[Locked to Luceti Residents]

[malnosso]

[In the afternoon, the enclosure receives a message from none other than Mr. Catherine himself. He hasn't been heard from by the village since his death last June. Remarkably not only does he sound chipper and full of life, but the old raspiness that identified him as an old man is gone. In fact, he sounds quite full of life, like a young man high on life.]

Goodness gracious, how long has it been? Nearly a year, I should think, since we truly ever talked. Not counting that nasty business where I died. Best forgotten, that.

Now then, I suppose you've been beside yourselves with concern about my whereabouts. Well fret not, I've been hard at work! I'm not quite the CEO of the Malnosso, but I have made remarkable progress. You all have been quite helpful to that as well. We are quite a team, the lot of us! Wit and might mixed together for a remarkable combination of change. I suspect we could do most anything if we worked together!

In any case, to business. As you might guess, you will be undergoing an experiment soon. No doubt your more experienced 'old feathers' have enlightened most of you on what to expect. I realize this is all terribly frustrating. The heart strings are quite the delicate things, but it is very important. I won't be involved in running the experiment, but I've been assured that this will provide some absolutely astounding data in the future of Shift research. Your participation, willing or not, it is greatly appreciated.

Ahh- what else? Oh yes. I suppose you wonder what I'm up to? Well, it's quite exciting. I'm at Sirry Crags! The mountains, oh yes. The skies are perfectly clear. Blue skies abound! Not a single cultist dots the skies. Indeed, they haven't been spotted here in months. Mark that one for a victory. After hundreds of years, this mountain range is finally free from those nasty cultists. Exciting, isn't it?

[Locked to Rem]

Oh ho, I hear it's nearly over. You must absolutely tell me how the experiment went!

[Locked to Molly]

Well well, my dear. I do hope you have some news for me. Please, please, do not spare the details. This channel is absolutely secure.

[Locked to The Great One]

A-ah, I hate to intrude upon your important work, Great One, but might I trouble you for a moment of your time? I sincerely promise you this won't be like last time.

Comments

[savedtheworld]

It's just sad to think that way, even if it might be true.

[bil]

Of course, living again is much nicer! I shouldn't want to stay dead. Not in this world, mind you. Sacrifices are nasty, ugly business.

[savedtheworld]

I am glad that you get to live again. [Even if he remembers Moro's words - that the way death is undone in this world is like a perversion of the natural cycle - he's glad for someone to have another chance at life.]

T-those sacrifices... they really are bad, aren't they.

[bil]

Absolutely dreadful business, my boy. Pray that you never know anyone who goes through them. Those Shamans are monsters.

[savedtheworld]

I really really hope no one does. ...There're shamans?

[bil]

Indeed there are! I suppose you might say they are the religious authorities, if you can call what they believe to be any sort of religion at all.

[savedtheworld]

Really? What kinda religion is it?

[bil]

Oh, you know, planet worshipers, I suppose. Utter nonsense, of course.

[savedtheworld]

Hold on. They worship the planet? [Considering the lessons he learned in the swamp back home, that's very interesting to Aang.]

[bil]

Barbaric, isn't it?

[savedtheworld]

I- I guess, but... is the planet alive?

[biliruben]

Some might suppose it is. Some might also say its a host to something living. I believe neither, personally. Not without evidence.

[savedtheworld]

I see. Evidence would really help. Either way, if it's the planet that makes people come here... then there's gotta be something unusual about it.

[biliruben]

Ho ho ho, in ten minutes you've already gone and concluded something the organization spent decades on trying to prove conclusively.