Ergo
Snowflake waited for Geana’s expression to morph from incredulity to anything else.
“No you idiot,” she said instead. "I mean, what-the-■■■■, I’m a Phi-Oh ■■■■■■■ subcontractor, why are you dishing out old news like it’s a bloody end-times revelation?
Phi-Oh datacentre’s whole bit is to predict behaviour and events before they happen. ■■■■, even the contract assassins get a victims eye view of the hits they successfully claim. The meta-materials and bio-sensors Phi-Oh tracks and crunches are humanity wide, even The friggin’ Trigs have them. They are probably older than the bloody Jove. Have you lost your ever loving mind Snowflake? What’s your deal?
She inhaled deeply, deliberately and not at all sharply. “Simply taking you step-by-step through your understanding of reality to make sure we a both on the same page. You are right to question my grip on reality, as I am yours considering your recent experiences.”
“What are you getting at?” Geana growled darkly.
“Your nightmares Geana, those you lived and experienced while induced to coma in the wet-grave. I share them, I live an echo of them every time I enter a pod. I recently realise that I’ve shared this grim phycometery with you a long time, perhaps from the start.” She searched Geana’s face for flicker, a hint of emotion, any sign or indication of just how she continued to function as a formidable weapon in the Federation’s arsenal while carrying the burden of horror they seemed to share. There was no hint at any level that she wished to share.
“There is a deeper mystery here, a soul level puzzle that defies measurement and or comprehension that I need to get to grips with. I’m asking; I’m begging you for your help.”
“Why me, why not go to River with this?”
“I did, it felt, wrong.” A pause for thought. “You are the source the beginning, the cause. Your story is in the main is yet to be told. If I am to understand my place, our place” she gestured generally, “in the universe we need to fully grasp yours. Will you, would you help me?”
The story unfolds in: