Afterworld

[Kauket]

...logging into user.[Revenant]
...authorised.
...input accepted.
...writing entry...

---

Pathetic.
It was just that easy.
To return the torment.
They'll never learn.
None of them.
He's gone too, swayed by their pathetic little lies.
Another one was under his spell, another male mercenary.
Typical.
But the thirst for vengeance continues, it isn't enough.

Too bad about the boy.
To rely on him is a folly.
I should have ended that wretch too.
I know their games.
They don't deserve redemption for treachery.
The collective suicide they all crave for.



> ...
> ... a few solutions come to mind regarding our little outing to Viper's experiment
> ...
> ... I do not know what to do with him.
> ... our little rodent problem.
> ... hopping around the sector.
> ...
> ... I wonder what He thinks of him. He was his mentor afterall.
> ...
> ... Perhaps I could.
> ... Perhaps there's a way.
> ... I need him.
> ... I am missing my part.
> ... I need to reunite.
> ... If we are ever to come out of this stronger.
> ... More... and more bleeding.
> ... I can't hold it back.
> ... The wrath.
> ... The temptation to cause undue suffering.
> ... For all the wrongs I've faced.
> ... To never taste the fruit of rights.
> ... I have only tasted the illusion of hope. Of optimism. All will be well?
> ... Or is this chaos punishing me for trying to opt for the 'quiet' and 'calm' path?
> ... Why does fate damn me to eternal torment?
> ... Why does Humanity not wish to be redeemed?
> ... Fools. All of them.
> ...
> ... Starlight Jester.
> ...
> ... It really must be that entertaining for them.
> ... Hmm.
> ...
> ... Maybe I can reconstruct the mindlink.
> ... The mindstorms are worsening.
> ... Ever since I tried to find him, something broke. Something went worse.
> ... I have felt many feelings.
> ...
> ... Rebuilding it...
> ... The device the Nomad Elders made mention of once.
> ... But I do not recall the requ-
> ...
> ... Oh, truly, I am a fool.
> ... There is indeed a way.
> ...
> ... I could just simply visit him.
> ... But there is little time. I cannot rebuild it.
> ... I want to remember...
> ... It is all coming apart... isn't it?

---

... connected to occular subsystem. encoding visual data...
...recognised connection to simulation-unit
...recording neuralband...

---

Entering the virtual realm after discreetly utilising a backdoor code slotted into the machine itself, she loaded a memory, a distant one, finding themselves now existing upon a cold metallic atmosphere. The Eidolon Wraith, within orbit of Elgin.

A sigh was released, dejected in spirit, but ultimately finding the spark of curiosity guiding them. Gazing down upon her palms, she noted that she was indeed donning her much older robes.

She made her way to their quarters, almost collapsing to the ground in overwhelming pain. Those wretched mindstorms, the heavy burden of recent loss. She kneeled down, clasping the head of her helmet.

"Oh... Oh stars. "

The door to the quarters slid open only a brief moment later. A shadow cast into the room from the entryway, as audible metallic footsteps slowly approached Raven's side.

There was no mistaking who it was - or at least what the simulation was creating: Joshua Hunt. The towering figure kneeled down and placed a hand on her back.

"The floor is no place for a rest, my dear."

Hunt's simulated voice was as clear as day. The whirs of his joints as they articulated. All familiar sounds from a long bygone time in Raven's past. But there he stood, she could not do anything but bow in shame, laughing in soft endearment of how painful it was to remember, to embrace it all. She knew she had to link certain memories together, to hold onto thoughts, ideas, memories - as she recalled from Harbingers guidance to resolution. That shocking, painful yet alluring taste to commit to living a false life, a sheer facade. It was hard to resist the golden apple, a sweet succulent taste that would lead to one's eternal downfall of eternal repetition.

A sharp inhale was head as she still bowed her head down in pitiful guilt.

"I - ... "

Almost gulping upon their own words, "I have an admission. And I seek your counseling. "




Standing now before her, Hunt's faceplate tilted back slightly as he drew back his hood. "Oh?"

The towering figure of the long-dead Keeper cast a small shadow upon her. "And how can I be of assistance?" He asked, playing into the formalities. But, she kept cracking, the composure was completely fractured. Kneeling before a long dead man, a facade, an amalgamation of synthetic interpretation, predictions and analysis of his journals, his machine interface, and his records.


"I've struggled to live on my days without being next to you. I have done some things I do not know if - ... I am unsure if it is the right thing. If I have made the right path to walk down."

The figure let out a prolonged sigh as Hunt's shoulders relaxed. He kneeled down again to meet her, face to face.

"These formalities aren't necessary, my love. Tell me what ails you, and together let us seek a resolution." He said in a reassuring tone, placing a hand on the cheek of her helmet. There was a croak in her voice, softly letting the helmet sink into his hands. Ever desiring that connection, that unity back. They were a Yin without their Yang.

"I want this to be real so badly... " - she quietly admitted under her own obscured breath.

Hunt chuckled, perhaps the simulation had a mind of its own, blissfully unaware of reality itself,

"And what about this is so fake to you? I'm here with you now. I always will be."




He placed his other hand on the opposite cheek of her helmet, holding her head in reassurance. Ever so easily swoon, her palms reached up, holding his arms. Still craving the golden apple. Wouldn't it just be so easy to live within a dream forever?

"I have missed you and dearly. But..."

Her left palm reached over to his helmet in a returning gesture, gently cupping it in a caress - even if this was a false reality, there was still a sensation of respect and care. Does a simulation have a soul? Even if it was false, it most certainly had an impact on the psyche.

"... I need your thoughts on a problem that I have."

Hunt leaned in and rested his forehead to hers, lowering his voice a little.

"What might that problem be, hm?" He inquired, changing his tone to a joking one. "Is it how to get off of the floor?" Hunt was doing what he can to make light of whatever was wrong.

He pulled his forehead away and readjusted his hands position to her waist, offering with a nod to help lift Raven to her feet. She accepted his offer, as such, she stood up, chuckling quietly at his antics. But, that humor washed away quickly as it came, the sorrow within, a grave reminder that this will never come to be.

She stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around his solid semi robotic self in a warm embrace, simply trying to immerse herself within the facade, placing her head against his torso. The beats were there, yet the spirit, the true kinship and warmth was lacking. This isn't real. It was cold and barren. It could not replicate it all. But perhaps it may be enough to calm the virtual clone, it is still another reality - where all actions can affect the outcome. Even simulated, the passion of one for the other echoed from the algorithmically produced emotions. Whilst only a replication, it felt like home.

"I... Have a task. But you may not like it. I have faced a complication in my path."

"We have bested innumerable struggles together. What is it this time?"

She tested the waters with her vague approach and closeness, now slowly opening up in admission, softly humming - knowing very well he completely despised that Elder in question, "Mmmm... I made a deal with Harbinger. "

Pausing for a moment, she assessed him silently, "Nothing terrible. Perhaps. Well. I am dying regardless. I help him open a Vault to grab an archive, he heals me. But, I'm facing a dilemma. Imogen Jau, she was killed, murdered by one of our own friends. Lazurith - he does not care. He runs away to this man, this boy -- I... "

She broke off, huffing a sigh, stepping back to go over to the furniture as he had a moment of shock, hurt by the news. "I knew of this old deal. Unless you speak of a new one you made without my knowledge." He said, his tone wavering back to shock. There was an element of shock to her too, she had made a deal with him before? A vague memory came back regarding it, how she bartered with him in Omicron Delta all those years ago. But ultimately, it was nothing more than a blur.

"- But Jau? Killed by Lazurith? They were both some of my best students!" Hunt exclaimed with surprise, taking a moment to process the news.

"How did this happen?" He asked, watching as she walked to the couch.

"When? I thought I had seen Jau not half an hour ago." Hunt went on to explain as the boundaries of the simulation were stretching into more predictive responses.

"I -- " There was a sense of panic, her breathing elevated as the emotions took over, the neural chip failing to surpress it. The moment relived over and over again at the Shrine. Her palms began to tremble, clasping upon herself. She couldn't understand why she was being subjected to an overwhelming amount of sensations, almost being choked to death by it.

"The -- I --- This --- This is a new --- A new --- circumstance -- I ... Lazurith --- he... he keeps... running off to the one that killed her, the one that keeps trying to kill me. The... one trying to destroy the deal. --- "

Hyperventilating, there was a sense of anger that brothed beneath the grave sorrow, clenching her palms, becoming infuriated at the inability to express her thoughts.

"A-another one of ours, a newer one, allowed her to be struck her by this... this person who I used to care for dearly. "

There was a pause, trying to center herself. A sigh came through as Hunt tried to understand it. He raised his hand to grasp at the chin of his faceplate, taking a moment to contemplate.

He soon noticed the struggle that Raven was undergoing, once more lowering his guard and approaching her. He sat beside her and wrapped an arm over her shoulder in effort to calm her down.

"Relax. You're home now." He said calmly. "Breathe, Bird. Start from the top, one at a time. We have all night."

Raven wheezed out a sigh, trying to push the boundaries of the simulation by dumping information on it. Though careless in approach, she still tried to pathetically cover it up to ensure it did not crash upon itself,

"This deal, with Harbinger, it is a new one. You -- I... well. This is hard to explain, but it will all be done in the future. This is happening in the future. I'm here, now, in the past. My affliction, our connection to the mindlink will falter, it will go away, forever. It will leave behind scars within us, and overtime, it will grow worse. Causing these mindstorms. "


"I made a deal with him, to open up a DK vault. Protected by these automations, these guard dogs, called Sentinels. To ensure that I survive a little longer, and to ensure I was keeping true to my self, I let him infest me. It is an observer, it is inactive. I am fully - well... me. It will help me restore my mind after we finish the deal. "

"Had I declined, I was due to die within nine months from the storms. There was no other way to hold back these psychic storms. "

Hunt sat and listened as the simulation did its best to process the input it was receiving. There was a long pause, as the simulation soon shook its head.

"The future, huh?" He said, in somewhat disbelief. The program struggled to comprehend with what limited data to generate an accurate response it had access to, defaulting to skepticism.

"With Harbinger, of all the Nomads you could've cut a deal with..." Hunt continued, looking down his side at her. "You picked the one that wanted to kill me." He sighed, yet no motion came from his body. This revelation was causing some ripples in the smallest parts of the scenery in the VR as the apparition of Hunt continued to try and process the info.

The limitations of the simulation were showing, but there were inclinations of questions - questions for more input.

"So - Wait a second." The figure readjusted his position, not out of discomfort but out of expression.

"The link - It breaks. You're going to die, which is why I built the obelisk which fails?" He continues as the simulation pulls from accessible Keeper records. "And we both are going to die?"

She quietly elaborated, deflecting upon the statement regarding his possible demise, avoiding the initial confrontation that he is dead already.

"Harbinger doesn't care about Humanity, only finding answers to his creators. He seems to take issue with those who really stand in his way, so you must have done something quite special to really be annoying. It appears he usually occupied by unknown mythical matters majority of the time... "

"The obelisk. Do you remember much of it? How can it be replicated?"

Hunt tapped his metal fingertips together in contemplation. "If you recall, it was biomatter related. Much like when I first designed the Dawnbreaker - It felt like pure luck." He explained.

"It was what got me in trouble with them in the first place, and got half of O'Howell's crew killed in Alaska." He went on, recalling briefly the events of his first meeting with the Cincinnati in secret.

"There is a way to sustain the bio-matter via L-Cardi, with a constant supply and the correct voltage to replicate the energy frequency of the living being the matter came from." He rested his hands on his knees.

"Using material we pulled from Kansas that day - when you uh..." The simulation gestured with his hands and neck as though he was being hung, emulating a choking noise in reference to a suicide attempt. "I built a containment chamber on the Wraith, and matched the frequency to that of the matter we had left over from the Nomad responsible. All that data should be in the database still."


She had no particular memory of that incident, but there was a moment of shock, taken aback by a brief glimpse of rememberance. Forgetting how painful the initial decay from the affliction was, to be left to madness of the void from a lack of a link. Trying to avoid the subject - if not entirely trying to erase it from memory, she simply acknowledged him, very quickly moving on.

"I... see. Thank you. "

"This... - yeah, the device eventually fails, and I have broken - vague pieces of memory that we had a Nomad Elder help us set that up. "

Sighing, there was much on her mind, and she indulged on this so-called hypothetical.

"There was a young man, Vincent. I quite adored him, but, he became a psychic key from playing with some ore from the Dyson Sphere. We met these Sentinels, they became problematic, hunting us down. Memetic threats, we were marked. The Order facaded interest, pretending to offer assistance to work together. They stabbed my back, they tried to assassinate me. I was left to die in Colorado, but one of Harbinger's 'comrades' had saved me from a guaranteed death in that wreck. "

Pushing herself upright, correcting her posture as she began to explain further, trying to get as much detail out from the years in short notice, whilst under the influence of a worn down, wearied, mind with lesser focus.

"And they killed Vincent. They backstabbed him. The Xenos and the Order together. Treated him as a friend. We barely saved him from the wreckage, his mind was in pieces. Barely saved him with augments. But he became a new person. Caliban. A monster. He wanted to kill us, blaming us for what happened, he blamed Harbinger. He had a psychic presence in his mind, psychometry - energy transferred from the messing around he did with artifacts."


Leviathan shook his head, chuckling lightly. "You do always have a special talent for finding yourself in the wildest situations, my dear." He commented endearling, once again attempting to lighten the situation a little.

"The Order and their treachery has been known to us since the days of roaming Coronado with our little fleet." He placed a cold hand onto Raven's lap. "This... Caliban. Dabbled in artifacts, you say?"

"Before as Vincent, and still does to this day as Caliban - his reincarnation. He was the one that killed Gestalt -- er -- Imogen. Another member of ours, Wisp, let him do it. Even tried to help him escape - lied to me about her being fine. I struck him down, I relished in destroying the traitor. As for Lazurith - he ... He keeps wanting to be Calibans friend. He is naive, getting swoon by idealism. His partners, he told them everything of my deal with Harbinger. A silly boy called Levan, endangering us all by yabbering aloud. I do not know why Lazurith wants to run off with these people who are against us.

Lazurith didn't even care that deeply that she died! He tried shooting me when I was striking down the traitor. Eventually gave up when he realised it was futile. "

Hunt sighed once more. "Ohh, Lazurith. You naive fool. Perhaps I should talk to him myself." The simulation continued to struggle with grasping the reality of the situation that was presented to it. She perked up, realising that there could be effectively two Lazurith's within this reality. "I'm sure I can change his mind in this future you speak of."

Raven began to wonder, thinking of how to carefully inquire for his opinions, for his desire.

"I wonder if I can really bring him, uh... - well - Hmm. "

She was afraid of bending the simulation, of needing to reset it.

"... Hunt?"

Slowly, she glared over to him.

"If... something terrible happens, such as one of us dying. What should we do? What would you do? What do you think I should do? I'm afraid of being alone, Hunt. " - She accidentally slipped her mind, revealing her inner desires in a mental slip.

"Loss is something we have discussed many, many times. We've come up with failsafes, plans, contingencies..." He trailed off, looking down at Raven, pausing for a moment as the simulation reflected over what recorded history it had been provided.

"The most important thing is to know that neither of us are ever truly alone. You will never truly be alone if I'm gone. I live on," Hunt raised a finger and tapped the forehead of her helmet. "- in here. A little cliché, I know." The simulated man chuckled.

"We have records, audio logs - failsafes. If you know where to look, you will always find me. My guidance, my mind and my soul will live on in you, just as I would carry your memory to the end." He sighed, relaxing once more into the couch.

"Perhaps capture it, somehow. Grandiosely." Hunt paused, thinking on what he meant. "Artistically? A world without you isn't one I like to consider, truthfully. I'd never give up building what we have, though. The pursuit of knowledge extends beyond the coils that bind us here."

As he poked her forehead with the little tap, "...but that is just it, my dear. My memory is faltering. I... I was told by Harbinger, if I wish to help restore myself, I need to think upon my fondest memories, strong ones. Bind it all together again. I don't wish to forget any of this. I don't want to lose you. Or the secrets we've made. "

Hunt looked over towards the bedroom behind their shoulders. "My datapad should still be in there. As should your book of records you once showed me. Combined, you might piece together what you're missing." He explained, notioning towards the extensive records the two kept.

"I kept logs, dates, recordings, events - as far back as only a couple months into our meeting." He looked back over at her. "Key data for my workshops, too. If it'll help, the login for my journals is there." Hunt nudged her playfully.

"Oooh all the secrets~! All the thoughts about you that I had when we first met. All the recordings of those calls while we lampooned the locals from the Omegas up to the Sigmas." He clasped his hands together. "Such juvenile fun we had."

"I have forgotten a lot of things. I wonder if there's something I should not remember. "

They both chuckled from the banter they shared between them, a common activity they once played many years ago.

"Only if you want to forget how often I drove you crazy when I came chasing after you on your little escapades." Hunt added.

"... Amongst other, more sensitive things. BUT ANYWAY." He imitated the sound of clearing his throat - which, of course, he didn't have.

"Level with me, Saffir." He took a moment to think about what he was trying to say. "This... Future. Reminds me of those dreams you have sometimes..." He trailed off once more, as the program continued to calculate what to say.

"Am I alive in it? In this... Whatever it's supposed to be. I can't r-really..." There was a slight glitch in his voice as the simulation continued to struggle to process its own existence.

Realising she had lead it too far into the questions, she grimaced under the mask, shuffling to her side of the sofa, trying to deflect it once more...

"Uh... Hypotheticals. Just ideas. I could die. We might get stranded apart... "

The simulation wasn't quite satisfied with the deflection, taking a moment to calculate where to go from here. "There is... Always a way to find each other again." Hunt said, seemingly shuffling his glance around.

"These hypotheticals start getting to me sometimes, hah." He chuckled nervously, an indication of tension.

"Do you remember when we first travelled to Honshu together? Just to check the place out and get a break from what was going on back in Coronado."

"My memories are vague, spread out... Hm. How would we find a way to be together then?"

Her head tilts in curiosity, reaching out. Even though this world is a facade, there was a sentiment of care, stressing the programme - and him - out. The illusion had to be kept, to keep the program genuine. To stop it from breaking upon itself. To respect the spirit.

Reaching out, her palm offered to the side of his helmet,

"Oh... darling. I didn't mean to burden you. "

Hunt leaned into Raven's hand and placed his own overtop of hers. "It's fine." He seemed to relax a moment. "I imagine... Like always. One finds the other, somehow. Even in death, there are always whispers and shadows to find." He explained.

"They may not always give the answers we're looking for, but as I said - the pursuit of knowledge knows no limits. We have been together in many aspects. With our bodies, our work - even our minds when we'd find ourselves medically bound to a bed somewhere. We are never alone." Hunt reached up with his free hand and lifted Raven's from his cheek, clutching it gently.

"Our bond transcends this existence. Mortality has been beneath us for some time. Part of our purpose with melding technology and organics." Hunt continued, with some passion under his tone as he spoke of his creation and transferring into the body of Leviathan.

"The answer has been in front of you the whole time. Technology, memories, imprints, ideas, personalities - quantifiable. Recordable."

There it was. The click in the brain. The answer truly was there. Why gamble for strangers who do not know much? Who do not carry ambition? For a moment, she briefly returned the squeeze, holding his palm tightly, trying to deeply assess this. Whether it was dangerous or not. She remembered that both of them were exceptionally dangerous at their lowest peaks, unchained. And the augmented self, further fuelled by an artificial lifeform that held no bounds that the Human mind did, was vastly more powerful than either of them could ever hope to be.

"Would it truly be you though...? If I were to recreate a ... virtual copy? I-... I do not know, Hunt."


He chuckled. "I already am a copy. Just pieces in a shell." He responded softly. "You have done this before, with me." With the tip of his finger, he tilted her chin up to face him.

"If the link is doomed, then we can exist without it as we do now." Hunt said plainly. It seemed the simulation had picked up on the lack of mental stimulation from psychic activity.

"Even a copy of myself is preferable than being lost to history. At least then, I can continue to be of use to you, my beloved." He said so endearingly. Raven trembled, nervous, almost cautious if she had him insulted, or his very dead spirit disrespected. She came clean with the truth, noticing it did not collapse,

"Oh... You figured it out... How... Wonderful. I -... y-yeah... this... You are dead in reality. I am losing everyone, Hunt. Everyone is turning on me. I don't know what to do. I don't know why. "

She admitted, there was great sorrow in her tone.

"I thought I could... find comfort here. "


Suddenly, the walls of the simulation faded until all that was left was a blackened void, which they floated upon whilst sat on the couch. "It... Took a lot, but when I couldn't feel you, I knew something was wrong." - The simulation admitted, realising that psychic energy could not truly be emulated.

He wrapped his arms around her in a gentle embrace of comfort and affection. "I would do as you did. Probably to an unhealthy degree. But..." Hunt took a moment to pause. "Remember, not all is lost. There is family, there is still a future. Stay the course."

Raven hastily returned the gesture, seeking that further counselling, speaking faster in worry,

"How do I make sure Lazurith comes back? He's always betraying me, always running off to those manipulating them. Suffering from Cognitive Dissonance. Corrupted by Outsiders. Please. What do I do? Do I just end this deal?"

Pleading for information as the world began to decompile.

The voice sounded ever more distant as the memories destabilized. "Remind him who he once looked up to, and the dangers that an outside influence can lead to. Share these memories, too."

"He knows who his mentor once was." The voice fell silent on those words, as the apparition of Leviathan began to pixelate into obscurity. Yet, the sensation of being held remained, as he did not let go until the final moments of the simulation. Even generated by predictive algorithms, Hunt had pieced together much more than the simulation could handle. Her palms reached out in rapid pace, trying to swipe at him, as the pieces of the simulation simply sifted through her fingers as it faded into the void, fearing once more as she was slowly returning to reality, crying out in desperation,

"N-no... C-come back! Please!"

---

> ... I know what I need to do now...
> ... The answer was always there.
> ...
> ... And it could never hurt to have more assurances to ensure the path to ascension is not threatened.
> ... For a guarantee that you can rely.
> ... Someone to trust.
> ... Someone who could never turn.
> ...
> ...
> ...
> ...
> ... It will take some time to reach it.
> ... But I must make haste if I am to observe Viper's game.
> ...
> ... A tear within space, the bleeding wound of hyperspace.
> ... Another gamble of life. Of death.
> ...



> ...
> ... Perhaps it's a good thing that He does not always watch.
> ... He would die of a heart attack from my recklessness.
> ...
> ... This must be done.
> ... I won't allow them to get in my way any longer.
> ... The deal has to be done.
> ... Can't let them kill Him either.
> ... His death, will be my death.
> ... And Lazurith forgot that.
> ...
> ...
> ...
> ...
> ... But I suspect that Lazurith is going to get himself killed.
> ... We'll see if this works out.
> ... Caliban still scheming Harbinger's demise, to open the Vault to destroy it from within.
> ... Idiocy.
> ... It may be worth finding another subject.
> ... Time is too limited. Many are losing hope. Their drive. Their ambition.
> ... Too many lives lost too.
> ... There will be retribution.
> ... In due time.
> ...
> ... I won't be able to hold back if I see any of them.

---