Deadman

Book 2 Chapter 43: Parley

I hesitated, taken aback by the stark shift in personality Id just seen, on top of all of the other strangeness in the encounter. The First was clearly the leader of a group of pious and devoted individuals, and the initial impression Id had of him was of exactly that of such a man, but as soon as we were alone hed immediately threatened my life and insulted Potts for not sending me to kill him. That was enough to throw me off balance.

They exile me, and thirty others across the Cut, too cowardly to kill us themselves, and when they finally send someone else here, the message they have him give me isnt a bullet, but instead a, youre welcome back any time. We want to re-establish our connection. That kind of shit is exactly why I left. He snorted, shaking his head.

I took a breath and grounded myself. Are you saying youre the original? The deadman who broke away from Potts? Got exiled by Hades Johnson?

He smiled, and it lit the room in a radioactive glow. The very bastard.

I had expected, as soon as Id seen all the ways that Eden was similar to Potts, that they were descended ideologically from the exiles, but the idea that they were actually led by the man whod caused the schism with Potts to begin with, was not something Id considered. At the same time it wasnt too surprising. I could heal from bullet wounds, stabbings, broken bones, and Id seen deadmen grow in height and size at will, immortality wasnt that big of a leap from there.

The First raised an eyebrow. I was expecting a gasp. Maybe a hand raised to clutch at your chest Youre not that surprised are you?

I shrugged. Id seen enough in the wastes at this point that being surprised was expected, and Id gotten pretty good at adjusting to it quickly.

He stood back up from his chair, seemingly incapable of staying still for long. He started walking around me, staring at me as he had when Id first entered the room. You crossed the Cut, huh? And you did it alone?

I nodded.

His smirk grew into a wider smile. Youre like me, arent you? A freak among freaks. Whatve you got? Enhanced reflexes? Healing? Energy projection? Thermal vision?

I dont know what youre talking about, I lied, not wanting to have all my cards on the table while I still wasnt sure how things were going to shake out.

Dont pretend. These eyes dont miss much, he pointed to the glowing orbs, Youre eyes twitched when I said healing. He paused for a moment. Its listed for you isnt it? You can see the virus in the R.A.S. menu too.

I stared at him, this was the first time another deadman had even mentioned having the virus listed with the system. Id spoken to a lot of people in Potts about it before, but no one had ever known what I was talking about.

He smiled again, my expression clearly giving him the confirmation he needed. Makes sense. Its useful isn't it? Certainly gives us a leg up on all the other chumps.

I frowned. I wasnt sure Id ever so immediately detested another person, human or deadman, as much as I did The First on this impression.

He laughed, and walked back to his chair lounging across it with a leg sitting over one of the arms. Tell you what, youve delivered your message, and now that I know you arent here with a bullet that has my name on it, Ill let you go about your business. He stretched out his arms. As long as you dont fuck with any of what Ive got going on around here that is. If you do, Ill have some of my people test the limits of whatever regenerative ability you have. Theyve gotten some practice with it, theyre pretty damned good at it.

In spite of the distance hed put between us I didnt relax. I didnt trust his promise that I would be able to conduct my business unmolested. I turned around to walk toward the door, but kept my hand by my gun..

There was a tap on my shoulder and I turned around to see The First standing there, somehow crossing the room without me noticing.

Wait a minute. This bunker, where is it?

I thought for a moment, not letting myself jump or react to his swift and silent approach. North and West of here.

He laughed, a cackle that reminded me of the sparkling radioactive electricity. Thats where it is, oh man, youre completely fucked. Dont worry, Ill make sure no one gets in your way.

I looked at him questioningly, and activated my lie detector ability, unsure of whether or not he was just fucking with me. There something for me to worry about?

Definitely, Id say theres a good fifty to seventy five percent chance youre going to die or worse.

Tru*(!&@#(*& Lie$)(*#)(*Trut the system seemed completely unable to determine whether or not he was lying and when I looked at the physiological readings for him, they were all gibberish as well. Whatever was going on with him physically, was something the system wasnt capable of understanding.

I looked at him, Why?

He laughed, walking slowly back to his chair for a third time, this time sitting in the same dignified position Id seen him in when Id first entered. I wouldnt want to spoil the surprise. His expression shifted then, his eyes becoming half lidded and calm, and his wide mad smile changing to a small, and relaxed one. Mary, he said, just loud enough to carry past the doors.

They opened, and Mary was standing at the entrance to the room, her head bowed.

This Deadman, he has chosen not to stay with us, but he will be escorted to the north west border to Eden, and treated as a friend. Tonight he will be given food and a bed.

She looked surprised. He has refused to join his people?

The Firsts expression became convincingly sad. We all have our path to walk, and we must respect his. He is of the people, not a member of the Herd to be kept here for his own protection, not an apostate, and so he may go in peace.

She gave a bow. Of course sir. She turned to me, unable to hide contempt in her expression. Follow me.

I did so, ready to leave The First, feeling myself untense slightly as the doors closed behind me. Id met a number of leaders, and all had a very distinct way about them. The Khan was calm, controlled, and willing to get his hands dirty. Masters was smooth and convincing. The Honored Dead in Potts were fair, and reasonable, even if they each had their own small idiosyncrasies. The First he was manic, but controlled, self absorbed, but keen, everything about him was contradictory, and that made me nervous. Not to mention that I had a feeling he, much like the Khan, was perfectly willing to do any necessary killing himself.

Mary led me through a series of halls, to a long row of rooms, she opened the door and gestured for me to enter. We will have food sent to your room. Do not wander. We will have your escort meet you here in the morning.

I didnt acknowledge her, just walked into the room and threw down my pack, then turned, and shut the door in her face. I let out a breath, then started back on my usual routine of maintenance, inventory, and updating my maps and logs. I hadnt used any ammo, or made any major changes to my last updates, but it was a habit, and it helped to get my thoughts in order just as much as it got my gear in order, and that was sorely needed after my meeting with the First. He was clearly guiding the Deadmen of Eden along a very different route than Potts was. Eden seemed to have fewer deadmen overall, but those that were here seemed much more varied and strange in a lot of ways. I assumed that The First was using the knowledge of the Virus granted by the system in order to guide them in that direction, to change them as he himself had been changed.

I looked at my own hands. They were worn, well callused, and sinewy, but I saw no glow beneath my red skin. That didnt mean it couldnt happen though. Nico and Deux already criticized me for my lack of stealth, I couldnt imagine that glowing would help that much. Unfortunately, I had no way of predicting how I would change next. I still had an obscured new mutation beneath the Virus part of my system, and my healing factor was changing as well. If this kept up, would I also wind up immortal? Giving off enough radiation to instantly kill any humans I encountered? Or would it be even worse, immortality and changing into something similar to the sickening man-wyrms Id encountered in The Cut.

I let out a breath through my teeth. In the end, it didnt matter. I was going to do what I felt needed doing, and if I wound up even more monstrous along the way that was just how it was going to be.

I finished up, re-packed my pack, and moved a pillow to the ground to avoid sleeping on the overly soft bed, keeping my weapons handy as I drifted off to sleep.