(no subject)
Title: Squared (3/?)
Author: eleanor_ariail
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Rating: Bumped up to R, for disturbing imagery in this chapter and more to come.
Summary: Azkadellia is not willing to wait for DG to lead her to the emerald and decides she has to go straight to the source. This is an AU/what-if story, branching off from the end of part one. All differences will be explained eventually.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Princess slowly stood up and struggled out of her own wet clothes, until she was just in her bra and panties. Picking up the towel Glitch had used, she dried herself off as she walked across the small room. She knelt down in front of the open chest and peered in at the contents. There were several black and red striped shirts in one neat stack, and just as many soft black pants in another. She started to take a set, but stopped when she caught a glimpse of brown fabric beneath all the black and red.
Giving the matter only a little thought, she grabbed the corner peeping out and tugged on it, until it pulled free with a sudden jerk. She toppled back onto the worn floorboards and blinked twice at the ceiling, then raised her head to look around. A long brown coat was draped over her body, and it fell to the floor as she stood. She stared at it a moment more, then picked it up, flipping it around until she was holding it by the shoulders.
Frowning thoughtfully, she shrugged it on over her underwear. She ran her hands over the frayed decorations, twirling one of the loose braids with her finger. She smiled at the way the cuffs dangled when she held up her arms and even giggled a little when she saw the way the tails swished behind her. Her joy was interrupted, though, as the bedroom door opened.
An older woman walked in and stared at Princess. Her gray hair frizzed around her zipper, and her face was almost handsome, despite its many wrinkles. As she took in the sight before her, she began shaking her head.
“You can't be wearing that, dear. That's Glitch's special coat,” she said, as she walked towards Princess. She helped her out of the coat, and handed her one of the red and black sets from the trunk. “Here, now, just put this on. Glitch sent me up here to check on you.” She folded the brown coat carefully and set it back in the trunk.
She turned back to Princess and helped her pull down the striped shirt that had somehow gotten tangled around her arms. “There you are," she said kindly, "Come on downstairs, it's too hot to dally around up here.”
Princess followed her out into the narrow hallway but frowned when they turned away from the stairs and went further down to one of the other rooms.
“I've just got to check in on my baby, first. He's sleeping,” the woman whispered as she ducked into one of the doors. Princess stood outside and studied the knots in the wood paneling until the woman returned. She held in her arms a bundle, wrapped in a blue blanket.
“He woke up for a moment. Here, you can hold him before I put him back to sleep.” Before Princess could respond, the bundle was pushed into her arms. She brushed away the corner of the blanket to see that she was holding an old baby doll. Its painted blond hair and blue eyes were faded, the wooden head and limbs grimy from years of affection, and its stuffed body worn nearly flat.
“Isn't he a dear?” the old woman asked, gazing adoringly at the doll. “I'll just lay him back down now. He needs his rest, you know.” She took the doll back, murmuring soft lullabies as she carried it into her room.
Princess stood quietly by the open door and watched with one eyebrow raised as the woman sat down to rock her doll. After several minutes, she glanced towards the stairwell at the end of the hallway. She pointed a finger in that direction, looked down at it, then back up at the stairs. Finally reaching her decision, she stuck her head in the door and said, “I'm going now.”
The woman didn't raise her eyes from the doll in her arms, but nodded encouragingly and waved her off. Princess smiled tightly, then set off to follow her finger down the hallway. She was distracted for a moment by the sight of the room where she had last been with Glitch, but a quick glance at her hand reminded her that she was supposed to keep heading down the stairs.
She peeped around the doorway at the base of the stairwell and watched as Glitch danced around a table in the kitchen.
“I don't know where Mama's at!” he shouted at Max, who was fuming in his general direction. “I sent her up for Princess half an hour ago, they should be down by now!”
Max gestured frantically at the dinner plates piling up on the table. “Well someone's gotta get these out! People're hungry!”
Glitch grinned and took a plate in each hand. “No problem, boss! You can always depend on me! Rain or shine, winter or summer, Hell or, or, something...” he trailed off as he backed his way through the door into the dining room.
Before the door could stop swinging though, Glitch was pushing his way back into the kitchen, both plates still in his hands. “Um, one problem,” he began slowly, “I have absolutely no idea who ordered anything,” he said, staring at the food hopelessly.
Max shook his head and huffed. Just as he started to resume his tirade, though, Princess ducked out from around the corner. Before Glitch or Max could say a word, she began scooping up plates and balancing them down the length of her arm. She kicked the door open, flashed them both a confident smile, and left them gaping in shock behind her.
“Where are we, how can you hear me, how are we even alive at all?”
“Slow down, I'll answer whatever you want to know. I'm in the second level brain room, in the connection tank, and I imagine you're in here with me, as this is the only connection tank in existence. Which, of course, begins to explain how we can hear each other.”
“Wait. What's a connection tank? And what in the world does it have to do with this little psychic network thing we've got going on?”
“Basically, a connection tank is a device that enables raw information to be gathered from live brain tissue. I designed it several years ago, under the supervision of my mentor, who was near death, but wished to finish his life's work first. It was never designed for more than one brain, so I'm not sure, but...”
“But what?”
“Well. It was meant to be operated by a Viewer, for no more than a few hours a day, but the witch needed more intensive contact with me to get the Sunseeder operational in time. So, a few weeks after I... was installed, they began to burn out. Eventually, the witch found a more... efficient method of obtaining their gift.”
“What do you mean?”
“Every cell in their body is imbued with their ability, but especially their blood. She mines it from them like ore from a mountain."
“What?! That's awful!”
“I know. It's gruesome, but combined with your innate magical ability, I suspect it's what is allowing us to communicate. After all, that's how Azkadellia's been doing it. Between her magic and the Viewers' powers, the tank has been running non-stop for, well, quite a long time.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Ten annuals, two hundred forty-six days, five hours, and twenty-four minutes.”
“What? How can you possibly know that, that exactly?”
“Oh, well that's simple. I can feel every turn of every gear in this tower: the largest has turned one hundred thirty-four million, six hundred fifty-two thousand, six hundred eighty-two times. I know its exact rate of rotation, because I designed it after all, and, well, it's just basic arithmetic from there.”
“Basic arithmetic?”
“Of course. Oh. Dear, I've come off condescending, haven't I? I'm so sorry, really, I didn't mean to. I wish I could blame it on my recent lack of socialization, but... I'm afraid I've been doing it much longer than that.”
“No, no, it's okay, you're fine. I just can't imagine it, all that time, all by yourself? How could you stand it?”
“It's not so bad. I mean, I've had my work to keep me busy. And time passes much more quickly when you stop thinking. Here, try it, I'll show you.”
“But I can't just stop thinking, no one can! When you try, you just think about not thinking.”
“You can now. Trust me, just stop. Don't think, just feel.”
“I...”
“...”
“...You're right! For a moment, there, it was just nothing!”
“See? I knew you could do it. And it was more than a moment, it was actually about two hours. What did you feel?”
“Just peace, like... like I was floating! And warmth. It was nice.”
“That's right- wait, warmth? Hold on... You're right, it is warm. That's new. I mean, I had never noticed the cold before, until now that it's gone. It's... comfortable. Hmm.”
“Hey Ambrose?”
“Yes, DG?”
“We're going to be alright, aren't we?”
“You know, I think we are.”
Author: eleanor_ariail
Genre: Romance/Adventure
Rating: Bumped up to R, for disturbing imagery in this chapter and more to come.
Summary: Azkadellia is not willing to wait for DG to lead her to the emerald and decides she has to go straight to the source. This is an AU/what-if story, branching off from the end of part one. All differences will be explained eventually.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Princess slowly stood up and struggled out of her own wet clothes, until she was just in her bra and panties. Picking up the towel Glitch had used, she dried herself off as she walked across the small room. She knelt down in front of the open chest and peered in at the contents. There were several black and red striped shirts in one neat stack, and just as many soft black pants in another. She started to take a set, but stopped when she caught a glimpse of brown fabric beneath all the black and red.
Giving the matter only a little thought, she grabbed the corner peeping out and tugged on it, until it pulled free with a sudden jerk. She toppled back onto the worn floorboards and blinked twice at the ceiling, then raised her head to look around. A long brown coat was draped over her body, and it fell to the floor as she stood. She stared at it a moment more, then picked it up, flipping it around until she was holding it by the shoulders.
Frowning thoughtfully, she shrugged it on over her underwear. She ran her hands over the frayed decorations, twirling one of the loose braids with her finger. She smiled at the way the cuffs dangled when she held up her arms and even giggled a little when she saw the way the tails swished behind her. Her joy was interrupted, though, as the bedroom door opened.
An older woman walked in and stared at Princess. Her gray hair frizzed around her zipper, and her face was almost handsome, despite its many wrinkles. As she took in the sight before her, she began shaking her head.
“You can't be wearing that, dear. That's Glitch's special coat,” she said, as she walked towards Princess. She helped her out of the coat, and handed her one of the red and black sets from the trunk. “Here, now, just put this on. Glitch sent me up here to check on you.” She folded the brown coat carefully and set it back in the trunk.
She turned back to Princess and helped her pull down the striped shirt that had somehow gotten tangled around her arms. “There you are," she said kindly, "Come on downstairs, it's too hot to dally around up here.”
Princess followed her out into the narrow hallway but frowned when they turned away from the stairs and went further down to one of the other rooms.
“I've just got to check in on my baby, first. He's sleeping,” the woman whispered as she ducked into one of the doors. Princess stood outside and studied the knots in the wood paneling until the woman returned. She held in her arms a bundle, wrapped in a blue blanket.
“He woke up for a moment. Here, you can hold him before I put him back to sleep.” Before Princess could respond, the bundle was pushed into her arms. She brushed away the corner of the blanket to see that she was holding an old baby doll. Its painted blond hair and blue eyes were faded, the wooden head and limbs grimy from years of affection, and its stuffed body worn nearly flat.
“Isn't he a dear?” the old woman asked, gazing adoringly at the doll. “I'll just lay him back down now. He needs his rest, you know.” She took the doll back, murmuring soft lullabies as she carried it into her room.
Princess stood quietly by the open door and watched with one eyebrow raised as the woman sat down to rock her doll. After several minutes, she glanced towards the stairwell at the end of the hallway. She pointed a finger in that direction, looked down at it, then back up at the stairs. Finally reaching her decision, she stuck her head in the door and said, “I'm going now.”
The woman didn't raise her eyes from the doll in her arms, but nodded encouragingly and waved her off. Princess smiled tightly, then set off to follow her finger down the hallway. She was distracted for a moment by the sight of the room where she had last been with Glitch, but a quick glance at her hand reminded her that she was supposed to keep heading down the stairs.
She peeped around the doorway at the base of the stairwell and watched as Glitch danced around a table in the kitchen.
“I don't know where Mama's at!” he shouted at Max, who was fuming in his general direction. “I sent her up for Princess half an hour ago, they should be down by now!”
Max gestured frantically at the dinner plates piling up on the table. “Well someone's gotta get these out! People're hungry!”
Glitch grinned and took a plate in each hand. “No problem, boss! You can always depend on me! Rain or shine, winter or summer, Hell or, or, something...” he trailed off as he backed his way through the door into the dining room.
Before the door could stop swinging though, Glitch was pushing his way back into the kitchen, both plates still in his hands. “Um, one problem,” he began slowly, “I have absolutely no idea who ordered anything,” he said, staring at the food hopelessly.
Max shook his head and huffed. Just as he started to resume his tirade, though, Princess ducked out from around the corner. Before Glitch or Max could say a word, she began scooping up plates and balancing them down the length of her arm. She kicked the door open, flashed them both a confident smile, and left them gaping in shock behind her.
“Where are we, how can you hear me, how are we even alive at all?”
“Slow down, I'll answer whatever you want to know. I'm in the second level brain room, in the connection tank, and I imagine you're in here with me, as this is the only connection tank in existence. Which, of course, begins to explain how we can hear each other.”
“Wait. What's a connection tank? And what in the world does it have to do with this little psychic network thing we've got going on?”
“Basically, a connection tank is a device that enables raw information to be gathered from live brain tissue. I designed it several years ago, under the supervision of my mentor, who was near death, but wished to finish his life's work first. It was never designed for more than one brain, so I'm not sure, but...”
“But what?”
“Well. It was meant to be operated by a Viewer, for no more than a few hours a day, but the witch needed more intensive contact with me to get the Sunseeder operational in time. So, a few weeks after I... was installed, they began to burn out. Eventually, the witch found a more... efficient method of obtaining their gift.”
“What do you mean?”
“Every cell in their body is imbued with their ability, but especially their blood. She mines it from them like ore from a mountain."
“What?! That's awful!”
“I know. It's gruesome, but combined with your innate magical ability, I suspect it's what is allowing us to communicate. After all, that's how Azkadellia's been doing it. Between her magic and the Viewers' powers, the tank has been running non-stop for, well, quite a long time.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Ten annuals, two hundred forty-six days, five hours, and twenty-four minutes.”
“What? How can you possibly know that, that exactly?”
“Oh, well that's simple. I can feel every turn of every gear in this tower: the largest has turned one hundred thirty-four million, six hundred fifty-two thousand, six hundred eighty-two times. I know its exact rate of rotation, because I designed it after all, and, well, it's just basic arithmetic from there.”
“Basic arithmetic?”
“Of course. Oh. Dear, I've come off condescending, haven't I? I'm so sorry, really, I didn't mean to. I wish I could blame it on my recent lack of socialization, but... I'm afraid I've been doing it much longer than that.”
“No, no, it's okay, you're fine. I just can't imagine it, all that time, all by yourself? How could you stand it?”
“It's not so bad. I mean, I've had my work to keep me busy. And time passes much more quickly when you stop thinking. Here, try it, I'll show you.”
“But I can't just stop thinking, no one can! When you try, you just think about not thinking.”
“You can now. Trust me, just stop. Don't think, just feel.”
“I...”
“...”
“...You're right! For a moment, there, it was just nothing!”
“See? I knew you could do it. And it was more than a moment, it was actually about two hours. What did you feel?”
“Just peace, like... like I was floating! And warmth. It was nice.”
“That's right- wait, warmth? Hold on... You're right, it is warm. That's new. I mean, I had never noticed the cold before, until now that it's gone. It's... comfortable. Hmm.”
“Hey Ambrose?”
“Yes, DG?”
“We're going to be alright, aren't we?”
“You know, I think we are.”