NOTE: this is a continuation of TADC after The Last Act. So there is spoilers here.
Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
They walked together to the space by the stage, finding the breakfast table had been brought out. Caine was sitting next to Gangle as she created a parfait in front of him. Zooble sat on her other side already mixing together a similar parfait. Across the table sat Ragatha who had just created a sausage and egg platter, pushing it towards Scratch as she tried to explain that she was still learning how to make the flavors right.
“Oh, you were down there,” Zooble stated as Pomni took the seat next to them so Kinger could sit across the table.
“Yeah, wanted to catch Jax up,” Pomni said, watching Kinger create a stack of pancakes four high. The pad of butter and syrup fell onto it before he pushed it across the table and started working on a, noticeably taller, stack for himself.
“When are you gonna catch us up?” Zooble asked.
“Yeah, Caine,” Ragatha said, creating a bowl of cereal for herself. “I noticed you had reorganized the computer lounge?”
“Does that mean you’ve figured out how to bring them all back?” Gangle asked, hopeful.
“Maybe,” Scratch carefully dragged out.
“Apparently I was on the right track with Jax, back right after he abstracted,” Pomni explained, careful to not look at Ragatha.
“Somewhere inside is a sort of reset for their code,” Kinger said. “We think if someone goes into their mind files and helps them, they could come back.”
“If it’s in their code, why not fix it with a terminal?” Ragatha asked.
Pomni realized Ragatha was right, remembering the pain her whole body felt after being pulled from Jax.
“I think the person also needs to want to come back,” Scratch admitted. “This is something that simply reverting someone’s code back to factory settings, so to say, isn’t going to fix. They also have to will it.”
“Like if they were in a mental hospital,” Pomni said, realizing what Kinger had said made more sense.
“Exactly,” Kinger said, nodding his head. He looked down the table and added, “We’re going to start with Bizco once breakfast is over.”
“The computer lounge got reorganized so we could keep tabs on everyone’s vitals during it all,” Caine added.
“How many will need to go inside an abstraction?” Gangle asked.
“Probably just one, but for safety’s sake, I think two is better,” Scratch offered.
“Since I’m the only one with any experience, I volunteered,” Pomni said. “Scratch’s coming with, since he actually knows Bizco.”
“But you came out glitched,” Ragatha reminded, looking at Pomni with worry on her face.
“I can fix their models,” Caine pointed out. “And we’ll be watching their vitals so if something happens, we can pull them out.”
“True,” Ragatha drew out, looking down at her cereal.
“Is there a way for them to communicate to us if there’s a problem that doesn’t show up on the screens?” Zooble asked, looking first at Caine and Scratch before turning their head towards Kinger.
“Oh, like a walkie-talkie,” Kinger realized aloud.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Scratch said, sitting his fork down to hold his hands together in front of himself. He closed his eyes in focus as sparked of moving data ran across the backs of his hands.
“We can help,” Pomni offered, surprised to see him already trying to conjure something so complex.
“I’ve got it,” Scratch said, opening his eyes and taking his hands apart to show two ear pieces and a speaker box. He picked up one of the ear buds and placed it under his floppy ear before reaching across the table towards Pomni with the other one. “These should keep us in contact with each other, in case we get separated, and the relay box will keep us connected to everyone here.”
Pomni stood up to reach Scratch’s out stretched arm, taking the ear bud before dropping back into her chair. She looked it over, surprised to find the device more in line with a button battery than a normal earbud. Trying to not give it too much thought, fearing logic would make it not work as intended, she placed it under her hair where her instincts told her her ear still was. It stuck to her, letting her take her hand away.
“I’ll go to the bedroom hallway and Pomni, go over to the hall of doors.” Looking over at Ragatha and Kinger, Scratch added,” That should work as a test, you think?”
“And we’ll be able to talk to you through this?” Ragatha checked, picking up the black rectangle that was just thicker than a smart phone.
“As long as it works right,” Scratch said, nodding his head.
“Why isn’t it already working?” Gangle asked, worry on her face as she eyed the device in Ragatha’s hand.
“I gave it a proximity filter,” Scratch informed, turning around to walk towards the bedroom hallway.
“I told you he was a genius,” Kinger said with laughter in his voice.
Pomni quickly shoved the last of her pancakes into her mouth as she stood back up from the table. She sat her empty plate on the table, promising herself to come back and take care of her dishes. She turned around and headed to the other end of the main tent. It was weird to keep reminding herself Scratch wasn’t new to this world, even though only Kinger knew him. And she was still shocked at how fast he had figured out how to conjure items. He hadn’t been back a full day yet, that she was aware of, and he was already conjuring complex devices. Meanwhile, she felt proud with making a key that worked.
Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
