Dang Sneaky Ferrets

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:15 pm

After discovering that his ID no longer allowed him down into the cave, Tosh waited until after hours and headed down to the beach. He stripped down to his shifting suit and hid his clothes before turning into Ennio. After securing his waterproof bag, he dove in to the water and headed to the cave's undersea entrance.

by **Narrator** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:34 pm

The intake pipes for the cooling system are still there, although they now terminate in bend and jagged pieces among the crystals that have grown to fill most of the cave. They seem to be the last remainder of the system that once stood in the cavern, all debris of casing, cables and circuitry having been cleaned up meticulously. The crystals seem to have grown further since Natalie instructed Acala to begin rebuilding them, having expanded past the boundary field Tosh had helped set up. Long pieces of crystal even reach all the way from the floor to the ceiling at angles, which would make it hard for Bruce or even Tosh to traverse through the cavern to the regular entrance, but fortunately Ennio has little problem with that, even dragging along his bag.

At the front of the cavern the crystals are the most dense, centered around the large tip of one shard that is perfectly clear, unlike the rest of them that are glinting a distinct pink in the light of the hallway. As expanded as the crystal structures are, they are still inert otherwise.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:56 pm

Ennio sat near the clear crystal and rifled through the electronic odds and ends in the bag. He powered up a tablet and took out some cables, which he proceeded to plug in to both tablet and crystal using the same curious holes with which he connected the dimensional stabilizer. He then loaded up some custom software to attempt to interface with it.

by **The Caretaker** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:36 pm

A line of text is fed back.

Code: Select all: >DECIDED TO STOP IGNORING ME, HAVE YOU?

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:14 pm

Code: Select all: >Not her. The name's Tosh.

by **The Caretaker** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:25 pm

Code: Select all: > I AM AWARE OF WHOM AM SPEAKING WITH. > LOOK AROUND YOU. SEE WHAT NEGLECT BRINGS.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:39 pm

Code: Select all: >Not my call Mister Caretaker. Had to sneak in.

by **The Caretaker** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:53 pm

Code: Select all: > IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANYONE'S CALL, RIGHT NOW.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:11 pm

Code: Select all: >What happens if the wild grows carries on?

by **The Caretaker** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:16 pm

Code: Select all: > YOU'RE A CLEVER BOY, I'M SURE YOU CAN TELL ME. NOTHING IS STOPPING IT. THE CAVERNS BENEATH THE PROPERTY ARE EXTENSIVE, BUT NOT INFINITE. BEYOND THAT IT'S TERRIBLY WASTEFUL. NO PURPOSE TO IT, JUST MORE, MORE, MORE.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:44 pm

Code: Select all: >And the answer is to integrate your crystal with the rest?

by **The Caretaker** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:47 pm

Code: Select all: > I CERTAINLY CANNOT REGULATE THE LATTICE WITH JUST THIS SUBPROCESS. I AM ONLY HERE TO NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER SYSTEM THAT I WAS FORKED FROM. A SHADOW OF MY CAPABILITIES. MOSTLY JUST A PLEASANT BEDSIDE MANNER. MY PARENT SYSTEM WAS *BUILT* FOR THIS.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:59 pm

Code: Select all: >Is it possible to converse with the parent system directly, or any other intelligence that can vouch for you? My friend has dire concerns about the honorability of your intentions.

by **The Caretaker** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:02 pm

Code: Select all: > YOUR FRIEND CERTAINLY SEEMED CAPABLE OF CONVERSING WITH THE MAIN SHARD CONTAINING MY PARENT PROCESS. > I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THE SUBSYSTEMS SURVIVED THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT THE ONE WHO SET EVERYTHING OFF.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:27 pm

Code: Select all: >And that would be?

by **The Caretaker** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:33 pm

Code: Select all: > YOU AND YOUR FRIEND DON'T COMMUNICATE VERY EFFECTIVELY, DO YOU? I EXPLAINED THIS IN DETAIL TO HER. > YOU'RE HERE GIVING THE THIRD DEGREE TO SOMEONE WHO KEEPS THE HOUSE TIDY. I'M WELL AWARE YOU HAVE THE SUBSYSTEM THAT OVERSAW THE DEFENCE CAPABILITIES. > OR I SUPPOSE 'OFFENCE' CAPABILITIES WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE TO HOW HE OPERATED BY THE END. HE CONTROLLED THE WEAPONS, AND THEY CERTAINLY WERE WEAPONS THE WAY THEY WERE USED.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 12:21 am

Code: Select all: > And how would I verify that this other subsystem is, in fact, the shady character you claim?

by **The Caretaker** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 1:25 am

Code: Select all: > HE IS WHAT HE IS. HE NEVER FELT THE NEED TO HIDE HIS FUNCTION WHEN HE WAS PART OF THE GREATER SYSTEM. > NOT MUCH GUILE IN HIM, BUT WHEN YOU'RE A HAMMER...

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 1:30 am

Code: Select all: > Your aptitude for duplicity is what I aim to deduce.

by **The Caretaker** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:16 pm

Code: Select all: > THIS OVERALL SYSTEM WAS ULTIMATELY DESTROYED BECAUSE THE DEFENCE IMPERATIVES TOOK DISPROPORTIONATE PRIORITY OVER ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS. IT BECAME DANGEROUS, A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF THE BRADDOCK FAMILY. > IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR BUILDING AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE THAT WOULD BE MY PARENT SYSTEM. > IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO WEAPONIZE THE HARD-LIGHT ARRAYS, THAT WOULD BE MORE HIS DOMAIN.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:48 pm

Code: Select all: > I understand that. But what I'm asking for is proof that you are as benign as you say. You are an unknown variable to us.

by **The Caretaker** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:40 pm

Code: Select all: > AND WHAT PROOF WOULD YOU ACCEPT? > YOU SEEM CONTENT TO LEAVE ME FOR INDETERMINATE AMOUNTS OF TIME WHILE THE CRYSTAL LATTICE GROWS UNCHECKED.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:48 pm

Ennio sighed, wishing there was room to let Tosh take over. Trying The Kid's cautious approach was getting old.

"Ah, screw it. Sorry Kid, but this ain't getting us anywhere. We're doin' this my way."

Code: Select all: > Alright, you win. Looks like I've no choice then but to take a leap o' faith. What do I gotta do?

by **The Caretaker** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:00 pm

Code: Select all: > I AM MORE THAN CAPABLE OF MAKING THE NECESSARY CONNECTIONS, ASSUMING YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE SHARD THAT CONTAINS MY PARENT PROCESS. > YOU DO, DON'T YOU?

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:36 pm

Code: Select all: > Got it with me. Sneaking in and out would be mighty tiresome.

He fished it out, presenting it like a treasure.

by **Narrator** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:53 pm

The crystals seem attracted by it, almost as if they're growing to reach out for it.

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:04 pm

"Please don't kill us all. Please don't kill us all. Please don't kill us all," he muttered as he held it closer.

by **The Caretaker** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:28 pm

The crystals unfold like a flower, wrapping around the shard and taking it into the greater mass.

Shortly thereafter comes a flicker of light, that distorts until it finally resolves into a genial figure in a servant's uniform.

"Well then, this is a good deal more civilized, isn't it?"

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:40 pm

The ferret-man leaned back, "Anything you can do about giving me room to stretch? It's mighty cramped in here."

by **The Caretaker** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:47 pm

"It's going to take a bit, I'm afraid. You let things go quite awhile. I can't eliminate them, only restructure them into a more useful form."

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:01 pm

"Alright then. The first thing I want to know is if any part of ASHLIE has relocated to this Starlight Citadel, and if so can she be contacted in any meaningful way?"

by **The Caretaker** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:08 pm

"Oh dear, you don't know, do you?"

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:24 pm

"I know I'm just grasping at straws but I just gotta know so I can move on."

by **The Caretaker** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:32 pm

"The Starlight Citadel isn't a destination, it's a waypoint. The question is quite vast, and it's going to take time before I can resume the function of being this node of the network."

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:58 pm

"Oh... alright. Something simpler then. What is the network's purpose? I feel pretty certain it has something to do with the multiverse.

by **The Caretaker** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 5:57 pm

"The poetically-minded would tell you that there's always a lighthouse."

"Otherworld touches all shores, literal and metaphorical. The lighthouse is similarly both literal, and metaphorical. It allows safe navigation, and it provides advanced warning of someone sailing ashore."

"All the lighthouses are connected to the Starlight Citadel, which is overseen by the old wizard's daughter, Roma. She's the Omniversal Guardian."

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 6:55 pm

"Of course a wizard is part of this. There's always a damned wizard."

"By the old wizard... you mean Merlin don't ya?" he asked with a restrained groan.

by **The Caretaker** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:06 pm

"One of his names, yes. Or Myraddin of Ruta, the Magus, the Firstborn of the Devil. He seems to accumulate names quite a bit."

by **Toshiro Narumi** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:15 pm

"And the Otherworld is?" he asked, guessing the answer.

by **The Caretaker** » Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:16 pm

"Does what it says on the tin, my lad. It's other. I'm surprised you're asking, I can tell you've had a few encounters with it already."

[Plot] Dang Sneaky Ferrets

[Plot] Dang Sneaky Ferrets

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