Difference between revisions of "Sovereigns game"

A fragment of the Garden of Remembering

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The job: heist, some item/artifact
* held by powerful folks with lots of resources in vaults/with securtiy, need to infiltrate things, can get in past open floors of museum/casino/staging area/whatever
* folks might be the Magi, but probably aren't, because that would really complicate things later and also they really like keeping things in-house and thus would be rather hard to infiltrate. Probably some random other gang or corporation, or an operation by a specific bureau.
* have plan for getting past security, need to get crew/get rest of crew back from random holidays or out of prison or another totally random job they were already doing, or stuff, and figure out the details of everything else
* job is kind of sudden and high priority and they need to beat anyone else there
The opening: planning and all the stuff to actually do the heist
* They do the heist. They make it in. There's some unnecessary drama about all the over the top security, and some conflict with head of security guy.
* The item is already gone, head of security guy shows up absolutely pissed and everyone expects him to arrest them, but then he turns out to have been their totally adorable mechanic Khalemi, and their other inside source all along. Is absolutely pissed that she fucked up the security, because she was actually trying to make it good specifically so this ''wouldn't happen''. Everyone is a bit surprised, because the security guy was actually some pretty good acting on her part, and also why was it a guy?!
Ensue: the plot. Hunting down the folks who stole the item. It's important, yo. Brains of their opperations, criminal mastermind Cithandra, won't say why, but it is, and they need to get it back. Things go sideways at some point. Comnen, usual point guy, talky person, swagger and all that, gets taken out of the running, and Cithandra has to take direct control of everything and more than being a general mastermind, turns out to be really, really scary as direct boss. Also really suave and sophisticated. But scary-like.


Reset. Where are we even going with this?
Somehow they get Comnen back. Hijinks ensue throuhout. Sokar does his thing taking random side jobs all the way through, which turns out to be a really good cover at least two times in a row when security people ask them just what the ''fuck'' they're doing here.


== 0 ==
Somewhere in the background there's references to at least some of the three main scaries, which may or may not show up as clients hiring the crew at some point or other:
* The United Worlds, the massively bureaucratic galactic republic where everything mostly just goes through random bureaus regardless of what the politicians from all the random systems actually say
* The Magi, a quasi-religious guild of space wizards that basically force all magic-capable people they find to either join them or die (or maybe just be cut off from the magic, which is also horrible for them?)
* The ... which turns out to be this horrible mysterious organisation that experiments on monsters (aliens) for ''reasons'', and is a good chunk of why so many of the aliens are humanoid (or elven?), because they actually started out as humans/elves or were previously much more alien and then engineered into hybrids. This is definitely not commonly known and will not come up for awhile. Is probably known as a major source of biotech through some front, and is in fact possibly really only known for that at all, publicly.


Instantiate. The wide room. The grand hall. Visitors Center to the right, gift shop attached. Some cafes, probably; this is civilisation, after all. Hallways leading off. Wide doors. Staircases. The entire second floor is a conference venue. This is the base floor of the Atlas Tower of the Magi. There are five towers in total, rising above the great city covering the plains, between the forested mountains. Seres, Gorgon, Torrent, Calcutta, and at their center, Atlas, the main one. The tall one. There are other floors below this, but they are not typically open to the public. The floors above vary. Most of the libraries have hours. The restaurants, the overlooks, the gardens, these are all open when they are open. Anyone could probably walk into one of the meditation chambers at any time, if only they knew where they were going, and as long as they didn't make trouble, nobody would likely mind.
Other random groups that occur:
* Citheldryn: a myserious organisation that has embassies on random planets and isn't entirely clear what it's purpose is, where it came from, or anything. Also very unclear where any of their money, of which they seem to have a lot, comes from. Is generally suspected of just paying off the UW bureaucracy to ignore them.
* Syndicate: a major crime guild that somehow has never actually been connected to any crimes, officially. But everyone knows they do crime. They do crime.
* The Right People: not exactly a group so much as just random people who think the UW/Magi, in particular, are dumb, and do their own thing. Gnerally includes any gangs/other unlawful factions not actively at war with each other, as well as quite a few underground non-Magi wizards. Syndicate is not really a part of this, but sometimes involved.
* Various other guilds, gangs, corporations, cabals, and planets doing various things throughout
* The border worlds, which may or may not have any seat in the UW itself, and often go totally ignored by its bureaus/forces, and thus may wind up ''really'' doing their own things


Nissa is in the base now, getting coffee, or whatever their local equivalent is. Whatever ''her'' equivalent is. Something sticky and unpronounceable. Boba. She's that kind of student, not that most of the folk around her would take her for a student. She's not really dressed like one, but nor is she dressed like a master. Mostly she's just dressed like a random person, surrounded by random people, and chatter filling the space. Her head tails are drawn back, snaking down her back in thick tendrils, tense.
Ending:
* Item is a key to a vault of scary group ..., which they open, and find... an alien girl?!
* Having no idea what the hell else to do, they take her with them as they head out into the stars for their next adventure.
* Also said alien girl probably wasn't at all what Cithandra was expecting either, but whatever.


She's uncertain, cautious. Doesn't know what she can do, or get away with doing. Though here there is anonymity in the masses, it, too, is dangerous. Open.


She finds a table, sits down, pulls out a tablet, pulls up some spells. Their forms hover over the table, the accompanying text appearing on air, backed at times in opaque white, at others in nothing. She reads them carefully, mouthing the forms, trying to shape them in her mind, converting them as she goes. There are rooms set aside for exactly this higher up. Quiet rooms. Fireproof rooms. Rooms with serene views and carefully constructed soundtracks and no distractions, painstakingly designed to facilitate learning and retention, checked out ahead of time and carefully recorded.


Nissa doesn't want facilitation, but most especially she doesn't want to be tracked. She wants the real world, ''her'' world. She wants to learn in the same chaos and cacophony she'll be using it in, as she has alwyas used it. And now she delights in being able to do this in the open, around people, even though she's now more afraid than ever.
Crew:


Her fingers spark, and she shakes it off onto the table. That wasn't even remotely related to the spell she was running through. She peers at the notes, flicking through the pages with her straw - has she stumbled upon something else, perhaps?
* Comnen - probably actually owns the ship, boss as far as clients are concerned, prefers smuggling jobs but also has history as a merc and will do heists etc if someone else figures out the details. Presents himself as a ball of swagger and confidence, and puts all this swagger and confidence to use to hold the crew together, along with just generally being awesome.
* Cithandra - suave, sophisticated, and above all, absolutely gorgeous and elegant criminal mastermind behind a lot of the jobs, sometimes tells the crew the full plan, sometimes... not. Also generally doesn't actually come across as particularly criminal or mastermind, and usually just suggests random things offhand, and then finances random parts of it, as the rest of them put the details of the operation together...
: Overtly, she's just this rich lady who hired the ship because she was bloody *bored*.
* Sokar - main pilot, keeps taking on these totally ridiculous side jobs whenever they get to a new system, much to everyone's annoyance. Possibly turns out that this tendency was ''precisely'' why Cithandra hired him.
* Khalemi - medic, tech handler in general, bot operator, very good with security systems and distributed operations, completely lost whenever she has to do anything hands-on. Also apparently a pretty good actor... when acting a man. Can't act out other women for the life of her.
* Jonas - some sort of 'public relations'
* Torkora Ma - wanton thief, possibly another sort of 'public relations'


The problem is, Nissa is brilliant. Among the Magi, she's considered a prodigy, a sensitivity to the Source unlike anything they've seen before. But it's not true. What the masters take for raw power is much the same as they have themselves: years of experience, discipline, and inevitable efficiency. She's not a nexus of magical power, but simply a master in her own right, of her own methods. She fakes it with theirs. She hamfists the spells, and doesn't even have to pretend confusion at some of the ways they cast them. So far, they've bought it.
Several of them really don't get along with each other, but do have the professionalism to keep overtly expressing it to a miniumum while actually doing the job. Will get very annoyed when they have to fix things for each other, but generally make a point of doing it precisely so the other survives/makes it out/whatever so they can actually berate them about it...


And that's the problem. She doesn't cast the way they do. Her discipline is different from theirs. And different, when it comes to magic in the Commonwealth, means illegal.
== Old stuff ==


Possible some stuff that happens later...


{{ hidden |


Instantiate. Elsewhere. Ciphreya: another city, another world, another galaxy. Civilised, but differently. This is much smaller, and isolate. A sanctuary in crystalline architecture, away from the troubles of the rest of the universe. They consider themselves the apex of development, here, the heart of a monumental organisation. They're right, to a point. Their influence is huge, and spans across the local clusters. Beyond that point, they're not so right. It's too far away. They don't even know what's out there. The void. The abyss. Dark beyond of the known universe. Other civilisations, perhaps, with other apexes. They haven't made contact, and the gods have been vague to a fault.
LATER STUFF, I DUNNO.


But their gods back them. Their gods are among them. That makes it all right. Right?
Reset. Where are we even going with this?


Rahah doesn't think so. She wants everyone to just leave her alone, let her grow up, play, make friends and be ridiculous. She's only six. She's a god, or at least the reincarnation of one, or so everyone keeps insisting. She doesn't want to be a god. She wants to be normal.
The Hadris Citheldryn reaches out to the Magi of the galaxy of Edo for the overt purpose of establishing relations between like-minded organisations. The practical reason is slightly different - they have no agents among the Magi, and yet they are the pushers behind the Commonwealth. They do have agents among the Union. Becoming a Lord there is easy.


She's incarnated as a Deresi, but passes for Nissai: an elf apparently in her adolescence, adult proportions, but lanky, short. Intellectually, she learns quickly, and speaks well, but moments betray her age frequently. Her control over her magic betrays her most of all. A teenager would be able to cast a light without setting it on fire. A teenager would actually know how to cast in the first place. But everything Rahah tries comes out wrong. She can't shape the spells at all. Mostly she can do tricks with force, pushing and pulling at a distance. Sometimes she manages to control the flow of raw energy: not magical, but kinetic, thermal, magnetic, or perhaps simply the very processes behind them. There's no shaping this. It's like making poetry out of Assembly; it's simply not what it's for.
The Citheldryn is an organisation of watchers and keepers, dedicated to the preservation of knowledge, protection of the cosmos, and on a smaller scale, enabling travellers from more advanced societies to more safely interact with those that might otherwise be considered unwise. They rarely get involved in local politics, but if they do show themselves, it is as a mysterious local faction, a neutral country, a group of charter houses. Maybe they present themselves as interested primarily in hunting monsters and curtailing the supernatural, maybe they are nothing more than a local embassy for some foreign power that's basically completely forgotten about the local presense, and never does anything.


So mostly she doesn't. She pretends not even to be a caster at all. It's easier than to admit the truth: as Deresi, her connection to the Source is different. She is her own source, her own nexus. And so the general hatred and mistrust of Deresi passes her by, but so, too, do opportunities. Opportunities to learn and grow. Opportunities to understand.
Edo is one of the artiilie settlements gone wild, a galaxy primarily inhabited by humans and the humanoid aleakin, with populations of saakma and kriss thrown in. Few elves.


* Artiilie: ancient humans.
* Aleakin: anime girls with giant eyes, tentacles for hair, and four arms. Technically not actually girls as they're all hermaphroditic, but they ''sure look it''.
* Saakma: octopus-like things. Have tentacles instead of legs. Have tentacles instead of arms. Have tentacles on their heads. Eat pretty much everything, especially the more decomposed it is. Related to the aleakin, vaguely. Also hermaphroditic.
* Kriss: giant spider mantid crab people. Have way too many growth stages that all look totally different to keep track of, and nearly as many genders. It makes sense to them; nobody else even tries to keep track. Generally when others run into an alien thing they don't recognise they just assume it's a kriss at some random stage.


Three primary factions:
* Commonwealth - republic of worlds with stupid politics, policed by the Magi. Relatively more representation of the common folk than in the Union, but mostly run by various corporations in practice. Control the left half of the galaxy.
* Union - feudal dictatorship run by the warlock Dark Lords, who constantly feud. Progression among the Lords generally achieved by being biggest bad in general vicinity, and constant backstabbing. For common people it's just tiresome and for the most part they just ignore it. Control the other left half of the galaxy.
* 'Right People' - not really a faction, so much as a loose assortment of criminals and people who just don't care about the stupid feud between the two empires. Grey Systems in the neutral zone between the two left halves sometimes claim to be 'among the right people'. Some Commonwealth corporations also officially involved. Also connected via dark net, etc.


The Source. One of the lingering mysteries of the universe. Every great civilisation has, if they progressed far enough, tried to tap into it at some point on a global scale. It is, after all, a source of power, a connection between worlds, the exception that makes Darstaddian physics work. Like the ambient matter that holds galaxies together, it is the ambient energy that pulls all forces together, and so it is used to power entire civilisations, to reinvent travel, to rebuild the foundation of the very concept of existence. The downfall of many, in time, has been taking this too far. The cenva, the first ones, remade their very selves upon this, and thus unmade themselves. The gods were reborn of these fragments. The Artiil, the humans, launched themselves into the cosmos on the tails of their own destruction, losing their homeworld, but not, at least, their own being.


To engineers and architects, it is but another tool, another constraint, to use and work around.
== 1 ==


To casters, those born with an innate sensitivity who choose to pursue its more personal application, or who have it engineered into them later in life, it is a wellspring of power and madness. Most remain at the surface, only pulling small amounts, shaping them according to established templates, for simple things: to ease the day to day, complement other skills, perform some tricks. They stick to the known, written spells, and never go too far. But some delve deeper. The madmen, the visionaries, the sorcerers. These are inevitably the pioneers, those who discover its applications, who write up the theorems that form the basis for new spells, and for the more global applications of the civilisations themselves. Some of them become gods. Many destroy themselves. Others skirt disaster at every new reach, only to find themselves changed no matter how careful they were, for it always changes its users, the more so the deeper, the darker, they go.
The main character of the story is small, not like how a child is small, although she is a child, but like how a half-size statue of a full-grown adult is, as a half-size statue, smaller than a full-size statue. Today, she's in disguise: firstly as a person who is simply not nearly as small as she actually is, and secondly as a person who is simply someone else who isn't her.


There are speculations as to how deep it goes. There are speculations as to there being another side: a dark side, an existence far stranger, that mirrors our own, perhaps, or something else entirely. But these are only speculations. There are no hypotheses, not that can be tested.
Her name is Rahah. She's an elf, she's very, very young, and she is, to her considerable irritation, apparently the reincarnation of a god. She doesn't want to be a god, she wants to go to other planets and hit monsters with a sword. But instead she is, and as a result, people won't leave her alone or let her do anything dangerous or go anywhere where dangerous things might happen. They tell her this is because she's too important, because she could get hurt, or, her personal ''lease favourite'', because 'hitting things with swords is uncivilised'. But really, Rahah just wants to go hit things with swords anyway. She doesn't want to be civilised. Civilised is boring.


Even the gods don't know, save, perhaps, for one. The biggest one of all. The Spirit of the Universe. She's not even a god anymore, not really, but she was, once. Long ago. Before she changed. Maybe, just maybe, she reached that other, darker, side. Maybe this was what changed her. The Deathgods, after all, call her their ''Dark'' Sister. But she doesn't speak with mortals. She doesn't even speak with most gods anymore. The Deathgods act as her liaisons on the rare occasion she deems anything worth communicating, and she doesn't accept questions.
So today, she's changed her appearance and put on a pair of hoverskates that make her at least appear to be at eye level, maybe, to a merely ''short'' person. Her name is now Sjerdami. And Sjerdami is signed up for a 'diplomatic mission' to another galaxy. There probably won't be any opportunities to hit things with swords on this 'diplomatic mission', but maybe she'll get lucky, right? She hopes she'll get lucky.


At very least it'll get her out of this place and away from her overbearing guardians who only want the best for her.


Sort of.


The man sits down across from her, and Nissa looks up in surprise. It's Damorin, one of the Magi masters. "I missed you today," he says. "You need to practise."
Rahah - no, Sjerdami - gets to the hangar where the ship is to find everyone else apparently already there, and getting yelled at. Some of them are wearing uniforms like hers - dark and glittering and masked - but a lot of them are just wearing random clothes. She scoots over and hangs behind the bulk of the group, not trying to draw attention. Not show her guilt. Sjerdami's real. Of course she is.


"I know," Nissa replies. "I'm sorry, I just got caught up in the theory."
The woman in charge, Tersulles, doesn't seem to notice, and continues to try to yellingly coordinate the group, getting progressively more tired-sounding as she directs folks about, loading the ship, sorting out roles. Most of them aren't actually doing much and just sort of stand there regardless.


"I'm surprised," Damorin says, smiling. "Usually those with your sort of power want to skip past all that. Tend to think they don't need the theory."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Tersulles says loudly, "Everyone just stop."


"Oh," Nissa says. She hadn't considered that. For her, theory was everything - she would have said she was a mathematician, first and foremost, and a mage really only as a practical application. That is, if she'd had anyone she could confide in about this at all. She didn't. That was the problem. That was why she'd finally gone against all the advice of her underworld associates and gone to the Magi, presenting herself as a confused young girl awakening to strange new powers.
Everyone just sort of stops, aside from the people who were already stopped, who continue doing exactly what they had been doing.<ref>Nothing.</ref>


"No, no, that's a good thing," Damorin says, shaking his head, apparently reading her worry as completely ordinary concern. "You'll need the theory more than any, if you're to truly control your power."
Tersulles takes the opportunity to count heads, winds up short, looks a bit concerned, and then comes around and spots Sjerdami.


"Oh, stars, would you not stand in back when you're that short?" she says exasperatedly.


"Sorry!" Sjerdami says.


"Is this your first mission?" Tersulles asks, marginally more kindly.


She's not sure what to do about it, but it's a major concern: the reason she doesn't show up to the lessons is because it's just so ''hard'' to cast things wrong. It's exhausting. She doesn't actually have that kind of power.
"Er, maybe," Sjerdami says.


"What's wrong?" Damorin asks.
The woman turns back to the rest of the group. "Anyone else new too?"


Nissa doesn't know what to say. The truth is out of the question. She doesn't have any good lies on hand. The only reason they thought she was a prodigy was because she'd screwed up when she came in. Put too much into the tasks they'd assigned to test her.
"Is that a problem?" a guy says from somewhere in the middle of the lot.


Unaffiliated magic is illegal in the Commonwealth, but it's hardly safe in the Union, either, the neighbouring militaristic state with which an uneasy truce is maintained purely out of necessity: an all-out war would devastate both parties, and leave the galaxy in ruins. So, being from the Commonwealth herself, she'd joined the Magi, the Commonwealth mages, and tried to get along with their particular approach. She'd thought it'd be freeing, to openly practice magic. Instead she'd found it utterly stifling.
"No, just... who are you?" Tersulles asks, shooing people out of the way.


"What I mean to say is I can do all that already!" Nissa says, feigning incredulity. "Why do I need to go to these lessons? They're pointless."
The guy, now visible, waves.


"Really?" Damorin asks. "Show me a common star."
"Right," she says. "You two, make a note. If we ever pair off, don't pair with each other. Make sure you wind up with someone more experienced."


Nissa holds up her hand and a pinpoint of light appears above it.
"But she's so cute and tiny! Why can't I?" the new guy asks.


Damorin nods. "Make a purification."
Sjerdami glares at him.


Nissa gives him a slightly surprised look, and then pulls up the spell on her tablet, before shaping it out, mostly according to the instructions, adapting it slightly to her own manner of casting. She drops it over the table, and it immediately sparkles, clean.
"And how would you like to be called 'cute and tiny'?" Tersulles demands.


"You need to know the spells," Damorin says, frowning. "That won't work in the field."
"Well, uh," he says, "it's okay? I mean, people do it all the time."


Nissa tries to hide her own surprise, and apparently pulls it off. He hadn't noticed the difference. Had he? "Why would I need to clean something on the spot without time to look it up?" she asks. "What possible situation could mandate that?" What she also doesn't mention is that she already has another cleaning spell that she knows well - a much less pristine version with a more variable scope. Hers looks natural, unlike this. Like cleaning by hand, it takes multiple passes, multiple castings, to make anything sparkle. She uses it daily when no one's looking, to avoid having to clean things up by hand.
"And you're just straight up admitting this?" someone else asks.


"I can think of a few," Damorin says.
"Okay, I did not need to know that," another person entirely says.


"Okay, fine," Nissa says. "What do you want from me?"
"Er, why do you assume we know what we're doing even if we have done this before?" another woman asks in the middle of all of this.


"Come to the lessons," Damorin says. "Practice with us, and complete your basic training. You're young yet, but with patience you'll get the independence you crave."
"Everyone, please!" Tersulles shouts, putting up her hands. "Stop. You're like cats!"


"Okay," Nissa says. She's not as young as they think, but what they'll forgive of a twelve-year-old is far more than they might of seventeen. And she doesn't look her age. She'd always resented this, when she lived on her own. Now, though, here, it's her armour, her saving grace whenever she goes too far, says the wrong thing. She's just twelve. Doesn't know what she's talking about. That's all there is to it.
"Cute and fluffy?" someone suggests, and receives a withering glare for his comment.


Damorin smiles.
Finally everyone stops, and Tersulles conjures up a console and activates overlays on everyone. Suddenly all their names are hovering above their heads for everyone to see, colour-coded in blue, purple, and red, with a small amount of status data as well.


Sjerdami looks up worriedly, but hers just says 'Sjerdami' like it's supposed to.


"Now we know who everyone is," Tersulles says. "So if you want to continue making annoying comments, I ''will know who you are.''" She goes on, losing the threatening tone, "Colours mark your general roles: red's guards, blue's aids, and I and Keke Ama are apparently purple."


Twenty yaks. Twenty yaks had stampeded the corridor when they opened the portal. Rahah stares at the mess below, dumbfounded. She's perched atop a doorframe, clinging to a bit of wall trim. This wasn't what she'd expected. Jerindal, hanging from a light fixture further down, also stares. This wasn't what he'd expected, either.
"So what's purple?" a guy named Varras asks.


Two yaks, all that's left, stand around amidst the mess. They forage a bit at it. They chew on the potted plants.
"We're the ambassadors," Tersulles says slowly. "Which you should know if you've read the brief." She pauses. "How many of you have read the mission brief?"


Two yaks is enough for the two young elves to remain clinging to their perches above them, afraid to make a sound.
Three agents raise their hands, including Sjerdami and the other newbie, whose name is apparently Lhorys. Then, very hesitantly, another hand goes up as well. This hand belongs to Keke Ama.


The much older elven man who marches in a moment after, however, is not afraid to speak at all. "What, in all the worlds, happened here?" he demands loudly.
Tersulles stares at the other ambassador worriedly.


The two yaks stop munching to watch him yakily.
"Wait, so there was a brief?" Varras says.


"Don't!" Jerindal squeaks. "You'll spook them again!"
"Usually is," an elderly elven woman, Tull, says.


"Really? That's all you have to say for yourself?" the man says. "And you, Sovereign," he goes on, turning on Rahah. "I would have expected better of you."
"But you didn't read it either?" Varras asks her, looking a bit relieved.


"Er, better than what, exactly?" she asks. "This was all an accident."
Tersulles sighs. "I must honestly wonder," she says, "What those who hold our organisation in high regard would think if they saw this."


"Yeah, dad, this really wasn't what we were trying to do." Jerindal says.
"Oh, we're totally professional," Tull says. "We just need to put on our professional faces first. Isn't that right?"


"So what exactly ''were'' you trying to do?" Jerindal's dad asks.
"Unequivocally," an Amanstani says. "Arbitrator, come on. Tell us what we need to know to pretend to be professionals."


"Er," Jerindal says, starting to panic. "You know. About that? Yes."
Tersulles gives everyone a moment just to see if they care to continue to irritate her before going on. "As you all would know if you had actually read the brief," she says irately, "this is a diplomatic mission to the Magi of the galaxy of Edo. I will be acting as primary ambassador, with Keke Ama as secondary. You all will be our assistants and guards, and generally pretending to be real professionals." She glares around at the group. "You all remember which you signed up to be, right?"


"Leave," Rahah says.
The agents nod.


"Leave?" Jerindal's dad asks.
"Sure," Amanstani says. "I'm a guard, right?" Her name is in blue, though, clearly marking her as an aid.


"Leave Ciphreya," Rahah says. "We were trying to get away. I mean, I was. Trying to get out of here. Anywhere but here. So we opened a portal. Jerindal was helping me because he's really good with magic, but it's not his fault. I talked him into it. It just... it worked, sort of, but then a herd of yaks came out and... um..." she shrugs blankly, looking sheepish, trying to cover the lie. Jerindal is basically the only friend she has. He'd insisted on going with her, just so she wouldn't be entirely alone, even though he was actually fairly happy here. And she'd needed it enough to not say no. "It didn't really... work?" she finishes, lamely.
Tersulles ignores this. "Because if not, again, you're coloured accordingly," she says. "The main thing you'll be doing aside from that is observing the Edo while we do this. See what stands out. See what feels off. There may be undercurrents in their worlds that we do not yet know, and it is your job to follow up on them." She pauses. "That being said, this is a low-priority mission. Should things go... awry, simply get out. Retreat to a safehouse. ''Don't everyone get killed or come pester me about it, or pester me about getting killed.'' Any questions?"


Jerindal's dad stares at her. "Jerindal," he says, still looking at Rahah. "Room. Now."
An apparent Tenenbaume raises a hand slightly.


Jerindal drops off the light fixture and runs away, giving the yaks a wide berth.
"Yes?" Tersulles asks.


Rahah drops down as well. She stares up at Jerindal's dad defiantly, mostly just because she is so short, and that's the easiest way to look when looking up without looking totally pathetic.
"Awry how?" Tenenbaume asks.


His name is Jerdalim. He's a member of the Hadris Citheldryn Arbitration Committee, the closest thing they have to a ruling body here. Or the closest thing in lieu of her, the supposed Sovereign. Not that they'd listen to a child. Maybe when she grows up they will, but somehow, naggingly, she suspects they'll to find a way around it then, too. It's been a very long time since the god has ruled here, and it's a far different organisation now.
"Awry," Tersulles responds slowly, building up almost unto hysterics, "Wrong. Problems. Catastrophic failure. Anything from and up to rabid squirrels to imploding planets. Completely overreacting regardless of the situation is fine, as long as you remember your fellow agents and don't get them killed. Please, do not get them killed. Or me. I will be very upset if you get me killed on what is supposed to be a low-priority, low-risk mission to peaceful words."


"Why?" he asks.
Tenenbaume raises his hand again. "How completely is 'completely overreacting'?" he asks.


"Because it's absolutely stifling here!" she says. "I can't do anything, I can't have friends, whenever anything goes wrong it's always their fault and they take the fall, even when it's not! I'm the sovereign, the god, so I have to be perfect, and yet I'm a child and you won't even listen to me or let me do anything or anything! You can't even make up your stupid minds!"
"Like if we implode the planet in reaction to rabid squirrels," Tull suggests.


"That's not how it is at all," Jerdalim says. "You just need to grow up, that's all."
"That seems excessive," a guy whose name is apparently just 'Aa' says.


"You won't let me grow up!" she yells.
"Exactly!" Tull tells him.


Jerdalim gives her a somewhat confused look, and starts to say something.
"We do want to avoid excessive loss of life, damages, or anything up to or including starting a war," Tersulles replies, regaining her composure.


Rahah turns and runs away.
Tenenbaume raises his hand again. Tersulles just stares at him.


It's the wrong way. The way the rest of the yaks went, full of damage... and yaks. But she keeps going anyway, stubborn anger and fear and confusion driving her on as they hop away in surprise at the tiny ball of bushy hair and tears rushing past them. Why did she actually say all that? She doesn't know. She does want to get away, of course, but it's not that important, is it? They respect her so little already, and she knows this won't help, but... but she doesn't even know. It's all a mess, her whole life, and she doesn't know how to deal with any of it. She doesn't even have a dad, like Jerindal does. He lost his mother when he was very small, but she'd never had any parents at all. Been born from a seed of her own creation, she was told. Something she'd set up in a previous life.
"Define 'excessive'."


She doesn't remember any of it. Previous lives, being a god, any of it. And yet that is the entire cause of everything wrong now - her past selves setting it all up for this - and so she resents them terribly. That they were all ''her'' only makes it that much worse, somehow.
"Gods take me now," Tersulles mutters. "You're not cats. You're... somehow worse. I'm herding something ''worse than cats''."


She curls up in a dark corner, past the destruction and yaks, past the people going on about their lives as they pass from place to place, and winds up amidst the dust of the empty rooms beyond. She cries into her knees, not knowing what else to do.
== 2 ==


They finally get all the pre-launch stuff sorted out, load themselves into what turns out to be a much bigger ship on the inside than on the outside, and launch it, rather lazily, into space.


They drift vaguely away from the planet. Rahah... er, Sjerdami, stares vaguely, and quite literally, off into space out the large window. Aa is in a poofy armchair piloting. Tersulles has locked herself away in an office where nobody can bother her. Mostly everyone else is just sort of hanging around.


The Arbitration Committee of the Hadris Citheldryn does more than arbitrate. They also review proposals, among other, even more boring, tasks. Most of the proposals up for consideration now are fairly standard, and this one, submitted by a member they don't know, probably some recruit from the galaxy of Edo itself, fits right in with the rest.
"So we getting going, or what?" Keke Ama asks.


The proposal is essentially thus: establish formal diplomatic relations with the Magi of the Edo Commonwealth. It makes some solid points. The Magi are organised, and generally peaceful, unlike their Union counterparts, a loose consortium of warring warlocks who basically run the Union. The Magi safeguard various powerful artefacts, and it would be valuable to ensure these artefacts remain in good hands. The Magi are relatively enlightened, unlike most of the very competitive factions even in the Commonwealth itself. It would be worthwhile to share knowledge and practices, and learn from each other. There's little to lose from a diplomatic mission as a cover for a more thorough evaluation.
"You wanna drive?" Aa says, getting up. "Here, you can drive. But when you accidentally take us sideways through space into another universe, don't go blaming me..."


The committee deliberates. They don't bother to meet up, just read through it as they get to it and submit their comments online, replying to each other as need be. Standard practice. Consensus is established tricklingly, until nobody has anything more to add, and the proposal is put in the approved queue.
Keke Ama gives Aa an uninterested look. "No, I just want to know if we're getting going or not at some point."


"Yes, Ama," Aa says. "We are. At some point."


"Okay," Keke Ama says. "When?"


Rahah gets a notification, and pulls it up warily on her handheld. Strangely, it's nothing bad. A proposal she submitted almost a year ago under another name, almost as a joke, just to see what would happen, has been approved.
"After I sort out the calculations?" Aa says.


She stares at it blankly and wipes her eyes, the glow of her handheld illuminating her face, and the dust, and the empty room around her. She hadn't expected this. And yet she'd had a plan with it, sort of. She'd chosen Edo specifically: it was a big galaxy, heavily populated, ''not'' of the elven worlds, and not Artiilie, and yet full of magic. Somewhere, perhaps, that she could disappear. Or be someone else. Or... what? She doesn't remember. It was a half-baked plan from the start, and now it's almost entirely gone.
"Okay," Keke Ama says.


Aa and Keke Ama stare at each othe for a moment, and then Aa sits back down.




Nissa goes. She plays the game, starting over, continuing by her own rules. She attends the lessons, even the ones conducted by the masters she ''really'' doesn't like, and goes through the motions, casting the spells. She doesn't even try to do as the masters instruct anymore, simply casting them all her own way, translating them to her own understanding of magic, but even still, none of the Magi seem to notice the difference. She's not sure why: she can see it plain as day. But they simply applaud her apparent talent and tell the others to look at how she's doing it, follow her lead.


And it seems to work. Somehow some of the other students ''are'' learning by watching her. Or do they only think they are, and this is still enough to inspire them to succeed regardless? A sort of magical placebo effect? Nissa isn't really sure, but the Magi approach does seem very much based in feeling, so it would make sense. Hers is more about mapping the perceptions to predictable patterns, like the mathematics of music, playing out in impeccable beauty.


It's in her physics classes that they show surprise. She's very good, a very quick study. She's doing her best to not betray the fact that she knows it all already, of course, but this is very basic stuff. Mechanics. Simple energy. Introductory fields. She wiles away her time mapping more complex concepts back to the Source, and the Source to the very same mathematics as the rest, and sometimes they glance over her shoulder before she realises, and see the equations on her screen. Usually she's just staring blankly, thinking, and so they take the blank stare to mean she doesn't actually know what she's looking at and ignore it. But then someone catches her making some connection, writing down a counterpoint or progression, finishing a proof.
{{ setup |


Nissa isn't even sure what it's for. She just followed the maths to the logical conclusion, intending to test it out later. She's just about to go back to staring blankly at it when she realises she is being watched, someone is standing over her, and she looks back suddenly, up.
== 0 ==


Master Callas is staring down at her screen in wonderment. "I don't believe it," he whispers. "You've solved Alacro's Theorem."
Instantiate. The wide room. The grand hall. Visitors Center to the right, gift shop attached. Some cafes, probably; this is civilisation, after all. Hallways leading off. Wide doors. Staircases. The entire second floor is a conference venue. This is the base floor of the Atlas Tower of the Magi. There are five towers in total, rising above the great city covering the plains, between the forested mountains. Seres, Gorgon, Torrent, Calcutta, and at their center, Atlas, the main one. The tall one. There are other floors below this, but they are not typically open to the public. The floors above vary. Most of the libraries have hours. The restaurants, the overlooks, the gardens, these are all open when they are open. Anyone could probably walk into one of the meditation chambers at any time, if only they knew where they were going, and as long as they didn't make trouble, nobody would likely mind.


"Huh?" Nissa says blankly. She has, genuinely, no idea what he's talking about, but then she runs a search and pulls up the theorem itself. It's familiar, all right. Not exactly what she was working on, but very close. This isn't something she'd counted on at all, someone recognising what she was doing.
Nissa is in the base now, getting coffee, or whatever their local equivalent is. Whatever ''her'' equivalent is. Something sticky and unpronounceable. Boba. Her daily fix. Others around are doing much the same: workers, visitors, those with business and those touristing. The workers and the ones on business pass through quickly, but the tourists linger, milling around in one great mass, and Nissa lingers among them, fading from notice.


"Do you mean to say," Callas says slowly, "that you came up with all of that, start to end, on your own?"
She doesn't need to do this anymore. For once she's ''supposed'' to be here, sort of. But old habits die hard.


"Uh," Nissa says, pulling up her version next to it. "I just found this on an image board. It's not even the same..." She starts to point to one of the differing bits and then stops, realising her mistake, as usual, all too late. "Oh."


He's not even looking at her tablet anymore, just her. "Come with me," Callas says.


The rest of the class is staring, watching, trying to figure out what's going on. They're oddly quiet.
Instantiate. Elsewhere. Ciphreya: another city, another world, another galaxy. Civilised, but differently. This is much smaller, and isolate. A sanctuary in crystalline architecture, away from the troubles of the rest of the universe. They consider themselves the apex of development, here, the heart of a monumental organisation. They're right, to a point. Their influence is huge, and spans across the local clusters. Beyond that point, they're not so right. It's too far away. They don't even know what's out there. The void. The abyss. Dark beyond of the known universe. Other civilisations, perhaps, with other apexes. They haven't made contact, and the gods have been vague to a fault.


Nissa gets up, follows him. The class watches in utter bemusement as they leave, tense with anticipation.
But their gods back them. Their gods are among them. That makes it all right. Right?


He takes her to his office. "All right," he says. "Let's put it up on the board."
Rahah doesn't think so. She wants everyone to just leave her alone, let her grow up, play, make friends and be ridiculous. She's only six. She's a god, or at least the reincarnation of one, or so everyone keeps insisting. She doesn't want to be a god. She wants to be normal.


Nissa glances between the board and her tablet, considering how best to connect them, and then doesn't. There's something amiss with this, something niggling that she can't quite place. She grabs a stylus instead, and starts rewriting it out, referencing the tablet, trying to figure it out as she goes.
She's incarnated as a Deresi, but passes for Nissai: an elf apparently in her adolescence, adult proportions, but lanky, short. Intellectually, she learns quickly, and speaks well, but moments betray her age frequently. Her control over her magic betrays her most of all. A teenager would be able to cast a light without setting it on fire. A teenager would actually know how to cast in the first place. But everything Rahah tries comes out wrong. She can't shape the spells at all. Mostly she can do tricks with force, pushing and pulling at a distance. Sometimes she manages to control the flow of raw energy: not magical, but kinetic, thermal, magnetic, or perhaps simply the very processes behind them. There's no shaping this. It's like making poetry out of Assembly; it's simply not what it's for.


It's fairly normal, as far as she can tell. Straight maths, mapping into the Source.
So mostly she doesn't. She pretends not even to be a caster at all. It's easier than to admit the truth: as Deresi, her connection to the Source is different. She is her own source, her own nexus. And so the general hatred and mistrust of Deresi passes her by, but so, too, do opportunities. Opportunities to learn and grow. Opportunities to understand.


And then it occurs to her, all at once, why all their science is stuck. Why the stagnation, why none of the maths have moved on past a point, for so long: that's where the theorem stopped. It's leaving out the Source. They are leaving it out of all of it. Magic is as much a part of mathematics as force or energy, and yet nobody is using it.


She's quick enough to not say anything, maintaining her blank expression, just pausing as she goes, glancing back up at what she's already written. There's no way she could be the first person in a thousand years to realise this. Not in a galaxy this big. Not on both sides of the divide. What happened to all the others?!


She writes out the next line, changing one key thing from the proof in her notes.
The Source. One of the lingering mysteries of the universe. Every great civilisation will, if they progress far enough, try to tap into it at some point on a global scale. It is, after all, a source of power, a connection between worlds, the exception that makes Darstaddian physics work. Like the ambient matter that holds galaxies together, it is the ambient energy that pulls all forces together, and so it is used to power entire civilisations, to reinvent travel, to rebuild the foundation of the very concept of existence. The downfall of many, in time, has been taking this too far. The cenva, the first ones, remade their very selves upon this, and thus unmade themselves. The gods were reborn of these fragments. The Artiil, the humans, launched themselves into the cosmos on the tails of their own destruction, losing their homeworld, but not, at least, their own being.


She changes the following line to be a progression from that, and continues on, propagating the change through the rest of it, until she gets to the end, and closes the proof. She steps back, pressing her tablet to her chest, screen inward.
To engineers and architects, it is but another tool, another constraint, to use and work around.


This doesn't make any sense. It's utterly insane. And yet that feeling in her gut, that great seeping dread, it tells her that she's right, against all logic.
To casters, those born with an innate sensitivity who choose to pursue its more personal application, or who have it engineered into them later in life, it is a wellspring of power and madness. Most remain at the surface, only pulling small amounts, shaping them according to established templates, for simple things: to ease the day to day, complement other skills, perform some tricks. They stick to the known, written spells, and never go too far. But some delve deeper. The madmen, the visionaries, the sorcerers. These are inevitably the pioneers, those who discover its applications, who write up the theorems that form the basis for new spells, and for the more global applications of the civilisations themselves. Some of them become gods. Many destroy themselves. Others skirt disaster at every new reach, only to find themselves changed no matter how careful they are, for it always changes its users, the more so the deeper, the darker, they go.


Callas nods, reading through it, and then just stops. "Wait," he says. "How'd you get this? From Sade's induction to..." he points between the previous line and the one Nissa had changed. "That's not right."
There are speculations as to how deep it goes. There are speculations as to there being another side: a dark side, an existence far stranger, that mirrors our own, perhaps, or something else entirely. But these are only speculations. There are no hypotheses, not that can be tested.


"Er," Nissa says, trying to sound as clueless as possible, "you can't do that?"
Even the gods don't know, save, perhaps, for one. The biggest one of all. The Spirit of the Universe. She's not even a god anymore, not really, but she was, once. Long ago. Before she changed. Maybe, just maybe, she reached that other, darker, side. Maybe this was what changed her. The Deathgods, after all, call her their ''Dark'' Sister. But she doesn't speak with mortals. She doesn't even speak with most gods anymore. The Deathgods act as her liaisons on the rare occasion she deems anything worth communicating, and she doesn't accept questions.


"No," Callas sighs, but he chuckles regardless. "Still, this is very good, especially at your age."


"So what... can you do there?" Nissa asks.


Callas write out another line, slightly different from the changed line, and then just stops. "That's it. That's all you can do. That's the problem," he says. His replacement matches her original. Except unlike his, hers had continued right on from there.
The Magi of Edo are casters, tapping into the Source and bending it to their will, and as much, bending themselves to it. They remain at the surface. They speak of distancing themselves from fear, letting go, and yet they fear its depth and do not let go. Those who do are deemed fallen, to the deep, to the dark side, and they are hunted down. The Source must be regulated. Its casters must be regulated. This is the mandate of the Magi, and they enforce it mercilessly within Commonwealth space.


"Oh," Nissa says. Apparently she'd only barely caught it in time. Or something. In time for what, though, really? What is the deal with that feeling, that terrible dread about all of this?
Beyond, in the Grey systems, they exert their influence in other ways. Beyond those, in Union space, they have no influence at all. There, deep casters reign as Dark Lords, creating order and progress out of controlled chaos as they each delve further into their own power and madness, fighting each other, each trying interminably to come out on top, united only by their common hatred of the Magi.


The Magi talk about following their feelings often, speaking of the Source guiding them, and up until now Nissa has always just sort of nodded along, not really understanding, figuring it went hand-in-hand with their weird casting in general. But is this what they meant? Is the Source guiding her now, keeping her away from something terrible?
Throughout it all, on either side, are the Right People, the underground, the dark net. Thieves and smugglers, unaffiliated casters, undiscriminating traders, and ubiquitous problem solvers. Those who consider themselves not so much above the law, as simply... to the side. Both sides, as it were, in many cases. For the casters, it is a precarious position - safer than openly taking a stance as a Lord in the Union, and more free than joining the Magi of the Commonwealth - but to be discovered is usually a death sentence in either case. To the Lords, the unaffiliated are all potential enemies (as opposed to other Lords, who are simply enemies), and must be purged. To the Magi, they are undoubtedly fallen, and must be purged.


She gives Callas an uncertain look, masking her fear in confusion.
But they do it anyway, because the options are all terrible.


He shrugs. "We should get you some proper maths classes," he says.
Nissa did it anyway because it's all she'd ever known.


They get back, only to find the rest of the class gone.
And then one day a friend had said, "I wonder what we could do if we could get inside the Magi."


"I suppose this is why you don't leave a pack of twelve-year-olds unattended," Callas says.
And Nissa had said, "How? They'd kill us the moment they knew what we were."


"Well, not without an explanation," Nissa says.
And her friend had said, "Only if we tell them. Just fake an awakening. They'd probably make you join."


"Relax, child," he tells her. "I got overly excited, that's all. You didn't do anything wrong."
"And what about you?" Nissa had asked.


Nissa isn't so sure about that. She isn't so sure at all.
"You know I'm just kidding, right?" he had said.


== 1 ==
"But could it work?" Nissa had asked.


A call for participation is announced, like any other. Diplomatic mission to the Magi of Edo. Primary roles: two ambassadors, three assistants, five guards. Secondary role for all: investigation. Rahah signs up as a guard, under yet another name, this one with agent clearance. She has a knack for names, and the access required to add them. She covers it up by adding a bunch of others, too, going through the request queues and performing evaluations like it's all totally normal. The guidelines are straight-forward enough. She's pretty sure she's doing the real ones right. Nobody has sent her anything complaining, or done any mass reverts.
He'd nodded, slowly. "You look the part," he'd said finally. "Just act like you're ten years younger and I think everyone would buy it. Need some creds to back it up, but..."


She changes her form for the occasion, pushing herself to the limits of her shapeshifting abilities, which are, admittedly, pretty limited. She changes her facial structure as much as she can, which turns out to be slightly, makes her skin paler, her hair sleek and black and long, no longer the bushy brown mess that had stood out so much. The addition of horns and a tail mark her as Unezca now, a demonic elf, and the deep blue scales pointing her arms and legs and framing her face only solidify the look. She's still short, a patent midget, but a pair of hoverskate boots adds a few inches, even when they're turned off. On, levitating her rather off the ground, they add well over a foot.
"I can get those," she'd said.


She won't be able to change her form again for a few weeks, at best. But it should be enough. Now, with her boots and black Ciphreyan guard uniform, weapons on her thighs, hair pulled back in a tight knot and swinging braid, she doesn't even recognise her own reflection. The girl in the mirror, she looks too adept, too organised. Too old.
"Don't I know it," he'd said.


"Oh, I am surely mad," she tells herself, plonking her mask on top of her head. Her voice is different, too, deeper, raspier, changed with the rest. It's all little things, really. Easy things, adding up.
He sits down across from her now, slipping into the table, pulling out a newspaper, not really paying Nissa any apparent attention as she stirs her drink absent-mindedly with a straw.


She puts on a shield, affixing the small blue gem to her forehead, right above her brows, like a piece of jewellery, and a faint glow spreads over her form before disappearing. It doesn't look utilitarian, but it is. That the colour of the gem perfectly matches her scales is entirely by design.
"How's it going?" he asks, still looking at the news.


She goes to the hangar, meets the rest of the party at the ship. Some of the others are wearing uniforms like hers, but a lot of them are just wearing random clothes. She hangs behind the bulk of the group, not trying to draw attention. Not show her guilt. She's real. Of course she is.
Nissa snorts and covers it with a quick drink. "Well enough, I suppose," she says, not looking up. "What are you doing here?"


Stuff is coordinated. The woman in charge gets progressively more tired-sounding as she directs folks about, loading the ship, sorting out roles, and Rahah realises it's Tersulles, a member of the Arbitration Committee.
"Just checking the news," he says.


"Okay, okay, fine," Tersulles says loudly, "everyone just stop."
"Mmm," Nissa says.


Everyone just sort of stops, waiting for Tersulles to do something else. The arbitrator takes the opportunity to count heads, winds up short, looks a bit concerned, and then comes around and spots Rahah.
"Not very good at noticing what's right under their noses, most folks," he says.


"Oh, stars, would you not stand in back?" she says exasperatedly.
"Nope," Nissa says. "You know that paper's two weeks old?"


"Sorry!" Rahah says.
"I'm still catching up on recent events," he says.


"Is this your first mission?" Tersulles asks, marginally more kindly.
"Anything interesting?" Nissa asks.


"Er, yeah," Rahah says.
"Well, there is one thing," the old human says, finally putting aside the paper and leaning forward, and Nissa does the same, the tentacles on her head perking attentively. "I hear they've got a new batch of apprentices around here," he says dramatically. "Some of them might even be... the right sort."


Tersulles turns back to the rest of the group. "Anyone else new too?"
Nissa rolls her eyes.


"Is that a problem?" a guy says.
"But no, not really," he says, leaning back. "Just the usual."


"No, just... who are you?" Tersulles asks, shooing people out of the way.
"Tease," Nissa says.


The guy, now visible, waves.


"Right," she says. "You two, make a note. If we ever pair off, don't pair with each other. Make sure you wind up with someone more experienced."


"But she's so cute and tiny! Why can't I?" the new guy asks.
Twenty yaks. Twenty yaks had stampeded the corridor when they opened the portal. Rahah stares at the mess below, dumbfounded. She's perched atop a doorframe, clinging to a bit of wall trim. This wasn't what she'd expected. Jerindal, hanging from a light fixture further down, also stares. This wasn't what he'd expected, either.


Rahah glares at him.
Two yaks, all that's left, stand around amidst the mess. They forage a bit at it. They chew on the potted plants.


"And how would you like to be called 'cute and tiny'?" Tersulles demands.
Two yaks is enough for the two young elves to remain clinging to their perches above them, afraid to make a sound.


"Well, uh," he says, "It's okay? I mean, people do it all the time."
The much older elven man who marches in a moment after, however, is not afraid to speak at all. "What, in all the worlds, happened here?" he demands loudly.


"And you're just straight up admitting this?" someone else asks.
The two yaks stop munching to watch him yakily.


"Okay, I did not need to know that," another person entirely says.
"Don't!" Jerindal squeaks. "You'll spook them again!"


"Er, why do you assume we know what we're doing even if we have done this before?" another woman asks in the middle of all of this.
"Really? That's all you have to say for yourself?" the man says. "And you, Sovereign," he goes on, turning on Rahah. "I would have expected better of you."


"Everyone, please!" Tersulles shouts, putting up her hands. "Stop. You're like cats!"
"Er, better than what, exactly?" she asks. "This was all an accident."


"Cute and fluffy?" someone suggests, and receives a withering glare for his comment.
"Yeah, dad, this really wasn't what we were trying to do." Jerindal says.


Finally everyone stops, and Tersulles conjures up a console and activates overlays on everyone. Suddenly all their names are hovering above their heads for everyone to see, colour-coded in blue, purple, and red, with a small amount of status data as well.
"So what exactly ''were'' you trying to do?" Jerindal's dad asks.


Rahah looks up worriedly, but hers just says 'Sjerdami' like it's supposed to.
"Er," Jerindal says, starting to panic. "You know. About that? Yes."


"Now we know who everyone is," Tersulles says. "So if you want to continue making annoying comments, I ''will know who you are.''" She goes on, losing the threatening tone, "Colours mark your general roles: red's guards, blue's aids, and I and Keke Ama are apparently purple."
"Leave," Rahah says.


"So what's purple?" a guy named Varras asks.
"Leave?" Jerindal's dad asks.


"We're the ambassadors," Tersulles says. "Which you should know if you've read the brief." She pauses. "How many of you have read the brief?"
"Leave Ciphreya," Rahah says. "We were trying to get away. I mean, I was. Trying to get out of here. Anywhere but here. So we opened a portal. Jerindal was helping me because he's really good with magic, but it's not his fault. I talked him into it. It just... it worked, sort of, but then a herd of yaks came out and... um..." she shrugs blankly, looking sheepish, trying to cover the lie. Jerindal is basically the only friend she has. He'd insisted on going with her, just so she wouldn't be entirely alone, even though he was actually fairly happy here. And she'd needed it enough to not say no. "It didn't really... work?" she finishes, lamely.


Three agents raise their hands, including Rahah and the other newbie, whose name is apparently Lhorys. Then, very hesitantly, another hand goes up as well. This hand belongs to Keke Ama.
Jerindal's dad stares at her. "Jerindal," he says, still looking at Rahah. "Room. Now."


Tersulles stares at the other ambassador worriedly.
Jerindal drops off the light fixture and runs away, giving the yaks a wide berth.


"Wait, so there was a brief?" Varras says.
Rahah drops down as well. She stares up at Jerindal's dad defiantly, mostly just because she is so short, and that's the easiest way to look when looking up without looking totally pathetic.


"Usually is," an elderly Nisai woman, Tull, says.
His name is Jerdalim. He's a member of the Hadris Citheldryn Arbitration Committee, the closest thing they have to a ruling body here. Or the closest thing in lieu of her, the supposed Sovereign. Not that they'd listen to a child. Maybe when she grows up they will, but somehow, naggingly, she suspects they'll to find a way around it then, too. It's been a very long time since the sovereign god has ruled here, and it's a far different organisation now.


"But you didn't read it either?" Varras asks her, looking a bit relieved.
"Why?" he asks.


Tersulles sighs. "I must honestly wonder," she says, "What those who hold our organisation in high regard would think if they saw this."
"Because it's absolutely stifling here!" she says. "I can't do anything, I can't have friends, whenever anything goes wrong it's always their fault and they take the fall, even when it's not! I'm the sovereign, the god, so I have to be perfect, and yet I'm a child and you won't even listen to me or let me do anything or anything! You can't even make up your stupid minds!"


"Oh, we're totally professional," Tull says. "We just need to put on our professional faces first. Isn't that right?"
"That's not how it is at all," Jerdalim says. "You just need to grow up, that's all."


"Unequivocally," an Amanstani says. "Arbitrator, come on. Tell us what we need to know to pretend to be professionals."
"You won't let me grow up!" she yells.


Tersulles gives everyone a moment just to see if they care to continue to irritate her before going on. "As you all would know if you had actually read the brief," she says irately, "this is a diplomatic mission to the Magi of the galaxy of Edo. I will be acting as primary ambassador, with Keke Ama as secondary. You all will be acting as assistants and guards, and generally pretending to be real professionals." She glares around at the group. "You all remember which you signed up to be, right?"
Jerdalim gives her a somewhat confused look, and starts to say something.


The agents nod.
Rahah turns and runs away.


"Sure," Amanstani says. "I'm a guard, right?" Her name is in blue, though, clearly marking her as an aid.
It's the wrong way. The way the rest of the yaks went, full of damage... and yaks. But she keeps going anyway, stubborn anger and fear and confusion driving her on as they hop away in surprise at the tiny ball of bushy hair and tears rushing past them. Why did she actually say all that? She doesn't know. She does want to get away, of course, but it's not that important, is it? They respect her so little already, and she knows this won't help, but... but she doesn't even know. It's all a mess, her whole life, and she doesn't know how to deal with any of it. She doesn't even have a dad, like Jerindal does. He lost his mother when he was very small, but she'd never had any parents at all. Been born from a seed of her own creation, she was told. Something she'd set up in a previous life.


Tersulles ignores this. "Because if not, again, you're coloured accordingly," she says. "I also want you to observe the Edo while we do this. See what stands out. See what feels off. There may be undercurrents in their worlds that we do not yet know, and it is your job to follow up on them." She pauses. "That being said, this is a low-priority mission. Should things go... awry, simply get out. Retreat to a safehouse. ''Don't everyone get killed or come pester me about it, or pester me about getting killed.'' Any questions?"
She doesn't remember any of it. Previous lives, being a god, any of it. And yet that is the entire cause of everything wrong now - her past selves setting it all up for this - and so she resents them terribly. That they were all ''her'' only makes it that much worse, somehow.


An apparent Tenenbaume raises a hand slightly.
She curls up in a dark corner, past the destruction and yaks, past the people going on about their lives as they pass from place to place, and winds up amidst the dust of the empty rooms beyond. She cries into her knees, not knowing what else to do.


"Yes?" Tersulles asks.


"Awry how?" Tenenbaume asks.


"Awry," Tersulles responds slowly, building up almost unto hysterics, "Wrong. Problems. Catastrophic failure. Anything from and up to rabid squirrels to imploding planets. Completely overreacting regardless of the situation is fine, as long as you remember your fellow agents and don't get them killed. Please, do not get them killed. Or me. I will be very upset if you get me killed on what is supposed to be a low-priority, low-risk mission to peaceful words."
The Arbitration Committee of the Hadris Citheldryn does more than arbitrate. They also review proposals, among other, even more boring, tasks. Most of the proposals up for consideration now are fairly standard, and this one, submitted by a member they don't know, probably some recruit from the galaxy of Edo itself, fits right in with the rest.


Tenenbaume raises his hand again. "How completely is 'completely overreacting'?" he asks.
The proposal is essentially thus: establish formal diplomatic relations with the Magi of the Edo Commonwealth. It makes some solid points. The Magi are organised, and generally peaceful, unlike their Union counterparts, a loose consortium of warring warlocks who basically run the Union. The Magi safeguard various powerful artefacts, and it would be valuable to ensure these artefacts remain in good hands. The Magi are relatively enlightened, unlike most of the very competitive factions even in the Commonwealth itself. It would be worthwhile to share knowledge and practices, and learn from each other. There's little to lose from a diplomatic mission as a cover for a more thorough evaluation.


"Like if we implode the planet in reaction to rabid squirrels," Tull suggests.
The committee deliberates. They don't bother to meet up, just read through it as they get to it and submit their comments online, replying to each other as need be. Standard practice. Consensus is established tricklingly, until nobody has anything more to add, and the proposal is put in the approved queue.


"That seems excessive," a guy whose name is apparently just 'Aa' says.


"Exactly!" Tull tells him.


"We do want to avoid excessive loss of life, damages, or anything up to or including starting a war," Tersulles replies, regaining her composure.
Rahah gets a notification, and pulls it up warily on her handheld. Strangely, it's nothing bad. A proposal she submitted almost a year ago under another name, almost as a joke, just to see what would happen, has been approved.


Tenenbaume raises his hand again. Tersulles just stares at him.
She stares at it blankly and wipes her eyes, the glow of her handheld illuminating her face, and the dust, and the empty room around her. She hadn't expected this. And yet she'd had a plan with it, sort of. She'd chosen Edo specifically: it was a big galaxy, heavily populated, ''not'' of the elven worlds, and not Artiilie, and yet full of magic. Somewhere, perhaps, that she could disappear. Or be someone else. Or... what? She doesn't remember. It was a half-baked plan from the start, and now it's almost entirely gone.


"Define 'excessive'."


"Gods take me now," Tersulles mutters. "You're not cats. You're... somehow worse. I'm herding something ''worse than cats''."


Nissa goes. She plays the game, starting over, continuing by her own rules. She attends the lessons, even the ones conducted by the masters she ''really'' doesn't like, and goes through the motions, casting the spells. She doesn't even try to do as the masters instruct anymore, simply casting them all her own way, translating them to her own understanding of magic, but even still, none of the Magi seem to notice the difference. She's not sure why: she can see it plain as day. But they simply applaud her apparent talent and tell the others to look at how she's doing it, follow her lead.


And it seems to work. Somehow some of the other students ''are'' learning by watching her. Or do they only think they are, and this is still enough to inspire them to succeed regardless? A sort of magical placebo effect? Nissa isn't really sure, but the Magi approach does seem very much based in feeling, so it would make sense. Hers is more about mapping the perceptions to predictable patterns, like the mathematics of music, playing out in impeccable beauty.


Nissa investigates, but finds nothing. She searches for common Source algorithms, and finds nothing. She writes exploratory comments on discussion boards, and comes back to find them deleted. She starts to be more careful, doesn't write up her own where anyone can see, only when she's alone, or somewhere safe. She pays precise attention to exactly where the accepted maths cut off.
It's in her physics classes that they show surprise. She's very good, a very quick study. She's doing her best to not betray the fact that she knows it all already, of course, but this is very basic stuff. Mechanics. Simple energy. Introductory fields. She wiles away her time mapping more complex concepts back to the Source, and the Source to the very same mathematics as the rest, and sometimes they glance over her shoulder before she realises, and see the equations on her screen. Usually she's just staring blankly, thinking, and so they take the blank stare to mean she doesn't actually know what she's looking at and ignore it. But then someone catches her making some connection, writing down a counterpoint or progression, finishing a proof.


Nissa isn't even sure what it's for. She just followed the maths to the logical conclusion, intending to test it out later. She's just about to go back to staring blankly at it when she realises she is being watched, someone is standing over her, and she looks back suddenly, up.


{{ hidden | 1=
Master Callas is staring down at her screen in wonderment. "I don't believe it," he whispers. "You've solved Alacro's Theorem."


Are these always so... disorganised?
"Huh?" Nissa says blankly. She has, genuinely, no idea what he's talking about, but then she runs a search and pulls up the theorem itself. It's familiar, all right. Not exactly what she was working on, but very close. This isn't something she'd counted on at all, someone recognising what she was doing.


Naw, this one's just starting out a bit bad because it was put together so quickly. You didn't hear this from me, but I hear Tersulles needed an excuse to get offworld, something about her mother in law? So she just kind of rushed it along, and hasn't even slept in several days, on top of everything else.
"Do you mean to say," Callas says slowly, "that you came up with all of that, start to end, on your own?"
And everyone who showed up, well, nobody takes low-priority missions that seriously to begin with, and I guess the timing must have been a bit weird because nearly everyone's a smartass for some reason.


How would the timing do that?
"Uh," Nissa says, pulling up her version next to it. "I just found this on an image board. It's not even the same..." She starts to point to one of the differing bits and then stops, realising her mistake, as usual, all too late. "Oh."


No idea, but this isn't normal, is all I'm saying.
He's not even looking at her tablet anymore, just her. "Come with me," Callas says.
You should get some sleep yourself, you know. There's no telling when we'll get there.


The rest of the class is staring, watching, trying to figure out what's going on. They're oddly quiet.


{{ Maths | 1=
Nissa gets up, follows him. The class watches in utter bemusement as they leave, tense with anticipation.


"That's the problem," Nissa says. "Nobody in Edo knows these maths. They're not published. They're not used. They doesn't exist, as far as we're concerned."
He takes her to his office. "All right," he says. "Let's put it up on the board."


"So?" Aa says.
Nissa glances between the board and her tablet, considering how best to connect them, and then doesn't. There's something amiss with this, something niggling that she can't quite place. She grabs a stylus instead, and starts rewriting it out, referencing the tablet, trying to figure it out as she goes.


Nissa shakes her head incredulously. "So it's been over a thousand years since anyone's made any progress, and nobody's come up with any of this? That's just... it's statistically impossible."
It's fairly normal, as far as she can tell. Straight maths, mapping into the Source.


"What are you saying?" Rahah asks.
And then it occurs to her, all at once, why all their science is stuck. Why the stagnation, why none of the maths have moved on past a point, for so long: that's where the theorem stopped. It's leaving out the Source. They are leaving it out of all of it. Magic is as much a part of mathematics as force or energy, and yet nobody is using it.


"I don't know!" Nissa says desperately, but gestures back to the board. "But I mean, this is right, isn't it?"
She's quick enough to not say anything, maintaining her blank expression, just pausing as she goes, glancing back up at what she's already written. There's no way she could be the first person in a thousand years to realise this. Not in a galaxy this big. Not on both sides of the divide. What happened to all the others?!


"Yeah, looks solid to me," Aa says, reading over it again. "I'd have to reference it back to manuals to be sure, but..."
She writes out the next line, changing one key thing from the proof in her notes.


"What's it used for?" Nissa asks.
She changes the following line to be a progression from that, and continues on, propagating the change through the rest of it, until she gets to the end, and closes the proof. She steps back, pressing her tablet to her chest, screen inward.


"Looks a lot like... some of the shield mechanics stuff?" Rahah suggests, though she isn't quite sure herself. She's used some of that before, but using something and actually learning it are entirely separate matters. She frowns. "Actually if you're starting out with this..." She writes out a different line next to one of the earlier ones, setting it all up. "Continue in the same vein..."
This doesn't make any sense. It's utterly insane. And yet that feeling in her gut, that great seeping dread, it tells her that she's right, against all logic.


They all stop and write out the progression together, filling in various bits.
Callas nods, reading through it, and then just stops. "Wait," he says. "How'd you get this? From Sade's induction to..." he points between the previous line and the one Nissa had changed. "That's not right."


"Yeah," Aa says when they're finished, stepping back. "This, I recognise. This is what you do to make an invisibility field. Plug that into the energy matrix, that maps the flow of magic in order to negate perspective on everything behind it."
"Er," Nissa says, trying to sound as clueless as possible, "you can't do that?"


"And this stuff," Nissa asks. "It all involves magic?"
"No," Callas sighs, but he chuckles regardless. "Still, this is very good, especially at your age."


"Yeah," Aa agrees. "I'd... say so, based on what we've looked at so far."
"So what... can you do there?" Nissa asks.


Rahah gives Nissa a confused look. "Are you suggesting there's some sort of conspiracy in Edo to keep magic and technology separate?" she asks.
Callas writes out another line, slightly different from the changed line, and then just stops. "That's it. That's all you can do. That's the problem," he says. His replacement matches her original. Except unlike his, hers had continued right on from there.


Nissa shakes her head. "I'm not..." she says. "I don't know, but in the Commonwealth... but I mean, whatever is going on..." She looks desperately between the two agents, totally confused.
"Oh," Nissa says. Apparently she'd only barely caught it in time. Or something. In time for what, though, really? What is the deal with that feeling, that terrible dread about all of this?


"We need to get to the bottom of it," Aa says.
The Magi talk about following their feelings often, speaking of the Source guiding them, and up until now Nissa has always just sort of nodded along, not really understanding, figuring it went hand-in-hand with their weird casting in general. But is this what they meant? Is the Source guiding her now, keeping her away from something terrible?


"Yeah..." Rahah agrees. "Whatever it... is."
She gives Callas an uncertain look, masking her fear in confusion.


"Well, yeah," Aa says. "That's why we get to the bottom of it."
He shrugs. "We should get you some proper maths classes," he says.


"To figure out what it is," Rahah says.
They get back, only to find the rest of the class gone.


"Yeah," Aa says.
"I suppose this is why you don't leave a pack of twelve-year-olds unattended," Callas says.


"Yeah," Rahah agrees.
"Well, not without an explanation," Nissa says.


"Yeah," Nissa says, relieved.
"Relax, child," he tells her. "I got overly excited, that's all. You didn't do anything wrong."


"And we all just agreed with each other agreeing with each other," Aa points out.
Nissa isn't so sure about that. She isn't so sure at all.


"Hey, boss lady!" Rahah yells at Tersulles.
== 1 ==


}}


{{ arbcom (original) | 1 =


Veloriun Comb - guy with bubbles
Masassa Anali
Tersulles
Shichiri Miusuke
Hadallis Ran Akore
Naije - a cat
Kanunn
Jerdalim




<screenplay>
Nissa investigates, but finds nothing. She searches for common Source algorithms, and finds nothing. She writes exploratory comments on discussion boards, and comes back to find them deleted. She starts to be more careful, doesn't write up her own where anyone can see, only when she's alone, or somewhere safe. She pays precise attention to exactly where the accepted maths cut off.


INT. Ciphreya: Arbitration Committee chambers - day
}}


It's a wide room, with more windows overlooking the city, but from higher up, here. A large horseshoe-shaped table takes up most of the space, the opening facing the door. At it (or on it) are seated the Committee, of various species: VELORIUN COMB, MASASSA ANALI, TERSULLES, SHICHIRI MIUSUKE, HADALLIS RAN AKORE, NAIJE, and KANUNN. Several other seats are empty. A few of them are talking. Others are working at data pads. Masassa Anali is at the head, looking imposing and somewhat irate at her pad. Tersulles is staring off out a window, tapping a pen on her nose. Naije is a cat, and sitting on the table. Veloriun Comb has what looks suspiciously like a bottle of bubbles in front of him.
}}


Jerdalim goes and takes his seat. The others glance at him enquiringly, and he sighs and gestures toward the door.
{{ hidden | 1=


Rahah enters a moment later, and stops uncertainly at the opening of the horseshoe.
Are these always so... disorganised?


Masassa Anali stands.
Naw, this one's just starting out a bit bad because it was put together so quickly. You didn't hear this from me, but I hear Tersulles needed an excuse to get offworld, something about her mother in law? So she just kind of rushed it along, and hasn't even slept in several days, on top of everything else.
And everyone who showed up, well, nobody takes low-priority missions that seriously to begin with, and I guess the timing must have been a bit weird because nearly everyone's a smartass for some reason.


MASASSA ANALI
How would the timing do that?
Sovereign. On behalf of the Arbitration Committee of the Hadris Citheldryn, welcome.


RAHAH
No idea, but this isn't normal, is all I'm saying.
Hi. Sorry I'm late and smell like a yak.
You should get some sleep yourself, you know. There's no telling when we'll get there.


MASASSA ANALI
(sitting)
I am pleased to inform you that your proposal to initiate formal diplomatic relations with the Magi of Edo has been accepted.


RAHAH
{{ Maths | 1=
(brightening up)
In full?


MASSASSA ANALI
"That's the problem," Nissa says. "Nobody in Edo knows these maths. They're not published. They're not used. They doesn't exist, as far as we're concerned."
There are matters to discuss, of course. Questions to be answered.


NAIJE
"So?" Aa says.
Who will lead this venture?


RAHAH
Nissa shakes her head incredulously. "So it's been over a thousand years since anyone's made any progress, and nobody's come up with any of this? That's just... it's statistically impossible."
I covered that in the proposal. I'll be taking a team of agents-


NAIJE
"What are you saying?" Rahah asks.
(interrupting)
You?! You are a child.


Veloriun blows some bubbles. They drift colourfully over the table. Nobody acknowledges them.
"I don't know!" Nissa says desperately, but gestures back to the board. "But I mean, this is right, isn't it?"


RAHAH
"Yeah, looks solid to me," Aa says, reading over it again. "I'd have to reference it back to manuals to be sure, but..."
I am a qualified agent of the Citheldryn.


Naije snorts a laugh.
"What's it used for?" Nissa asks.


SHICHIRI MIUSUKE
"Looks a lot like... some of the shield mechanics stuff?" Rahah suggests, though she isn't quite sure herself. She's used some of that before, but using something and actually learning it are entirely separate matters. She frowns. "Actually if you're starting out with this..." She writes out a different line next to one of the earlier ones, setting it all up. "Continue in the same vein..."
You lack experience. This would be your first mission.


RAHAH
They all stop and write out the progression together, filling in various bits.
Because you won't let me go on any!


KANNUN
"Yeah," Aa says when they're finished, stepping back. "This, I recognise. This is what you do to make an invisibility field. Plug that into the energy matrix, that maps the flow of magic in order to negate perspective on everything behind it."
(talking over Rahah)
She raises a valid point. She passed all her qualifications. We have little reason not to let her go.


NAIJE
"And this stuff," Nissa asks. "It all involves magic?"
She is the reincarnation of the sovereign. Her endangerment is reason enough even besides.


KANNUN
"Yeah," Aa agrees. "I'd... say so, based on what we've looked at so far."
Bring her as an agent. Protectors will accompany her, and can sequester her in the voidship if needed.


Shichiri shrugs.
Rahah gives Nissa a confused look. "Are you suggesting there's some sort of conspiracy in Edo to keep magic and technology separate?" she asks.


HADALLIS RAN AKORE
Nissa shakes her head. "I'm not..." she says. "I don't know, but in the Commonwealth... but I mean, whatever is going on..." She looks desperately between the two agents, totally confused.
I see no harm in it.


NAIJE
"We need to get to the bottom of it," Aa says.
I suppose...


A bubble lands on Naije's nose. She hisses at it.
"Yeah..." Rahah agrees. "Whatever it... is."


RAHAH
"Well, yeah," Aa says. "That's why we get to the bottom of it."
But...
 
"To figure out what it is," Rahah says.


SHICHIRI MIUSUKE
"Yeah," Aa says.
Who do you want to head this up, then?


JERDALIM
"Yeah," Rahah agrees.
Tersulles?


Tersulles glances over at him enquiringly, twirling her pen.
"Yeah," Nissa says, relieved.


JERDALIM
"And we all just agreed with each other agreeing with each other," Aa points out.
You're our best diplomat.


TERSULLES
"Hey, boss lady!" Rahah yells at Tersulles.
Oh, very well. But since you volunteered me, you get to sort out the paperwork.


}}
}}


{{ party |
{{ arbcom (original) | 1 =


INT. Voidship: main chamber - night
Veloriun Comb - guy with bubbles
 
Masassa Anali
They eventually get going, piling into the main chamber. Aa is in a poofy armchair piloting.  Tersulles is seated at a table pointedly ignoring everyone else. The others are mostly just standing around, the walls around them acting as windows to the city falling away from them outside. The chamber is otherwise full of sofas and tables of very random heights, with some screens floating midair.
Tersulles
 
Shichiri Miusuke
They quickly get out into space, and Rahah stares out at the dwindling planet in fascination.
Hadallis Ran Akore
Naije - a cat
Kanunn
Jerdalim


A moment later, the stars blur and disappear.


KEKE AMA
<screenplay>
(miming utter horror)
Oh gods what is this we're in space how how how is that even whaaaaat?


She flails a bit to emphasise her point.
INT. Ciphreya: Arbitration Committee chambers - day


Tull just stares at her.
It's a wide room, with more windows overlooking the city, but from higher up, here. A large horseshoe-shaped table takes up most of the space, the opening facing the door. At it (or on it) are seated the Committee, of various species: VELORIUN COMB, MASASSA ANALI, TERSULLES, SHICHIRI MIUSUKE, HADALLIS RAN AKORE, NAIJE, and KANUNN. Several other seats are empty. A few of them are talking. Others are working at data pads. Masassa Anali is at the head, looking imposing and somewhat irate at her pad. Tersulles is staring off out a window, tapping a pen on her nose. Naije is a cat, and sitting on the table. Veloriun Comb has what looks suspiciously like a bottle of bubbles in front of him.


KEKE AMA
Jerdalim goes and takes his seat. The others glance at him enquiringly, and he sighs and gestures toward the door.
(stopping)
You people are no fun.


AA
Rahah enters a moment later, and stops uncertainly at the opening of the horseshoe.
This'll be a few hours, kids. Get comfortable and stop freaking out our resident Tersulles, please.


Tersulles looks up, and then hastily goes back to her pad.
Masassa Anali stands.


}}
MASASSA ANALI
Sovereign. On behalf of the Arbitration Committee of the Hadris Citheldryn, welcome.


{{ heist (original) | 1=
RAHAH
Hi. Sorry I'm late and smell like a yak.


INT. Gorgon Tower: training room - afternoon
MASASSA ANALI
(sitting)
I am pleased to inform you that your proposal to initiate formal diplomatic relations with the Magi of Edo has been accepted.


A class is going on. It's a large room, but they're not really using the space: several apprentices are standing around a master Magi, DAMORIN. One apprentice, NISSA, is off the side, leaning against a wall.
RAHAH
(brightening up)
In full?


MASTER DAMORIN
MASSASSA ANALI
Hold the shape in your mind - picture it, know it, feel it.
There are matters to discuss, of course. Questions to be answered.


A few of the apprentices look confused. A couple start making the shape of a ball with their hands. Nissa just remains as she is, watching.
NAIJE
Who will lead this venture?


MASTER DAMORIN
RAHAH
(nodding)
I covered that in the proposal. I'll be taking a team of agents-
Now make the shape with your hands. Feel it fill them - guide the energy to become.


The apprentices shape out a ball. Some of their hands fill with light. One of them draws his light up and tries to throw it at the ceiling, but it fizzles out first. Another, ZHANA, has nothing happen for a bit, before her hands suddenly catch fire. She shakes them out, trying to get rid of the fire, and then starts screaming for help.
NAIJE
(interrupting)
You?! You are a child.


APPRENTICE ZHANA
Veloriun blows some bubbles. They drift colourfully over the table. Nobody acknowledges them.
Agh agh ow agh get it off get it off!


Damorin hurries over to the burning apprentice and grabs her hands, putting out the fire and healing them.
RAHAH
I am a qualified agent of the Citheldryn.


APPRENTICE ZHANA
Naije snorts a laugh.
(staring at her hands)
Ow.


MASTER DAMORIN
SHICHIRI MIUSUKE
(turning toward Nissa)
You lack experience. This would be your first mission.
Nissa?


Nissa holds up a finger and a point of light appears over it.
RAHAH
Because you won't let me go on any!


MASTER DAMORIN
KANNUN
Good.
(talking over Rahah)
She raises a valid point. She passed all her qualifications. We have little reason not to let her go.


He turns back to the others.
NAIJE
She is the reincarnation of the sovereign. Her endangerment is reason enough even besides.


MASTER DAMORIN
KANNUN
Let's all try that again. Know what you want, and form the shape in your minds...
Bring her as an agent. Protectors will accompany her, and can sequester her in the voidship if needed.


Shichiri shrugs.


HADALLIS RAN AKORE
I see no harm in it.


NAIJE
I suppose...


A bubble lands on Naije's nose. She hisses at it.


RAHAH
But...


SHICHIRI MIUSUKE
Who do you want to head this up, then?


JERDALIM
Tersulles?


INT. Gorgon Tower: training room - late afternoon
Tersulles glances over at him enquiringly, twirling her pen.


Nissa turns around in surprise. Damorin has a hand on her shoulder, looking concerned.
JERDALIM
You're our best diplomat.


The other apprentices are all gone.
TERSULLES
Oh, very well. But since you volunteered me, you get to sort out the paperwork.


MASTER DAMORIN
}}
Are you well?


NISSA
{{ party |
Yeah, sure. What...
(she looks around)
How long was I...?


MASTER DAMORIN
INT. Voidship: main chamber - night
The class just ended.


NISSA
They eventually get going, piling into the main chamber. Aa is in a poofy armchair piloting. Tersulles is seated at a table pointedly ignoring everyone else. The others are mostly just standing around, the walls around them acting as windows to the city falling away from them outside. The chamber is otherwise full of sofas and tables of very random heights, with some screens floating midair.
Oh. Uh...


MASTER DAMORIN
They quickly get out into space, and Rahah stares out at the dwindling planet in fascination.
What were you doing?


NISSA
A moment later, the stars blur and disappear.
(turning bright red and looking away)
Nothing. I... nothing.


Damorin frowns.
KEKE AMA
(miming utter horror)
Oh gods what is this we're in space how how how is that even whaaaaat?


MASTER DAMORIN
She flails a bit to emphasise her point.
I understand your desire to move on to more advanced magics, but the rules are the rules. You must complete your basic training.


NISSA
Tull just stares at her.
Why? I can do all this already. It's just... basic stuff. I could not show up at all and still ace the tests.


MASTER DAMORIN
KEKE AMA
But you do. And you must. For control.
(stopping)
You people are no fun.


NISSA
AA
I have better control already than some of the advanced apprentices.
This'll be a few hours, kids. Get comfortable and stop freaking out our resident Tersulles, please.
 
Tersulles looks up, and then hastily goes back to her pad.


MASTER DAMORIN
}}
True. But your impatience does you no credit, either.


NISSA
{{ heist (original) | 1=
At least you understand. Some of the masters just get so mean about it. It's not my fault this all comes so naturally!


MASTER DAMORIN
INT. Gorgon Tower: training room - afternoon
You are a Magi, Nissa. Your power is your burden, and you must shoulder it as such. If your power is greater, then so your control must be even more so. Where others may scrape by with acceptables, you must exceed, or you place us all at risk. Do you understand?


NISSA
A class is going on. It's a large room, but they're not really using the space: several apprentices are standing around a master Magi, DAMORIN. One apprentice, NISSA, is off the side, leaning against a wall.
Uh...


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
You don't need to follow the lessons exactly. But show up. Witness how the others learn. Practice yourself. That will still be worthwhile.
Hold the shape in your mind - picture it, know it, feel it.


NISSA
A few of the apprentices look confused. A couple start making the shape of a ball with their hands. Nissa just remains as she is, watching.
For things I could do in my sleep? How can that...


An explosion shakes the tower, and a somewhat horrifying creak rumbles through its frame a moment after.
MASTER DAMORIN
(nodding)
Now make the shape with your hands. Feel it fill them - guide the energy to become.


Nissa nearly falls over before quickly recovering herself. Damorin sticks out a hand to steady himself, and cocks his head.
The apprentices shape out a ball. Some of their hands fill with light. One of them draws his light up and tries to throw it at the ceiling, but it fizzles out first. Another, ZHANA, has nothing happen for a bit, before her hands suddenly catch fire. She shakes them out, trying to get rid of the fire, and then starts screaming for help.


NISSA
APPRENTICE ZHANA
What was that?
Agh agh ow agh get it off get it off!
 
Damorin hurries over to the burning apprentice and grabs her hands, putting out the fire and healing them.
 
APPRENTICE ZHANA
(staring at her hands)
Ow.


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
I don't sense anything.
(turning toward Nissa)
Nissa?
 
Nissa holds up a finger and a point of light appears over it.


NISSA
MASTER DAMORIN
Warlocks?
Good.


Damorin gives Nissa a look, and then hurries off toward the door. He sweeps a hand in a circle off to his side, summoning a disk under him, which lifts him a bit off the ground.
He turns back to the others.


Nissa runs up and hops on the disk as well as it carries him off.
MASTER DAMORIN
Let's all try that again. Know what you want, and form the shape in your minds...




INT. Gorgon Tower: exploded area - late afternoon


The area is somewhat exploded, with chunks of things and various whatnots around, but nothing terribly structural seems damaged. Wounded people are also around, with Magi healers tending to them. A few are outright dead.


Master Damorin and Nissa fly in through a window, Damorin standing confidently in place and Nissa sitting next to him clinging kind of desperately to his legs, totally ruining the effect.


Damorin glides over toward some folks who don't seem so busy as the others. One of them is a bit singed.


MASTER DAMORIN
(stopping in front of them)
What happened here?


Nissa stops clinging to his legs as soon as the disk stops.


SINGED GUY
INT. Gorgon Tower: training room - late afternoon
(gesturing really big with his arms)
Like boom.


NISSA
Nissa turns around in surprise. Damorin has a hand on her shoulder, looking concerned.
We figured that much out already.


SINGED GUY
The other apprentices are all gone.
Well, like, I dunno. Everything was normal. And then boom.


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
No sign of anything amiss prior? Anyone acting suspicious?
Are you well?
 
SINGED GUY
No, man, it was normal. Normal!


NISSA
NISSA
Someone could have put an explosive down before and...
Yeah, sure. What...
We're in the wrong place. This was just the distraction.
(she looks around)
How long was I...?


Damorin guides the disk on away from the others.
MASTER DAMORIN
The class just ended.


Nissa barely manages to avoid yelping and clinging to his legs again.
NISSA
Oh. Uh...


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
I agree. But from what?
What were you doing?


NISSA
NISSA
I dunno, if you were blowing up Gorgon Tower, what would you be trying to distract from?
(turning bright red and looking away)
What's rather distant from here and generally full of magi?
Nothing. I... nothing.
 
Damorin frowns.


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
Many things, I fear.
I understand your desire to move on to more advanced magics, but the rules are the rules. You must complete your basic training.


NISSA
NISSA
What is all that and has anything warlocks might be after?
Why? I can do all this already. It's just... basic stuff. I could not show up at all and still ace the tests.


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
Why do you suspect warlocks?
But you do. And you must. For control.


NISSA
NISSA
You don't sense anything, I don't. No intent, no malice. Nothing. Aaaaagh.
I have better control already than some of the advanced apprentices.
(she cowers down on the disk a bit, clinging to the edge)
It's like there's nobody here, and the only way you get that is if you're actively shielded. Why would anyone not magic shield themselves?
 
Damorin nods, but Nissa is not paying any attention whatsoever to him, and instead squeezing her eyes shut and barely managing to avoid panicking.


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
Very good.
True. But your impatience does you no credit, either.


NISSA
NISSA
(opening an eye)
At least you understand. Some of the masters just get so mean about it. It's not my fault this all comes so naturally!
So that leaves a few obvious options, right? The council, the archives, engineering, that thing nobody ever talks about in Seres Tower.


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
Let's take a wild guess and check the archives.
You are a Magi, Nissa. Your power is your burden, and you must shoulder it as such. If your power is greater, then so your control must be even more so. Where others may scrape by with acceptables, you must exceed, or you place us all at risk. Do you understand?


He zips the disk back out anther missing window.
NISSA
Uh...


Nissa shrieks and grabs his legs again.
MASTER DAMORIN
You don't need to follow the lessons exactly. But show up. Witness how the others learn. Practice yourself. That will still be worthwhile.


NISSA
For things I could do in my sleep? How can that...


EXT. Magi compound - evening
An explosion shakes the tower, and a somewhat horrifying creak rumbles through its frame a moment after.


They fly out over the open air between towers, headed for an even taller, bigger tower, rising quickly to regain the height they'd previously lost. All of the Magi towers are much taller, fancier, and bigger than the surrounding city, but this one, the Atlas Tower, is the tallest of all.
Nissa nearly falls over before quickly recovering herself. Damorin sticks out a hand to steady himself, and cocks his head.


It's a bit like Nissa's dream vision, but much windier, and for this she spends the entire time clinging to Damorin.
NISSA
What was that?


Damorin raises a hand as they approach the Atlas Tower, and then opens a portal through the wall. They zip in through it and the portal closes behind them.
MASTER DAMORIN
I don't sense anything.


NISSA
Warlocks?


INT. Atlas Tower: archives - evening
Damorin gives Nissa a look, and then hurries off toward the door. He sweeps a hand in a circle off to his side, summoning a disk under him, which lifts him a bit off the ground.


The archives look normal enough: shelves of books, scrolls, and other things cover the walls. Tables with terminals take up much of the rest of the space.
Nissa runs up and hops on the disk as well as it carries him off.


Damorin and Nissa glide in through one of the side rooms out into the main room, before Damorin finally dismisses the disk and drops back to the floor. Nissa falls on her arse and just sits there in relief for a moment, looking around.


NISSA
INT. Gorgon Tower: exploded area - late afternoon
Well, nobody's here.
 
The area is somewhat exploded, with chunks of things and various whatnots around, but nothing terribly structural seems damaged. Wounded people are also around, with Magi healers tending to them. A few are outright dead.


DAMORIN
Master Damorin and Nissa fly in through a window, Damorin standing confidently in place and Nissa sitting next to him clinging kind of desperately to his legs, totally ruining the effect.
Shh. Listen.


They stand and sit, respectively, in silence for a moment. The soft buzz of the terminals fills the silence, covering other sounds in the structure of the building: a vague creak as the structure shifts, sounds of mechanical parts, and plumbing. Footsteps in another room. Breathing: one heavy, one rapid, one perfectly, deadly calm. Another, slightly less calm. Heartbeats. A voice. The rapid one.
Damorin glides over toward some folks who don't seem so busy as the others. One of them is a bit singed.


LIRIEN MAYASU
MASTER DAMORIN
We're in, master.
(stopping in front of them)
What happened here?


Nissa glances up at Damorin inquiringly.
Nissa stops clinging to his legs as soon as the disk stops.


MASTER DAMORIN
SINGED GUY
They're here. Three of them.
(gesturing really big with his arms)
(he glances down at Nissa, smiling slightly)
Like boom.
Warlocks.


NISSA
NISSA
(starting out kind of happy and then just sounding disappointed)
We figured that much out already.
Uh... oh.
 
SINGED GUY
Well, like, I dunno. Everything was normal. And then boom.


MASTER DAMORIN
MASTER DAMORIN
You may follow, but stay back, and keep a shield ready.
No sign of anything amiss prior? Anyone acting suspicious?


Damorin heads off toward the sounds.
SINGED GUY
No, man, it was normal. Normal!


Nissa follows after him, brightening up considerably.
NISSA
Someone could have put an explosive down before and...
We're in the wrong place. This was just the distraction.


Damorin guides the disk on away from the others.


INT. Atlas Tower: collections - evening
Nissa barely manages to avoid yelping and clinging to his legs again.


MASTER DAMORIN
I agree. But from what?


NISSA
I dunno, if you were blowing up Gorgon Tower, what would you be trying to distract from?
What's rather distant from here and generally full of magi?


Lirien Mayasu is opening a case.
MASTER DAMORIN
Many things, I fear.


Yoishe is kneeling by the wall, holding herself perfectly still.
NISSA
What is all that and has anything warlocks might be after?


Dazroth is holding a glowing blue sword to Yoishe's throat.
MASTER DAMORIN
Why do you suspect warlocks?


Horgon is standing a bit off to the side, holding a very large gun like a cherished child.
NISSA
You don't sense anything, I don't. No intent, no malice. Nothing. Aaaaagh.
(she cowers down on the disk a bit, clinging to the edge)
It's like there's nobody here, and the only way you get that is if you're actively shielded. Why would anyone not magic shield themselves?


Damorin stops at the doorway, and Horgon cheerfully points his gun at him.
Damorin nods, but Nissa is not paying any attention whatsoever to him, and instead squeezing her eyes shut and barely managing to avoid panicking.


HORGON
MASTER DAMORIN
(grinning)
Very good.
Looks like it's a party!


YOISHE
NISSA
Damorin...
(opening an eye)
So that leaves a few obvious options, right? The council, the archives, engineering, that thing nobody ever talks about in Seres Tower.


Dazroth silences her by moving his blade slightly closer. A tendril of smoke rises off the edge.
MASTER DAMORIN
Let's take a wild guess and check the archives.


DAZROTH
He zips the disk back out anther missing window.
Shhh, my sweet.
(to Damorin)
You would be wise to come no closer. Let us finish what we came to do, and there will be no more suffering.


MASTER DAMORIN
Nissa shrieks and grabs his legs again.
And what is that, exactly?


Dazroth smiles slightly.


Nissa pokes her head in around Damorin.
EXT. Magi compound - evening
 
They fly out over the open air between towers, headed for an even taller, bigger tower, rising quickly to regain the height they'd previously lost. All of the Magi towers are much taller, fancier, and bigger than the surrounding city, but this one, the Atlas Tower, is the tallest of all.


NISSA
It's a bit like Nissa's dream vision, but much windier, and for this she spends the entire time clinging to Damorin.
Hi. Can I watch?
 
Damorin raises a hand as they approach the Atlas Tower, and then opens a portal through the wall. They zip in through it and the portal closes behind them.


DAZROTH
Of course.


MASTER DAMORIN
INT. Atlas Tower: archives - evening
(warningly)
Nissa...


NISSA
The archives look normal enough: shelves of books, scrolls, and other things cover the walls. Tables with terminals take up much of the rest of the space.
Hey, if he's fine with it...


Nissa scoots inside and stops a short distance from Lirien Mayasu.
Damorin and Nissa glide in through one of the side rooms out into the main room, before Damorin finally dismisses the disk and drops back to the floor. Nissa falls on her arse and just sits there in relief for a moment, looking around.


NISSA
NISSA
Whatcha doing?
Well, nobody's here.
 
DAMORIN
Shh. Listen.


Horgon gives Nissa a considering look, and then points his gun at her, instead.
They stand and sit, respectively, in silence for a moment. The soft buzz of the terminals fills the silence, covering other sounds in the structure of the building: a vague creak as the structure shifts, sounds of mechanical parts, and plumbing. Footsteps in another room. Breathing: one heavy, one rapid, one perfectly, deadly calm. Another, slightly less calm. Heartbeats. A voice. The rapid one.


LIRIEN MAYASU
LIRIEN MAYASU
These cases are rigged to remove all items if they detect improper opening. I need to find the correct methods working backwards and then execute them exactly.
We're in, master.


NISSA
Nissa glances up at Damorin inquiringly.
By scoping it out with magic?


LIRIEN MAYASU
MASTER DAMORIN
Yes.
They're here. Three of them.
(he glances down at Nissa, smiling slightly)
Warlocks.


NISSA
NISSA
Cool.
(starting out kind of happy and then just sounding disappointed)
Uh... oh.


</screenplay>
MASTER DAMORIN
You may follow, but stay back, and keep a shield ready.


}}
Damorin heads off toward the sounds.


{{ Credit (original) | 1=
Nissa follows after him, brightening up considerably.


<screenplay>


GUY
INT. Atlas Tower: collections - evening
Sovereign. This may be of interest to you.


The guy holds out a golden card.


RAHAH
What is it?


GUY
Lirien Mayasu is opening a case.
Currency. Credit, specifically.


He hands Rahah the card, and she turns it about, catching the light on it.
Yoishe is kneeling by the wall, holding herself perfectly still.


GUY
Dazroth is holding a glowing blue sword to Yoishe's throat.
You just tap that to pay, most places. Spend it on whatever you want. We have plenty.


RAHAH
Horgon is standing a bit off to the side, holding a very large gun like a cherished child.
How much is plenty?


The guy smirks.
Damorin stops at the doorway, and Horgon cheerfully points his gun at him.


GUY
HORGON
Plenty. Just... if you want to buy a planet or something, do let us know first, okay?
(grinning)
Looks like it's a party!


Rahah looks at him in surprise, and then the card.
YOISHE
Damorin...


Tersulles sighs disapprovingly.
Dazroth silences her by moving his blade slightly closer. A tendril of smoke rises off the edge.


DAZROTH
Shhh, my sweet.
(to Damorin)
You would be wise to come no closer. Let us finish what we came to do, and there will be no more suffering.


</screenplay>
MASTER DAMORIN
And what is that, exactly?


}}
Dazroth smiles slightly.


{{ Pick up job (original) | 1=
Nissa pokes her head in around Damorin.


<screenplay>
NISSA
Hi. Can I watch?


INT. Somewhat seedy restaurant - day
DAZROTH
Of course.


Rahah and Nissa sit down at a free table and look around a bit in bemusement.
MASTER DAMORIN
(warningly)
Nissa...


A HOLOGRAM of a generic waitress pops up on the table.
NISSA
Hey, if he's fine with it...


HOLOGRAM
Nissa scoots inside and stops a short distance from Lirien Mayasu.
Anything to drink, ladies?
 
RAHAH
Uh, yes. We'd like... drinks.


NISSA
NISSA
Yes.
Whatcha doing?


HOLOGRAM
Horgon gives Nissa a considering look, and then points his gun at her, instead.
Could you please repeat that?


RAHAH
LIRIEN MAYASU
Drinks.
These cases are rigged to remove all items if they detect improper opening. I need to find the correct methods working backwards and then execute them exactly.
 
NISSA
By scoping it out with magic?


HOLOGRAM
LIRIEN MAYASU
Item is not found on the menu. Would you like a list of all available items?
Yes.


NISSA
NISSA
Are any of them full of bees?
Cool.


HOLOGRAM
</screenplay>
Could you please repeat that?


A well-dressed but somewhat scarred man, COMNEN, slips into the spare seat.
}}


COMNEN
{{ Credit (original) | 1=
I understand you have a job for me.


HOLOGRAM
<screenplay>
Could you please repeat that?


COMNEN
GUY
Shut up.
Sovereign. This may be of interest to you.


HOLOGRAM
The guy holds out a golden card.
Could you please repeat that?


COMNEN
RAHAH
Bottle of vodka and five glasses.
What is it?


HOLOGRAM
GUY
(brightly)
Currency. Credit, specifically.
Coming right up!


NISSA
He hands Rahah the card, and she turns it about, catching the light on it.
Five?


COMNEN
GUY
You have anyone else coming?
You just tap that to pay, most places. Spend it on whatever you want. We have plenty.


NISSA
RAHAH
No?
How much is plenty?


COMNEN
The guy smirks.
Oh. Well, whatever. You looking to hire me or not?


NISSA
GUY
Well, yeah, maybe.
Plenty. Just... if you want to buy a planet or something, do let us know first, okay?


RAHAH
Rahah looks at him in surprise, and then the card.
You any good at transporting... questionable items?


COMNEN
Tersulles sighs disapprovingly.
You know that's basically my entire job description, right?
A totally legitimate transport enterprise, of course, but sometimes with problems. Solved. In the process.


Nissa nods skeptically and looks at Rahah for help.


RAHAH
</screenplay>
Er, we don't really get out much.


COMNEN
}}
And what exactly did you want me to do?


NISSA
{{ Pick up job (original) | 1=
Pick up and transport.


COMNEN
<screenplay>
And the problem?


RAHAH
INT. Somewhat seedy restaurant - day
The pickup is from the Atlas Tower of the Magi compound, and the transport is kind of in... Union space.


Comnen stares at them blankly.
Rahah and Nissa sit down at a free table and look around a bit in bemusement.


COMNEN
A HOLOGRAM of a generic waitress pops up on the table.
(finally)
What.


NISSA
HOLOGRAM
We'll get the item to you. We simply need a pickup after.
Anything to drink, ladies?


COMNEN
RAHAH
Wasn't there a... situation there not a few days ago? Some sort of robbery then too? Did that have anything to do with you?
Uh, yes. We'd like... drinks.


NISSA
NISSA
Why? Does this worry you?
Yes.


COMNEN
HOLOGRAM
Yes?
Could you please repeat that?


RAHAH
RAHAH
It's okay. They like us there.
Drinks.
 
HOLOGRAM
Item is not found on the menu. Would you like a list of all available items?


NISSA
NISSA
No they don't.
Are any of them full of bees?


RAHAH
HOLOGRAM
(giving Nissa an annoyed look)
Could you please repeat that?
Well, they like ''you''.


NISSA
A well-dressed but somewhat scarred man, COMNEN, slips into the spare seat.
(uncertainly)
Er...


Rahah gives her a worried look.
COMNEN
I understand you have a job for me.


RAHAH
HOLOGRAM
Okay, look. The initial thing wasn't us, wasn't even related to us. This is just another thing. You show up, pick us up. If we don't show up in an hour...
Could you please repeat that?
(she turns to Nissa)
It is an hour, right?


NISSA
COMNEN
Huh?
Shut up.


RAHAH
HOLOGRAM
The parking permits. They're an hour, right?
Could you please repeat that?


NISSA
COMNEN
Oh, yeah.
Bottle of vodka and five glasses.
(to Comnen; catching on)
You'll have a permit and stuff. Just show up, park, and we'll come out to you. If we don't come out before it expires, just leave.


RAHAH
HOLOGRAM
Perfectly legal.
(brightly)
Coming right up!
 
NISSA
Five?


COMNEN
COMNEN
How are you getting me a parking permit, exactly?
You have anyone else coming?


RAHAH
NISSA
Let us sort that out.
No?


COMNEN
COMNEN
No, really. Not everyone on my crew is strictly legal, if you know what I mean, so it's going to have to be a real permit.
Oh. Well, whatever. You looking to hire me or not?


NISSA
NISSA
No, no, it's real. We're Magi. Sort of. It'll work. I mean, it might be stolen, but...
Well, yeah, maybe.


Comnen sighs.
RAHAH
You any good at transporting... questionable items?


COMNEN
COMNEN
(skeptically)
You know that's basically my entire job description, right?
Do you even have credit?
A totally legitimate transport enterprise, of course, but sometimes with problems. Solved. In the process.


Nissa looks at Rahah uncertainly.
Nissa nods skeptically and looks at Rahah for help.


RAHAH
RAHAH
Yes.
Er, we don't really get out much.


COMNEN
COMNEN
I'll need 50 thousand.
And what exactly did you want me to do?


RAHAH
NISSA
Okay.
Pick up and transport.


COMNEN
COMNEN
Half of that up front.
And the problem?


RAHAH
RAHAH
That's fine.
The pickup is from the Atlas Tower of the Magi compound, and the transport is kind of in... Union space.


Nissa gapes.
Comnen stares at them blankly.


COMNEN
COMNEN
(surprised)
(finally)
Well. Then I suppose we have ourselves a deal.
What.


</screenplay>
NISSA
We'll get the item to you. We simply need a pickup after.


}}
COMNEN
Wasn't there a... situation there not a few days ago? Some sort of robbery then too? Did that have anything to do with you?


{{ Pickup (original) | 1=
NISSA
Why? Does this worry you?


<screenplay>
COMNEN
Yes?


INT. Atlas Tower: collections - morning
RAHAH
It's okay. They like us there.


NISSA
No they don't.


RAHAH
(giving Nissa an annoyed look)
Well, they like ''you''.


NISSA
(uncertainly)
Er...


EXT. Atlas Tower: lot - morning
Rahah gives her a worried look.


Comnen is standing outside his ship, having a smoke. A ROBED MAGI approaches him.
RAHAH
Okay, look. The initial thing wasn't us, wasn't even related to us. This is just another thing. You show up, pick us up. If we don't show up in an hour...
(she turns to Nissa)
It is an hour, right?


ROBED MAGI
NISSA
Evening.
Huh?


COMNEN
RAHAH
Hey.
The parking permits. They're an hour, right?


ROBED MAGI
NISSA
What brings you here?
Oh, yeah.
(to Comnen; catching on)
You'll have a permit and stuff. Just show up, park, and we'll come out to you. If we don't come out before it expires, just leave.
 
RAHAH
Perfectly legal.


COMNEN
COMNEN
Job.
How are you getting me a parking permit, exactly?


ROBED MAGI
RAHAH
Oh?
Let us sort that out.
 
Comnen shrugs.


COMNEN
COMNEN
Didn't ask.
No, really. Not everyone on my crew is strictly legal, if you know what I mean, so it's going to have to be a real permit.


The Magi nods and goes a bit past to look out over the view. There's a view.
NISSA
No, no, it's real. We're Magi. Sort of. It'll work. I mean, it might be stolen, but...


The door to the Atlas tower opens and Rahah and Nissa run out, Nissa manhandling a large floating crate, and Rahah lagging a bit behind.
Comnen sighs.


The door closes behind them, and then reopens a moment later.
COMNEN
(skeptically)
Do you even have credit?


A RUNNING MAGI comes out after them.
Nissa looks at Rahah uncertainly.


RAHAH
RAHAH
Shit shit shit shit shit!
Yes.


Rahah runs faster, getting ahead of Nissa, and then, weaving her arms over her head, casts to hurl the crate up and over them at Comnen.
COMNEN
I'll need 50 thousand.


The running Magi chasing them throws a ball of lightning, which Rahah ducks.
RAHAH
Okay.


COMNEN
COMNEN
(backing up)
Half of that up front.
What the...
 
RAHAH
That's fine.


The crate nearly hits a the ground a few meters in front of him, before its levitating supports get it back up again, and it slides toward him.
Nissa gapes.


RUNNING MAGI
COMNEN
Hey!
(surprised)
Well. Then I suppose we have ourselves a deal.


The robed Magi stops the crate with a wave of his hand, draws his sword, and advances on Rahah and Nissa.
</screenplay>


ROBED MAGI
}}
Stop.


NISSA
{{ Pickup (original) | 1=
(slowing)
Oh crap...


Rahah pulls out one of her weapons and makes a sword with it as well, not stopping.
<screenplay>


Comnent pulls an earpiece out of his pocket and hastily puts it on.
INT. Atlas Tower: collections - morning
 
COMNEN
Sokar. Sokar?


He fiddles at the earpiece a bit.


COMNEN
(backing toward his ship)
Sokar!
...fuck. Right.


The robed Magi stops and gestures a symbol in the air in front of him, and a beam of light spears down out of the sky at Rahah.


The running Magi chasing them nearly grabs Nissa, but she twists away and retaliates with a blast of pure force, shoving the Magi back.
EXT. Atlas Tower: lot - morning


NISSA
Comnen is standing outside his ship, having a smoke. A ROBED MAGI approaches him.
(recoiling)
...oh gods. I just did that. I just did that!


Rahah holds her sword up over he head, turning it into a shield, which absorbs the force of the beam as she runs through it.
ROBED MAGI
Evening.


COMNEN
COMNEN
(yelling at Nissa)
Hey.
Hey, girl! Get your crate!


Comnen turns and runs into the ship.
ROBED MAGI
What brings you here?


Nissa startles and recovers herself, finds the crate, and runs for that, instead.
COMNEN
Job.


The robed Magi moves to block Nissa's path, but Rahah jumps at him, drawing her other weapon too, attacking all out with two double-bladed swords, forcing him to fend her off instead. He parries and ripostes with his sword, and then knocks Rahah back with a blast of energy when she blocks with one of her swords.
ROBED MAGI
Oh?


Rahah shoots at him instead, and dances around him as he whips a chain of crackling lightning at her, still guarding with his sword.
Comnen shrugs.


ROBED MAGI
COMNEN
Stop this nonsense. I have no wish to harm you.
Didn't ask.


RAHAH
The Magi nods and goes a bit past to look out over the view. There's a view.
Yeah, well...


Rahah jumps back, swinging the swords at him and turning them on and off as needed, but he deflects each attack with a flick of his fingers.
The door to the Atlas tower opens and Rahah and Nissa run out, Nissa manhandling a large floating crate, and Rahah lagging a bit behind.


Nissa gets to the crate and shoves it back toward the ship, and then gives chase after it.
The door closes behind them, and then reopens a moment later.


The robed Magi jumps toward Nissa, and Rahah jumps in front of him, blocking his path, swinging her swords in tandem. He knocks the blades aside unnaturally quickly with his own sword, and turns it into a thrust right at her, which she blocks with one, but only barely. He presses the advantage, pushing both his sword and Rahah's plasma blade closer to her face. She turns off her spare and braces it against the other in attempt to push back.
A RUNNING MAGI comes out after them.


Nissa shoves the crate up the ramp into the ship, just as it starts to take off, and jumps onto the ramp after it.
RAHAH
Shit shit shit shit shit!


NISSA
Rahah runs faster, getting ahead of Nissa, and then, weaving her arms over her head, casts to hurl the crate up and over them at Comnen.
Rahah!


Rahah dodges to the side, letting the sword fall past her, and then swings back at the Magi as he comes around for another one-handed swing as well, black flames tricking down his free hand, and a series of impossible swings and parries and blocks ensue as the flames begin to build.
The running Magi chasing them throws a ball of lightning, which Rahah ducks.


Nissa gathers up a ball of swirling energies in her own hands as the ship continues to slowly rise.
COMNEN
(backing up)
What the...


NISSA
The crate nearly hits a the ground a few meters in front of him, before its levitating supports get it back up again, and it slides toward him.
(insistently)
RAHAH!


Rahah jumps up, sailing into the air, and the Magi throws the black flames after her. She casts her swords out to the sides, forming the blades into a shield around her even as she continues to rise, and the flames hit a moment later, exploding over this bubble.
RUNNING MAGI
Hey!


Nissa hurls her own ball of energy down at the Magi, and he drops to the ground, covering himself in a shield. The running Magi hurries toward him.
The robed Magi stops the crate with a wave of his hand, draws his sword, and advances on Rahah and Nissa.


Nissa grabs Rahah and yanks her onto the the ship's cargo ramp as well, and they run inside.
ROBED MAGI
Stop.


NISSA
(slowing)
Oh crap...


INT. Shades Softly: cargo hold
Rahah pulls out one of her weapons and makes a sword with it as well, not stopping.


Nissa and Rahah find themselves in a cargo hold full of random stuff, past an inner door for the airlock. The crate has bonked into a heap of stuff and stopped.
Comnent pulls an earpiece out of his pocket and hastily puts it on.


COMNEN
COMNEN
(over the intercom)
Sokar. Sokar?
Are you idiots on? If so, shut the door and get up here!


RAHAH
He fiddles at the earpiece a bit.
(putting her weapons away)
What?


Nissa bonks a large button by the door, and the door closes and the ramp retracts.
COMNEN
(backing toward his ship)
Sokar!
...fuck. Right.


NISSA
The robed Magi stops and gestures a symbol in the air in front of him, and a beam of light spears down out of the sky at Rahah.
(sounding resigned)
This way, I think.


The running Magi chasing them nearly grabs Nissa, but she twists away and retaliates with a blast of pure force, shoving the Magi back.


INT. Shades Softly: cockpit
NISSA
(recoiling)
...oh gods. I just did that. I just did that!


The cockpit is a cockpit with windows, screens, and consoles. A pilot and copilot seat are in front, with two seats behind them. Comnen is in the pilot seat, taking the ship rapidly up into the upper atmosphere.
Rahah holds her sword up over he head, turning it into a shield, which absorbs the force of the beam as she runs through it.


COMNEN
COMNEN
Nice of you to join us. Now strap yourselves in before things start to get interesting, eh?
(yelling at Nissa)
Hey, girl! Get your crate!
 
Comnen turns and runs into the ship.


NISSA
Nissa startles and recovers herself, finds the crate, and runs for that, instead.
(taking the seat behind him)
Interesting how?


Rahah takes the copilot seat and tries to figure out the buckles for a moment before getting it.
The robed Magi moves to block Nissa's path, but Rahah jumps at him, drawing her other weapon too, attacking all out with two double-bladed swords, forcing him to fend her off instead. He parries and ripostes with his sword, and then knocks Rahah back with a blast of energy when she blocks with one of her swords.


COMNEN
Rahah shoots at him instead, and dances around him as he whips a chain of crackling lightning at her, still guarding with his sword.
No way your Magi friends aren't reporting that. We have a few minutes, maybe, but... ever run from cops, girls?


They slip into a lane of ship traffic headed offworld.
ROBED MAGI
 
Stop this nonsense. I have no wish to harm you.
NISSA
Er... no?


RAHAH
RAHAH
Is it fun?
Yeah, well...


COMNEN
Rahah jumps back, swinging the swords at him and turning them on and off as needed, but he deflects each attack with a flick of his fingers.
(yawning)
Tremendously.


They get further out into space without much issue over the next few minutes. Comnen mostly just sits there letting the ship drive itself.
Nissa gets to the crate and shoves it back toward the ship, and then gives chase after it.


NISSA
The robed Magi jumps toward Nissa, and Rahah jumps in front of him, blocking his path, swinging her swords in tandem. He knocks the blades aside unnaturally quickly with his own sword, and turns it into a thrust right at her, which she blocks with one, but only barely. He presses the advantage, pushing both his sword and Rahah's plasma blade closer to her face. She turns off her spare and braces it against the other in attempt to push back.
Rahah?


RAHAH
Nissa shoves the crate up the ramp into the ship, just as it starts to take off, and jumps onto the ramp after it.
Hmm?


NISSA
NISSA
How screwed are we?
Rahah!


RAHAH
Rahah dodges to the side, letting the sword fall past her, and then swings back at the Magi as he comes around for another one-handed swing as well, black flames tricking down his free hand, and a series of impossible swings and parries and blocks ensue as the flames begin to build.
Well, as much as my people aren't going to be terribly happy about this, we did just formally break off all relations anyway. Yours are probably going to be double annoyed.


An incoming transmission causes something to notify, and Comnen flicks the button to turn it on.
Nissa gathers up a ball of swirling energies in her own hands as the ship continues to slowly rise.


TRANSMISSION PERSON
NISSA
Transport address e695.db43.2158, you are witnessed and registered for illegal activities. Return to port now for proccessing.
(insistently)
RAHAH!


COMNEN
Rahah jumps up, sailing into the air, and the Magi throws the black flames after her. She casts her swords out to the sides, forming the blades into a shield around her even as she continues to rise, and the flames hit a moment later, exploding over this bubble.
(bonking at the button)
Ah, shut up.


TRANSMISSION PERSON
Nissa hurls her own ball of energy down at the Magi, and he drops to the ground, covering himself in a shield. The running Magi hurries toward him.
Transport address e695.db43.2158, excuse me? Return to port, or you will be disabled. This is your final warning.


COMNEN
Nissa grabs Rahah and yanks her onto the the ship's cargo ramp as well, and they run inside.
Oh, I'm sorry, did I hit the wrong button? What I meant to say was...
(he leans really close to the mic)
GO FUCK YOURSELF. WITH A FISH.


Comnen hits the correct button this time, silencing the comms.


NISSA
INT. Shades Softly: cargo hold
(scrunching up a bit, uncertainly)
 
Er... that... shouldn't we do what they say? They know the ship, there's not...
Nissa and Rahah find themselves in a cargo hold full of random stuff, past an inner door for the airlock. The crate has bonked into a heap of stuff and stopped.


COMNEN
COMNEN
(leaning forward and shooting them out of traffic)
(over the intercom)
Nah, this happens sometimes. Rejig the paint, set a new registry address and they'll never know it's us. Course we need to get out of their worlds first, buuut...
Are you idiots on? If so, shut the door and get up here!
 
RAHAH
(putting her weapons away)
What?


The police boats start shooting at them, and Comnen dances the ship about, evading.
Nissa bonks a large button by the door, and the door closes and the ramp retracts.


NISSA
NISSA
What, it's that easy?
(sounding resigned)
This way, I think.
 


COMNEN
INT. Shades Softly: cockpit
(sarcastically)
Sure, if you know what you're doing! And can even get really unlucky...


His words are punctuated by an explosion as something actually on the ship gets hit.
The cockpit is a cockpit with windows, screens, and consoles. A pilot and copilot seat are in front, with two seats behind them. Comnen is in the pilot seat, taking the ship rapidly up into the upper atmosphere.


COMNEN
COMNEN
(wincing)
Nice of you to join us. Now strap yourselves in before things start to get interesting, eh?
...and wind up with a registered bad one.


A crew of some sort, CITHANDRA, pokes her head in as Comnen wheels the ship about in yet another direction.
NISSA
(taking the seat behind him)
Interesting how?


CITHANDRA
Rahah takes the copilot seat and tries to figure out the buckles for a moment before getting it.
Boss, did I just hear a...
(she notices Rahah and Nissa)
Who are these... people?


COMNEN
COMNEN
(yanking the ship in another direction)
No way your Magi friends aren't reporting that. We have a few minutes, maybe, but... ever run from cops, girls?
Job, Cith!


CITHANDRA
They slip into a lane of ship traffic headed offworld.
(barely clinging to the doorframe)
And you didn't think to possibly consult your crew before endangering us all?


COMNEN
NISSA
They had a parking permit. Didn't seem that dangerous.
Er... no?


CITHANDRA
RAHAH
(sarcastically)
Is it fun?
Oh, well if they had a parking permit...


COMNEN
COMNEN
(he glances at the monitors before choosing the next dodge)
(yawning)
'Sides, I didn't want to wake you.
Tremendously.


Comnen is still flying very erratically, while the police boats continue to try to shoot them down.
They get further out into space without much issue over the next few minutes. Comnen mostly just sits there letting the ship drive itself.


Cithandra loses her hold momentarily and winds up half-sitting on Nissa. She grabs onto Comnen's chair instead.
NISSA
Rahah?


CITHANDRA
RAHAH
You really thought this flying, and I shudder to even call it that, you thought it wouldn't wake everyone on board?
Hmm?


COMNEN
NISSA
Dammit, Cith, can we have this conversation some other time? Say, when I'm NOT trying to keep us all from getting killed.
How screwed are we?
And sit down, for fuck's sake. Inertial dampening's only so good.


He drives them on in squiggles, vaguely approaching another large planet.
RAHAH
Well, as much as my people aren't going to be terribly happy about this, we did just formally break off all relations anyway. Yours are probably going to be double annoyed.


Another crewmember, JONAS, yells from somewhere further back in the ship:
An incoming transmission causes something to notify, and Comnen flicks the button to turn it on.


JONAS
TRANSMISSION PERSON
Ey, what is going on?!
Transport address e695.db43.2158, you are recorded and registered for illegal activities. Return to port now for proccessing.


Someone else yells something incoherent.
COMNEN
(bonking at the button)
Ah, shut up.


Cithandra manages to get herself into the remaining seat, and activates the ship-wide intercom.
TRANSMISSION PERSON
Transport address e695.db43.2158, excuse me? Return to port, or you will be disabled. This is your final warning.


CITHANDRA
COMNEN
Everyone, please remain calm and strap yourselves in. It seems we've taken a job, and as long as we don't all die from it first...
Oh, I'm sorry, did I hit the wrong button? What I meant to say was...
(she shoots Comnen an irate look)
(he leans really close to the mic)
...things should calm down shortly. And then we'll get paid.
GO FUCK YOURSELF. WITH A FISH.
(turning off the intercom)
 
Also we should probably pick up the rest of the crew before we leave, yes?
Comnen hits the correct button this time, silencing the comms.
 
NISSA
(scrunching up a bit, uncertainly)
Er... that... shouldn't we do what they say? They know the ship, there's not...


COMNEN
COMNEN
One thing at a time!
(leaning forward and shooting them out of traffic)
The fuck you hire me for? This is normal. Rejig the paint, set a new registry address and they'll never know it's us. Course we need to get out of their worlds first, buuut...


He takes them into the planet's rings, dodging hunks of rock and ice and... other things at very alarming speed. Stuff blurrs past as they zig and zag between things.
The police boats start shooting at them, and Comnen dances the ship about, evading.


NISSA
NISSA
How are you not hitting everything?!
What, it's that easy?


COMNEN
COMNEN
(pulling his hands off the console)
(sarcastically)
Magic!
Sure, if you know what you're doing! And can even get really unlucky...


CITHANDRA
His words are punctuated by an explosion as something actually on the ship gets hit.
That's not him. That's the Shades doing it.
We solid, boss?


COMNEN
COMNEN
If we see anything big enough, yeah...
(wincing)
...and wind up with a registered bad one.
 
A crew of some sort, CITHANDRA, pokes her head in as Comnen wheels the ship about in yet another direction.


RAHAH
CITHANDRA
(pointing a bit to the side)
Boss, did I just hear a...
There.
(she notices Rahah and Nissa)
Who are these... people?


COMNEN
COMNEN
What? Where?
(yanking the ship in another direction)
Job, Cith!


RAHAH
CITHANDRA
You just need something bigger than the ship, right?
(barely clinging to the doorframe)
47 seconds, 18 degrees off, no, 23 degrees off...
And you didn't think to possibly consult your crew before endangering us all?
 
Comnen gives her a skeptical look, but directs the ship in the general direction.


COMNEN
COMNEN
Ah, I see it.
They had a parking permit. Didn't seem that dangerous.
(gesturing)
On my mark, hit that button.


They squiggle a bit around things, and then a rock slightly bigger than the ship suddenly looms up in front of them and they rapidly slow.
CITHANDRA
(sarcastically)
Oh, well if they had a parking permit...


COMNEN
COMNEN
Mark!
(he glances at the monitors before choosing the next dodge)
'Sides, I didn't want to wake you.


Rahah smacks the button, and the rock explodes in front of them.
Comnen is still flying very erratically, while the police boats continue to try to shoot them down.


Comnen yanks the ship to a stop.
Cithandra loses her hold momentarily and winds up half-sitting on Nissa. She grabs onto Comnen's chair instead.


Cithandra pulls a lever, and the ship suddenly goes dark, everything turning off all at once. Even the artificial gravity goes off, though a few minor things stay on.
CITHANDRA
 
You really thought this flying, and I shudder to even call it that, you thought it wouldn't wake everyone on board?
KHALEMI
(over the intercom)
Boss? What in the world is going on?


COMNEN
COMNEN
(replying)
Dammit, Cith, can we have this conversation some other time? Say, when I'm NOT trying to keep us all from getting killed.
Oh, nothing, my dear, just evading the law of the worlds.
And sit down, for fuck's sake. Inertial dampening's only so good.


Cithandra unclasps her seatbelt and heads back into the rest of the ship, guiding herself along expertly.
He drives them on in squiggles, vaguely approaching another large planet.


KHALEMI
Another crewmember, JONAS, yells from somewhere further back in the ship:
(over the intercom)
Should I put out some bots?


Comnen sighs, considering.
JONAS
Ey, what is going on?!


COMNEN
Someone else yells something incoherent.
Yeah, give us a full scrub. Let's go with... Destiny's Reach.


KHALEMI
Cithandra manages to get herself into the remaining seat, and activates the ship-wide intercom.
(over the intercom)
I'm on it.


Comnen turns and starts typing at a red screen. The ship is totally dark around them.
CITHANDRA
Everyone, please remain calm and strap yourselves in. It seems we've taken a job, and as long as we don't all die from it first...
(she shoots Comnen an irate look)
...things should calm down shortly. And then we'll get paid.
(turning off the intercom)
Also we should probably pick up the rest of the crew before we leave, yes?


RAHAH
COMNEN
So... now what?
One thing at a time!


COMNEN
He takes them into the planet's rings, dodging hunks of rock and ice and... other things at very alarming speed. Stuff blurrs past as they zig and zag between things.
Now we wait. Khalemi's going to put out some bots to scrub the hull, make us look like a different ship, and I'll reset the registry address, and then...
(he gestures vaguely with a hand)
Sooner or later someone not cops'll come near here, we follow them out, essentially.


NISSA
NISSA
Sooner or later? So how... long does that usually take?
How are you not hitting everything?!


COMNEN
COMNEN
Usually under a week. Give or take.
(pulling his hands off the console)
Magic!
 
CITHANDRA
That's not him. That's the Shades doing it.
We solid, boss?


NISSA
COMNEN
What?!
If we see anything big enough, yeah...


RAHAH
RAHAH
We really don't have that kind of time.
(pointing a bit to the side)
There.


COMNEN
COMNEN
That's how long it takes. If we want to get out of this system, we have to look legitimate, and that means not randomly coming out of these rings right after the ''same kind of ship'' just illegally went in and supposedly exploded.
What? Where?


NISSA
RAHAH
(standing up)
You just need something bigger than the ship, right?
I have a better idea.
47 seconds, 18 degrees off, no, 23 degrees off...


Comnen gives her a skeptical look, but directs the ship in the general direction.


COMNEN
Ah, I see it.
(gesturing)
On my mark, hit that button.


They squiggle a bit around things, and then a rock slightly bigger than the ship suddenly looms up in front of them and they rapidly slow.


NISSA
COMNEN
Hidden. They will not be able to find us with their technology, or their eyes.
Mark!


Rahah smacks the button, and the rock explodes in front of them.


Comnen yanks the ship to a stop.


Cithandra pulls a lever, and the ship suddenly goes dark, everything turning off all at once. Even the artificial gravity goes off, though a few minor things stay on.


KHALEMI
(over the intercom)
Boss? What in the world is going on?


COMNEN
COMNEN
(over the intercom)
(replying)
New plan, kids. Get the basic scrub done and make sure you're all on floor in ten minutes, and we're heading out.
Oh, nothing, my dear, just evading the law of the worlds.
 
Cithandra unclasps her seatbelt and heads back into the rest of the ship, guiding herself along expertly.


KHALEMI
KHALEMI
(over the intercom)
(over the intercom)
Have you been eating those beans again?
Should I put out some bots?


Comnen sighs, considering.


COMNEN
Yeah, give us a full scrub. Let's go with... Destiny's Reach.


KHALEMI
(over the intercom)
I'm on it.


Comnen turns and starts typing at a red screen. The ship is totally dark around them.


RAHAH
So... now what?


 
COMNEN
CITHANDRA
Now we wait. Khalemi's going to put out some bots to scrub the hull, make us look like a different ship, and I'll reset the registry address, and then...
(to Comnen)
(he gestures vaguely with a hand)
And you didn't think it was perhaps relevant that the ones hiring you were Magi? That that might make things a little more dangerous?
Sooner or later someone not cops'll come near here, we follow them out, essentially.
 
NISSA
Sooner or later? So how... long does that usually take?


COMNEN
COMNEN
Why would that possibly make things more dangerous in Commonwealth space?!
Usually under a week. Give or take.


Cithandra just stares at him.
NISSA
What?!


CITHANDRA
RAHAH
You mean besides what just happened?
We really don't have that kind of time.


COMNEN
COMNEN
Well I didn't exactly expect that.
That's how long it takes. If we want to get out of this system, we have to look legitimate, and that means not randomly coming out of these rings right after the ''same kind of ship'' just illegally went in and supposedly exploded.


NISSA
NISSA
(holding up a hand)
(standing up)
For the record? Neither did we.
I have a better idea.
 
 


RAHAH
Honestly had me or that Magi not been trying desperately to not actually kill each other, one or both of us would probably be dead.


NISSA
NISSA
Er, what?
Hidden. They will not be able to find us with their technology, or their eyes.


RAHAH
I mean, I'm totally rubbish in a real-life fight, but flailing madly has won me a few even in-game, so...
You got two dumarses attacking each other with magics and swords and weird-arse other things, how in the world could that possibly end well for either if they're actually trying to kill each other? Think about it.


NISSA
What were you trying to do?


RAHAH
Distract him.


NISSA
And him?


RAHAH
COMNEN
Stop me from doing something really regretable, probably.
(over the intercom)
New plan, kids. Get the basic scrub done and make sure you're all on floor in ten minutes, and we're heading out.


NISSA
KHALEMI
So basically we just pissed off the good guys. For no real reason.
(over the intercom)
Have you been eating those beans again?


RAHAH
Possibly. We'll have to see what's even in the box first, of course...






Union space






CITHANDRA
(to Comnen)
And you didn't think it was perhaps relevant that the ones hiring you were Magi? That that might make things a little more dangerous?


COMNEN
Why would that possibly make things more dangerous in Commonwealth space?!


They open the box. A glowing, not quite right object is inside. It looks a bit like a glassy seed.
Cithandra just stares at him.


They all sort of stare at it a bit.
CITHANDRA
You mean besides what just happened?


COMNEN
COMNEN
So what is it?
Well I didn't exactly expect that.
 
NISSA
(holding up a hand)
For the record? Neither did we.


RAHAH
RAHAH
I have no idea.
Honestly had me or that Magi not been trying desperately to not actually kill each other, one or both of us would probably be dead.


NISSA
NISSA
It's a seed.
Er, what?


JONAS
RAHAH
A glowing one.
I mean, I'm totally rubbish in a real-life fight, but flailing madly has won me a few even in-game, so...
You got two dumarses attacking each other with magics and swords and weird-arse other things, how in the world could that possibly end well for either if they're actually trying to kill each other? Think about it.


NISSA
NISSA
A glowing seed.
What were you trying to do?


RAHAH
Distract him.


NISSA
And him?


RAHAH
Stop me from doing something really regretable, probably.


</screenplay>
NISSA
So basically we just pissed off the good guys. For no real reason.


}}
RAHAH
Possibly. We'll have to see what's even in the box first, of course...


{{ Infected hand (original?) | 1=
COMNEN
You don't know?!


<screenplay>
DAZROTH
Don't touch him directly. The contagion may spread.


RAHAH
Right. But if it's magical in origin, could not magicking it do the same?


DAZROTH
Do you not use safeguards?


RAHAH
Union space
(a bit surprised, but quickly covering)
They may only work against known vectors.


SANTANA
That's a good point, really. We still don't know how the plague was spreading.


The others start discussing this.


RAHAH
(quietly)
Comnen, were you shielded?


COMNEN
Yeah. I thought you said this would protect me? That stuff went right through it!


RAHAH
They open the box. A glowing, not quite right object is inside. It looks a bit like a glassy seed.
What happened? Was there a flash or anything?
 
They all sort of stare at it a bit.


COMNEN
COMNEN
(shaking his head)
So what is it?
It went all dark. Just all over. And then my hand...


RAHAH
RAHAH
Hrnng...
I have no idea.


Rahah takes his affected hand at a distance, holding it up by magic, and inspecting it, indirectly, with more of the same.
NISSA
It's a seed.


The discussion around the rest of the cubicle dies down a bit as folks watch.
JONAS
A glowing one.


COMNEN
NISSA
Well?
A glowing seed.


RAHAH
I... have no idea.


DAZROTH
Not related to the plague?


RAHAH
It's unlike anything I've ever seen.


Comnen manages to avoid snarking at this, but only barely.
</screenplay>
 
}}
 
{{ Infected hand (original?) | 1=
 
<screenplay>
DAZROTH
Don't touch him directly. The contagion may spread.


RAHAH
RAHAH
It's like...
Right. But if it's magical in origin, could not magicking it do the same?


But though she clearly recognises something, she doesn't finish the thought, instead hastilly dropping Comnen's hand and leaning away.
DAZROTH
Do you not use safeguards?


</screenplay>
RAHAH
(a bit surprised, but quickly covering)
They may only work against known vectors.


}}
SANTANA
That's a good point, really. We still don't know how the plague was spreading.


{{ Hopeless (original) | 1=
The others start discussing this.


<screenplay>
RAHAH
(quietly)
Comnen, were you shielded?


COMNEN
COMNEN
(turning to the guy behind him)
Yeah. I thought you said this would protect me? That stuff went right through it!
Agh, these people are hopeless.
 
RAHAH
What happened? Was there a flash or anything?
 
COMNEN
(shaking his head)
It went all dark. Just all over. And then my hand...
 
RAHAH
Hrnng...
 
Rahah takes his affected hand at a distance, holding it up by magic, and inspecting it, indirectly, with more of the same.
 
The discussion around the rest of the cubicle dies down a bit as folks watch.
 
COMNEN
Well?


The guy behind him turns out to be Dazroth.
RAHAH
I... have no idea.


DAZROTH
DAZROTH
Now you know how I feel.
Not related to the plague?
 
 
COMNEN
RAHAH
Er... sorry.
It's unlike anything I've ever seen.
 
Comnen manages to avoid snarking at this, but only barely.
 
RAHAH
It's like...
 
But though she clearly recognises something, she doesn't finish the thought, instead hastilly dropping Comnen's hand and leaning away.
 
</screenplay>
 
}}
 
{{ Hopeless (original) | 1=
 
<screenplay>
 
COMNEN
(turning to the guy behind him)
Agh, these people are hopeless.
 
The guy behind him turns out to be Dazroth.
 
DAZROTH
Now you know how I feel.
 
COMNEN
Er... sorry.
 
</screenplay>
 
}}
 
{{ End thing (original) | 1=
 
<screenplay>
 
A courier hands a package to Rahah and leaves.
 
Rahah opens it. It's some sort of note, and she skims through it quickly.
 
Nissa leans over.
 
RAHAH
It's from Dazroth.
 
NISSA
What is it?
 
RAHAH
(handing the note to Nissa)
An invitation.


</screenplay>
</screenplay>
Line 1,670: Line 1,802:
}}
}}


{{ End thing (original) | 1=
<screenplay>
A courier hands a package to Rahah and leaves.
Rahah opens it. It's some sort of note, and she skims through it quickly.
Nissa leans over.
RAHAH
It's from Dazroth.
NISSA
What is it?
RAHAH
(handing the note to Nissa)
An invitation.
</screenplay>
}}


{{ Metadata | 1=
{{ Metadata | 1=
Line 1,753: Line 1,862:


}}
}}
}}
}}

Revision as of 19:52, 27 August 2018

The job: heist, some item/artifact

  • held by powerful folks with lots of resources in vaults/with securtiy, need to infiltrate things, can get in past open floors of museum/casino/staging area/whatever
  • folks might be the Magi, but probably aren't, because that would really complicate things later and also they really like keeping things in-house and thus would be rather hard to infiltrate. Probably some random other gang or corporation, or an operation by a specific bureau.
  • have plan for getting past security, need to get crew/get rest of crew back from random holidays or out of prison or another totally random job they were already doing, or stuff, and figure out the details of everything else
  • job is kind of sudden and high priority and they need to beat anyone else there

The opening: planning and all the stuff to actually do the heist

  • They do the heist. They make it in. There's some unnecessary drama about all the over the top security, and some conflict with head of security guy.
  • The item is already gone, head of security guy shows up absolutely pissed and everyone expects him to arrest them, but then he turns out to have been their totally adorable mechanic Khalemi, and their other inside source all along. Is absolutely pissed that she fucked up the security, because she was actually trying to make it good specifically so this wouldn't happen. Everyone is a bit surprised, because the security guy was actually some pretty good acting on her part, and also why was it a guy?!

Ensue: the plot. Hunting down the folks who stole the item. It's important, yo. Brains of their opperations, criminal mastermind Cithandra, won't say why, but it is, and they need to get it back. Things go sideways at some point. Comnen, usual point guy, talky person, swagger and all that, gets taken out of the running, and Cithandra has to take direct control of everything and more than being a general mastermind, turns out to be really, really scary as direct boss. Also really suave and sophisticated. But scary-like.

Somehow they get Comnen back. Hijinks ensue throuhout. Sokar does his thing taking random side jobs all the way through, which turns out to be a really good cover at least two times in a row when security people ask them just what the fuck they're doing here.

Somewhere in the background there's references to at least some of the three main scaries, which may or may not show up as clients hiring the crew at some point or other:

  • The United Worlds, the massively bureaucratic galactic republic where everything mostly just goes through random bureaus regardless of what the politicians from all the random systems actually say
  • The Magi, a quasi-religious guild of space wizards that basically force all magic-capable people they find to either join them or die (or maybe just be cut off from the magic, which is also horrible for them?)
  • The ... which turns out to be this horrible mysterious organisation that experiments on monsters (aliens) for reasons, and is a good chunk of why so many of the aliens are humanoid (or elven?), because they actually started out as humans/elves or were previously much more alien and then engineered into hybrids. This is definitely not commonly known and will not come up for awhile. Is probably known as a major source of biotech through some front, and is in fact possibly really only known for that at all, publicly.

Other random groups that occur:

  • Citheldryn: a myserious organisation that has embassies on random planets and isn't entirely clear what it's purpose is, where it came from, or anything. Also very unclear where any of their money, of which they seem to have a lot, comes from. Is generally suspected of just paying off the UW bureaucracy to ignore them.
  • Syndicate: a major crime guild that somehow has never actually been connected to any crimes, officially. But everyone knows they do crime. They do crime.
  • The Right People: not exactly a group so much as just random people who think the UW/Magi, in particular, are dumb, and do their own thing. Gnerally includes any gangs/other unlawful factions not actively at war with each other, as well as quite a few underground non-Magi wizards. Syndicate is not really a part of this, but sometimes involved.
  • Various other guilds, gangs, corporations, cabals, and planets doing various things throughout
  • The border worlds, which may or may not have any seat in the UW itself, and often go totally ignored by its bureaus/forces, and thus may wind up really doing their own things

Ending:

  • Item is a key to a vault of scary group ..., which they open, and find... an alien girl?!
  • Having no idea what the hell else to do, they take her with them as they head out into the stars for their next adventure.
  • Also said alien girl probably wasn't at all what Cithandra was expecting either, but whatever.


Crew:

  • Comnen - probably actually owns the ship, boss as far as clients are concerned, prefers smuggling jobs but also has history as a merc and will do heists etc if someone else figures out the details. Presents himself as a ball of swagger and confidence, and puts all this swagger and confidence to use to hold the crew together, along with just generally being awesome.
  • Cithandra - suave, sophisticated, and above all, absolutely gorgeous and elegant criminal mastermind behind a lot of the jobs, sometimes tells the crew the full plan, sometimes... not. Also generally doesn't actually come across as particularly criminal or mastermind, and usually just suggests random things offhand, and then finances random parts of it, as the rest of them put the details of the operation together...
Overtly, she's just this rich lady who hired the ship because she was bloody *bored*.
  • Sokar - main pilot, keeps taking on these totally ridiculous side jobs whenever they get to a new system, much to everyone's annoyance. Possibly turns out that this tendency was precisely why Cithandra hired him.
  • Khalemi - medic, tech handler in general, bot operator, very good with security systems and distributed operations, completely lost whenever she has to do anything hands-on. Also apparently a pretty good actor... when acting a man. Can't act out other women for the life of her.
  • Jonas - some sort of 'public relations'
  • Torkora Ma - wanton thief, possibly another sort of 'public relations'

Several of them really don't get along with each other, but do have the professionalism to keep overtly expressing it to a miniumum while actually doing the job. Will get very annoyed when they have to fix things for each other, but generally make a point of doing it precisely so the other survives/makes it out/whatever so they can actually berate them about it...

Old stuff

Possible some stuff that happens later...



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