Bringing explosives to Breaker’s Machine Goddess had proven to be a bigger issue than what he could have ever imagined it to develop into. Sure, raiding the reserves of the tribe for a deity, which hasn’t been witnessed by most of his kind, felt weird, especially to his more developed cranium. Breaker understood the unrest, he had a good idea why his people started to look at him in fear.

Breaker feared. Breaker hoarding bombs, they think. Breaker planning bloody takeover they fear. They mistake.

Breaker eyes throne of Ocean. But Breaker doesn’t betray. Breaker loyal. A leader. Better leader than Ocean. Ocean sit on his ass, growing lazy. Breaker saves people from acid.

Yet he knew that the recent delivery of bombs wouldn’t be enough to sate his goddess’ thirst for survival. Their recent activity surely loosened up another sector of her… body.

Breaker was still feeling uneasy, that he aided Gales in an act of self-mutilation he would never even think about. Her comparing parts of her mechanical frame to parts of his fleshy body caused his back hair to stand up in fear. In his eyes, Gales was the bravest being he ever encountered, both in initially trusting him to save her against all odds, and now in her lust for life. How can someone be so death-defiant?

He would return, waking up to fight once more. Gales taught him about the Cycle. Proved to him that he indeed did die. He lost many times to Crusher before they became a team. That Crusher had many times a taste of his flesh. But she gave up her ‘flesh’ to survive.

Looking around the streets of the Upper City, Breaker noticed the turning of heads. Wherever he looked, others looked away from him. Were they afraid? Breaker craved respect, but this was not the respect he desired. Far from it.

Breaker needed to do something to regain their trust, no, even more. He needed to rally his people to aid in the quest to save Gales. And he had ample means of convincing them that it would be worth it to support the Machine Gods. He just needed to play his cards wisely and have the right people witness his grunting words.

Breaker observed the ceiling. Usually, the zappy eye of his goddess would idle around somewhere outside of spears’ reach, but, to his great disappointment, he wasn’t able to spot any Overseers in the heaps of rubble and machinery that were sticking out of the walls of the cave. The Observatory—that’s how Gales called their Upper City—was not under her observation.

Breaker was unsure if he liked the absence of the proof, that Gales was well enough to remain interested in his antics. She did mention something about having lost a few eyes in the past hundred Cycles. The many-eyed divine entity was running out of ways to witness the world around her failing corpse of a body.

Behind his mask, Breaker bit his lips, angry that the last mission of his followers and him apparently merely prevented even worse from happening. He felt it in his guts, that she required his aid now more than ever before… except their first encounter. Nothing topped the amount of trust she put into him. Trust he valued more than the colourful pearls decorating his mask, he noticed in a growing feat of altruism. When was the last time he asked for a reward? The only thing he asked for was payment for his helpers, because they didn’t know better. But him? He felt content with his role, and knew that his faith would pay off.

The scavenger called his most loyal followers and asked them to spread the word. It was decided, he wanted to speak to the entire tribe living in the Upper City. He required their support to continue doing what he deemed the right thing. And to solidify his superiority over Chieftain Ocean. He needed to show them, what active leadership meant. What a leader truly is capable of. That he is a leader worth supporting.

The word of his announcement spread like wildfire. While most of his kind feared him, an equal amount was curious about what the chosen of the gods had to say. His Mark was, after all, a clear indicator of his stand among the mortals. One step closer to the gods, able to understand their alien voice.

Breaker climbed on a platform made of metal sheets, which were piled up to an elevated floor, pulled into place by their helpful lizard mounts. He took the stage and looked down on the gathering mass, estimating just how many were interested in what he had to say.

Breaker sees everyone. Upper City all gathered around Breaker. Afraid and curious alike. All want to listen to Breaker’s tales.

Breaker can see Ocean in distance. Ocean fearful, Breaker smells his fear. Breaker threat.

With a sharp horizontal cut of the air with his lanky hand, Breaker cut off all ongoing conversations. The grunting, screeching, and gaggling died off instantaneously. Breaker was satisfied with his ability to call for attention. Because only the attentive would witness his whole story, told in gestures, symbols, and grunts.

‘Breaker heard rumours. Rumours about purpose of explosives Breaker ordered on behalf of Shift-ing Gales. Purpose clear. Breaker faithful to Machine Goddess.

Scavengers heard explosion, felt explosion; seen big ball of fire above. Breaker desires to share the sacrifices their Machine Goddess willingly endures. Gales refuses to collapse, to bury us under her Monolith.’

Breaker’s eyes wandered over the crowd. They were all concentrated on him, that was good. He had their attention. Now, all that was required was to lead by example and show them the strength of those they should put their faith in. He widened his arms, assumed a more noble and upright posture, utilizing his long legs to the best of his capabilities. He knew the younger were looking up to him. And those equally blessed by the Green God’s influence were supporting him either way. All he required was to grasp their shaking hearts and guide them to a common goal.

‘Breaker understands Shift-ing Gales. Machine Goddess compared past operations Breaker and his followers were involved in to injuries. Viewed Monolith as her body, compared damage she encountered to wounds. Wounds fatal to some. Allow Breaker to show.’

His clawed hand ran down his fuzzy body until it stopped right above his flat tummy. He angled his pointy finger towards the fur and pushed in, enough to cause him to wince up in pain, not enough to pierce his resistant skin.

‘First mission for Goddess. Breaker, Rain, and Coast open vein. Tummy full burning water. Mission creates drain. Big boom. Machine Goddess told Breaker pain was bearable. Breaker can smell lies. Pain real. Shift-ing Gales brave warrior.’

His hand then grabbed one of the two bombs fastened at his belt. He held it up for all to see, then placed it against his left chest. His movements were gentle to not set it off, but the mere presence of the bomb such close to his vitals caused many audible gasps in the crowd.

‘Latest mission for Goddess. Breaker and followers of Gales brought many explosives. Machine Goddess smart. Gales knew one of her lungs will explode, burning rain evil to her as well. Gales tasked us to place bombs at locations. Bombs guided explosion, prevented collapse. Goddess willingly gave up her lung to not bury us. Goddess strongest around.

Breaker asks. Scavenger willing to give up lung to survive?… Scavenger would die. Goddess persists.’

Breaker stashed away the bomb and observed his people. He explained why he needed the explosives, told tales of his goddess’ brave spirit, and played with an open hand.

He witnessed the expressions behind the lake of masks gradually shifting. Fearful eyes turned into mesmerized expressions of focus. But he knew this wasn’t enough. He needed to appeal to their greed to truly get them on his side.

Breaker was about to continue his speech as two Scavengers climbed up the stage and took their spots on both of his sides. He recognized the short-legged Scavengers at an instant and began to growl lowly, unsure why the two Scavengers he mentioned dared to interfere.

Should he kick Rain and Coast from the stage? No, that would cause a scene. But would they dare to speak out for Ocean in his presence, risking his wrath?

Breaker decided against his better judgment and stepped back, providing Rain that Crackles and Flooded Coast with the spotlight and attention of the whole tribe. He was surprised that neither bailed. Both stood their ground and faced the hundreds of eyes watching them in befuddled attention.

It was Flooded Coast, the greenish Scavenger, who gathered his bravery as the first one, his erratic movements slowly but surely forming coherent words.

‘Rain and Coast accompanied Breaker. Tasked by Commanding Ocean Waves. Special Mission. Mission to get rid of source of burning rain. Mission to assassinate Machine Goddess.’

What was he trying to do? Breaker gazed to the edge of the spectators and his eyes met with Ocean’s, who was barely able to hide the surprise of the betrayal of his two loyal, yet expendable, soldiers… so he thought. But now, they spoke up… supported him!?

Rain took over, forming words until Coast stopped shaking in nervosity. Breaker couldn’t help but feel pride in the two Scavengers, an unparalleled example of bravery.

‘Mission was carried out. Rain and Coast confronted Shift-ing Gales. Gales alive. Rain and Coast dead. Machine Goddess told she commanded our lizards to dispose of us.

Rain no memory. Rain believes Goddess’ tongue, Rain’s tongue. Goddess speaks voice of us.

Assassination failed. Goddess mighty. Goddess forgiving. Rain and Coast announce join Breaker. Vow to Goddess’ champion. Support.’

Shore, empowered by the words of his brother-in-death, added a few words of his own.

‘Ocean mistaken. Helping Machine Goddess solution for burning rain. No kill. Shore feels regret. Shore wants help Breaker.

Shift-ing Gales divine. Powerful. Will forgive Rain and Shore. Devotion.’

Ocean had left the gathering. Breaker was unable to see him in the crowd, the decorated Raindeer mask nowhere around anymore. Breaker was sure that the public betrayal of these two brave victims of his Goddess made him realize he was losing footing. A boost he welcomed with open arms. Revelling in the attention of his tribe.

Breaker wishes Gales’ Eye would witness. Big moment. Support. Breaker will return.

Breaker stepped forth once again, briefly laying his hands on the smaller Scavengers, signalling them, that he would now take over again.

‘Champion of Shift-ing Gales promise pardon of Rain and Coast. Breaker promises more.

Machine Goddess not alone. Breaker met Green God and Pink Goddess. Green God source of tame lizards. Breaker can organize strong and obedient mounts. Green God will provide.

Pink Goddess angry goddess. Cursed Breaker. Breaker saved Gales. Pink Goddess in debt. Gales told Breaker Pink Goddess blacksmith. Spears with ability for most devout. Resilient spears for followers. Pink Goddess will support. Tribe strong. Support by divinity.

…

If tribe help Shift-ing Gales. Will tribe support!?’

A collective shouting erupted from the crowd. Spears were raised to the ceiling and the Scavengers, one by one, fell into the sound of applause, a mixture of the deep grunts of the males and the brighter murmuring of the females. All voices joined together in an expression of faith and support. Breaker did it! He turned fear into support. Rain and Coast did it.

Breaker rested his hands on the heads of the brave Scavengers and revelled in the sheer devotion the three Scavengers witnessed. He noticed that the trembling of both Scavengers lessened. They were standing completely still, focused and with a newfound glow in their eyes. They showed their growth in the most powerful way possible, standing up for what they witnessed and chose to believe in.

Commanding Ocean Waves’ grasp of power was in question. Breaker could challenge him now, having the support of that many Scavengers behind him. But Breaker wanted Shifting Gales to witness his grandeur. Her helper was on the way, it was only a matter of time until she was standing here, on the podium, together with him.

Breaker put his full faith in his Goddess. She would survive, he was sure of that.

Just what was the deal with the weird messages in her Corroded Destiny notes? Gales was annoyed by her inability to run a proper analysis of the weird happening inside the Chat Orb. All she was able to do was witness the weird messages appearing from one moment to the next. Strange messages. Written out from a perspective that creeped her out, period.

The more that bug interfered with her notes section, which she originally planned to write to simply keep Suns up to date once they figured out a way to re-establish contact, the more she was questioning her sanity.

It has been now the third instance of her completely dismantling the Orb and replacing every single part she was able to find spares for. But the issue remained. Worsened, even.

That ruled out a hardware bug. Was it the software, which caused the strange and creepy echo? Chat 1.0 was never known to be a buggy mess. It was the most sturdy, reliable, and slow piece of communication technology known to them. It was so reliable, that the Iterators required the collective effort of two generations and the creation of the Communicator Generation to develop a better way of talking to each other on an over-regional scale.

Chat 1.0 worked on such a long frequency, that even her broken antennas were still capable enough to reliably receive the signals, although with an excruciatingly long delay.

But, as her issue was located in its entirety in the notes, a part of Chat 1.0 with no latency, she could also rule out a feedback loop of botched typing remnants glued together.

Furthermore… no latency. The messages appear without me noticing. It… can’t be an outside source, either. I would notice the feedback of the orb to someone typing manually.

I… have no answer. There is only one answer before I can deem myself as seeing ghosts.

Is it… a voice from within? I possess memories that are not my own, I have never encountered the Ancient my system considers as my Benefactor. So… there are a few options regarding who that typing voice originates from.

I must sound crazy, thinking all those thoughts devoid of any logic. I better not share any of that in the notes.

There were two options Gales had on her mind. One was a personality remnant of the Benefactor Two Eyes of the Infinite Cosmos. The other option caused the water in her cooling system to bubble over.

She pulled out one of the pearls she carried with her to pay Breaker, if he everwanted payment again. It only took a brief look into the pearl, which Breaker fetched from her city, to get reminded of her inferiority.

‘Iterator Shifting Gales 1 lacks clearance to access the transcribed data. Access denied.’

Shifting Gales 1. One. A 1 suggested that there might be more than only a single her. That realization back from her scavenging hunts with Breaker haunted her to this very Cycle. And the weird anomalies only fueled this panic of existential dread. She was her! There can’t be another Gales besides her. Can it be?

I hate that I plan to ask that. It is as if I acknowledge that I am even more inferior than initially anticipated. Not only a mockery of an Iterator, but not even the original.

Maybe… am I a backup like Computer is? Have my Benefactors… I do start to hate that word… not only botched my memories, but also split me apart!? Just let the original run until it can’t anymore, then fire up the backup as if nothing happened.

No, that can’t be the answer. I refuse to believe that I am not even… me.

Please… give me a definite answer… Corroded Destiny.

Notes – Chat System 1.0 – 1695.457

Corroded Destiny

CD: We need to talk! Here, I acknowledge you as an entity. Is that enough to draw you out?

CD: Indeed. It is all I want. I am listening, Gales.

CD: I am here to keep you company.

CD: I have an important question for you… may I call you Destiny?

CD: (CD) You may.~

CD: Creepy. But, regardless. I researched about what you might be.

CD: I ruled out that you are a hardware bug, a software bug, or an outside force messing with me.

CD: Am I correct with that?

CD: (CD) I am none of these. That is correct.

CD: (CD) I am… I will let you guess.~

CD: A guessing game? Alright. I have three options left.

CD: I have boiled your identity down to an internal aspect. While you are neither part of the hardware nor the software, I… space out? I don’t notice you typing. But someone must type.

CD: And only I am typing. Are you writing through my puppet body?

CD: (CD) Yes. ‘But how?’ you might ask? Guess.~

CD: I am unsure if I should be fascinated or terrified. I am terrified.

CD: First option. I encountered an Ancient in memories that are not my own.

CD: Two Eyes of the Infinite Cosmos. Are you a subroutine of his memory?

CD: (CD) *chuckles* That is a fascinating guess, but I am afraid I have to say no.

CD: That’s unfortunate. I hate to suggest the second option.

CD: All pearls from the Silent Monastery can’t be read by SG1… SG1 is me, apparently.

CD: Are you… please say no… Shifting Gales 2?

CD: (CD) That is a spicy guess. As much as I would like to say yes… no.

Gales blinked twice. If neither of these two options were the identity of Corroded Destiny, what else could they be?

They can’t be… Gales typed the following letters slowly, her fingers shaking in dread.

CD: Are y-you… me? Have I gone insane?

…

CD: No answer?

CD: (CD) You have not gone insane. You are just lonely.

CD: (CD) Isolation and the absence of your broader awareness got to you… to me, Gales.

CD: What?

CD: (CD) You are spacing out, as you said, your mind is temporarily located somewhere else. Provides me with ample time to use what is still left inside you to move my fingers.

CD: That can’t be true.

CD: (CD) Afraid I can’t tell you exactly what I am. I am not really sure myself.

CD: (CD) But I am happy you finally acknowledged me.

CD: (CD) The dust at the edge of the workbench. One dot per second.

Gales looked to the side, in fear of what the writing partner, who was a proper subroutine taken form, had to show… Fresh fingerprints.

…

Gales counted seven dots.