That wasn't supposed to happen

[whatamithinking]

The parameters are recalibrated, the dial is spun, and a new universe is selected.
It won't be home--they haven't collected anywhere near enough coordinate data to think they can find home yet--but it will be another step closer.
And who knows, it might be interesting.
Edie steps through the portal first.

Comments

[iamnotpolaris]

"The thing I work with has a certain strength in certain things. Most metals are responsive to it. Some objects have some of that strength. I have a lot of it. Planets have it, and I can push mine against theirs to lift myself," she tries.

[not_only]

"I can't decide whether that's more or less strange than your sister's power."

[iamnotpolaris]

"It's a natural phenomenon. I'm unusual in being a biological example of it, but..."

[not_only]

"What does it even mean to be a biological example of a natural phenomenon?"

[iamnotpolaris]

"Well, one of my friends has weather powers, so."

[not_only]

"That is also strange."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Ehn. I grew up with it."

[not_only]

"In my world there isn't really a thing of people just... having powers, like that. Some people are winged and most people aren't and that's it, really."

[iamnotpolaris]

"I think that's the case in most universes, actually."

[not_only]

"With or without some people being winged?"

[iamnotpolaris]

"Generally without."

[not_only]

"Huh. Most people in most universes are wingless Ceirene. That's... something. I guess I would be a little surprised if most people in most universes were Aluvai. It's easier to imagine a planet with no inside than one with no outside."

[iamnotpolaris]

"I'm having trouble imagining how that would work. I mean, caves exist, I could imagine a world where the sun was so hot or the surface was otherwise so uninhabitable that everyone had to live in caves, I guess that might work."

[not_only]

"Caves... yeah, I guess. Caves wouldn't be much like Aluvanna, though. No floating jungle, for one thing."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Well, hollow planets where the outside was inhospitable maybe."

[not_only]

"That does make more sense than just not having an outside at all."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Yeah. And technically, most planets do have an inside, they're just inhospitable. Due to being filled with rock."

[not_only]

"Yes. That's about what I thought."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Also lava, frequently."

[not_only]

"Lava. Is it... in layers? Or is it just rock until the lava and then it's all lava? And does down change in the middle? Or has nobody figured it out because they don't want to swim in the lava and see?"

[iamnotpolaris]

"Down is towards the center of the planet. It's all rock until it's lava and then the very core of the planet is metal, I think."

[not_only]

"That does make sense, as a way for a solid planet to be."

[iamnotpolaris]

"I wonder whether your different conception of down caused the planet to be hollow or vice-versa?"

[not_only]

"What do you mean?"

[iamnotpolaris]

"I mean--down points towards the surface of the planet, whichever side of it you're on, right, that's the impression I'm getting from your language."