Chapter 11: Connecting the Dots

"I don't understand the point of this detour," Brian protested.

Brian, Meirune, and I stood at the edge of a flooded quarry, its old grated stairways lurching out of the water like rusted cyprus trees. Dunwich Borers was an old quarry which used to provide "a unique variety of stone". Most of the stone that I could sense were types of granite, slate, and marble. There was some sandstone and limestone as well. More importantly, however, was that I could hear lyrium calling to me.

"Atom has promised me answers to some questions if I retrieve something from here," I explained as I willed stone stairs into existence so we could begin making our way to the quarry's pump.

"Atom," he echoed skeptically. "You mean your father?"

I nodded, "That's exactly who I mean."

"You'll have to forgive me, but I still find that difficult to believe," he replied. "Your abilities are a wonder, to be sure, but there must be some scientific explanation for them."

I smirked up at him, "Science is simply the way humans explain and measure how the primal forces of the universes interact with each other. The problem with science is that there some things it can't measure or explain because the human mind can't comprehend it logically. That's why we were given faith."

"Ah, yes, faith," Brian said derisively. "The catch-all fallback position when religion can't explain its reasons."

"Explaining my father's reasons to you would be like explaining your reasons to an ant," I countered. "Your level of consciousness and purpose is far beyond an ant's comprehension. Even if you explained it in full, the ant will never be able to understand and will simply have to take it on faith that what you're doing is in its best interest."

"So nice to be compared to an insect," Brian huffed.

"Be glad I compared you to an ant," I giggled. "If I were to be honest in the comparison, you'd feel much worse."

We arrived at the pump and I got to work fixing it. I was rather pleased with myself. Jeff's lessons on mechanics had been extremely useful, and since he'd helped build water pumps and filters for Sanctuary, this work would go fairly quickly.

"I didn't realize you were a mechanic," Brian observed.

"I'm also a very accomplished politician, metalsmith, combatant, and diplomat," I said chipperly. "Unfortunately, former Director Marston didn't want to see the nice side of my diplomacy."

"Something I'm sure everyone regrets," Brian cleared his throat. "How is it someone as young as you is as accomplished as you say?"

I took a moment to consider how best to explain that one. Jeff knew my entire story and accepted it. Even if he didn't believe it, he took it as the best explanation for me being able to do what I could do. I wondered which Brian would find more unbelievable; being a reincarnated nigh immortal dwarven princess given the soul of a titan and six other godlike beings, or being the daughter of an elder Lovecraftian being who blessed me with all of my gifts.

"I don't think you'd believe any explanation I gave you," I said, settling on my answer. "Nothing I told you would scientifically explain the answer to your question."

"That's an intriguing way to dodge the question," he replied.

I stopped my work and looked at him, "I'm not dodging the question. I'm telling you that you won't believe the answer."

"Try me," he insisted.

I shrugged and looked at Meirune, "Meirune, would you be a dear and dive into the water and turn three valves?"

Meirune nodded and set off to take a swim. The extra doses of the Forced Evolutionary Virus were already showing results. Meirune was already more aware of the conversations around him and gave much clearer indications of understanding what was said around him.

Once Meirune was gone I looked up at Brian, "This is my third lifetime. I have reincarnated twice now. Something has been pushing through multiple lifetimes and multiple universes. In my first life I was a normal human; average in most every way. In my second life I was reincarnated as a dwarven princess in a fantasy world where I could wield magic and absorbed the souls of a titan and a pantheon of near godlike beings. Now, I'm here in the Wasteland under the guidance of Atom. With every reincarnation, I gain more powers, and my physical capabilities seem to be building on themselves. I have no idea why or how. It's just happening to me."

Brian was silent for some time as he considered my explanation. To my surprise, his reply held no hint of suspicion or doubt, "If that's the case, then what is your ultimate goal by gathering all of these people? You say you want to tame and conquer the Wasteland, but to what end?"

"It's exactly what I say it is," I replied. "I want to bring mankind back to its prime."

"Why?" Brian pressed.

"Because it's the right thing to do," I said. "It's no more complicated than that. I want people to live as good of a life as possible. What more reason do I need?"

"If, as you've said, you've lived multiple lifetimes and you still have that mindset, I have to think that you're lying," he replied.

"In my last life I lived to be nearly five hundred years old," I explained. "I was named Empress at the age of twenty-five. I spent hundreds of years doing everything I could so that my subject could live happy, prosperous lives. Now that I'm here, and I have the power and knowledge to do the same thing for everyone, I feel like I should. What good is power if you don't use it to help those without it?"

"It just seems a little too… magnanimous," Brian said skeptically.

I let out a chuckle and returned my attention to the pump, "You know what? Normally, I'd do this alone, but I think I'll have you come with me this time. Perhaps you could use a revelation."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"You'll see," I smirked.

Meirune returned a few minutes later, dripping with water. Meirune gave me an expression that told me he'd completed his task and tapped the pump to signal that I should activate it. The pump worked like a charm and the quarry was quickly drained. We made our way down the sloping stone ramps to a door that led to the tunnels beneath the quarry. Usually I would have just traveled through the stone to get to where I needed to be, but with Brian and Meirune in tow, walking the distance seemed like the best option.

As we stepped into the dark tunnels I felt at home once more surrounded by the stone, even at surface level. I looked up at Brian, "For the record, I do not have the ability to make people see things."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Brian asked.

"You'll see," I replied simply.

We weaved our way down the crudely carved tunnels. Human machines had bore their way through the stone effectively enough, but the work was insulting to a dwarf. Crude. Amateurish. Ugly. Even dwarven mine tunnels had an elegance and care to them.

Brian could see the disapproval on my face, "Something wrong?"

I sighed and motioned to the stone around us, "These tunnels are ugly."

"I didn't realize mining tunnels had to be pretty," he chuckled in reply.

"I told you that I was a dwarf in my last life," I reminded him. "These tunnels are what I would expect from a child during their first carving practice."

"You really do believe what you're saying, don't you?" Brian sighed. It seemed like my story was irritating him.

"You'll see," I replied again.

We walked the tunnels further and further down until we came to a shabby locked door. I could had the stone rip the thing to pieces, but Mierune beat me to it. He shouldered his way through the door with ease and grinned at me afterwards. I reached up and pet his muzzle in thanks.

A few yards past the door, a flash took us into the memories of the place. A group of men were working on a circuit breaker. The vision lasted only a few moments before it ended.

"What the hell was that?" Brian gasped.

"Just one of many visions you'll see down here," I chuckled.

To be fair, there would only be one more vision at the end of the tunnels, but keeping Brian in suspense was fun. To keep everyone safe, I reached out with my new Entity blessing to call to the ghouls in the area. They would normally attack once we got too close, but since I visited the research facility, I could call to them and control them. Unfortunately for the ghouls, my ability to sense them and call them meant I could target them properly. I had them line up along the path we needed to walk.

Brian watched the ghouls line up with no small amount of fear, "What are they doing?"

"They're obeying my command," I said with the air of an Empress. "Among the blessings my father has granted me, control over the creatures created by the radiation is among them."

"You're telling me you're controlling them?" he asked.

"I am," I confirmed. At that moment, stone spikes impaled all of the ghouls at once.

Brian jumped at the sudden mass impalement surprised him, "What? Did you do that?"

I nodded, "I did. Ghouls are a danger to everyone. They're rabid creatures and can't be allowed to remain in the wastes. Unlike the creatures who stay in their habitats, ghouls are happy to roam and hunt people."

Another flash, another memory. But this wasn't a memory of the mines. I watched a memory of myself in full royal regalia , escorted by one hundred guards, Faren to my left and Frandlin to my right. I was ten or eleven.

"I think the Proving will be a good one," Frandlin said. "The ones settling disputes are always the most intense."

I watched myself smile, watched the spark of love in my eyes as I looked at Frandlin, "I think House Torvil has the right of it, but I suppose that's why House Cranock demanded a Proving."

"I'm sure the honorable House Cranock would never try to use the tradition of the Proving to excuse their heir from a charge of murder," Frandlin laughed, all of us knowing full well that's exactly what was happening.

I stepped forward, reaching out to the memories, and they disappeared in a flash.

"No…" I whimpered. I could feel tears welling in my eyes. "No, don't do this to me. Don't show me this just to remind me that I can't go back there."

"Was that… you?" Brian asked.

I turned and looked at Brian, "Yes. A few years older than I am now. That was me back in Orzammar with my future fiance and future husband."

"How could that have been possible?" Brian shook his head in disbelief.

I shrugged and tried to bottle up the surge of emotions that were threatening to overtake me, "I told you… my father will show you more visions…"

"It would seem he's showing you some more painful visions as well," Brian countered.

"Not painful," I said. "But it is difficult to see the people I've lost by coming to this world. It's wonderful to see them, but it pulls on my heart's strings."

We continued forward and after another hundred yards or so, another flash occurred.

"Lord Ivo!" Faren shouted from his bronto. All around him were darkspawn.

I turned my bronto around to come to Frandlin's aid and watched as the rest of the cavalry moved on to continue the charge. I watched as I launched several spells to clear the area around Frandlin.

"No… please no…" I cried quietly knowing exactly what was about to happen.

Faren helped Frandlin up onto his mount when an ogre crashed through our small formation. I watched as we were all sent flying from the brontos and crashed to the ground. I was knocked out while Faren and Frandlin jumped to their feet and kept the darkspawn at bay until I came to a few moments later.

"Get her up, Faren!" Frandlin shouted. He put a darkspawn down with expert precision.

I watched as I stood groggily. I watched as we collected ourselves and put our backs to one another. Watched as we worked in tandem to hold the darkspawn at bay until Sigrun and some others from the Legion of the Dead arrived to rescue us.

"Stone, no… don't… please… I don't want to watch this…" I began to cry.

Faren and Frandlin escorted me to Sigrun. I watched as I refused to leave them.

Frandlin halted his defense, "Forgive me, my love!" He grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me up to Sigrun. "But we don't have time to -ARH!" I watched as a darkspawn buried a spear into his back and out through his chest.

I heard my own heartache, saw the shattering hope in my eyes as I turned and saw Frandlin, reaching out for him desperately, "Frandlin!"

The memory disappeared and I dropped to my knees, weeping, "Why? Why did I have to go through that again? Why show me that?"

There was no answer. I was left to sink into my own heartache as the loss of Frandlin hit me once again.

"What were those things?" Brian asked in horror.

Tears were freely raining down my cheeks. I sniffled and tried to compose myself, "Darkspawn… Creatures twisted by an ancient blight. We fought them as they gathered together in a horde."

"And those two men? The same boys from the first vision?" he asked more gently, seeing my reaction.

I nodded, trying to get a hold of myself, "Frandlin was my fiance. We were set to be wed after we returned from the battle…"

"He was the one who died?" Brian asked.

I nearly choked at the question, "He stopped defending himself because I was too stubborn to let the others rescue me… I didn't know that. His death was my fault. He could have held them at bay if I had just gotten onto the mount…"

"You couldn't have known that," Brian said as he tried to console me. "You wanted to stay and help them."

"And Frandlin paid the price for my stubbornness," I cried.

Brian was clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation. He wasn't used to being the courteous or comforting type. Meirune's large hand gripped my shoulder and lifted me up to my feet.

I looked at Meirune and he gave me an encouraging expression. I smiled and hugged his muzzle. We continued forward.

We moved through a large chasm that narrowed into a tight tunnel. This tunnel led to a small pool with a shrine nearby. As we entered the pool's area, another memory flashed before us.

It was my battle with Seven. We fought desperately until I had finally grown tired of his antics and pulled him into the Fade. There, we witnessed my full soul self at the time as I pulled Seven's soul from his body and decided what to do with him.

When the memory faded, Brian was staring at me in sheer terror, "What the hell was all of that?"

My face was stern as I relived the memory, "That was me going all out."

Brian's expression showed that his entire world view was beginning to shatter, "What are you?"

"She is the anchor," the Entity's voice called through our heads. I listened carefully, but Brian was brought to his knees by the power of the Entity's voice.

"What does that mean?" I asked. "An anchor doesn't move around and I'm in an entirely new universe now."

"You are the anchor," the Entity repeated. "You have not yet woken to your true self, but your presence is beginning to spread. You are asked why lyrium is in this world. It is because you are magic. Your control over the Fade was not control, it was essence. You became the Fade. You are magic manifest. You wonder why you can access magic in a world where none exists, it is because you are the source of magic. Where you go, so too does it."

The revelation was stunning, but I latched onto the last part of the explanation, "Does that mean this is going to keep happening? Am I going to end up in more and more worlds?"

"Yes," it replied succinctly.

"Why? How many? Can I ever go back and find Faren," I asked desperately.

"That is up to you," it said. "We cannot control your journey. We can only help you realize who you are as far as you are willing to understand at the time."

"Who is 'we'?" I demanded.

"A titan gave you its very essence," it replied. "I have given you my domains. Others will help."

"To what end?" I said as I tried to sort the information out.

"That is for you to decide," it said simply. "Go now. Take the blade. Continue your journey. Cleanse this world."

The Entity was gone again. I protested and demanded it return to answer my questions, but to no avail. I stood there, angry and confused, left with more questions than I'd come there with. What did it mean when it called me the anchor? If I were magic made manifest, why couldn't I tap into it when I first arrived? If I could simply choose to go back to Faren and the Dragon Age universe, why wasn't I there already? If all I had to do was truly want it, and I wasn't back there, was there something more to it than simply a desire to return? I couldn't imagine desiring anything more than being back with Faren and my people.

"What are you?" Brian asked again as he looked at me.

Something inside of me, something deeper than my conscious mind, gave the answer as I replied, "I am the Goddess of Magic, the Daughter of Atom, the Granddaughter of Mars. I told you this already. You've even seen for yourself my soul self, my goddess form. What more do you need to believe me?"

"But…" Brian protested feebly. "Gods aren't real."

I huffed, "And here I thought scientists accepted proof when they saw it with their own eyes. Believe me or not, I'm something more than even I know."

"What does that even mean?" Brian asked incredulously.

"I don't know!" I shouted angrily. "If I knew, I would be back home with my love and not stuck in this wasteland trying to pull you people back into the modern age while you kick and scream and protest at every step! But I'm here doing it anyway because that's what I want for you people, and that's what my love knew I would do! What he would have expected me to do! So I could do with a little less skepticism and a lot more thanks!"

My eyes were glowing their lyrium blue in my ferocity and Brian seemed to take the hint that he was using up the last of my patience with his doubt.

Brian lowered his head and held his hands up as a sign of relent, "I'm sorry. All of this is just a little much. I've seen and learned things today that I dismissed long ago as superstitious coping mechanisms by less educated people."

"And now you know the truth," I said. "It can't be helped. Without constant or over interaction, it's no surprise that mortals would think the gods aren't real. But they are… and somehow I rank among them. Now I just need to know what journey I'm on so I can get through it. But first thing's first. I need to get that weapon."

"What?" Brian asked. "What weapon? Where? Why?"

I removed the heavy metal pieces from my outfit as I motioned to the pool of water, "It's a weapon that holds some of my father's power. It's down there in the pool. He asked me to get it, and that's the reason we're here."

Before Brian could respond I dove into the pool of murky water. I couldn't see a thing, so I summoned some radiation to send a glow ahead of me. The cave beneath the pool's surface was deeper than I remembered. Then again, I was also a six year old trying to move a similar distance that an adult character would have tried to move. I summoned stone handholds to let me make my way faster. When I reached the bottom, I spied the barbed blade sitting on a sunken stone alter. The stone brought the blade to me and the moment my hand grasped the handle, I felt a wave of power surge through me. I needed to reach the surface quickly, and with that desire, ink-black tentacles, darker than the water around me, appeared through the cave walls. They wrapped around my wrists and pulled me up to the open air.

I gasped in a gulp of air as the tentacles lifted me out of the water and set me down a few feet from the water's edge.

"What the fuck?" Brian shouted. "What were those things?"

"Just another gift from my father," I wheezed.

Mierune moved to me and patted my back to help clear my lungs.

Once I was composed, I looked at the wicked weapon, "This thing looks dangerous."

"What is it?" Brian asked, getting closer to me than he had since seeing what I did to Seven.

"Kremvh's Tooth," I answered. "You don't want it to cut you."

"I'll take your word for it," he said.

We left the mines the same way we'd found it, minus the ghouls, of course. Our next goal was Vault 81. It had been nearly four months since Jeff left and I wasn't close to claiming the Commonwealth as my territory. Most of the prep work had been done to bring it under my control, though. Soon, I would be preparing for bigger steps in the goal of taming the Wasteland.