A/N: Just for convenience, I'm going to refer to the Stranger as 'her' from now on. Since I'm a girl and all. Feel free to substitute 'him' if you prefer…
1. Tomahna by day
Scene 1
Tomahna, ATRUS's desert home. It is broad daylight and the sun is shining. YEESHA and the STRANGER are travelling through a narrow canyon in a strange 'helicopter' contraption, attached to an overhead rail.
YEESHA: (Turns to STRANGER) Now this part's really really cool –
STRANGER: Whoa, whoa! Hold on a minute, Yeesha. (Holds up a hand.) Since when do people in the Myst games use 20th-century slang?
YEESHA: Since the developers decided it was less complicated that way. (Smiles smugly.)
STRANGER: Right, I see. Nice to see continuity being maintained so early in the story… anyway, what were you saying?
YEESHA: This part's really cool if (unnecessary pause) you're not afraid of heights. Dad and me aren't, but sometimes Mom has to close her eyes when –
STRANGER: Look, couldn't you at least call them 'Mother' and 'Father' or something?
YEESHA: (Shrugs) Hey, if you think it's bad now, wait till you meet my brothers.
STRANGER: Yeah, I can im- hang on, did you say meet your brothers?
YEESHA: Er… (Quickly) Hey, is that a new image recorder you've got there? How cool! (The STRANGER groans and privately rolls her eyes.) And you know, I know the perfect spot (unnecessary pause) to use it. Hang on!
The heli-thingy speeds up and charges through a terrifyingly narrow gap in the rock walls of the canyon, before shuddering to a halt above a waterfall. The view is stunning.
YEESHA: Isn't Tomahna pretty from here? I remember some of the other times you visited us. You've always liked stopping (unnecessary pause) here. (Gestures towards the waterfall.) Go ahead, take a picture.
The STRANGER takes out her image recorder (otherwise known as a 'camera') and snaps a picture.
YEESHA: Did you get it? (The STRANGER nods.) I think you should keep it in your journal. That way you can take it out and look at it whenever you miss us.
STRANGER: Yes, thanks for the tip, Yeesha…
The Monocopter moves off again and finally stops at the landing platform outside ATRUS's house. YEESHA and the STRANGER get out.
YEESHA: I'll tell Dad you're he- hey, what are you looking at? (The STRANGER is gaping at the sky with an expression of utter astonishment.)
STRANGER: The… the clouds! They move!
There is a long pause.
YEESHA (eventually): You're weird.
(She shrugs, pulls a lever which opens the door and runs into the house. The STRANGER remains outside for a minute, still gazing up at the sky in wonderment, then follows her.)
Scene 2
Inside ATRUS's observatory. There is a large telescope in the centre of the room, which is filled with complex-looking machines and gadgets. There is nobody around.
STRANGER: Ah… now this is more like it. (She brushes her hand against a rail, which rings with a metallic 'ping'.)
STRANGER: Hold on… I can touch things! They make sound! (She taps a desk, which gives off a 'wood' sound.) Oh, wow…
The STRANGER spends a happy five minutes tapping everything in sight, opening and closing drawers and cupboards, and admiring the décor. Just as she approaches the window, a smiling ATRUS emerges from some stairs in the middle of the room.
ATRUS: Hello, my friend! I see you made it in one piece. (Suddenly concerned) Now did you bring the –
STRANGER: Yes, Atrus, I brought your groceries. (She hands over a large bag.)
ATRUS: Oh, thank the Maker! We had almost completely run out of Brussels sprouts. (Puts down the bag and rubs his hands together nervously.) Well, now… you're probably wondering why I asked you here?
STRANGER: You said you had something to tell me about your sons?
ATRUS: Ah, yes. (Coughs.) Now, as you know, my sons Sirrus and Achenar were trapped twenty years ago after –
STRANGER: Yes, Atrus, I know what happened. Especially since you helpfully reminded me of it in your letter. Perhaps we could just get to the point?
ATRUS: Right, right. (Hesitates) Well, Catherine believes our sons should be released –
STRANGER (horrified): What!
ATRUS: …but I need an objective opinion. And you're the only one we can trust. (Coughs) In fact, you're the only one there is, full stop.
STRANGER (helplessly): Look, Atrus… I hate to rain on your parade, but I'm not a criminal psychologist. How the hell am I supposed to judge whether your sons should be released?
ATRUS: Ah, well. You remember my old crystal viewer?
STRANGER: Er… no?
ATRUS: Oh… I guess you never played realMyst. Never mind. Anyway, if you'll help me calibrate its sound component, I can show you the two Prison Ages –
STRANGER (confused): Hang on… Prison Ages? What happened to the Trap Books?
ATRUS: Shut up. (Clears his throat loudly.) Now, if you'll just step to the panel behind you, we can begin…
The STRANGER turns to a panel covered with dials and sliders. It has two screens showing a pattern of complicated-looking waveforms.
ATRUS: Use the slider to select a different signal. (The STRANGER does so.) Now use the left dial to adjust the amplitude. Try making it louder… no, not that much! OK, now try adjusting the phase. No, my friend, the phase, not the frequency…
Forty-five minutes later…
ATRUS: Try a different signal. Now adjust the frequency again. Turn the dial to the right – no, the middle dial. That's right. Oh, you've turned it too far now…
The STRANGER finally gives up. She turns to ATRUS.
STRANGER: Look, Atrus, I really don't think we're getting anywhere here.
ATRUS: (Turns round) Oh, come on, my friend. It's not that difficul-
A panel on the image viewer explodes, sending a chain reaction around the room. Showers of sparks fly everywhere. They hear the ominous sound of a large machine powering down.
ATRUS: Oh, no. What a mess…
STRANGER (exasperated): What? You mean I spent three-quarters of an hour on that unbelievably boring puzzle when there wasn't even any need to solve it? Aaaaarrgh!
ATRUS is not listening to her. He examines the crystal viewer, muttering to himself.
ATRUS: …short-circuited… wires completely fused… (Turns to the STRANGER.) All right, my friend: Slight change of plans. The explosion must have shut down the main power supply and damaged the viewer's external image modulator. There's another one on Rime, so I'm going to link there and retrieve it –
STRANGER: Hold on, you're leaving? Oh, no, not again… (Shakes her head.) Something's going to go horribly wrong, isn't it?
ATRUS (ignoring her): Tell you what, why don't you get full power restored while I'm gone? Then use the crystal viewer to contact me. The crystal combination to see Rime is in my journal. (He starts to walk towards the door.)
STRANGER (resignedly): One of the brothers is going to escape and wreak havoc, isn't he? Now I wonder which one it'll be?
ATRUS (still not listening): You'll have to turn on the roof antenna before the viewer will work…
STRANGER: Or maybe both. Yeah, that'll be it.
ATRUS: Oh, and keep an eye on Yeesha, will you? (The door closes behind him.)
STRANGER: …So Yeesha's going to be involved somehow as well. (Sighs wearily) Oh, well, what can you do…
Scene 3
The STRANGER walks through the lower level of ATRUS's house, which is made up of several buildings connected by wooden walkways, high above the river. As she passes through a glass building housing a small sunken garden, she sees YEESHA through a doorway in the distance.
YEESHA: Hey, come here, you've got to see this!
She runs inside. Intrigued, the STRANGER follows her. Inside, she notices that YEESHA is wearing some kind of large pendant around her neck.
YEESHA: Shhhh! Look! (She points to a small green gecko on a railing.)
STRANGER (politely): Oh… a lizard. How nice.
The gecko runs away.
YEESHA: Don't worry, he'll come back. That's his favourite sleeping spot. My necklace showed it to me. (She smiles.)
STRANGER (warily): Your… necklace… showed it to you?
YEESHA: I got it two weeks ago in an age called Serenia. (She fingers the necklace.) It's called a Necklace of Exposition. Shows me all kinds of stuff.
STRANGER: Er… right. (To herself) OK, I really need to have a word with Atrus about that child…
YEESHA (suspiciously): Do you think it's strange that my necklace shows me things?
STRANGER (soothingly): No, Yeesha dear. Of course it shows you things. (Backs away slightly.)
YEESHA: Well, my brothers believe me. So there. (She smirks and turns away to look for her pet gecko. Raising her eyebrows slightly, the STRANGER walks on out of the room.)
Outside, the STRANGER turns onto a side path leading down some steps. At the bottom is a platform in front of a complex-looking hydroelectric power generator; on the platform is a lever with a handle, a large button and two flashing symbols. Gingerly, the STRANGER pulls the lever; the symbols stop flashing.
STRANGER (guiltily): Oops. Hope I didn't screw anything up.
She returns to the main walkway and walks past a bedroom – presumably ATRUS and CATHERINEs' – to a large round platform. Across the river are some more buildings, but there does not appear to be any way to reach them. Shrugging, the STRANGER walks back the way she came; as she passes a small laboratory, she sees YEESHA studying a book inside.
YEESHA: (Turns to STRANGER) Let me guess. Dad blew the power again, didn't he?
STRANGER: 'Again'? This happens often?
YEESHA: All the time. Mom made him install an extra power box so – (Theatrically) Oh, no! (She runs over to the power box, which has a flashing red light on top.) This box is supposed to make sure certain things always work around the house!
STRANGER: Oh, dear…
YEESHA opens the box and peers inside.
YEESHA: There aren't enough rows lit up correctly. I wonder if I could move them… No, Mom doesn't like me messing with electrical stuff. (Suddenly turns and beams at the STRANGER.) I know – why don't you have a go?
STRANGER (uncertainly): Well, all right…
She begins to examine the box, while YEESHA looks at a large glass jar with glowing insects in it.
YEESHA (suddenly): Hey, this is so cool! My beetles are having sex! (The STRANGER nearly chokes.) Oh, wow… I'll have to show this to Dad soon as he gets home. He loves this kind of stuff!
STRANGER (faintly): Does he?
YEESHA runs out of the room and the STRANGER returns to the power box, shaking her head. Inside are several columns of LEDs representing units of electricity. Underneath each column is a symbol; two of them are identical to those on the lever by the generator.
STRANGER: So I guess I have to light up these two…
She messes around with some buttons. It appears that power can only be transferred in whole columns at once.
STRANGER: Hang on… surely there must be a simple way to transfer a certain number of units from one column to another? (Slaps forehead.) No, of course there isn't. That would be too easy, wouldn't it?
Eventually she manages to light up the correct columns, and the box closes automatically. As the STRANGER leaves the room she hears what sounds like a recorder being played very badly; she decides not to interfere. She returns to the generator and presses the button to switch it on.
STRANGER (proud of herself): Well, that wasn't too difficult.
As she returns, YEESHA crosses the walkway ahead and waves to her. Suddenly there is a loud rumble and the ground begins to shake…
STRANGER: Hey, what's going on? Oh, God, I knew this would happen…
There is a strange green glow, followed by a very large explosion. Then, everything goes dark…
