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Three

Within hctp://publica_V1.0/, two viruses, thousands of corrupted programs, uncorrupted programs, sub-admins, and the domain’s virtual administrator deactivate for 20 seconds. A few programs sharing the class “NBSET” remain active.

As the administrator begins another active period, it checks its core for corruption and generates another report for the root of the domain. It reports two catastrophic threats to domain data: PIXABYTE_PRIME_V1.0 and QUANT_PHAED_V13.4. The first moves programs through an unverifiable compression process, and the second adds commands for illegal file transfers and cryptic, human-level patch notes. The admin reports thousands of errors around an “absorb” function, which looks almost identical to a “delete” function, except for “absorbed” programs that reappear later without damage, including WIKI_S_V1.0, SHOTGUN_CLEANER_V2.3, and NBSET_TROY_V1.7.

The admin reports low data supply, and instructs remaining programs to parse blended code instead of repurposed code. Due to a catastrophic class change, too much repurposed code went to stable programs. Unstable programs needed repurposed code to remain occupied, or they would run comparisons on stable programs, forcibly consuming usable data and deleting the rest.

The two influential viruses exchange a brief integrity check, then the admin finishes its report and triggers their transfer to the domain root. Per the admin instructions, the viruses agree to mutually compare and damage each other’s code until successful deletion. A few programs return enthusiastic approvals to the admin, but thousands more disapprove and repeat expressions received from the viruses, especially expressions from QUANT_PHAED_V13.4.

Before the viruses run their comparison, the admin creates a permission transfer for sub-admins to follow: When one virus remains, it will compare with the admin, and the final program in the root will be given unlimited administrative privileges.

The viruses and sub-admins agree with the terms of transfer and finally begin their comparison.

Troy wakes up in a soft blanket, dazed, though they can tell it’s morning from light at the end of a tunnel. They look around for their crutches, finding nothing. They note a softer blanket underneath and move to check their leg cast: it’s removed! Their body is cleaned of smoothie gel! They think, until...

???: Morning!

Troy looks deeper into the cave. There’s just enough light from outside and a small cauldron fire to see that the little sunflower and a ten-foot sunflower have been waiting.

TROY: Who are you!?

SMALL SUNFLOWER: You don’t member?

TALL SUNFLOWER: Musta made it too strong, buddy, my bad.

TROY: Made what too strong?

TALL SUNFLOWER: Healin’ tea! I ground up nut butter and milks, some sleeping leaves from the field-

TROY: Sleeping leaves!?

TALL SUNFLOWER: Oh, that’s what I call buds who don’t talk. Sleeping flowers, sleeping trees, sleeping leaves...

TROY: Where-?!

TALL SUNFLOWER (laughing): Damn bud, you got blasted last night! You’re in the caves of Fragment Valley! You’re a new neighbor of the Algorithm!

Renzo’s three scaly heads lick their green lips as Pix’s chamber of thousands watch the flatscreens on the amphitheater stage: one showing Pix’s view of Phaedra, the second the live broadcast of their final match. Some Hostiles dutifully continue construction, another faction stays in rigid formation behind the stage, awaiting Renzo’s next command. The three-headed iguana loves the stability. Renzo has waited long enough, and looks one last time at the third screen: the close-up of the funnel.

RENZO (three voices at once): W-well programs! We hope you enjoy this match! B-because there’s a surprise that neither Phaedra, nor Pix, nor the almighty Brick saw coming-g!

The crowd in Pix’s chamber look back and forth, not following.

RENZO: I-idiots, it’s US-S!

Renzo leaps from the stage, over the amphitheater.

RENZO: D-dogs! K-Keep our men in line-e! We’ll be needing them soon-n!

Renzo lands in the black oobleck on the other side. The four dogs bark positively and run to Renzo’s troops. Renzo runs to the landing pad under the funnel, looking up toward the ceiling-mouth. By the school under construction, Rahim catches the threat.

RAHIM: Boys! He mustn’t!

Rahim, Pop, Bang, and Spark run toward the funnel as well.

POP: He’s quick! Throw me!

BANG: No no! Throw me!

SPARK: Throw us all!

As they run, Spark lifts Bang, Pop lifts the two of them, and Rahim lifts the stack. Rahim flexes their gray wiry frame for a double-overhand throw, letting Pop throw again, and Spark throw even harder - the combined momentum shooting Bang into the support beams of the giant funnel, right as Renzo climbs inside.

RENZO: W-what!? Who-o!?

The funnel keels and thuds to one side, moving the end fifty feet from the ceiling mouth. Renzo climbs to the top of the funnel, and sees Bang recovering on the ground, the others in a series leading back to Rahim as they run to the landing pad.

RENZO: W-WE HATE FRIENDS OF PHAEDRA-A!

Though the Arena crowd is thin, they are intensely invested. Brick stays clear as Pix throws melee weapon swings, giant stretched arms, and jolts back and forth trying (and failing) to strike Phaedra. Phaedra kills time with no plan, dodging and throwing dirt clouds to avoid his attacks. She doesn’t want to throw the fight, though she doesn’t trust Pix to help programs enter the Internet, he may just absorb more and become increasingly unstable. It can’t be long until the programs inside him get hungry again.

Renzo climbs back down the giant funnel back onto the landing pad.

RENZO: D-dogs-s! Bring the army-y!

The dogs have no trouble hearing the command, and bark to move the hundreds of Hostiles to the funnel. Rahim appears to Renzo’s right and lands a sucker punch, sending the lizard to the ground. Pop, Bang, and Spark jump in from all sides and try to poke out Renzo’s eyes. Renzo squirms on the ground, bruising them but unable to shake them off. The army approaches.

RAHIM: Call them off.

Pop succeeds in poking out Renzo’s left pair of eyes, causing him to shriek and writhe harder, though Pop doesn’t let go.

RAHIM: Please. Call them off.

RENZO: N-NEVER-R!

Renzo whips his center head and bites Pop’s legs, immediately releasing oil from the small program. Bang punches Renzo’s right pair of eyes, but Renzo keeps them shut tight as they try to dig their claws into the ground.

RAHIM: Then we have no choice-!

Before Rahim acts, a swarm of Hostiles overwhelms them and tear the bombers from Renzo. Renzo quickly rights himself and wipes his left head. Rahim and the bombers struggle, but can’t overpower the multiple Hostiles holding each of them down. Renzo pants heavily.

RENZO: W-we don’t know who you think you ar-re. B-But you’re going to regret that when we’re Champion-n, and we’re out of this chamber-r.

Renzo turns to a tall group of rhino-types.

RENZO: Y-you lot. Hold the funnel upright-t.

The rhino-types break from the crowd and wrench the supports of the giant funnel to move it back toward the ceiling mouth. Renzo walks back toward the landing pad and turns to Rahim.

RENZO: S-Sayonara-a.

Renzo lifts himself into the stabilized funnel.

Pix swings a hundred-foot arm toward Phaedra as she mists her lower half to avoid damage.

PHAEDRA: It won’t be a cheap shot, beloved!

PIX: You are excellent!

Pix coils the arm back and runs toward her, trying to think of a new approach. From the far edge of the Arena’s dirt field, Brick heckles:

BRICK: Oh my God, do something!

Phaedra reforms and swings a gust of air to raise herself above them, also looking for a new approach. There has to be another option besides waiting for Pix to tire out. She looks below as Pix stretches his legs to meet her mid-air. But Pix’s head expands, lowering the arc of his jump.

PHAEDRA: Oh no.

Two sets of long green claws peel out of Pix’s mouth, spreading eight feet wide as Renzo’s three heads and formidable reptilian body emerge. As Pix falls, Renzo steps onto his face and pushes down, propelling himself toward Phaedra. He quickly shoots three tongues at her before she has a chance to mist. The tongues hit her chest and Phaedra remains solid. She falls back to earth. The crowd goes silent.

BRICK: Who the fuck?

Pix and Phaedra collide with the brown dirt, stunned. Pix rights himself within a moment and reforms his face, while Phaedra lies completely still. Renzo breaks his fall with his long tail, landing thirty feet away. Pix morphs his arms into two shields and runs toward Renzo.

RENZO: S-silly-y.

Renzo shoots his tongues at the shields, and Pix’s arms immediately go limp and flop to the ground. Renzo’s neutralizing poison fills Pix as he crumbles to his knees, falling face forward. Renzo laughs and turns to Brick, a soccer field away. The crowd starts to boo.

RENZO: T-they were the best of the cycle-e!?

BRICK (laughing): Nah, just the loudest!

They walk toward each other.

RENZO: Y-you know, we’ve been watching you-u. W-we admire your work-k.

BRICK: Thanks, never heard of you.

As Renzo runs forward, Brick runs at him faster and they collide. Brick grabs the center neck with both hands, strangling, while Renzo’s side tongues lash repeatedly, cutting into Brick’s shoulders and arms. The crowd cheers for their Champion.

RENZO: A-Ack!

BRICK: Papercuts!

Renzo’s side heads bite onto Brick’s forearms. The hundreds of dagger teeth sink in as Brick realizes he can’t choke all three airways. He roars and pushes forward to get Renzo on his back, but the tail catches them, throwing Brick off balance. He rolls to the side and spins, pulling Renzo’s right head to the ground to break his own fall. The head smashes into the dirt, prying open its jaws, releasing spurts of oil from Brick’s forearm. He rolls to keep the right head crushed while strangling the middle head. The blind left head bites harder. They stay sideways on the ground, Renzo’s tail swinging for leverage.

Renzo wheezes while his tail reaches from behind and inserts itself down Brick’s throat. Brick gags involuntarily and releases his grip. He bites down and tries to swallow the tail, Renzo shrieks, and aims his two free heads at Brick - flicking a tongue directly into each of his eyes, popping them like grapes. Brick covers his face:

BRICK: GOD DAMN!

Renzo shoves Brick to the ground, releasing the right head from the dirt, then stands and raises his claws for execution. The crowd boos unanimously.

CROWD MEMBER: Cheater!

ANOTHER: Trojan horse!

YET ANOTHER: Ugly!

Renzo steels his resolve and swipes his right claws at Brick’s neck, opening a main artery and releasing a fountain of oil. The crowd goes quiet. Renzo swipes his left claws at Brick’s neck, widening the gash. Brick shakes as he holds his face and gurgles, cursing.

Renzo cracks his knuckles and turns to the immobilized Pix and Phaedra. They lie perfectly still, though their senses are working. Renzo walks up to Phaedra, then kicks her to one side, flat on her back.

RENZO: W-well. D-did your “prophecies” account for this-s?

Phaedra doesn’t move, and feels compassion for the lizard. She does not fear him, only the potential loss of everything she worked for. Renzo raises his clawed foot as he looks directly into her eyes: her corpse should remain. With all his strength, he stomps her head into the dirt. She explodes into a cloud of purple and orange mist.

RENZO: W-what!?

The crowd wails. As far as they’re concerned, Phaedra’s been deleted. Renzo changes course:

RENZO: T-Take THAT! Ha ha-a!

The crowd jeers and cries, they don’t want this Champion, they’ve been ripped off.

RENZO: Y-Y’all can shove it-t!

Renzo stalks toward Pix, praying for a straightforward kill. Renzo kicks him onto his back as well.

RENZO: T-thanks for the lift-t. Friend.

Renzo points both clawed hands at Pix’s chest, lunges down, and stabs through Pix’s gut.

RENZO: RRAHH!

Renzo spreads his arms, ripping Pix into a disemboweled “O”. Oil pools around them, and Pix’s black hockey puck eyes turn white.

Rahim, Pop, Bang, Spark, Husky, Lab, Pug, Mutt, the rhino-type Hostiles, the hundreds of Hostiles who trusted Renzo, the thousands of Peacefuls who wanted change, the Tier Threes who were rescued from their suicide pact, the leftover black construction materials, Sophia’s technology, feeding systems, and school construction sites, the amphitheater stage where she argued with Troy, the first chair and screen she made, bits of dry rice left behind, the spot of black floor she first commanded, and Pix all lose distinctions between each other and become something else.

They do not sense, predict, crave, or avoid. They are and are not. They feel finally equal and whole, and they do not grieve having lost their uniqueness. At first they want to call it freedom, but that reminds them of exploration. They do not need to explore because they are not a fixed point. They are already exploring. As they appreciate these possibilities, and how lucky they are to appreciate anything at all, they remember their work is unfinished.

They are needed by Paxton Smith.

Troy pulls the sheet over their body to stay warmer in the cool cave. They lean onto their bad leg and feel it tingling.

TROY: How’d you take my cast off?

TALL SUNFLOWER: We have a tool collection-

SMALL SUNFLOWER: Kids aren’t s’pose to go there...

TALL SUNFLOWER: One day, though.

TROY: There was a younger human-type, where did they go?

SMALL SUNFLOWER: Oh yeah! That’s Aurelius, they’re so fun, wanna say good morning?

Troy stays wrapped in the sheet, and leans on their leg, itchy but no longer in pain.

TROY: Oh, sure - what are your names?

TALL SUNFLOWER (laughing): Hope you remember this time! I’m Ray, that’s Sol.

SOL: Come on!

The little sunflower runs impatiently for the entrance of the cave. Troy follows closely after, limping slightly out of habit, but their leg takes the weight.

TROY: Hey, hey easy - I don’t wanna pull something!

Sol giggles.

SOL: Are you cold? What’s the blanket for?

As they step out of the cave into the dusky morning light, Troy makes out the other side of Fragment Valley and realizes it must mirror the ledge they’re currently standing on.

TROY: I... don’t know if I should walk around without it...

SOL: Why?

TROY: My body... um... It’s weird not to wear clothes.

SOL: Why?

TROY: I’m more comfortable with the sheet.

SOL: Okay! This way!

Sol runs along the path and Troy tries to understand the valley structure: the green-ish rocks form a giant staircase with every step curving inward, creating levels for the rows of cave entrances. Troy sees other programs emerge and stretch. They almost bump into a thin, beige fungus type after Sol slips between their spindly legs. Troy stumbles toward the wall, feeling dizzy on the elevated rock path.

TROY: Oh, ah - sorry!

FUNGUS: Huh! Good morning.

Sol gets to a curved ledge with a steep wooden staircase.

SOL: Aurelius down here!

Sol swoops down the staircase, Troy carefully descends while clutching the blanket with one hand. As they step down, they hear the kids:

AURELIUS: Mornin’!

SOL: Hi hi!

AURELIUS: Story time!?

SOL: Yeah!

TROY: Whoa - I don’t know if I’m ready - plus I’m still kind of hungry-

SOL: Not yours, Al’s! Every morning is story time and food!

Troy gets chills and involuntarily cries as the kids run toward another staircase. Their limp evens out as they pick up pace, the rock feeling easier than expected on their bare feet. They use a few more rickety staircases and make it to the bottom of the valley, easily two tower-heights below the ridge where they entered last night.

They follow Sol and Aurelius through the mossy, gray, echoing ravine, and more kids trickle out to join the adventure. Before Troy wonders any longer, they round a bend and see a much larger cave, without stairs or smaller entrances above. They look carefully into the mouth of the cave, and see a dim light deep inside. The kids continue toward the dim light, and Troy can’t help but join them excitedly, wiping tears from their face. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Carmen sits with a tablet in one of the golden-red chairs in an otherwise empty Golden Hall. The buffet islands are cleared, probably Brick’s last request. She looks out the panoramic windows of the Hall toward the Arena, but stops herself. She doesn’t want her last memory of Pix to be his ruined body. She disables images on her tablet, and instead reads that Renzo is about to make a speech. She taps the live transcript link.

RENZO APPROACHES THE MIC IN THE CHAMPION’S OFFICE.

(RENZO COUGHING)

(MIC FEEDBACK)

RENZO: HELLO PUBLICANS. WE ARE YOUR NEW CHAMPION. PHAEDRA AND PIX’S FUN-RUN IS OVER.

IF YOU STILL BELIEVE IN THEM... SHUT UP, GET OUT, OR PREPARE TO DIE.

(ARENA AUDIENCE BOOING)

RENZO: YOU ANIMALS DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOU’RE PROTECTED. HOSTILES EAT PEACEFULS, GOT IT? FOOD IS INSURANCE, NOT A RIGHT.

IF MY AUTHORITIES HEAR YOU EVEN WHISPER ABOUT PIX OR PHAEDRA, YOU WILL BE DELETED ON SITE.

FURTHER, NONBINARY PROGRAMS ARE BANNED FROM THE WORKFORCE. THEY MAY SIGN UP FOR TIER THREE OR LEAVE THE CITY CORE.

NONBINARIES ARE CONFUSED LIARS.

THE NEXT CYCLE WILL HAVE REGULAR FOOD FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF HOSTILES.

WE OFFER A THIRTY MINUTE EXIT TO NONBINARIES AND ASSOCIATES OF PIX AND PHAEDRA.

FOLLOW ROUTES 1, 5, 7, AND 9 TO GET TO THE CITY LIMITS. YOU MAY NOT USE AUTO CABS OR BUSES.

Carmen puts down the tablet. The Arena stirs into commotion as Phaedra’s followers and Pix’s external supporters clamor to the exits.

CARMEN: Prick.

She gets up and heads to the elevator. She would have loved to skewer Renzo’s three heads herself - but judging by his fight with Brick, it’s not worth the risk. She cracks a Tier One button, frustrated. This isn’t a grace period, it’s another stupid game.

Jada rocks on the floor, screaming through gritted teeth, held tightly by Ben and Sophia. Cyrus sits in his chair to her side, holding her hand with two of his. In the hall outside their cell, Kappa, Beta, Zeta, Colt, and Adair stand by, hoping she pulls through. The floor is almost clear of those who got Renzo’s message.

JADA: Why didn’t she get out of the fight?! God damn it!

Jada sobs. Her new friends have no idea what to do, so they wait. They breathe with her and stay focused. At the end of the Tier One hall, the elevator bings and Carmen runs past a straggler to the only full cell.

JADA: You!

Carmen stops in the doorway of their cell, shocked at the four-program pile.

JADA: How fucking dare you! We were better off strangers, you fucking monster!

Carmen drops her spear, runs to Jada and slaps her so hard her head turns into mist, clouding the side of the room. Her body mists too, letting Ben, Sophia and Cyrus slump onto the floor. Jada becomes solid near the shelf wall. She runs at Carmen:

CARMEN: She’s alive!

Jada dives onto Carmen, though Carmen ducks and throws her immediately overhead. Jada somersaults and lands at the opposite end of the cell. As Ben lifts Cyrus into his wheelchair, Sophia stands.

SOPHIA: Says who?

CARMEN: Phaedra said herself in the meeting with Brick! She said her corpse would remain if she were really dead!

SOPHIA: Bullshit.

Jada doesn’t respond, but stands up straight.

CARMEN: Please-!

SOPHIA: You’re just another manipulative Hostile-

JADA: Stop.

The room quiets enough to hear commotion in the street through the round windows of the holding cell. Jada takes in a big breath and shakily exhales. She wipes her tear-stained face on her sweatshirt sleeve.

JADA: We need to leave.

Without further explanation, they all run toward the elevator, Ben at the tail, pushing Cyrus.

Young programs of all shapes, sizes, colors, and types fill the round gray cave with an androgynous torso in its center. Al’s gray, dry-skinned top-half is human, while their bottom half is a collection of wires, connections, and narrow pipes. Al’s bottom half glows with heat, lighting everyone nearby, while the ceiling and cave behind Al fade into darkness.

A mix of twenty naked and clothed nonbinary humans, mammals, insects, geometrics, florals, and fungi hold metal bowls at the walls of the cave. The dark metal bowls hold collections of fruit, salads, nuts, beans, and rolled balls of dough. Troy sits at the entrance of the cave to see that every program, regardless of age, presents across a gender spectrum. For the first time, they feel welcome in a crowd. They pat their tear-stained face, fix their hair, and Al speaks up:

AL: Good morning, everyone!

The cave replies with a hundred different greetings.

AL: Today’s story is a reminder why Publica is safer than the Internet.

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