What the Tower Knows - Part 2
Date Posted: June 23, 2024
Amon immediately came to the location that Node now illuminated. Sure enough, there were figures etched into the stone wall. They were placed not quite all the way at the bottom, but low enough to avoid easily catching the eye.
As he crouched, he felt a shiver rush through him. He remembered these symbols. They were part of a cypher that he and Clio had developed in their youth, so that they could send encoded messages to each other without outside eyes prying.
It took a moment for Amon’s memory to translate – somehow, despite the time and distance, he still recalled this made-up language of long ago. The roughly etched symbols created three words:
Branch says hello.
The Technologist gave a long, audible exhale. It was beyond a doubt something left by Clio for only him to recognize.
Branch A had been the name of his very first clone experiment, something that he and Clio had developed while still students in the Syrcus facilities. She had been very fond of the dog, treating it more like a pet than a clone. When things turned sour in their relationship, Clio had taken Branch with her – Amon always assumed the pup lived out its best life in her doting care.
The name “Branch” also alluded to clones in general, which was the tension point that saw Amon and Clio separate and go their own ways. He tried not to remember that moment, though it was impossible for him to forget.
The Technologist’s hands were shaking as he ran prying fingers over the stones of the wall near the cypher. Something was hidden there, he was sure of it.
Node drifted closer, providing illumination to assist Amon’s search. Finding what felt like a loose stone, the Elezen pulled out a dagger and pried it from its resting place. Inside a tiny alcove, was a small metal tube.
Something left for Amon to find?
He withdrew the tube, and opened it, gently depositing a vision orb in his hand.
This. This was no doubt a recording, likely Clio’s last statement. The one she was permitted to make, but that no one found. Likely, no one cared enough to detail the mis-placement of the recording. Or, if they’d searched for it, it had not been found.
Until now.
[What is it, Master?] Node asked pensively.
Amon’s anxiety must have been visible to the machine. But how could he not feel nervous?
“’Tis a step towards the answers I’ve been searching for,” he answered. It took all of his determination to place the vision orb on the ground and activate it.
Even so, when the hologram flickered to life, reflecting Clio’s thin, fragile face, wrought with sorrow and concern, Amon felt a lump form in his throat. He’d not expected to see her visually – he’d thought it would merely be a voice recording. This was much more difficult to endure.
The recording didn’t afford him a chance to stop. Clio didn’t have much time, but she spoke concisely, ensuring her words would not be misconstrued.
-I don’t know if this will reach you, and rather doubt it will. But they were kind enough to allow me a final statement. And so, here we are.
-I have so much to say, but my words fail me. You were always better at things like this. That never changed…
Amon shook his head in response, as if the recording could see it. It could not, and thus, merely continued.
-You grew to become the mighty, the most elevated of all technologists, a powerful force atop the Tower. And I… chose to be but a whisper, a wind in the shadows. ‘Twas all I could do to remain hidden, because had you known I still existed, I’m not sure what you would have done.
-This world shaped us into what we became, of that I’m convinced. It forced us to fight each other, at the opposite side of the spectrums. I watched you over the years, and came to know everything I could about you and your secrets.
Here she gave a small laugh.
- When your people employed war machines, I would dismantle them, break them, and learn how to twist them to the use of the Resistance. You were always dismal at security tech, I’m afraid.
“Aye…” he whispered with a throaty sound. “I was.”
- Oh, Amon… what did they do to you? There are shadows bigger than you and I that write the scripts to the plays in the courts of Syrcus Tower.
For a moment, the recording stared deep into his eyes, causing him to flinch. Then, she turned away, looking down.
-I hoped beyond hope that you’d come to recognize this… but you drown yourself within the lure of power and the aetherdrugs they gave you… until your mind could not pick out friend from foe. ‘Twas no accident they fed you thus.
-I know this is not you. I know that you now live and die by the beliefs and world you think you’ve saved… just as I will die for what I believe in. I also feel that if there’s a shred of the real Amon left in that silly hat of yours, my death will not go unmourned.
“It did not,” Amon murmured.
-Whatever your feelings, please wake up before it’s too late! I may have only been able to work feverishly on the backend to undo the things you created, but you could do so much more!
The recording took in a deep breath, and he found himself mirroring it.
If only he had access to this sooner…
The recording then straightened, giving Clio’s signature collected look.
-Whatever happens to me tomorrow… my execution is my choice. I will always stand for what I believe, though you struggled to understand that even when we were young.
“No,” his voice wavered, on the edge of tears. “No, ‘twas my fault. ‘Twas my choice…”
-My death was only a matter of time. There was naught you could do to stop this – it was ordained by a power bigger than both of us.
-Don’t let them win, Amon. Don’t let them use me to defeat you. That is what they want – to push you further so that you are so consumed that all clarity is gone.
Them? Them who? The Ascians, perhaps?
Had Clio known of them?
-Seek out what the Tower knows! Allag needs you to wake up!
Then, just as sudden as the recording started, it flickered and ended, leaving Amon feeling cold and alone with his haunted memories.