Planet B-17: The Beginnings

Chapter 8 - The Crater: Part 4

To find is to seek without purpose.

The Essential Mái-Ruan Guidelines for Beyond Obvious Quests, Tome One, Ancient Wisdom, Subsection Three

"This way," she called them. "There's a stairway along the wall."

Mé started descending, deepening ever more into the crater, eyes ever upon the city of lights. The wall curved inwards, towards the centre of the pit and towards her destination. Hand running along the wall, she felt its asperities, and the wall curved and curved, ever downwards, inwards, deeper, in ways that she found logical, the stairway ever solid under her steps.

And that mild presence persisted around her as she approached the lights that seemed to extend towards her, reaching out, sending fascicles in myriad soft hues; a sense of home ensued. She remembered her planet Alteor, and vivid memories from her childhood dashed into the foreground of her awareness, filling her with a sense of ease and joy as she carried on along the carven steps.

Quick lights were forming a pathway-tunnel right under the steps, encapsulating her and drawing a clear trajectory towards the city.

She felt lighter, yet stable and aware, as she pursued the pathway-tunnel and reached the city gates. They were enormous rivers of materialized light that instead of opening, bent and arched into a luminous bridge, which was not static, as it carried her as much as she was herself advancing towards the city centre.

A garden had stemmed all around – and everything therein had shape and texture and was made of material, diaphanous light. A circular Welcome-way awaited at the far end of the bridge-gates, where nine city dwellers awaited her. They were lights themselves, clad in straight, heel-long garments of both taste and simplicity. Everything around her was less dense, less compact, and before she reached the Welcome-way, she had processed the data and reached the conclusion that she found herself a visiting guest in a superior dimension. The lights she had seen were not of the city, they were the city.

"Greetings," said one of the lights upon the Welcome-way – a male presence of gentle countenance and shoulder-long, brown hair; his eyes were clear and wise and brown as well.

She stepped onto the Welcome-way, and the bridge-gates rose fluidly and returned, ephemeral, but solid, at a distance behind her.

"This is the City of Depths Unseen. I am governor Mala, and this is the City Council of Light, the eldest of our people and servants of the Light. Welcome."

The Mái-Ruan bowed. What a great honour! "My name is Mé Khn of Planet Alteor, the Hexor Galaxy, here on Recognition Vessel Umbar of Star Bay 10-95. Our mission's purpose is to further our knowledge of the universe. We are friends of life."

The Council of Light Members smiled.

"A friend of life is a friend of ours," said governor Mala, extending his arm.

As she drew closer, his hand touched her shoulder. It felt light, but stable. Indeed, he was less compact than her and more luminous, but not holographic. Everything around her was on a higher frequency of physicality.

"You have guessed, of course," the governor continued, "that we are meeting halfway between dimensions, having lowered our frequency so to allow for this meeting."

"It is a remarkable honour," Mé said. "I am most obliged."

A mirthful, kind expression appeared on the governor's face. "Obliged to whom? What a peculiar expression! You mean to say you are happy to be here, I suppose."

"Yes, indeed."

"Why, say so!"

The Council of Light was extending her the courtesy of friendship. Mé bowed her head once more. "I am very happy to be here," she said, speaking genuinely, but unsure of protocol.