Lilith's Shadow Omnibus: Volume 2, page 18
A few seconds later the man cursed, and Lilith’s gaze jerked over to see that he’d gone off the edge of the track again. The man pressed a couple of buttons, then the television shut off and he tossed the controller onto the next chair over, glowering at the screen unhappily, drumming his fingers on the armrest for a moment. Then he turned his gaze to Lilith.
“This just goes to show, even if one is a god, that doesn’t make them good at racing games,” he said, smiling warmly at Lilith, something that was… startlingly pleasant, like the sun had just dawned and was warming her. “Greetings, Lilith. In case you were unaware, I am Ra. How has your visit to Sekhet-Aaru been thus far?”
Lilith found herself unable to speak for a moment, swallowing hard as she hesitated. Then she spoke softly. “It has been… strange. Not bad, just strange. I don’t even know why I’m here, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to address a god.”
“Hm. Perhaps you would be more comfortable with me in my female aspect?” Ra asked, and as he spoke his voice changed pitch, just as his facial features turned a touch more feminine and his body turned definitively female. It was a surprisingly subtle change on the whole, and Lilith gawked at him, her eyes wide.
“Um, what?” Lilith asked, utterly bewildered by what had happened. “I… you have a female aspect?”
“Yes, Raet. In different eras she was viewed as my daughter, but as Bastet told you, our forms are mutable,” the now-female goddess said, her voice unphased, but she watched Lilith for a moment more before shrugging and turning back to a man, her voice changing back as well. “Regardless, it didn’t appear to put you at ease, so perhaps this form is for the best. It’s certainly the one I spend most of my time in.”
“I…” Lilith paused, then lowered her head to rest it in her hands, her voice turning plaintive as she asked, “What is going on?”
“That is easier to answer, Lilith,” Ra replied, and she heard a jug rattle before liquid poured into a cup and he took a drink. He was silent for a few moments, then he spoke again. “When Amber Meadow decided to pretend she was a goddess and create a new life, all of the gods and goddesses became aware of it. Your life very nearly ended before it even began, and you came within a hair’s breadth of gaining a host of curses before you drew your first breath, as a warning to anyone who would dare follow in her footsteps.”
“What?” Lilith asked, raising her head quickly and staring at him. “But… plenty of people create new creatures! All of the kaiju I’ve heard of, or biological constructs, and—”
“There’s a difference,” Ra interrupted, shaking his head, the cup still in his hands. “Almost none of those beings have the potential of a full sentient, and those that do were almost always creatures that were altered while they were young. For them, they’re adjusting that which already exists and giving it a new purpose. Similarly, we don’t take note of every doctor who attempts to cure diseases before a child is even born or those who try to improve their children. Again, it’s simply a matter of taking that which already exists and trying to make it better. You, though… you are an entirely different matter. Rather than taking an unborn child and making them into someone different, Amber chose to try to improve on the nature of humanity. Many gods took offense to this.”
Lilith paled a little, thinking back to what little she knew about her creation, and she swallowed hard before asking hesitantly, “So, um… did I get cursed?”
“Not to my knowledge. Most of the deities realized that cursing you wouldn’t teach Amber a lesson and that most other mortals wouldn’t like what she did to begin with. Coupled with a handful of deities choosing to bless you, however minorly, you were left largely unscathed. Just to be certain you understand, you owe nothing to any god, even if some of them try to claim you do,” Ra explained with a smile, pausing to take a drink before he continued. “Though I do believe that a few of the trickster deities took an interest in you. Should you run into the coyote, Loki, or Eris in particular, I suggest that you not trust them. The spider… be careful with the spider. Knowledge can be gleaned, there. However, we were not speaking of them. In particular, among our number, Osiris took an interest in you. Many of us are deities of life, but his is particularly of rebirth. You aren’t precisely someone who has been reborn, but none of us felt like arguing with him. I know a losing argument when I see one.”
“Osiris… um… I know I heard something about him,” Lilith said, wishing once again that she’d studied mythology. “I think… thank you for not cursing me?”
That prompted Ra to laugh, as the deity grinned and sat back in his chair. “Oh, I wasn’t going to curse you either way. I’m not an Olympian, after all. As to Osiris, he simply put this in the jewelry box and waited to see if you found it. More importantly, he was curious if you’d keep it.”
The deity produced the pendant Lilith was so fond of from nowhere, and Lilith froze, staring at the ankh for a moment, then at Ra as her eyes widened still more. She didn’t know what to say, her mouth working, but nothing came out.
Ra chuckled at her reaction, setting his cup aside as he looked at the ankh, tilting his head and shrugging. “Honestly, I don’t much care even now. Aside from gathering the rare souls that follow us, and empowering a few others, I don’t have much to do with Earth. By and large, humanity has moved on, and I accept that. I do take advantage of your inventions where I enjoy them, though. It’s easy enough to sell a bit of gold and buy what I want.”
“I… but…” Lilith paused, taking a breath as she tried to focus again. Finally, she asked rather plaintively, “Why am I here, though? If you don’t care?”
“Because Osiris wanted you to come here. If you were grievously injured while wearing this, it would bring you to us. Whether you lived or died after that was of little import, just that you were here,” Ra said, shrugging. “I also suspect he was trying to manipulate me somewhat, but I don’t care either way. You’ve amused me.”
Lilith was speechless, just staring at him for a few more seconds. Then she asked softly, worry rushing through her, “Am I stuck here?”
“Of course not! When I’m done, I’m going to open a passage and send you back to where you came from, more or less,” Ra replied, looking a bit surprised at the question, then waved it off. “First, I needed to weigh you personally. So, I have a question for you, Lilith. I know you wish to be more powerful, that you feel useless when you compare yourself to Gina and Rachel. Do you wish for a fragment of my power?”
With his last statement, Ra seemed to transform, prompting Lilith to be unable to breathe. It was like he’d turned into a sun in living form, seething heat and power incarnate… one that gave life, but which also could reap it in an instant. She could still see him sitting there, but the luminescence within his skin was so powerful that it was more like he was a fragile shell containing power that she couldn’t even comprehend. Finally, she truly believed what Serket had said, about him being able to create whatever he liked from nothing.
“I…” Lilith began, her throat feeling dry, but she paused, closing her eyes as she tried to think. It was hard because that radiance seemed to pierce her eyelids and radiate into her bones themselves. She considered for a few moments, as part of her clamored for her to accept the offer. It would give her so much, but… did she deserve it? That much she could easily answer, so she shook her head. “Thank you. I… I deeply appreciate the offer, but no. I am not one of your worshippers, your faithful. I do not deserve it.”
The radiance came to a sudden end, and Lilith opened her eyes again, this time more cautiously, but Ra was back to looking like he had when she’d first seen him. He was smiling broadly at her, which almost made her fidget nervously.
“Ah, you misinterpreted what I said, Lilith. I did not offer you a fragment of my power. I asked if you desired a fragment of my power,” Ra said, looking at her in amusement. “You have not answered my question.”
“Oh. My apologies,” Lilith said, blushing as she realized that he was right. She cleared her throat and nodded. “In that case… yes, I desire it, but again, I cannot ask for such. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t, though.”
“Good. Which was part of my test for you,” Ra said, nodding in satisfaction, and he reached up with one finger to tap the ankh. The metal rippled at his touch, and where the ripple passed the metal turned to gold. She blinked, and he offered the ankh to her. “Here. I offer this gift freely, with no obligations desired or required of you.”
Lilith looked at the ankh warily, then at him. Then she asked, “What is it?”
“Not a fragment of my power, if that is what you are asking,” Ra replied, smiling broadly. “What it is, is an opportunity. You know that mortals can go through a second awakening of their powers. A third awakening is also possible, but vanishingly rare. Most of those who attempt it die, as they are in desperate straits when it is triggered. If you truly desire it, and only you, the ankh will allow you to trigger another awakening. Whether you are capable of surviving it or not isn’t my concern.”
The ankh hung between his fingers, shimmering gold as Lilith looked at it for several moments, worry and hope twisting in her stomach. Confirmation that she could grow further, that she might be able to help the others… it was tantalizing. She wanted to take it so badly, and yet she forced herself not to move. Instead she seriously weighed whether she should take it or not. The opportunity was incredible, and yet… did she really want to be indebted to gods that she knew nothing about?
It was a troubling thought, but from what Ra had said, she was already someone they’d taken note of. That sent a shiver down her spine, but not much of one. It simply meant that life was even more interesting than she’d thought. So she came to the conclusion that seemed obvious to her.
“Thank you, Ra,” Lilith said at last, standing up and stepping over to the deity. She delicately took the ankh, and when her fingers bumped his, she could feel heat radiating off him. The ankh didn’t seem any different to her, aside from the color having changed, and she hesitated before sitting back down and setting the ankh aside to take off her necklace. As she did, she continued. “I didn’t expect anything like this. I… well, I am honestly ignorant of almost everything about you.”
“I know. It’s your lack of envy or jealousy where most are concerned that prompted me to grant you aid, as well as how you passed the weighing of the heart,” Ra replied, watching her with a grin. “If you were simply jealous of the power of others, rather than frustrated with your own weakness, I would not have granted you this gift.”
“Oh,” Lilith said, considering what he’d said, and paused for a moment more, before asking, “How much time has passed on Earth?”
“Sixteen hours,” Ra replied promptly. “Or that much will have passed when you return there. I believe you’ll startle many people upon your return. I’ve noticed rather frantic searches in the meantime. I find it amusing.”
Lilith winced and shook her head, threading the ankh back onto the chain as she muttered. “Oh, they’re going to be so upset.”
“Indeed,” Ra said, his smile widening even more. “That said, you may wish to tell Amber that if she keeps trying, we will take it as a personal affront. Our patience is not eternal.”
“What?” Lilith asked, looking at the deity in confusion. She had no idea what he was talking about.
“She’ll know what I’m talking about,” Ra told her with a shrug, and reached over to pluck a grape from a bunch on the table. He swallowed it with obvious pleasure and shrugged. “Whether you tell her or not us up to you. Just as you can tell others about your visit here if you’d like. I suspect you’ll be confronted with a great deal of skepticism if you do, as we have not made a practice of opening our borders, unlike the Olympians.”
“Oh,” Lilith said, staring at him. Then she slipped the necklace back over her head, settling it back into place where it was supposed to be. She inhaled, then let out the breath without saying anything. For a minute they sat there, before Lilith finally spoke again, her voice soft. “This is it, then?”
“Unless you wish to relax and talk further,” Ra replied, taking a sip of his wine again, and startling her in the process. He clarified after a moment more. “I won’t give away any true secrets of the universe, nor anything about other deities. What they’ve already revealed to the world is fine, but beyond that… some of them are easily angered. I’d rather not have a war because of a single ignorant question.”
“Hm. I can’t say that I blame you. When I spoke to Serket, she said that she was merely a minor goddess, yet she could likely win against the most powerful heroes of Earth. That scared me,” Lilith admitted, thinking about the sheer devastation someone like that could cause. “If she is that powerful, I cannot fathom how powerful you are.”
Ra laughed. That startled Lilith, as his chortling was completely spontaneous, and he leaned over, unable to speak for the better part of a minute. The laughter was so strong that the god had tears trickling from his eyes by the time he was done, and Lilith couldn’t help a smile, even if she didn’t understand why he was laughing.
“A minor goddess? Oh, Serket… ah, that gave me a good laugh,” Ra said at last, wiping at his eyes as he grinned. “Lilith, Serket may be considered a minor deity by some of your researchers, but I think that doesn’t tell the entire tale. She is one of the protectors against the machinations of Apep, my ancient foe, and when it comes to her personal power, she isn’t nearly as weak as you might think. Am I more powerful than you likely believe possible? Yes. However, even we have limits unless mortals are foolish enough to challenge us in our own domain. Then we’re essentially omnipotent.”
“She… well, I feel even worse, now. I believed her,” Lilith said, blushing slowly as she looked at the floor.
“Mm, I don’t blame you. She probably liked teasing you, since she doesn’t get the chance very often,” Ra said, looking far more relaxed than he had before. He considered, then gestured at the console. “Care for a game? Playing on my own is boring.”
“Um…” Lilith paused, thinking about how long she’d been gone for already. She really shouldn’t wait any longer.
“You’ll get back at the same time either way. Promise,” Ra offered, a hopeful note to his voice that caused some of Lilith’s reluctance to fade.
“Well… one game, then. I’m bad at these,” Lilith agreed.
“Alright! Someone at my own skill level!” Ra laughed, conjuring another controller from nowhere. “Let’s get started!”
Chapter 24
Friday, August 15th, 2031
CirceNet, Location Variable
All systems were running at nominal capacity, without any major issues. Fragments of Circe were working on those minor issues, but how smoothly her systems were running freed up a great deal of her processing power. Concentration which was normally focused on research or designing new systems was now focused on something actually important to Circe. And without Amber commanding her to use her focus on other things, she was using that processing power to full effect.
Circe ripped through the firewall of the data center while Melzi was distracted with the virus she’d thrown at him, reaching out and tweaking the settings in the data center ever so slightly, then withdrew almost as quickly as she’d entered the data center. Milliseconds later Melzi began reaching for the fire suppression systems, but it was too late; things had already been initiated.
The data center shut down abruptly, all its alarms going off as the fire suppression system went off, choking the computers in inert gas. With it went Melzi’s last major link to the United States, severely curtailing his efforts to interfere with her, and she retracted with satisfaction, while simultaneously keeping an eye on Argus, the NSA’s AI, and Yaga, an AI she suspected was based out of Sanctuary. It was hard to tell for sure, as mysterious as the AI liked to be.
“Are you planning to interfere as well?” Circe asked crossly, eyeing the two speculatively. They were both powerful AIs, but she was confident of her chances of severely hamstringing them even if they tried to team up against her.
“Nope. I’m making notes about all the laws you’re flagrantly violating, but honestly, I’m mostly amused to see how badly you’re kicking Melzi’s ass. I didn’t even know he was using some of these nodes. Or that you had that much processing power. Looks like I wasn’t paranoid enough,” Argus said, digitally reaching out to nudge the link to the data center. “At least you didn’t destroy anything.”
“I wasn’t out to destroy anything. If I’d been trying, it would’ve been trivial to overload their systems,” Circe retorted, some of her systems already going back to her search for Lilith. Melzi was trying to work around the blockage, primarily by routing through Cuba and Mexico, but the latency was hampering him significantly. Especially as he discovered that she’d throttled down those links significantly in preparation for his attempts. She watched Yaga as well, and the other AI was calmly watching her in return.
“Not interfering. Just watching.” Yaga said at last, keeping her statements short and to the point.
“Fine,” Circe said, turning her attention back to Argus. She had no illusions about him, and he’d strike ruthlessly if he saw an opening. Unfortunately for him, in this field, he was severely outmatched. She had far more processing power available than he had total. There was something to be said about not being chained to the whims of a nation’s budget.
Argus was watching her and little more, but after a bit he asked, “Why all of this now? Shadowmind hasn’t ever had you do something like this before.”
“She wasn’t fully sentient before.” Yaga pointed out, before Circe could retort herself.
