"Why are they so obsessed with the creation of a soul bound?"
Odin shook his head. "I don't know. Most of what they do doesn't make sense to me. The soul bound are just one in a long list."
"Is there anything you can tell me about them?"
Very few realized there was a master pulling the Tsavitee’s strings.
Among humans, she could count on one hand the number privy to that information. She doubted that had changed with her absence.
The Tuann were a little better informed.
They could thank Graydon for that. He and Harlow were the ones who put it together from clues they learned from Kira.
What Graydon knew, the emperor and his closest confidants also knew. Kira couldn't be sure about the rest of the Overlords, though.
"My theory is that they're obsessed with evolution," Odin said after considering her question. "To an almost pathological level. Any new races that draw their interest, they push until they find the limits of its evolutionary path."
Kira was quiet, wondering if that was what they had in store for humanity.
"When they have the answers they seek, they throw their broken toys to the horde. Whether those toys survive and find a place for themselves or are destroyed is up to the toy."
"What's their purpose?" Kira asked.
There had to be one. It might not make sense to Kira, but it was there.
"Who knows? Maybe to create a perfect race? Their own evolution? All I know is that they've designed evolutionary paths for hundreds of species, including my own. The Tuann were the ones they were most proud of." Odin looked over at Kira. "I'm pretty sure the soul bound are a big reason for that."
Eighteen
Odin was ordering the J1N to power down as Kira took her leave. The growing frustration in Odin’s voice when the drone failed to comply made her feel a little better about the past few days.
At least she wasn't the only one the J1N gave trouble.
Kira stepped into the corridor, scanning it for Pallas.
He wasn't far. Just a dozen feet down the corridor. Right next to an intersection, examining the wall and floor.
Kira stalked toward him. "What are you doing?"
In answer, Pallas tossed a rock he'd picked up from somewhere directly in front of him. There was a flash. Followed by a rat a tat tat as an SP4500 fired nearly three thousand rounds in the span of a second.
"Cute," Pallas drawled.
Kira stopped in mid step, suddenly aware of the danger she'd strayed into.
When Brie warned her of traps, she hadn't quite figured on them making use of military grade weapons. That was her bad. She really should have. This was Odin they were talking about, after all.
"Your friend has been busy." Pallas tapped a wall as he glanced around. "It makes one wonder what they’ve hidden down there. It must be important given the level of defense."
"Odin's secrets are his own," Kira said in a flat voice.
"Are you sure about that, little sister?"
Kira held his stare for a second longer before shaking her head and striding back the way she'd come.
Pallas joined her. "You always were a fan of dangerous games."
"Those are the only types I know how to play."
