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Chapter 167: Its Called the Parietal Lobe
🕑 Added 2020-05-19 22:32:57 +0000 UTCCarl Daley was once again sitting at his Admin desk, designing a sexy lady with his spork and a dollop of mashed potatoes.
Ten year doctorate in System Engineering, a host of Skills taken to advance my career, and I turn out to be as useless as a screen-door on a space-ship.
Even the benefit of being functionally immortal was largely pointless, as an Administrator was disconnected from the coming and going of the real world, stuck in their tiny satelites orbiting planets that didnt even know they existed.
As always, the System kept everything in perfect balance. There hadnt been anything out of the ordinary, ever. The man hed replaced hadnt even had to do a single thing in eight hundred years, so Carl was understandably confused when his monitor threw up a big red alert.
For the third time in the last five years.
Relative to the last guy, this is an extremely busy decade, Carl thought, wiping his sexy potatoes off the desk and into the trash and taking stock of what he was looking at.
It wasnt the emergency alert about the Siphon in the desert again, this time it was actually the Incoming Call signal.
Thats weird. Carl hit the Accept button.
This is System Admin Carl Daley, ID Mx-0013FA9, to whom am I speaking? Carl asked, just like hed been trained. Anyone who had the ability to call him directly through the System had a lot of pull.
This is Llortan. I need you to relay a message interstellar. Copy?
The hair-raising voice of a Harbinger came through the speakers, and Carl straightened reflexively. Big fish on the line. Just do your job.
Copy, recording for transmission. Carl said, hitting the button.
I grew up a Diocese, now Im a glorified switchboard operator. Carl thought, rolling his eyes. Interstellar FTL communication was a tricky thing, and it required a special compression before it could be sent out, requiring a technician to perform the compression and decompression on each end that was almost as much art as science.
AIs were capable of it, but they were also highly illegal under Harbinger law.
This is Llortan, urgently requesting the presence Z-quadrant inner fleet admiral Vashniel. Theres a situation here and it requires his immediate attention.
Carl waited to make sure there was nothing more to the message.
Understood. For that amount of data, expect a response within four years. Carl said, as he began encoding the message, collapsing it down to the absolute smallest possible size, inscribing it on a single molecule, so he could send it through a micro-wormhole.
An entire library of information could be distilled down to a droplet of condensation in the wormhole generator, but each molecule took an incredible amount of energy to shove through the artificial wormhole, and the size also caused drag in the wormhole, slowing the arrival.
Wait. Change the message. I need it faster.
Carl sighed, but not loud enough for the Harbinger to hear it.
Scrubbing the previous message. Give me your message.
Grethnas here.
Carl waited. That it?
Itll get the same reaction, Llortan said.
Alright, Carl said with a shrug. Expect a response in a year.
Better, the Harbinger said, disconnecting a moment later,
Carl was finishing up the condensing and spinning up the wormhole generator when he heard a rapid clomp of foot against steel grate, then felt a hand on his shoulder, nearly startling him out of his seat.
Bwah! What the he Carls Harbinger boss loomed over him, breathing heavily ck can I do for you? Carl said, managing his expression carefully.
Scrub that message. the Harbinger said. Forget about it.
What, but it-
Do as youre told.
But I Carls entire body ground to a halt, paralyzed by indecision. He literally had Skills making it more difficult for him to breach protocol, and protocol dictated that he send the message. He also had a Skill that encouraged obedience towards Harbingers, which was conflicting with the other.
It felt like every nerve in his body was at war with the other, tensing all the muscles painfully in his body, causing a full body cramp. Each muscle was painfully tearing itself apart as he struggled to resolve the conflict.
While Carl was struggling, the Harbinger simply leaned over him and wiped the message with a flick of his wrist, spinning the wormhole generator down.
Better? the Harbinger asked with something approaching concern, its head tilted, green eyes boring into his own.
Um Carl raised a shaking hand and rubbed his aching shoulders, the cramp slowly wearing off. Yes, thank you.
Dont mention it. If you get any more messages from the surface of Marconen, forward them to me immediately. Understood?
Ah, Yessir, Carl gave an awkward salute from his seat.
Good work as always. His boss said, before turning and leaving.
Carl sagged back into his seat, giving a long exhale as the tension drained out of him.
He was caught right in the middle of some kind of Harbinger power-play, and that was an untenable situation.
I need to get the hell out of here Except Im locked in for the next fifty years. Damnit.
***Calvin***
No princesses? Seriously? Calvin asked aloud, ignoring the passerby glancing at him curiously.
They give any female children away the moment theyre born. They might theoretically be out there, but so far, it looks like its a pointless endeavor. Kurawes voice came through Calvins head.
Maybe I can look through orphanages or just kidnap the entire city.
I doubt it. The very act of giving them up disqualifies them from counting on your mutation. Elliot chimed in.
Its so arbitrary! Calvin thought with a scowl.
I hate this city already.
On the other hand, how are negotiations going?
Oh, pretty typical. Theyre trying to get everything they can out of the trade route. They started the negotiation demanding a ridiculous amount of down payment, taxes, and control over the route itself, effectively neutering us while refusing to help build it. Im currently bringing the price down through a combination of vague threats and promises of rich rewards for the upper class. All normal stuff.
Okay Calvin thought it didnt sound like normal stuff, but who was he to judge. Every time he threatened people they tried to kill him or became impossible to control. But Kurawe could nudge people in the right direction like a chess player nudges his pieces.
What the Abyss am I missing?
Restraint. Your threats are always too specific, and too extreme. Nadias thoughts brushed against his.
Youre one to talk, Calvin thought, rolling his eyes. Now stop distracting me or Ill attach your lips to a Stalkers nutsack for the rest of the day.
That right there.
It was supposed to be a joke given the context of your previous statement, damnit. Calvin thought. Cant you tell when Im joking?
Its tough when its something you could actually do.
Calvin rolled his eyes with a grunt.
Something wrong? Kala asked. She and Ella were browsing through the open market, with the princess acting as the translator, using the Ilethan trade tongue. They had a bag of copper coins that they brought along for the express purpose of sampling Juntai wares. They were currently going through the decorative steel and jewelry.
There were myriad conveniences, from blenders to heating devices, but they all required a Juntais Abilities with copper to activate them, so the pair were only able to appreciate a fraction of Juntai goods.
Actually its all going well, but this country irritates me, Calvin replied with a shrug.
Will that be all? The merchant said, looking directly past the two girls standing in front of him with money in their hands, at Calvin, who was easily four feet further away and totally uninterested in jewelry with neat color-shifting properties.
See what I mean? Calvin asked, pointing at the man.
Kala gave a small sigh and smiled before turning back to the merchant.
He cant speak the trade tongue, and yes, he says that will be all. Kala said. The merchant smiled and money changed hands, and Ella got a spiffy necklace made of tempered steel that looked blue-purple-pink.
You dont have to like these peoples culture to trade with them. Kala reminded him.
True. Calvin said, glancing around, trying to weigh up what would be valuable in other countries, and what Amenities they lacked here in Juntai.
Sassy ladies, is the amenity they lack here in Juntai. Calvin thought sourly.
Im going to do some recon, Calvin said, Are you two good here?
Of course. Kala tapped Ellas elbow, which was close to her shoulder. I dont think anyones going to give her any trouble.
Are you sure? I could find a man to chaperone you. Maybe Goob?
Get out of here, twat. Ella said, shaking her head.
Calvin left them to their own devices, scouring the city for a place where young men congregated. Calvin finally found a sports arena where young men were watching other young men beat a heavy ball back and forth to each other with their elbows and knees, trying to make goals on hoops set up on opposite sides of the court.
The players and the audience were the ideal blend.
Calvin ducked into an alley abutting the arena and triggered One of the Guys, his bones creaking, skin tingling as the coloring changed. Ten seconds later, an entirely different man stood where Calvin had once been.
Calvin slipped out of his clothes, switching into a traditional Juntai outfit, along with some copper below average bracers and pair of earrings pinched onto his earlobes.
Disguise complete, Calvin thought, shoving his clothes bag into a corner of the alley. Now to see what this city has to offer a native.
Can I come too? Nadia asked.
No. Youre obviously a foreigner. You would draw way too much attention to me.
I dont have to be with you. I can explore on my own and nobody will know where I came from. Nadia pleaded.
Nope.
If you dont let me explore and blow off some steam, I might go crazy and sing show-tunes in your head for hours.
Calvin weighed his choices.
Fine, just dont interact with me or anyone you know, understood?
Yay! You see? Thats how you threaten someone.
Right, right. Calvin thought, Visualizing Nadia, every major organ laid out in exquisite detail.
Wait, what are you doing?
No time like the present to get some practice in, Calvin thought, zooming in on the brain.
Adding in the Lure sense organ is going to be tricky, but Calvin thought as he tried to arrange the Lures focusing crystal and desire-sensing membrane somewhere it wouldnt turn Nadia into a drooling vegetable.
How about you shrink them down until theyre pin-sized and create a coating of them right here? Elliot suggested, making a particular upper slice of Nadias brain brighten and flash.
Why? Nadia asked.
Why? Calvin echoed her.
Trust me, Itll be funny.
Wait, thats -
Good enough for me, Calvin thought, mentally inserting the miniaturized Lure sensory organs into Nadias brain and casting the spell.
Chained Spirit
Chimera
39/46 Bent remaining.
Nadia burst out of the green smoke emenating from Calvins hand, stumbling forward, holding her head and frowning. A second later, she took her hands away, still frowning.
I dont feel anything.
Calvin shrugged.
Well, its not always going to be a rousing success. It took a bunch of tries to get the Refraction spinner channels to behave the way we wanted. Go explore and tell me if anything happens.
Nadia nodded and the two of them went their separate ways.
Calvin spent the next half an hour casing the city, studying things like their water systems and toiletry, talking with strangers about politics, estimating their wood output, and basically angling to use the insider information to maximize the benefit he would receive once they started trading between the nations he intended to connect.
Juntai had a lot of wood. More than Uleis would ever need, for certain. Juntais wood exports could increase by several orders of magnitude, but would that devalue the wood, defeating the purpose?
He was considering the price of wood and demand for the material in Uleis and Iletha when he heard someone running behind him.
Calvin glanced over his shoulder and spotted Nadia. The princess grabbed him by the arm and attempted to drag him into a nearby alley, but Calvin stood his ground, watching her curiously.
The girl was deeply flushed, her breathing heavy, twitching nervously here and there as people glanced at her curiously.
People wont stop touching me. She whispered, staring straight into Calvins eyes, her whites bloodshot.
At first it was fun, literally feeling men undress me with their eyes, but theres such a thing as too much of a good thing! She said eyes wide. I can feel their every lustful thought being enacted on my entire body, and its maddening!
Good job, Calvin said, patting her hand.
Nadia groaned and melted into a puddle on the street right then and there, panting desperately and staring at the sky.
I told you it would be funny.
I think Im gonna go somewhere else, Calvin thought, stepping away from the shivering mess in the dirt and moving on with his reconnaissance. I wanna go see how their loggers do their jobs. Calvin thought, heading off to the south.
Unsummon me! Nadias thoughts brushed against his, wobbly with desire. I cant .her thoughts fuzzed out for a moment. I cant stay sane like this! I, oh gods, thats not where youre supposed to nngngg
Calvin manually closed the channel to Nadias thoughts, preventing her from contacting him again.
Shes the one who wanted to be a succubus. Calvin had every confidence that Nadia would overcome this particular hurdle, and if she couldnt well, at this point in their relationship, the princess was more valuable as a test subject than anything else.
So what part of the brain was that? Calvin thought. As he approached the lumber yards on the south end of the city.
The one that processes touch, Elliot replied.
So shes processing other peoples desires as tactile input?
Basically.
Calvin chuckled as he walked down the street. Youre right, that is funny. But seriously, dont mention any of this to Kala. I really dont want her volunteering to be a Chained Spirit for stupid reasons.
You think that would be a problem? Seems like a stretch to commit suicide so she could be Enhanced by you.
Stranger things have happened. I dont even want the thought to even cross her mind. It could introduce a moment of hesitation if she thought she would have a free pass to living again.
My lips are sealed.
At the lumber yard, Calvin was unsurprised to see men using their copper bands to power handheld steel axes with teeth that spun in place, gnawing through wood in seconds.
There were larger ones wielded by obvious veterans, and smaller ones for de-limbing trees. All in all, they were very efficient at cutting trees, fastidiously replacing them with new growth as they went while teams of guar hauled the stumps out of the ground.
Calvin struck up a conversation with the foreman under the guise of looking for a job, directing the conversation towards the number of logging outfits in Juntai and how much wood they could output.
He then fed this information back to Kurawe in real-time, who used it to pierce the veil of secrecy that the Juntai negotiators were attempting to cast over their supply of lumber. The opponents were taken aback by Kurawes ability to accurately gauge their production, and the oversized dictator used that to push the advantage, securing a sweetheart deal by dropping the price of lumber to more reasonable rates after the first twelve months of trading.
The first twelve months would be a year, but the amount of time after that was potentially infinite.
Comments
A disgruntled nondescript squirrel
she needs wasp venom sacks implanted under her fingernails. and the don't notice me abilty as well and she will be a full on succubus. Albeit one focused on feeding from females. Then if he allows her to use her bent again...
Pastor Joubert
Nadia service!!! Did I forget to mention i like Nadia a whole bunch? Shes all kinds of crazy, but shes just trying to live her best after life.
Sanairb
Did they ever say how long a month was?
0xFFF1
So Marconen is a planet with an approximately 360 day year, eh?
Ziggy
Ooo. Some spicy, Harbinger V Harbinger drama!
