Contents
Chapter 2
Overview
Sancia engineers chaos in the Michiel Hypatus Building to reach the hypatus lexicon. She manipulates experimental rigs, slips past guards, and briefly shuts cooling water to plant a specialized cube on the lexicon’s pipes, then restores flow just in time. Returning to the group, she endures suspicion and Orso’s anger, but the mission’s critical insertion succeeds.
Summary
Escorted by Armand Moretti and Michiel scrivers, Sancia uses her scrived sight to scan the Hypatus Building’s rigs. She secretly redefines parameters on experimental floating light-beads to create a high-speed swarm, then unlocks a workshop amid the ensuing chaos.
Navigating by scrived sight, Sancia evades guards, locates a gravity-scrived dumbwaiter, and descends toward the lexicon’s cooling infrastructure. Near Moretti’s chambers, she exploits a secret door, overheats a scrived chocolate pot with oil to trigger a smoke-and-fire distraction, and reaches a maintenance hatch to the water pipes.
Sancia convinces the pipes to redefine “down,” momentarily halting water to the hypatus lexicon. Under a tight count, she opens a valve, inserts a meticulously crafted cube from her boot heel, and frantically restores the pipes’ concepts of direction and water. The lexicon wavers dangerously, then stabilizes as flow resumes; the cube lodges by activating density scrivings.
She seals the hatch and slips away while guards panic over the smoldering mess. Rejoining the party, Sancia endures a search ordered by Moretti; nothing is found. Orso, welted by the bead-swarm, realizes what she did and seethes. The critical device is successfully implanted within the lexicon’s system.
Who Appears
- SanciaInfiltrates the Hypatus Building, incites a sun-bead swarm, rides a dumbwaiter, manipulates pipes, and plants a cube on the lexicon.
- Armand MorettiLeads the test tour; his chambers provide a distraction point; orders Sancia searched after the chaos.
- Orso IgnacioAccompanies the tour; target of Moretti’s ire; realizes Sancia’s ploy and is furious.
- Michiel scriversEscorts the group; are battered by the sun-bead swarm and assist in the search.
- Michiel guardsRespond to the bead swarm and chamber smoke; guard the lexicon access; search Sancia.