Ch 17 Pure light ( Part 3)

As it was reported in it's blueprint, the machine that allowed Noble One to clone his next in line for the title has finally started to show the it's cracks. At most, it could either produce two more, equally faulty from a genetics point-of-view, clones or one that had a chance to lead the Sect for a couple more decades.

Rhodium pondered over that question since conception, and was more than swayed by the second option. But now, like a bright light in their shadowy path, a third option has showed itself. A snap of the finger later and the room was filled with a small group, around 200 people, which consisted of the more than 80% of the sects members.

Rhodium- " My friends…I need your assistance. As you know, my life cycle will end in a couple of years, and I came up with a solution… one that stray's from Noble's schematic. ", they then took a pause to check the reactions. For now, 'unsure'. " I'll take an apprentice, as is the custom in the Underlevel."

Murmurs and whispers started to be exchanged, many sounding very worried about this approach. A member raised a hand to ask the obvious. " Why not let the final clone take over?"

The leader showed three fingers, and then raised a fourth. " So that we can have more options. If there's one thing we know that the Puritanical Light craves more than anything is access to cloning technology. The other companies kept it under their IP laws and only allowed minimal access…which opens a door for us."

A wise proposal, some thought. Foolish, whispered others. Still, the fact that Rhodium gave them one extra card to play in case anything goes wrong with the schematic, let them now juggling with the opportunites. Then next question came. " Who do you have in mind?"

Rhodium started to giggle, which made Zuwa squirm, as he could already guess what his dear leader had in mind. " Oh, me and Diaz are going to at each other's throats until I die, won't we?" he thought while waiting for the obvious answer.

Rhodium- " Friends, a child's mind is a prickly one. But also maleable. And prone to understand the universal truth, what's needed to be done if we ever expect to survive the following centuries. And, as a bonus, it would also sting the hell out of those fanatics. My choice, is the fugitive, Samson!", Rhodium yelled, then clapped as a image of Sammy was shared on all the nearby screens.

-"..Won't that make any disscusions with the Puritanicals more…uncomfortable?", asked a member that knew of the latest incident with the boy.

Rhodium- " The cloning tech far outweighs Sammy, so no. It will make them squirm though, but they'll have to accept our insult."

-"…I'm fine with that. Making them sweat is a negotiations tactic after all", yelled a contented member.

-" Isnt' that for war negotiations?", intervened another, who then realised what she said and remembered that they were technically at war. " Stupid question. Let's move on."

The leader left the chatter to continue for a few more minutes, as they enjoyed to listen to the members discusing their ideas out in the open. " Remember the footnotes for Noble's schematic, friends. Any tactic is advisible when trying to reach for the top. Our enemies are our enemies because they don't play fair, and neither can we. The system is set in place by the victors, so any attempt at change it can only be done from the top as well."

A few members rolled their eyes in dismisall, but begrounginly accepted that as the truth of their reality. The fact that they were there demonstrated that to them easily enough.

Rhodium- " The companies ranking is our goal, our pathway. And gaining the reigns over it is what will alow us to make the changes we desire! Do you agree?"

A few enthusiastics yesses came from the crowd at first, then a few more and after a while everyone was cheering and clapping.

—-

Maria, the figurehead of the current Puritanical Light put her knees on a pillow and bowed her head to a camera that was just about to run her message to her congregation.

Maria- " Hello, beloved children of Man. I came to tell about a dream I had last night. A vission. It was…a beautifull one. Can you guess what it was about?"

The overattached public whispered their answer, many of them joyfully muttering their favorite phrase- "organical purity" , as they clasped their organic hand with a prosthetic in prayer.

Maria- " And for our future generations, it's closer than ever. Man will finally be able to work the presses with their own, bare hands and not fear the flattening of the limbs."

-" No more fear", said the followers in unison.

Maria- " Lungs will be like a sponge that aborbs the toxic vapors and expunge them from our bodies with a snap of a finger. No more coughs after which you can no longer speak, no more paralyzing breaths and each inhale will feel like the ancient spring entered our bodies."

-" Clean spring…"

Maria- " This world demands most of you to sin. For the sake of your family, friends and yourself. And that is comendable, that you accept that you'll have to carry a burden for the rest of your life. Man will judge you about it, but the judgement will be less harsh for those that harbor pure intentions.

-" Pure intentions…"

Maria-" So remember, the Purity Light always accepts video calls from those who wish to repent their sinful feelings…", she then lowered her head, a bow that triggered a sense of unseasiness and illation in the followeres. "But now, I come to you to ask for your help as well."

The people's ears and transmission devices became like one, that's how desperate they were to not miss any of her words.

Maria- " I know many of you work for the companies that sustain the Commune, but it seems that a lot of them wilfully accept the sinful ways as a common practice. As if removing's one's organs is a natural occurance. But as we are now, it would be dificult to do anything to change that perception. So, in order for us to have a chance at saving our brothers and sisters in the Commune, I come to ask for your aid."

Patches of smiles and unbrideld joy have started to spring among the followers.

Maria- " In about a month, the new rankings points will start to be accumulated and distribuited. And while we are largest community in the Commune, our identity on the corporate stage is counted as a minor one. Until next month, though. So, I ask that all of you to register the Purity Light as your second or third employer and to start gather points for us."

Lunges of joy and applause have started to spur among the followers. It's what they have been waited for years now, and the energy they gathered for this moment made them explode with joy on the spot.

—-

The artifical sky stated to darken over the lower settlement, and the oil lantern lights of the Underlevel painted the underground world of broken down buildings and dumps of trash in a lightly dotted canvas. It wasn't something that special for either of the three, but as an excuse to take a break, eat a sandwich with questionable meat and enjoy the view it was perfect.

Diaz- " The tower is kind of mess…but it has a few perks. I thought you two should learn about them well, not just the rusty parts."

Eury- " You don't say…but yes, I do agree that is quite a perk."

Sammy- "It's a bit high", he said in his usual scared voice, but this time with an attempt at fight it. " but I can learn to like it."

Diaz-" Hey, the fact that you managed to get up here on your own is a victory on its own. I salute your bravery, because it took me like two months of getting carried on Zuwa's back to stop shivering."

Eury- " Ah, you were a little scaredy pants?", she teased in a controled, mocking voice, that came a bit to mellow though and sounded a bit weird.

Diaz- " What, you weren't?"

Eury- " Still am, baby. Never said otherwise." After taking a bite, she remembered one thing though. " Except for loud noises. Don't know why, but those kind of booming sounds that make people flinch don't do it for me."

Sammy was playing with his feet over the ledge, searching for anything he wasn't afraid of. But to his disgust, he realized that everything made his heart race and his blood freeze up. "…Nothing, really?" he admonished himself, feeling a bit embarassed by the realization.

As if guessing his mind, Eury and Diaz called out to him. " Hey, this isn't a competition, ok?"

-" Besides, the fact that you can so easily overcome your fears is more impressive", said the worker, gulping down the remaining of his meal. " So chin up, at your pace you won't be scared of anything by the time you're my age."

Eury- " Nah, everyone should have some fears. Sammy ain't a robot."

Filled with dose of determination, Sammy enthusiastically got on his feet, thanked for the food and went right back to work. " I'm gonna overcome my fear of rust then!", he claimed out loud.

Both wrinkled their foreheads as neither knew about that fear. "Scrub it out of existance Sammy! You can do it", gave Eury a last cheer.

Diaz- " Good kid. Should we go as well?" he tried to ask, but suddenly found his hand pinned down.

Eury- " Five more minutes?", she asked beforing letting her head fall on his shoulder.

Diaz- " Five more minutes" he lied, as the two spent the rest of the night on the rooftop, watching white dotted Underlevel and falling asleep in each other's embrace.

---

Downstairs, Sammy was fidlling with a strange device he kept hidden from others. Not even he was sure why he stashed it, more than likely out of a sense of indepence; and it made him feel a bit special to have his own secrets. A moment later, he heard something like nails scratching on a blackboard, and a second after, a voice called his name.

-"Samson, are you there?", asked the gentle tone of Rhodium.

The boy had a moment of hesitation, even considered to show his guardians what he had, but curiosity and the sense of adventure overcame him. Especially since, apparently, he had the superpower to "get past all of his fears."

-" Ye-yes Samuel. Or is that rude, should I keep calling you Rhodium?"

Rhodium- " It's your choice, I don't mind either way. Just checking in, seeing if have you thought about your new identity? "

Sammy- " No", he replied, feeling a bit like a letdown ." I still don't know what I want to do, or be. It's kinda hard."

Rhodium- " Good. That means you gave it an actual, real thought. In which case, I might be of help. I have a thought of a new circuit. For you."

Sammy- " Ok. What do you mean?"

Rhodium- "Did you ever had a teacher? I can do that. For you, to become a great person in the Commune. Someone so big and powerfull that no one could mess with you. Would you like that kind of identity?"

The boy felt a shiver and something akin to a bonfire started in his stomach. His eyes went wide and a image of a solitary cube room stretched over his eyes. And people, much more stronger than him. "…I'll think about it as well."

Rhodium- " Good enough. I'll contact you again soon, boy. With your lessons on how you can become a CEO of the Commune."