6,766 Years

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It’s been this long since people saw the comet dubbed NEOWISE, in the sky tonight, and it will be that long until it reappears – sometime around year 8746, assuming we don’t reset the numbers again for any reason. I just viewed it tonight in the sky with the naked eye, and through binoculars. A magnificence of dramatic elegance!

It’s wonderful to me that we can frame our lives within the perspective of astronomical timespans such as these. During the previous appearance was when most of the stories we know about ourselves began. What begins today that will last another 7,000 years? Consider our breath, of the same ancient oxygen. The Pan-Galactic Imperium is barely more than 1,000 years old at the time of Bones of Starlight. Please, forgive me for interrupting our story to observe this particular turning.

As with my first appearance in the sci-fi genre periodicals in Locus issue #666, I’m going to take the repeating-6 interpretation that links to creative awakening and opening to our higher dimensions of being. Oh yes, I’m all about that. I’ll hoist that torch as though my arm won’t fall for 6,766 years.

30 \ 212

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“They’ll be meeting us at the third predetermined alternative placement, if you happen to remember which one that is.” Alisandrian latitude instruments were not good over the waters of Foshan; this planet of endless seas had its own beaconing triangulation system. The tides of Foshan were like the planet changing shape. Some offworlders experience a stronger disconnect between their memory of a place, where they think it should be, and where it is. Woollibee was very good at uncalculated estimation and recognition; it wasn’t the clouds or the waves, but it was something else which included both.

“Whether I recall where that is, I hope they can find it.” The Hoopoe was in to see Arjun Woollibee about timetable expectations, since the First AIDD was the staff liaison in closest communication with the two dragons who were keeping them in safe seclusion. “It’s already ready? The lead time was two weeks for a custom deluxe order.”

“The developers were compensated appropriately for their prototype off the desk, and there’s a custom deluxe model on the way.”

This sank in for a moment – the prototype in hand. “Did they get the notes?”

Woollibee smiled. “They got a copy of the notes.”

“Oh, I can hardly wait.”

“Barely any of us can. We want you making your best music as soon as possible.”

“Best is relative. It’s going to be experimental, let’s say, and not like anything anyone has heard on a channel. And my music has been on many channels.”

“Right. We want exactly what you know you need to make. It doesn’t even have to resemble anything anyone remotely calls music. We just want it to work. Then, then it will be beautiful.”

29 \ 211

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“More of us have arrived,” reported the Medical Charity (& Other) Sites Research Coordinator, “and everyone’s surly.” Karma Ilacqua spoke from the passenger seat of a helicopter pointed toward the noses of a dozen others. The call was coming from her old friend, Arch contact Arys Steinman. “Your annoyers are stalemated against the strong presence of six competing companies who want to protect and acquire your information. None of us can overpower the rest of us, and none of us are willing to let anyone hurt you, either. But luckily for you, you’re not even where the Enemies of Progress think you’re supposed to be.”

“No. We’re somewhere else beautiful and quiet, just as we hoped. Thank you for taking the risk.”

“That’s my specialty. I may not be here personally the entire time. Most likely, others are on relief rotation, as we’ve planned. Tension could get ugly at any moment, but those of us who want you alive and well have a lot more ‘collective bargaining’ here than those who want to damage you. The long term risk is yours, allowing all these major players to negotiate over your IPs. Opening up is a big deal for any project, especially the top private mystery research unit housed inside of high-currency proprietary advancements. When it comes to risks, you also might want to wonder how the Foundationals got your triangulation in the first place.”

“That thought has occurred to many. Others refuse to worry about it. Active suspicion is just as likely a waste of time, and such is not the inclination of those who’ve been brought to work here. We’re not the department of spying. We are on the edge now, Karma. The absolute edge of the world, and peering off into something else.” Arys sounded haggard, and inspired.

“Please, do not tell me any more. But I’m proud of you. I hope you make it. Have your liaison inform us of any surprise positioning strategy. We’ll all play off each other in order to maintain the lowest possible threat. The Foundationals here won’t be going anywhere without an escort.” The helicopter pilot opened the console hot box and pulled out a mini burrito, scarfing it while projecting a steely stinkeye. “I hope you don’t run out of safe spots.”

“This goes a long way to ensuring that we won’t. We might have to be doing this for days and days while we… wait for something.”

Karma smiled softly. “Augh, what a week this is going to be. It’s okay. I’m here for you.”

Greater Beyond TOC Update

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I haven’t updated the Table of Contents since the beginning of quarantine, and it’s been a full twenty installments, though most belong to the running chapter of the great 206 (Seattle’s central zipcode, what! Being my #1 city now, and all).

So, it’s up to date again, accessible there as Greater Beyond at the pop-down menu when scrolled to the very top. There has been progress, and there is more to come. By golly.