Chapter 10: A Pocket Dimension Discovered...

Proverbs 27: 12

“A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.”

Moose and Qbot find the cargo bay doors open as they arrive back at the docking platform. The cargo bay is cool and dry, the humidity kept low for all the books in digi-crates. A slight hum of air circulators quietly fills the room as the two step inside. Artbot and Cbot are standing by the diagnostic computers staring at a screen.

“Captain, you’re back!” Artbot looks over her shoulder and waves them over. “Come take a look. The calculations all work out. We have found a pocket dimension.”

Moose steps up to the holographic terminal and inspects, scrolling through several pages of readouts in the holoprojection. He nods as the information scrolls slowly.

“Artbot, if this data is correct, and I have no reason to think it’s not, it’s not just any pocket dimension you have found.” Moose pulls his hat up and rubs his head. He wrinkles his nose and pulls his hat brim back down. Moose leans in and squints at the details.

“What do you mean?” Artbot asks and steps next to Moose, her optics scanning the readout.

“If these readings are correct, you have found the lost city of Charolette.” Moose takes a deep breath and steps back. “Fabled Charolette. All my research on Charolette tells me it is a dangerous place. A place where might makes right and the right are mighty indeed, whether they are wrong or not.”

Moose walks a few steps over to the digi-crate full of Bibles nearest the terminals. He takes a finger and pokes out a security code. With a quiet swoosh of air the crate unlocks, its lid lifting ever so slightly open. Moose raises the lid and reveals the motley collection of Bibles stacked neatly inside. He turns back towards the bots and nods.

“Artbot, have you calculated our entry yet?” Moose turns his attention to the blue haired bot.

Artbot straightens slightly, her optics flickering with a soft blue pulse as she pulls up a secondary holographic overlay beside the main readout. A quiet chime confirms the link.

“Yes, Captain. Entry calculations are complete and stable.” She gestures with one slender metallic hand, tracing a glowing vector path that unfolds in the air between them. “The pocket dimension’s aperture is narrow but consistent—roughly forty-seven seconds of viable alignment every nineteen hours. We can phase through with standard shielding at seventy-three percent power. No major gravitational shear, but… there’s significant interference on the far side.”

She pauses, tilting her head as if listening to the data itself. “The readings match your old Charolette archives almost exactly. Dense urban sprawl, layered defenses, and what looks like active power signatures consistent with… well, might-makes-right architecture. I’ve flagged three potential insertion points that minimize exposure. One is near what the legends called the Outer Veil Market—good for blending in if we go subtle.” Artbot glances toward the open digi-crate of Bibles, then back to Moose.

“Cbot and I have already prepped a reconnaissance drone package and emergency recall beacons. If it really is the lost city… we’ll be ready for whatever ‘mighty’ welcome they have waiting. Your orders, Captain?” She folds her hands behind her back and waits, the soft hum of the cargo bay circulators underscoring the moment.

Moose thinks a long moment and opens the Bible in his hand. He places a finger on the page, running it under the script as he reads and nods firmly. “We are in Texas for a reason. There is a church here in Sixshot we need to see before we get going on this new adventure. Cbot, pack yourself up and get ready. You will be coming with me to explore the town. Qbot, you’re going to be on coms. I haven’t decided if you’re coming yet.”

“Chirp chirp,” Qbot responds and nods.

“Artbot,” Moose continues, “I will need you to stay here and tend the ship. Be ready for a rescue if we need it. But before we do anything, I’m going to need some rest.”

Proverbs 29: 1

“He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”