Louise Velveteen had waited a long time for any word. It had been nearly two weeks since a global alert had appeared, telling her that "Judge Jerry Applebee" was presiding over some kind of Trial, the specifics of which were not mentioned. She wasn't the only one waiting nervously; the entire world's attention had focused on the formerly-sleepy suburbs, and an insane number of Federal and International forces had moved temporarily into the region, as though competing to be the first ones to speak to Jerry--presuming that whatever was going on, he would get through it safely.

The idea that he was serving as some kind of Judge, and not undergoing some sort of trial by combat, had taken everyone by surprise, but as hours had given way to days, many people suggested that the title was a distraction, and that the trial that was underway really was dangerous, somehow. Around day eight, a number of people all seemed to independently confirm at nearly the same moment that this was not the case, and that it was a courtroom-style trial, but there was still a great deal of mystery regarding it.

Still, Louise counted the days, uncertain if she would see Jerry again, or what would have changed if she did.

It was about three hours shy of twelve days since the last global notification when Louise received another.

[ GLOBAL NOTIFICATION ] The Trial of Kalamitus and Xzyrtvwartcihz has ended. By decree of Judge Jerry Applebee, Humanity has gained Earth Administrator Jerry Applebee Earth God Slenderman God Towers of Kalamitus will be rendered derelict. Dungeons Administered by Xzyrtvwartcihz will be rendered derelict. Please see Administrator Applebee regarding the placement of Dungeon Tower Alpha.

Louise could feel something shift at the same moment, even before she had finished reading the notification. Two things, really; one she felt shifting in her Dungeoneer body, which she couldn't begin to explain, and another she felt in her connection to Muratama. Her chosen god had been... well, it had not been normal, or particularly helpful, but she couldn't help feeling that she and her god were at least on familiar terms.

Even so, when she heard his voice for the first time, it felt... foreign, and it simply didn't seem right.

"The seal..." Muratama's words were barely there, but they were, and she felt intent behind them, saw a vision of a ruin. It felt like... no, she was sure it was one of the ruins that hung around the Star itself, the floating islands in the abyss that Jerry had shown her. From what she had seen... that was still far to little information, but it was a start.

And then Muratama went silent again, as though lulled back to sleep, though her connection with the god remained.

A few moments later, she received a strange sense of presence, and another notification appeared.

[ PRIESTESS CHOICE ]

You have the option of converting to the Earth God Slenderman, Shepherd of the Lost. Your Priestess levels will be maintained.

Currently, the Slenderman offers the following Priestess benefits:

+ Advanced Empathy

+ Darkness Magic

Currently, the Slenderman is under the following religious seals:

- Bond of the Orphan

- Bond of the Miser

- Bond of the Serf

Do you wish to change religions?

Louise hesitated over the dialogue box for a long time, as (she would later learn) a great many other people did, worldwide. In the end, though, she selected No, and watched the notification vanish. She had very little understanding of who or what Muratama was, but she got the impression that he was important, and she wasn't going to just walk away from him, especially since he had just given her... well, a clue, or a quest, or something.

She didn't really imagine that she was the right person to complete that quest, whatever it was, but so far she hadn't encountered many people at all who had any knowledge of this mysterious God, and so she was reluctant to ignore him.

The presence that was hovering there, though didn't go away, and a moment later, another window popped up.

[ GODLY QUEST ] The Slenderman has given you a quest to Meet Administrator Applebee at noon in two days, at the derelict entrance to Pearland Dungeon.

Louise felt a smile and a blush both come across her at once, and looked up from the notification towards the sense of spiritual pressure she felt. "Thank you," she said, and accepted the quest.

A moment later, the pressure vanished.

In the two days following the surprise announcement, of course, the world ignited in a storm of confusion and excitement. It was only a short while later that another Global Notification appeared, this one announcing another Trial had begun. The names were unfamiliar to Louise, but she thought the Dungeoneer name was Asian, probably Chinese.

When Jerry and the Slenderman didn't immediately appear on the world stage, the news only got more intensely suspicious, and rumors began to flow more and more thickly. Somehow, however, rumors that Jerry would soon appear all lacked the two pieces of knowledge that Louise had herself: the where and when.

She had every reason to keep that knowledge to herself, and she did.

On the day, Louise found a car from the US Dungeoneer's Association waiting for her, a 'favor' she wouldn't have accepted if High Priestess Cream herself didn't roll down a window and gesture for her to enter. She frowned, but at least came closer to the window, unsure how much to trust the woman.

"I notice you haven't changed religions," Cream said through the gap. "I wondered if you would, just to get closer to your man."

Louise was still at least half in the mindset of an older, divorced woman, and she found the concept that Jerry was her man pleasantly scandalous, even as the more rational parts of her mind reminded her that they had been openly dating. She let a chill run through her quietly without comment, but only replied, "That seems like the sort of thing a devout person shouldn't do, isn't it?"

Cream snorted. "Millions of priestesses across the world have changed religions. Besides, the model that..." she hesitated, as though considering the conversation taboo still, but moved on, "...the Labyrinthine Star seems to use is more of a pantheon rather than a monotheistic religion. There's no shame in finding that you serve better in one service rather than another."

"That still isn't much dedication," Louise replied, but frowned at the car. "I... assume you're going to go see him."

"I received a Quest, yes," Cream said. "Are you coming?"

Louise hesitated another moment, but ultimately entered the car. It was a limousine, armored from what she could tell, and Cream wasn't alone inside. She was a little surprised to see that among the passengers was a woman in black Priestess garb, with black eyeliner that looked like it had run terribly, but after a moment of looking, she was certain it was a deliberate effect. "You are..."

"Priestess Berrybottom," the woman held out her hand, and Louise shook it. "But you can call me Eliza. I converted to the Church of the Slenderman. That's why the clothes are different, and the..." she gestured at her face.

Louise felt surprise come over her. "So the released Gods can change the uniform?"

"The word is habit," replied Cream, quietly.

"Yes," Eliza said, cheerfully. "Among other things. There are a number of--well, I suppose you saw the notification. Benefits and bindings."

"I saw," Louise nodded. "What sort of--"

"With all due respect," Cream broke in, this time not quietly, "we're going to be meeting Earth's first Administrator in just over... an hour and a half, and I'd like to make certain things clear." She frowned at Louise, and the air sharpened, a reminder that Louise was still less than a hundred levels in, and Cream remained at level one thousand. "We're not going to get in the way of your... relationship, but Jerry is a national asset, now, and there are a number of people in the government that are going to be insisting on meetings and briefings. With the Chinese already starting on their own Trial, we can't allow ourselves to fall behind; we need to know what he knows, and we need to know it now."

Louise felt a strained sense come over the car, and when she exchanged looks with Priestess Berrybottom, she was pleased to see the other woman looked uncomfortable as well. In the end, it was Eliza who spoke next. "High Priestess... this is more important than America versus China, as you ought to know--"

"I know that this is about international cooperation," Cream interrupted. "The problem is that our sources inside China insist that they see it as a competition just as much as we do. Even if we do everything right, and play at this being an international outreach, they will insist that it's either Western imperialism or Western isolationism, depending on whether we are reaching out to existing allies or new ones. In order to frame the political discussion in a way that is the most favorable to our public perception in the long term, we first need to understand exactly what the situation actually is." Cream scowled, and Louise could see that the other woman's conversion into a Priestess had removed a number of wrinkles, which only reappeared when her face fell back into old patterns.

Louise had seen the same in the mirror ever since she had become Priestess, and had for quite some time done everything she could to hide it. Lately, since Jerry didn't seem to be bothered, she had been able to loosen that grip over her mask, but she still felt a strong urge to be as stoic as possible in public, keeping an appearance of being gentle and worry-free no matter what she really felt.

"That's the point," Priestess Berrybottom was saying. "It's not about the public perception of America, or about how much our leaders remain in control. There are a number of factors..."

Louise looked out the window, noting that they had almost arrived; it was, after all, a fairly short trip from her home to Pearland Dungeon. The National Guard's control over the site had intensified since it had been closed off, and then decreed 'derelict', whatever that meant. Or, perhaps it was only guarded today, when Jerry was going to appear? She wasn't at all sure.

Inside the Guard cordon were a number of figures milling about, most in military garb, though others were in expensive suits, mostly in black. Given the hot Texas sun beating down on them, Louise couldn't help a smirk at the clear discomfort of the political types, though it faded when she considered the newly black-garbed Priestess sharing the cabin.

"The point is," Cream once more interrupted Eliza, and loudly, but she turned to Louise directly. "We understand that you and Jerry need time together, but we would appreciate it if you would help him keep his responsibilities in focus, and in the forefront of his mind."

Louise could feel that comment rankle her. "If you would clarify, High Priestess," she said sweetly. "What are Jerry's responsibilities?"

Something about her tone must have had the desired effect, because Cream's mouth snapped shut, and the car--now stopped--was quiet for a long moment. Louise met her eyes, wondering if the High Priestess had some particular point to make, or if she was just stuffing her foot in her mouth, and let the silence draw out.

Finally, Cream spoke, measuring her words carefully. "America and our allies are all committed to international cooperation, and we intend to do everything in our power to improve our chances at success. Whatever Mr. Applebee can do--"

"I'm sorry," Louise snapped, her quiet words breaking into the High Priestess's speech. "You've talked about your own responsibilities. What are Jerry's? Because you clearly have a great deal more information about this than I, or even he, does, information that you clearly intend to use me to deliver. Information about what his job is, since you seem to think he is working for you."

Cream's face distorted into a furious mask, but she bit back saying something she might have regretted. Louise, for her part, was already regretting opening her mouth, since she wasn't sure at all what the High Priestess and her people did or didn't know... but, having been there when the National Guard attempted to arrest Jerry with tanks--and opened fire on the both of them without provocation--she wasn't going to be too charitable.

So Louise just continued. "As long as I've known him, Jerry has been empathetic and constantly worried about what he should be doing. I know that he has had problems--that he has been a problem. But he does his best to do what he thinks is right, and yet you, shamlessly..." Louise found it hard to keep the heat out of her voice, and stopped, trying to figure out exactly what to say to express the anger inside of her.

Eliza stepped into the silence. "You did just kind of assume that he needs to be on a leash," she said, the running black shadows under her eyes giving the impression of a bereaved woman feeling free to finally speak her mind. "And that Louise both agrees with you and is willing to be that leash. Your leash. Which is..." Eliza paused, like words were also failing her.

"Impolite," Louise supplied, fully willing to understate things, and counting on the High Priestess' ability to read her tone to determine exactly how understated she felt the word was.

Cream glanced between the two of them for a minute before letting out a soft, growling sigh. "I admit that was a bit presumptuous," she said. "But I'm facing pressure to make sure that Jerry cooperates--"

"Jerry isn't your subordinate," Louise broke in. "You can't make sure he cooperates. He's above you, above all of us. You should be trying to negotiate, not ensure that he cooperates."

"I--we are going to negotiate," Cream said, and it sounded like backpedaling to Louise, but she'd had enough.

"Do," she said, and got out of the car without waiting to hear what else the woman had to say, slamming the door behind her.

Louise looked around the site. It was familiar to her, but not too much. Part of that was how much had changed; the site was previously set up for dungeoneers entering and leaving with loot that would be assessed, but now, a wide perimiter had been set around the distortion that had once been the Dungeon entrance. Now, that distortion was outlined by a black cube, and each face of the cube had a black X across it, corner to corner. It didn't look like the National Guard's work, so Louise assumed it was the Dungeon itself indicating that it was closed.

She closed her eyes, standing there, and tried to feel anything... spiritual, in the area. It still sounded odd; it was a strange thing to be serious about, at least. But the Administrator had demonstrated that it was real, and Jerry had always seemed able to tell when the Administrator was watching. So, she supposed, she could do the same.

The car door opening behind her broke her concentration, and she opened her eyes to find that the High Priestess and her other guest were stepping out. "There's no point in waiting," said Cream, coldly. "It will be hours yet before noon."

There was a sudden hum, and Louise turned towards the Dungeon entrance to find the black steel box rippling like the surface of a lake. Then, with a snap, the box broke open, and the distortion shimmered slightly, as though proving that it was open.

Louise didn't bother waiting for any more permission than that. A National Guard trooper posted nearby stepped in her way, and Louise surprised herself by tossing the man aside with a casual gesture. She knew--had always known--that a Dungeoneer body was a weapon, but it was never what she did with it.

She passed into the portal without hesitation, and came out in a well-lit empty room, with nothing but some padded benches arranged in a circle to decorate the room. Standing in the center of the circle was Jerry--but he looked off. Very off, as though he wasn't at all present in the body, and Louise stopped immediately, looking at him, concerned.

All at once, the body snapped back in place, and Jerry turned to her and smiled.

"Sorry," he said. "This is a temporary body. They're making me a real one--oof."

Louise put Jerry in as tight a hug as she could, which would probably have done bad things to a non-Dungeoneer. Although she still wasn't entirely sure where this was all going--she wasn't entirely sure--she'd felt more comfortable with him than anyone else she'd seen or been with since... well, certainly since she became a priestess, but even before that.

There were still problems between the two of them, and it was looking like it would be hard to find time for them to just... be together, but for right now, it was worth a shot. She had decided that a while ago, but it still wasn't entirely clear what Jerry was going to say, here, or what the future would be like. Depending on what was going to happen next, a relationship might be next to impossible.

She pressed her forehead against his chest, willing him to listen to her thoughts, and after a moment, she felt him surround his body with more than just his arms, his mind gently touching hers.

There was more there, now. There were rough edges that were old, and rough edges that were new, and things that had been recently smoothed, plus depths, and... she stopped looking and relaxed into him. How is Merry?

Jerry held her close, and she sensed a pain in him. She can't be with me anymore, but she's going to survive. Not only does she have the Fairy Heart, now, I asked for a favor from... some new friends.

"Mr. Applebee." A voice interrupted them, though Louise had noted Jerry watching Cream approach with disdain. "Far be it from me to interrupt, but I believe we have a lot to talk about."

"High Priestess." Jerry pulled away, but he did keep a hold of Louise's hand, which made her smile inwardly. "I'm planning on a more public announcement later--I'll want your help organizing an international meeting--but we can go through some of the basics."

"What is the next phase of the Lord Beneath's plans?"

Jerry shrugged for a moment. "It wasn't really his plan in the first place," he said. "And we haven't left the first phase, not really. But to answer your question... I'm going to behave differently than the Administrators that came with the Star. I can do a lot of things differently, including not really needing to kill people, which they... really did need to. And I will still sort of need to."

Louise looked at him, feeling a deep dread in Jerry's chest, but also a firm conviction.

"Sort of?" Cream responded to the obvious pause by prompting him to go on.

"I realized something when I was shown a part of the Star's history, though I didn't really understand at first." Jerry sat down on one of the padded benches, and Louise sat next to him. "I'm not allowed to explain anything that I was told, only things I understood for myself, and I'm pretty sure that the point isn't for us to invade and conquer the Labyrinthine Star. We're supposed to create our own and defeat the Star in a battle of equals."

"And how does that equate to you killing people?" Cream's voice was colder than Louise would have expected.

Jerry shrugged. "The Star is going to give me several gifts for advancing to Administrator, but ultimately, those gifts are a tiny part of what makes the Star powerful. It became what it is by absorbing the understanding of billions and billions of souls, and the Star originally was only able to be born because of similar sacrifices. I don't have to kill people to absorb understanding--in some ways, that doesn't help at all. But it does work. Like many things associated with this... detestable death game, it's a shortcut held right in front of our faces, to see if we become corrupt."

Louise found Jerry's hand gripping her own tightly, and she squeezed back. You hate that.

Of course I do. Jerry's voice was firm, without a shred of confusion. When Cream remained silent, Jerry continued. "The Star is better designed than I want to admit. It encourages people to learn how magic works, and then kills them, absorbing their understanding in order to understand magic better, itself. It's a drug-pushing scheme, except even more insidious, because it offers everyone what they want, from soldiers to bakers, from mechanics to assassins. It can offer anything to anyone, and it only has those gifts to offer because it stole them from someone else."

"The worst part of it all is this." Jerry turned to look in Louise's eyes. She studied what was behind them, feeling deeply pleased to see that he still wanted her approval, needed her presence despite what was happening--or because of it. "I'm given a lot of restrictions on what I can say, but what I just told you is something I'm specifically allowed to say. Despite being told directly from the source, despite how almost everything that comes from that source is privileged so I can't repeat it, this part I am allowed to say. He wants me to say it. And not the Lord Beneath, but the psychotic man--or men--that created this death game in the first place."

"Because even if we know that the death game is fueled by corpses, we won't stop, and they know it."

Louise flinched. She turned and looked at the High Priestess, who was also sitting there, her eyes closed like she was in pain, a strange look on her face that didn't speak well of what was going on in her heart--a look that said she wasn't nearly as conflicted about this as she should have been.

"No," Cream said, "we won't. Because even if America stopped sacrificing people for power, someone else wouldn't. North Korea, or China, or Russia, or Africa, South America, Eastern Europe, or some in the West. Anyone who willingly sacrificed lives could overturn whole armies of people who didn't."

Jerry just nodded at her, and let the woman piece together the plot on her own, his fingers still holding fast to Louise's own.

"So if you kill people, you gain their power, and you could use it." Cream stood up and moved back around the bench, and began pacing. "That means you don't have power until you kill people. Whatever resources the Star has, you don't. Once all the Administrators are replaced, the resources we take for granted--the things we gain by delving Dungeons--will be denied us, and we have to create our own versions of them."

Jerry's silence was acknowledgement, and the High Priestess continued to pace.

"There's no way to stop people from replacing the Administrators, now that we know how the system works. A nation or region without an Administrator is powerless to resist a nation with one. It would spawn a new wave of imperialism, with haves and have-nots. So governments will be desperate to ensure they get one of the limited number of slots remaining, and that just hastens the end."

"And then the drugs get cut off," Jerry said, his words cold.

Cream turned to look at him, but nodded. "The addiction needs to be fed," she said. "There will be people--Administrators and governments--who sacrifice whatever they must in order to get back what they lost."

Louise frowned, finally speaking up. She found that her own voice also was full of anger and frustration, which she normally kept well buried. "But then... I don't understand why there was all that stuff about not telling people the secrets in order to prevent corruption. If the corruption was inevitable anyway..."

"Because it's a game," Jerry and Cream said, almost at the same time, and they both looked at her with almost matched looks of anger--not at her, of course. Then they looked at each other, for a moment, and Jerry gestured to the High Priestess for her to explain.

"Because they could just as easily destroy us all if that's what they wanted," she said. "We've done the calculations. The kind of power that the Labyrinthine Star demonstrates could destroy the planet itself, not just wipe out our population, if that's what they wanted to do. There is a point to what they're doing, and it lies in seeing whether or not we destroy ourselves, not proving that they can destroy us."

Jerry nodded, picking up the thread when she paused. "They told us the point of the game was that we could prove ourselves worthy," he said. "Whether that's true or a lie, that's definitely the point. Either the game is unbeatable, or it's not, but it's designed to only be beaten by those who deserve to beat it."

Louise frowned. "And we prove we deserve to beat it by not killing people?"

Jerry sighed, and there was quiet for a long moment. "It's not like I have that answer," he said. "There are probably going to be a lot of situations that test us. I... maybe know of a few already, but there will be more, and I can't speak of what I know." He shook his head. "But the biggest test right now is seeing whether we can come together as a world or whether this competition for resources is going to cause us to tear ourself to pieces. And... I'm not sure we're going to pass that test. Hell, the Houston area was already being invaded by foreign interests--even freaking assassins--and that was before things started getting serious."

"All of the major ports of entry are like that," Cream said, and Jerry just nodded, as though unsurprised.

"I don't know the answer," Jerry repeated. "But I have to step up, because now I'm one of the few who can." He stood up, finally letting go of Louise's hand, and she let him go, a little reluctantly. "And that starts with some... unpleasantness."

Cream turned to face him, a guarded look on her face, and there was a tense atmosphere.

"As of right now," Jerry said, his voice firm, "I'm no longer an American citizen. I'm no longer a citizen of any nation. I'm not of the West, I'm not of the First World, I'm not of anything except humankind itself. I don't answer to you, to the President, to the UN, or anyone."

Cream's eyes flashed, dangerously, and Louise could feel an intense power gathering itself around her. "What is that supposed to accomplish?"

"You're still the same woman who tried to arrest me at Armand Bayou," Jerry said, his voice cutting through her words like a knife. "Still with that same pretentious, self-absorbed temper. You still think that you and your people can do no wrong, have done no wrong."

"So it probably won't make any sense to you that the world in general will be much happier knowing that I have renounced all ties to you and refute your authority. But, it will." Jerry took a step forward, as though tempting her to attack. "You ought to know as much as anyone else that America has a laundry list of crimes, and politicians and corporations from our hallowed shores are heavily suspect." He put a mocking tone into his voice. "I don't intend to target the United States, or ignore it if it needs help, but you of all people, High Priestess, not only should understand this, but you represent it. You represent things that this nation has done wrong, to me personally."

"I'm not your tool, nor am I the president's, the UN's, the G7's, or anyone else. That isn't to say that I'm not on the side of humanity or the world. I am." He took a last step, and Louise could tell that his body was growing slightly, if subtly, in order to leave Jerry looking down on the High Priestess.

"I just wish I was sure," he said, "that you were on the world's side."

"We are," Cream said, a fierce combative will in her voice.

"I never expected you to say any different," Jerry replied evenly. "And yet I'm still not sure. You'll just have to prove it, just as I will."

Jerry reached out, and with a casual gesture, flung Cream into an exit portal that suddenly appeared and disappeared. And then, he took several deep breaths, retreated to the nearest bench, and sat.

Louise came over to him, but hesitated to sit down next to him. She'd seen this in Jerry too often, now; he was lost in his own world, thinking about his own problems. The best thing she could do was not step on that.

"And then there's you." Jerry looked up at her, and Louise felt her heart skip a beat, but she wasn't sure what to say or think about it, now.

"Yes, there's me. Us." Louise firmed her will and sat down on the bench next to him. "What do you think I should do?"

"Do?" Jerry shook his head. "There are a lot of things only you can do, Louise. Like taking care of your daughter, and looking into Muratama. And given how weird my life is going to be, I wonder if you really want me to be a part of it?"

Some part of Louise wanted to instantly say 'yes', but she knew that part of her was just lonely. Instead, she opened her mind up to him again, and his own will folded around hers, like a big warm hug to her soul.

And yet, there was distance there.

I don't exist except for you, a part of her mind told him, and somehow, she tasted the bitterness in her voice. Everyone else sees me as an empty-headed, pretty doll, a servant to the gods without a will of her own.

Not everyone. Jerry's voice in her mind was firm, and his body reached out and took hers, holder her the way their minds were locked together in the other plane. Mel doesn't. And plenty of people saw and heard you take control in that fight against the slavers.

Louise shook her head, slightly. I know I look like a young woman now, but you can't forget--

I haven't forgotten. Jerry squeezed her gently. You are weighed down by trauma I can't even imagine. This won't get fixed right away, but I want to help, because you helped me. I wouldn't have gotten through any of this without you.

Louise's heart both leaped and shrunk. You got strong because you fell in love with me?

No. I grew strong because you believed in me. Jerry pulled back, physically and mentally, and spoke out loud, his eyes meeting hers. "I'm not here because you're pretty, Louise. I'm here because you stuck with me in spite of everything. I'm here because you didn't just try to redeem me--you began to enjoy the person you found inside. I'm here because it's good to be around you."

Louise found herself struggling, her heart tying itself in knots at the frank words.

Jerry took her hand, and squeezed it. "I think that if this was about sex, you'd know by now," he said, smirking slightly. "We're just two miserable, depressed people that get along, and who are also compatible. And now... your life and mine are both going to continue, but on different paths. Is it worth working to keep us together? Because it is to me."

"Yes," Louise said, without hesitation, though when her thoughts caught up, there were still doubts.

"Then we will." Jerry stood, and gave her an apologetic smile. "But now... I've got a bunch of things to prepare for. I'm not... sure how I'll deal with it all."

Louise gave him a dark smile. "You've been through worse," she said, simply. "And you won't be alone."

That seemed to help him calm down, a bit, and Jerry smiled back. "Thank you," he said, and he leaned in for a kiss.

She obliged him, and was pleased to find that the bitter parts of her heart didn't spite her for it.

A little later, with me having given a few redundant speeches, I found my spirit floating around the Gulf of Mexico, trying to find the right place for my Tower. Since I'd declared myself free from the US... no matter what, I couldn't make the nation my place of business, even if I wanted to.

A part of me was also spectating the Chinese Judge in his Trial. I was surprised how much of the event had actually been blanked out of my mind, as the Lord Beneath took a long time to access old memories; the Judge was trying to learn as much as he could, and as a result, there were long pauses where nothing was being said or done.

It hardly mattered. I wasn't allowed to speak unless spoken to, and he didn't seem interested in my opinion. We'd talk when it was done.

I found myself drifting much further south than I expected, to the site I belatedly realized was the Chicxulub crater, the impact point where an ancient asteroid had (at least according to some) set off the natural disaster that killed the dinosaurs. It was really Mexico's waters, which was its own pile of problems for me to solve, but I liked the symbolism of it.

You don't have to decide yet. Slenderman's mental voice reminded me more of his monster form than of the beanpole, but I suppose that was just as well. He was still depressed, despite having been promoted from mostly-real to a Star-sponsored Real Boy, and I figured that was just how these things were going to go, for us all.

I know I don't, I answered the thought, but I don't want to be pressured into a decision by anyone else. So, I'll pressure myself. With that thought, I sought out the rough center of the crater, and pressed my will to it.

Broken pieces of old dungeons, now rendered derelict, were teleported in. They were, mostly, large bits of Dungeon-modified stone, and I packed them together into a large, cylindrical tower, one that dug deep into the asteroid crater, up through the Gulf's waters, and then out into the sky.

It was empty, for now, and even as I finished the rough shape of it for now, I decided that I didn't like how isolated it was. So, I created an enormous stone bridge that connected my new tower with the nearest shore. Already, I knew, I was running afoul of all sorts of people's interests--Mexico would want me to ask permission, or at least tell them in advance, and scientists would probably be upset that I messed up the asteroid site itself.

I placed a gate over the end of the bridge with a sign in Spanish and English, and went back to the tower, creating a simple meeting room on the entry floor, then a bunch of other floors nearby just for a starter.

Almost immediately, two people appeared in the tower, one much smaller than the other.

"Kinda ugly, bro," Merry opined, glancing around at the bare stone rooms.

"You should have seen my first Dungeon," the Slenderman replied, his voice backed by a moderately unpleasant hiss. "He'll figure out what he's doing. Now... I need an office."

"Take the second--no, the third floor," I said. "I'll take the second."

My partners--the fairy and the monster--both teleported up to the third floor, Merry just watching as the Slenderman borrowed a touch of my power, with my permission, to redecorate a room. I wasn't even aware of some of the things he pulled out of the derelict ruins of the Dungeon--but then, they were his dungeons in the first place. Of course he would know what was in them.

Then, with a gesture, he summoned a bunch of Priestesses in spirit form, many of whom had to stop talking with someone else in order to turn their attention to their new God.

"I have an office now," Slenderman preened. "In Mexico. Well, off of it, I suppose. The site of... whatever that crater is."

I tuned out his conversation and looked at Merry, who looked back at me. A moment later, the two of us were miles high, standing on top of the tower itself, looking at the world that I'd just massively changed.

I could see cars stopping on a nearby road, and I smiled grimly, knowing that the next few years were going to be a mess.

"Everything's gonna change," Merry said. "And to think, you got me made into a proper Dungeoneer, when that's all going to mean nothing soon enough."

"Maybe not that soon. The Trials might slow down." I didn't believe it, but it was worth pretending.

Merry waved at me noncommittally. "I need to find some friends on the other side and see if we can negotiate. I don't know what's possible, or not possible, but..."

"I'd rather be friends than enemies with the Fairies," I said, nodding. "And they might help Louise find Muratama. If I'm correct..."

"We'll find out," Merry promised. "Anyway, you got work to do, bro." She turned, and offered me a fist-bump, which I could only pretend to match in my spiritual form.

"Yeah," I said, a little tiredly. "Work."

"You might as well drop me outside. I'll talk to some people and let them know what's up. You just focus on making stuff."

So I placed Merry on the bridge, and moved over to empty floors of my tower, pulling up the Hundred Rings of Administrator tools and going through them one at a time. I had a lot of responsibilities, but for now, my biggest job was to not fall too far behind what the Star was offering.

I had to make my own Dungeon, and I felt a thin smile crossing my mental face, as I considered just what that was going to look like. Something that represented me--but also Louise, and Merry, and the Slenderman, and everyone else who had shaped my journey.

I grabbed the rings, pulling materials from the derelict remains, and got to work.