Xaviers!

"I think that's... where the tree is," she says, as if that explains everything.

"Tree?"

"Oh. Sorry it's... it's probably not a tree. I definitely don't think it's a tree to everyone. But it's... useful to think of it as a tree?"

"It's where the sparks go, in the end."

Natalie raises an eyebrow, "Usually if you put sparks on a tree, it burns down."

"Okay, so don't think of them as sparks. Think of them as... little lights that make you what you are. Souls."

"Okay... I may have a hard time explaining this to the Citadel."

"You're a computer made out of exotic crystals that reports to some sort of space wizard."

"Maybe you'll have an easy time reporting it. If not, I guess I could talk to them?"

"I'm a person, inhabiting a highly advanced technological device," Natalie bristles, "And that 'space wizard' is kind of an asshole. So yeah, I have no idea how reporting this will go."

"I mean, being a person residing in a computer made of exotic crystals doesn't make your nonsense any better than my nonsense."

"I didn't say it was better," Natalie says, a hand running across her face, "I just... sorry, just was treated like a 'thing' today despite someone's words to the contrary and I'm a bit sore."

"I just... well, I know all this shite has a sort of weird dream logic to it and it never gets any better than that."

"Wonderful," Natalie frowns, "I'll try to package it as best I can. If they need to talk to you, I'll let you know. Not sure how we'd get you there. Don't really have the transport pad ready yet."

"I'm guessing space wizards aren't big on remote communication?"

"I honestly don't know. I got summoned to some sort of throne-room-slash-observatory-room, so maybe, maybe not. First time I'd met the head 'space wizard'. Not exactly eager for a repeat."