47-Compulsion

Sierra approached James as he stepped out of the forest. The sun was rising behind him. The new day found her tired and bleary-eyed. After her nap, she had barely slept during the night. She’d tossed and turned, guilty about the danger she’d placed Chava in.

He was a terrible leader. A coward who sent his family into harm’s way while staying behind himself. Almost certainly a misogynist—machista, as Karla put it. But did he deserve to die? I wonder what James did to him. ‘I was planning on leaving him in bloody pieces all over the ground,’ she recalled, and shuddered.

Though she’d stood beside Kurt and his party when they led people to their deaths, she’d been able to tell herself she wasn’t a real participant. She hadn’t yelled to lure people toward the pit trap. She didn’t do any fighting at all. She just healed people. Like a military nurse.

This time, she was the instigator.

You didn’t have to tell him, Sierra, David’s voice said, but you’d all be in danger if you didn’t.

I know. Bad options. She was growing more accustomed to answering back when her brother spoke up, although she’d noticed that was less frequent, as if he was settling into a dormancy inside her mind. Or as if the voice was just a hallucination brought on by stress.

As she moved toward the area of forest James was approaching from, she tried to read his face. But the sun behind him made his expression almost unreadable.

Once she was closer, she saw a calm, slender smile. Sort of his baseline face. A good sign? She thought she heard him whistling for a moment. Is that Frank Sinatra? But he stopped before she could identify it.

“I assume your dark deed is done?” Sierra tried to say it lightly, with an air of nonchalance. She had already concluded that he’d almost certainly murdered Chava. If that was true, then her role in this situation was either that of James’s willing accomplice, or the sole witness, who would need to be silenced. Which one would depend on the next few minutes.

“I finished what I needed to do with Chava, if that’s what you mean.” His smile grew and spread to his eyes. Sierra swallowed involuntarily.

“That’s great,” she said, trying to cover her initial reaction. I’m not ready to be an accomplice to murder!

“Don’t worry,” James said, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. She flinched slightly at the touch, and he clearly noticed.

“I don’t have to solve every problem with violence, you know.” He sounded a little defensive. “I mean, I did solve this problem with a certain amount of violence, but I don’t have to do that every time. I also didn’t kill Chava.”

Her eyes were drawn to the tree line behind James. The figure of Chava stumbled out of the forest, almost on cue. There didn’t look to be a scratch on him, although he walked with his head down.

Like a beaten dog, she noticed. It was scarier to her than if she’d seen his mangled body. She was getting used to death. What could James have done to him?

Images of gruesome torture played out in her mind’s eye.

James leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice. “Thank you again for your loyalty to me and to the group, by the way. Don’t think it goes unnoticed. This dude—” He gestured at Chava—“could have caused a lot of trouble if left unchecked. Now he’ll never be a problem again.”

He gave her what must have seemed to him a winning smile, and she forced herself to smile back and nod as if she understood. As if James hadn’t inflicted some unspeakable horror that she did not yet comprehend on the man who stood behind him, expression blank.

“Mm hm, of course, well done,” Sierra said, barely aware of what she was saying.

There was an awkward silence in the air between them then, but she didn’t think James was going to kill her at least. He hadn’t even killed Chava.

After what seemed to her a decent amount of time, she turned and silently walked away.

—

James stood for a moment wondering if Sierra would be alright. She hadn’t concealed her fear well, but he didn’t think there was anything he could say that would reasonably reassure her.

He wouldn’t deny what she must be imagining he’d done. He had tortured Chava. And he’d even turned the old man’s own Skill on him at the end. It was the only way that James could justify leaving the man alive, so he considered it a lesser evil. But he was cognizant that others might not share his view.

He examined his newest Skill.

[Compulsion: Bend the mind of another into obedience to your whim. Initiation requires direct eye contact. Must possess a stronger Will than the other. Only one target at a time. Effectiveness reduced where a command goes against the other’s core nature.]

It bothered him even to look at the description. In some ways, it was more repulsive than the Familial Influence Skill, which was less coercive but allowed the user to target all his blood relatives within range at once. James had used Skill Transfer to return Familial Influence to Chava, since he wanted nothing to do with that.

But Compulsion, he told himself, was in good hands with him. He only intended to dominate Chava’s mind. A taste of his own medicine, an effective prison sentence in a setting without iron bars and stone walls. All without alienating the Rodriguez family.

You’re basically a slave owner now, a dark voice inside commented.

He tried to ignore it.

The next hour was spent with Chava, talking with Camila and other Rodriguezes.

“James!” Camila exclaimed as soon as she saw him. She pulled him into a warm hug that dissolved some of his uneasy feelings. Her grip is surprisingly strong!

Then she started chattering, asking how he was, how her family was doing, when they were leaving, and saying she hadn’t been out of her tent for ages.

James had felt a little exhausted by the events with the Rodriguezes. Not that he wanted to leave them behind, but he had questioned whether the power of numbers and the value of allies was worth all the headaches that Chava had caused him.

Now, in the midst of Camila’s warmth, he felt affirmed in his decision to stick with them.

He also felt a bit better about what he’d done to Chava. The old man had confessed to using Compulsion to control Camila, though apparently the reasons were purely petty. Many family members liked her better, and they would have gladly listened to her over the old man if given the choice. At the very least, her presence out among them would have weakened the effectiveness of his Familial Influence.

As she spoke, Camila reminded James a bit of his own grandmother before she passed. On her visits, she always made her grandchildren feel like they were the only people in the world. Listened to all their trivial concerns like they were adults, and chattered away with them endlessly.

I’m glad the Rodriguezes are out from under Chava’s yoke, he thought. What a warm family they are, once they can really be themselves. Like what I want to make with Mina. He smiled genuinely, barely aware of himself as he imagined his own family.

“You should really be lying down, sis,” Chava commented uncomfortably. James had used Compulsion to command him to act as normal, and apparently, this was how he interpreted it. Continuing to insist that his sister-in-law sleep and recover from an ailment that she was very clearly over. But the effect of Compulsion over her was clearly fading, with the Skill now in James’s possession.

“You and your rest,” Camila said, her tone turning a little crabby. “I’ve had more than enough rest! Don’t know why I’ve been laying up here like an invalid.”

“Yes,” Chava said tersely, clamming up a bit at James’s mental command.

Interesting that she doesn’t seem to remember that Chava used Compulsion on her, James thought. Sierra’s ability might be a requirement to break that aspect of the Skill.

“I want to talk about moving camp,” James said.

“The family has already lost–and come close to losing–members,” Chava objected. “I cannot agree to–”

“The decision is not just up to you,” Camila interrupted. “Didn’t I hear the young man say he killed off the monsters that attacked us before?”

“Yes, but–”

“It’s true that I killed all the spiders,” James interrupted. “They’re not the only danger out there.”

“Exactly!” Chava said.

“That’s why we need to move the camp,” James said.

“Come again?” Chava said.

“Yes, let’s move the camp!” Camila said, immediately agreeing with James. She didn’t even need to hear his reasoning, apparently. He smiled.

These two were the elders, the leaders in effect, of the Rodriguez family. It was amusing to watch their decision-making process where James was telling Chava to act ‘as normal,’ and Camila was coming out of Chava’s influence. The two of them couldn’t be more reflexively opposed in this short exchange, where they were both finally behaving like their full selves.

But if they acted this way when discussing binary questions, he could only imagine the logjams that more complicated decisions would create. He thought he might actually be doing them a favor by taking the leadership role for himself.

Still, he took the time to explain actual reasons why they should agree to move camp. In case Chava ever drifted free from his control and wondered why he had gone along with James’s plan. There would be the memory of this conversation, or so James hoped.

“This Orientation is a deathtrap. Half the people here are going to die by the end. We have to make sure we’re not among them. This area your family cleared is not a safe place. There is no safe place.”

“I understand my babies have gotten hurt hunting in this patch of forest anyway,” Camila said. “And no food to show for it!”

James nodded. “That’s right. It’s been rough around here, I understand. The spiders that dominated this area weren’t edible to begin with. And other monsters will arrive eventually, just like at the clearing in the beginning. There’s no rule that they stick to the tree-lined areas. By then, everyone would be weakened from hunger. All staying would mean is guaranteeing a slow death for the sake of avoiding a quick one. And I can protect your family, just as I wiped out the spiders.”

Camila expressed her agreement once again, and in a shocking twist, Chava followed suit.

“Thank you both,” James said.

“Of course,” Camila said. “I know you’ll keep us safe.”

“Let me know if there’s anything else I can do,” Chava said weakly.

“Oh, of course,” James replied.

He allowed Camila and Chava to announce the move.

Walking away, James couldn’t help but feel conflicted. He had seized control of the entire family’s destiny by manipulating their elders. But he also felt righteous, because he was all but certain he was leading the group in the right direction strategically, and he genuinely believed Chava was right where he belonged: under James’s tight control.

And they would surely all die if they stayed in place as Chava had wanted. Perhaps the ends justified the means.

His next order of business was ensuring he would never fight a battle alone again. For that purpose, he still intended to cultivate Cliff as a front line fighter.

As he went off to find the older man, James happened to see the smoke stack he intended to march them towards, still visible in the distance. It hadn’t changed its appearance much, just occasionally growing a little thinner or a little wider. And it was certainly stationary. He wondered what sort of group could have erected a signal fire so quickly.

But it was only a passing thought. They must be doing very well.

Then he was with his party again. They were all together when he spotted them outside of the tent that Chava had gifted them. Somehow it felt like a long time since he’d seen them all. It’s only been a couple of days, right? And of course I was just talking to Sierra this morning and Alan yesterday.

“You grew!” Cliff commented upon seeing him. He seemed energetic and excited to see James back, which wasn’t something James had ever expected.

“Apparently,” James said. “Do I look different otherwise?”

“Better,” Mitzi said, nodding. “Just generally better.”

What, was I a big ugly bag of garbage before?

“Stronger jawline,” Sierra said indifferently. Everyone but her looked to be in an elevated mood.

“You’re ripped, man!” Cliff said.

“Almost like you’re a different person,” Alan assessed, smiling warmly. “You had gained a little muscle tone since Orientation started, but now you’re suddenly multiple inches taller, and I’d say you put on twenty pounds of muscle. How do you feel?”

“Like I’m ready to take my shot at the heavyweight title,” James admitted.

“How was the, uh, Evolution?” Mitzi asked.

“Uh, might be different for everybody…” James said. “It turns out that the Race Evolution process involves going to another dimension or something.”

Better not mention that the System offered to turn me into a half-vampire. I already seem evil enough with the powers I actually have.

“But what was it actually like?” Cliff asked.

“Dark,” James said. “Horribly painful.” He looked off into the distance.

After that, no one asked him any more questions about Evolution.

When the group split up again to perform various tasks leading up to the move, James took the opportunity to speak with Cliff alone.

“Getting along well with the family?” James asked.

“The ones who will talk with me, absolutely,” Cliff said. But he didn’t sound terribly interested, which seemed slightly out of character. “I hear the killing spree went well?”

James opened his bag and spilled out twenty Exoshields of varying sizes onto the ground.

“Very successful, then!”

“This is just a sample,” James said. “The spiders are extinct now.”

“Whoa! You sure?”

“This species, definitely. I got a new title out of it. Xenocide.”

“You must have gotten quite a few levels out of that.” Cliff sounded slightly down about this, and James wondered if he was jealous. It would be very understandable; the System had given James gifts that were probably rare, and Cliff was only falling further behind his former subordinate.

“I did,” James acknowledged. “I wanted to see you about that, actually.”

“Oh, yeah?” Cliff asked, raising his eyebrows. He seemed to be wondering if James wanted to rub it in, how their positions had reversed from prior to the System.

“Yeah. Two things. First, the group here is going to raise stakes and move campsites soon.”

“I don’t know about that,” Cliff interrupted. “Old man Chava seems pretty bound and determined that this is where the family is going to stay, live or die.”

“I know. I spoke with him. We’re moving.” James flashed a predatory smile. “I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

“Badass.”  Cliff looked suitably impressed. “So what’s the other thing?”

“I was hoping that you could take the vanguard—the lead—when we march out of here. You would be the point of first contact with any enemies we encounter from the front. For that purpose, I have something for you.” James opened his bag and drew the Ego Spidersword. He took a moment to examine the blade, which was the color of blackest, condensed, hardened spider chitin. At the juncture between sword and hilt, there was a shiny orb that looked suspiciously like one of the Spider Queen’s eyes. Perhaps it was precisely that.

“I’m lending you to my friend Cliff, here,” James said aloud. “Help him keep us safe.” The weapon didn’t speak or anything, but he thought he felt a cold aura radiate from the eye orb.

James understood he looked like a madman, talking to the sword, so he added, to Cliff: “It’s an ego weapon, meaning it retains some of the Spider Queen’s personality and power.”

“I see,” Cliff said, looking skeptical, “and you’re just giving this to me?”

“Lending for an indefinite period of time,” James gently corrected. “It’s going to be good for you to have a better weapon to use. We’ll see how it goes.” He lowered his voice. “I want it to be in the hands of someone I trust. I think the Rodriguez family are good people, but I don’t know them like I know you.”

James did not, in fact, trust Cliff any further than he could throw him. With his Strength, James could now throw Cliff much farther than he had ever trusted him. James didn’t even always like Cliff. But he knew Cliff, and that was, in many cases, better than trusting or liking. It would at least have to substitute for real trust until James was around people to whom that word applied. What he knew was that Cliff was vain, status-hungry, extroverted—and as far as James had ever seen, loyal to his leader.

That leader had been Brendan Barry. Now it was James, for as long as he could maintain the appearance of dominance. The reality of being strongest was preferable, but James couldn’t count on that always holding. He thought he would at least have some warning if Cliff was ever going to try to make a play for leadership. The middle-aged attorney wasn’t the type to act alone.

James Identified the weapon briefly before handing it over.

[Spider Egosword: A sword crafted from the remains of the Wood Spider Queen Mother, who James cruelly incinerated as she tried to avenge her fallen young. Contains the residual bitterness and vengeful instinct of the Spider Queen, now twisted in service of the one who slaughtered her whole species. The weapon is intelligent and will protect its owner,moving independently when danger looms nearby. Boosts Strength, Fortitude, and Dexterity by 15 each when wielded. Grants access to the Skills Necrotic Strike and Shallow Wound Recovery.]

James only shook his head at the description. The System’s labeling of these things couldn’t surprise him anymore.

“I accept your generous loaner weapon offer, sir,” Cliff said eagerly, smiling.

“Excellent. You’ll be a great vanguard, I’m sure!” James smiled.