Kaufman pondered over his choices, taking William's awakening for a tactful clause. He kept nodding to himself in silence and grasping the monitor with his left arm. More complex things weren't always perfect. Sometimes, simplicity was the key. Like an element of surprise, perhaps?
“Ten years, is it?” Yondu ceased the silence between them.
“Hmm. Is it warranted? No. We take words for granted, yet here are some facts: what's next to say and do? Do you still remember Viktor as if it were yesterday, Yondu?”
“Of course. As a natural, he was wild. As a kid, he was a savage.”
“Savager, you say? Is this one... better?”
“Hard to say. Affinities have no specific features; rather, they involve special ways with numbers and the sequences as a whole. The calculation could overlook the rest. It goes through Hough, who understands it the most. More details should be accessible after weeks and months if everyone is forceful enough.”
“Your opinion as a High Pillar is... peculiar. I wouldn't call the numbers wrong or right. There is something always hiding in math because physics and the laws have established rules, and so do we, watched by the System and tried by the System. Broken by the System. Seeking the repairs is up to those capable, wouldn't you say?”
“Says you, Kaufman. What is there for you? I don't recall occasions that would force you to speak like this. You are indeed getting older.” Yondu said it almost as a forced joke, which Kaufman laughed off, and for the first time, he enjoyed the talk. “Mind you, I was there quite often, but it isn't as exciting for me anymore.”
“We wouldn't refuse you, considering your prowess. It is your personality that is shitty. The library won't change it either. Heidi does a much better job at it than you ever did. She has plenty of power, but... it is your Rank 8 that leaves us in a sore spot.”
“You or the Assembly, or others? I don't care. No one should care. What is even one of us, First Generation? You aren't even that, big-boy pillar.”
Yondu sighed, taking the monitor away and forgetting the matter of this Awakening.
“Should I contact all our dear friends afterward, or what? I wouldn't keep any secrets from others, yet I guess I will. Why? Because it is funny.” Kaufman muttered at last and left Yondu cursing in his mind.
The remaining time of the Force Awakening was no longer that interesting. Still, it exceeded Kaufman's expectations, since he counted two 93+ Affinities, which was fun.
Then, there was William's Awakening, which put a wide smile on his face in every way.
***
Beyond the windows, Hough was over with whatever the hell happened, and he took William's problem for just another disturbance when that demon was gone. He was once more glancing at the revolving Emblem in William's arm. It looked good, unlike the Host at the moment.
Many pieces of machinery and support tools were damaged, so repairs should take more than ten minutes. That wasn't a lot, though at least he no longer screamed at the people who walked around without his consent, repairing what broke, what needed refining, or what needed refilling. Adam ordered those around.
“Oi! You awake?!” Hough said, making sure to wake William up with a single fast slap to his face.
Weirdly enough, and outside of Hough's expectations, it awakened William straight away. Like a sudden dream coming to an abrupt end. However, it was more like a nightmare than anything else because he no longer overlooked everything.
He saw that plain. He saw that room. He imagined the moon, the camps, and the people. He remembered his parents' faces and talked with a demon of his arm. Then, he watched Hough as if he were a much bigger monster, blurry, insane, and ready to eat or kill him whole.
“W-what...” William mumbled in confusion, feeling immense numbness all around him as if every one of his muscles and limbs weighed a thousand pounds. Something very meaningful happened, though his mind was full of doubts and pain.
“If you can talk, then walk and get lost. You have caused me so much trouble that I would rather keep you locked up! Shame I can't...” Hough retracted his ready slap and sighted for his sake. “What you've caused will make people very mad. Hmph! So much for their generosity, but like I care! Get lost. More Host needs to come! It's not all about you, you... shit.. Fuck....” Hough slapped William's back when he tried to force him off.
William tried to get going for a while, and he knew he couldn't do it. Hough pushed him to sit through wonderous efforts and frowns, more shouts, and smiles aimed at that curious, revolving, transformed Emblem.
“Hm... You got... heavy. How much have you weighed before?” Hough said, poking more of William's exposed flesh. He even grabbed his numb limbs, feeling as if they were full of lead. His skin and muscles were hot and steamy, with many remaining bloodstains and wounds that needed either further healing or simple cleaning.
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“Weight? I don't know.”
“Bullshit! I know you got tested.”
“I am sure there is no point in speaking, sir. You know more, no? So... tired. I will take an eternal nap.” A bit clumsily, William managed to get to his feet, but his wavering arms and knees gave up soon enough. With a thud, he fell, and it was good that Hough didn't help.
“Stretchers!” Hough shouted after he had had enough.
“I am fine....” William argued, feeling his arm reach high, searing pains that felt like another tomorrow. It felt comforting to live. He was back. He looked at it, feeling as if his arm was no longer his. Everything about his steps and body felt foreign. It was no longer his body, which had gone through so much suffering and waiting to reach this point. It was a different kind of... him, or a thing within his arm was that?
“What is this...”
“Awakened Walkers have different Emblems, you know.” Hough shook his head as he walked away to assess losses, any leftover liquid, and the extent of the repairs. The seat for the next host was already prepared, as switching the old one with the new one was a matter of a simple wave of Butler's hands.
“No, I mean... What is it in front of me?” William gestured forward.
“Front? Do you see something I don't?” Hough stopped and looked at William with a piercing gaze, realizing that his words might hide new clues. “Ah, forced brats these days. You must be joking. You must be delirious after these wild experiences. It is common for a few youngsters to become insane as well. They would blabber nonsense about different worlds, words, or how they feel possessed. A small nap will do wonders indeed. I wish I knew all about it. Heh heh heh.” Hough laughed at William's worry.
“Wait, that's the Screen, isn't it? Symbols and... what are they saying?” William muttered, forcing his knees straight and his head forward. Then he felt lightheaded, and an immense dizziness overtook him as countless words and voices flooded his mind. It was the first tide of the Mindless Eyes, and the first feeling of wanting to die after this piece of shit event.
He fell forward, where there was a big, bluish Screen floating in front of him. It followed him, looking firmer than ever, and no longer as... well, it wasn't like before. He would know it, yet... what did he even know about it from his past? Nothing made sense. No words. No numbers. It wasn't meant to be his remedy. He was certain it was a curse instead.
In the light and everything that happened within his right hand, he felt stupid, weak, and sorry. A strange sense of reason, intensity, and knowledge agitated his already depleted mind, and he felt worse even further. His Emblem trembled. He couldn't dream, speak, or think straight.
“You...” Hough stopped laughing. “Do you see the System? That's impossible! Are you joking with me, Host 130!?”
To his discontent, William was already delirious, mumbling, and almost going into seizures. If it weren't for someone alread already being there for him, jerking him up and pulling him from the messed-up ground, Hough would have done something very stupid.
“Good to see you, old man. I will take him out if you don't mind it and--yes, you do, I know, but I will do it anyway.” Mi-Yung said, annihilating whatever conversation awaited. Frankly, no youth should even speak or think straight after getting off this chair.
The mere fact that William woke up and spoke stunned her already, and even Hough himself was taken aback by it way more than he should have. So when a note about the System came out, both of them hesitated.
“Oh, Singing Pillar?” Hough sided with Mi-Yung's nickname, which he tended to pick for fascinating Walkers in his memory. He knew her responsibilities weren't under his demands.
Yet, what the fuck was this one doing here?! He didn't know why.
“First Head,” Mi-Yung smiled at him, grasping William just fine, and bet everyone had had enough of this room or this person.
“Y-you... You?! Oh, I remember you, troublemaker. Is this your kin what you've got out of your mess?” Hough pointed his finger at her, almost spitting those words out. It wasn't his problem; he remembered reports, and having a young Pillar in his bunker was quite irregular, like... this freak?
After all, he practically served under the Pillars, yet Hough wouldn't go that far or low to call them bosses or any of that shit. He had to be wary of most of them, though. It wasn't a bad measure. He preferred clever people, and Pillars were almost excellent at it.
“That kid yours? You seem... no. That...”
Mi-Yung chuckled and turned her feet to leave. “Gale is all you need to hear, sir. As for the rest, who knows? Whatever you know or don't know, or have experienced, I hope you will wait with your reasonable topics or voice them later, since everyone is so busy. I will ensure that everything remains confidential between us. Do we understand each other, Sir Hough?” Mi-Yung demanded her points, taking this old man to be someone in a position as reputable as hers, if not a lot higher.
She wasn't joking with anyone. He was higher. Tom Hough was a bit crazy on good topics, and even crazier in those he found fascinating. One could take advantage of that and figure out all sorts of stuff in a short amount of time, or make an enemy for a lifetime in one brief exchange.
His second nature was efficiency. Hough didn't like wasting time or words on useless things, and he appreciated anyone like him, whether human or Walker.
“Y-you meant that? I would voice my concerns anyway because this... No. This isn't alone, and... Wait. You! What do you know about that Host?!” Once again, Hough pointed at William.
Mi-Yung shrugged. “Enough to remain silent and give you no further words. I listened and watched it enough. I want him to rest. Farewell. I am sure we will see each other soon enough.”
Hough cursed and turned, waving at her to get lost. “Ah. So much mess. I even injured my pinky! What bad luck. Get lost now! I will do my own research regarding everything, whether you like it or not. Telling me what to do is a sin and you know that! I don't want to see an Assembly rat talking down on me any longer.”
Similarly, Mi-Yung had abandoned any concerns about Hough. His involvement was a separate deal. He might even help out if there was something good for him, which, according to her guiding factors, should already be here.
Glaring once at that mirror, she walked fast into a distant wall opposite the mirror. There was an open gate for all participants, which led to the next stage of this whole process. It was rest. That was essential because the Examination needed good results and, even more, stable, talking youths. Being conscious was enough; moving and walking were a nice bonus.
“Mi-Yung?” William mumbled through weakness and numbing noises in his mind that were ever so clear, yet so dense, he couldn't get anything out of them. Was it even helpful? How could it make sense after reading notes and expositions on this topic?! Hints were rubbish. No one. Not a book. Not a word could have prepared him for this.
But he was a Walker now. He had to be if it made any sense.
