novelraw Chapter 108: The Graveyard Invitation.
Chapter 108: The Graveyard Invitation.
V O L U M E F I V E
Chapter 108: The Graveyard InvitationThe Court House. 06:55.
"Elaborate." Reaper's voice carried no warmth. He was in his office, a private video call open with President Slovic Gash. The windows behind him showed a grey, rain-heavy sky, the sea below it restless and dark, nothing like its usual calm.
The office itself felt removed from the rest of the world. The upper half of the walls was light grey, the lower half clad in black paneling, the contrast sharp and deliberate. Facing his desk, a large holographic screen floated in place, cycling through live feeds of the western border.
Mechs moving in tight, tireless formation along the perimeter. On the side walls, shelves of hard drives and SSDs sat in careful order, physically isolated from any network. Nothing stored there could be reached remotely.
Gash leaned back in his chair with a comfortable smile. "My friend, as I mentioned, there is a seat available for you at the next UNG meeting. We arranged it quietly, specifically for you, for our neighbor. The meeting is within this week, or the next. I'd like you to attend with one of your people, traveling with our convoy. Altea's seat has been sitting empty for too long and I find it uncomfortable."
Reaper's eyes dimmed slightly. "Why the sudden push for me to leave Theria?"
Gash glanced to each side. The sound of footsteps faded from his end as whoever had been in the room cleared out. He leaned in. "Several heads of state have come to me asking about the state of relations with Elysium. There is genuine interest in opening formal ties, but they're hesitant. They worry about building a relationship with a country that may not hold."
He moved closer to the screen. "The world wants the technology Elysium controls. Altea was the only major source of it in the entire region, and that pipeline is gone. Combine that with the operational efficiency you've built here and we are looking at something extremely valuable, for both of us."
Reaper tilted his head slightly. "Both."
"Both." Gash's smile widened. "Ninety percent of those countries share a border with us. We become the direct route connecting all of them. And those connections require resources, which means they require us."
Reaper exhaled. "I see. That smile is carrying a great deal of arithmetic behind it." He let a brief pause settle. "Then I have one condition. Our currency is already operating as the standard for trade across the continent of Tera among neighboring states. I want to put your reserves of our currency to better use."
Gash's eyes went wide. "You don't mean—"
"I do." Reaper nodded. "I'll raise the condition personally at the UNG meeting. You can prepare your contacts ahead of time, let them know this is the only term on the table. The payouts Kasparia receives for resources can then circulate beyond Tera's borders. The whole region benefits."
Gash let out a short, dry laugh. "You enjoy writing your own rules. But I like it. It gives us meaningful leverage over our neighbors." He was already reaching for his phone. "Get me a private line with the Remidican Republic's president."
"The speed at which you move," Reaper observed, "says a great deal about how long you've been waiting for this."
Gash lowered his gaze, the smile softening into something more candid. "Honestly, I just prefer having you as the stabilizing force in this region. When I hear a position from you, I'm not surprised by it. I think, 'of course, that's exactly what he would say.' There's something genuinely reassuring about that kind of consistency."
He turned toward the glass wall beside him, looking out at a clear sky on his end. "Altea was a disaster. Their leadership set this continent back years while the rest of the world moved on. Tera was once the kind of place people aspired to live in. That's not what it is anymore."
Reaper straightened in his chair. "Don't lose hope, Gash. Kasparia and the Veridian Coast are already recovering, the data supports that. And the Alteans have done more for Kasparia than your projections gave them credit for."
Gash raised an eyebrow. "That one surprised me, I'll admit. Though I suspect your involvement had a great deal to do with it, Mr. Reaper."
"You're welcome." A beat. "In fact—"
Three knocks on the glass door.
Reaper glanced toward it, then back at the screen. "Slovic Gash, duty calls. We'll speak again soon."
"Of course. I've taken enough of your time. Good day, Mr. Reaper."
The call closed.
"Come in." Reaper leaned back.
The door opened. Obsidian stepped through. "Lord Reaper. I apologize for the interruption."
"What is it, brother?"
Obsidian took the guest chair. "Nicolas Rivera's burial is complete. Everything is in place as planned." He paused. "Would you like to send the invitation now?"
Reaper held still for a moment, thinking it through. "No." He settled on it. "Go yourself instead. Stand down the ‘spy-delete’ operation for now, ten cleared is enough for the moment. I'll send you the Hope Bubble's exact coordinates. Since you’re Nick's creation, the system will read you as non-hostile and let you through." He held Obsidian's gaze. "Report back their reaction. And keep an eye on Infinity's performance while you're there."
Obsidian knelt deeply. "As you wish, Lord Reaper."
He turned, and was gone, nothing left of him but a dark blur passing the doorway.
11 slipped in before it closed. She crossed to the chair across from Reaper and sat. "Lord Reaper. Western side update." A brief pause. "We've located the engineer, Albert."
Reaper turned his chair toward the wide panel window. The sea stretched out below, still unsettled from the storm. "Don't move on him. I want to meet him myself."
The Hope Bubble. 19:40.
01 sat with her head resting in 12's lap on one of the modern white benches in the main garden. 09 had taken the grass beside it, back leaned against the bench's side, legs stretched out in front of her.
"What do you mean you don't feel the same level of faith from 02?" 12 asked, genuinely puzzled. "Are you still caught up in that cult you've built around her?"
01 clicked her tongue. "Tch, tch, tch… 12, this is the third time I've explained this. 02 is not a god. She carries the soul of one. The soul of Omega. Omega is the force that should govern the E-UNIT through fear and an iron will, and if she senses that someone's faith is slipping—" she raised both hands toward the ceiling. "—she erases the filthy unbeliever with bliss from above."
09 nodded from the grass without turning around, eyes still fixed on Infinity across the garden, running drills with a group of inexperienced units. "Or she freezes the filthy one and lets the twelve bells of heaven's arrows finish the job."
01 settled into a dreamy expression. "I still have the footage 05 shared, omega hitting those sonic mechs. They didn't just fall. They vaporized. One moment there, the next, nothing."
12 shook her head slowly. "I cannot believe that one of the legendary ten, the second-best blade fighter we have after 02 herself, sits here talking like a devoted follower who screenshots 02 every two hours."
01 smiled. "Thank you."
12's expression collapsed. "That was not a compliment. If 02 ever hears about this—"
"She knows." 09 laughed quietly from the grass. "And there's nothing she can do about it. No one chooses to become what they are, it chooses them. Life gave us the best possible one, and I am grateful for it every single day." She stood up, turned to 12, and extended a hand. "Join us. You'll feel your problems lift the moment you do. Trust the 02."
"The 02?" 12 stood and pushed 01's head off her lap. "You've all corrupted your own systems. 02 is an exceptionally capable E-UNIT and that's it. She's captain for two reasons, she's a true AI, and she is a natural fighter. In a battle, facing her doesn't make you fear her. It makes you fear yourself. Her gaze alone—"
09 dropped to both knees, hands folded, eyes closed. "Holy soul of 02. Please cleanse this unbeliever with my sacred fists. Two upper cuts, delivered express from the heavens themselves, will set this rotten mind right."
12's eyes went red. "Throw those fists then. Let's see how far this '02ring' gets you." She dropped into a fighting stance.
09 rose, smile intact but something sharper underneath it, and matched her stance. "Alright, E-Satan 12. Let's find out what you're made of."
"Satan what—"
A system chime cut through the garden, followed by a clear, automated voice rolling through the facility. "New arrival verified. Welcome, RP.01."
01 was on her feet before the sound finished. Only 03 and 05 had known who that designation belonged to. A handful of E-UNITs drifted toward the elevator entrance, drawn by the announcement. Infinity moved to the front without being asked.
The elevator hissed open.
The figure stepped out without hesitation. Two green eyes. 1.9 meters of polished black metal, the finish sharp enough to reflect the garden around him. Two blades sat at his back, neon-edged handles within easy reach.
Obsidian surveyed the main garden, placed one hand behind his back, and raised the other in a casual wave. "Evening, dear sisters. I come bearing a message, from the man himself. Lord Reaper."
Infinity stepped forward, positioning herself in front of 03. "State your business. Now." A single nod, and every E-UNIT present drew their blades in the same motion. "As you can see, we don't receive intruders warmly."
Obsidian's eyes dimmed briefly. ‘Remarkable.’ "As you are aware, now that 02 stands among you, Nicolas Rivera is officially dead and buried."
They knew he was dead, Infinity had told them. But hearing the enemy casually announce his burial, treating the architect of their lives like a cleared objective, forced the reality upon them all at once. The sound of blades hitting the ground came in a loose chorus, hands going slack, the weight of it landing all at once. Optics flickered in sudden, processing shock.
Infinity's expression sharpened. "We are aware." A brief pause, something careful moving behind her eyes. "Even so, state your purpose. This is your last opportunity." She drew her blades slowly. The hiss alone pulled quiet smiles from several of the E-UNITs around her.
Obsidian raised his head. "We propose visiting the grave we prepared for him. A brief gathering, words spoken, some measure of peace extended, as befits the death of someone who built all of us. What is your answer?"
Infinity glanced back at 05. 05 gave one small nod.
Infinity straightened and sheathed her blades. "Agreed, with one condition. Only Reaper and I speak. We won't stand there listening to his subordinates offer thanks for the man who ended our father's life."
Obsidian dipped his head. "Accepted without reservation. Three days from now, at the E-Police station." He glanced toward 01. "You have a remarkable blade fighter in your ranks. I hope we find ourselves across from each other properly one day."
01 slid her blade back into place with a sharp hiss. "I pray to the Captain for that day."
Obsidian straightened and turned toward the elevator. "I'm impressed by your captain's composure. Well executed." He let the words settle. "He is pleased as well." The elevator opened. The black android stepped in and was gone.
03 turned. "Why can everyone get in here that easily? And Captain... what did he mean by that?"
Infinity hadn't dropped 02's expression. "He is father’s creation too. And we'll find out in three days." She turned and walked toward the training ground, posture tight, pace deliberate.
05 fell into step beside 03, both of them watching her go. "She doesn't look pleased, though."
"No." 03 glanced sideways at 01, still tense at the edge of the garden. "She hates it when someone else sets the terms." A pause. "Is 01 really that good with a blade?"
"She nearly took 02 with a single extended strike." 05 said.
03 smiled. "Who knew our E-Pastor was hiding something like that."