The area outside the headquarters was crowded once again, but this time it wasn't with protestors, it was with hordes of people desperate to get their hands on the system. Even with Victoria's admission that it would give her access to their mind, the idea that they could strengthen their abilities by just doing a few exercises a day, something many of them were used to anyway from their days training for the Trial, was too tempting to ignore. A lot of them had been tempted by joining Chris's world for the same reason, but the fact that they'd need to work in the Maze had held them back. A lot of people had traumatic memories from their Trial and never wanted to step foot in that horrible place again. Even without that, joining the Eternal Tribe had too many responsibilities heaped on top of it. People had jobs, families to provide for, hobbies and whatnot to enjoy. Joining the Eternal Tribe would get in the way of all that, or at least they thought it would. The system, on the other hand, took maybe an hour a day to do something they would, or at least should, be doing anyway. Who would turn that down?
“I'm feeling weirdly insulted.” Chris muttered, frowning at the crowds swarming in to get the system.
“That's because you're a loser.” Victoria smirked.
Chris just looked at her for a second, before turning back to stare at the crowd. “My benefits are still better.”
“Maybe, but if you weigh the costs and the benefits together, I think the system comes out ahead.” Victoria retorted. “Case in point…” She gestured to the crowd and Chris grunted noncommittally.
“Are we sure this is a good idea?” Andrew asked hesitantly.
“Why wouldn't it be?” Greg asked, cocking his head.
“Well… the system is- I mean, I know we're trying not to be too hard on Thom- er, Victoria, but, well… the system has a tendency to get out of hand, doesn't it? It isn't like Chris's world where we can just lock people away if they become a problem. The system just makes people stronger, and once they are… There's nothing we can do about it.” Andrew explained. “It just seems like it could go badly, particularly since a significant portion of these people were rioting on our doorstep the other day.”
“Only around… four percent.” Chris muttered, examining the crowd.
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Why does everyone get so butthurt over giving people power? The proliferation of power isn't the problem, the concentration of power is. One person with a weapon can lord it over everyone else, but the moment a second person gets a weapon, they have to be more careful. Then if a third person gets one, they have to be even more careful, and so on, until everyone has a weapon, at which point everyone is on basically even ground, or at least as even as things get. Sure, there are those who will hurt people despite that, but they would hurt people no matter what the situation.”
“The problem is the amount of damage they can do with that power.” Andrew retorted. “With no weapons, someone can start a fight, but they can't finish it without the other person stepping in. With a sword or knife or something, there's a good chance they can kill the person before they can even do anything. With a gun, they could kill multiple people, and a bomb would multiply that even further! Even if everyone else has guns, let alone bombs, it doesn't prevent that damage. Letting power out like that makes the people who will be violent more dangerous.”
Victoria cocked her head. “You aren't wrong, but the thing is, the power is already out there. People have abilities, and it isn't like there's someone out there making sure only the people who will use them wisely are getting them.” She paused. “Honestly, kinda seems like the opposite most of the time.” She muttered, before shaking her head. “Anyway, my point is that since it's already out there, the system is just evening the playing field. Otherwise you're just leaving people at the mercy of the ones who do have it, which again, we can't control.”
Andrew grimaced. “But you're also giving it to the people who want to hurt people, which will let them hurt more.”
“And again, I contend that those people already exist, and to withhold power for fear of them only limits people's ability to defend themselves.” Victoria countered.
Andrew sighed. “Okay, fine, I'll accept that, but again, we had a riot outside our doors just the other day! It just- it feels like the wrong time to give people the power to do more damage.”
“It'd take them months, possibly years, to get to the point of increasing their abilities that far.” Victoria waved dismissively. “In the meantime, this will buy us goodwill and acceptance, which will go a long way to calming people down so they don't riot again.”
Andrew's expression twisted. “I guess… I don't know, I just wish we had more control over it. A way to disable their abilities if they get out of control or something.”
“Would that even help?” Greg frowned. “The problem isn't punishing people. That's easy. The problem is people doing things in the first place, and there's no way to really stop that.”
“Unless I'm in their head.” Victoria sighed. “Then it gets pretty simple, but is morally suspect in a different way.”
“True. The fact that Chris spies on everyone is already bad enough without adding you creeping on their thoughts.” Greg muttered.
“I don't spy, I'm simply aware.” Chris retorted. “One requires effort, the other is simply a fact of my existence.”
“How many portal points have you stuck on people again?” Greg asked, smirking slightly and raising an eyebrow.
Chris waved dismissively. “They were enemies. It'd be stupid not to keep an eye on them.”
“I'm not saying it isn't, I'm just saying it's spying.” Greg retorted.
“Sure, but not on everyone. Just enemies.” Chris pointed out. “You said I spy on everyone.”
Greg paused. “Point taken.”
Andrew sighed, looking out the window. “I just hope this doesn't get too chaotic.”
*
Contrary to Andrew's worries, the City actually seemed to calm down over the next few days. The system spread and everyone began to focus on building their power, particularly the various teens that were looking at their own Trial at the end of the year. Eventually people would realize that the system made the Trial completely unnecessary, but who knew whether it would happen before the next one or not?
That, combined with the reveal of the Eternals, sent the whole thing with the Doppelgangers to the back of most people's minds. There were, of course, the hard-core racists and the people who actually had relationships with Doppelgangers who were still focused on them, plus Johnson who was trying to keep everyone focused on the Doppelgangers and not on the various scandals hitting his major donors. Thanks to the guidebooks Chris had provided, the Doppelgangers had enough dirt to cripple several of the most corrupt Families, and they'd been slowly feeding it to the authorities and various news outlets since the reveal, and it was all coming to a head. Honestly, it was almost too much, and people were getting a little numb to it all. In a very short amount of time, they'd gotten Doppelgangers, Eternals, and mass corruption thrown at them, and it was just… a lot. A lot of people would rather just ignore it all and get on with their lives. Maybe do a few tasks while they're at it.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
In other news, Greg had found the Damir! The problem was that they were literally on the other side of the world, and getting Chris there would take weeks. Even getting Andrew and Victoria over would take a week or more. The question was whether to try and take care of things as soon as possible, or wait until they were all together.
“I could just take care of it myself.” Greg offered.
“No you could not!” Andrew snapped. “You're barely capable of infiltrating with our help, let alone without it!”
“Oh, I wasn't thinking of infiltrating.” Greg chuckled. “More… terrorizing? Pretty much making myself a nuisance until they can't ignore me anymore. Can't imagine it'd take longer than a few days… I can be very annoying.”
“Trust me, we know.” Victoria rolled her eyes. “The problem is we can't just bully people into doing what we want.”
“We can't?” Greg frowned. “Are you sure, cause I'm fairly certain we do that all the time.”
“No, we simply make our terms exceptionally clear.” Victoria retorted. “We identify the problem, provide a solution, and inform everyone of what will have to happen if they don't use our solution. The Damir continuing to kidnap and use humans is untenable, but we can't just force them to stop without providing an alternative. Probably the system. Then it's just a matter of whether they listen to reason, or we're forced to impose reason ourselves.”
“Fine, whatever. I still don't see why I can't at least lay some groundwork.” Greg waved dismissively. “There's no reason to tiptoe around the Damir. They aren't going to send any armies to the City, we aren't trying to overthrow their leadership, and even if we were, there's no reason to hide it. We have a problem, we have a solution, why not just be upfront about it? Like with the monstrous races.”
“Wait, are we really just going to hand the system over to a race that has literally been kidnapping and enslaving humans for centuries?!?” Andrew asked incredulously.
“We gave it to the monstrous races.” Chris pointed out.
“Yes, but they had to take nobles. The Damir take humans for power, because humans are easier to exploit!” Andrew retorted.
“Arguably power is a necessity on the surface.” Chris countered. “They're dealing with Dragons, and they don't have a Blood Bow or Behemoths. All they have are humans.”
Andrew scowled. “Is that really an excuse? Didn't we just say hurting people for power is selfish and lazy? It isn't like there aren't other ways for them to grow. They can hunt animals and drink their blood! There's no reason they have to go after humans.”
“Selfish and lazy, for us.” Chris replied. “We don't need power, it just makes our lives more convenient. Until proven otherwise, we should assume that the Damir do need power, and they don't have the luxury of ignoring less than savory methods of acquiring it. If we get there and find out they're just doing it for fun, then obviously we'll have to take care of that, but we shouldn't assume that until we have more evidence.”
“And obviously we aren't going to just hand them the system.” Victoria added. “We'll take the time to make sure they won't abuse it first, it's just the clearest solution to their issues.”
Greg scratched his head. “So… Can I talk to them or not?”
Victoria glanced at him, before letting out a sigh. “I'd rather you didn't, but I can't see any reason why you shouldn't. Just… control yourself, alright? I know you know how. And don't bring up the system for now. Wait until Andrew and I arrive.”
Greg clicked his tongue. “Boring, but fine. I'll let you guys know how it goes.”
Chris glanced at her. “Should I head that way too?”
“I'm pretty sure you should be going everywhere you can.” Victoria replied.
Chris paused. “Fair. I'll get started on that.”
“Just don't do anything to alert Jer'tunal.” Victoria added.
Chris waved dismissively. “Don't worry, I have some ideas. I'm going to try circulating air out of my world, see how that goes. I'm also going to release a few small animals and insects. Really just tossing a bunch of stuff out of my world and seeing what happens. Figure that should give me a nice, natural spread while I do some dedicated traveling.”
“How are you planning on traveling?” Greg asked.
A gigantic sniper rifle appeared in Chris's hands. “I got this from Belinda. Figured a bullet would be faster than an arrow.”
Greg grinned. “Outstanding.”
*
On the other side of the planet, a small fairy floated over a large mountain range, taking in the environment. It became pretty clear why the Damir were having issues with Dragons. The mountain range was, quite literally, full of them. At any given time, you could spy a large, winged form drifting through the sky. Greg even saw a pair fighting in a nearby valley, or maybe they were mating… he'd suggest the Damir just leave, but the mountain range had ocean on one side and desert on the other, neither one very accommodating to the Damir’s… skin condition. Plus, the desert was full of kobolds.
Greg shook his head and drifted down towards the mountains, turning to smoke as he entered the mountain directly below him, continuing down until he reached a series of caverns. They were chocked full of structures, floor to ceiling, people wandering around, seeing to various tasks or resting. There were farms out in the valleys, part of how Greg had found the place, but it looked like no one was working them. Maybe they did everything at night? Greg paused. Scratch that, they obviously did everything at night. For one, Damir, for two, Dragons.
Greg drifted through the caverns, practically invisible in the dark, particularly since he stuck to the ceiling, making his way to the deeper, more important looking areas, trying to find someone who looked like they might have some authority. As he did, he dissolved bits of the ceiling to gather enough smoke to make a full body. Greg found a cavern full of larger, more… elegant looking buildings, forming up in front of the largest, fanciest looking one, and giving the door a good knock.
A man, human, opened the door, frowning as he looked Greg up and down. “I wasn't informed we would be having any guests this morning.”
Greg grinned. “It's a bit of an impromptu visit.”
The man's frown deepened. “The Lord does not receive ‘impromptu’ visits. You are either invited, or you are a trespasser.”
Greg raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? How do I get invited then?”
“If you talk to the guards at the cavern gate, they will inform the Lord of your interest, and he may find the time to meet with you when his schedule allows.” The man explained.
Greg clicked his tongue. “Well, that just sounds annoying. Guess I'll trespass.” Greg chuckled, turning to smoke and breezing past the man, reforming on the other side and whistling as he made his way deeper into the house.
“No- wait- Guards!” The man roared, rushing after Greg and trying to grab him, but anything he grabbed just turned to smoke and slipped through his fingers.
“Halt!” Guards rushed into the room, blocking Greg.
“No!” Greg laughed, bursting into a swarm of fairies and slipping around the guards, spreading through the house. “Now where would I be if I was a Lord.” He muttered to himself. “Morning… breakfast? Hope it doesn't involve a virgin.”
“A virgin?”
Greg paused at an intersection, glancing at the little Damir girl rubbing her eyes sleepily. “Uh… ask your parents?”
The girl scowled at him. “I know what a virgin is! What does it have to do with breakfast?”
“It's- really not important.” Greg chuckled. “Would you happen to know where the Lord might be? I've come a long way to talk to him.”
“Lady Weidi, stay away from that… creature!” A guard yelled, rushing down the hallway towards them.
Weidi blinked at the guard, before pointing down one of the hallways. “Daddy is that way, fourth door on the left.”
“Much obliged.” Greg thanked her with a smile, flitting down the hall, poofing into smoke and diving through the fourth door down, on the left, finding a small dining room with a Damir man and woman sitting at the table. “Lord?” Greg asked as he reformed.
“I am not receiving visitors this morning.” The man stated blandly as he continued his meal. “Please make an appointment with my butler.”
“How about we just talk now?” Greg replied as more of his smoke flowed in, his body growing. “I promise, you'll get rid of me much faster if you do.”
The Lord flicked a finger and Greg found himself outside, the mountain, and… “Huh, you guys are mating, aren't you?” He cock his head. “Good for you!”
Back in the mansion, more smoke flowed into the room and another Greg formed. “Well, not gonna lie, your ability is pretty much my only-” He disappeared again and more smoke flowed in. “-weakness, so kudos! But I'm busy making you guys a new cavern, so you aren't getting rid of me that easily.”
The Lord glared at him, before letting out a sigh. “Very well, you have my attention. Whatever you are.”
Greg fell into one of the chairs. “I suppose we should start with introductions. I'm Greg, the Body Eternal, demonic god, and… I'm here to talk about Earth.”