Every Time We Leave, It Changes

## Background

### Episode description

> Deep in the jungles and mountains of the planet of Skein, far from the NEH metropolises, scientists from across cultures have come together to form Ternion Research. Their chief object of study is the Wound, a massive gash in the planet’s surface that comes to its deepest point in a place called the Vale, which may be home to the consciousness of the world-being Quire. The three subgroups of Ternion—defector explorers from the Ever Forward, creators from the former Crown university called the Garden, and the gene-modifying scientists of the Skein—maintain cool relations, though, and a recent disruption—in the form of Acre Seven—risks destabilizing not only Ternion, but also the Wound itself. Now, the Notion has been called in to retrieve their old ally before it is too late. Even confronts an old rival, Echo and Gig dig into the data for more information, and Signet reaches across time and space in search of clues.
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> **This week on Twilight Mirage: Every Time We Leave, It Changes**
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> *Forest green
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> Forest blues
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> I'm remembering you*
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### Cold Open

Cascara had always had a knack for finding Acre Seven. Whenever she had disappeared on assignment, Cascara had found her. Whenever she was caught in a loop of causal syphoning, Cascara had freed her. And in fact, it was Cascara who had located her among the researchers of The Ever-Forward, soon after the death of her adored Potent.
She had been like a ghost in plain day then, an apparition haunting the scientists, not keen to the periphery, but insisting on being seen. A silent demand that they too grieve for what they’d lost. It was Cascara who had convinced Acre Seven that, even now, even as the sliver of the being she once was, she had purpose and value, and that to serve those that the potent did, would be to honour her old lover.
What Acre Seven never told Cascara, of course, was that her recruitment effort was no effort at all, but inevitability. Time, after all, was Acre Seven’s purview. And no mortal being like Cascara could ever convince her to pursue something that was not already aligned to occur. Still, though determined by time or not, Cascara was always the one to find her.
Which was why Acre Seven should not have been surprised that she’d found her again. But this time was different. She had not seen her commander’s arrival, and there was something strange, yet newly familiar, in the visage of her new friend. Most surprising at all though, was that Acre Seven had, for once, not expected Cascara’s words. Quire was not only wounded, she said, it was dying. And it had a proposal for its kin.

## Plot Summary

Cascara sends The Notion to the jungle planet of Skein. Somewhere on the planet, a large crack called The Wound has opened up, and inside there is a settlement called The Vale covered with mysterious green fog. A Ternion Research base in the Vale has reported that they've seen Acre Seven in the Wound. Doctors Plane Page and Facet Forester have invited Echo and the rest of the Notion to help track her down.

Page and Forester explain that the alliance between the groups that comprise Ternion - Skein, The Garden, and researchers from the Ever Forward - is tenuous at best. By entering the Wound, Acre Seven has unknowingly violated their agreement. She entered close to the Skein's base, so Skein is responsible for disavowing and taking care of her.

They ask the Notion to find her, and if possible to divert attention from the Skein to the Ever Forward. They also add that something in the Wound causes physical and mental pain to those who encounter it; Even suspects that there is an Axiom involved. Facet says that the Ever Forward and the Garden will be sending the Saints in tomorrow to investigate the wound. He lastly warns that any violence done inside the Vale has repercussions. Together, the Notion decide not to work with the Saints.

Signet uses her psychic abilities to contact Acre Seven. Signet warns her that the Notion will have to come after her, but Acre Seven responds that Signet needs to focus on helping Quire, not the people. She also says that Quire on the surface is Quire-without-memory, but in the Vale there is only regret.

Echo works with Page and Forester to investigate Quire's memories and history. They learn that the memories of Quire are not historical, but rather Quire longing for an alternate history where the planet was worshiped without gaining sentience first. Gig explores the facilities and investigates Ternion's setup; he finds that there are many cameras and that it will be difficult to get to the Vale without being seen.

Even arrives at the Ever Forward and uses his military status to get inside. He's met by Arin Till, his former military doctor. Even warns them against trusting the Saints. They insist that Acre Seven will be a valuable resource if they can retrieve her, and they urge Even to ally with the Ever Forward. Even refuses, and Arin warns him not to raise arms inside the Wound.

The Notion reconvenes and shares their new information. Signet uses small drones to amplify random signals from the surrounding environment and confuse the security drones. The Notion prepares to enter the Wound, but before they can, a reconnaissance party from the Advent Group appears and draws the attention of Saint Wynter, who is guarding the Wound.

## Cast

* Austin Walker (GM)
* Sylvia Clare (Echo Reverie)
* Janine Hawkins (⸢Signet⸣)
* Keith J Carberry (Gig Kep-hart)
* Andrew Lee Swan (Even Gardner)

### Other Appearances

* Plane Page
* Facet Forester
* Arin Till
* Acre Seven
* Saint Wynter

## External links

* Episode Page
* Episode Transcript