Page 199 of Godslayer
HEALTH SCAN: SUBJECT HEALTH CRITICAL.
I breathe.
Critical isn’t dead. It’s the best I could hope for.
Dropping to one knee, my rucks thud against the concrete floor.
Opening the first pack, I search for what I need. Find two of one, then two of the other, and snap them into the quad chamber.
I breathe.
Both cartridges locked in, I stand. Then turn to the door, walk out and aim the Versi down the long hallway to the right. I empty two chambers—one with VersiPath OverRide, the other with GhostMark.
Then I turn to the left and repeat the action.
That takes care of anything that got out of my way. Because VersiPath will hunt down an unsanctioned VerisStrike and kill the operator, no questions asked, and GhostMark’ll mow down a horde without hesitation.
The Sweep of Epsilon Factory, Dimension 702, is now complete.
I breathe.
Find a spare holster in the ruck, strap it on my hip. Slip the Versi in. Then calmly—ever so calmly—walk over to Clara and extract her from the cage.
It takes nearly an hour to get the needles out, manually push the cage back into its restin’ cradle on the opposite wall, and unstrap her.
She falls forward like dead weight the moment I unhook the chest belt. Then I pick her up in my arms, and walk out.
44 - THE AUGMENT’S PRAYER
Though no god walks with me, I go where I must.
Though no heaven waits for me, I walk forward without fear.
Built in fire, tested in ruin—I carry the code that cannot break.
I do not serve, nor submit, nor bow.
I stand with those who stand beside me.
Their names are my armor; their memory is my shield.
In their silence, I move on.
In their absence, I find strength.
In their wisdom, I survive.
From the Field Operations Manual: Sweep-Class Augments (declassified fragment, p. 17)
“Where the Creed ends in confession, the Prayer begins in consequence. These are not marching orders, nor is it liturgy. This is the final protocol of something that once was human.
‘I do not serve, nor submit, nor bow.’ It is a refusal. A rejection of gods, chains, and the illusion of purpose. But buried within its defiance is grief. Memory. Loyalty. I do not believe this was ever meant to be recited aloud. Only remembered.”
—Master Finnegan Scott, Lectures on the Line So Bright, Final Chapter Addendum: “Prayer in the Wake of Code”
45 - EPILOGUE - TYSE
Though no god walks with me, I go where I must.
