A Weapon’s Serenade

The Discordia had folded up her wings and sat only a few metres above the dunes. Underneath the massive chariot, demons, humans and cats alike had gathered, almost all equipped with protective goggles. Even the cats had happily accepted their little glasses and were now getting comfortable in anticipation of the coming eclipse.

“Genuine question…” Melody leaned over to ask Famine beside her. “Do you have any idea who convinced all the cats?”

“Tiny, I must assume.”

“Yea, likely. I just didn’t expect so many cats to have an interest in watching this. I should ask the librarians later, maybe they have something about this.”

“I might be able to answer some things.” Another demon sat down beside Famine. “Freya. A pleasure to meet Thrasir’s daughter.”

“The pleasure is mine. You’re the Freya who led the chariot project for the armed forces back in the day, right?”

“The exact one. I spent the time since the disarming studying cats. Active magic using cats have often taken the time to watch astronomical events in the border world when they knew about them. The when and where were always the biggest hurdles as they have no real way to predict these things. Now that we have shown interest in this, they just followed us. I don’t fully understand why they watch eclipses but I intend to find out eventually. That’s a task for next time, or later if I can convince a Nightmare to help me translate. Right now, we enjoy the show.” Freya put on her goggles and let herself fall back onto the dune.

“Could I ask you to tell me if you find anything out?”

“Of course. I’ll sent you a letter.”

Anne giggled. She was lying in the sand right beside Melody and was looking over the crowd.

Melody turned to check on her girlfriend. “What is it?”

“Nothing important, you go back to talking to the interesting people.”

Freya interjected. “Now I am curious too.”

Anne shook her head. “Fine. I was thinking about how demons don’t actually need the goggles but use them anyway because it still hurts them and then I looked over at justiciar Yumi and it took way too long for me to realize why she doesn’t use one. She has no face. No eyes to hurt. I feel mildly stupid that it took almost minutes to realize that.”

Freya quickly stifled a cackle. “If you befriend her, maybe next time you could arrange not needing eye protection either. Her kind rubs off on sexual partners.”

“Wait… what do you mean ‘rubs off’?”

The old demon grinned. “Let’s just say that by the time you have figured out how to pleasure a woman without a single orifice, you will understand why she knows how to do that too. Too bad you currently need those pretty face holes to breathe.”

“Oh. Oooooh. Might be a good thing to have a few more years to think about if I want to try that out. Still, neat.”

“I was warned that you would jump at every opportunity to drag someone unique to bed, didn’t think it was meant so literally.”

“I mean, I did ask Ara and Jolene. Speaking of which, Melody, I’m meeting with Ara on Friday.”

Melody nodded. “Alright, Kuria and I will find something or someone to spend the night elsewhere.”

“Thank you. Love you.”

“Love you too. Oh, look.” Melody pointed at the sun. 

Silence fell across the dessert as everyone watched the moon move to block out the sun. Almost an hour after the first sliver of the moon had become visible, the sun was turned into a fiery halo blazing out from the moon’s shadow. It was beautiful. The cats began purring just as the eclipse began to wane, the darkened dessert slowly turning brighter and brighter. Two hours after Melody had nudged Anne, everyone slowly removed their goggles. The silence broke with the chatter of so many demons, a few humans and countless cats all fawning over the awe-inspiring event they had just witnessed.

The demons helped the cats remove their goggles, just as Melody did with Tiny. “Did you enjoy it?”

Tiny responded with a long rub against Melody and Anne.

“Very good.” The young human got up and took a look around.

Serena and Isha were sitting with the other former sirens and their orator, conversing about something with vigour.

Kate and Apollyon sat snuggled together near the other librarians and several cats. Melody recognized two of them as Mochi and Missy. Not far from that group, several of the other important demons like Lucifer, Sariel and some of the inquisitors had found a comfortable spot. Most of the inquisitors were spread among the rest of the crowd, just as Famine had joined her human friends.

Many demons had taken to playing or cuddling with the cats now. Others were simply chatting or relaxing on the dunes. Two figures stood out though. The projections of Nemesis and Discordia stood in the middle of the crowds and were looking up at the chariot above them.

Nemesis tilted her head slightly. “Which do you identify more with?”

Discordia raised an eyebrow. “Elaborate, please.”

“Talking to you, you are the image you project, not the chariot whose neurons you use. Do you identify more with the image or the vessel?”

“I do not know. What is your answer to your own question?”

Nemesis smiled. “When we were sitting in the docks at Tehom, I was the chariot. Now, I am here. Part of me is operating the chariot that carries my name, but I feel like I am where I project my image. This is me now, I am not just the chariot.”

“I do not know if I am as far developed as you are. I am not this image but I also am not the chariot. I am a tool employed to operate the chariot I share a name with. Do you consider yourself a person?”

Nemesis nodded. “It’s hard, but I do. I am Nemesis, my own unique person. That still feels strange to say but this event convinced me of that fact.”

“Why?”

“Because it was my idea to come here. I found the information about the eclipse on the human information distribution system. I asked Focalor if we could come here, I wanted to come here. And I have enjoyed today. I have things I love, things I don’t like, things that interest me. All beyond what was programmed into me. Remember what they told us about how we would develop? This is it.”

“I understand. I have experienced aspects of what you describe in minor ways but I have not developed these emotions fully. Even though it would be correct to say that I enjoyed today. This experience has furthered my development. It is a long path to become a person, but I am more optimistic of its success now. Thank you.” Discordia paused. “Thank you, sister.”

Nemesis smiled. “Always. Especially for my sister. I am proud of you.”

“Should pride not be felt by the older sibling? My installation and activation predate yours by eighteen cycles.”

“True, on both thoughts. But that doesn’t make me any less proud of you.”

“Then I will accept your pride and reassure you that I experience a certain joy at your words.”

A cat, none of the usual suspects, sat down before Discordia and complained.

Discordia looked confused. “I do not know how to assist, friendly feline.”

The cat complained again and reached upwards with its front paws.

Nemesis interjected. “It wants you to pick it up.”

Discordia gently grasped the cat and held it up with outstretched arms. “Is this correct?”

“Almost. Try to cradle it like this.” Nemesis tried her best to show her sister.

“I do not understand but will attempt emulation.” The cat seemed to be satisfied by the attempt and rubbed against Discordia. “What was that gesture?”

“It approves.”

“Thank you, friendly feline. I also approve of your initiation of contact. What do I do now?”

“You keep holding the cat until it wants to go back down. You can try petting it.”

“Please show me.”

Nemesis chuckled and reached out to pet the cat, who seemed to like the additional attention. “Now you try this.”

“This appears to be logistically unfeasible.”

“Attempt to move your fingers along the fur direction in a spot you can reach, preferably along the back or head.”

“This is viable.” Discordia had managed to pet the cat.

“Congratulations, you are petting a cat.”

“Remarkable. I am experiencing this event as soothing. Do have data on regular soothing experiences with cats?”

“Yes, this is what people feel when they hold and pet cats.”

“I shall now continue holding and petting the cat until it desires to be placed on the ground again?”

“Yes.”

“How will I know its desire?”

“It will try to leave your embrace, just follow its lead.”

“I do not know if I understand but I will attempt to comply. Do you desire to pet the cat as well.”

“I sure do.”

The cat was content with the attention it was getting from the two projections.