THE CITY OF BRIDGES

CYUNN

Excuse me… I’m looking for Panxous or Bynrough. Would that be either of you?

PANXOUS

Who wants to know?

CYUNN

I’d like to ask you some questions about someone I believe you know.

PANXOUS

Make it quick. We got work to do.

CYUNN

Have you seen this man recently?

(hand them an artist rendering to look at)

PANXOUS

Nope.

BYNROUGH

Wait, is this-

PANXOUS

(deliberately interrupting)

We ain’t seen him, sorry. Now we need to be getting to-

CYUNN

You know who this is, of course.

PANXOUS

Like I said-

BYNROUGH

We ain’t got nothing to do with Januae. He ain’t been back home in a minute or two. Not that he wants anything to do with us or us with him.

CYUNN

So he is your brother, then? And your son?

PANXOUS

Look, I don’t know who you are or what you want from him but he ain’t been back here in years. Left City of Bridges when he was a teenager and hasn’t been back since. So we can’t help you.

BYNROUGH

So what is it you want with him? What did he do?

CYUNN

He… he ends up going from place to place, randomly it seems. There are some people concerned for his welfare who have asked me to help find him.

BYNROUGH

He in trouble? What stupidness did he get himself into?

PANXOUS

You’re clearly one of them bounty hunters trying to play it off. I ain’t stupid. The boy got himself into some sort of trouble. Ain’t my concern though. Like I said, we can’t help you, so if you don’t mind…

CYUNN

Where did he go when he left the City of Bridges?

BYNROUGH

He went to Dynafel to study to be one of them priests, years and years ago. Afraid of a bit of hard work, if you ask me. Hauling in fish is honest work. Playing with numenera ain’t.

CYUNN

Do you think he would have any reason to want to go back there?

PANXOUS

How would we know? Don’t you listen? We ain’t see him, we really don’t know him. We don’t know where he is and frankly, we don’t care.

CYUNN

Well then, I’ll be on my way. Thank you for your time.

BYNROUGH

Hold on. If you find Januae, are you going to kill him?

CYUNN

(after a beat)

Not if I can help it.

JARGOLAMIS, SHOUM’S ABODE

SHOUM

Going back to Cheloh today, see if you can get in on that ritual this time? I’ve set the portal so it can send you straight to the last place you visited.

JANUAE

No. The Veilwardens were frustrating and less than helpful. They gave me the impression that they can’t, or won’t, help fix my problem.

SHOUM

So where to today?

JANUAE

I’ve been pondering that. I’m considering going to Charmonde this time. I’m hoping I can get a hold of some of those nanites. If I could bring some of them back here, maybe get them to sync with your technology-

SHOUM

Wait a minute… the nanites from the cleef they made you harvest when you were enslaved? Are you insane?

JANUAE

Think about it, Shoum. The theory is that everything in the Ninth World is infused with nanites, right? I believe the nanites within me have been reprogrammed essentially, which has manifested this jaunting condition. If I can figure out how to give them a new set of instructions, maybe infuse them with the type of Numenera that controls your device then introduce them to my body, I could potentially reverse or even control-

SHOUM

Don’t even think about bringing those things back here! From what you told me about what they did to those slaves, I’m not trying to end up a pile of goo or a walking metal broom or a squid insect!

JANUAE

Don’t you see the potential in what we could do with them if we could control them, harness their abilities? Besides, I’m not going to the cleef to get them. I want to obtain some that have already been harvested and brought back to Charmonde. Ones that haven’t become active yet.

SHOUM

I don’t think you’ve thought this through. I’m beginning to think this is how you operate on the regular.

JANUAE

Here’s something I have thought about: Imagine if you could harness the abilities of these nanites to make them resume the aging process of your body. I’m betting it’s the nanotechnology that prevents your body from aging. Imagine maturing into a woman, finding a mate, being regarded as an adult…

SHOUM

(after several beats)

If only… yes. That would be amazing…

(another beat)

Alright. But be careful. Make damn sure they’re dormant. And do your best to lay low, Januae. Remember, the Order found you there once, they can find you again.

JANUAE

I’m not worried about the Order. With the vest on I’ll be able to jaunt back here if there are any signs of trouble.

SHOUM

Alright then. No risk, no reward I suppose. Though I don’t mind you taking the risks and letting me reap the rewards. Let’s get the vest on you, mama needs a new pair of shoes.

JANUAE

A new pair of shoes?

SHOUM

Adult, size seven if these nanites can resume my aging process.

CHARMONDE, AT THE SEMBLAGE OF ELLENANDUS

ELLENANDUS

Can I help you, sir?

JANUAE

Yes, this is the semblage of Charmonde, correct? I was told I could find Ellenandus here.

ELLENANDUS

I assume you are an Aeon Priest? This semblage is restricted from anyone outside the Order.

JANUAE

Yes, I serve the Order at the pleasure of Pope Durranet VI.

“All glory to the originators of truth and understanding.

Praise to the innovators of steel and synth.

Praise to the shapers of flesh, of bone, and of mind.

Glory to those who re-sculpted the sustaining earth and the life-giving sun.

Praise to the senders of signals, who even now whisper into machine ears and give life to the inanimate. Praise to those who traveled to the stars, and the

realms beyond the stars.

All glory to the originators of truth and understanding.”

ELLENANDUS

Ah, the Catechism of Lore. You know it well. I am Ellenandus, the custodian of this semblage. What can I do for you, er…

JANUAE

Januae. During my last visit to Charmonde I heard there was a contingency of slaves that harvested nanites from a cleef in the Black Riage?

ELLENANDUS

Yes. At a tremendous cost, from what I understand.

JANUAE

That is a shame indeed. A waste of so many lives.

ELLENANDUS

Why do you inquire about these nanites?

JANUAE

Well, I believe they can be instrumental in my research in Jargolamis. I have access to a device there that allows me to travel great distances in an instant, but it is currently rather limiting in its use. My hope is to bring some of the nanites back there with me to see if I can refine and expand the capabilities of the device.

ELLENANDUS

Jargolamis? Of the Twinned Cities in the Pytharon Empire? That is over a thousand kilometers from here! This device of yours has quite an impressive function!

JANUAE

As I said, it is rather limiting in how I can use it. It is only able to send me to places I have previously been. A more practical application would be to broaden its functionality, and I believe these nanites might help me figure out to do this.

ELLENANDUS

I see. Won’t you come in?

JANUAE

Thank you.

ELLENANDUS

Well Januae, we don’t have any of the nanites on hand here, though we would very much like to. They are currently in the hands of the nobles who sent their teams of slaves to acquire them. We have been lobbying to have them contribute some to us for study. After all, who better to examine them than an Aeon Priest? But they have instead given some of them over to Aseranti University for their research. It makes no sense, but this is the politics of Queen Armalu. Continually pressing against the Order, hoping to lean away from our influence.

JANUAE

I see. So there will be no nanites available for my research?

ELLENANDUS

Let me not send you on your way empty-handed just yet, Januae. If you can exercise some patience and are willing to spend some time working with us, sharing your knowledge with our semblage, you might be rewarded in due time. With the Queen’s grandnephew serving as Archbishop of Navarene, we can leverage that connection to have her put pressure on the nobles to share some of their bounty with our clave. We will assure her the research will go toward improving the border defenses, and I would be willing to send some back with you in return for your assistance in our research efforts. Does that sound reasonable?

JANUAE

It does, yes. It will feel good to dive into some research once again. It has been awhile.

ELLENANDUS

Very well. I will have one of our tenants find quarters for you. I will need to go into town momentarily, but I’ll soon return to get you a workspace you can get set up for your research.

JANUAE

Thank you, Ellenandus. I believe this will be to our mutual benefit.

ELLENANDUS

Of course. I couldn’t agree more.

CHARMONDE, IN THE CITY

ELLENANDUS

Yes, I would like you use of the farspeaking device. This message will need to be transmitted to Qi. I speak into this? Okay, I’m ready.

(clears throat)

‘To the attention of Bishop Kliambala:

Januae is presently here in Charmonde. He is looking to acquire some numenera. I have invited him to work in the semblage in an attempt to have him remain here for some length of time until a recommendation is made on how to proceed. I await further instructions.

Iadace, Ellenandus.’