Tristan watched the others, watched Tabitha approaching. Watched his weapon gleam in his hand. [color=82ca9d][i]So elegant,[/i][/color] he thought. It had been a good moment. Well-ordered. Koda had been dangerous, but newborn, and hunger had driven him to irrationality. When the others turned against him, they would be stronger, and killing them would require a progression of weaponry and armor, each outfitting grander than the last to ensure each death remained clean and perfect. He could burn them away without the mess and ruin of fire, he could -

Tristan watched the others, watched Tabitha approaching. The arm holding the gun dropped, letting it hang at its side. The rush from the silver fruit wasn't fading, but it wasn't intensifying any further. Everything was illuminated, collecting focus along lines and angles, and his thoughts felt precise, swift, powerful, snapping bolts of lightning between neural tissue and intricate circuits. 

[color=82ca9d]"When you sit to dine with power, take care to consider what's placed before you,"[/color] he said. [color=82ca9d]"And put a blade to your throat if you are called to gluttony. Do not desire those delicacies, for they are deceptive..."[/color]

More eyes slid to Tabitha. [color=82ca9d]"Proverbs 23. I wonder what he believed,"[/color] he said, gesturing to the space where [i]he[/i] had been. [color=82ca9d]"If it helped. If anything was -"[/color]

Whatever Tristan was now didn't seem to have the capacity for vomiting, so he just remained still and silent, keeping a biomechanical vigil. Listening to Tabitha, to the voices he could hear. Watching Anni cry, the cop and the killer face off over her. Stormy crying alone. Once again, the scene took on an arcane resonance. Something Biblical. [color=82ca9d][i]And what am I, in this tableau?[/i][/color] Answers flowed through his mind and he turned from them, turned to his companion.

[color=82ca9d]"What's on my mind...?" [i]I went insane. I can't control this. I need to control everything. I can't control that either. I know we're not really going home again, even if we get back to Lightsbridge. I know what I am now. I'm afraid. I'm so afraid. If you betray me, I'll be destroyed. 

If you betray me, I'll destroy you.[/i][/color] 

He was silent for a moment, and then remembered to shake his head. [color=82ca9d]"A man just died. One of us. The first of us...maybe not the last. Why did he die? Part of me doesn't even care. [i]Her[/i] part,"[/color] he said, the thought automatic, not knowing for sure who he meant. [color=82ca9d]"But that's not all of me." [i]Not yet. Not like Koda. Don't let me be like Koda.[/i] "What's on my mind is a man just died, a man who lived looking for answers. We still don't know anything, Tabitha. About [i]anything.[/i]"[/color] 

Tristan turned to the tower, pointing with the barrel of the gun of killing light. [color=82ca9d]"According to our architect, there's answers in there. So let's honor the dead,"[/color] he said, raising his synthetic voice. [color=82ca9d]"Let's go see the Magician of Irriss."[/color]