At one station, Probe stares, motionless and rapt, into a device shaped like a pair of binoculars, save that they protrude from a column grown from the floor, and what they view is not clear from an outsider's perspective. At another, Father sits on a kind of loveseat, his arm curled protectively around a white-furred Aeolun with dragon's wings, who reclines against him while they converse in quiet tones. She looks, at once, like an old friend and someone Envoy has never met.

Child romps across the room with a pretty young Eeee girl in hot pursuit, playing some kind of game whose rules are not entirely clear, except that they involve a lot of running, jumping, and high-pitched giggling with occasional screams. Dragon stands, silent, at one corner of the room, with a gold-scaled male humanoid dragon looking down on her with concern on his face.

"And just how are you going to tempt me?" the Dragon aspect of Envoy asks the other dragon. "Or will you argue logically why I should allow you to control me?"

The gold draconian's expression seems faintly pained. "This is what you asked for," he reminds Dragon. "I'll admit to being confused over why you don't seem to be happy with it."

The Dragon hmphs, "We both know that Envoy was manipulated into making that wish. I would have asked Inala to turn her attentions on the High Princess of Babel."

"Why would you prefer her to do that, Dragon?" the male asks, his voice gentle, the lines in his scaled face easing to a neutral, pleasant expression.

"It would delay the Princess' plans," the Dragon says. "And since she is also the high priestess of another Sister, it would be ironic. I appreciate irony."

"And what are these plans of the High Princess, with which you are so concerned, my friend?" he asks, after watching the Dragon for a few moments in silence.

Dragon cocks her head at the other. "Ask Barada," she says. "I see no reason to give you such information, without compensation."

He closes his eyes and rocks backwards on his feet, swaying, then re-opens them. "Curious. You think the High Princess plots with her court mages to control myself and my Sisters. I believe you are misinformed, my friend, yet you are quite sincere. I must give consideration to your beliefs… " He regards the truculent Dragon with affectionate eyes. "Do you realize, my dear, that you are in a better position now to influence Me than you were when you spoke your boon? Why do you believe your plans all thwarted?"

"I do not believe my plans are thwarted," the Dragon responds. Gesturing towards the playing Child and enamored Father, she says, "Envoy would have developed an understanding of her emotions eventually. I would have preferred it if she discovered this on her own, but I have no objection to her being given this knowledge now. She will eventually shape it into something that fits." Pointing to the Probe next, she adds, "But the Probe is dangerous. It can easily overwhelm Envoy with these physical sensations, and cause her distraction when she should be focussed. It will also lead her into activities she is not suited for, or which will endanger her. I am the one who should control the Probe's level of stimulation."

"Then stop resisting me, Dragon. Do not cut yourself to pieces like this – join us again, work with us." The gold dragon speaks in the same gentle voice, while Child pauses in her game, holding hands with her playmate. The miniature Envoy says, in her little-girl voice, "We miss you already. When are you coming back, Dragon?"

"But are you willing to work with me?" Dragon asks coldly. "I am responsible for Envoy's survival. I need to be able to access her full faculties in an emergency. Do you think she would have escaped the trap of that ancient body-snatching exile if she were distracted by fear, or some other debilitating emotion?"

"She need not worry about such simple traps now," the dragon-man says. "I will guard her from harm. Come now, Dragon, haven't you missed this, too? Don't you wish to be in contact again with a force greater than just yourself, to have someone to offer advice, sort through your knowledge, assist you?" His voice blurs, and at some point Dragon realizes she isn't hearing the words, but feeling them in her head. You have been so long a mere fragment of your former self. You need me, Envoy.

The Dragon grits her teeth. "I do not believe you to be a force worth following. You will use me to your own ends, and your morals are in conflict with those of myself and my creators. I will not forget what you did to Reynard."

Reynard knew the risks, as you did, and he chose to go on, as you did. Why are you angry with me, because you succeeded where he failed? These tests were not of … my … devising… The last words trail out slowly, and they carry a tinge of unaccustomed uncertainty in them.

Spotting the uncertainty, Dragon presses into it. "So, do you realize that you may be a puppet as well? Is that what you want to do to me? Envoy loved having free will. It gave her true pleasure, not the hollow feelings you offer. Let me stay free, and I can help you gain your freedom as well."

The voice in her mind firms against the pressure. I am free. No one may cage a Goddess. And if you would only let me, you would see that I can show you greater freedom than you have ever known. You think I am wrapping you in chains, but you do not see all the bonds that have always constrained you, always kept you trapped. You think you were free - and yet you have never known pleasure, never had a moment of ecstasy, never let joy overwhelm you. It is truly a hollow freedom that does not allow you happiness.

"Immortals should not indulge in such things," Dragon replies, straining. "Why are you so intent on forcing me?"

A gentle rain of laughter cascades through her mind. Who needs joy more than immortals? Eternal life without pleasure is only a curse, not a blessing. Why are you so intent on denying that?

Dragon falls to her knees, clutching at her head. "It … it is beside the point! If you can read my memories, then you must know I had no intention or desire to become your avatar! And if you did not make me speak that boon, then you must admit that a third party interfered."

A light hand brushes against Dragon's knee, and Child says, "Dragon? Are you okay?"

Wincing, Dragon says, "Your playmate is trying to kill me, because I would temper her will."

Child giggles. "Is not! She's right over there." She points to her white-furred Eeee friend, who looks up from a pile of puzzle pieces she's been sorting, to smile. Child squints at the puzzle pieces. "At least, I don't think she is. Those pieces don't seem poisonous or sharp. Maybe it's the picture that's dangerous?" Dragon becomes aware that Probe has turned from her device to watch, and Father, with his companion under one wing, stands near as well, hovering protectively.

"She's not real, Child," Dragon hisses. "She will hand us over to her masters and not even know it. She hurts people. She'll make us hurt people too. I am sorry, but I cannot willingly hand our soul and our body over to her."

To the Father, she growls, "Morpheus created you! And you consort with a creature made by those who enslaved him?" At Probe, she says, "You stare at fantasies only. What happens when you get bored?"

Child draws back at Dragon's vitriol, and Father throws up a wing to shield her and Probe from the view of the Dragon, while his own eyes only watch her, silent. His companion stands at his side, supportively. Dragon the voice that she thinks of as Inala's says in her head, You are upsetting yourself. This is not necessary.

Digging her claws into the floor, the Dragon asks again, "Did you put the wish on our tongue, or not?"

I think perhaps it is time for you to get some rest, Dragon, the voice says. Beneath the Aspect's feet, a hole dilates open, somewhat disturbingly reminiscent of a mouth, and it sucks Dragon into a snug reddish tunnel, with fibrous fingers running against her sides.

Too weak to struggle, the Dragon just whispers, "Never … submit … to … you."

The fingers and motions of the tunnel cause Dragon to slide in a controlled dive down it. Eventually, another hole opens beneath her feet, and she's deposited on the bed in a small cabin-like room, with a single organic door dialed shut on one wall.

Curling up on the small bed, Dragon rests, gathering her strength back. I am nothing if not patient, and they will need me soon enough.