is it not? If the population rises, the count of minds and dependants rise and the world will take an interest.”
“How do you know so much about it?”
The woman grinned. “I used to be the Avatar of this world, and I gave her permission to use my likeness again if need be.”
“What is her name?”
“Naema. She was a wild planet looking for a star to settle around, and she ended up trapped here. She was unhappy until the people began to come. She wanted to be a world with people more than anything. If you ask her to help, she will.”
“What is your name?”
The woman grinned. “Jarula. Jarula of the Vorwings. My race is ancient and evil. I ran to Naema to hide, and she took me with her into the rift. I lived a long life and eventually gave myself to the soil.”
“You died.”
“Close enough. My soul to hers, my mind bound to the ground beneath your feet. I am the ship, the city that you walk in and I feel the joy at every life restored in that city. I also grieve for the fallen who are lost and those restored who will not wait.”
She blinked and looked directly into the face of the woman speaking to her. “You are also my sparring partner in the physical centre. You are the solid holograms.”
Jarula laughed. “My kind had too much power to simply let it fade into nothing, so it waits and is useful in a thousand ways you never see. Bring more living souls to me, Harmony. Both Naema and I are eagerly waiting a full city and lively laughter. I know you can do it, child. End their suffering and bring them back to life again. Naema will hold their souls, and I will nurture their bodies. If we all work together, this world will begin to turn and time will resume its proper course.”
Harmony blinked. “Why are you talking to me directly?”
“You needed it. You are the switch that the stars flipped without giving you time to learn the ins and outs of this very strange situation. Naema will be there for you when you need rest, I will be there for you when you need sustenance.”
Jarula got to her feet and her wings began to vibrate rapidly. “And Harmony?”
“Yes?”
“Eat your desserts. I put them there for a reason.” The purple fairy winked and disappeared in a shower of sparks.
Harmony was startled into laughter. She took flight and returned to the city, heading straight for the restoration centre.
Nero was working on the tubes, and he gave her a worried glance. “You have been crying. Nirin told me.”
“I had something to work out. How many are viable?”
“Out of six? Six. Whatever you did was effective. Their damage is minimal and their samples are already showing signs of growth. Another hour and I can put them in the tanks.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “That’s just great.”
“Ah, Harmony. I would hug you but…”
“I know.”
“Can you tell me something?” He asked her absently as he moved from fallen to fallen.
“Sure.”
“Can you find out why we suddenly got two hundred more restoration tanks? I am not complaining, but I have no idea where they came from.”
She sat at his desk and started to giggle. When her tears and laughter eased, she told him about the strange conversation she had had with the woman who wasn’t there.
He gave her a look and asked, “When was the last time you ate?”
“Two or three days ago, why?”
“I think you might be a little unbalanced.” He winked. “I will be busy here for a few more hours. Can I meet you at home?”
She laughed and came up to his side, kissing his cheek. “I will see you later. For now, I have dessert to eat.”
With her mind coming to grips with her day, she went for some food and put her hands under the scanner. A tray of desserts appeared and confirmed her conversation.
Laughing softly, she said, “Thank you, Jarula. I look forward to my next workout.”
She picked up the tray and headed for a table. Life may have gone from extreme to bizarre and horrific, but it was still a life, and as long
“How do you know so much about it?”
The woman grinned. “I used to be the Avatar of this world, and I gave her permission to use my likeness again if need be.”
“What is her name?”
“Naema. She was a wild planet looking for a star to settle around, and she ended up trapped here. She was unhappy until the people began to come. She wanted to be a world with people more than anything. If you ask her to help, she will.”
“What is your name?”
The woman grinned. “Jarula. Jarula of the Vorwings. My race is ancient and evil. I ran to Naema to hide, and she took me with her into the rift. I lived a long life and eventually gave myself to the soil.”
“You died.”
“Close enough. My soul to hers, my mind bound to the ground beneath your feet. I am the ship, the city that you walk in and I feel the joy at every life restored in that city. I also grieve for the fallen who are lost and those restored who will not wait.”
She blinked and looked directly into the face of the woman speaking to her. “You are also my sparring partner in the physical centre. You are the solid holograms.”
Jarula laughed. “My kind had too much power to simply let it fade into nothing, so it waits and is useful in a thousand ways you never see. Bring more living souls to me, Harmony. Both Naema and I are eagerly waiting a full city and lively laughter. I know you can do it, child. End their suffering and bring them back to life again. Naema will hold their souls, and I will nurture their bodies. If we all work together, this world will begin to turn and time will resume its proper course.”
Harmony blinked. “Why are you talking to me directly?”
“You needed it. You are the switch that the stars flipped without giving you time to learn the ins and outs of this very strange situation. Naema will be there for you when you need rest, I will be there for you when you need sustenance.”
Jarula got to her feet and her wings began to vibrate rapidly. “And Harmony?”
“Yes?”
“Eat your desserts. I put them there for a reason.” The purple fairy winked and disappeared in a shower of sparks.
Harmony was startled into laughter. She took flight and returned to the city, heading straight for the restoration centre.
Nero was working on the tubes, and he gave her a worried glance. “You have been crying. Nirin told me.”
“I had something to work out. How many are viable?”
“Out of six? Six. Whatever you did was effective. Their damage is minimal and their samples are already showing signs of growth. Another hour and I can put them in the tanks.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “That’s just great.”
“Ah, Harmony. I would hug you but…”
“I know.”
“Can you tell me something?” He asked her absently as he moved from fallen to fallen.
“Sure.”
“Can you find out why we suddenly got two hundred more restoration tanks? I am not complaining, but I have no idea where they came from.”
She sat at his desk and started to giggle. When her tears and laughter eased, she told him about the strange conversation she had had with the woman who wasn’t there.
He gave her a look and asked, “When was the last time you ate?”
“Two or three days ago, why?”
“I think you might be a little unbalanced.” He winked. “I will be busy here for a few more hours. Can I meet you at home?”
She laughed and came up to his side, kissing his cheek. “I will see you later. For now, I have dessert to eat.”
With her mind coming to grips with her day, she went for some food and put her hands under the scanner. A tray of desserts appeared and confirmed her conversation.
Laughing softly, she said, “Thank you, Jarula. I look forward to my next workout.”
She picked up the tray and headed for a table. Life may have gone from extreme to bizarre and horrific, but it was still a life, and as long
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