The Last Search For Arlow Tsai In The Multiverse

Case File: First Appearance #14

When the Lan Data Feeds GOT BROKE, a little under 4000 Lan were on Wroug.

They all had their communication systems re-purposed to support the data feed to the 70 trillion Lan back in the Lan's worlds. This was a limit to how they could expect them to perform their jobs, and the Lan were eager to show themselves as diligent workers. They took personal breaks from work and went to privacy areas. They filed neatly out of the office areas and moved in ordered lines.

Ami had been working to set up three mental areas. The first two areas she had established long ago. One mental area to focus on work. One mental area to focus on getting around the town. The third mental area was for solving the Lan question "Was there hope yet with the Lan?"

The elLans filled in the privacy areas. The largest area had privacy stalls with plumbing. Some elLans opportunistically took those, but most went to the back and stood in ranks.

Not too long from finding a place, one elLan went to mirror and checked her hair. She was planning to leave here quickly when regular data service was restored. She was eager to have her work day productivity match a 75% rank against all the worker in the office. She had a personal social data model which explained the poor belonging rate with Wroug as a social strata effect. The Wroug would apply for belonging but then feel unequal (the Lan were too impressive). She wanted to hit a high average in her interactions. Making herself more attainable. She pulled several single hairs to stand and make the appearance less perfect.

A second elLan went to the mirror closest to the back. She also checked her hair. It was a novel thing to her, keeping hair according to social custom. She had always kept it clean and then tied back for physical activity. One day, she noticed increased glances at her, and saw that the hair style had become slightly undone. She checks here hair today, and all looks to be in order.

Ami watched the elLan walk away. She remembers the first day she ever saw a Lan. How later that night they filed in ranks and then vanished. She never saw those Lan on Wroug again. She urgently leaves her desk and finds the largest privacy space.

She hurriedly opens the door and enters.

"Please, Please, I need you, the Lan please I.. I. will try, please let me belong...."

With only a slight sound of footprints and a mild gust of wind. Ami has her hand taken by an elLan. The elLan at the far end of the long mirror, has arrived and is holding one of Ami's hands with two of hers. Ami knows of many unusual things. Ami has never encountered a Lan that is in a privacy space. The Lan have very, very much less expectation of keeping to social convention when in private (where 70 trillion critics are not likely to judge). The elLan has a lovely expression. Smiling, with slightly nodding face, and crinkle to her nose). The gaze too. Deep, earnest, committed. Not looking away and giving an impression she never would look away.

Then, her other hand is taken. The elLan closest to the door is there too. The "first" elLan, smiles as if to say, yes go look at her now. Ami turns and finds a face with other "second" emotional cues. Clearly shown, because they are in a place where it is allowed. She has a gentle smile, wise, sad in a manner comforting. They fix their eyes in on each other. Ami is happy in a way that defies rational thought. The world falls away. They are gone.

The three appear, using two Lan transport, in a nice park. Ami is pretty close to and is facing two Social Order officers that she knows. Each of her hands is held by an elLan. She immediately holds their hands and swings the two elLans around, so they face away from the officers. There are two elLans on a path, mostly flat. There are four? elLans over to the right in a depression that is not too deep. One has quite unusual clothes. There are some strange objects near to them, laying on the ground. They sit down, still holding hands.

The elLan "second" has brought Ami to a place where there is an active citizenship evaluation. There are licensed evaluators to talk with here. That would be a good start. Since the data feed is locked, "second" cannot access Ami's information and could not consider the context of this location. She asks Ami to tell her everything.