View from Earth:
On the Journey

By DANIEL LYON

So, it's been over three long years since the Receda Cube came from your world to ours, and the hunt is finally over. And what a hunt it's been. I think I speak for the majority of Earth's Cube hunters when I say that it's been an amazing experience. The experience of communicating with another world is quite incredible, and it seems that many a Perplexian has greeted Earth's curiosity with open arms.

Recently, of course, Violet Kiteway [daughter of the Master of the Academy, Sente Kiteway] emerged as the one to have stolen the Cube. And before I begin what I am about to say, I would just like to say this: Violet, you did what you had to do. I agree with everything that Violet has done -- from heroically protecting the Cube, to gallantly communicating with Earth, putting herself and those near her at risk of discovery by the Third Power in her quest to keep them from the Cube.

Still, there has been discussion on this side of the link on Violet's actions -- were they justified? What would we have done better were we in her place? Has she been lying to us for the last three years, and is she still lying to us now?

One thought that keeps appearing is that, were one of us in Violet's shoes, we "certainly wouldn't have strung people along for three years." I've been thinking about this, and I think it's a ridiculous statement. Violet had to "string us along" -- it was the only way she could remain undercover. Any communication with us on Earth was too dangerous, with Third Power agents listening in.

If just one Third Power agent got a hunch that Violet was the one that thwarted their plans, that would be the end. I shudder to think what could have happened, and I, for one, am glad that she is safe. Therefore, the only way that she could communicate to us was the way that she did, with meta puzzles contained on the puzzle cards, without risking everything that she had worked for the last three years to keep secret. Meta puzzles that only we could solve, as a team.

Still, people on this side of the link do not see this, believing Violet to just have played us for fools, having lied to us for the past two years... Frankly, I think that she is a hero to Perplex City, having rescued the Cube from the hands of the true thieves in the plot to steal it. And I wish that more people on Earth would see it from my point of view -- she had to do what she did.

Violet, if you ever read this.. Congratulations. You should be proud of yourself for what you've done for Perplex City. And don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

The finding of the Cube seems to spell the end for Season 1 of the puzzle cards over here, with Season 2 starting in less than two weeks. Then, the next wave of puzzle cards is released, and we Earth-based Cube Hunters make a mad dash for the nearest shops to buy as many cards as we can. This will be followed by weeks... if not months... of solving -- the thrill as each of the cards slowly fall to the onslaught of many people, frantically puzzling away to claim the glory of having a first solve.

The next few weeks will be filled with joy. And it is all thanks to the communication link set up between our two worlds.

I'm certain that I speak for almost every single Cube Hunter here on Earth when I say... Season 1 has been awesome, and we hope that the good relationships between our two worlds will continue, forever.