Page 89 of A World Enough

Yes, I can hear you, Ninti.

Ninti let out a breath. This was a technology Ninti had created while developing the brain scanning equipment. She built it to have conversations with friendly rebels or Kartog while in the company of Abnobians or anyone else they needed to keep their conversations from.

There are cameras and voice recorders all over this room. This was the only way I could talk to you in private.

I’m glad to be able to talk to you, my friend, Vorka said.

How can I do this to you and be called your friend?

Because it is your duty, Ninti.

I’ve set some of the brain probes to half power. It’s the best I can do.

Vorka shook her head. And you think Davor won’t notice?

It’s only you and me here, Vorka. Davor won’t find out, Ninti said.

He will. Your duty is to survive, Ninti. My duty was to hold the rebellion together, bring up Camber, and to make sure she was safe. You and Camber are the two jewels in our crown. To have an Abnobian on the inside to give us tip-offs about what they are doing next, to help our rebellion, you’ve saved so many lives, Ninti. That is worth my sanity, that is worth my life.

Nothing is worth your life, Vorka.

Being able to read each other’s minds and talk privately was such a great technology, but she had to hold herself back from taking Vorka’s hand as a friend at such a moment.

Ninti, sometimes one has to accept what fate has in store for you. If my madness or my death keeps the rebellion alive, Camber safe, keeps my monks safe, or any other people living under Abnobian oppression, then it’s worth it. I’ve accepted it, Ninti. You need to too.

I haven’t because I am your friend. I would do anything for you. Both you and Kartog saved me from the dark reality of the empire, Ninti said.

I know you would. Kartog saved you more than me. She opened your heart.

I just don’t know how I’ll get myself through it. Ninti’s heart was hurting already.

Ninti, you must pull yourself together. You must. Look at me, Vorka said.

Ninti, who had been pretending to sort her medical tools, looked around and looked in Vorka’s eyes.

All I ask is that if I am left alive afterwards but have lost my mind, I would ask you to end it, Vorka said.

First you want me to do this with no controls in place, and now if it sends you into madness, you want me to kill you?

No, not kill me. Kill the damaged brain that I had become. You would make me live out that existence? You know how much I treasure my mind, my attributes. I serve Danu and the First Ones’ teachings, and to do that I must go through this, Vorka said.

Ninti was so torn. In the end she knew she would respect Vorka’s wishes, but Ninti just wanted to delay committing to such a terrible act.

Ninti? Will you give me your word that you will do this? Will you end my existence if madness ensues in my brain? I beg of you, Ninti. There’s no greater gift you could give me, give a friend.

Ninti sighed. This was all too much for her. She wished she had Kartog here with her.

I know what you’re thinking, remember? Kartog isn’t here, but I know if she was here, she would say that we’ve all made sacrifices for the rebellion, to destroy the Abnobian stranglehold on this realm. She would encourage you to go through with my last request.

Ninti said, I promise.

What do you promise? Tell me exactly what you are promising, Vorka said seriously.

If this procedure leads your brain into madness, I will end it, Ninti said.

Thank you, Ninti. You have been such a great friend to me over the years. I just want you to remember that. The probes on my brain, put them back up to one hundred per cent, Vorka said.

Ninti complied with a heavy heart. I’m going to take the nano chip out of your ear. This is experimental tech, and I don’t want anyone to find after… Ninti didn’t want to say death.