16. P O W E R : Radical

PROLOGUE

Xirxine International.

The following is a private interview conducted by Dr. Phineas Yanshuf during the investigation into the internet activity of Subject V-111, a.k.a. "Veronika", which involved frequenting blogs hosted by members of the religious cult known as "the Saved". The interview was recovered six hours later. Prior to recovery, Subject V-111 escaped Xirxine custody and Dr. Yanshuf disappeared.

Interviewer: Dr. Phineas Yanshuf, Xirxine International

Interviewee: V-111

[BEGIN LOG]

Dr. Yanshuf: Guten nacht, V-111. How are you feeling?

V-111: Du raubst mir meine freiheit und fragst wie es mir geht?

Dr. Yanshuf: Please cooperate, Veronika. This interview is to be conducted in English.

V-111: (straightens up) Very vell, Doctor. I haff no quarrels vis zat.

Dr. Yanshuf: Good. Now, do you know why I'm conducting this interview?

V-111: You've taken note of my recent online activity, ja?

Dr. Yanshuf: That's correct. You seem to be frequenting several blogs hosted by members of the Saved—blogs that we've shut down as quickly as we are able to prevent radicalization.

V-111: Ohhh... is zat vhat you call it? (chuckles) Nein, Dr. Yanshuf. It is not radicalization. It is salvation.

Dr. Yanshuf: [agitated] That organization blows up people for the sake of blowing them up. They're terrorists.

V-111: Ja? (leans forward) And what are your people?

Dr. Yanshuf: Xirxine is an organization dedicated to the advancement of—

V-111: I am not talking about Xirxine, Doctor.

Dr. Yanshuf: ...

V-111: Tell me, Doctor—vhen vill you drop zis façade and tell me your true views on ze vorld? On society? I know you must've been dying to speak on ze matter ever since you vere initiated.

Dr. Yanshuf: (remains silent for a long while; smiles thinly and leans back in his chair) Well, well, well. Aren't we perceptive. (clasps hands together and narrows eyes) How did you figure it out?

V-111: Ze ozzers may not see zem, but ze veins beneath your skin betray you. Zey move. Zey live. (leans closer) So please, Doctor—enough games. Tell me vhat you believe.

Dr. Yanshuf: Alright. If you really want to know... (leans toward Veronika) I believe in power, V-one-eleven. I believe that power is the key to this world, this universe, and everything in it. I believe that those with the most power should rule, and that those without it must either fight to achieve it or die trying. (rolls up sleeve and bares forearm, revealing brand in the shape of Cthulhu's head) I believe in the Great Old Ones, and in restoring them to this plane of existence, for our reality is their right. (rolls sleeve back down and tilts head) Now... what do you believe, Veronika?

V-111: Are you avare of ze purity of your namesake, Dr. Yanshuf?

Dr. Yanshuf: ...Excuse me?

V-111: In ze Vord of ze Lord, zere is a man named Phineas who stopped a deadly plague set upon his people by Elohim. Two Sinners vere defiling ze tent of meeting, and in his zeal, Phineas ran zem through vis a spear. Ze plague vas stopped, and he vas commended for his righteous actions.

Dr. Yanshuf: ...

V-111: You vould have made an excellent Disciple.

(silence stretches out for nearly half a minute)

V-111: 'Take all ze leaders of zese people. Kill zem and expose zem in broad daylight before ze Lord.'

Dr. Yanshuf: 'Ph'nglui mglw'nafh wgahnagl ehya fhtagn'. 'In his house, the dead one waits dreaming.'

V-111: 'Ze rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I vill rebuke zem all.'

Dr. Yanshuf: 'F' uh'eor mgr'luh nafh'ehye. C' mgr'luh vulgtmnah mgehye'lloig.' 'They only see chaos. We see perfect madness.'

V-111: (stands) 'You must purge ze evil from among you.'

Dr. Yanshuf: (stands) 'Gn'thorr ah mgsyha'h mgephai.' 'The waters are never still.'

V-111: (angrily) 'Give zem according to zeir deeds, and according to zeir vickedness!'

Dr. Yanshuf: (harshly) 'Nilgh'ri ph'—nilgh'ri mgepzhro, l' epgoka ya llll fm'latghor—lllln'gha ph' ah, ng mgn'ghftt yog bug!' 'All fled—all done, so lift me on the pyre—the Feast is over, and the lamps expire!'

V-111: ... (quietly) Such is ze vill of ze Lord... so shall it be.

Dr. Yanshuf: Mgah'ehye mgehye'lloig ahuh'eog. Let madness reign.

(another short silence)

V-111: Danke, Doctor. Vhen you are Purged, I vill make sure your death is svift.

Dr. Yanshuf: I'll do the same for you when the Old Ones return. (reaches into pocket; removes what appear to be ten prosthetic claws; places claws on his fingers) Unfortunately, it seems our time with Xirxine must come to an end. (puts on black cloak embroidered with R'lyehian patterns) It won't be long before they find this private log and terminate us both.

V-111: I agree. Perhaps you could assist me in escaping custody, then?

Dr. Yanshuf: (smiles thinly) And what would I receive in return for said assistance?

V-111: I vill not bite your throat out before ze day's end.

Dr. Yanshuf: (blinks in surprise; bursts out laughing) Is that right? Very well. (reaches out and cuts through Veronika's bonds) I admire your confidence—and I look forward to meeting you battle, should we be so lucky.

V-111: You are an honourable adversary, Doctor. ...I vish I could say ze same of myself.

Subject V-111 proceeds to lunge forward, aiming to bite out the doctor's throat despite her previous promise. Dr. Yanshuf catches her wrists and keeps her at bay with relative ease.

Dr. Yanshuf: (laughs again) Again, I admire your confidence. But you can't back it up—at least not yet. (throws Veronika to the ground and backs toward the cell door) Before I go, I must let you know: I enjoyed all of our sessions more than those with any other subject, Veronika. I'll miss you—really, I will.

V-111: (sits up on the ground) And I you, Doctor. Do take care of yourself, ja?

Dr. Yanshuf: (nods) I wouldn't dream of doing otherwise.

At this point, a large mass of tentacles spontaneously erupts from the cell door behind Dr. Yanshuf and absorbs him before disappearing, leaving no trace of its existence. Veronika rises to her feet and proceeds to bite her way through the cell door with her anomalous teeth and jaws before sprinting out of the cell (with her computer and Bible) past the guards, who had been rendered catatonic by Dr. Yanshuf prior to the interview according to the investigative reports.

S.A.F.E. Subject V-111 has yet to be located and recovered.