Chapter Summary: A visit to an ancient library.
Chapter Word Count: 5,436
FYI: NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow - 1-Nov-2021, and I'll be participating. (the next few chapters (8) are written but making them 'postable' still takes time I may not have.) I may not have time to post them until December, 2021. But, if all goes to plan, I'll be writing the following chapters to complete this part of the story. We'll see what happens.
"What do we have?" Andy asked once the area had been mapped.
"It isn't very large," Garnes said. She pulled the map up on the main view screen. "It isn't really a city, as we would know it. It seems to be centered around this on building." She circled a large structure in the middle.
"Can we clear it?" Ixchel said. "And for how long?"
"It's small enough," Dart said. "We can create a shield bubble around most of the entire facility." A red circle appeared around most of the ruins.
"For how long?" Andy asked. "Will we have enough time to explore?"
"One cycle," Dart said. "After that we'd have to start shrinking the bubble."
"When?" Ixchel asked, frowning at the map. "It looks familiar," she murmured.
"We'll have to move the ship and adjust the engines and shields," Dart said. "We can do it tomorrow."
"Okay," Andy said. "So we can go outside and explore?"
"It's just a lot of sand at the moment," Garnes said.
"But it's outside," Andy said. "No offense but we've been cooped up in the Lucia for too long. I'd like to get some air, maybe go for a walk."
"As long as you are back before we close up for the night," Garnes said. "Have fun."
"Thanks," Andy said. "Come on babe. Adventure awaits."
"Is this a private walk or can we come with you?" Romana said. "I find myself in need of a walk also."
"The more the merrier," Andy said. "Anyone else?"
"I would like to join you," Memo said.
"And I," Ixchel added.
"Dart? Garnes? Interested in a walk?" Andy said.
"Thanks, but no," Garnes said. "We need to work on the shield reconfiguration before tomorrow."
"Maybe some other time," Dart added. "The sooner we can get the shields configured the sooner you can find what you are looking for."
"It's going to be rough out there," Garnes said. You'll want to dress in your toughest clothes. Something you'd use for exploring a desert."
"Of course," Miranda said. She shifted her clothes to something more appropriate.
"I need to learn how to do that," Andy said, pouting. "Be back in a minute."
They all dressed in ship overalls and heavy boots. "Not the most stylish," Andy muttered.
"This is amazing," Andy said, looking up at the shield over the small abandoned city. "It's like being inside a large bowl."
"You are," Dart said. "A bowl made from a high energy shield and dust."
"Safety protocols," Garnes said. "Before you wander off into the city we need to make some things clear. One - Stay in contact with the ship. If we tell you to get back here, don't argue. Two - if we tell you to take cover - get inside a building and away from the entrance."
"Anything else we need to know?" Andy asked.
"We cleared the heavy dust and sand from around this city," Dart said. "But if any buildings had dirt inside, it's still there. So some digging may be required."
"So, shovels may be needed," Andy said. "We can handle that. Hopefully the library was kept closed."
"Did you find anything else when you cleared the city?" Memo said. "Or is it just empty streets and buildings?"
"All of your pads have been updated with maps of the city," Garnes said. "We don't know what any of the buildings were for, so you'll need to do that part of it."
"Let's get started," Ixchel said. "Do we know where in the city this library is supposed to be?"
"The journal says somewhere central," Memo said. Looking around, she pointed towards a large cluster of stone buildings. "Possibly in that direction."
"Looks promising," Andy said, picking up her haversack and slinging it over a shoulder. "A couple clicks?"
"Yes," Miranda said.
They set off, moving at an experienced pace towards the distant buildings. They'd walked for several ticks before they came to any structures.
"Looks a bit worn," Andy said. She stuck her head inside a window in the structure. "Dust," she announced.
"There will be. Lot of dust," Miranda said, pulling her away from the building. "Leave the exploring for later. We'll have plenty of time to look around once we find the library."
"If you say so," Andy said. "So, no stopping until we get to the center?"
The others nodded in agreement.
"The building style is not familiar," Ixchel said.
"No," Memo said. "There are no Wind Clan buildings like these."
"I've sure I've seen this style of architecture before," Andy said, as they passed several multi-story buildings. "Can't remember where though."
"They do have a certain flare," Miranda said, "but nothing comes to mind at the moment.
"Nothing from home," Andy said. "There's a certain airiness about these buildings. Almost as if gravity was an afterthought."
"We've traveled to too many places over the years," Miranda said. "But this isn't something from home."
"There was that abandoned building when we were traveling through the Rings," Andy said. "Never saw the outside but the inside of it gave off a similar vibe."
"They used crystal based storage devices," Miranda said. "We don't have any way of deciphering them here, if the library uses them for storage. They resonate at a different frequency.""
"That might be a problem," Andy said. "We'll just have to hope that this library contains readable material."
They trudged along a wide road, occasionally stopping to look into a building. The ones that were open were either full of sand or completely bare.
"That looks promising," Romana said, waving at a large building just barely visible.
"It does have that solid imposing look that only libraries seem to be able to pull off," Andy said. "Stop to eat here?" She waved at the small fountain and courtyard.
"Yes," Romana said. "It's very peaceful. It would look very beautiful if there were some plants."
"They weren't much for decoration," Memo said.
"A lot of it has worn down over time," Andy said. She rubbed the side of the fountain. "There was writing here at some point. How many cycles do you think it's been since it was occupied," she asked Miranda.
Frowning, Miranda walked around the courtyard, stopping occasionally. "It has the aura of great age," she said. "A lot longer than the clans have existed. Several hundred thousand cycles, or more."
"The clans were still planet bound back then," Ixchel said.
"That is before we were the Clans," Memo said. "At least Wind Clan memory does not go back that far."
"So, one of the civilizations that predate the Confederation?" Andy asked, biting into her fruit. "Hopefully the library is more recent, or we may be unable to use it."
"Shall we continue?" Miranda said, after they'd all eaten something.
"Onward," Andy said.
They walked down empty street for another hour before the road ended in a wide plaza. At the other rend was a large building. There was nothing to indicate its purpose but it dominated the plaza.
"Think this is it?" Andy said.
"Or some other important building," Miranda said. "Government or something similar."
"Well, no time like the present," Andy said, crossing the plaza with a sure step, the others following her.
She quickly went up the ancient steps. Reaching the top, she looked around. It was like being in the center of a wheel, she decided. She could see down several roads until they disappeared in the distance. Turning back around she stared up at the large doors. "Think they were trying to keep something out?"
"They aren't defensive," Ixchel said, tapping one of them. "Meant to impress, not protect."
"Probably had no need," Andy said. "We haven't seen any kind of fortifications the whole way here. Either they were so powerful that their enemies didn't dare attack them or they didn't have any enemies. Shall we go in? In or out?"
"Either," Ixchel said. "The hinges work both ways." She pushed against it but it didn't move.
"Clever," Andy said. "How do we get in? We know Memo's ancestor got in somehow so it should be possible." She looked at Miranda hopefully.
Sighing, Miranda shifted into her energy form and disappeared. There was some resistance but she was able to enter the building. It was a mostly empty building with a very high ceiling. Along one wall was a group of what looked like study carrels and tables. Carefully traveling over to the tables she examined them. They were made from some non-organic substance. Exploring the carrels she found familiar looking crystals. But no readers. Nodding to herself, she went over to the doors and examined them. There did not seem to be a reason they should not open. If there was a lock, she didn't recognize it. Reaching out she sunk an energy appendage into the door.
As soon as she touched it, it started to shake. After a minute of very small vibrations, the two doors started to swing open. She released the door once the opening was large enough for the others to enter.
Slipping through the doors, the others took in the empty space. "Thanks babe," Andy said, hugging Miranda, who'd returned to her mortal form.
"There doesn't appear to be anything here," Romana said.
"There are crystals over there," Miranda said, holding up one of the crystals she'd found. "There do not appear to be any readers, unless they are somewhere else in this building."
"So, crystal libraries. Unless there's something on the Lucia that can read them, we'll have to hope there's a reader here," Andy said.
"I only briefly looked around," Miranda said. "There appears to be a lot more above and below."
"Where do we want to start?" Andy said. "Explore and map the rooms? Take a nap? Head back to the Lucia?"
"Explore," Ixchel said. "And then make a plan, depending on what we find."
"Split up?" Andy asked. "Miranda and me, and you three?"
"As good a plan as any," Miranda said. "Top or bottom?"
"There must be lower levels," Ixchel said. "We'll start there and meet back here."
"Then the upper levels for us," Andy said. "How do we get there?"
"There's a stairway over here," Miranda said. "It goes up and down all six levels."
They all headed to the stairs. Ixchel, Romana, and Memo cautiously heading down, while Miranda and Andy started up the stairs.
"These don't seem very worn," she said. "Think they had another way to go somewhere?"
"Yes," Miranda said. "There are traces of an unusual energy in the main library. They had some other way to change levels."
"What are we looking for?" Andy said. "Other than a mention of either the Furlings or that planet."
"Crystal readers first," Miranda said. "We'll be unable read anything without them."
"Even with them, reading a crystalized hundred thousand year old book is going to be difficult," Andy said.
"There are offices on this level," Miranda said. "There might be something interesting in one of them."
"We should clean an office out," Andy said, poking her head into one of the offices. "Give us a base, of sorts, while we explore it."
"This one shows promise," Miranda said. She waved a hand over part of the door and the room lit up. "Large work surfaces, and plenty of shelves."
"And a pile of those crystals," Andy said, pointing at a table. "And no reader."
"They were likely very expensive," Miranda said. "They don't seem to wear out. There must be a reason they are here, and not on a shelf or in storage."
"A hair," Andy said, grimacing, and removing the hair from her clothes. "Must be one of yours," she said, "My hair isn't that color."
"No," Miranda said, looking at the hair. "Not one of mine. And it doesn't look like yours either. It's not human."
"Can't you do that DNA trick and find out what it is?" Andy asked.
"There isn't enough of it to experiment with," Miranda said. "But it isn't likely to be something as old as this library."
"Memo's ancestor?" Andy said.
"Possibly," Miranda said. "We should clean up around here."
"One floor at a time, while we search for something, anything interesting?" Andy said. "What do you think are in those cupboards?" She tugged on a cupboard door but it stayed closed."
"Bio lock," Miranda said. "A very old one." She moved her hand along the edge of it, almost in a caress. There a was popping sound as it opened. "Sealed."
"So, probably something important?" Andy said. "How long do you think it was sealed for?"
"Hard to tell," Miranda said. "I can feel that it is very old but not how old." She pulled out a small, fabric wrapped object, and turned it in her hand, trying to get a good look at it. "It's something hard," she said, walking over to one of the tables.
"Should we open it now?" Andy asked.
"Who would we save it for?" Miranda asked, pulling open the fabric. Inside was a small device.
"Archeologists?" Andy said, looking at the small device.
"We really don't have the time to find one," Miranda said. She picked it up with one hand. It fit comfortably. "It seems to be designed to be held," she said. "But what is its purpose?" She turned it over.
"No on switch?" Andy said. "Maybe you have to shake it?"
Miranda gave her an unimpressed look, and handed the small object to her. "Go ahead," she said.
"It is supposed to be getting warm?" Andy said, holding it gingerly.
"It wasn't," Miranda said. She covered Andy's hand with her own. "It wasn't that warm when I was holding it." She let go of Andy's hand.
Andy cautiously put it down on the table. "It's glowing now," she said. "It must like me."
"It's a millennial old thing," Miranda said. "It is unlikely to have any feels on the matter."
Andy picked it up again. "Not getting any warmer. I wonder what it is?" She held it out to Miranda. "Take it back."
Miranda took it. "It is no longer glowing." She held it out for Andy to take back.
"Definitely likes me," Andy said, as it started to glow again. "Still doesn't tell us what it is." She stuffed it into a pocket. "We can figure it out later. Is there anything else in there?"
Turning, Miranda walked back over to the cupboard. She carefully stuck her head in the cupboard to look around. "Empty," she declared.
"Think they're all empty?" Andy asked, looking at the other cupboards.
Miranda concentrated for a minute, faintly glowing. "Yes," she said.
"Should we check every room?" Andy said. "That could take a while, unless you want to do your voodoo in each one."
"Acceptable," Miranda said. "No reason to dawdle." Come along Andrea."
Leaving the office, Miranda headed to the first one on the floor. Opening the door, she cautiously entered the room, Andy right behind her. Stepping into the center of the room, she stood calmly and glowed faintly for a minute. "There doesn't appear to be anything here."
"Darn," Andy said. "And not even a cardboard box."
"They had enough time to evacuate," Miranda said.
"How do you know?" Andy asked.
"Just an impression I get," Miranda said.
They searched the entire floor in this way. Andy following behind Miranda. They found one more of the strange hand sized objects. It also responded to Andy, but not Miranda.
"Curious," Miranda said. She handed it to Andy.
"We'll have to see if any of the others get a reaction," Andy said. "Next floor up?" She headed back to the stairway.
"Ye," Miranda said, following her.
They stepped out through the doorway onto the next floor. Unlike the previous floor, it was open, revealing a large space.
"This isn't the entire floor," Andy said. "It sort of echoes."
It's meant for a large audience," Miranda said. She hummed a short tune. "Very good audio."
"So, some kind of meeting room?"
"Or just an empty room, waiting for a purpose," Miranda said.
"I think I'll go with... meeting room...," Andy said. "Or maybe party room?"
"Meeting room," Miranda said.
"Okay... Meeting room it is. Where do you think the rest of the space is?"
"We'd have to measure the outside and inner," Miranda said.
"I wonder what the rest of the space is used for?" Andy said.
"Where all of the equipment used in this room is stored," Miranda said. "It doesn't have to be much. It could just be an inner wall with space in between."
"No magic 'wizard space'?" Andy asked. "We've seen almost everything else, except real magic."
"Unlikely," Miranda said. "There is no magic in this universe as you are thinking."
"It would be interesting if there were," Andy said. "Interesting but probably scary."
"Power on that scale would be appropriately 'scary'," Miranda said.
"Last floor?" Andy said, "and maybe the roof?"
"After you," Miranda said, gesturing towards the stairs.
Smiling, Andy led the way up the stairs to the next floor. There was a short hallway, with a single door at the end. Andy tried to push it open but it refused to move.
"That doesn't look good," Andy said. "There's no lock or doorknob. How do we open it?"
Miranda frowned. She reached out and placed a hand on the door, trying to feel her way through it. "Hmm..." She switched to her energy form, and attempted to go through it, with no success. "It appears to be shielded," she said. "I cannot go into whatever is behind it."
"That doesn't happen very often," Andy said.
"Almost never," Miranda said, nodding in agreement.
"Something important?" Andy asked.
"Or extremely dangerous," Miranda said.
"Leave for now and see what the others are doing?" Andy said, frowning. "And come back later?"
"Yes," Miranda said. "It isn't going anywhere."
They carefully descended the stairs, emerging back into the main room. The others were sitting over at one of the carrells.
"What'd you find?" And said, hurrying over to them. They were looking at a flat, book-like object.
"We think it's a reader for the crystals," Memo said. "But there does not seem to be anyway to turn it on."
"Hmmm," Andy said looking at it. "What did you find in the lower levels?"
"The lowest level appears to be a storeroom," Ixchel said. "Looks like it was emptied a long time ago."
"There are two levels with locked shelves containing crystals," Romana said. "Too many to count."
"So it's an actual library," Andy said. "Where did you find this?"
"On a shelf. There were several, though none seem to be working," Ixchel said.
"Anything resembling a data station or console?" Andy said. "A library you can't find anything in is semi useless."
"Nothing," Memo said. "We believe that these are the sole way to access what is here. But they are dead." She handed the book to Andy. As soon as Andy touched it, it started to glow.
"How did you do that?" Memo said.
"No idea," Andy said. She put the book down on the carrel and the glow slowly faded. "We found this in an office upstairs, and it does the same thing." She took out the small object Miranda had found in the cupboard. "No idea what it does, other than glow."
"Something genetic?" Romana said. "We have Clan tech that only works for people with certain genetic characteristics."
"Possibly," Andy said. "Though I don't know why it would like me and not anyone else."
"You are of the Winter Folk," Memo said. "Is it possible this is a Winter Folk city?"
"No way to know," Andy said. "Unless we can look at some of those crystals."
"What else did you find in the upper levels?" Ixchel said.
"Nothing exciting," Andy said. "A floor of offices, A floor that had a large empty room, possibly for meetings. And a door."
"A door?" Romana frowned. "Where does it go?"
"Don't know," Andy said. "Not even Miranda could open it."
"It is very resistant to my usual entry methods," Miranda said.
"Think the builders encountered someone with your abilities before and designed it to keep them out?" Memo said.
"Possibly," Miranda said, "but that is speculation. There is no way to know."
There was a brief chiming sound in their comms. "Sounds like we've reached our limit for the day," Andy said. "If we leave now we should be able to get back to the ship in time for dinner."
"Take this with us?" Memo said, picking up the book and holding it possessively.
"Definitely," Andy said. "And some of those crystals. Probably which ones don't matter until we can figure out how to use them." Stepping around the others, she walked to the furthest carrel and grabbed the pile of crystals in it, stuffing them into her haversack. The others followed her example.
"We can take inventory once we get back," Andy said. The others nodded and they headed towards the entrance.
"Close it?" Ixchel said, once they were back outside,.
"There's nothing to get into it, hopefully," Andy said. "Miranda?"
"Better to close it than have something unexpected happen," Miranda said. Shifting back into her energy form she gently guided the large doors closed.
"And off we go," Andy said, grabbing Miranda's hand.
"It is nice down here," Ixchel said, walking in between Romana and Memo. "Breathable air, not much dust."
"The shield should filter it all out, according to Dart," Memo said. "It's a fascinating use of shield technology."
"By a fascinating engineer?" Andy said, winking at her.
"Well, yes," Memo said, blushing.
"Lots of eye candy in the Clan," Andy said. "Smart, intelligent, and sexy. I think we all got lucky."
Miranda raised an eyebrow, and tugged her back around.
"I, of course, prefer my Miranda," Andy quickly said, causing the others to giggle. "There's no substitute for love."
"Good save," Miranda said, whispering into her ear.
"So, tomorrow we'll explore the area around the library?" Andy said. "Unless we get lucky tonight and someone figures out the book so we can look at some of the crystals."
"They aren't likely to be in any language any of us know," Romana said. "This isn't Clan. We don't even know what they looked like."
"Reasonable close to humanoid," Miranda said.
"Where do you get that idea from?" Andy said. "How did you come to that conclusion?"
"It's the most logical conclusion," Miranda said. "Everything about this city and the buildings points to some being very close to us in shape."
"Okay," Andy said. "Maybe the crystals will show us, if we ever get them working."
Sighing, Andy leaned back against the wall and snuggled up to Miranda. There wasn't a lot of excess storage, so meals on the Lucia were often plain affairs. Soups. Sandwiches. Simple things, usually with a distinct Serpent Clan or Mayan flare to them. The converters could extend things to fancier foods but it took energy.
Dinner had been a corn soup, and soft little rolls made from corn. Delicious and filling but sometimes she had the urge for something more substantial.
"Steak!" She blurted out. "I could go for a thick steak, medium rare."
"Your flirtation with vegetarian foods seems to be over," Miranda said.
"Not over, so much as put on hold," Andy said. "Just a small break."
"I'm sure we can make arrangements," Miranda said.
Nodding, Andy sat up. "I guess we should get this show on the road." Pushing herself to her feet, she reached down and pulled Miranda up to stand next to her.
Approaching the table at the back of the ship's entertainment room, she picked up the small book-like device. Looking at it carefully, for any indication of how to turn it on, she frowned.
"Nothing," she murmured, before putting it back down. "If this is a viewer for those crystals it isn't obvious."
Memo looked up from where she'd been carefully examining the crystals. "They all appear identical," she said. "There is nothing to make it possible to determine what is on them."
Miranda picked a crystal up, and frowned, rubbing it with her fingers. "There's a faint resonance," she said. "Not as much as the crystals that Ixchel brought with her or we found in that cave, but it's there."
"Can you find any differences between them?" Romana said, from where she was watching them. "There were shelves full of them. There must be some way to distinguish them."
Andy took the small handheld object out and placed it on the table next to the possible book-reader. "If we look at this, when I hold it it starts to get warm and glow faintly. Not sure why but it is visible." She placed a hand on it, holding it there until got very warm.
"Does it stop once you stop touching it?" Memo wondered, picking it up. "I wonder what it's for?"
"Some kind of instrument," Andy said, "based on its shape."
"What happens when you touch the viewer with the other," Ixchel said. "Or when you touch both of them at the same time?"
"Let's see," Andy said. Picking up the viewer, she then picked up the hand object. "Just holding them? Nothing, other than the glow, and this one gets warm."
"And touching them together?" Ixchel said.
And touched the center of the viewer with the handheld object. And gasped in surprise as a low beep emanated from the viewer and the side of it lit up like a screen. "Well, that's different."
"So that thing turned on the viewer?" Ixchel said.
"Possibly," Andy said, moving it away. When the viewer screen remained on, she put the other object back down. "Maybe it unlocked the viewer? Some kind of remote? Seems a bit large for a key."
"Will the viewer stay on now if one of us holds it?" Memo said. Shrugging, Andy handed it to her. It stayed on. "Interesting."
"So, you have to be Andrea to turn it on, but others can use it?" Miranda said.
"But only as long as you used the other thing to turn it on?" Andy said.
"I am not familiar with this kind of device," Memo said, closely examining it. "There is nothing like it in my memories." She picked up one of the crystals and touched the screen. The screen filled with characters. "I don't recognize this language."
"Proximity," Dart said, looking over her shoulder. "Makes sense."
"We aren't going to get very far, if the instructions, which that probably is, are written in a language none of us know." Romana said.
"We can't just wish for it to work," Andy said. "It's not Clan tech, it doesn't have any idea that we want to use it."
There was a small pinging sound from the viewer.
"It responds to your touch," Miranda said. "It's possible that it has some intelligence. What changed?"
Andy rotated the device again. "There's a small slot here," she said excitedly. "Hand me one of those crystals."
"Here," Memo said, randomly picking up a slim crystal from the bench and handing it to her.
Taking it from her, Andy slid it into the slot. The screen flashed and words again appeared on it, with a small image below. "The words look familiar," she said, "but I have no idea what they say."
"The Lucia does have a translator," Dart said. "Not quite universal but it can do a decent job with enough input."
"But we don't have anything like a Rosetta stone," Andy said, grumbling. "Don't you need multiple languages for that? And hook this up to the Lucia?"
"That might be a little bit difficult," Dart admitted, "but I'm sure we can work something out."
Andy handed the viewer to Memo who eagerly took it. Then, on a whim, she picked up the other object, the one that gave no indication of its purpose, other than being meant for being held in a hand. "If we were lucky, this would be some kind of translator," she said. "But we can't be that lucky." She held it up to an ear for a moment and then waved it around.
Miranda gently took it from her. "It's not going to give away its secrets if you drop it," she said.
"Maybe. Maybe not," Andy said. "We know it's important. It somehow unlocked the viewer. But it might as well be a flat piece of river stone.
Miranda nodded, before returning it. "Maybe we'll find something else in the city in the morning."
"Sounds like a good exit line," Andy said, pocketing the object. "Off to bed?"
"Bed," Miranda said, nodding.
"Don't stay up all night," Andy told the others. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day of stomping around ruins." Taking Miranda's hand, she pulled her out of the cabin and towards their own. "You don't need sleep," she said to Miranda, once their cabin door was closed behind them. "What's up?"
"You could use some rest," Miranda said. "It's been a long day."
"Won't you be bored, watching me sleep?" Andy said.
"Never," Miranda said, kissing her lightly. "And time moves at a different pace for me."
"So you'll be even more bored," Andy said, grimacing.
"No, I'll just have longer to think about this, like I always do. It's not a bad thing," she added in response to the face Andy made.
"Here," she said, handing the handheld object to Miranda. "Maybe you can figure it out."
"It seems to be shielded against me. But I can try to pry something loose while you sleep."
"Good!" Andy said, yawning as she pulled on her pajamas. She sat down on their bed and grabbed Miranda's free hand, pulling her down onto the bed with her as she lay down. "Let's get under the covers and cuddle for a few minutes." She yawned again. "Sleepy."
Changing her own clothes to something more appropriate with a single thought, Miranda joined her under the covers, which were more for appearances than to keep them warm, in the ship's controlled environment.
"You're cute," Andy said softly, watching Miranda make herself comfortable next to her.
"You make it easy to believe," Miranda said. "Now, sleep."
"Yes, ma'am," Andy said, closing her eyes. She drifted off to sleep to the sound of Miranda breathing
Lying against a smooth rock, Andy opened her eyes, squinting in the bright light. "Miranda? Where are we?" She looked around at the vegetation. They appeared to be in a forest of some sort.
Miranda appeared in front of her, moving without making a sound. "It appears to be something resembling a dreamscape," Miranda said. "It's connected to the object."
"So, not like being in the pods?" Andy said.
"Not exactly, though I can feel it as a small drain on my core," Miranda said. "It's vaguely uncomfortable at the moment."
"Hmmm. So you're powering it?" Andy said. "Can you make changes to it? Give us some sun?"
Miranda frowned, and concentrated. A sun appeared off in the distance, and there were moons.
"Pretty," Andy said.
"The moons are not my idea," Miranda said. "They appear to be part of this scene."
"Still pretty," Andy said. "What do you think it's for? Linking multiple minds together like this is must not be trivial."
"I'm not certain," Miranda said. "It could be exactly what it appears to be, a place to rest. Or it might serve a different purpose."
"But we're allowed to explore?" Andy asked.
"As long as we stick together," Miranda said. Grabbing Andy's hand. "There's a nice lake with a fresh water spring in that direction. We can go swimming if you would like to. Or just picnic."
"Need snacks to picnic," Andy said. "Before I starve."
"It's virtual," Miranda said. "We aren't likely to starve."
"A jungle," Andy said, looking around. "Fresh fruit?"
"Your favorites," Miranda said, smiling at her.
"What's stopping us?" Andy said, grabbing Miranda's hand and tugging her in the direction Miranda had indicated. "Though I don't seem to be dressed for swimming."
"Just the two of us," Miranda said. "Lack of a swimsuit hasn't stopped you before."
"As long as you don't mind?" Andy said, before quickly stripping off her pajamas.
"Of course not," Miranda said. Waving a hand, her own clothes disappeared.
"Now, That's not fair," Andy said. "I have to take my clothes off the hard way."
"It's virtual," Miranda reminded her. "You could do the same."
"No, let's not go there," Andy said under her breath.