Interlude

[PULSING PRESSURE, A VISION OF DEEP BLOODRED]

[A GOLDEN SUN, JUST ABOVE THE HORIZON, SINKING FAST]

[A CLIFF WHERE THE WORLD SEEMS TO END, LOOKING OUT OVER NOTHINGNESS]

…

[EIGHT BRIGHT LEAVES SWIRLING IN A POOL; ONE IS CAUGHT IN A CURRENT AND SWEPT ONWARD DOWN THE STREAM]

[A SEVEN-FINGERED HAND REACHING INTO A BAG AND FINDING NOTHING]

[A VAST EMPTINESS OF PURE WHITE; A BLACK MOTE OF INFINITE DENSITY]

[A STORM RAGES OUTSIDE; A CAVE, WARM AND DRY]

[A BURDEN THAT CAN NO LONGER BE BORNE; ARMS COLLAPSING IN EXHAUSTION]

[A CLOUD IN THE SKY IN THE SHAPE OF A BIRD; THE WIND BLOWS AND THE CLOUD DISAPPEARS]

…

[A WELL-TRODDEN PATH THROUGH TALL GRASS]

[A HOME NOT SEEN FOR MANY YEARS]

[AN IMAGE OF AN ANDALITE FACE, REFLECTED IN STILL WATER]

…

[A BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL DAY OUTSIDE; A CAVE, WARM AND DRY]

[AN ALIEN BODY, WITH PALE PINK SKIN, FOUR LIMBS, AND TWO EYES FLANKING A HOOF]

[A CIRCLE OF ANDALITES, MOVING TOWARD THE SUN, LEAVING A LONE INDIVIDUAL BEHIND]

[A STRING, STRETCHING—A STRING, SNAPPED]

[A DARK SKY WITH NO STARS; AN INFINITE SADNESS]

…

[AN ENORMOUS CAVE, FILLED WITH THE FLICKERING LIGHT OF TORCHES. A CROWD OF ANDALITES, EACH WITH ALL FOUR EYES TURNED TO FACE THE WALL. A PAINTING IN SAP AND ICHOR, A BLUE SHAPE WITH SIX LIMBS AND A LONG, SINUOUS TAIL. ONE BY ONE, EACH ANDALITE PASSES; ONE BY ONE, EACH ANDALITE GOUGES THE STONE IN THE PLACE WHERE THE TAIL ENDS.]

Translation:

‹Warning—you are approaching the time limit. In seven minutes, energy reserves will be depleted and the Z-space alcove will decohere. You must-should-please-truth-unity demorph. If you remain in your construct, you will die. You will never be forgotten.›