>>5211535"For one thing, Behemoth—I've spoken with your father. Twice.” You declare, and Behemoth’s gargantuan frame shudders with shock before he takes two thunderous stomps towards you.
“WHEN?” He bellows, and with another stamp of his hooves; “HOW?! WHAT DID HE SAY?!”
“It was brief, as he couldn't slip his shackles long.” You explain slowly, refusing to get caught up in Behemoth’s sudden and frantic urgency. “He didn't have the time to explain his plans, but he did ask me about my motivations, asked me why I would forsake an ability that would have brought the three of you to heel with naught but a word.”
“AND?!” Behemoth snarls, and you just give him a soft, simple smile.
“He was happy with my answer upon learning that I didn't seek power for power's sake. He doesn't want an all-consuming conqueror, not like all the rest of his species does. I know you're a Neuromancer, so would you let me share this memory to you as proof?"
Behemoth opens his mouth to reply, then closes it, his seven legs shuffling in place for a moment as he considers your offer…and while he does, you decide to sweeten the deal.
"If that isn't enough, then let’s look at other pieces of evidence.” You continue. “As your father dissented among his peers but had a direct hand in the Crucible's creation, he would've left clues to signal his ulterior motives while he worked under supervision of his peers. A series of clues and messages hidden within the code of the Crucible itself. Dig deep enough into the fleshscape, or ascend the Cord, and you start getting visions. Information, hidden inside the Crucible's structure, describing a 'Mother of All'. Some being that will end the Crucibles."
“ABSURD.” The titan counters. “HOW is such a thing even POSSIBLE?”
"The visions don't explain how, but they are clear on this: The Mother of All is not the same thing as someone who climbs the Cord and takes the throne for themselves. They're something different. And these visions are repeatable, verifiable, and not just a single mind's hallucination. I have the journals of a woman who saw these visions, and I know another who could vouch for having had the same without ever contacting the first. If that is not enough to convince you, we could always go dig down together and see the other buried secrets your father has hidden for ourselves. The clues your father has hidden is there. All it takes to uncover them is a little digging and knowing where to find it."
Behemoth casts an eyeless glance at his feet, appearing to genuinely consider the possibility of tunneling down right here and now before you keep the pressure on. "Now, you said you'd take a certainty over a theory. But do you actually have a ‘certainty’? What makes you think that ending this cycle and proceeding to the next one will find the solution?”
(Continued)
