Silverah
The sun had sunk below the mountains on the horizon, the last strains of daylight still visible in the western sky. The air had a new chill in it, the temperature dropping quickly. How long, Babylon wondered, his cloak settling around him, would the wildflowers in the valley last? How long until it snowed?
He hadn't come here to ponder meteorological minutiae, however. The knight stepped towards the Code's lamp post, his intentions clear in his mind. Clearing his throat, he addressed the sphere of light - "Excuse me, could I call upon your wisdom for a moment?"
The light seemed to pulse a little brighter, which he took to mean he had the Code's attention. "A stranger appeared to us lately - an alien, Caedus. He says he's from the Silver Millennium, that Beryl imprisoned him in the Rift for a thousand years. He..."
Babylon reached into his pocket, held up the clouded crystal, as if the Code had a limited field of view. "He called upon the forces of Order to collect energy, so that we could strike the Rift and so that he could go home."
"His power signature is strange," confessed Babylon. "Not Order. Not Chaos, but... off, somehow. Like milk that hasn't completely soured yet. I'm not certain I trust him - do you know who he might be, if there's any truth to his story?"
He hadn't come here to ponder meteorological minutiae, however. The knight stepped towards the Code's lamp post, his intentions clear in his mind. Clearing his throat, he addressed the sphere of light - "Excuse me, could I call upon your wisdom for a moment?"
The light seemed to pulse a little brighter, which he took to mean he had the Code's attention. "A stranger appeared to us lately - an alien, Caedus. He says he's from the Silver Millennium, that Beryl imprisoned him in the Rift for a thousand years. He..."
Babylon reached into his pocket, held up the clouded crystal, as if the Code had a limited field of view. "He called upon the forces of Order to collect energy, so that we could strike the Rift and so that he could go home."
"His power signature is strange," confessed Babylon. "Not Order. Not Chaos, but... off, somehow. Like milk that hasn't completely soured yet. I'm not certain I trust him - do you know who he might be, if there's any truth to his story?"
The Space Cauldron
The Code flickered, as it often did when addressed.
"I know of all being in this universe, in one way or another. But I do not know them all by name, nor do I know all that they say. I know much less of an ancient soul, lost in the throes of time. It would not surprise me if you found something ancient, though. The Earth is full of many secrets. They are bound to crawl from their cracks eventually. Or rot away."
The Code almost seemed indifferent. "It would be ignorant to assume there are only two types of power signatures. You have seen many, have you not? On earth. You know of youma, and the Negaverse. Of several kinds of senshi. Of Knights. Is it so alarming to think that in this vast universe there are creatures that differ from you? From all that you know? At one point in time, all signatures were new to you. This is the same. You seem to hold this stranger unfavorable. You do not paint a kind picture of him. If you do not like him, why did you not just kill him? You complicate things, Babylon. Either you work with him or you do not. What does your gut tell you?"
"I know of all being in this universe, in one way or another. But I do not know them all by name, nor do I know all that they say. I know much less of an ancient soul, lost in the throes of time. It would not surprise me if you found something ancient, though. The Earth is full of many secrets. They are bound to crawl from their cracks eventually. Or rot away."
The Code almost seemed indifferent. "It would be ignorant to assume there are only two types of power signatures. You have seen many, have you not? On earth. You know of youma, and the Negaverse. Of several kinds of senshi. Of Knights. Is it so alarming to think that in this vast universe there are creatures that differ from you? From all that you know? At one point in time, all signatures were new to you. This is the same. You seem to hold this stranger unfavorable. You do not paint a kind picture of him. If you do not like him, why did you not just kill him? You complicate things, Babylon. Either you work with him or you do not. What does your gut tell you?"
Quote:
Well that was... unhelpful. Babylon bit his lip, directing his vision downwards. The code had a point - all signatures had been new to him once - but even so, those signatures broke down into neat categories. Order. Chaos. Little tiny boxes that could be stacked and organized just so. Caedus broke the mold.
He began to formulate a reply - I think--- - and then stopped himself. The code had asked for his gut reaction, for instinct, not for him to overcomplicate this with logic and reason and emotion. If he were to begin his reply with something so foolish as I think, he would be scolded like a student who grasped neither the method nor the underlying theory, and not for lack of instruction.
"My gut is uneasy," he replied, and then ventured, "perhaps you've never heard of him by name. I think it was a pseudonym he gave us, anyway - but have you heard of a planet that is wholly artificial? No senshi, no knights?"
A world without a soul, he'd heard it described as. Surely a world such as that had to be unique - and the code was meant to be omniscient, wasn't it? He'd rather the knights focus their attention on discovering what was causing its foul mood - Caedus was distracting them from more important matters.
"He is against the Negaverse and Metalia, same as we," concluded Babylon, "But I am uncertain that makes him an ally so much as an opportunist."
He braced himself to be chastised by the code over some flaw in his logic.
He began to formulate a reply - I think--- - and then stopped himself. The code had asked for his gut reaction, for instinct, not for him to overcomplicate this with logic and reason and emotion. If he were to begin his reply with something so foolish as I think, he would be scolded like a student who grasped neither the method nor the underlying theory, and not for lack of instruction.
"My gut is uneasy," he replied, and then ventured, "perhaps you've never heard of him by name. I think it was a pseudonym he gave us, anyway - but have you heard of a planet that is wholly artificial? No senshi, no knights?"
A world without a soul, he'd heard it described as. Surely a world such as that had to be unique - and the code was meant to be omniscient, wasn't it? He'd rather the knights focus their attention on discovering what was causing its foul mood - Caedus was distracting them from more important matters.
"He is against the Negaverse and Metalia, same as we," concluded Babylon, "But I am uncertain that makes him an ally so much as an opportunist."
He braced himself to be chastised by the code over some flaw in his logic.
Quote:
The Code flickered. "Artificiality is unnatural. It challenges the natural order. To create a new world is playing God. Those that try are arrogant, and foolhardy, and have been given a taste of power. A taste is never enough. They will crave more. A parasite without a host will always find a host."
For a second, the Code seemed to change color; a dark green flame seemed to burn in it, but it quickly resumed its natural appearance.
"Perhaps you are wise to hold caution. An enemy to the Negaverse could be anyone. Because you share a common enemy does not make you allies. If he comes from an artificial world, he will see everything as a means to improve his own world. You would be only tools to him. Do not let him manipulate you. You can only trust Knights. You are of the same brotherhood. No others understand you, and you cannot know who would seek to use you for your abilities. You cannot know who would manipulate you for his own gain. But this…is odd."
The Code was silent for a moment, and then slowly continued.
"Synthetic worlds have existed, but they were often met with failure. They destroyed themselves. Even now, most of the universe sleeps. I am blind to large parts of it. But I have not seen a synthetic world in…"
It seemed to be debating.
"Perhaps a millennia. It is curious that he would arise now. Babylon."
The voice was stern.
"He will disrupt the balance."
For a second, the Code seemed to change color; a dark green flame seemed to burn in it, but it quickly resumed its natural appearance.
"Perhaps you are wise to hold caution. An enemy to the Negaverse could be anyone. Because you share a common enemy does not make you allies. If he comes from an artificial world, he will see everything as a means to improve his own world. You would be only tools to him. Do not let him manipulate you. You can only trust Knights. You are of the same brotherhood. No others understand you, and you cannot know who would seek to use you for your abilities. You cannot know who would manipulate you for his own gain. But this…is odd."
The Code was silent for a moment, and then slowly continued.
"Synthetic worlds have existed, but they were often met with failure. They destroyed themselves. Even now, most of the universe sleeps. I am blind to large parts of it. But I have not seen a synthetic world in…"
It seemed to be debating.
"Perhaps a millennia. It is curious that he would arise now. Babylon."
The voice was stern.
"He will disrupt the balance."
Quote:
Some of the tension eased out of Babylon's spine - he hadn't expected the Code to reaffirm his suspicions, but then the universe was vast and infinite and he had to strike gold once in a while. If the Code was telling the truth - and he knew he needed to take this with a grain of salt, owing to its recent strange behavior - but if it was, then Caedus's chances of ever getting home seemed... slim.
Perhaps he knew that, if the nature of synthetic worlds was to self-destruct. "Caedus said he felt certain his world was thriving," he said, tilting his head to the side. That flash of green had been... curious. "But he has no way of knowing that."
Slowly, an alternate interpretation of Caedus's actions was forming in Babylon's mind - He knew his world was likely long gone, a victim of its own hubris. But if he could send a raiding party of knights into the Negaverse's heart, he could create a power vacuum... Even if Order was successful in destroying Metallia, Caedus would be the victor. Caedus would be waiting to fill the gap.
"He is promising victory where we would likely lose," Babylon nodded. "And even if we were to win, it would not be a victory for Order. It would be a victory for Caedus - and we have no way of knowing what he would do with that power."
"What would you advise I do?" he asked. "To turn the others away from him? To convince them of his untrustworthiness? Many are eager to help - perhaps too eager."
Perhaps he knew that, if the nature of synthetic worlds was to self-destruct. "Caedus said he felt certain his world was thriving," he said, tilting his head to the side. That flash of green had been... curious. "But he has no way of knowing that."
Slowly, an alternate interpretation of Caedus's actions was forming in Babylon's mind - He knew his world was likely long gone, a victim of its own hubris. But if he could send a raiding party of knights into the Negaverse's heart, he could create a power vacuum... Even if Order was successful in destroying Metallia, Caedus would be the victor. Caedus would be waiting to fill the gap.
"He is promising victory where we would likely lose," Babylon nodded. "And even if we were to win, it would not be a victory for Order. It would be a victory for Caedus - and we have no way of knowing what he would do with that power."
"What would you advise I do?" he asked. "To turn the others away from him? To convince them of his untrustworthiness? Many are eager to help - perhaps too eager."
Quote:
"It is in the nature of the ignorant," the Code said indifferently. "They want to help everyone and are oblivious to the dangers. Anyone who promises victory is not to be trusted. Anyone who does not know this world, this war, cannot be trusted. Anyone who would use you to fight their battles cannot be trusted. But they will try to defend him, because they are ignorant."
The Code did not have eyes, but it seemed to be piercing Babylon.
"He is a threat, Babylon. To everyone, and everything. But others will seek to see the good in him because that is what they want to see. It is not always there. You must remove the threat. Do not give them the opportunity to trust him. They will follow whatever path they will, but you are in a unique position."
It grew a bit brighter. "You are stronger than them, Babylon. You can see things they cannot. You have seen things they have not. He will lead them to destruction. Leading them into the Negaverse…is not always a bad idea. If he can open the doors, that is one thing. There may yet be things to gain. But he cannot be trusted. He will betray you, in the end. If you let him leave this planet, he will return for your resources. He will strip it bare. You will have nothing. To protect this world and those on it…"
The Code had never shined so brightly as it did in that moment.
"You must destroy him."
The Code did not have eyes, but it seemed to be piercing Babylon.
"He is a threat, Babylon. To everyone, and everything. But others will seek to see the good in him because that is what they want to see. It is not always there. You must remove the threat. Do not give them the opportunity to trust him. They will follow whatever path they will, but you are in a unique position."
It grew a bit brighter. "You are stronger than them, Babylon. You can see things they cannot. You have seen things they have not. He will lead them to destruction. Leading them into the Negaverse…is not always a bad idea. If he can open the doors, that is one thing. There may yet be things to gain. But he cannot be trusted. He will betray you, in the end. If you let him leave this planet, he will return for your resources. He will strip it bare. You will have nothing. To protect this world and those on it…"
The Code had never shined so brightly as it did in that moment.
"You must destroy him."
Quote:
Babylon nodded, emboldened by the Code's words. He hadn't expected this conversation to be nearly so productive, but then, it was a testament to how far you could get by showing due respect. Regardless of whether there was something affecting the Code's temperament, he didn't think it would steer him wrong. Not about this.
"I will," he said. "I'll find a way."
He knew what he had to do.
How to do it would come to him.
