Page 3579

“Anyway, enough of this,” said Morgunov. “You’ve answered to my satisfaction. Take your turn, and then let’s get out of here.”

“Already?” said Germal. “This will only be my second question.”

“What, that’s not enough? How many more could you possibly have for me? Aren’t you Primordials supposed to be all-knowing?”

“If only that were so.”

“Geez. Y’know, you’re comin’ across as kinda pathetic, right now. In fact, you’re makin’ me feel like the term ‘god’ applies more to me than it does to you. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”

“I can only apologize.”

“If this is some subtle strategy to make me arrogant and careless, then it won’t work! My carelessness has already given you plenty of chances! Don’t tell me you need even more! Greedy! That’s what that is!”

“I know my second question for you.”

“Out with it, then.”

“Why did you kill Dolf Rachman?”

Morgunov stopped.

Germal just waited for him, however. The son of a bitch.

“...That’s completely out of nowhere,” said Morgunov, suspicious. “Why do you care about that?”

“Kehe. I will admit it: you do not make it an easy process, but yes, I have been looking through your memories. And that is one that stuck out to me. I cannot discern your feelings from that time. It seems they are quite tender to you. A sore spot, perhaps? Surprising, for a madman like you. It has made me curious to know more.”

Psychics. This was precisely why he’d grown to hate them in his youth. These days, his feelings toward them had waned a bit. He’d grown powerful enough that they’d ceased being a real concern. And perhaps he’d begun to think that, as long they knew their place, they might not be so bad, after all. Fun to play with, even.

But now he was being reminded. Of what they were really like. When they lacked fear. When they’d been truly threatening. He understood completely why his ancient predecessors had sided with the Vanguard against the Kingsparrows. He would do the same, if such a time ever came again.

“...Ask me something else,” said Morgunov.

“Oh? Well, now you are only making me even more interested. Can it really be such a sensitive subject for you? Surely not. For a battle-hardened emperor such as yourself? How could that be?”

“This tack won’t work, either, Liar.”

“What tack? I’m simply confused. Because from everything you’ve claimed thus far--everything you even seem to believe--you love to see brilliance in action. You love human ingenuity. It’s why you’re an inventor. Why you’ve been once since you were but a boy. And yet, with Mr. Rachman--”

“You’re wasting your time. And your question.”

“Well, that’s my decision to make, now isn’t it?”

Page 3578

Morgunov needed a moment to deconstruct that statement. But only a moment. “Oh. Right. Because I’m also an inventor. And we’re the worst by default, according to your twisted logic. Of course.”

“There is far more to it than merely that, and I think you know that.”

“Oh yeah? So you’re tellin’ me that I’m worse than Arnel the Terror? Really? Look, I know I’ve done some messed up things, okay? But that guy literally cooked people alive and ate them in front of their horrified family members.”

Germal paused. “...Okay, well, I never met Arnel. And I said that you’re the worst I’ve seen. Not the worst to ever exist.”

“Wow, what a cop out. And still definitely untrue! You must’ve met Hada, right? Oh, unless you are him, I suppose. In which case, dang. You’ve really got no room to be calling me names.”

“Hada does deserve admonishment, true. Which I have provided, on many occasions. In fact, it might be my single greatest pastime. But Hada is also a god, which affords him special consideration. You, however, deserve no such thing.”

“Oh, so that’s how it works. I’m not part of your privileged little club, so off with my head, eh?”

“In essence, yes. Ah, but now, perhaps you are thinking that you might like to join?”

Morgunov stopped on that notion for a bit. After all he’d just heard, there was no more repulsive idea to him than what Germal had just suggested. “Yeah, sure, man. Do I have to learn a secret handshake?”

“No. Unfortunately, there is no set path to godhood. No advice that can be granted. ‘Tis something that one must arrive at in solitude. Or become a vessel and agree to incarnation. Might you be interested in that?”

“Oh, you mean giving up my corporeal form and sense of self in order to transform into an entirely new being?”

“Indeed. If you are amenable to the idea, then I can arrange it. There are many of us who are awaiting new vessels.”

“Interesting! You can do it just like that, huh? Simple and easy?”

“Quite.”

“And you’re sure I’d make for a suitable vessel? I’m not too messed up or unworthy or anything?”

“Of course. You would do fine.”

“Well, alright then! Let’s make that happen, pal!”

“Truly? I thought you would be more--”

Morgunov waited. He would’ve smiled if he could've.

“...You’re lying,” said Germal. “You have no intention of incarnating with anyone. As soon as I free us, you will try to kill me.”

“Well, duh. That was always going to happen, Germy. You’re the one who decided to put your balls on the table and confront me. You can’t honestly expect that I’m gonna let you get outta this unscathed, can you? But I do find it funny that you almost didn’t realize it in time! You must be really eager to find vessels for all your little buddies! How quaint!”

“You are a bastard.”

Page 3577

“I don’t think that I do,” said Morgunov, though that wasn’t entirely true. “You’re tryin’ to tell me that there’s some grand, invisible force that’s been creating great geniuses throughout history? And that only one can exist at a time? Why would that be true? Seems pretty inefficient to me. If the goal is to create Order, then the more brilliant minds there are, the better. Limiting it all to just one, singular dude sounds stupid as hell.”

“I never said Order was smart, now did I?”

“Oh, c’mon, that’s the best you’ve got? You’re supposed to be the greatest liar in the world, aren’t you? Come up with something more convincing!”

“What could be more convincing than the simple truth?”

“Eheh, oh, please. The best liars are able use the truth as if it were a lie--and vice versa. Think I’m not aware of that? Gotta say, you’re really leavin’ me quite unimpressed with your abilities so far, fella. Fumblin’ the bag, as the youngins like to say!”

“Well, I did tell you from the beginning that you were overestimating me.”

“Aha! True enough!”

“But alright. I cannot claim to know what Order is thinking--or if it even thinks anything at all, for that matter--but I do feel that you are misconceiving something. A true Fury is able to take inspiration from their contemporaries, as well. Not just from those in the past. So your idea that more would be better is rather moot.”

“Hmm.”

“Additionally, would more actually be better? They do say that too many cooks spoil the broth, no? Perhaps Order believes something similar.”

Dang it, that was actually a good point.

Morgunov still had more to follow up on, though. “Okay, so the Furies are, what, the greatest minds of their eras? And yet you also told me that I’m not one of ‘em? How can I not qualify, huh? After all I’ve done! That hardly seems fair!”

“‘Tis not a matter of intellect alone.” A beat passed. “Though I’m sure you would be found wanting there, as well.”

“Eheh, ouch! So what else factors in, then, hmm?”

“Personality, of course. Temperament. Desires of the heart and soul.”

“You sayin’ I’m not pure of heart?”

“Not at all. Your heart is perhaps the purest black I’ve ever seen.”

“Really? Ever? You’ve known some real mean buggers from across all the Ages, haven’t you? And yet you honestly think I’m the worst?”

“Yes. I do.”