The Three Powers
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Jacob ushered them from the huge platform with its vaulted walls to a room that was small only by comparison. It had a tall ceiling, and angular pillars, miniatures of those that soared above the platform, graced the walls. Strange light sconces cast a warm light into the room. Faye remained on the platform, her great head lying on a clawed hand.
“I had noted the summons, but could not guess what it contained,” said Jacob, with a worried look. “So you intend to go?”
“I do,” replied Michael, returning his gaze.
“It is not our fight anymore,” chided Jacob, “but you already know that.” He turned and murmured a short encantation. The light from the sconces dimmed, and the bronze inlay glowed around geometrical figures in the floor. A disk-shaped volume of lights, like dust motes, appeared in the center of the room. It was unlike anything Trevor had seen before. He thought that perhaps the room itself might be humming with a low, musical voice to accompany the display. An arm of light extended from the disk, and Trevor recognized it was the shape of the Milky Way he had seen from Faye’s back. With perhaps a gesture or a thought, a section near the center expanded into a swarm of dancing sparks that froze into place.
“The location she gave is here,” Jacob gestured to one of the sparks, and small strings of characters sprang up around it. “The system is in a close approach with A*, a neutron star, and a mid-sized black hole. My best guess is that they are trying to fling something, but I don’t know what. That mess should tear anything apart.”
“I have no recollection of a fortress at that location,” mused Michael.
“Nor do I,” said Jacob. “Secrecy within the Coalition does not bode well.”
“This smells of Ghing,” affirmed Faye in low tones from the doorway. She was in the form of an old woman again, as she was the other night when she visited Trevor. She pulled the two doors shut behind her, and joined them.
“Ghing or Rogue,” admitted Michael. “I second-guess the wisdom of me going. I sought to create a triumvirate with Trevor and Diana to offset my conflict of interest. Maybe it would be wiser to defer to others.”
Jacob frowned. “If you do lapse, Diana would have been of some help. These two will be out of their depth, regardless.”
“They still run slow enough, and have perspective. Depth capacity can be adjusted, Fire apportioned.”
Jacob sighed unhappily, “That is not what I meant. They have no fire to stand against yours. Best would be if you do not go, but I suppose the two of them would be better than nothing.”
“Trevor, Tasha!” Faye spoke up suddenly. “You saw on our journey many worlds on the Inside. Any one of these will provide adventures more to your expectations and liking. I am returning Inside soon. We could go to as many of these as you could ever want, then home in the end, if you desire. Continuing on in the Outside means that you will never return.”
“Faye is right,” spoke Michael. “Neither of you are bound to me, to be my conscience or voice of reason, but were you to stay, knowledge that those like you and your families still breathed free would encourage my task.”
Trevor was overwhelmed with a sensation of the three great powers focused on him. His mind frantically grasped for what they expected from him. His ears were ringing, and everything seemed far away, or muffled as though through deep water. He tried to find words, but they wouldn’t come.
Jacob was watching them closely, and it was he that finally spoke into the silence. “There is much to work through, and many questions to ask. Take your time, both of you. This is the sort of decision that must be slept on.”
Jacob led them down a hallway and to sparsely furnished rooms with a single bed and a nightstand. Jacob departed to settle Tasha into her room in turn, “I will see you in the morning. Let me know if you need anything.”
Trevor looked around the room. Despite sparsity of furnishings, the architecture of the forge somehow made one feel respected and warm. A part of something grand and purposeful, rather than a leaf tossed about in the wind.
He saw Michael turning to follow Jacob. “Wait, Michael. Why does everyone want me to go back to the Inside?” Trevor asked.
“Why are you so intent on going to the Outside?” Michael returned. “Is it just because you think I expect you to? That the desire for adventure drew you this far, and you must continue in order not to appear foolish?” Michael smiled. “That is it, I suspect. You feel swept up in a path laid out for you. Not necessarily a bad path, mind you, but certainly the one of least resistance.”
“So, you think I should go back too?” Trevor asked incredulously.
“No, I didn’t say that. It would be in my best interest that you come along, and perhaps in the best interest of a great many people, assuming you grow into your job.”
“But it wouldn’t be in my best interest?”
“I am not saying that, and neither is Faye, believe it or not. What she wants is to see that you are going in with eyes open and ears that hear, whatever you decide. What is in your best interest is between you and God.”
“How do I know what God wants?” Trevor asked.
“He promised to give you wisdom, if you ask. He already knows which path is best for you, and will lead you, if you let Him. He still does not force you. A conscious choice is what He, and everyone else here, expect and value from you. Not the default.”
Michael clasped Trevor’s shoulder and nodded reassuringly before stepping out after Jacob.