Scene 1: The past: the Endless Library
We pan to a new location on the planet of Acadmium: the Endless Library. We move inside the library to the main room, where a group of young STUDENTS, including young TUROK, is listening intently to their teacher’s lecture
INSTRUCTOR: As you may have noticed throughout your time here, this is not a school the way most of us think of a school. You are not here to learn the ABCs or 123s. You are not here to analyze an old storybook for meanings the author almost certainly did not intend. You are here because you wish to truly learn about yourselves. And you have done so. You stand before me, and before your peers, better than you were on your first day.
Camera pans to TUROK, looking smug
INSTRUCTOR: However, you are not there yet. Today is your final exam — the ultimate test to determine just who you are and what kind of stuff you’re made of. But first, a brief pop quiz: who here knows why this place is called the Endless Library?
Nobody answers. Finally, TUROK speaks up
TUROK: Because it’s the home to endless droning lectures like this one?
Nervous laughter from some of the students. Absolutely none from the INSTRUCTOR.
INSTRUCTOR: Turok…Rhygear, is it? I’ve heard a lot about you. I know of your family. I know of their influence. But I also know that, in the Endless Library, none of that amounts to more than a fungus growing from one of your toes
STUDENTS snicker. TUROK shoots them a glare. They slowly stop giggling.
INSTRUCTOR: No, Mr. Rhygear. The Endless Library has nothing to do with me, but rather you. For this is your final exam: find your way out of here or your time here will truly be endless
TUROK: Excuse me? We just leave? Then we’re done?
The INSTRUCTOR says nothing, and simply vanishes
TUROK: OK…you heard the man, folks. Let’s all pass our exams! Right now!
The STUDENTS go to exit the Library, only to find the door they came in from is gone
STUDENT 1: Hey! Where’s the door?
STUDENT 2: This WAS the door, right?
STUDENT 3: Yes! What happened?
TUROK: Hmm…mere illusions. I’m sure it’s there.
He attempts to exit, only to find nothing as well. He grunts, then darts for a window.
TUROK: Fine then! They want us to find a way to walk out of here? I’ll do them one better. I’ll FLY my way out!
TUROK lunges for the open window, which vanishes and sends him crashing into the wall and to the floor.
STUDENT 4: Are we…actually trapped??
STUDENT 5: This is awful!
TUROK: What IS this place? WHY is this place??
Scene 2: Present day: the open field outside town
HUNTRESS and WONN-LIR appear after magically leaving the Wizard Cabal meeting from last episode
WONN-LIR: Well, they’re in big trouble aren’t they?
HUNTRESS: Indeed. No Light apprentice, and if Coin is indeed going to grow up to be this big scary thing like Orbius predicts, I know who her anger will be directed
WONN-LIR: We ALL know
HUNTRESS: Oh yes. Who here treated little Coin like a mere toolbox? Who here had no plan to save here life after her *ahem,* tools got all used up? Not me!
WONN-LIR: Not me!
HUNTRESS: And you, Typhus? What about you?
No answer.
WONN-LIR: Typhus? You can spare a word or two, right?
Still no answer.
WONN-LIR: Typhus, it is RUDE to not answer your master! Now SPEAK, or—
WONN-LIR turns around and sees no TYPHUS.
WONN-LIR: Selene? He’s not here.
HUNTRESS: What? I sent him with us. Did he get lost? Come, let’s go fetch him.
They disappear
Scene 3: Jinn-Lir’s headquarters
We see a blinding white light. JINN-LIR and ORBIUS are awash in it, struggling to see or gather their thoughts. Finally, the light fades. JINN-LIR and ORBIUS look toward the source and gasp, wide-eyed, at what they see. It is TYPHUS, fully grown.
JINN-LIR: Ty…Typhus? What…how…?
ORBIUS: What ARE you?
TYPHUS stares at his hands, then sees himself in a mirror. Roars, then grabs both JINN-LIR and ORBIUS by the throats. He shakes them around, then slams them both to the ground, head-first. JINN-LIR attempts to use magic to subdue TYPHUS, but he’s too injured to emit anything more than a paff. TYPHUS kicks him hard and knocks him out. ORBIUS is still down from the first blow. TYPHUS roars. Behind him, WONN-LIR and HUNTRESS appear. When they see TYPHUS, they are completely stunned.
WONN-LIR: My…student? My…you’ve grown. How?
HUNTRESS: A magical jump in age? That’s the only explanation. But how? I can’t do that. You can’t, Wonn. Nobody can! But you can, Typhus?
WONN-LIR: We need to study this. Study him.
HUNTRESS: And here I thought you were just a brute, Typhus. Well done!
WONN-LIR: And what of them? (gestures at JINN-LIR and ORBIUS)
HUNTRESS: Good question. What OF them? Typhus may have done what we’ve only dreamed of.
WONN-LIR: They ARE Cabal though. Do we aid them?
HUNTRESS: They’re for sure not worth killing. Not yet anyway. Not if they can still lead us to Coin.
WONN-LIR: And if they can’t? If the girl is truly lost to them?
HUNTRESS: THEN it’s…lights…out
WONN-LIR: (smirks, turns to TYPHUS) Good job, Typhus. Now let’s gather these two losers and find a better…home for them.
TYPHUS: …HURT THEM!!
WONN-LIR: Yes. yes you certainly did.
TYPHUS: HURT YOU!!
HUNTRESS: What?
TYPHUS grabs both WONN-LIR and HUNTRESS by the throats. He slams THEM both to the ground, again head-first. HUNTRESS manages to hit him with a magic blast before collapsing, but TYPHUS shakes it off. TYPHUS roars and runs off, abandoning the remaining Cabal members to either write in pain or lay there unconscious.
Scene 4: The present day: The streets
COIN walks along a town road, talking to the Heavens.
COIN: Are you there, Me? It’s me…me. I don’t know if you can hear me? Or if that time ship of yours is like a wormhole? I don’t know. I might know later, but for that I need you! I have no idea what to do or where to go. Do I kill Turok? He said something about a CircuitStone and how it has to be forged, but I don’t know how. Or even if I should! Do I go back to Jinn-Lir? Do I even want to? AGH! You said I’m to be the Time Goddess, but how? Do I go to school for that? Older Me…I’m lost.
COIN keeps walking and suddenly hears a familiar, yet different, voice.
TYPHUS: COIN!!
COIN turns around, sees the now-adult TYPHUS.
COIN: Typhus? How…how did this happen?
TYPHUS: DON’T KNOW
COIN: When did this happen?
TYPHUS: NOT LONG
COIN: What? I grew, then you did? That makes no sense. Were you…products of coins too?
TYPHUS: NO
COIN: But they must’ve had an effect on you, as they did me. Do you have any memory of your past? Your childhood before meeting the Dark Cabal?
TYPHUS: …no…
COIN: I’ll bet you’re like me. A product of something, not fully human. But of what? And why did you grow when I did?
TYPHUS: DON’T CARE!!
COIN: Well, I do. And if there’s something going on we need to find out what it is. It can only help us both, this kind of knowledge.
TYPHUS: NO!
COIN: Then what do you want??
TYPHUS: …KILL!!
COIN: Me? As you wish…
TYPHUS and COIN fight a big battle. COIN is holding back at first, using slight magic attacks. But TYPHUS is relentless and keeps throwing COIN around. Finally she realizes what she must do and starts blasting TYPHUS with strong attack magic. TYPHUS dodges some, absorbs some others, and then surprisingly punches a blast away! This completely startles COIN, and TYPHUS manages to blindside her with a big blow. As he readies himself for the kill, COIN uses much of her remaining supply on a giant blast, which knocks TYPHUS to the ground. The two foes lie hurt, the fight a stalemate. TYPHUS rises first, but knows he doesn’t have enough left to hurt COIN. Instead…
TYPHUS: NO MORE! FOR NOW
TYPHUS then disappears to an unknown locale. COIN struggles back to her feet, but quickly collapses to her knees. She is at least strong enough to send a telepathic message to TYPHUS.
COIN: Typhus…I don’t know if you will get this message. I’ve seen Jinn-Lir do this, it seems to work. If you can hear me, I need to find you again. I don’t want to hurt you any more. I…WE need to know our connection. There IS one. So next time, please don’t fight me. Help me. But if you do fight…I won’t stop you. I won’t stop myself either.
COIN forces herself back up and starts walking. Soon, she stops walking and sees a bar — the same one that was destroyed several episodes ago. It still looks like it’s in repair
COIN: This looks REAL good right about now.
She walks in
Scene 5: The past: the Endless Library
TUROK is trying everything he can to escape the Library. He breaks open the floor, only to jump in and find himself sent right back to the main room. He throws a large stone at the window, only for it to bounce off harmlessly, as if it were a mere balloon. He runs down a hallway, only to find himself in the exact same room he just left. Frustrated and exhausted, TUROK fumes on the ground. Finally he looks up and notices there are fewer STUDENTS than before.
TUROK: Weren’t there…more of you?
STUDENT 2: There were. I think a couple of them figured out what to do. They’re gone.
TUROK: Gone??!! What did they do?
STUDENT 4: Well, one started magically baking a pie and suddenly they wandered off towards what I presume is another room, then WHOOP, never see him again! Then a woman used HER magic to compose, full band and all, the most beautiful symphony I’ve ever heard. Same thing happened. And now SHE’S free!
TUROK: What? That’s not right, I don’t have magic! At least, I don’t THINK I do. Maybe I do here??
STUDENT 2: Yeah I alre—
TUROK attempts magic by waving his hands like he’s seen wizards do, and the Library shoots stun-magic at him until he collapses and stops.
STUDENT 2: —ady tried that. The Library didn’t do THAT, though. It’s like it responds differently to everyone.
STUDENT 4: You know…yes, I think you’re right! Remember Day 1, what they said? Something like…
Flashback to the INSTRUCTOR on Day 1, STUDENTS gathered around him. Halfway through we see TUROK only half-paying attention, eating lunch while leering at a young STUDENT 4
INSTRUCTOR: This is not a school the way you’re used to school. You are here to learn about yourself moreso than you are to learn about the world. Believe me, you’ll have plenty of time for that later. Here, you will learn about you. You’ll need that knowledge, for the only way to pass this course is to understand yourself. And understand what you are meant to give that will benefit Orbspace, Acadmium, and your fellow humans.
Flashback ends. TUROK looks confused.
TUROK: I…don’t remember that. Was I there? Was I focusing on something else?
STUDENT 4: You were. (rolls eyes) And you were.
TUROK: So…I figure out what I’m meant to produce, I produce it, and then I graduate? I’m out of this accursed place?
STUDENT 2: WE. But yes, I think so. And we’re all going to have different answers.
Scene 6: The present day: the bar
COIN sits at the pub, lost in thought. The BARTENDER approaches her
BARTENDER: Weren’t you tiny just a little while ago?
COIN: ..no?
BARTENDER: Look, I know it’s you. Hair like that doesn’t come by more than once an eon. I’m not gonna kick you out or nothin’. THIS (gestures wildly) wasn’t your fault.
COIN: Oh. Then yes, that was me.
BARTENDER: Ahh, kids today. Sprouting like corn stalks! I can’t keep up. Well, I suppose you’re of drinking age now, and judging by those scrapes and bruises, you’ve been in quite the scrap…so what’chu want?
COIN: What’s the strongest thing you’ve got?
BARTENDER: Ooh, that? Coming right up! Say…what happened to your…friend? Father? Husband? (COIN shudders at this last possibility) The wizard whose fault THIS (BARTENDER gestures wildly) is?
COIN: I haven’t seen him since I was…small.
BARTENDER: That long ago, huh?
COIN: Something like that.
BARTENDER: Well, here’s your strong stuff, lady. That’ll be five coin.
COIN: Five…what?
BARTENDER: Five coin. You know, money?
COIN: Oh, yes. Yes. I’m familiar with a different type of coin.
BARTENDER: Well, you better be familiar with my type or —
COIN: Listen, I’m sorry. I know this makes no sense, but I really WAS a child just a few hours ago. I’ve changed…not that HOW I changed makes any sense
BARTENDER: Try me. I’ve heard every out-there story there is to hear. It’s a job perk
COIN: Alright…an older version of me appeared and gave me back the final magical Coins of Domminna I both came from and need to stay alive, and then I became older but not as old as her, and now I need to figure out how to become the Goddess of Time like her but I’m not HER because I saw HER even though I AM her but…less…goddess…y.
BARTENDER: …That one’s new. Lady, are you SURE you need this drink?
COIN: I do. Oh, and a more…feral child who’s a dark wizard apprentice? He suddenly grew too! I don’t know if it’s connected to my sudden growth or not, but…clearly something happened. I need to learn about that something. You say you’ve heard everything. So, do YOU know about the Coins of Domminna?
BARTENDER: I dunno…I mostly focus on the kind of coin that pays for things. Y’know, which you haven’t provided yet?
COIN: I don’t have those kinds of coins! I was a child until a few hours ago, remember? I haven’t exactly had time to get a job. Listen, credit me this one and I’ll remember you for the next time, OK?
BARTENDER: Next time? How do I know there’ll BE one? Emperor’s goons came after you last time, your inner coins or whatever are outta whack, and who knows how much being a “Time Goddess” even pays? But you know what? Fine. I’ll remember that hair. Don’t try to hide it.
COIN: Thank you. And thank you for believing me. I know it’s a crazy story.
BARTENDER: I’ve heard crazier stories and rarely did they wind up bein’ false. Again, job perk. OH! Wait. Free tip, lady.
COIN: What?
BARTENDER: You want to learn about these coins of yours. My best bet? The Endless Library. For decades, centuries even, the Library has been THE place for information about most anything you can think of. If it’s knowable, the Library knows it. They’ve been through some big battles for sure — lost ’em too — but the one thing they haven’t lost are their books.
COIN: Endless Library. Thank you, I’ll go.
BARTENDER: Only problem is, it’s clear on the other side of Acadmium. Not sure how you’ll get there, but no matter what it’s gonna be a long trip.
COIN: …I have my ways. Thank you again.
BARTENDER: Of course! Enjoy your trip, come back soon. With MONEY coins this time.
COIN laughs and exits
BARTENDER: (to herself) Almost too easy…
The BARTENDER’S eyes flash ominously
Scene 8: Present day: Outside the bar
COIN considers how to get to the Endless Library — a place she has never seen or heard of until just now
COIN: Jinn…you ass. You could’ve taught me how to do this. I suppose it’s like other magic? Think about it and will it to be?
COIN sighs and preps herself
COIN: To the Endless Library
COIN closes her eyes as she saw Jinn-Lir and Orbious do, imagines an Endless Library, and vanishes. We then pan to TYPHUS, who was watching her from the shadows.
TYPHUS: LIBRARY?? GO…FOLLOW…COIN
Scene 9: Present day: Outside the Endless Library
A flash of light, and COIN appears. She is in front of the Endless Library, but has little left after such a spell. The distance, plus the mental guesswork needed to pinpoint where to bring her, has left her completely weakened. She collapses. Library AIDES see her collapse, rush out of the Library, ask if she’s ok (ad-libbing various “are you OKs” etc) and then they carry her into the Library.
Scene 7: Present day: Inside the Library
COIN slowly comes to as an AIDE run to her.
AIDE: You’re awake! Are you okay?
COIN: I’m…getting there. I…teleported from the other side of the world and …
AIDE: Say no more. You basically climbed a mountain while doing a handstand
COIN: (laughs) How do you know? Are you a wizard too?
AIDE: Me? Oh no no no. But I AM a librarian. We tend to know lots of stuff. It’s kind of our job
COIN: So this place really IS a library.
AIDE: Yes. That’s about all it is nowadays.
COIN: Was it something else? The name Endless Library makes me think it was more than just books?
AIDE: It was. Used to be, this place the Endless Library was THE focal point of public education in Acadmium. People came from all corners of the world, and sometimes from other worlds, to learn not so much about life, but themselves. Our final exam was…infamous. You’ve truly never heard of it?
COIN: Let’s just say…I’m new to these parts
AIDE: OK…well anyhow, the Final Exam trapped people in here indefinitely. You try to leave, the doors disappear. Or, if the Library was feeling jaunty, it’d let you through the door, only to put you right back into the same room you just left. It was this endless loop with no escape. Hence the name.
COIN: Entrapment magic…
The AIDE nods
COIN: How did one escape?
AIDE: By passing their exam.
COIN: And how did they do that?
AIDE: Everybody passed in a different way. They had to…create something. That something is their gift to the world. The gift of themselves. This could be anything from music to art to a world-changing machine. But the Library knew what it would be. So if you made something that was just…something, the Library would reject it and keep you trapped inside. But once you deduced YOUR material and created it, suddenly the doors were real, the library escapable, the puzzle solved, the exam passed. For you, anyway.
COIN: So what are you saying? I’m trapped here?
AIDE: Oh no no no. Not anymore. It’s been years since the Library could do that. (suddenly whispers) Certain…people don’t like magic very much and have sicced their destructive technology on us time and again. Now all we are are books. At least until certain people come after us again.
COIN stares, then nods in understanding.
COIN: I require books on but one subject. Do you, perchance, have anything about something called the CircuitStone?
AIDE: The CircuitStone? That thing. The beginning of our end. The bane of magic’s existence. Yes, we have a book on that. Know thy enemy, right?
COIN: I think? Look, can you please show me this book?
AIDE: Perhaps…but why? Why do you want to know about the CircuitStone? You’re not with…(whispers) him, right?
COIN: I am with no “him” at all. I am on a journey of knowledge and need to learn about the CircuitStone. I can’t explain more because, to be frank, I don’t understand much more. All I know is that I need that knowledge.
AIDE: Very well. You couldn’t damage us anymore than he could, anyway. Follow me.
COIN follows the AIDE to a shelf in the back of the main room and points out the book
AIDE: There’s the one. You’ll learn all you need to know about the CircuitStone, and the other Noble Stones too. Its author was very detailed
COIN: Noble Stones?
AIDE: Oh, you REALLY have a lot to learn (laughs). Now I have to handle other things and matters. Take all the time you want with the book, put it back when you’re done.
COIN: Thank you.
The AIDE runs off. COIN takes the book off its shelf and reads the cover
COIN: “The Noble Stones: How They (And I) Helped Civilize OrbSpace. By…Coin.” What? Hold a—
COIN is visibly confused, but before she can react any further, the Library contracts all around her. She is surrounded by lightning-fast blurs and the moans and screams of time shifting on itself. She is in immense pain!
Scene 8: The past: the Endless Library
After a short while, the Library settles back into quiet normalcy…only now it looks different. It’s undamaged, pristine, and brimming with magic. As COIN looks around, she sees a man who looks like EMPEROR TUROK, only much younger.
COIN: Turok??
TUROK: Who are you? Where did you come from?
COIN: Why do you look young? Is it one of your machines?
TUROK: Machine? What? Young? I’m 16, of course I LOOK young. WHO ARE YOU?
COIN: You tried to kill my friends!
TUROK: No! I’ve not killed anyone or even tried to. Though I wouldn’t mind hurting whoever runs this prison they call a Library.
COIN: Prison…? Wait…you ARE Turok, right?
TUROK: That’s my name.
COIN: Last name Rhygear?
TUROK nods hesitatingly
COIN: The Turok I know wouldn’t deny his actions. He’d brag about them! Maybe you’re telling the truth. But you’re definitely him, which means…what year is this?
TUROK: What?? It’s 13 AC!
COIN: 13? I’m from 43 AC. This must be what time travel feels like! No wonder I looked so old.
TUROK: Huh?
COIN: OK, I think I know what’s going on. Turok…my name is Coin. For what THAT’S worth. I have some sort of power over time that I’m still learning about. I touched a book that I wrote sometime between this now and … my now…and touching it brought me here
TUROK: Time travel magic? That exists?
COIN: Yes. But for me and me only, I think.
TUROK: So why did you time travel HERE, of all places?
COIN: You in the future said something about needing to forge something called a CircuitStone. I came to this library in my time to learn about just what that was. The book I wrote (shows the book) is all about the Stone, and other Stones too.
TUROK: Hmm…what does the book say about this Stone?
COIN: Let’s see… (opens book, skims) Old Akashmiran Magic Items…rare, powerful magic…creation tied to bearer’s personal journey…only the four ru…(trails off once she sees the text saying “only the four rulers of New Orbspace can bear the Stones”)…that part’s unimportant, actually.
TUROK looks at COIN, then grins in revelation.
TUROK: This…CircuitStone…you say I mention it in the future…this has to be my project! I am to forge this Stone and use it to better Acadmium!
COIN: I don’t know if I’d call it better…
TUROK: Excuse me?
COIN thinks hard about what to say next, whether to tell TUROK he’ll become the brutal, tyrannical Drift Emperor. Ultimately, her inner voice tells her not to.
COIN: Never mind. I know you want to escape. But how do you know this is your project?
TUROK: I know nothing of time travel, but I can’t imagine you were brought here randomly. You’re here to help me! Together, we’ll forge this stone!
A MYSTERIOUS VOICE echos on the walls
MYSTERIOUS VOICE: Well done! Turok, Coin, please follow my voice and join me in the other room.
TUROK: Other room? Who are you? Wait, there IS no other room. That’s the point of this awful place!
MYSTERIOUS VOICE: There is now. The Stone is your project. I’m here to help. But you must come to me.
TUROK: Why not come here, weird voice?
MYSTERIOUS VOICE: I cannot. You’ll see why soon. Unless you like staying here forever?
TUROK: Oh, hell no!
TUROK and COIN run off to the MYSTERIOUS VOICE’S direction
Scene 9: The past. The Channel 9 newsroom
TUROK and COIN enter the new room, which looks like a newsroom. The TV monitors flicker on, and a mysterious woman appears.
TUROK: That voice…was that…you?
MYSTERIOUS VOICE: Indeed it was. I am the Woman From Channel 9
COIN: That…can’t be your real name?
WFC9: No. But my actual name has been lost, even to me. And what of you?
COIN: They call me Coin.
WFC9: That can’t be YOUR real name?
COIN: …touche. And I…suppose it is. I don’t have any other.
WFC9: Very well. I know you, Turok Rhygear. Now that you have taken the next step toward graduation, I am here to help you. Consider me your Guardian
TUROK: Guardian? How? You’re a box.
WFC9: Do you think I was always this way? Once I was like you, a student looking to graduate. I got good enough that I sought my doctorate. You have to escape a library? Well, I had to escape an entire dimension beyond reality.
TUROK: And how did that work out?
WFC9: Well…let’s just say I’ve decided my place is here, helping others return to a world I will never see again.
TUROK: That’s depressing (he says sarcastically). So…how can you help us? Do you…have the CircuitStone? Or can you make it appear? Are there magic words you can teach me to make it appear?
WFC9: Nothing of the sort. I am here to guide you to the Stone’s creation. Open the doors for you. Provide the necessary tools. But (looks in direction of book) you might have a lot of what you need in that book.
COIN: It says I wrote it. I have no recollection of this.
WFC9: Well… if the book says you wrote it…then eventually, you will…NOW, let’s focus on the task at hand. There are several magical artifacts from Old Akashmiran scattered around the Library which you must gather. They are infused with the brutal magic of Akashmiran natives. Those who lived there before…certain types (glares at TUROK) — invaded Orbspace and decided it was theirs.
COIN: You don’t know the half of it. (murmurs this to herself)
WFC9: Find the artifacts, then bring them to me. I will institute the Emblem process and…well…consider that your graduation ceremony.
Turok: So my final exam is a scavenger hunt? Agh, whatever, let’s do this. Come on, Coin, let’s see what the book says and then do it. I wanna get this over with.
They run off, leaving the WFC9 alone
WFC9: Forging a Noble Stone out of brutal native magic. And gifting it to HIM. This is what you want, XOR? What good can come of this??…Sorry…sorry, my proctor…so he’s to be your husband? You’re to be Empress…I understand now…no, I don’t like it. I don’t like him. There’s something about—AHH!
The WFC9 appears to be dragged away from her camera — the monitor briefly goes black. When it returns, the WFC9 is bloodied and disheveled.
WFC9: Sorry…I spoke out of turn…again…my Empress…
Scene 10: The past: MONTAGE
We get a montage of TUROK and COIN searching around the various rooms of the Library (each one being opened by the WFC9 remotely) and they look through the book and find the artifacts needed. Once they’re satisfied they found all the pieces, they return to the newsroom
Scene 11: The past: The newsroom
WFC9: Have you found them all?
COIN: What happened to you?
WFC9: (eager to change the subject) Makeup malfunction. Now, have you found them all?
TUROK: I think so. We gathered everything the book mentioned.
WFC9: Let me see (TUROK and COIN bring forth the artifacts). I see…yes…yes, I do believe this is all of them.
TUROK: OK, can I leave now?
WFC9: Patience, young Turok. There is a process. I shall begin now.
Just then, a mysterious machine rises from the floor. WFC9 telepathically moves the artifacts into her machine.
COIN: What should we expect?
WFC9: Your book doesn’t say?
COIN: All it says is, “Once reunited, the Old Akashmiran artifacts will combine via the Emblem process, thus creating the CircuitStone.”
TUROK: No other details? What kind of author are you?
COIN: Clearly not a detail-oriented one.
WFC9: Well, worry not. The Emblem process shall begin very soon!
The machine begins whirring, and the artifacts begin smelting together.
WFC9: Emblem bound to you this be, as is the ground to the tree.
Once fully combined into a ball of hot energy, it jumps from the machine and straight down TUROK’S throat. He begins to cough and sputter, tearing at his throat and eventually his stomach. He rolls around on the ground in utter agony, shouting every curse he can think of.
WHC9: Perhaps this is why you omitted details in your book, Coin?
COIN: (smirking with a slight laugh) I suppose so. This is oddly satisfying. Except that he will survive.
WFC9: (darting eyes, afraid to laugh) Noble Stones are rare, and those who forge them become very powerful indeed. We both know what he will become.
COIN: You do?
WFC9: Living out of reality has its…perks. (whispers rapidly, in hopes XOR doesn’t hear) Why not kill him now then? Change everything for the better.
COIN: I…can’t. I want to, but what is meant to happen is supposed to happen. I…told myself that a while back. Or…myself told me. Gah, still confusing
WFC9: I don’t envy you.
COIN: I don’t envy you, either. At least I can move.
WFC9: I’m used to this. I’ve helped enough graduates that it’s become worth the sacrifice.
TUROK has been writing in pain this whole time. Finally, he lays on his back and begins to pulse. The ball of energy, now the CircuitStone, emerges from TUROK’S solar plexus. It falls to the ground as he lays there, barely breathing.
WFC9: Without the Stone in his hands, he will die. (whispers rapidly again) Last chance.
COIN: No…there’s too much risk. Something even worse could happen.
WFC9: (resigned) Very well. Place the stone in his hands now. He hasn’t much time without it.
COIN silently walks to the CircuitStone, gathers it up, and places it in TUROK’S hand. He soon recovers and rises to his feet, feeling stronger than ever.
WFC9: Very good, Turok Rhygear. You have now passed your final exam. Your stone has been forged, and the one meant to help you has done so. You are now free to leave the Library and resume your life.
TUROK: With pleasure. This place has been Hell. This exam almost killed me. You can’t imagine the agony, news lady!
The WFC9 stares sullenly at TUROK
TUROK: (cont.) Who knows what this stone will help me achieve. But if I ever get the chance to destroy this accursed place, I will. And I’ll laugh the entire time!
COIN walks up to the WFC9
COIN: (whispers) He will. He has.
WFC9: (sadly) I know. And I understand it must be done.
COIN nods sadly.
COIN: Perhaps one day, when I fully figure out who I am, I can try to change things. But not now. I would make it worse if I did.
WFC9 nervously nods
COIN: I’ll…leave the book here. Make sure it gets back to the right shelf?
WFC9: That’s what I have aides for. Thank you, Coin. I believe this will all make sense eventually.
COIN smiles, places the book down. At that point, another painful wormhole opens up, warping the library around COIN.
Scene 12: Present-day: The Endless Library
COIN finds herself back in the present-day library after the time loop closes. She collects herself, then walks back to the room where she first found the book. She’s shocked to find it on the shelf, just like before she picked it up! She reaches for it, but hesitates — what if another time loop opens? But she feels like she has to take it, she’s compelled to. She closes her eyes, grabs it, and…no time loop this time. Sighing with relief, COIN exits the Library.
Scene 13: Present day: Outside the Library
COIN looks up and talks to ELDER COIN again, even though she knows the latter can’t hear her at all.
COIN: Goddess…me…I think I know what I need to do. These Noble Stones, they need to be forged. Even if the result is…bad for Orbspace. It’s…this is quite the responsibility, isn’t it? But I can’t keep risking stumbling into time loops like that! It worked this time, but what if I find less-helpful, more destructive loops I’m unprepared for? And even with the right loops, that hurt like few things have ever hurt before. I need more tools. I need protection. I…need a ship. Yes! Your ship. My ship! But how? Is there one for sale? Doubt it. I’ll probably have to build it. But how? I suppose…the answer will come when it’s ready. I just need to be ready too.
COIN then glances at her Noble Stone book.
COIN: Coin. Time Goddess in Training. Light Wizard in Recovery. Published author. (smiles) Not such a bad name after all.
END