A/N: Last two chapters added. Finished!
7. Serenia, part 3
Scene 1
The Stranger approaches the pool with the old harvester in it. Beside it are some controls, and she notices some steps leading down under the water.
STRANGER: How do I get down there?
NECKLACE: You'll have to turn off the flow of water to the pool first. Remember all those water wheels you've seen around the place?
STRANGER: Ah yes. I take it those control the direction of the water?
NECKLACE: Right. But since Sirrus helpfully smashed one of them up, there's only one way to do it.
STRANGER: (Groans) Why am I not surprised by this?
She returns to the nearest water wheel. It has a familiar-looking coil of wood around it.
STRANGER: Ah. I remember this...
She strokes her finger across the coil the way she did earlier in Haven, this time managing to avoid screaming when it turns into a winged snake and flies away. Then she attempts to turn the wheel, but it is extremely stiff and heavy.
STRANGER: (Grunts as she strains to turn the wheel) Hint for whoever developed this: Sometimes too much realism can be a bad thing.
Since it is almost impossible to work out exactly where the water is going, she has to return to the pool each time she makes a change in order to check the results. After much to-ing and fro-ing between the four wheels, she manages to cut off both channels of water leading to the pool.
STRANGER: Now what?
NECKLACE: Try the controls.
The STRANGER does so, and discovers that one lever raises and lowers the harvester while the other opens its door. By using the harvester to ladle water out of the pool, she eventually manages to get the steps clear of water.
STRANGER: (Takes a deep breath) Right, I'm going in...
She walks down the flight of steps, at the bottom of which is a door with no handle, but a strangely familiar-looking pattern on it.
STRANGER: (Sighs) ...Or rather, I'm not going in because there's yet another stupid frickin' puzzle to solve first.
The puzzle is a sort of wheel, made up of different-coloured pegs which can be slid around from one slot to another.
STRANGER: Ah... so this is what the Spire thing was for. And I guess that colour combination I saw in Dream has something to do with it as well...
With the help of the clues she gathered earlier, she manages to solve the puzzle, which is time-consuming but surprisingly easy. The door slides open and she enters the Memory Chamber; then it slams shut behind her. There does not appear to be any way to open it again.
STRANGER: Hmph. Guess there's no going back.
She walks down the passage inside the chamber, which leads to a ladder going upwards.
Scene 2
The STRANGER emerges into the heart of the Memory Chamber from a trapdoor in the floor. At its centre is some kind of sealed vault; a panel on the door shows the old Memory Flower inside, covered with a glass shield to keep out the poisonous gases.
A strange contraption, like a sort of horizontal diving bell, catches the STRANGER's eye. The small circular panel on its side shows SIRRUS lying inside it, his face frozen and expressionless. He appears to be dead.
STRANGER: Huh? There's something very weird going on here...
With mounting trepidation she climbs the stairs to the upper part of the chamber. YEESHA is there, still struggling in the chair the STRANGER saw in a vision earlier.
YEESHA: Achenar, y- (Looks up and sees the STRANGER.) It's you – you've come to rescue me. (Her tone is remarkably flat and emotionless.) Over there there's a lever that'll set me free. Hurry up before Achenar comes back!
STRANGER: Achenar? But...
Her voice trails off. YEESHA stares at her in exasperation.
YEESHA: What are you waiting for? He'll kill us! Move!
The STRANGER moves towards the lever. There are actually two: one amber, one silver.
YEESHA: Achenar would use the silver lever. Turn it and you'll set me free.
Just as the STRANGER's hand is hovering over the lever, ACHENAR appears in the doorway.
ACHENAR: NO! Stop! (He points a crossbow at the little girl.) This is not Yeesha!
YEESHA (shocked): What?
ACHENAR (dramatically): Sirrus used the machine. He forced the Memory Chamber to remove all of her memories!
YEESHA: Liar!
ACHENAR: This is Sirrus, I tell you!
YEESHA: (Turns to STRANGER) This is crazy! He killed Sirrus when he tried to save me.
ACHENAR: (Appeals) Seriously, would I kill my own brother?
YEESHA / STRANGER (together): Yes!
ACHENAR finds this hard to argue with.
YEESHA: Look, he's got the life-stone. Serenia's memory chamber can't survive without the –
ACHENAR: Shut up! (He jabs the crossbow at her and she shrinks back.)
YEESHA (timidly): Please – I'm your little sister!
ACHENAR realises that he is not exactly helping his case. He points the crossbow at the STRANGER again.
ACHENAR (growls): He's just playing games with you.
YEESHA: You see, he's a killer!
STRANGER: (Throws up her hands) Enough! Achenar, which lever do you want me to pull?
ACHENAR steps forward, breathing heavily.
ACHENAR: The amber lever. Turn the amber lever.
YEESHA: No, you'll kill me if you do that!
ACHENAR: HURRY!
Without the slightest hesitation, the STRANGER leans over and pulls the amber lever. YEESHA – or rather, SIRRUS in YEESHA's body – looks furious.
SIRRUS: No, you fool! My performance was perfect!
STRANGER: Yeah, and it might even have worked if I hadn't read your journal in Spire. You know, the one where you talk about using Yeesha to get revenge on your parents?
SIRRUS: Damn it! I knew that writing my fiendish plan down was a bad idea. (Turns to ACHENAR.) You may have won this round, brother, but it's not over!
The two of them turn and look expectantly at the STRANGER.
STRANGER: (Winces) Do I have to say it?
SIRRUS: After a line like that? It's pretty much compulsory.
STRANGER: Oh, all right then. (Scowls at him.) You'll never get away with this, Sirrus!
SIRRUS: AHAHAHAHA! (He slumps back in the chair, an amusingly ridiculous 'unconscious' expression coming over his face.)
ACHENAR (horrified): No, Sirrus! Don't! (He puts his hand on YEESHA's forehead.) Something has gone wrong. Yeesha's memories are not coming back again! (Looks up at the STRANGER as the chamber begins to shake) Listen to me: the Memory Chamber is dying. I can keep it alive using the stone, but you have got to find a way to reach her!
STRANGER: But how – (Suddenly realises) No. Ohhhhh no. There is no way in hell I'm going back to Dream again, understand?
ACHENAR: But –
STRANGER: No. Non. Nein. Nyet. NO. I am not doing it.
ACHENAR: I see. Well, take these in case you change your mind.
He hands the STRANGER a couple of white tablets and walks down the stairs with a dejected attitude. The STRANGER looks down at the NECKLACE, who – despite not having a face – somehow manages to look reproachful. After a few beats, she follows ACHENAR – only to find that he has disappeared.
STRANGER: Achenar?
Then she sees him through the panel on the vault, removing the Memory Flower's cover.
STRANGER (shocked): What are you doing?
ACHENAR: Isn't it obvious? I'm throwing away my own life to save Yeesha's, thus redeeming myself with my act of heroic sacrifice, and ensuring that I won't have to face the consequences of my crimes. Remember Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi?
STRANGER: (Pauses) Hold on, how on earth did you get to see Ret-
ACHENAR: Go! You must save Yeesha! (He smashes the glass cover with the stone and the vault fills with green gas, blocking the STRANGER's view.)
STRANGER: (Looks sadly at the pills in her hand) Well, much as I hate this kind of emotional blackmail, I guess I don't have much choice after that...
She returns to the upper level, sits down in the other chair, and swallows the pills.
STRANGER: Oh, yeah: Spirit Guide? There had better not be any music videos this time, understand?
She begins to slip into Dream.
Scene 3
The STRANGER finds herself in the darkness of Dream.
SPIRIT GUIDE: You are a most unusual traveller, my friend –
STRANGER (sharply): Yeah, yeah, blah, blah. Let's just get this over with, shall we?
SPIRIT GUIDE: (Sighs) Very well, but there's something I should warn you about first.
The STRANGER sees what looks like a large, red brain with a cartoonish pair of eyes on it.
STRANGER: What the hell! What is this, Pinky and the Brain?
SPIRIT GUIDE (solemnly): This traveller has no Guide. He uses Yeesha's memories to –
STRANGER: Oh, I get it: Sirrus. OK, what do I do to get rid of him?
SPIRIT GUIDE (peeved): I wish you'd take this in the proper spirit.
STRANGER: Don't push your luck, pal.
SPIRIT GUIDE: (Sighs) Ah, whatever. These are very powerful memories that both Yeesha and the Traveller have in common. Just rearrange the sentences into the right order to make a conversation.
The STRANGER tries to do as he says. The conversation appears to be about chess.
STRANGER: Chess? What's so special about this memory?
SPIRIT GUIDE: Search me.
She finishes the first conversation and moves onto another. This is SIRRUS explaining his evil plan to YEESHA, complete with horrendous overacting.
SIRRUS: You see this globe, little sister? See how round and smooth it is? When I turn this switch, the chair you're sitting in will activate. Lights will go on, and everything that's you will be sucked out of your body! (Evil laugh) Father and Mother will teach you the Art, never knowing it's really me who's doing the learning. Of course, I'll kill them as soon as I learn how to write Ages. Then I'll put my new memories back in my body, and no one will be able to stop me!
STRANGER: Sheesh. Just tone it down a little, will you, Sirrus?
She completes the puzzle and the weird brain-thing deflates, then explodes.
SPIRIT GUIDE: She's free! You have done well, Traveller. The one you know as Yeesha has rediscovered her waking mind.
STRANGER: That's great. Now could I rediscover my waking mind, please?
SPIRIT GUIDE: All right. Return now, to your waking life, until the next time you wish to travel in Dream.
STRANGER: Hahahaha. You're kidding, right?
SPIRIT GUIDE (disappointed): Well, maybe you could just send me a postcard now and then?
STRANGER: I'm not making any promises. (Relents) But I'll think about it.
Dream fades away as she begins to wake.
Scene 4
The STRANGER comes to in the Memory Chamber. She jumps up and rushes over to YEESHA, who is beginning to stir. ACHENAR is bent over her, gasping for breath.
ACHENAR: We did it! (Struggles to his feet) The transfer... worked. We saved... Yeesha! (He starts to laugh, then begins to cough heavily.)
STRANGER: (Shakes her head sadly) Oh, Achenar. There was a gas mask down in that tunnel – didn't you see it?
ACHENAR: A gas mask? Ah, screw it... (Splutters) Still... maybe better this way. All the things I did...
YEESHA wakes and looks up at her brother.
ACHENAR (to YEESHA): It's OK – Sirrus is dead. It's over. Everything's gonna be OK, little sis...
He lowers his head onto her lap. She looks at the STRANGER, bewildered, and begins to stroke his hair. The STRANGER quietly leaves the room.
STRANGER: Eeesh. That was a rather more downbeat ending than I expected.
NECKLACE: Well, I guess it was easier than trying to show Achenar re-integrating himself with his family.
STRANGER: I suppose you have a point.
NECKLACE: Anyway, what are you going to do about the life-stone now it's in that vault full of poison gas?
An evil smile begins to spread over the STRANGER's face.
STRANGER: You know, I think I'll leave that up to the Protectors. It's too heavy for me to lift, after all...
NECKLACE: Oh, naturally. (Giggles, then suddenly stops.) You know, Stranger, I think I'm going to miss you a little.
STRANGER: You know what? I think I'm going to miss you too.
There is an awkward pause.
STRANGER: Anyway, let's get Yeesha out of there and back to her family.
She makes her way back into the upper chamber, where YEESHA still sits with ACHENAR.
