Episode 2

*Talk Page*

The Light Tower

One day later, and Pezci spends time on the ocean's surface testing the Key. She goes to the city in search of knowledge about the Light Tower; she finds Scypho and the Mirror instead. After a lackluster meeting, and an exciting time brought on by the Mirror's antics, she finally gets to ask the jellyfish merman about the gathering crowd. That very crowd has come to the quad to hear the Light Tower's announcement of a competition for a fabulous prize. Only a select few will get into the Tower, the only catch is in finding a Golden key … or finding a Key***holder***.

## Cast of Characters

* Pezci
* Scypho
* The Mirror

## Synopsis

A day later, the newly decorated young mermaid bobs on the surface of the featureless ocean. The shaft of golden light beams out from the Key over the vast expanse, prompting Pezci to comment that there's nothing in that direction, and she questions why the Tower would be on the surface anyway. She eases down below the waves and approaches the city she had mentioned the day before, having traveled the distance safely. The haphazardly built city appears to have been designed in the fashion of a human city, and it has Pezci wondering where to start.

She begins her quest by accosting several of the city dwellers as they travel between the lamp posts that line the unpaved streets, and she asks them about the Light Tower; no one appears to be willing to help. Many seem to mistake her importuning as begging, and they tell her they have no spare change or all the rooms are taken. Several nefarious activities appear to be under way. She wistfully wonders if she keeps looking, maybe she'll find it herself.

Hearing an excited comment urging someone unseen to hurry or they'll miss it, she goes to investigate. What she finds is a crowd gathering around a communications mast in the center of a city square. Feeling uncertain, Pezci stands on the outskirts of the quad watching the murmuring crowd seethe. To her left, leaning against a half-height wall, is a slightly rakish figure of a merman of a reddish jellyfish species. He's wearing a jacket that matches the exposed tendrils of his lower body, and he's carrying a mirror mounted on a staff, strapped to his back with a leather belt. In the background, several submersible watercars, a sort of personal submarine, can be seen cruising over a crack in the sea floor.

After glancing over at the man, Pezci leans toward him and asks what the gathering is about, but he doesn't appear to hear her question. Unsettled by his silence, she hesitates, then she begins to ask another question. Suddenly, an eyeball at the end of a tentacle juts out of the mirror's surface, causing the young mermaid to begin screaming hysterically. And loudly. He tries stuffing the eyeball back into the mirror while insincerely apologizing for not noticing her earlier. He assures her everything's okay now that the tentacle is gone and it would be nice if she stopped screaming now, but she isn't listening. He tell her people are starting to notice, then gets irritated when that doesn't work. He thumps her with the mirror on the back of her head, and once she quiets down, he tells her he's trying to keep himself on the down low. Staring back at the mirror, Pezci asks what it is, and he tells her that information is for paying customers only, and he doubts she's one of them. She accepts his answer with a meek "okay."

Continuing with her questions, she again ask why they're all gathered there. Looking at her with disdain, he snidely asks if she hasn't heard about the Light Tower announcement, causing her respond with an astonished outburst. Looking around wildly, she asks if the Light Tower is here in the city. (The mirror is displaying flames instead of a reflection.) Baffled by her question, he tells her no, but that there's a rumor about some kind of competition being announced. He declares that he's mostly there to observe.

Pezci looks down at her hand in dismay and wonders aloud if the Key is part of a competition.

A loud ringing echoes through the city getting everyone's attention, and far up the central mast a screen lights up with a monochrome line drawing of the Light Tower. The narrator greets everyone and then continues with the message.

"After almost 100 years of silence the Light Tower has finally decided to make contact and offer an incredible opportunity for everyone in the world! Can you believe it? It's been so long!

"You may have noticed a decline in your standard of living recently. From the all-seeing eyes of the Light Tower, the tragic desolation spreading throughout your modern society has been noticed! Terrible maelstroms wreak havoc on your precious cities and threaten to throw the world into chaos. Truly a terrible sight to see from my safe tower!

"So today, the Light Tower offers to you all a life of paradise and freedom! (Fireworks begin bursting around the Tower's image.) As some of you may have heard, the Light Tower is invincible, all powerful, everlasting, and the safest place in this ever-more dangerous world. (It soon becomes apparent that every screen all over the city has been showing the broadcast.) The Light Tower will provide all the comforts of a perfect life: food, shelter, leisure, and protection from the violence of the world, free of any debts or obligations. If you're skeptical, look no further than the Tower's instant and **complete** control over your communication lines for evidence of its infinite resources.

"**You have no choice but to listen!!!**

"In the Light Tower, you will be guaranteed a safe and comfortable life. Those of you who arrive will even be allowed to bring one entire tribe of their own choice with them! Yep, you can live an easy and happy life with tall your friends and family!

"**HOWEVER**

"The Light Tower will only accept a select few out of the many people of this world. In order to gain entrance, you must bring to the Tower a special key. Ten of these unique Keys have been randomly scattered across the oceans for anyone to find. Anyone lucky enough to find a Key will be immediately and permanently bound to it. Your only chance is to find one randomly, **OR** by finding an already bound individual."

All eyes turn to Pezci, attracted by the golden glow of the Key bound to the hand she is making no attempt to cover up or hide.