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Now, I'm tired." The other me flicked his tongue in my direction.

"Take . . . it away and let me rest."

The bed in which I was resting was led out, which was a bit disorienting. I was both sleeping back in the room and floating through a huge complex. They took me down, down, down into a dark room. My body was taken from the bed and I was slipped into a socket.

"It's something of a miracle this thing actually worked," one technician said.

"Agreed," the other replied.
"I don't understand why he'd do it, though. One life course is enough for me."

"He's always been odd. Do you remember that time . . ." the door slammed and I was alone. In fact, I remained confined for quite a long time; as the People reckon, my body was in the Darkness for seven sun cycles.

But I was not tethered to my corporeal form--I walked amongst the People in flesh as the other me. In fact, they honored me as a revered leader. I did much good for the People.

Once, a nation came to us in war. They believed we had infringed on their territory, but we were in the right. As proof, I ate the flesh of the other nation's matron. She was a sniveling weakling.

Aside from my own self, growth great technology flourished under my hand. I ordered that the Old Machines be revived, and vast improvements were made. For example, we launched a star craft and I soared between the Sun and the Land, marveling at the pure, savage awe of the Great Expanse.

Tragedy struck, though. There was a betrayer in my midst. Hor'chea stirred up some of the People against me, claiming that I cared only for my own kith and did not think of the rest. Quite a few of the younglings flocked to his cause. Hor'chea demanded that I meet him in the Sacred Combat. I agreed, for what choice did I have? If I denied him, his faction would have slain me outright, saying that a coward was too weak to lead. Also, my pride would not allow such a rival to stand.

So we met in combat in the air above the Spire of Enlightenment. Hor'chea was much younger than I and so he was much stronger, but he lacked the wit of a hardened warrior. We both plunged to the depths, towards the City as both of our factions watched on. He shredded my wings with dagger and claws, and gouged out his eyes. I was able to land on top of his corpse, and thus spare my life, but his dagger sank into my side and pierced the vital organs my flesh needed to sustain itself. The doctors did their best to save my flesh, but it was time for the vessel to be cast aside. Even through the pain, I my excitement could barely be controlled. I had waited so long.

They came for me, down in the belly of the Spire of Enlightenment, and I proudly walked out of the Darkness to once again see my flesh.

I was gasping, retching. When I entered the room, my flesh extended Hor'chea's dagger in its claws.

"It is time to be one," my flesh said weakly.

I nodded and took the dagger from him. My flesh's eyes sparked with confidence as I raised the blade over the heaving chest. In one quick motion, it was done.

The pain was exquisite--more agonizing than anything that Hor'chea could have willed upon me.