The Heart of Corruption

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The Heart of Corruption was a virtual representation of one of Basim ibn Ishaq's genetic memories relived through the Animus.

Description

Having captured Basim, the robbers took him to a prison they controlled, keeping him alive for human experimentation of poisons.

Dialogue

Two bandits dragged an incapacitated Basim to a cell. Awaking just as they threw him in, he tried to rush the door only for them to lock it in his face. The warden approached the door to taunt him.

• Prison Master: Ah, my new pet. Mark my words, your stay here will be most disagreeable.

He stepped back and walked away, motioning with his hand for the guards to join him in leaving.

• Prison Master: Return to your duties! Tell the others the threat is over.

Basim was left alone to reflect on his situation.

• Basim: This falls far short of my hopes.

Basim examined his cell that lacked any sustenance and had only some sheets in place of a bed. He looked down the hallway, where he saw other cells, some of which were empty and others holding more prisoners. He overheard some guards talking close to where he was.

• Guard 1: Have you noticed... there are more of us on the day shift lately?
• Guard 2: No one wishes to serve under that new captain overseeing the night guard. He is as ruthless as 'Abis himself. And better trained for battle.
• Guard 1: But how are those few left on night duty meant to patrol the entire prison?
• Guard 2: Harsh methods are their only hope.

Another prisoner called out to Basim.

• Neighboring prisoner: Anyone alive in there? Newcomer... You still breathing?
• Basim: Apparently.
• Neighboring prisoner: Then look on the bright side, you will not be for much longer!
• Basim: The ugly man who acts as if this place belongs to him... I get the impression he does not serve the Caliphate?
• Neighboring prisoner: You mean 'Abis?
• Basim: So that is 'Abis.
• Neighboring prisoner: He treats the prison as if it is his own den. Even has a special chamber here.
• Basim: What does he use it for?
• Neighboring prisoner: To concoct his poisons... which he then tries out on us.
• Basim: Does no one attempt to escape from here?
• Neighboring prisoner: Attempt, yes. But never successfully. You can still stumble upon what is left of their unfinished escape tunnels.

Basim reflected on what the prisoner told him.

• Basim: I must keep watch for any chance to slip free... though opportunities are scarce in this place.

Alone, he pondered over his companion eagle's whereabouts.

• Basim: I wonder what has become of Enkidu...

After a moment of silence, other voices joined the echo of the hallway.

• Servant: I hear the silversmith has gone forty days without so much as a crumb. If true, it is barbaric!
• Guard 3: Stop fretting, cook. He does not get to eat. That is the order of 'Abis. One of his little experiments. You are new here, but soon you will understand.

The servant left a clay cup in front of Basim's cell.

• Servant: 'Abis is a stain on all this land.
• Guard 3: Shut up, wench. Or maybe you would like to become the next experiment?
• Basim: I cannot help but pity this silversmith. As for the cook, was that Hind's servant?

He reflected on his lack of any stimulation while imprisoned.

• Basim: This cell is a sentence of death. Forget 'Abis or the food, boredom here is the cruelest of killers.

With nothing better to do, Basim went to sleep.

• Neighboring prisoner: You, are you awake?

Basim woke up because of his fellow prisoner shouting.

• Neighboring prisoner: What crime brought you here?
• Basim: I have committed no crime.
• Neighboring prisoner: Why are you here, then?
• Basim: I was looking for someone...
• Neighboring prisoner: Who?
• Basim: Have you heard of a man named Ishaq ibn Khalid?
• Neighboring prisoner: The old fool who claims to be the Caliph's architect? He dwells in the oasis—a house with a blue door, in the farmers' quarter.
• Basim: You are certain?
• Neighboring prisoner: In AlUla, everyone knows everyone. We are a small community, after all.
• Basim: Nimlot did not know of him.
• Neighboring prisoner: Nimlot? The foreign merchant from Misr (Egypt)? He is rich. Why would he care about the likes of Ishaq ibn Khalid?
• Basim: What more can you tell me? About Ishaq?
• Neighboring prisoner: What more do you want?
• Basim: How is he?
• Neighboring prisoner: How would I know? I recognize his face, but we are not friends. If you want details, escape from here and learn them yourself.

Basim stood on his feet and waited for the chance to gather information.

• Guard 4: 'Abis has gone too far this time. Two deaths in such a short time... First the poisoning, now the silversmith dies from starvation.
• Guard 5: The silversmith, especially! Outside, he was a respected member of the community.
• Guard 4: Inside too. There will be consequences, trust me.

Basim examined the clay cup that remained in front of his cell.

• Basim: This could be poisoned. I should not take the risk.

Next, he examined a pool of blood in one of the cell's corners.

• Basim: There once stood a man here. Now, only bloodstains remain. I must be more than this.

He soon realized there were some markings on the walls.

• Basim: Whoever left these marks must have been touched by madness. May I not follow the same path.

He mused on his ally, who was unaware of his situation.

• Basim: I pray the robbers learn nothing of Dervis. With me confined, he stands unguarded against their threat.

A couple of guards gathered close to the cell's window, allowing Basim to overhear their conversation.

• Guard 6: 'Abis himself nearly had us the other day. It was a close call.
• Guard 7: You were fortunate. Keep clear of him next time.

Basim seized the opportunity and listened to them, hoping to gather more intel.

• Guard 6: And then there is the matter of the roof...
• Guard 7: What about the roof?
• Guard 6: I have been venturing up there in the evenings to take my meals. I am not the only one, to be fair.
• Guard 7: You and the others should be careful... or you may find yourselves confined in these very same cells as punishment.

The hallway doors opened and 'Abis, escorted by two of his men, came to select his next test subject.

• 'Abis: Time to see if my newest brew is all it promises to be...
• Neighboring prisoner: No, no! Please! Have mercy!
• Guard 8: Not even a dog deserves that...
• Guard 9: I am not going to tell him to stop.

The prisoner resisted.

• 'Abis: Useless fools! Get in here and hold him down!

The man resisted as much as he could but was subdued while 'Abis administered his latest poison mixture and noted its near-immediate effects.

• 'Abis: Hold him... That is it... Hmmm, stronger than I thought... Doubt he will make it through the night.

He spoke to Basim, whom he knew was observing.

• 'Abis: Your turn draws near, friend... Then the true entertainment will begin.

'Abis left. Suddenly, a strangely familiar feeling flooded Basim's mind with uncertainty and fear.

• Basim: This confinement, the threat of torture... I feel as if I have lived such a fate before... In some distant memory I cannot fully grasp...

Basim went to sleep once more.

• Guard 10: For a man who starved to death, he is heavier than I expected.

Two guards carried a body out of the hallway.

• Guard 11: He had plenty of friends here. Now the other prisoners are getting restless. One even struck me. I can still feel the blow.

Shortly after, the servant that Basim recognized days approached his cell's gate.

• Servant: You there...
• Basim: You are Hind's servant, correct?
• Servant: So it is you! My rescuer from the warehouse!
• Basim: I should be equally surprised to see you in this place.
• Servant: I did say I intended to seek a new path in life.
• Basim: And you chose a prison, run by criminals and crooked guards, as your new calling?
• Servant: All men must eat. Although I am not sure what I cook here counts as food, or just another form of 'Abis's torture.
• Basim: When we last met, you swore not to forget the service I did you...
• Servant: I remember.
• Basim: Then perhaps you could fetch the key to this cage and hand it to me?
• Servant: To steal the key would be far too dangerous for me. But if you can find a means to slip free of these bars, I may be able to aid you in some other way...
• Basim: How exactly?
• Servant: There is mandrake in the kitchen. With it, I can try to brew a sedative strong enough to lull the guards to sleep.
• Basim: That would be a tremendous aid.

Waiting for the right opportunity, Basim wondered about Enkidu again.

• Basim: Where have you gone, Enkidu? If you still draw breath, I would welcome your help.

Enkidu, sensing Basim's plea, located his cell and went to meet him.

• Basim: I should have known you would find me. If only you could aid me. The key to my cell... It is somewhere in this forsaken place.

Enkidu took flight once more and inspected the fort. He found the key in the upper sections and took it in spite of the posted guardsman, who made only slight complaints in response. Enkidu returned to Basim and threw the key through the window.

• Basim: Thank you, my friend! I can always count on you!

Basim took the key and opened his cell. He noticed a guard sleeping at his post and promptly knocked him out, taking his weapons.

• Basim: Though of humble make, these weapons should serve me well.

Looking in the other cells, he saw his neighbor lay dead in his enclosure. Inspecting the key, Basim realized it was a master key that would let him open all doors in the fort including the cell doors for his fellow prisoners, who would join Basim in fighting the guards if liberated.

• Basim: Freeing these captives would sow chaos, and aid my escape.

As he traversed the fort with stealth and caution, Basim found more signs of cruelty and torture left by the guards. A table he passed still had a corpse on it.

• Basim: This is not a fate I would wish on my worst enemy.

Basim was ill-equipped, he only had the sword and dagger he took from the sleeping guard and his throwing knives. Nevertheless, some guards could help to fall sleep. Some of their companions tried to woke them up, but it was to no avail.

• Basim: The potion that Hind's servant brewed has proven potent indeed.

It didn't take much for Basim to exit the fort. Nevertheless, he was approximately more than 100 feet above the ground. He doubted he could leap without a scratch.

• Basim: That plunge is too great, even for me.

He decided not to take the risk and ventured inside the fort again in search for another path.

• Basim: That list of weapons I stole the other day... one of the hiding spots lies within these walls.

Basim reached 'Abis' potion room. He opened the door silently and prepared to strike as 'Abis worked on a new potion. Just as he was about to strike, 'Abis grabbed a knife on the table, turned, and defended with a counter-attack, avoiding Basim's blade. Both wrestled for control until Basim blocked a thrust, grabbed 'Abis' outstretched arm, and pivoted so that 'Abis stabbed himself in the chest. He laid 'Abis' body on the floor, waiting for him to draw his last breath.

• 'Abis: We tread this path as one!

'Abis surprised Basim with a second dagger and stabbed Basim in the chest. As 'Abis died, Basim fell victim to the poison. Quickly, he went to the exit.

• Basim: That poisoned blade... I can feel its filth in my blood, stronger than anything I have felt before. Perhaps Dervis can offer aid... I must reach him, and endure until then.

Though severely weakened, he navigated to the fort roof, where the rest of the guards rang the alarm to call reinforcements. Avoiding them entierely, Basil leapt from a protruding plank to his freedom, onward to the travelers' camp.

• Basim: I must reach Dervis... only he can cure me.

Illusions of floating lamps, jars, and bonfires flooded his sight as he escaped. The sound of his surroundings distorted, his senses were slowly succumbing to the poison. Out of strength, Basim collapsed. A civilian saw his body and alerted Dervis.

• Civilian: Dervis! Come!
• Dervis: What happened? Is he alive?
• Civilian: If so, for how much longer I do not know.

Basim woke up, this time not in a cold cell, but in the tent that sheltered him and Dervis when they first reached Al-Ula.

• Basim: (groans)

It took time for Basim to regain his strength.

• Basim: (gasps)

Dervis offered a special concoction that helped Basim to heal.

• Dervis: Drink.

Basim drank the concoction and continued resting. After some time, he was able to stand on his own. After feeling a little better, he met Dervis.

• Basim: Nimlot did warn me. I was a fool to walk right into their trap in the market.
• Dervis: Perhaps you still have some lessons to learn, Basim. You will mend soon enough.
• Basim: Thank you for recovering my things.
• Dervis: I may be old, but I still have a few tricks left. I also took the liberty of grabbing a rather fine dagger. The same one that almost ended your life. While you were away, I sought word of your father. The oasis came up...
• Basim: During my captivity, I spoke with another prisoner. He said my father is there—the house marked by a blue door. With 'Abis dead and his men leaderless, nothing can stop me from finding him.
• Dervis: If you wish, I can come with you...
• Basim: I know you yearn to see him again, but for now, I must go alone.
• Dervis: I understand, Basim. Go, find your father.

Outcome

Basim escaped the prison and killed the bandits' leader 'Abis, but not without being poisoned himself. With a civilian's help, Dervis found Basim and nursed him back to health.