Debate

Staring at the building, I became more convinced of the path. I hated that it came to this. Though I said that, I think part of me enjoyed it. It was a terrible half of me. Perhaps, history was hereditary. Even if I wanted to discard it, I couldn’t turn away from the feeling I had. Somewhere inside that ancient building was the truth.

All caught up in my head, I didn’t notice B standing on the railing until he tapped my hand. I looked down away from the Basilica. “What?”

“You didn’t mean what you just said.”

“We’re doing this.”

“No, you said we weren’t going to get involved, Val. This isn’t some scuffle in the street or ignoring laws a little bit. You’re talking about breaking into the Basilica.”

“I know what I said. And I didn’t say it because I like to hear myself talk. You saw what happened to Louise the same as me.”

“And it’s strange, but there’s no connection to the Basilica.”

“Bullshit, B!” I turned away from the balcony to close it up. B followed quickly on my shoulder. Once it was locked, I went to the bedroom for my pack. I started to sift through things. “You can’t tell me this isn’t all very suspicious.”

I retrieved a box container and placed it on the bed. “We have disease-like symptoms and people going berserk. Both Louise and that man outside the Basilica lost control of themselves briefly. I’d imagine if we were there before she went crazy the woman from the park was coughing up death herself.”

“Perhaps, but it’s just speculation. There’s no proof of the Basilica involvement.”

The container opened revealing a black glove that I removed. “I’m not claiming that they caused it, but they know what this is. Or at least have more knowledge about it than anyone else right now. They didn’t show up at the park for no reason. So I’m going to find out what they know so we can help Louise.”

“So that’s what it’s about.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I thought this might be about revenge against the Basilica for what they did.”

I snapped the lid of the box closed. “Don’t ever talk about that.” Fixing the glove to my hand, I stretched out my palm to get a holographic display. It still worked. This wasn’t something that I used in quite some time. And if my parents knew about this I couldn’t imagine the yelling I’d have to face.

“It’s something more basic. Self-serving guilt.”

Closing my hand, I stared down at B. I didn’t know what his goal was with trying to dredge up the past. Was he actually scared of going to the Basilica? Or did he have some programming preventing him from doing so? I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some low level program buried inside him to keep him obedient if necessary.

“Are you just going to point out flaws or give me something productive?”

“I’m trying to make you see reason.”

“Reason is that a little girl and a town of people are suffering some unknown condition and they’re acting like it’s not a problem because the Basilica told them! They’re suffering because they believe the damn Sol said that it is some trial for the righteous or mark of sin. They’re ignoring their health and science because of blind faith!”

“Maybe it is revenge…”

“B! Help or shut up!”

He jumped off me onto the bed and sat back silently staring up at me. I turned back to the glove. Opening my palm with the holograph activated once more. My other hand began to manipulate the blue sphere. It had multiple buttons along its surface as an interface.

This wasn’t something that I used in years and only really guided by my mother on how to use it. Even she only understood it from an oral tradition and not a practical one. It’s honestly impressive that a relic like this even still functioned.

I pushed around the sphere fighting with my memory of how it worked. A bit of a heat built up in my hand as it became annoying. It wasn’t working the way she explained it. My gestures became rougher as it refused to program correctly.

After a minute of fighting with it, B suddenly jumped up to my hand. “Just stop. It’s hurting me seeing you screwing up!” I backed my hand away as he stopped the sphere from spinning. Where I used my fingers he had to use his whole hand to hit a button. But with far fewer steps, he finished. “This isn’t your strength.”

“If I had a reason to use it, it’d be different.”

“Be glad you don’t. This was from another time.”

I closed up my hand and pulled off the glove. “Don’t act like you were around back then.”

“Maybe so, but what we know it wasn’t a pleasant time.”

“We don’t know anything. It’s just speculation.” I shoved the container back into the pack and glanced at the time. It’d be a while before I could make a move. I stretched out on the bed looking over at B. “Do I take this to mean that you’re coming?”

“I can’t let you walk into that place alone.”

“Glad to have you on board!”

“What’s the plan?”

I sighed. Pretty sure he already knew I didn’t have one. This was something that I decided minutes ago. A plan was still incoming. But he was right that I needed to have an objective. Breaking into the Basilica wasn’t where things ended. Depending on how good the tool was, I would have a limited time to look around before they discovered me.

Glancing over at him, an idea crossed my mind. “No, you’re not hacking the Basilica’s network. You’d be discovered immediately. Only the Corpus’ security is tighter, maybe.” I nodded in agreement. It was more a stupid passing idea. Not a plan, well not a good one.

“We need to find out if they know anything about what’s affecting people and what they’ve learned about it.”

“Assuming that they have.”

“We’ve been here for not even a week and noticed. They aren't so blind not to be investigating it. It’s literally part of their responsibilities.”

“If they even care about that.”

“Now who’s being negative.”

“I’m just saying they could be intentionally doing nothing about it. It’s a possibility.”

“Then we need to know. Regardless, the only clue is that woman they picked up. It’s been a couple days, but there should be a record of her there or even herself, if we’re lucky.”

“If…they booted out the other guy. Nothing to say they didn’t do the same.”

“I think that points to them knowing something then.”

“Just don’t be disappointed if you don’t learn something useful.”

I picked B up and moved him over to the pillow. Leaning into the bed a little more, I closed my eyes. If this was going to be a night mission, I’d need a little nap. “Yea…and don’t blow a superconductor if they got a cure.”

“Doubtful.”

“Good night.”

Sleep was a difficult prospect with everything going through my mind. It didn’t matter what B said. I knew that they had something there. None of it made any sense. I was never going to be able to explain it to him. It was just something I knew. A gut feeling. Probably a bad idea to follow, but I couldn’t ignore Louise or this town. Something strange was going on.

I wonder what they’d say to me. Probably tell me that I’m being a child and haven’t grown up. They might not be wrong, but I ignored their wishes to come out here. So I had to live in a way that was honest to myself. Even if it might be a mistake or lead to something even worse.

I had to do something.

B wouldn’t understand it. Though I’m not sure a lot of people would. There wouldn’t be many that given my situation would do the same thing. But I can’t look away. The Basilica was up to something. And I would learn tonight what it was. Even if it meant ruining my future.

No pressure.