The WCS Caesarion was a massive submarine, well over a hundred meters in length and with over 20,000 tons of displacement. Or so Rama said as she lead the group out of the hanger where the boat had been stored. She seemed incredibly proud of the vessel, her genuine excitement shining through the veneer of riddles and mysticism. There was an almost childlike wonder whenever she spoke of the inventions of Wonder Corp., and she had a deep pride of what her company had done.
“…the largest privately operated Submarine in the world.” Rama continued, leading the group to a simple hatch. She placed her card on it, and they heard a series of bolts click. The door leaned open slightly and she gestured towards it. “Though it’s not size that makes this vessel great.”
The group funneled through the door, walking into a completely clear tunnel that showed the ocean outside. The vast blue surrounded them in every direction; beneath their feet, to both sides, with the submarine seemingly hovering above them. Jacob saw a few schools of fish moving through the water, and spotted a pod of whales in the far distance. He glanced down and saw the depths of the abyss stretching below, the blue of the ocean slowly fading into an inky black. Various fish occasionally swam by, and Jacob saw a few tiny pinpricks of light appear and disappear in the dark. It was beautiful and terrifying, and Jacob forced himself to tear his gaze away from the deep. The light echo of whale song could be heard, and the group looked around in wonder. Rama entered the tunnel with them, shutting the hatch behind her. She looked out at the ocean for a moment, before making her way to the front of the invite card holders. The tunnel was large, easily allowing three or four people to stand side by side. It appeared to somehow run under the submarine, which Jacob and the others finally got a clear look at.
The WCS Ceasarion was a truly massive vessel, with a sleek exterior painted a deep maroon color - somehow both standing out and blending in with the ocean environment. It appeared to be every bit as large as Rama had promised, and Jacob spotted multiple observation points sprinkled throughout the hull. The ship was built to observe the seas around it, and with the magic of the cards it could do so at even the most crushing depths.
“So many think the cards are meant to change the world.” Rama said “But to cause change, you must understand. You must see the totality of what is, and what could be. You must shed the bias that blinds you, to see things as they are. This way.”
Rama led them through the completely clear corridor, moving slowly as the group continued to talk amongst themselves. The ocean around them was massive, filled with more life than could ever be described. As they walked members of the group pointed out excitedly the things they saw swimming past. A large shark, a small pod of dolphins, and countless fish. They made their way down the tunnel, which seemed to grow narrower as they traveled further. Walls that were barely in reach seemed to get closer; Jacob felt the curve of the floor more and more, and the group slowly began to change from walking in clusters to single file.
“When did the tunnel start shrinking?” Stan asked from in front of Jacob. Rama ignored the question, as the it got even smaller. Soon Jacob had to crouch to be able to keep walking, the top of his head touching the clear surface.
“This better not get any tinier.” Veronica grumbled “I’m not crawling.”
“Do we have to crawl?” Kerl’s voice was more innocent as he asked “My mother has bad knees.”
“I feel like I’m in a fishbowl.” The small man accompanying Veronica said.
“Do the rest of them do anything other than complain?” Jacob’s grandfather mumbled directly behind him.
“Some of them are also experts in whining.” Jacob replied under his breath “They’re multi-talented.”
The group ahead of them stopped, and Jacob saw Rama turn to look at them. She smiled genuinely, though Jacob had a sinking feeling she was toying with them again.
“The world as it is is beautiful, is it not?” Rama asked cryptically “Is it the world that needs to change? Or us?”
Rama fiddling with her silver card again. Jacob didn’t see a door - or any other surface - but Rama touched her card, and a small hatch popped open above her. She climbed up into it, disappearing into the next space. The group eagerly followed, and Jacob glanced back at his grandfather as they crouched towards the opening. The old man seemed grumpy, but was otherwise doing fine. If anything, he seemed in higher spirits than usual. He and his grandfather may complain under their breaths, but the old man seemed to be enjoying the trip just as much as Jacob did. Rama was odd, but the Wonder Corp. submarine was amazing.
Jacob followed the group ahead of them, climbing through the hatch into the next room. He turned to help his grandfather through, who begrudgingly allowed Jacob lift him into the space. The two stood up and looked around, taking everything in.
The room they had entered was fully mirrored, with no visible seams. The hatch shut behind Jacob as he rose to his feet, blending into the floor. They were completely surrounded by mirrors, with no way in or out. Their reflections seemed to go on forever, in every direction Jacob looked.
Rama was nowhere to be seen.
“Look inward to see outward,” Rama's voice echoed against the mirrored walls “and you will find your way. You cannot see without bias, without seeing the self.”
“What is this?! Let us out!” Veronica's voice was filled with panic, and she placed a hand onto the mirrors. Rama didn't answer. The other members of the group started to mutter amongst themselves, as they looked around the room nervously. The space appeared to be one giant mirrored box, and they were trapped inside.
“Give this funhouse a few clowns, and you’d have the perfect carnival ride.” Stan quipped.
“Who needs a clown when you have our present company?” Jacob retorted back softly, speaking so only Stan could hear him. The actor chuckled lightly.
“Rama!” Veronica was yelling again, her voice echoing “Let me out of this madhouse! I! Want! OUT!”
“Welcome to Wonderland, Alice.” Rama’s voice echoed through the room, chuckling as it did “We’re all a little mad here.”
Rama started laughing, the sound bouncing off the walls. The members of the group looked around nervously, and several began to also approach the mirrors. Veronica yelled in frustration and began pacing the walls, running a hand along them to find any gap. She made her way quickly around the room, before ending up where she had started. She whirled in rage towards the small man who accompanied her.
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“This is all your fault!” She yelled “I’ll never speak to you again, I hate you!”
Veronica stomped along the mirror until she found a corner, which she sunk into. She placed her face into her hands, and Jacob heard heavy breathing. Veronica was apparently claustrophobic, a fear which was hitting her heavily. Jacob almost felt bad for her. Almost.
Jacob turned and looked at the mirror, running a hand along it. He didn’t feel any seams, but quickly found the sudden curve of a corner when he reached the area across from Veronica. He looked at himself along the mirror, seeing how the curve distorted his image. It was comical, just like the mirrors in a funhouse. Stan’s joke hadn’t been too off base. It would make a spectacular carnival attraction.
Jacob leaned against the wall, watching the other members of the group begin feeling their way around the space while arguing amongst themselves. Jacob began thinking, analyzing everything Rama had said. She was teaching them a lesson, wrapping it in a mysterious challenge. But how would they prove they had listened? Jacob slowly slid down the wall until he was seated on the ground, pondering the problem. The way out was in something Rama had said. But what. Jacob sat in deep thought and considered every word. If he did so long enough, he would find a way out. He had to.
*****
Jacob fanned out the cards Rama had given him earlier in the tour, looking through them carefully. Rama had said they could look at them later, and and it was technically later. The group was still in the mirrored room, having been stuck for almost an hour. Jacob had pondered the problem for at least 45 minutes before deciding to take a break, and look at his cards. The small deck appeared to be made entirely of unreleased Wonder Corp cards, all of which seemed tailored to Jacob’s existing deck. How Rama had been able to figure out Jacob’s cards was unknown to him.
In the mini deck of 25 cards was 7 creature cards, 12 spell cards, and 6 snare cards, all with interlocking effects. All of the creatures were double types, with one of their types being Ocean. They were each fairly powerful, with the most promising being an unusual card with the image of a ghost ship across the front:
Ghosts of the Derelict Ship - Creature - Ocean/Spirit Type - Strength: 2100 - Defense: 2500 - Once per summoning this card may be used to resurrect any two cards that have been destroyed. Those cards may be equipped to this card as a part of it’s undead crew. This card gains 400 in strength for each card equipped to it. Once per turn a card equipped to this one may be selected. Its effect is activated at half strength. Once the effect is completed, that card must be discarded and cannot be equipped again.
Jacob looked at the ghost ship, immediately thinking of the implications. Its effect was layered, with several broad clauses. The card allowed for two cards to be added from the graveyard as equips, but it didn’t stipulate that only those cards could be equipped to the ghost ship. Additionally, it didn’t stipulate its sacrificed equip cards had to be the ones that had been returned from the graveyard, allowing for any card as needed to be equipped from the equip deck and still count for that clause. It also didn’t stipulate a mandatory target for the half-strength effect being used, allowing for a very wide interpretation of the rules.
Within the spells were a few equally promising cards, all ocean related, which Jacob was eager to try. Bubbles of a Treasure Chest looked particularly interesting - causing both damage and obsession amongst an opposing casters creatures - along with Pirate Code of Honor, which disallowed both casters from directly attacking for five turns while following a strict order of events. All of the snares held potential, and Jacob was excited to play them in a match. Rama had likely personalized every Invite Card holder’s decks to match their existing cards, personalizing their experiences.
Already Jacob was planning combinations. Pairing the hug of death of his Snugglemonster with the half effect equip of the Ghost of the Derelict Ship, allowing for random and sudden attacks. Using the Pirate Code of Honor alongside Wall of Token to effectively double his defense as needed, buying time for him to lay out cards while being fully protected, building up impossible array of creatures and snares that could stop nearly any strategy. He expected quite a few cards from what Rama had given him would find a permanent place in his overall deck. His only limit was his own imagination.
Jacob had a sudden realization, remembering Stan’s comment on funhouse mirrors, and Rama’s clue on how to get out of the space.
“You cannot see without bias, without seeing the self.” Jacob muttered under his breath.
“Huh?” Jacob’s grandfather turned to look at him as Jacob stood up. Jacob slowly walked towards one of the walls in the room, and stared at his own reflection. The man he saw was a perfect mirror image, reflecting him exactly as he was. He slowly began walking sideways, moving along the mirrors. He reached a corner and turned, watching his image distort and return to normal. He stared at himself again for a moment, then began walking sideways once more.
“What in the devil is he doing?” The small man’s voice broke in, threatening Jacob’s concentration. Jacob focused and kept walking.
“Shut up, he’s onto something.” Jacob’s grandfather responded. The room fell silent, but Jacob focused on his own image. He reached another corner and turned again to follow the wall, watching as his image distorted and returned to normal. Jacob paused and started at himself. Something was wrong. He walked a bit sideways, watching his reflection until he noticed it.
“Hey Stan.” Jacob called over. “What was that you said about funhouse mirrors?”
Stan walked over to stand next to Jacob, and stared at the reflection. It took Stan a moment, but he smiled broadly when he saw it too. “That this was one hell of a carnival ride.”
Jacob smiled back at Stan as they both observed the mirror. The effect was subtle, but obvious if you knew what to look for. One half of Jacob’s reflection was slightly taller, thinned out as the reflection distorted. While no seam was visible in the glass, it looked like a line had cut Jacob into two halves; one tall, one normal.
“Look inward to see outward.” Jacob said softly, stepping up to the mirror “See the self.”
The effect was more obvious up close, and Jacob’s heart started pounding. He placed a hand on the distorted side, then shoved. The mirror resisted for a moment - likely to be imperceptible to light touch - before opening inwards. Beyond it was a 2 foot wide corridor also covered in mirrors, that slowly curved around out of sight.
“Is that the way out? Move out of my way!” Veronica pushed past the others and hurried over to where Jacob was. She placed a hand on the wall next to him, pressing close as she did to look down the corridor. She glanced over at Jacob with a look of venom. “This better not lead to another dead end.”
Veronica quickly began following the wall along the corridor, disappearing from sight around the curve. The rest of the group slowly moved to follow her while Jacob watched. Stan, his wife, and Jacob’s grandfather all hesitated for a moment.
“Guess that one’s claustrophobic.” Jacob’s grandfather said. Stan and Jacob both shrugged in response. Jacob gestured forward, and Stan moved down the corridor, holding his wife’s hand tightly. Jacob made sure his grandfather was touching the wall to use it as a guide, and the two of them walked behind the others. The passageway was thin and fully mirrored, maintaining the optical illusion that made it impossible to see where the corridor began and ended. It loop in on itself several times, following a roundabout path that curved back and forth. The group in front of them disappeared several times, and Jacob and his grandfather followed the path on faith for several minutes before it opened up into a larger space. The rest of the group was already waiting for them, standing in front of a non-mirrored wall. Rama stood their waiting, smiling lightly at the group.
“You have seen the self.” Rama said gently “You can see the world. But first, we shall see you to your cabins.”
Rama turned and tapped the ground with her staff. A door opened in front ofher, revealing a regular submarine corridor beyond. Rama walked through, though the group hesitated.
“I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but I’d like to see where I’m going.” Jacob said sarcastically, breaking the silence. The group seemed to jolt out of its nervousness, and quickly began making its way down the hallway.
teaching them. We’ll start seeing those lessons taken effect soon.
trust in the cards…
Would you travel on the WCS Ceasarion?
