But there is no life on Earth.

[waterfell]

Near the north pole of planet Mercury, there are signs of life, all enclosed in a thin, transparent dome that still allows a clear view of the heavens. Inside, the air is clean and breathable, and even stirs itself in artificial breezes.

The entire city is a mass of blue crystal, luminous with the glow of thousands of solar trees both within and without, their blue cels attached to silvery branches and trunks. It makes a striking contrast, and the structures provide the city's energy, veritable solar power farms, bustling and thriving like the city itself. . Everywhere, the roads lead inward towards a palace, attention drawn to it by its height, taller than any nearby building.

The lush sound of splashing water comes from a clear, ornamental pool in the entryway. Tropical fish swim contentedly there, glimmers of golden koi amid and around the stems of water lilies. There is greenery, too, and flowers provide a seasoning of color. Overhead, the ceiling is dizzyingly high, adding to the sense of open space.

Seated at the edge of the pool, dressed in an elegant gown and with the sigil of her planet showing proudly on her forehead, is the Princess Mercury, now queen of her reborn kingdom. She plays a simple, longing melody on the harp she holds in her lap.

Comments

[isomorphology]

To learn. To explore. Maybe to grow, evolve, whatever it was that ISOs were meant to do to reshape the human condition. Flynn never detailed it out for her.

Her head turns back to Mercury and she smiles. "Are you sure? You won't get in trouble?"

[waterfell]

"They're mine," Mercury points out. Who would have the authority to object? Besides, she's no fool; it isn't as if she'll be showing the security systems tied to the computers, or anything secret.

[isomorphology]

"Oh!" Her smile brightens. "Did you make them on your own?"

[waterfell]

"I didn't build them, however, some of the designs are my own." Or rather, were. Or are. Most of the 'newest' technology in her world is a carefully filtered stream of advancements from the Silver Millenium.

[isomorphology]

So someone else built them. She nods, not entirely surprised. Sam had talked about how Users build other User's things all the time. It was the same on the Grid, really. CLU or someone would design it and it'd be built.

[waterfell]

It doesn't matter in the end. They're still hers, to do with as she wishes. Mostly, these days, they're security. They reinforce a place that's only hers, that only she can enter, where no one else can intrude or push her.

"I did build the visor that integrates with this system, with blueprints belonging to this kingdom."

[isomorphology]

"It sounds like you're people are used to building them." Quorra says softly, walking through the halls on the balls of her feet. "Does everyone here use computers?"

[waterfell]

"Yes," answers the girl from a world where modern life included nearly everyone with a modem and internet connection in their homes. "Nearly everyone."

There will always be a few who don't - even a faction that believes it's wrong to rely so much on this technology. But they typically find very little support among the people, who enjoy their prosperous life.

[isomorphology]

"Then it's like my User world." She notes out loud. Sam had shown her all the kinds of computers and devices that users had in their houses. She never thought that she'd see so many computers, but she wondered if any of them had Grids of their own.

"You live here." Quorra says, trying not to phrase it as a question. "It's... gorgeous."

[waterfell]

This is her kingdom. Where else should she live but in its best place? This time, however, a trace of true and earned pride shines through brighter than the arrogance.

"This is a symbol of the prosperity of this planet and its people."

[isomorphology]

"The whole place is?" Quorra finds it a little strange. "Why would you need all of it? Just a statue or something would work. Wouldn't it?"

[waterfell]

"When it's a symbol like this, the grander it is, the better it represents that concept."

There was a planet, a kingdom, a civilization, struggling to believe it could survive and grow and prosper. They look to this palace as a sign that they can, that they can tame this place to suit them, that it isn't over even now, when the worst has happened.

[isomorphology]

"Oh."

She goes quiet at that. The only experience she has at something like that is CLU. CLU is the worst example of it.

[waterfell]

Mercury has many faults. However, failing the people depending on her in this land is not one of them. She even smiles faintly at Quorra's reaction.

"I never thought about what it must look like through someone else's eyes," she says, where someone else is a computer program this time. After all, humans would understand the symbolism.

[isomorphology]

"Everything is new to me." Quorra says softly. "Nothing is like the Grid, and the Grid really isn't like anything on the outside. I don't really know anything."

[waterfell]

"You should learn as much as you can about it," Mercury advises. "Every new experience will add up to something important to you."

[isomorphology]

There's a nod. "I love reading about different places... different things. I'm just not sure what I should do with it."

[waterfell]

It's a love they both decidedly have in common, and Mercury can't help warming to it a little.

"You decide that for yourself," she says precisely. "What do you want for your future? Focus your studies to make it happen."

[isomorphology]

It's all she could do for so many cycles. Read the books that Flynn would make. Learn how to be selfless. They were in hiding and if CLU ever found them? It would mean reintegration for Flynn and de-resolution for Quorra. Even if that is what happened to Flynn.

"I'm supposed to help change the world. That's what I want to do."

[waterfell]

"It's the same for me."

They come at it from such opposite points, and yet the statement is no less true. She was reborn in the darkness to help change the world's fate - what they all wanted. If her methods changed, perhaps they became the methods that were needed. She still believes so.

"How will you do it?"

[isomorphology]

"I don't know. How do you think of changing it?"

[waterfell]

"By strong methods," she answers bluntly. "Softness won't accomplish change. Instead, time will go by and you'll be no closer to the future you want to see."

[isomorphology]

"What are strong methods? Force? Forcing didn't do well on the Grid. It just made things worse." She speaks up. "There has to be a different way."

[waterfell]

"Sometimes force is needed." There's no form of Ami from worlds like hers that wouldn't understand that. They just differ in where they draw that line.

"Sometimes there's something you want to fight for."

[isomorphology]

"But you can't keep using force." Quorra gestures around. "Otherwise people won't see the good you're trying to do."