Sunday 12 January 2014

S6.205 - Cue Bid



The Story So Far: The inhabitants of Fractal City have been teaching personified math about the nature of their existence. Very soon, a decision will be made as to whether the high school functions are reunited - or recycled.


Trigonometry were just about to start rehearsal. "I call the new piece 'Sunshine Redux'!" Para said, as she finished handing around the sheet music. "Because it brings the past back to the--"

"They've found us!" Elly cried out, bursting into Maud's bar. "I don't know how, but they've found us - run for it everybody!"

Maud dropped his conductor's baton as Para quickly hurried to Elly's side. "What do you mean? Who's found us?" the blonde polynomial asked.

"TPTB! Q, in specific, I think. We're all going to be destroyed! Warn the others! Run for the hills!" Elly turned to flee, but Para grabbed her by the arm. The ellipse's frantic intensity had the attention of everybody now.

"Elly, wait! What is this about 'Transcendental Pi-Type Beings'? Why do you think we'll be destroyed??" Para protested. Maud moved to join them as everyone else began to put away their instruments.


The ellipse took in a deep breath. "It's a vision I've been subtly trying to tune into, ever since that attempt to connect with math. It suddenly became clear. I think we were hidden here for a time by... by someone. But now Q has found us, and we're to be eliminated! The new order - they're already in our subject! We have to escape, before it's too late!!"

"And go WHERE?" Para protested.

"To other subject areas," Maud realized. "As we'd planned."

"No." ArcSin stood up. "We're better than that. We can use the Jump Gate we found to get to Fractal City!"

"Would we nae need a ship ta use it?" Cotangent objected.

ArcSin and ArcCos exchanged uncertain glances. "We'll build one," ArcCos decided.

"We only have about six hours! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" With that, the ellipse pulled out of Para's grip and ran back out of the building.

"Which is barely enough time for the gate to finish powering," ArcSin realized, grimacing. "Still, maybe I can build something if I..." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Nisano glasses, then looked over at his twin brother.

ArcCos bit down on his lower lip. "This music. It was helping. We agreed you'd stop changing yourself."

"Hold on," Para said. "If the Jump Gate IS on the Fractal network, maybe Logan can come for us in his ship. I'll try to get through to ParaB."

"She'll be meeting with Characteristic Function right around now," Maud reminded. He frowned. "Wait. Do you think it's mere chance that the CF encounter is happening at the same time as this crisis?"

"Coincidence? I think not," Tangent remarked. She began to tap at her belt buckle, in order to contact Lyn.


"Hold on. Here's what I don't get," ArcCot observed as he snapped the case shut on his cello. He waited until all eyes were on him before continuing. "Can someone please tell me," he said, gesturing wildly, "how a deity called 'Q' is able to act irrationally?"


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