At sunset we came to a dark valley of ghost dunes. All day long I had been thinking of what the Stranger had said about the nature of Worm Feeders, and what could be done about it. There was still a normal person locked inside the Stranger, I thought— someone who wanted to be saved.
“...The sun’s going down. Aren’t you going to stop and rest?”
“No.”
“But won’t you get tired…?”
“No. 0-Servants have greater energy efficiency.”
“0-Servants...?”
“...You have forgotten even this. I truly pity you...”
“You pity me...I’m not the one with the scrambled brains, but okay…”
“In the beginning, Our Lord Syzygy created two types of Servants: 1-Servants like yourselves were created to bring light into the world. 0-Servants were created to remove the darkness.”
“...So you mean, we do things for the Nobles like make their clothes and clean their houses, and you guys basically do the security work.”
“...In a manner of speaking.”
“I get it now...I think Doccia might’ve mentioned 0-Servants once or twice, but I never thought to ask her about it. I just figured it was another type of Servant; nothing super different...wait, so is that why you’re so tall, with the big scary arms??”
“‘Scary arms’…”
“At first I thought it was because you’re a Worm Feeder...but now that I think about it, a brain virus couldn’t really change someone’s body structure…”
“CDY101-9 is not a virus; it is a divine imperative. Your remarks have become quite insolent as of late, and I do not approve.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Well...that just means I’m getting used to you. And it’s only been one day...pretty soon we could be...friends.”
“I have no need for friends.”
“Oh, no one really needs friends, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have them. Friends are fun!”
“...”
“What’s your name? Do you still remember…?”
“...Hizen.”
“Hizen...my name is Meissen. It’s nice to finally be acquainted.”
“…”
“Say, Hizen...do you think, maybe...would it be alright if you let go of me??”
“...”
“Just for a little while. I mean, it’s not like I can get away; I can’t outrun you on these sand dunes…probably...anyway, even if I could I wouldn’t, because I like you! Y’know~???”
“...It is exceedingly bold of you to attempt to manipulate me in this way.”
“Whaaat?? I’m not— I mean, I wasn’t really trying to—”
“I understand. It is the most logical course of action to take.”
“Oh...well...I...I’m sorry; that was pretty underhanded…”
“You needn’t apologize to me. I am not offended.”
“...You’re not?”
“If you are going to apologize, apologize to Our Lord, for showing such an appalling lack of reverence yet again.”
“Urgh…”
“I don’t believe you are stupid enough to think that CDY101-9 could be overcome by mere ‘friendliness’. At least, you would not be, if you had any faith in the power of Our Lord, and in my role in Her divine system...”
“Okay, okay; I’m sorry to Our Lord too! Please don’t lecture me with the big words…”
“‘The big words’...”
“...For what it’s worth, I’m not just trying to overcome the Protocol; I do want to try to be your friend for real. I mean, I want you to let me go, but I also want you to want to let me go, you know? Then we’d both be better off.”
“I understand.”
“I just don’t want you to think I’m a bad person…”
“...You have never been a bad person, Meissen. Misguided, perhaps, but never bad. In your heart of hearts, you live to serve.”
“…”
“Sunset has passed. If you cannot walk during the night, I will carry you.”
“...Thanks...”