Deicide the God Eater
The Twentieth Chapter

I understand now that all of my motivations are inherentlyselfish. Every good deed I have everdone has been to serve a purpose that was secretly my own. By choosing who I help, I help myself. – Deicide.

Aftertraining alongside Deicide’s Risk Eaters and Deathless soldiers, the conversionto a Nazareth combatant had been fairly easy to Fawn, save for the strangearmor they used. She still was notconvinced this Floating Armor could prevent damage from the Spine Blade. She had seen her brother use the blade toslice through pillars of steel. It wasimpossibly sharp and seemed to be able to divide anything its edge was laidacross. The Nazareth could not possiblyhold enough Negation shells to stop the entire Deathless force, yet Ecocide wasconfident that Deicide would concede if he lost enough personnel. Fawn was not so sure; both of the noblesseemed to be very spiteful and vindictive in their campaigns, with bountiesbeing levied against popular officers from both sides. She understood the culture of eaters having verymuch to do with pride and respect. NeitherDeicide nor Ecocide seemed to have any for the other, which meant theirgrievances for one another started deep within, impossible to separate theirpersonal issues from the ships they commanded.

Presently, Fawnwas sitting on the edge of the training plateau, tearing herself away from herform fitting gear. She seemed to beignoring the farewells of her colleagues as they passed. She had no hate for any of her teammates, butshe knew the bonds she had created with her fire team, would be much strongerthan the loose relations she shared with these random people. The fighting classes were the darlings of theNazareth, brash, arrogant, spoiled; they trotted around the ship like pedigreedPomeranians. Only Ecocide and hersisters seemed to share rough common traits which she believed made her notonly a survivor, but a warrior. Thewomen had a work ethic that dove deep into the waters of obsessive. Their bodies were amazingly sculpted fromtheir training, she could imagine them giving Deicide hell during theirsparring matches long ago, but still, the eater had already had statues builtfor these women in his lavish mausoleum, and Fawn wondered what weakness he sawin the Lionesses, that she could not.

Just then,Ecocide dropped down beside her, swinging her long beige legs, stretching herarms as far as they would go. She thenput her arm around Fawn and gave her a shake. Ecocide was always friendly, if a little pushy and the woman seemeddetermined to make friends with Fawn. She liked her, but she had met similar personalities in the army andavoided getting too close. Fawn believed little of the rumors, but any womanthat could start a coup out of her personal interest was bound to be dangerous.

“I’m gladyou’re one of us,” Ecocide said. “What’swrong?” she said, after she heard Fawn release a sigh.

“He’salready built our graves,” Fawn said.

Ecocide blewa sharp breath between her teeth. “Iknow,” she said.

“You gotsome information I don’t?” Fawn said.

“Immortalslove mementos; we get so old we forget most of the people we’ve met. How they smelled, the way they made us feel. That’s why I gave Ant that scar across hisface,” Ecocide said, dragging her fingers across her own face.

“So he’d alwaysremember you?” Fawn said.

“No, soeveryone else would,” Ecocide said.

Ecocidesmiled, revealing her edged teeth and then cocked her head to the side; hercurly hair spilled over onto her other shoulder. Fawn was puzzled by the woman’s statement,but quickly remembered the eaters’ bizarre culture. The soldiers who were only eaters in name didlittle to participate, but she had heard that those females that possessed thetrue essence would frequently bite and mark their lovers, claiming them. None of these scars were permanent, but whatEcocide had done was more of a jab at Nott than revenge against Deicide, who alreadyhad a face full of scars, and shrugged at any new blemishes, it was never hisjob to be pretty, and who would throw him away if he no longer was?

“Seems likeyou’re not worried about him,” Fawn said.

“He doesn’tknow anything that we don’t,” Ecocide said.

“I’ve heardyou say that before, but somehow I can’t believe it’s true,” Fawn said.

“We utilizethe technology he refuses to use,” Ecocide said. “And somehow he thinks thismakes him more moral.”

“What aboutthat thing that protects him though, the ‘Vestige’,” Fawn said.

“The Abyss,”Ecocide said.

“Yeah, whatis it?” Fawn said.

“Imagine oneday you fell down and cracked your skull, now picture all of your emotions andfeelings spilled out into a puddle where everybody could see,” Ecocide said.

Fawn wantedto believe what the woman had said, but the Abyss seemed to catch the thingsthat Deicide failed to see on his own. Fear and anxiety seemed to be common drugs that she enjoyed, but whensomeone stared her down, never looking away from her mustard yellow eyes, sheseemed intrigued, as someone who had never laid their gaze upon their ownreflection.

“Do we havesomething to counteract it?” Fawn said.

“We havewave emitters, but they only work when you’re not in Deicide’s field ofview. The Abyss is blind when you transmit. She has to share his eyes,” Ecocide said.

“Will itsave my ass?” Fawn said.

“It’ll makeher less accurate, it’s up to you to get out of the way,” Ecocide said.

Fawn noddedand then leapt from the platform. As sheentered the main hall leading out into the plaza, Fawn was greeted by facesthat were still quite unfamiliar. Herrole in the Nazareth’s affairs had quickly become vital. Fawn had even been placed in charge of afighting division of her own. Though shefelt she was undeserving, she was asked to sit on the military council with herAunt Cari. She came to a stop in frontof a large digital billboard with her image stretched across it. She looked only vaguely familiar toherself. They had softened her features,edited out the nicks and freckles on her face and all of her tattoos; her armswere smooth and silky, missing was the muscle she had put so much time and effortin attaining.

“I’ve seenworse,” Secant said as he put his arms around Fawn’s waist.

“Doeseverything have to be sold?” Fawn said.

“The peoplehave to know who their fighting for, you know? There’s some sad fuck turning a wrench in a hot ass Auxiliary space, hislife sucks, he needs a symbol,” Secant said.

“Why’s ithave to be me?” Fawn said.

Secantshrugged. “You’re real,” Secant said.

Fawn pointedto the billboard. “Nothing about that isreal,” Fawn said.

“That’s notwhat I meant. You don’t have that senseof entitlement that many on active duty have,” Secant said. Fawn turned around to face him.

“Oh, I thinkI’m entitled,” Fawn said, kissing him.

“You’re allsweaty,” Secant said, pulling back slightly.

“C’mon,let’s go to lunch,” Fawn said.

The couplefound Lechwe and Flechette at their favorite spot to eat. The women’s table was crowded with food. Sandwiches and soups on festive colored traysand bowls were orbited by appetizers and drinks. Fawn stopped at the table to watch the womengorge themselves. She folded her armsand shook her head.

“You twofucking disgust me,” Fawn said.

Lechwe beganto speak with a mouthful of food. “Whatever. Sit your asses down,” Lechwe said.

A waiter appearedfrom nowhere. “Menus?” he said.

“Nothanks. We’ll just get something fromthe buffet,” Fawn said, gesturing to the table of entrees. She scooted into the booth and grabbed agrill cheese for herself.

“Ladies,” Secantsaid, unbuttoning his suit before sliding in.

“You allmight want to take it easy,” Fawn said, remembering that the Nazareth did nothave the immense resources that the Aeolipile did.

“Please. We’re out there risking our necks. Besides, they brought this stuff to us,” Lechwesaid.

“We havelittle time to spend the money we earn. And what would we buy if we did?” Flechette said.

“Wish wecould buy more time,” Lechwe said.