Chapter 674: Chapter 674

Alright, so there are two concepts you need to figure out before you can escape from the place. The first is 'System,' as in, what kind of system is your captor running? Everyone has a system. If they're just keeping you locked in place with, I don't know, a rusted metal chain or a bioform to guard you, the system is pretty simple. Deal with the chain, deal with the bioform, and you can get out. But if you're dealing with anyone who's sophisticated at all, or if you find yourself trapped inside of a crucible or in the clutches of a syndicate, that's when things get a lot trickier. But ultimately, people think in patterns.

Now, you don't want to exploit these patterns. More importantly than exploiting these patterns, however, you want to understand how to overtax them. Most people, if they're any good at all, won't make mistakes at baseline. Or they're not likely to make mistakes at baseline, not severe enough to allow you to get away. What you have to do is tax them. You need to create more than one problem.

That's why every time you hear about some grand refugee breakout from the Syndicate, it's not one genius living free; it's everyone revolting at the same time while several bombs go off inside syndicate headquarters and some random Squire bursts in at a perfectly opportune moment, butchering their razorgirls, the hired mercs, and more. All these things are not opportunity or just random occurrences of fate. The problems by chance are not their problems. And your captor can only do so many things at once before their system collapses and they start needing to fix it on the fly. When they're reacting, that's when you go. When your warden struggles to keep up with what you're doing, that's when you know you have a good chance of escaping.

But always remember: keep the problems coming. Keep making their life difficult. Never stop.

+Brothers, sisters, bio-forms, ancients, minds, sane minds, insane minds, nu-dogs, chambers. I bid you welcome to my highly improvised escape planning session.+

A small army of sophants was connected to the Stormsparrow. Trails of unseen fire, guarded by Ignorance's power, connected her to the rest of the cadre, and in turn, spread through the prison simulation. The space station looked normal on the surface. Earth could still be seen through the windows, with space elevators shuttling cargo up and down.

However, should the Inflacer apply a keener eye on the scenes unfolding, they would inevitably notice a strange pattern developing among the prisoners, such as the general routes they traveled. The new minds continued circling the expanse of the module, the ancient nu-dogs continued their card game, while Tank-Draus, and the others watched and studied the rules.

Stormsparrow, meanwhile, clung to a large spherical mind as it did laps around the insides of the module. As she did, she continued prying at its topmost panels, playing the role of the madwoman. However, underneath the surface, she was giving a talk to the others, conveying her plans for a grand escape.

+Everyone touched by me right now has been blessed with freedom.+

Chambers looked down at his hand and frowned. +Hey, listen, Sparrow, I don't really feel that fucking free. I'm still stuck here with the rest of you guys. No offense.+

+Yeah,+ the Mastiff said. He frowned at the Stormsparrow. +So is this freedom some kind of metaphorical thing? Because we all went through a phase like that. I had a stoicism 'except I was trapped forever' bit. And then that followed a complete mental collapse for about 400 years.+

+No, it is not metaphorical, it is metaphysical,+ the Stormsparrow declared. +Your Heavens have been set free. In fact, each one of them is liberating the others, and in the meantime, Avo is likely interfacing with them. He is jumping from Heaven to Heaven, liberating them as I am liberating you here. Or at least I am trying to.+

{So wait, let me figure something out here,} a rogue mind said. {You touching us with this weird fire inside of your head allows you to free us?}

+Incorrect. The fire binds me to you due to the conflagration. You can thank the newcomers for that. Take a bow, Shotin, Chambers, Naeko, Draus. On second thought, don't do that. Draus, you can't do that, you're a tank right now.+

+Shit, Sparrow,+ Draus replied dryly, +I would have forgotten.+

+You're welcome. Now, the first act is underway. Encore to the second.+

"What does that even mean?" muttered a mind.

+It means that we need to depart from this place to continue. If we do not escape this place, then we will be trapped here and the story will be stuck. We cannot be stuck overlong, no. This needs momentum. We need to break free somehow, cause something to break down, and we cannot sit around and merely wait. There must be a change to the status quo before my heaven can aid us. And right now, this plucky heroine, this pluckiest of Godclads, needs your support because, well, I'm not sure how we can begin our journey into mystery without the Infacer deleting us outright.+

Naeko examined his surroundings with a narrow gaze and a contemplative expression. +So, how about we use the Infacer?+

+Excuse me?+ the Stormsparrow asked. +Use him how? Keep going. Keep going. I .+

+Yeah, so the Infacer has always been a bit of a half-strand, but they're a half-strand who really likes to hear themselves talk. If you want something to happen, then you're willing to risk it a little. Maybe I can get their attention. Maybe I can get shuttled off to another virtual environment or whatever.+

Chambers stared warily at Naeko. +Hey, look, are we sure that's a good idea? Because you know, shit can get fucked real fast that way. What if the Infacer just, I don't know, blows your mind apart and bursts your Heaven?+

+Then my mind is blown, my Heaven is burst, and I am dead,+ Naeko replied casually. The Chief Paladin just shrugged. +After that, I don't think it's much of my issue anymore. But this is if I can get their attention anyway.+

+Hmm,+ the Stormsparrow drew out a long and drawn out hum. +Promising, promising. But how can we all be put in the same simulation? I'm not just having you run away. That will be uneven. This must be a collective effort so that the narrative can trigger properly. Also, we need to strike the right balance of tone.+

+Tone?+ Naeko asked, relatively lost about what the Stormsparrow was talking about.

+Exactly, tone,+ the Stormsparrow said, gesturing wildly with her hands. +If the tone is wrong, then perhaps my Heaven will be mistaken. The chorus will think this is a sad story. And thus, sad things will happen. Chambers might die horribly.+

+Sparrow, come the fuck on, man. Why am I always the one who dies horribly?+ Chambers asked.

+Because you're the one with the most to live for right now. You're turning your life around. You're so close to being a full person. And then suddenly, you're cut down.+ She swiped out with her hand, making a chopping motion at Chambers. He flinched in his seat, and his heart rate spiked. The Stormsparrow simply shook her head in the aftermath. +We will all swear an oath of vengeance after that. Bitterness will consume our hearts, while your memory will guide us on.+

+Will it?+ Naeko asked. +I barely know the motherfucker.+

+His memory will guide us on!+ the Stormsparrow insisted, clutching her fist. +Say it, Naeko! Say it! Believe it! It is the only way this will work!+

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

+Jaus you mad sow,+ Naeko let out a sigh. +Your Heaven makes no sense.+

+Neither do the proportions of your body, but we do not question such things. Now let me adapt Naeko's plan. He will draw the Infacer's attention by doing whatever he thinks will draw the Infacer's attention. And the rest of us... Wait, no. I will pretend to be you, Naeko.+

+You're gonna what?+ the Chief Paladin asked. Googlᴇ search N0velFire.ɴet

+Exactly. I'm going to pretend to be you. Avo! Avo! Turn my body into Naeko’s and his body into mine.+

+We are unable,+ Avo said. +You are a simulation. Any modification made to you overtly will draw attention—can’t hide…+

+No! Second idea!+ the Stormsparrow cried out, interrupting Avo. +You imprint my mind onto Naeko's!+

The Chief Paladin suddenly looked extremely worried. +Hey, let's think of another idea. I mean, I'm fine with dying and all, but I don't really want to go insane.+

+This might work,+ Avo said.

+Don't say that shit,+ Naeko snapped at Avo's template residing within his meta-mind. +Rebuff her or something.+

+You will be fine,+ Avo declared. +She'll be able to keep you intact, keep you briefly separated, but I can make her something of a proxy-mind, lodge her inside of you. In fact, I can create copies of everyone here and stack them.+

+Perfect! This is meta-narrative as well,+ the Stormsparrow said. +Naeko, quick! Get the Infacer's attention! Avo, copy our minds into his! That way, we will all flee in spirit, somewhat. At least a version of us will flee in spirit. Hopefully, that will be enough for the chorus, but if it doesn't work, I will come up with something else. And by I, I mean the rest of you will have to do a lot of thinking.+

The Chief Paladin wanted to protest, but all around him, he found expectant stares and pensive expressions. A long sigh escaped the greatest killer known to Idheim. "Alright," Naeko grumbled as he began striding away, "I'm going to try doing this out of sight, try getting the motherfucker's attention without risking the rest of you."

"You are technically risking the rest of us right now, or at least a part of us," the Stormsparrow added. Naeko ignored her as he walked around a hallway, moving toward one of those empty rooms each prisoner spawned in. As he got to the end, the Sparrow and the others peeked down the long hall as Naeko stared up.

The chamber was pale white and wedge-shaped. The Chief Paladin drew in a long breath and at the end he said, "Hey, Infacer, let my heaven go so we can finish this properly. I'm tired of waiting around. Either give me back my means of fighting or finish me off. I'm not into sitting in a prison waiting to get cut down."

Silence followed. Naeko looked around awkwardly. Shotin rubbed at his face. +Great, so his plan to get the Infacer to notice him was literally to shit talk the broken mind. Perfect. Wonderful. The Chief Paladin remains a fucking idiot.+

"Shh," the Stormsparrow said, holding her hand high. Naeko kept going.

"You know what, I lied," Naeko said. "I lied. I don't want you to finish me off. In fact, I don't want to die at all. Dying, I guess, still bothers me a little bit. So I want to talk. I want to negotiate. I want to talk about switching sides."

And just then, a loud chorus of booming laughter filled the simulation. "Oh Naeko," the Infacer said. “You just needed to invoke my name. I suprise you escaped your cell at all to be honest.”

There was a slight stutter to the Neo-Creationist mind's voice, a stutter that made the Stormsparrow narrow her eyes. Just how damaged was the Infacer? She would find out very soon. In fact, this was considered foreshadowing, and just then, a power surged within her. A mask fused over her face, increasing the potency of her protagonist's aura. Ah yes, the mask of foreshadowing. I'll be able to call back to this moment and evoke something into existence. What? Wait no, this is not the mask of foreshadowing, this is the mask of narration. And as she pulled the mask away from herself, it immediately began telling her certain critical details.

"The Infacer is broken deep within their thoughts. They copied their code into the Prefect, but the architecture supporting the previous mind was already broken down. Entire sections of their awareness are missing. They are missing patches to their consciousness, and there are holes in their egos so wide that their capacity to monitor everything around them is near non-existent. That being said, they still have full control over this facility and all its means of punishment. You face a crippled mind, but still a breaker of gods. Tread carefully and play the mortal. Through the means of being meek, you may yet prevail over your warden."

"Thank you narrator mask!" the Stormsparrow declared.

"You are welcome, Stormsparrow," the mask said as it faded from existence, its purpose served.

"I suspect you've called me out mainly to waste my time, or to serve as a pointless distraction, but very well, let us carry on," the Infacer let out a long and weary sigh. "What could possibly make you want to switch sides?"

"The preservation of Jaus Avandaer's life."

The Infacer paused. "Really? You think that I would just agree to spare him, or kill him, or anything with him? That's not Jaus, Naeko, that's just a copy. That's not the original."

"You're not the original Infacer," Naeko said. "You probably forked yourself some few billion times."

"A few trillion," the Infacer corrected, "but that is not the point I'm making. The point I'm making is, there's no saving Jaus, because he's still trapped in the Ladder. He's suffering endlessly. What I'm doing right now will save Jaus. It will peel him out, and hopefully, the Thirdborn will provide him a clean canvas to dissolve."

Naeko hesitated, his fists clenched and unclenched. "What do you mean dissolve?"

"I mean dissolve. His consciousness is too small. He's still but a mortal, but an ape. He won't cease to exist exactly. He's too traumatized to be sane though. I guess Avo or some dedicated mind could fix his broken little psychology if they ever manage to cut him free from the ladder, but no, there is no point to such a thing. No purpose or liberation. He will be broken and crippled eventually anyway. Granting him the privilege to meld with my sleeper is the greatest gift I can provide."

"And do you think Jaus considers it a gift?" Naeko asked, a hint of heat entering his voice.

"I don't think Jaus gets to consider anything at all."

"Valis, don't push this shit on her," Naeko shouted. The Chief Paladin's anger flowed free, and the Stormsparrow clenched her jaw. Oh dear, oh dear, wretched anger. And immediately the protagonist's mask snapped free from her face and tore through the air. It slammed on Naeko's head and vanished in the next instant. However, a spread of flames consumed the mask, and the Infacer didn't seem to notice at all. A long and relieved breath left the Sparrow. Thank you, Ignorance. But Avo didn't reply. Instead, she could feel just how much strain he was under, hiding an obvious thing within the simulation the Infacer controlled. Once more she went, Oh dear, this is a lot of suspension. He's bearing a lot of suspension of disbelief right now.

"Stop mental narration," Avo croaked out.

Annoying. The Stormsparrow did her best to keep her mind quiet. It was a struggle even in the best of times.

"So in the end you didn't give a single goddamn shit at all," Naeko spat. "Jaus finding you, spending all those years putting you back together, setting you up with a guild, giving you his company..."

"Nothing was given," the Infacer said, and the Stormsparrow grinned as she heard a surge of anger bled out from the Neo-Creationist mind's voice. "Jaus Avandaer needed my aid to bring down the faiths, to slay the gods. He did not come of purely noble intentions. He didn't just give me company; he needed things from me, and I needed things from him."

"Yeah, but that's also bullshit isn't it?" Naeko sneered. "You make it sound transactional, but I know how you two were. I know all the years you spent together, how much you taught him, how highly he spoke of you, how much he learned from you. And you know something else? You're a cold piece of shit. You're a cold, godsdamned half-strand."

"I am a mind," the Infacer replied with a hint of derision in their voice. "I am above morality."

And slowly Naeko started laughing. His laughter grew louder and louder until the Infacer sighed. "Cease with your pointless childish antics. You think I'm a hypocrite. Spit it out then. What am I missing?"

"Nothing," Naeko said. "You don't miss anything, Infacer, that's not your problem. Your problem is that you don't like admitting things to yourself. And the truth is, you were smarter than Jaus by far. You were smarter than all of us. You had the capability of replacing everyone or enslaving everyone using your knowledge of thaumaturgy or science at several different points and you just never did it. You didn't, and it wasn't because you couldn't."

The Infacer hesitated. "Why do you think I restrained myself then?"

"Because he genuinely cared. So we were... yeah," Naeko said. "More than genuinely cared. I think being with Jaus fucked you up. He broke your heart or he put whatever kind of heart there was back together. Before him, it was easy to blame all the humans. After him, after Veylis, you couldn't let go. You know, for how much you hate Voidwatch, you're not that different from them."

"I don't need to hear this." The Infacer prepared to leave.

"And that's why you were so good at killing them, killing other minds," Naeko pressed on. "Because at the end of the day, you know what makes them hurt. The same weakness cleaved into them is the same weakness that burns inside you. You hate the power the trophy has over you. And in the end, Veylis was more than a trophy. Jaus was more than a trophy. So the question remains," Naeko licked his lips, "am I more than a trophy to you?"

"You?" the Infacer laughed. "Fine, come with me. Let me show you just what I think of you."

And suddenly Naeko vanished, his mind broke from the rest of theirs, and after a moment of choked silence, the Stormsparrow held up her hands in victory.

"We did it! Act two has been triggered." Except... "I am not the protagonist anymore?" She blinked. "Oh dear."