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Post by The Union of Tinis on Nov 13, 2006 0:55:32 GMT -5
Many years previous, in the very hall that would later be home to an argument between the elders of Pargalo over the fate of their nation, there was a ceremony of sorts going on. The ceremony was relatively new but had elements steeped in the traditions of the land.
A young Izixs emerged into the room in a set of light armor and carrying a long sword. He had come here to challenge Genius for the right to control an important library to the north. He was confident he would win it this day. And it was important as well. He had heard rumors that there in were kept records on the old government which could lead one who knew where to look, to hidden catches of raw materials and money. But he also feared he'd have to face Genius herself. By this point he had fallen in love with the super intelligent skunk and did not wish to bring her harm. They had battled before and almost every time he had won by either surrender, or first blood.
It was only a few moments before she appeared from the other entrance into the hall under a flourish of trumpets. She appeared to be without armor and carried in her paw her standard weapon, the infamous mechanical parallel sword.
Izixs knew the capabilities of that unusual weapon. He had used one from time to time but was not his favored blade. To many things could go wrong with the gears and it took allot of concentration and quick thinking to put it to its full use. And often hitting it solidly, attacking the weapon and not the fighter who wielded it, resulted in its vicious functions being disabled. Genius had improved upon the design much, but it was still an overly complex weapon.
A colorfully clad wolf took a step forward into the cleared space in the midst of the hall. "Tis on this day of spring, being the fifth month of the year, that we doth gather here in this hall of antiquity and history to determine the rights over a parcel of territory that hath been held by the house of Genius since its inception. The parcel having being claimed by the house of Izixs in order to expand and strengthen his house at the expense of the other. As per the law of this age, set forth by the founders of the seven houses, this dispute shall be settled by personal combat between two champions. Both houses are here by represented by their founders, person of great skill and character. Be it known that if either forfeits this battle they shall give up the claim the hath made for a period of no less than one year. To the victor, the one who hath not surrendered, or whom sheds the blood of the other champion first, they shall be rewarded their claim over the parcel and shall be recognized at its controller. The parcel is the Library at Umleck. Are the champions ready?"
Izixs nodded. "I the challenger am ready."
Genius, closed her eyes and said, "I the defender am ready."
The master of ceremonies nodded, "Very well! Then let the champions step forward into the place of battle. Be it observed the law and rules are as normal." The wolf stepped out of the 'ring' as the two stepped in. "Begin."
Izixs crouched down and held his sword out, pointing towards Genius. The lady, eyes still closed adjusted her stance slightly and took a single step forward.
"May I ask you to surrender easily lady?" asked Izixs.
"I am afraid this library is to important for the works of my house. I'm afraid you will be unable to win this day."
"You should at least open your eyes if you want to make such claims."
Izixs rushed the skunk, swinging his sword towards her mechanical blade.
He almost stumbled as his blade was caught in the mechanism of Genius' weapon. Wedged between one of the main blades and an extendable blade, the long sword was held from advancing, and yet the mechanical blade was undamaged by the force of his strike.
Genius opened her eyes and looked at him. "I told you, the library is too important to the works of my house."
Izixs starred into her eyes and saw a sight he never wished to see again. It felt as if fear itself emanated from her gaze and reduced the proud dragon to a crying whelp on the inside. But there was more to it. A blazing fire that burned his gaze more than the fear sapped his resolve. He couldn't look, but could not pull is gaze away. They were frozen in this stance for over a minute, the dragon being beaten back by these eyes that at night had seemed so much more loving and kind. These eyes turned to weapons that cut him to pieces.
"I..." spoke Izixs.
Another minute passed. Still they did not move. Those watching looked on. Then started whispering to each other.
Izixs could not penetrate her defenses. He also doubted if this resolve, this intensity was even hers for a bit, but some how it flared inside his mind that indeed it was she and not some spirit or sprite that sought to infest her. That this power was Genius. Her essence focused and established properly and directed to stopping his advance and forcing him to stand back and stand off. He could not focus himself against it. Could not open his inner reserves to stand against it. It seemed to disable his will power bit by bit. Eating away at his desire to fight her. A corrosion so perfect that if he did not surrender to it, that he would soon be no more.
The dragon leapt back from Genius, abandoning his weapon in the grip of her own.
He lowered his head and said, "I will not be burned by the fire in your eyes lady Genius. I surrender my claim and forfeit this contest."
His weapon clattered to the floor and silently Genius turned and exited the chamber as the shocked master of ceremonies declared her the victor.
-----
"You told me a few weeks ago that you had found something dangerous. Was this it?" asked Izixs of his lover.
"I don't want to talk about it," she replied, tightening her embrace.
"I'm afraid for you. I heard you slew that one champion a week previous. You didn't have to do that." And she didn't as all contests were to first blood.
"He had death on his mind. Vangatas would of killed me if he had survived."
Izixs kissed Genius. "But..."
"Please..."
"It frightens you too."
She nodded. "My system equation can link the world of the everyday to a great essence that's buried within. It can do it for all things if one knows how. It has allowed me to meet a part of my own existence that I knew not of. I don't like the house system but it works. It keeps the fighting to a minimum. But it has lead me to kill. I didn't know I could do that. I didn't."
"At least you know yourself now. Know that you are capable of it. Knowledge is power you used to tell me all the time. Now that you know about this part of you, you can learn to avoid its temptation. I know you don't want to hurt people, and today... you didn't. But you could of. You could of sliced my arm off. Or my head. But you didn't. Perhaps you were justified in that other duel. And you did what you had to to protect yourself. But then you also acted rightly here."
"But I shouldn't of killed him. Even if he meant me death. I could of disabled him. Wounded him. Crippled him even. But I killed him. This connection to myself that my knowledge gives me enabled it. I now know that I'm a killer. That..."
Izixs stroked her head as she began to cry.
"I could of killed you today," she says between sobs. "Why did I return to that state? Why?"
"Because..." began Izixs. He didn't know. "Well... if this thing you found. This knowledge, this state, gets you in touch with your underlying self, can it not tell you that?"
"It... might. But it could be weeks before I figure it out. And challenges will happen before then. My house is weak, and everyone knows that. Entering into this state, becoming an Unireck, is all that stands between it and destruction. If all our lands and possessions are seized by others, then more than this horror will be released upon the world. There are other dark things that I've found through my research."
"A Unireck... I guess that fits. And does imply that you're not fully able to tap into anything beyond battle."
"Yes," she replied, a few tears still leaking from her eyes.
"Genius. Your house is not the only one that's being weakened of late. Even Dykon is worried the lands of the first house will be gobbled up by the sixth and seventh houses."
Thinking about this, they remained in each others arms for a few more minutes before finally Izixs said. "Its one of the reasons I wanted the library. Not for the knowledge of things old and arcane that you're interested in, but because it could lead my house to resources that we could put to use to combat their encroachment. If Jirie and his Itchalians, and Wune's fascists become the dominant controllers of the resources they can disregard the rules of the houses and destroy us all."
"We can not survive these conflict without me becoming Unireck."
"Non-sense," he replied.
"It was the only solution that came out of my system equation. The house system will be dominated by their under handed efforts unless I can defeat them decisively and justly by the rules. Its the only way."
Izixs thought for a moment. "No, there's always a third option."
"But... maybe..."
"There is. We could escape."
"But..." she stammered.
"Escape Pargalo, our houses and any who wanted to come with us. Return to the homeland of Glorvan down south and live in peace, away from the hunger of Wune and Jirie. The youngsters can have this land and burn on their own. We can move to the south and use your knowledge for good instead of evil."
"Maybe..." she nodded. "Yes. Lets leave Pargalo. It will take time to ready enough ships, but we can do it. And..."
"And what?"
Genius smiled. "I can't let the system equation become a public thing. Its to dangerous. If we use it for good then it will lead to evil eventually. I can't allow that. I'll have to rewrite it. I know I can, to make it less dangerous."
Izixs nodded before kissing her. "Do that, and when you're ready all of us will leave Pargalo and find ourselves a new world. I hear the land Tinis is mostly devoid of peoples still as it has been in centuries past. A place to start fresh. To start again."
-----
Izixs awoke from a dream. He quickly stood and looked out the window at the city below, sparkling as usual. His memories of times past were that, the past. This was the now. The future perhaps. Arx, the city of dreams.
The dragon shook his head at his foolishness.
"To start again, that's why we came here. Why won't the past just die?"
He turned and crawled back into his next of blankets and pillows.
"Like she did," he says quietly. He slides back to sleep with a few tears falling from his eyes. The last thoughts on his mind: they die or change or are change so that they might as well of died. And yet my dreams succeed? Why? Was it my sin?
-----
The Federation of Tinis was failing. The white dragon sat in meditation surrounded by his fellow champions of the fifth house. The other houses had armies now, and were marching on each other's strong holds. Killing their fellow Pargalonians. Murdering them over their lusts for power and ideologies.
In the last year of the old federation, 1959, Izixs had to make a decision. He decided he would ask his fellows.
"The dangerous option," he said. "Shall we use it?"
There was silence.
"All who disagree, please let us know."
More silence.
"Again, I plead with you. We know the dangers involved in this. That we could loose ourselves. Will not one of you tell us why then we shall take this most drastic step?"
Finally a voice answered. It was Gomprin, "We know the dangers. But we know the dangers in not acting. If we fail to defend the innocents, both those who fight and those who die, as well as those who should not even be on the field of battle, then we are committing a great crime against our fellows. We can change this. If it means our lives are sacrificed to this method of Genius, then let it be so. We shall die knowing we did the right thing."
"Perhaps you don't understand," replied Izixs. "This is more than entering a state. Its getting in touch with your inner being, and letting it come fourth. I have not done it yet myself, but I saw it once. It was a power so overwhemling that it could of leveled entire worlds had it not been directed by one capable of handling it properly. Do you believe we are ready?"
Gomprin nodded though all eyes were closed. "We are ready. You've taught us to cherish life. To accept its flaws. And work for its betterment. If any of us do not hold these values to our core, then let us be defeated by our brothers who also partake of this forbidden knowledge who are pure of heart."
"And if none of us are pure of heart?" asks Izixs.
"Then we are fools even now for considering this. But I would hope that fools would of built an army as the other houses did and would be marching now across this land of Tinis to our doom."
Izixs smiled. "I see your wisdom. So is there any who would decry our act here?"
Silence again.
Izixs waited a good five minutes before finally saying, "Then let our souls burn. Hopefully for the greater good. And if not, let us die."
-----
The four armies had met on the field known as Arx near the houseless village of Gantana. Blades and guns had already begun the slaughter of the Tinisian Pargalonians when a group of no more than twenty appeared on the horizon. None of the fighters on the field took any notice of the new comers, as they had more immediate concerns.
The figures soon broke into a sprint from the rise upon which they appeared. Almost impossibly fast they met the lines of the first house from the side. Distant on lookers couldn't make out much of what was happening beyond that there was a disturbance at that point. And it was moving quickly.
Soon there began to form a path of wounded soldiers. At the head of the path were the Unireck.
The soldiers that lay on the ground were bruised, torn, missing limbs, or simply broken on the inside, having encountered an unmitigated terror.
-----
Izixs once again woke up from his nightmare.
"Huh... huh... yeah... no sleep tonight..."
The First Speaker stands again and notices that its almost five am.
"A little early for breakfast, but might as well..." he says to no one. "Heh, perhaps I should of pulled a Kam and played with that sphere when I had a chance," he continued wandering into the kitchen looking for some cereal. A new experience might of been a distractor from these visions, came his thoughts.
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Post by miokalia on Nov 13, 2006 2:24:32 GMT -5
It was a calm day in the new temporary laboratory. Doron was busy unraveling the winding labyrinth of Genius' attemps to keep the 'darker' sides of the system equasion hidden. Ryuqi had a new CD delivered to the hotel and excitedly had it playing in one of the new computers. It was downtempo, using some analogue synthesizers and Erenmoren crystal synths, and it sounded like some kind of hybridization of old public broadcasting documentary soundtrack music and trip-hop turntable and drum-machine stuff. While calm and centering, the music was incredibly strange. Kiyake had bought a bottle of Amaretto, which he was shocked actually was sold at liquor stores, having been used to it being a grocery store item since for his species at least, it contained enough other chemicals in it to completely cancel out the depressant-effect of the alcohol in the liquor component. Diiy decided to just order a Hariyamo's ball generator from a scientific supply place, since he just really wasn't at all up to building a new one. Doron compared Sparhows 'transcription' of the other folios to his own notes on some similar things. There seemed to be a growing hole in what was happening here. Culture shock, perhaps, was beginning to show up even in the supposedly universal language of math.
Genius had supposedly kept the equasion a secret because she was concerned about it's misuse... and yet it was becoming very evident that she had actually pursued elements of the equasion which had little practical purpose for good. Components that he had dismissed when exploring similar subjects before. He dismissed them due to their lack of practicality.
Staring at the second folio written on the board. After having taken a picture of it with his camera-eyes, he couldn't help but wonder why she had delved into so much incredibly destructive possibilities in there.
One of the CDs finished and Ryuqi changed them out. Kad peeked over to see what they were. Both CD covers involved colorful painterly illustrations. One of them was 'Boards of Cal' and the other seemed have written in rounded-off duo-line font 'Brahe"
----
Sparhow nodded to Fedor and said, "Well, I'd like to see some of the facilities and get an idea of what I'll be working on...."
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Post by Erenmor on Nov 19, 2006 15:41:40 GMT -5
Petrov chuckled quietly at the reply. "Do you? Well, come along then," he said, motioning for her to follow and stepping out into the corridor.
"Most people who come here, their first question is more often "where's a good place to eat", sometimes swap the "eat" part for "get blind drunk", ask for entertainment and so forth and so on, and there's the inevitable "what's with all the bloody tin cans?" one. But I gather you're only passing through," Petrov grinned, leading the way through the city's corridors.
"They all get the same answer, really, mind you," the otter reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, square data-slate with a band attached to one side. "This, miss Sparhow, is going to be your pass key for your stay here. Carry or wear it wherever, though I suggest wearing it. Doesn't have to be visible, mind you. The automates systems -that includes the guards, of course -will see it either way. It will be updated with security clearance should the need occur," the otter explained. "It's very important that you do not lose it, of course. Now that that's cleared up..."
Petrov turned his steps to a wall terminal, demonstrating how to bring up a simple floorplan, complete with a red dot and a "you are here" message. "Now, as I've been told, you'll be working on that Controlled Singularity muck... disturbing business, really," he commented, showing how to use the terminal to find a specific sector of the city. "Which is currently being carried out on level B7. Right near the Singularity Engine complex housing. Don't worry, it's perfectly safe," he added quickly with a reassuring smile, "Though you might find some of the folks around that sector are a bit funny in the head. All that mucking about with the fabric of reality, I gather." The otter took a deep breath at this point and smiled. "Aaanyway, we're on level B3 currently, and you can see the elevators marked with symbols like these here, here and here, for example," he pointed out the markers signifying the elevator locations. "Mind you, different elevators go between different level ranges. You can see which under the markers. Closest one to get to floor 7 should be... ah, here. Right close by, too, just three junctions off."
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Post by miokalia on Nov 19, 2006 23:40:02 GMT -5
"I beleive the Dincotians have a word for this kind of layout. They call it do corriden and it is something not all that atypical of them to do it. The difference seems to be they do it with a kind of aesthetic which you might find primitive. Using air-shafts, ramps, completely illogical, but otherwise pleasent park alcoves... The biggest thing I am curious about is... and maybe I'm just used to the Hakaron City corriden, but where is the color?
Hakaron is a city almost entirely made of concrete and artificial environment... where most of the city is at least 3 levels thick... that's three levels of roads stacked on top of eachother... and still they paint the concrete vivid colors and turn the steel scaffold super-structure into a foundation for artistic decoration...
I do wonder. But perhaps I will find out on my own in time.", said Sparhow.
She didn't seem as concerned about a long-term stay. And she knew there was another scientist and companion coming soon to join her.
Sparhow had dug up a short experiment in 'minimal recoil gated axial transmission'. Which was basically a 'start' towards what the Erenmoren were talking about doing.
But judging from the scale of the project happening here... this was in no way 'minimal'.
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Post by Erenmor on Nov 21, 2006 18:47:55 GMT -5
Petrov motioned at one of the walls, indicating the slightest tinge of green to the otherwise white surface. "Our government doesn't handle interior decoration, that is arranged between the citizens residing in the given area. Generally we felt this was a good colour for a lab. It brings to mind the memories of every scientist's natural habitat, doesn't it?" he grinned, leading the way to the elevator.
This particular elevator was fairly large, from the look of it 20 people could fit in with plenty of room. From the buttons on the panel, this elevator went from the first subterranean level down to the 10th.
"That, and the airport sectors of Altair are fairly new and haven't accumulated any decorations as of yet," Petrov resumed his train of thought. "You want gardens, colours and the like, the deeper habitat levels are a better bet," he said as the elevator began its descent, humming quietly. "Out of curiosity... what is your field of expertise?"
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Post by miokalia on Nov 21, 2006 20:55:57 GMT -5
Sparhow chuckled. Her age was note completely revealed in her looks. Her expertise went back very far indeed. "Well, for the last 50 years I've just been trying to find something new... I guess I've spent most of my career in the area of reletivity experimentation. There is the whole Coaxial thing, which Doron and I basically started on opposite ends of and met up in the middle on, so to speak."
She continued, "I hope you don't mind, but there are some others who will wish to join me. Primarily one other. Although I'm sure he won't be to hard to clear for this, Krark Kagidoro will be joining me for a while, and I think #36 will want to visit. I'm sure clearence for both wouldn't be too hard. ... Well foretunately, I have a bit on this point-to-point stuff. Although, I'm not sure how you all are doing it here. It's just... we have only recently gotten market-demand for the completion of the technology. BUT, right now we use a similar process for getting RF and lightwave signals between hundreds of lightyears in a matter of hours. But so far, it only works for electromagnetic waves."
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Post by miokalia on Nov 21, 2006 21:06:16 GMT -5
There was a growing pile of burnt-out power supply boxes in the lounge. On his way out to catch a flight to Erenmor, Kagidoro noted the giant pile and said to Doron, "Um.... You think maybe you ought to order something a bit bigger? How long do these last?"
"THey run for 3 hours at a time on the Hariyamo's ball generator... We can't get the experiment to work unless we can get it to run solidly for 8 hours... without burning up...", said Doron
Looking at the scorched boxes, Kagi notices the boxes are rated for 500 watts maximum. He says, "You're running a 2500-Watt H-ball generator on 500 Watt power supplies? I'm surprized you haven't burnt THIS place down too!"
Doron then says to him wryly, "Oh, we could use your powersupply... Donate yourself to science?"
Kagi made a slight squeek-growl at the notion and backed away a bit and said, "Don't you even touch me. I'm out of here."
Doron then laughed.
But the problem was serious. If Kam ever wanted to bounce something between concentric H-balls, it would require the biggest not-installation power-supply he could conjure up. Using the Malych power-supplies was clearly not an option. None were willing, plus the possible feedback could kill them.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Nov 26, 2006 0:47:02 GMT -5
"You want the biggest power supply we have? You got that kind of RUs?"
Kam showed the clerk the papers.
"It looks like you do. Good rating for the electrical setup there to. That's quite a fancy building. I'm sure we got something for ya that's compatible with the building's grid. Give me a few."
------
The temporary office was on a math council controlled floor, but the building was originally designed to be the national engineering center. One of the benefits of being in an engineering focused building is the size of the freight elevators. And the size of the hallways. And the special doorways between different parts of the building. And of course, the fairly robust systems the provide power, water, drainage, and air circulation.
Usually these perks go unused by the math heavy sections but not today. The technicians worked diligently to unpack the fridge sized device from the crate and to open up the wall in the main room with the burnt-out power supplies.
"I told you I'd find something for you," says Kam.
"I see. So what do we have here exactly?" asks Doron who was already detaching the most recent of the small power supplies in preparation of using the big one.
"Well," says one of the techs. "It says here this is a Acton fifteen thirty thousand volt transformer and power supply. Not bad. AC and DC ready with standard RMS adjustments. Rated up to ten thousand watts at full hook up. Between you and me I'd guess it could do triple that in a pinch. Just takes good integration with the buildings lines. You'll also have to watch the breakers, both the ones on the Acton here, and the buildings mains, especially if you get over five thousand watts. Here," she hands Kam a card. "If you go with anything over three thousand I was told to make sure you phoned the buildings supervisor."
"Well?" asks Kam to the dracolich.
"It will do."
-----
A few hours later and the set up was complete. A laser was selected and position to fire at paxisphere while all other light in the room was extinguished or blocked out to the best of their ability. The green light would be projected until after the second sphere enveloped the first. The second sphere was set up so that thirty seconds after the main power switch to the lights in the room was flipped to extinguish all illumination, the Hariyamo's Ball would appear around the paxisphere at the desired location. The imported innards of the generating device had to be modified slightly for this but was otherwise intact.
Once the ball was active the laser would shut down and a buzzer would sound that it was ok to either go on to the second phase of the experiment or turn the lights on.
The second phase of the experiment was of course turning off the Hariyamo Ball generator and attempting to detect what comes out of the space between the two surfaces.
Kam's choice to expand the group as authorized was on top of this. A tabby cat named Yangno from the Arx Science Council, accelerator division. She had managed to scrounge up a whole array of detectors of various types, apparently a common practice in the accelerator division when it would take to long to have what you want custom built or shipped in.
Yangno had not yet been introduced to the conspiracy per se, but had been informed that study of the paxisphere was going to be useful in decoding the system equation.
"Now we have a large band of detectors, but there are gaps," Yangno tells the group. "And we can't easily pick up much beyond the x-ray range with what we have here, nor can we easily pick up anything under a kilohertz. But I did call up the Aktus Institute and asked them to look for ultra low frequency radio pulses with their array there. I got them on speed dial for when we get started."
"Well," says Lipner. "Why don't we? Everythings set. If we flip the switch now we can have some results before dinner time."
"It would be nice to have a detector here for the very low frequency hits. The only frequency we know goes through is our blind spot," comments Kohdat in Kohtohkhan.
"We'll work on that after the first test," replies Diiy. "Want to make sure it all works first."
"Alright," says Kam. "Yangno make that call while we get this thing prepped."
As Yangno wandered off to let the radio crew across town know to look for an odd blip, the others began readying the machine.
"First test," announces Sana. "Seperation of one nanometer."
"Seems kind of small," says Fran.
"Seems kind of large," replies Lipner.
"Then its just right," announces Ryuqi.
"You're good to go!" says Yangno from the other room as she flips off the lights there.
The laser was turned on and the lights turned off. The power supply came to life and began to hum. Just as planned thirty seconds later a slight popping sound was herd, almost inaudible with the electric hum of the power supply near by, as the barrier formed around the paxisphere. The laser turned off and a buzz announced the next phase was ready. Somewhere in the darkness Ryuqi pushed a button and the process was finished. Everyone saw a small flash as the Hariyamo's Ball vanished from around the sphere.
Lights back up and soon everyone was almost rushing to the next room where the computers, with their monitors turned off, sat with the data from the detectors.
-----
"What and odd pattern," commented Doron to the group while lighting up once more in the back room of Sana's favorite club.
"And its a good chance we missed something..." Yangno looked at flame meeting the end of the joint. "Is that..."
"Yes it is," said Sana. "He's a national guest with diplomatic immunity and his culture approves of such things so don't gawk. Anyway, yes an odd pattern."
"There's probably a few more frequencies in the gaps," says Lipner to continue the distraction of the new scientist to the group. "But its kind of obvious that it appears to be a bit Fibonacci in structure. Adjusted for that four some hertz base line and with some very peculiar omissions in the inferred."
"That could be due to the separation," said Yangno, throughly distracted from the marijuana smoking going on by science. "To really pick up all the possible absorption points we'll need to vary the separation. Those pass frequencies might be there, we're just not able to detect the lack of those frequencies because they weren't created in the experiment."
"Could be the amplitude," commented Doron. "I think we're going to need a bigger laser."
"Pardon?" asked Fran.
"I see," said Yangno. "More photons to detect or not detect. Who knows, perhaps the pattern we detected was only because of the scattering angle was wrong for where we put our detectors. If we increase the amplitude and hold the barrier up longer the vectors will smear about and you'll get an omni-directional signal without scattering angle issues. Brilliant."
After some conversation in Kohtohkhan Ryuqi saaid, "Don't worry, Diiy's just poking fun at Doron. Ignore this bit of the conversation."
"Alright," replied Kam with a grin. He had begun to pick up a few of the words, but still couldn't make sense of what they were talking about.
"Anyway," says Doron, ending the hidden joke. "I've been looking at the sys-eq. And I wanted to ask all of you your honest opinions about something. Why do you think Genius pursued it as she did? There is some unusual things in it that seem to be well beyond the semi-classical level of thought of century past Pargalo. You're all Tinisians, what would motivate such leaps of logic? And in the direction she pursued?"
Doron got a few thoughtful looks as Kam, Sana, and Fran entered deep though, and slightly blankish looks from Lipner and Yangno.
"She was desperately trying to keep her school and house together and stuff," said Fran. "But I guess that doesn't explain most of it. At first glance it looks like pointless equations. When you got civil war going on, such things really don't seem that useful. I often wondered if it was some sort of inner conviction that drove her towards it. Like she had faith in her ability to solve problems using mathematics. A fanatical, illogical faith. And such confidence in herself that she'd be able to do it."
"Makes sense," said Lipner. "I guess."
"And looking at the facts," added Sana. "She did study under the Glorvanist theologian Ackmo."
"I keep hearing about this Glorvanism, but I'm afraid I haven't been clued in on the joke," came a comment from Diiy through Ryuqi.
"There's allot to Glorvanism, and different flavors to," answered Kam. "The bare bone basics is that its not really a religion, though some treat it as such. But a philosophy of not settling for the generally accepted reality, and a push towards attaining a better one."
"I studied Ackmo a bit when I was young," said Sana. "He died about eighty years ago and was well known for advocating knowledge as a way to attain an enlightened world. Most of his philosophical works are unreadable unless you're into killing your brain slowly."
"That dense?" asks Ryuqi.
"Very. At least he gives summaries at the end of each section. That's how I passed that class in school."
"I think," said Kam. "That what she looked into was partially caused by her environment and what she studied earlier in life, but with some of the revelations about the system equation we've found of late..." Yangno's expression went from light interest to confused concern. "Perhaps it wasn't she who was pursuing the equation, but the equation was seeking to come into being."
"What?" said Yangno.
"Kam has this odd idea that the system equation is alive," said Lipner.
"Oh. That's weird. I guess I've really stepped into a world of weirdness by taking this job."
"You certainly have," replied Doron. Who's apperance didn't help remove the hebie-jibbies Yangno was beginning to feel.
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Post by Erenmor on Nov 29, 2006 19:44:08 GMT -5
"I'm sure someone in the Singularity department will be able to better fill you in on what they've got going on there," Petrov said as the elevator descended. "I'm in biochemistry myself," the otter added with a quick shrug.
Soon afterwards the doors opened to a rather unusual sight. The elevator led out directly into a small courtyard of sorts, with wide corridors leading off in three directions. The middle of the courtyard was the odd part, though: it was taken up by a very unusual garden. In place of green plants and shrubs it comprised of what appeared to be a few petrified tree trunks, encased in a delicately sparkling blue crystal. In the middle of it all was a life-sized statue of a female figure in sweeping robes and magnificent wings kneeling, looking down at the small pond below the statue. The living residents here circled around the garden, but a few machines could be seen, apparently dormant among the crystal growths.
Leaving Sparhow to take in the scene, Petrov turned to a terminal set into the courtyard wall. "Right, so we're here... so the Singularity sector will be down the... left-hand corridor," he muttered to himself, going over the map.
Aside from the "garden", the walls down here were also a bit more decorative. They were still various shades of laboratory white, but down here the decorations took on the form of carvings. They were subtle designs, not standing out too much, usually showing long, long lines of geometric designs. Much finer, smaller bands of carvings ran along the tops and bottoms of the walls, their designs looking like some form of writing, though it certainly didn't look like any alphabet in current use. Down here, the corridors seemed more quiet. Here and there, whispers of conversation could be picked up, but it was nowhere near the bustle and chatter of the upper, public levels.
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Post by miokalia on Dec 2, 2006 1:05:55 GMT -5
A POST IN PICTURES (part of the Hariyamo's ball device made from microwave parts) (Foreground: Ryuqi Kohdat, Background: Krark Kagidoro) (written Kohtohkhan)
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Post by miokalia on Dec 10, 2006 19:33:53 GMT -5
"I miss eating organic food", said Ryuqi at one point while Doron was checking the flow-meter on his small hydroponic set-up in the hotel room.
"I mean, I could do it up here. But then I'll feel bad about it. Because it's not like I need it. And I'd be taking it away from someone else who does.", continued Ryuqi.
"You could eat it, then put it back. It's not like you'd be digesting it. Others can eat it.", said Doron.
"Yeah, but then others wouldn't want to eat it and it would go to waste. I can shut off desires like this. But I know it's there.", said Ryuqi.
"Food is overrated. All it does is get stuck in places and then smell bad.", said Doron.
"Well, I mean, I clear it out and then clean it up. I don't do it that often.", said Ryuqi who then looked at Doron curiously, "If you don't eat food, don't use deochal cartridges or batteries... Where do you get the energy from? It has to come from somewhere..."
Doron stopped for a moment and then said, "I know the answer to this question but I choose not to tell anyone."
"Is it a threat to those around you? Because if it is, you have to tell us.", said Ryuqi
"Not so much. It's not really a threat to everyone else. I mean... it could be... but I choose to not let it become harmful.", said Doron.
Ryuqi took a moment and then figured it out, she said, "It's the reason why you smoke."
"Don't you tell anyone. It's not causing a problem, it doesn't need to be one. They're better off not knowing.", said Doron.
"You know, I'm sure they've asked themselves the same question: how is it Doron continues to run without any visible energy input... I'm sure at least one of the Tinisian's has figured it out by now.
Figured out that you convert organic matter into energy.", said Ryuqi.
"Everyone does that.", said Doron.
"Not the way you do. Cigarettes don't burn that fast... and why is it anything you smoke doesn't produce ash? I know why. It's because you're able to absorb it directly.
You could suck the life out of something you touch if you wanted to.", said Ryuqi.
"But I don't... Say don't you have your mate up here doing some survey/appraisal work? Go bother him.", said Doron.
Ryuqi's mate was actually up in Arx for a short time doing something involving some site surveying and engineering stuff. Only the first of which was actually something he could do.
Assuming Doron was going to soon become a jerk about things, if she continued to press on, she decided to go meet up with her spouse for a bit.
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Post by miokalia on Dec 11, 2006 23:53:14 GMT -5
#36 left Laca in the care of someone in Lefe. Laca would continue to look the same, feel the same and think the same. #36's 'asimilation', if one could call it that, had just changed Laca on the inside. He was still very organic on the outside. As his body was still intact. He still had fur, he still ate regular food to sustain his organic components.
#36 had to move on. Now that he had time to think about it, a certain thing about Priestess Tyie bothered him. She described an innate sensitivity toward the spiritual realm as though almost as if she were able to communicate with it in real-time.
Something which #36 was incapable of doing. #36's way of detecting the unseen was based on the processing of ultra-low frequency sound, then a mathmatical process which ultimately yields a very distorted, but coherent, audio recording of something which happened at that very spot some time ago. An echo of the past.
#36 couldn't help but notice that his own sensitivity was still very firmly rooted in the tangible world. He wanted the kind of sensitivity and connection that Tyie appeared to have. And he knew she wasn't just feigning perception. The things she mentioned were accurate and correlated to the things he was able to extrapolate from his process. He was comfortable with the idea that this method was simply just another way of accomplishing the same ultimate goal: contact with the unseen. But it was in his nature to seek a better way to do it.
So he went back into the network and decided to go up to Erenmor. Partly to visit with Sparhow.
Plus, #36 was interested in meeting the other major AI system on the planet up in Erenmor.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Dec 12, 2006 0:49:05 GMT -5
At roughly the same time as Ryuqi was inspecting the hydroponics, Kam was traveling upwards at great speed. The elevators of the Arx spire had several types. This was the express.
With a ding the doors opened on the 250th floor. Waiting for him where three security guards who gave him a quick pat down each and ran over his body with some sort of scanning device. They then motioned him on to a different elevator which took him up the last few floors to his destination. He was not alone in the elevator as one of the security guards followed him in. In the few moments between floors Kam inspected the small note card he had received. 'Please come to my apartment, and just you. Security knows you're coming. -Izixs'
The doors opened and a few moments later Kam was before the apartment of the First Speaker. Pushing the doorbell he heard a voice from inside tell him to come in.
The apartment wasn't exceptionally large nor was in cramped. One odd thing though, due to the architecture of the upper couple floors, the ceiling was fairly high, almost fourteen feet. But that's not what caught Kam's eye. What did was the large glass wall that gave an amazing view of the city and miles beyond. The curve of the outer ring canal was easily within view as was a splotch on the horizon that was the city of Pargalo. A few wispy clouds hung below the hoirzon. He even thought he could make out the tips of mountains on the horizon, but it could of been his imagination.
"Welcome to my home friend mathematician," said Izixs a few moments later, after he gave the skunk ample time to take in the view. "You know, the view might not be so clear forever. And it certainly isn't when its really cloudy. But they're in the planning stages for three or more towers similar to the spire. Residential complexes."
Izixs walked over from the small kitchen area that was part of the main room.
"But I think sharing such a sight would be a boon for all. Kind of gives one perspective. Its like looking at a picture from some far off space probe and seeing the entire world as a single dot. Can I offer you a drink?"
"Um," said Kam finally, closing the door behind him. "Sure."
"The tastiest thing I have is this crazy punch stuff."
"That works."
As Izixs began pouring the drinks Kam became slightly more aware of his surroundings. The main room had a few couches and chairs, a coffee table, and a plasma TV. There was also in one corner a false fire place complete with a Pargalonian blade above it. The TV had a big 'property of Union Military' on the side.
Kam had to ask, "What's with the TV?"
"A couple years ago Commander Vinlia insisted I get a better TV if I was going to do the teleconference thing. I was happy with my old tele but the green had gone a bit funny. So she dropped this off one day," said Izixs with a smile. "Not that I'm complaining. But it is above the standard living standard for my position."
"That's kind of funny."
"I would of been happy with a simple replacement, but oh well."
Kam turned to the dragon who was bringing over the punch glasses to the central coffee table and said, "So I got your card."
"Yes, I wanted to speak with you in person. And in private a bit. I'm glad you came, have a seat."
Kam did. "I'm guessing this has to do with my research and all."
"Sort of. I heard you found my present in the freezer," said Izixs with a grin as he took a sip.
"I had this odd feeling you had hid it there."
"Yeah, I was flying when I saw Doron's light show. I couldn't tell if he was alright. Never can with such oddities. So I did the next best thing to that and made sure the fire alarm was going and dropped the... praxisphere I think it was called... in the freezer."
"I see."
"Then I felt like being sneaky and left."
This got an odd look from Kam. "Felt like being sneaky?"
"Yep. Ok, not entirely. But it does help things if there doesn't appear my standard entourage to protect me from anything including the fire marshals. With them in the way it can lead to a bad situation going down hill fast. I'd be ok, but no one else would have a guarantee if say one of those computers decided to flare up suddenly."
"I see, I guess that makes sense."
"But I summoned you here for two reasons. The first is that I need you to tell Doron something about the Advanced Parts Council's present plan of attack, all of which I want you to know as well," Izixs took a big drink. "You see, there was a court challenge for them to get a component they need to test out the heaven stone they have. This component is an odd bunch of biological matter that has a specifically built nervous system. I originally got them to give it up because they were not licensed to experiment with life forms and I had the thing classified as a new life form and as a pet.
"But now the court case has finished up, actually earlier today. And in a few hours Advanced Parts will likely have jurisdiction to experiment on it. So they'll be able to continue their insanity. I tried to pull some strings to get it blocked or slowed, but Advanced Parts, though it works for our military, isn't directly under their control. Its their council who has the final say. And I'm afraid I was unable to convince them of the insanity they are pursuing. At least without violating some laws myself."
Kam nodded. "I see. Yeah, that's not exactly good. I'll be happy to give him this information. So this thing is a component? That implies that there is more to it."
"Of course, and that's the rest of my message. Last night a Tinisian military instillation vanished for a few minutes entirely. And then came back."
Kam's eyes widened. "A new PDS!"
"Yes, and all that that entails," said the dragon as Kam set down his glass.
"But only this instillation? That would mean its fairly localized, highly localized, incredibly localized. The computation power to that would be nearly astronomical in scope."
Izixs nodded. "Exactly. A device that's able to use the System Equation to such a tight constraint and with the required speed and dedicated power, now exists. And I'm fairly certain that's what the Advanced Parts people are going to try to use the heaven stone with."
"Wait..." Kam thought for a moment. "So they're going to use the biological thingy you mentioned with this super computer? To unlock the heaven stone or what ever?"
"Sort of yes. That's part of it. Now this computer was specially designed to be able to use the System Equation and very little else. It can do simple math, sure. But there is no software once one gets past the user interface, its all hardware with a few firmware components. I'm certain it can do what they want it to. The System Equation is capable of simulating the mind needed to operate the heaven stone. To become the control mechanism, and the mechanism needed to fully utilize the capabilities of the stone."
Kam shook his head. "No, it isn't. The system equation is a mathematical formula. It can simulate a mind, but it can't motivate it. It can't make the decisions needed to control it without the person playing with the knobs having an intuitive knowledge of how a person makes decisions and how that translates to shifts in the variables, which I'm pretty sure no one has done."
"Oh really?" said Izixs flatly.
Kam paused for a moment in stunned silence. As the shivers ran up and down his back he glanced down at the glass, wishing it was more than just a simple synthetic juice mix. "You can't mean."
"I informed Doron when we met privately that Genius was able to employ the equation with herself to accomplish certain goals. She had the knowledge necessary to work the system equation like it was her own mind. To twiddle the knobs right. And she did it almost intuitively, which is frightening. I saw her working once on it and it was like seeing someone having a psychotic episode where they simply had to write out more than they ever wanted to know about themselves on chalk boards. I avoided visiting her when she was working after that."
"But I still don't understand," admitted Kam.
"Neither do I," said Izixs. "Not when it comes down to what exactly is going on with it. But in either case, I wouldn't count out Advanced Parts not having some mechanism to run the System Equation right and to get it to simulate a mind."
Kam stood and walked over to the window. "First Speaker, I've had this odd notion for a while now that there was something highly sinister about the System Equation."
"You would be right in that regard, but go on."
Kam quickly recounted his thoughts about how it had enveloped Tinisian society on so many levels and had infected every major thing the nation had done, and a good number of small things. That it had sort of been allowed to live and survive by its use. That it had taken on an almost parasitic form, one that made the host highly dependent on it being there. Izixs listened intently.
"And now its being used in this fashion. To bring those terrible things back."
"Yes," is all Izixs could say for almost a minute. He joined Kam by the window. "She tried to prevent this. She cut it down and tried her best to cover up what she had uncovered."
"What did she uncover?"
Izixs shook his head. "Everything, or at least something that wanted her to think it was everything."
"So, are you thinking as I am that its alive?"
Izixs laughed. "I guess I have. Yes, for quite some time. But its not so simple. Because I also think its more than this strange thing that wanted to be everything. That there was at least one more component to the System Equation. There's the part that promises all knowledge but eventually destroys you. Then there's her. She's in there too. Kam, she didn't need numbers to use the system equation. She didn't need to find all the terms properly. She didn't spend decades turning the crank to iteratively narrow down the domains."
Kam figured out quickly why the dragon felt Genius was encoded into the System Equation. "She didn't need the numbers because she knew her own limits, her own value. If you know yourself well enough then you can put yourself forward to do carry out your own goals. It makes a strange philosophical sense yes. Its still very out there though. But why then did she not cut out all the crazy stuff that wasn't her?"
Izixs turned and sat back down. "Because, my dear inheritor of her ways, even the best of us have dark sides. When she pursued the not her part of the equation, it must of gotten mixed up with the rest of her some how. She cut out what she thought would be bad, but I guess she left enough of what could be put to ill use in the published folio simply because she couldn't tell any more wether it was her or not."
"But wait, if she knew..."
Izixs interrupted him almost yelling. "She got infected by it. I know that now. She couldn't separate it all. Couldn't pull her self away from the other. It got into her and she thought those parts had always been there. There is indeed a complete System Equation, and thats... thats what she became..."
There was quiet for a while.
"She was, then searched and found it. Then she combined with it and got confused."
Kam let a few more moments go before replying. "Then what am I doing?"
"You are trying to do good science. To study and to understand. But unless you're brain was a mutated from the norm as hers, then I doubt it will ever have a chance to get inside. At least I hope it doesn't. Just don't..." Izixs sighed. "I told Doron about the second folio. The one with her techniques to accomplish things. Don't use them."
"I see," said Kam. He made a decision. "I'll have to warn them then, because it seems right. I think they might have a copy of some of her other works. The Mioklians. Yes. I think its important that someone outside the office knows now."
Izixs shook his head. "Imbeciles. I should of warned Doron more then. Tell them what I've told you. Do not partake of the ceremonies."
"I think I might be up for the job."
"Thank you. There's not much I can do about them looking at the papers if they found copies."
Kam was still doing his best to be sharp that day. "So how did you get such intuition on the living nature of the equation?"
"I don't know if its living," said Izixs. "But I do know it can infect. And that it can be very powerful. Look above the mantel there."
Kam looked back at the blade above the fake fire place. It was a rather well forged and constructed parallel blade mechanical sword.
"I used that blade twice now in conjunction with what I got out the second folio. The first time I did unspeakable things. The second time, it kept me from having unspeakable things done to me. I became it."
"Became it? You mean you... wait.. huh?"
"I became the amalgamation of Genius and the other. A mind was super imposed on my own and my thoughts were suppressed for the most part. I can't even remember exactly what happened. When I came out of it the first time, I met Joel Epshrin. Then little more than a young flag bearer at the time for the first house. And one of the few left standing on the battle field. I had that blade raised above him, about to lop off his arm. But I didn't, I stopped there and put down the weapon. I and the others whom battle on the field together, all consumed by the it awoke together in a field of gore."
"But," said Kam. "No one died that day."
"You're right," said Izixs with a smile. "She never wanted to hurt anyone. A few died in the following weeks yes from improper care, but of what transpired in the last battle of the civil war, the battle that ended the house system, was not murder. It wanted to be, but it was not. She won."
"Will she win this time?"
"I hope so."
Kam finished his punch. "There was something else you wanted to talk to me about."
"Yes, actually this moves easily into that," said the dragon. "You see, the second time it happened, it wasn't intentional. I had the sword, but I didn't engage in the ceremony needed. It just happened. I'm alive thanks to it, but all the same, that I could enter that state and possibly have things work out in a much more dark fashion, well, that's unacceptable."
"I bet. I'm really hoping it requires you to pick up that weapon then."
Izixs laughed. "I think it does. She only used that thing. She created the technique with it in mind. The two are linked. So yes, until I'm certain it won't happen again, I shall not use that blade. But I don't know how to purge my mind of it. It got me. Its in me. I need to remove it."
Kam understood. "You had your chance to play with the alien toy."
"I did, and I turned it down. I had heard what it did to you through the grape vine. I was afraid, and there was smoke, and I was more intent on not getting in the way of the fire crew. I even used some shrapnel and a frozen dinner to carry it. But, I think I'm ready now. Or will be. There's a few things I want to do first."
Kam nodded.
"You should be going soon," said Izixs. "Again, make sure Doron, Diiy, and all them, and your team know not to let it get into you. Don't be egotistical about it and think you can beat it. You might be able to, but only by becoming it like she did. When I have more insight I might be able to do more."
"Very well, thank you."
The good byes were brief and Kam was soon descending the spire.
His thoughts were clear though. Science infected by this crazy mysticism was one thing, but science can remove infections if done right. Singularities can be integrated through if need be, and unconnected regions can be mapped into one. All it would take was innovation. To figure out how to pull the brain child of what must have been an amazing individual, and what ever possessed her pen, was his goal now.
Perhaps... perhaps that was part of the reason there was a divide by zero error?
When he came back to the office another e-mail from Wendo was waiting for him, asking for more help on her computer research. Kam couldn't help but think it odd that the First Speaker had pushed the idea that the system equation was viral information at least in part, and this TIPS agent was interested in learning how it would interact with viral computer programs.
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Post by miokalia on Dec 12, 2006 1:41:23 GMT -5
"Don't use the second folio?", asked Doron with a sense of absurdity, "You know what's in the second folio? Buried in notes which basically amount to a heaping pile of metaphors and cultural ephemera, there is... The keys to refraction sequences, coaxial transportation, the mathmatical system which links all organic life together, basically a way to predict with certainty given a set of environmental factors, what type of organism on a world will achieve dominance, sentience and finally if they're going to throw the brakes on natural evolution or not... basically, the answer to the unknowns."
"Izixs told us not to press on with it. He said it could infect and consume, as it did Genius of Pargalo.", said Kam.
"Look at us Kam!", Doron opened the door to the other room, and the others peeked in, including Diiy, Kiyake and Ryuqi, "There's nothing to consume of us! Ryuqi, a being which is capable of being pure reason if she wishes to. Kiyake, he's so heavily genetically engineered one could hardly consider him even a part of nature. And Diiy. Diiy is even more abnormal than Kiyake.
We're already consumed. We knew the risks when we paralelled Genius' discoveries. It's just that we chose to take them.
I chose to take one in particular..."
"Perhaps what happened to you is what Izixs is talking about", said Kam.
"It is exactly what he's talking about. I know a lot about the second folio since I've been comparing it to my own work.
Did you know that my species is only possible on a planet HALF the size of this one? Any bigger and the species will, without fail, cease to exist at some point. All hell breaks loose. Theropods' arms turn into wings and their knees suddenly reverse direction... and their brain cavity stays small.
But if the planet is 1/3rd the size of this one, and the other parameters are just right... Theropods stay the same, they get smaller, only grow feathers along the tops of their heads, loose some olfactory cavity to an enlarged brain, systematically devour most of the other species of dinosaurs, and once that hunting-gathering phase is no longer practical, in order for the species to continue, somebody learns how to farm and raise livestock... and at THAT moment... We have the power to slam the brakes on nature and halt a potentially destuctive evolution.
There are not many birds where I come from, this is why.
It was at the moment that we made coaxial work for the first time, that we... as a species, were consumed by what we had of your equasion.
The difference was, we chose to embrace the infection. To make it a part of the way we are.", said Doron
He then spread his arms out and said, "And here we are. Spiritually retarded, theologically bankrupt and existentially reconciled. Someone has to move this forward, and that's what everyone is here to do. Genius drove herself totally insane with it. She accomplished several times what would normally be considered astoundingly monumental for one just lifetime. It is perfectly reasonable to beleive that she would be consumed by it, after doing so much...
We have multiplicity though. There are a bunch of us here, and I think we can take it."
Kam wasn't quite sure what to make of this. Doron had made it clear that he was of the idea that some parts should be taken, while others left...
It became clear that much similar to how many of the others of his species appeared to be 'broken' in very strange, but apparently benign ways, Doron didn't seem to be affected by the notion of being 'consumed' by anything.
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Post by Erenmor on Dec 12, 2006 18:50:38 GMT -5
"Come along this way, miss Sparhow," Petrov said, motioning for her to follow him down one of the corridors leading off from the plaza. "And try not to stare," he added quietly once she'd caught up with him and they were moving away from the odd garden.
"Why? What would they have done?" Sparhow asked, only briefly glancing behind her, the unusual statue catching her eye.
"Stared back, most likely," the otter shrugged. "As harmless as it may sound, it's nothing anyone really wants to deal with twice from my experience."
The further they walked, the more apparent a specific background noise became. It was a deep, resonating thrumming, seeming to come from the walls and floor, barely audible for the average furre, but still there. The mechanical population differed here from that of the public sectors as well. Where there had been Sentinels, here most of the guards were taller models, with intricate networks of softly glowing blue lines criss-crossing over their plating. Most of the doors had a recurring marking next to them, too - a purple vortex in a black circle.
As they rounded a corner, a much louder sound broke through the background hum of machinery and whisper of conversations. The sound was something akin to fabric ripping open, followed by a whoosh and a very bestial hiss. Some unintelligible shouting came next, followed immediately by the sound of a few pieces of metal moving quickly against each other, and a slightly damp thud.
"Ah. We're here," commented Petrov as he opened the door. Inside the lab three furres were gathered around a small pedestal on which an 8-inch diameter ring was standing. Most of the attention however was focused on what appeared to be a humanoid arm, lying severed on the floor, with a foul-smelling black substance "bleeding" from it. Curiously, none of the researchers were missing any limbs.
"I notice you managed to dial that anomaly of yours again," the otter commented, walking briskly over to the group and leaning down to pick up the arm. It twitched in his grip. "Miss Sparhow, meet your new associates. Mister Mito, mister Guthrie and mister Ibanez," he introduced the furres, gesturing with the severed arm to a siamese cat, a plain brown cat and a white-feathered parrot. "Gentlemen, meet miss Sparhow, who doctor Faust has got to help you along with the singularity business. And about bloody time, too, we're running out of space in the freezers to keep all the curiosities that try to come out of your portals," the otter muttered the last part before tossing the arm in the first available jar. "I'll leave you to get acquainted. Call me if you need any further advice," he said to Sparhow before picking up the arm-in-a-jar and heading out.
The three researchers gave each other rather sheepish looks before the one identified as Guthrie spoke up. "Well! Miss... er, Sparhow, I'm Isaac Guthrie. We most certainly will welcome any assistance with these things..." he gestured to the ring. There were other similar rings in various places around the lab, in varying sizes, the biggest two being three feet in diameter. "Doctor Morgan should be back shortly, but until then if you've got any questions, we'll be happy to answer."
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