<div>
Inner Sanctum Second Floor | 9:21 AM | Third Day
<div>
<div>
named Gilgamesh. It wasn''t like I was familiar with the text directly.
<div>
<div>
I, presumably, had separated it and the key Zeno had given me from everything else. And to a lesser extent, why the binding of the book was so strange.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
way too many pages. Especially since there''s no annotations."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Retrace your steps and use logic, idiot. Our group had been taken underground to bear witness to one of the order''s secret projects, one that Neferuaten, back in our conversation in the garden, had talked about like the entire organization was oriented around it. At the time, I''d drawn a connection to Zeno''s description of a secret that was about to be unveiled here - ''a power to remake the world''. But as it had turned out, it''d been a project of my grandfather''s that the order had abandoned years ago, and based on Ran''s account, Zeno had been just as surprised as anyone else that Fang actually got it working.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
was he so excited over, then? What was this even for? And what was the ''firsthand proof'' he''d told me to expect to see before my formal invitation?
<div>
<div>
That''s right. Amidst everything, I''d let that slip out of my mind, too. Had I actually had the meeting with the inner circle, and been offered the honorary position Neferuaten had described...? More things to clarify when there was a free moment.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
packed full of all kinds of junk, to the point that there seemed almost no rhyme or reason to it. There were multiple cupboards full of clothing - dresses, mostly, so it probably belonged to a woman - a large logic engine, a second bed... And most notably, several stone sculptures. There were three depicting humans, one of which was clearly a likeness of Durvasa, as well as two stone figures of cats. Finally, there was one which seemed to still be in progress, the upper half of a slab of rock wrought into a roughly humanoid shape on top of a white tarp in the corner.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
closet. I was fine with taking a quick look, but this is ridiculous."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Making sure she can''t pull the wool over the rest of our eyes. Anna turned and regarded her coldly for a moment, but nodded. "If you so wish."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Understand that the link has been severed. Understand that a bridge integrity check has failed to diagnose the problem, and you may need to inspect for physical damage. Understand that if you cannot resolve the problem, you should visit your distributor with your purchase paperwork and seek a replacement...
<div>
<div>
Mm, that''s right. This is where Linos had been watching the closing hours of the bicentennial ceremony. The link would''ve been cut along with everything else when this had all started.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Oh, hello! Is it time for my daily report? Sekhmet asked. I''m sorry to say this, but temperature loss overnight has caused a 0.7% reduction from baseline productivity! Is there something wrong with the heating system-- There was a twinge of confused processing, followed by a sensation of pleasant excitement. Wow! There''s a lot of you right now! Is there another tour going on?
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Please understand that this instruction has been acknowledged, Discretionary Council Member Amtu-Heddu-Anna, I felt the more simplistic mind of Eshmun communicate. Please understand that we will disable all pertaining alerts and stand by for further instruction.
<div>
<div>
Um, wait? Sekhmet said. You want for me to cease all tasks? Does that include my reading?
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
all tasks and stand by for further instruction. "
<div>
<div>
Well... Okay, I suppose... she said. The pulse of sadness felt like damp water. I mean... If it''s really, really, really, really important--
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
wrong with this place?" Ptolema exclaimed, her brow twisting in horror.
<div>
<div>
isn''t one, we should be safe." He stroked his chin. "Though the door is another matter. It''s made of artificed bronze and is almost a foot thick. We built it to withstand refractor rifle bombardment."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
very sharply - more than I''d believed possible, considering it''s weight - and the bottom fell out of my stomach in an instant. In the following 2 seconds, I sincerely believed that the killer was about to perform another perfect strike, taking out the one person who could conceivably still help us escape from this mess in a single moment of letting our guard down.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Samium as being here too.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
But hadn''t the inner sanctum had a different name? I was pretty certain I recalled the warning alarms calling it the ''Amniakic'' Bioenclosure. Had they changed the names at some point, and not kept it consistent across their system...?
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
That was a shitty remark, even by their standards. Ophelia looked a little upset, seeming to lack the will to push the matter further, while Linos just sighed, rubbing one of his eyes.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
With all the water around. She didn''t get the memo, apparently, but it was just as true with the hyper-thick glass.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
super fucked-up when you go through one..."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
is there any mechanism to tell how many people are actually in the sanctuary? Or any information along those lines?"
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Inner Sanctum Bioenclosure: 17 human biological signatures.
<div>
Guest Bioenclosure: 0 human biological signatures.
<div>
Arboretum Bioenclosure: 0 human biological signatures.
<div>
Research Tower Bioenclosure: 1 human biological signature.
<div>
Sanctuary Underground: 1 human biological signature.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
No, wait. Would Zeno''s body be picked up by the scan, too? It had seemed like Ptolema had guessed right regarding it being in one of the crates - and besides, there was nowhere else it could be. And what if Durvasa wasn''t really dead? Or what if either Lilith of Mehit had been killed?
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
survive. This is a chance to reveal the culprit right here, right now." She lowered her gaze, looking at him sternly. "Did you forget that possibility, pray tell?"
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>