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‘Desk Throne’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:10:53:46.2)

“Too rigid to rule!” Bombi screamed at the faces of the Win State while they couldn’t scream back. “Everything has to be one way doesn’t it? And it’s your one way because you’re part of the one way! Damn you!” She wanted to keep screaming, wanted that more than anything, a chance to burn out loud after suppressing herself for so long, but there wasn’t time.

She crawled up onto the desk, abandoning her bag of stolen goods to the floor so she could put a foot on each of the throne’s armrests and turn around, Iuda’s head between her legs. Then Bombi let herself drop, going as flat as she could, slipping behind Iuda’s back and forcing her forward. She kicked, toppling the woman from her throne and sending her rigid body rolling over the desk. Iuda disappeared over the side just as Bombi placed both hands on the rests, just as the cut scene ended. Continue reading →

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‘World Bottom’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:10:32:46.7)

Before Bombi’s mind caught up she was already in the air.  Her feet passed straight through the grassy patch while it was simply a patch.  It didn’t feel like water, dirt, or even a light breeze.  The ground just didn’t exist beyond what her eyes saw.  Nothingness opened up underneath, an endless expanse of white space, causing her to yelp and flail for purchase. Continue reading →

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‘Orchard’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:10:32:46.7)

Bombi practically glided forward, right past the flickering grass patch.  She moved into the tinkertree orchard, only stopping when her nose filled with the smell of wood chips, apples, glass, and machine oil.  It certainly was an interesting combination.  She turned to ask Morphib what he thought of it, but he was clearly enthralled by something else entirely. Continue reading →

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‘Shut Mouth’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:12:58:08.7)

“I’m pretty sure I heard several lies,” she offered.

“That’s… something,” Chagrinn said with a slight head tilt.  “You definitely can’t rely on this crowd to tell you the truth.  They are the competition after all.  No matter.  It’s time I prepare you for your first boss encounter.  Walk with me.”  Chagrinn took her by the shoulder and walked her around the glade, which he kept referring to as ‘the arena’. Continue reading →

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‘Swallowing Mesa’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:12:58:08.7)

“I did hear about something,” she whispered to Chagrinn, eyes darting back and forth.  She leaned in, wanting it to feel like a precious secret, something barely alive passing between soft hands, but he did not reciprocate. Continue reading →

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‘Sisters’ Stratagem

(17:3:28:5:08:54.8)

“I will help you,” Bombi said, surprising herself.  It must have been the raw desperation on Twixit’s face that convinced her.  Yes, she had been part of the Win State, but she paid her recompense in suffering.  What good is punishing the wicked if I can’t also help the deserving?  Twixit was down there in the bottom of the world with her, flouting the rules she used to live by; she lived only to be restored.  “I really don’t know how.” Continue reading →

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‘Walls’ Stratagem

(17:3:28:5:08:54.8)

            “You heard him,” Bombi said coldly, but she swallowed hard and it betrayed her apprehension.  Sister Twixit stood, posture feral.  Her twisted cheeks reddened at the seams.  Bombi slowly circled around her, trying to find a position directly under the dark interior of a wall.  She didn’t know what to do with what the tool gave her, but she knew it was still there as a ball of green light lodged in her memories, somewhere between learning what walls were and meeting Chagrinn. Continue reading →

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‘Disassemble’ Stratagem

(17:3:28:5:38:24.7)

“Take it apart,” Bombi nearly whispered as she stared deep into the device.  She didn’t have the slightest clue what she looked at, but she did feel a deep twinge, an animal urge to curl up inside it and keep warm by its ceaseless electrical knowledge.  “As far as I’ve seen, speed running is the process of taking apart the world.  Why should we treat this thing any differently?” Continue reading →

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‘Using the Tool’ Stratagem

(17:3:28:5:38:24.7)

“It’d be a shame to let any of its power go to waste,” Bombi said, examining Chagrinn’s eyes for signs of approval.  He gave her nothing.  “Our path will be of wonders whether or not we risk destroying ourselves, so let’s… simply… not risk it.” Continue reading →

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‘Unquestioning’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:12:40:27.9)

She nearly asked the question a hundred times, even opening her mouth twice, but in the end she kept it to herself.  She let quiet rule the rest of their glide along the amber and instead focused on the slight singing note of it, like the wet rim of a glass.  That was her answer.  Chagrinn couldn’t or wouldn’t tell her the truth if he didn’t want to.  She was at his mercy.  The only truth she had access to was all around her.  Everything she learned as a runner was her answers and it wasn’t his fault, the strange empty man that he was, if she didn’t know which questions to ask. Continue reading →