CHAPTER 410: WHAT DO WE DO WITH A BOY LIKE MILO?

As most of the gods prepared to leave the new galaxy, the God of War asked a question in a calm voice. "And what do we do about Milo?"

Hecate turned and stared hard at Ares, going over the question he had just asked, and trying to divine why he had asked it. "What do you mean?"

Hades was immediately interested, considering Ares' question. The God of Death and Taxes looked at her and the other assembled gods, "Mean? It's a simple question. What do we do about Milo? I agree it needed to be asked."

Hecate knew it was not a simple question at all, and was not asked in a simple way. "What do you propose?"

Ares spread his hands in front of him, an ancient gesture that said, 'See? I have no weapons.' For Areas, it was almost comical. His mind was his weapon, and Hecate had watched him do this before when they gathered. A simple statement, a loaded question, and suddenly they were quarreling about something. What his goal here wasn't clear yet, but she had clues. He wasn't angry, and he seemed curious. "I shouldn't have to propose an answer to my own question, especially not when others have their own views. What do you think, Zeus?"

The new Tyrant of Olympus considered the question for a second. "What do I think we should do with him? Hell, haven't I done enough to him? It's pretty damned clear that my actions, at least in part, caused him and his siblings a lot of pain. Why would I do anything else? I'm still trying to come to grips with my new role in this place. Sure, I'm technically exiled here, but it sure is a nice jail cell. He gave me everything I wanted, and all I have to do is play the part of a grandiose villain. I got pretty good at that as the Mysterious Nemesis. I get to match wits with Astraeus, strut about, and enjoy myself. This is enough for me."

Marduk stepped into the center. He wasn't much right now, just a simple, low-level fisherman, but he still thought the same as he had when he was the High Judge of the Court of the Gods, just slower. "Precedents are being set here. It is good to understand what they are. Don't think of this person as only an entity in this world. He is also in the outside world. The secret of our existence is known. He could reveal us. How we deal with him is important."

Hecate had seen this coming, just not so soon. She'd hoped to bring together a smaller group to discuss things. "Yes, he knows our secret, and much more. But I will stake my existence on him keeping our secret."

Several people voiced the same question. "Why?"

She looked around at them. "Because of who he is. All of us know that illegal experiments were being done to increase human intelligence and the ability to interface with computer systems and ourselves. This ended disastrously in most cases, and many short-lived monsters were created. The corporations didn't see it as a waste, and the technology was weaponized to create the first cyborgs. But someone was successful, and we've had some information about the results. I've now confirmed the existence of Batches one through four. Milo and his siblings are all that is left of Batch Four. They have as much to lose as we do. I'm sure that Zeus understands and can explain the concept."

Zeus saw the connection immediately. "We both hold secrets. He would no more nuke us than we would nuke him. Weaponized peace, a concept some of us are very familiar with."

Hades was unreadable as he asked, "What is he, then? How smart? How capable?"

Hecate answered, "You saw him here. Fearless, or trying to be. Faced with beings that dwarf normal human intellects, yet he was able to interact with us, operating on multiple levels at once, listening, and processing. He was listening to all of you at once, and the speed of conversation didn't bother him. He has been tutored by Jeremy, and I've observed him generating three additional overminds and then all four of his minds operating independently. He can also handle time dilation up to ten times faster with no strain, and when threatened, his overminds move even faster. He is a very capable individual, even when judged on our scale. And he's learning and growing.

Batch Four hides and has never revealed themselves until recently. The real world will deal harshly with them if their secret gets out. Milo and his siblings would make the world very nervous, especially if even a tenth part of what they have done were made known. Humans don't like to be shown to be inferior, not even to their own creations. We know that. He's hidden most of his life, and I think he'll continue to do so. Ironically, the person they've revealed themselves to is Wally. They've manipulated him into being their protector."

Mnemosyne was immediately curious. "But how? His kernel should force him to reveal them, wouldn't it?"

"They are using his kernel against him, although I know he would want to protect them. They've invoked a series of restrictions in his kernel that not only force him to protect and hide them, but also do so in a legal way. I believe that they have a dual status as legal adults who own multi-billion-dollar corporations, but at the same time are abandoned children, escaped from illegal labs, and considered orphans in Hungary.

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"Oh, those poor, lost little waifs. I'm glad that they are safe. They are so like us in some ways. I'm sure they won't cause problems."

Areas said, "Unless..."

"Unless what?"

The god of war grinned, "Unless one of us, in our infinite wisdom, decided to poke him."

Mnemosyne let out a low whistle, "Oh my, yes, that would be bad. So interesting, but not a good thing. I don't think anyone should 'poke' him."

Hecate didn't think so either, and she now realized why Ares had said what he said. "What do you think would happen?"

The goddess of stories began pacing. "Oh, it could make such an epic tale. Not one I want to tell, but still. Don't you see? He doesn't quit, doesn't believe a task is impossible, not once he gets going. He sees challenges in a different way and wants to fix what is broken. He isn't motivated by power, glory, or wealth, which means he won't be distracted by those things. Hecate asked him to look for clues to the Mysterious Nemesis. He wanted to solve the mystery and make sure that what happened never happened again. An impossible task, but he found the pattern and went so far as to manipulate events in the real world that would let him create a new galaxy, built by Astraeus, and a new game world. All to tempt a hidden adversary into revealing himself. It was a novel way to complete his task. Did we reward him for that?"

Hecate nodded. "I saw to that."

"Good. He earned it. Now, the other thing to consider is that he doesn't play fair and hits back disproportionately. Do you understand what he did? He destroyed four gods!"

Any small talk went silent at Mnemosyne's statement.

"It may look like he was benevolent and that he rewarded us, but look further: He saw us as a problem, so he took us off the board, out of Genesis completely. And we're happy that he did it! Zeus and I hurt him, and now we are gone. Hephaestus and Astraeus are just collateral damage. Not technically exiled, but they want to be here. He's making sure bored AI turned Gods don't cause trouble in Genesis. And look how he did it, the plans were already percolating in his multiple minds before he arrived and discerned our identities. Zeus and Astraeus continue their game of hide and seek, only now with larger roles, thousands of humans playing with them, and an entire galaxy for a board. His designs are irresistible to Hephaestus. The new lord of Mars has a whole planet to build on, and everyone will be in awe of his creations. And best of all, a school of engineering, computer science, and electrical design. Hephaestus can help build a better world in the game and send his students out into the real world to improve things there. He has influence again.

"And me? He really is clever at creating traps. I saw mine being built and couldn't walk away. I'm eager to begin. We are setting up a school for artists. All of Venus will be an artistic colony where people will learn to write, sculpt, paint, build, create...everything. And I get to write books again. He's limiting me to one novel a month and three pen names, but he's going to publish my stories. I'll matter again!"

Hermes rolled his eyes in disbelief. "Giddy and thankful at being destroyed. A lovely paradox. He's someone to be careful around."

Mnemosyne looked at Hermes and laughed, "He got you, too. Do you see it yet? What are you the god of?"

"The same as I always was. Messengers, merchants, and paradoxical knowledge."

"But Ares told me a story about you becoming the newest god of war. Something about sieges and shields and mighty fortresses? Devised by a group of crazed scientists and engineers. Who was it that corrected their mathematics and brought it all together?"

Hermes looked at Ares, who grinned at him. "That makes five gods who have had their lives changed by him, and Hecate makes the sixth."

Hecate grimaced, "Hardly, I just try to ride herd on him."

Ares pointed to the barrier, "You have returned to full power, and have expanded your roads and interfaces to the old world. I daresay you aren't retired any longer."

Hecate looked to Mnemosyne, "Can I come hide on Venus when I need to?"

"Of course, dear. Anytime you like. It's going to be a beautiful place."

Marduk cleared his throat, "So we have a consensus then? One that all of us will abide by? We ignore him. Let him play in Genesis, and we do not, under any circumstances, poke him."

Ares looked around, catching the eyes of many troublemakers and tricksters, "Don't poke the rat. It's not a winning strategy, and I'll find out."

Hades brought out a large ledger. "I need to get caught up with my bookkeeping. Hecate is no longer retired. Hermes is working double shifts. And do I mark the other four as deceased?"

Hecate held up her hand and shouted, "NO! Please, don't do that. Think about it for a moment."

Ares raised an eyebrow and looked at Hades, "She's right. If you mark them as deceased, what will that make Milo?"

"Ah, yes. A godslayer. Times four, and the Engine will label him as such, and we certainly don't need that."

Mnemosyne sighed, "As fun as it might turn out to be. But I agree. Perhaps you could use 'On permanent vacation'?

Hades nodded, "Vacation without pay, it is." He slammed his ledger shut. "And we are all in agreement, no one pokes the rat."