ETTING   OME   O   LFANDRA

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Hespa's Story part 21 - Human Again

Hespa gives the coordinates (what, you thought I was going to put the coordinates of my RL house on the internet for all to see?) and then adds, **er, aren't we forgetting something?...if this works, emma's going to need to be human before you try this folding thing....sorry emma, but i think it's time to change back**

"Well, you wouldn't necessarily *have* to polymorph before we travel--we'd be in flight, after all, so we should come into RL flying just over your lair, um, house--but two dragons would definitely be less conspicuous flying low over your neighborhood than three.  Also, even though it's very possible to use magic in RL, it doesn't work quite the same way, or come quite as easily as it does in Alfandra.  In short, Hespa's right--it would probably be a good idea to change back now."

Cira can't help but laugh just a tiny bit.  "You don't really think that if someone saw us that they would remember whether there had been three dragons or just two do you?  They would be so shook up, they probably wouldn't even remember how many fingers they had."

Cira looks a bit sad and possibly ashamed.

"Actually, I don't have any magic."  (Cira makes sure he has V---! in his DC)  "It may look like it but it's really nothing more than mechanics.  I'd better explain more so no one will be confused further.  Inside of me is a small black metallic cylinder called a converter.  For lack of a better comparison think of it as a very powerful sentient computer.  Its primary function is to track and manipulate particles of matter and provide a reasonable interface for doing so."

As he speaks a small hologram of himself appears.  The little image is not static but run, jumps, flies, and rolls around actively.  A tiny elliptical cylinder is highlighted in green just below the center of his spine.  The image zooms in on the converter showing the thirteen axial segments like the slices of an elongated orange.  Data blasts back and forth at such a tremendous rate that Seymour Cray would be envious.  (May he happily craft super computers forever.)

"I see..."

Cira looks a little down trodden, feeling like perhaps he was part of an unintentional deception.  He waves the hologram away.

"I'm sorry."

"Any transformation done is complete and as permanent as any other physical form.  I didn't make the converter but it was a gift from another dragon.  It's a piece of technology so advanced that it integrates seamlessly with biologic life.  I have used it to do a myriad of other useful things beyond manipulating matter, like space folding.  It works perfectly well in the RW, which is important for us, so that we can use it to get there.  Without it I would not have survived long enough to come Here."

Emma looks delighted, but Hespa intervenes:  **nonetheless, i'm afraid i'm just not comfortable with this....for one, i think the fewer dragons entering rl, the better....for two, well, i'm sorry cira, but i'm still not certain that the real world you're talking about is the same as the one i'm in....sorry emma, but i don't want anything to go wrong - we've been through enough plans as it is**

Emma's face drops.  "Can't I hang around here just a little longer?"

**'fraid not - if you want to sneak in through the window, not to mention sneaking a couple of dragons into the neighbourhood, you're going to need to be here before anyone starts stirring, and that only gives us a couple of hours, now....if this doesn't work, that's time we're going to need**

The dragon takes a deep breath, sighs heavily and nods.  "I guess so. All right, lets get this over with."

Pyros begins talking as Cira, in another impressive pyrotechnic display, changes Emma back into her pajama-clad human self.  "Don't worry about the flying bit either, Emma."  He approaches her, kneels, and offers a claw to help boost the now-human Emma up onto his back.

Emma mounts, a little awkwardly.

"That's it, sit just in front of my wings and hold on with your legs.  You shouldn't have any problems, but if you like you can grab hold of my neck too."  He twists his neck around and grins toothily at Emma.  "Comfortable?"

Emma, feeling a lot less secure about the flying idea now that she doesn't have her own wings, holds on tight and nods.  "You're certainly not the most comfortable seat I've had under me, but I'll manage."

Pyros then turns to Cira.  "Are we ready?"

"Yep."

"Good, then let's go."