After their meal, Eurus and Kalopsia drive back to Cell HQ in London. The car ride is somewhat quiet as Kalopsia is feeling full and also sleepy, she occasionally comments about something she’s seen from her history books or her favorite streamcast, like the Millenium Bridge. They park back inside the vehicle bay and Eurus takes her to show her his chamber. In London as well, his is again higher up in the structure. The elevator takes them to the right floor, almost a kilometer high, looking over the city. The Sun is setting but the elevator ride is fast enough and takes them high enough to court the Sun back out to decorate Eurus’ room and the duo with its red hue.


    “Wow,” says Kalopsia, “So this is where a Cell stays. It’s nice. Minimal.”


    “Yes. If a Cell is functioning properly, there’s no reason to collect things here. Any entertainment or piece of vanity can be requisitioned for, but to my knowledge, this is exceedingly rare,” Eurus says.


    “Still,” Kalopsia says, “A bed, a couch and a small kitchenette. No entertainment complex, nary a bathroom with a bath. Seems a bit unfit for an ancient warrior, more suitable for a struggling porn star,” she says.


    Eurus blows a chuckling of air through his nose and says: “Well we’re both dedicated at least.”


    She sits down on the couch, lounging back a bit. Her prior tense demeanor now mellowed a bit. She says: “Say, do you have any beer?”


    “Oh?” Eurus says, “Celebrating, are we?”


    “I haven’t had a drink in forever and I can’t drink when I’m pregnant, dude, that’s just irresponsible. Even I know that!” she quips.


    Eurus presses a few buttons on the countertop of his kitchen and says:


    “On its way.”


    He sets himself down on the opposite end of the couch from Kalopsia, looking at her intently. She’s looking around the minimalist apartment and then her eyes draw towards the huge window. She says:


    “Why do you get the penthouse? I’m sure a Caste Tigris or Caste Septra Cell would like to watch something else than megastructures full of struggling families, workers and people having sex, too.”


    “The height of the apartment is determined by your confirmed kill count during the Machine Revolt,” Eurus says.


    “Really?” Kalopsia exclaims.


    “No. It was randomly assigned. I just had the luck of the draw,” Eurus says back. Kalopsia’s eyes widen at the shock of his dry wit. She then lets out a burst of laughter at the ludicrousness of what she heard.


    A “ding!” goes off in the kitchen. Eurus stands up and walks to the counter, opening a compartment in it, and takes out a six pack of cold beers – his favorite brand, the Falkonturm. He pours both of them a glass, 1/10th foam – a perfect pour.


    They start drinking then, and Kalopsia says:


    “Did you learn to fight in a gym? Hard to imagine that punching bag,” she asks.


    “No, we were bred with a base set of skills for non lethal and lethal combat protocols,” he answers.


    “I see,” she says, sipping from her glass. She smacks her lips, white with foam, and chugs a few gulps more, before letting out a satisfied “Mmm…”


    “We learn more during combat, and at times Mind Palace simulations. Would you like to try?” Eurus asks.


    “But I just started drinking,” she mockingly whines.


    “We can take the beers to go,” Eurus says.


    He takes the six pack and they go to the elevator. Eurus presses a button and the lift shoots downward. After a few seconds of descent it stops, and the doors open. Behind them stands none other than Notus. He has a slight smirk and he bellows:


    “Eurus, my brother. I received word you were in town! What brings you here?”


    “Just teaching this girl some basic combat skills,” Eurus says.


    Notus steps in the lift and joins them in their descent. He then says:


    “Combat training while chugging beer? That’s cool… I’m Notus by the way,” he reaches his hand to shake her, but she doesn’t oblige.


    “Okay… and what’s your name?” Notus asks.


    “It’s Loretta,” she says dryly.


    “Loretta…” Notus repeats dryly, “Of course. Very pleasant to meet you, Loretta, such a pretty name. It symbolizes honor, a kind of honesty.”


    “It also notes distinction and victory,” Eurus says. He looks at Kalopsia. Her left, closest eyebrow slightly raised as she sends a smirk Eurus’s way.


    The elevator finally descends to the correct floor and the trio exit, moving towards the training area. They slowly walk through a well lit concrete hallway, with no pillars, no tactical liabilities, exemplifying the functionalism of a Cell HQ. Notus says to “Loretta” as they walk:


    “Has Eurus told you what the single most important part of a Cell’s abilities or skills is?”


    Kalopsia looks at Eurus and says to Notus: “No. But I assume I’m about to find out?”


    “It’s the footwork,” says Notus, “A lot of humans or other adversaries think it’s our weaponry or strength. While not insignificant, they aren’t primary.”


    They walk to the end of the concrete hallway and large metal doors whir open. At least 30 centimeters thick, they’re built to withstand severe punishment to deter unwanted entry. A short walkway and an eyewateringly enormous circular chamber start switching on its lights. It’s a deep chasm, certainly lethal when one should fall. There’s a command module there which they walk to. Kalopsia asks:


    “I thought Cells were bred for combat? Why would you need this – it doesn’t make any sense?”


    “Yes, it may seem like this,” Eurus says, “However there may be optimal footwork protocols that our creators didn’t originally account for. On Tor for instance, the Higgs gas chasms – it can support the weight of a Cell but only if we move in a certain way. Or some old protocols may end up streamlined by some mathematician or tactical development. A Cell can always train, even if they’re in peak form. How do you think that’s maintained?”


    “Combat?” she asks.


    “And training,” Eurus says, “Though there’s no substitute for the real heat and stress of war, molding the amorphous goo of vague combat concepts into diamons of skill, training helps one create enough pressure to not end up with putty for their blade in terms of ability.”


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    “What now?” she asks.


    “Eurus, if I may,” Notus asks, “Perhaps start her off with the fractal plane training?”


    “Oh, great idea,” Eurus says, pressing buttons and dials.


    The room around them shifts, from below them, millions of hexagonal plates float up nearly to their level, constructing a floor around them. Kalopsia looks in confusion. She doesn’t get it. Notus sees her confusion and so does Eurus, and the former says:


    “Go on, Loretta,” encouraging her, “Take a step.”


    She carefully places her foot on one plate… Then another. She stands firm and secure on two hexacognal plates. She looks back at the two Cells. Eurus says:


    “Now, can you see the glowing hologram dot?”


    She looks at the bright golden ball of light, nary a centimeter across whisping around her. She keeps her eyes on it.


    “Try to grab it,” Eurus says.


    Kalopsia immediately catches it, feeling the slight warmth it glows.


    “Very good,” Eurus continues, “The wisp will get faster every time you catch it, but never fast enough to not be caught. All you need to do is keep catching up to it.”


    Kalopsia manages to catch it a few times without having to move her feet. But after the fourth time she does, the wisp picks up in speed, now forcing her to start moving after it. When she lunges she gets it in her hand again, resetting the simulation. Another lunge, and the wisp is in her hand. She needs to lunge twice the next time to catch it. But the wisp keeps speeding up. She’s coaxed into a slight jog, catching it a few times. The fractal plane starts to shift a little. One of the iterations cause her to stumble and crash into the ground.


    “Ow!” Kalopsia exclaims, “The fuck? What’s happening to the ground?”


    “It shifts as you succeed more. The faster you go the more it will eventually shift,” Eurus says.


    “Really… sounds stupid,” she says.


    “Loretta,” Notus says, “The idea is to make you keep your eyes on the target and let your periphery and subconscious worry about the terrain. Your movement should not be a weakness wherever you go.”


    Kalopsia says: “Oh, yeah? You show me how it’s done!”


    Notus barely changes his demeanor but Eurus picks a slight whiff of nervousness in Notus.


    “Challenge accepted,” Notus says, “Eurus, start me out at around 30%, been a while for me.”


    Eurus complies and Kalopsia climbs on the platform now watching the chase of the wisp commence with Notus. The ground shifts abruptly and dramatically, her challenge felt like baby formula next to a Carolina Reaper pepper in comparison. She continued to watch him catch the wisp and the shifts in the terrain increase in intensity. Finally, at around 70%, Notus takes his first stumble, narrowly catching the wisp, but landing on his stomach.


    “Okay… Done…,” says Notus, “It’s pretty hard to go beyond this.”


    Eurus then says: “Are you fucking kidding me?”


    Notus looks confused. Eurus continues, “This isn’t difficult, climb on the platform Notus, show ya how it’s done.”


    Notus sets in the parameters at 70%. When Notus reached 70%, the plates were forming a stormy sea-like structure shifting ever so slightly as he continued catching the wisp. Eurus closed his eyes, catching the wisp without moving the first time. He opened them again, chasing the next iteration of the wisp, the ground around him shifting as if trying to run on a landslide. His mind sharp, eyes almost capturing every spark of an atomic collision, his legs aren’t going to fail him either. The simulation reaches 90%, Eurus is still not even breaking a sweat. The hexagons now shoot up randomly, as if geisers are buried beneath the sea of storms. At a 100%, Eurus is chasing the wisp kicking and flipping of every treacherous reroll of any next hexagon, keeping his eye on the goal. He catches it again. And again. And over and over and over and over again he does it at 100%. He jumps back on the platform, jolting his brows twice at Notus and Kalopsia with a palpable “Can’t hack it? – Obviously a skill issue”.


    Kalopsia can’t help but feel a paternal admiration towards Eurus. The threat of a reckless Notus now seems less significant to her as she realizes her dad could beat up “their dad”. They go back to Eurus’ quarters.


    Eurus allows Kalopsia, now tired from the training to go to sleep. Notus and Eurus remain alone in the quarters and though they’ve been drinking, alcohol has no effect on a Cell Circuit’s physiology – making them practically incapable of getting drunk.


    Notus says: “Now that we’re alone, I feel I could reveal that I’m well aware she’s Kalopsia Chromo, or a creation of Dr. Gobb Vakkar. Might I ask, why she and you are here?”


    “I’ve gotten tangible evidence and proof that the Machine Revolt continues its existence outside the Solar Empire. According to the Cell Codex, and to the Imperial Codex, this calls for the immediate reactivation of the Cell production process,” Eurus responds.


    “The Machine Revolt? Alive? Very troubling,” Notus says, “I can offer my complete services to help you. Is there anything I can do?”


    “As a matter of fact there is something you can answer first,” Eurus says, “I am curious to hear why did you choose to ignore the Codex by allowing the number of Cells on Earth to drop to such low numbers per capita? The appropriate number is 1 per 10 million residents, but here you have 30, making it 1 per 300 million? This is a discrepancy that is off 30-fold?”


    “I understand your concern,” Notus says, “But by becoming governor of Earth, I’ve managed to turn around its trajectory towards Imperial obscurity and turmoil. The streets are safe, there are no real wars aside from a few minor religious skirmishes here and there. I didn’t see the use of holding 900 Cells here when they could easily serve on the outskirts of the Solar Empire where military capability is in sore need like on Herkula, Gaya and Tor.”


    “I see,” Eurus says, “We would need to track down Dr. Gobb Vakkar’s work to start. I know that his documentation was hidden centuries ago if not destroyed. Do you know where I can start?”


    “Yes,” says Notus, “I recommend Siberia. That’s where the production was first put underway as far as I know. I can give you exact coordinates of the facilities and hospitals they first camped out in, perhaps there is something remaining there?”


    “Very good, thank you,” says Eurus.


    Notus says his farewell and gets on his way. Eurus also lays down onto his bed, to allow his thought processes to terminate and restart.


    -


    I see around me a room. This room is stacked out with books almost like a library. But it doesn’t have the usual sorting like a real library would by author’s names or by theme. It feels privately owned. The chair I’m sitting in is leather, its smooth surface familiar on my skin. I’m holding a tumbler of whisky in my hand and its aroma is smoky of burning oak, texture thick and taste at first metallic with an aftertaste of sweet sherry. The doors to the room are sliding doors, crafted, meticulous and weighty. I’m calm, relaxed. I hear footsteps outside.


    The sliding door opens. In the threshold stands an unexpected figure – a woman, tall and beautiful. Mirra looks me in the eye in her dashing evening dress, and slippers. She gives me a smile and walks over, sits next to me in the other armchair and pours herself a glass of whisky as well. She looks at me, reading the surprise on my demeanor.


    “So, super soldier mine, how was the trip?” she asks.


    “Heavy. You weigh on my being,” I respond.


    “Aww… I feel sad for you,” she says.


    “I’m sorry I wasn’t there on time, that it ended this way,” I say.


    “Let’s not dwell on the past,” she responds, “Instead, let’s focus on the future. What’s your feel of the place? Earth?”


    “Strange. But I’m happy that Notus chooses to help us. I was afraid he’d abandoned the Codex but his reasoning is sound if not a little unconventional.”


    “In my home, we had a word for this kind of strange,” Mirra tells me, “I’d use the word ‘suspicious’ to describe the Governor Saint Notus.”


    “Suspicious? Why?”


    “He sends away Earth’s Cells. There are no visible Navigator Class dreadnoughts. Earth would be unable to project power if need be.”


    I feel unsettled, she’s hinting at something.


    “Let me spell it out for you,” Mirra says, “There are two types of incompetence – unintentional and intentional. Seeing as Notus is a Cell Circuit albeit out of practice, I’d wager on it being intentional. He’s doing exactly what I’d do when I was in charge of the Leone family. When I ran the Leone family, the best way to keep someone in line was to pretend to be their ally. Notus knows this game, and I don’t trust people who play it better than I do.”


    “Meaning?”


    “Why would he barge in here, learn about Kalopsia? Perhaps he’s interested in helping you to keep an eye on you?”


    “If he was nefarious, would he give me Siberia just like that?” I ask.


    “Consider the old chess masters,” she says, “Masters like Capablanca and Carlsen. Their opponents would describe facing them as initially easy, their plans being allowed to play out. They also said that the reason why their plans were allowed to be completed was because Capablanca or Carlsen knew these plans would be terrible and would cause their defeat.”


    “Notus wouldn’t play games with humanity’s survival,” I tell her.


    “Who said anything about humanity’s survival? He’s playing games with you succeeding,” she says, “He’s spritzing you with the perfume of hope, while drowning you in his lies.”


    “Graphic… and speculative,” I say, “Maybe you just don’t like him. You’re emotional as a human.”


    “I am emotional, it’s what you love about me, remember? There are things science and reason cannot answer. The scientific method provides us answers we don’t know, but art, and music, they fill in the gaps. I’m telling you that I think there are gaps here Notus hopes you’ll overlook.”


    “I see. I’ll be on my guard, then,” Eurus says, “Thanks for the advice. I’ve missed you much.”


    “Don’t get too sappy. Let’s go out. I wanna take your memory of Papülonis for a test drive.”


    I then spend my dream with her. We have a good time, go out and enjoy the city of Papülonis from my memory. Every part of her, her body, her mind feels authentic to me. The Mirra I knew is now part of me as her Pneuma has awakened.