|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- THE MILDRED CORK--CUP 15--"SNAPSHOT" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  The Mildred Cork  ||  -------> (Cup SRmc015, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Indeed. But as she grew further and further superearthly, she became obsessed with creating the perfect cork. She had made thousands of different models, but all of these found displeasure with her in one way or another. She particularly found it distasteful when an individual would weave multiple copies from the same cork--to bask in the glory of bountiful flesh. "As her transformation rapidly accelerated she sealed herself off from the rest of the world with a powerful magick gate, and set about her final task. First, she pronounced a mighty spell which annihilated all the constructs in existence which she had ever made, as well as rendering the corks impotent. Second, she created one final cork--The Mildred Cork--and cast it out into the realm of Massive Dimensions. This accomplished, Shownamgappen prepared for her ascension to a higher level of the universe." "What happened then?" She paused, a little sad. "I don't know. Since I am from The Mildred Cork, all contact with Shownamgappen and that realm was cut off as the Cork was cast out." "Man," I said, "all those people... all so dependent on their constructs, it must have been..." "...devastating. Yes. But Shownamgappen felt that things had gotten too far, that her constructs were surely ruining society and all people." "Huh." "Of course, since I AM a magickal construct myself, whomever made me could as easily have implanted these memories than any other." "Yeah but... it SOUNDS kind of... I don't know... it rings true, I guess." "Yes. I..." She seemed about to say something, but was very hesitant. "What is it?" "It's just... another entire part of the story, if you're interested." "Sure I am." "See, I have a life. I mean, I've EXPERIENCED a lot of things. But the whole time, I was in Shownamgappen's mind. She created me, then put me through decades worth of experiences, to season me and give me personality, presence, and aura." "Huh." "But I think..." "What?" "I think... maybe... what if the life I remember WAS real? What if I was a real person, chosen as the template for the Cork? Whoever did it to me might have planted this whole scenario in my mind..." "What do you mean, 'template'?" "I mean, someone could have taken me, used a variety of mental techniques on me, and then taken a 'snapshot' of me, imprinting it onto the Cork." "Hmm..." I said, trying to let this idea of hers sink in, as I wasn't quite getting it. "Let's just say, Walt, that I was made to have these doubts, perhaps to obscure my inevitable search for the truth of my origin." "Huh." In the time she'd been talking to me, she had gotten fully dressed, in an attractive red outfit. And yes--she was talking out loud. At least, I'm pretty sure. I don't know. I think we can converse without her saying it out loud, but... I don't know. I'm still too disoriented to figure anything out. "Well, we're off." Mildred said, putting on a pair of sneakers. "Where?" "To see your roommate, Roy O'Damn. We have to explain your disappearance some way--don't want to overly alarm your friends and family now, do we?" "No." I said. I had a bad feeling about this. I mean, I've always wanted supernatural powers and stuff, but I felt uncomfortable with the situation. I couldn't get the vision of my wrecked body out of my mind. It's fucked. I don't know. I can't see my body ever getting repaired. But I had a spark of hope as I felt a cool tinge of magick within Mildred. She had great powers, and I could tell... I could see something... precognition maybe?... I could see something happening in my dorm, Spoin Hall. Something special... -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----