Deicide the God Eater
The Eighteenth Chapter

As you know, Lord Deicide is moreamicable than many nobles, but still there is something he wants from usall. And if he were to ask us to ourfaces, we would be thrown into a murderous rage, screaming for his dethroning. So he abides the Constant’s Principle, the ancientsocial contract between master and slave, ensuring he will never be overthrownby his servants. -Thessalian the Elder

It had beenmonths since the Aeolipile had dropped Fawn on a mining planet in territoryallied to the Widow’s Retort; she had recovered her gear and nearly made it toa work camp when she was stopped by a gash in reality. It was then she was greeted by the curlyheaded Captain of the Nazareth, Ecocide the World Eater. Fawn quickly discovered that she, like manyof the higher ranking officers and engineers had been colleagues ofDeicide’s. Ecocide and her sisters,Genocide and Vivicide, had, as she described it, been childhood playmates ofthe infamous God Eater. She spoke aboutDeicide as if he were some tiny pet of hers, often referring to him by some diminutivename, but beneath it all, Fawn could sense a hatred in the woman that would bethought of as unhealthy if publicly known. Her sisters had no problem displaying their hate and refused to evenmention his name at times.

TheNazareth’s mission was to stop Deicide from piercing the wall which housed theExistence. Ecocide had confided in Fawnthat Deicide’s goal was not really to save anyone, but to replace the Demiurge anduse his seal and his power to open the Corridor. It was one of the main reasons she haddecided to split from the crew of the Aeolipile. She explained that the Aeolipile was amachine designed to not only power the new worlds created on the other side ofthe Corridor, but Deicide and the Abyss as well. Fawn was not pleased to be right aboutDeicide, that he was nothing more than a delusional man using the backs andblood of others to fuel his insanity.

Fawn’s timeonboard the Nazareth had been pleasant enough, her aunt Cari and many membersof her squad had found their way onboard some time earlier, but she stillwished her brother could be with her; she still could not understand the choicehe made that day, but she had allowed herself to forgive him and let the anger seeponto her impression of Deicide. Though thenoble had spared her, what sort of choice had he given her? The Aeolipile was probably scheduled to chewup the planet any day after they dropped her off. Still, she adjusted quickly to the tempo andbegan some of the indoctrination courses, but she was apprehensive aboutopposing Deicide in combat. She had seenthe damage him and his monster could do by themselves, let alone the entireDeathless Array, and she had no knowledge of the shipboard weapons of theAeolipile. The fear she had of thefuture hurled at her by Deicide was so real that it may as well been branded onher flesh. The crew spoke of Deicide andhis army so dismissively that Fawn began to wonder if they were as delusionalas he was.

Presently,Fawn was curled in a chair in her Aunt’s quarters, the room was considerablysmaller than her room onboard the Aeolipile. She had found out that the Nazareth did not use pillaged resources orforced labor to power her engineering plant. The Nazareth was funded and built by survivors of the Aeolipile’sattacks; they traveled throughout the Existence to warn civilizations of theimpending doom of Deicide and the Deathless. Many aided them, once they had seen evidence of the carnage they were infor.

“Fawn, youhave to fight. We all have to do ourpart,” Cari said; the older woman held the look of disbelief. Fawn thought there was little she could sayto convince the woman that she had no desire to fight; Fawn had never backeddown from anyone, but she had seen what Deicide expected of his enemies, andthat alone made her wary of warring with him.

“I want to,but this isn’t just some noble,” Fawn said. “Guns don’t hurt him; nothing hurts him, especially with that thingwatching him.”

“Yes. I saw some footage of it. They explained it was some kind of forcefield?” Cari said.

“It’s not aforce field. It’s fucking alive; it actson its own,” Fawn said.

“But they’reworking on things to nullify it,” Cari said.

Fawnshrugged. “Maybe,” she said.

“We can dothis. What choice do we have? You know they’ve taken Arbaro?” Cari said.

“Fuck,” Fawnsaid.

Cari nodded. “Like it was never there,” she said.

“It’s notjust that,” Fawn said.

“Then what?”Cari said.

“He sparedme,” Fawn said.

“That’sawful nice of him; but you don’t owe him shit,” Cari said.

“Iknow. He was just so sure,” Fawn said.

“Ofwhat?” Cari said.

“That he’dkill me,” Fawn said.

“How thehell can he know something like that?” Cari said.

“I don’tknow. I don’t know why I even listenedto him,” Fawn said.

“You saidAlpha’s still there?” Cari said.

“Yeah. I can’t forget that look on his face,” Fawnsaid. “Like it was the only place he’dever known.”

“I’m sure hehas his reasons,” Cari said.

“And whatcould they possibly be? We’re hisfamily,” Fawn said.

“Alpha needsyou. This crew needs you. They said someone like you can take onthousands of Deathless with the right equipment,” Cari said. Fawn nodded, though she could not believeit. But then she remembered her scrapewith Baby Sister, both of them without Skids. She was of Deicide’s blood, perhaps he could be beaten if they somehowstopped the Abyss.

Fawn stoodand then slipped out into the officer’s plaza. The Nazareth was a large ship, but almost claustrophobic when comparedto the Aeolipile. She shoved her fistsinto her pockets as she hopped from the stairs and as she stepped onto a movingwalkway she saw a dark haired man heading in the opposite direction. With no more than a glance she looked away atsome feature in the overhead. As shepassed him she looked back to see that he was still eyeing her, smiling. He gave her a small wave and then steppedoff. She had seen him before, guessinghe was a junior officer by the look of his age. She was disappointed that he never came to talk to her. Her entire time on the Aeolipile, not asingle man had approached her. She hadlaughed when Alpha had explained a few of the rules of courtship, signals hadto be so clear you may as well been waving a burning flag at a potential mate. Odd that a ship that condoned dueling hadsuch strict laws against sexual harassment.

Fawnstrolled through the barracks until she made her way to her room. The door slid open to reveal Flechetteperforming maintenance on her new E.P. rifle, the Penny Red, a modification ofthe model Fawn’s parents had designed. Lechwewas spilled over the couch in the common area, she did not look pleased. Her purple hair was in rollers and she wasflipping through channels on their wall display. She looked back at Fawn with a raised eyebrowas she crossed the room.

“What?” Fawnsaid.

“Did youtalk with your aunt?” Lechwe said.

“Yeah?” Fawnsaid.

“This placeis shit. You know active soldiers andtheir support team get like, actual condos, big as hell. Not sharing this box with five otherpeople. Six people, one shitter. It’s like I’m back in the army all overagain,” Lechwe said.

“Man, yougot soft quick,” Fawn said.

“It’s notabout soft. I just know what Ideserve. We put ordnance on target;that’s our trade. Why ain’t we doingthat? Oh, the biggest heathen I know, upand found the Lord!” Lechwe said, wavingher hands in the air. Laughing from theother bedrooms was heard, even Flechette grinned a bit.

“It’s notthat,” Fawn said.

“Have youfinally blinked in the face of death Fawna?” Flechette said, placing the piecesof her rifle down neatly on a clean towel.

“No. I still got the fire,” Fawn said.

“Then useit. They’re classing up next week,” Lechwesaid.

“I’ll checkit out,” Fawn said, wondering if she sounded convincing enough.

“Now thatthat’s settled get your ass in the shower, we’re going out,” Lechwe said.

A few hourslater they were inside their third club of the night. All were close to being drunk, exceptFlechette who seemed to remain eerily sober no matter what was put into her tinybody. Lechwe and Flechette piled into abooth with two men they met earlier while Fawn went to the bar for drinks. Cheerfully aggressive she pushed her waythrough the crowd; she swung her pink hair back and forth as the hard beatthumped against her body. She threw backthe rest of her drink and slammed it down on the bar. Then made her order and rested her chin onher knuckles as she watched the bartender perform what she thought wasmagic. As he twirled the glasses andbottles in front of her, she caught the sight of the dark stranger she hadpassed on many occasions during her time here. She obnoxiously waved to him and screamed.

“Hey! Hey fucker! Will you get him?” Fawn said, to a group of strangers. As soon as he looked her way she instantlyfelt self-conscious, but the alcohol made her toss it aside and waved himin. He approached her as if he was beingrecorded by a film crew; Fawn scrunched her nose when he arrived next to her.

“The fuckwas that?” Fawn said.

“Um. Walking,” he said.

“Like youwere gliding or something,” Fawn said.

“M’am?” thebartender said.

“Huh? Oh,” Fawnreached for her purse.

“It’s cool.”he said. Fawn watched as the man noddedto the bartender.

“Hope theseare for your friends?” he said.

“Yeah,” Fawnsaid, scooping up the drinks. She ledhim back to the table Lechwe and Flechette were at, talking over hershoulder. They were surprised at whatFawn had brought back, their dates straightened as soon as they saw the man andthey avoided eye contact.

“Where’d youget him?” Lechwe said.

“They’rehandin’ them out at the bar,” Fawn said, laughing a little too loudly, evenwith the blasting music.

“So what’syour name?” Fawn said.

“SecantCerulean,” Secant said. Now that theywere close up, Fawn could see that his lips were scarred, a common feature forthose that called themselves eaters. Fawn quickly threw the thought away, he was handsome, and fighting onthe right side, she decided to let him actually make a mistake before she threwhim away. However, Secant ‘The Edge’ didnot make mistakes; the man seemed to have a perfect answer or retort to all ofFawn’s questions, she was attracted, but the seamless conversation was somehowannoying to her, he hardly took any time to think before he spoke back. It was as if he were some actor that had beenrehearsing for this moment for years.

“It’s likeyou’re reading my mind,” Fawn said.

Secant shookhis head. “Your eyes,” Secant said.

“Hmm. What are they saying now?” Fawn said.

“Close tolast call. Still buzzed. Need drunk food,” Secant said. Fawn’s mouth was agape as she looked toLechwe, whose eyebrows were nearly raised to her hairline.

“Let’s gothen,” Fawn said. The group of sixshuffled out of the club, but only Secant and Fawn decided to head to the dinerfurther down. After waving her friendsaway she bumped into Secant’s shoulder, he was considerably taller than her,notable, as Fawn herself was much taller than average. They were seated in a booth in the diner,which was just about half filled. Fawn orderedan ice-tea then laid her chin on her knuckles. Secant gazed back without saying anything; his eyes were moving all overher face.

“What tookyou so long to say hi?” Fawn said.

“Why troublea woman who doesn’t want to be bothered?” Secant said.

“But youwaved today,” Fawn said.

“I saw youlooking,” Secant said. Their waiter hadbrought their drinks and nodded and smiled to Secant.

“Are youlike some kind of celebrity here?” Fawn said.

“They treatme like I am. I’m an active dutycombatant,” Secant said.

“They keeptrying to get me to sign up,” Fawn said.

“Why don’t you? You have an amazing build,” Secant said.

Fawnscrunched her brow together. “How wouldyou know?” Fawn said.

Secantsmiled, revealing teeth that were a little too sharp for a normal human. “I see things,” Secant said. Fawn shot him a playful glare, then sippedher tea.

“I’ve heardthat you guys have nothing to fear from Deicide’s soldiers,” Fawn said.

“Anythingbelow a Grade Five is a Mook,” Secant said.

“And whatgrade is Deicide?” Fawn said.

“Ecocideestimated he was a One, but, we haven’t had battle contact with him in years,” Secantsaid.

“You reallythink we can win?” Fawn said.

Secantleaned back. “Of course,” he said.

Fawn raiseda questioning eyebrow.

“Don’t fallinto the trap of believing your enemies are complete monsters,” he said.

“What thehell does that mean?” Fawn said.

“Deicide isplaying by a set of rules as well,” Secant said. “If he wasn’t we’d already be dead. Haven’t you ever wondered why he would justallow us to leave?”

SlowlyFawn’s chest began to sink, like a hole had been cut in the bottom of herheart. For months she had lived on thisship trying to replace a good reason not to fight. Even if Deicide’s concern for her was an act, what purpose would it actuallyserve? Alpha was only a Lieutenant, oneof millions, the man could not have possibly meant that much to him. Still, whatever crude system of valuesDeicide was working with Fawn was appreciative.

“Why do youfight?” Fawn said.

“Because noone deserves to be used that way,” Secant said. “He’s forcing them to selltheir lives to him just so they can live on his terms.”

Fawn noddedto the man’s answer, but she thought that it may have had more to do with somesort of penance. Like so many othersoldiers onboard, Secant had fought alongside Deicide and knew the manpersonally, yet he did not hate him as the Lionesses did. She guessed that was the reason why he seemedso determined to free the civilians, because he had placed Deicide on thethrone. Everyone she met seemed to havesome bitter history with the noble and they all blamed themselves, as ifDeicide could not help being what he was. Fawn would eventually learn that this was true.