The Surreptitious Entanglement (Part Two)

An interminable silence attempted to wither her resolve. Unfaltering in her steady insistence she maintained a firm grip on her immediate surroundings. Silent but not dissuaded in the slightest, her eyes maintained watch over the distinctively imposing construction. It maintained a muted position, standing defiantly across the breach. The transient storm appeared to have passed and left traces of snow in its wake, and more significantly, the cold air breached into a deeper layer, becoming frigid as the skies cleared. Concentrating its energy, the form in front of us ignored the diminishing warmth, converging silently within itself while allowing nothing to breach its enormous walls. Appearing to draw resilience from within, she didn't make additional efforts at incursion. Standing cautiously behind her, I observed the silver tower and its accouterments carefully, looking carefully for any unseen breach that might reveal an opening of some sort. Resolving to maintain general position, I made tentative steps eastward to gain a different perspective but remained set cautiously apart at an equal distance, taking a reflective observation. She maintained her steady position, marginally shifting her feet and kneeling down briefly to brush off the thin layer of snow covering her feet. Standing resolutely for the most part, her gaze seemed to coalesce near the tower's western edge. Following her lead, I was unable to determine what precisely had set her focus. Nothing was immediately evident or visible in that portion. Mirroring this motion, I made several extensive inquiries without elaboration. Its exterior remained insurmountable, revealing scant evidence that it acknowledged us. I looked in her direction for additional commands, but her concentration was fixed on that particular position. Watching her for several minutes, she maintained her focus, unwilling to be distracted for any reason.

Returning to the immovable structure, attempting to uncover unseen flaws was nearly impossible at that distance. Motioning ahead, and pointing at the object, I worked up the courage to ask in a deliberately low, unobtrusive voice whether she would consider moving closer. She considered my plan for a brief period before shaking her head negatively. Quickly moving in my direction, her hands quickly covered her mouth before explaining in a whisper that such a move would be counter-productive. She didn't want to antagonize the structure by moving forward with excessive speed. Intruding any further would risk disrupting our tenuous balance. Counseling me to maintain a steady watch, she advised me to lo look closely but not directly, a technique that might reveal structural divergence. She didn't need to further elaborate, pushing ahead impetuously wouldn't have made a significant difference and probably cause me to overlook imperceptible aspects. In response to the protruding silver tower standing defiantly above us, directly in our line of sight, I decided to take a divergent focus. Shifting focus in a different direction wasn't immediately obvious. It wasn't immediately obvious where I should train my eyes. Unsure what I'd be encountering in the intervening time.

I maintained close watch on its surface and eventually concluded that surveying the surface on either side might present an intriguing but not overwhelming respite from the monotony of waiting passively. I turned my attention to the western side of the structure, looking across onto the flat land immediate around its inner circumference. Covered in a light layer of snow that covered but didn't conceal its untarnished ground, it purposely created a long pathway, an extended barrier between the outside world and its inner sanctum. The surface was lifeless and empty, but also stoic, resisting attempts to interfere with its intimidating defense. Observing its surface determined that it inferred an inherent deterrent, nothing visible would block potential intruders, but the significant distance and lack of tangible markers wouldn't motivate anything to encroach on its tranquil surface. Taking several tentative steps across the central base, I examined the tower's eastern side which had some noticeable differences. It maintained a slight, but noticeable upward slope that built upward into what appeared to be a minor bride. Extending over a similarly desolate stretch of concrete, it wasn't clear whether it represented an entrance or an exit. Leaning forward and looking at the structure from a slight different angle revealed more details that seemed increasingly determinative. The structure's stratified construction meant that its presence wasn't immediately obvious.

The elongated platform leading to the bridge was unmistakable once located and its form became increasingly prominent when viewed unobstructed or overwhelmed by the structure above. Its sloping angles appeared to rise further before bending quickly and subsequently leading a pronounced curve inward until it vanished behind the silver tower's imposing height. It's conclusion wasn't visible from my location, obscuring exactly where its path might eventually lead. The incremental gauge of its gradual rise alongside its imprecise function lent the nearly-obscured strait intriguing element of possibility that wasn't evident upon initial view. This phenomenon wasn't a complete surprise. It further reinforced her intelligence and intuition, I was only able to locate its evasive presence by following her advice then putting it to use. Despite the tentative resolution, I still had to re-examine and the bridge, carefully observing its surface quietly for several additional minutes to make sure I wasn't growing excited by something insignificant as a slightly rising landscape, it could have been nothing more than a gently sloping hill or a modest embankment. I had to be sure that it wasn't some kind of mirage, and had to ensure that my eyes hadn't become disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. I looked closely at its surface before determining that it was a prefabricated construction, not an environmental phenomenon that could have occurred naturally. It was difficult to make the difference out from that distance, but I made a sustained effort.

This measured approach wasn't as straightforward as it might have appeared, since I couldn't make objective comparisons given the inescapably reticent surroundings that held more mystery than predictability. There was no navigator to assist me, and I was extremely reluctant to disturb her with an unproductive foray into the fringes. I decided to keep my discovery quiet for the moment until I was absolutely confident of its usefulness. Further examination on my part didn't uncover additional significant details, except that its construction was fully-formed and its edges and surface were firmly attached to the base underlying the silver tower's lower section. I stood quietly and watched over it carefully but couldn't understand what is primary purpose might be.
It seemed both too narrow and too wide for any conventional use. It didn't look like it provided an easy walk, while being too uneven to form a larger path. I was perplexed by why it had been constructed with deliberation yet placed in a position where it would remain almost invisible. To my surprise she noticed my interest in the accompanying structure and turned her attention from the main silver tower. She seemed surprised by its unexpected appearance and after looked it over carefully, eventually concluding that it was a promising development. I watched carefully as she made her determination that decided her next infusion. I was hesitant and nervous, and allowed her to retake control and watched with some trepidation as she began walking briskly towards the emergent path. Withdrawing my reluctance, I decided to follow her with increased determination. Increasing pace quickly, I caught up rapidly until I was moving just a few steps behind her position and we were soon heading towards the ascending structure and its slender paths.

With shaky confidence, I followed her footsteps as she jumped onto the main path. Its surface was still slick from the recent snowfall and its hard, concrete-like surface made me take each step with caution. There weren't any visible guardrails and the light was dim so I had be careful. As we drew closer towards the turn leading behind, into the back of the bridge, she stood in place and looked up at the large silver obelisk towering above us. Even at that close range, there were no visible ruptures or physical breaches along its side, scaling seamlessly upward without windows, doors or entrances. Appearing increasingly domineering, its unnerving scope and unyielding design became unavoidable as we crossed the intangible line marking its formidable territory.Notwithstanding the grasping formation directly in front of us, we forged closer into its protective barrier with resolute determination. Its shielded surface gave no affirmation, standing silently in defiance. After traversing closer towards the tower's main structure, we eventually arrived at its concrete base. Its narrow bridge turned towards the back and while it was probably the most sensible path for us to take, she stopped in place. Standing carefully at nexus of its divergent paths, she decided to examine the looming, implacable tower attentively. Securing her position in solid place, she told me not to move forward, signaling we'd reached a promising location.

This unusual approach was a perplexing decision from her that didn't appear to make much sense from a practical point of view. She looked over the base squarely focusing her attention on its eastern front, appearing confident that this was the right course. I waited by her side but detected little change, the air began to swirl as a light breeze blew through, this sent another frigid chill through the atmosphere. It forced be to hunch downward and face the other direction for several minutes but she remained steadfast. I waited for the gust to subside and turned around quickly. I noticed immediately that something was different. Along the lower, western portion of the enormous tower, the was an unmistakable breach. At first, it appeared that a small crack had broken but a few steps closer revealed it was a deliberately planned motioned. It seemed that a narrow entrance had opened at its base, suddenly opening without pretext. Sensing that an unlikely opportunity had arrived, we quickly walked towards the narrow breach. As we walked ever closer, she decided to follow a cautious approach before crossing its threshold.

The slender entrance appeared slender and somewhat stable, but we had no idea how long its would stay open or whether we could return in the other direction. These mysteries gave her enough reason for further careful observation. The doorway wasn't particularly deep and only managed to rise to an adequate height. Its outer edges were flush with the outer surface, and vanished easily when closed. It didn't look like it moved in or our, seeming to slide across, and was apparently controlled by unseen force inside the tower itself. Taking a few tentative steps further inward, we stood just outside its opening and found ourselves gazing inside the tower, somewhat nervously. Nothing tangible appeared to block a path inside but there was a peculiar glowing light emanating from its interior. This seemed to give her pause and she looked it over carefully, deciding with apparent consternation whether or not we should proceed into the tower.

We unexpectedly encountered a range of conflicting possibilities when additional details emerged from within the silver fortress. The glowing light obscured detail, emerging suddenly from its nebulous interior portion, sending conflicting signals, many were more promising than others. She wasn't entirely sure that we should move directly inside immediately. Waiting carefully at an pronounced length, she wanted reassurance that its inner environment was stable. After a precarious engagement forced an inconclusive confrontation, her cautious demeanor proved prescient. She waited with noticeable reserve until the narrow inversion slowly opened further. Its diminutive reaction didn't seem particularly noticeable, but the opening revealed the parameters of a narrow yet traversable corridor. Its path stretching inward towards the silver tower's center.

Walking several uneven steps closer revealed an elaborately-designed inner path deliberately forged to remain elusive, remaining somewhat clouded even at close range. Despite this, the passage wasn't completely hidden, revealing its existence in tenuous form. The visible outline was adequate to make a tentative determination. Its unconventional layout resembled a vaguely familiar hall. It seemed to encourage exploration, with navigational function and uncrowded style. The truculent space was approachable allowing her the confidence to forge ahead into its undetermined environs. Allowing herself the confidence to travel within the imposing structure, she sprinted over the remaining distance quickly and crossed beneath the enigmatic gateway, I followed cautiously in her wake. I remained unsure what exactly awaited when we passed under the divide. Entering into the outer fringes of the imposing building revealed what appeared to be an extended vestibule, though its surroundings weren't locked. Its doorway was open and revealed a strange imperative that seemed to guide us through affirmatively. She managed a quick survey and saw little noticeable that would cause alarm. The outer room was noticeably devoid of furniture, and its emptiness felt strangely appropriate given its unobtruded exterior surface. She took the lead; swiftly moving through the silent corridor, her footsteps not disrupting the tranquil surroundings. The thick flooring had the effect of muting her footsteps as she maneuvered deeper inside its perimeter.

Walking in a nearly straight line forged in her narrowly-focused path, I noticed her steps become increasingly deliberate without the trepidation she'd previously implemented. Her demeanor remained calm throughout the excursion, and she looked around carefully for any significant accouterments. She didn't locate anything that stood out, there was nothing hanging on the walls and its uniform hue remained consistent without clutter. Walking further through its stable length, the nearly empty corridor's surface remained unencumbered, allowing us to move ahead quickly. I noticed a distinct lack of doors along its walled interior, and no windows either, which seemed odd., It was a surprisingly long slope through and the lack of distinct rooms to explore made it resembled travelling through an unadorned tunnel. This left no markers to measure distance or space, further disorientating us. It was almost impossible to measure how far we'd come or the distance remaining. Inversely, it was remarkably stable, soundly constructed, brightly illuminated and unexpectedly secure, offering an calm route to traverse. Charting the course ahead was fairly simple given its straightforward, conventional structure.

We intuitively headed ahead, taking a narrow, straight line through its interior, marking a consistent path. There weren't any noticeable turns, or deviations but our determined path an eventual objective remained uncertain. We continued moving for an extended length that seemed to stretch onward into an extended period without a tangible conclusion in sight. It seemed we'd travelled far and somewhat surprisingly fast pace. Eventually, we found ourselves standing what appeared to be a location near the center of the tower in remarkably speedy fashion. At that point, she decided to take a brief rest and knelt down momentarily adjust her shoes. She refastened them and looked around, with no visible distractions. She restored her center, stood up only to turn around suddenly. Initially, this seemed overly cautious, but her arms quickly released as she started waving quickly. It wasn't immediately clear what she was doing but I realized she was warning me to stand back.

Emerging from the narrow edge of her vision, noticed an unlikely intrusion has occurred unexpectedly. Without making a sound, something had come into view from behind our position. It didn't appear to consist of anything especially significant. It appeared to be a shadow on the wall. The object appeared somewhat benign but became somewhat menacing as it drew near. It began moving faster, mirroring our movement precisely while maintaining a pronounced remove. It stopped simultaneously and held its position. Growing in size as it came towards us, the disparate form remained inconclusive at that distance, and remained cloistered, unwilling to divulge what exactly it represented. She was surprised by its sudden appearance, unable to respond to its arrival in a significant manner. She instructed me to keep a safe distance at a position behind her. As it moved closer , we encountered a resolutely reflective shadow. It seemed to be observing us carefully while assiduously keeping a pronounced distance, maintaining a silent watch from enough distance to evade curiosity. She watched the shadowy formation carefully, expecting it to move closer. The incomprehensible apparition noticed our insistence and held itself in place. She appeared to anticipate this and walked a few steps closer, marking a more pronounced pursuit.

This went a significant measure towards remedying any potential threat with a noticeably fearless disposition. The opposing figure stood silently at the other side of the corridor and didn't take any further aggressive moves forward. After careful consideration, it appeared somewhat intimidated by us, and seemed frightened by her forward motion, our presence suddenly unpredictable. She appeared to sense its reluctance at that uncertain point and tried to reassure it that weren't seeking confrontation, motioning towards herself in a passive manner, sliding her arms inward quickly to avoid needless aggression. The opposing shadow took a careful measure, swirling within itself and began moving towards us gradually engaging without surrendering additional surface detail. While she began to relax, her disposition remained wary, and her disposition reserved its options, she appeared somewhat nervous, keeping a guarded position a pronounced distance from anything that might resemble a direct contact.

They kept a cautious proximity that lasted for several uneasy minutes before she eventually decided to take the control. She moved forwards, walking several tentative strides towards the reticent figure's sphere. She stopped in place and the figure followed her lead with noticeable trepidation. Emerging from deep shadow, the clandestine form began releasing its formation. As it drew closer, the mysterious cloud began lifting, clarifying itself. Quickly, its obtuse form dissolved, partially revealing the outline who was shielding beneath the surface. Walking carefully, many of her distinctive features remained cloaked, but she carried herself with confidence. As she walked closer, the cloud evaporated further until it nearly vanished. In its place, she'd covered herself in distinctive attire. Billowing outward, consisting of innumerable layers of cloth, her elaborate gown seemed to simultaneously protect and strengthen her, surrounding her without constriction. Moving freely ahead towards us, its multitude of folded fabric sheathing were ebulliently covered in layers of large, bright dots overlapping a bright surface. This created a strange symmetry, creating an inverse alignment that wasn't perfectly reflective, signaling a partial confluence.

This caught her by surprise and produced a portentous realization. Perhaps, we were closer to allied spirits than dangerous foes. Her surprising appearance released a strange energy that diminished her fear. She relaxed slightly, releasing the tension and allowed herself surge forward through the hallway. Quickly gaining momentum, she drew outward until she was confidently flowing over the floor, almost gliding towards our position. My reluctant impression was somewhat surprised by her appearance, and the startlingly impetuous transition from suspicion to curiosity. As the enigmatic figure inevitably moved towards us, I noticed her feet barely touched the floor underneath. Her form grew increasingly confident, with pronounced purpose. It appeared she was moving towards our position at increasing velocity without her making contact. I watched her movements carefully, and turned to my side to see her reaction. She'd implemented a surprisingly wary approach to the mysterious figure's impending arrival.

She managed to reach our sphere quickly, and before we could respond, she stood directly in front of us blocking us from further incursion within the corridor. She firmly ensconced herself, taking unbreachable position between herself and our intrusive location. Steadfastly standing in position, she effectively stopped us from moving deeper along into the corridor. She wasn't completely unprepared and managed to come to a furtive halt, without losing balance. Before realizing what occurred, she stared directly at her, conveying a mixture of trepidation and inquisition. I stood back and observed carefully, keeping a calm exterior while my mind formulated endless possibilities. Unable to come to a resolute determination, I observed them carefully awaiting further elaboration. They were at close range but appeared to reach an impasse. The duo didn't exchange a single word for several minutes. It seemed that they were sizing each other up, carefully examining each other, trading long glances without reaching any conclusions. They expended a significant effort silently contemplating what to do next. The disorienting encounter was unsettling, but not surprising given the circumstances. Both seemed to carry lingering suspicions that weren't going to be resolved easily.

After an interval consisting of uneasy silence, the mysterious personage eventually decided to fill the breach in an unlikely manner. She walked several paces closer and thanked her quietly. It wasn't immediately clear what exactly the enigmatic woman would be grateful for. Responding nervously, she looked at her newfound companion nervously , unsure what exactly she might have done. Standing back, the enigmatic figure complimented her for the pronounced efforts she implemented outside the tower's thick walls. She further explained that she'd gotten distracted and enamored by elaborate projects; they'd taken hold with an temporal pull. She didn't elaborate further about what exactly her pursuits would entail. She'd heard familiar words spoken in an unfamiliar voice and was immediately intrigued, but somewhat worried, where they might have arisen. It seemed to clarify the situation to a degree. Her loud voice broke through the thick barriers surrounding her for long enough to break her concentration and stamina. She hadn't expected such a loud accompaniment, and wondered immediately who could have enunciated such an obtuse message. Her articulation reverberated through the tower's silver circumference, without explanation. She understood the tenuous message even in a rough, somewhat mispronounced manner.

This revelation was disorienting, but gave her the chance to assert her curiosity, but she remained reluctant to jump in immediately and decided to keep a safe distance from us, hiding beneath a clouded exterior. Further allowing her to slip away from the temporal barriers, she moved quietly without encountering impediments. She was gratified someone seemed to remember. She wasn't lost in ethereal dreams as might have been commonly assumed, but was working systematically within the walls without distraction towards a tangible objective, which remained elusive yet increasingly within her grasp. She appeared from beyond, yelled loudly then patiently anticipated a response. Eventually, she heard the loud voice that punctured the thick, almost impermeable walls clearly.

She appeared to bow her head apologetically, but wasn't entirely convincing. Evincing redolent strength and volume within, her forceful invocation was perhaps, stronger than anticipated. She apologized if she'd interrupted anything important. It had effortlessly reached beyond the barriers before reaching its intended destination, though perhaps without prescient timing. This produced a secondary effect that awakened a previously hidden strength that she didn't precisely calibrate and projected too forcefully. She told her that she appreciated her pronounced effort and might have ignored anything lesser, dismissing it as a strong wind gust from an oncoming storm. Quickly dissolving her repetitive explained she was following a respective pattern, and the disruption brought welcome respite. She'd begun walking through the seemingly endless corridors in order to locate the source behind the inescapable pitch that pierced her tranquil surroundings. She said it was a surprise for her to discover two of us standing together; she'd only expected a single entity.

She was somewhat surprised by this uneasy admission of misguided loyalty, and reiterated that it wasn't her intention to disturb her concerted state. She merely wanted to yell loud enough to dislodge the doorway. This would hopefully reveal an opening where an entrance might become visible. It took some effort for her to internalize the unanticipated revelation but it arrived quickly. Somehow, she'd broken through her layered refuge and she'd subsequently come looking for us in a panic. Her shoulders dropped and she arrived at an unexpected apology, revealing her sense of guilt that she accidentally disrupted her concentration. The other figure nodded this off and reiterated that she wasn't upset. She'd expended far too much time wandering within a unstable realm and was relieved that her loud voice had disrupted its hold. She'd nearly become trapped inside the thick walls. It seemed they didn't quite understand each other and they were talking around each other defensively, leaving out details and avoiding direct words. which only added confusion. Becoming visibly frustrated at this point, her inquiries became more direct, with answers seemingly unavoidable. She walked a minor pace closer and engaged with increased precision, inquiring how she'd managed to locate her so precisely. She realized we'd arrived after traveling an immeasurable distance through unexplained means with nebulous purpose. She seemed somewhat confused as to our precise methods and true motivation.

She reluctantly revealed embarked on a determined effort to reach her from afar, and relentlessly pursued her using the quixotic galaxies as inaccurate but useful map until she reached within range of her remote location. Once we arrived after the long excursion, she released her distinctive voice, directed without encumbrance in her direction. I was surprised to realize that she was relying on instincts because she was unable to confirm her presence visually. She said she wouldn't add further detail about her objective, it wasn't entirely clear what she was withholding. Unwilling to further elaborate on what exactly guided her to that point, she deflected and reiterated that she was following her instincts. Looking back in our direction she hesitated and appeared uncertain of her pursuer's explanation. her unclear methodology and cloaked motivations. With evident exasperation, she asked again what the true purpose behind her mission was but she didn't elaborate further.

I wasn't entirely surprised that she didn't answer directly. It was her choice and she decided to articulate a putative injection to avoid making a direct response. Deciding to deflect further motioning towards her elaborate polka-dot covered gown, she complimented her resplendent style and impeccable taste. She bowed briefly and smiled. This temporarily disarmed her questioning, allowing us a short retreat. She likewise released her recalcitrant posture. Appearing to relax her lingering fears, she decided to reveal and introduced herself, telling us her name was Gemine. She moved several additional steps closer retaining a less- observant caution and upon closer approach to our location. Gemine didn't concede further detail, halting further elaboration giving her time to contemplate the implications quietly.

Maintaining her cautiously measured proximity, she remained at a noticeable remove, and stood apart several long-paces in front of us. At that close range, I had a peculiar reaction to Gemine that I couldn't precisely enunciate. Gemine kept a notable distance, and we decided not to intrude further into her circle. She awaited with an unspoken combination of wariness and curiosity, her eyes silently uncovered further elaboration on our origin and motivation without intruding verbally. Reflecting an unwavering intensity, Gemine's magnetic violet eyes effortlessly pierced through our defenses, allowing her more knowledge than we realized. Fortunately, there was a reasonable, if unlikely explanation behind our unannounced intrusion. It wasn't immediately obvious but became clear after we arrived at a reasonable explanation. She carefully responded that she wasn't looking to cause trouble, but hoped for her assistance in finding answers to some contradictions she couldn't easily reconcile. The most important being a lengthy concurrence of sequences and connotations she couldn't precisely assemble in the proper space or exact order. It was tenuous reasoning, but her protracted determinations arrived at a sensible conclusion. It wasn't a complete exposition but she appeared to have lent a force of thought and meaning to our purpose.

Gemine thoroughly considered her putative answer and seemed to accept her position after weighing the ramifications but there were significant remaining questions. Gemine wasn't entirely convinced and further inquired whether she knew in advance who she sought. Elaborating, she maintained that t was clear to her that we'd travelled an extensive distance. Gemine wondered how we knew precisely where she was. She didn't explain exactly how she knew where she was or to what extent she pursued Gemine and whether she knew who she was. Appearing somewhat confused, Gemine stood quietly not entirely convinced. Gemine was finally standing in front of us. It seemed that her sudden emergence from within the towering structure was intimidating.  Gemine's unavoidable presence was unnerving for conflicting reasons, not least of which was her technique of tracing our steps undetected, shadowing behind in complete silence. It wasn't clear how long Gemine followed us or what her motivations were. Attempting to placate her became increasingly difficult until she reluctantly conceded that our journey had taken significantly more effort than initially planned. This seemed to partially satisfy her curiosity, but it was obvious that she'd require additional detail later. Gamine turned her attention in my direction, following a similarly insistent path.

Looking into her portentous face directly brought an unexpected realization that I couldn't immediately articulate, much less comprehend. As I gazed into Gemine's transfixing features, I felt an unexpected sensation of familiarity. I was certain that we'd never met in person previously, but subconsciously recognized her face almost immediately. As Gemine's distinctive contours emerged from the shadows as her features came into view, the converging premonition only grew stronger. I wasn't able to determine precisely where we'd previously encountered each other, but I was sure I'd seen her face before. I couldn't quite remember where exactly, which kept me from arriving at absolutely certainty. I decided against articulating the unsupported supposition, but our intangible connection was unmistakable. Gemine's resounding energy was unlike anything I'd experienced previously. Her determined eyes quickly overwhelmed my defenses. It was a struggle to keep the clandestine alignment I felt with Gemine hidden effectively.

It took some effort for me to arrive at a plausible diversion from her insistence. I reluctantly explained that I was following her direction to that point, uncertain where were headed, and not seeking anything specific. Gemine seemed puzzled by my evasive answers but seemed to take me at my word. She determined after additional consideration, that she could trust us to a degree. She walked towards our position, and stood for a moment. She paused and fastened her gown, reducing its outward flourishes slightly, then forged ahead, moving in front to take the lead. We followed Gemine's lead without much hesitation, it seemed we'd managed a tenuous understanding. Curious as to where the long corridor would eventually lead, we walked closely along its narrow patch, watching her closely. She kept a steady pace but didn't reveal anything about our destination, moving quietly along its predetermine path. The hallway appeared to stretch ahead of us with seemingly no visible end.

Gemine wasn't frustrated by our extended foray along the corridor and kept moving forward without stopping, her silent steps motivating a respectful concurrence on our part. I started to become weary from following the deliberately long path, and felt my feet growing numb from the long stretch but didn't waver. My determination was unwilling to surrender underneath its minor physical toll. We'd come a great distance, and there was little chance we'd stop and get lost in her wake. Gemine didn't seem concerned by our travails and didn't look back in our direction to make sure we were keeping pace with her and not falling behind. After awhile she began to slow her stride and before stopping at certain points. Gemine carefully examine the walls. It appeared she was looking at the margins for an unspecified marking or sign, but the unmarked surface walls remained unchanging and silently compliant, not diverging from its unchanging appearance through the duration of its extensive length.

Taking an erratic approach, she stopped and started, examining several additional points along the way to determine some thing. Following in her path we looked carefully, but weren't able to locate any divergence. The corridor didn't reveal any secrets and it became frustrating after awhile. Gemine finally decided to look back in our direction, finally admitting that she'd gotten a little lost in the unfolding corridor. Walking back in our direction, she told us she knew what she was looking for but couldn't locate it. She asked Gemine what precisely she was looking for. Responding simply, she managed to tell us about a room, without elaborating further. Gemine asked us if we had any ideas. I was puzzled by her request and it wasn't clear to me how we'd be able to locate a specific room within a vast stretch we'd never encountered. She had time to adequately contemplate the situation and pulled the light-conversion machine from her cloak. She quickly switched it on, adjusted a few of its dials. She quickly began scanning the corridor's impervious walls, looking for anything out of the ordinary that might surface. She walked down the hallways for several minutes, waving the machine in circles quickly, searching thoroughly into its intervening area. Her efforts didn't result in anything tangible appearing and she became increasingly frustrated as her machine delivered nothing of significance.

However, Gemine's reaction wasn't negative. She was conversely surprised and impressed by the diminutive machine's power and function. It seemed to focus her attention on itself and she suddenly seemed more interested in its functionality than locating a nebulous destination. Asking with curiosity, Gemine asked her where she located such a powerful device and what its abilities might entail. This made her slightly uncomfortable and she managed only a brief explanation. It was something she threw together a long time age, mostly from spare parts that she'd managed to assemble into a coherent structure. She further elaborated that it had taken significant effort and technical skill to eventually connect the various pieces. Despite its limitations, her ingeniously-crafted machine was surprisingly accurate and reliable. She added that there were still noticeable mismatched portions and significant flaws in the machine, but she was constantly seeking improvements. With a noticeable pride, she held it upward into the brightly illuminated space above. This allowed Gemine to make a closer inspection of the machine. From that unobtrusive perspective, it looked hand-made, and surprisingly unbalanced, its flaws grew increasingly pronounced under Gemine's deliberately thorough examination. Its rough surface appeared uneven, assembled instinctively, its parts welded together, forming an awkward construction. Its capabilities remained deceptively impressive despite its unvarnished, docile appearance. She elaborated, explaining that while useful and functional, her convergent-light machine wasn't particularly elaborate or complex. It was something she'd thrown together without putting much effort into it.

Intrigued, Gemine almost immediately ran several steps towards the machine. She moved directly in front of it an began examining it closely. She made a pronounced effort to weigh its distinctive capabilities, robust functionality, measured against its deceptively humble appearance. This intrusive approach on Gemine's part felt more pronounced and intrusive than expected. Gemine's pronounced incursions made her visibly nervous. She responded to Gemine's incursion defensively guarded her machine, gripping it closely while proudly displaying it. Gemine's instincts appeared to cause her to take a defensive posture. Correcting her overly-aggressive disposition, Gemine withdrew from her intrusive position. staring intently and looked away before retreating from the immediate areas. She took a step back and reassured her was merely curious about the enigmatic machine. She quickly apologized, conceding that she'd might have intruded across an unspoken line unintentionally. It wasn't a major issue, she just wasn't expecting Gemine to proceed without indicating her intentions. Gemine added that she had no desire to take hold of the machine, it was her unique creation. Feeling somewhat relieved, at least temporarily, she took her convergent-light machine and twisted its reticule upside down, pointing it at the ground. She subsequently asked Gemine if she had anything else she wanted to know about it. Gemine hesitated briefly before asking where exactly she'd managed to locate sophisticated pieces and advanced parts that were simultaneously elusive and powerful. She responded that it wasn't a matter of where she'd found the parts but who'd assisted her in discovering them. This was a puzzling response and caused Gemine to take step back and she looked me over cautiously. She looked in my direction doubtfully and commented that I was a little young to be playing with lasers. Realizing that she'd left an important detail out; she clarified that I wasn't who was assisting her.

Gemine was taken off-guard by that revelation, unsure what to make of this unexpected development. She looked around the corridor nervously, walking past our position and seemed confused. There was nobody else was present in the corridor; she hadn't met this person. His clandestine presence appeared to unsettle her. Glancing nervously at the machine, she took a cautious step away from it, unsure of its exact origin or true purpose. She attempted to examine it, and stood appreciatively nearby and observed the machine for an extensive look. Gemine couldn't seem to arrive at any tangible conclusions about it, from the respectful, somewhat nervous dista nce she held. Uncertain whether its specifications were harmful or intrusive, she stood directly in front of its path. She maintained her defensive posture, in order to halt further incursions by its beam into the tower's walls. Her disposition became increasingly defensive as she contemplated the implications. Pacing back and forth across the line she held, crossing the floor several times in a somewhat agitated manner, contemplating the myriad connotations. She finally stopped and turned back in her direction in order to make a more assertive inquiry. Forcefully demanding more information about who was assisting her. She seemed unprepared to reveal additional secrets to Gemine. However she remained insistent, implying firmly that should wouldn't proceed further without additional detail. There appeared to be a line Gemine wouldn't cross, but she had to contemplate whether it would be a good idea. She thought about it for a few minutes, closing her eyes and reached a conclusion quickly. Beginning to explain, she carefully told Gemine about the vessel first, and relayed the boat's seeming invulnerability and resilience, further adding that it seemed to have created an invisible shield around itself that seemed to protect us. Gemine listened carefully and seemed to appreciate her honesty, nodding affirmatively but wanted to know why she was telling her about that, purposely avoiding stepping onto the larger field. She really wanted to know who helped her assemble the pieces she used to build, enhance and maintain her extremely powerful, yet decidedly humble machine.

She explained that our intrinsically voluminous, with multi-tiered formations, stratified atmospheric traversing, and most prominently, unwaveringly centered sea-faring vessel was hers. It was unflinchingly maintained, guarded and controlled by a tangentially associated yet intrinsically detached navigator who'd faithfully accompanied her on innumerable excursions. Despite the long gaps between their encounters, she maintained a strong connection with him. Gemine's eyes picked up since she wanted to know more. Feeling a tad protective, she demurred, saying that could wait for another time. She didn't want to violate the unspoken trust they'd built over an immeasurable period. Her reluctance to elaborate on their connection only added to Gemine's interest. She wanted to know more, and she wondered whether there was any way for her to reach this person. Shaking her head negatively at first, she said he was out of reach. Determined not to be further dissuaded, Gemine stated she remained confused by her reluctance and obvious discomfort. She reiterated that she wasn't ready for additional excavations without further reiteration. Defensively pulling back several measures, she slid her machine back under her cloak, hiding it from view. She maintained that her position wasn't meant to be an intrusion. Gemine seemed to understand her reluctance to give too much away prematurely, and stated that she felt the same way. It wouldn't be smart to leave herself vulnerable.

Gemine stood back and reluctantly conceded that it was probably premature to expect further elaboration from us. Deciding not to attempt further incursions into our guarded sphere, she resumed navigating through the  corridor. She maneuvered herself until she resolved a secure location. She approximated an determination of relief as she arrived near the structures central portion. Standing somewhat relaxed, Gemine slouched slightly as she looked across the familiar surroundings surface. Releasing her anxiety, she attempting locate the elusive location at an point within the tower. She walked further ahead and gradually slipped further away as we stood a respectful remove, pondering what we should do next that wouldn't upset the tentative understanding we'd achieved with Gemine. Our encounter had met with a promising start, and we wanted to avoid aggravating  disappointing her. On the surface, it might have seemed like that we'd travelled such a long distance, breaking through an invisible barrier only to discover an elusive figure with defenses we couldn't breach. However, she realized there was much Gemine kept hidden not only for her safety, but ours as well. I was somewhat disappointed by our situation. She was likewise frustrated, but seemed to comprehend the reasoning behind Gemine's reluctance. There was nothing more we could do at that point, it would take time for us to build confidence with her. She closed her eyes, attempting to find a solution. She appeared somewhat lost within the confines of the narrow hallway, unsure how to proceed. I rested briefly, and turned back in the direction we'd arrived from, dreading the long task of retracing our steps.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something unexpected come into view. Initially, it resembled a minor disturbance. At first, it seemed static, just a random shadow had fallen onto the ground. When I looked closely, my perception changes. I noticed movement at the far end of the corridor. I noticed a frame growing larger as it drew near. It was quickly apparent that something was swiftly advancing towards our position at an unsettling rate. The divergence moved confidently through the corridor until reaching close enough that we were able to see what was happening in greater detail and we quickly realized who was closing in. It appeared the boat's navigator had changed his mind, temporarily stopped guarding the vessel and had come looking for us. She was surprised to see him again after an unexpectedly brief interval. I was relieved, hoping the erstwhile navigator could help detangle our overlapping paths while simultaneously resolving Gemine's lingering doubts.

- Michael Palisano