8. Legions

Just as Dathudia finished her story Mother spoke in a fraction of a second again to Kris.

"After hearing her story and observing the shards she possesses, I believe she is lying. The form of her shards indicate extensive reconfigurations. This is a process that requires a operation system, or extreme concentration. A meditative like state can force the shards into your will without the use of a program like myself. Shards need a few points of entry into your brain to truly become moldable, and that man said she has no control over her shards. At minimum if she is under control of someone else it must be minimal. If you have any chance to touch her I may be able to communicate with her shards. I can sever a link for you because you control a Star seed. However if you intend to leave her cognition in tact in it's current form I won't be able to without her permission considering the process. The alternative is to give up some of your shards and copy my protocols and create subnet with which I can communicate to. The man Chance here is a peculiar specimen. A navigation shard is used when creating Shardlings of high capacity. Looking at him however he had his process interrupted and done out of order. The navigation unit is put in last. Either you have possible strong allies in front of you, or you have a devastating duo that will break you. I will leave the decision to you."

Hearing Mother speak so much after the usual length of silence from her gave Kris a feeling that this was dire information. Weather to accept such a brutish woman and a man with questionable nobleness weighed heavy. Thinking about his current location and the fact that these two seemed to be in a similar boat as him Kris believed that he would let fate decide, even though he was rather a lone wolf. Kris then went on to explain what happened to him back on the college ball field. After a brief silence Chance spoke first.

"Okay so you're saying there are things out there turning people into those 'Shardlings'. And you killed the one that tried to kill you. It was one that had a special 'Seed' which gave you a operation system for these shards? And what do you mean these things collect stuff. Like anything? Water, dirt, Peoples Data? .. This is a lot to take in."

"Yes as far as I understand these shards collect everything you want or need and store them as a data. And somehow they can refabricate them at the cost of using the shards. Since you guys are the first people I have met in my shoes, I think there is something I can do to help. I left out some details about 'Mother'. Just hear me out and don't freak out." Kris replied. He then went on to explain further about Mother and the process she spoke of. It was now on them to make the choice. After just a minute Dathudia spoke out first.

"Alright. I'll do it. I don't like the idea that one of those things out there could have control over me. I know I haven't met one, but you said that the one at the college was so fast that all you felt was a breeze and he was behind you. I definitely remember the wind blowing, but I never saw it. I could be it's puppet for later or something so do it. Give me control. If you do I won't call you Mr.Poo-butt anymore. *wink"

After a second she approached Kris and sat in a chair in front of him with her back to him. Kris put his right palm to her nape. After a moment the shards on his hand began to glow a soft white color, and shards began to slither from his forearm down and attach themselves. They then connected to her torso from the back. After that he lifted his hand and asked how she felt.

- You have lost 30 shards to another nest -

"Ugh well it stung. But I don't feel anything different. I don't hear any Mother or anything."

"Mother what's next? I thought that's all I had to do." Kris thought to himself.

"You now need you create a double of my interface and install it there. Give me a moment and I will take care of it. I will also add a few more things to help her. You have quite a lot of Oxygen stored in feather and since feather is always storing more data with the star seed it will be beneficial to her cumbersomeness." After a moment they all watched as a line of energy began to trail from feather into a clump of shards on his right index finger. Following that a specific shard turned matte black and the clump rolled itself together and formed a small lotus like formation in his hand. Kris placed it on her nape.

"Uahhhhgghh" Dathudia yelled out in pain and fell out of her chair. She squirmed on the ground for a minute while the two of them watched wondering if she was going to be okay. After she calmed down she stood up and she blinked furiously as her eyes glowed yellow for a moment. Looking at Kris Dathudia began to tear, and then sob. "Hello, It's nice to hear your voice again. Mom.."

Chance and Kris looked at each other in confusion.

"Hello Dove. It's nice to be here. I am using a familiar voice to you but I am not that person. I hope you understand. Your host has graciously given me a position in your nest. Lets start by analyzing your shards and appropriating your data. Give me just a minute. .... Okay done. Now let me connect our subnet, would you kindly let your host sync his shards to yours? Allow him to touch your neck again please." Mother spoke to Dathudia in a calming tone. Dathudia was filled with regret. She had mocked Kris since he got here. And now he had reunited her with the voice of her Mom. She didn't know how to repay him. She pulled her hair to the side and walked to Kris.

"She says to touch her again so we can connect. Also, thank you. I'm sorry for mistreating you thus far. I will make it up to you"

Kris proceeded to connect their operating systems. Shortly after Dathudia stepped away. And after a moment she thought. "Did it work? I don't think anything is different. You know if I didn't know he had a turd in his ass, he might actually look kinda cute right now." Kris grew rosy and bashful turning away from her. A moment later she realized he could now hear her thoughts. She also grew rosy and turned away. Chance watching this moment could feel the awkwardness boil in the room. He didn't quite know what was happening but he felt that something had changed.

"Okay well? Hellooo I'm in the dark here. Well did it work? You can use your shards?" Chance belted out as if to correct the awkward atmosphere.

"Yes." Dathudia and Kris said in unison before looking at each other and then away again.

"Well awesome cool, seems like were figuring things out. Alright my turn I want in." Chance said as he put on a cheesy grin and cracked his knuckles.