Chapter Summary: As the quest continues, things start to come together.
Chapter Word Count: 5,216
"Liking your new toy?" Brittany said, watching Santana playing with the interface to the Furling galaxy monitor on the Hoosr.
"We need our own," Santana said. "This things is the best. If we had our own we'd never be taken by surprise."
"We will," Brittany said. "I have a team working on it."
"It could be a lot of cycles before they figure it out, no matter how clever they are," Santana said. "This is so beyond what anyone in the Confederation can do. Even with those manuals they are going to have to invent some things we don't have."
"Well, we can use this until then," Brittany said.
"But it isn't portable," Santana said. "I can't take it with me."
"So you station one of your intel teams here," Brittany said. "Easy. Need some info? Call them up."
"Not the same thing," Santana said. "But anyway, what brings you out here?"
"I can't spend time with my favorite person?" Brittany said.
"Out in the field?" Santana said. "What do you need me to do?"
"We're going to need to send another scout with Team Andy," Brittany said. "One of your armed ones."
"They're all armed," Santana said. "And armored."
"How many of them know enough about Blue Clan tactics to outsmart their AI ships?" Brittany said. "Garnes is an excellent Pilot but she doesn't have that kind of experience."
"They're going into Blue Clan territory? Why?" Santana said.
"Along the edges," Brittany said. "Close enough that we don't want them attracting attention. Those Blue AI's have a few screws loose."
"The Lucia is one of the best long range deep space scouts in the fleet," Santana said. "They should be able to outrun anything in the Blue Fleet."
"They should," Brittany said, agreeing with her. "But, I'd feel better if they had backup. My model is still saying that those Prophets are important, even if we've jumped so far ahead of where I expected us to be thanks to Andy's parents."
"Having real Winter Folk available to answer questions does come in handy," Santana said. "Though the giggles from those Cousins whenever someone calls them Winter Folk is annoying."
"It's a big joke for them," Brittany said. "They'll get over it eventually."
"Still annoying," Santana said. "At least they haven't asked for a ship from us."
"With that base Gate fixed they can travel wherever they want just by Gate," Brittany said.
"Jealous?" Santana said, smirking.
"A little," Brittany said. "We could use something like that but their Gates don't go anywhere we need, not even the Ancient ones."
"If we could station a shuttle at their Terran base it would be useful. It would cut the travel time to out here by more than half," Santana said. "And the Mars Gate, if they ever get it working again, is also potentially useful."
"Well, they believe in being unobtrusive," Santana said. "If we hadn't known Andy they would have never introduced themselves to us. And we'd never have seen this." She waved at the galaxy monitor.
"What have you learned from it, that we didn't know already?" Brittany asked.
"It picks up the trail of the Bug ships," Santana said. "At least once it was configured to detect them. It records everything, somehow, including types of energy we've never heard of."
"So, we know everywhere that the Bugs have visited since they appeared?" Brittany said.
"Not quite that far back," Santana said. "But for this incursion? Yes. We now know how many there are and where they've stopped along the way."
"Is that good or bad?" Brittany said. "Are you surprised that there are so many of them?"
"You've seen the numbers, and you have one of your Intel teams at the base using the interface from there," Santana said. "You tell me."
"There aren't a lot more than I'd predicted," Brittany said. "But they are scattered over a wider area. Their tactics against the Clans shows some intelligence. I can't see them as a naturally occurring phenomenon as the Sachs do. There's too much intent. But now that we now definitely where every Kraal ship is, we can plan much better."
"We just need a weapon that they can't shield against," Santana said.
"That dead zone where the first Furling library is, they somehow managed to kill an entire Bug fleet. I've sent a team out to investigate," Brittany said. "It probably was done with tech we can't duplicate yet, but maybe it can tell us something useful."
"Better than wandering into hostile Clan territory looking for mythical beings," Santana said.
"The Prophets are real," Brittany said. "It's just that no one knows where they went and who really took them."
"You don't think the Furlings actually took them?" Santana said. "Who did then?"
"I don't know yet," Brittany said. "If the Furling took them they're now way beyond our reach. All signs point to the Furlings having left our reality and gone somewhere else, with only the Sachs Family still in this reality to point stragglers in the right direction."
"Have the Sachs admitted that they are the last Furlings in this galaxy?" Santana said.
"Not in so many words," Brittany said. "They may claim to not understand their ancient language and can't use a lot of their old tech, but I suspect they don't need to. They are a lot smarter and sneakier than they appear."
"They've lived on this planet since at least Gilgamesh," Santana said. "And no one noticed them until now. And with all of the activity by the Clans, and others, that's quite the feat."
"I tried to find some proof that that base had been detected by both our and local spy tools but I came up with bupkis," Brittany said. "It's just not physically there."
"Sylvester claims they have things up their sleeves that would scare and amaze us," Santana said.
"I hate when she gets cryptic. It means we wouldn't understand even if she told us," Brittany said.
"None of these people are making things up," Santana said. "I think it's close to scary."
"Having them on our side doesn't really affect the model," Brittany said. "They just aren't a major factor."
"This isn't a major factor?" Santana said, waving at the galaxy monitor.
"We would have gotten the same information some other way," Brittany said. "But Andy's search for those disappearing Prophets? Finding them does make a difference, even if they don't give us a way to defeat the Bugs."
"I'll send an escort with them," Santana said, sighing. "Plenty of ships sitting in mothballs while we wait for crew to fill them. Finding the right Pilot is another issue. Someone who Garnes will trust and listen to, but will let Andy lead her team, and is qualified. That's going to be a tall order."
"Unfortunately, all of my scouts are already out there," Brittany said. "There isn't time to pull one of them back for this."
"Not a worry," Santana said, shaking her heard. "What are you doing for dinner? Do you have to head back?"
"I'm having dinner with you," Brittany said. "Then we'll watch some sappy movie, and we'll see what happens from there."
"Sounds good," Santana said. She leaned over and waved a hand over the monitoring console and it shut down, leaving just the glow from the console to light the chamber. "Ready to go?"
"Always, with you," Brittany said, taking her hand.
"They will need us again," Sophia said, pausing suddenly while stirring.
"Who?" Cassy said, looking up from the ancient Mayan script she was attempting to decipher.
"Lady Andrea, and the others," Sophia said. "The gods wish us to accompany them to these Prophets."
"We don't have a way to get out there," Cassy said. "The ship we used was headed back out as soon as we disembarked."
"It will be provided for us," Sophia said. "We will not be able to take much with us, so pack lightly."
"For a week? Several days?" Cassy said.
"I can't see," Sophia said. "Possibly a week? But nothing fancy."
"Shall I pack for you also?" Cassy said.
"Yes, please," Sophia said. "I'll need to make arrangements before we go."
"Someone is coming," J'wanni said. "It is not clear from which direction."
"When?" K'lli said, looking up from the scroll she was reading. "It has been a long time since we last had visitors."
"Right now they are searching for us," she said. "It will take them a number of days to arrive."
"Friendly or will we need to hide?" K'lli said.
"They will have questions for the Elders," J'wanni said. "But they will be friendly. I can't see anything else."
"I will make preparations," K'lli said.
"Lady Shadow? Lady Sophia and her companion have entered the base, and requested a meeting," Jane said, appearing in her office door.
"Send them in," Brittany said. She leaned back in her chair and waited for them to appear.
"We are not interrupting you?" Sophia said.
"You're a welcome interruption," Brittany said. "What can I do for you ladies?"
"We need a ship," Sophia said.
"Fleet keeps one ready to go for you," Brittany said.
"We need to be aboard the ship you are sending to Mother," Sophia said. "They will need our assistance when they contact the Prophets."
"How do you know?" Brittany said, curious.
"A message from our gods," Sophia said. "They insist that we be with them when they approach the Prophets."
"There's a scout ship being prepared but there may not be room," Brittany said. "I will have to contact Lady Air."
"We shall wait," Sophia said, sitting on the loveseat in Brittany's office. Shrugging, Cassy sat down next to her.
Brittany sighed, flipping the privacy shield in her office into place. Sophia still hadn't gotten full Clan comms so it was enough for her to have a private conversation with her in her office. "Hey Babe," Brittany said, jumping onto Santana's private comm channel.
"What's up?" Santana said.
"I need you in my office," Brittany said.
"I'm an hour away," Santana said. "Is that soon enough?"
"Possibly," Brittany said. "I need you to come get your cousin."
"Sophia? What's she doing in you office? She avoids the base unless she absolutely needs to be there," Santana said.
"She wants a ship," Brittany said. "The one going out to meet up with Team Andy."
"It's just finishing up being refitted," Santana said. "That's convenient."
"You found a Pilot?" Brittany said.
"Found a hotshot," Santana said. "Of the sneaky kind. Polly."
"And they don't work for me yet?" Brittany said, teasing.
"Not all of them want to be Shadows," Santana said. "I'll bring them down. Tell Sophia she only has an hour to get ready."
"Sophia and Cassy," Brittany said.
"Of course," Santana said, sighing. "Fortunately, she can share a bunk with Sophia. The quarters on the 'Poe' are going to be tight."
"Got it," Brittany said. "See you in an hour."
"Dinner after we get them out of your office," Santana said.
"Of course," Brittany said. "And a quick visit with your parents. Your mother was saying that she hasn't seen you in weeks."
"I've been busy," Santana said.
"We're all busy," Brittany said. "You know your mother won't accept that excuse."
"Yes," Santana said, grumpily. "Gotta go if I'm going to see you in an hour."
"Go," Brittany said. "But get here in one piece."
"Always," Santana said, before dropping off the comm.
Brittany turned off the privacy shield. She studied Sophia and Cassy for a moment. "Sophia?"
"Yes?" She said.
"Santana said you can go on a scout ship she's sending in that direction if you're ready to go in an hour. It's leaving then," Brittany said.
"We're ready," Sophia said, holding up her rucksack, Cassy doing the same.
"Okay," Brittany said. "It'll be a tight fit. Those scouts don't have a lot of room, you'll have to share a bunk. And the Lucia is also at max crew capacity."
"We'll make due," Sophia said, nodding. "It won't be for long."
"Still here, I see," Santana said, bouncing into Brittany's office. "Ready to go?"
"Yes," Sophia said calmly.
"Good," Santana said. She pulled a tall blonde into the office. "This is your Pilot, Polly. She'll take care of everything from here. Just make sure to come back when you're done. Breaking in a new Weaver is not on the agenda for any time this century."
"Understood, Cousin," Sophia said. "Come along, Cassy, the Prophets await."
Bowing, Cassy waved at Brittany, nodded at Santana, and followed Sophia out.
"Bring them back in one piece," Santana said. "Remember what I told you."
"Sure thing boss," Polly said. "Come back with them or not at all." Smirking, she left the office and hurried to catch up with Sophia.
"You didn't really tell her that, did you?" Brittany said.
"Of course I did," Santana said, grinning. "If anything happened to Sophia my mother would kill me. Just spreading the pain."
"Dinner or see your mother first?" Brittany said.
"I called her," Santana said. "We'll meet them for dinner at that place you like in Cancun, and then you're all mine."
"I've always been all yours," Brittany said, laughing. She stood up and walked around her desk and gave Santana a quick hug.
"Just making sure you don't forget," Santana said, looping her arm through Brittany's.
"It's going to be a tight fit," Polly told Sophia and Cassy. "Five is really close to the maximum crew on most long range trips."
"Who else will be aboard?"
"My Engineer, Sally, and we have one of the Shadow combat specialists, Dolly, which now makes sense, with you aboard, ma'am."
"I don't believe a bodyguard is necessary," Sophia said.
"A minimum of one protection specialist is required for any Council members traveling," Polly said. "They gave you a Shadow, so they probably don't expect much danger. Or at least not of the normal kind."
"The Lucia will be meeting several omnipotent beings," Sophia said. "We need to be there with them."
"We can do that," Polly said. "They're almost to Blue Clan territory but we can catch up before they get there."
"Excellent."
"We appear to have picked up a tail," Garnes said over the ship's comm. "Verifying now."
"Who would be following us?" Andy said. "Pirates?"
"ID says it's the 'Poe', one of Fleet's long range scouts," Garnes said. "They must be heading out on patrol."
"Along the same route we're taking?" Harry said. "Did someone forget to pay a parking ticket?"
"We're more heavily armed," Garnes said. "They're faster but we're tougher."
"Do we wave as they go past?" Harry said.
"We're both at warp," Garnes said. "They won't get close enough to see you waving."
"We can glue her feet to the hull," Ginny said. "They'll see her plenty then."
"I'm not going out there while we're in warp," Harry said. "That's scary!"
"It'll just be like boarding party training," Ginny said.
"It isn't going to happen," Garnes said. "We aren't equipped for that kind of extra-vehicular activity while under warp."
"Shame," Ginny said.
"We're being hailed by the Poe," Oz said. "Shall I put it on the shared comm?"
"Yes," Garnes said. "Let's hear what they have to say."
"Lucia, this is the Poe, Pilot Polly speaking," a static filled voice said. "Requesting comm access."
"Comm access granted," Garnes said. The static disappeared and the Poe's pilot joined them on the ship's channel.
"What brings you out this way? If you can tell us," Garnes said.
"Lady Air requested that the Poe provide an escort, for the Lucia," Polly said.
"Unnecessary," Garnes said.
"Was there a specific reason for Lady Air doing so," Andy said.
"Yes, Lady Andrea," Polly said. "The Lady Shadow requested the additional support."
"Of course she did," Andy mumbled to Miranda on their private channel. "And we can't argue about it."
"Of course not," Miranda said. "I suspect there is more to it than that."
"Please introduce your crew," Andy said.
"Yes ma'am." Polly said. "Myself, Sally my Engineer, Dolly our protection detail, and Lady Sophia and her sensory."
"Uh oh," Ginny said on the private channel. "Dolly is a Shadow. Someone must be expecting Shadow things."
"Please repeat that," Garnes said. "The Weaver is aboard the Poe?"
"Yes," Polly said, sounding reluctant. "She says she has to be there when you meet the Prophets."
"Is she available to talk?" Andy said, sighing.
"Yes, Lady Andrea," Polly said.
"What are you doing here, Sophia?" Andy said. "This could be dangerous."
"Greetings, all," Sophia said. "Our presence was requested by they who watch."
"By whom?" Andy said. Miranda poked her. "Never mind, dumb question." She sighed. "Was a reason given by them?"
"They requested myself being present when you meet with the Prophets, they did not indicate why," Sophia said.
"So we find them?" Ginny said.
"That is correct," Sophia said. "The details are not clear but you will find them."
"Okay," Andy said, shaking her head. Having gods directly communicating with someone is not something she was used to. "Do you need anything from us before then?"
"No," Sophia said. "Cassy and myself don't need anything."
"Good, good," Andy said. "We'll keep you updated on our plans."
"All yours," Andy told Garnes.
Garnes sighed, and started asking Polly questions while the others dropped off the comm.
"Well, that was a surprise," Andy said. "Our little quest crew is growing. I'm surprised Santana let her come out here. We really don't know what will happen when we find the Prophets."
Garnes, turned to them, sighing. "Lady Shadow requested the Poe as an escort before we left orbit. Lady Sophia was a last minute addition."
"So, someone thinks Harry and I aren't enough protection?" Ginny said. "Dolly is a Shadow protection specialist. Usually she keeps an eye on the Council Families."
"Which does include Lady Sophia," Harry said.
"You are not happy about this," Memo said, watching Andy.
"A larger party will attract more attention," Andy said. "We already have several unforgettable notables on board. There's no chance that we'll be able to sneak in and see the Prophets, wherever they are, no."
"It will work out," Miranda said. "We should have the Prophets pinpointed by tomorrow."
"And if they won't talk with us?" Andy said. "Then what?"
"Don't worry about things that are unlikely to happen," Miranda said. "They will talk with us, if only to find out why we've dug them up."
"So, I need to polish my speech?" Andy said,
"You won't need a speech," Miranda said. "Just an introduction."
"Are we diplomats or are we still on our quest?" Andy said.
"Once we find the Prophets, our quest is almost over," Miranda said. "So a little bit of both."
"So we should really find them," Andy said. She turned to Garnes. "Are they going to have any problems following us?"
"The Poe nav-comp has been linked to the Lucia," Garnes said. "There won't be any problems."
"Good," Andy said.
"I shall be in our cabin meditating," Miranda said.
"Do you want company?" Andy said.
"Not right now," Miranda said. "I'll left you know when your assistance is required."
"So, who wants to play cards?" Andy said, once Miranda had left the room.
"Against 'Card Sharp Sachs'?" Ginny said. "Not a chance."
"It was just a thought," Andy said, pouting. "We could play something else."
"Or we could finish cataloging the data crystals from the library," Memo said. "There are hints of other things."
Andy sighed, and shook her head. "Pick a crystal you want translated," she said. "Looks like I have the time."
"Yes," Memo said, quickly digging through a pile of the crystals. "This one contained a large number of terms I cannot find translations for," she said. "If you could help with that one it would be appreciated."
"It's an engineering text," Andy said, glancing down at the reader Memo had handed her. "I'm not sure I'll be able to translate some of those terms."
"Engineering? For what?" Dart said, wandering into the ship' lounge.
Andy poked the reader for a few seconds. "Shields? Maybe some kind of scanner?"
"What's the math look like?" She asked, looking over Andy's shoulder.
"Math?" Andy said. She handed the reader to Dart. "See what sense you can make of it."
Dart looked at the reader, trying to decipher a diagram and symbols. "That's beyond me," she said. "It could be a design for an ice cream machine. Or a personal shield."
"I could go for some ice cream right now," Harry said.
"Me too," Ginny said.
"The synthesizers make horrible ice cream," Garnes said, over the comm.
"It's cold, has a sweet flavor," Ginny said. "What more do you want?"
"The texture is not close to ice cream," Harry said. "Unless you like that soy stuff they sell in the commissary."
"The less said about that the better," Garnes said, grimacing.
"How much longer?" Andy asked. "Days? Weeks? Hours?"
"Four ship days to the border," Garnes said. "Then we need directions."
"Miranda will find them," Andy said.
"How goes the plan?" Santana said, stepping into Quinn's office on the Alepsos.
"Not much changed," Quinn said. "We're still running sims based on our other encounters. We need more intel."
"Has anyone shown you the Furling galaxy console?" Santana said. "Would access to that help?"
"Brit mentioned it," Quinn said. "Not sure how useful it would be. Isn't it really just a realtime map?"
"It's much more than that," Santana said. "We're just starting to figure it out. It has amazing resolution. Take a couple days and go see it."
"On the Hoosr?" Quinn said.
"Easiest way to get to it," Santana said. "To see the other one you'd have to go to the Hoosr first anyway. And then take the local Gate down to the Furling base."
Quinn nodded. "How is the news that the Winter Folk still exist going?"
"We're keeping it quiet for now," Santana said. "And not just because the Furling told the Clans to call them the Winter Folk as some sort of subtle joke."
"Of course it is," Quinn said, grimacing. "Are we sure 'Furling' is really their name?"
"No," Santana said. "They called themselves The People. Furling was apparently their ruling body. It's just easier to use Furling for all of them."
"So why the secrecy?" Quinn said.
"The Sachs family requested it," Santana said. "In exchange for access to their Earth-side base and library and the galaxy viewer tech. They prefer that no one know they are still around."
"Their choice," Quinn said, shrugging. "What about Andy? She's been going around telling people she's researching her ancestors, and she's used both Winter People and Furling when asked."
"Nice bit of misdirection," Santana said. "But it also lets her claim ancestral ownership of all the Furling libraries they've found so far. Which, apparently will be true some day when her mother steps down as their leader."
"And the Ice Clan's claims to having found a Winter People base?" Quinn said. "Are we correcting them?"
"It's just a pile of rubble," Santana said, smirking. "And the library's AI guardian isn't going to let in anyone not with a Furling. And their tech beats even ours so they aren't getting in, the greedy shits."
"So no official ceremonies where the Council meets with the Furling Leadership?" Quinn said.
"Nope," Santana said. "Andy's mother isn't interested. The Sachs family is there in case other Furlings show up, to point them in the right direction to wherever. She doesn't want to play ambassador. Though maybe Andy will want to do something different when she inherits the position."
"That must have been a bit of a shock," Quinn said. "To find out that not only was she an alien but her family knows about it."
"She'll survive," Santana said. "Every notice how the place is just lousy with aliens?"
"Yes," Quinn said. "Wind Clan, Tiger Clan, Fox Clan, us, the Red Pirates, and now the Furling. And everyone in hiding until we showed up."
"Well, everyone is still hiding, except us," Santana said. "Brit says most of the larger governments know they have real aliens running around but have a hands-off policy. Someone had a bad experience with their local aliens apparently, and it scared them all, though she won't say what."
"Someone probably tried to kidnap one of the Fox Clan priestesses," Quinn said.
"That wouldn't have ended well," Santana said, nodding. "If the priestesses didn't destroy them, their Fox god would have."
"And they seem so innocent," Quinn said, shaking her head. "The Boston underworld will probably never recover from their encounter with them."
"Why the Fox Clan ran away from the Clans makes no sense," Santana said. "But whatever. Something spooked them. Not our problem."
"Where are you off to next?" Quinn asked. "You must have come all the way out here to do more than to spend five minutes in my office."
"Fifteen minutes," Santana said. "I'm just doing a general tour of everyone out here. Keeping them on their toes. And I wanted to see how accurate that galaxy viewer is."
"How accurate is it?" Quinn said.
"I was able to pick out burn spots on the Alepsos's hull from the last fight she was in," Santana said.
"That's... amazing," Quinn said. "Are we getting a more portable version?"
"The techs are working on it," Santana said. "The Furling data network is there, we just have to tap into it. But it's really slow going. It'll take years just to understand the tech."
"That we don't have," Quinn said.
"But we will, now that we know it's out there," Santana said. "Eventually."
"Now would be much better," Quinn said, shaking her head.
"I need to get going, my shuttle is double parked," Santana said, standing. "You'll probably see me at the Hoosr."
"So, are you coming in for a visit?" Brittany said over the private comm.
"Where are you?" Quinn said. "Santana just left."
"We're traveling together," Brittany said. "I'm just checking up on my favorite nuisances."
"Are you coming up to my office?" Quinn asked.
"Not this time," Brittany said. "We can have dinner when you come check out the galaxy viewer."
"It's a date, though don't tell Rachel I said that," Quinn said.
"Your secret love for my awesome self I'll take to my grave," Brittany said, giggling. "And Santana just walked in, Guess it's time to go. See you in a few weeks."
"Of course," Quinn said. "Travel safe."
Miranda silently observed the plane she was on. When she'd thought Andrea lost to her forever, she'd spent a lot of her time exploring the different plains trying to understand them. In the process she'd come to several contradictory conclusions.
The Ancient Ascended seemed to exist mainly in one of the lower planes that was easy to get to. They hadn't gone very far from their original plane. Just far enough to avoid the physical plane but not so far as to lose interest in it completely, though she'd observed a few who had begun to drift away, losing their identity in the process.
The higher planes were closer to thought than physicality. They took more energy to explore and it was too easy to become adrift and never come back.
The plane the Prophets supposedly were visible from was somewhere in between. Or possibly in the space between planes. She had not quite figured out how to access that border between planes, though she saw hints of it.
"This is an interesting place," Sophia said, unexpectedly appearing on the plane with her. "By itself there really isn't much solidity to it but you can see the reflections of things."
"You have experience wandering the planes," Miranda said.
"Yes," Sophia said, "though mainly in my dreams. It's where our gods reside, though you don't often encounter them here. They are most often on the border between the higher and lower planes. But you know that." She frowned.
"Yes," Miranda said. "I've encountered your gods in a place similar to this, but I am not sure it's the same."
"There is no beginning or end," Sophia said. "They are all the same place."
"Where do you think the Prophets are?" Miranda asked, curious.
"They aren't gods," Sophia said, "so we won't find them between planes. I suspect they require mind altering substances to achieve the planes. But that can make them unpredictable.
But as long as they are sane, and can carry on a reasonable conversation, it won't be an issue. Too much exposure to the planes like this can damage perceptions of what is real or not. And it has been a long time since they had a connection to the non-dreamworld."
"Do you thing they'll still be sane." Miranda said, curious. "Vague pointless pronouncements we can get from any street corner psychic."
"We shall see," Sophia said. "Can you sense them?"
"Only as a vague presence," Miranda said. "No direction."
"I cannot sense even that much," Sophia said. "I suspect no one in the Serpent Clan will be able to. You'll have to get either your Andrea or the Wind Clan Memory here to achieve it."
"I suspected as much," Miranda said. "The planes are as much about intent and connections as they are about energy to access them."
"Among those aware of the planes, the Serpent Clan doesn't have much use for traveling the planes, but the Wind Clan appears to have a natural affinity for accessing them. You can see it with Lady Shadow's intuitive model. I can sense a connection to several different planes when I am near it."
"Yes, I've sensed that also," Miranda said. "But she doesn't talk about it."
"The Wind Clan have Seers and had Prophets," Sophia said. "They can see things in the planes."
"I shall have to bring Andrea here," Miranda said.
"And I am close to my limit," Sophia said, sighing. "Even as the Weaver there is only so much time I can spend here. Best if I leave now." She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and faded from sight.
"Interesting people, these Clan," Miranda said. "And yes, I know you are here watching," she said.
A flashing gold and royal blue entity appeared. "You are unexpectedly perceptive," it said to her. "Most Ascended carry their beliefs with them, which clouds their judgement in places such as this. But you are like a clear pond. Very curious."
"Are you going to interfere?" Miranda asked.
"No," it said. "It is time the Prophets returned home. Their absence has served its purpose. When they return to their people a balance shall return to their Clan, the lack of which bothers their Memory."
"You are not asking me to keep this a secret," Miranda said, raising an eyebrow.
"Whatever you decide will be the correct choice," it said. "All paths lead in the same direction."
"That is suitably vague," Miranda said, shaking her head.
"Action is preferred to inaction," the entity said. "The Prophets have been inactive for far too long."
"What of the ones who took them away?" Miranda asked.
"They are of no import, though you may not agree," the entity said. "Do with them as you wish."