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Andrew reporting.
I continued along the corridor. It led to a large round domed room. It has no doors or any exits as far as I can determine, except for a wide spiral ramp leading down. It is sufficiently wide for four Ipsolstai to march (or rather flow) side by side. There is a low railing, about ten inches high on the open edge at the center. I looked over the edge. I can count six turns, after that the rest is lost in darkness.
I have stopped trying to make any sense of the Ipsolstai architecture.
I went back to the terminal today. I wanted to see if it knew anything about the things that happened yesterday. I asked it about lights in the sky and it asked me a few questions and I asked a few of it. We're still doing that. I have the options narrowed down now to an orbital anti-particle beam discharge, swamp gas, lightning, an atmospheric shuttle, an insystem pulse fusion drive, or a light aircraft. I hope I can narrow the list down soon.
Isaac played with the Ipsolstai today. He let them shut him down for a few hours while they looked all through him! Daniel got very close and watched over them carefully to make sure they didn't put anything in. I don't think Daniel likes the Ipsolstai anymore. I'm not sure he ever did. They did all kinds of mean things to him. I don't think he wants them to hurt Isaac the way he was hurt.
The Ipsolstai finished putting Isaac back together and were playing with him some more when Gabriel came in. He flashed briefly and the other Ipsolstai left the room. Gabriel was about to leave when Daniel stopped him.
"You are leaving."
"Why?"
"They are leaving."
"Why?"
Gabriel looked at Daniel for a moment and then pressed a button on his harness. When he flashed again, a translator operated.
Then he left. I don't like this at all. I wish someone would tell me what is going on!
I do not know any coordinates.
I know what I have seen.
What the One has told me.
What the Ipsosltai tell me,
through the One.
No more.
Find the middle.
Follow that.
The One cannot take us anywhere.
It cannot go anywhere.
But where it goes.
We cannot go along.
It may go with us.
It does go with us.
It does not know all.
Not quite.
But almost.
Unlike me.
I know nothing.
Almost.
No outbound at all.
Kim and I made it to the Fortress without being impeded by any troubles, though
we found a few destroyed C-probes on our way. They all show the same typical
holes.
The Fortress itself is in pitiful condition. It's not only the front barrier that burst
but also the oval where we put our sunsails. The rockface that shielded the Fortress
from the eastern side canyon is also perforated by missile impacts, and the tunnels
that we dug there and all our trap constructions became awfully exposed. The whole
complex is absolutely destroyed. But it's mainly the debris that makes it really bad.
There is not one flat square foot left. The C-probes totally messed it up. No, I can't
believe that this was once that nice and safe place that we called so proudly "Our
Fortress". It's sad. We stopped the C-probes quite too late.
"Kim, look over there, that's Gail."
"Gail! We are over here. We are coming! Is Theresa with you?"
There he is! I can see him! It's Enoch coming this direction. This is the best thing that's happened for a long time.
"We're over here! Hurry up! Theresa, it's Enoch at last. What happened to the C-probes? I thought you were bringing an army. Did you see the flappy dark things? And their robots? I'm so glad to see you.
"What's Next? We need to make some plans. Where is that Elder Brother, I wanted to meet him. Did you know that I haven't heard anything from Andrew and Bette for a week? Have you?
"Who is that cute little probe following you? Theresa thinks he would be fun to play with."
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