Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 144277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 721(@200wpm)___ 577(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 721(@200wpm)___ 577(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“We’re machines,” Xi says. “I told you that already. Gods cannot go into the Omega Outlands. But… we need the information that’s out there. That’s why we make augments. As an augment, you can go into the Omega Outlands. And when you get there, you will know everything.”
“Everything… as in—”
“Everything.” He spreads his arms wide. “Anything you ever wanted to know about the world, is there. All you have to do is find it.”
I study the map again. Noting something. “What about this city?” I point to the only one he didn’t talk about.
“Oh, well. That’s Epsilon. He’s a god who’s gone absolutely bat-shit crazy trying to make himself into an augment so he can enter the Omega Outlands himself.”
“Is it working?”
Xi shrugs. “I don’t know. I don’t care. We all play the Game of Gods in our own way, doing our best to win, because winning equals survival. Alphas, Medians, Omegas… it’s all the same. Even Epsilon. Even me. We all play for the same reason. Power. It’s as simple as that.”
Now I scoff. “Wow. That came off… positively evil.”
This makes him smile. “I would call it self-preservation, actually. We’re all selfish. If you agree to be augmented, I know you’re not doing it for me. You have no loyalty to me. You’re doing it for you. That is the way of the world. That is the Grand Design. It’s never been about collectivism. There is no point to any of this if we have to give up our individuality for the hive to succeed. There is no point in being a bee, Finn. They live, not for themselves, but for the greater good of the group. And look, I get it. Bees are good little cogs in the wheel. Necessary, in their own way. But are we bees?”
“No,” I say, absently looking over at the windows. “At least, we shouldn’t be.” I look back at him. “I’ve lived my whole life in a bee hive. I followed the rules, but the rules are stupid. They don’t mean anything. They’re just…”
“Grand Delusions,” he finishes for me. “You see, it’s fine to have ambition. It’s fine to have goals. Desires. Dreams and purpose. That’s part of the Grand Design. The Grand Delusion, on the other hand, seeks to impose these dreams and desires of yours, onto me. Or mine, onto you. That is the crime here. Intent.”
I let out a long breath, suddenly feeling very weary. “Well, you’ve made your point and—"
He puts up a hand, stopping me mid-sentence. “Don’t make your decision here and now. You need time.”
“How did you know I was about to agree?”
“I feel what’s in your heart, Finn. I understand the betrayal. I understand the need to rise. I understand the need for knowledge and power. You want all of that so you can participate in the world coming from a position of power. But you must be careful not to become one of them. You have a place in the Grand Design. So before you say yes to me, I’ll need you to consider that.”
“One more question,” I say.
“Ask as many questions as you like.”
“If I do it, and when it’s done, will I be… better than him?” I don’t say his name, but I don’t have to. Xi knows exactly who I’m talking about.
“Much better suited than he was. Because his god, Delta, has been breeding his humans for hundreds of years now. He’s made good progress in some areas, messed up in others. You will be better than Tyse Saarinen by leaps. But enough talk about this. It’s been a long day and now, your reward awaits.”
“Reward? What reward?”
Xi chuckles. “Jasina Bell, of course. You’re taking her out to dinner.”
“Oh.” The moment he says this word ‘dinner’ I’m starving. And time catches up to me. I’m tired too. My eyes are itching and probably bloodshot. Trying to understand all these grand designs and delusions has made my mind weary.
Dinner sounds nice. Dinner with Jasina Bell—even nicer. It’ll make up for the one we gave up to start this journey.
“Here’s the special part,” Xi continues. “You’re taking her to dinner in the upper dimension. In my real city. The one where I truly exist.”
I look at him, find him delighted with himself, and smile. “What?”
“That’s right. Obviously, I’m trying to persuade you by dazzling you with wonders. But I truly do want you to see the world, Finn Scott. And I want you to meet the real me.”
A moment passes as I internalize his words. His eyebrows go up, expectant. But he doesn’t rush me. So I take a few more seconds before I finally say, “Ya know, all my life I thought the world was small. But this day has revealed the truth.”
“And what’s that truth, Finn?”
“It wasn’t the world that was small, it was me.”