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They said that they will put him in the box again, if he isn't able to do what they want him to. Being in the box makes him feel terrible. You can't move, and it feels really bad when he can't move.
He chooses not to say anything when he sees the technician incorrectly set the wards surrounding the testing chamber.
The proctor says it's time to test Firecalling. A full force test. He doesn't see who it is – he just hears the voice. He complies, and puts out as much Fire as he can. His fire is black, rimmed and flecked with red.
An alarm sounds. The proctor says to stop.
He does not stop.
The proctor says to stop, now more urgently.
He does not stop.
The proctor says that if he doesn't stop, they'll bring out the ball.
He does not stop. And now, he uses his Metallurgy and and Windkeeping too.
The proctor stops, because the testing chamber has exploded. In fact, the whole of Alphazon's base on Mars has exploded.
He realizes what's happening and creates a bubble of air around him, even though he doesn't need air. Not anymore.
Is there anything left of the base? Is there anyone left?
That is very valid. Bath is good.
What does the library look like? How does one use the library?
The library is a room full of shelves with books on them, and some seating and tables. (The seating is not Conrad-sized yet, though there is a couch he might be able to use.) There is also a distinctive table with a person in a chair behind it, seated to face the room but in fact facing a book.
He will recognize that the table is decorated more and slightly differently from the rest of the room but will fail to read any meaning from it!
He will look at the books on the shelves and see if there are any whose titles talk about computers, programming, water, materials science, or astrophysics.
On closer inspection, the shelves have some labels! A lot of the book titles use somewhat flowery language like "Adjusting to the Light" or "Like Engendering Like", but the shelf labels seem to be much less flowery, and also describe shelf contents. Do 'Elementalism', 'Chemistry', 'Physics', 'Astronomy', or 'Geology' appeal? There isn't anything obviously about programming or computers, though there is 'Mathematics'.
Actually, he should focus. Fixing his software is the more important thing, because if Alphazon got a hold of him again, all of his Water Dreams will be thrown out the window.
He will look at Mathematics. What type of things does the Mathematics shelf have?
The Joy of Mathematics: Discovering Mathematics All Around You. Byrne's Euclid. How to Lie with Statistics. Calculus Made Easy. There's a lot of books on this shelf, but nothing mentioning 'software'.
Okay. So no software or computers or programming. He will Send Cumin about that.
:Do you know if Lady Saffron has any books about software, computers, or programming?:
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
:Thank you very much.:
They will go to the distinctive table.
"Hello, Madam. Are you the librarian?"
"Thank you! I am looking for books about software, computers, or programming. Are there any?"
"We've got some stuff on algorithms, but otherwise no. It's likely we could borrow some or get some cheap texts, though, could you tell me more about your interests?"
"I am a half-cyborg made by Alphazon, and I ran away from them. However, I have not significantly modified my software to protect it from them, aside from changing security keys. I am interested in books that will help me do so."
"Well then! That's a very different use case from the typical person who wants programming books, I think. Do you know what language or languages are involved?"
"No, I only have access to the binary, not the source code. Should I print it out for you?"
The librarian makes a bit of a face. "No, I wouldn't know what to do with it any more than you do. Probably even less than you do, really. I can place an order for some introductory programming materials if you're interested, but this seems like something that should be resolved promptly. I'll let Saffron know about the issue and she can find a specialist."
"I see, thank you. I considered going to the Chasmapolis library, in the time before I became Lady Saffron's client, however it may be too unsafe for me to do that now."
"Chasmapolis is pretty well-policed and I expect an attack wouldn't go very well for Alphazon, my concern would be transit."
"Ah. Is it that the liminal spaces are less well-policed than the central spaces? When I was attacked by Alphazon, I attacked on my way to Arcadia."
"The liminal spaces are less well-policed, and also … Arcadia is young, has not suffered the same losses mature factions have, and has therefore failed to make the appropriate investments in security. I suggest you look into traveling to Chasmapolis in a group or getting a favor from someone with Portals, if you're interested and you have permission to go."
"Okay. We should have some programming books in by next week if not earlier, they're a popular topic for the free-textbooks people. If Saffron doesn't follow up with you about getting your software fixed, at some point you should likely bring it up with her, it's a security issue."