Challenge #01548-D087: The Good Word
We all know "Abracadabra," or, "Hocus Pocus," and sometimes, "Just Like That! Just Like That!" Then of course there's, "Please," "Excuse Me," and, "Thank You," which might stop you getting hit by someone. -- Knitnan
There was one door in the Vault that had not been opened. The SPOEns had been at it for almost a year. And it wasn't often that Shayde took her Ambassadorial Yacht anywhere at all, because she didn't like to travel without Rael by her side. And Rael... didn't like to travel. This was obviously a special occasion.
The vault had a series of locks that only "a child of the 20th century" would be able to open. The SPOEns may know a lot of history and, for a change, be more than helpful... but Shayde had lived a part of it. Nobody else could know that time as intimately as she did. The particular lock required a live, human voice. And the answer to one question.
What is the magic word?
The SPOEns had gone through all their collected ephemera, all their knowledge of literature, all known methods of magic incantations, and even the greater part of Hollywood entertainment before they all had to go off for a holiday.
Shayde followed the Archivaas to the door, took one look at the legend over the top and said, "Yer shittin' me."
"We are not attempting to add any variety of shit, Ambassador," said the Archivaas. "All of our SPOEns have spent countless hours attempting to unlock this door."
Shayde barely restrained herself from using her are-you-stupid-or-what voice. "The magic word is 'please'."
And, just like a miracle, the door opened. Revealing another vast section of the increasingly-immense Vault.
"Four jumps," said Rael. "Two nexus crossings. Five days of a round trip. Do you have any idea what it's like to spend five days playing Dungeons and Dragons with a crew full of humans?"
"I could'a just tole ye," said Shayde.
"That is true, but it demanded a human voice. All our humans are on leave. We wore them out. And since all other stations between us and Amalgam are having their 'silly season'..."
Shayde held out her hand, palm up, and rubbed her fingertips with her thumb. "Pay th' man, full inconvenience fees, thanks. I'll get on wi' any o' the doors the SPOEns'll ha'e touble with while yer sortin' oot yer change." She stalked off into the labyrinth in a huff. One could almost see a small storm cloud following her.
"She's very protective," Rael excused her. With a little time off and some puzzle-solving, she would be back to her usual, sunny disposition. "Our pilot got jump-sick because she's gestating and half of the crew suffered from a mutated immunoflu variant. This trip was... rough."
The luckless Archivaas calculated the resultant sum in her head. She whistled backwards. "They say that no price is too high for knowledge... but this might come close."
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / kevron2001]
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Love mental imagery like this XD