System 2.0 - Division of Powers

The Old Ones

Esther pushed her sunglasses back onto her face and smiled. The afternoon light was casting a sharp shadow on the tall spire across the street. The air was warm but comfortable and she was enjoying the familiar sounds and sensations of her favourite city.

'They call that the three o'clock spire,' she said as she raised her glass in the direction of the stone building.

'And why's that?' Marcus asked sitting down next to her.

The restaurant they were in was on the roof of a tall brick-built hotel. It was a strange mix of Victorian and oriental chic – light bamboo screens and decorative lace.

'Oasis City is built around that citadel over there,' she said, gesturing towards a tall thin tower which dominated the skyline. 'A long time ago someone realised that it effectively serves as the gnomon for a giant sundial.

'Fidriss never bothered to vary the angle of the sun,' she continued with a smile. 'So the daily cycle here is incredibly consistent.'

She pointed at the spire again.

'Eventually someone spotted the pattern so people started building towers and spires to catch the shadows.'

Across the city, a wave of bells began to mark the hour.

'See,' she said. 'Obviously, the bells give the game away, but I love the idea of using urban architecture to tell the time.'

Marcus picked up his own drink and sank back into his chair.

'You like it here, don't you?' he said after a pause.

'I do,' she said simply. 'There's always something new to see.'

They had arrived earlier in the day and booked rooms at the hotel for their whole party. Marcus had insisted on bringing a team with them, even though she had shared very little of her plans. She was already wondering if she might be able give them the slip later...

'It is too hot here,' Reveen Vee Ocean complained, as he joined them and settled into one of the chairs. He had chosen a human avatar but was still unusually tall and thin with a narrow neck, large eyes and an entirely hairless head. He was wearing a little round hat and long loose-fitting robes, which somehow managed to make him look even more ungainly and a quite a little odd.

'You'll get used to it,' Marcus replied with a smile and a sideways glance at his companion. 'Although I'm not quite sure how long we'll be staying...'

Esther didn't respond to this. She still hadn't decided how much to share with her new colleague, and wasn't entirely comfortable with the team he'd decided to bring along.

Reveen sighed and attempted to rearrange a parasol. It collapsed in his large hands and he had to lean its damaged frame up against a chair. He had been graceful and fluid on Mars but seemed ungainly and clumsy in this more Earth-like virtual world. Esther hoped he would soon acclimatise to the higher gravity.

The three of them sat in sunshine for a while, sipping their drinks and avoiding conversation. It was moment for thoughtful contemplation and unspoken tension.

'Are the others settled?' Marcus asked after a while. He was referring to the two remaining members of their group who had yet to emerge.

'They should be up soon,' Reveen replied. 'Mr Thrip didn't like the room they offered him, so Ami was helping him negotiate.'

'Okay,' Marcus said, before reaching into a pocket of his red jacket. He pulled out a small black book which he opened and began to read. He seemed happy to pass the time quietly until Esther was willing to share more.