LOG-108.

  There was an expectation that I would land on my feet with a minor but muted thump. Instead, it was with a blink of my eyes (two, always just two, as it should be) that I realised I'd made little to no sound upon hitting the ground.

  "Buh."

  Blinking again as the sound slipped past my lips, I hesitated, trying to sort out my roiling, yet oddly quiet emotions.

  A small bit of…pleasure. Euphoria, even. And yet quickly smothered beneath a wave of cold, calculating control as I inspected myself as best I could.

  Long, lithe limbs, lightform scattering between clashing waves of green and blue that almost brought Malachites to mind.

  And yet my arms and legs were slightly more defined than anticipated. Sodalite's influence, no doubt. My outfit could best be described as a more elaborate Pearl's uniform, the vague form of a transparent dress draped over the tighter simulated fabrics clinging to my body adding a bit of flair to my physique.

  Still, as I prepared for the expected noise to finally come and for the reprieve to end, the tangling of emotions and thoughts and ideals almost seeming an inevitability…I instead found little more than blessed silence, as one side of me rather firmly assumed dominion over another.

  Somehow, I was a fusion. And yet I was also…me.

  Viridian.

  A sudden flare of disgust took my breath away as I realised just what was happening, the chaining of one under the unforgiving grip of another. But…

  "Hmm."

  The small sound let me hear my elegant voice once more, even as I casually flexed an arm, enjoying the distinct sense of power hidden within the limb.

  Thicker and stronger than that of a Pearl.

  Infinitely more graceful than a Sodalite could ever be.

  "Hmph."

  My hands continued to move, feeling each other, before moving on to my forearms, my biceps, my shoulders, my long, silken hair, parts of it sticking out in the usual patterns even as longer pieces fell past those protruding sections.

  I was rather enjoying the distinctly familiar feeling of Viridian's…or well…of my facial structure until I rather firmly reminded myself of the…decidedly unexpected dynamic I'd somehow managed to stumble into.

  "...Sodalite?"

  A small, pleased thrum. Somewhere deep within me. Subdued. Controlled. Subordinate.

  I tried not to grimace as I allowed myself to use the submissive component to her fullest. Memories freely and willingly given were stripped bare and examined, and I casually began to stride forward in what I-what she knew to be the traditionally expected manner of a Sodalite as I stared up at the ceiling.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I was rather tall now, so that was nice. Fawn would likely have questions. But I could deal with that later.

  Fawn?-

  The small pulse of curiosity was firmly squashed beneath the weight of my control as I continued forward, hands moving to clasp together behind my back.

  "Be quiet."

  Immediate, gratifying capitulation. Good. The ugly feeling of enjoying my domination of the unexpectedly pliant one eyed Gem resumed, even as I continued to pour through every detail I cared to take note of regarding her existence.

  A weather and environmental director, a well respected role, considering she was in charge of changing the interior environment of other aristocratic Gems, presumably to suit their every whim. Part of a batch of twelve. Most had moved further away, never to be contacted again. The one closest to her had spent a good deal of time on occupied organic worlds as part of her role.

  Well, before the locals had been exterminated anyway, and she'd been taken away due to her crimes against the Empire when it came to fusion.

  I idly turned around a familiar bend as the horrific thought of such a thing happening to me was shoved aside and discarded, making my way towards the local environmental management station.

  A safe, known location to Sodalite, if her memories were to be believed. It would serve well enough as an isolated resting spot while I figured out whatever this was, at least until a different Sodalite arrived to relieve her.

  Or me, in this case. I'd move somewhere else before that could happen though.

  Still, the knowledge that she'd been slacking in her duties just to harass me, and the direct memories of what had been done to my Batchmate drew forth a deep well of irritation, which in turn was responded to with shame and submission, which only pulled in further irritation and inevitably prompted a mental smack from one side to the other.

  I had to resist the urge to gag as a shiver ran through my lightform, instead doing my level best to illuminate just how decidedly unimpressed with Sodalite I truly was.

  It didn't help.

  —

  My fingers tapped against the large, luxurious looking holographic screen as I idly responded to various requests from different parts of the Confluence, directing things like mist, rain, clouds and even simulated sunlight. Incredible, how such a magnificent fusion could fly so easily under the Empire's radar.

  "You're disgusting, you know that, right?"

  The words drew another shiver, and I held back an annoyed sigh as I continued to type away, tilting my head and leaning forwards as the tablet I'd pulled from my storage space lit up at my side.

  A hint of Sodalite began to rise, curious.

  "Shut up and be quiet, I don't have time for your nonsense."

  It receded, even as I took hold of the small device and read through the messages Ardent had sent me.

  [I have Gems I can send if she gets violent.]

  [Star.]

  [I know you'll only be able to read this after the fact, but I'm watching you through the local cameras. You weren't alone in there.]

  [OKAY. THAT WAS.]

  [Sorry. I wasn't expecting the fusion.]

  [I think I might have misread the situation. Please respond at your earliest convenience. Whether as yourself or whoever you're acting as a part of.]

  Breathing out through my nostrils, I shot back a quick response.

  [This is Star. The fusion, for clarification. I am debating the name Chrysocolla.]

  I didn't hesitate in acting out the play of being a separate individual. Because I was, in the end. The fact that I had an overriding personality just wasn't something Ardent needed to know about quite yet.

  Biting down on the uncomfortable feeling my logic earned, I shook my head, one hand rising to brush some stray hair out of my eyes.

  A small, hesitant sense of curiosity filtered back upwards, directed towards the twin orbs.

  "...Fine. Take a damned look. But I want you on your best behaviour afterwards."

  A thrilling sense of gratitude sent my lips plummeting into a scowl, shortly followed by one eye blinking after another, as if someone were testing them for the first time.

  Though considering the circumstances…that likely wasn't entirely inaccurate-

  My attention was diverted back to the tablet as it lit up once more, my other half shoving itself backwards obediently as I moved to read Ardent's newest message.

  [It's really nice to meet you Chrysocolla. How are you doing?]

  Leaning against the table I'd planted the device on, I tilted my head, considering things.

  The brief bit of panic at what my thoughts eventually turned towards was overpowered with little effort, Sodalite quieting down and accepting her new situation as I began to type once more, eyes narrowing slightly and a smirk contorting my features as I luxuriated in dealing yet another blow to the Empire, in my own little way.

  [If you can gain access to the terminal I'm currently at, you should. I have a large amount of information to send you. Blackmail and such. Let me know if there's anything else I can do while I'm here.]