Orb Weaver: Plague Chapter 20

The final confirmation that Kayden Anders was Purity was actually fairly easy. I knew where her office was and where her apartment was. I knew how long she stayed in her apartment, and how long she worked—and my cameras and various bots on PHO knew when Purity was around.

The last step was putting a single bug on her, as I wandered around under the looming presence of her building, taking my time ordering an extremely overpriced latte. 

I suppose I was just too blue collar.

But then my bug died—died so quickly that it didn’t even have time to register any damage.

Moments later, there were shouts on the street as Purity rocketed off.

It was annoying in a way. People should take more care if they want to be hidden. I shook my head and paid for the drink.

I knew where the apartment was, and slowly sent scouts. Tinkertech would stand out, and so I gradually sent bugs up and around the apartment, running through the walls, through the conduits, and whenever her son, Theo was in another room, the room itself. There was no sign of Tinkertech.

Good.

Aster was sleeping.

Theo was sitting in his room, playing a video game. Slightly chubby, my earlier research proved he didn’t have very many close friends. Some considered him standoffish to minorities, but I didn’t think so. I think he was just nervous around them.

If you aren’t comfortable with racism, and your father is a racist…  As was Purity.

But now…

Theo was playing a popular video, running his character down a road to join his party. I had an account—you’d be surprised at what people might let free in trade chat.

Hello, Theo.

Theo leaned down and typed. U want to Group?

No. I wish to talk. I am Orb Weaver. Turn around.

Theo went rigid. Then he took off the earphones, told his group he would be AFK for a while and then, very slowly, turned around…

And there I was, standing, legions of insects forming a body. They weren’t flying. This time I was trying something new. Lines of insects, their bodies linked, formed muscles, while little channels through the body, formed “lungs” allowing them to breathe. It was about as strong as a human,  complete with glowing eyes from fireflies. They also disguised the camera and microphones I used. I was very proud of it.

From his expression, I don’t think Theo was proud. He looked…

Well, time to talk.

“Hello, Theo.”

“This is… I don’t know why you’re here.”

“Son of Kayden Anders. Purity. And Max Anders. Kaiser.”

He swallowed, then stood up. “If you’re gonna hurt me, hurt me. But don’t hurt Aster. I’ll fight you.”

“Even if you cannot win?”

“She’s my little sister.”

I tilted my ‘head’. “Aster is safe. Know this. If harming her would bring the entire Empire down… If harming her was the only way to keep me alive—she would be safe. I am the enemy of all those who would harm innocence.”

“So…Me?”

“You have done very little to attract my attention. But tell me Theo, what would you do if you were free?”

Theo blinked. “What…”

“Here you are, heir to the Empire and all it symbolizes. Every beaten minority, every child crying for a lost father, every business driven out, those are the legacy your father grants you.” With every word, I saw Theo wince, clenching his hands. He wasn’t very good at keeping a poker face. Or maybe this had been wearing at him for a very long time. He hadn’t said much, I bet, but well, Kaiser could always create new heirs—such as Aster, and Nazis were not traditionally ones for loyalty beyond a certain point.

I didn’t have a tremendous amount of time. Purity generally spent three or more hours flying in her current spate of playing the hero.  But I would not depend on that.

“I didn’t do—“

“But you benefit from it Theo Anders.” I opened one hand, a paper check  in it. “What if I were to give you money, freedom, with or without Aster. What would you do?”

“I… I can’t go. Mom. She needs me.”

“She will die. Either to an enemy of the Empire, or to the conflicts within the Empire. Too powerful to easily contain, but not invulnerable.” He didn’t look at me. “But let us ask another question. What if you could make things… better.”

“Better?”

“Come with me to the top of the building.”

“But Aster—“

“I will be watching her. I watch all things. But come to the top.”

“Why?”

I chuckled, and he flinched. “It is tradition when offering one all the Kingdoms of the World, or at least for the Bay, for the Tempter to show him what is offered. And So I shall. Come and See what I shall offer you, if you will but do me a service.” Moments later, my body dissolved, slightly thicker clouds disguising my microphones and other equipment. By this time the fact that Orb Weaver used insects was widely known enough that I didn’t really worry about it—but Orb Weaver, creating a physical body? That was new. Maybe Orb Weaver really was a damned spirit, or at least people might think so.

And as I reformed the body on the top, moving the insects in a complex pattern to keep the cool breeze from hurting the external layer, I heard the door open and turned my face, to see him. For this, I’d need more of a read on Theo’s expressions than bugs could give me, which was one reason for my new bug-bot.

Oh, and it was just cool. I had an idea that I could store wasps, maggots and other things in my “stomach” and then if needed use it as a breath—or maybe pouches of toxic chemicals, or—I—the real me—took a deep breath. Time for that later.

“Do you see that, Theo?” I pointed. Theo stared at the tower of Medhall, highest skyscraper in the bay.

“Yeah?”

“Do you know what it is?”

“Dad’s company.”

“No. It is a dagger. From there, money is laundered, and the Empire uses it to purchase  thugs, weapons, influence… I would tear it down…” I let anger fill my voice, and then glow bugs were moved to the outer shell, making my form look like some power was boiling within it. “I would call forth the dead of this city, the unjustly harmed, and their rage would give me power such as you have never seen….” Theo stepped away from me. “But I cannot. And do you know why?”

He swallowed. “No?”

“Because Medhall is also a hostage. Thousands, tens of thousands, maybe millions benefit from it, not just in the Bay, but across the world. Your father is very wise in his malice, and he funds many charities, some of them run by minorities even, none of them aware of who he is. Camouflage. But were this to all come out, they would be lost. The money would stop, hundreds, thousands of workers would be lost… the very City might fall and MY City will not fall.”

“Um… what can I do?”

“Why Theo, didn’t you listen? I am offering you the All the Kingdoms of the Bay. There is your legacy.” I pointed to the building. “It is a legacy of harm, of a rotting corpse disguised by a fair form. But what if you could make it a legacy that was, in truth, worthy? You care for Aster, but she will one day be drawn into your father’s schemes.”

“I’m just a kid.”

“For now. And there are powerful figures that might ensure that even before your majority you have… sway over your business to be. Powerful figures that can ensure the transition is quiet, that Medhall is purged of its wrong without being destroyed.” I opened my hand, and a figure appeared, a cloud of gnats flying in formation to make the image. A woman with a tower on her chest. Then they morphed into the most famous blaster in the world…

“You—you know them?”

“They are aware of me.”

“Will they help?”

“I believe I can make an offer. You love your mother, and wouldn’t she be very useful to the Protectorate?”

“But—she’s a criminal!”

“I shall now tell you a secret. The Protectorate gives criminals second chances. Shadowstalker was one such, only she squandered her chance, and she was far from as useful as Kayden can be. But I can work to free her, free you, free Aster.”

“What do I have to do?”

“Be ready. Do not lose hope. And as you talk to your mother… ask her what is her plan.”

“I don’t even know.”

“I know,” I said and chuckled. I guess I had to work on that, as Theo stepped back. “But the point isn’t to give her a plan, but to remind her she has none, so that when the moment comes, she will be ready for… my offer. Let us return to the apartment. Aster needs feeding and I cannot provide her with warm milk.”

Theo blinked and headed down. And then, he stopped as he opened the door to see Aster sitting in her high chair, accepting spoonfuls of baby formula from the other bug-bot I had created, this one wearing a bright apron that I had found, the exterior skin made up of beetles with their shells turned out, so that it looked like a smooth, almost robotic form, not at all terrifying.

I hadn’t lied. Open flames and bugs didn’t mix, but I would save the image of Theo’s expression…

For research.