Inexorable Altercation [Round V - Saint Arthelais' Hospital]

Originally posted on MSPA by Dragon Fogel.

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Sollipor Quostus suddenly screeched in pain.

"The plan... it must have failed. This body is somehow linked to Atrum's, I can feel his pain. I'm sure Gias has him."

"Curse that Gias! That was our best chance," the Queen grumbled.

There was a brief pause, and then Quostus began to scurry away.

"Perhaps," he called back to the Queen in Annaliese's body. "But it was not our only one."

***

"When will it be ready?"

"Approximately twenty hecarettens, my Sollipor," the scientist said. "I will work as fast as I can, but the Balancers are nearly upon us. I may not be able to complete it in time."

"It is our only hope. If you cannot complete it, however, it is best that we hide it. There is a chance they may show us some mercy in defeat... but if they knew we possessed a weapon this fearsome, that slim chance would vanish."

"Yes, my Sollipor. I understand."

The scientist's work continued as the castle shook fiercely around them. Quostus could do little but wait nervously.

Finally, the alarm sounded.

"They've breached the gates! There's no more time!" Quostus screamed.

"Damn! There are sixty more connections to make!" The lead researcher handed the sphere to his master. "You must hide it, my lord. I will not have the time to complete it."

"Thank you, Loaste. We may lose this war, but you have still performed your duty honorably."

***

Quostus dug into the dirt and pulled out the sphere. It was incomplete, but not excessively so. But he lacked the knowledge to finish the device.

The Teaching Stone he had grabbed on the way could fix that. But not quickly, unless he disengaged the safety protocols. That was risky enough without the fact that his Black Matter body was receiving pain signals from Atrum. He had no idea if it would work.

Nevertheless, there was no other choice. The Memory Converter was the one weapon that might defeat Gias now. It would tear him apart and leave only a mass of memories behind. Along with anyone else unfortunate enough to be caught in its blast.

With a heavy sigh, Quostos activated the Teaching Stone. Four rettens later, he was at work, almost in a trance.