AEHU/Plot/Plot Sketch Chapter 16

"The Island of Dr. Bekkler"

Queen Zeal, Schala, Dalton and Seith accompany Melchior - now coronated Guru of Life - for an inspection of Bekkler's sky island laboratory now that Melchior has inherited it. Derben is on duty again after being cleared of suspicion in Bekkler's disappearance but seems slightly surprised that Schala and Queen Zeal are present for this occasion. Valna, the Guru of Life's scientific aide, is slated to give a guided tour but Derben insists on leading it instead now.

Warped creatures left over from Bekkler's Creation Fibre experiments break out of their restraining beakers, and Schala and Derben end up clearing the laboratory while Dalton protects Queen Zeal and Seith. Melchior proves adept at defending himself. Once the laboratory is secured, Melchior orders the liquidation of all remaining creatures but a Mystic-looking humanoid creature breaks out of its beaker at Queen Zeal's feet, awe-inspired at its first sight. Schala wants it to be spared. Honoré Beck, apparently a new staffer on the island, backs Schala up in the ensuing argument. Seith takes particular interest when Beck points out the potential military application of the creatures, and he convinces Queen Zeal to override Melchior's order.

While Derben double checks the lab's security situation on Dalton's orders, Schala undergoes her second Frozen Flame trial dungeon. This time Melchior and his team stand ready to initiate energy collection via the Mammon Machine if Schala is able to convince the consciousness to release its energy in a predictable manner.

This time the consciousness discovers that Schala has a dream: to see true peace between the Enlightened and the Earthbound within her lifetime. Much amused, the consciousness releases the Object's energy and the operation is a resounding success.