As related by His Most Sublime and Eminent Radiance, Ailann Tiarnan, Archon of Skarsia
Ellery and I do our best to relay Evan’s tale to the other emanations. It’s really inconvenient that they can’t access branch memory.
« Evan’s group should work on finding a zeppelin, » says Solomon.
« That’s random, » says Lucius.
« No, it isn’t, » says Mickey. « I see where he’s going with it – #6: “Locate a lost companion by using a zeppelin.” It will be much easier to spot the Elusive Queen from the air. »
« When they find it, they should make sure they scupper it, » says Cillian. « That’s another achievement right there. »
« Let’s get Lens to the Haunted House. Harsh, are you well enough to come with us? »
« I’m fine, » he stammers. « After what you did, I’m in perfect health. »
He looks a little strange, though, lacking his former bravura. It’s quite possible that coming so close to death changed something within him – it had that effect on Seth. It was something I understood; being trapped in that nul-chamber altered my entire perspective. I smile, placing my hand encouragingly on his shoulder. Again, he looks at me, but says nothing.
We’re able to reach the Haunted House without hindrance. In fact, the park seems oddly deserted. The costumed characters and concession operators are nowhere to be seen.
« Listen, » says Ellery.
« I don’t hear anything, » says Mickey.
But I do – some kind of commotion in the distance.
« Invaders, » says Ellery. « The park droids are leaving us alone because they’ve gone to engage them. »
« Ellery, you stay with the others. Lens, get into that Haunted House. I’m going to see what’s going on. »
« Do you think I’m gonna let you go alone? » says Cillian, jogging behind me.
The battle is taking place at one of the entry points for the park. A number of invaders are trying to enter – without a ticket – probably for the purpose of attacking us. Two of them are swamped, pummeled by a mob of costumed mascots – squirrels and elves and purple wildebeests, led by Denolin Donni. They ignore me – and Cillian, too. Apparently, they have more important business.
« How many invaders do you sense? » asks Cillian? « My vision currently sucks. »
« I smell five, but we’ll only have to worry about three of them. There’s a sniper on the other side of the wall – she’s in a tree picking off the park employees. Another two of them are rappelling down the wall at a distance away from the entrance. They’re probably using the fight as a distraction to loop around and attack the rest of our party. »
« Then we’ll concentrate on those, » says Cillian.
We race towards the point of incursion. Despite my ceremonial robes, I am massively outrunning Cillian. That’s something which would ordinarily never happen. Cillian’s body is much better designed for any sort of strenuous physical activity than mine.
« Fuck this, » says Cillian, and stops running. He pulls the plasma cannon from his shoulder, aims and fires.
I almost reach the wall where the two invaders are descending. Then the wall isn’t there anymore. I fall backwards as a blast of heat hits me, and I am showered with a cloud of pulverized concrete.
« You win the race, » says Cillian. He extends his arm to me. I clasp his hand as he pulls me forward, but he jerks, stumbles, and pitches on top of me.
The sniper! « Cillian? » I say, rolling him back onto the grass.
« I love you, » he says, as the light in his eyes goes out.
“Admiral Cillian Whelan, Commander of the Unified Skarsian Fleet. 11th to emanate, 46 in the color scale, resonates to 199. 1.829m meters tall, cock size 20.82 cm when erect, apparent age 32. Warrior. Totem is Crataegus crus-galli, the cockspur hawthorn, fixed star is Mothallah, the head of the triangle, also known as UR.BAR.RA, the wolf. Esoteric symbol is the Etruscan letter 
. Dessert is stuffed nau’gsh, baked in Irish whiskey and dusted with freshly ground mace. Function is analytic insight, proto-conscious tendency is indomitability, designated Strong. Blazon is jet, a wolf passant argent.”