The room is small and clean with only a desk and chair, the floor of smooth white tile.
Sunken lights around the wall provide dim illumination. Above the desk is a hologram
schematic, which Jal studies with interest.