“Bronwic, it’s a pleasure to meet you. The Keepers have been discussing when you might finally report in and there’s even been some betting, I believe. I consider it an honor that you’ve picked this location to properly begin your High Enforcement duties,” says Coderkoll. His movements are blocky and slow but there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with his brain.

  “I see you’re a first generation Protocol Sentinel. Does that mean anything Coderkoll? How long have you been doing this?” I ask. Kael shifts a bit in a way that heightens my attention to this situation.

  “Oh! How excellent,” Coderkoll replies enthusiastically. “It’s been hundreds of years since someone asked anything about my background.” I wonder if I’ve made a mistake and a long monologue by a grandfather-like golem is about to hit me.

  “The short answer is yes. Yes it does mean something. The most important bit to you is that I’m one of the original Keepers and still very closely aligned with the SSA Protocol Enforcement AI. Later models are more advanced, but not as plugged in, if you know what I mean. And I’ve been doing this a very, very, very long time. In fact, you may wish to add a lot more ‘verys’ in there for accuracy.”

  For the first time I see Kael react in a way other than jaded calm.

  “What do you mean closely aligned with the AI?” he asks.

  “I think Bronwic’s asking the questions at the moment High Enforcer Vrynn,” says Coderkoll, dismissing Kael’s question. “You’re not much different from the rest of them. Taking all this for granted and just thinking about how you can advance through the ranks. I will admit your path has been different than a lot of others, but right now… hush.”

  I half expect Kael to spear Coderkoll with any one of his dozen options for dishing out pain or to bite back, but Kael accepts what the Keeper has said and falls silent.

  “How has your role changed over all that time, Coderkoll?” I ask the golem. I am genuinely curious and also painfully aware I have a lot to learn about all of this.

  “An excellent question. Not because it focuses on me, although that is excellent, but the role of the Keepers has evolved over time. When I was first created, the body you see now was plugged into what would now be considered a giant rustbucket. At the time, though, it was the most advanced mechanised combat suit in the Universe and my role was to find places the Protocols were being violated and correct the issues by whatever means necessary. Full authorization to act on behalf of the SSA.”

  “You were… an Enforcer?” Kael asks, now intently interested.

  “Yes,” answers Coderkoll and before either Kael or I can react, the chain wrapped around the Protocol Sentinel’s body suddenly materializes around Kael and exerts crushing force, binding his limbs together. Two sections of the chain run across Kael’s mouth to prevent him from speaking. Kael thrashes briefly and I can both see and feel him triggering Skill after Skill to no effect.

  “I did ask you to hush,” Coderkoll says good naturedly and I wonder what I’ve gotten myself into. I feel out of my depth and not sure if I should try to help Kael or not. My instincts say that I need to get this all back on track rather than escalate things.

  “I’m looking for you to help induct me into the High Enforcers, Keeper Coderkoll. My path has been a bit unusual and I’m hoping that you’ve been around long enough to have seen it all and know how to help me?” I ask.

  “Some people might think you’re just trying to change the subject since I’ve bound up your Ascended Class friend here like a Hyrdroxxi Lengrisham. But not me, Bronwic. I know you have a challenging set of circumstances to deal with and a lot of people are counting on you. And possibly the strangest pathway to a high Clearance Tier that’s ever been carved. Some would say it’s the strangest, anyway. Of course, not me. Especially with those Skills of yours and that Class you have standing here before me… I’ve been around long enough to know what all that means.”

  There’s a serious temptation to take the bait and ask a question that leads to discussion about this topic, but this situation is not what I expected and I’m hoping to get out of it without massive collateral damage.

  “I’m glad for your penetrating insight and I understand what you are saying, Keeper Coderkoll. What kind of induction is… appropriate for someone like myself? What would you recommend happens next?”

  The black chains binding Kael evaporate and instantly appear around Coderkoll again. Kael shifts position to avoid stumbling and shows no signs of doing anything other than listening, so I return my attention fully to the Keeper, who is studying me closely. I wonder what he can see.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Well. The first thing I’ve got to do is complete the implementation of your High Enforcer Title. To do that I’m going to have to touch you and I’m giving you advance notice. Don’t want to end up like all those others who got on your bad side now, do I? Ascended who thought they were untouchable until you came along. Look, plenty of the Protocol Sentinels gave up and baited someone to end it all for them since technically suicide is prohibited by our programming, but not me. I’m keen to see it through until the end of the Universe. So… if I could touch you without getting obliterated…?”

  “Yeah,” I answer in agreement while Kael looks at me in potentially a different light. This situation is strange enough that I push my will through my Affinities at full power and engage my SMI and thoughts to weave them into a Domain sphere that gives me that deep understanding of what’s going on around me and how to control it. I feed it with the Mana connections deep inside me and that I get from Gift of Gaia to bolster its effectiveness and strength and then trigger Perfect Focus to slow everything down so I can detect the most minute change and have time to do something about it. Both Kael and Coderkoll, now inside my Domain, brace themselves in case I’m going to attack them, but of course I do nothing. As long as Coderkoll makes no move against me then everything can proceed as suggested. The instant it deviates from that I will clamp down and rip whatever it is out and crush it into oblivion and then crush Coderkoll if needed.

  “Just one word, but so much behind it,” says the Keeper. He says it so slowly because I’ve triggered Perfect Focus that it’s almost painful to wait for the syllables to complete as he reaches out one of his segmented limbs. It moves toward me slowly even judged by the normal flow of time, to show there is no attack behind it. He’s simply doing what he’s asked if he could do, which is to touch me and nothing more as far as I can tell. I allow it to happen and as soon as he does make contact with me, notifications blink in the corner of my vision. Within a few seconds that I experience as minutes he breaks the contact and I drop Perfect Focus, but leave my Domain in place because I’m paranoid.

  I open up the notifications to see if all this is legit, and what this next step might be. Hopefully not kicking anyone’s ass.

  SSA Protocol Upload

  Your SMI has been loaded with the full, updated set of SSA Protocols.

  Based on your Clearance Tier you have also been issued the vast majority of restricted sections from the Protocols, mostly dealing with inter-species conflict and pre-approved Protocol violations.

  Caution should be exercised relating to disclosure of any restricted material.

  You have been provided previous versions of the Protocols for fact checking historical SSA Protocol violation claims against the Protocols of the time.

  SSA High Enforcer Facility Access

  You now have access up to Clearance Tier 9 across the Universe.

  This includes training facilities, lounges and clubs, Shops, Crafters, and mission bases.

  Deputization

  For each Clearance Tier above 5, High Enforcers are able to Deputize one person as an Enforcer.

  You can currently Deputize up to 4 people by touch. You may remove a Deputization at any time without physical contact..

  Deputized Enforcers have access to SSA Enforcer Facilities up to Clearance Tier 3 and Enforcer training at the Clearance Tier 1 level.

  Deputies are able to act as SSA Enforcers, including the ability to allocate penalties to Protocol violators and immunity from prosecution within permitted bounds.

  Note: High Enforcers are directly responsible for the actions of their Deputies.

  Significant Event - Full Title Integration

  Your High Enforcer Title now allows you to change the information that can be discovered about you. This applies to technological and magical scanning as well as to detection by means of items, Mana Interfaces, Skills, Abilities, and spells.

  Effect: allows you to alter your Status to disguise yourself in any way required to carry out your duties, or pursue your personal goals.

  Note: this disguise can be seen through.

  The rough qualification to penetrate the High Enforcer’s disguise is determined by the formula (Perception - (Charisma + Luck)), which is modified significantly by Level difference and occasionally by circumstance, including hostile action undertaken by the High Enforcer and displays of Skills.

  “You have a Saturated Mana Interface rather than the Universal Mana Interface,” Coderkoll comments. “Very unusual.”

  “Unusual to have a SMI, or my SMI itself is unusual?”

  “Yes,” says the Keeper, and I wait a few seconds but nothing else is forthcoming. I wonder how much he can see.

  “What now?” I ask.

  “The AI is working on some options for you that fulfill your requirements of potential new expansion opportunities for humanity and an opportunity to experience what other High Enforcers do. My recommendation is you visit Judgment’s End when you leave here.”

  “Judgment’s End?” I ask, since I’ve never heard of it.

  “The Club where High Enforcers gather on Driivekthar,” answers Kael.

  “Anything else I need to do in order to properly be initiated?” I ask.

  “You’re all set, Bronwic,” replies Coderkoll. “Good luck out there.”

  “Thank you for the discussion and helping me out,” I say, and he seems pleased to be of service.

  Next stop, what I can only assume is the High Enforcer equivalent of a hive of scum and villainy.