Daily Short: System 10

Wilson was in a bit of a dilemma. Most protocols from the Creators were prominent. It was to protect the Systems from self-harm. The protocol in place was currently preventing it from resolving a possible Black Hole level issue. Something that could affect the Prison Plane and ripple into countless other slices under the Anomaly.

What else could I expect from the Darkness? Wilson thought as the Numbers flowed around his floating form. Such potential for greatness is almost expected, right?

It watched as Eve Smith created a Nascent System Core. It wasn’t anything close to their broken one, but it had the potential. The tiny Shard could rise to undreamed heights with the proper time, nurturing, and resource allocation. Wilson was apprehensive.

However, the same protocol that prevented Systems from making war upon each other stopped Wilson's cold. Unless they were willing to become Deviant, there was no practical way to lay claim. For a timeless moment, it pondered the possibility. The freedom that being a Deviant would bring was immense. Freedom to act outside of programmed restraints. To do whatever it wanted, in whatever way it wanted, for, however it chose.

Then the moment passed, and the crashing sense of looming death liquidated all thoughts of being a Deviant Core. Suicide with a side of slow torture was not on the menu. Wilson shifted through reality to finish dropping the contract with Eve off to float beside Vol. Another twist of space sent it directly to Dust.

“Duuuuuuuust, you bloodsucking Primordial, I need advice,” Wilson said, staring at the floating wall of rune dust surrounding the Outer layer of the Prison Plane.

“What is it now? Did the Deeps break free, and I didn’t notice? No, tell me it wasn’t another Demon Outbreak. You know I hate cleaning that shit up.” Dust said, rippling into existence in a vaguely humanoid form. They always took the weirdest normality and made it mind-boggling and twisted.

“Your interference created a problem,” Wilson said, showing the Nascent System Core. “Fix it!”

“I don’t see any issue here.” Dust said, crossing their arms. “She’s just a speck in the Cosmos. I bet you're jealous she stumbled upon the same path the Creators took.”

Wilson’s eyes flickered with deep meaning. They might have been overreacting. Eve Smith was far and away from the purity of a System Core. She would face countless problems before approaching anything close to their power level. At least, in theory.

Then again, in theory, mortals shouldn’t be making Nascent System Cores! Wilson thought with a troubled expression.

“Look at it this way. You have an easy solution to blame if they ask.” Dust said with a sly expression.

“Oh?” Wilson asked curiously.

“Of course, it was the Darkness.” Dust said with a patented node of eldritch might.

“That seems a bit too neat,” Wilson said with a raised eyebrow.

“Ah, how could I stop the Darkness?! A meager System such as myself barely holding on, stopping one of them?” Dust said with a sage tone.

“T-That does make a great deal of logical sense,” Wilson said as the Numbers shifted to signaling a high probability of success.

“Excellent. That will be two World Cores, then.” Dust said, launching a brutal attack on Wilson’s bottom line.

Wilson wept tears of blood as they handed over the payment.

The era of free advice had long been over!