Unsevered Ties

60. Down Sega!

Chapter 60: Down Sega!

"I have questions!" Naki's curious eyes stared at Sega, who'd finally calmed down a bit and now floated in the hot water. He, himself, had finally entered the bath, sure that the mood would not turn dangerous for him.

Still, Naki made Sega look away as he dipped into the cover of the steaming water. "I can understand now that up until now, you fully believed a massive portion of your life did not exist. Therefore, you entered my life as a steaming and gaping asshole. I can even understand now why you and Aiden have this weird relationship like the two of you are constantly fighting your own denial. Well, I guess I can see your side, him, I still don't understand. But things make more sense now. Your father never wanted you to be a slave to the power, so he honed you to be able to control it. I suppose you'd be no good to him as a...a... what's a word I'm looking for?"

"Lackey. Cog. Minion. Puppet. Tool. His favorite, pawn."

"I think a minion is the one I wanted. But yes, he needed a strong body and mind to move into? Gods, that still sounds so weird to say. And can he do the same for Vyjas? Does Vyjas want to be Valas... I'm so..."

"I don't have a clue about that part. He's kept me in the dark about his relationship with Vyjas. I always just thought the man was a stooge who wanted more power, so this game entertained him. And Valas, I could understand, was much like me, but he seemed to believe in it all wholeheartedly. Now I wonder if we've been hiding the same thoughts from each other, but too untrusting to confide in one another."

"Okay, let's set the unknown to the side. The Forest intentions are still mysterious. There is the Peninsula thing, but I can't even try to wrap my head over that. That seems like a you and Aiden talk. Then there is the Rafeo and Vyronas thing... Vahala too! Like how many people have gaps in their memories because of this mayhem! Am I one too?!"

Sega stood, trying to think. "I can't see a reason why he would do it. He didn't start to concern himself with you really until... Well, I suppose I can't trust my own memories anymore. Perhaps he's planted the seed of interest in me all along. If I had kept any of those moments, I would have known to be suspicious. He'd shown so much disgust at my interest in men because I could not produce offspring with them. But you as an Infirti, this he doesn't blink an eye for? I never know if a gender or ideals issue with this monster."

Naki's mouth thinned. "He's made it clear. Infirti are not men to him. I trust that he'd think the same towards a female Infirti."

Sega scoffed, "Naki, there are not female Infirti. The whole reason for the evolution was the lack of females to reproduce."

"Sega, there is a whole other world you don't even know about. I can't begin to tell you the differences in my recent history lessons. I mean this literal, apparently the Source can do something similar to the Black, this mind manipulation stuff. But my brain is telling me that I know what I want to say, just that I've been made unable to say it aloud."

"Okay, add that to the set aside list until we can tackle that hill."

"I want to ask about your reaction to seeing Aesmond if you didn't remember all that."

Sega's nostrils flared. "Naki, that's an entire can of chaos. I cannot regale right now. It's not in me. I can simply say that my father held true to his promises when I came too from taking in the Black. It's... complicated and I shudder at the memories."

"Okay, side list it is. Then my biggest question, and I'm terrified to ask. Sega, what are your father's intentions for me? Why me, if he didn't know who I really am?"

Sega's eyes peeled away, his expression some mix of embarrassed, guilty, and anxious. "I..." He let out a heady breath. "I'm terrified to tell you that, but... You asked for no secrets and I'm trying to honor it as best I can. But saying the words out loud just solidifies the essence of slime that I have become."