Isadora ripped her hand from the globe, panting heavily, she stumbled into a desk rattling some instruments.
"Now you're starting to see." Gardner said in a chuckle. "It's no coincidence he would turn up here."
Gardner helped Isadora sit down. He took a seat across from her as Isadora sat with confusion in her fiery eyes.
"Your eyes tell it all." Gardner said. "How again were you called to the tree?"
"I came myself, no one sent me." she looked up, still confused. "I feel compelled to fix this mess, " she stood up and walked to a table covered with and intricate design on a purple cloth. "I know you know the events that led to the planting of the tree. What do you think about it?" she said running her fingers through the lines.
"I must say, its for the best, " Gardner began. "One mortal consciousness, imbued into a Tree of Life, without it the small settlement of humans would not be able to connect to the mycelia network."
"They aren't meant to!" Isadora snapped. "They simply aren't ready."
"Arent ready?" Gardner chuckled. "They've been ready these past five years."
"Working off of a system that isn't supposed to be around." Isadora said sternly.
"If the system wasn't supposed to be around, it simply wouldn't be." Gardner said with a gasp. " and at any rate, the tree might be able to sustain itself without the one who created it."
Isadora's eyes widened, then furrowed. Her eyes danced around avoiding Gardner's gaze.
"Like I said, I know everything about the tree." Gardner smiled. "Now about J'baki. I think we should keep what we know to ourselves. He's going to have to figure that out on his own."
"I know. I remember his annoying instructions." Isadora wiped her face. "I just- this kid was born without a Beo..... To think he'd be that slick."
"Slick indeed." Gardner laughed. "He certainly has something up his sleeve."
"How would the tree sustain itself without its creator?" Isadora asked.
"That would require a selfless act from you, Isadora." Gardner looked into her eyes.
"A selfless act?" She questioned. "What do you mean?"
"You have to connect it yourself, before the Petyans can." Gardner explained. "Your choice will come once you reach the base of the Sulcis."
Isadora had a look of reluctance on her face, but still quietly listened to the plan that was given to Gardner.
"Once you get to the base of the Sulcis, Yara and her company will be waiting. They intend to turn the tree into a catalyst, making Humans completely connected to the Petyan network. I can't know what they intend to do afterwards" Garner explained. "You have to connect the tree to the mycelia network."
"I don't know. Humans aren't ready to be connected." Isadora's reluctance flowed through her words.
"And who's to say they aren't? It they weren't ready, you wouldn't be here, J'baki wouldn't be here. It's not coincidence. You must connect the humans and free your friend, that's the only way Dark Basin doesn't win."
Isadora was reluctant because she knew in her heart this connection could be catastrophic if the proper measures weren't taken. However it would be equally so if Earth was connected to the Petyans, how many systems had they taken over now? Her time to think was over, she stood tall accepting his proposal. Of course Gardner knew that she would and led her to a circular pad made of the Vivabor material. He slid it back with a mighty push, revealing a long dark tunnel.
"I dug this myself, it will take you to the 6th level of the Sulcis. Took me twenty years to dig this." Gardner prepped Isadora.
"Sixth floor, That's where the Augens are." she said wearily.
"Ah yes. The Augens." Gardner chuckled. "You're in for a treat with them. Born and bred right here in The Sulcis."
"Aren't they supposed to be creatures for us to defeat?"
Gardner laughed again
"If you think you can beat them I dare you to try. You'll be fine."
Isadora felt oddly contempt with the words he was saying. How could she not believe him after all that he had shown her. Gardner rushed her to the hole as they said their farewells. Aaaq
She lunged into the hand dug tunnel and as she slid into the levels below, she couldn't help but think about J'baki. Now that she knew who he really was, what was there dynamic going to be now? The Wheel of Fortune was spinning out of control, she wondered how it was now spinning for J'baki.
Back in the lake of spores, J'baki sat at the wide mouth chalice as Alula sat cross legged where J'baki's calves met and Isshi sat on his shoulder. Alula hadn't been the same as the two stars from his vivid dream, he had no interest in letting himself, whichever part of himself that was, figure it out on his own.
"That in a nutshell, is why you're here right now." Alula sat in a concentrated position with his hands folded. "Uh, what are you calling yourself now?"
"J'baki." He responded. you could hear his brain working from his words. "Isshi what do you make of this?"
"J'baki, I cannot confirm or deny Alula's claims." Isshi chirped in his ear.
"Oh brother really Isshi? I KNOW YOU, YOU WERE THERE. ITS NOT FAIR TO KEEP IT FROM HIM." Alula floated towards Isshi in a huff.
"It is my master's wishes. I cannot." He was as calm as ever. "If I had known about this coincidence at all, I wouldn't have gotten so close to him, unfortunately now there is nothing I can do."
J'baki sat calmly and meditated on their conversation. Whoever Adrian was or is, it wasn't him. So what that in a past life he was the catalyst? That had nothing to do with him. He was thrust into all of this, into all of someone else's mess. If he was going to clean up someone else's mess, he might as well find a way to clean his. He spoke cutting through their bickering.
"Listen, I don't know what is going on, and I don't think I will." He rose from his spot. "I'm willing to help, but I need help too."
Isshi and Alula looked at each other and turned back to J'baki.
"My brother and my sister. I'll follow whatever plan you've made, Alula, just help me find them." His voice spoke like low thunder amplifying his emotions. "Now that I know the tree is connected to Kenryu City, I know you can tap into it in someway. Please help me."
Alula rolled his eyes at the request, not because he had to do it, but because he knew he was going to do it regardless.
"I can. It shouldn't be difficult to pinpoint your SporePrint back to your siblings, all I need is time." He said apathetically enthusiastic.
"J'baki. I-" Isshi started.
"Isshi I am thankful for what you have done for me. Grateful. But you are still a mystery to me, I don't know what your intentions are, yet I feel they don't align with mine." J'baki's tone remained calm and serious. "Can you tell me if they are or not."
"They are not." Isshi said.
"And what about Isadora's?"
"That I cannot know."
"Of course you know. You just won't tell me. Who are you people anyway?"
"I am Isshi: Intrapersonal, Sulcis, Service Helios Interface. My sole purpose is to reach the heart of this tree."
"Then go. We don't need to hold each other back anymore." J'baki had gone through a hurricane of emotions in the time he'd spent with people he didn't even know. He was done.
"If that's how you wish to see it." Isshi droned.
"I see it how it is. You should find Isadora. She is who you came here with and she is who needs your help now, not me." The hurt in his agitation was heard loud and clear.
Isshi flew up into his face. "I cannot notwill I attempt to change your mind J'baki. When we meet again, don't be surprised where you find me." Isshi flew up and out of the root disappearing into the darkness. J'baki knew this was for the best, at the end of the day, no one was going to truly help him, if he wanted to find his siblings he had to do it himself, and hearing out Alula was the first time he had someone actively trying to help him.
"Fuck that bird. He would let you die, remember that. " Alula sighed.
Alula flew over to the wide mouth chalice and sat on its brim. J'baki walked over more determined than he's been since joining this silly RootDown game.
"Now, you're going to have to reach the bottom of the Sulcis, as the RootDown suggests. However when you get there, you have to take the petyan virus into your artificial Beo." Alula's explanation didn't cause any confusion in J'baki's mind. He would do whatever it took at this point.
"Perfect response. The thing about Artificial Beo's is that they can connect to the petyan or the mycelia networks. You're currently connected to the mycelia network, you have to break that connection. Once that connection is broken, I will be able to help you."
J'baki wasn't sure if he understood. Connecting to networks was all new to him. He hadn't even had a Beo until this morning, now he's able to use it freely? Wouldn't disconnecting stop all of the new things he was able to see now? What about the spores in his body, the ones all around him, what would happen now? This all subsided at the thought of being reunited with his siblings. He didn't care, he couldn't care. He'd lived so long without one, it's almost as if him getting one on this journey was a lucky accident, one he was ready to give away.
"How do I connect to the petyan network?"
"You don't."
"But you said?"
"I may have used the wrong words there. Petyans are a virus J'baki, you have to let it infect you." Alula's cold voice made his Beo burn. "Oh it's no big deal, relax. I swear."
"Fine. Whatever." He responded equally as cold. "Actually, to get down there, I'm going to need another weapon, mine broke in my first fight."
Alula let out a hearty laugh.
"Of course it did. Let me guess, a wooden bat again?"
"Y-yes." J'baki stammered.
"Classic. Here. Pick a spore, any spore." Alula gestured at the spores on the brim of the chalice. "I've been working down here, I've found a way to mix the spores with the petyan virus and create weapons. Most are prototypes, but there are a few good ones here as well. Go on. Pick one."
With hesitation J'baki reached his hand into the chalice, shuffling through the differently colored spores. They clicked like marbles all throughout his hands, some big enough to wrap his hand around, some small enough for him to pick up with just two fingers. Rushing through the balls his struck his finger on an unmoving orb sitting at the bottom of the chalice.
"Ow!"
"Oh yea, sorry about that one. I got a little heavy handed and added too much of the virus." He laughed.
With all his might, J'baki pulled on the spore at the bottom, having to use two hands to fully pull it out. He held the wrist of the hand that held the marble. It glowed beautifully with yellow and blue caressing each other across the spore's surface.
"Th-this one. I want. This. One." He strained barely able to hold it.
"Stubborn as ever. Fine." Alula let a smile dance across his face. He effortlessly grabbed the spore out of J'baki's hand and tossed it up and down. "I'll tell you something about these weapons I've made. They're all conceptual, you just have to call their name, and they'll come forth. I'll save you the trouble, their names are Sun and Mork, call them and they will help you fight."
"What kind of weapons are they?" J'baki asked.
"Come on man, I told you their names." Alula answered chuckling.
"That's fair."
"Alright here." He caught the ball in his hand. "Goes." Without warning, he hurled the ball directly at J'baki's chest.
J'baki thought it would hurt, but the spore just entered his body, releasing a cool contrast to the heat of the spores he had been used to. Outside of that he admittedly didn't feel any different.
"I-is that it?" He asked skeptically.
"Yes. That's it. They're yours now so you'd better treat them with respect." Alula said proudly. "Now, go and don't forget your mission. That old coot by the tree dug an elaborate tunnel into the levels of the Sulcis. I don't see why he wouldn't let you use it. I'll send you back. And J'baki" he paused reaching for his forehead. "This stays between us. I got your back." Suddenly, he felt as though a hook had pulled him up out of the cavern in with a violent jolt, when he looked around, he was in the room of Gardners study, the hole to the tunnel still ajar.