The Last Search For Arlow Tsai In The Multiverse

Case File: First Appearance #23

Arl is pretty sure that someone took away the swap plane bracelet. He is still coping with strong dissociation from the change back to himself, seated on the bench at the wall.

The ellans have regained their forms as well and are standing over to the left.

The Wroug man is saying to them: ".. not meant for fun, not meant for play. Not meant to see if a boy becomes cute. Not meant to see if you would marry the male version of yourself. These have actual value in helping make you understand yourself better. Understand yourselves and how others react differently."

Arl reacts. He stands. He is a bit dizzy. He decides he must act. He purposely falls to his knees and bends to place his hands and forehead flat to floor. This is not a culturally specific action for Arl to take, but is the most extremely genuine way to beg that he knows about.

Arl: "Please forgive them. It is all my fault. They are not to blame. Let any punishment fall on me."

[Medical Site lead] regards this as utter nonsense. What is that position? Bent Knees? No attempt to establish eye contact. Is this being, lucid? Situationally aware?

[Medical Site Lead]: "What are you doing?"

Arl: "I am begging for forgiveness."

[Medical Site Lead]: "So you have spoken a ritual? What then, I have to provide forgiveness; because you spoke it?"

Arl: "Uhmm, no. It is a petition, a request. If they do not find the request pleasing, well, you see that my head is forward. It could be easily chopped off. Uhm. Leaving the petitioner dead."

[Medical Site Lead]: "How often does that happen? And stand up! What you are doing is annoying."

Arl, standing up: "I live uhm lived.. in a place where it would not happen. But deaths like that could take place in many countries on earth on any day."

The [Medical Site Lead] has some tests to do today, and he decided that now is as good a time as any for one of them.

[Medical Site Lead]: "Do you know what happens on Wroug when you display extreme emotion in public?"

Arl lived until age three in a city and saw cartoons then. There was a cartoon he saw. A caveman swings a club. The arm starts down and swings backward and rotates with the club.

That is exactly what the Wroug man did, except that his hand was empty. Large hand, with heavy bones and stiff cartilage. It hits Arl on the crown of his head with a measured blow.

Arl is sure that he has never had conk to the head that hard. His eyes water, his mouth drops, his legs go weak and rattle-y.

He quickly decides that he must turn around.

[Medical Site Lead]: "Yes, you understand to not show a distressed face. Good. So, we saw your knees go weak. Would you care to explain what kind of failing in moral fibre that is?"

Arl thinks things may have become quite unexpectedly perilous.