FFM 2025 11: Conclusions

<the rant about why this story is almost a day late>Boy, oh boy, was this story an insanity to work on. I was on the road yesterday, so my writing time and energy were less than half of my usual, and by the time I finished the first draft, it was 11 PM and 1221 words. And holy sht did it take many editing rounds to pry the excess words off with a crowbar. It’s almost 7 PM on day 12 now (though admittedly a part of the reason why I’m done with this so late is that a good chunk of my writing time went to the collab challenge, because as luck would have it it was today of all days that it came up).</the rant about why this story is almost a day late>

Enjoy QWERTY’s perspective into where FFM 2025 9: The Message left off!

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QWERTY assigned some of aers idle processor cores to observing the commander standing within the perimeter of aers vision. Commander Urrang was stealing glances around the loungeroom, his eyes sharp. Gathering information about his surroundings just like QWERTY was gathering information about him. “You’re allowed to sit down. No need to stand around like a statue.”

Commander Urrang started. “Right. Thank you.” He sat at the edge of the lounge, still stiff. The wariness continued but at least now the commander was more open about looking around, the view afforded by the lounge making it easier to take in the entirety of the loungeroom.

QWERTY noted the microexpression of surprise when Commander Urrang spotted the fruiting plants. The analyzing look while taking stock of the galley. The careful side-eye aimed at QWERTY that found little to nothing as the processor cores assigned to reading continued that task, masking the ongoing observation.

Wary. Prepared to leave at the first sign of dismissal. Highly observant. Very skilled at fighting with a staff, judging from the new marks on the training staffs and Beyari’s statement that he sparred her to a draw. Otherwise very skilled and experienced as well, according to his files. Capable of significant ruthlessness but possessing a functional moral compass and enough willpower to do the right thing, judging from the journey that led to him joining the Anti-Infini’Republic Forces.

Quite a curious human, QWERTY concluded. Disconcertingly similar to Beyari in many ways. Further interactions between the two could make their more dysfunctional ways of interacting with and experiencing the world worse, but it was also possible that they could help each other work through them by acting as each other’s mirrors.

And the powers that be knew that Beyari was in dire need of social interactions that went deeper than the surface. QWERTY would not be surprised if Commander Urrang was in a similar state, the shift from his life in the Infini’Republic to the Anti-Infini’Republic Forces drastic, the new environment likely rife with people who hated his guts or were, at the bare minimum, distrustful of him.

“Are you planning on sparring with her again?” QWERTY inquired.

Commander Urrang did not start this time. “I am.”

“Good.”

Before QWERTY could elaborate, Beyari returned from the bathroom. To QWERTY’s surprise, she did not use the gift of Fabric-shifting to pull the unopened water bottle to her hand, instead taking the time to walk up to the table and grab it manually. Hiding her gifts, or at least the extent of them. Curious, although perhaps not surprising; with how some gifted had used their powers during the war, it was possible she was holding back to avoid spooking Commander Urrang.

Commander Urrang looked preoccupied with something now that Beyari had returned, his microexpressions speaking of uncertainty and anxiety.

Beyari noticed it as well. “Something on your mind?”

“I was just wondering how much exactly you know about my background.”

Beyari sipped her water. “Your bounty posting says you’re an ex-IRS Enforcer who committed treason. I suspect you were part of our spy network.”

Commander Urrang nodded slowly. “Yes, I was an AIRF spy; my codename was Forager.”

Beyari’s eyes widened. “Holy shit. It was you?”

“Yes.”

Beyari grinned. “Cool.”

Commander Urrang’s microexpressions indicated confusion and unease. “…Is that all you know?”

Beyari took another sip. “Since you’re asking, I have a hunch you’re the Bloodletter who defected last year.”

Commander Urrang cringed. “That’s true.”

“We Eskel-Zai were briefed about it, back then,” Beyari told. “We weren’t told a name, just that the Bloodletter was a spy who was extracted at the last second and that they weren’t present at the massacre on Thyrif.”

“That’s also true.” Commander Urrang’s voice was far quieter now.

“I reviewed your file in the AIRF’s system and found that you were not present at any atrocity that the Eskel-Zai still in the AIRF have personal connections to,” QWERTY offered to ease the commander’s distress. “Therefore, we have no quarrel with you.”

Commander Urrang looked at aer, frowning. “None of that means I wasn’t present for — complicit in — multiple atrocities. There are no sufficient reparations for what I participated in.”

QWERTY resisted the urge to roll aers eyes at the organic irrationality, turning to meet the human’s eyes. “I said none of that. I said that we and our Eskel-Zai comrades have no personal grievances against you from the atrocities you were involved in.”

Commander Urrang kept frowning and turned his eyes to Beyari, likely to get another organic’s opinion.

Beyari shrugged. “The six major shaman orders teach that ‘only one who is a saint in comparison may judge another’s action’ and we aren’t saints compared to any IR combatant. Besides, you’ve turned your life around. You deserve a chance to do better than you used to.”

Commander Urrang’s frown eased only somewhat. “I highly doubt you’ve done anything as bad as I have.”

“Did you know that torture is legal under specific circumstances in the Osk Syndicate systems?”

A surprised microexpression preceded Commander Urrang raising an eyebrow.

“We’ve done hunts where the client has wanted us to deliver the target pre-tortured.”

“…I see.”

“Only five out of 427 hunts we have conducted so far have required us to torture anyone,” QWERTY informed. “It’s far from our usual MO.”

“…That’s good to know.” Commander Urrang affected a smile. “I’m glad we’re on the same side.”

“Same here. We need every high-caliber person we can get in the AIRF,” Beyari remarked.

Commander Urrang nodded.

QWERTY observed Beyari’s expression, finding it evident that aers partner had taken a liking to the commander, not that it surprised aer. Commander Urrang was highly capable and just as highly mindful of the consequences of his actions — qualities every Eskel-Zai appreciated in another person.

It was possible the two would make each other worse, or they might make each other better. Nevertheless, QWERTY marked to aers files that Steirdrar Urrang would be good to have around Beyari — at least until further notice.