Noticing that the invitation was most likely meant for him, Prime squints at the rift for a moment. But then he seems to relax.
"Prepare the Lightning Sphere. I'm going to a meeting with the Speaker - or perhaps the Devinity himself."
"Interjection: Just a moment, Prime!"
Window-Null appears before the Collective's figurehead, boldly stopping him in his tracks.
"What is the meaning of this, Window-Null?"
"I've caught on a few of this Speaker's tells, and I have a distinct feeling that this meeting will not end well."
"How so?"
"I have ran a quantum scan of the temporal structure within the fourth layer and have discerned some anomalies with a power signature related to Klurx Deities. I am willing to bet it's related to this Speaker of the Dead - whoever he may be."
"This is a bold statement, Window-Null. Are you aware of the consequences you may receive if these claims are true or not?
"I am aware of the trouble I could get into - but that means I am also aware of the trouble YOU could get into. Our luck has been rather sour in our recent escapades."
"This time, I am confident that only I can handle this situation."
"Alert: You have said similarly in regards to believing Banishing Alpha-Alpha to be the right choice and believing the Tandem Cores will guarantee the destruction of him when the banishment turned out to be detrimental, and now we've lost one core and have another one in severe trauma. Are you sure this is the case this time around, as well?"
The glowing red eyes of Prime looked thoughtful. He did notice that there has been a recent pattern of failure exactly how Window-Null described it. "Very well, if not me, then who do you think should be the one to represent the Collective in this newest development?"
"Why, isn't it obvious? I should be the one. As a--"
"Impossible. You're supposed to be tending to the wounded Tandem-Mirage, not going on a diplomatic encounter that could possibly go very awry."
"Well, as I had my suspicions, I left Counter-Lambda to the recovery of Tandem-Mirage, and she has proven to be more effective in the treatment than I have been. I therefore had the time to pursue this matter of the Klurx further."
"Once again, making deals with other deities is tricky business. We do not know the Speaker's agenda, nor do we know the agenda of the Devinity of Death."
"Observation: You did state our distrust of them quite well, Prime. You of all the Collective should know that it's a huge risk for you to personally do this. Naturally, being the best scout in the class, it should be I who explores this matter further. Addendum: And if I perish, I perish doing my job, which is the best way to perish."
"Except you're not going to perish. We have lost one Core AI and had almost lost another, and we are still trying to recover from this damage. Losing the Head Explorer Class AI may just very well send us over the edge - so to speak."
Window-Null's singular blue eye just blinked. "Parameters set. It's time for me to go."
"NOT SO FAST WIN..."
Prime just managed to stop himself as Window-Null gave him a look like he knew what he was going to say. Prime could not help but give up. "Fine. I will allow you to go in my stead. Do not make me regret this."
"Response: On the Contrary, Great Core. I will not disappoint you. Besides, if I run into trouble, I already have made at least one powerful friend within the third layer." Window-Null disappears into his Coreship, which subsequently goes through the rift.
As Window-Null passes through the rift, he could not help but to think back on his findings.
str Hope = "This Speaker better not be prone to methods that would incur the wrath of the Judges..."
