#ref: snowcrest

[lndslorepuzzler]

Under Deepspace 05: Eternal Aurora, pt 1-09

01: Unspoken Secret: After opening the box left for her by Josephine, FMC puts together that she is the subject of an illegal experiment involving the fusion of a specialized protocore (Aether Core) and a human heart.*1 She calls Li Shen who, while he knows that the protocore in her heart is unusual, doesn't have any information to offer her except that Dr. Noah may be able to give her more information. He offers to get her in contact with him at the site of his current personal research project, Snowcrest. He suggests waiting for two weeks due to the weather; FMC is having none of that.*2

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02: Snow-Kissed Coffee: Sitting at the train station after being told that the train to Snowcrest is out of commission for unknown reasons, FMC meets Li Shen; he informs her that Dr. Noah asked him to come and visit a week ago, wanting assistance on his research project. Coincidentally, he's ordered two lattes. ("Did I say we met by chance?")

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03: Beyond Expectations: FMC and Li Shen discuss the Aether Core,*3 which consists mostly of Li Shen reassuring FMC and keeping her from letting her mind run amok with any silly ideas. Upon realizing that the train has been halted due to a Wanderer attack, FMC grabs Li Shen, and takes off to insert herself into the situation.

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04: COMBAT

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05: Moving Out: After assisting with the Wanderer attack, a local hunter offers a transport vehicle for FMC and Li Shen to use on their way to Snowcrest, which turns out to be a dogsled. Li Shen, who has been to the arctic regions several times, knows how to mush a sled, and therefore takes the reins of this particular leg of their journey. FMC points out that he seems more like a local than someone who just occasionally helps out; the conversation is cut off by the arrival of their 'pick-up ride:' a pure white cross between a pomeranian and an arctic fox, named Pie.

06: Enigmatic Guide: Pie is as intelligent as a 9-year-old child. He is also a gluttonous ,ungrateful little thing, but adorable; he loves FMC immediately while ignoring Li Shen, who actually brought food for him and is having none of his tomfoolery. FMC notes that Li Shen never talks about the research he does in the Arctic regions, and Pie leads them to Dr. Noah's residence, where Li Shen helps him to corral several 'escapees.' Dr. Noah and Li Shen have a brief conversation about whether the 'antagonist' is working, and that it's 'effectiveness was shortened by a week. It seems like the Metaflux around this area is increasing again.'

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07: Aether Core: After a meal, FMC and Li Shen talk with Dr. Noah about the Aether Core; he hypothesizes that the Aether Core itself may be the reason for FMC's innate strength.*4 He says that sometimes, people just want to unravel the unknown for no real reason, but that she needs to keep the Aether Core a secret as much as possible, as letting the information out could mean making her a target for 'some (who are) willing to do anything to achieve their goals.' He doesn't know anything about any of the other researchers, save that one of them joined Onychinus in the N109 Zone.*5

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08: Snowy Tranquility: After the conversation with Dr. Noah, FMC and Li Shen have a sit-down together to watch the Aurora. She points out Mt. Eternal, which had an anomalous protofield a few years ago. Li Shen mentions that a friend sacrificed himself during that incident*6 and the two of them share a few thoughts on grief. FMC is leaving the next day, but Li Shen is not ("When I do think of you, I'll just call.")

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09: Snowy Mountain: Before going to bed, Li Shen gives FMC the documents to hold on to, as 'if they're leaked, you might become Onychinus' next target.' FMC realizes that the protocurve of the modified protocore she found in the no-hunt zone, and the energy value in its ground state, is close to the value of the Aether Core in her heart; and they're both about 500eV more than the average protocore output. This leads her to believe that Onychinus already has an Aether Core in their possession. The next morning, she's ill at ease after learning that Li Shen is planning to venture to/into Mt. Eternal, considering what he said last night.

*1, It's worth noting that, while the paperwork says the subject is 7-8 years old, it doesn't specify WHEN in the experiment's duration she is 7-8, or how long the experiment actually lasted. *2, It's specified that this exchange/phone call occurred 6 months after the explosion. *3, 'It's a power made just for you,' see Main Story: Long Awaited Revelry: Ambiguous Chaos *4, The language is unclear, 'innate strength' could be interpreted as the RESULT of the Aether Core surgery, or the CAUSE of the surgery's success. *5, See Main Story: *6, See World Underneath: Longly Flame