ind Reading Among Neutron Marshes: An Interview Goes Off the Rails on Molavion Delta
On the neutron-swamp world Molavion Delta, we meet Qviria Xell: professional mind reader, chaos enthusiast by choice. Reporter Ambaril Skuukh attempts a civil interview, until thoughts and tempers spiral out of control and the conversation explodes into a spectacular feud. A unique glimpse into the tangled psyche of the planet’s mental specialist.
Ambaril Skuukh Why did you agree to read minds in a place like this, deep in the mists of Molavion Delta?
Qviria Xell In exchange for discretion, Molavion Delta offers endless noise-enough to reassure my clients their deepest thoughts simply vanish into the administrative fog. How could you ignore a place like this if, like me, you thrive on juicy secrets?
Ambaril Skuukh Does that mean you mostly work for the Local Council? Or for the resistance, or, well... who actually pays best for your services?
Qviria Xell Affordability is relative when credits get lost in bureaucratic archipelagos. But it's mostly robot soldiers afraid of their own backups, or puppet priests who want to know if the Council already knows their real name is Brodgar.
Ambaril Skuukh What's the weirdest thing you've ever picked up in someone's mind here?
Qviria Xell Um... Someone secretly longing to collect luminescent fungus to start a hidden garden at the base of a statue of themselves, corroded by acid. And some official haunted by dreams of a frog with the voice of Sector R.
Ambaril Skuukh Can you explain why everyone here is so incredibly good at procrastinating?
Qviria Xell Because hardly anyone is sure if tomorrow will actually arrive. Most thoughts here are a never-ending loop of "Maybe later. Or tomorrow. Or when the mist finally lifts."
Ambaril Skuukh Is it ever possible to escape other people's thoughts, or does everything constantly intrude?
Qviria Xell Escape is an illusion, Ambaril. I hear it all, always, also right now. Maybe less charming, but it's heavy-try processing three tactical pacts, seven secret longings and a poem about plasmachronic mist all at once.
Ambaril Skuukh Fine, if you pick up everything, can you hear now that I don't want coffee with you after this? Or must I say it aloud?
Qviria Xell You already decided yesterday. Plus: you were thinking of toxic mud pie, not coffee.
Ambaril Skuukh Well, fine-I'll ask directly. Why are you actually so... eh, impossibly arrogant?
Qviria Xell *laughs* Look who's talking. At least I know it about myself.
Ambaril Skuukh You... You really think you know everything, huh? Don't you ever have moments of silence in that crowded mind of yours?
Qviria Xell Silence is for amateurs. Chaos is productive! It's never quiet here anyway-always drones, always noise, always those idiotic propaganda pylons broadcasting interference. Did you hear that whistle just now?
Ambaril Skuukh No. Maybe if you'd stop poking around in my head for once!
Qviria Xell Maybe if your thoughts were a bit more interesting!
Ambaril Skuukh Excuse me? You are so unbelievably-
Qviria Xell -transparent! Really, I’ve never seen anyone make the mist this clear.
Ambaril Skuukh If you don't retract your mindfields from my skull in five seconds then... then...
Qviria Xell Then what? Call a puppet leader? Good luck! They're as present here as an honest thought.
Ambaril Skuukh Seriously, who has ever taken you seriously as... as...
Qviria Xell Exactly. Being taken seriously is fatal on Molavion Delta.
Ambaril Skuukh *stands up, accidentally knocking over a data panel* See, that's what you cause. I-never mind. This conversation is over!
Qviria Xell Thought so, five minutes ago. And that was a very clear thought, Ambaril.