CHAPTER 281—CURSE OF SILENCE

The smallest bobbed in front of him. “Leader Tom, the middles decision is not your fault. If it had succeeded, it would have doomed us.” The creature chuckled quietly, with more than an edge of bitterness. “And if you were lesser… well even its failure would also have done so. It’s a credit to your species that did not come to pass and thanks to the Grace Break we can both recover. But make no mistake I needed to declare a Grace Break. I had no choice. It was necessary to enable a reset between our species. The larger ones would not deliver what was required.”

“But,” Tom almost stalked away in despair, instead he settled for massaging his scalp. “This is crazy! I don’t get why you need to die. Why? Explain it? Make it, make sense.”

“Leader Tom,” the smallest’s voice was calm and reasonable. “I personally struggle to understand how the biological, non-memory transfer process works. The idea of not coming out with fully formed intelligence is strange. How does a person emerge from just environmental stimuli? How is it possible to grow smarter and more complete as you grow older? I can’t answer that. The very concept is creepy and makes me feel ill.” It jiggled side to side to show its distress. “I know the idea somehow works, but I find it hard to reconcile what that means. We, the chosen when breeding do not copy memories across we donate them. I’ll never have more knowledge than I have now. I will be contributing to the future of my tribe as is the way of my people and when I do, I will be lesser for it and honestly I can’t wait for it to happen. The wholeness I currently possess seems wrong.”

“Wait,” Michael blurted out suddenly. “You fracture, you become less complete. Does that explain why the elder speaks like it does?”

The smallest stopped talking and spun to face Michael. “Insightful one. That is correct, but hardly an important issue currently.” It turned back to him. “Leader Tom, it’s not my right to say my way is better or that genetic transfer is ridiculous and doomed to failure. But we both know genetic data reproduction is a horrendous process coming from a world with stupid natural laws.” It paused and they could both sense its amusement. “Not my place to state such a thing. We are different and that is fine. But I will ask you to save what remains of my tribe.”

“Save? Why are you asking. I’m already bound by the contract to do my best.”

It shook its body side to side, slower than usual like it was emphasising a point. “No, no, you’re not bound. Or at least we’re willing to amend that part of the contract. If you desire revenge, freedom to make your own choice, then we are happy to facilitate it.”

“Even if it means your death?”

The smallest bobbed up and down.

“Yes,” Tom whispered. “You would? Why? No, don’t answer that. I know why.” He shut his eyes. Did he want to abandon them right here? Was the benefit of their continued cooperation in clearing the zones, worth the risk of them withdrawing their aid, right when they needed it most and killing someone via a lack of action? What felt right? Tom shook his head. “No, you don’t need to change anything. If it is safe for us to protect you, then we will.”

“Leader Tom, you will never be as safe as it was when we first met as there will be two less of us. Through practically only the missing middle lowers the firepower we have available. But in terms of the risk of the chosen not doing their best to save you, that will never happen again. I guarantee it. All of us will sacrifice ourselves before we allow one of you to die.”

“Without you being here how can you guarantee that?” Michael inquired.

The smallest shifted positions. “Honoured Michael, that is a valid question and I thank you for it. The memory that I shape, the one that I leave with my departure will help, but the shame of the middle choosing to Strakan will be the primary deterrent. It was part of our tribe and what it did was shameful. Its memories were clearly broken and we should have stabilised it a long time before it resorted to what it did. That outcome was the tribe’s fault and the embarrassment we feel will ensure your safety.”

“But I thought I was safe earlier.”

“Leader Tom. Previously, I hoped you would be safe at least in terms of life and death. The unbalanced middle was always going to hurt you. I knew it and I disagreed with it but that was not sufficient for me to initiate a Grace Break.”

Now that Tom knew the true consequences of a Grace Break he fully agreed with the smallest.

“In hindsight, I should have,” the smallest continued. “But I did not even consider that strakan would be in play. With that history, I’m certain the remaining tribe will do its very best to keep you safe. They owe you.”

“That’s great,” Tom said. “I guess I don’t have anything else…”

“Are all the tribes this small?”

“Curious Michael, that’s hardly relevant.”

“With all due respect you are the second alien I’ve spoken to and Mus had no desire to talk about how his society functioned.”

“Anthropologist Michael, if you must know our tribe is usually larger. We were limited by the numbers we could bring. Our wider tribe when we left numbered fifty-three. The lack of support, even if it was only for a couple of weeks, created instability in the middles. In hindsight, we should not have bought any.”

“Michael,” Tom clicked his fingers. “Let’s get back on track. What do you think?”

“If they consent to allowing us to use your contract binding when it’s available, then we can continue. I’ll make sure the wording is watertight. If they accept that, then I don’t see any reason not to bring them.”

Michael’s point was valid. He was not sure he was willing to trust them just on faith. “Smallest, don’t take this the wrong way, but Michael’s right. The others won’t let you help us without the certainty of an extra contract. But don’t take me the wrong way,” he said hurriedly. “Even without the contract, I’ll still do my personal best to get everyone to safety. We’ll just do them in a way that we don’t need to rely on the chosen to help in fights. Something like clear a zone by ourselves and then come back for them.”

“Tom, you can’t offer that.”

He spun angrily to face the other man. “And why’s that Michael? Carrying them as opposed to just ourselves will only slow us a little, and the amount of experience we get probably won’t drop by that much.”

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“Slayer titles exist Tom. Our experience will be lower and it will stop us from getting to treasure rooms because of the path we’ll need to travel. We’ll have to focus on gather zones and avoid kill quest zones. Third, that sacrifice is for another competition race, which makes it even more foolish.”

“The only thing that matters in this trial is survival. If helping a non terror species doesn’t threaten that, then that is what we do.” Tom knew the argument was mostly hollow. On the most basic of levels, aiding the chosen without a reward was a losing proposition.

Michael hesitated, probably assessing Tom’s passion versus logical arguments. “Can we even do it? Is there a path where we don’t require their help and can gather double the resources as usual to save them? If the zones are getting more difficult and complex as we drop down the layers, then whether we can even deliver is a consideration. And Tom I’m pretty sure they are.”

He thought for a moment. Michael would not claim what he had without evidence. “Your view is that the kill quest numbers even scaled for the extra chosen were more than in the first set of zones?”

“Yes, but there’s more than that. We’ve got the data points of our challenges versus what Vidja and Selena have had to overcome. It’s not just people. I think there is also a partial scaling for rank. Kill and gathering numbers have increased because of the chosen’s higher ranks.”

With the considerable help they had been getting from the chosen, completing each zone had not been that difficult. Tom had not taken the time to explore it further. “How much? What’s the damage?”

Michael frowned. “The increase in difficulty is around three. Which is not a problem in layer seven but when we reach three and four?”

Tom shut his eyes in response to that. By layer three, it would not take three days for them to clear the zone. It might even be the full sixteen days. “We can adjust strategies. One zone per layer. It will give us more time to get through the harder challengers.” Tom looked hopefully at Michael, but the healer’s expression was clear. They were no longer talking about a small sacrifice to get the chosen through and if he was going to treat their team as a democracy he was not sure he could get the votes, Rahmat, Michael and probably Clare would support him. Beyond that? The rest would most likely decide based on team humanity and Tom couldn’t blame them.

“Leader Tom and Analytical Michael, you don’t have to make such a choice. They will accept a new contract. I can guarantee that.” The smallest zoomed over to be right in front of Michael. “Healing one, are you happy with a situation where we help after being recontracted?”

Cautiously, Michael nodded.

“Healing one, will you guide my people to safety?”

Michael bowed his head. “Smallest I’ll be honest. If we’re straight out carrying you, I’m not sure I can support it. However, if you’re helping us and the contract ensures, we won’t get betrayed. Then yes. I’m in. I’m very happy to partner with you guys again.”

“Good,” the smallest one sounded pleased. “If that is the case, then can I talk to Tom for a moment in private.”

Michael nodded and then walked away. The privacy bubble around them became more powerful. He could now only see silhouettes of those outside.

“Leader Tom, I am not as arrogant as the elder. I won’t think about presuming an understanding of humans and I don’t need to. You were willing to sacrifice yourself for others. That is admirable and worthy of being one of the sanatios chosen.”

“Bullshit. This was all because of my shitty mistake. And since then… I don’t know. I should have discussed it with others.”

“Leader Tom, if perceptive Michael thought that was the case he would have interceded. Anyway, I would like to discuss a personal gift for you…”

Panic gripped him. This was not right. “NO!” he yelled at the smallest. “My stupidity cost you and the middle your lives. I don’t want any gifts.”

“Or it saved the other seven, Leader Tom. You know that now I have declared a Grace Break certain restrictions have been lifted. I’m in contact with my GOD and this is its will.”

“Your GOD?”

“Correct Leader Tom. Our species has only ever had one GOD, and it asked us to come here. It was the GOD in our own universe and was very active. It is one of a number of GODs here. I find it very confusing to be in a world with multiple GODs.”

“And what does your GOD have to say.”

“It wishes to grant you a boon.”

“I don’t deserve.”

“And a truth, Leader Tom. My god is telling me to say that first. The future when multiple GODs are at play is impossible to predict. Short terms actions are more clear. It is my GOD’s view that any path where humans’ secret was hidden from us would have increased the chance of everyone dying by over ninety percent. Your moment of indiscretion saved both our tribes.”

Tom hesitated as he processed that. “But if I had kept my mouth closed. Let Everlyn communicate the need. The delay would have been a minute at most. I can’t see that length of time changing anything.”

“Leader Tom! Arrogant fool I have shared a Truth from a GOD!” The smallest actually sounded angry. “It is not up to you or I to doubt its veracity. Sharing a truth is not lightly done, but doubting it! That,” the smallest roared. “Is not acceptable. I am not a GOD, I’m a mortal like you. But the answer to your confusion is not hard to interpret. It is clear a minutes’ delay would have stopped the cascade of events that led to a better path for all of us.”

“This is.” Tom put his hands on his head as his emotion roiled inside. Outside the privacy bubble, almost all of them were looking at him. He forced his arms to his side to not show how unbalanced he was.

“Please, thank your GOD for sharing. I appreciate the truth.”

The smallest bobbed happily.

“My GOD courtesy of the Grace Break is also extending to you what is a blessing or a curse depending on your viewpoint.”

“What do you mean?”

“Leader Tom, Unfortunately I and you do not have a choice. My GOD wishes this.” Its voice changed. “For the crime of dooming some of my children because of a careless word and then saving them for a reason other than self interest I curse you with Social Silence.”

There was a ding in Tom’s head.

“What? How?” He knew something had been done to him. A geas, curse or potentially a blessing placed on him without choice or consent. He was a leaf in the wind in comparison to these forces.

“Leader Tom. Before you get angry, maybe you should check exactly what you have received.”

He shut his eyes and stepped into the system room.

A new skill was displayed on the wall.

Skill: Social Silence – Tier 7

This is considered by some to be a powerful social skills and others the most insidious of curses. A spirit gifted with precongnition keeps watch over you and if you are about to say something that is likely to have a moderate negative social impact or more you will be stricken with two seconds of silence.

The same attempt to convey an idea may only be blocked three times, unless the recipient mentally acknowledges the block as being in his favour.

This skill has been applied as a curse and cannot be removed.

This skill has zero levels and can not be turned off.

Part of Tom wanted to scream in fury at having this skill forced on him. “DEUS is this fair?”

Silence greeted him.

Tom was not at all surprised. DEUS had repeated shown herself to be less hands on than the other gods who had been manipulating this trial while DEUS had done nothing directly to influence the four human groups who had come here.

He opened his eyes, and the smallest was right in front of him, quivering with excitement.

“Blessed of SANATORES, I hope the skill my god has seen fit to bestow upon you serves you well.”

Tom tried to speak and nothing came out. Try as he might, he could not form words, and he knew why. The smallest might have overlooked the rudeness of his response, but the new skill suggested it wouldn’t have done so completely. The diatribe he had been planning would have cost him as a result the anger died out of him. The blessing or curse, for better or worse, was applied and there was no removing it. “I hope so too,” he relented. “It will take some getting used to. Are you aware of what I received?”

The smallest moved side to side in the air, informing him that while it had been the conduit of the curse it did not know any of the details.

“I guess there is no harm in telling you. The gift is listed on my character sheet as a curse, and I’m not sure it isn’t.”