The Last Oddetsey

[alex_holt]

EUDIAL AND LELAND

Leland locates what appears to be the supply closet, which has a sizable pile of boxes at the rear that are big enough to contain the late Dr Seben. They appear to contain the remnants of what presumably are vital supplies for the running of a psychic organization such as adult magazines, jars of raspberry jam and dreamcasts. There are plenty of other items round the storeroom in general that might be worth taking: various medicines and mineral infusions, bandages, a tank of leeches and an old MAGNET-TOES brand psyproof helmet.

Eudial also finds a rare candy.

VENGEANCE

After managing to find a patch where it wasn't entirely covered in lichen, Vengeance examines the stone - it is of a type that he has never seen before, seemingly infused with tiny polyhedral metallic crystals of gold, silver and copper coloured minerals, but it does appear to be originally natural. How it is shaped is intriguing though - it is slightly concave on top, and the outer holes appear to channel back to the central one. The item lodged inside it is, apparently, a very peculiar acorn, which seems to switch between some sort of phasing state and some sort of super-hard state. According to Georges readings, nothing that Vengeance has about his person at the minute would do any notable damage to either the stone or the acorn.

Meanwhile, George interfaces with the computer, and manages to get a few of the lesser systems up and running - orbital flight, both internal and external sensors, activating a Golem chef and his ingredient replicator and a temperature controlled pool.

George also locates some files that Doomforall seems to have left for him to read: a thorough document concerning the rift energy that Doomforall used as his powerset; how it works, its origin, it's applications, it's limitations (very few), however, it is the very last section of the document that gets Vengeances attention.

"All my research and study points to one indisputable fact: that taking the power of the Rift from the Marranach was the greatest mistake any being in the history of the multiverse has ever made. My mistake. He was a being who was outside the multiverse, outside any comprehension and I, in my ignorance and in my folly, thought that I had impressed such a creature with my audacity and I had somehow earned the right to that power. I was a child to think that. He rules in the space between Multiverses and longs to expand his domain further into their light - pouring his realms into them like cold water onto a fire to reclaim them. In my stupidity, I am the beach-head - by bringing the rift here in myself I have given him a way in...

I will retire from using the power of the Rift as much as I can, but with this power I cannot shirk responsibility. Worlds may die from both my action and inaction. Eventually, something will happen and he will break in. I have begun to look into ways to escape this cruel fate I have wrought on this universe and the others, but it is a long shot at best.

I have already acquired the item from the Botanist and I returned Vengeance to his home world again, though he will not remember it, he may be the key to all this. If all else fails, at least this Fortress of mine may finally get to live out it's intended function..."