Chapter Thriteen - Part Two: Choices
Leta blinked several times, rubbing her eyes to dispel the sudden spots that filled her vision from the light before moving to her mentor's side.
She felt her neck and then her wrist, sighing in relief when the pulse that she found was steady as Dr. Annika slept peacefully.
A clattering had her turning back to see that Ismene had gone limp, Allister catching her before she could fall to the ground as dead weight.
Atreus bent low to pick Dr. Annika up in a princess carry before fixing Leta with a look.
"We will leave her in her bed and ensure that your people do not remember tonight. Afterwards, you will accompany us back to the Penthouse. We have much to discuss."
While his words were commanding and broked no room for arguments, his tone was not condescending. Rather, he spoke and carried himself with the precise surety of a man who made life and death decisions every day.
It was only as she dutifully followed him out of her room towards the doctor's that she had a moment to come to terms with the fact that she had just witnessed legitimate magic.
'Bloody hells, that was magic. Magic!'
[WHAT THE HOST WITNESSED VOCAL SOFTWARE RECONSTRUCTION, A LEARNED ABILITY IN WHICH THE HOST CAN OVERRIDE EXTERNAL SOFTWARES BY UTILIZING SPECIFIC SIGNALS CREATED BY A HARMONIZATION FROM HOST VOCALS AND NANITE FREQUENCIES.]
'And the floating rings? Are you going to tell me that those were nanites too?'
[SPECIFIC FREQUENCIES CAN AFFECT PHYSICAL MATTER AS WELL AS SOFTWARES. iN THIS CASE, THE PRIESTESS'S FREQUENCIES AFFECTED LIGHT PARTICLES IN THE AIR AS SHE FORCED THE BEGUILING SOFTWARE TO DETACH AND THEN SELF DESTRUCT.]
'So none of that actually happened? She didn't create layers of rings and had them floating around like some 15th century astronomers wet dream?'
[IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING. HOSTS MAY USE VISUALIZATIONS TO APPLY RECONSTRUCTIONS. THESE VISUALIZATIONS CAN BECOME NEARLY PHYSICAL DUE TO THE AFFECT FREQUENCIES HAVE ON THE PHYSICAL WORLD. iF THE HOST VISUALIZED THAT THE SOFTWARE BURNED ITSELF OUT OF THE BODY, IT COULD AFFECT THE TARGET'S PHYSICAL FORM, CAUSING BODY TEMPERATURES TO RISE, CELLS TO DIE, AND POSSIBLY CAUSE SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. THE PRIESTESS USED A MORE INTRICATE AND LAYERED APPROACH TO REMOVE THE TROJAN SOFTWARE WITHOUT HARMING THE TARGET.]
Leta understood all that, though she was still gobsmacked at seeing what seemed like magic displayed before her.
A quote from one of her father's favorite authors and scientists, Arthur Clarke, came to her then.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
She had laughed to herself that the Chosen believed the Atlantian doctors to be gods and the nanites to be magic bestowed upon them. Yet, when the might of the nanites was displayed before her, her first thought was to call it magic and gaze in wonder.
'Wait, you said 'learned'. Does that mean I could do that?'
[CORRECT. LEARNED SOFTWARES DO NOT REQUIRE THE SPENDING OF UNASSIGNED NANITES. INSTEAD, THE CODING OF ASSIGNED NANITES IS FINE TUNED AND CLARIFIED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT THAN ORIGINAL PROGRAMING THROUGH OBSERVATION AND APPLICATION.]
'So, watching others and practicing?'
[CORRECT. THE HOST IS CAUTIONED THAT ONLY SOFTWARE UPDATES CAN BE LEARNED. INANT TALENTS CANNOT BE LEARNED.]
'Right. I could watch someone draw and learn to draw but that doesn't make me a Picasso.'
Leta stopped when she nearly ran right into the dark skinned man and the woman in the hijab who blocked her path.
The man gave a respectful bow of his head. "I am Simon, the Judge."
The woman gave her a soft smile and introduced herself, "I am Huda, the Scribe. We are pleased to meet you."
"Oh! Uh, likewise." Leta stumbled.
Simon took a step closer. "If you will permit me, I would like to ask you questions, so that we can ensure the safety of our sect. Know this, as a Judge, I know the tastes of lies and truths equally, and will know should you answer falsely."
Leta gulped, "Um, that's good and all, but if I honestly don't know an answer, is that going to give you a bad taste too?"
Simon gave her a calm smile, attempting to put her at ease, "The taste of uncertainty is known to me as well. Do not be afraid of not knowing the answer, only speaking falsely."
"We only wish to know the truth of what has happened. Will you answer our questions?" Huda inquired gently.
Her voice was so harmonious and sweet that it was almost hypnotic.
[WARNING! FOREIGN ENTITY IS ATTEMPTING TO USE PERSUASION SKILL.]
[HOSTS MENTAL FORTITUDE STAT + EARS OF THE JUDGE + PERSUASION IS HIGHER THAN PERSUASION OF FOREIGN ENTITY.]
[PERSUASION BY FOREIGN ENTITY HAS FAILED. PROTECTION OF HOSTS MIND STILL HOLDS.]
Leta blinked. 'Holy sh**. She was using a skill to make me answer her questions.'
Leta looked Huda in the eye and focused.
[SCANNING…
Name: Huda Shabudak
Class: Scribe
Abilities: Tongue of the Many, Persuasion, Hands of the Scribe, Inscribe
Strengths: High mental fortitude, above average stamina
Weaknesses: Low constitution]
Leta's gave went to Simon.
[SCANNING…
Name: Simon DeMar
Class: Judge
Abilities: Tongue of the Many, Ears of the Judge, Hand of the Executioner, Favor of Luck, Dispel Charm, Curse, Voice of the Scales, Eyes of the Hunter]
Strengths: High mental fortitude, above average power
Weaknesses: Low reflexes]
'Interesting.' Leta thought, 'While Simon can tell if someone is lying and be able to punish them in accordance, he can't force someone to answer him. So Huda uses her Persuasion to get people to answer and Simon finds out if it's true or not.'
The sound of someone clearing their throat brought Leta back to the present. She'd been staring between the two, so lost in her own thoughts that there'd been an awkward silence hanging in the air.
Leta coughed before nodding, content with the knowledge that Huda wouldn't be able to force her to speak.
Thankfully, the questions that were asked weren't invasive or troublesome.
Who was Dr. Annika?
How did she know her?
Why did she get attacked?
What happened before the attack?
When did Dr. Annika's behavior change?
Was there anyone else that had shown any abnormal actions?
Had they had any visitors?
Through it all, Leta answered honestly, providing as many details as she could recall as possible.
After a few minutes of integration, Eriene, Hayato, Koa, and Atreus returned.
Atreus nodded to Simon, indicating that all was clear.
Simon gave a slight bow of his head in return before addressing her, "Thank you, Leta, for your honesty. Now, I have a very serious question for you. And again, please, I ask for honesty no matter if it is good or ill. Will you join the Chosen?"
Leta licked her lips, knowing this question would come up sometime considering how she'd left them last time.
She already had an answer - had had one in mind since she last stepped out of their door.
The trouble was, she just wasn't happy that it was the best decision for her.
"I will join the Chosen. However," She said with a raised finger, her gaze locked with Atreus, "I do have some conditions I'd like to negotiate with you first."