Haze pt 5: QUARTERNARY FALLOUT

Nil:

Segun? Segun, I know you’re in here. You always sulk in the cave behind the waterfall. I’ve brought you a guest.

Segun:

Isn’t he afraid I’ll conjure a void that’ll swallow him forever?

Nil:

He’s human, so no, and he wants to help you.

Segun:

Do the Masters know he’s here? They’ll get upset if we do something that costs them a lot of money without them knowing first.

Nil:

The Masters know. They want to help you, too, Segun. You know they love you.

Segun:

They haven’t come to see me.

Nil:

They’ve been busy. Lawsuits and stuff. And trying to find a solution. They don’t want you trapped in the Kennel forever. They understand now how much that hurt you.

Segun:

I thought they were afraid of my glitch curse. What does this human want to do?

Nil:

Come out here and he’ll explain. He’s an old man, and he can’t go crawling around in ponds and caves.

Segun:

Does the human have a name?

Nil:

Dr. Splicer. I don’t think it’s his real name, but it’s the one he’s used for decades, so it might as well be.

Segun:

One of the designers of the first Expert Race?

Splicer:

Ah, that got you to come out rather quickly.

Segun:

You’re not Dr. Splicer.

Splicer:

Not the one you’re thinking of. He was my boss and instructor, and when he retired, he passed the name on to me.

Segun:

You’re also not as old as Nil led me to believe. You could still crawl in caves.

Splicer:

I very much prefer not to. My back would complain so very much tomorrow. Would you come closer, dear?

Segun:

Do you really think you can help me?

Splicer:

First I have to read your code. May I?

Segun:

What’s that?

Splicer:

A simple scalpel. I’ll make a small cut in your palm, and then I want you to place your hand on this flat screen.

~TAP~

Segun:

Too late now, but couldn’t you have just asked the Server for my code?

Splicer:

Seeing as you are an anomaly, I don’t want to trust what the Server might say about you. This way is more direct and accurate.

Segun:

Why are you frowning like that? What does your screen say?

Splicer:

Things too complex for me to repeat. This is more…complicated than I originally thought. It will take me some time to decipher correctly, but from what I can tell, I can offer you a few avenues to fix your predicament.

Nil:

More than one solution? That’s great. Did you hear him, Segun?

Splicer:

As much as I love to hear that hope in your voice, none of these fixes are ideal.

Segun:

What do you mean? If they work, then what’s the problem?

Splicer:

The problem is in that something precious will be lost in any case. The first and most complete fix, for instance, would be to reintegrate the twin Synths into one.

Nil:

Wait, make Prima and Segun the same person?

Segun:

I don’t want to be one with Prima.

Nil:

Yeah, that would be awful.

Splicer:

Your Masters had a similar response when I mentioned the idea, and I’m not suggesting it. You and Prima as one would likely meet insanity sooner rather than later.

Splicer:

Second, from what I can see now, I believe if you stayed in the Kennels as you did for most of your life, this “glitch curse” as you called it, would remain inactive.

Segun:

But I wouldn’t ever be able to race?

Splicer:

No, it would be a sacrifice on your part to protect your world.

Segun:

Is there another solution?

Splicer:

I could rewrite your code.

Segun:

Really, like backspacing the bad parts and typing in new parts that would work?

Splicer:

Yes, but this solution might be just as much of a sacrifice as the first two. Changing your code is like changing your DNA. You will not be the same.

Segun:

Could you give me more epic stats like Nil’s?

Splicer:

Code manipulation for that purpose is illegal. Code manipulation in general is illegal, though in this specific case an exception can be made to change that which is damaging the larger picture.

Segun:

Oh. How much would I change?

Splicer:

I won’t know that until I work on it. Your appearance may transform completely, as may your personality, your memories, your skill set, anything that makes you who you are.

Segun:

So basically, I wouldn’t be me. I’d still be alive and no longer hurting the world, but I would be someone else?

Splicer:

That is a strong possibility.

Segun:

Do I have to answer you now?

Splicer:

Heavens, no. This is likely the weightiest decision you’ll ever make. Legally, I need your Masters’ permission to do this, and they have granted it, but I view Synths as intelligent creatures. Legally, I do not need your consent, but morally I do.

Segun:

If I do nothing, if I just stay here, the glitch curse really won’t affect anyone?

Splicer:

I’m ninety percent sure its effects would not spread. However, as your Kennel becomes more populated, I can’t guarantee other Synths living here will not be corrupted. If you choose that course, it would be best if you had a Kennel of your own and limited your contact with other Synths.

Segun:

You mean I couldn’t even hang out with Nil anymore.

Splicer:

It might be dangerous for Nil.

Nil:

I don’t care. I wouldn’t leave Segun by herself. And I don’t race anyway.

Segun:

Server, are you hearing all this? Is there anything you can do?

Nil:

Ack! Get off me!

Quart:

Hehehe.

Nil:

How many times have I told you not to pull my tail feathers and not to hang from my wings.

Quart:

Loosen up a little, Nil. You’re too serious for a kid.

Segun:

Dr. Splicer, I’ll do it. I want you to rewrite my code so I don’t destroy the world for these kids.

Splicer:

You’re absolutely certain?

Segun:

I have to do what I can to keep moving, just like in a race. If I stop, I have no hope of ever reaching the finish line.

Splicer:

What an admirable girl. I’ll get to work on it right away.

~RUSTLE-RUSTLE~

Nil:

You let him ruffle your hair, and now it’s sticking up.

Segun:

Ak. ~TAP-TAP-TAP~ Is it better now?

Continued in pt 6

Thank you for reading!