48. The comings and goings

“Alright, Alric. We know who you are,” Marius said as Fureva-Yung returned, a person under each arm, “But, who the hell are you?”
A deep infrasound emanated from Fureva-Yung, and Alric and the woman started to look ill. After the scare they received during the fight, they were in no condition to resist.
“I’m Rothfilla Orix, I make things. Alric paid me to come down and look at the machine,” The woman blurted out.
“Alric? We know you had Trask working down here. What does the machine do?”
“I’m..not sure, “The bar owner stuttered, “I think…it makes something…something valuable?”
“Come on, Alric, that’s no way to make friends,” Marius glared.
“Tell her!” Roared Fureva-Yung and Alric went limp in her arms with fear.
“I was hoping to spy on people. It talks sometimes. I thought I could listen in, learn some secrets, and make good business deals.”
“WhyTrask? Why did you keep him a slave down here?”
“The whole area had collapsed. He was digging it out. He was a very good digger.”
Behind Alric, Fureva-Yung looked across at Marius, an eyebrow over her six eyes raised, and Marius had to hold his face very still not to laugh.
“How did you know it was here?”
“I own the pub. Trask could open all the doors, so we went exploring. We found the machine…thought it was fancy… I hadn’t seen anything like it before.”
 
Jaden now took the time to examine the machine. Rothfilla and Alric had pulled the panels off the front, exposing its inner workings. It was undoubtedly Ferrian technology. The familiar Ferrian script was all over the controls. As she stood following the wiring layout, she thought she could hear the gentle sound of trickling water.
 
“How long ago were you last down here?” Marius again to Alric.
“Um…a couple of weeks ago. I heard the voices, and I tried to make them louder, but I did something wrong, and it shut down instead.”
“Ah, Nox. I could do with a little help,” Jaden called, but Nox was nowhere to be seen.
Marius looked around and spied a Nox-shaped shadow around the corner. Her camouflage made her form look two-dimensional and flat.
“Nox, no need to be a wallflower.” He said encouragingly, but Nox did not move. If anything, she looked about to bolt.
Fureva-Yung shook Rothfilla, who squeeked with fear.
“Be helpful to Jadens,” She threatened.
“Ah yes, so you have some experience with Numenera?” Jaden asked Rothfilla, who turned with a start.
“I make things,” Rothfilla repeated, which caught Jaden’s attention.
“Oh, so you’re an engineer?”
“No, I make art objects from scrap for wealthy patrons in the Administration Quarter.”
“Oh. Well, you’re not much help then.” Jaden dismissed the miserable woman and returned to her exploration of the machine.
“Nox, I could really do with your help right now,” She repeated, glancing over at the corner Nox was hiding in but not moving to confront the girl. The shadow slid off the wall, and Nox seemed to melt out as her camouflage dissolved into more regular skin tones. Silently, she stepped across the room and read the control panels.
“ Project: Kalfuvar. Weave Interface Prototype four.” She shrugged, having no clue what that meant.
Jaden looked at Fureva-Yung, who looked like she was either trying to check her memories or was having a stroke. She too shook her head.
 
Nox wanted to leave, to forget this place and the crazy spinning head thing had ever happened. Still, that machine was intriguing. An Interface connecting two things…but what was the weave? Was the name Kalfucar significant? She reached out and scanned the device, waves of energy distorting the air in front of her. Suddenly, the machine started humming as something deep inside started up. From inside Nox, too, something was happening. She could feel a pulling sensation drawing something from her. She bent over, clutching her chest as a shadowy copy of herself floated free. The ghost had a moment to turn and look back at Nox, the two Noxs staring at each other before she was drawn into the machine and was gone. Fureva-Yung, the only other to see the second Nox, dropped Alric and Rothfilla and leapt across the intervening gap to grab the ghost Nox. There was nothing to hold but cold air, and the ghost was gone, slipping through her two strong hands.
 
From the ground, Nox looked up at Fureva-Yung, still rubbing at the deep gnawing ache in her chest.
“Did we make a Nox-bunny?”
Fureva-Yung nodded gravely, “I think so.”
“Nox-bunny? What’s going on?” Jaden was beside herself with worry for Nox, who was only now getting back onto unsteady legs.
“It seems this machine has something to do with the ghosts I saw in the catacombs. When the machine turned on, it…took something from Nox and formed a ghost.”
“The dripping water in the cistern, where the weird fungus grew!” Marius put the clues together, and both Nox and Fureva-Yung nodded.
“Well, where’s the ghost? Can we get it back into Nox?”
Fureva-Yung shrugged her shoulders. Nox only wrapped her arms around her protectively.
“Nox, help me. Maybe there’s something I can do,” Jaden climbed into the machine's guts, and Nox followed. Between them, they worked out it was a communication device calibrated to access not a far-off star but a different plane of existence. An Interdimensional communicator. Moreover, the device also seemed to have the option to transport physical objects. It appeared when Nox’s scan provided just enough energy to draw off a piece of herself and send it…somewhere else.
“Jaden, Reverse polarity!” Fureva-Yung commanded.
 
Jaden climbed further through the machine to the source of the dripping water. It was cold here, bitter like the bite of deep winter or in
 
an ice cave. A section of the machine had eroded, leaving a green-blue fuzz-like hair. She patched the hole made by the water with synth steel and apt clay, diverting the water flow. The corrosion, on the other hand, was an irreparable energy component. The machine would never work as it was intended, which meant there was no way to reverse what had happened to Nox.
 
“Report Chief Engineer,” Fureva-Yung ordered as a frozen Jaden crawled back out of the machine.
“Maybe she’s gone somewhere to have adventures of her own,” Nox mused at Jaden’s grave pronouncement.
“It’s only working now because Nox became its battery briefly. I just don’t want anyone else with an affinity to be sucked away.”
“Nox, our little walking battery,” Marius patted her head affectionately.
 
Jaden’s eyes lit with an idea, “Say, you guys had an adventure without me with some echoes, didn’t you? Something to do with a sound?”
At the word ‘echo’, Nox ducked under Marius’ arm and behind the machine, fearful that Jaden had finally gotten around to the earlier fractured Jaden heads. Wedging herself in behind, she hit a cold spot, the worst yet, and she yelped as it bit into her exposed skin. The machine started humming again.
 
“You two, stay where you are!” Fureva-Yung barked at Alric and Rothfilla as she spotted another ghost walking out of the machine. Taller than her but not as muscular, the form was similar to Fureva-Yung’s. It was another Latimor. She raised her hand in a general Ferrian greeting and was surprised when the shadow reciprocated. Jaden, who heard the machine start, scrambled out of its innards only to hit a cold patch.
“Jaden, please step to the side,” Fureva-Yung gestured, and Jaden gladly did as she was told. To the ghost, she now spoke in Ferrian, “I am Fureva. Can I help you?”
She watched as the ghost tried to respond. She could almost hear a voice, tinny and distant, in the response.
 
On the machine’s panel, she wrote ‘FUREVA’ in large block letters. The ghost tried to do the same but couldn’t make an impression.
 
“Ah, Furry? What’s going on?” Marius asked, only seeing half the pantomime happening before him.
“There is another ghost here. This one is of very familiar appearance,” Fureva-Yung explained the problem with communication.
“Why don’t you try just following where he goes? Follow his movements.” Jaden suggested, and with a little trial and error, the name Nodir-Nodare was clear.
“Doctor Nodir?” Fureva-yung asked and the figure nodded.
“Who is he?”
“A scientist. He felt that if we could communicate with another plane of existence, we could find allies against the Sacristans. He had a device he could connect to people on a closely connected plane. Early success was cut short when he disappeared mysteriously.”
“Like be sucked into his own device?” Jaden nodded, seeing how it would have occurred.
“Could we reverse it? Make him solid?”
“He’s the expert, ask him.”
 
After establishing ‘...raise your right hand for yes and your left hand for no…’, communications, it was clear that Dr Nodir had some idea. With Marius’ help, Jaden set up the machine as instructed. Jaden turned it on and everyone stepped away as the form of Nodir-Nodare faded in and out of phase. Eventually, he grew more solid and stepped away from the machine. Multi-lensed glasses set for six eyes perched on his brow. He was taller than Fureva-Yung but slimmer, not carrying the muscle she possessed. He bowed and in Ferrian gave his thanks.
“How long have you been gone?” Fureva asked the scientist.
“I’m really not sure. It is a discombobulating experience, stuck between phases.”
“Can you tell me, of the aligned planets, which one we’re on?”
“Well, yes, Far Ymir. It was chosen as the world was settled and peaceful but backward by Central’s standards.”
“That would be why the trap for the Malignant entity was built here. Away from the densely populated worlds?”
“The Malignant what? I’m sorry, I’ve been busy with my studies, I seem to have missed something.”
 
It was discovered later than Dr Nodir was trapped long before the Malignant Entity, before the end of the war which came as something of a shock to the scientist.
“You have unusual aids,” Dr Nodir noted, gesturing to Jaden and Marius who had worked to free him from his own device, “I never found the native people’s very…efficient.”
“I can assure you that my companions are knowledgeable, surprisingly capable.” Fureva’s glance whipped around the others. Jaden didn’t understand anything that was being said, and Marius’ Ferrian was too rudimentary to pick up on the perceived racist comment. Only Nox glared at being assumed ‘stupid’, but said nothing, translating for Dr Nodir as kindly as possible.
“Are they in the military?”
“Dr Nodir, the war is over…millenia ago.”
“Oh,” That shocked the scientist, “Did we win?”
“The Ferrian Compact and Sacristans came together against a common enemy. A malignant A.I.”
“They came together. This enemy must be of significant power to do that.”
“Celeron is enslaved,” Nox offered by way of example.
“Celeron?”
“A human civilisation,” Fureva explained.
“Oh? They have those?”
Fureva changed the subject, “What was left of the Ferrian Compact sublimated to the Datasphere. I’m sure if they were still active today, the people of this world would have joined.”
 
The conversation soon moved to Doctor Nodir, machine and his experience trapped between worlds.
“It was an odd existence, trapped between worlds. Sometimes I would be aware of here, and sometimes the other world. My research had begun to make significant connections with creatures from the other plane…”
“Creatures with horns?” Marius mimed, and Doctor Nodir chortled at the description.
“Yes, they had horns. They seemed friendly, though it was difficult to communicate with them. I had an idea of boosting reception and was working alone late one night. I admit to ignoring safety protocols as it seemed to be working. And then…” He gestured with his hands disappearing into nothing.
“Well, all the better to turn this thing off before else gets caught,” Jaden said to the Doctor through Nox.
“There’s an emergency switch. If I’d had an assistant with me that night to press it…I wouldn’t be here now that is for sure.”
 
The group then discussed what to do with this out of place Doctor. Though highly trained and experienced, he had no language and was out of date with current society.
“There seems to be three choices for you as we see it,” Fureva outlined, “You can come with us to free one of my old companions, a dangerous mission. You could stay in this city with a group called the Patchwork Dream. Your expertise would be invaluable, but no one speaks Ferrian. Or we can return you to our home at the Spire. There you can use the A.I of the Spire to get up to speed and learn the common language while being part of a larger community.”
“I think the option with the A.I sounds the most appropriate,” Doctor Nodir finally agreed. The group decided that Nox, Dr Nodir and Fureva would teleport back to Tiltspire. Fureva and Nox could introduce the Doctor to the community before teleporting back. Meanwhile, Marius and Jade would entertain Alric and Rothfilla.
 
 
The three travellers held hands.
“Beam us up, Nox,” Fureva said in her most official voice.
“Aye-aye Admiral,” Nox beamed cheekily and the two Latimors and their tiny pilot disappeared with a pop.
 
“Right, “ Jaden smiled at the two captives who looked more relaxed now that the huge Fureva-Yung had gone. They shouldn’t have.
“You two have had a few shocks today, haven’t you?” She asked, sweetly. Her Grandmotherly face all empathy. “Feeling okay?”
“So, does the machine listen in? Can we hear the Exarch?”
“Now why would you want to do something like that?”
“Like I said, sometimes its hard to know which way the Exarch is thinking. With little insider knowledge, I can get ahead of the game, make a little money.”
“And that’s why you sold our friend, Trask?” Seeing how this interview was playing out, Marius interjected menacingly, “Did you make a little money there?”
“Gul really wanted him, he twisted my arm. He was willing to pay, but he was also willing to ruin me.”
“What do you know of Gul?” Jaden changed the subject in the same sweet reasonable voice.
“He’s the favourite of the Exarch. Always working on some project or another to win the Exarch’s favour. The Exarch needs a big win after being sent out to this backwater…”
Alric stream of talk petered out as he became aware of the subject of their conversation.
“Why do you want to know about the Exarch, anyway?”
Marius tried testing the waters, “How do you feel about the Empire?”
“Ur…, “Alric looked concerned, as if he’d stumbled into something way above him, “Are you guys from the north? Look, I just make a living selling beer…”
“Alric, don’t put yourself down, “ Jaden again, “I’m sure you have friends in all sorts of circles. Get into all sorts of…places.”
“I can be of use. Maybe we can be of use to each other.” Alric brightened, seeing an opportunity to profit from the disaster this day was becoming.
“No,” Marius said emphatically, “He’s happy to sell out a friend…”
“Now, now, a whisper in the right ear about where this cellar goes…”
“Then we’d lose it too.”
“He has a lot to lose, everything in fact. As does his companion.” Jaden now turned her gaze on Rothfilla who blanched.
“I…I just got paid to work!”
“And how is life treating you? The…art installation business, I mean.”
“It’s comfortable,” Rothfilla replied looking anything but comfortable.
“Do you have any prominent patrons? Any installations in interesting places?”
“Wha…what are you implying?”
“Sit back, get comfortable. We’re going to get to know each other a little, and then you’re going to be of use to some friends of ours.
And while they waited for Fureva and Nox to return, Marius salvaged parts from the machine and Jaden made Alric and Rothfilla very aware of how they could be of benefit to the Patchwork dream.
 
 
Nox focused on the first important spot she thought Nodir should see, the connection to Nexion’s datasphere, in Deep Craven territory. For a scientist use to the height of the Ferrian Compact’s technology, the hand dug caves and derelict remains of the tower were a sobering sight.
“They’re very…quaint,” Nodir gestured to the milling Deep Craven who were curious about the new arrival.
“They live here, looking after Nexion,” Nox gestured to the key, “He can teach you all sorts of things.”
“Including the language,” Fureva added, “That should be your number one priority.
 
They took him up the elevator and out into the shantytown that was Tiltspire. It was clear to Fureva and Nox that the makeshift look of the community was not making a good impression on Nodir-Nodare.
“Yes, yes we need to make it level, no the bubble in the middle Livinaar…” Yitti was patiently trying to show Nox’s father how to build a house. It wasn’t going well. Nox blushed on her Father’s behalf but said nothing. Doctor Nodir’s prejudices of humans was being confirmed every moment.
 
“Maybe we should introduce Dr Nodir to some of the leader’s?” Fureva looked around, her extra height giving her the advantage, and she soon spotted Resina pouring over plans on a makeshift trestle table.
“Resina, I would like to introduce you to a contemporary of mine, Doctor Nodir,” Fureva introduced, already surprising Resina with her eloquence, only to be confronted with a second Latimor. The usually cool and calm Resina did a double take.
“A…great pleasure to meet you Dr Nodir,” She replied, Nox translating for her.
“She is not to be trusted,” Fureva added in Ferrian. They all smiled politely.
“It’s really as I suspected,” The Doctor nodded his head solemnly.
 
They walked around to the workshop where Ivasha was making basic tools for use in construction.
“And this is Ivasha, one of our engineers,” Fureva introduced her to the Doctor who raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“A human engineer?”
“As is Jaden, the human who saved you from your machine,” Fureva said tactfully, hoping that Doctor Nodir would get the impression that there were people worthy of respect.
“Ah yes, yes they will make valuable assistants.”
“Ah, Dr Nodir, I would ask you to remember this is their town and they are worthy of respect.”
“But Admiral,” Nodir smiled his most patronising smile as if talking to a woman who was overfond of cats, “Only one can speak Ferrian.”
“I assure you Doctor, that won’t be for long. I have found these people to be intelligent and highly resourceful. I would like to see that in your time here you help the community in any capacity you can and help repair the Spire’s systems.” Fureva said with a finality that reminded everyone (even those who could not speak Ferrian) that she was still an Admiral.
 
Next, they found Temila and introduced her as the community’s healer and botanist, “And someone you can put your trust in.” Said Fureva respectfully to the woman who saved her memory, “She will be able to tell you what barks and bugs are best for eating.”
 
Moments later, after leaving Dr Nodir to his own devices in Tiltspire, both Fureva and Nox popped back into existence in the basement. Jaden and Marius had done their best to put the fear of horrible retribution into the hearts and mind of Alric and Rothfilla and they were about to let them go.
“Don’t make me hunt you down,” Fureva said as the elevator closed on two terrified faces.
 
With another pop, they were back in the catacombs of the Patchwork Dream, informing Ragnia of a new, possibly useful contact.
“He handed over Trask after a little blackmail and cash, but he may be useful for a while.” Marius said.
“And you? Are you still bent on following after Trask to Rockspire?” Ragnia asked.
“We have to. We’re all at threat of the Malignant Shard if we can’t get him back.”
“Well then, I may have some news for you. Eccleda, one of the ones you rescued from the prison. They say they have a way into Rockspire, it seems they do work out there sometimes. They should be able to provide information about Rockspire, if not help you through the gates. Would you like me to make contact with them?”
 
It was agreed, and as Nox was falling asleep on her feet after teleporting all day, they all prepared for a long rest. Regardless of how sleepy she felt, when Marius confronted Nox about the echoes, she broke down and told him about it all. She admitted that the echoed had been her random thoughts and feelings made real by the cypher. She confessed to being embarrassed by their appearance and shamed that they had hurt her friend so much. A short way away, Jaden looked on, only too aware, that she was no longer Nox’s confidant.
 
That night, Fureva-Yung saw a horned ghost walk through the common space in which they slept. With a fart of that echoed through the empty halls, the image faded away to nothing and the ghost disappeared from her sight.