We can now deduce several things.
The Oracles... They are highly capable A.I.s. The one in the city, may or may not be damaged. Regardless, it is in contact with the one at the Transit Station. I would say that the Methuwan AI is damaged. It didn't know the location of the supply city. It didn't take control of Lodda, Porvus, or Urvan right out of the gate, whereas the one on the Station did (see? I was mostly correct on that count).
Back in Chapter 1, you gave me two clues as to what was happening.
Whoever these characters were, I just knew that Gordy was coming home in a box.
Chapters 2 through 14 were the backstory (and yes, my questions from chapter 14 were answered here). A backstory that made all the difference in how chapters 1 & 15 would be viewed. Like many, I cried. Life seldom gives us a "Happily Ever After."
Thanks for writing this story and sharing it with the rest of us.
That's the main problem with sex and college. There are way too many girls who use it as a means to snag a husband. Of course, it doesn't help at all when the guy doesn't use protection!
Whatever reasoning Wylie had, it was wrong on so many levels.
Like Raven, I pretty much know how this 'thing' with John and Wylie turns out. I kinda pointed that out in my comments on the prior chapter.
Gordy coming home and the comments made in chapter 1 by Wylie and John's thoughts... They make a whole lot more sense.
If'n I don't say anything beforehand, if'n I drink just enough to act drunk, if'n no words are said during, and if'n nothing is EVER said afterward... Then I can't be a queer!
The other part of that is that there is no relationship, either.
And that is why it was said that the knowledge they all had (of magic) must remain secret and within their group! Even if Jamie is the only mage that can take another makes knack, that knowledge cannot be made public.
All the while, I have been thinking of two entirely different ideas.
The first is how the various descriptions resemble quantum mechanics and particle physics. The second was my suspicion (which proved correct) that the magic was somehow tied to the planet itself.
There has to be something else that ties it all together. All I can think of is that the mind itself is the key.
Something else was revealed in this chapter... Well, not revealed but made definite. A sort of string theory/multiverse exists in the story. Flitch is from a universe with the opposite charge to that which Jamie's universe is made of: matter and anti-matter.
Geron? It's enough to give a layman a tremendous headache!!!
Wonderful line! Had me laughing for a bit.
I'd have to go back and check, but I swear I remember Darren picking up the sapphire, putting it back in the box, and then palming the ruby!
I kinda wish that some of you readers would go back and reread Chapter 1. It doesn't much matter what you think of Torsten. He has a role to play in the coming End Of The World. We are told he will know what that is to be when the time comes.
Obviously, that time is not now. I can imagine that Stellar is either laughing maniacally or bashing his head on the wall... Hmm, maybe both?
I do agree with one thing. Whatever trust there was with Theo, is now broken.
Any chemical or biological agents would be huge compared to the molecules that make up the atmosphere. So I have to hope that the shields only allow those molecules to pass.