Chapter 568 (2/2)

“Yes. It seems from that thing’s response to you, that there are more incarnations of this thing. Annoying, but within expectations.” The woman walked forward towards Randidly. “That being was slain, or at least its body was seized. It is currently being used to power much of my facilities across the Zone. Ah, you may refer to me as… Father Foster.”

Father Foster regarded Randidly coolly, as though she was waiting for a response. Randidly had none, at least on the surface. But inwardly, he was thinking furiously. Because Randidly believed he had seen Father Foster on a poster at some time or another. He certainly had heard of her. But this face he was looking at now… it was strangely familiar. And not like he remembered the face of Father Foster he had seen before…

“These are your facilities then,” Randidly said lightly. He reached up and cracked his neck. Regardless of the issue of the Creature… perhaps being killed, Randidly locked onto the fact that this individual ran these facilities. It was… it was worldshaking to know that another had killed an incarnation of the Creature. But…

How many people would you agree is a fair price to defeat the Calamity?

This was why the insectoid had asked Randidly that question then. To salt the earth between Randidly and this Father Foster. Because that was what Father Foster was doing, wasn’t she? Randidly didn’t know the details, but the experiments weren’t done for the sake of experiments. Always, the Creature was playing games. And this Creature was dead? Could it be fake-

“I can almost read your mind, right now,” Father Foster said abruptly, as she continued to walk towards Randidly. “But we really don’t need to fight. I can offer you power. More power than you can understand. I can offer you eternity. Life without death. I can offer you-”

“Incendiary Eruption,” Randidly interrupted. The ground split and fire roared upwards. But just as quickly, Father Foster shifted. The machinery on her left arm transformed into something like a shield, and she held that downwards to deflect most of the blast of fire that smashed into her.

Although the force knocked her back several steps, she very quickly gained her balance again. Randidly advanced towards her, inwardly very miffed he had left Acri at home. It would make this fight much more tedious to fight without a spear.

“Tsk, fine. I will delight and capturing you and figuring out how to extract your large Mana pool from that body of yours,” Father Foster said simply before her exosuit seemed to engage. There was a click, and the machinery began to hum as some internal engine engaged. The air around her rippled, and then she blasted forward, moving so fast that even Randidly was surprised.

He deftly twisted out of the way, but she swerved to follow him. He leaped backward, and Father Foster raised her right arm and shot three lightning bolts at Randidly. Grunting, he rolled out of the way and fired Incendiary Bolts back at the other combatant.

While swerving to dodge the bolts, there was a moment where Father Foster touched her foot to the ground. Randidly’s eyes flashed, and another Incendiary Eruption smashed upwards, hitting her with full force before she could bring her shield around. But the humming of the engine in her exosuit just grew louder. The metal began to glow with energy.

The force of the attack smashed her backward, into a terminal. The thing crumpled like it was made of paper mache, leaving a very unsteady Father Foster stumbling among the wreckage.

“Amazing,” Father Foster said, even as it seemed she was kicking her exosuit up into the next gear. “Not only do you possess a Mana pool larger than I had ever seen, you react so quickly! Do you have physical Skills? I can’t wait to get my hands on you.”

Randidly snorted. Then he flexed his fingers.

*****

Tatiana sat with some of the other girls in the compound, watching the news broadcast. There had been another attack; this time, President Howard had been wounded and was currently under the best care that could be afforded in a hospital in East Providence. Currently, Father Foster of the Unity Church was giving a rousing speech about the importance of coming together in these times of strife. She went on to emphasize the importance of political and religious participation.

Sighing, Tatiana shook her head and turned to the task at hand. She was braiding the hair of one of the women that Baloo had rescued.

If that was really who he was…

Again, Tatiana sighed. The words of Father Foster from the live broadcast because a numbing buzz that enabled her to completely set aside her worries. For now, she simply braided the beautiful blonde girl’s hair.

Thinking of that man Tykes’ reaction when he saw… Tatiana chuckled. That man had more than a little crush on this doll-like girl, but she was reserved and mute. Sometimes, Tatiana wondered if there was something wrong with her.

After she finished braiding the girl's hair, Tatiana eyed it critically and then shook her head. The girl couldn’t wear her hair like this; with her hair pulled too tight the long scar at the base of her skull was visible. The girl probably wouldn’t complain, but Tatiana didn’t want a reminder of what she went through to be so visible.

Humming, Tatiana undid the braid while the girl in front of her sat very still, staring off into the distance.