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]

"Those things are weird. What possible purpose could they have?"

[not_only]

"Well, they separate the islands. I don't know why, but that's what they do."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Eugh. But why are they like that--" she cuts herself off, shaking her head. "I'm overreacting, I'm sorry."

[not_only]

"I find them unsettling, but I think I find them less unsettling than that."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Usually, my and Edie's minds are connected at least a little. When I'm in that cloud stuff she just isn't there."

[not_only]

"No wonder you're more unsettled than I am."

[iamnotpolaris]

"It happens when one of us is in Milliways and the other isn't, too, but we've had more cause to be wary of being separated since we got stranded."

[not_only]

"That makes sense."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Yes."
Is that the house, coming into view?

[not_only]

It is!

Sivath lands there.

[iamnotpolaris]

So does Emily. Edie's waiting outside, wearing a dress that's cut low enough in back not to impede wings. Emily hands the wings over.

[whatamithinking]

Edie tugs her braid out of the way, unminis the wings, and attaches them to her back.
And then: There are wings. She grins and flexes them experimentally.

[pythbox]

The wings are very helpful indeed. They provide unobtrusive little suggestions about how to move them to accomplish various wing-related goals: this is how you take off, this is how you fold them up neatly...

[whatamithinking]

Lovely. Not for every day, perhaps, but still utterly lovely.
"I think the armbands should be finished calibrating in a few more hours," she mentions.

[iamnotpolaris]

"Aha. Any particular reason not to move on?" she asks, half to Sivath. "We can come back at any time..."

[not_only]

"I can't think of anything," he says.

[whatamithinking]

"In the meanwhile, I'm going to try flying," Edie says, and takes off.