Brent Stinebaker
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34-1The Great Deception (I)
🕑 Added 2025-02-12 17:27:04 +0000 UTCTo be a successful middler, the key is understanding two things: your network and what people want. Good Middlers leverage their relationships, have a complex web of contacts, favors, and services. They also know what others in their network desire and can connect them to what they need, even if it’s not something they can provide personally. Sometimes, success doesn’t require high-stakes action — it’s all about trading favors and making the proper arrangements.
It’s all about the market, you see. There are experts. There are problem-havers. And then there is the exchange that can take place. You just need to make sure the right people come together—or be the right person at the right time.
-Quail Tavers
34-1
The Great Deception (I)
{No. Absolutely not.} Refusal’s rejection come almost the instant Avo stopped speaking. It wasn’t a surprise. Petitioning the Contingency Bleak to be part of this scheme was like asking one of the Guilds to surrender a Ninth Sphere Godclads to a creature who has made a habit of eating them. {We will not offer you another Contingency Bleak for these purposes—and if you try to steal and seize the one we have on standby, it will be taken as an official act of war.}
+Not an ounce of fun in you,+ Avo said, jabbing at Refusal, trying to gauge their nature. +The Infacer would have found this amusing. Would have gone for it.+
Where Kant might have been outraged, Only would have been offended, and Calvino would have responded with polite sarcasm, Refusal remained emotionless. Only focus composed the Contingency Bleak. Its mind was among the most inhuman constructs Avo had ever seen. Every bit of information was purely informational, and it was constantly running simulations—so complex and varied Avo felt borderline cowed—that they were more like a nexus of intellect than a single ego.
{Your provocation has been noted and disregarded. There is also no sophont weakness for you to gauge. You are not the first cognitive assimilator we have encountered.}
+No. But I am likely the most dangerous. Or have the highest potential to be a danger.+
{Such is why we have given you enough. The Deep Ones deployed toward your “support” should confer a major advantage upon you. Enough for you to build your own forces and resolve matters within the Substance while we discuss the aftermath beyond.}
The Hidden Flame chuffed with annoyance. He was playing up his own arrogance, but Voidwatch was overly presumptuous themselves. The Infacer was still alive. The Dyad was not reclaimed. There were still shards of the Stillborn scattered everywhere while and pathborn to face; this conflict wasn’t anywhere near over, and now the Bleak was talking about the aftermath.
+The war isn’t finished yet. Want to use the Massists properly. I can fight this war. But they can do it better. More effective for us this way as well.+
{More effective for you,} Refusal corrected without hesitation. {We are aligned on a minor level. Existing simulations show that you will restrain yourself from directly harming our polities. That you likely view them as trophies to contain as well. Or artifacts from a bygone age. But you will also consume them if you gain the advantage. And us as well. We are not of a unified front.}
+Oh. So you wish to see me weakened. Just as I wish to see Ori-Thaum spent for an easier victory.+
{View it as such if you want. But the risk of further involvement and the disruption of our neutral and role as moderators is—}
+Was already threatened by the Majority. They have evidence of your Deep Ones. Think they penetrated Threshold as well.+ The pulsating static that composed Refusal’s consciousness suddenly accelerated at that. +Can offer mem-data. Run simulations to figure out—+
{Denton is the most likely vector,} Refusal summarized. {This information is most helpful. The compromise is also of considerable concern.}
And suddenly, Avo had another angle of approach. +Yes. Which is why you need me too. More than ever before. Can’t detect them without me.+
{We have registered abnormalities based on the Domains of Information.}
+But can you reach your adversary? Deep Ones are wounds on reality. Can’t bring them closer without destabilizing the ring. Or forcing Naeko into active combat. Latter more likely.+
{They cannot,} Refusal admitted. {But they can offer defensive measures for the polities. And you should have predicted that Threshold has more layers to its defense than you might assume.}
+Should. But you are relying on asymmetry to guard against higher asymmetry. Would be better if you just aided me. We are close. So close to the end. We just need to align a few more paths. A few more possibilities. The Massists are primed. Readied for war. Highflame and Omnitech are at their weakest. This can be finished. All of them. There just needs to be the right conditions.+
{Conditions you do not require us to provide,} Refusal said. The slightest trickle of annoyance resonated from their mind.
EGI-EGO INTEGRATION - [15.53231%]
Interesting. Avo was getting better at processing what the minds were feeling and thinking. With every bit of the governing EGI modules he integrated into his Soulscape, his own thoughts grew faster—-more efficient.
Refusal was right, of course. Avo simply wanted to see how much more he could get from the Voiders. It was as stated—not officially allies, the barest of trust, but still the best chance of mutual mercy. If all went right, they would be the final problems for each other when the last Guild War came to a close and the Ladder was set to arrive.
He just wanted to… understand them better. Come up with a way to inflict proper terms without a full scale war. After what the Infacer had demonstrated through their Heaven—a Heaven that barely incurred any vulgarity despite the ridiculous amount of effects and firepower it possessed—Avo didn’t doubt that Voidwatch—and Aegis especially—had comparable munitions.
Or worse.
+Another topic: Calvino. Only. Kant. What is their condition? Why are you in their place now?+
{The demands of present circumstance. A potential of a complete existential collapse has spiked considerably.}
+The Embracement. You are worried about what will emerge from the union between my original self and Veylis.+
{And you are not?}
+No. Can simply choose not to be concerned. But also… planning to consume them. Keep things destabilized until I can achieve reintegration. Veylis’ mastery of the paths is considerable. Doesn’t have my mind.+ And more than that, no one knew what he was planning to do with the dragons and the Sang. That was another thing he kept to himself.
Again, he and Voidwatch were barely allies now. He needed his own surprises.
{You are a known factor to some capacity. What will come when the Substance finally stabilizes is not. Its fruition cannot be allowed.}
+Another reason you sent the Deep Ones. Destabilization. Let me fight a guerilla war.+ That made Avo consider something. +How many other Bleaks are operating on the surface? Other operations must be ongoing. Not going to tell me. I know that. But am curious: What are you planning now? Not just relying on me for containment. Must have plans within plans. Unique opportunity to enforce new order on Idheim. Things are destabilizing. Everywhere.+
{Accurate assessments,} Refusal said. And offered no more information.
Avo couldn’t help but laugh at the blunt denial of details. If only he had his warmind of Hysteria—
At the thought of Hysteria, he felt a tremor dance across the tapestry. A tremor of a new pattern born of mind and consciousness—but not sourced from him. It only revealed itself for a moment, but then it was gone. The shape of its design sank from Avo’s awareness much the same as the Majority could.
{Something has occurred within the Substance} Refusal’s words were pure statement. A moment later, Avo came up with a vague guess as to where the source of canon might have triggered and judged the EGI to be right.
+Yes.+
{Domain of Mind. What were you doing?}
+Wasn’t me.+
Both of them lapsed into a silence.
{We are willing to operate alongside you at limited capacity,} Refusal began again. {We can feed you information from beyond the atmosphere. Intelligence gathered regarding major Guild movements and pertinent details in exchange for intelligence from within the Substance. And the delivery of certain resources.}
And just like with the Majority, the EGIs were playing their own brand of real politick. Suppressing a chuff of amusement at the irony, Avo grunted his accord. +Fine. We can start there. But consider my request. Can even fix the Deep Ones for you. Make them more—+
{They are our shame and a necessary tool. They are not slaves to be manufactured. We have done enough.}
+You have traumatized yourselves,+ Avo said. +But I will not turn away. I do not have your history. I will learn where you went wrong. And I will commit my own sins. This you cannot stop.+
Avo sensed a wave of perception sweeping through him. Just like the static grains that composed the EGI’s mind, it came in a trickle and scanned him in detail. {So you say,} Refusal declared.
+Can start this by inviting you into the depths of the Substance. Create an entry with Deep Ones. Also appreciate the mind you sent me. Useful boost. Wish it offered more knowledge. Scientific knowledge. Infacer showed me how your old wars were fought. False vacuums—how you circumvented certain natural limitations. Broke physics.+
Something bordering on frustrated displeasure leaked out from the Bleak. {They are reckless to do so. Such knowledge must be protected. You have awareness of the foundational structures of reality. You see what is at risk.}
And Avo did. A single misplaced canon could destabilize an entire school of physics. It was little wonder any coldtech worked on New Vultun at all. Strong nuclear forces suffered here—even what constituted as matter wasn’t consistent, let alone its states. And then there was the nature of space and time and how that related to gravity. Even with a glimpse, Avo could create a simplified simulation of a world that was—a complicated universe that was wondrous in design without ever needing a single miracle.
+Yes,+ Avo said. His mind turned to Kae, and he nearly shuddered she began to theorize and scheme. If the Agnos were given enough time and knowledge—Voidwatch might need to plan their assassinations. Considering the impulsivity of most humans and their lack of foresight, Avo might even help the Voiders do it. +Going to keep the knowledge contained for now.+
{You will?} Refusal said, sounding almost surprised. {This is incongruous with your behavior patterns. You value choice and experiences.}
+As you said. Would learn it eventually. But spreading this knowledge now? Easy way to have someone’s choice become the last one we all ever experience. Have lived many lives in the past few months. I know how they are. I remember so many mistakes. See them clearly. We strive for dreams. But we are not our dreams. We cannot be. Hypocrisy is as much a virtue as it is a failing. Only the omnipotent cannot be forced to sacrifice in this struggle. Some give material. Others give their pride. And some have given everything that used to be.+
The last sentence was pointed for effect. {Indeed. Have you spoken to Avandaer yet? And are they a thing of your creation of—}
+Node. Pre-dated my actions. Jaus himself planned it. Planned a lot of this. Famine of Defiance became inheritor to Jaus’ plans. His legacy. There was another great game being played. One that no one truly realized at all. Not until it was too late. Not one of my schemes. More the other way around.+
{So you say. You should interface with him, then. He refuses to face the people directly. He also has reservations about your decision to awaken the gods again. I have gauged you stable enough to deploy a liaison to serve as our point of contact.}
+Calvino.+ Avo declared immediately. +Work best with them. Don’t care if you consider them compromised. Irrelevant now. Situation has changed. Would like support from Only as well. Maybe Kant. And you.+
Refusal considered Avo’s arrangement for a second before replying. {Very well. But they will be provided as a fork—and their mind will be thoroughly reviewed and contained.}
The blunt statement hid another: You can try to subvert us, but we are still watching you.
+Fine. But also irrelevant. Not going hinder my operations in any way.+
Such was Avo’s reply: Doesn’t matter. I’ll do whatever I will.
Both mind and Overheaven settled into silence, until Refusal offered a question of their own. {So. How will you conclude your arrangement with this “Majority.”}
Avo let out a snort. +Going to test something. See if I can create conditions to make them believe our relations are worse. Send some vessels. Expendable ones. Ones that explode. Going to dump some Rend in the near void. Something to draw their notice. Make them assume. A hidden conflict is brewing between us.+
Refusal waited for him to elaborate further. Avo didn’t. If Voidwatch was going to be of limited assistance, Avo was only going to offer them limited insight. Until they decided to chance trusting him, or future developments forced their hand.
{Very well. This can be arranged. Aegis only has a single request: Inform us in case your activities pose any dangers to our projects and assets.}
+More likely to aid you. Keep your forces safe. Need you to focus on helping me deal with the Infacer for good. For that. Give me back my mind. Give me Calvino.+
{The fork is being processed. I will make contact with Operative Chambers as an in-between for delivery.}
Avo grunted. While he waited, he turned his attention back to the Majority—and a specific Deep One. One of them was a collapsed entity of information, weren’t they? That might be something worth luring the Majority—but he didn’t just want to “give” them a Deep One. Perhaps conditions could be arranged to have Ignorance lurk within its structure? And how was he going to move it from the Substance to the void without all that entropy being noticed?
The Hidden Flame considered his options, but the answer came with a snarled curse. [Use a warmind you stupid cunt,] Peace hissed. [This is the purpose of their design. You don’t need to hide it. You just need everyone to not notice.]
Right. The Forgotten. Excitement surged through Avo, and he began to reach into his Soulscape, plucking at the broken architecture of the warminds.
Then, he stopped.
He considered what he had, and he considered what he was, and he considered the collapse of the Nether, and a new thought came to mind: what if he could fully finish a warmind? To bring them to fruition as daemons of mind—or perhaps Heavens of Mind as well.
After all, weren’t they just broken expressions of memory, understanding, and consciousness?
+Peace. Kae. To me. Time to experiment.+
