Disclaimer: All characters except for Cho, Gehn, Atrus, and Catherine (Katran) belong to me. Everything else belongs to Cyan.
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"Now, put your hand on the book. If the link is successful, I will follow you immediately."
The Rivenese man stared at the Gateway Image. It was pitch black, like what all Linking Books have when they never have been used before. Who knew what was behind this black barrier?
Perhaps he would link into a paradise? There was a possibility that he would disappear, then reappear into a scenic land with gentle, rolling hills and clear blue skies. Maybe he would be emerge into an Age exactly like Riven, except a bit more stable. He would give a great deal to make his home stable!
"What's holding you, servant? A Book is a Book! A Link is a Link! What's the worst that could happen?"
What was the worst that could happen? He had many ideas of what "the worst" was. Maybe his master would just forget him, and leave him in exile from his home for all of eternity. Maybe he would link into a land filled with poisonous elements, and he would die a painful death. Then, if he returned, his entire people would be wiped out by the plague he would bring. Who knows? And worst of all, if he linked, maybe he would remain in the dark void shown in the Gateway Image, and would be trapped there forever?
"I ORDER YOU TO LINK! If you don't, I will FEED YOU TO THE WHARKS!"
The man cringed in fear of his master, who was now furious. He bowed, trying to contain his fear, and said, "I shall obey your orders, my lord Gehn."
He then slowly extended his arm to the Book Gehn was holding. The subject closed his eyes as he placed his palm on the Image and...
Nothing happened.
No tingling feeling in his palm.
No sickening lurch.
No feeling of being of the page growing suddenly large.
No sensation of melting and being taken over by blackness.
Nothing.
Gehn sighed, "Back to the drawing board. Again," as he tossed what should have been his 171st Age into the furnace; the same fate as Ages 38 thru 170.
Cho also sighed. Of course, he was glad for not having to enter a strange, new realm. Unlike his master, he wouldn't mind if he was bound to Age 5- he was until Gehn arrived, and he liked it! However, this meant waiting in horror until Gehn had him attempt a link into another Age. Cho did not know why Gehn had him do this week after week, month after month, and year after year. All of Gehn's Ages were doomed to fail.
"Age 171," muttered Gehn as he lit the furnace, "Length: 11", Width 8", Height: 1". Ink made of the fluids of 2-year-old beetles, and paper made of tanned bark. Failed.
Gehn turned to face his loyal, yet constantly-failing subject, Cho. He asked, "Has anything noteworthy occurred lately?"
"Well," began Cho. He hated speaking in D'ni for so long to accomplish these reports. Why couldn't his master be a bit more kind and learn to speak Rivenese? "You already know of Lineh's induction into the Guild of Surveyors- the ceremony is next week. Also, Silat, from the Guild of Educators, has rejected using the model of a warhk sacrifice to teach numbers. So, our officials have imprisoned her and with your permission- talk about irony!- she will be fed to the wahrks sometime between tomorrow and the end of the month. And concerning the Moiety..."
"Ah, yes," interrupted Gehn, his frown increasing, "Is there any news concerning my sorry-excuse-for-enemies, the Moiety?"
"You see," continued Cho, "The Moiety has continued on its pattern of vandalism and theft. Missing furniture here, a painting of you desecrated there- Guildsman Erilis is still recovering from when he fell off one of the bridges a rebel sabotaged. However, one of their tactics found most annoying by all five Guilds is throwing rocks into the Fissure plateau cage, which throws down the bars and distracts nearby Guildsmen, allowing them to sneak away."
The Fissure Plateau Cage was neatly designed so that it would trap anyone as soon as they linked there. This Cage was meant for Atrus and Katran, of course, but why would they even think of returning? They probably had the Riven Descriptive Book locked away, or even burned!
"Still," continued Cho, "This is nothing we cannot handle. So far, we have caught and killed around 35. We imprisoned many more, but they all have mysteriously escaped."
"Excellent," said Gehn, "You're free to go," as he unlocked the door leading to the Maglev to Survey Island. Cho, of course, was ready to take the usual path home: he would simply take the Maglev to Survey Island, then take another Maglev to Jungle Island. But there was one thing he still wanted to do. First he would state a general fact, then he would inch his master until he got to the point.
"Well," Gehn snapped, "I said you could go. What do you want, lad?"
Cho despised being called "lad." He was in his late 30's. He was considered mature in D'ni culture, and really mature in his own. He folded his arms behind his back, rubbed his foot against the ground, and looked down.
He softly said, "Well, my lord Gehn, I have no reason to bother you. It's just that I have been doing the same thing ever since I was admitted into the Guild: supervise the wahrk sacrifices and try out Linking Books. Perhaps I could get a little, eh-em, change of position, don't you think?" Cho pulled his mouth into an innocent grin. He obviously couldn't pull his eyes into an adorable "sad puppy" look. He was too old for that, and since when do people use that to ask something from your boss, let alone your god!
"Are you saying," said Gehn in an annoyed expression, "That you want a promotion?"
Cho looked around nervously. His mind wandered. Would Gehn give him the promotion? Would he simply reject this proposal? Or worse, he might eject him from the Guild, or even kill him! Cho saw Gehn's right hand was holding his infamous heek. Cho couldn't lie to his own master, so he carefully nodded.
Gehn thought for a moment, and then said, "Well, there is one more job to fill out, so I guess I could give you a new assignment. You shall now..."
Raid the Moiety? Spy on those who might be anti-Gehn? Be transferred to the Guild of Educators? He wasn't that good with children, but he would prefer to hand out tests and books over Gehn handing him books to test.
"...guard the Fissure Plateau Cage."
"The Fissure Cage?" gasped Cho. His jaw was dropped. Guard the Fissure Cage?! That's what he would do? Stand all day in front of a pressure-activated cage all day and wait for Katran or Atrus to return to a place where they probably abandoned?!
"Yes," said Gehn, an evil grin rising on his face, "The Fissure Cage. It seems old Guildmaster Isrin grows weary of his current vocation and requested a switch just two hours before you came. And look here- it seems that Guildmaster Cho also requests a different assignment. So it is only fair that you two should switch."
"But-but-but sir," gasped Cho, desperate to get out of this sticky situation he got himself into.
Gehn's evil grin slowly faded into a scowl. He roared, "You DARE to DISOBEY?!"
Cho cried, "No sir! Never!" And bowed low to his master.
"ENOUGH!" Roared Gehn. Cho instantly got up from the ground and stopped kissing his master's foot.
Gehn calmed, and said, "If anyone is to link into the cage, you will ask for the Linking Book the person brought. Say to the person: Tah-ge-mah b'zoo ah re-kor, which translates to 'Give me the book.' Once the person hands you the Linking Book, give it to me. Understand?"
"Yes, sir." said Cho.
Gehn pointed to the door and roared, "Now, go!"
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"Now, put your hand on the book. If the link is successful, I will follow you immediately."
The Rivenese man stared at the Gateway Image. It was pitch black, like what all Linking Books have when they never have been used before. Who knew what was behind this black barrier?
Perhaps he would link into a paradise? There was a possibility that he would disappear, then reappear into a scenic land with gentle, rolling hills and clear blue skies. Maybe he would be emerge into an Age exactly like Riven, except a bit more stable. He would give a great deal to make his home stable!
"What's holding you, servant? A Book is a Book! A Link is a Link! What's the worst that could happen?"
What was the worst that could happen? He had many ideas of what "the worst" was. Maybe his master would just forget him, and leave him in exile from his home for all of eternity. Maybe he would link into a land filled with poisonous elements, and he would die a painful death. Then, if he returned, his entire people would be wiped out by the plague he would bring. Who knows? And worst of all, if he linked, maybe he would remain in the dark void shown in the Gateway Image, and would be trapped there forever?
"I ORDER YOU TO LINK! If you don't, I will FEED YOU TO THE WHARKS!"
The man cringed in fear of his master, who was now furious. He bowed, trying to contain his fear, and said, "I shall obey your orders, my lord Gehn."
He then slowly extended his arm to the Book Gehn was holding. The subject closed his eyes as he placed his palm on the Image and...
Nothing happened.
No tingling feeling in his palm.
No sickening lurch.
No feeling of being of the page growing suddenly large.
No sensation of melting and being taken over by blackness.
Nothing.
Gehn sighed, "Back to the drawing board. Again," as he tossed what should have been his 171st Age into the furnace; the same fate as Ages 38 thru 170.
Cho also sighed. Of course, he was glad for not having to enter a strange, new realm. Unlike his master, he wouldn't mind if he was bound to Age 5- he was until Gehn arrived, and he liked it! However, this meant waiting in horror until Gehn had him attempt a link into another Age. Cho did not know why Gehn had him do this week after week, month after month, and year after year. All of Gehn's Ages were doomed to fail.
"Age 171," muttered Gehn as he lit the furnace, "Length: 11", Width 8", Height: 1". Ink made of the fluids of 2-year-old beetles, and paper made of tanned bark. Failed.
Gehn turned to face his loyal, yet constantly-failing subject, Cho. He asked, "Has anything noteworthy occurred lately?"
"Well," began Cho. He hated speaking in D'ni for so long to accomplish these reports. Why couldn't his master be a bit more kind and learn to speak Rivenese? "You already know of Lineh's induction into the Guild of Surveyors- the ceremony is next week. Also, Silat, from the Guild of Educators, has rejected using the model of a warhk sacrifice to teach numbers. So, our officials have imprisoned her and with your permission- talk about irony!- she will be fed to the wahrks sometime between tomorrow and the end of the month. And concerning the Moiety..."
"Ah, yes," interrupted Gehn, his frown increasing, "Is there any news concerning my sorry-excuse-for-enemies, the Moiety?"
"You see," continued Cho, "The Moiety has continued on its pattern of vandalism and theft. Missing furniture here, a painting of you desecrated there- Guildsman Erilis is still recovering from when he fell off one of the bridges a rebel sabotaged. However, one of their tactics found most annoying by all five Guilds is throwing rocks into the Fissure plateau cage, which throws down the bars and distracts nearby Guildsmen, allowing them to sneak away."
The Fissure Plateau Cage was neatly designed so that it would trap anyone as soon as they linked there. This Cage was meant for Atrus and Katran, of course, but why would they even think of returning? They probably had the Riven Descriptive Book locked away, or even burned!
"Still," continued Cho, "This is nothing we cannot handle. So far, we have caught and killed around 35. We imprisoned many more, but they all have mysteriously escaped."
"Excellent," said Gehn, "You're free to go," as he unlocked the door leading to the Maglev to Survey Island. Cho, of course, was ready to take the usual path home: he would simply take the Maglev to Survey Island, then take another Maglev to Jungle Island. But there was one thing he still wanted to do. First he would state a general fact, then he would inch his master until he got to the point.
"Well," Gehn snapped, "I said you could go. What do you want, lad?"
Cho despised being called "lad." He was in his late 30's. He was considered mature in D'ni culture, and really mature in his own. He folded his arms behind his back, rubbed his foot against the ground, and looked down.
He softly said, "Well, my lord Gehn, I have no reason to bother you. It's just that I have been doing the same thing ever since I was admitted into the Guild: supervise the wahrk sacrifices and try out Linking Books. Perhaps I could get a little, eh-em, change of position, don't you think?" Cho pulled his mouth into an innocent grin. He obviously couldn't pull his eyes into an adorable "sad puppy" look. He was too old for that, and since when do people use that to ask something from your boss, let alone your god!
"Are you saying," said Gehn in an annoyed expression, "That you want a promotion?"
Cho looked around nervously. His mind wandered. Would Gehn give him the promotion? Would he simply reject this proposal? Or worse, he might eject him from the Guild, or even kill him! Cho saw Gehn's right hand was holding his infamous heek. Cho couldn't lie to his own master, so he carefully nodded.
Gehn thought for a moment, and then said, "Well, there is one more job to fill out, so I guess I could give you a new assignment. You shall now..."
Raid the Moiety? Spy on those who might be anti-Gehn? Be transferred to the Guild of Educators? He wasn't that good with children, but he would prefer to hand out tests and books over Gehn handing him books to test.
"...guard the Fissure Plateau Cage."
"The Fissure Cage?" gasped Cho. His jaw was dropped. Guard the Fissure Cage?! That's what he would do? Stand all day in front of a pressure-activated cage all day and wait for Katran or Atrus to return to a place where they probably abandoned?!
"Yes," said Gehn, an evil grin rising on his face, "The Fissure Cage. It seems old Guildmaster Isrin grows weary of his current vocation and requested a switch just two hours before you came. And look here- it seems that Guildmaster Cho also requests a different assignment. So it is only fair that you two should switch."
"But-but-but sir," gasped Cho, desperate to get out of this sticky situation he got himself into.
Gehn's evil grin slowly faded into a scowl. He roared, "You DARE to DISOBEY?!"
Cho cried, "No sir! Never!" And bowed low to his master.
"ENOUGH!" Roared Gehn. Cho instantly got up from the ground and stopped kissing his master's foot.
Gehn calmed, and said, "If anyone is to link into the cage, you will ask for the Linking Book the person brought. Say to the person: Tah-ge-mah b'zoo ah re-kor, which translates to 'Give me the book.' Once the person hands you the Linking Book, give it to me. Understand?"
"Yes, sir." said Cho.
Gehn pointed to the door and roared, "Now, go!"