Twilight Mirage 29: This Year of Ours: The Pilot

Hey,

It's Cascabel.

I know you're probably zipping between planets in some sort of experimental ship right now bud, but once you get back just let me know you got this, okay?

I wanted to let you know that I got back from Skein and some of your old colleagues wanted me to pass on a hello.

And, I know it's weird to have them be working with the NEH now and I know it can be hard to hear, but they're doing good work, man. You should check in on them. Quire is bleeding and they're the closest thing to medics.

I've seen it across every world I've been on, but on Skein, it's bad, man. There's a gash that cuts down to the core. Deep in the jungle, about a day from Terncage… that big city by the beach. It's a wound that pulses. It groans. With each new beat, it finds and and breaks a new reality.

So.. I guess I'm just not surprised that it attracted every scientist in the sector. The Skein? The Garden? They were already deep into this stuff on Old Quire, man. And your people from the Ever Forward? From what I understand, y'all have always been pathfinders, some of the best field researchers ever.

So I get why you're not thrilled with it but I've spoken to these folks. The New Earth Hegemony offered them a lot: resourcing, protection, time. They could do more good unified as Ternion than they ever could alone.

In any case. I'm glad you're doin alright. Test pilot seems like a good fit, you always liked to be on the cutting edge, after all.

I never told you about the first time I saw the Amp Runner did I? The way it broke through the atmosphere? I saw through the trick, the screeching, the fake rust. But then I saw you inside and I was terrified.

I'm glad we're on the same side, Even. I…

Well, if you ever need anything, you just let me know. After what we faced down together? Independence, the iconoclasts. Volition…

A year ago, I was just a mercenary for hire. Now I've seen the world shatter and put itself back together. And I wouldn't have made it out without you. If you're ever around my neck of the woods, promise that you'll let me know.

Cover Art by Craig Sheldon (@shoddyrobot)

Episode description by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt  (@notquitereal)

A transcription is available for this episode here.

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