Llydia

Bisys considered Jade's question most carefully. At the end she slowly spoke her thoughts aloud. "My... weakness... to blood is part of what I am. To invalidate that would require a change in my fundamental nature. I wouldn't know of what kind until the Wish was actually made."

If there was anyone who would understand the self-doubt caused by not being sure you are you, it would be Jade.

"Although... the sensitivity is greater now. Before it was only freshly spilled blood that shackled me thus." Hopefully Bisys continued too quickly for Jade to once more regret the consequences of his Wish. "So if it my being subject to blood has been engorged, it might also be able to be minimized."

That was the closest Bisys could come to recommending Jade Wish her as unaffected by blood as possible without changing her nature.

"I would believe it impossible except for Edward's demonstration. If science can modify fundamental form so free of consequences, magic might too." There her logic was flawed. Being only really familiar with her form of magic, Bisys misunderstood the balance involved. For science still had a cost but it was in preparation beforehand rather than payment at time of initiation as known to her. Plus there was always the unanticipated results common to all actions be they science, magic, or mundane.

Of a kin they may be, but compared to the Heart Tree of the Forest and Akat's range runner, well, Bisys was as primitive as the Gre'shil. This even after taking into account the personal evolution from Trisys to Bisys. Her connection with the Forest had ended when the Wish for healing Akat was completed, so Bisys remained ignorant of the amazing communion between the two pinnacles of intelligences.

Sad, even pitiable. For had Bisys been a part of their exchange it would have expanded her mind to new concepts of respect, beauty, and hope. The points of a crystal tree forming the range runner plus the Heart Tree's own quest for survival through spreading seeds would have especially sparked great interest and interaction.

Instead Bisys huddled unhappily under Jade's wing, miserable at being weak. Though a part of it was leftover training that slid her behavior towards the unhealthy end of the emotional spectrum of being a submissive slave captive in a sense of unworthiness.

When Jade cringed at something she couldn't smell, Bisys almost offered to clear the air. Then she desisted. If she couldn't even guarantee something as simple as retrieving an ally, what place had she suggesting how Jade made use of her? He was aware to ask for any desire and that it was her joy to serve. Now it was her place and purpose to wait.

A double batch of goodies...


Enhancements:
Enhancement - (15) Discouraging Words: To Hit Debuff
Enhancement - (15) Stagger: Accuracy/Endurance
Enhancement - (16) Befunddling Aura: Accuracy/Confuse/Recharge
Enhancement - (16) Brilliant Leadership: Accuracy/Endurance
Enhancement - (16) Horror: Accuracy/Endurance
Enhancement - (16) Unspeakable Terror: Accuracy/Recharge
Enhancement - (27) Lethargic Repose: Accuracy/Recharge
Enhancement - (30) Calibrated Accuracy: Accuracy/Range
Enhancement - (30) Harmonized Healing: Healing

Enhancement - (10) Invention: Fear Duration
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Defense Buff
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Disorient Duration
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Hold Duration
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Immobilization Duration
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Resist Damage
Enhancement - (25) Invention: Hold Duration
Enhancement - (30) Invention: Interrupt Duration

The pressure of Jade's hand gave some strength. In that small act Bisys knew he forgave her failure enough to comfort instead of chide. She attempted to squeeze back. All that happened was a slight twitch and extra red static.

Bisys then tried to answer his questions with a negative shake. This result was reminisce of a bobblehead. "I don't know! Made of? Infused with? Carrying? Craving?" The last option gave her pause. "A living ship? Is that even possible?"

The knowledge of blood presence, whether or not fortified by the Wish to know if magical artifacts would harm her, had limited perception. Sure, Bisys could determine exactly where the blood was if she touched it. But that would be like determining if an electrical outlet had power by sticking a fork in it.

Well, I've started working on the Invention badges. Wish me luck!

For you that means the crafted works and extra recipes (plus normal drops) are up to be claimed for 1 inf each! Find them at your local Wentworths.



Enhancements:
Enhancement - (20) Freebird: Fly
Enhancement - (27) Lethargic Repose: Accuracy/Recharge
Enhancement - (30) Curtail Speed: Damage/Slow
Enhancement - (30) Calibrated Accuracy: Accuracy/Range
Enhancement - (35) Kinetic Crash: Knockback/Damage/Endurance
Enhancement - (50) Invention: Flight Speed
Enhancement - (50) Invention: Immobilization Duration
Enhancement - (50) Invention: Interrupt Duration (Qty 2)
Enhancement - (50) Invention: Intangibility
Enhancement - (51) Renewing of Hermes
Enhancement - (51) Grace of Joule


Recipes:
Recipe - (49) Expedient Reinforcement: Acc/Dam/Rech
Recipe - (49) Siphon Insight: Acc/Rech
Recipe - (49) Analyze Weakness: Defense Debuff/End/Rech
Recipe - (30) Harmonized Healing: Heal
Recipe - (50) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: To Hit Buff
Recipe - Temporary Power: Gabriel's Hammer (Qty 2)
Recipe - Temporary Power: Envenomed Dagger



Note: I've noticed the new consignment doesn't like to search for recipes very well. I recommend browsing to the desired selection(s).

Enjoy!!

Ready!



Updated at http://drop.io/CoXNotes are two files:

CoX Notes i17 - A blanked version of my notes.

CoX Notes i17 - Yydr.xls - My current notes.

File version 20100512-2235 and if I did my homework right then things are current for i17.



How does this things read again?

The file is divided into sections by tab along the bottom.

* Interactions - I cleared out some of my old alts, then added two more. Ah! The joys of altitis.

* Badges - Updated! All the new i17 content plus some older content discovered.

* Maps - Updated! Super Group Base has been removed as zones and added back in under Amenities.

* Enh Stores - Still the same for info on purchasing enhancements from store NPCs.

* Salvage - Still the same listings based on info at consignment.

* Invention - NEW! An attempt at tracking crafted enhancements for the Invention badges. Includes recipe purchase price, crafting cost, salvage required, and buff received.

* Flashback - NEW! As listed via Aspect Of The Pillar in Ouroboros, plus the associated contact.

* Chat - Still the same way I organize my chat box layout.

* Credits - Expanded resources used to create the file.

* (Blank) - Always room for more.



Enjoy and Happy Gaming!

Oh, yes. Neither metal frame nor lack of smell prevented her from knowing the tattoo-like glyphs main component. Bisys had wondered if her new form might offer immunity; now she knew her weakness was as prevalent as ever. Shame of her previous failure was compounded as Bisys whimpered to Jade, "That's blood!"

Bisys managed to stay her place at Jade's side but Oh! was there a strong urge to flee. True, freshly split blood was her greatest bane. Still there was enough purpose in the glyphs to pose a serious threat to the satyr. She prayed there would not be cause for her to enter within. It would be the same as asking someone living to enter a coffin knowing it about to be nailed shut.

((After consulting with Khellendrosiic))

Fifteen seconds, ten, five... nothing.

She tried again, the flickering red static almost arcing with redoubled effort. Once more the flat palms, the sweeping gesture, the countdown... nothing.

Bisys turned back to Jade, her head hung in shame. The rolling thunder of the incoming attack almost drowned out her quiet report, "Toy choose not to come. I am sorry, Jade, he is out of my range now."

Anyone interested in seeing the updated version for i17?

Been a while. Everyone liking the new Market UI?


Enhancements:
Enhancement - (49) Power of Grey
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Run Speed Increase
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Range Increase
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Disorient Duration
Enhancement - (15) Invention: Immobilization Duration
Enhancement - (25) Invention: Range Increase
Enhancement - (25) Invention: Immobilization Duration
Enhancement - (25) Invention: Intangibility

Recipes:
Recipe - (23) Undermined Defenses: Defense Debuff
Recipe - (47) Touch of Lady Grey: Defense Debuff/Endurance Reduction
Recipe - (49) Expedient Reinforcement: Acc/Dam/Rech
Recipe - (49) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: To Hit Buff/End Reduction
Recipe - (15) Quickfoot: Run Speed


This is a bit of a test. Don't worry, there are no wrong answers. ;->

The last few listings of 1 inf gifts sadly didn't get claimed. I will use how this set sells to determine if there is still an interest.

Bisys drifted to Jade's side as Akat stretched and shook the dirt off. Her retreat was not quick enough to avoid a few ringing against her shell, though no actual damage was incurred from the miniature projectiles. "And I am grateful you are well, Akat."

Akat's question about the Harvester got Jade thinking, then making another request. "Can you find out where it went?" he asked Bisys, remembering her words from earlier, "Oh uh, or better yet, can you bring Toy back to us? I mean just him, not the Harvester too."

Spacial relocation of a known ally to the present location? Bisys had once expected to be commanded to do just that when they had planned to take the Gre'shil north of Paragon where they ended up encountering Akat eating breakfast, and was equally willing to try now.

With this request/Wish, Bisys 'saw' another of her abilities become active. Additionally knowledge of Toy Dispenser's distance and direction flared on the compass. Bisys noted that Toy Dispenser was a fair distance away and getting farther, though still within her range. Presumably he was still with the Harvester, or in retreat from it.

"Yes, Jade. Though it will have to be Toy Dispenser's choice to come," Bisys amended.

Hands once more mostly palm down, arms slightly spread, Bisys focused. Then with a grasping sweep of one arm she unleashed the simple magic. It created something of a mini-wormhole. The target would feel something like a tug, with inexplicable knowledge that what was happening could be resisted. Or, in Toy's case as an android, it would probably appear as a pop-up window announcing that a recall initiated by Bisys was in progress, with a countdown timer indicating how long the option was available.

If Toy accepted the teleport, he would appear in a mild flash at Jade's feet like an offering. Though that would probably mean they would be standing nose to nose. Make that blank face plate to snout.

It had been realized on a subconscious level. Sharing energy brought to focus how similar Bisys and the Forest were.

You know me. Bisys marveled at the kinship. There was a place of absence in her soul that had been introduced to loneliness when first interacting with Ildela, Paxtera, and Kathara in the shelter during the windstorm. That emptiness began to be filled now.

At the same time a bit of longing for home flared up. I understand. Bisys whispered directly to the Forest. I and my homesoil too are weakened from being sundered far, far from EarthMother.

Thank you for your sheltering care. Thank you for healing Akat-Ietan Ariam'n.

There wasn't much Bisys could think do to ease either of their suffering. Still, as the energy backflowed from saturating Akat, Bisys gathered and magnified it back to the Forest. Hopefully it could be received as thanks and a small measure of strength.

A subroutine continued printing Aineruda's speech and other conversation in a corner of her vision to catch up on later, if she got the chance. But that wasn't what had her attention. Bisys was focused on a readout scrolling past (too technical for her to fully understand, but she got the gist) and watching power cycle down inactive.

Then the connection gently closed. Jade's Wish was fulfilled and her reason for maintaining the connection to the Forest was gone.

Bisys imagined there was a link still to the Forest. Like friends who drew strength knowing the other understood, even without direct interaction available or words exchanged.

"I have done all I can for Akat," Bisys reported to Jade, floating slightly back. Her head tilted askew to position painted, blank eyes at Akat in evaluation of how the Khelari was recovering. If Akat were cohesive, Bisys would clumsily offer a hand up just as Akat had done many times before for her.

"Akat..." The name rendered in as close to a gasp as Bisys was capable, the ghastly sight quite alarming, much less what it implied beneath the unbroken.

"Can you help her?" Jade meanwhile asked of Bisys with concern, having no idea of Khelari physiology, not to mention virtually no understanding of medicine, "I mean...would you please help her?"

"Yes, my Ma..." Bisys caught herself and corrected, "Yes, my Friend."

Boosting Akat's biology would probably cause a stimulation overload. Healing infusions was the only alternative within Bisys's ability to help.

Bisys more or less arranged herself in a kneeling position next to Akat's head in the crater. One amber hand was held a couple inches above the Khelari's wandering eyes while the other hovered over the deep green torso. Ideally her hands would be flat palms facing downward, but the closest Bisys could manage was slightly cupped. It would have to do.

Head gazing around, Bisys called to the greenery damaged by the attack in a voice of water lapping shore. The nature of Patches translated her plea into discernable words.

"Great felled trees, charred earth, and uprooted underbrush! I, Prosopopoeiasys, Child of EarthMother, call upon you. You have been terminally harmed, and your loss is mourned. This one is called Akat-Ietan Ariam'n. She too is injured, having been harmed while seeking your defense. She is of pure intent. Please, share your ebbing life-force to ease the suffering of Akat-Ietan Ariam'n so that she may once more defend those that remain standing. Please, do not let your impending death be in vain."

Any energy willingly given by the damaged forest would be channeled and magnified by Bisys into surrounding Akat with a healing aura.

If the energy was not forthcoming or insufficient, Bisys would petition energy from the undamaged plants in the area. If still falling short of her need, Bisys would ask stranger, allies, then friends. Those willingly would find their energy drop a bit, the abruptness likely causing wooziness or slowed responses.

As a last resort, Bisys would redirect energy from Jade without consultation. She had enough maneuverability to siphon from alternate sources first and would to the best of her ability do so. But ultimately Jade's Wish, for it was received as such, demanded fulfillment; the Wisher bearing final responsibility for the Cost.

Bisys, acting under Jade's Wish, would continue conducting energy until the healing of Akat restored all possible and backflowed from saturation. Or until countermanded by Jade.

Her nature as a conduit prevented Bisys from depleting her own energy to heal Akat. The limitation was a safety measure to curtail self-damaging tendencies inherent in fulfilling Wishes. Bisys felt the restriction keenly. It was frustrating that her choices, though 'choices' was a misleading term, always were two: fulfill the Wish or destroy herself to prevent harming her Master. All the previous Masters had made simple Wishers or earned evade whatever karma backlash the Wish caused.

Jade was different. Bisys found him considerate, caring for others above all else. She loved him for it. Though it was that same caring which inevitably seemed to put Jade in an unrealized path towards disaster. Bisys offered a silent plea to EarthMother not to ever be put to the test of completely destroying herself in order to save Jade from a short-sighted Wish. In other words, from herself.

Jade's tackle completely overpowered her weak control of limbs and they crashed aside.

Things were going from bad to worse. Bisys began to suspect Jade regularly got into situations that were more than he could deal with.

She wasn't going to ask if he was hurt. How could he not be? Unrestricted by her position, her echoing voice addressed her Master clearly. "Jade, I am the one that's armor, you are flesh. Remember? I should be protecting you. I am supposed to be protecting you.

"But until you TELL me, my abilities are locked. You yourself doubled the restrictions by limited my actions to your verbal Wish."

Once more Bisys tried to point Jade in the right direction. "Why won't you ASK," again the word 'ask' being so strongly emphasized that Bisys all but said 'wish', "that I use up to the extent of my abilities towards your campaign? Help me help you. Please, Jade!"

Then the elfin portal relocated the Harvester. But that hardly diminished the immediate peril. Movement of any kind, even flight, was fraught with danger from the remaining shrapnel and shredded trees. She couldn't even scramble to search for Akat, ponder what became of Toy, or look anywhere for that matter since Jade was atop her. Even if he had not been Bisys must await Jade's answer and assess his safety first and foremost.

Oh EarthMother, spare and shelter Akat.

Bisys floundered alongside Jade, hovering upward to give Akat room to crouch below, "You held your arm stiffly and were upset and... oh." Slow she may be, but not impossible. "You don't have any weapons."

The answer was obvious to her. Painfully so with the Voices chorusing for release. But telling Jade what Wishes to make was wrong. Especially as he seemed to find the whole system distasteful. It appeared that he thought they bound her, instead of grasping the truth that granting Wishes gave Bisys freedom. Could she nudge Jade in the right direction?

"How about you ASK" the word 'ask' being so strongly emphasized that Bisys all but said 'wish' in her urgency, "that I use up to the extent of my abilities towards your battles?"

That should mean Bisys could have full power, or less, as the situation required without dangerously overextending herself beyond capacity. If she was right, it would also mean she could have access to supply Jade with battle weapons. The details and mechanics of which would take too long to explain, if the impression Jade was giving was any indication.

Bisys needed no second urging. Walking would be at a crawling speed, running still impossible, so instead she quickly chased after Jade alongside Akat in her upside-down-sideways-up zigzag hover.

Coming into the clearing the ancient mammoth Harvester could cause jaw-dropping fear with its visage, especially the carnage around the intake ports. If not that, the Shivan with a red and black tie certainly deserved a double-take. But Bisys no longer had a jaw to drop, lungs to be frozen, or allowed enough emotions to be stunned. Her secondary choice wasn't much more helpful, though.

Hooves towards storm-darkened skies and horns closest to earth, Bisys bobbled over. She reached for Jade's outstretched arm, her own waving unsteadily like a scuba diver in a strong current, "Jade! Have you been hurt?"

((Doctor Mechano's camp - waiting on Dr_Mechano's post))

The rice cakes and drinks both were highly nutritious, if the the way the odd offerers were relishing it was anything to go by. The cakes would taste like various fruits with too much sugar added. The blue one the Marbles ate had been blueberry. Similarly the milky drink, containing enough nutrients found in blood to be palatable for the spiders, had a syrup-sweet overtone.

If the Marbles were disappointed at Edward's forbearance, they did not show it. Instead they waited with baited breath as Mar downed one of the milk pods. Then they broke into howls laughter. Their prank had been sprung.

Which prank? Every time one of the pods was drunk or one of the cakes eaten the consumer would turn a florescent color for a couple days.

The Marbles were no exception. Seeing each other turn robin-egg blue bumped their laughter up into gales of humor. The gravity slug impacting nearby tumbled the Marbles down, where they rolled on the ground in the throws of laughter. For a moment it might have seemed that they would die laughing the way their bright blue turned dark. But no, it quickly became apparent that laughter cleared the prank's magic from their system faster. In seconds the Marbles had returned to normal coloration, though their laughter continued on.

Thus was the reason why Marbles were renowned as one of the greatest pests of Patches. More than that their small stature, averaging 3'8" including messy hair, was mostly impish smirks. Sure, they had a tendency to snatch unsupervised odds and ends, which was frowned upon by their victims. True, their pranks were mostly harmless. It was the way they persisted in always trying to pull another prank, especially on those who were new or had fallen victim before, that made them such an annoyance. And the way they unerringly escaped retribution. The general consensus was Marbles thought life to be a big joke.

How did they get away with it? That was hinted at as the Harvester came too near. Still laughing and slapping each other on the back, then appeared to burrowed into the conveniently dropped cake. A flash, then the giggles silenced. For now. Nothing remained of the Marbles except Doctor Mechano's underwear, now coated in pink frosting. How had they know they were not in immediate danger from the Harvester, because something as random as a gigantic falling cake would provide cover for their exit? It was a mystery for the universe to ponder. Or perhaps yet another joke on a philosophical scale.

----------

((At cliff shelter))

"Yes, I can tell now if I would be harmed by magical artifacts. And from henceforth I am only to grant the Wishes you, Jade, vocally command," Bisys intoned. Good intentions again worked in Jade's favor, properly interpreting 'tell' as 'vocalize'.

As for the first, well, Bisys could confirm it worked because suddenly she knew that the Token, the borrowed acorn symbol of her Bond to Jade, was harmful. Something between a poison and a curse was leaking from it. Though the effect was slow, eventually it would corrode away. What 'it' was that would take the damage, whether the Bond or her ability to grant Wishes or her very Being, could not be discerned. Jade's wish didn't demand that she share the knowledge, so Bisys hid this insight deep in her mind as protectively close as one would hold the gun they knew would fire their death bullet.

It was anyone's guess if knowledge of Toy's installed reset/off switch would have frightened or relieved Bisys at this point.

Toy's abrupt declaration and departure was highly charged, with Cerelassion following immediately after. Bisys was thankful that she could look to Jade to decide which path they took.

((At cliff shelter))

Akat's lazing tail was hypnotic. Bisys had to resist the strangest urge to pounce, and she couldn't imagine why. Instead she gave up attempting to scrutinize Toy and tried to imitate the Khelari. Her lion tail was a bit more jerky, but quickly settled into a similar pattern. It was her greatest movement success yet, and Bisys was delighted at the achievement. It became an internal challenge to match rhythms precisely.

"Hmm? Oh, Wishes? Do you want to make a Wish, Jade? Wait, that was Cerelassion... Jade may have any Wish he desires. It is not for me to deem what is acceptable and what is not. Nor do I have the ability to know the outcome of a Wish until it is made. Why do you ask? Oh, right, you said that. You have specialized tools, like the Token. Foresightful of you."

Clearly Bisys had her focus mostly elsewhere, peculiar with how central Wishes were to her being.

((At cliff shelter))

Bisys likewise noted Toy's confidence in commandeering the AI network for his own purposes, though with much more trepidation than Cerelassion and Kethara.

Since coming to Patches there had been as much unpleasantness as had ever been experienced before, but it had always been from carelessness, ignorance, or similar methods. Kethara had been sisterly. Ildela and Paxtera a bit more aloof, though polite. The Gre'shil savage out of survival more than malice. Lazardarus, Cerelassion, Lady Aineruda, and all elvin folk had thus far been cautious yet kind. The local fey ranged from curious to mischievous. Akat was outgoing and willing. Jade, in the eyes of Bisys, was the kindest and most compassionate of them all. Being in the Cold Place, where Toy's generosity began, had spared Bisys from knowing of Tafari's rampage. The previous lifetime of betrayals and selfishness had begun to soften under their perpetual helpfulness.

Only now those memories crashed back in sharp clarity. Bisys could testify the powerful results of Toy's programming. The programming itself was beyond her keen. Who was to say Toy didn't plant a program to control her as he was proposing for the Harvesters? Maybe he even had a wireless connection implanted with all the other programming to read her thoughts! So as well as not feeling emotions she would have to not think about anything, including this niggling suspicion.

Trying not to think felt a lot like trying to hold her breath when she had lungs. It was a discipline far beyond her capabilities. Less than ten seconds latter her thoughts raced twice as fast. Bisys would have to hope that Toy had no such wireless ability to read her. She peeked glances to see if Toy was reacting to her thoughts, trying to disguise them as movement practices. It still was pretty obvious, though, because the only way Bisys could see Toy was by facing her head straight at him.

One thing Bisys did resolve, however, was that she refused to do anything which would harm Jade or put him in danger. Exactly how she would stop her metaloid form (as Cerelassion called it) under such circumstances, Bisys had no idea. But one way or another she would, even if it meant destroying herself.

----------

((Doctor Mechano's camp))

Two giant arachnoids, one be-tied Shivan, and a mad scientist sharing a benevolent meal. It was as close to peaceful civilization as could be found on Patches. And where there was peaceful civilization, there were Marbles.

A group of some half dozen boldly approached Edward, Steve, Mr Fluffers, and the injured Mar. Mismatching outfits looking from a scrapyard's castoff were only outdone by too-familiar underwear adorning the heads like caps, their low conical ears stretching the leg holes. Most stopped a few yards away, shyly nudging two carrying bundles of leaves onward.

The two edged forward, eager smiles and bright eyes their only greeting and the group behind tittered. The bundles were placed within arm's reach and unwrapped. One contained thick disks looking like crispy rice cakes, only in an assortment of pastel colors. The second nestled smaller leaf spheres, perked at one end like a fat flower about to bloom.

One bright blue cake and one leaf sphere were selected and the two slowly retreated backwards to their companions. There they made a show of everyone eating the cake and sipping from the sphere. One squeezed the sphere too tightly and got a small spray of milk-white liquid as a result. The group broke into giggles at the mishaps as the victim wiped what eluded their tongue on a sleeve.

The overall effect was one of a thanks-offering from a primitive tribe discovering a new deity. Depending on how voracious the appetites involved, the two bundles could last up to a week. If there was such detection available, a very faint magic could be identified. Nothing damaging, on par with modern food preservatives.

The Marbles awaited the reaction to the gift, obviously eager to have Edward and Co feast on the proffered food.

"Now Jorunn City, Rauk, plains made Waste, Hetrar, and Harvesters are back," Bisys concluded Jade's correction of her and Kethara's misperception.

Well, that painted the picture much more bleak. Jade had known a life of horror, mistakes, and despair. It was astonishing that he had any compassion left in him. No wonder he could not understand joy or fundamental happiness.

What Jade needed was someone warm to embrace him in motherly acceptance, hushing the self-incrimination. A safe shelter where a lifetime of pain and seclusion, cut off in more ways than the shell he'd been forced into, could be released and washed away.

Bisys could not offer him that stable peace, that warmth. She was awkward metal. Somehow Bisys knew her surface was cooler than pleasant, even near the fire. Akat's lava would probably damage, but still not warm, this form. Summoned Voices would be worse. Embodied they were silent, chaotic, irreverent, and had an aura of restless death. Bisys felt as helpless to comfort Jade as she had her first Master.

Externally none of this longing on Jade's behalf showed beyond a slight slumping. Bisys asked quietly, "What do you want to do, Jade?"

"Huh? Oh. Oh! I'm sorry, Jade. I did it without thinking." Rare humor crept into the echoing voice, "We spend half our time apologizing to each other, don't we? Except... which way can I rest that will please you?" She listened for this detail from Jade, minor in the grand scheme of things but of great importance to her because it mattered to him. Once that was settled she refocused on the matter of her mobility.

"Toy Dispenser," Bisys nodded her gratitude towards the other mechanical being, a flop down then mostly back upright, "programmed this form to its capacity. The rest is learning control. I think. I have barely started practicing."

She further answered Jade, "You can Wish whatever you want. Though no one has yet managed to make a Wish for all contingencies. Usually the method and consequences and not what is expected." The red static sparked as she mulled what they suggested, then ventured, "Adding another spell when I still don't fully know what I am now... it makes me uneasy." Bisys was relieved when Jade was content to leave it at that.

Under Jade's guidance Bisys settled near the fire. Her form may be alloy, but the firelight was absorbed rather than reflected. She knew she should feel a rise in heat, the water evaporating, and increased heaviness in the air. Nothing. By contrast her pair of horns glistened as the rainwater dispelled. Their tingle threatened to become an itch.

A bit of the distraction showed through her voice as Bisys gently replied to Jade's story with, "No, not really.

"Something like this? The Waste used to be a green plain called Rauk. Then you were made into a machine." A simple statement. Learning to be one herself, one traded from the one that was Jade, Bisys didn't find being a robot evil or bad, nor particularly beneficial or desirable. It helped that she was trying to subdue all emotions, anyway.

She furthered her guess, "An unwilling fate? Then you tried to destroy what and who made you that way. News circulated of your new form, which scared Hetrar that also lived in Rauk. Are Hetrar the same kind of human mortals found in Paragon, or significantly different humanoids? Their enlarged fear turned on a city, before or after which Rauk became the Waste? And then you ended up in Paragon and the Waste here in Patches?" Probably a lot more to it. Hopefully the questions would help order Jade's story.

Water pinging down on hollow metal? Yeah, the din was tremendous, especially to its resident. She had to turn down the volume almost completely. Thankfully her innate knowledge of where her Master was let Bisys follow Jade even when her amateur flight left her upside down or backwards.

Inside the shelter it took a few tries to get limbs straightened out. She did remember to turn up her volume again quickly enough to hear the Khelari speak her name and inquire after hers. "Thank you, Akat," the dripping satyr replied, then answered, "'Tri-' means 'three'. 'Bi-' means 'two'."

Further details were waylaid as Jade, then Kethara, started speaking about a city besides Paragon and obviously not this elvin retreat. Her best guess it was more of the missed conversation. Hopefully it could be picked up by context.

Bisys tried to kneel down attentively in front of Jade. The result was somewhere between kneeling and cross-legged, head still askew.

Bisys was rapidly becoming confused. Again.

About the only thing that had not changed, to any who might have been able to follow her thoughts, was that Bisys still didn't have a firm grasp on sequential order.

First she had been primarily awaiting Toy Dispenser's response, hoping to hear what she could do as thanks.

Then she had realized her evolved state. It undoubtedly had happened during the Wish. But after all she had been through before, why Jade's Wish? Was it because of her dual-horn status that she had retained as much as she had, rather than dissolve away? The more Bisys thought about it, the more questions she had.

Cerelassion further muddled her with talk of spells. She wasn't sure she felt stable enough for more magic, but politely asked, "Golem spells? How do they work? What is involved?"

Jade had asked about his clothes. Bisys in response had had her thoughts tangent into wondering why he would need them. Having been in so many forms herself, Bisys thought that fur, scales, tough hide, and now metal all were covering enough for modesty. Jade's hide looked thick enough and rather handsome. Clothing seemed redundant. At least the Khelari had explained her need for warmth. She could create enhance Jade's form to simulate clothing in coloration and texture, or create an illusion more realistically optical but with no tactile substance, yet not both. Would he like it if she took the initiative? By then he had donned his clothes, however, so Bisys only noted his preference for future reference.

Kethara said something about thoughts over the years, which made Bisys realize yet another thing: She'd missed a lot of conversation that had happened nearby. She would have to adjust her hearing settings. Er, that is, after she had caught up to what was happening in her immediate vicinity.

And to top it off a hand and a question from the Khelari. Pause. Think back. What did she ask? Oh! She was offering to help again. Bisys was humbled at the ceaseless caring. "Yes, please." The metal hand moved ponderously, eerily like an invisible someone else was the one moving the extremity too high, then sloppily down into the offered hand.

Physical therapists often promoted correct posture by coaching to imagine pulling a string attached to the top of the head. They probably hadn't had Bisys in mind, who did pretty much that. When the Khelari pulled, the arm came with the rest delayed by a few seconds. To someone uniformed it might have looked like the satyr had been dragged. Then Bisys caught up, primarily lifting her body vertical through her ears while the other points mostly dangled beneath. Her vision seemed tilted, so Bisys tried to straighten it with the result that her head became askew the other direction. Oh, well. That was little to the fact that she was unknowingly three inches off the ground. Internal connection she might now have, but full grasp of perspective still needed fine tuning.

"Thank you..." Bisys paused, then sounded strained, "uhm, I... I haven't gotten your name..." The static fizzled to an even glow in her version a blush.

If Trisys could have moved her head, it would have done a double-take at the interruption to Jade's silent response. But she couldn't and only had Jade in her view. "whowha?" Trisys asked. A moment later it was clearly Toy, unless another robot had sprung up. Seeing Jade's eagerness she submitted to Toy's activity. Like the first time there wasn't a port, per say. The surface of Trisys was seamless with no entry or openings of any kind. It was the fact that Toy and Trisys were both robots that allowed Toy access just by physically touching her.

Semantics aside, the first program downloaded, tried to run, and... "No," Trisys had to report. As the armor-like shell was seamless, there was no eyeball to be moved. On a program level the visual sensors reported maximum efficiency and capacity. The amber-colored eyes looked painted because it was raw spirit magic seeming through. Though logically that would mean the magic could imitate movement, or should be solid amber color like the other points colored such. Magic was illogical that way. It was beyond Trisys's keen to discern all this. It depended on Toy's abilities how much was known to him or if only a simple error message resulted.

Overall the system, both software and hardware, was more primitive than Jade's had been. It was not capable of detailed sensor readouts, super strength, nor contained an automatic balancing system. Scent, taste, and touch were right out. Yet while half of the attempts returned errors, Toy's persistence with more complex programs would know success in other key areas. His efforts unlocked, restored, and filled in the limited programming. A graphic user interface bloomed in Trisys's vision. It provided interactive control for overall status, capabilities, filters, settings, even a mapping function which included a compass. As a bonus hearing was adjustable to a surprising degree. When at last the text help files were discovered they showed Toy had done all that was possible.

To Trisys the experience was discombobulating. She did her best to verbally confirm throughout the duration of Toy's experiments. The sensation of his programming evolving her was not actually tactile, though it was like having an army of ants rearranging tiny chunks everywhere. Externally the red static squirmed.

The results were worth it. The cumulation meant that while real touch was not available, Trisys once again had a sense of her own form: limbs, trunk, head, tail, and wings. She knew from the inside that the points of pressure were her fingers and palms, hooves, wing tips, ear tips, and tail tuff. As Trisys had suspected, tensegrity allowed larger gross movement by manipulating those micro pressure points. She tried to stand. It was like watching a floppy marionette and she ended up in a tangled clump. The new UI reported a couple points of damage, repaired by the automatic systems. "Nevermind," Trisys reassured Toy, Jade, and herself aloud, "I can move. It will be up to me to learn how to do so gracefully through practice."

Focusing just on her ear tips, Trisys rotated them. She managed to canter her head at a painful-looking angle. It allowed her to see Toy, so she held it there. "Thank you. You have helped tremendously. More than I would have thought possible. And... and I don't remember clearly, but I know you were there with me in the Cold Place. I think I said or did something wrong, and yet you continued to help me. I am sorry if I upset you. Without you I would not have had the hope to try to escape. Thank you again. I owe you a great deal. I don't know that I can offer much, but if possible I will repay you.

"Have we been introduced? Toy Dispenser, I am Tri..." She halted, her reflection in Toy's blank faceplate finally penetrating. In a more awed tone, she continued, "I... I am Bisys."

Trisys had remained silent through Jade's experience. The Token's feed being one-way, she had no way to know if it even worked until Jade finally responded. By his words, she concluded he had gotten what he asked for, but not understood it all.

"Why wh..." Trisys had to stop, shock filled with icy chills. He had forgotten about the Token, maybe he also forgot about the Cost. She could not get alarmed. That leads to the Cold Place. Once she could be mostly dispassionate, she tried again. Hopefully keeping her voice quiet would prevent the level tone from coming across as upset.

"There is a price for everything, Jade. Even Wishes. Especially Wishes. It can not be undone. The price must be paid in full. Further, I must pay for my choice, like all who live. It is the way things stays in balance. The backlash from trying to subvert the consequences of Wishes has destroyed many Masters."

"You are good, Jade. Look at the results of your Wish. You are restored! You are whole! It is the greatest Wish I have granted."

How could she convay this to Jade? Stories. People seem to understand principles easier when given a parable. Searching through her lifetime, she found an example from her first Master. Come to think of it they had a lot in common, this Drokar-Akonos and that little human girl. Too bad they couldn't meet, they would probably enjoy each other.

"Think of it like this. Someone was given a house, fully furnished and ready to be moved into. Then he learned the family had given up their home. Instead they lived in a lesser place. The one who received the home tried to give it back, not wanting others to suffer on his behalf. But that was an insult, because they had done it out of love. Being able to sacrifice to show they cared was a privilege. The best way to accept the gift was to do so with gratitude, be responsible in maintaining the house, then further building the home as a safe place to grow and know joy.

"I care for you, Jade. It is a privilege to grant your Wishes. What makes Wishes good or evil is motive and willingness. Those can be discerned by the resulting feelings. Ask the Token, Jade. Tell it to show you how I feel about your Wish."

Offering a suggestion unsolicited was highly unorthodox, but so was choosing to modify a Wish. If Jade used that phrasing to ask the Token, it would be convey that Trisys had willingly made the exchange required and rejoiced in Jade's restoration. It would also spare Jade of the fears and doubts Trisys still struggled for her ability to cope with what was left.