Page 409 of Light Leech

Don turned around, leaving behind three people in robes mid conversation. “You trust me with your gem?”

“Oh, he isn’t the gem we wanted, just a nice bonus.”

“Well, I’m honored that you–”

“Don’t be. He has no control over his body. I’ve sent the commands to your neurospace. His mind is still mostly his, so you’ll have to deal with his attitude for a while. Just don’t let any insult lead you to harm him before we can actually use him.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“I’m not sure you do.”

“Go take care of the girl. I’ll figure it out.”

Kim turned around, speaking as he left. “I’ll message you when we need him for the fusion. Do not be late.”

“You want me there, too?”

“If you must.” The doors shut behind him.

Don faced me with his chin held high and hands behind his back. “Well, let’s make use of you.” He turned to the people he had left mid-conversation and resumed in a whisper.

I tried to find the best thing to say that didn’t sound like a cheesy refusal to comply or a subjugation of my will. “What is that?” I tried to point to the pyramid, but my hand was frozen at my side.

He turned back with a snide grin. “Come here.”

I tried to resist, just to see if the control codes worked.

I obeyed, no say to where I went or when I stopped.

He tested it by asking me to slap myself, which I did.

“Harder.”

I complied.

“Good. You never can be sure of promises in a world like this, right?” He gestured towards me as he checked for reactions among his stern-faced peers. “Come on, you’ve got to admit that this is exciting.”

“This is not the first instance of neurowashing we’ve seen, sir.”

“But you know what he is, right?”

They shook their heads. One spoke among them. “You never debriefed us after your meeting, sir.”

He sighed. “He has a Gui.”

Some of them raised their eyebrows in interest, but the one who had spoken remained placid. “I fail to see how this resolves the anomaly?”

He took a deep breath then pressed his palms together and faced her. “This one is a disciple, servant, whatever you call it, of the serpent woman.”

“Nuwa?” An older man gasped as he listened from the side of the room. He approached with others in tow.

“The Luxist God?” a younger man asked.

“Sure,” Don said. The more he spoke, the less I felt he was involved in the research of whatever project this was. It felt more like he was an outside sponsor who offered enough lumens to fund the project just so he could stamp his name on it upon completion. “Diama,” he pointed to a middle aged woman who was in a deep focus across the room, “tell them what that means.”

“Aren’t I just so lucky that you talk loud enough for me to hear the entire conversation across the room?” She stood from her desk and approached. “They already understand the implications of it.”

He looked around with an uncomfortable pressure in his throat.