LSRO: Chapter 357 - Established a Fine

Okay. I'm getting up there.

Falling way behind in editing - however, gotta get the words out while the flow is there, right?

How is it Christmas in 10 days?

That should be illegal.

ANYHU!

Have a chapter:

Chapter 20

Established a Fine

Aradie had to shift to maintain her balance as Quinn moved through the halls. The Librarian wasn’t fond of navigating through to the species-specific rooms and didn’t trust herself to warp there. It reconfigured itself frequently enough that it confused Quinn’s sense of location. She greeted Finn on the way down, and the little Ilgonomur waved perfunctorily, too intent on reading to do more. 

“Carafax in?” Quinn called out, just making sure she wasn’t going through the upcoming corridors for no reason at all.

“As always,” Finn grinned, still reading.

Quinn chuckled under her breath. 

Lynx stuck close by, eyes flickering.

“You’re connected a lot more to the system now?” Quinn asked, trying to figure out Lynx’s new confidence.

Lynx looked up and nodded. “After I retrieved several memories directly pertaining to my connection to the Library and its system, several blocks on my accessibility were lifted. That’s also when we realized I was actually my own entity. It’s quite a conundrum when you think of it.”

“It’s wild,” Quinn agreed.

“Well,” Lynx smiled. “Perhaps not so wild, but it explains several things. And it helps narrow the field down. Whoever spread this misinformation did so far earlier than the planned sabotage. Made it so even I thought I couldn’t act independently of the Library.”

Quinn suppressed a small shudder that tried to scamper down her back and instead took the next right. “Well, Carafax’s last hint helped, but I need to see if he has more information he’s allowed to give us. Currently, I’m just frustrated.” If she recalled correctly, he’d be down the end corridor on the left... 

She knocked on the wooden door and frowned when she heard some shuffling behind it. Carafax was quite large, and not the fastest being on the planet. She couldn’t help but be fond of the species. Slothilis were adorable, or at least, they’d make excellent plushies if the rest of the universe would consider merchandizing. It took a while, but since she’d heard movement in the other room, she wasn’t worried. As the Librarian she could have opened the door, but that seemed really impolite.

Finally, the door swung open to reveal a slightly out of breath Carafax. His expression softened as soon as he saw Quinn, and he smiled. “Ah. Librarian. I do believe I have been expecting you. Would you like to come in? Tea perhaps?”

Quinn raised an eyebrow, but moved into the room. “Not thirsty, but thank you for the offer.” She glanced around the earthy room. Despite feeling like they were underground in a burrowed domicile, there was a cozy feel to the whole thing, though a part of her was wary about feeling claustrophobic.

Carafax bustled around getting himself tea, by the looks of it, and then sat down opposite Quinn and gave her one of his half smiles. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Quinn wanted to know who came up with all these - to what do I owe the honor, pleasure, whatever. It was such a strange turn of phrase. She tugged herself back on track, trying to figure out precisely what she wanted to ask and how she wanted to ask it. Which, in hindsight, might have been better to contemplate before she came down here.

Delayed Synchronization of Main Library Core Established.
The Library will begin operations to reach peak power exchange and output

Quinn couldn’t help but smile. That had taken a little longer, but considering the damage they’d had to repair on Ashiron, she wasn’t surprised. It felt like the beginning of something, or perhaps the end. She wasn’t quite sure. But she knew it felt like the universe was waiting for something now. 

And Carafax was, very patiently waiting for her to get to the damned point.

She cleared her throat, still trying to figure out how to phrase what she wanted. “Does your extensively chronicled history go back to the very beginning?” She almost cringed at the question because she was fairly certain they weren’t one of the first species created.

Carafax chuckled. The sound was a low, bassy rumble. “No. We have not existed as long as many of the inhabitants we serve. But... we have taken oral histories and transcribed them. Perhaps there is more I could impart, if you so wish?”

Quinn nodded before she could even give it cohesive thought. All she knew was she needed to know just when and how the unisceros had reclaimed their planet and if they were, indeed, masters of chaos. Which sounded way cooler than any villain name had a right to. Sure, she didn’t have a connection other than that, but it was a start. It felt like she was so close to something... “Has there been any record of a species with the capability to mold chaotic energy?”

“Mold as in?” Carafax waited.

“You know, able to harness its power and not just filter it. To shape the pure, unadulterated force of chaos.” Quinn didn’t think she was being subtle enough with her eagerness.

Carafax raised an eyebrow and let out a soft hmm. “That depends on what you mean.”

She should have known that getting a straight answer out of Carafax would be nigh impossible. But she was determined to get something. “Okay, let’s say a species miraculously found a new world after their previous one was devoured - could they have done that by manipulating chaos energy?”

“Theoretically.” Carafax was enjoying himself. It was obvious in the twinkle of his eyes. “Just like those glimpses I already handed you, there is more to so many that we do not see...”

A knock on the door interrupted whatever else he was about to say. With great effort not to scream at the interruption, Quinn made her way to the door and answered it, her smile tight and completely fake. “Yes...”

“Oh! Librarian!” Betty hovered right in her face, and Quinn spied Dottie lingering behind her. She could have sworn the bench was fretting. It wasn’t just a feeling; after reading that book earlier, Quinn could have sworn she saw the expression on the bench. 

Betty didn’t seem to notice Quinn’s reluctance to interact and instead just carried on. “We’ve been having a bit of a problem upstairs, and I can’t seem to resolve it through any means. I’ve tried the console and even asked Misha if there was anything they could do. None of the golems seem to have the right... qualifications.”

“What’s the issue?” Quinn asked, still trying valiantly to show that she cared. 

“It’s really more of a show-you issue,” Betty said before coughing gently. “I swear we won’t need you for long. I’m sure you know better than anyone else how to fix this. Probably be fixed in just a jiffy for you.”

Lynx appeared at her side and frowned at the sprite. “Can I help?” He had all the same permissions and everything, so Quinn didn’t see why not, but apparently Betty had other ideas.

“I don’t think the manifestation is going to go down all that well as a replacement for the Librarian.” Betty sounded like she hadn’t wanted to phrase it that way.

Lynx’s eyes went haywire for a second while he tapped into something Quinn could only imagine. He sighed. “Seriously? They’ll only speak to the Librarian?”

Quinn bit down on a growl. “I’ll be back in a bit if you still have time then, Carafax?” She half asked.

He nodded. “Anytime Librarian. I love a good puzzle as much as the next Slothilis.”

Quinn couldn’t help laughing as she stepped out of Carafax’s room and warped to the front of the Library, where Lynx joined her immediately.

So many things to do, only one of her.

As they appeared in the lobby, just under the staircase, it allowed Quinn a moment to survey the scene before her. She frowned as a tall person stood right where the check-in desk was. He tapped his foot impatiently, clearly not amused to be there. 

The flustered assistant was trying to placate him, but his scowl could have curdled milk, and the poor girl, who was a Fae variant Quinn didn’t have time to inspect, looked like she was at the end of her tether. “Please, sir, if you’ll just wait...”

“I’ve been here for fifteen minutes! Is the Librarian in, or not?” He snapped at the poor girl, and Quinn felt a surge of protectiveness for the employee she’d never met. 

Even though it was an enormous waste of energy, Quinn flexed her Librarian power and warped directly to stand next to the girl, who squeaked as she did. But the look on the rude patron’s face was priceless. Quinn would rate that twelve out of ten and recommend it wholeheartedly. 

“Hello,” she said brusquely, adopting the most irritated tone she could. “What can I do for you? I’m on a tight schedule.” 

The man spluttered. It gave her a chance to inspect him.

Theofalide Terringer

Impresserium 29837402th

45th in line 

Haringer Quadrant - Planet 381

Library Association - minimal

Quinn frowned at the information. It was either far more complex than anyone else she’d ever met, or else the system was glitching. She hoped for the former.

“Well, Theofalide, to what do I owe the pleasure of being summoned by you?” She kept her tone flat and unimpressed.

Again, he just blinked. His skin was a pale green hue, and from what she could see, he had webbed toes and feet. If she had any guesses, he was an aquatic species. Quinn’s mood frayed more by the second.

Finally, after a bit of spluttering, he seemed to get a hold of himself. “I am...” and then it registered that she’d already used his first name, and he got all offended again.

Maybe she should have ignored his pompous preening, and she’d already be back downstairs with Carafax trying to milk more information out of him. She waited and tried to keep her expression shuttered.

“I... you cannot just send your henchmen to take books that are rightfully ours!”

Quinn raised an eyebrow. “Rightfully yours?” She asked, her tone carefully neutral. She could see Dottie flinch at the tone in her peripheral vision. Quinn had had it. She pulled up the books under this guy’s name and waited.

“Yes. We have owned these books for...”

“Cryogenically altered Kelp and its sleep proponents. Is that the one?” She asked, cutting him off. 

“Yes.” He looked less sure now, but wasn’t ready to give up his blustering. 

“This book that was borrowed four hundred and sixty-eight years ago, and was already more than a year overdue at the time of the Library’s forced hiatus?” Quinn raised her eyes to look him square in the face.

Theofalide stuttered. “Well ... It’s been so long, it is ours now.”

“Is that a question?” Quinn asked. “Because it should be a question. This book belongs to the Library. The Library recalled it eight months ago, and you haven’t returned it. It had better be in good condition or your descendants will still be paying your fine off long after you’re dust.”

He blanched, and Quinn was certain Eric would have been proud of her. Theofalide pulled the book in question out of a storage device and slammed it down on the counter.

For just a second, there was complete silence in the entryway.

“That wasn’t very nice. You could have cracked the spine.” Quinn said, her voice deathly soft. “I don’t like it when people don’t respect my books.”

She wasn’t even posturing anymore. Her words were true. 

Theofalide looked like he was ready to slink through the floor. Instead, he began to back away. “There, you’ve got your...”

One of the security golems, whose name Quinn couldn’t remember or, more likely, never knew since Misha had commissioned so many new ones, stepped in and took Theofalide by the arm. 

“Thank you.” Quinn said and organized a few things through the console. “Ah, there we go. The system has established a fine. Along with disrupting the Library, and noted disrespect for books. Since the book was already overdue at the time of the emergency hiatus, we will apply your fine from the original date. Failure to pay your fine will cause it to be sent to your government as we... ahhh yes, have a treaty in place with the Haringer Quadrant - Planet 381. You’ll now be escorted from the premises.”

Quinn waved goodbye, keeping a smile on her face until he was promptly set outside the door.

“You had way too much fun with that.” Malakai said from behind her.

She turned around, unable to keep the smile off her face. “It was a lot more fun than I’d thought it’d be.”

He grinned. “So, will we have to worry about a power-tripping Librarian?”

Quinn laughed. “Only when I encounter jerks.”

“It’s good to be back.” Malakai said. “Grandfather is waiting in your office. I just came to get you.”

She couldn’t help feeling so much lighter now Malakai was back. Eager to hear their news, she followed them back to her office, completely forgetting about Carafax for a moment.

~~

This scene didn't exist until it did. I realized Quinn needed to put on her big Librarian pants.

Voila

You're welcome

Much love

KT