[Story] Fenspace Infinities: Strange New Worlds

[robkelk]

(blows dust off thread)

Since BA's scene is still in development (I hope), here's the start of what happens after Skuld leaves and Jarvis visits. More later, if anyone else cares enough to contribute to this alternate...

"Mr. Scott, I've detected an unauthorized signal on the Halcyon network, from a terminal we didn't issue."

"Shit! Somebody's cracked the security... no, wait. Patch it through to my terminal, Takami."

She blinked and nodded, then typed for a few seconds. A new window - titled "VIDWINDOW" - appeared on Noah's desktop, then showed Skuld's face. "Took you long enough."

"Sorry, we just noticed your signal. I gather the insertion went smoothly?"

"As smooth as silk, yes. Let Ben and Mayonaka know I look forward to seeing them again, but not for at least a week. Longer if nii-san's local avatar shows up."

"Which reminds me - who is Paradox's avatar in this universe?"

"I don't really want to find out whether there even is one, Mr. Scott."

He took the hint. "We have a data packet for you, milady."

"Oh? Where did it come from, and what's in it?"

"We've been asked to keep the source secret, but I expect you'll figure it out quickly enough. As for what's in it, I'm hoping you can tell us. It looks like somebody's idea of how a meeting with a Higher Power is supposed to take place. Somebody who's never met you, that is."

"Maybe what's described in the data packet is how the local Manifestations do things. It would explain why you've never met any of them. Assuming you've never met any of them."

--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012