Page 5 of Guiding Reason

“Yes. But if you want my honesty, I didn’t think I would end up loving you when you first touched me and wouldn’t let me get back to my work. So maybe Col had it right to tell me no. But maybe that also means we give Hyran a chance? A very small one where we make sure Col isn’t hurt?”

Taros locked eyes with Orrey. “You’re ordering us to stay out of that room unless there’s screaming, aren’t you. First you make us go get protectors, now this. When’s Col going to make sure you get the rank to back your attitude?”

Orrey looked away. “He said he wanted to do that. But as I said, he has a concussion. A rank is earned.”

“We don’t even know Col still has the rank to do anything. Hyran can’t take his rank, strictly speaking, but he can remove him from our team,” Senlas said.

Taros nodded. “I can cut him into pieces. Tiny little ones. No one will ever find him. That way, Col’s rank is safe, and Orrey here can get what he earned.”

Senlas hissed. “Yes, but no slicing while Orrey is here.”

Orrey crossed his arms. “If Hyran tries to take Col away from us, I might help Taros.”

They both looked at him. “You know, it’s like Col is speaking through this one,” Taros said.

“Col taught me most of the things I know about being a Conduit,” Orrey said.

“Right. Well, let’s do what my Conduit says for now, and give that Guardian a small chance. Because honestly, I have no better idea.” He nodded in the direction of the room Col was in. “You wait outside, we go get that blood test done.”

Taros nodded. “Will do. But if there’s screaming, I’ll cut shit.”

“Absolutely,” Orrey said and tugged on Senlas’s hand.

He could tell his Guardian was proud of him as they got into the elevator and went down. The wide grin on Senlas’s face said it all.

3

HYRAN

OpenLog/entry (review mode)

Today, I prepared my suite for the Argentean Team. They are not champions, nor aim to be, but they fought for survival outside the walls and made their way to the safety of Ferrea.

The Op-AI has shared with me that it would love for them to stay here. It is willing to offer them permanent residence in the Champions’ Tower if they would like to, and the Op-AI suggests I make sure they are comfortable.

Not all of them will move in all at once. Some are very badly hurt and still receiving treatment at the clinic. I can only do my best to make sure this team is so comfortable they forget the outside as quickly as possible. I will make sure they want for nothing.

OpenLog/entry (review mode)

I got all the cleaning and preparing done with above average speed. The team was outside the walls with Conduits too, and Conduits should not be exposed to the dangers outside the walls like these were.

With time to spare, I contacted butler bots and office AIs I am friendly with and asked whether they would feel it appropriate to suggest to their Guardians and Conduits that Argentea’s team might be made to feel more welcome if they were sent small gifts to celebrate their arrival here in the safety of Ferrea.

The Op-AI has praised my initiative and decided to match it by assigning the best team of hospitality agents to my Argentean team.

I haven’t yet met them, and I’m already thinking of them as my team. The suite has been empty for too long. I hope they will make it their home.

OpenLog/entry (review mode)

They are not what I imagined! Conduit Orrey was very exhausted. He was imprinted upon by Guardian Senlas, who is an S-classer. An S-classer and his imprinted! I’ve never cared for anyone like that, and in fact, Guardian Senlas is the only S-classer in the Tower. And he is in my suite.

Yet, gloom sits over them, and sadness. They are healing from wounds inside and out. They need rest and comfort. I watch them as closely as I can to make sure the temperature and humidity in the suite is well-adjusted. They were not very interested in the food. I worry.

(exit review mode)

(From Butler Bot 35’s personal log.)

~