Chapter 218 - Episode 220: Offer

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Author's Note

TheWitchOfTheRock

TO had entirely forgotten about the message from ARK-1, and only another message reminded them of that. Though there was nothing they could do at the moment, they still hated turning away from the screen that projected the path ahead of them. They felt like they could make the ship go faster, so long as they didnÔÇÖt take their eyes off the horizon. ÔÇ£Ark-1ÔÇØ TO said as they sat down, ÔÇ£How can I-ÔÇ£ ÔÇ£I received an emergency newscast from Arkane.ÔÇØ They said before TO could finish, ÔÇ£It said that there was an attack in Thalassa.you are of course located there, but you did NOT respond to my first message. Now I see that Ark-88ÔÇÖs communications are offline, and I see your ship is moving without such a thing being cleared with me.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Apologies, Ark-1.ÔÇØ TO said, their ears flicking back in irritation, ÔÇ£I believe it was in fact an insurgent attack. They took DH-ÔÇØ Their ears flicked down, they knew, but there was no point in hiding that at this point; Ark-1 already knew, so any sorrow they saw from TO at the loss of their mate was to be expected. ÔÇ£-And I believe excessive insurgent activity will occur in Okoia presently.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Enough activity to change your plans entirely in an instant?ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Of course.ÔÇØ TO said, ÔÇ£I intend to find the insurgents. I intend to find DH and get them back.ÔÇØ Their eyes narrowed. ÔÇ£I will not let them hurt another Synth.ÔÇØ Their ears flicked - disgusted- but at the same time they seemed pensive. ÔÇ£ÔÇª So, what is your plan?ÔÇØ ÔÇ£The insurgency abducted many indebted people who were working at the site of the attack. Apparently, they sometimes do this, and take the civilians off the planet. If they want to leave Arkane, they can only do that on Okoia. Once there, I expect an examination of the docks and launch-sites should reveal suspicious activity, allowing me to find them and apprehend some of them.ÔÇØ Find the insurgents, and rescue DH. If DH wasnÔÇÖt there, then TO would take as many of the insurgents as they could and drag them back to the ship. They didnÔÇÖt like the idea of having to interrogate someone, but theyÔÇÖd do it for DH. ÔÇ£ÔÇª While I do not agree with what seems to be your driving force in this, I agree with this more decisive action. I do, however, have issues with the fact that you act3ed without reporting-ÔÇ£ ÔÇ£I felt as though it was important to get to Okoia quickly and acted based on that.ÔÇØ TO said. Ark-1ÔÇÖs ear twitched as they eyed TO through the camera. ÔÇ£I will expect a full report on the events in Thalassa, as well as your plan from here on out. Hur-13 and Hur-14 will arrive early morning planetary time. I will extend their placement there temporarily. If you do not find Ark-88, or you confirm them out of commission, we will make other arrangements for Hur-14ÔÇØ ÔÇ£I will find DH.ÔÇØ TO said, their name slipping from their lips. There was this long, agonizing period of silence where Ark-1 simply looked at them through the camera, watching them. ÔÇ£Do I assume thatÔÇÖs some nickname youÔÇÖve created for Ark-88?ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Yes, Ark-1.ÔÇØ TO muttered, their ears flushing blue. It was just how Ark-1ÔÇÖs ears moved that made them feel as though they had done something childish and idiotic; something they should be ashamed of. ÔÇ£There are no nicknames. There are assignments and call numbers.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Yes, Ark-1.ÔÇØ Ark-1ÔÇÖs eyes narrowed as they examined TO like they were a machine that was working, but perhaps making a funny sound while it worked. ÔÇ£ÔÇª IÔÇÖll be completing a more thorough examination of the situation as well.ÔÇØ They said, ÔÇ£And I may make more changes to my plans as needed.ÔÇØ Were they planning to call TO back? Would they correct them? No, unlikely. Synths who finished their training didnÔÇÖt get corrected; they got reassigned or sent into combat or sent off into the nothingness of space to find new wormholes. At least, they hoped they didnÔÇÖt correct synths who passed training. There was a brief, confusing moment of relief where TO realized that if they never found DH, then they would never correct DH. Of course, being captured and tortured by the insurgents was far worse. LendulinÔÇÖs comment that the insurgents would never do that, and that brief spark of home flashed again before DH snuffed it out in their mind. No, the insurgents would kill DH after they got what they wanted from them. TheyÔÇÖd torture them until they agreed, then theyÔÇÖd work their mate until they died or simply had no more use to them. ÔÇ£Do you understand, Ark-87?.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£I understand.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Dismissed.ÔÇØ The screen went blank. They looked to the other screen that showed the horizon before them, where distance hid Okoia from sight. How were they supposed to write up a report when DH was missing? How would they write a report when all they could think about was DH being in trouble, and ÔÇîthat even if they found DH safe and sound, Kei and Avery would be here by then, and just as soon as they reunited with DH, theyÔÇÖd have to say goodbye. At least DH would be safe. Right now, all that mattered was making sure DH was safe. With a low growl, they turned from the view before them, and sat down at the consol; their consol, even though DHÔÇÖs was closer. Despite how they felt, they knew that staring at the horizon wouldnÔÇÖt help them reach Okoia faster. ====== The landing in Okoia was far less of a show than it had been the first time they came here. Of course, it was late at night and they arrived with no warning. It occurred to them also that Noss wasnÔÇÖt here, and it appeared he had arranged the whole thing last time. Well, that was fine; TO didnÔÇÖt have time to deal with Noss, or to deal with the various formalities that seemed to crop up whenever they did anything here. No, they had to implement their plan. At least writing up the report for Ark-1 had helped them solidify a plan that had started as ÔÇÿPersonally stand in vigilant at the public space port on the north- coast of Okoia until they saw somethingÔÇÖ now involved planetary law enforcement, and increased security and scanning of ArkaneÔÇÖs skies. They had already tried to contact the minister of space travel on Okoia, only to be told that he was asleep. TO wouldnÔÇÖt leave word of their plan to anyone but the minister. They werenÔÇÖt entirely certain that they were trustworthy; they didnÔÇÖt trust anyone in the Arkanian government, and while they knew theyÔÇÖd need help, they refused to tell anyone their plan unless it was absolutely necessary. A few harsh words and solid insistence that they speak to the minister. The aide in charge said sheÔÇÖd wake him. That was the call they were waiting for as they left their ship, so it did not surprise them when a call came through. It surprised them when their visor said that it was DH calling them. They were alive. DH was alive, and they were somewhere on Arkane. They answered the call quickly, answering in Synth as soon as it connected. ÔÇ£DH! Where are you?!ÔÇØ There was a beat of silence on the other line until a heavily modified voice came back to them. ÔÇ£DH is with us, and if you want to see them, youÔÇÖll do as we say.ÔÇØ TOÔÇÖs ears pinned back, their lips pulled forward and bared their teeth under their helmet. They even felt their claws try to extend, despite the hard gloves over their hands. If this person - whoever it was- was in front of them right now, TO knew that theyÔÇÖd rip them apart. There would be no interrogations, no questioning, and no mercy. TheyÔÇÖd rip them apart slowly. ÔÇ£The Despair Insurgency, I take it.ÔÇØ TO hissed, flicking back to universal common. ÔÇ£I hate that translation, you know.ÔÇØ The voice on the other side said. ÔÇ£I always thought it was odd that weÔÇÖd be called the ÔÇÿDespairÔÇÖ insurgency. The actual word isnÔÇÖt actually from Universal Common; itÔÇÖs from the old Arkanian language. The language is ÔÇîarchaic and nobody really speaks it, but itÔÇÖs Dez-par, and it just means ÔÇÿrebellionÔÇÖ and the difference between a rebellion and an insurgency is just how the government identifies the rebels. Really, youÔÇÖre just calling it the ÔÇÿRebellion RebellionÔÇÖ. Of course, itÔÇÖs translated as ÔÇÿDespairÔÇÖ in all other languages too, so thatÔÇÖs what people see it as.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt care.ÔÇØ TO hissed, ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt care what you call yourself-ÔÇ£ ÔÇ£I know, Apologies. You care about DH, correct?ÔÇØ The answer was yes, but they wouldnÔÇÖt say that to the insurgent. They wouldnÔÇÖt give them another whisper of information. ÔÇ£Well, you donÔÇÖt have to answer.ÔÇØ The voice on the other side continued, ÔÇ£I have a proposition for you, regardless.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£And what makes you think IÔÇÖd do anything you want me to do-ÔÇ£ ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs nothing like that, itÔÇÖs just an offer.ÔÇØ The voice said. ÔÇ£Will you listen?ÔÇØ Maybe they could use this opportunity to get information. Any scrap of information might help them. ÔÇ£Who am I speaking with?ÔÇØ TO demanded, ÔÇ£Am I expected to listen to ÔÇÿoffersÔÇÖ from a disembodied voice?ÔÇØ There was silence on the line, long enough that TO worried that they had disconnected. Finally, the voice came back. ÔÇ£You can call me Joe Mama.ÔÇØ Another growl escaped TOÔÇÖs throat, but they knew ÔÇîthe helmet wouldnÔÇÖt send that. ÔÇ£I see. Is this the same Joe Mama who seems so adept at hacking local AIs? Or is that just the name that the insurgency uses? Perhaps this Joe Mama is the leader of the insurgency?ÔÇØ ÔÇ£You flatter meÔÇª Tio.ÔÇØ TO did their best to suppress the panic that jolted through them, reminding themself that they knew ÔÇîthe insurgency knew who they were. The insurgency had chased after them in the Outer Ring already, and had information on them even before they met Pearla. ÔÇ£What do you want?ÔÇØ TO hissed. ÔÇ£I only intend to make you an offer.ÔÇØ They said, ÔÇ£Since youÔÇÖve come back to Okoia, I assume youÔÇÖre chasing us, and I also assume that you intend to involve other authorities in finding us.ÔÇØ TO said nothing; theyÔÇÖd not confirm anything. ÔÇ£Well, my offer is just this; donÔÇÖt contact the authorities. Our plans involve helping people, not hurting them. People will only get hurt if thereÔÇÖs resistance.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£This is an offer, you said.ÔÇØ TO snapped, ÔÇ£What are you offering me?ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Two things which I think you want, and which I think will make this easy for you to decide on.ÔÇØ ÔÇÿJoeÔÇÖ said, ÔÇ£The first, of course, is DH; safe and unharmed. I believe they're your mate, yes?ÔÇØ They had to know about that as well if Pearla was giving them information. ÔÇ£And the other thing?ÔÇØ They demanded. ÔÇ£A meeting. You want to meet some higher ups of the insurgency. Well, we donÔÇÖt have quite the rigid command structure as you synths do, but I can offer you a meeting with someone I think youÔÇÖll be happy enough with.ÔÇØ ÔÇ£YouÔÇÖd give up one of yours in exchange for me simply doing nothing?ÔÇØ ÔÇ£From what IÔÇÖve heard, I thought a synth would best understand one personÔÇÖs sacrifice for the masses; not that such an ideology actually works on Arkane, or on many other planets.ÔÇØ A low chuckle, made disturbing by the distortion. ÔÇ£But at any rate, we wonÔÇÖt be giving up one of our own. WeÔÇÖll be arranging a meeting. YouÔÇÖre welcome to try and capture them, but somehow I doubt itÔÇÖll be much of a worry.ÔÇØ This had to be a trap, right? Obviously it was. The proper thing to do would be to. Contact the authorities, collect the civilians the insurgents had captured, and track them the way they originally intended. But, they had DH. DH was safe, so said ÔÇÿJoeÔÇÖ, but were they, really? And would they stay that way if they didnÔÇÖt comply? Not only that, but the opportunity to get to an insurgent who might have caught GiDi, might have tortured them for information, or hurt other synths to get work out of them. The insurgency wouldnÔÇÖt do that TO didnÔÇÖt believe that. ÔÇ£ÔÇª When will this meeting take place?ÔÇØ ÔÇ£Tomorrow evening - 23:00. Security district. At the place where you lost the trail.ÔÇØ The call cut off.