Entry #22 - 1.15.5503

Our "ghosts" have finally made themselves known and -- much to the relief of all who've been mightily creeped-out by their eerie, albeit beneficent, presence -- turns out they're none other than Mar's old compadres, the Ecila (see Journal entry #9). As to why they've been coming and going so mysteriously -- seems they've been having problems materializing in close proximity to any of us here in the Ohm Central City, this being an inter-dimensional portal, us being dimensionally fixed, and they being trans-dimensional by nature. To put it simply, the combination of us, them and this place made for clashing wavelengths that couldn't be brought together without someone (us) getting seriously hurt. Which explains why I was getting major bad vibes anytime they came close.

But that all changed last night, at least temporarily, when a recurring shift in the dimensional continuum rolled through this part of space -- like a temporal wave through the ocean of time -- opening a "window" through which the Ecila could safely visit. And so there we were, hanging out in the quad, stargazing and capturing images of the cosmos on film (check them out), when these giant water-bugs in polka-dotted overalls suddenly appeared, grinning like idiots (if a water-bug can be said to grin).

"What the...?" Athena gasped, as the rest of us stood in slack-jawed shock at the bizarre sight of our insect-like visitors.

"Greetings, vermin." The larger of the two warbled, sounding as if it was speaking from the bottom of a barrel full of gel. "My name is 'arrrupph' (NOTE: the name was unpronounceable, but close to the sound of a hearty belch), and this is my sister, 'ftttpph' (I won't even mention what this name sounded like). We are friends of your 'Mar', and the one's who have been helping to repair your Telepods."

"Greetings, uh...guys." Athena replied, wisely deciding against attempting their names. "What brings you to Ohm, and how is it you've been willing to help us out so much?"

The Ohms, clearly taken aback by Athena's obviously suspicious nature -- she's never been one to accept assistance without first questioning 'what's in it for you?' -- stammered briefly before explaining, in a nervously garbled tone, "Well, um, you see, when Mar left our world she expressed the hope that we would continue our alliance -- which we have been endeavoring to do in helping to repair your Telepods. And now, it seems, we are in need of Mar's assistance with...um..." the Ecila trailed off as Mar came striding out of the mess, smiling broadly with arms outstretched in silent greeting.

"Well, well, well, would ya' look at what the rats dragged in!" Mar cried out good-naturedly as she approached our guests. "What brings ya'll to this part of the galaxy?"

And with that, the Ecila recounted a long, convoluted saga about feuding dimensional species -- a violent misunderstanding over quintennial rankings with claims of judicial corruption in regard to "purple pudding" magistrates -- a story none of us could follow, though Mar did a good job of nodding her head and groaning in a serious show of commiseration.

"And so..." the larger Ecila summed-up, finally, after a good 45-minutes, "if you could see clear to pay a visit to our allies -- to help them out in whatever way you can -- to help them get whatever they need to protect themselves..."

"Of course, of course." Mar cut in, saving the creature from its obvious discomfort at having to ask the old woman for arms. "I'll leave first thing in the morning -- probably have enough on The Disposer already so as to head directly to your friends -- should get there in under two weeks."

"Oh, thank you, thank you! Thank you so very much for your..." but before it could say any more, it's voice garbled completely and the creature faded from sight -- the ripple in dimensional time rolling on. "Oh well," Mar sighed, "better get packing!" And with that, the old woman stomped off before any of us could voice a protest, or otherwise question the journey that lay ahead.

"Do you think we should try and stop her?" I asked, fearing for the old woman's safety. "No point." Athena answered curtly. "Mar's a creature of principle -- and these beings need her help. There's nothing you could say to stop her from going."

And sure enough, just as the eastern sky was beginning to lighten, I woke to the roar of Mar's shuttle as she left for The Disposer in high orbit above Ohm.