As Related by Prince Marius del Eden’d, Supreme and Excellent Voivode of the Skarsian Matriarchy
I can’t keep time. So my routine is to go into the main temple, watch the movements of the blips on the projector for what seems like maybe half an hour, then go outside to check on Thomas. I have gotten good at guessing when he’ll need another towel to dry.
It is a lonely watch, but at least I can talk to the other guys who are hooked back into the pleroma.
Then the world turns blue. There’s a change in emanation? I run outside; there’s a newcomer standing next to Thomas. He’s slim, with skin like polished cherry-wood, rich black hair, fine features and long fingers. He looks around, disoriented, takes a step and stumbles. He’s clearly exhausted.
“Manan del Shambhah’d, High Lama of Shambhala. 56th to emanate, 16 in the color scale, resonates to 53. 1.722 meters tall, cock size 16.34 cm when erect, apparent age 32. Spiritual advisor. Totem is Ficus: Urostigma subgenus, the banyan tree, fixed star is Homam, the high-minded man. Esoteric symbol is the Archimedean solid rhombicosidodecahedron. Dessert is organic nau’gsh granola bars. Function is administrative empowerment, proto-conscious tendency is contemplation, designated Peace. Blazon is argent, within an orle amber horizon, a mandala of 103 pseudo-colors, proper.”
Thomas suddenly shakes his head and blinks. He tosses the wet towel onto the ground. « It’s cold out here, » he says.
As Related by His Most Sublime and Eminent Radiance, Ailann Tiarnan, Archon of Skarsia
My body stands of its own accord. I feel a shove from behind my heart – it’s the sensation we all get when we’re about to emanate.
My heart shoves back. No, it kicks back. What’s happening?
Suddenly Tielo jumps up. « Whoop-de-doo! » he shouts as the world turns blue. When the effect fades, we hear the announcement of Manan’s achievement.
« That must be #42: “Defend a holy place from barbarians” » says Cüinn.
Ross’ eyes glaze over for a moment. « Tielo is emanated, » he says. « It’s very strange to be him right now. Things aren’t making a lot of sense. »
« Why is he emanated? » asks Whirljack. « Why not Ailann? »
« Maybe because he’s connected to Yggdrasil’s power? » suggests Cüinn.
« That’s probably why he was the second choice, and not Balin. But I got the distinct impression that I and I wanted me to emanate. Something was blocking it. »
« Weird, » says Blackjack. « Could it be the telepaths? »
« Tielo, ask somebody what happened out there. »
“I am the God of hellfire,” says Tielo.
« Nice one, mate, » says Lucius. « Now ask somebody what happened out there. »
“There’s an ocean,” says Tielo. “Wasabi.”
« I never thought I’d actually say this, » says Balin, « but he seriously requires therapy. Where’s Tarlach when you need him? »
« Tielo needs to recover the Staff of the Matriarch. Then we clean up the business with the SongLuminants. »
« Tielo doesn’t seem very functional, » says Cüinn. « Can’t we swap emanations? »
« All right. Everyone recognized – try to emanate. »
« Nope, » says Beat. « Not happening. »
« I can’t manage, » says Evan. « Not that I think I’d be of any use in this situation. »
« It’s pretty much as I expected. We’re stuck with Tielo for now. I’m going to give him an order I’m sure he can handle. Tielo, find Tara. »
“Tara,” says Tielo. “Tara.”
« Yes, that’s right. »
« He’s going up the embankment, » says Ross. « Zosim is screaming something after him, but he’s not paying any attention. »
« Look, » says Harsh, pointing out of the window. « It’s the end of the line. That must be Ophion. »
« Is that supposed to be a building? » asks Blackjack. « It looks like somebody emptied his pockets on the table. »
« It’s genius, » says Driscoll. « I’m awestruck. »
« You’ve got to be kidding, » says Mickey. « There’s no centralized design philosophy. It’s a bunch of unrelated elements jammed together. It looks like a big mistake. »
« Is that a boat sailing into the side of that pyramid? » asks Daniel.
« It’s probably Benbow’s apartment, » says Malachi. « Which one do you think is Vassali’s? »
« The tower, » says Driscoll. « The one which is both leaning and changing orientation, so that the top is offset a full right angle from the base. »
« I like it, » says Hurley. « It’s a change of pace. »
« When most people talk about a change of pace, they mean a new job or a vacation, » says Chase, « not a stint in the Starsend Gulag. I’m just sayin.’ »
« Let’s leave the aesthetic evaluation until we figure out what’s going on. »
As Related by Prince Thomas del Eden’d Most Magnificent Mixologist to Her Eminence the Matriarch and Initiate of the Ouroborotic Mysteries
I was fighting off several dozen telepaths – well, perhaps fighting isn’t the right word. The technique Manan developed was to suppress all conscious thought in the brain of the emanation. In order to get inside of the pleroma, the telepaths had been using deep scanning techniques. But instead of using a trigger thought to set off a cascade of related associations, they were using it to poke entry holes into the mind of the grove. Manan’s technique suppressed the grove’s reaction.
Anyway, it was strange. There had been a continuous barrage of attacks, but within a period of two or three minutes, it tapered off. The attacks themselves seemed weaker and weaker, almost wobbly. Or sleepy. Then, it was over.
I feel suddenly that Manan is gone. There’s a blue shift. Then I realize that he’s standing next to me. Slowly I start to focus my consciousness back on the world around me. My body is burning hot, but without the meditative discipline, its temperature is starting to return to normal. I’m sitting on a mountain peak, and I’m draped in a wet towel. Am I crazy? I’m going to get hypothermia.
Marius helps me to my feet. He has one arm around me and the other around Manan. Manan looks exhausted. Lousy way to emanate, kid.
The penguin-monk appears immediately, very solicitous of us as we’re now all recognized Knights of the Quest. He brings butter tea and fish stew, which doesn’t come amiss. The warm, soothing liquid is exactly what we need right now.
Marius looks at the projection. « The telepaths are gone, » he says. « Wait, there’s one left. Why is there one left? »
« Someone must’ve taken out that enclave in the mountains. If there’s one left, that one wasn’t with them. »
« Fuck, » says Marius. « It’s Molly. »
As Related by Prince Ace del Eden’d, Number One
So because Molly was in prison on the outside, she’s at large in here. That’s ironic.
« This stinks, » Patrick murmurs. « There must be something we can do. »
I notice now that he looks miserable, and feel terrible for not noticing before. Patrick is, perhaps more than any of us, a social creature. He’s been trying to put on a brave front, but being cut off from the other branches is wearing terribly on him.
Rand puts his hand on Patrick’s shoulder. « I feel pretty useless, too, » he says.
« Once Owen fixes the mecha, we can use it to hunt for Molly. »
« She’s only one woman, » says Rand. « How much harm can she do? »
The Atlas emanations – Wynne, Chase, Tommy and Patrick – stare blackly at him. « A lot, » says Tommy. « She’s insane, ruthless, and she hates us. »
« Rather than just sitting around, maybe we can figure out a way for Patrick, Rand and Tommy to get achievements. Let’s look at the list again. »
« #90: “Take part in a food fight.” would be easy, but we can’t afford to waste food out here, » says Ari.
« #96: “Explore your sexuality” is impossible for Patrick and Tommy, » says Wynne. « Is there anything they haven’t done? »
« #52: “Find your virginity” would be more appropriate, if we had any idea what that meant. How about #35: “Remember something important”? »
« There are a number of them which may or may not be possible, » says Ari, « if we stay on the lookout for opportunities. We might be able to find an archaeological relic, a pearl, a Roc’s egg or the sangraal. If we spot a toad to lick or a mookau to milk, those are opportunities, too. »
« Wait, how about #39: “Create a new metaphor”? »
« I could do that! » Patrick says excitedly. « Let me think. Hmm, that’s a simile…»
« How about #36: Do everything backwards? »
« That should be possible, » says Rand. « I suppose the question is what everything entails, and how long do we have to do it? »
« His shoulders slumped in broken-robot despondency, » says Patrick. « No, that’s a little trite. »
« How long before Owen gets here? » sighs Chase.