The Silicarite

Chapter 10: Propagation (Battus)

"Last night, I dreamed that I wasn't just the king. I had ascended to much more than a mere mortal's position of power. I was... a god."
-Arel Vanelos, the Last Kozan King, 111 GA.

So... that's why you saw this place before in your dreams, Battus. This whole place... it's connected to the dreams of all Illudians, somehow.

Battus had been sitting against the geode, taking in Crystal's story. Tintin had long since rolled over to the Crystalline Heart, scanning it top to bottom. Battus shook his head. "But I think I would've heard about other people having this same dream. I'm the only one who's had it."

I... don't know why you'd be the only one. But it has to mean something, right?

Battus racked his brain, trying to think of any more details about his dreams. He remembered... no, wait!

"Crystal! I know why the Heart- you, why you're here!" Battus stood up suddenly.

R-really? Crystal's emotion conveyed shock. Wait, how? Why!

"My dreams! I remember something from my dreams. I remember..." Battus held his head in his hands. "Several people, in purple robes. Carrying the Heart and placing it here, inside this geode. Something about the Divine Satesta's will... over a thousand years of waiting, something in a vision, or a prophecy. Urgh...." Battus leaned back against the geode again.

And? Do you have any idea why?

"I don't know... I'm sorry. This place and the Heart are so clear, but everything else is fuzzy, like a faded memory of a conversation. Every dream was a little different, but this place, and the Heart itself, are always just like this. I think you were put here deliberately, for some reason."

Battus' heart threatened to beat out of his chest. He had never been the type to believe in prophetic dreams, but, well, today had been his first for a lot of things. Now he was sure that he wasn't here by coincidence.

Mercury, who had remained silent and eerily still up to this point, finally spoke through the translator. Battus couldn't be certain, but the Silicarite's light seemed dimmer, the monotone translations quieter, each word taking longer than before.

"The signal was you, Crystal. I understand now."

Yes... although, I didn't know who would show up. But I'm glad it was you all.

"Clearly Pentagonal Prism caught wind, too, even if it was just gonna crash the party," Battus looked around at the group. "Do we have to worry about more uninvited guests?"

I don't believe so. I can detect the thoughts of anyone near the island, and besides everything sleeping here, it's just us.

"That's good," Battus nodded, sighing in relief.

Mercury tilted forward slowly as if losing its balance, its light going almost completely dark for a moment. The towering crystal alien threatened to collapse forward onto Battus, causing him to jump away in surprise. The Silicarite snapped back to attention, flashing rapidly but dimly.

"...apologies. One moment," Mercury gestured to Tintin, and the robo-dog rolled over. "Please avert any light-sensitive organs at this time."

Battus was about to ask why when he was blinded by a bright flash from Tintin's display. He blinked away the spots in his vision, and when he could see again, the little robot was beaming a bright stream of light directly into Mercury's core.

After a moment, the light stream faded, and Mercury's arms and legs extended out, then returned to their original positions, like a spring. The Silicarite was glowing much more noticeably than before.