I picked up mine first. The man at the security depot seemed surprised to see me, but he didn't explain why. He just asked for the next 3 months in advanced. I figured the pay out from the platinum, what ever it was, would be more than generous so I just handed over the cred stick and let him take what he wanted.
As I returned to the limo with its anonymous driver, that I had been issued for the duration of the BPN, I ran my fingers over it like an old friend. Enjoying the coldness of the material, balancing it on its point and spinning it. As a turned my beloved object over and over in my hands some thing clicked into place. The BPN brief had made it clear that this was important to head office. The shape of IT was even reminiscent of that of Head Office.
As I held it up before me I let its image superimpose on my deep understanding of mort. And it became clear. The apex of the object reflected the position of head office. The first point matched perfectly the road where I have discovered it all that time ago. Which meant that the other 2 points must indicate the locations of its brothers.From there it was also so straightforward. The dangers standing between them and myself were irrelevant and fell away. Nothing would come between me and them, even at this distance I could feel them calling to me and guiding me too them.
I headed home with my two new friends.
My arrival seemed to be something of a surprise to my pet Vev.
I found it in the middle of redecorating, or at least at the stage where all my old furniture had been moved out. The Vev explained that it was a surprise gift from Alien Sex. In recognition of that live feed that had gone down so well ASC had decided to pay for a complete redecoration of my flat in a style more suitable to my new on screen persona. Unfortunately the new furniture would no be arriving until the following day.I decided I needed some privacy and space to study my new companions. They had been itching me. Just knowing they were there in my bag was a sweetly subtle torture in itself. With home out of the question I booked into a hotel popular with the Mass crowd.
I lay down on the circular bed and placed the objects out in front of me. Almost willing them to speak to me in the same way their companion had. I marvelled at their beautiful simplicity, spotting similarity in the markings of all three. I picked them up in turn and span them in my hand, letting the images fall onto my eyes and into my brain.
And slowly they began to whisper their secrets to me. Wonderful secrets about the world around me, the people in it, the connections that tie them and the conflicts that divide them. Things hidden from every one but me.My contemplations were disturbed by the ringing phone. Angry I reached out and turned it off, only half noting that the call was from Preen. My half formed question as to what he could want was instantly answered. It was so obvious. He must have heard about the BPN and the ASC deal and all the other good things I had achieved and was jealous.
No it was more than that. He wanted the brothers for himself. But I wasn't going to let that happen.
These were mine. They had come to me, and they were revealing their mysteries to me. He Could not have them.
No more than that.
No one could have them.
They were mine and mine alone and no one else would ever even set sight on them.
Not even Slayer himself was worthy of their secrets.I think the door exploded behind me. I really can not be sure.
I just suddenly became aware of the suits of Crackshot suddenly being in the room. The smooth whiteness of the ceramic reflecting the lights I had set up around the bed to illuminate the objects.
I was frozen by their sudden arrival so that when the armour spoke with a voice of stone I could do nothing but listen.Imperfections in HIS picture can not be tolerated.
You are such an imperfection.
You know what must be done.THE END.
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