//------------------------------// // The Bore // Story: Tel'aran'rhiod // by Keairan //------------------------------// Jonsai Equshina awoke from his dream to the sound of his alarm unexpectedly. What was that about my dreams? I know all the other Aes Sedai say that I’m a dreamer, but I’ve seen no evidence besides being talented at manipulating Tel’aran’rhiod. I wish I could remember things about my dreams besides a mere feeling of darkness. Jonsai sat up in his bed, and rubbed his temples for a moment, then stood up to begin his morning routine. He stepped into his bathroom and then called out a few commands. “Computer, lights, cloudy skies at noon, shower water, few degrees above average human.” The lights turned on, and a beautifully black, if small, shower begins to pour out steamy water. Stepping under, Jonsai let the water cascade over him as he reviewed what he had to do today. Ok, I have to go to the university, travel up to the “Sharom” then make a portal into Tel’aran’rhiod to observe todays big experiment, and what effects the real world version of the experiment has on it.Having mentally finished his daily checklist, Jonsai began to massage shampoo into his long, dark curly hair, rinsed it out, then soaped up the rest of his dark body. Having finished his shower speedily, he got out and proceeded to towel off with his thick, fluffy towel and air dry his hair with a thread of fire wrapped with air, something that only a channeler could do. He quickly grabbed his razor, and shaved around his goattee, and noted that he would need to trim it within a few weeks. He dressed in a grey shirt and coat with black pants, and completed the affair with a fancloth cloak, he exited his room and headed down to his apartment’s shared dining area. He ran into his flat-mate and fellow graduate student Ishar Morrad, and began to discuss the days planned activities over a simple breakfast of milk and grains. “So how do you think the experiment will go today?” asked Ishar. “Dunno, but why do you care? You’re a geneticist.” answered Jonsai. “Well Jon, if we can access a new part of the power, think of all the new ways we can affect genes.” “Well, I guess you have a point there. Still, I don’t know if this is a good idea, I had a really dark dream last night. No details like usual, but every time I’ve had a dream like that, something bad has happened soon afterwards.” “Eh, you just are having nerves, there is no way that Beidomon and Mierin Sedai could’ve messed up on their calculations that badly in regards to an experiment like this.” “I hope you’re right.” With that, Jonsai sat down. “Ppphhht!” Jon looked under his butt and then under his chair, and noted the air bladder that his flat-mate had placed there. “Ishar. You’re such a child. I don’t know how you expect to get a third name if you do pranks like this all the time.” “Simple, Jon, I only need to be a great geneticist, nothing more. Besides, being eccentric is in this year.” “And so is wearing streith over fancloth.” Jonsai said with a roll of his eyes. “On the right lady, it would be a very striking contrast.” “I suppose you might have a point.” “I always do.” With that they ate the rest of their breakfast and then went to clean their respective. “Will I see you at the party this evening?” asked Ishar. “Perhaps.” answered Jonsai. With that thought, they both started their trek to their assigned parts of the University. I suppose I could just gateway on up to the Sharom, but then I’d lose the chance to enjoy this lovely morning. It was indeed a lovely morning, a few wispy clouds overhead, a light breeze, and a sun that didn’t seem like it could possibly turn this into a hot day. Enjoying the various scents as he walked along, he couldn’t help but think about what his society had accomplished. Our world is gorgeous, a true utopia. Chora trees give off a constant tranquil feeling, no waste, no pollution, and we haven’t had any armed conflict in well over a millennium. I only wonder how we’ll make this better. He came to the generally used spot for traveling to the Sharom, and assumed the oneness, an emotionless meditation, for only the emotionless can control what they are channeling. He began to weave together the flows for a gateway, but created a tone similar to a crystal being struck by a mallet, to signify his intention to travel. A vertical slice in space time appeared, then widened to a size that he could easily walk through. After he released the flows of power that allowed him to move ten-thousand feet vertically in a step, he walked over to Mierin sedai’s office. He stood outside of her office, he knocked audibly three times. “Come in.” is stated by a sibilant voice. He walked in, and saw a woman that men would write poems about, or would prostrate themselves before even for a sneer. “Mierin Sedai? I’ve arrived for today’s experiment.” Jonsai said with a slight bit of nervous tension in his voice. He heard a sigh, and tensed as the beautiful woman looked up him. “You do know that the experiment isn’t until this afternoon, don’t you?” She shook her head, and laughed ruefully. “Of course you do, you’re just that dedicated.” “I can’t help it, ma’am, I was raised to always get to an appointment early if at all possible. It’s a habit almost as deeply ingrained as my name.” said the man of fifty to the woman of two-hundred. “Oh well, you can help out with the preliminary work for today’s experiment.” “Yes ma’am.” Jonsai said with a salute that any drill sergeant would have slapped his face over. With that, Jonsai left her office, and went to the shielded room they were going to use for the experiment. ***** He had entered Tel’aran’rhiod with his physical body, Jonsai had with him a small tube-shaped ter-angreal that allowed him to communicate with the outside world. Channeling a small flow of fire and earth into the ter’angreal on the opposing ends, he could hear Mierin’s voice on the other side of the dimensional divide. “Today we stand on the precipice of new and exciting time for our world. A time when what we once thought was impossible, a power that both men and women can use together for the betterment of all life on our planet.” With that a smattering of applause was heard through the ter’angreal, but Jonsai no longer paid attention. He wove a shield over himself as a precaution as the experiment began. “And now we begin. I will guide the flows, and we should be able to make our hole fairly easily.” The beautiful female voice transmitted over, which would’ve brought a wistful smile to Jonsai’s face if he was capable of emotion deep within the oneness. “Estimated ten percent penetration.” “Estimated thirty percent penetration.” “Estimated fifty-five percent penetration.” “Bring up the shield when I say eighty-five percent penetration.” “Estimated seventy percent penetration.” “Esti-----“ KRAAAKATHOOOM! The sound of a deafeningly massive explosion came through the ter’angreal a split second before the explosion jumped the dimensional divide into the world of dreams. Jonsai reinforced his shield as much as he physically could. His efforts were at first successful, making the explosion deflect around him momentarily. The force of explosion then started to stretch the fabric of Tel’aran’rhiod around him. Reality began to tear around his shield, the no longer braced man was launched backwards. ***** In a medieval castle in a large forest, two sisters are sharing a cup of tea before they trade responsibilities. Both are large equines with long pointed horns and large wings that shouldn’t have the surface area to provide lift, despite their size. One of them, with a dark blue coat that flows up into a mane that seems to contain all the beauties of the stars within, looks up at her sister. “Tia, ye sensed that, did ye not?” The other mare, a creature of pure white coat that flowed up to a mane that was the sunrise looked at her sister “Yea, Luna, I perceived that. It was if reality itself screamed.” “I shall go forthwith and search for the disturbance.” “I implore thee, take thine bodyguards with thee. I fear anything that could cause that.” “I shall heed your caution, as it is sound.” With that, the alicorn of the night summoned her guards, and flew into the twilight. ***** Author's Notes My apologies for any and all errors, self-editing and a lack of a pre-reader allows for all sorts of interesting things to slip through. A few definitions: Tel'aran'rhiod: The world of dreams Aes Sedai: The servants of all, those who can channel the one power Ter'angreal: A device that uses the one power to do a specific task. Streith: A cloth that changes color and opacity depending on the mood and thoughts of the wearer. Fancloth: A cloth that continually shifts from green the gray in a way that either accentuates or camouflages the wearer. The answers to any other questions can be found here