Endosymbiosis

12. Sepsis

I followed Korrok to a long vehicle with an architecture that a human could fit into, but not comfortably - a kind of motorcycle. I turned it on and felt its power roaring, eager to run, and realized I was smiling when Korrok chuckled behind me, loving how much I was enjoying this. But it was only a temporary power - as temporary as I was to him.

My smile turned into a grimace.

"What's the mission?"

Korrok handed me a little tablet. White, square... Harmless.

"See the palace?" He pointed to the structure on the horizon we saw from the top of the shed. That was the center of the Aulic control in the Blood District, and each district had one, all responding to the one in the Power District. "See the tallest tower?" I nodded. "They turned it into a reservoir of blood... And all we need is for you to drop this pellet into it."

I stared at the square in my hand. Not so harmless, apparently...

Was he really asking me what I was thinking?!

"Do you want me to poison the palace reservoir?!"

"Do you know what they will do with that blood?!" Korrok approached and then I became small. His eyes alone were almost the size of my head, close enough that I could see the red liquid flowing through them. My silence motivated him to continue: "They are creating an army of super soldiers, Phaga. And do you know what they're going to do with it? Butcher us!"

I cringed.

I didn't know the war had escalated to this point. I thought the Aulics would only use the blood as they always did: as a fortune, since the Blood District's economy was based on it. But the formation of an army was another story... And a frighteningly possible one.

A well-fed vorrampe was the kind of monstrosity I, personally, would choose to guard the gates of hell if I were ruling behind them; and each of those creatures didn't need much blood to get to that point. I wondered what the Aulics could do with all those liters stored in the tower...

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"The Aulics started to recruit more soldiers than usual recently." His pause brought a shiver down the back of my neck, which spread to the tablet in my hand. "Also, they were buying containers from the Oasis; and we managed to steal one of them. It was full of blood."

"But there are no more humans there." The fountain had dried up.

"I know. And it was because we ordered the rebels to get them out of there." That explained a lot. "But, before that, other Aulics passed here, probably because the other districts want a piece of this army too." I swallowed hard. "We can't let that happen."

"Sounds like a difficult situation." I sighed. "But what do I have to do with it? Give me another job. I don't get involved in this war."

I wasn't going to make the mistakes of those who came before me.

Wars were but a reflection of the power of nations and their thirst for more. I wanted to stay away so I wouldn't have to carry on my conscience the weight of the deaths I could cause for them.

The ones I already had were enough.

Korrok's claws landed on my shoulder - a frighteningly friendly gesture, if he couldn't rip me apart.

"You deliver, Phaga... All you have to do is deliver this message to them." Korrok hissed, pointing with his eyes to that tablet in my hand. I would only be doing one task, away from its repercussions; and guilt... "Consider this your revenge on what the Empire did to you."