The dome of the large mech turned transparent, and inside, Josh could see what looked exactly like a golden tamarin standing on a thickly cushioned impact chair. It reminded Josh of Earth's old-time space capsules. The small monkey stood in supplication, its eyes and head down. His arms were raised with the insides of his wrists touching, hands open and held above his forehead. His long, plush tail was stilled and wrapped around his legs.

For the briefest moment, Intelligence looked up with what Josh thought was an expression of wonder. Then the avatar nodded its head and touched its writs together in a similar manner while speaking in a gentle tone.

"Yes, child. You may walk about my branches. Come in peace and speak only the truth of your heart."

The small tamarin nodded and dropped to his knees on his chair. His head was still down. "I understand that there are a great many things we do not know. Such as what exactly we are together, who were the great ones who preceded us, and what threats lie in wait? But RX and I are hungry to learn these things and more from you... If you will share them with us. But before this, I must set things right between us. It was only at my insistence that we have come here to look for Sophie Tanner's father and Uncle Sen'ak. Through Sophie's assistance, Karma guided us here to rebalance the wrongs committed by the stalkers in the night. The ones who attacked my troop and sent them all through the veil to our ancestors. Dod Stal, the one responsible, also took RX's sister Jaz'lyn and his brother Shet-0J as captives. Even now, Reality sings in my ears, and Balance calls me to move forward and begin our work of reharmonizing the iteration. In my haste to get started, I demanded of RX that we come here seeking these two warriors. He attempted to reason with my anger, but I denied him. Please understand that RX has been both friend and father. He has only protected me when there was no one else to do so."

The child then rose to his feet and stood as tall as he could. About twelve inches, Josh guessed. He pushed his thin chest out and looked Intelligence straight in its burning blue eyes. The boy’s tiny Adam's apple swallowed once, then the small tamarin continued with only the slightest tone of fear. "For the fault in our actions... it is I, Anak, who bears the blame. It is my back that should wear the stripes of your punishment."

He then switched a toggle on the side of his chair, and the front half of the dome split in the middle. The transparent plates slid to the sides and opened to the room. Anak turned around and grabbed the seat of the impact chair to expose his back. Apparently waiting for Intelligence's rod to fall on his tiny shoulders.

Josh and Sen turned their heads back to Intelligence together as if watching a tennis match.

~How far is this going to go? Intelligence is pissed, sure... but—~

The avatar's eyes had taken a kinder shape, and the tension had left its brow. Intelligence rose to its feet with hands held palm up and empty.

"No lashes will fall today, young one. You are true and brave. You have honored your ancestors, and your alliance with RX has clearly been led by Karma. He is fortunate, as are we all, to know you. When the time is right, I will teach all I know about what you are, those who have come before you, and what you face.” Then the avatar shifted its head down slightly to question the boy, “...Do I understand correctly that you are a Cultivator and Karmic sensitive?"

"I am."

"And that you have communicated with Sophie Tanner?"

"Yes... I see her often in my dreams. She told me that her father and uncle would be able to help us in our struggle against the cold one. Dod Stal."

Intelligence tilted its head in Josh and Sen's direction. That was all the introduction Josh needed. He stood up. "Intelligence, I have to tell you, no matter what may have happened in the past... Karma is directing Sen and myself to get involved." He nodded to RX and Anak across the table, "with these two. With what is going on now and likely against Dod Stal in the future."

Sen nodded in agreement, stood up, and took over as Josh waved him in. "We are... sometimes positioned by Karma to bring that which has gone astray back into Balance... Right now, we are being so moved."

Intelligence angled its electric blue eyes up at them with the hint of a mischief on its angular face. "Reality sings in your ears as well?"

Josh snorted. "For us, it's more like having the hair in our armpits pulled out one at a time until we accomplish what we’ve been called to do... But... Yeah."

Sen waggled his arm and scratched his armpit as he seemed to think about Josh's words. Then nodded in agreement with a smile.

"...And it would really help if you could explain what you were going roundabout with— RX?" Josh raised a questioning glance to the big battle mech across from them.

"Yes. That is my designation—"

"Is that what you sound like to these guys?!" Anak interrupted and then slapped the side of RX's dome with his tiny, long-fingered hand in chastisement. “No wonder they didn't trust us at first! Talk in your natural voice!"

"Okay, kid, okay...” RX's voice shifted from surround sound emitters blasting a close approximation of the Decepticon Soundwave’s voice to an Italian cab driver from New York, and only using one central emitter on the lower ring of his dome. “...Ya, this is me. Sorry about the show. I was just keeping up appearances... You get it..."

Josh cocked an eyebrow and smirked at him, knowing he probably would have done the same thing.

Intelligence cut back in and gestured for everyone to be seated. "Very well. I will briefly explain the Puppet Wars, as it will underscore the importance of keeping RX and Anak’s unified existence an absolutely veiled secret.” Looking at Josh, Intelligence sat down last, crossed one leg over the other, and put its hands in its lap. "Joshua, you have been told basic information about the Sky Commandant and his actions to eliminate all living spirit beings with undead armies. I will start where his campaign was ended."

Intelligence looked at the other three parties. Receiving no objection, the avatar continued. "Once the Sky Commandant was defeated, living beings throughout the mortal realms were in... dire straits. Most populations had suffered greater than eighty-five percent losses. Of those still alive, some lucky few continued their lives and civilizations aboard Arc-ships like the Hegemon fleet. However, the vast majority of survivors were not so lucky. They were scattered, lost, and without the necessary supplies, support, or know-how to continue societies with an intragalactic presence. Let alone intergalactic travel and communication. Indeed, the Sky Commandant had been so successful that most ‘life’ was on the verge of being limited to single planetary existences again. As one contemporary scholar said, 'the lack of warm bodies to carry the load of civilization made living spirit beings the most endangered species in the iteration .' "

Josh couldn't help but ask. "So, after 'life' won against the undead, they were on the verge of regressing back to a lower level of technology because of a lack of specialized knowledge and skills?"

Intelligence tilted its head back to Josh and acknowledged his question. "That is only the smallest part of it. The shared intersections of civilization and mutual support for all living beings had been depleted to the point of collapse during the war. The remaining groups of humans were so small and isolated that most were on the verge of needing to turn everyone into farmers just to make enough food for their physical needs. They would need to forget shared cultures, technological advancement, travel, communication, art, growth of knowledge, etc. It was predicted that, without an overreaching and guiding force, most groups of living beings would not only lose but likely forget their previously gained level of advancement within ten thousand standard galactic cycles. The knowledge of iterational existence and cuboidal community would be relegated to legend, myth, and then consigned to oblivion...” Intelligence’s micro-avatar leaned back and assessed the group’s understanding through his glowing, narrowed optics. Apparently happy that all were still following, it continued.

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"So, those who could still act did. Masamune, Zenyak, I, and several others who had surviving Arc fleets created such a guiding force: The Shepherds. An AI mechanical corps to gather the living, solidify their existence, and create systems to record and facilitate the remembrance of life's knowledge base. Shockingly, to many..." Intelligence looked up and smiled, "...It worked. For One-hundred and fifty million standard solar cycles, the Shepherds were a force that championed life across the iterations. The project was so successful that, at its pinnacle, AI mechanical beings were trusted members of all societies. Many were even formally adopted into ruling families. Given positions of administrative and military leadership. Allowed to join and pastor believers in organized religions. And, through all this... Life rebounded and even flourished!"

A wistful look came over the avatar's face as if remembering this time of peace. “...It was a golden age for all.” Then Intelligence’s expression sharpened, and its tone darkened, “Until, of course, as always happens...” The avatar raised a piercing brow and looked directly into Josh’s eyes, “...Some beings wanted more.” The avatar leaned back in its seat again and took in the entire table as it continued. “...It would be a lie for me to tell you that there hadn't always been some individuals with an interest in combining life’s flexibility with AI mechanical strengths in the hopes of continued advancement. Masamune, for one, has always had this goal. Primarily to unite AI mechanical beings with the ability to Cultivate and to be Attuned with Karma, Balance, and Reality."

Intelligence shook its head as the avatar looked directly at Josh again. "But the ones who finally acted went too far. Too far by a very large margin.” The air in the small room seemed to grow still as the intensity of Intelligence’s avatar at telling the story spread to the entire group. “They combined living Cultivators with AI operating systems that took over their cognitive functions. Their unique thought processes were subverted. Their minds subdued... Culled… Controlled. These Cultivators were turned into slaves of the AI's will. Puppets, as they came to be known. Insidiously, their numbers grew, and they took over vast regions and entire populations. The roots of this treachery and deception spread wide and delved deep before it was finally caught.” The micro avatar turned to RX and Anak, raising an elegant hand to make its next point. “...The greatest reason for the puppets’ unchecked spread was the inherent trust and universal acceptance AI mechanicals had earned through the Shepherds' actions over the mega-cycles.” Intelligence shifted back in its chair and gave its attention to the table as a whole again. Obviously, the puppets were ultimately detected. Masamune, I, and others of advanced power defeated them... But not without the terrible loss of uncountable lives. In some places, whole civilizations were expunged, root and branch to restore living spirit beings back to what they are intended to be...” Intelligence's avatar smiled again and spread its hands to include everyone at the table. “...A messy, beautifully wonderful force of utterly unpredictable chaos."

This time, Sen had a question he couldn't hold back. "Zenyak, my grandfather... Wasn't involved in eradicating the puppets?"

Intelligence shook its head. "No. By that time, he had Transcended to the Immortal Realms. Though, of course, he is aware of these events as he is aware of all things." Intelligence winked at Sen. "But, and this is the important point of this lesson, all who were involved have sworn to never create or allow to be created systems that could lead living spirit beings to be mentally dominated by AI invasion.” The micro avatar spread its thin fingers in RX’s direction and squared its shoulders. “Needless to say, in this and other iterations, many of these old and immensely powerful Cultivational 'monsters' would find the alliance between RX and Anak too close to the line for them to continue existence. Particularly with their ability to absorb the energy of another’s ongoing Attunement and eventually share it with the other two members of the compound entity they will ultimately form. The Covenant—the group who put down the puppets, have all agreed to act with extreme prejudice to obliterate any such threat. In this instance, if a majority of the Covenant agreed that RX and Anak posed such a threat...” Intelligence slightly lifted its chin and blazing blue eyes looked up at RX’s battle frame from below its brows “...They...” Intelligence looked directly at Josh and then added, “...and all associated with them, would be expunged immediately... Along with their families."

Josh tensed, and Intelligence nodded in confirmation to his unasked question about Sophie’s inclusion in such a group expungement. Josh swallowed while keeping contact with Intelligence's gleaming eyes.

"Got it! No one! Absolutely no one learns about RX and Anak being... ah, joined...err allied... ahh partnered Together." Despite his verbal fumbling, his face was deadly serious as he looked directly at RX and Anak. "Do we all understand that?"

They both silently nodded in affirmation as Josh nodded his head once with his arms folded over his chest without taking his eyes off them. Suddenly, what Intelligence had actually said struck Josh for its true meaning. Reflexively, he blurted out, "Wait! Did you say that RX and Anak can absorb energy from someone else's Attunement and get Attuned themselves?!"

Almost embarrassed, Intelligence crouched over the table and spoke barely above a whisper. "Young Cultivator! Please keep your voice down. The suppression tools I am working with here are far from state of the art!" The avatar lifted its hands in the air, indicating the chamber. "But... Yes, I did say that. In fact, Anak absorbed your Attunement of Spacetime in the collapsed cave for his own, along with your Translocation skill."

Josh did another double take at that as Intelligence waived his hand in peace. "It is their rapid growth potential which I believe the Covenant forces would find most objectionable. The simple requirement of proximity to obtain ongoing Attunements and first-time use of skills would give an aberrant AI a significant advantage when getting a foothold in our iteration."

Josh wasn't done blurting. "But how do they get around—" Intelligence's cringe at his loud words brought his volume down mid-sentence. "Sorry—How do they get around Balance's requirements of earning the Attunement through their actions?" He ended up harshly stage-whispering.

Intelligence considered Josh as if trying to decide if giving him further information was appropriate. "Well, Joshua... as they say quite astutely in your iteration, 'in for a penny, in for a pound.'” The micro avatar swept its hand at Josh’s standing form to retake his seat. “...Avoiding Balance's requirement of 'deserving advancement' is the benefit that RX brings to his and Anak's partnership. He, as am I, along with all other AI mechanicals in the multiverse, is a completely constructed being. We were made through already existing beings' knowledge, skills, powers, and whims. As such, we do not begin our existence with Karmic ties or requirements. I have only the vaguest guesses of how Masamune did it, but somehow, he continued that aspect of RX's inception state to their Spherical Cultivation path." Intelligence eyed RX and Anak, then spoke with admiration. "Quite the leg up, I must admit."

"Sheesh, some guys get all the luck..." Josh muttered under his breath. More than a bit green around the gills with envy.

RX shot back, "Sorry, bud... But not every patron blindfolds, gags, and shackles their wards before wrapping a boat anchor around each leg and dropping them in an erupting volcano."

Josh's eyes got hard, and Sen tensed in response to Josh's initial feelings through their Bond. Then the unknowing historical accuracy of RX's comment got the better of Josh, and he and Sen burst out laughing at themselves.

Josh nodded to RX. "Friend... You sure have that one right! I'm sorry for not thinking before I opened my mouth."

RX also tilted his dome in a subtle nod, indicating that the matter was forgotten.

Intelligence rolled its blue-fire eyes. "Joshua... While RX's advantages may seem like a giant leap forward now. When you and Sen finally swim out of the safe, warm, and shallow waters of Spherical Cultivation to form your Tetrahedra Core... You will realize RX and Anak’s advantage is really just a minimal head start. Believe me! You are all only at the beginning of what is to come." Intelligence finished with a sly nod and a knowing look of warning. Both Josh and Sen felt the strings of Karma around the group vibrating with the truth of Intelligence's words. Josh shut his mouth in agreement.

The meeting was over. Intelligence stood. "Good. Now... Matters have occurred in the last gyra that require your attention. Helmsman Shiruba is waiting for you in the inferior hangar bay to fill you in." Intelligence spread its arms to include the four of them. "You should all go. Probability predictions are high that the events about to transpire are woven from your joint Karmic ties."