The War of Each Against All

[Erika "Zwei" Faust]

(That took long enough, sorry I wasn't on yesterday)

I wake up, not realizing that I had nodded off. Then again things have been very stressful in my life lately so it's no great surprise. "Yes we can go house shopping today if you want." I say to Freak Boy. "The nearby house sounds good, don't you sleep on the couch all the time anyways?"

[Ken Shiguri]

The thought came to Ken that, unless he was extremely lucky, he wouldn't find any major religious rebels.

Well, he could still see about Antero, and any minor religious rebels. He must find out who this Antero person was, so he went to the Red Infinity data banks and looked him up.

What he found was very interesting. Red Infinity kept good tabs on everything, and they only got better over the years. Antero had recently been infected with the Wyrm's curse.

That explained a few things. Yes, that would explain how he knew his name. But, it didn't say what tier he had reached. Probably not even the first.

Like a million other idiots Ken had seen over the years, Antero probably started talking about himself like he was the Wyrm. Stupid and weak, he had become delirious in the beginnings of the second tier, more than likely. Besides, the Wyrm and her taint weren't tangible, and they didn't talk. They were bodiless, emotionless, and they wouldn't speak through a weak and pitiful rebel tongue if they could talk.

Ken finished his reading and made sure to gather information on Antero Black, the anarchist, along with finding some religious rebels.

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov walks back into the kitchen since he can smell the french toast burning. He is a horrible cook. He arrives in the kitchen just in time to hear the chirping of the smoke detector. He turns it off and throws out the toast.
"I should have been paying closer attention to this..."

[Erika "Zwei" Faust]

I sniff the air and smell the burning toast. "Do you want some help with that Herr Bassarov?" I ask him.

[Antero Black]

Antero stared out at the ocean for a long time. He saw people at the door of the anarchist house but didn't bother talking to them. He saw Soren. Somehow that reminded him of himself, but less destructive and chaotic. Soren was calm and logical, but insensitive and angry. Seeing Soren there made him shudder for a moment.

It also reminded him of something. Things in this world do matter. The lives of his friends mattered. Love matters. Having hope matters.

Antero wonders if he has any hope. What does he actually hope for? What does he live for.

He feels like a beaten down shell of himself. Life flattened him. Life warped him and molded him. He was always stubborn and master of his own strange chaotic ways.

Now, he is humbled and destroyed.

"I hope...I hope....someday people will be free....." He says in a quiet wimper.

Maybe he can finally understand what anarchy is.

[Valodya Bassarov]

"That's quite fine. I have everything under control. No one was interested in French toast anyway, so it is no loss."

Bassarov cleans up his mess, washes his hands, then returns to the living room to talk to Erika, Freakboy, Oneiroi, and Zinn.

[Erika "Zwei" Faust]

"Really it's okay if you want me to cook something, it's no big deal... You just have to show me how to turn the d**n stove on!" I say. After all I was raised in an era when it was expected of a woman to stay home and do the housework whilst her husband went to his job and brought home money.

[Soren]

Soren turns and notices Antero. Antero is smaller and frailer than the last time he saw him. Soren is not a large person himself, but he feels giant and healthy standing before the wimpering shadow of Antero.

He would ask Antero what happened, but he really doesn't care. He smirks to himself and enters the house.

"Is Sophia here?" he asks whoever might be inside.

[Valodya Bassarov]

"No, I really hate having women cook for me. But I will show you how to use the stove."

Bassarov walks her over to the stove and shows her the control dial and how all she has to do is turn the dial to adjust the heat on the electric stove. As long as they are in the kitchen, he also shows her how to use the microwave.

[Erika "Zwei" Faust]

I nod in appreciation. "Okay, that is easier but... Well I think I'll just stick to what I know." I don't even ask why he doesn't want a woman to cook for him, I swear I'll never understand men!

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Freakboy has been under a lot of mental stress. He says he is in love with Iris. I know that this maybe something that displeases you, but we need to figure out some way to help him get over it. I just don't foresee any way for it to work out...unless he joins Red Infinity, which he said he was thinking of doing..."

[Erika "Zwei" Faust]

"If it makes any difference to you I'd rather see my daughter mate with him of her own free will than serve as a slave to Red Infinity." I try not to sound too displeased with this, even though it is the truth. "Perhaps there is a way that they could get together without him joining Red Infinity..."

[Valodya Bassarov]

"In this situation, I feel very powerless. But let's look at our options. We could kidnap her, though, Red Infinity would likely kill those involved. We could, try talking to Lady Violet and express our concerns in a civil manner. This might have some results, but I really doubt she is going to free Iris. Or we could talk to Iris again and see what she wants or if she is willing to help the rebels in any way."

[Erika "Zwei" Faust]

"I do talk to her and Mitya occasionally,. I'll be certain to ask her next time I see her..." I also decide to tell Mitya the truth about Mischa, but I will do that later.

[Lady Violet]

It has been three days since I contacted Erika and she still has not responded. She is quickly falling out of favor with the party. Lin-Sat has a large list of people who are going to be purged soon, and though she is not on the list, she should be concerned.

Erika, you have fallen out of favor with the party and will be assigned work for the Ministry of Technology as the Minister's personal secretary. You can still see your son and daughter, but all rebel ties should be severed if you wish to remain in the party.

I don't tell her that being removed from the party is actually by death. That is unpleasant, and I prefer not to tell her.