Dysphoria: Permanence (Hymn of the Multiverse Book 7) by Terra Whiteman

Author:Terra Whiteman [Whiteman, Terra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shatter Star Press
Published: 2019-03-06T22:00:00+00:00

***

Leid Koseling—;

“You’ve come here to ask for our help, so surely you have a plan,” said Adrial, after closing the door.

Cassima said nothing at first, studying the collection of books half-assedly stacked in the corner next to a stone table serving as Adrial’s desk. He thumbed the spines, aloof. Such a strange creature he was; half-synth, half anthropoid, draped in a black coat and form-fitting suit beneath. His boots were knee-high, and each step he took produced waves of red sparks across the ground. His face looked like a mask, painted on, but his hair was a shock of white and silver, seemingly organic. So much power in that little body. “Yes, mostly. Whatever you did to enmesh our streams kept Authority distracted long enough that I was able to come here. I need more distractions from you.”

“That was an accident,” I said. “And distractions could lead to harm. For us.”

“I know,” said Cassima. “It’s only for a little while. Do whatever you must, but keep yourselves from being found. I still have work to do, and others are growing suspicious of me. I can’t move freely without their full attention on finding you.”

Adrial and I shared a look. Often we had entire conversations with only our eyes.

“Why us?” he asked, and Cassima seemed confused by that question. “Why would you ask us for help and further risk exposing yourself?”

“Because your kind has reached a level beyond us,” he said, something I’d never expected to hear from a race that called us ‘mongrels’. “You’ve broken the chains that still bind our kind. You’ve integrated a conscious stream without using athanasian material. You’ve bypassed the codebreaker sequence. You’ve found a way to shatter yourselves without a console. You’re everything we are and more, because you have free will.”

I only understood half of what he’d said, but the admiration behind his gaze was enough for me to decide to trust him. And he must have seen the softening of my expression, as he asked again, “Will you help me?”

“Yes,” I said, in a beat. I looked to Adrial, and he nodded his agreement. “But we need to know more about you and what you’re dealing with.”

“That will come, I promise,” he said. “But the enmeshment is gone, and they will soon notice that I am gone, too. Can you give me the coordinates of your new location? I will keep them private, I promise.”

And so I did, hoping I hadn’t doomed The Atrium in the process.

Cassima headed for the door, pausing in the threshold. “I will find a way to return. Please don’t be alarmed if my appearance has changed. Remember, distractions.” He smiled, and then was gone.

A second later, I couldn’t feel him at all.

I exhaled, realizing I’d been holding my breath. Adrial stared at the open door, rubbing his chin,

“And the plot thickens,” he muttered.

I looked up at Adrial, battling a thought. There were more pressing matters, but I could no longer let this lie. “Listen, I’m sorry if—”

“No,” he interrupted, pressing his pointer finger against my lips, motioning for silence.

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