“So, what do ya think?”
Kairos glanced at Epani. Epani glanced at Kairos, then back to Yisini. Yisini stared at both her fellow gods, waiting for an answer.
“You want to make life a paradise for everyone until you can find out how to make everyone immortal?” Kairos asked. “Like, everyone, everyone? Or just those you like?”
“Everyone.”
“Wasn’t that Kenon’s original plan, when he broke in and tried to kill us all?” Kairos still had a lot of questions. “He wanted to make everything a paradise as well.”
“Yeah but this time, I actually have the capacity to do that. All I need is a large, empty planet I can use for agricultural needs, a spare sun to make a Dyson Sphere and maybe a spare, small ocean moon, although I’m pretty sure I can make the water filtration tech I need myself.”
“I can create the resources for you, sister…” Epani sighed. “But this does seem a lot like Kenon’s plan.”
“It’s… not though. I’m not going to force everyone to worship me. I might have a talk with the current remaining leaders that they should consider tossing a prayer or two towards Epani here, and I am tempted to change some leaders around, since we have some aggressive warmongers in power right now. But aside from that, it’s just a plan to make everyone happy and make sure that the three basic needs of food, water and power are met. If Kinisis can make the exo-universe above us into a paradise for her kin, then why can’t we do the same down here?”
Kairos leaned forward, crossing his arms with a hint of annoyance. “That sounds a lot like Kenon’s plan.”
“Kenon’s plan was to mind-control everyone to be blind worshippers of him and no one else!” Yisini exclaimed, throwing her arms into the air. “Why are you accusing me of being like Kenon? I don’t want to be like that asshole, since he tried to kill us all! I really just want to make all the mortals happy since 49% of the universe doesn’t have a permanent shelter, a good 64% of them are depressed that most of the universe died, 34% wonder when their next meal will be and 10% don’t have quality drinking water.”
Epani tutted, turning her attention to Kairos. “Yisinis’s desires are… reasonable. We have the power to satisfy those needs. No reason why we should not already be doing so.”
“Yeah but I don’t want us going back into Kenon territory with the mind control and shit. That stuff was fucked up, and it was fucked up that we didn’t catch it until it was too late, and had to have Arkadin fix the problem for us.”
Yisini sighed, tutting loudly. “Is there any way I can convince you both that this ISN’T like what Kenon intended?”
“No.”
“Potentially, yes.”
Kairos paused and stared at Epani. “You are giving Yisini a chance?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Epani scowled. “She actually stuck around and helped me rebuild, while you flittered by, screwing your new girlfriend. Something you are still doing. At the very least, Yisini has proven herself useful to me. So I will allow her the chance to persuade me that this is the right course of action.”
“And how may I convince you, dear sister?” Yisini asked. “Data? Clinical trials? How?”
“I want you to hold a conference with the leaders all all current, sapient ruling races. Sit down with them and explain this same plan to them. This needs to be recorded and presented to me, so I can review it at my leisure. Should you convince both them and myself, and follow that up with a detailed, written plan, then I shall let you proceed.”
Yisini blinked, then bowed down to Epani. “I shall do as you request! Thank you for listening, for once!”
Epani waved her hand, almost dismissively. “Do not get ahead of yourself, sister. Get it all sorted first, then come back to me.”
The Allbirther grinned, then disappeared in a cloud of pink smoke. “You won’t be disappointed! I swear!”
Once the smoke had passed, Kairos turned back to Epani. “You really-”
“Yes. I really do have faith in her.”
“But why?” Kairos growled. “Yisini has been… a pain in the past.”
“Her taking the mantle of Decay has changed her, Kairos. Yisini better understands now, she has deeper emotions, a stronger grip on not just right and wrong, but on morality and mortality in general. And I am curious to see where this takes her…”