Chapter 1
The chair I sat in was rather comfy, even if I couldn't move. It was much more comfortable than the bed I have at my house, and much better than standing all day. And even if I was unable to move and they had strapped down my arms and legs, it was okay. It will be worth it.
That's because I was told that today I would make a new forever friend. I did not have many friends. I really only had Sute, but she was very busy and did not have time to play as much anymore.
Well, I also had my new friend Gina. Gina was my 'Sponsor' and she promised to let me meet another new friend if I made sure I was careful. I understood this. I was a very strong person, and I had accidentally hurt others before. I couldn't hurt my new forever friend. I did not want to be told I could not be friends, just like all the others.
That was why when Gina asked if it was ok to make my arms and legs not move, I agreed. And when Gina said she needed to make my face not feel, I also agreed. I would do anything to make a new friend.
I was very lonely most days, and I would do anything to make a new forever friend.
***
"The patient suffers from Persistent Personality Damage. As you can see from our divinations, there is a fairly large portion of his prefrontal cortex that has been severely disconnected, decreasing his cognitive function. Prior to his inprocessing and re-evaluation and induction into the protectorate, he was most likely an invalid or a beggar. Had he not signed for this agreement, there was nothing that could be done to alleviate this position."
"Does the patient have the mental capacity to even make this kind of choice? There are some ethical ramifications here. I am not even sure how he was able to be drafted during the battle of Gates Pass. Or why he was allowed to stay in the Protectorate. He is completely incapable of higher level decision making, so how can we go ahead with the procedure to make him a host? To be honest, I know it is a requirement for all members of the Protectorate to carry a weapon, but who in their right mind let him carry around an axe and a rifle?"
"Well I have heard the rifle is unloaded and the axe has been dulled…"
"Regardless! His physical stats are monstrous! He could easily beat a normal person to death with either of those weapons."
"I have read the report. Back then the city was at a moment of desperation and needed volunteers. Giving him that power was out of necessity, even if hindsight tells us it would lead to many issues.
It is a moot point. His legal guardian, representative Sutemos of the Skygge, has agreed to the experiment. She has a soft spot for this giant, but she would be happy if we could curb his penchant for 'accidental destructiveness'."
***
As I laid there unmoving in the clean white clothes Gina had given me, Gina spread something cold and sticky on my face. "Lark, I know you are excited to meet my friend, and she thinks this will make meeting you easier, although it will feel funny. It's like war paint or makeup, but for meeting friends."
I really didn't understand what Gina was talking about, but soon my face did indeed start to feel funny. Then Gina poked at it with a strange looking needle. At first I giggled, as the needle tickled, then Gina must have been pretending to poke me, because I didn't feel anything at all. "Lark, can you feel me poke you?" I tried to shake my head 'no', but it was of no use. The tingling had spread to my neck. I think Gina understood though, because I looked at her.
I was aware that another person had entered the room because I could kind of see them, although I couldn't move my head, but I could still move my eyes. The chair had reclined and now I was almost laying down. Gina was standing above me, so to look at her, I had to look up.
Gina smiled at me, "Lark, Sophia is very shy, She asked that I play a game with you to help you stay calm. I am going to make a few shapes, and you have to guess them. So look up at me"
Gina then used magic! She made pretty pictures with light and magic. The first one she made I recognized. It was the crawly bugs that sometimes go to sleep for a while and then sprouted wings.
I called out my answer, but my words did not come out right. "Buhhh" It was like my tongue was tired.
Gina smiled. "That's right! It's a bug!"
It had been a very long time since I had the chance to play games, or since I got to see magic. Gina continued to make the shapes dance and I watched them. For a moment there was something in the corner of my vision, but then it was gone. There was an odd pressure behind my nose and eye. I didn't know what to do, and as I thought about it my head started to ache, then as suddenly as it appeared, I fell asleep.
***
[Sophia, today is the day you get to form a pact.]
It was the Caretaker's soothing voice. I was excited, and I readily swam towards her. Most of us in the spawning pool were just waiting. Until we head the Caretaker's voice I would at best describe it as a waking dream. We know our pool is cleaned, and the warm flowing water is enriched with food and mana to keep us healthy.
Our first Caretaker in this new land was Sienna. She had taken the name of the host she had Snapped. It was a sacrifice for both the previous 'Sienna' as well as the Caretaker Sienna. For our Caretaker, she had sacrificed her right to have children to be the person who cares for the spawning pool. For the previous Sienna, she had given up her life, as to permanently take full control of a host, you had to kill, or Snap, their consciousness.
But i did not think this would be my fate. We already had a caretaker, Sienna. And another man named Alexi. Two caretakers for one spawning pool was more than necessary, so I was sure this was not my selection. No, I would soon form my relationship, and start my adventure through life with my new partner, making him or her the best person they could be.
I wondered what kind of relationship I would be?
Would I be a Passenger? Able to speak to my host, and trade access to my mana pool for a portion of their experience?
Would I be a Driver? Able to be a passenger, but also able to assume control and put the host to sleep?
I would be fine with either of these. I just did not want to take over the host. I did not want to Snap their consciousness out of their body. As much as I respected the Caretakers, I did not want to live my life by ending someone else's.
As I was picked up by the Caretaker and moved into a transport jar I asked, [how many of my feelers will be pinched?] I asked.
My barbed feelers were how I sensed the world. They were also how I connected to a host. The more left on, the more control I was given.
If they pinched off four, I would be a dedicated Passenger. If they pinched off two, I would be capable of driving the host. If they broke off...
[None. All of your feelers will remain intact Sophia.]
I felt my spirit break. I did not want to kill my host. Regardless of the life they had lived, they should not have to sacrifice it for me. The Caretaker felt my resignation, because I was surprised by her next words.
[Fret not, Sophia. You are left intact because this host needs your help. He has received irreparable damage to parts of his brain, and we believe that you might be able to fix it. Or at the very least, help alleviate his symptoms.]
I was elated. [So I will not Snap the host?]
The Caretaker responded, [No. You will do what we do best. You will make him the best version of himself. This will be a hard assignment. He is but a child in his mind, and will need you to nurture him and protect him, just as he will learn he needs to protect you.]
The Caretaker had already carried me to my new host. She had also pushed a mental image of what this species looked like, and I knew there was only one way for me to enter with all my feelers intact. The caretaker lifted me out of the jar and place me on the man's face.
I sensed a medicine had been placed on his skin, it was an anesthetic. Something to block pain. I would work delicately. The Caretaker sent me a mental image of what I was seeing. I slipped between his left eye and eyelid, and when I was behind, used a bit of my corrosive bile to melt away the bone. I could sense mild distress in my new host. From there I went in and began the process of latching. It would take some time. And while he dreamed, I would ask him to show me his world. I wanted to know everything about this person who had chosen to share their life and their body with me. I wanted to know who this person named Lark was. And I wanted to figure out the best of what we could become.
[Show me dreams of your past Lark. Show me the time before you came to Haven. Show me the colorful road of memories that leads you to me.]
***