SHIVERS-IN-SUNLIGHT
In a cloud of sand, a creature made its way to the oasis, running further and further upstream following the course of the River-that-feeds-a-million-mouths. Slowing down only slightly as the creature approached only to come to a halt at the beginning of the Repository space that marked the space of the settlement. No matter what the skitterbug defences said about where the border was supposed to be. “Skips‽ You’re back‽”
Skips-One-Step hugged Shivers-In-Sunlight, who was shivering in the dawning light of the day. “Shivers! So, the good news is that I was able to get the tracker out and I am still in one piece. The bad news is that the band of bothersome bitches and bastards that are the foreign settlement refuse to get off Tsanh and spread their filth somewhere else.”
Shivers-In-Sunlight asked about what happened and Skips explained everything: The encounter with Cvetka Kralj and with the integrator Teki, getting lost, finding Teki’s pod on the ocean of Tsanh, and following the river upstream to its source, the oasis.
Shivers made a noise of astonishment: “You got way off course there! That’s not where I would have expected you to end up. You had to get really confused to end up there.”
“Confused and just wanted to get the fuck away. And then got lost in the feeling of running.” Skips admitted.
Shivers shifted xir gaze to the plain desert outside of the settlement. “I understand what you mean. Sometimes being alone in the desert can be exhilarating. I hope that I can soon end my quest so I can run during the day. It’s dangerous to lose myself running in the moonlight.”
Skips ended the hug and asked: “Can I help you on your quest?”
Shivers looked downward, feeling suddenly very embarrassed of xir disability: “I would prefer to do it on my own. Not because I don’t appreciate your help, but because I want to show that I can do it on my own.”
Skips shook her head and put her hand on xir carapace. “You are not doing it alone. You are using the skills of individuals who have given skills to the Repository, which is how it is supposed to be. We are a community and we help each other.”
Xe looked into her eyes, shivering strongly. “You are right. I am acting in wrongful pride.”
Skips led xe to xir tent: “It is getting early and I notice the light hurting you.”
Shivers nodded: “I know. I would have gone to bed earlier, but I was waiting for you.”
“I am very sorry, Shivers,” she said, “I tried to be there as soon as I could but it took very long.”
Shivers suddenly had an idea and asked: “Did you, like, upgrade your foundational Skill to Level 8? After a downgrade to level 6?”
Skips had a faraway look for a moment, the same look Scorpions-of-Tsanh had when accessing the System, then said: “Oh, yeah, I didn’t notice.”
Skips and Shivers moved into their tent together. Shivers asked: “Can we look at what the new repository functions are?”
They dug themselves into the sand as if to sleep and then checked the repository. The functions were the same as before. Except for one additional function: Skills of Solidarity. They checked this function and found skills that Shivers didn’t understand. Skips explained some words but the words had not existed in the language of the Scorpions-of-Tsanh before Solidarity made them. These skills were all at Level 0, below the regular Level 1, but as such could probably be used without using their existing stat points. Eventually, Skips explained their use as such: “These skills exist to help make a larger… settlement than currently exists thrive. I feel like they are on rank 0 so everyone can understand what goes into their settlement and can understand the results of certain decisions better. And that they can understand when their society is moving in the wrong direction.” Skips paused: “Like mine did for far too long. For centuries before I was even born.”
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“So, Solidarity wants to prevent this before it is too late?” Shivers asked.
“I guess so, yeah.” Skips said.
At that moment, a message appeared:
Foreign energy/influence detected: To prevent any inconvenience to the inhabitants of Tsanh, we are changing your energy/influence tolerance to ensure ongoing compliance.
Shivers acknowledged it, despite not really understanding it. A few moments later, they both fell asleep.
TEKI
The change was sudden, the area had been flooded with magic and it had been absorbed completely, then suddenly, the absorption stopped completely. Suddenly, the area was flooded with magic. The planet had stopped resisting. Whatever had been absorbing the magic had been saturated. It was just so sudden that there was no intermediate stage. No slower absorption, no gradual change but a change as if a switch was flipped. Teki wondered if there was an anti-Teki flipping the switch. He thought about calling compliance again but didn’t expect any change. He was worried though. While this meant that the system could be deployed, the question was what the other side would do. Teki had asked for guidance, but so far, there was nothing said except to proceed as usual. Which to Teki sounded like a bad idea. He called compliance again, asked for updates on his inquiry number 23-42-16-99-21-E. The response was that it was unchanged. Teki cussed and then decided to start seeding the planet with nodes for the system emergence.
CVETKA KRALJ
She stood in the kitchen. There were shards of glass on the ground. The integration specialist had left after Sarah ran out. Now, she was there, unsure as to what could happen now.
A door opened and Rush tiredly stumbled out. “What happened?”
“Sarah did,” she said laconically.
“What the fuck did she do?” Rush asked.
Cvetka responded: “She returned and wanted me to remove her tracker. After I declined, she broke in and did so herself. Oh, and she said something about a second system. Something that I deemed insane, until she healed the cut to remove the tracker within seconds.”
Rush shook his head: “She’s crazy! I cannot imagine what she came up with. The desert heat must have scrambled her brain.”
Cvetka shook her head: “You didn’t see her crazy fast movement and her crazy fast healing. She must have been integrated, but the System is not set up. So she cannot be integrated. This makes it seem like she was speaking the truth.”
Rush raised an eyebrow. “That seems impossible. Do you have videos?”
“I guess so, yeah. Let’s check!” Cvetka said and reached for her tablet.
She showed a video of the security cameras in the compound, showing how Sarah ran through the hallways. The movement seemed extremely fast and extremely odd: Sarah looked weirdly distorted when moving. When stopping to open the door of the kitchen, she however looked normal. “Do you see it?” Cvetka asked.
Rush gasped: “What‽ This means that… she is working for a foreign system and thus a foreign power! I expected a lot from her but never expected her to be a traitor!”
She rejected the conclusion: “I think she never intended to be integrated in a foreign system.”
Rush rebutted: “But she is now in one, and that is what counts! She needs to be brought to justice! And I know just what to do for that!”
Cvetka asked: “What is it?”
Rush grinned: “We will have to wait for integration for that. But it will be… great!”