Simple man with his overpowered army

Chapter 79: Union

After the incident with Sarah, it became clear that the "infection" of Demiurge was indeed spread to other people as well. The scientists that took the risk to travel to Babylon 12 when Them was still in power in the station were isolated immediately after they were extracted from the station. While they didn’t show any signs of Demiurge infection initially, people in charge of cleanup were about to let the scientists go.

That was before Sarah showed signs, but as the infection in Sarah became apparent, the scientists were kept in isolation for an extended period of time. Atkoosa, with the help of Mätuk, went to investigate the scientists and found, with careful observation, that they were indeed infected.

As such, the same procedure that was done with Sarah was done to the scientists. After that, those who were taking care of the scientist’s isolation were also made to go on isolation in a different place just in case it was spread on them as well.

Luckily, after a couple of weeks of observation, the Demiurge infection seemed to have been dealt with. This was also while making sure that those who initially came to Babylon 12 after the purge of Them to gather lost data were infection clear.

However, the fact that Demiurge was seemingly purged from that timeline helped little for those who suffered through the loss of a family member.

Alas, life moved on and things to take care of appeared one after another.

Another threat came to Lud’s attention. And that was the emergence of a dangerous substance that made people who drank it be able to mold together into one, singular being.

Lud couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of something similar to Them emerging right after that ordeal was seemingly dealt with.

The paper that brought this to Lud’s attention was brought from a newspaper hailing from Rusteror.

Apparently, after the criminalisation of the "human pet program" came to be, dark elves came to find new ways of finding fun activities with their knowledge with DNA.

What the dark elves would do is pay for two people to drink this liquid and bet on what kind of features the unified being would have. This didn’t stop with a single unification. They would also pay the unified person to unify with someone else who was willing to get paid doing so. Sometimes they would pay two already unified people to merge together, but more often than not, they became disfigured during that.

The disfigurement seems to happen when four or more people unify into one.

Lud could not help but feel disgusted by this new entertainment of dark elves and called out a meeting with the battalion leaders.

All the leaders were told to read the article, and each of the leaders would voice an opinion.

Li, who was also there, voiced his opinion first. "Personally, while I found it a bit disturbing, I don’t see anything strictly wrong with it. It reads that the unified person is free to choose what to be called, what gender they are if any, where to move going forward and where to spend the money they earned. The article also mentions that some people from across Lutah come to pay the producers of this liquid to unify with their loved one. Seems like it is pretty popular with those who don’t have the ability to have children."

Elisia says "I personally find this kind of thing abhorrent. I admit, it is a feat of biological engineering, but I can’t stand this kind of unity."

Xu responds "I find it a very fascinating yet natural step for biological lifeforms. For me, as an automaton, I find this very similar to how sometimes you use other machine parts to make another machine better. Then again, we already had that in the form of organ transplants, but still. Very fascinating.

Illi says "I hate to agree with a long ears, but I agree it feels abhorrent to do such a thing to one self. But still, as long as people have a choice in the matter, I won’t raise my hand against the idea. Just like how people have the freedom to shave their beard, I hate the idea, but for each their own."

Lych says "I find that kind of thinking hilarious. Comparing merging two people together with a hair cut. Hilarious."

Illi asks "So are you for or against this?"

Lych responds with "What about you? You seem to hate the idea but do nothing about it."

Illi answers "I am against the idea itself, but I am for the freedom of choice as each has the freedom to drink alcohol or not."

Lych leans on his chair and says "So that is how you see this. Personally I don’t care either way. I stay neutral on the matter."

Illi retorts "So you are worse than me then?"

Lych says "I didn’t say that having the freedom for people to mutilate themselves for money was something wrong. Freedom of choice is good, but I can’t help but see people who chose to do it as people who will regret doing so later in their life. I mean, this is new technology we are talking about. There is barely any research on the long term effects of the act."

Illi says "I have nothing to say against that."

Lych says "Then don’t say anything."

Marco then says "I personally find this fascinating in an aspect of becoming stronger in a way. The article says that the strength of the two people will increase above the proportion of the two individuals working together to raise something as separate entities. But... since Lych brought up the fact that the technology hasn’t been researched for very long, I wouldn’t touch that stuff with a 5 meter stick. Well... at least for the time being."

Brutus says "I’m with Marchosias’ way of thinking. We need more research on the stuff."

Elisia asks "So you would use it on yourself when there is more research on the matter? I’m disappointed in you Brutus."

Brutus retorts "I get you, but there is potential in this as far as I can see."

Tear says "I hate to agree with an elf, but I’m with Elisia in this matter. That stuff shouldn’t exist."

Lili says "If there was a way to separate the unified people afterwards, I would love to test this on some people, but since it is a permanent thing as far as we know, I stand against the whole thing. Maybe if there comes a day when stuff that can separate the unified people, then maybe, but as of now, that’s a no for me."

Elisia says "I almost blurted out ’as expected of a dark elf’ but that would have been racist, so I apologize for thinking that way."

Lili just waves her hand and says "No worries. I get that. No offence taken."

Li says "So Ms. Ruitup is also of that opinion. As expected of a researcher. I personally wonder what would happen if people like Mr., Ms. and Ms. Ilumnos would unify in this matter. Then again, as Lili said, since there isn’t any way to separate them afterwards, I wouldn’t risk it."

Lud looks at Liz and asks "What about you Liz? What do you think?"

Liz stares at the paper deep in thoughts. Then she says "I... I think I’m against the idea. It... It is too dangerous."

Lud asks "Why so hesitant? Do you have other thoughts?"

Liz thinks for a moment and says "I... just think... after Sarah... I felt like... If this liquid would be some form of escape for some people. To... not feel as alone or lost as they normally would."

What Liz said shook the table for a moment, and Li was heard mumbling "To not feel as alone, huh..."

Elisia says in a worried tone "You aren’t seriously thinking of using it with somebody Li Last, are you?"

Li smiles and says "No need to worry Ms. Longwood. I’m not as desperate as you might think. I have lasted who knows how long alone in my journey, so I won’t falter as easily as one might think."

Lych comments "That doesn’t sound ominous at all."

Li asks "So... Since we have all brought our opinions out, let me ask you my lord, why did we hold this meeting in the first place?"

Lud answers "I wanted to hear your opinions about this matter and if we should do something about it."

Li says "I see. And the verdict is?"

Elisia says "I think we should ban that substance in Elysium."

Lych says "But nobody even knew that it existed in the first place. If we openly ban it, won’t people get curious?"

Tear says "That is true. If we publicly ban this substance, we bring it to the attention of our people who most likely never heard of it."

Illi says "But it was in the newspaper that we got from Rusteror. Won’t they find out eventually?"

Liz says "That paper was brought to our lord’s attention by Altair themself, so the likelihood of our citizens getting a hand on the news is miniscule."

Marco says "Why don’t we ban the substance and never tell why or what it does?"

Brutus says "If you just told me something is banned, I’d personally get curious and try to find out the reasons."

Illi says "Or rather, you would tell your wife to figure out what it is because you can’t gather intel for the life of you."

Brutus tries to rebuke what Illi says "That’s...", but then realizes that Illi is right and shuts his mouth.

Elisia says "I still think that we should publicly ban it. Just in case."

Lili says "I mean it is not like the substance outright ruins people’s lives, right?"

Elisia says "Agree to disagree, but I get what you mean."

Lud says "So let’s put it on vote, shall we. Those who wish for the substance known as ’Union’ to be banned publicly, raise your hands."

Elisia, Lili, Liz, Marco, Lych and Tear all vote for it.

Lych says to Tear "Didn’t think you’d vote for it, since you agreed with the fact that people will get curious."

Tear responded with "I think it is better for people to know our stand than not."

Brutus says "I still think that it is a terrible idea to say it out right."

Lud says "So the votes have been cast. I’ll handle the paperwork and make the announcement later. Dismissed."

All leave and Brutus says to Li "But still, don’t try to do anything hectic my mythrill friend."

Li just smiles at Brutus, nods and then leaves in silence. The rest of the leaders are a bit worried that Li might do something unthinkable, but still hold faith that he won’t take any steps lightly.