Chapter LXXXIII

So Long, Ego.

In her dreams, Adriaas returned to the lab, meticulously tending to the growth pots and adding proteins to the developing organs. Bygurin appeared intermittently, offering brief distractions before leaving her to her solitude. During these moments alone, she sensed an ominous change. A cloud materialized within the room, darkening with each passing moment until it engulfed the space in pitch-blackness.

From the obscurity, a human-like figure emerged, absorbing the darkness. As the rest of the room returned to its usual brightness, Adriaas stood frozen, caught between fear and curiosity. The supernatural entity beckoned her and headed toward the door. Compelled to follow, she pondered its intentions when suddenly a voice called out her name.

“Adriaas Ancaris!” the voice boomed, echoing around her.

Startled awake and drenched in cold sweat, Adriaas opened her eyes to find two strangers observing her, waiting for her response.

“Adriaas Ancaris,” one of them repeated, clad in a dark red merkabah. “You stand accused of attempted murder, involving thirty Malkuthian souls. The Fifth Sephirot has issued the charges after an extensive investigation. You may remain silent and await communication with your legal representative. If you lack representation, a member of the Chokmah will be assigned. Anything you say is admissible in court. Do you understand?”

Adriaas wished it was another horrific dream.

“We need verbal confirmation.”

“I understand,” she replied, her voice faltering slightly as the reality set in.

“Come with us, please,” the second Gevurah, adorned in a purple merkabah with yellow patterns, requested gently. “We must take you to preventive holding until your case is resolved.”

Trembling, Adriaas struggled to grasp how this nightmare was unfolding. She had followed all protocols diligently, with Bygurin and other Chesed supervising each step. Despite her confusion and fear, Adriaas followed the Gevurah without uttering a word.

As they exited the rest area, drawing curious glances from onlookers and even swimmers, Adriaas contemplated her next steps. The Gevurah had mentioned the possibility of contacting someone for help. In her mind, there was only one person who could help her navigate this crisis—someone she had avoided for years: her father, Annevan.

With a heavy heart, she accepted that she had no other choice. The levitator carried them through the hallways, leading them to the pentagonal space divided by floors and countless passages. They ascended to the fifty-seventh floor, which featured translucent ceilings allowing slivers of afternoon light to filter through, casting an eerie glow.

Minutes later, they reached Preventive Holding 23, one of many similar enclosures, its walls dissolving upon their approach. The interior was sparse but included a basketball court, a stark gym, and a few tables with amenities like books and board games.

“Your room has been assigned,” the female Gevurah announced, her voice devoid of warmth. “You will be confined here until your case is resolved. Any essential supplies you require can be found within these walls, but if they are lacking, please inform us through your kabbalah. It will remain with you, albeit with restricted functions.”

“When can I make calls?” Adriaas asked, her anxiety evident.

“Anytime,” the male Gevurah replied, his tone softened with a hint of kindness. “However, please be aware that all your calls will be monitored and analyzed by our colleagues.”

“Questions?” the first Gevurah asked, her impatience apparent.

“No,” Adriaas’s voice carried a trace of annoyance. Though she had countless questions, they were not for them.

“We’ll leave you now,” the woman stated, her tone tinged with defiance.

Both Gevurah turned to leave, but Adriaas stopped them.

“Wait, please,” she said. “What’s happening with Bygurin?”

“That’s the Senior in charge of you, right?” the male Gevurah began searching his crystasleeve.

She nodded in confirmation.

“He’s been charged with conspiring to sabotage lab-grown organs and attempt of murder, and that’s all we can share with you,” the woman said before preparing to leave. “Anything else?”

“No, thank you,” Adriaas recalled Bygurin's last words.

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The Gevurah exited, and a crimson wall materialized, isolating her from the outside world. People wandered inside the holding room without paying attention to the newest arrival. Adriaas had questions, but her immediate task was clear, even though she despised herself for it.

With a calm demeanor, she searched for the room labeled with her name and commanded the door to close behind her. Inside, her new space featured a solitary bed and a private bathroom, which she utilized as a sudden wave of nausea and dizziness overwhelmed her.

After expelling the bile brought on by her anguish, Adriaas composed herself to make the call she had dreaded. It had been years since she last spoke to her father.

“Ion, call Annevan,” she requested.

“Are you ready?” her kabbalah asked, showing concern.

“It doesn’t matter if I am. We need to resolve this.”

“Establishing connection,” the kabbalah responded as Adriaas braced herself for the likely rejection. Her father was always busy, and even when they were on speaking terms, he rarely answered.

“I was waiting for you to call,” Annevan’s holoprojection appeared, his voice reaching her from halfway across the world. His presence caught her off guard. “Would you care to explain?”

"I don't know," Adriaas snapped, her irritation palpable as she sensed his arrogance. "The Gevurah showed up before we began working and took Bygurin, the Senior who oversees my work, and me to Iustitia for questioning. Next thing I know, I'm being charged with attempted murder and held against my will until the trial concludes." She stared into his eyes, unashamed of her predicament.

Annevan, however, averted his gaze and surveyed the room with a judgmental air. "Do you know I helped design the Stagnum you're in?" Disgust was etched on his face. "Do you realize how bad this looks? It’s been decades since anyone with the name Ancaris faced arrest. It's an embarrassment to our family."

She ignored his outburst, having anticipated this reaction before making the call. "I'm not guilty, Annevan," his daughter declared defiantly. "I didn't commit any of the crimes they’re accusing me of. Attempted murder? I want to become a Chesed. It's the complete opposite of that! This is a setup!"

"Ah! So, this is how far your rebellion against me goes?" he paid no attention to Adriaas' words. "Is your ego so wounded that you need to tarnish your reputation just to stain mine? Why would anyone try to set you up?”

It seemed his behavior had worsened since their last encounter. "What are you talking about? This isn't about you!" Adriaas felt a long-lost exasperation. "Did you listen to what I said?"

"Look, I want to understand why you did it. The news is all over Malkuth," Annevan remarked, further fueling her anger. "Anyone with a virtualis can experience the crime."

That piece of information caught her off guard. "What are you talking about?"

"Every experience we go through in a public place is recorded, remember?" her father condescended, treating her as if she were foolish. "Someone leaked the quantum recordings from the Organ Growth Lab in Jargalan. Now, any Malkuthian with access can step in and witness exactly what you did. There’s no point in hiding your crime."

"I don’t care what they can see. I didn’t do it!" she struggled to believe her own father would fall for such a lie. "They should access my birthcloud; they'll see it's all a setup! People hate you, Annevan. Maybe someone wants to destroy you through me," Adriaas offered, sharing a theory that could contextualize the situation.

He laughed, treating her theory as a joke. "As bad as this is, my reputation will survive. I’m not sure about yours, though." The grudge he held against her was larger than she had thought.

"You’re so immature, considering you’ve lived for three centuries," she disregarded his attempts to provoke her anger. "Will you help me or not?"

Her father rolled his eyes and paced across the confined space. "I don’t know if I should. Let’s not forget you’ve focused on spreading venom about me, telling anyone about our differences. Don’t think I’m unaware."

Annevan’s response was assertive, confirming why she had stopped talking to him long before. "I would think you’d have more important matters to attend. Given your status as a superior and being a prominent member of society and all," she was growing weary of their circular arguments. "This goes beyond our personal problems."

"Does it? Because it seems like you want to leverage my influence to save yourself. Connections I’ve built over centuries that you were so quick to criticize until today."

"How would it sound to your peers if a daughter of Ancaris ended up in Sectum?"

"I’d survive. It wouldn’t be the first time." Annevan referenced his own father, who he never spoke of. "Atone for your sins."

Adriaas swallowed her pride, knowing that he still didn’t believe in her innocence. "Father, I need your help, please" she said, the weight of shame bearing down on her for stooping so low.

He remained silent for a moment, absorbing her words. "It will be an uphill battle," Annevan said. "You can secure the best Chokmah defense in Malkuth, but if I’m being honest, the outlook is bleak. Attempted murder by manipulating proteins in lab-grown organs? That’s low, even for you."

"You don’t believe in my innocence!" she was exasperated.

"I’ve already told you," her father stated, feigning weariness with a fake yawn. "It’s challenging to do so with the mounting evidence that accumulates with each passing second."

"So? I’m your blood. You should believe me," she was done sugarcoating her words. "You know, my most optimistic side was expecting you to try after I left Epeculum. Your behavior confirms you’re nothing but an egocentric furk."

"Like you’ve been telling anyone who will listen," Annevan could not hide his anger. "Let’s just say I believe in facts, not fantasies. There’s not much you can do to prove your innocence. But you know what? I’ll play your game and see how far we get. There’s a friend of mine, member of the Second Sephirah who might take your case."

He wasn't helping her out of genuine concern. Annevan wanted to derive enjoyment from the situation, knowing that she would owe him if they kept her out of Sectum.

"Anything else?" he noticed his daughter sinking into her thoughts.

"No," Adriaas swallowed her anger and pride once more. "Thank you."

"Ah! Those words are music to my ears." Annevan showed his arrogance before disappearing. "I'll talk to you later, daughter, and benediximus. You’re going to need it."

***

Thank you for reading! See you in "Chapter LXXXIV - Forced Goodbyes" If you can't wait and wish to continue, Patreon is running with up to 20 chapters (7ish weeks) ahead of RR release.

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Indigo Sapiens.

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