42 (DSV Nautica) Infinity
Aki didn't know how she got here. All she remembered was opening the scroll, and seeing some kind of writing in Ayr'ese. But she didn't get to read it. The flash had blinded her and knocked her out. Slowly coming to, she opened her eyes to an all white environment. Nothing but solid white in all directions. She looked down at herself. She was naked. Where was her suit? What was she laying on? She could feel the floor, but couldn't see it. It seemed like it was just part of the white environment. Her body was visible though, her violet and white shades the only non-white in sight. Was this death? Had the scroll killed her? The feeling twisted her stomach in anxiety. She existed, that was for sure. Or was it?"I think, therefore I exist." She muttered to herself. Struggling to her feet, she rubbed her eyes and looked around. There seemed to be some kind of fog billowing around. She wouldn't have noticed it if not for the contrast between her body and the fog. "Where the hell am I?" She screamed. The sound had no echo. The space She was in must have been huge.
There was a childish giggle some distance away. She whipped around and ran as fast as she could in the direction it came from."Hello!?"It was getting closer. She slowed down. Was this the smartest idea? A figure about the size of a child appeared in the fog, jumping around and skipping back and forth. "Hel-" Aki stopped mid-greet. She stared the child in the eye. The kid could not have been happier. It was clearly female, no clothing on at all, and hadn't a care in the world. The purple hide with white belly, the way the tips of her feathers darkened. There was no mistake.It was her. She was staring at herself as a child.---Flare felt the power strike her very soul. She knelt down to recover some of her will. Something big was happening. It was so far away, but it was so very big she could feel it here. Something in her chest felt like it was clamping down on her, making it hard to breathe. She had been mining for the last hour and this wasn't helping. Her mind raced with possibilities.All across New Ayr, the Ayr'een gasped with shock. They had never felt such power before. The power jumped via the mindlink from person to person until everyone had felt it. It was overwhelmingly powerful, frightening, and right in their midst.
The Matriarch collapsed on the floor. The blinding light and will energy had taken her off guard. The Curator as well averted her eyes, sprawling backwards from shock. They both managed to protect their minds and bodies from the burning intensity at the center of the room. This was brighter than a sun. They could not tell if Aki was in the center of it all. This was very different.---Aki stared at the child for what felt like hours. Her? This child couldn't be her. Did this child
even exist? No, it had to be a hallucination...Shaking her head or using her will didn't help. In fact, she couldn't use her will in here. She began panicking. She had never been without her will before, and now it was gone. Turned off like a switch."I think, therefore I am. Right?" The child said cheerfully.Aki looked up. "W-what?""I think...Therefore...I am!" She shouted joyfully, skipping off into the mist. Chills shot down Aki's spine."She is right." A fair, feminine voice said behind her.Aki closed her eyes. She was getting tired of the surprises. She turned and felt her heart shoot into her throat. An older female was standing 3 meters behind her. The deep purple hide looked just like her, but there was something different. Her hair ended in blue tips, and her feathers didn't get darker.
"M...Mother...?" Aki stammered.Her mother bowed and smiled. "To an extent....yes. I am."Aki wasn't sure what to do. This was all so much to take in at once. Slumping down into a sitting position, she hugged her knees. The truly sickening realization set in. This had to be the afterlife in her mind. If her mother was here...her mother had died 15 years ago."I am dead.." she whispered."Not at all, child! Don't be silly!" Her mother sat opposite her, mirroring her sitting style.Some of the sickness subsided. And was replaced with confusion."I'm...not?""Not at all. You are reading the Eidolon scroll, Nee'Ak'ee'oh, child." Her mother was beaming at her."Oh...I thought it would me more...." Words failed her. She tried to think of them, but they just wouldn't come."Not what you expected? In fact...you had no idea what to expect, right?" She let out a chuckle."Yeah..." Aki was feeling so much right now. Her emotions were creating physical symptoms. She felt faint and dizzy. Her brow began to sweat. And an odd numbness in her legs.
"I suppose you wish to know what is going on?"Aki nodded dumbly."Well then, I shall indulge you. You see, Aki, I am in essence your mother. Because she is in here. As is every creature that has died, in some capacity. When we expire, the scrolls know who we were, and what we were. You are in here as well, child. But incomplete. When your count of days expires, you too will join this place.""So...an afterlife?" Aki looked up, getting some of the feeling back, breathing deep to calm herself down. It seemed to be working. She was catching on easy and breathing easier."Well...yes and no. you see, the people in here are more like a permanent copy of all that ever has been and all that ever will be.""You mean..."Aki thought about this for a few moments. "...godlike power and knowledge.""Exactly!"Aki stared at her for a moment. This was amazing. She was
going from scared to awed. The knowledge of anything and everything at her fingertips? She could learn whatever they wanted whenever she wished?"And...I can read it? Read it all?"
"Oh of course not! No one can!" her mother laughed heartily. A sweet singing laugh. Aki had missed that laugh. But it brought confusion, but also a sense of understanding. No mortal could learn all there was. You could not store infinity in a finite container. "This represents all the knowledge that ever has been, and ever will be. Tell me. What do you see?"Aki looked around at the white surroundings. There was nothing. Just white emptiness. Solid white. She shook her head. "Nothing.""Exactly!" Aki stared for a moment. "What? I don't follow. The universes knowledge is nothing?"Her mother seemed to he having the time of her life. "The universes knowledge is so large, it becomes representable by nothing at all. There is simply too much, Aki. That's why you see nothing. What could represent the vastness of knowledge?"Point for her again. At least it was making sense. But in the grand scheme of things, not very helpful. To make matters worse, her mother spoke again. "That's what Celeste is for.""What the..." Aki was getting confused. "What does that ship have to do with this place?"
"Celeste....Reads from this place. Organizes the information, and sends it back, in an organized structure. The knowledge here, Aki, is infinitely large. Without organization, without a method to find what we seek, How can knowledge be of any use?"Aki nodded, understanding that part of the whole 'operation'. "Now once it is categorized, it can be used. Learned, in essence. But Aki..." her mother gently lifted Aki's chin, so that their violet eyes met. She smiled. "...Knowledge is power. And power corrupts. And power is meaningless without control. Essentially, you must choose how you will use this knowledge. You must control it. Or it will destroy you. Your mother did not give birth to you just to have you turn into a monster."Aki swallowed. A lump was growing in her throat. "I understand...""I am sure you think that, but to truly understand, you will need time. Not much, on the cosmological scale, but you will need time."Knowledge had to be meditated on and extensively categorized in ones mind to make optimal use of it. Meditation allowed peace and tranquility to take an individual and think about what they have learned. Aki would have to do much of this, her intuition told her.
"I....understand.""Good, child. Now, this was simply a hello. The scroll provided you with warning and what this place is."Aki felt the lump getting bigger. It was time to go? Already? "What about the knowledge?"Another laugh. "Haven't I given you some?"She felt stupid."The
scroll used me to tell you this information. It felt that this was the best form in which to tell you. Friendly and warm with good memories. But this will not alter your perception of anyone living today. Know that the mother that birthed you has passed on. I am merely her ghost. The remnant of who she was. A copy within the scroll."Aki was on the verge of tears. She knew her real mother was gone, but it still comforted her talking to even a realistic ghost. She managed a small nod."In time, we will meet again. You will learn and master your emotions. The scrolls will help you young one. But for now, you shall return to your home."She had one last question before she returned."Why me?" She swallowed and stood, regaining her composure.Her mother stood as well, standing opposite her, that warm unending smile. Even in death.
"That is a story for another time."Aki felt reality warp around her, her mother began to move away from her, as if the room was stretching away, taking her with it. She bowed to Aki, turning her back and walking away slowly into the fog. Aki let one tear down her cheek and closed her eyes. Time to go home.