Chapter Text
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An armada lies waiting in a sea of unfathomable colour. Ancient doesn’t even begin to set the stage necessary. Man is weak and teeths upon itself thinking this makes them warlords - fallen kingdoms that make the scope of Terra look like a backyard would have a word with you. They have all crumbled to the same foe. The universe isn’t simply lateral but longitudinal in its scope, infinitely repeating from the meddling of “great” men and the simple beat of a butterfly. This too have they accounted for.
There is no if. These things have been predetermined so far in advance that resistance is an impossibility and Eris herself lays bare on the chopping block. In the not so distant future, creation will be brought to heel - quite literally. Just as one can’t stand alone against the tide can one curtail a force that intends to make itself just as natural. Sit, wait, and fester…but do not make the mistake of believing in the concept of permanence. The Triangulum Galaxy, M33 X-7. Tremuloides.
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Between the squeals and screams, I swear to you this is legitimate science! Dreamweaving is more than just a fun excuse to mess with wanderers who happen to waltz into my web. It’s an opportunity to learn what exactly gets the most enjoyment for a wide variety of xenosophonts far in advance, you see. Take as an example - big long lines? Exceptionally boring! I only got a few chuckles I promise. Today’s concept for an amusement park? The florets are going absolutely crazy! Good crazy mind you I know the difference.
It’s exceptionally easy to view dreams as a personal experience if you happen to be among the billions of species that require rest. This too is a silly and misplaced sense of individualism that seems to stem from flawed “code” of our current reality. I could go on and on about astral dynamics and I most certainly have in the past. It’s a fairly new field as far as things go. Maybe the last two thousand years? The simple question of “where do these cute and utterly squishable little creatures go when they nod off among the moss.” has yielded perhaps one of the most important and fundamental forces to record, master, and ultimately manipulate.
You. Are. Welcome. Of course, over the years as the spearhead of the program I have had to temper my approach…somewhat. The Compact has domesticated, and dare I say liberated, a number of xenosophonts and it has become less and less entirely a research upon wanderers with the odd curious buzzer thrown in. Wanderers being a catch all for the manifestation of consciousness that finds itself in any number of universal instances unknowingly crafting their own scenarios in a theatre of the mind. Myself, I’ve only played the role of scary antagonist that ultimately forfeits over sweets or affirmations as a form of aftercare before they zip back off to dark corners I can only imagine a few hundred times.
“Greetings Mistress Banisteri!”
The sound was faint, as is to be expected when you’re mentally leagues and leagues away. Perhaps if I ignore the scamp I’ll be able to resume this most studious of pursuits. This is of course of zero certainty when it comes to Mxy Tremuloides. Of all of main’s different AI shards she’s certainly not one to allow dead a-
“Perhaaaaaps~ I wasn’t boisterous enough to your liking! Come on up, petal! We have an exciting new offer you simply cannot refuse! Unless you wish to, but wouldn’t that be a shame!? Within the main amphitheater is a display of grace! A display of passion made real! Why, you’de have to be a fool to pass up on such a darling opportunity…and star studded cast!”
“Boo!” I suppose I can leave the rest to the florets imaginations. Eyes open and I'm doing my best to disguise my slight agitation. A little difficult when emotions are so plain. “Alright, where’s your darling little spokesperson?”
“Right here! Your co-host with the most, khalia vhaun! Third floret!” She bounded into what I could only technically call a hab. How do you stay grumpy at that? The little goat had a tuxedo and everything! “We need more judges and you seem perfect for the role!” Three digit hands making the grandest gesture I’ve seen in a moment.
“How very thoughtful of you little one. I see Mxy has taught you well.” A serrated grin from behind my mask. Little miss khalia stomped her hooves in delight. “However, I think I may need to skimp out and pass my ticket onto someone else. Rather busy, you see!”
“But…but the theme is the Milky Way! It’s going to be so cool! And everyone in the troupe has been practicing so, so hard!” Don’t frown, starlight.
“Now now, not everyone’s cut out for showbiz! Mistress Banisteri takes her work immensely seriously and I’m sure she has the agency to make her own decisions to miss a once in a blue bloom spectacle.”
“You certainly know how to make one feel a sense of fomo, Mxy.”
“Why thank you!” Her voice rang from the local Hab AI projector. “It is urgency I peddle! But seriously, please never feel pressured. Why, I’ll have you know this horned beauty came up with the idea.”
“Well, yeah! You’ve been missing an awful lot of the Maiden Voyage ceremonies and it doesn’t feel right. Because, because you’re really neat and make sure the party doesn’t even stop when we’re all sleeping but even you need a break!”
“Darling, this is my life’s ambition and recreational time both. I’m sure you’ve been working so very hard and it’s a big step up from the cowering kid we found summers ago. I…Mxy you’ve been keeping attendance records again haven’t you?”
“Again? I never stopped!” A canned laugh track following her words.
“Perhaps it would do me some good to get my head out of the æther then.”
“Fantastic!” And now she projects herself into my hab. Little more than a tulip with an incredible sense of fashion - Tremuloides truly believes in minimalism. “khalia, you need to look good for the lights. I won’t have it said a floret of mine is anything less than photogenic! I would like to speak with Mistress Banisteri personally. Don’t get distracted on the way now~ I’ll know.”
“Oh!” A shuffle and a stomp. “That’s right! It was wonderful seeing you Banisteri! Sorry Master is about to talk your ear off!” She snickered, before hugging the hardlight that comprised Mxy.
“Lucky for me I don’t need ears~” Verdant flesh shifting into a mimicry of those adorable satellites under her horns. It was certainly worth the bleat!
When we were certain khalia was well and on her way, we got down to business. Mxy adjusted her tie - mostly for the fun of it and to add a little dramatic flare.
“You’ve been a thorn in my side ever since you first found out about our little voyage…” Roots wrapping against the arm of my chair. Be careful with that! That’s the scheming chair. The bulb of Mxy’s head turned its attention. “My question is why are ya stoppin’ now!? All the greats have a heel!”
Ah, sweet memories. How was I supposed to know a bunch of floating doped up cuties would go positively feral for cleaning solution in 0g? If anything it added a lot of emotional depth to the play. I make for myself a new suspension well aware of the need to clear some of the old cobweb. Not all of it mind you!
“I regret I haven’t been able to stress test your wonderful machinations, Mxy. There’s still a matter of the anomaly and-”
“Oh poppycock! I know new galaxy blues when I see it. You can’t sneak this one by me, Mistress Banisteri~” A brush of one of her petals. “I’m well aware you’re a woman of statistics and observation first and a japester second but sometimes you truly, truly just need to trust in these things.”
“Would that I could. You can bring this back to Actual if you so desire. I have engaged with Astral Dynamics as a field from the moment my antennae picked up on a world unseen. Variations should not be possible.”
There was a moment of silence, before Mxy stood with me. “Perhaps you should approach this with the mindset that it’s beautiful there’s still so much left to understand? How much variance can we truly be talking about here?”
“Perhaps I’m not giving enough weight to what I’m saying. If there’s a point zero chance to anything then in the longest of runs it’s a c e r t a i n t y! If you show the little ones a thread it will be pulled.” It’s an awkward conversation to have, considering the wreckage of a planet khalia found us on. That’s a story for another day however.
“As a fellow curator I understand your frustrations perhaps louder and more clear than any of my siblings! If you sweat the small things, you miss out on some genuine art. I will report your findings but for the everbloom’s sake don’t let this consume you. khalia has proven handy in a rebloom once!”
“I am well aware!” Now now, there’s no need to lecture me. “As I have already said, I do plan to see this wonderful little play. You touched my core before we got to talking about all of this drek.”
There were a few more pleasantries before I had the sweet silence back to myself. Repelling from my vantage I make sure to schedule a cleaning in my absence. As for how to live up to my own reputation? That’s another matter. I haven’t exactly had a lot of intelligence beforehand - prep time and all that. In truth I’m still stuck on what should not be. I’m not shaken enough to believe it to be any degree of ruin but it does threaten my understanding and I, dear, do not like being left wanting and unsated.
In theory I chose the newly constructed habitation ring, Ring fourteen and the final to be added for the foreseeable future, for a measure of solace. In practice the excitement from a slowly (for the little ones, anyway!) developing community is excellent for my work. Newly formed friendships and bonds are fertile breeding for the fields of memory. Perhaps that should have been my sign to slow down.
An empty hydroponics pod is no home, but someday soon it will be full of curious new sophonts in need of a future and something to aspire to. Someday it won’t be stock and parcel but as richly personalized as rings 1 and 2, their legacy for us to foster and grow. Curate, as Mxy put it. As long as I still have the ability I will not let the very thing we’re fighting put an end to hope. Perhaps it’s simply the moment, but I feel a swell in my chest.
But it’s not simply the moment, is it? No no. It’s bright, vibrant, and just a little bit dangerous. My thoughts are swimming and it’s hard to see through the pinprick my world has become - antennae arced and receiving but one of a constantly updating astral instance…with a creature in a layer it should not be. A sophont who as infinitesimal a shift in logistics their presence may be is immeasurable. My obsession is right outside my parlor.
I don’t hesitate, not that I ever do in the first place! But this find has sent a thrill throughout my being. I don’t even wait for the lift, just climb a ferocious pace to the top layer near the glass. Gravity becomes weak. At once zeroed in and not a part of the scene in the slightest it’s surprising how much of this is instinct. I let the waft of a second skin finally take me as I resonate with eternity, and the smile on my face feels like it crosses an endless horizon. I need. To Know. What. You. Are.