Second pt 5- FOUR HOURS LATER

Segun: Server, fix it so Nill can’t go with me.

Server: I want Nill to accompany you. The expedition will be more interesting with him present.

Segun: To get this hack you said I need, I have to go outside. Synths don’t go outside because we might lose our connection to you, and we especially don’t go outside without our Masters because we might get stolen by bad people.

Server: You are also a Synth. Nill will risk no more than you.

Segun: I’m disguising myself as human, which I can do much better than Nill because I don’t have galactic skin or huge wings.

Server: Then why did you tell him you were going?

Segun: Because the Masters dote on him like a pet and he’s allowed in their rooms. I needed his help to get this disguise stuff: these shady glasses to hide my golden eyes, this dye to temporarily darken my hair, and these human clothes, though they’re itchy, including these leather gloves to cover the webbing and scales on my hands.

Server: They go nicely with the vest and pants he brought. This look suits you better than your default jumpsuit.

Segun: I’ve grown up in that jumpsuit, and it’s comfy. It’s nicely snug on my calves and forearms and waist but loose everywhere else. This outfit feels like it might blow away in the wind even though it’s squeezing my hips like it’s threatening to never let go.

Server: Your jumpsuit is also what every Synth is given once they hatch and as such is too recognizable. Be a leather and knit clad human and take Nill along as your pet. No one will bother him.

Segun: The knit shirt is too big. It keeps sliding off my shoulders.

Server: Humans call that stylish. Take the knots out of your hair also so the waves will conceal your fox ears.

Segun: But these ties took me forever to design and do. I put them in one at a time whenever I was bored.

Server: Your life and Nill’s depend upon the success of your disguise.

Segun: Fine, but Nill stays here.

Server: Try to leave him behind, and he will follow you. Then he will be in even more danger than if you had allowed him to accompany you in the first place.

Segun: Uh, alright. Nill, you stay right next to me and help me convince everyone I’m human, and if anything goes wrong, you race back here, got it?

Nill: And I’ll drag you back here with me.

Segun: Nill-

Nill: No, I won’t let you go out there without backup, and I won’t leave you out there either.

Segun: If anything happens to me, I need you to come back here and get the Masters. Promise me that’s what you’ll do.

Nill: Fine, but don’t go and get in trouble on purpose.

Segun: I promise I won’t. Ready, Server? Unlock the door.

Server: Access granted. You should hear a faint, brief buzz. Now push on the door.

Segun: Ack, outside smells bad!

Server: It looks full of everything, like someone insisted every space must be filled.

Segun: Too bad no one insisted it had to be clean.

Nill: Is it safe to breathe out here, Segun? Should I cover my mouth and nose like you?

Segun: Well, I don’t see any humans doing it, so I guess not?

Nill: With all these metal walkways crossing everywhere, this looks like the Intermediate Climbing Race.

Segun: Which one was that again?

Nill: The one where Prima won those bells she uses to tie her hair in twin tails. It was a maze, and I watched from the audience chamber with the Masters, but Prima didn’t say it stunk like this.

Segun: Since you recently had your Second Cocoon, I guess you’d be doing Intermediate Races now, if you wanted to race. You could find out for yourself if it reeked or not.

Nill: I don’t race. I almost died, Segun.

Segun: You can’t die in a Beginner Race.

Nill: Then I died as much as I could. I experienced drowning for the whole twenty minutes it took the other sixty-three racers to finish.

Segun: That was a long time ago, Nill. You hadn’t even had your First Cocoon yet.

Nill: And everyone assumed that since I’m Best Class in Adaptability, I’d automatically know how to swim or do anything, and it’s not true. It was a horrible experience, and I never want to go through anything like that again.

Segun: I’m just saying I’m a little jealous, you know?

Server: No, do not turn away from him; his eyes captivate me. Do their sapphire sparkle and golden starburst rings possess significance?

Segun: Only that Nill’s Cocoons don’t completely overwrite the colors he hatched with, so he got gradients, like his black to golden hair and blue to golden eyes.

Server: He must be quite skilled in Agility to have manifested Gold in both Cocoons.

Segun: Nill refuses to touch any water after his blubbering first and last race, so he flies a lot to avoid puddles and stuff.

Server: He fears the water.

Segun: It won’t kill him, but he thinks it will.

Server: If he believes hard enough, it could.

Segun: Don’t take his side. Just give me the directions to find this market you want me to go to.

Server: Turn right and descend the stairs.

Nill: Why are you going down into that creepy, dark alley with all the fog?

Segun: Because that’s the way to the market.

Nill: It doesn’t seem like a very good market then.

Segun: Go home if you want, Scaredy Baby.

Nill: I’m coming with you, but...just hold my hand, okay? So I can fly you out of here when the ground turns to mush.

Segun: I don’t think you can carry me.

Nill: I’d certainly try.

Server: Leave the staircase and find the fourth door on the left.

Segun: This one? It looks very plain.

Server: How did you expect it to appear?

Segun: Either as creepy as this alley or crazy fancy.

Nill: *sneeze* Don’t *sneeze* breathe *sneeze* the fog in *sneeze*!

Segun: Hurry in here, Nill.

Nill: This place is full of shiny stuff.

Segun: Ooh, what’s this?

Nill: Don’t touch it, Segun!

Segun: Don’t hiss in my ear!

Nill: It’s a diamond unicorn horn mod with part of someone’s forehead still attached to it!

SuchALovelySpecimen, Isn’tIt?

Segun: What?!

IDoApologize. IDidn’tMeanToStartleYou. ThatIsAnExcellentChoiceOfMod. YesYes. JustFeedItToYourSynth, AndItWillMultiplyStrengthAndAgility.

Segun: I can barely understand this human, and he looks like a goat.

Server: You make this comparison because of his small beard, beady eyes, and bulbous nose?

Segun: That and the way his overstuffed pockets misshape his thighs.

Server: Where have you encountered a goat?

Segun: The Masters bring various animals in for Prima to study and acquire traits from. The goat was supposed to teach her tenacity, which she didn’t really need help with. It was also supposed to teach Nill, but he just likes to pet the animals.

Server: Interact with the vendor, Segun. He shows too much interest in Nill.

Segun: Hey, let go of Nill, and put that knife away!

Vendor: SoManyCustomersAskForGalacticSkin. IWantIt, TheWings, Too. NameYourPrice.

Segun: Nill isn’t for sale! I said let go of him! And put away that knife or I’ll take it from you!

Vendor: Ack, HeBitMe! GiveMeBackMyKnife, LittleGirl!

Segun: Nill, are you okay?

Nill: No, the knife sliced my arm, and I’m bleeding.

Vendor: MyArm’sBleeding, Too, LittleRat, SoWe’reEven. YouShouldBetterControlYourSynth, LittleGirl, ElseI’llTakeHimAsCompensation.

Segun: Stay behind me, Nill. Vendor, we’re here to buy a cheat.

Vendor: WhatKindOfCheat?

Segun: I’m gonna enter Nill in the Expert Race, but my…parents don’t want me to, and they’ve locked his code, so I need to copy it and set it under temporary admin. Do you have a cheat for that?

Vendor: A CodeCopy? You’veComeToTheRightPlace.

Segun: You keep it in your pocket? It looks like a tinier version of your knife.

Server: It looks like any other Admin Key, except for its silver coloring. Admin Keys are supposed to be gold.

Segun: Oh, now you know something.

Server: I am still learning what I know.

Vendor: It’sAPricyItem, ButI’llMakeYouADeal. WhenHeDiesInTheRace, SellMeTheCorpseWhole.

Server: Wide-eyed terror ranks high in Adorability when on Nill’s round baby face.

Segun: I’ll take that deal, but I can guarantee you Nill won’t die in the Expert Race.

Nill: Yeah, because I wouldn’t be caught dead in that race.

Vendor: HoHo, You’reFunny! BecauseIWantToSeeHimInTheRace, I’llPracticallyGiveYouThisCheat. FiveHundredChits.

Segun: Uh, I don’t have that much.

Vendor: FourNinetyFive?

Segun: Nope, don’t have that much either.

Vendor: HowMuchDoYouHave?

Segun: Just this.

Vendor: FiveChits? That’s it?

Segun: Yep.

Nill: Sorry, that’s all I could find in the laundry pockets. Don’t kick me, Segu-I mean Master.

Vendor: Hm, HowAboutARiddle? AndTheChits, OfCourse. IfTheSynthCanOutwitMe, YouMayHaveTheCheat.

Segun: Deal.

Vendor: You, Synth, WillMakeAStatement. IfTheStatementProves True, I’llSkinYouWithThisKnife.

Nill: How many of those do you have?

Vendor: AnInfiniteSupply, AsMySleeveManufacturesThem. If, However, YourStatementProves False, I’llPoisonYou. WhatIsYourStatement?

Segun: Wait, killing Nill wasn’t part of the-

Nill: I’ll die by poison.

Segun: What?!

Vendor: YouAreACleverOne, Aren’tYou?

Nill: You make that sound like it’s a bad thing.

Vendor: TakeYourCheat, ButRememberWhereYou’llBringHisCorpse. IHopeHeDoesDieOfPoison. FittingEndForARat.

Nill: Better than the end awaiting a crazy vendor.

Segun: Well, we got what we needed. Let’s go, Nill, before your wit gets us in any more trouble.

Server: But it was just getting interesting.

Segun: For you, maybe, safe in whatever dimension you live in. I don’t understand the riddle, by the way.

Server: Nill turned it into a paradox by choosing the false consequence:

If the vendor had claimed the statement false, then his carrying it out would have made it true.

Inversely, had the vendor claimed the statement true, skinning Nill as the consequence would have made the statement false.

Segun: But Nill so casually spoke of his own death. It stabbed icicles into my spine.

Server: Nill is wiser and more mature than you accredit him. He is very interesting.

Nill: Segun! Don’t run so fast!

Segun: You can fly as fast as I can run!

Nill: But it’s hard to fly around all these catwalks!

Server: Turn right. I have unsealed the door.

Nill: Don’t slam it open, Segun! Someone might hear.

Aha! You were outside!

Nill: Someone like Prima. Great.

Prima: What’s outside like? Tell me everything!

Segun: Smelly with a lot of metal walkways.

Server: And towers glistening in the fog.

Prima: The sky, did it have stars? Did it really look like Nill’s skin?

Segun: Uh, sure.

Nill: It’s daytime, Prima. The sky looked just like the fog. What did you fly all the way up here for?

Prima: I always know exactly where Segun is. We share code. It’s almost like we’re attached. For the past half hour I’ve felt like a part of me transformed into a kite and was caught in the wind.

Then I sensed you up here, Segun, despite your inability to fly and that the tallest tree in our kennel is still several body lengths below this spot.

The walls shock us if we touch them, so you couldn’t have climbed. I doubt you even knew this walkway was here. From the bridge with our sleeping vats, anything this close to the ceiling is all in shadows.

Segun: Which is a good thing if anyone’s looking for us.

Prima: The Masters are looking for you, but they think you’re upset and hiding in the tunnels. If they knew you were outside and that you dragged their precious Nill along…

Segun: Please don’t tell them, Prima!

Prima: I’ll only keep a secret if it’s complete.

Segun: Fine, I’ll tell you in our sleeping vat, but I should probably let our Masters find me first.

Prima: Yes, you should go cuddle up to them and throw in a purr or two for good measure. Those new ears of yours are adorable by the way, especially how they react to every emotion flitting through you.

Nill: Wait, Segun, don’t jump…

Okay, stay here in this tree a second. You should apply that cheat before you go butter up the Masters.

Prima: Ooh, a cheat!

Segun: Nill!

Nill: What? You were gonna tell Prima anyway.

Prima: What’s this cheat? Are you going to do something stupid again and embarrass the Masters?

Nill: You said that with too big a smile.

Segun: The Masters locked out my code from competitions because of the Beginner Race. I’m gonna make it up to everybody by winning the Expert Race, but I can’t enter with a locked code.

Prima: You think dying in the Expert Race will somehow atone for your little debacle?

Segun: Don’t get all high and mighty, Prima. I know deep inside you’re amazed at me.

Prima: Perhaps I am slightly proud to share some code with one who has your level of audacity and penchant for spectacle.

Segun: And my epic skill. I smashed that record, and I’ll do it again in the Expert Race.

Prima: You’ll smash records, all right, for making it the least distance. The Expert Race challenges every skill category, including Intelligence. Most don’t attempt it until at least their Fifth Cocoon.

Segun: Maybe I’m a prodigy like Nill, who raced before his First Cocoon.

Nill: I also drowned the whole time.

Prima: Yes, don’t cross your arms and roll your eyes like you have a valid argument, Segun. You know who I would really love to see in that Expert Race? Nill. Maybe I’ll take this cheat and enter him instead.

Segun: Hey, Prima! Give that back!

Prima: Shh! Or the Masters will hear you, haha!

Nill: Really, Prima, give it back!

Prima: Phooey, why do you have to have wings, Nill?

Nill: I’m serious, Prima! Don’t think I can’t fly as fast as you!

Prima: Then prove it, haha!

Segun: Prima! Server! Server, Prima just stole my cheat!

Server: Yes, and Nill is offering a good chase. You are also keeping up well, running along the branches.

No, don’t jump at them like that or you will fall. Keep your eyes on Prima. She is interesting to watch, such grace in every movement. Does your green hair also graduate to gold?

Segun: Yeah, that happened in our Second Cocoon.

Server: I wonder if yours would also glow when you flew.

Segun: Stop distracting me and help me get back the cheat!

Server: I, too, would like to see Nill in the Expert Race.

Segun: What?! Nill would definitely die and set records for making it half a millimeter beyond the start line.

Server: You afford him far less confidence than he deserves.

Prima: Ow, Nill! You didn’t have to hit me so hard! You know I was only teasing.

Nill: Here, Segun. Hurry and apply it before Prima gets any more StupidCrazy ideas.

Prima: StupidCrazy isn’t a word!

Nill: But you can define it, so it is.

Segun: Uh, the cheat doesn’t have any instructions. Do you think it’s like a Transference Ceremony? Nill, were you old enough to remember yours when the Masters bought you?

Nill: Barely. You have to cut your palm with the key.

Segun: Why is it called a key when it looks like a knife?

Nill: I don’t know. Why is a guinea pig called that when it’s nothing like a pig?

Prima: Ooh, I liked those.

Nill: You ate them, and the Masters were upset because the guinea pigs were rented.

Prima: Details.

Segun: Okay, now it’s flashing. What do I do?

Nill: Hand it here. I’ll just make sure the handle touches all five of the fingers on my right hand. There. I’m your new temporary Master.

Prima: Hahahahahaha!

Segun: Prima, it’s not funny, and Nill, I was supposed to be my temporary Master.

Nill: You are way too reckless to be your own Master.

Prima, really, stop laughing and don’t roll like that while flying. I can see up your skirt.

Prima: I have black leggings on, you twerp!

Nill: Don’t swipe your nails at me either! That’s mean. Stop chasing me!

Prima: Then stay still.

Server: Her purple fairy smock and the metallic lace crisscrossing her leggings and arm warmers really do add to her exotic look.

Segun: You really don’t have to comment on every little detail about us, you know.

Server: I point it out in hopes you will realize you should don a Cute outfit like that for the Expert Race. You will need the audience’s attention.

Segun: Too bad I’ve only got my comfy jumpsuit then.

Server: In the very least, you need to not be attired in your master’s clothes when you allow them to find you.

Segun: Oh, very true.

Continued in pt 6- FIVE HOURS LATER

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