World Filter

The whole room remained silent as the voice repeated the message, many eyes turning to look at them. Mark saw that Gibby had already sat down in one of the chairs and made a beckoning motion.

Mark arrived just as Gibby started talking.

"Sam, I'm going to patch you through in a moment." He said, handing her a set of headphones.

"You're probably the type of voice I'd want to hear on the other end. Remember, we can negotiate for quite a lot, but keep in mind that the line might not be private."

Sam nodded and, without any hesitation, put the headset on, though not before shooting Mark a look that said they would finish this later.

Then, without further hesitation, Gibby gave her a cue that she was live.

"Hello Yuna, this is Samantha from the Order of the Sage. It's so good to hear from you, we were beginning to worry that no one was out there."

There was a pause from the other side, and Yuna's voice again came through. Mark thought he could hear other excited voices in the background.

"I'm Glad to hear it, Miss Samantha. It took us a while to set up our system, so we apologize for the delay. Now that you can hear us, we have many questions."

Sam nodded, belatedly remembering that they probably couldn't see that.

"That's great news, Yuna. Go ahead and shoot, I'll do my best to answer them." Sam said her voice lulled calmly.

"Thank you, Miss Samantha. But before that, I suppose our biggest question would be whether you have any information about the tower. Have you opened yours yet?"

Sam's eyes flickered to Mark and Jonathan, who both showed wry smiles. It just had to be that question right off the bat. Mark also noticed Yuna had revealed nothing as to whether they had managed to open theirs yet. However, he was fairly certain that they had not either, or the system would have informed them.

"That's certainly one of the big questions, isn't it?" Sam said with a light laugh, buying herself a breath.

"The 'toweres' as you called have kept us guessing, so I don't have much information to offer. What I can tell you is that we're approaching things carefully. No one wants to wake up a sleeping dragon just to find out it's hungry, you know?"

Mark smiled at the diplomatic answer. As much as Sam would have hated to hear it, she would have probably made a half-decent politician.

The line crackled for a minute, and Mark thought he could hear distinct voices arguing amongst themselves, but then Yuna's voice returned.

"Miss Samantha? We hear you loud and clear. We've decided that should anything of interest come up with the towers, we will try to inform you," she said, sounding genuine.

Mark grimaced, feeling guilty. Ethel had warned them that there could be downsides to giving away information to other sectors, but he couldn't help but feel a stab of worry.

They had information that could potentially save lives, but they were going to keep it to themselves in fear that it could be used later to cause them trouble.

Mark scratched his head. Wasn't saving people more important than future advantages? What happens if Tokyo ends up getting wiped out because they held onto this piece of information? It was also unknown whether the caretaker had informed them. Honestly, Mark didn't know what to feel right now, so he didn't say a word, but when he looked up, Sam was watching him. She seemed to be weighing up her options before turning to look at Jonathan. There was the briefest silent exchange between the two of them before Sam spoke into the mic again.

"Yuna, if you don't mind me asking, how many people are there with you now, and what agencies are you affiliated with?"

Yuna's response came shortly.

"There are six of us here right now, and none of us is affiliated with any other agencies. We are coming to you from a small shelter just outside Tokyo."

Sam pursed her lips before she asked her next question.

"What do you know of the unbound?"

Mark froze and looked over at Sam, as did Gibby and a good many people.

The line was quiet for maybe six seconds, but Mark used that time to wonder what she was thinking.

"Yes, Miss Samantha. We have read about them."

Mark's eyes narrowed, so the caretaker gave them information.

"Good, do you know how to identify them yet?" she continued.

Mark sat up straighter. He had not expected her to offer so much up, so freely, but he wasn't all that interested in stopping her. He also noted that for each question they got information back.

When Yuna's voice came again, there was a subtle waver to it.

"No, we know what they are, but as of yet, we have no idea how to find thirty people in an entire population. Do you know?"

Mark watched Sam as he leaned his elbow on the table and rested his head in his palm. So they hadn't found any yet? Or at least that's what the public believed.

Hearing this, Sam smiled with a gleam in her eye, and Mark knew this was what she had been after. Sometimes it was about what wasn't said.

"Yes, but it's difficult. Can you get to the tower? Touch it?" she asked.

Mark heard Yuna's voice sway in front of the mic like she was shaking her head.

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"I…don't know, even if we're strong swimmers, the navy extended a perimeter around the base to prevent anyone from getting too close to it."

Mark bit the inside of his cheek. Why didn't it sound like their tower was on land? Had they completed the rite in the middle of the ocean? But Commander Takahashi said it was in Tokyo, perhaps in the bay, then? If that was the case, then it was going to make things a lot harder for them.

"Do so if you are able. The spire will identify the unbound for you on contact. "

Mark swallowed. She'd offered them almost everything they knew, right now. He knew if the other factions found out they would be pissed, but at this moment he couldn't seemed to care.

If it would accelerate their growth, and by extension save more lives, it was worth it in Mark's books.

The other side of the comms was quiet for minutes before Yuna came back.

"Miss Samantha, we still have so many questions, but for now, we are going to sign off. We need time to confirm this information. I'll return as soon as we can, as I'm sure we have much to learn from one another, but there is much to do. We hope to nurture this relationship with your clan, and perhaps even meet one day, should the fates allow."

With that, the line went dead. The abruptness of it caught Mark off guard, and even Sam looked a little taken aback. They hadn't been given the chance to ask a single question. Still, considering the value of the intel they'd just dropped, it made sense that the others might have more pressing matters to attend to.

Mark, at least, was satisfied with the outcome, though it was clear that Gibby and several others were not.

"Sir?!" one of the technicians at the console called out. "We're receiving data from them!"

Gibby's head snapped up, startled.
"Well, check it and put it on the screen."

The technician quickly tapped a few keys, and the large monitor bolted to the wall flickered, then changed. Documents began appearing—dozens of them. Immediately, Mark recognized diagrams and annotations detailing the manipulation of the three energies. Further breakdowns followed: practical applications, spell descriptions, and technique schematics—many of which Mark had never seen before.

Then came profiles of the Corrupted, species after species flashing across the screen. Most were unfamiliar—vastly different from the enemies they had previously faced, though a few recognizable forms were among them.

It was an overwhelming data dump, but one thing was clear: Yuna had sent everything they had.

Gibby was quick to issue orders.

I want these files disseminated to the proper departments. Let's get on this with fact-checking everything we were given.

Neither Mark nor anyone else had expected such a response. There was enough information here to rival their own.

Just then, Mark saw Ethel and Boe enter the room. He welcomed the collie with a scratch behind the ears, but didn't know how Ethel would react to Sam going against her advice.

When Sam turned to Ethel, the woman had a thoughtful expression on her face. Already aware of what Sam had done.

"That was an interesting choice..."

Sam nodded.

"I thought it prudent to get what information we could. We now have a good idea of the spires' location and their progress. If they do end up taking the lead from here on out, then it will be because they deserve it."

Mark was expecting a disapproving look or even an outburst from the old woman, but he should have known by now that was not how Ethel worked. She even looked proud.

"Samanthan… You did amazingly. With the same information at my fingertips, I can't say I would have done any better." Ethel said proudly, but then a sly smile came over her wizened face.

"I trust your decision completely, even if I'm certain it was made, at least in some part, to make certain people happy.

Sam's face became unreadable, and she glanced out the window, but Ethel just continued to mutter to herself.

"I just wish you had told me we could have grilled them for more information before they fled the scene," she said wistfully.

Then her eyes fell on him and Boe. "Mark? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be resting?" Ethal said, acting as if she had only just seen him.

Sam grabbed the given life raft and nodded.

"I was just about to take him up to his room to rest, Jon, why don't we head out?"

Jonathan looked between Ethel, Sam, and Mark, but before he could make his getaway, a shackle of earth appeared out of thin air and clamped down on his arm. No one addressed it, or even get it a second glance, but Sam's face brooked no argument.

If Jonathan wanted to, he could break it with ease. Mark even saw him thinking about it before his shoulders dropped and he nodded.

"Sure, I'll head up with you guys. Gibby, see if you can get someone to send the files to my tablet. I want to at least have a look at them." Jonathan said.

Mark wanted to see what they had, too, but by this point, Sam was already leading them toward the lift.

Ethel waved them off, and just before the elevator doors closed, he saw her talking with Gibby over something.

The lift only had to move one level down, but Sam didn't say a word as it let out on their floor.

She stepped out and made for his room. Neither Mark nor Jonathan said anything as they followed her. He felt like they were being escorted to a prison cell rather than his bedroom.

Mark was just about to get his keycard out when Sam produced one of her own and scanned them into his room. This made Mark raise his brow at her, but a narrow-eyed glare shut him up before he could say anything.

They entered after her, and the flimsy wooden door creaked shut behind them.

Jonathan made for the seat in the corner of the room, but Mark remained where he was and tried to make his case.

"Sam, listen, I promise I have everything under control. I'm healing even as we speak. By the end of today, I should be completely healed. Plus-" he started to taper off when he felt Sam behind him.

She had reached out to him and wrapped her arms around his chest, pulling him into a firm hug.

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she had rested her head on his shoulder.

"Mark, I know you heal fast, but you being at the clinic was not only for you, it was for all of us. You almost died, again. And the worst part? You don't seem all that bothered."

Mark froze. Was he becoming desensitized to his own death? He didn't think so, but perhaps that was not what it looked like from the outside.

Turning to her, Mark gave her a hug of his own.

"Sam, I know you remained by my side while I was unconscious, I could feel you, but I promise you guys I won't die, not until this is all over. I'll keep fighting no matter what; that's why I couldn't afford to stand still, even if I just woke up, I'll keep going to keep up with you guys."

Sam snorted.

"Mark, you are plenty strong, both of us have already seen that."

Mark turned his head to look at Jonathan. He had taken out his tablet, but it was clear he wasn't using it. Instead, he just shot Mark a level-headed stare.

Mark understood.

"Fine, you're right. I'm sorry for worrying you guys. But I had a reason to come."

Sam grimaced and crossed her arms.

"Oh good, we finally get the the crux of the matter. Yes, why did you leave?"

"I'm ready…To build my core. All I need now is a place to do it."

Sam squinted at Mark, and a thoughtful expression came to her face.

"I want to go over this with you. We need to be sure this will work. But… if you say you're ready, I think I have the perfect idea." Sam cleared her throat. "Remember how we mentioned that Patricia's Church was settling into NAS territory? Well, they've just finished building their temple. And they're planning a celebration to commemorate it.

At her request, NAS is opening a portion of its territory to outsiders—anyone interested in the faith. Maybe that's where we can get you what you need."