ORIGIN

Vargas stepped back, eventually, and eyed over Chaos-Two's form: it looked decent, hands and hooves where they were meant to be. The kicks had been in the right direction, and his guidance mimicked well.

"Mm, there will be tests, yes. Though they will take time to plan. I imagine they will be more varied, less specialized but less intense, than those intended for--as an example!--dedicated fighters or assassins. I will want to test that you know the basics of many fields, not that you can exhibit near-perfection in one." He paused, peering curiously at Chaos-Two. "Tell me, was there some reward you wanted more intensely, or sooner rather than later?" he asked. It had mentioned reproduction prior, and he was wondering, now, if it had that on the mind.

Vargas considered, trailing the claws of one forelimb slowly, but with pressure, along the floor. The three claws more to the front left long streaks, but it seemed an absent, thinking gesture. "When I was there I believe most were taken. And I doubt that you will find it again; I hunted Canis for many years, including that region, without ever finding the place. Jupiter was a Master; she knew how to hide herself well. Though you are welcome to try, I warn you it is unlikely to succeed. I do have stones here," he added, turning to gesture among the detritus of Draco. "And for the most part I have been able to at least vaguely match them to bones. They were never hatched--created, but never fully hatched. I have said myself that I believe these--and those in Canis--do deserve a second chance," and this sounded agreeable, before he turned and fixed his eyes on Chaos-Two, "but whether you deserve to be the one to return them to life--that we have yet to see. This can only be done once; and you have not yet proven yourself. But, perhaps we can try."

He considered, glancing back again. "Take a week or so. Take Khavur with you if you wish it--I do not care. You have my permission. But go, learn from those you find and return in time for the last oilstone's hatching; as I said, about a week." He studied Chaos-Two closely. "It is not much time, but if you wish a reward before the next spawn is raised, it will need to happen now. I will design a test for you in the meantime. When you feel ready, we will undertake it and if you succeed, I will allow you a choice: you may choose a name, or you may choose a stone to revive. From Draco--as long as I approve of the stone; I can show you what is there--or from elsewhere. If you choose to create a child, and raise a child well enough and it passes muster--and mind you, I will not blame you for failings not your fault--but if you manage that, then you will be free to reproduce as you see fit from then on. Does that sound fair?" he asked, studying Chaos-Two intently.

Eat, again-? It had just eaten. This amused Vargas, more than anything (glutton, he thought, with an internal laugh). But--"Rest; that is wise. Go, I will assume you have gone--you needn't report--but be sure to return within a week."

He would have planning to do, it seemed. This would be a tad cluttered, time-wise; they had a spawn due to erupt (one to be handed off to Lord Dhracia, no less) and he'd need to prepare a trial in that time, if a simple one. Chaos-Two's journey would be shortened drastically--he'd have preferred to give them a cycle to wander. It was, perhaps, too much to cram into too little time; but he could not blame Chaos-Two. Yes, its desires were what prompted this offer, but...

"Hrm. One other thing," he said, continuing his train of thought aloud before the creature had departed: "I would prefer to allow more time for wandering. For learning. This is because--once you have returned--we will have another spawn to raise; and then if you create another, you will need to raise that one, as well. This means that should you choose to reproduce sooner, you will be... stuck here, really, for several cycles. If you prefer to delay reproduction you may wander, once our Lord has collected our newest creation, for a cycle or so; and then return to create a spawn. You needn't decide now; but that is another choice. You are dismissed," he added, agreeing to the former question a second time. He did not turn away, however--he waited, as if to see if it required clarification, or had anything more to add.

The first choice meant that Chaos-Two would have but a week; then return to help raise his Terror of the Deep, and then its own spawn, here in Draco. The second would allow it to return in a week to help raise the Terror, but then leave again for a cycle or so, or less if it wished it, and reproduce once when it returned. Vargas did not care which it chose--but both options were on the table.

Vargas watched it go, considering.

Considering what test he could dream up.

Considering how well it would actually train the new generation. He'd have to see--to guide it, to remain close and cover anything that Chaos-Two missed. He could teach them both at once, that way.

Vargas didn't see it as forcing a "use" for V-Chaos-Two, a creature that had once been simply deformed--he'd fought to find a place to make use of it but now, he was dedicated to ensuring that it fulfilled that purpose. There was no reason it could not, and certainly if it perfected its work, it would be a great load off of him. With the Orthoclase's departure, "babysitting" would include a great deal more training; Vargas would already have to pick up the slack that the Overseer had left lying. (Granted, by his own permission, but the fact remained.)

So this training--this was no longer a farce, but legitimate. He would ensure it had a strong groundwork, a basis from which to learn and teach and--beyond that--his test would need to be genuine. No easy, simple test, though it would still be more forgiving than those forged for specialized Valkhounds. No: this was one for a generalist... he just had to figure out how to do it.

Hm. This would take some thinking.

Vargas turned away again, moving off toward the Black Spire and the Womb: but his thoughts were already picking through possibilities, and a trial was already in design.