Chapter 119: Ninety-two Hours
🕑 Added 2024-11-02 17:30:00 +0000 UTCWalker opened worn-out eyes, in a worn-out body, no longer surprised by the comfort surrounding him.
The ceiling, once showing the same red stone as the Tower they’d built, had been painted by a few of the more artistically talented Founders before the Grand Seeding. Now, rather than the plain red, it held a series of intricately connected scenes from his time in the Protocol, painstakingly painted to resemble great moments in their history.
When Virgil first appeared. Chipper winning the second battle (nobody liked to mention the Slicer around him). The first Sapients and the many planets of the Conservatory. When he’d first Awakened the entirety of Sonata, all at once.
It was mostly wrong. These weren’t their greatest moments.
The Conservatory, while not a complete failure, had come very close to being one. Crescendo, aside from the Hydra, was a moderate success. Many of the Founders within the first cohort had discovered their Masteries, developed skills, and learned to work with one another, just as he’d hoped. But the final battle versus the Hydra had been a complete sham, and he knew it was his fault.
Virgil had said they weren’t ready for a Tier-Five monster, especially one so close to Sapience, and he’d been right. It didn’t matter that it never received an empowering Territory, nor that it was new to the tier. It was too much. Still, Walker had pushed for it, which was one of the greatest errors he’d made since the beginning of the Protocol.
He’d almost lost an entire group of Founders due to a simple mistake-overestimating their skills.
The Cohorts that followed had, instead of discovering a large three-headed Tier-Five hydra, found a middling Tier-Four, only a little more powerful than what could be found in the inner forest of Crescendo. The fact that they’d defeated it with ease and come back victorious had put a burr up the first cohort’s backsides, but he’d told them to eat it. It is better not to lose lives if they don’t have to.
The second issue they’d discovered with Walker’s plans was more complicated.
Dolphins.
It turns out that if you empower a group of social creatures and introduce magic early on, they can get quite creative. On Earth, Dolphins weren’t too violent with humans. That didn’t quite work out for Melody.
A planet built as an archipelago surrounded by water created several unplanned rescue scenarios. While good training, the fact that the Dolphins seemed to recognize what they were trying to do and failing was quite funny to them. It got to the point that Walker had to go in and change their name manually. Instead of Dolphins, they were forever known as Laughers, something the first Cohort coined early on during their travails across the second planet. Add in the fact that the Dolphins learned to communicate with one another quickly, many of them reaching the beginning of sapience, and Melody turned into a nightmare zone. Still, the Founders completed their work, defeating the final guardian of the planet, another middling Tier-Four.
The third was better left unsaid. It was only a few weeks into their arrival on Fortis that Walker pulled the First Cohort out and kept the next series of Founders from attempting the same. Giant, magically empowered creatures don’t seem to hold a lot of respect for anyone who isn’t on the same level. Although Bailan strangely got along well with them.
The Conservatory was minorly successful. Some were lost, others rose to the occasion, but it was Walker’s planning that needed the most work. It wasn’t fair to drop newly trained Masters and Professionals into worlds where magic already exists. And thus, after allowing the Founders a few weeks to mentally and physically recuperate, they began the Grand Seeding right on schedule.
Walker stopped looking at the false images of idolatry and instead looked in. The only reason he had to sleep anymore was because something changed in the last few weeks. On the first day he’d found himself hungry and asking for food, Virgil had pulled him aside. Following a battery of tests, the Supreme Assistant, even with all of his power, couldn’t find the cause of his problems. But he knew.
The Parasite was growing stronger.
But they were running out of time. Sure, he could continue to extend the Temporal bubble, essentially allowing his people to live forever within a time dilation, but for what? To hide? No. Not to mention, he wasn’t so certain that being within that kind of manually created temporal structure was one hundred percent healthy. Memories of the times he escalated time over his own body came floating back, including the damage that had come with it.
No, it was time for them to step out and show the Multiverse what they were made of.
Sitting up, he quickly moved to his closet and put on fresh clothes. Samuel's death hit them on the tailoring side as much as the emotional, as his ill-fitting robe attests. Athena meant well, but her skills in stitching left much to be desired. Slipping it on, he headed towards the door when it opened of its own accord.
Standing just inside the entryway stood a medium-height assistant, black and white striping running across his furry body. “Good morning, Creator. As per your request, here is the update. You slept for four hours and twenty-two minutes, making it thirteen minutes longer than your last session.”
“Thank you, Holden,” Walker replied, rubbing some grit from his eyes. "Have there been any major updates since I left the command center?”
“Neus reported that Territories forty-two and ninety-six have both encountered Mini-manticores.“ Walker passed him on his way out, the door automatically shutting behind them, “There were some casualties; however, he doesn’t believe it will impact the territories too strongly. He also said that the Faction system is still not working correctly and asks that you speak to the Consciousness at your first opportunity.”
Walker scrubbed a hand through his thinning white hair, “Why doesn’t he just talk to it?”
“He anticipated you might say that and replied, “Because it’s scary.”
The Creator snorted at that. They crossed over a bridge connecting his smaller, personal tower to the larger one housing everyone else. As before, the door slid open at his approach, “Tower, please show me the way to Neus.”
A series of pre-planted green lights lit up on the side, and they continued afoot in search of his wayward Assistant.
“What else?”
“According to your instructions, you asked that you be updated daily on how much time remains until the third battle. As of this moment, you have ninety-two hours and seven minutes.”
“Yah,” He said, waving it away, “And did we send the invites out already?”
“Are you speaking of the team you are attempting to prepare for the third battle?”
Walker paused in their walk, looking down at the small assistant, “Of course I am.”
Holden nodded, “Just clarifying,” They began walking again, “Yes we have, Creator. So far, only Lucy and Runner have accepted. Chipper is currently chasing a particularly feisty, his words, Mini-Manticore, and the giants have entered a conference to decide who will go in their place.”
“Great. Last time we had three monsters, although calling Chipper that is pushing it. This time around, I figured we should have a better representation of Symphony as a whole.” Smiling at a small assistant moving past, he asked, “What was Virgil doing today?”
“Supreme Assistant Virgil asked to not be bothered, Creator.”
“Huh,” Walker replied as they passed by a room filled with monitors, different assistants watching or deep in conversation. Cagna, standing feet taller than the rest, gave him a pink wave. He smiled and waved back.
The lights quickly led them to where he knew he’d find the Assistant in question. They entered a room filled with assistants of different colors and sizes. This was the recreation room, something Athena had pushed for as she felt even Assistants needed breaks. Sitting on a chair in the center, Athena beside him, Neus was complaining loudly to anyone who wanted to hear. Not that anyone around him was listening.
“It’s a travesty, Athena! Fifty-percent! Fifty percent of all Territories founded are based on the Trade model. How do they think that’s going to work? The food won’t keep up; we’ll have to change how Territories work left and right; otherwise, they’ll starve!”
“Ah-hem,” Holden said as Walker quietly watched on.
“Athena, it’s a travesty! Why do they all think they’re going to be economic powerhouses? They’re crazy! What do you have to trade if there’s barely anything out there in the world? Don’t they know that it’s the slowest territory to get going? They’re stupid, stupid, stupid!”
“I know, Neus, I know.” She replied, gently holding the Advanced Assistant’s hand. Throwing a wink at Walker to let him know she saw him, she continued, “We’ll figure it out, dear.”
“You mean Walker will,” The green squirrel harrumphed, “He’s going to need to talk to them, one by one, and let them know that this will not do. I mean, they built a trade territory on top of a mountain! How are they going to get people up there? There’s no stairs or ramps yet; it’s all climbing!”
“Then they’ll fail.” Walker said loudly, causing Neus to turn and look at him with wide eyes, “We knew, going into this, that multiple territories would fail. The fact that fifty percent of the Founders went with one type means we might have over-tooled or over-sold it. Just like we discovered with the Conservatory, this is an error that needs fixing.” He tapped his chin a few times as Neus had a hopeful look in his eyes, “Creating a simple allowance of a one-time Territory change, let's say, in two days, should allow the wise ones to see the problem in their thinking.”
Neus had a cautious look on his face, “And the cost of doing so?”
“We’ll naturally incur it, as it’s our idea. I doubt more than thirty percent of those with Trade territories will change, but the ones who do will be better off for it. We may even need to find a way to incentivize going with agriculture; that way, Symphony won’t soon run out of food. You have my permission to dole out Foundation Stones as necessary to those willing to make the change.”
“Excellent idea, Walker.” He turned to Athena, chest puffed out, “See, I told you Walker would figure it all out.”
“Yes you did, dear. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with our Creator.”
“Of course,” Neus said, happy to move on from the ordeal. He immediately stood up, looking toward a crowd of Assistants standing near the pool table, “Hey, fellas, wait till I tell you how I figured out how to fix the territory issue. It’ll blow your mind!”
Walker gave his betrothed a slanted smile, “Well, that was fun.”
“No, it wasn’t.” She rolled her eyes at him before cupping the side of his face with a soft hand, “You don’t look much better after sleeping.” She noticed his grimace, held since she first began touching him, “It’s still there?” She asked as she pulled her hand away.
“Yes,” Walker sighed, “It hasn’t gotten better, no matter how much sleep I get. I still have trouble being near you, Athena. Just like the hunger, the thirst, like everything else that shouldn’t be a problem. It’s the parasite. Maybe…maybe,” He paused, seeing the hurt look already appearing behind her eyes, “You know what, never mind.” Changing tact, he smiled at her again, “ So, how’s your project going?”
Taking two steps back, she threw him an exasperated look, “While you’re enjoying your time joking with assistants, I’m dealing with the fallout of having dozens of Primigenials trying to integrate into Symphony. My mother complains about everything under the sun. It’s too windy. There are too many monsters. Your father is always horny. As if I wanted to know that! Did you really have to give them access to the chat system?”
“Athena,” He replied with a laugh, “You know how my memory works. I recall exactly how it came about,” Standing up tall, he took on the same regal pose his wife-to-be always held, “Walker, we cannot exclude the Primigenials from the overlay system. I know you are worried about their entitlement, and the Poseidon adventure didn’t enamor you to grant us any favors, but they are your people as much as the Founders are. Please, give them a chance.” He arched an eyebrow at the last word, “A chance, you said. Well, I gave them one. It’s not my fault you’re in charge of all Primigenial relations on Symphony.”
She threw her hands in the air, “You’re the one who made me do that!”
Walker mimicked her, throwing his hands in the air as well, “You’re the one who made me complete all of their tasks!”
“All of them except mine and Hades,” She said with a pout.
“Ignoring Hades, You know why I did that.” He replied, pulling up the next one in the series.
Optional Tasks Updated!
- - -
New Primigenial task: Establish an Education system on Symphony:
Education is a boon to the world, Walker. Be kind, my love.
Education system established: 0/1
Task giver: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom
Reward for completion: Athena added to the seeding system
“You know that this isn’t something you should put off, Walker,” she said with no little heat as they both sat down. “Do you really want a planet, no, a solar system of idiots running around, causing havoc? I know what you tried to do with your Scripture, but a single book isn’t enough to educate your people, not to mention the fact that many may choose not to follow your religion.”
Walker’s eyes strayed to where he’d pinned his follower count to the top of his overlay.
Followers of the Unending Summit: 104,347…104,351…
Pulling his eyes back to Athena, he nodded, “You’re right, but if it means placing you down there, in danger, and without the skill system to protect you, I just can’t do it.”
She gave a trilling laugh, one he knew well enough to brace himself, “Walker, I’m the goddess of wisdom, not the goddess of damsels in distress. You already have my Icon, just the same as all the others. All you need to do is grant it to a few Awakened, and they’ll get a leg up on the competition. But as for me?” She said, placing a hand on her chest, “As much as I love to read and enjoy my time with you, I’ve spent far too much of my life amongst mortals, helping them with tough decisions. You have no right to keep me here, and you’re only hurting Symphony by not placing an Education system.”
Walker nodded, “I know.” Looking at the red-stone ceiling for a moment, he said aloud, “I’ve already got the Event team working on plans to those Icons into the world. I feel like they should be rewarded to people who fit the bill, not randomly handed out.”
“You mean like the trials?”
A sad smile fell onto his face, “Yes, but from our singular test case, Icons don’t have the immediate negative repercussions associated with the Trials. By comparison, Icons are a lot weaker overall, but they’re also less dangerous.”
“Risk and Reward.”
“Yep. You know, I heard Hank is starting up a Troupe. You know, to act out some plays. I thought it might be fun to watch it on the Monitor this evening. See how Symphony’s first ever theatre group is doing.”
“Darling, you know most of the new Sapients have barely had time to register how to eat and sleep, let alone how to act. We’re still supplying most of the territories with food from our storage.”
“I know, and Mac is having a good time with the new Space upgrade I gave him,” he sat up. “But how fun would it be to watch Hank try to get them to understand the methods behind acting? Not to mention what a lie is?”
Before she could respond, a massive black body filled the entrance to the room. His appearance caused the entire room to hush, a dozen assistants holding their breath on what would happen next. Ducking his formidable height below the frame of the door, he entered, a fierce glare on his face.
“Walker, please tell the Tower to modify its structure for my entry,” He said, finally standing to his full height, “It always does so for you and Rimi, but some reason-”
“Tower, please disregard the Virgil protocol,” Walker said, holding back a smile. Athena didn’t hold back at all, openly laughing at Walker’s senior adviser.
“I see…thank you.” He stepped closer, the room still quiet as a newly created metaphysical space, “we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“About the Auction system. It’s time.”
