Letters in the Library of Ossuary

Above the Techstream terminal in the Ossuary Library are a series of handwritten notes from Jessamy Rossin, her son Cy Rossin and Darya Kane.

Across these messages, Jessamy and Cy learn than Ian (Jessamy's husband / Cy's father) has been searching for them since their disappearance when they were passengers on Pam Rodriguez's bus during The Convergence. In her message to Julius Finch, Darya Kane tells him where to find a Mem from their first date.

## Transcripts

### Darya's Letter to Julius

Dearest Julius,

In the case I don't return, thank you.

For trusting me when I gave you no reason to. For loving me no matter what I put you through. Whatever awaits me on the other side, know that I'll never forget you. I left you something at the movie theater concessions bot so that you wont ever forget me. Our first date.

Love Eternal,

~~Darya~~

### Jessamy Rossin's Diary

#### C+27.238 — Written in Black Ink

QDOT opened a new line to Denver last week.

I sent Cy to find his father. To experience Earth for the first time. This is the first time he's been this far from me. Ever. I'm worried, but he's adaptable. It runs in the family (ha!)

When I first came to convergence, I didn't know which way was up! I had never seen Oss crystals, or met a non-Earthling. I remember being so confused by everything. Cy will have an easier time, I think. He grew up hiking glaciers with Eemians and talking to Slime!

Earth might actually be tame in comparison.

I do think he'll love it, though.

The new line might kick off events in the Tome – so many travelers, maybe one is THE traveler? So far, I haven't seen anyone or anything unusual, besides the memory storms getting worse.

Maybe the traveler is already here. Maybe one of us from the bus? Cy? Maybe its me? He is traveling to destinations unknown but attainable.

Maybe it's not a literal traveller, but someone involved in transportation? QDOT? Maybe I've been going about it all wrong and the traveller isn't a physical being at all.

It could be a cosmic event, a sentient being on another plane of existence. An anti-memory storm? A place we haven't found. A 5th world.

I've been studying the Tome for so long that I feel like I'm writing the same theories over and over. There must be something I'm not seeing...

I wish I could share this with Cy, get another pair of eyes, but not now. We are all travellers, in a way. I just wish I knew who I am supposed to find.

I might talk to Mallex or June about this.

#### C+ 27.249 — Written in Green Ink

Cy found Monica! I'm so proud of him.

It's lucky that she's still in the same place. Reading Cy's letter, I realized now much I miss her, but I don't Know if I could go back to Denver.

If I could travel back to Denver 27 years ago, maybe. Back to that Monica, or Ian, or the places we used to go. There's too much work to do. Maybe I'll visit after... everything is... over.

If there is still a Denver to visit. If there isn't I guess I wont remember. it.

Thinking about home makes me worried for the people there. The Mindsplitter is prophesied to wreak havoc on my world, not just the converged ones. Earth could crumble if I don't figure out now to stop him—them—it.

Hm. The Mindsplitter can reach Earth? Not a being of our understanding? Maybe it's in another dimension, or able to access one...

The Tome makes it feel so oddly human? Maybe it \*IS\* human, or was once and isn't any longer? Is the Denver Station the way for it to get here? Or the way for it to get there?

It's someone lonely, trying to return to their world at any cost. That's everyone in convergence. Everyone lost something or someone important when the worlds combined. The suspects are in the thousands.

What is mindsplitting though? Taking out something. Cutting it in half. Someone who deals w/ memories, La Mandrina?

Literally taking out memories and trading them for new ones? Lots of influence. Maybe it could be someone in the shadow markets?

Pavel is influential, but isn't trying to return anywhere... Araceli is influential, and trying to return to Eemia. Oleander and QDOT are powerful, and want us to travel... but that's also his job. None of the mayors are ever powerful at all...

Time has undoubtedly changed the familiar into something unrecognizable. None of us can go back.

Maybe that's the trick to beating the Mindsplitter, acceptance. The Mindsplitter is the forgetter, maybe to combat it we need to remember? Learning to cherish the memories of home, and make new ones wherever we are?

Can forgetting be reasoned with?

#### C+27.277 — Written in Red Ink

The memory storms are getting worse. I'm glad Cy isn't here — they always made him feel foggy for a few days. He's safe from them, at least for now.

Ian moved on. I always thought he would — no man would wait 27 years to find his missing family, would he? And he was only 23 when we disappeared — younger than Cy is now. We've been apart longer than we were together. I'm not sure how I feel. Sad? Angry? Do I even remember his face?

It's been so long. I don't even know who he is anymore. He might be different, sadder, less excited about life. What if he's better now? He might be dead. It's surreal to think of him actually gone. Some part of me thought I might see him again, someday. Too much to process on paper. Work is easier to think about.

The Tome has a weird stanza structure. Translated? Just poetic license? I can't tell if it's even intentional. The book seems to know that I'm reading it. Maybe this is the form it thought I'd like?

I'm barreling ahead, working to decode this, not knowing where I'm going but it's just within reach! Maybe it's farther away than I think.

I'm distracted today.

Maybe I should take a break.

#### C+27.277 (13:46) — Written in Black Ink

My mind is restless.

I wish Cy could have met Ian, the Ian I Knew.

He loved us, and loved his city. He loved Cy, more than anything. I think he would be proud of who Cy's become. If only we could go back... Now I sound like I could be the mindsplitter (ha!) But what if —

I do love my work. It's important to me, to the community. I'm glad I got to raise Cy with so many helping hands and caring people. It's hard not to think about what I gave up, but this world is so much more than I had on Earth.

I think I'll take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow will be a new day.

#### C+27.303 — Written in Black Ink

No word from Cy. I'm trying not to be worried, but he seemed in a mood in his last letter. I hope he isn't doing anything reckless. I miss him so much, but I wouldn't have him come back for anything — hopefully he writes again soon.

The new station in Denver has been bringing in hundreds of travelers and tourists every day. There are so many! I've never seen the streets so crowded. How am I supposed to find our savior in this sea of people? Most don't seem interested in staying longer than a day.

I'm unsure of when the traveller is supposed to come. At the [obscured text] end? Are they a catalyst or do they just connect the dots?

Maybe the traveller has a stake. Someone here they're looking for? Hmm. Maybe an outsider is the best fit — citizens might be too comfortable in what has always been to see anything wrong. Maybe the traveller just has a curious streak, a bit of a detective? The Tome does say that a traveller will come — from where? Denver might be our best bet right now.

As more people come in, the number of potential travelers is fluctuating too much for me to make guesses about specific people. It might be best to just cast my net as widely as I can and hope for the best.

HEY YOU! IF YOU READ THIS... HA!

#### C+27.353 — Written in Green Ink

Ian might be alive. Ian might be looking for us! I'm almost too excited to write —my hands are shaking. Trying to curb my enthusiasm, but I'm so glad he could still be out there. I'm not so happy about Cy being away for longer than we thought, but I know he can take care of himself.

I can't believe it — Pam Rodriguez! She brought Cy and me here, and she might be the reason ~~my~~ Ian comes here too. Life works in funny ways sometimes.

Maybe anyone could be the traveller, if they took the right steps.

I don't even know who the Mind splitter is... but, at least there are a few ideas Candidates:

Araceli, Oleander, La Madrina. That seems to be where things point. There must be something that I don't know, something going on behind the scenes, because I cant figure out why any of them would \*want\* to do this.

Who would want to destroy convergence? Some may wish they'd never been brought here, but I don't understand anyone who would dismantle our home. We've worked \*so\* hard to make this our own.

Traveller, whoever you are, I hope you'll know what to do. I must have faith in you because if I don't, I'd have to give up.

I can tell `[ink switches to blue/black]` that something big is going to happen soon.

The memory storms are getting more frequent, more intense, and there are more and more people coming in every day.

Cling with purpose to that which makes you whole, the Tome says. What makes us whole? Our loved ones, the places we love, the foods, colors, experiences that we carry. Our memories. Cling to that which makes you whole. Remember that which you love. Hold it. But the things you hold also have things to hold.... When to release?

### Cy Rossin's Letters to his Mom

#### Cy's First Letter

Mom! I'm sorry it took me so long to write this letter. The first few days here in Denver have been absolutely dizzying. It was strange and challenging just trying to get to the address you gave me, because people organize their house numbers completely differently here than in convergence. Did you remember that in some residential neighborhoods they have odd numbers on one side of a street and even numbers on the other? What's the point of that?

Also, in apartment buildings their room numbers are mixed with their alphabet for some reason. (It's likely they're trying to be confusing on purpose.)

———

Luckily, after getting some help from strangers, I finally found Monica - - and she was still in the EXACT house you described, even after all of these years! When I knocked on her door and told her who I was, she gave me a hug before I could even finish my thought. You were right about her Mom. I felt like I could trust her pretty quickly.

———

I didn't even have to ask if she could let me stay at her place. She invited me in and insisted on it. She still has some spare rooms from when her kids used to live here, so there was plenty of space. Her husband passed away, unfortunately, so I think she's been lonely.

She made me tell her every single detail I could remember about what happened to you immediately after the convergence and how you're doing now. She really wants to see you when you can make it, I know you have responsibilities with the tome research -- I know that -- but if you can spare even a few days, Monica would be ecstatic to see you.

Maybe you can explain to both of us what you've been looking into, I know she'd be glad to hear it, and so would I.

———

Monica took me all around Denver and showed me every spot you two used to hang out at, she remembers things a little differently.

Speaking of how things used to be - when I asked Monica where Dad is, she said she lost contact with him only a few months after we disappeared. And there was this look in her eye, like she wanted to say more. When I pressed her on it, though, she wouldn't budge. I really like Monica, Mom.

But I need answers about Dad, and if she isn't willing to give them to me, I'm going to have to find them myself.

Love,

(Drawing of hands spelling C Y in sign language)

#### Cy's Second Letter

Mom, this is a difficult message to write.

Part of me wanted to keep what I've learned from you, because I know whatever you've been investigating in the tomes has been stressing you out - - and I didn't want to make anything harder. But I finally got more information out of Monica about what happened to Dad, and I thought you should know what she said.

———

Monica did lose touch with him a few months after our disappearance from Earth. But she eventually heard of his whereabouts.

She said that a mutual friend saw Dad in Boulder. She caught him at a supermarket with a young woman and her toddler, who was a boy. When this friend confronted him about how he moved on so quickly and cut off everybody who was worried about him, he tried avoiding her.

She managed to get the license plate number of the vehicle he and this woman were using. She gave that number to Monica. Before Monica gave me the number, she told me that going down this path would only hurt me.

That in all likelihood, Dad didn't even wait half a year before getting himself a new family.

I don't believe that, there has to be more to it.

AND I'm going to prove it.

— Love,

(Drawing of hands spelling C Y in sign language)

#### Cy's Third Letter

Frederick says that he knew my dad was "Uncle Ian." And that for about a year, Dad lived with them. He would help around the house, do chores, buy groceries, repair things whenever he could, but he also said that Dad slept in a spare room.

When I asked why, he said it was because Dad was a "friend." And that Ian always slept in a separate room from his mother.

Frederick went on to tell me that his mom was a professor at a school in Denver.And that she had been friends with a former faculty member -- PAM RODRIGUEZ! :)

Can you believe that? Heather and Pam were friends! Heather educated Dad on all of Pam's theories about quantum travel.

Dad didn't move in with some new woman because he got over us, he moved in with a woman who could help \*find\* us.

Frederick showed me some files that Dad and Heather looked at together.

It included formulas, pictures of wormholes, and photos of some underground, tunnel-like structure in Denver. Heather's written notes indicated that that tunnel was at one point a wormhole location, according to Pam herself, maybe..

Dad went there on his own that's why no one knows where he is anymore.

What if he opened a wormhole, mom?

What if he's been searching for us this whole time? Whatever the answers are, I have to find them,

And I'm sorry, but that might mean being away from home for longer than either of us ever expected. Because if Dad's out in the multi-verse somewhere, then it's up to me to bring him home, and I don't think I can come back without him.

I LOVE YOU, MOM! I'll write to you as soon as I can. Love —

(Drawing of hands spelling C Y in sign language)