Another checkpoint awaited me at the foyer entrance, past the section where the Hungarians’ tent city still added irregular splashes of colour to an otherwise pristine expanse. Rather than the business’ usual practice of ignoring mortal loiterers until someone could be bothered bringing them to management’s attention, hell had apparently frozen over and afflicted the two camps with cooperation.
A small crowd of Hungarians stood in a haphazard line in front of the main doors, where a couple of nervous-looking Security staff guarded the exit reading off what looked like briefing instructions before waving their charges through two at a time. Or – I frowned and looked again – one goon. The other was Djehuti.
Of all the people I might have expected to be down at ground zero, the Head of IT was not among them. Firstly because it was almost unheard of to find him anywhere outside his office. Secondly because he should have been in charge of Helpdesk, a.k.a. the system we’d forced into critical shutdown. I’d have thought the whole office would be clamouring at him to boot it up again.
Or, I reconsidered, as Djehuti glanced up from his latest send-off to catch me staring from the open lift, at least the parts of it not on Helpdesk. I wasn’t sure how many of them were invested in IT’s meaningless KPIs, either.
Could everyone have stopped caring?
Djehuti lowered the hand holding the phone with the look of a puppy caught with its nose in the family dinner. The lift doors began to close, and I whipped out a hand to keep them in place, gesturing with the other for Gia to start the decontamination process. Djehuti, or anyone with managerial access, was a good early candidate to exempt from brainwashing. He’d also be able to cut Baldr off from runic magic. We’d need it. From the way the former’s eyes passed over both demon lords and returned to me, I surmised he’d estimated something strange was up and simply didn’t care. Relative to the rest of the day’s events, it was probably justified.
I gave him a friendly smile from across the foyer, which only deepened the creases already claiming defensive territory across his features. My boots clicked across the marble, amplified over the existing chorus of echoes from the more subdued apartment evictees.
“What,” I began, barging my way to the head of the queue while Gia half-jogged behind me into laptop range, “are you doing?” I kept up the smile. It put people off-guard. Especially when it came from Odin.
The Egyptian straightened. He gazed at me with the kind of fed-up expression I was used to seeing on Helpdesk’s lower echelons. “What I can,” he answered as I drew close.
I peered past him to a slice of Singapore’s central business district peeking past the foyer’s entrance. It featured a few more smouldering piles of rubble than usual, and a couple of precarious half-collapsed buildings threatening to disintegrate further. A cloud of light dust obscured the sunlight coming in through the glass in a surreal, otherworldly overcast. Providence’s physical manifestation was sitting at an imperfect angle, semi-intersected with a neighbouring skyscraper. A thin strip of road emerged out of the carnage shortly before it reached the door. While I watched, a small chunk of concrete smashed into the narrow section of pitted bitumen to join a collection of other debris littering its surface. In the distance, over a series of fallen struts obstructing the street, a pair of Hungarians newly-released into the wild visibly jumped mid-clamber.
“Oh,” I said sarcastically, having seen what I needed. “Well, that explains everyth –” The impact of a flat palm slapping across my cheek cut me off, leaving a stinging tail behind it. I bit back a reflexive ‘ow’ and reappraised the manager in front of me. Striking one’s superiors might not have been prohibited in Providence, but was nonetheless avoided for the same reason you didn’t go sticking metal forks into electrical sockets. And Djehuti resorting to violence, however minor, was a rare occasion. The god of words and numbers was a thinker, not a warmonger. And while what he could do with said words and numbers was terrifying, as was standard for most people at management tier, Odin wasn’t known for being a pushover either.
“You’re lucky,” I began calmly, as Djehuti returned the hand to his side, “that I’m not in the mood for conflict. If I was, that little action probably would have cost you your arm. If you were still conscious to see it.”
From the corner of my eye, I could see Gia typing rapidly into a newly-spawned laptop, and sent her a stray thought of encouragement. The Security employee – Tū, one of the Māori warriors and one of Quil’s main competitors for bottom rung on Providence’s anger management leaderboard – eyed her in between managing the Hungarians. Djehuti didn’t spare her a glance.
“You’ve been missing since Thursday,” the god of words growled at me. “Not answering calls, not answering emails, all while the business collapses and one global cataclysm piles on top of another. I’m done listening to you, or any of the other self-absorbed sociopaths at your level. You all think you know better than the staff who get their hands dirty. Get out of my sight and leave me to do my job. We’ve been managing just fine.”
I ignored him and shared a brief glance with Tū, who had the good sense to pretend, however badly, that the burden of Hungarian-focused relocation was sufficiently occupying his full attention, no doubt in the hope it would prevent him being smote by association. Quil would have to hold the medal a little longer. I took a moment to stare at my fingers thoughtfully, as if considering which piece of supercharged adornment to trigger.
The Hungarians vaulting the strut had succeeded, and were now in the process of fleeing hastily down the road. They didn’t get far before several lumps I’d taken for more rubble launched out of the side of a building and revealed themselves to be people in military camouflage. They seized the arms of both escapees and disappeared together out of eyeshot around the side of a building. Interesting.
“We all know you were hoping I was gone,” I said, observing Djehuti’s lack of surprise at my reaction. I wondered if he knew about the mind-reading. I’d have to account for that. “Employing mortals now, are we? They don’t seem to be making it very far.”
Next to me, Gia closed the laptop with a soft click. It shimmered out of existence in her hands to be replaced by a new one for his companion.
“It’s called negotiation,” Djehuti said dryly. He tapped the tip of one long fingernail against the darkened screen of his phone. “In a surprising reversal of fortunes, the local government isn’t sending anyone to us, and we can’t leave. Not with that weapon out there. Besides, we’re not leaving our new scouts vulnerable. R&D are equipping them with transportable low-level escape magic, and have eyes and ears on them from a distance.”
I folded my arms. “And aside from the fact none of these bystanders have any reason to be loyal to the forces they’re now discovering have been watching from the shadows, how exactly is that going? If one didn’t know better, one might think this was a flimsy excuse for a hostage release.” Boosted by the foyer acoustics, my voice rolled clearly out around the hall.
Djehuti glanced at the suddenly discomforted Hungarians nearest us, and glowered. “It can be both,” he said. “I may be a bleeding heart, but I do realise we also need serviceable agents out there. You weren’t around to do it, and Operations is in shambles. Leadership is a shambles, and yes, I am including you. As next in line, I’m stepping in.”
“Careful,” I said, darkening my tone a shade for appearances, though privately I was impressed. It was the most openly antagonistic thing I’d ever heard coming out of the senior manager’s mouth. “Runes aren’t the only tool I have to work with, lest you forget.”
Djehuti waved me off dismissively, the abrupt motion sending the ankh on his neck twirling at the end of its chain. “Why are you really here, Odin? I’m not fixing the task manager. It’s the least of our current concerns. And given its state of corruption, it would be better for everyone to sort out their own worshippers for a while.”
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
I raised an eyebrow at him. I’d already been fairly convinced the system was degrading, especially after seeing the roots of the world tree running through it, but it was nice to have it confirmed. “What’s your latest assessment on that metric?”
“I’ve sent you my final report.”
Final? That was ominous. “Just tell me.”
“This was inevitable,” he asserted, twitching as another, larger piece of rubble fell to the ground with a loud clang outside the entrance. “No, not today’s shutdown attack. Not Siphon’s influence, either. The bigger picture. All the signs point to an immune response fighting an infection. That last designation refers to us, in case you weren’t clear.”
“Do I look confused? Let me guess. Yggdrasil didn’t take well to the pruning shears.”
He grimaced. “No, it did not. We pushed too far on this one. Yes, we could repair the problem, push it back, potentially even for a long time. But it’s a delaying tactic. The damage runs deep. Helpdesk is our canary in the mines, our early warning sign. Unaddressed, the issues will worsen and spread. If we don’t put a stop to it soon, we’ll find more breaking down than a few pieces of computer software. To be clear, that means us.”
“Good news on that front, then,” I said wryly, “because it’s starting to look like we might not last that long.”
“For once we agree. Are you done, or are you set on sending me away? Because I will push back. These gates need proper supervision. We also need to find the heart of the problem out there and shut it down before one of them gets the bright idea of bringing it here. Once that’s done, then we can think about restoring order.”
“I’m so far ahead of you I think my own speeds might have given me whiplash.” I sighed dramatically and stretched my fingers, showing off the still mostly-fake jewellery adorning the digits. “I’m going out.”
“It’s your funeral.” The Egyptian looked neither particularly optimistic about my chances, or worried for my wellbeing.
Under usual circumstances, he’d have had a point. But I had an ace up my sleeve. A brainwashed one, sure, but I hadn’t spent most of my life dealing with similar victims for nothing.
Conscious my contact was being watched over by Amulet Tez, I stepped back from the entrance a few paces and opened a new visitation to Regina. I’d get one shot at this, but it was possible. There were two ways to avoid prophecy, after all. Over the last few days we’d become complacent, relying on access to the flashier counter-prophecy resources at hand. But you could always fall back to flying under the radar. Act like everything was going to the soothsayer’s plan on the surface, while secretly twisting it to yours.
In short, Tez had to think he would win.
Not much had changed since my last check-in at Siphon’s last stand. Regina and Neetu had taken pity on Ngai and moved him to marginally more comfortable lodgings – in this case, a swivel chair not unlike my old one before Eris had broken it into inoperability – though he was still encased in a secure forcefield. He and Neetu were engaged in heated argument, a fortunate distraction.
I couldn’t spare the attention to listen.
My demon lord was leaning with her back to the wall, gaze distant. Orange light flickered from the scar on her palm. Focused on managing the containment fields, likely. Slipping up there meant obliteration to Siphon, with only Neetu to pull her out again.
Very carefully, I eased my way into the edge of her concentration.
“Don’t react, stay calm, and pretend I’m not here,” I told Regina, sidling up next to her with a finger to my lips for good measure. “Not a word, not a motion, don’t even look at me. No one can know. Not Neetu, not Tez, and not Lucifer. Understand?”
For a moment, her eyes started to drift in my direction, before she caught herself and tried to recapture her earlier stance of investment in the argument. Amulet Tez still hung from her neck, which put his field of view away from the demon lord rather than towards. Good.
When she didn’t move, I realised I’d come on too strong. You can speak privately, I clarified. Just don’t make it obvious. I need your help.
How?
“First and foremost,” I stressed, letting the urgency in my voice do some of the talking for me, “don’t speak a word of this to anyone but me until I give you the all-clear. Ever. Today, a week from now, even a thousand years from now on your deathbed. I was never here. If you do, it will be foreseen, we will lose, and the world will become a living hell.”
She swallowed, the lump forming visibly in her throat. Is this to do with why you froze earlier?
“Yes. We’re at war, and as crazy as it sounds, you and I are on the right side of it. Yes, I am aware that’s what anyone would say, especially the ones who don’t question it, and yes, I’m appealing to your better nature. I need to know if I can trust my high priestess. Because if not, we’re all fucked.” I gave it a moment to sink in. “What say you?”
I let the question hang. To all appearances, the demon lord continued to lounge against the wall, holding the invisible forces together shaping the balance of power in the city. A momentary surge of – well, pride – seized me. Not much could stop a world’s worth of gods in their tracks. It was only possible here because of a very specific set of circumstantial conditions, but it didn’t change the fact it had happened, and Regina was turning it to her favour. Like any of my children would.
Tez told me to let him know if you contacted me, the demon lord answered after a short pause.
It was answer enough. I let a breath rumble out of my nose and forced the hint of moisture out of the corners of my eyes. “Did he mention why?”
I can ask –
“Don’t,” I cut in hastily. “If he brings it up, change the subject and don’t listen. The information operates like a virus. I am telling you this now so you don’t let curiosity get the better of you later. Everyone likes to blame Pandora for this sort of mistake, but forget no one bothered to explain why she shouldn’t open the box with the big red button on it. So that’s why. Once you know, it’s too late. Assume your spine will crack backwards and your brain will bleed out your nose, and everyone’s else’s will do the same. Practically-speaking, the end result won’t be much different.”
If you’re trying to terrify me, Regina said, bleeding the aforementioned emotion along with her words, then it’s working. She was doing a good job of hiding it. Aside from her fingers tightening where they gripped her opposite elbows, it didn’t show.
“Good,” I replied. “Because I‘m scared.” I didn’t bother holding it back. “I’m as scared as I’ve ever been, and I’ve seen more than my share of horrors. Folk love to point at and blame me for the world’s problems like I’m the worst thing in it. It doesn’t occur to them that when their boogieman gets the spooks, they should probably worry.”
Back in the office foyer, Gia was moving on to the Hungarians. I had told her to decontaminate everyone. Who knew, perhaps it would make a difference.
So what do you need me to do? Regina asked.
I dragged my eyes around the warehouse. The immediate space was a little more open than I’d have preferred, but a few large containers blocked line of sight not far off. Yay for enemy supplies. “Unblock a path around Providence,” I directed. “I’m coming through. Do you need coordinates?”
No. I can feel it. Echoes of said feeling came through with the words; Providence spearing through the city, its cutting spire bringing with it a festering wound on reality.
I nodded. “Do it now.”
Back in the foyer, I shot a triumphant smile at Djehuti, where the Head of IT had been watching me with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. It could have been one of Odin’s. It could have been one of mine. As long as Djehuti bought it, the difference didn’t seem as important as it used to.
“Whatever it is, I really don’t care,” he pre-empted.
Done, Regina stated across the city.
“Aw, that’s too bad,” I answered the Egyptian, splaying the fingertips of one hand across the door of the entrance. I pushed outwards, swinging the portal open so that one arm stuck out into the vacuum zone. My soul remained intact. “If you’d shown a little more interest, I might have been inclined to share how I did it.” I stepped fully outdoors, still in one piece, and jammed one foot in the door while the demon lords hurried out with me.
Djehuti stared back with a resigned expression.
I grinned. “But you missed your window. Have fun with your scouts. I’ll see you again when I’ve fixed all our problems.”
Materialising into Siphon’s primary stockpile, my back to one of the larger containers, I had to admit Odin and I did share a bit of the bastard gene. Such as that was a thing. You had to, to get away with this kind of audacity. Whether by insanity or desperation, here I was, sneaking into the centre of the universe and out again, heading blind into a battle of wits with a seer, with my only advantage being they didn’t know they were fighting it. Prizewinnings: control of reality. No pressure.
And perhaps something else. I didn’t know what it meant to be a god of change. There weren’t many of them. Mentorship opportunities weren’t exactly thick on the ground. Maybe it meant nothing more than being my usual self, albeit with a bit more of a kick behind me for once. Though it felt like that defeated the point.
I was sprinting head-first into suicide, dragging my allies with me, and somehow getting away with it. A field of timers ticked down behind me, counting down to their catastrophic conclusions. The Facilities team in their looping cage, the rifts eating matter from the world. Baldr’s exponential rise, Hera’s impromptu army, and the other, worse collective being held at bay by Mayari. Not to mention whatever Janus was planning away in the background.
I had a head start, but it could only last so long. Inertia could only provide so much momentum.
What the hell was I doing?
What I could, I supposed. Djehuti had the right of it. I waved at Regina to restore the containment field around the office, even as I instructed Gia to decontaminate her fellow demon lord. Another ally clear.
I was doing what I could.