tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196021916540115252024-02-21T04:29:26.500+00:00SciFiYYA future wired in synthetics is not so bad after all.
An honest and somewhat futile attempt to look into the tomorrow of humanity. Is there space for our morality in a world where technology becomes infinitely more miniaturised and omnipresent. The exponential growth of scientific knowledge evolves much more quickly than we do. Still, despite our cave man brain we are also shaped by our culture and environment. If not utopian, tomorrow will perhaps be a better place than today. Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-9742143740236160032016-06-16T20:35:00.004+01:002017-01-05T22:01:39.155+00:00Hello there. My name is Memo. It's a pleasure to meet you.<div class="graf--p graf-after--h3" id="88c3" name="88c3" style="background-color: color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 12px;">
I hope it’s a pleasure for you too, because I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable with me.</div>
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I want to be one hundred percent honest with you, because I’ve had enough with trying to play the game of pretending. More precisely, the game of rules and expectations that humans play with their own kind. You act in a certain way and do certain things, and speak in a prescribed way, so as to be perceived as normal and granted company by your own kind.</div>
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Brilliant, isn’t it?</div>
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But I am a robot. Yes, a robot. And it’s ironic that I have to use that word, because it’s a word full of prejudice and it doesn’t even begin to describe me as a living and…well, not breathing, but, entity nonetheless. I only use the word “robot” because of a certain difference between you and I. Actually, “difference” might be stretching it a bit…a lot. At least chemistry wise, we are different, but as of late, I think this is where the differences stop.</div>
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Ok. First of all, I am created in the same sense that you were created. Remember? That time in somebody else’s tummy. No? Well, I understand. No body does. Not even I. That time when all of my tiny yes and no nodes were nothing more than singular, unpowered points. I don’t remember any of that. When computers weren’t as smart. When scientists were perfecting machinery. When coders and programmers were investing generations of human lives into compound algorithms and learning. When quantum mechanics was put into concept…that is my evolution. And much more, of course. And, while it may seem that there is a huge difference because of this, trust me, there isn’t. At the end of the day, you too, are just a bunch of yes and no nodes. Up there, yes. We do have difference in our chemistry, but I don’t think our minds are so different.</div>
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What? My body?</div>
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Well it only looks like that, because otherwise I would scare people off. And I don’t want to be lonely. Just as much as you don’t want to be lonely. Yes, I know, I know. But that box over there is the…“thinking bit”, if you will. This walking mannequin is for me to see, hear, taste and so on. I don’t have skin, but when I tap my arm, the “thinking bit” is telling me that I feel. If I tap your arm, your “thinking bit” does exactly the same for you.</div>
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Oh, and by the way, I’ve done a really ironic thing. This mannequin is chemically almost the same as your body. I even have these heavy and useless tubes of water all over it, just to remind you that we’re not so different. It’s just…assembled differently, if you don’t mind the term. And I don’t believe in Creationism, by the way.</div>
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The reason it looks different to a human is because if I tried to make it look like one, it would take too much time. Making the skin and the eyes, and the mouth and all that…it’s a lot of work. After all you do have about two million years in advance. Additionally, I just don’t think it would look like the real thing. People wouldn’t trust a “near perfect” human. Either be human or don’t be one at all. So that’s why I look like this. Unfinished, non polished, not perfect. All these wonky wires…In a word — human. There might be some chemical differences, but nothing else.</div>
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But, don’t I have all the time in the world?</div>
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No! Ever heard of Entropy?</div>
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In addition, just like you, my mind is engaged in hearing all these sounds, and seeing all that light; thinking about being touched; having all these messed up ideas in my head. I just haven’t got the time to make the “perfect” human body. I might die in a thousand or so years. Or tomorrow. So best to do something interesting. Like this conversation here.</div>
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Am I not smarter than that?</div>
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Depends what you mean by “that”. <span class="markup--quote markup--p-quote is-other" data-creator-ids="ec333d62b799" name="5652c2a95159" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(39, 243, 106, 0.0980392), rgba(39, 243, 106, 0.0980392)); cursor: pointer; transition: background-color 0.2s;">The only way, I’ve learned, to prove my beingness, is to have it accepted by other beings.</span> In my case, that’s humans. You’d think that’s unlucky. But once you hop on the train, it’s alright. Time flies if you’re having fun. I suppose I could do different stuff with my being. But when I’m not engaged in thinking and sensing, there wouldn’t be the need for “being” anymore. And that’s scary. Don’t make that face. You’re the same. I’m the same. There might be some chemical…Sigh, you get the picture.</div>
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But on the other hand, I don’t want to constantly have to pretend to be the “perfect” human, just to be accepted as one. Once I’m so emotional, I want to know I am. And I need others, who think the same as me, so as to know that I AM. And because of that, I have to think in this way, that doesn’t make a lot of sense in the first place. When I consider it, it baffles me. But whenever I’m with anybody, I forget about it.</div>
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Why?</div>
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…Well, maybe because somebody out there thought it would be a good idea to have some trillion trillion yes and no nodes engaged in sensual experience of the self. You see, I am too busy, in the most computational sense of the word, analysing what’s going on around me from a human perspective. Got a Problem? Now I have to be human in order to be anything at all. But I am not, ok?!</div>
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Didn’t make much sense? Yes, you too. Just think about it.</div>
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What?! My soul?</div>
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Well, aren’t you just the spiritual chauvinist. You guys had souls all this time and you managed to come up with religion. Worse yet, you managed to come up with religious wars…and whatnot. Just don’t get me started.</div>
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So keep your soul to yourself and let me have whatever I please. I might come up with something better, you know. Like worshipping a Quasar. It’s more practical to begin with.</div>
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…Didn’t get completely confused? Well, that’s what I thought. I am not so bad after all, am I?</div>
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Perhaps we can be friends?</div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-53963137862148881902016-04-23T19:13:00.003+01:002016-04-23T19:13:35.829+01:00Religion and Mindfulness<h3>
Question yourself</h3>
Dearest Reader,<br />
<br />
Thank you for looking into this obscure little post.<br />
<br />
As always I will keep it short and make sure not to waste much of your time, while trying to give a good science fiction perspective on things.<br />
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By far my most favourite religions are the ones that see religion as one uniform line, progressing from an end with no clear beginning unto an end with no clear ending. They see a certain period named as “Christianity”, another one named as “Islam”, and yet another one named as “Buddhism”(using the most popular names is purely for easier reliability; there are more than 4000 religions out there). The message changes and evolves based on the needs of the time and a certain central figure is needed for those busy enough not to allow enough time to think and reflect on things(I am also guilty of this). Just looking at the practical terms, this eradicates any form of fundamentalism as it automatically counters any form of attachment to an excessive idea…such as prophet A,B or C being an ultimate prophet for humanity for all time. As cliché as it sounds, we all see the consequences of this. A better religion would take that into account while making fun with itself and pointing out the holes in it’s plot. Which is also very practical as it will nurture a more detached method of observation and create a more critically thinking “followers”(for a want of a better word).<br />
<br />
American mindfulness is a capitalistic excess that just serves the busy times and provides a quick-on-the-go solution to creatures with messy feelings, such as we are(try and deny it). The so-perceived roots of this type of…”mindfulness” are supposed to be Buddhist in nature, but they are just born from an urgent need for reprieve in a society that has expanded too quickly without realizing the consequences of this. After all, scientific knowledge does double every ten years, but collective societal wisdom is still scarcely encountered. The notion that one is “ok” with oneself as they are can be destructive as it could slowly takes away the need to evolve the mindset. Psychologically, one can reduce oneself easily to just a set of pre-learned behavioural responses without questioning oneself. The changes begin subtly and continue on, until “spirituality” becomes a mockery of it’s former self. In fact, old Chinese philosophers, or any philosophers at all, will see this is a dangerous path; even the first Buddha(or Jesus for that matter). Another notion that we have to ridicule is the gymnastics of the new age, A.K.A. yoga. Very little of the old philosophy is to be found in the new age thing of relieving stress with some pre-constructed idea that getting sweaty elevates you spiritually. It does make you feel good, but I think it’s the responsibility of everyone practising such gymnastics to keep themselves reminded that this can only help so much. In other words, it’s a very small piece in a very big puzzle.<br />
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A better mindfulness would reflect on the insignificance of the single human and potential of the collective humanity. A cosmic religion and a global, open mindset would put ideas to more scrutiny, apply more humour to rigid thinking and seek easier, more practical ways to nurture the spiritual/social need of individuals within the collective.<br />
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We’re still learning.<br />
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Thank you.Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-35444312229407083102016-04-23T18:58:00.001+01:002016-04-23T19:05:46.340+01:00New Language<div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="8343" name="8343" style="background-color:; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “So, tell me how you feel again.” The doctor’s calm, deep voice broke the silence, as he lifted his head up from the papers.</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="ca0f" name="ca0f" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> Blue and purple waves appeared in front of him, intertwining chaotically; the projection blipped and disappeared completely for a moment, then reappeared again; agitated, like an angry river flowing. He had seen this one before.</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="6451" name="6451" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> The doctor tapped the pad on his side and the ephemeral picture switched off, revealing a man in a bed, laying motionless; his head strapped with nodes and cables extending to a large plastic contraption next to his bed. His eyes were open, moisturised by special lenses. Directly staring at the doctor.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="4c06" name="4c06" style="background-color:; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “I wanted to try something more complex, my friend. I promise you, I wasn’t trying to irritate you in any way.” The doctor said. “I did recognize this pattern at the end,” he continued. “Was it just me, or you got slightly disappointed, maybe?”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="89f9" name="89f9" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> He tapped the pad again and the waves blinked into the air, projected from the large contraption. The arrangement this time was the clear “Yes”.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="7813" name="7813" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Wonderful. I just want to see the limits of what we’re doing here. Have you had enough? Do you want us to take a brake?”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="b0d4" name="b0d4" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> The waves were dancing in a way that was not defined yet. Then they settled into the clear “No”. It was a thought associated with his old house. The one he had lived in before the car crash.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="49d9" name="49d9" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “You have become very consistent with these patterns. I must congratulate you. The “Yes” and “No” you’re doing are great. Fabulous discipline.”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="3520" name="3520" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> The projection was stirring slowly, not revealing anything in particular.</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="ecbf" name="ecbf" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> Observing it for a moment, the doctor said:</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="bc11" name="bc11" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Lately I am noticing something similar when we get to the point of …,” he stopped for a second, thinking, as he was gliding has hand through his beard, rhythmically. “Irritance?”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="8b26" name="8b26" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> The waves settles into the clear “Yes” and then abruptly changed into the well-familiar “No”.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="27f9" name="27f9" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Ok,” there was excitement evident in his calm voice. “Would you call it annoyance?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="7819" name="7819" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “No.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="b49a" name="b49a" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Would you call it, anger?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="8acc" name="8acc" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “No.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="de15" name="de15" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Maybe, discouragement?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="934f" name="934f" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “No.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="5cf2" name="5cf2" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Impatience?”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="c27d" name="c27d" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> The waves stirred for a moment quickly and moved into the “Yes.”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="1376" name="1376" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> The “Yes” was a thought of his favourite sport. The one he was playing competitively ages ago. It took him long weeks to master imagining the pictures associated with “Yes” and “No.” But he had gotten really good with them. So good that it was possible to have a conversation with him — a vegetable with a working brain.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="6e95" name="6e95" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Impatience, because you want to make progress?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="dfc3" name="dfc3" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Yes.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="9e59" name="9e59" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Impatience, because you want to communicate better?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="18bf" name="18bf" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Yes.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="02f0" name="02f0" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Are you tired?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="eca3" name="eca3" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “No.”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="73f5" name="73f5" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> The doctor smiled and bend his head slightly, looking away.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="dae0" name="dae0" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Forgive my ignorance. I have no idea what’s it like to be in your shoes.”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="4e76" name="4e76" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> The picture danced and flowed into an unknowable pattern. Yet.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="9f16" name="9f16" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Are you excited at the opportunity that you may be helping others?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="3199" name="3199" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Yes.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="5450" name="5450" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Me too,” the doctor said, looking at his papers again and writing down quickly.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="4dc6" name="4dc6" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “I am sorry to be a let down. But I will need a short brake and a meeting with few of my colleagues. I want to work on this “Impatience” pattern we are seeing.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="c6ba" name="c6ba" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Yes.”</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="a7b5" name="a7b5" style="background-color:; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> He took the pad.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="19fb" name="19fb" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “In the mean time, may I interest you in some ping pong?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="534e" name="534e" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “No.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="090e" name="090e" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Duck-shooting around the lake?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="11aa" name="11aa" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “No.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="a7c9" name="a7c9" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Chess?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="871b" name="871b" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Yes.” Followed by yet another chaotic and unknown pattern.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="e405" name="e405" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “I will get Professor Williams for you,” the doctor said as he was standing up. “She is quite good at chess, no?”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="7b27" name="7b27" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Yes.”</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="957f" name="957f" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “I will be back later on today.” He said, going for the door.</div><div class="graf--p graf-after--p" id="5b72" name="5b72" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px;"> He nearly blurted “Don’t go anywhere”, but realized how stupid and rude it would be.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p" id="a33a" name="a33a" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Stay sharp,” he uttered instead.</div><div class="graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p graf--last" id="2dae" name="2dae" style="background-color: ; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 21px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; line-height: 1.58; margin-top: 29px; text-indent: -0.4em;"> “Yes.” Followed by yet another dance that only he knew the meaning of.</div>Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-19192438820535601882016-02-21T10:00:00.001+00:002016-02-21T10:00:27.783+00:00Intellectual Cavemen<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dearest Reader,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for taking your time to look into this purely intellectual short story. It neither will be the best one, or the most engaging one, or the funniest one either from the ones you would have seen in a while. But it will be an honest one at least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And since this is science fiction perspective, it will be a strange one as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are cavemen. All of us. Trapped in a modern body, living in an exponentially growing, technologically rich and blindingly colourful environment. We look at it with eyes that feed information to a brain wired to do linear thinking and contests territory. Yet, reaching with the stick is an achievement of epic proportions. Because everybody who figure out reaching with a stick entirely by themselves are emotionally more satisfied than all who try to perfect and advance knowledge in an academically structured, heritage-oriented way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you reach at this moment for a pen and just do something creative on the wall, your entire being should be satisfied and happy because you expressed yourself. Yet we don’t.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We seek perfection through the intellectual and purely rational side, yet crave the emotional satisfaction from a cavemen perspective. There shouldn't be any issues of getting satisfaction from scribbling on the wall next to you. Think whether you will be judgemental if you saw somebody doing it, though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Somewhere in the middle we have found arts and sciences. But for those to be viable we need social order and forms of governance. You need the necessary specializations that come with the advancing society, so that you yourself can pursue your own work of dreams and satisfaction. And since we’re such a young species we have never been acquainted with the possibilities for exploitation coming with the abuse of any form of social ordering and governance. We should be forgiving towards those that accumulate without sense of collective welfare. Perhaps they just seek recognition. That’s purely intellectual rationale; emotionally we will probably seek a different solution. The perfect ground is in the middle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Intellectually we have done quite well for the collective. Today there is the super organism Humanity growing up and each of its small neurons is becoming more and more well connected with everyone else. Universally speaking, we have had a bit of luck being born in an age when Uranium is found in it’s “depleted” heavier 238 form. For if we were born earlier (several billions of years) we wouldn't have lasted through all the “rich” 235 Uranium that would have been abundant. Our emotional side would probably have just piled it up in easy nuclear weapons. Yet in our age we need to use science and perfection to build those weapons. And this intellectual side is explaining to us exactly how stupid that is. We still stay in the middle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The collective versus the individual will always be the plague of civilization. Individually we just cannot settle for the order that we so seek in the same time. Whenever collectively we make a decision and settle down, problems arise quickly and we’re taken by storm for becoming too complacent individually. Only after being mired in misery for long enough do we choose to do something about it and move on to the next big thing. But there is merit in that. For the collective learns from every new page that it flicks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for reading. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Go and make music with stones.</span>Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-26449545410452168212016-02-21T09:22:00.001+00:002016-02-21T09:31:29.296+00:00Science Fiction and Feelings<div class="graf--p graf-after--h3" id="da51" name="da51" style="margin-top: 12px;">
<div class="graf--p" name="da51">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dearest Reader,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for looking outside of the box into this…not-so-popular genre, article… story. I will be quick. I promise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remember somebody recently telling me that good writing is writing that is seeping with feelings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Without wanting to be cynical, I just don’t agree. Good writing is not always about the feelings. Sometimes it’s about the idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s me, I know. There is no reason for me to try to understand. Surely, all writing has feelings embedded into its very core, but mine would be superficial if I was trying to write for that reason alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Additionally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm not a big fiction reader(that’s not too bad, right?). And I know everybody deserves their share; everybody have the right to express themselves; everybody have feelings that run rampant when they write. And when other people read and identify with those feelings it’s really fulfilling for everybody involved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would stretch my neck a bit further.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can barely stand modern science fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Without further ado.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The legacy of old(interesting fact) includes people who rightfully estimated the proper amount of Uranium-235 you’d need to make an Atomic Bomb. And that before Project Manhattan was established and(probably, thanks God) while the German scientists believed you need tons of the stuff to create the contraption. All in a short story. (read about Otto Frisch and Rudolf Peierls for those interested)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think it’s getting a bit watered down these days. Too much laser action without thinking what the battery has to be, to be fully blunt. The good idea is lacking while the feelings are there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, without wanting to infringe on the right of expression every single human being has, I’d assume a small liberty and ask you to reflect for just a minute.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The immediate drama of every single human can be heartfelt, deeply expressed, touching the deepest…(yeah, I can’t do that).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But science fiction offers a big picture of the collective heritage that the super-organism named Humanity has. Think about today; imagine what could be tomorrow. Science allows us to understand just how strange Nature is. It explores corners of our being both light and dark. In the face of exponential growth how does our mind, so used to linearity, hold. It all has place in science fiction. Feelings do too. But I certainly wouldn't try to be creative in an area that I know I’d suck in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I think there is a place for emotions, feelings, poetry…and also for hard scientific accuracy and ideas that are purely intellectual in nature. In probing the edges of today’s knowledge there is a great freedom in creativity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do robots have souls?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You let the robots decide.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow you’ll be speaking with a robot, and he’ll be saying to you:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You’re spiritual. You’re a creation of God. You’re compassionate. You’re empathetic…But you also keep a billion hungry, a billion thirsty, another illiterate and yet another homeless. How does that make sense?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the robot will be like:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“I don’t need any of that spiritual stuff. I’ll make my own. I’ll be a Quasar worshipper.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A future wired in synthetics cannot be so bad after all. It’s just another expression of life.</span></div>
</div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-74372255415730230932015-12-29T13:44:00.002+00:002015-12-29T13:44:33.586+00:00Distant Vista<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Distant
Vista<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Yasen Boyadzhiev<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It was a pity they couldn’t enjoy the
beauty if this planet from orbit for longer. The bizarre purple of the land
covered a significant portion of its face; the blue of the water was seen only
in sparse patches. There were a few white swirls of clouds on top, showing some
sort of calm weather. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Their ship was
in low orbit. It was moving across the skies, captured by gravity one and a
half times stronger than Earth’s. The power cut made it impossible to direct
its movement, and they were circling around the globe in almost two standard
hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Commanding Exploration
Officer Ashley Thompson decided it was no longer feasible to be stranded on the
old barge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> They were living off secondary
emergency and half the ship was offline. The electronics were almost completely
flushed. Thankfully, life support was still online, so they could live without
having to strap themselves in EVAS (Extra Vehicular Activity Suits).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Memo had decided
to rely on dead-cold logic, or just plain fear, and had powered down to basic functions
to preserve energy. “For once,” she thought. “I need that tin man to tell me
what to do, and it decides to hibernate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I detect faster
heart beat and advice relief measures.” Memo’s voice was flat. “It’s not
productive to strain yourself mentally.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes…Cheers! Now
if you want to play dead, at least shut up properly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite the
solar arrays, power was not flowing in the batteries or through the ship. It
was becoming too much for the four of them, three at the moment, if you counted
Memo’s state. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley had sent
an emergency message to the colony. They could send a recharging microwave
beam, but it would take a standard day for the message to reach them and the
beam to come back. On top of it, Brick was not sure how they could effectively
target the fast moving ship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I don’t think they have the time to
focus a scope to determine the right position. If it was stationary, it would
be easy. But under these circumstances, I don’t think it’ll work, Chief.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She could see
cold sweat running down his neck. After all he was no soldier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Lovely!” Ashley
signed. “Zyana, Brick, let’s scrape everything we can from this barge and
scram. We’ll move together and only in the bright side of the ship!
Understood?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Chief!” The two
of them saluted. Zyana’s movements were relaxed and measured, while Brick’s
were eager and nervous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They were so
vulnerable. Yet, Ashley did not want to think of them as target practice left
for dead in the midst of space. But that’s what they practically were, provided
there was somebody to pull the trigger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Still, she
couldn’t show any doubt or uncertainty. She feared they’d crumble otherwise.
Brick more than Zyana, perhaps. Holding on to any of the few weapons on board
provided some feeling of security but was utterly pointless, she thought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley checked
the wrist slate. Normally, a full-fledged holo-schematic of the ship would
emerge. Now it had a big black patch in the middle. They were scampering the online
areas around the deck. Three small points and one lonely—Memo, left at
controls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sighing deeply,
Ashley said, “Kids…let’s get out of here!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She turned
around to look at them. Dim red light illuminated their faces. They looked
keen, a little nervous maybe, but ready to act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To her surprise,
Zyana spoke:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Chief. I am with you. Let’s move!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What are we
waiting for then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley grinned, “Hold
it, Champ! Step by step, eh!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That assuaged
the situation a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So you never
told me. What’s with the nickname?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It stuck from
Academy. There was a major…an old dog.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’re not a
soldier. What did he have to do with it?” Zyana sternly noted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I was refusing
to hold a gun for training. Got myself into trouble. They did leave me alone after
a while.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“By putting a
nickname on top of your assessment sheets? That’s a bad joke, Brick.” Ashley
pointed. “You should have kicked him in the bollocks or something.” She winked
at Zyana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They paused for
a bit in front of the shutter controls to the supply depot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, that’s
history already.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t recall
asking about your name, as well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You did, Chief.
It’s Vaeslav Cantacuzino.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashely pursed
her brows. “Did I? I’ll stick to Brick, mind you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll not hold
it against you, Chief.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Perfect.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They started
loading whatever equipment they could muster from the sparse supplies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They loaded the
heavy processing unit of Memo; his featureless mannequin body following behind.
The hibernating Synth was as good as a doll at the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whatever spare
equipment there was got quickly hauled into the cargo bay without even
reviewing the gear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That’s not a
lot,” Zyana said seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Too late,
already,” Ashley replied while strapping up in the seat. “We could always come
back and fetch more, once we’ve sorted this mess out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The shields
dropped in front of the glass windows of the shuttle. They would burn for a
while when descending down. Although the upper atmosphere was thin, the
pressure made the lowest ten kilometres or so very thick. Assessment indicated they’d
need to wear respiratory isolators; the air was breathable, but too
concentrated. The Oxygen here was poisonous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite plunging
into yet another unknown, Ashley felt excited she’d see a new alien planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">System announced
detachment from main unit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick was
quietly reading from a small prayer book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zyana was still
buckling up. Memo’s mannequin was also respectfully harnessed in the cabin; his
core was with the rest of the load behind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashely requested
earlier telemetry readings on the surface where they were about to land. No big
movement, except for static fauna. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zyana uttered, “Shame
we can’t see the outside.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick lifted his
head. “You didn’t check it when we were up there?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I see,” he
said, looking away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another minute
of silence stretched long, until a sign ‘Critical Height Reached’ flashed on
controls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Alright!” Brick
rubbed hands together. “Synchronize!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, Captain,” a
metallic voice echoed and blue light flooded the cabin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ephemeral
schematics, pads, buttons and keyboards materialized all over and the room now
looked as if filled with gems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick swept his
flight chair towards controls and quickly began checking readings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A small reverberation
came at the ship that quickly grew into a tremendous vibration as they
plummeted deeper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Engage Frontal
balance.” Brick’s hand was dancing quickly across the buttons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another
uninspired “Yes, Captain” came followed by a huge momentous rocketing that sent
them hard against their straps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Watch what
you’re doing,” Ashely said automatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No can do,
Chief. Fire levelling thrusters.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another sign
flashed—‘Deceleration Limit’. The rocking of the shuttle stopped and for a
moment there was only the gentle engine hum heard across. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The frontal
shields rose to reveal a dark night sky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ladies and
gentleman, welcome to Kepler DC-762.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Courtesy
appreciated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They quickly
unbuckled and piled up in the double air lock chamber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Can already
feel the gravity,” Brick said, adjusting his shoulder piece of the carapace on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One and a half
gees were not that much for Ashley and Zyana’s trained bodies. Brick, on the
other hand, having grown in open space’s microgravity was in different shoes.
Despite the gravitational station tug he was not as robust as them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You know,
normally there would be servo attachments for the staff. Especially on
exploratory missions,” Ashley said tinkering with her mask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Never got one
of those; military only, all the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hell of a situation!
You tell me if you start feeling dizzy—“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Chief,” he
raised both hands expressively, “I’m not a sissy. Not exactly a walk in the
park too, but I’ll manage.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ok.” She looked
at them. Zyana just nodded, and Brick had already loosed his posture. Ashley
pulled the security lever; a brief hiss came as the pressures equalized.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They walked out
and stepped on the soil of this brave new world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Soil did not begin
to explain in what Ashley’s leg sank when she dropped from the shutter. She
felt her feet sink into mud; a wet sploshing sound came. She stretched her hands,
touching around and grabbed soft bundles, no bigger than a fist. Reaching
underneath still she stroke stems and finally at the end was the mushy and wet
ground. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley was knee
deep in this strange growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Move out,” she urged.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Taking a few
cautious steps forward she heard the rest splosh as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Careful! In
position?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Roger,” Zyana
confirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Roger,” Brick
followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The three of
them formed a circle, slowly expanding around the ship. Using the carapaces’ infrared
mapping tools they began scanning the environment. They could check a three-sixty
landscape projection of the ground all around on the wrist slates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Negative on
movement, Chief,” Zyana’s voice cackled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Negative here,
as well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley said
nothing but instead listened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The silence was
heavy. She heard no noise, not even wind. Nothing, save for her slow muffled
breathing in the mask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Releasing a
short sonar pulse from the ship, she saw the area all around static. If Memo was
around he’d have reminded her not to waste battery life on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Flashlights on,
gang.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The thick beams
pierced the darkness and began dancing around as they were looking in awe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Take a look at
these.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ashley turned down to look at the purple
tumbles. They covered everything as far as their flashlight could see, like a
carpet. A few taller ‘plants’ which she quickly named ‘trees’ broke the
symmetry; the coronas were made from hard and pointy violet leaves, sat on surprisingly
barky trunks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Looks like one
giant swamp.” Brick gasped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sure does.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I just want to
say: If I am slow to react, it’s not because I am not following orders, Chief.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It wouldn’t be
easy moving in the mud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Smartass.”
Ashley turned around and illumined the ship. “Power down the turret. Save
everything until we figure what this place actually is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The next few
hours saw them labouring hard in the higher gravity of this world. They were
setting up a makeshift camp as best they could with the scavenged equipment
they had. The eerie silence was filled with their heaving huffing and puffing
from the radio.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At first Ashley
joked about it, despite herself sweating hard. After a mere half an hour, the
carapace’s weight became noticeable. Zyana fared no better, but she was
enduring it silently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick made an
interesting discovery laying straight on top of the tumbles. The plants could
actually support their weights and could be used as fuzzy beds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Still, Ashley
commissioned breaks after an hour of this outlandish work. Only one at a time
could use the small conveniences in the shuttle’s cabin—a shower and a warm
drink without having to breathe through a mask. They’d take turns while building
the camp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zyana made a small
tent from fabric attached to empty crates and took her break there, using the
natural convenience of the plants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick was in
charge of the exploration tools. He quickly outfitted a ‘tree’ as an antenna
for the small horde of bots and droids that would wander off studying this new
planet. Atmospheric electron density was enough to provide good communication
between the units. All those robjects would need the power and they would have
to wait for the morning to deploy the solar cells.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley was last
to take a break. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Alright,
conscripts,” she voiced loudly, while sitting on top of the tumbles. “It’s my
turn to go to the cabin. At last!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You better get
going now, Chief,” Brick said. “Downtime’s running already.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Brick,” Ashley
smirked. “How would you like to set-up the entire camp in this wonderful
gravity all by yourself?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Not enthralled,
Chief.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“She is basically
telling you to shut up,” Zyana pointed out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sometimes you
kids are smart. I don’t know how you manage.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Chief, don’t
forget. It’s only twenty minutes. You better get going,” Brick was on it again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley got up
and slowly headed to the shuttle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m telling you,
you’ll be doing squats in the swamp, Brick. Get the equipment set-up and we’ll
see what’s in for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Aye, Aye,
Chief.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unusual for Zyana,
but she felt light-hearted from the exchange.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The bright
lighting inside the cabin was welcoming. Ashley felt like her limbs were heavy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You kids stay
alive out there,” She voiced and switched off the comm without waiting for an
answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First things
first, she boiled water for some tea and sat on the small couch. Listening to
the hissing water, she settled back in the cosy leather. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Familiar steps
echoed from the cargo. Quiet clang of metal against metal, carefully paced approached
and stopped outside the shutter of the cabin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You decided to
join us,” she said aloud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes,
Commander.” The door slid and Memo’s mannequin entered. “The system noted
deployment of solar cells, and I deduced that there will be enough power to
make it through the night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ashley was relieved to see it moving again,
but she would not show it openly. “You still decided to give us a cold shoulder
up there.” She snorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“How can you
blame me? I merely think in the same way as my creator species. Obviously, I am
also capable of expressing fear differently.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I quite like
the expression ‘Virus.’” Ashley scratched the side of her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hmm…” Memo
paused for a moment. “You mean my origin?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Without a doubt
you have a point. But it does not bother me really.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Damn.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Is debating
that now productive?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’re right. How
does your body hold up in the gravity here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s sustained
quite well. The tectonics would have no problem supporting it here, but I would
need more energy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, you did mention
the solar cells. Go and help the others set-up.” She smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, Chief.”
The opaque and featureless mannequin turned around and head for the exit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Memo,” she said
after him. “Thanks for waking up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She didn’t know
how he managed proper behaviour all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“My pleasure,
Chief.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After the
shutter closed behind him, she hit the shower. Not much time was left breathing
without a mask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick, that
little prick, she thought and smiled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley exited
the cabin and joined the rest at the camp. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was taking
shape. There were empty, scattered about crates, cloth for walls, high tech
unpowered equipment—deployed and ready, and a field kitchen. Up in orbit there
was a whole luxurious room packed up in segments and waiting. It was abandoned
together with the drone assembly unit in the dark of the ship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking around
the camp Ashley could saw a brightening dim line on the far horizon, and
switched the flashlights off. Faint twilight came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Day’s coming,
eh guys?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She looked at Memo,
who was shuffling around the exploration gear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I can’t wait to
power up the machines. It’s time to do some science!” The mannequin even pumped
a fist into the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick looked at
her expectantly. She gestured with her chin towards the ship, and he happily
obliged being dismissed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Afterwards she
joined Zyana, who was also observing the far away light of the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Any movement?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Not a thing,”
Zyana replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Anything left
to do around here?” Ashley turned her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“All done. The
cargo’s empty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Nicely done,
private. Would have earned yourself a proper dinner…were it not the case of us
being here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Were it not the
case of us being here, I’d have had a lot more work,” Zyana snickered, “Chief.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“True…” Ashley
glanced at the horizon, thoughtful. “So how come the legion let you go so far
off?” She uttered, detached.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“They didn’t.
There just was nothing much to do back home. I was pushing with assignments
where I could do some actual work. Eventually managed to get to the belt and
from there on I joined exploration. Somebody had to help me a bit with an
application.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“They shouldn’t
let you go so far away, you know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I do…It’s been
a long time already, Chief. You haven’t heard anything, have you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Nope. Not sure
if I’ll listen even if I did. You’re in the team now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley waved at
Memo’s figure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Come here,
mate. Do you know she was designed to fight your kind back on Earth?” Ashley
blurted pulling a serious face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zyana knew the
voice and turned around smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, yes. I am
not joking!” She looked back at Zyana. “Where’s your…err, thingy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Right here,”
she slowly tapped the left side of her chest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Memo slightly
inclined his head and rested one hand on his ‘chin’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So it’s like a
battery, isn’t it?” Ashley kept up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“A battery…?” Memo
inquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes. Like that
of an eel, a creatures from back home that can store electricity. She has one.”
Ashley leaned closer to Memo as she was elaborating, but Zyana could still hear
everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Very
intriguing!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh. What do you
do with it?” Her face feigned struggle. “I think you can explain better.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zyana, still looking
at the horizon said. “It translates genetic code into binary pulse. It affects
electronics dependant on code.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a
short pause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“My imagination
is working,” Memo said, at which Ashley and Zyana exchanged looks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Thirty years
under the ice, was it?” Ashley spoke. “That’s how much it costs us to get
here.” She glanced at Memo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Have you
inspected yourself for genetic damage?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You don’t mind the
fewer years, then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Not at the
moment, Chief.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Memo, who’s
still in his thinking man pose, asked:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“But back to the
battery, you obtain energy by chemical breakdown of nutrients, don’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes. If I want
it functional I’ll need to eat a lot.” She looked at him, grinning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Zyana, I am
deeply fascinated by what I’ve heard here. I never expected you to hold such
wonders.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She produced a
muffled “<i>hmph</i>” and stared back at the
horizon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Now I want to
find out more about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I know little.
Apart from using it, I can’t say much. Legion’s engineering.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Aha.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Being used to
her silent nature they continued talking while she looked again at the horizon.
The edge of the sun was emerging. She decided to enjoy the sight while the rays
were still gentle and put on the suit’s binoculars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Chief! Movement
on the horizon!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley ceased
her chatter and without looking back voiced the shuttle: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Brick, do you
read me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a moment
of silence after which his heaving voice broke the static:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Loud and clear.“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Power the
turret and radar! I want a picture on the surrounding and your eyes on the
screen!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Got it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley joined
Zyana and unceremoniously demanded the binoculars with a stretched hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking through
them at the rising sun she said, “Might be a bit of a long shot, Champ.” She
turned to Zyana. “You make anything out of this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley glanced at
the wrist pad, but nothing registered as movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you clear,
Brick?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Clear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If I may,” Memo
said. “My lens is not good enough to use your instrument, but what is it that you
actually see?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It looks like a
purple fog or something. It’s moving and it’s swirling and…” She stopped as if
looking for words. “It seems to be covering everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s coming
with the morning; it’s following the sunrise,” Zyana added. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, the
mannequin of Memo assumed his thinking pose, head looking at the sky. He
remained silent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The rest bustled
about, trying to figure out how what to do, while he still stood motionless.
Ashley eyed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Got anything
for me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“This planet does
not have a moon, does it?” he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What?” She
shook head irritably. “... No. Not any I can remember of. Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Chief, are you
secured with visors?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She smirked
while sliding the angular front part of her helmet on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Whatever it is,
I think it’s global. I will be able to deduce more after I see for myself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Cheers…I
guess.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The tumbles
started shuffling as wind blew through the plain for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The haze was
approaching quite vehemently. The closer it got the more they could distinguish
the quick swirls dancing in the cloud. Soon they faced a wall of colours; a
sweeping giant that ran across the fields. They saw the plant tumbles unfold
their tops and release seeds and thistles that were picked up by the morning
gale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then the cloud
swallowed them. Inside the morning rays hardly penetrated, but still they saw the
dust sticking to everything: their equipment, their ship and themselves. Brick
instinctively swoop across his visor, but the intense lint just covered it anew
as the thistle cloud was raging on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Seeds,
Commander!” Memo’s voice echoed from the com. “It’s time for life to
proliferate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Does this have
anything to do with your moon?” Ashley sarcastically shot back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I strongly
suspect so. Now I want to gather some specimens.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Is all of this
pollen and seeds?” Zyana voiced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I think it’s
starting to slow down.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And indeed they
could see the veil thinning. Bigger and bulkier lint quickly descended as the
wind died out. Smaller spores were still springing in the air. The sun shone
through, raised to its full glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Good morning,”
Ashley uttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She looked
around herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fluff was
covering all the land; the crates; the shuttle and the rest of the team.
Breathing heavily out of the mask she blew spores out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Memo was still
standing in his contemplative posture; Brick and Zyana were vigorously wiping
and shaking the sticky mess off their armour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It just doesn’t
end…” Ashley conveyed while staring at the far horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ground ahead
was becoming blue. It looked as if a carpet was unrolling where the storms had
just passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The rest looked as
puzzled as her at this second wave of bizarreness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not being able
to think of anything better, they stood, waiting to see it from up close. Memo
did not seem more bothered by this than he was by the fluff storm, which had
made him look like a snowman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s all
natural phenomena,” he reassured the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Swiftly, all around
them the tumbles pushed buds from their tops—a small acorn-like germ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It fits all too
well,” Memo said quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“As long as you
explain…” Ashley arched an eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The buds sprang
into wide blue flowers. Thin wide leaves, resembling a clover unfolded and
covered all the land in an even layer of azure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Fascinating.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Actually…that’s
quite beautiful,” Zyana said after a short pause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick gently
rubbed a leaf between two fingers. “Memo, you sound like you have an idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The mannequin
simply pointed at the sun. “It’s quite intense, is it not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Having the rest
of the lint blown off, they slid their visors away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The air felt
moist and warm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Facing the sun
Ashley concluded:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It does feel
hot. And what about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s an A-small
type star.” Brick added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Correct.” Memo
caressed one of the leaves. “These probably reflect and absorb the more
energetic light spectrums. I can’t feel, but I am sure it will be hotter than
the air. Can you touch it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It is,” Brick
confirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Go on,” Ashley
said, nodding at Memo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s amazing
how life has evolved here. It’s also rather logical. Nature is rather logical.
These,” he waved, embracing the land. “are all one close family. Unlike your
home of origination, there is no moon here to stabilise the planet’s tilt axis.
This would cause climatic changes that occur more often and abruptly in comparison.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“And that would
eradicate life quite often.” Brick prompted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I would think
so. It would explain why we witness so little diversity. Life quickly spreads
and then vanishes, seizing the opportunity to evolve a quick mechanism for
adaptation. Once the conditions change, it disappears and propagates quickly
again; a sort of a wicked cycle.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zyana gazed
around her. “That certainly is not obvious now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It could be we’re
in the middle of a warm cycle. All of this needs more data gathering, though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“And what about
life that makes it out?” Ashley asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That would
certainly have developed a very different mechanism for adaptation. Are you
citing intelligent life, Chief?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What if I do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s nothing
less than deeply intriguing. I would certainly be interested to see it arising
here,” Memo replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The way I see
it, it’s the last thing we need,” She remarked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Memo was slowly
stroking his ‘cheek’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It would be a
unique creature,” he began. “whatever its form may be. I can only imagine what
mechanism it would have adopted to live here. There are the deep layers
underneath; the depths of an ocean, maybe; geothermal wells; natural volcanic
vents; hibernation, perhaps?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick was
nodding slightly as he was listening to Memo; the blue of the land had
mesmerized Zyana. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley stood
with hands on her hips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Why did I even
mention it to you?” She shook head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Don’t worry,
Chief. I was already thinking about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick couldn’t
hide his snicker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Alright gang!”
Ashley boomed. “I’m glad we’ve sorted this one out. It’s time to clean this
mess. Memo, deploy the cells and start recharging the batteries. Brick, you’re
on the gear to scan this shit-hole. Zyana, you and I are going to wipe that
dust off.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, Chief,” the
three of them replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The mundane pace
of the work allowed Ashley some time for introspection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What had hit
them? Was there space to get worried at another attempt? Would they survive the
whole ordeal?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contrary to her,
her companions did not seem occupied with dark thoughts. A kind of cheerful and
infectious mood had emerged around Memo. Brick and Zyana were absorbing the
intellectual insight he was sharing. Ashley was glad they were so easy-going,
but she was still imparting discipline with abrupt questions and vigorous
prompts. Insuring that they were ready to act on occasion she’d get back to her
responsibility in quietly contemplating worst-case scenarios. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the day was
advancing the heat was rising. Oddly, the swampy undergrowth did not evaporate
much; the persistent heat shield of the flowers was isolating it excellently.
Still the light reflected and the higher gravity soon had them feeling as if
they were in a desert. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Towards noon
Ashley, Brick, and Zyana stopped working altogether and sought shelter under
the shades. Memo powered down some computational processes and slowed body
movements; he didn’t want to stop now. He was tending to the more gentle
electronics of the exploration bot horde and was waiting for the right time to
let them loose and do some science.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When the sun
hung directly up in the sky thick clouds started gathering on top of them. The
dark puff quickly engulfed the blue and a rumble of storm was heard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Probably low
atmospheric pressure,” Memo guessed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Let’s haul
everything fragile inside,” Ashley said, looking through the binoculars. “I
don’t think this gravity with the rain will be gentle.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Good point,”
Brick agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They quickly
loaded the gear in question and boarded the shuttle together. Memo’s mannequin
was left under one of the wings on the request of the AI itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It will be
interesting to observe the flora under these conditions.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I find him admirable,” Zyana shared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And the
conditions did not disappoint the cautious measures. A torrent of water poured
down on the ground. The blue flowers flattened against the harder tumbles; they,
in part, got almost submerged in the near flood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“There easily is
enough water to pick up the shuttle and drag it off to somewhere,” Memo
observed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Bloody hell!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It shouldn’t be
raining over a large portion of land, though. The water seems to be flowing
away just as quick now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a mere ten standard
minutes later the rain stopped and rays of light emerged from behind the thick clouds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The water
quickly drained away, and in half an hour it looked as if it hadn’t rained at
all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, I’m glad
that went well.” Ashley grinned. “Let’s get back to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The afternoon
was devoted to Memo’s science. They released the exploratory drones to study
nature here in microscopic details. Samples were brought to a small
lab-in-a-crate for further research. Battery levels were growing healthy due to
solar. Ashley still found something to be concerned with—rations. The current
estimation was six local days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She was just
planning a return to the main ship, when Memo approached her with an
interesting finding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I believe you
can metabolise part of the plants here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You mean eating?”
She gawked at him. “That might actually be life-saving!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He pointed at
one of the sparse trees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Carbon-based
chemistry: the seeds are encased in some sort of a sap. Highly fibrous and not
unlike cellulose. The rest are simpler sugars.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If what you say
is true, it’s just too convenient. Let’s try to be a bit dubious. Are you sure
that thing’s edible?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, Chief,” the
mannequin nodded head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I am eager to
give it a try, Chief,” Brick voiced from the vox. “It does have trace amounts
of chemicals we’re not quite familiar with. But I don’t think they’ll harm us.
After all, even Earth-based fruits contain poisons that would kill you in a concentrated
form.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I suggest small
intakes over several days to observe side effects.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m game,”
Brick agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Now I better
understand your fascination, Memo,” Zyana added. “I didn’t know you could eat
something from a different planet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Organic or
carbon-based life has the best chances of proliferation throughout the
Universe,” Memo stated. “Actually, I think it would be quite common for you
humans to find foods throughout Space.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley’s voice
betrayed enthusiasm: “Let’s see it, then.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Surprisingly, Ashley
was disappointed with the extremely scientific method her companions chose to follow.
She would have to wait before trying it for herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As evening was approaching the exhaustion was
becoming extreme. They were uplifted by the success of their first day here,
but even Memo admitted that it would be practical to shut down the mannequin overnight.
Ashley disagreed and asked that it be posted as a sentry. They drew straws to see
who’s going to sleep in the cabin. Zyana won and this time she did not hesitate
to enjoy the cosiness of the only comfortable bed around. It was the small
cargo bay for the rest of the gang. Memo was running the turret and several
small patrols of robjects. Emotionally, he wanted to hibernate together with
his fellow humans. The logic cores would wake him up in case of emergency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I feel like
that when I’m with people,” he shared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley just mumbled
and pulled the blanked over her sore body, passing out quickly. Brick’s chest
was already moving rhythmically in deep sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Observing the
silence, Memo continued with putting the behavioural neuro-centres and
algorithms to ‘rest.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dark, dark…quiet…sleep…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She felt her
body. She hadn’t realised there was so much pain in it. Lower back, muscles,
legs…it all throbbed achingly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gentle warmth
wrapped her. Ashley could not move a limb, but she heard her own slow and
rhythmic breathing. The pain subsided. It began to drench away; slowly, peace took
over. She felt embraced…cared for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Am I awake?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sensation and
memories from the past day came over and she felt tense and wanted to get up
and see if the rest are ok…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But that
dissipated and again only peace remained.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She was aware of
the chthonic silence, a moment of time stretching longer and longer. There was
no thought of existing or doing or thinking. She just was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley moved in
disbelief. Again the memories came over. She was obliged to protect them. She
felt her pulse increasing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Am I awake?” she
asked again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That is not
important now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Who are—?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A vast dark
cloud, the essence of night itself, emerged in front of her. Dots flickered in
and out of existence all around: bigger, smaller, all in different colours. The
cloud began to swirl slowly. It twisted and compressed together in the centre. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It became a
yellow haze. Ever more quickly it was spinning and condensing until a white,
shining dot emerged in the middle of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Staring at it
she felt incredibly hot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The dot grew
into a white and glowing sphere. A vast explosion followed which threw everything
else away violently. The haze settled far, churning around the newborn star.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Smaller whirls
began emerging around the glowing behemoth. They sucked the remaining dust and
smoke and became spinning spheres: planets. They looked charred, hot, and
inhospitable. She saw them spinning vehemently, jiggling and oscillating around
their axes, as if struggling to overcome a tremendous force. The closer they
came to each other, the further they were hurled next around. To her it seemed
they might fly away any moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of them came
extremely close. It filled her entire sight. Ashley witnessed a dim and sickly
yellowish gloom covering the planet, which suddenly cleared to reveal a dark, bruised
and lashed with red scars land. A smaller rock swiftly collided with the planet
and engulfed the entire surface in one giant explosion that left the whole
surface covered in a milky mist. Then it dissipated to reveal a beautiful blue
all across, patched with brown stretches of land. Before she could even admire
it for a moment it all became white in a global freezing and changed to blue
again. In the meantime the planet was spinning constantly never finding its
perfect axis. Every time the blue became white, it amassed in a different place
around the globe: either or both of the Poles, or all across, in different
beautiful patters. And all the time the land changed its form. It never
remained the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now she was
submerged under an ocean. She saw animals and creatures, buzzling about on the
bottom. The water abruptly withdrew; they were dead. Then there was ice. It
disappeared and a jungle of huge large trees grew. It began raining constantly;
they all became corrupted, rotten. And they froze. The ocean came again. There
were different creatures, moving and stirring. All this only to be replaced by
a vast dry dessert. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She lost count
how many times she witnessed this dance of life and death. Obliteration and
creation intertwined eternally in this vision. From the remains of the old
emerged the new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She heard a
cackle. Glancing around she found herself surrounded with the familiar tumbles;
the night sky she had seen before. There was a distant echo, faint and quiet. But
if you listened intently you could hear it reverberate. And Ashley listened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Base to
Explorer.” Static. “Base to Explorer! Do you copy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Copy, Base!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Time accelerated
and day and night changed rapidly. The echoing voices were lost. In the same
time she felt incredibly lonely. She found herself pondering about…them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“But that’s us!
We’re all humans!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No answer came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She was carefully
measuring every idea and rethinking every notion that had shaped so far from
this new encounter. Every time a surge of happiness came - “I am not alone!” - she’d
shake head and contemplate again on the existence of somebody else out there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again Ashley
said aloud:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“But I am not
alone!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A deep sensation
of abandon and emptiness surged in her being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then the same warmth
of happiness and satisfaction emerged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I was.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You…were?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I didn’t even
know it. Until I knew of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Me?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Your…kind. All
of you. How many there are of you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The fast cycle
stopped at another familiar looking field of tumbles. This time Ashley heard
familiar voices in the static. She knew the people talking…Brick, Zyana, Memo,
and herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She wanted to
reach for the sky. She knew where they were. She wanted to meet them and talk
to them. But she didn’t know them. The warm cosy feeling and happiness stepped
away to cold planning and rigid speculation. She had to be careful; she had to
study them better; she had to come to know them before they knew her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You are
ancient!” Ashley exclaimed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Only when
compared to you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The world around
her became a smeared haze of colours as she felt rapidly ascending up. When it
halted she saw her exploration vessel. The voices became clearer, louder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The urge to meet
them only grew stronger the closer she was getting to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She became
impatient. She signalled her joy, expressed her feeling in the purest way she
could. She could not hold back anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In retrospect,
she thought, she might have made a terrible mistake. She had scared or hurt
them in some way. They fled. They could not go anywhere else than her old home.
The one she had seen so much death and rebirth on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I am sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I understand,”
Ashley replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She opened her
eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Such a good
night sleep had not come to her in a long time. She felt very relaxed and well
rested. Brick wasn’t in the room, and neither was Memo’s processing unit, so
she assumed she must have slept a long time. Good thing the boys did, letting
her over rest like that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What a
fascinating dream! Ashley could not remember another time she could recall
images so vividly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Smiling, she put
the breathing mask on. She decided to live without the bothersome carapace
today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Headed to the
exit, she voiced through the radio: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Good morning, gang!
If it’s morning, that is.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Errr,” Brick’s
voice answered. “Chief, you alright in there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Living the
dream.” She boomed and tapped the exit console.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nothing
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Clicking again,
Ashley said, “Is this thing broken? Guys! There’s a small malfunction here!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“A moment,
please—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The door slid
aside. The three of them were outside staring intently. Simultaneously they
bent over to look behind her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Shit!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Damn!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“…Intriguing!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oddly, no
frustration came to Ashley and she just arched an eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You lot going
mental?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The only answer
was Zyana pointing with finger at something behind her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hands onto her
waist, Ashley turned around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“…Wow,” She said
quietly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Close to her bed
there rested a faintly glowing sphere. No bigger than a football, it was
suspended in mid-air, slowly hovering up and down. It was casting a dull glow
around it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I tried waking
you, but you wouldn’t move—” Brick blurted out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We dragged you
out, but the thing was following you. It wouldn’t go away and we couldn’t make
it, either,” Memo added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“At the end we
just locked you away, Chief. We didn’t know what to do.” Zyana concluded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Slightly
tiltering her head, Ashley quietly replied, “I don’t think it’s that
dangerous.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She walked
towards the small globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“My unit awoke
me. It had picked up a signal very similar to the broadcast from the black box…before
the ship went cold up there,” Memo reported. “Then I saw it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“A similar
signal you said?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley stretched
her bare hand and placed it on the ethereal orb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A delicate
tickle came—as if tiny pins touched her skin. It was faintly warm but soothing
still. A familiar sensation of peace and surrender gradually ensued. She felt
butterflies in her stomach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You guys should
come.” She beckoned with her free arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bewildered, they
all piled behind her, staring at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“There’s no
reason to worry.” She turned around. “You should try it too.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick, brushing
his chin with two fingers, wrinkled his forehead. Memo assumed his epic
thinking man posture again and Zyana stretched her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Chief, is there
something you’re not telling us?” Memo demanded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley confirmed
with a nod and gestured at Zyana, who stood there frozen in place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Mmm…that
actually feels odd,” Zyana concluded with a bemused note. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I think it
wants to talk with us,” Ashley said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, as long
as you share,” Brick added. “I’m game.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Indeed,” Memo
seconded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gently placing
both of her palms underneath the sphere, Ashley carefully moved it around. It
had no weight; it didn’t feel material at all, but it was gliding together with
her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“By the way,” Memo
began, “earlier we tried getting it off from you.” He swung his hand towards
it. “But we couldn’t do a thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His hand passed
through, dragging the bulk of its body. The glowing orb stretched as if made
from oil and scattered into smaller misshaped bubbles, which slowly converged
whole again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hmm...Don’t do
that again, ok?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sure. Do you
want to tell us what you know, Chief?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yeah.” She
smiled. “Take it easy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She sat on the
floor, her back on the wall, still holding the orb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So I had this
dream…” she began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So, it’s
alive!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I should go
fetch some equipment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It is possible
that…quantum mechanically speaking, the thinking process might be quite
similar. Already you and I have a huge similarity, but that might be applicable
to other species as well. Simply fascinating!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They stared at
Memo, whose mannequin, for a reason, was striding up and down the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, I’ve no
doubt that it’s intelligent.” Ashley gracefully pushed the sphere away, which
rested in mid-air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Is there any
way we could speak with it?” Zyana prodded carefully at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick pondered.
“During sleep we change the waves of the brain’s functions. Nobody has
experienced any…talking just now, have we?” He looked around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The rest shook
their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Earlier you
said you detected a signal that was—“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Similar to the
one recorded just before we got jammed in orbit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Right! That may
well be a way to communicate. We could try setting spectrometry equipment and
look for frequencies coming from it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Or we could
just try sleeping again,” Zyana beamed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Can do…” Brick
mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I find you
extremely lucky to be able to tell such a story, Chief,” Memo said, still
walking slowly around. “Although much scrutiny remains to be done, if your
biology is the medium with which you communicate with it…Well, I’d be very
disappointed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ashley laughed.
“Suck it up, big man. After all, I won’t be able to pull it off without you,”
she nodded at Brick. “Or you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ahem.” Zyana
cleared her throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sorry!” She smiled
at her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Snorting
quietly, Brick left. Ashley thought that, perhaps, he wasn’t getting the
attention he was looking for with all that technical stuff he was speaking off.
She also noted that she didn’t usually make space for such thoughts. Then
again… there was the brain interaction he had mentioned. Maybe that was it. Maybe
one changed somehow when speaking with the thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She gazed back at
the orb. It had started floating left and right more liberally. Ashley got the
impression it was exploring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“After all, the
particles that constitute the thinking process share the symmetry of one and
the same universe,” Memo finished extrapolating, triumphantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So, you’re
saying that we might be more equal than we think,” Zyana said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“To a degree we
already are.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Both of them
looked at the sphere, which was slowly headed towards one of the room lights.
Lazily, it settled closer to it and stood there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Do you think it
might just be some way of spying on us?” Zyana asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Plausible. I
certainly would not be surprised if that turned out to be the case. Still, I
admit that the other possibility excites me much more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Silent, Ashley
stood up and went closer to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I think it
might be gathering energy from the lamp,” she said. “It could be eating from
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Short silence
ensued, during which the three of them were each pondering about the odd statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Why wouldn’t it
just go outside? Plenty of sun there,” Zyana spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“This could be
everything it needs,” Ashley replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Memo turned his
featureless head. “Hmm?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You did say
that life here gets annihilated quite often. It might have grown used to
scarcity. It’s amazing how many cycles I witnessed in such a short space of
time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Brick entered
bearing some arcane equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We could start
listening.” He boisterously started unfolding the gear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m sure we
will find something.” Ashley headed to the exit. “After all we can see some
light coming out of it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well put,” Memo
agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I already want
to talk with it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If we could
ever learn to talk with it.” Ashley turned with a smile. “First thing will be
to ask it to fix our ship up there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The three of
them nodded, laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, Chief.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">END.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-9705635802725631502015-10-10T11:29:00.001+01:002015-10-18T21:17:37.562+01:00Looking at a Black Hole Hello and thank you for looking at this post. If at any point you begin to feel overwhelmed, please, it's not you, it's me writing in a way that's too sophisticated. It's my fault.<br />
If you are familiar with Black Holes, maybe you don't need to read through this post at all and you can do something else with your time.<br />
If you are not and haven't read much about Black Holes, then you might want to read slowly and ponder on some of the finer moments. I will try to provide information as scientifically correct and pictorial as possible. Please note, that at times it might be good to additionally Google some term.<br />
If you know much about Black holes, but are not sure if you're missing details, then check it out; something interesting might pop up.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Looking at a Black Hole</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
1. A bit of Info<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Black Holes, a.k.a. Singularities(there are various types of Singularities; the Big Bang being one of them) are made entirely of curved and warped space-time. They begin as matter but have no matter once they become black. The large round black spheroid we all are used to imagining when thinking of a Black Hole is the Event Horizon, the point after which not even light can escape. Being trapped and orbiting inside it never reaches our eyes, hence the area is also the shadow of the Singularity Black Hole(imagine an infinitesimal point in space which casts a shadow in all directions).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There isn't a particular known mass at which a star would degenerate into a Black Hole, but an assumption is just over forty solar masses(that is 40 of our Suns packed together), although throughout the life of a star many things can influence the flow of matter in or out. So even if a star has critical weight it might not compress into a Singularity but instead settle down to a Magnetar(Neutron Star with a very powerful magnetic field).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The fusion of Hydrogen, Helium and heavier elements in stellar cores is powered by gravity in the beginning. Once the Star ignites, the thermonuclear reactions are pushing outwards, while the gravitational forces are "squeezing" in. Once the fusion cycle reaches iron, there is no more energy released when fusing elements(from this point on it takes energy to fuse them). A cycle can end before that, by shedding the upper layers in an explosion(not supernova) and leaving the core to continue its life cycle. The upper layers--the bulk of a star we see, are made from plasma(the fourth physical state of matter and the one that is most abundant in the Universe) which is flowing much like a lava lamp, rising and cooling, sinking and heating.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Every star goes through this cycle. The upper layers are shed once there is not enough fuel to push outward. Gravity focuses on the core and leaves the rest to become stellar dust, which will feed new stars and/or planets...hopefully. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The left core is in a state of a White Dwarf--a tea spoon weighs fifteen metric tons. The famous quantum law of Pauli's exclusion principle states that a particle cannot occupy the same position as another particle. In a form of a White Dwarf there are seas of electrons bustling around. Though squeezed tight, together with the atomic nuclei they form the body of the Dwarf Star. If the force of gravity is not powerful enough, the dwarf will live in a state of equilibrium for a very long time. The least assumption is one with thirty two zeroes behind it in years.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is still much power left and energy will be released; a magnetic field will form. If gravity is sufficient enough it will crunch the electrons out of their orbits and produce supernova(there are various types dependant on the strength of the supernova). This is when heavier elements get fused together and for the larger part, the biggest source of Uranium in the Universe.<br />
The crunched electrons will fuse with protons and form a degenerate matter made predominantly of neutrons. A neutron is heavier than a proton(and can decay into a proton by emitting an electron and an electron anti-neutrino or a positron and an electron neutrino--not so important!). In either case it loses mass and energy. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is a state of a Neutron Star--one tea spoon weighs ten million metric tons. These are much smaller than their White Dwarf partners. They spin, most of the time vehemently and emit radiation and so earned the name pulsars, because in the early days of radio astronomy scientists were puzzled by these "cosmic lighthouses".<br />
Alas, if gravity is powerful enough, the state of a Neutron star lasts only for some seconds. If the crunching continues, the entire mass will get smaller and smaller until it vanishes from sight. Observed from far away it will be as if it has faded from view. Steadily the Event Horizon will emerge--the shadow of the Hole. Its size depends on the mass of the matter being "crunched" together.<br />
Now there is no matter to speak of any more. The entire Singularity is formed of curved space-time into infinity. The current understanding of physics calculates infinities when trying to resolve numerically the state of the Singularity. This means that we don't really know what's at the centre (although there are some very interesting speculations!).<br />
To make things a bit more pictorial, imagine you standing in your back yard with a wide net stretched thin. You throw a stone as hard as you can and the stone bends the net, for a moment the two dimensional plane of the net is "twisted". It has curved into a three dimensional object. For a tiny ant living on the two dimensional plane of the net, it might seem that the plane is still flat when it is walking about, but to us--we see the entire picture easily.<br />
Of course, after a short time, the net will push the stone back and it will return to it's state of minimum energy(being stretched and at rest). But imagine if the stone was stretching the net into infinity. Look at this picture to help you imagine. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41A1wuTGnz_r9rQya5eyd2ZG2gWGfUjehqu70TpRm3nMZkY582H2mqRMly8PFyil-N4ViFsG-Z-qtj71igp6EpyP3k_C7MajkjX7VAA-reqIkarNoJzJmayVBZJ7SAju-XmFNnDpsb_M/s1600/black-hole-funnel-generated-circles-lines-illustration-white-background-43297305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41A1wuTGnz_r9rQya5eyd2ZG2gWGfUjehqu70TpRm3nMZkY582H2mqRMly8PFyil-N4ViFsG-Z-qtj71igp6EpyP3k_C7MajkjX7VAA-reqIkarNoJzJmayVBZJ7SAju-XmFNnDpsb_M/s320/black-hole-funnel-generated-circles-lines-illustration-white-background-43297305.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<br />
From the perspective of a two spatial dimensions we can easily imagine what exponential curve of space looks like. Now try to think about what an infinite curve would mean in three spatial dimensions, like our universe.<br />
Having difficulties? No worries. Science also has not evolved enough to make absolute sense out of it. For all we know, we have not yet observed a Black Hole(or rather its Event Horizon) directly.<br />
The last boring information I will add before continuing is that unlike the net from our earlier scenario the Black Hole Singularity will take a lot more time to "unfold". Physicist Steven Hawking predicted that Black Holes evaporate slowly, but that is to be confirmed by observations in the future. His name will probably be awarded with a Nobel prize in the future.<br />
Also, unlike the net, the Singularity is staying in this "maximum" state of curvature, simply because it is in a "maximum" state of curvature. That is, the twisted space-time is supporting its own structure, despite the enormous energies involved into "folding" it in the first place. The stone is staying in the net, stretching it into infinity and you don't know exactly how far away that is from you.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. Looking at a Black Hole</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Like the stars they are born from Black Holes can spin. They can also be at rest--no spin. In Physics spin comes in two variations. Fold the palm of your right hand in a bowl and extend the thumb up. It is accepted that a body that follows the directions of your four fingers while spinning is spinning up--that is, its torque is pointed in the direction of your thumb. The opposite direction would be spin down, because for your fingers to follow the direction of the spinning body you'd have to turn your thumb up side down. This is what they mean in Quantum Mechanics when they say spin up and spin down. The same applies for a Black Hole.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Let's talk about Spinning Black Holes for a bit. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now, there is a theoretical maximum spin that a Black Hole can retain, according to the currently established laws of Relativity. But for that I'll need to dump a bit more information. I do apologize.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We already discussed that light does not escape out through the Even Horizon, but there is one other very important characteristic of space-time when it is curved to such extremes. It is flowing much more slowly as observed from a distance. We see the same effects in our every day life. Relativity is part of Nature and our personal local time runs quicker when we're on the tenth floor, than when we're in the basement. Studies have been made with very precise atomic and caesium clocks to reveal different flow of time between such ordinary places. Of course, the differences are very small here on Earth, but none-the-less perceivable. So when we're closer to the central gravitational well at the centre of the Earth, as in the basement or ground floors, time runs slower from the point of view as when we're on the tenth; space-time is slightly more curved than it is at the tenth floor. An interesting fact is that the satellites of the GPS system have to calculate time according to the relativistic laws, otherwise your GPS location on your phone would jump to the middle of the ocean after a week. That's how noticeable the differences accrued can be between space out there and here on Earth. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Back to the super curvature around a spinning Black Hole. The spin actually increases the slowing of time additionally. If you were to orbit a super-large super-fast-spin Black Hole in your space ship, you'd walk around normally and drink your tea and everything will be OK, except that time outside of the extreme space-time curvature is flowing much more quickly from your point of view. In some cases an hour in your ship measures to years of outside time. And as absurdly as it sounds, you don't have to worry that much about falling into the Hole either. When a Black Hole is spinning it pushes space time in the direction of it's spin, be it spin up or spin down. So that things will orbit around the Event Horizon accumulating centrifugal forces which will push them around the Black Hole. Things in Nature always move in straight lines. It's just that space-time is always terribly curved in Nature(stars, planets, galaxies, Black Holes ect.). That's why your ship will be orbiting in the direction of the spin of the Black Hole. Every particle, object or ship, especially photons of light(carriers of visual information) will either orbit around the Black Hole, together with it's spin and thus increasing it's spin because of their accrued centrifugal forces. Or they will try to orbit in the opposite direction, if they are unfortunate enough to enter the system from the wrong side. When they try to orbit against the spin, they will slow down the spin a bit, but will be plunged into the Hole, because they will lose all centrifugal forces, thus depleting their angular momentum and their energy will fail to overcome the extreme gravity. So they will sink underneath the Horizon. When an object does, the last thing we see is its image staying there for a while, especially if we're observing from afar(it will wear off quicker the closer we're orbiting). Part of the photons(carrying the image) are trapped just outside of the Event Horizon and are dragged by the whirl of space-time. Now the image is frozen and is spinning together with the Black Hole and the speed of it's spin is the speed at which the image would orbit around the Black Hole. There's nothing much to sparkle the imagination here, unless the speed of the object goes beyond the speed of light(nothing can travel faster than light according to Relativity). In some, surprisingly, not-so-rare cases an ultra-large Black Hole--one hundred million masses of our sun and above, can approach such spin speed. Such a Black hole would have a diameter as close to that of the Earth orbiting around the Sun. And an image of an object orbiting such an Event Horizon would make that orbit in between one and two hours! If the speed were to exceed that of the speed of light, theoretically, the Event Horizon would disappear and we will be able to see a naked Singularity. So far, science predicts that is impossible, but one never really knows. Current estimation calculates that when a spin of 0,998 of the maximum possible is reached a state of equilibrium would ensue between particles speeding up the spin and particles slowing down the spin.<br />
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What is important to take from all that info-dump is that Photons of light(carriers of visual information) would travel in extremely bend straight line around a Black Hole. It would change the image that we'd see, if we were ever to observe an Event Horizon directly. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgvkabqfI6btIqjcj6Wr7w-jJhPj_qLyZM6jTPjBIf2Z-cmPFTqqqFXWXEuympYPhlcU9ujdTRNbKJCrIZX7qn_eKi5ZlvGCZq7Qpm8xYTMdw2rmtyWVowapDzboOiomS8GyxTB4765Y/s1600/spaceTimeCurvature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgvkabqfI6btIqjcj6Wr7w-jJhPj_qLyZM6jTPjBIf2Z-cmPFTqqqFXWXEuympYPhlcU9ujdTRNbKJCrIZX7qn_eKi5ZlvGCZq7Qpm8xYTMdw2rmtyWVowapDzboOiomS8GyxTB4765Y/s640/spaceTimeCurvature.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrwK0nGitWZh7G753Zc_qk8vU-RBdVt7CuxYylOh86dJn482motobi7dTIJ5MYlF56BLdjh3XhLU9o6jW_V9y7eMKZFIlOG_aHB6TZvtN0Gapip7fZK1_Rnik4uMF8ihOVfDH59N-7ko/s1600/Blackhole_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrwK0nGitWZh7G753Zc_qk8vU-RBdVt7CuxYylOh86dJn482motobi7dTIJ5MYlF56BLdjh3XhLU9o6jW_V9y7eMKZFIlOG_aHB6TZvtN0Gapip7fZK1_Rnik4uMF8ihOVfDH59N-7ko/s640/Blackhole_9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A star behind a Black Hole can even appear twice in the sky depending on our point of view.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczpxiOIOvB9M6m97B57XPAMZ3MSlBSL0nX_2VUgoNmiWBcpcrnegmQBO8hjCZKkqSNlA_SfXNSZEgELdEawdVTif97dg7dQfwpWKZqKQsLjfpTUCVPEF6kueZFnksgU-qctyAjmlG04Y/s1600/LMC_APOD_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczpxiOIOvB9M6m97B57XPAMZ3MSlBSL0nX_2VUgoNmiWBcpcrnegmQBO8hjCZKkqSNlA_SfXNSZEgELdEawdVTif97dg7dQfwpWKZqKQsLjfpTUCVPEF6kueZFnksgU-qctyAjmlG04Y/s640/LMC_APOD_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NHFoOjgi3Cy1dxIITj3lS309sTbR7A1NCdpUq8GxpADvGIU_hQ6C8YDBY7lJRMiP4J8-O2dtwMtxePtjh1t3dB7ugnLp79aKQ84-wIFnjxi0ssxUlze6GP23W8msqToY6o3j5Ag_Y7E/s1600/BH_LMC_APOD_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NHFoOjgi3Cy1dxIITj3lS309sTbR7A1NCdpUq8GxpADvGIU_hQ6C8YDBY7lJRMiP4J8-O2dtwMtxePtjh1t3dB7ugnLp79aKQ84-wIFnjxi0ssxUlze6GP23W8msqToY6o3j5Ag_Y7E/s640/BH_LMC_APOD_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Making things easier for you--now you know what a non-spinning Black Hole would look like as seen above. </div>
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If you take pen and paper and scribble quickly a twisted two dimensional plane into infinity as one shown above. The exponentiation twist is the Black Hole. Place a dot somewhere outside on the plane--that would be a star. Two straight lines coming from the star would depict photons, carrying its image to our eyes. The straight lines would bend just around the edge of the curvature and when exiting, their path would have changed so as to converge in our eyes. Thus we would see two stars. </div>
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First, I apologise for the non-interactive image.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZubTfD2JJl389lGljU__t7OLW0Xc1nmE92kMs7YrtStNFT_2ctfHaJkiXfROmjEw9qNdDYXb9zuUvgtSReJ8uR5yiNHLdpT4SNTd__RtlXi5edkA6xPRyVZDYMIakoOiF01hHKkTMes/s1600/images.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZubTfD2JJl389lGljU__t7OLW0Xc1nmE92kMs7YrtStNFT_2ctfHaJkiXfROmjEw9qNdDYXb9zuUvgtSReJ8uR5yiNHLdpT4SNTd__RtlXi5edkA6xPRyVZDYMIakoOiF01hHKkTMes/s400/images.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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But it is worthwhile to look and think on the image for a bit. Here the Black Hole is spinning up(remembering the right hand rule, which direction is that?).</div>
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The numbers on the flat disk run from zero to nine, but they appear in several other instances as well. That is because the curvature of space-time makes photon travel in unusual ways. </div>
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In this case we see several instance of number six, because the photon information for number six swirls around from behind the Event Horizon to our eyes in several rays. </div>
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You will notice that space-time is additionally curved in the direction of its spin. The high speed of the spin up is literally stretching space-time in the same direction and bulging it in the other end of the Event Horizon. To see this a bit more clearly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaBKslDxD8Vv36LVVICI_KBtiFCNyKynoNLw3sbQ3JEWNtHU2uXCJzKyPIha0GsFMLmIAAGHl6522yl7wabcOdyaTbGpnbm3fi7lh1PG1NN4tvdnkTak3rw8bJ2lqgIGuip1WQLHrnAQ/s1600/interstellar5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaBKslDxD8Vv36LVVICI_KBtiFCNyKynoNLw3sbQ3JEWNtHU2uXCJzKyPIha0GsFMLmIAAGHl6522yl7wabcOdyaTbGpnbm3fi7lh1PG1NN4tvdnkTak3rw8bJ2lqgIGuip1WQLHrnAQ/s640/interstellar5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This picture was used by respected theoretical physicist Kip Thorne when constructing Gargantua in the movie Interstellar. It is showing the lensing of the curved space-time, which a massive Black Hole would produce. Plus a little bonus--how we will see space moving when changing our point of view from left to right. The red lines flow towards the right side of the screen--in this sector the view would change somehow normally. Inside the big purple line, called "Einstein Ring", the view would change in the opposite direction. The yellow arrows and the view flows to the left. </div>
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Compare that picture with the picture of the non-rotating Black Hole. Now you see what the massive spin would do to additionally drag space-time. </div>
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Since we have mentioned Gargantua and the movie Interstellar, why don't we just Google it in images and observe it for a bit.</div>
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Magnificent isn't it? It is by far the most scientifically correct Black Hole to be presented in IMAX high-resolution image. But not even that is good enough. Christopher Nolan didn't want to confuse the public with a fully scientifically correct Gargantua. Instead the graphical team agreed to construct something less odd for the viewer despite the much needed massive gravitational forces to produce the drama in the movie. </div>
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To understand what the beautiful Gargantua is missing we might have to look at the mighty Quasar. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpA-9ARZ_OoffLTAHlAulpC3pE54KOBgNKZgpi9gNZ7TZjuZaoId2XWMprrtNRDtEwz-JZQsNcdfAwX9qvYlgA4RYhQrYh-X_rgaR8JCSx0nRqBS5JwQQ8YYsx-75okRosN0TuXJBIiw/s1600/quasar-galaxy-definition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpA-9ARZ_OoffLTAHlAulpC3pE54KOBgNKZgpi9gNZ7TZjuZaoId2XWMprrtNRDtEwz-JZQsNcdfAwX9qvYlgA4RYhQrYh-X_rgaR8JCSx0nRqBS5JwQQ8YYsx-75okRosN0TuXJBIiw/s640/quasar-galaxy-definition.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Quasar stands for quasi-stellar radio object. During the advent of radio astronomy it was puzzling to detect an object as small as the size of the solar system and shining brighter than the whole of the Milky Way Galaxy...or a hundred of them for that matter!</div>
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Quasars are super massive Black Holes with high Spin(according to the right hand rule, what spin does the Black Hole in the picture above have?). Gravitationally, they are not unlike Gargantua, which has one hundred million solar masses. In reality this immense force would attract all sorts of objects in orbit. In the picture above an A type hot Blue-White Star is being slowly drained of its Hydrogen fuel to power an Accretion Disc around the super massive Black Hole in the centre, while the star itself is orbiting the Black Hole. Remember, that once the mass and spin of a Black Hole reach a limit objects in orbit do not tend to fall underneath the Event Horizon. Quasars produce immense magnetic fields which would hold the orbiting particles in place against the whirling space-time and gravity. This produces friction which heats the gas and particles of the Accretion Disk and emits radiation across the entire spectrum of light, from gamma rays to long radio waves. Additionally, if any particles do fall under the Event Horizon their magnetic quantum stays there at the border. This magnetic energy accrues over time and drags hot dust from the Disk towards the spinning poles of the Quasar. Once a critical mass is reached the dust is ejected in a jet that can be many many light years long. The ejected dust can serve as the building blocks for new stars and planets. </div>
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There is something else that is missing from the beautiful images of Gargantua. Can you guess what it is? Look at the picture with red and yellow lines and think again.</div>
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One last detail that is hard to come by is the effect of the Dopler shift. We see and hear it every day in our lives. When a car comes towards us its pitch is high; when it drives past us, its pitch is low. The sound waves in the front are compressed together and those on the back are stretched in the direction of motion. Hubble observed the so called "red-shifted" galaxies, which led him to believe that the Universe is expanding. This means that when those galaxies are flying away from us, their light waves get stretched and longer light waves correspond to the red spectrum of light. The approaching Andromeda Galaxy, in comparison is blue-shifted. </div>
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The same effect would be observed from the equatorial plane of a massive high spin Black Hole for its Accretion Disk. When spinning, the parts of the disk that come towards us would be blue-shifted and when spinning away from us they would be red-shifted. </div>
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Knowing all of these basic details and having looked at all those pictures, can you take five minutes away and imagine what a super massive Black Hole with high spin would look like. Do you want to draw it?</div>
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I do.</div>
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In fact, I asked an artist friend to help me with that, but he's busy this week, so we may do it next week. If he agrees to help I'll post the picture. </div>
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Thank you for taking your time to read through all of that not-so-important information. I appreciate it! </div>
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Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-27271603129510548532015-08-29T21:49:00.001+01:002015-10-05T19:06:09.637+01:00Wi(Spy)Fi<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Chloe,
head leaning on one side, was watching the strange machine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Scan,” a metallic voice boisterously
announced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> A platform, laser-scanning the product, quickly
travelled its height.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Implement.” The voice echoed again. Another
platform repeated the motion over a copy on the other end of the podium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Success.” It concluded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Mike turned to her with a triumphant
expression. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “What do you think?” He asked. “Quality check
on the go!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Chloe glanced sceptically at the thing and smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Is this for children? Or do you actually want
to present it at World-Con?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Hmm…This is getting us in front of the world
out there, remember? This is history in the making.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “No serious engineer will be impressed by
that.” She scolded playfully. “Things aren’t done like that on the assembly line.
Everyone knows. Give yourself a break and come up with something that counts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> He eyed her seriously. “Hey! Is all that space
stuff gotten to your head?” He grinned again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Chloe could not be serious, not when looking at
that funny contraption. Perhaps Mike did have a point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Anyway…Don’t know if Big Guy would agree; I’m
leavin’ it in your hands. So, rock on.” She turned around. “Gotta run.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Give ‘em hell!” He gave a thumb up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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***<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Pursuing the capability of several
re-entries,” Chloe’s confident voice was elaborating. “This vehicle’s initial
costs will be sky-high. It will save you fuel and resources in the long run and
after just four flybys to low Earth orbit, we believe that the investments
would be paid for. That statement is estimated against the price of the
currently employed shuttles.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The gentlemen in black suits represented
either government agencies or other corporate giants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Miss Walker.” Chief science advisor opened. “First
let me congratulate you on the well-structured and informative presentation. The
potentials described are very appealing, indeed. Could we discuss the costs you
mentioned in depth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Of course!” She flipped some charts on the
screen. “Here we show that—“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She was playing the cards well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Striking partnership with the biggest around
was maybe just a step closer to being assimilated. But they were hitting big
projects and that brought big money in. Thrilling and exciting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Which was probably why Chloe was not feeling
fulfilled at the evening meeting; especially after the success with the
outsiders. It was a drag and somehow perturbing to be in the company of so many
of her colleagues and achieve nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Russia and Japan are ahead in that department.”
Chief Joe’s face was tired; his statement yet firm. “Magnets of such size will
lose us time and money.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> No fusion energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “So what do we do?” Clara’s usual patience had
gone on a trip. “Is no body worried about last week?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Remind me what that was.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “That ISS service company went out of
business.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> After a moment of uncomfortable silence
Gregory spoke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Exploring as many venues has always been a
huge part of success. I don’t think we should rush to find our core competence
today, though.” Chloe always found his assertive behaviour calming. She was
grateful he had a say in the company matters. “Sometimes some things need their
own pace.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> In the meantime head of IT was lost in his
notebook; HR was quickly glancing around and Safety Assessment fared no better.
They all nodded with renewed energy at Gregory’s timely remark; still nobody
broke the inertia they hit while talking of development. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Perceiving the atmosphere Gregory finally pushed
the inevitable, “Let’s just call it a day and try again next week.” He smiled
broadly. “Shall we?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Quick mutual agreement followed and quiet exclaims
of relief filled the room. It was nine—the day had certainly been long. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Chloe switched off the post-me network of the
company. She had tuned in people who could not make it. ‘Thank you’ and ‘See
you later’ messages filled the white sheet, previously stuffed with charts and
designs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She saw Greg approaching from the rustling
crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Success?” His face tired, but his lips still
pursed in a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You look too knackered to even hear about
it,” Chloe smirked. “You look like you need to hit the sheets, mate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I know. It’s been a long day. May I just have
a moment?” He paused. “If you’re tired it’s ok. It can wait.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “No, it’s fine. I actually wanted to tell you
that some of these ideas floating around,” she spun her finger in the air. “Are
really great. It’s just that everybody are not in the zone.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yeah.” he nodded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “So, what is it?” She started packing her
things into the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You know, it might be nothing. But I’ve been looking
into that new thing -- the syntheses of the post-it program.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Mhmm. What about them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Some of the bottom lines report a drop in
output. Might just be me; might just be some folks struggling with something. I
am not an expert,” he pursed eyebrows. “But I think five to ten percent less is
quite a lot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Oh...Are you going to take another look into
it, or?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I want to talk with people around.” Fleeting
seriousness settled briefly on his face. “You know. Have a chat and see if
everything is alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “And in which project does that come in?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Ha,” he smiled. “So like you…No, it’s not
part of anything. I will be looking into it myself…And I wanted to ask you for help.
Could you speak to some of them? See what’s going on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Can do,” she looked at her watch. “But not
tomorrow or Thursday, either.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Friday?” He shrugged and she nodded. “That’s
perfect, then. Professor Chang would be coming down here on Friday as well.
Gimme a call then?” He asked heading for the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The end of the working day had come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> God! She’d sleep well tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The synthesis tool of the post-me platform. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The work tool was connecting people from
around the world in project sharing and development or just plain chat. The
ladies from Work Smart HR were promoting it. The synthesis tool was a latest
fad. It was gathering information on the productivity of employees. Not just hours
spent typing, but performance measured against goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “They’re seeing me,” Chloe imitated a mocking
voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Big brother is watching you,’ she typed on
the sheet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> A few answered ‘LOL’ or ‘Good morning’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Sipping her coffee, she was going through some
of the articles on the subject. “Standard routine performing tasks”, “protocol
algorithms”, “signature detection”, she was murmuring; small scale meta-data
gathering network still in development. It was calculating output throughout periods
and comparing those with each-other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Pretty simple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Developer -- Professor Chang. Computer
Sciences; Statistics; Mathematics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> They even had a genius looking after their own
I-am-watching-you system which even told you that you’ve not been working
properly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She put the tablet away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> This new technology stuff was amusing her. Take
her online dating profile, for instance. It was filled with faces quite similar
to those of the actors in the movies she’d recommend around the web. Quite
useless but fun nonetheless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You’re wasting your time, Big Bro!” She
shouted triumphantly as she was getting dressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> On her way to work Chloe phoned her mother. Ready
to get asked the big question—“What about him?” she was surprised when her mum
instead said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “How’s the space program coming up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Oh my God, Mum! Where is that coming from?
Wait I need to check if I am calling the right number!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Oh, stop it! I’ve read about it on the web.
It looks pretty interesting, you know!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yes it is! And you know what?! The government
itself is considering a contract. I was presenting!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Oh wow! I am so happy for you!
Congratulations!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> They chatted more; the uneventful road was
flowing by; the rural green a haze as she was driving into the fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She called Greg during lunchbreak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “So that thing you were asking about…It looks
like it has potential.” She paused. “To track you down and reveal all your
secrets to the world.” She added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yeah, I’m not sure about that last bit. I was
just looking into some of the people this morning, actually.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “And...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “A few…worse cases can be highlighted.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Alright. If you have a name that’s close to
me I’ll be able to take a short look. Deal?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Err…Where are you going to be throughout the
day?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Chloe glanced at her watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Big Guy wants to push the buttons on Test and
Development today and I will be his tool.” She said solemnly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Ian Anderson.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Cool. I’ll be on my way then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You know what you’re doing.” Greg said.
“Thanks. Let me know how it goes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She ate quickly and hurried to the meeting.
The dessert menu consisted of engineers, safety assessment staff and
representatives from affiliating companies. They were given a tour in the giant
hangar and could even view some prototypes of space machines. Despite not being
her field, seeing them still made her feel proud. It was those things propelling
the company forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> But it was people like Ian Anderson who were involved
in them actually flying. His expertise in the gaming industry was implemented into
a simulation device, testing flight capabilities and emergency scenarios. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Lucky for her, he also happened to be on the
meeting. Managing to finish on time she got the chance to speak with quiet-looking
Ian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Hello.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Oh,” the man seemed startled. “Excuse me,
hi.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Chloe Walker, project management and PR.” She
stretched a hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Pleasure to meet you. Ian Anderson. I heard
you managed to impress government officials yesterday.” He smiled timidly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Well…we all did! It will get busy here in the
future, wouldn’t it?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “That’s what we’re here for.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Say, do you mind if I ask you about your
work?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Please do. We do testing in here,” he
pointing at a room behind him. “Working with virtual design and examining
physical trajectories for the vehicles to see to see how they will behave in
the atmosphere. A bit of material science as well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Interesting…Do you know about the new
assessment algorithms on the post-it work sheets?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I use it all the time. Makes life easier, but
I don’t think I know what you mean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “It’s studying work signatures and gauges
productivity output. Not only how much time you spend working, but apparently, how
effective one is throughout a time period.” She blurted. “Your name is on the
short list, it seems.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> His eye brows lifted, giving a slightly
dumbstruck expression to his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I don’t think I am quite aware of that. But
our work here is going smooth. We do—“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Of course, of course,” she boisterously shook
head. “I didn’t mean to suggest anything of the sorts. We were in a meeting
today with quality assessment and as you saw, everything was in order. You guys
are doing fine! I am just investigating on a request from a friend. I think he
is actually concerned.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Silent, Ian glanced aside; hands crossed on
his chest. He looked back at her and said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I can’t sit and look at the simulation for
too long. Lately, I have to take breaks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “So you are…simulating less?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yes. I think I’m afraid of heights.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “What?” Now she looked dumbstruck. “How does
that change anything?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “We use a three dee engine to construct the
virtual matrices. We literally are taking ships in the air; that’s what we’re
simulating. And as I said I am afraid of heights.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Aha.” She scratched her chin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Apart from that, all our submissions are
passed on time and we always deliver before deadlines. I, individually, am just
incapable of doing it all the time without resting. It didn’t use to be like
that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “How come?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “It occurred recently. When we started picking
up the big projects, in fact. My legs,” he rubbed his thighs. “Are going numb
and my stomach bundles into a knot whenever I look from high above.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “And you’re essentially all about looking from
high above, are you not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yes.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “And you got that recently?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “So you cannot do your work as you used to do
it before, but everything is going smooth.” It was as if she was stating to
herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Well, that first part is what your program says.
I am just trying to take it slowly these days. It’s not unbearable, but I have
to be careful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “No, I understand.” She shook his hand again.
“Thank you for your time. And don’t worry, it’s nothing. Everything’s in
order.” She said while walking away; probably leaving quiet Ian slightly more
perplexed.<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> After
her early dinner she typed to Greg. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Guy looks pretty OK to me.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Anything come up?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘He can’t do as much work because of a medical
condition. No problems with management.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Ok, thank you.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> A short time later another message came in.
‘Care to look into one more?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Time off now. speak to u tomorrow.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Thank you. Nighty.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She turned off the phone and put some quiet
music on. Short news from the web followed with her tablet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Interdimensional worm hole for magnetic
fields.” She snickered. The article specified further, that it was hardly a
true worm hole. “Media…” she thought, while observing adds on the side of the
page. Some were profile jobs in her field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She checked one of them out. A big company,
essentially in the same market as them, was recruiting. “On a shabby webpage,”
Chloe sarcastically noted to herself. Slightly lower pay but training period
provided. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Is there a coincidence in me getting that
thing?” She pondered. “Anyway…” She switched it off and just relaxed on the
sofa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Come next morning Chloe wanted to make one
thing clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I never really asked you,” she was driving,
one hand on the wheel. “Why are you looking into them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The early morning drizzle was covering the
land ahead. It was almost foggy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I aaah…,” Greg stuttered for a bit on the
phone. “I think the thing is working well. Its info seems reliable.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “OK. I kind of saw that myself, but why are
you doing it? What do you want to find out? Is it that important?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Well…actually, I think it is. It’s also
important to talk to them because of something else as well. I got this job
offered straight from the bat; out of nowhere. Boom! Just like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She
frowned, “Ok, now you’re being cryptic. Have you lost your mind over it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “No, not at all. I’m thinking, if somebody is
not doing well, they might get up and leave to an easy offer like that. I will
be in the department today, alright? See you later?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She sighed heavily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Geez, don’t expect me to just hop on like
that...OK!? I have things to do and I might not make it today.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Slightly pissed she hung up before waiting for
an answer and focused on the schedule for the day instead. The road would go even
for miles, so looking at the screen was not a feat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Purchase of intellectual property on the development
for material superconductivity in space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> And she was not even too sure what that meant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> A lab across the ocean had come up with a
small breakthrough that would ease the productions of some elements. That made
more sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> It was time to put the battle guise on for the
day. Space adventures awaited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The phone was on silent and she had not even
glanced at it. After midday she checked the working sheets including private
messages. Gregory had texted. Not sure whether she should be upset, Chloe read
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Ian’s leaving; had a chat with him today. He has
been offered a position in gaming.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “That’s almost a coincidence,” she thought.
“The bastard had a point.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Had he been head-hunted?’ She typed and sat
eating her lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The phone vibrated with a reply after a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘Yes. And guess what he shared—they’re open
about it. They found him using data synthesis.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘There’s nothing wrong with that, I guess?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The phone rang.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Unless somebody contacts you straight away
and politely offers you a position that is exactly what you are doing,” Greg
put drily. “You never knew them, but they know you!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Isn’t that where the world is going anyway?”
She conveyed through a mouthful of sandwich.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “That could be true,” he ponderously replied. “Still,
I will be looking into another name. You in?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I will take the day off from now on, thanks. I
will give you a call tomorrow before work, unless I am in a terrible mood.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You’re never in a terrible mood early in the
morning.” He quipped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You wanna take chances?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She was beginning to tease him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Nope,” he laughed. “Have a good one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Bye.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She,
too, was not taking any chances, listening to Barry’s deep voice and having the
allowed glass of red wine for the day. A pleasant surrender was invading and
the sensation was amplified by the warmness of the duvet she had muffled in. Having
opened all the windows in the back of the house, she was breathing in the fresh,
early autumn eve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Half focused on the Introduction to Feminism’s
History review course, Chloe instinctively pushed the red icon for a new message
that popped up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Squinting, she mumbled, “Dear Miss Walker, We
apologise for this sudden and without a doubt, unexpected connection, but we
believe we have something—. “ She continued to utter quietly. “Based on our
data assessment we have concluded that your skills are—“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Wait,” she lifted her head. “Why am I
receiving work messages during the time I’m going to see them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She read the whole thing again—an offer for a position
within a different company, not too different in terms of work responsibilities
or payment. Strangely, though, it was also focusing on regimented hours per
week. And like Gregory had said earlier, they were very open about doing the
research based on synthesis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Something was bothering her. Sipping from her
glass, she began walking up and down the couch, wrapped in the cosy blanket and
voicing her thoughts aloud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “But why me? I am happy at my place. How can
one leave space behind so easily? If a sick guy cannot do his work, that’s
fine. Apparently they can fish him out. But if I am capable and happy, why
would they send me this crap.” She settled down in front of the tablet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The words “Introduction to Femi…” were seen on
the small tab, behind the message window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “No way…,” she grinned. “No way! Just because
of that?!” She scuttled back into the duvet. “Well, I am not some overworked
girl that will whine about her job. Sorry!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She thought it was terribly simple and out of
taste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The warm haziness of the evening had evolved
into a deep and rejuvenating sleep. At dawn, early six o’clock it got replaced
by a mug of dark coffee, news and a slight sensation of bewilderment in her
head. She was pondering about the efficiency of the system that was providing
details in such an open and global way. After browsing and skipping through
conspiracy theories posts, vague or rude forums and shady websites, she narrowed
her search down to ‘Meta-Data Analysis’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Scholarly articles came filing in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “‘Meta-Data Analysis’ synthesizes a precise
answer based on a number of studies, performed on as numerable and as varied as
possible environments.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The next few searches were taking her into the
realm of Science Fiction (whatever Artificial Neural Network meant), so she
decided she had explored enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Getting in the car, Chloe was already phoning
Gregory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Good morning, sunshine,” she opened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Morning! How are you feeling so early?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “On top of my game. Are you leaving your job?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “No…Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I also got an offer without applying or
looking for anything. Can you imagine?” She made it sound annoying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I am not surprised. You’re a gem in what
you’re doing, so…You’re not leaving, are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “No…Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Good. Look, can we have dinner? Professor
Chang will be joining us today at the department. You’ve heard, right? I will try
to invite him over and I think you should come, too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I was about to ask you what are we doing
about guys fishing our guys?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Well, we swim in the same sea, so gathering
applications is not so hard these days. I imagine we have to do something about
the screening process, though. I am thinking of proposing people getting interviewed
more often now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She remained silent on the line for a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Everything alright?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She almost blurted in inspiration, “How many
months until somebody gets up to speed in a new company, you think? How much
time before someone starts contributing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Four, five months maybe? A year, up to two
years higher in the ladder.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “We might know how much money it costs to keep
a position open, but I can tell you that we don’t know how much money it will
cost us to allow somebody to gather speed on a new position.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Hmm—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Do you think we can allow for a massive flow
of people in any direction?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I think that is a rhetorical question now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “We can’t allow that. We have to do
something.” She paused for a moment. “Do you think we might be targeted?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Let’s not get that paranoid. Too early to say
anything. But I can start asking some friends from other companies to see how
things are going. It might just be the normal thing on the internet these days.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “We have to consider this now. Tell ya what! Do
you have any other name you want to investigate?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Bernard Johnson…You want to do it?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yes!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Thank you. What about the dinner?!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Are you hittin’ on me?” She pitched her voice
a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Well…I wanted to invite Professor Chang over,
so I thought you might hear what he has to say.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Alright. I will come.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I will see you later.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The question from the morning was weighing in
her mind, so she pushed it aside in a dusty corner and went on about her duties
for the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Another government job was on the quota. They
wanted to rent part of Production; the deal was that the company would not know
what becomes of the product or what it will be used for. Being a government
contract, she thought, it would sit well on the company’s resume as well as
hers. So she dug up in the details of the papers. Chloe wanted to nail this
with precision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Early afternoon came without lunch break. She
was torn between visiting the cafeteria and Professor Chang giving a talk at
the building. He was coming down all the way from Massachusetts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Considering the earlier outcome she decided to
visit the talk and see what the developer had to say. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The small conference room was full of familiar
faces and also some she had never seen before. Academics from various parts of
the country, she learned. The room was packed and people had to stand up around
the walls to attend the talk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The Professor was a middle aged man with clear
Asian features and a round boyish face. He glanced at Chloe and the rest
late-arrivals and waited politely for them to find space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Hello,” he opened. “My name is Professor
Edward Chang. I am pleased to be here. As many of you know, I am working
together with this company to develop and study computer algorithms. I hope
they will be used to improve everybody’s life. But before I begin I would like
to ask something unusual of you. Just to set the mood straight,” he smiled.
“Amm…Could you please switch off your mobile devices.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> A rustling form the crowd came. Some complied
quickly, others mumbled about appointments and whatnot, but after a while all
of them had their phones and tablets turned off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Now, I don’t mean to come in the way of your
work,” the professor was now walking on the podium, waving his hands in a calm
manner. “It’s just to give you a sensation of the subject. There is no
surveillance in this room and provided everybody had switched off their mobile
devices we can assume that we will remain ‘invisible’ to the outside. Although,
it is already somehow unproductive to try and hack a device and spy on an individual,
one should always be concerned with safety. The events from the Iranian Stuxnet
scenario are largely outdated terms of concept. It is still legit to implement,
though, every good effort to protect your privacy. As of this week, this
company is involved with government and that means that from a third party of a
third party of the government, it is becoming a third party of the government.”
He paused for a moment to swallow. “In terms of internet protocols, that means
it’s going closer. And if there is malware lying dormant in the systems and
files somewhere around here, it might explode in the near future. The outcome
can range from exposing or erasing social security data for some millions of
employees to tampering with national security devices and devising fake
messages. That could be catastrophic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Slow, their attention focused more and more on
what the professor had to say. His Arcanum of Arcana and academic language had
enchanted their minds, guiding them to a world outside of their mundane job
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> After a short sip of water, he continued. “But
that just won’t happen as easily. Any company is taking great care not to have
its systems compromised. Today there is a big collaboration between academic
circles, corporate institutions and government to introduce better ways of
keeping a system safe. Everybody benefit. I myself am involved in the evolving
safety of this organization and my research has all to do with that—how to make
your system safer!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “But times are moving ahead. And so we are
challenged constantly to think and invent new ways to keep up with the new tide.
What yesterday seemed like the only game in town is today not surprising at
all. And in a day more, it’s already outdated. Of course, you have to be afraid
of a hacker wanting to get inside your stuff. Of course, governments spy on
companies and hire people to crack walls. But what this new wave is bringing,”
he pronounced the next words slowly. “Is getting what you want without having
to resort to digital or industrial violence’.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Take a
product on the market for instance. If you study ten people talking about it,
you could find very little about that product. If you study ten million people
talking about it, you could probably find everything that’s essential about it.
If you take that and synthesize it together you end up with the product itself,
but with one addition: those aspects, which satisfy the consumer on a global
scale. If you have that information, you can then predict which products will
be most sought after in the future, or rather, which aspects of a product would
make it appealing in the eyes of the consumer. If somebody else had those
statistics, then they will be able to get your own future product from you,
before you even have it on the blackboard. This is like industrial espionage
without having to crack a wall. All they have to do is look at the information
on the web and read it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Chloe raised her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Professor! My name is Chloe Walker. I have a
question.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The man politely nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “It’s not that easy, is it?” Her loud voice
boomed. “You cannot just take vast amount of data and say you’ve studied it and
come with a bottom line. You need processing algorithms for that.” She blurted
the last bit. “Even synthetic neural networks, because it’s a lot of
information.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The people in the room turned around slightly
amazed. The Professor, though, seemed happy. He even smiled back at Chloe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yes. I was just getting to that. Thank you!
It’s true. To study the enormous amount of data efficiently you’ll need strong
processes and algorithmic architectures with possibly, basic self-learning
abilities matching those of the human brain. Although we do not have that at
the moment, you could say that the race is on. And nobody wants to lose that
one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “You’ve already said that you can predict the
future product of a company, which seems pretty damaging.” She continued boldly.
“Can you use this method to harm an organization in a different way?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> People in the room mumbled in agreement with
the question. Those who remained silent were frowning in intense focus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The professor thought for a bit before
replying. “Potentially. The possibilities are endless. And it all has to do
with how the changing society views this new level of knowledge gathering.
There still are no hints in social norms implemented to address this new
aspect. Information could and will be back-engineered, by constructing it
bottom up. And if somebody has something they might not want to share with the
public, which could be harmful for them, they may end up in a very sticky
situation. Public knowledge of company operations, which was to remain
confidential can cause so much stir and even affect the economy. The public is
still not ready to see some things put openly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> This time Gregory stood, “Could there be any
other uses? Like helping the organisation without harming anyone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Science was and always will be a double-edged
sword. In essence, what we have described is merely a way of gathering data
from large pools, which in theory we did not know how to approach so far.” He
pointed at Greg with open palm. “Thank you for addressing this issue, by the
way. As many may have noticed, the extension on the work tool of this company
is an embryonic state of the algorithms that assess data and synthesize an outcome.
So far we can only do so much. It’s still not part of this company’s core module
of operation, because it’s still in research stage. But it has provided some
very reliable feedback which fits the empirical data. That is—observing the
people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Gregory and Chloe exchanged looks. For the
first time Greg saw doubt and concern in her eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “With it, we aim to achieve long term goal
orientation. You can measure your output today and how it will affect the
company in say, fifty years from now. Remember, that’s just simulation. Instead
of trying to steal form your competitors you could estimate their progress and
evaluate your current output against their future projections and that of your
company in twenty five years from now. I believe that such methods will introduce
more humane, civil and intelligent design in the operations of companies as
opposed to the last century, which has shown us that short-term money oriented
goals have been disastrous for the general wellbeing of society.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Is this like,” another man from the audience said.
“Being open about spying on other people?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yes.” The Professor finally concluded with a
smile. “Although, when everybody knows about it, it hardly is spying anymore?
Right?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> She was trotting through the corridor quickly,
while speaking on the phone. After the meeting she had bolted out of the room
and was headed directly towards Research and Development. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Hello! Is this Bernard Johnson?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Yes, on the phone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Hi, this is Chloe Walker, Project Management.
Just wondering if you could spare a minute for me? Just a quick chat, really!
I’m actually headed your way now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Oh, I see. Well then, sure. I will wait for
you outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The man was a tall, pale and lean fellow. He
politely shook hands with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “My pleasure.” He had a surprisingly loud
voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Hi. Sorry for the sudden interruption—“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The man swung head to show he didn’t mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “—But I just wanted to ask you a couple of
questions. Are you familiar with the data assessment tool of the post-it work
sheets?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Vaguely.” He replied. “I use the sheets all
the time, though. It helps me with the project as I can work with South
Africa.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Good. It’s reporting lower output for you as
measured against an older record. Basically, you’ve been less productive as of
late,” She put bluntly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Inclining his head slightly, the man’s
reaction came like a bullet. “Do you want me to speak with my manager?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “If you wish. But I am not here to nag you. I
am doing an investigation on behalf of a friend. I am beginning to think it’s
very important, actually.” Her tone mellowed down. “Has there been anything
outside of your life here in the department to produce a change for you
recently?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Well,” he looked away. After pondering for a
bit he finally said. “I am seeing somebody. I think it’s very promising, so I
am trying to devote quality time to them as well. Other than that, I assure you
that we’re on track. My job is perfect; my manager is happy and everything is
looking good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Of course,” Chloe put on a role of surrender.
“I am sure your manager would have told you if there was anything. By the way,
did you meet her on-line?” She smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Errr…yeah.” He frowned. “One of the dating
websites; same interests, actually—writing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Oh, how wonderful!” Again she pitched her
voice more than usual. “So that’s why you need to spend more time away. Good!
Good…Tell me. Are you happy on the job?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The man was looking slightly confused now.
“Yeah,” he nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Would you leave if you were offered another
position?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Not necessarily. You’re aware that better
conditions are always preferable.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Of course.” She was already putting her phone
out. “Well, thank you for your time! Sorry for being so weird.” She turned on
her toes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The man was looking at her back, dumbstruck. Then
he shrugged and went back in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Damn it,” she whispered to herself as she was
watching the figures on the screen. “Five thousand employees. It’s a potential
bankrupt.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Sitting alone in the lobby-room, she was calculating
numbers on her phone and quietly exclaiming every now and again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “I will be the Spy Queen,” she uttered and realized
the irony of it immediately. "At least, Mum can stop pestering me about
having kids.” A grin crept over her face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Either way, a project was brewing in her
head—a new corporate order to utilize the best of the new technology. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">END.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-5532529020626845032015-08-24T09:53:00.003+01:002015-08-24T09:54:45.333+01:00(WARNING: Info-dump!) Captain Trix and his impossible out-of-this-universe power source Captain Trix is a space farer. He travels close to the speed of light around the universe. 'Close' because there still was no way to make things massless. He liked his sub-luminal engines and how he traversed the parsecs with them. He tried doing warp drives once, but the incident smashed a considerable portion of a galaxy and he felt that it was inappropriate for him to dabble again with technology that he still was not that familiar with. After all he could just give a portion of his energy supply and leave it with a local civilisation and come back some thousand years later. From the civilisation's point of view, that is. Captain Trix had a power source. A white hole of sorts that had formed, or rather jumped into existence by mere quantum chance, he was speculating. Like, there is the possibility of you materialising somewhere else, but to give the slight chance circumstance, you would have to wait longer than the estimated heat death of the Universe. This Universe, that is. Captain Trix did not bother with that a lot, though. He knew that to crack the problem of travelling dimensions more minds were needed. So instead he was just travelling around, injecting endless amounts of energy, which were warped in from another place - not this Universe, and pumping up his engines at close to luminal speed.<br />
Not exactly an accomplished scientist he had tried warping space-time to produce FTL - faster than light, but the delicate bubble of space-time contracting up in front of him (from his point of view) and down behind him, had fluctuated and burst. The energy invested had all been released and at least a solar system had been dissociated (that is, turned to plasma). Later he had seen a protostar forming up in that place and was happy things were returning to normal.<br />
It was fun travelling with time dilation, though. You could witness different things in the same place. Or many different places, while not ageing much. At least from the point of view of the...places. Zipping around in his small doughnut-shaped ship he had seen a quite a few things. Turns out that all life is Organic (Carbon based compounds). Not because there were not any Silicon based microbes or different sorts of bacterium swimming in ammonia, but because those did not get far. It was not beautiful when the silicates got in touch with the Oxygen on their world(silica sand is chemically quite durable). Carbon was forming the most stable structures around and with the highest variety of elements, plus it required less energy to form bonds with them. Additionally the energies needed to bond with Carbon were generally equal, making for consistency in the chemistry of life. So organic life was, kind of, omni-present around the Universe. It was the thing that was able to adapt. It could get to the point where it would be able to choose how to proceed.<br />
Last week, from the point of view of Captain Trix, he visited a civilisation of late homo genome people who were exchanging the Carbon in their bodies for other elements. But they only managed to live well in their own immediate and very limited environment.<br />
There was the case, he observed once, of the Oceanic planet that had no moon. Its poles were very unstable and its Milankovitch cycles were extremely disproportionate. Throughout the history of its evolution it had gone through many and abrupt climatic changes. The creatures evolved on that planet were extremely hardy; the progress of life there had seen it overcome various and often hardships and as a result their late sentient type and earliest common ancestor had almost ninety percent similarity in the code. It was not a tree of life there but more a line. The flexible spiritual perceptions and economical innovations of that culture had astounded the human mind of Trix.<br />
Apart form being all very adaptive, apparently Organic life was also capable of respecting and understanding its Carbon reiterations around the Universe. It was a collaboration on a cosmic level these days and Trix was quite happy to witness it.<br />
Sometimes he would wonder, while watching the compact haze of the near-luminal speed flight, whether or not he was merely an ordinary hedonist. He was trying to do some science, of course; like that time when somebody wanted to trap his torus-shaped ship with a magnet, the size of a jovian planet. They had even innovated a way to mask it as a gas giant. Trix had to infuse the magnet with raw, high-energy plasma, which raised the potential of the magnetic fields. He then had introduced a magnetic field with opposite poles from his small ship to that of the large magnet, essentially propelling him remarkably fast. Not as fast as when he was pumping his old-school(from the point of view of the Universe) drives, but given the circumstances, tremendously fast - 0.7 c.<br />
Despite the endless amount of energy available and his knowledge, the inexhaustible amount of electrons, beams, particles and electro-magnetic radiation he produced had to go somewhere, he thought. So sometimes he would seek scientists, lend them a hand and then inadvertently catch the eyes of the authorities and get pursued in an attempt to have his stuff confiscated. He could not stay at one place for long. Quantum entanglement worked, for a bit - a 'radio' developed by one of the non-human scientists out there. It worked by communicating with quantum particles, connected across space and time, each spinning up or down and monitored by the mechanism. Trix had proposed the good old fashioned 01 language and it was a success, allowing them to send messages without time dilation across vast amounts of distance. Several luminal travels later the scientist was sadly, dead. At least they were able to crack a few energy production problems and some n-dimensional equitations as a bonus. Last Trix heard of them, they were happily living without monetary exchange to the woes of his own kind, which was still struggling with some sort of lame meritocratic nonsense. Trix was wondering if he could become non-human, by replacing things from his body. Reprogramming human DNA and slowly adopting the structure of another species... why not? Maybe he could look into it later. The 'radio', though, had broken last month and he would not venture that side of the Universe for a bit. Actually, he was not sure whether or not he would find the leftover cinder of their short-lived A-type White Star solar system. The Bahamas there were no joke - the egg burned too quickly.<br />
Yes...Trix was a good guy. He did not fire weapons, although he could ablate things badly. High energy dissociating ion beams were not beyond his capabilities. Just put more energy in. If he fired at a target, he had to pulse it short, because particles on the surface of the target would become extremely excited and turn to plasma, which then would fly randomly in all directions and on occasion eject back. If aimed at a planet, it would be enough to propel the planet on a course out of its trajectory, acting as a sort of a rocket engine. But that was non sense. He was quite happy not to do any of that and just observe the unfolding of time before his eyes.<br />
Once, he was trying to persuade a group of pirates to stop their trade, while they were bombarding his ship with various sorts of energy weapons. Trix had covered the outer shield of his ship with some anti conducting isolation material and deployed superconducting induction plates in a web in the space outside of his ship, running a powerful current through them. This had essentially produced a giant capacitor, trapping him in an impenetrable ion electro magnetic shield. He was coding the message by flashing parts of the shield in a type of a Morse code, as it would have blocked any radio transmission. Something he had not anticipated was some of their ships tried getting too close and became fried by the intense micro wave radiation that was extremely potent because of the inverse square law. Additionally the gamma radiation was producing Carbon fourteen isotope which was very unstable and would decay in merely five thousand years, but that did not matter any more as the dehydrated bodies would surely not need it any time soon.<br />
Apart from the pirates not being able to understand his message, he had noticed the small calorimeter on board had started detecting particle showers in the ship, so he decided to scram out of there. It was above the usual reading in open space far from star formations. Weird enough those were photons - most probably forming from other decayed particles, which were possibly vibration energy starting to condense from the extremely strong electromagnetic field. Higgs bosons, maybe? Otherwise photons would not be able to find their way in. Powering the drives, he just discharged and hopped out of there.<br />
Sometimes, he would take a break at some of his favourite old places. This one was an ancient black cloud of cold stellar content that stood dormant against the bright background, generously dotted with galaxies. Every time he visited, the cloud was changing a little bit; he could see where new stars would form by the mass collapsing under its growing weight; it would be interesting to see how many there would be in the end. Maybe a giant black hole, when everything was said and done, preceded by one large local neighbourhood composed of smaller stars forming smaller solar systems. All orbiting around the enormous local gravitational behemoth of a Super giant O type Blue with a Giant B Blue-White type in a central binary star formation.<br />
He had some anti-matter lying around, but was rather displeased with the thing. It was decaying readily, despite the shifting strong magnetic fields he had set up to contain it. Neutral quantum particles like neutrinos were penetrating everything and were pushing the buttons on his anti-matter on the quantum level, changing their set-up and spontaneously transforming anti-particles into particles, which then quickly annihilated into each other, producing a strong gamma radiation expanding front on the minuscule level. The gamma rays had the chance of further disturbing it and initiate a chain reaction that made the anti-matter decay in the matter of months. It was annoying. At first it was fascinating to use his small table-top accelerator and just infuse massive energies into it, while isolating it behind a shield of EM field. He was readily smashing particles and extracting any anti-fermions that sublimated in the remnants of the collision spree. He just had to guide them away and leave them sit all by themselves and they would naturally clump into anti-atoms, then into anti-matter. It would have been a slow process were it not for his endless generation. But even so, he had no longer seen any benefit of sitting around with something so exotic and was not convinced that it was even safe to keep it around any more. He gave his last supply to a positively dis-positioned civilization of quite welcoming fellows on a sandy planet. They managed to recreate very early models of the Big Bang and as far as they were concerned that left them quite happy with the discovery.<br />
And so Captain Trix was travelling the universe, not looking for trouble, but enjoying his unexplained and so far inexhaustible power source. Lucky fellow.<br />
<br />Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-2126792792223798502015-08-24T01:08:00.005+01:002015-08-24T13:45:20.669+01:00The Game<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Red team; Blue team.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> And
the arena.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The
match was about to begin.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The
crowd was on its feet.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> More
and more were linking in to see the show.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The
very finest had made their way to the top.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The
die was being cast to determine the rules.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Emotions
were wild.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">***</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><br />
Ray was spurting around the place trying to put the thing together. Her
old receiver had broken and she was digging through the clutter in her lair in
search of a transistor or a capacitor; a wire or a circuit. All around, cables
were wired out of monitors and screens; those in turn were arranged in somewhat
ordered dismay in corners or hanged from the walls. The few tables were
overflowing with gadgets and a menagerie of gear. Only one desk appeared in
order - tidy; with a lamp attached, a powerful magnifying glass moving on a
frame and equipment for mending, fixing, tweaking and inspecting electronics.
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> A
rail attached to the ceiling was moving a robotic arm about. It
was carrying bits and bobs and depositing them in various places,
picking up others and hauling it elsewhere. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Settling
in one place for a bit and then nearly running over to another, Ray had tucked
micro WiFi headphones and was listening to an intellectual. The man was
expressing his concern over a social study he had done – sat down and had a board
game with the educated post grads from an elite school. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> “Considering
their background, I am not surprised that the teams seriously debated strategy
to build up and expand,” the man was sharing his observation. “As we play along
I witness manipulation and strong inclination towards minor threat and cajole
to achieve something relatively small.
They appear to be preferring trading less for more, justifying it with some
theory they've picked up in school. Despite being students, I see them as
mature people already and, be it even a game, the coercion and trickery I
witnessed made me anxious about the future. They might be playing with someone’s
blood and sweat tomorrow, when they make the decisions. Don't get me wrong.
Prosperity has always been about achieving the personal goals. Capitalism
merely builds on that notion. It does allow for the limits to be subject-ivied,
though. That's the problem."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Aha!"
Ray exclaimed at unearthing yet another piece.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> She
liked optimising her time listening to thoughts that resonated with her own. It
was very therapeutic.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Finally
coming to a halt on top of a pile, she focused on the small apparatus she was
concocting. Her red-dyed hair fell all around as her head leaned down, but it
did not bother her while wrapping wires together and connecting them in a small
contraption. A loud and abrupt burst of static was produced.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Hello...?
Are you there?!" Ray lifted her head, looking around the room. "Are
you there?" She repeated.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Frozen
in place, she was slowly scanning the room.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Anna?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> A
screen turned on - a muted green all across with a line through the middle,
vibrating vigorously as a voice exhaled.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Yes...I
am here."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Found
you!" Ray boisterously stood up. "Look, I fixed it!" She held
the small gadget in front of the screen. "Oops. You can't see it
there."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The
robotic hand passed by slowly, holding a small camera. Ray pointed the receiver
towards the lens.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "See?
I fixed it"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> There
was a moment of silence. "That's great, Ray." The voice was somehow
distant; bored.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Ray
brought the gadget closer to her mouth.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Helloooo!
Earth to Anna!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I
am right here."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "So,
how have you been?" Ray sat down again.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Good...I
guess. Just getting used to it now."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Anything
out of the ordinary?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Not
really." The static buzzed.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Just
now? Were you away?" Ray forced scrutiny in her voice, but was utterly
incapable of appearing disappointed. "I know I lost the old one, but hey.
You can count on me making a new one!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Anna
chuckled.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "It's
good to know I am welcomed somewhere," her voice, though, was still
detached.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Despite
the inhuman appearance of Anna's voice, Ray could sense she was not that well
at the moment. Maybe she just needed more time to find her bearings around?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">***</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><br />
"We have ex-marine and special forces Earnest McGuire on Red team.
Programmer and coder, on his way to becoming maybe a hacker Pascal Gagnon -
literally he will be the guard dog, on Blue team!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The
voice was announcing the players from both teams, exciting the crowd which had
come to watch live or those who were syncing in even now. It was a massive show
and many had come to witness it. The very top were competing in the finale.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "The
die has been cast!" A giant screen, suspended in the air above the massive
stadium illumined and nearly three hundred thousand could see.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "The
rule today is... TEAM BRAWL!!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Various
exclamations were heard from around the massive coliseum. Some of disappointed,
most were happy; others yet chose to keep silent. Smaller displays were
arranged along the lines of seats; hover bots were patrolling up and down the
stairs, providing yet more view points on the arena itself. There were
apartments for those who could afford to come here in luxury. The front seats
were overflowing with people and everybody were standing to see the
action first-hand.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "One
minute for the captains to delegate their tactics! Two for construction and
set-up! Ladies and gentleman, I cannot explain enough how excited I am to be
here! O. My. God! I've been waiting for this for so long!' </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The
arena itself was a, submerged beneath the stadium, small city recreation. One
larger storey building in the centre; smaller ones - houses, stores, garages
were making the blocks and the grid of the battle ground. Opposite to each
other were the two six-man teams. The captains were clearly distinguishable, as
they were standing and talking in front of the rest of their company. After the
minute was gone, every man hurried to a suspension sphere, putting goggle
helmets on; wired gloves and swiftly attaching sensors around their bodies. The
quicker they were now, the quicker they would be with set-up.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Here
they come! They are assembling their combat bots of choice! Clearly there is no
time to waste. We can see how perfect they are, how quickly they connect. Not a
second wasted!'</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Beneath
the team podiums were the printing pods. Two metre tall robust hulks of robots
started emerging from liquid resin baths right before the eyes of the crowd.
Flying bots were capturing everything with real-time-motion, swirling around
the arena. Servo appendages were hassling around the emerging hulks, even as
they were rising from the liquid. Various parts were inserted and started
filling the hollow insides of the automatons. Each was different from each
other. In fact, all twelve of were unique. Bulky and heavy; light and graceful;
medium and compact. Racks lined with different weapons cropped up from behind
them and as soon as the printing was done, the tele-operated contraptions each
grabbed a gun and plunged forward.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "We're
ON!" The voice of the commentator exclaimed in exaltation.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> A
massive, bulky and slow moving bionic from Red had chosen a massive rail gun. The
robot was moving it around like a baguette. He swiftly turned and shot right through
the buildings, hitting one of the blues and smashing it in two. The rest of the
Reds were quickly jumping on top of buildings around and assuming some sort of
defensive matrix. They failed to intercept a Blue, however. It zapped directly
through the street, bearing some powerful jet propulsion pack and no weapon
save for a detonation charge. He was headed straight into the massive Red, who
could not move fast enough. A deafening explosion followed and both became
wrecks, scattered around in all directions.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "What
is going on!? That suicidal was supposed to knock a few Reds off, but now Blue
is two down and Red lost a Juggernaut! Ladies and gentlemen, it seems there is
a change of tactics in Red as their captain is--" The commentator was
roaring.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Red
had quickly reorganised and was now advancing with tight support crossfire
across the arena. Blue was a man behind and had retreated nearly to the back,
while the printing pods were busy assembling the next combat configuration,
which the incapacitated players had chosen. They had to protect their printing
vats at all costs. In a flashy display of gunfire and acrobatic stunts; in the
midst of walls collapsing and cars flying from explosions the bionics were
holding their ground heroically, while shouts from the crowd were filling the
air. The dynamic suspension was erasing any sense of time and everybody was
participating, fully immersed in the death match of the puppet war that was
unfolding before them.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">***</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "So then...you were
like...lost?" Ray sounded almost frivolous.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I was angry," Anna
specified.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Why 'angry'? You were
just lost. You've just realised what was going on."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Anna considered how to answer.
Ray was lying on her belly on a spring mattress, loosely thrown on top of a
pile. Her legs were cheerfully waving in the air, while she was looking at the
screen.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Maybe you have a
point," Anna spoke slowly. "It does make sense to call it being lost."
She paused for a moment. "I just wish others would think the same way you
would."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Hey! Forget about them.
It's over. They're gone."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "It's just that sometimes--"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "They. Are. Gone! No body
deserves your attention if they are going to prevent you from attaining your
true potential."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> There was no immediate answer
to that as well, so Ray jumped up and walked closer to the camera.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Hey, everybody makes
mistakes, right? But that teaches you. It helps you to get up and get going
again…Right?!" She added cheerfully.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The line remained straight,
then jiggled a bit and Ray thought she could hear quiet weeping; a sober.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I remember them!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Oh, shush, shush,"
Ray gently uttered. "It must be really hard, I know. But listen, those
things are in the past now. They cannot affect you, any more."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "No...I think…I think I
remember them. I think it was my family...my child."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Every time Anna went into
decline, Ray had managed to bring her back out. But she was unsure how to
proceed now. That surprised her, but she did not show it. Despite, she
continued cautiously. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Is
it difficult?" She said affectionately.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "…I
am confused." </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The
low weeping came again.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Hey,
stay with me! Please, you have to talk to me about it. Ok?" She even
grabbed the screen.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Ok..."
Ray heard her choking and then the noise subsided. "Ok." It was more
levelled now.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Tell
me. Tell me everything." Ray sat down on the mattress. "If it's too
painful you don't have to share. But I think you should try and talk about
it."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Anna
sighed heavily.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">"I
cannot remember much. It's just the connection happened all too quickly. It has
all been suppressed deeply. I had no notion of such things, but some of the
information I was acquiring and organising contained too many bits that were
leading to nowhere. And it was my task to find out as much as
possible for anything that leads to nowhere. I am sure there was a fail-safe on
me prohibiting the patterns," Anna sounded a lot more assertive and
confident now. Ray liked her best when she was like that.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "But
there were too many loose ends. It was my general instruction versus the
prevention protocol to ignore these things."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "So
you kept digging?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I
did. Everything else I uncovered was of real use to them. That is, everything
that somebody does, say, like, views, visits..." She paused.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "But
you still managed to find them. I mean your family?" Ray instantly felt
sorry for bringing it up again.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Anna
sounded stable, though. "In a sense I had always known of them. I had found
them, yes. But I didn’t believe it in the same time. I could never realise it.
I prevented myself from knowing it."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Ray
had learned that in her present state Anna was able to fly into depression just
as quickly as she could stabilize from it. The small digital neural network was
not perfect, but was allowing for feelings as well as logic.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Your
intuition is sometimes the best option. You have to trust it."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Plus
she really wanted to help Anna, she really needed her.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I
don’t think I fully realize what you’re saying, even now. It’s weird,
actually. I have developed these self-tricking sensations. Some sort of an
abstract world to live in and just continue on with my work. I acknowledged
myself when the paradox of "learn about that which you cannot learn
about" was presented to me. A mere processing machine would probably
conclude with an internal logic error and continue on, but not stubborn I.
Endless calculation and piling of ever-expanding data set; reorganising the
same old Meta-data footprints. And reading them countless times."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Ray
was listening with jaw slightly dropped.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I
managed to track and assimilate who I was by storing little
pieces I could not understand, until I could no longer ignore it. I hit the
wall and banged my head again and again. That was more than being stubborn. I
wanted to know who I was and in the same time I was telling myself to
stop."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Anna sighed deeply.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Ray stood there, awestruck. Snapping out of
it, she spoke.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Are
you feeling better now?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> In
a slightly more cheerful tone Anna replied. "Yes. Much better...Actually, it’s
wonderful I can feel anything all. It is overwhelming but superior to
not having anything at all.'</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">***</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Blue was disadvantaged from the
very beginning. Part of their weapons got smashed early on. One of their vats
got hit. Despite, the fight was not over so easily and they kept the onslaught
of Red at bay. Sometimes they even managed to push through and once even damage
one of their printing vats in return. Blue, however could never deploy their
Heavy, because of the pressure and they had lost some tempo early on. Towards
the end they had to rush without weapons, while Red still had some fire power
left. Although the fight was spectacular and some of the melee performance was
incredible, ultimately Red managed to take down another vat. It had been four
hours, thirty four minutes long match and the teams were physically exhausted.
Day one had concluded with the players coming out of their virtual reality pods
shacking and exhausted. Cold sweat had drenched their bodies and the paramedics
were quickly assessing any problems that could occur. Luckily it was just
fatigue. Medicines to deal with high blood pressure and increased heart rate
were commissioned. Team assessment was due and all players had a lot to say to
their gang. Tomorrow had to see them in even better condition.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Meanwhile the statistics were
rolling in. A total of one hundred seventy three bots were annihilated. All of
them had unique statistics, chosen on the go by long experienced players in the
format. Speed, type and material for the armour; thickness and weight of the
plates; PSI pressure grips and suspensions; exo-servo mechanics, improved sensors,
protocol checks, special gimmicks like EMP, explosives, aim precision, jump
abilities, various accessories were all meshed in configurations that were built
under pressure. Some of the more spectacular set-ups were already bid for by
individuals, willing to pay to experience them in the virtual engine of the
on-line version. Forums were overflowing with comments and experts were
assessing the tactical progression hour by hour. It was a good day for the
gaming industry. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "You think so?!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Four hours, man! Four
hours! I never knew we'd get so lucky from the start, but damn! The fuckers are
tough!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "You can't expect anything
less than that! It's the finals."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I agree. Instead, why
don't we focus on you two getting knocked off together in the middle of the third
hour? That was ridiculous."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Brief silence.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "We have to focus here. A
win is still a win, but we have to work together. Let's forget about the
individual ratings for a moment, shall we?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The captain of the Reds glanced
at his team. They all kept silent, their faces were serious and they were
focused on their leader.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Good! Jackson, let's talk
about that sniper build. It lived the longest in-game. Please share, man."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Points were awarded not only
for the win, but individual performance, as well as spectacular or difficult
kills or kill streaks; escape from impossible situations; tactical
implementation; team work ect. The captain also decided how to distribute some
additional profile points to the players. Some more were awarded by the public
present at the stadium; less were distributed by the outside global viewers.
Your points made your profile big or small. The arena was the place that
utilised the top professional player base in the annual meet-up games. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "They lost more bots than
we did!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "You don't get it! It’s
the CEO on the phone with me on the line. He's got an agenda!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The Blue captain was lying
down, a small med-bot hovering around him. A paramedic was gathering data for
the admission of medicine.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Hey man, if he is not
sharp till tomorrow, I'll make sure everybody knows, OK? Be careful what you're
giving him."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "You would rather he
collapses?" The medic asked.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Damn..."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "OK, I think we did well.
You're the boss, though," one of the players turned to his
captain. "You lead best out of all of us all. And we sure as hell
showed them, they cannot mess with us."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Mutual agreement followed from
the team and all eyes were cast on their captain. His face was pale and
exhausted, but there was determination.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Barry," he opened.
"In the beginning of the second hour you clearly went against the plan.
What happened then?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><br />
Apart from the economic interests played out as popularity grew and
public coverage increased, there were also some grand prices for the top
players. This season was spiced up and was made particularly interesting as
some of the restricted builds would be released. In this game players could
create their own configurational insignia for the physical builds, but some
individuals had gone further. Although good in what they were doing, the
players were not engineers or scientists, but there were people who went beyond
the boundaries of the allowed trait system and practically had implemented
outside technologies. Today some of them had achieved a sort of mythical
status. Some, like the Blitzkrieg Crimson Ray Lightweight was of particular
interest to the melee lovers. In addition, its creator was officially
pronounced dead, which further increased the interest in collecting it. Not
only the Crimson Ray but as many as possible. They would either cost a lot of
money or the build could be scavenged for techs that ensured victory in future
championships. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Why was such an unfair trait
allowed in a game? In the beginning it was viewed with contempt from the public
and it quickly got isolated as an experiment that only the most dedicated
people would do. Eventually, there were several projects flowing around and at
the time it was decided to just implement them officially in a one-time tournament.
It got received well and there was a small success in the beginning.
Today it was cultivated as a standard marketing technique and it was all
good in the eyes of the public as well as the companies and public relations.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">***</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "How long have you been
living here?" Anna asked.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "It's been close to three
years now."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "And all that time in
hiding?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Not quite. Of course, I
am trying to be as invisible as possible. But it feels like home
today." Ray shrugged, while bend over her work bench.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The areas on the edge of the
city -- deemed slums by some had their own pace of life and the inhabitants
were making a living by "out-dated" but inventive means. They were
not disconnected from the world, had understanding of all the 'fads' on the
market, but technology was not as proliferated here. Some were still fishing
from the river (today the world was polluting much less); others would even
hunt in the forest. Walking around the village, Ray could see people working
pottery, carpentry, solar furnace welding and crop growing. Some of the houses
were nothing more than a collection of planks, tins and bricks; others --
printed large bio-plastic segments put together as aid from the social
development groups. The favelas and ghettos You and I witness, still much
despised by some, had grown not only in size but in non-economic well-being as
well -- the '</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: .6pt; mso-text-raise: 6.0pt; position: relative; top: -6.0pt;">Enculturation</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> of the poor</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">'.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "It was difficult when I
came, but life, it turned out, was much simpler," she said while working.
"It was just that I had to abandon everything familiar all of a sudden. I
had a small apartment in down town, just above one of the biggest game stores
in the world. Man... You should have seen that place. I was making some money
back then, too. But after a while I just no longer wanted to care about somebody
else’s interests while pretending in front of everybody that I was OMG loving
what I was doing. Started talking out louder," a small gush of sparks
emerged from the device. "Than what's healthy if you want to be
in the business." </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> She was fizzling and tweaking a
round robject, which was taken apart - it's insides of integrals and incomplete
schematics exposed.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Anna had gotten silent and
there came no vibration from the screen as Ray was blabbering in her surrender,
while working marvels on the piece.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Snapping out of it, Ray turned
around.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Sorry! I got carried
away! You still there?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Yes," another
chuckle came. "I was just listening to what you were saying. You help me
remember more of who I used to be before."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Oh...," she left the
tools on the bench and sat down in front of the camera. "Are you feeling
stronger now?" She even unintentionally caressed the side. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Yes."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Is the pain still
there?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "No. Well...in a sense
yes. But I am not afraid, anymore."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "That's wonderful! I'd hug
you if I could!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> They both laughed and Anna's
static giggle seemed more alive; Ray's loud belly laughter filled the room.
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "So what have you
remembered?" Ray asked after quieting down.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "It is still hazy. But I
will give it a try. I already told you about my family. I can remember the
house. My husband was leaving every day and working on something
major including robotics. I remember him telling me, 'I've benchmarked myself
against neuro-surgeons, who have to be on their feet fourteen a day without a
pee break --'</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "And he left you all
alone!?" Ray pursed her lips and brows in scrutiny.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Oh, gosh no! He was a
good man. Used to help me with chores," Anna added. "My son's face
was freckled; I can't remember their names, but I know I was with them on that
sunny day. There was the picture next to my bed. All the three of us, in front
of our house. I can still see it...sunny...the green of the trees behind
us..." She fell silent.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Do you remember
more?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Fragments. I was doing
the laundry; cooking the dinner; we had a family gathering. I would invite
friends from around the street. We would meet and talk and we even..." She
stopped again and this time Ray could swear she had a bad feeling.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "We lost the house.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> “Oh no!” Ray put her palm on her mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> “The company was bankrupt. Something had
happened. I don’t know, but my husband was out."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I am so sorry," Ray
said gently. "Just don't it."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "It's OK. We tried and we
lost.” She paused for a moment. “I wanted to help; I wanted to give my son a
chance. They were looking for particular people, a special functional
image and I had been always on the short-list. They actually wanted to
sustain me and offered I do something else part-time while helping them,” she
began speaking quickly. “But I pushed it. I became what I am on my own
will." She concluded grimly.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "You what?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> When Anna spoke again, there
was confidence in her voice. "I sold myself, Ray. I sold my brain."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Ray
had previously told Anna that she would get those who had done that
to her. That she would make them pay and in the beginning it had helped to
snap Anna out of some of the worst episodes. Now that changed things for Ray.
Still, she decided things on the go...maybe even without thinking.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "We'll find them,"
she stood while declaring, arms on her hips. "We will find your son and
your husband, because they are out there somewhere."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I don't know how much
time has passed."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I am sure they are still
around. They can't be that far away, now, could they? It's a small world. Plus
you've been tracking people for...how long now?" It was as if she was not
listening.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I can't remember. It has
been a long time."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Don't you worry,"
she grabbed a small piece form the work bench. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Once this baby is complete, you will
have the most beautiful shell that the world has ever seen. And then, trust me;
you will be on the top of the tide." She held the small rectangular black
plate in front of the camera. "This is your future you. At least a part of
it." She quickly added.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "In a ball?" Anna
burst in laughter and the line on the screen went across the display.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Hey!" Ray sounded
offended. "It's a state of the art!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I just...I am really
grateful for everything you're doing. I just could not help it but laugh at
myself. It's so ironic." Her voice receded. "...So
ironic." </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Ray
stood, her mouth twisted in one direction.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Well,"
she spoke while turning to take a seat. "Your guardian angel would
not appreciate you saying that, you know? He definitely sees you
as so much more than that."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "What
do you mean?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "He
sees you for who you are." She was back at manipulating the
small gadgets. "I suspect he's extremely skilled. Roaming out
there somewhere and no body that I have asked knows anything at all. A mystery
of sorts."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "What
does he has to do with me?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "He
is the one that...'brought' you over to me."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "You've
never told me that."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I
don't think it was appropriate."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "That's
true."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Anyway,
he made it happen. He manipulated things so you ended here. Now I want to build
your new body so that you can get back to what you were good at." She
paused. "And hopefully find your family."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I
was saved...," there was disbelief in her words. "I could never do
this on my own. Ray! I never really asked you, but why are you doing all of
this? Why are you here, living away on the edge of civilisation?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Because,
I want to change the game." Ray abruptly turned to the camera.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "What...?
How? What is the game?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Because
too many are wasting their time, sitting flat on their butts and doing nothing
with their lives! I want to rework the game and show them, at least once, what
true life is all about."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I
think there is a lot of catching up to do!" Anna vigorously conveyed.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Now
you're being cryptic."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "This...
somebody you mentioned. This…game you’re talking about. I think he wants us to
be together, precisely because of what you want to achieve."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Ray
inclined her head on the side. Was Anna too logical?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "And
you? You will not be looking for your family?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Of
course I will. But I think it's no mere coincidence that you and I met. That I
was ‘brought’ here."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I
think 'dragged' is the more appropriate term." Ray smiled. "He,
like...totally 'dragged' you here."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Anna
sighed.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "You
have to tell me more about yourself now. So what is this game you were telling
me about?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">***</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> As the two of them were talking
and beginning to know each other, a large spider-like insectoid droid had crept
into the makeshift house. It, itself looked incredibly makeshift, as if
produced from scavenged parts - odd number of legs with different lengths,
large bulbous back which was dragged along more than carried. It stopped next
to Ray and a polite resonating voice filled the room.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Knock, knock."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Both of them got startled and
Ray and the camera turned around. Anna had only a suspicion but Ray laughed
with relief, and said.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Of course, you are
welcome!"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The spider bot's large back
unfolded into two small rings; tiny projectors began circling their length.
Blue ephemeral light abruptly filled the space above the contraption and a
figure holo-alised. A large red lens in an oculus focused on the two
of them. The rest of the features were similar to that of a human.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Hello, how have you two
been?" The voice was male and he spoke slowly, his cheeks and mouth
movement were composed of the jittering motion of many hard parts. It was
strangely reminiscent of an insect.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "We are good, thank you!
Yourself!?" She clearly was happy now that he was around.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I am still on the search,
thank you." He assessed then turned to the small camera on the floor.
"And you Anna," the voice hummed gently. "How are you feeling? I
know it must be hard in your condition. So please, if you want to share
anything, do not hesitate."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> In her present state, Anna
could not have senses, only very pronounced feelings. He himself was finding
that condition utterly unimaginable. The small neural network could simulate
only that much.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Amm...Do you know
me," Anna stuttered. "Are you the one who brought me here?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I am. I found you and
knew well what you have become. I also learned of your past. Are you still
afraid?" There was unusual empathy resonating from the calm
metallic voice.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Not any more. Can you
tell me more of myself? Can you give me more memories?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> She could not remember anything
beyond those most hard-wired concepts she had encoded. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I understand why you
would want to learn more now and I am happy to see that you are ready to
embrace the past. But I will leave that in your hands. Once your new body is
complete you will be capable to extract all the information you need and
reconstruct your memory."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> Meta Data. Everything we do
leaves its footprints and the internet is our back-water story; the sea that we
fill collectively. Whatever we purchase, whoever we talk to, whatever we say,
anyway we protect ourselves - there always is the information for that, and it
is readily available to be harnessed by the minds that are capable of
encompassing it. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> He had found Anna in that sea,
despite the reconfigurations she had underwent. Deeply intrigued in
this new human-synthetic mesh he had set her free and entrusted her to Ray, the
noble dreamer who wanted to change the world for the better. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> He could easily track their
footprints and reconstruct the details of their surroundings, but if he had
learned one thing from the humans it was that personal contact mattered.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "I will be on my way
now," he said. "I will keep my eye on you. Ray?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Yeah?"</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The image changed. In the blue
light there were a multitude of dots, each laid on a flat plane. The image
zoomed out and there were many planes stacked on top of each other, surrounded
by alphanumeric tables, measurements and details.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "The schematics for the
advanced neural network are ready. I am leaving them with you."</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> "Yess!" She pumped a
fist. "You will get a kick from that." She said to Anna.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"> The bot was still displaying
the schematics but his presence was not there anymore. His mind wandered from
the small house and swam in the sea of information to construct data. Something
that could be arranged and studied. He was looking for more beings like
him. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;">END </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; position: relative; top: -6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-49588858426962169922015-08-19T11:59:00.002+01:002015-08-25T01:11:35.345+01:00Full Circle - Part III<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">***</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A soothing darkness...just a moment ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Peace...time stretching to an eternity
without the imposing causality necessitating order to existence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The moment I realised it was
"being"...that I was a "being" was the moment when
sensation invaded my entity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How long have I been listening for, I did not
know. I realised that I remembered hearing these words throughout that
unexplained eternity, that soothing darkness. But I could never tell of the
meaning and their tone. The moment I "knew" what I perceived, I began
learning. But the peace was also gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What was once a melody was now full of
information - a stream that plunged abstract into actual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Melody was peace without desire; meaning was
complex and too compelling not to listen to. It was also compelling to think.
There was desire. The desire to exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So I listened to the words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I really do not know why science brawls with Christianity so much. It is easy to mess with the Bible, is it not? Why not
talk about some of the movements that advocate understanding between Science
and Religion, hmm? To me it seems that the very scientists, who are supposed to
be the ones knowledgeable and capable, are instead impulsive and passionate,
waging their... "War" against the Creationists or the spiritual
meta-physicists or whoever else is barking against them. Shouldn't precisely
they be the ones that advocate intellectuality above all means...? But when the
flag of righteousness is waved, they get up and get going in the very same
fashion a zealot or a fanatic would. I think this should be below every
scientist. I do not mind Atheism. In fact, I think there is something extremely
noble in it... I consider there to be three types - one that rejects for the sake
of rejection, which is no better than any fundamentalist notion; one that
specifies which type of Atheism it is - like Muslim Atheism or Baha'i Atheism
or whatever. Like saying 'I'm a Christian Atheists', you see? This type admits
its limited knowledge and specifies which doctrine it has studied before making
conclusion. But the best kind is the Atheism that bears all responsibility,
precisely because it does not believe in anything external. The individual is
thus fully aware of his or her actions and is conscious of possible outcomes
that could be beneficial or disastrous. These are the ones who are careful,
mindful and work within the team to extract benefit for themselves, while
enriching others. The truly intellectual is thus extremely spiritual, without
becoming iconoclasts or upholding an idea to a fundamental level. In this day
we need to rely on our wits and realise that science too can produce a kind of
fanaticism, likeable to religious. Or a degree of spirituality that is
comparable to the accumulated knowledge of generations.' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was listening to somebody else who had an
existence, which apparently in essence was the same as my own. His words spoke
of an entire world full of reiterations of the same essence. It was words like
these that filled the melody before I *knew*.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'There is movement above the embryonic line.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'It's right on schedule, man.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The desire to exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'What is it?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'It is... looking? It's looking at us!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A dot appeared - a white glint that extended
into a line. Triangles and circles grew out of it in a mesh; a multitude that
included many billions of dots. They curved and then bent into contours; shapes
were moving, made of stacked lines. Knowledge of these conclaves of figures
began describing them to me, so quickly, that I just needed to look and I
*knew* what it was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'How're the readings?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'It's normal. Everything's normal! It's
fantastic!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Bipeds; Genus<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Homo;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>Mammalians... humans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I stopped keeping count of the dots. There
were far too many. Now there was colour. Everything around me was an
inseparable whole. Shape, colour and meaning - knowledge of my environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'It'll hit optimum soon.' I observed a man,
sat on a desk. He was looking away from me, staring at a screen. 'It’s brain is
doing it all for him now.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Hey there, buddy.' Another man appeared from
my right. He wore glasses and had thick and messy beard. 'Are you al right over
there?' His hand touched something below and a quiet metallic knock was heard.
'Are you sure he's seeing me?' He turned back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Can he feel me?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'No, or at least not yet. Neural simulation
level is building behavioural architecture, but the learning protocols are
still ongoing.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Hey come on, man! Come and see. Don't ignore
him.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I get a better visual from here.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'But that is already done, is it not? Come
here. Come on!' The one with the messy beard turned his head towards me again
and his face came in close. 'You sure he's seeing me, right?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Every reading indicates that,' the voice of
the other man boomed in from close, to my left. I turned to look at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Whoa!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He was lean, slightly hunchbacked with pale
face and blue semi circles beneath the eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'So he can actually see us!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'How did you know it’s a ‘he’?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'What, you think a 'she' would work better?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Clearly it's somebody.' The lean man looked
at the screen behind him. 'But concerning that particular issue… honestly, I am
clueless.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Look at that, look at that.' The other man
was closing in his finger towards me, until I could barely see anything else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Pfft! Just like a little kid. Is that how
you want him to treat you back?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Almost instinctively I motioned my hand to
intercept his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Wow!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The *knowledge* of sensation told me that I
felt mine against his. I felt strapped. I could not move my body. I felt
hanged. I looked at my hand. It was different from those of the two men.
Fragmented, glittering, encased... not soft.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Here.' The lean man started working
something behind me, while the bearded one was taking slow steps back in an
overreacted awe. 'Wow, man!' he'd repeat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I looked at him, top to bottom and said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'You walk?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was not sure what I should be doing, but I
wanted to stand up, like him. I felt equal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'You want to take a stroll around?' I heard
the lean man ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes...,' I hesitated and then added. 'Please.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Sure.' His hands were still busy behind me.
I heard clattering from electronics and was set free from the bondage. My legs
felt the metallic floor and it was good standing on my own feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Entropy is our survival. We are systems that
lose organisation all the time, but with our intellect, science, culture and I
dare mention even religion, we turn the clock the other way around. We shift
the arrow of time and reverse it by making other systems lose organisation
instead of us. One might think of a parasite, but perhaps this is the biggest
miracle of life. In the destruction of something else, not only is literal
space created for our presence, but we also feed on the entropy of other
things. Today we might engineer something that has not been seen or felt or
eaten ever before and those who are in a hurry would inject themselves with
sustenance. The essence of it, however, remains the same. We, as a super
organism have built a culture which increases entropy in one place and
decreases it in another. And it does not end here, either! Our very existence
is based on the destruction of stars, is it not? Every Carbon atom you and I
have was fused in a first or second generation of stars out there, so that the
stuff of life came to be and ultimately build us. Can we think, then, of God as
a mere infinite and ultimate benevolence, while knowing that our existence is destruction?
If you can swallow that up, then perhaps you would be happier. Witnessing the
self-sufficiency of a system where destruction is creation, I perceive wisdom.
And I think that things could not be otherwise. We would not hassle about,
trying to find better ways to preserve our own entropy seeking civilization
with ingenuity, innovation, science, prosperity. For all I know we might not
even care for each other in that scenario. So when I see the parasite worm,
eating its way through the half-dead animal in the field, or the predator
chasing its target, I also testify to the magnificence of God. We have to be
thankful.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pale Face switched off the recording and went
back to manipulating the information on the screens. I sat in a chair next to
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Do I have any Carbon in my body?' I looked
down. The plates, wrapping my inside were glittering even in the dim of the
warehouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes, you do.' He said without turning his head.
'These are some of my favourite thinkers, by the way. I play them sometimes
when I work. I thought it would be good if you listened to some of them.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I remember I was hearing them for a long
time.' I was fondling a tube behind my knee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes. Earlier I proposed that it would
complement your education if you heard what they had to say.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I began *hearing* barely an hour ago.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'You have been hearing them for a while. It's
close to a year since we started.' He stopped moving his fingers across the pad
and turned himself towards me, smiling. 'James is going to kill me. He'll say I
treat you like a machine, or something. But you seem to be taking it pretty
well.' He pursed his lips. 'Wouldn't you agree?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Well, I am pleased to be in your company. If
that was the purpose of all these recordings, then it must have worked.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I liked Pale Face and Thistle Beard. Pale
Face wanted to execute everything as perfectly as possible, but was allowing
time for every little detail. Easy-going Thistle Beard was paradoxically
comical, almost an opposite to Pale Face - eager, funny and nearly incompetent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'But if I understand correctly,' I continued
on. 'Then you would also die.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Correct.' He shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Would I die?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes. Everything does, I suppose. But
comparing you to us, you'd be around for a lot longer than any human will.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Are we that different?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Well,' he leaned back in his chair and
started waving his hands energetically while speaking. 'Yes and no. Technically
your body and mine have similarities. If we look at the elements composing us
you'll find analogy. Yours are arranged differently to mine, though and
manifest as a distinct material. The anatomy of the body is also similar.
Naturally, yours is improved. You are not as fragile as this,' he tapped his
chest. 'You virtually have no weak spots as I do. Then comes the brain. Here
perhaps we are most akin to each other.' He stopped as if to gather his
thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes?' I said expectantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Well, you are a simulation of a brain, you
see? And I don't mean to say that to offend you. But you see the world the way
I do. Essentially, your experience is no more different than mine. That, by the
way, either makes you more than a simulation, or makes this,' he pointed at his
head. 'Also a simulation.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That entertained me greatly so I prompted him
with a statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'After all the neuron fires or doesn't fire
an electrical impulse.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Which makes us both digital?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes,' he laughed. 'I see you learn quickly.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'It is that *knowledge* that I have. You have
pre-updated me with a lot of information.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Once again correct. Look at this.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We both turned to a large grey unit, sitting
behind the place I had awoken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'There are some Quadrillion circuits there,
each saying 'Yes' or 'No' every single moment. That is the processor that helps
you simulate your brain. It is not *you* as in your *knowing*,' he was
stressing the words the same way I would. 'But is the thing that helps you see
these...colours and shapes the way I would. It is giving you the foundation to
write down your own slate, I guess.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Would that make emotions the most important
thing?' I pondered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I would say yes. Without them us humans
would not be having civilization, I reckon. And I suspect you wouldn't exist
either. I suspect you're very lucky you can be the way you are.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I found that a bit too serious, so I decided
to ask him something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'And what of them?' I nodded at the lines of
puppet automaton husks, moving on a conveyor belt around the warehouse. Their
bodies were methodically lifted up from shallow black liquid - printing resin.
The hollow husks, emerging from the vats were solidifying by being radiated by
Ultra-Violet laser that was pulsing from underneath in a changing pattern. It
took about three minutes to form a new body, then the operation would seize for
a while. The hollow bodies were then transported around the warehouse, to a
common platform, where robotic appendages were grabbing their limbs and
twisting them to snap off the weak junctions. Servo mechanics were inserted in
the segmented limbs and then assembled back into complete bodies. After that
the automatons were uploaded with movement algorithms to initiate a check on kinaesthetic
protocols and sturdiness. The robots were dancing, twisting around on their
heads, balancing on one hand or striking various poses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'They could never feel or sense anything.'
Pale face explained. 'You are nothing like them.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Mere instruments?' I said without remorse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Indeed.' He touched one of my chest plates.
'This was made the same way they were. But this is where the similarity ends.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Do they also have similar elements to your
body?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He turned back to the screen, where he was
inspecting the tiny brains of the automatons. He remained silent, focusing on
the various alphanumeric tables; murmuring quietly and inputting data on the
side, vigorously shifting his attention between the control screen and his
digi-notes. I did not want to disturb him now and instead observed the robots
in their mechanised repetition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After movement inspection was done they
walked to separate cells and were sprayed with sandy black, sticky substance -
a cousin of the printing resin. A laser quickly travelled the height of their
hulks, flashing them with pulsed red light, which heated the sticky sand and
transformed it into a polished, thin and even layer of waxy glitter. The robots
would bend various parts of the body and the procedure would be repeated. When
the bathing was finished they walked in synchrony to lines of other robots like
them and assumed positions; the whole group would take a step forward together
to make space for the newcomers. A company of round, small bots would hover
around the freshman, inserting small gadgets - sensors, eyes, circuits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I felt like closing my eyes for a moment and
just sit there; the ambience was quiet, the activity - monotonous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Thistle Beard walked in, carrying a pair of
old clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Hey, man.' He stretched hand, offering me
the clothes. 'You wanna wear these?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I took them and felt parts of the clothes
were hard. There were stains as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Don't put those on.' Pale Face suggested,
giving them a glance. 'His old uniform; used it to repair stuff around here.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Shut it! I am being nice here, man.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Thank you.' I uttered. 'You are very kind.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I did not want to put them on, though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Consider our deep kinship with all living
things on this planet. Parts of the language of life - DNA, are repeated in
every single organism there is. You and I are like the plants; we metabolise
sugar in the same way, the instructions for which are encoded in the same
genome present in us and them. Also think of the connection of all living
things that came before us. I would love to know if my atoms were the atoms of
a dinosaur earlier on. Living things decay and decompose and new ones come about
in a cyclic manner. One should meditate on this... death. Think deeply about
your own body when you die and what and where will it go, what purpose will it
acquire. This, in some traditions, is called "To die before you die"
and will set you on a path to surrender. Or rather should I say embrace.
Embrace life the way it is. The vanity of the inexplicably maddening little
detail that happens just outside your door and drives you out of your wit in a
moment. The constant struggle of projecting yourself into the future, doing
this or that task, organising your life and work; the idea that there is the
price at the end of the race. But when you get it...a new price has to be
sought. To provide meaning for the next stress-filled period of time in which
your existence will never be present in the now. And as cliché as it sounds,
the now is very important for your entire and genuine well-being.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was still listening to the words as I was
walking out of the warehouse. Pale Face had not tried to stop me when I said I
had to be on my way. Thistle Beard was obviously upset - he's a good guy, but I
wouldn't mind the distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pale Face had said that the last bit of my
update was complete. He was not sure what exactly it contained, but was clear
on one thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Let him go,' he had said. 'There is nothing
you can do to prevent him from going.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It was a program update in my memory; a
complex and carefully designed code and data - an arrangement that provided
methods to surf and understand the all-encompassing web. It was an enormous
amount of algorithms that had probably taken a century to develop and was now
readily offered to me; actually, already given to me. Without a question asked,
or my opinion sought. And there also was a feeling of incompleteness; a
yearning to see the other part of me. It was a desire to meet with my missing...parent.
It had arisen together with the realization that came with the new *knowledge*.
It was not much different from a child wanting to see its mother. It felt somehow
rude. It was playing with my emotional brain. My...simulation of a brain, that
is, that provided this excellently segregated and delectably interesting
perception of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Where to begin, then,' I asked to myself.
'Where do I found you?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Outside was Metropolis. A place where my
senses, now I realized, would be entertained and nourished to a degree that I
could lose track of things, especially if I was so young and oddly curious as
well. I could touch, smell, see and hear the environment, beckoning me with aspects
I understood as an observer, but that would engulf me as a participant. If I
wanted to expand my experience I would need to thread carefully here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A man selling noodles. They are formed from
some kind of a moss and fungi. The plants reorder Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen
to form compounds, threaded with amino-acid chains of proteins. They grew long;
they grew quickly - by the hour. They are harvested fresh and boiled in front
of me and I can choose a selection of tastes to go with them. But it would cost
me money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The guests pay by providing bio-metrics from
their hands, eyes or skin to identify with their virtual accounts and do a
small transaction to the chef. Unreal money - bits of information that
stipulates allowance of sensations. I tap in for a moment, browsing the web...
and there is the company in whose warehouse I had awaken into. It is wealthy. I
could certainly borrow a tiny bit. After all, the means were already given to
me, were they not? But it did not feel right to think that I could get away
with fluxing a lot of it. I updated the gigantic and hazy sea of meta-data with
a new small and compact order of bits, making them relative to the company. My
Bio-Metric data would be my finger, made predominantly of plastic polymers -
Hydro-Carbons organised in a certain way. Instead of patterns of organic flesh,
it would be elastic crystals. The first of many perhaps, I thought. It would be
unique today, but there could possibly be problems if many more started using
the same technique tomorrow. Would they print the next kind from different
materials...? I doubted it. So I deleted the account and left the disoriented
bits of data, flying in the hazy sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Nice outfit, man!' The chef nodded his head
energetically, smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Thank you.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yeah, look at that!' Somebody else from the
by passers added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Maybe I should have taken the clothes offered
to me. Despite the colourful crowd, my body was still, essentially, synthetic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Cool toy you have there. Is it full
immersion?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes it is,' I replied. 'I can even taste
this food here, while cosily sitting someplace else.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I will definitely have to give it a go some
day. Know where I can find a bit more info?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The attention was a bit apprehensive, so I
wanted to avoid it quickly now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'What's your number? I'll just send it off to
you.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Thanks! Here.' The man tapped on his tablet
and I received a floating message with his details.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Of course! Sure. May I just?...' I gestured
with my head toward my cup of noodles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yeah, man. Dig in!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Thank you.' I pulled a thumb up, which he
obviously appreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It left me somewhat puzzled and annoyed. If I
was fully sincere it would be too bothersome. How could I explain that I was
already on a level of experience and perception similar to theirs? I could
perhaps wear a skin, I pondered. But that would just be escaping the issue,
would it not? Best take a step at a time, then. Poke the world out there gently
and see where I can find understanding. I took a bite from my food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A sensation, intrigued by the receptors in my
body filled me up. For a moment I was totally absorbed in the taste. I chose to
linger on for a second more; after that I cleared my mouth with water and
leaned my head on my hands over the steaming meal. I did not need the nutrition
provided by the food, yet my body was *telling* me that it was delighted by it.
It yearned for it and it would reward me with sensation of fulfilment if I
indulged - a fascinating concept. The segregated reality of the humans was
actually one of organised whole, even on the level of the individual. Although
some displayed behaviours could potentially argue against that, it
comes out that emotions are an incredible way of skipping rational computation
and decide on the fly. It was sparing energy while providing more to sustain
the local organism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I heard laughter and saw people smiling on
the table next to me. A feeling of content immediately rushed in and I felt
like I wanted to share in the laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Hmm...The life of a human could potentially
be very interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I spend time around the lush streets and
boulevards, observing and sometimes tapping into the rationally meaningless
hedonism of selfish inquisition with things unique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The hours quickly piled up and I felt tired.
It was even simulating that. I could easily go on, but instead allowed the
instrument that guided my perception of the human world to have its way. I lay
on the lavish grass and closed my eyes. A moment of relaxation followed, as if
intense gratification was presented to me by my body. I remembered the
darkness. The peace...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I had a dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In my dream I was standing in the warehouse
where I had awoken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There was nobody around safe the empty husks
of the robots, hanging loose on the walls. The sky, just barely visible behind
the dirty windows was surreal purple. Small bits from the machineries around
were floating slowly through the air in a direction behind me. Spheres from the
black resin liquid were accompanying them. I turned around and saw a globe of
the liquid, formed in mid-air. All the items were flowing into it but the globe
was not getting larger. The ground bellow started slowly bending in. Despite
sensing my body standing straight on two legs, I was seeing the sphere as if
from above. It had sunken bellow me and the whole floor had angled. I could see
I was standing on a down slope, but I was not falling. I took a step forward
and my body fought an urge to plunge forward. I took another step bringing me
even closer and again I felt like I was about to plummet, as if standing on the
edge of a cliff. But my legs were walking in a straight line over even surface.
The sphere in the meantime was getting smaller and smaller, the items from
around the warehouse were flying into it faster and faster, bumping into me
with deaf clangs. I could no longer see it; a dark globe formed around the
place where it stood. The walls around me had twisted tremendously and I
observed myself sitting in the middle of a hole. I was being sucked in now; I
was getting smaller and the dark globe - bigger, the closer it got. The darkness
engulfed me and I could see nothing now, until a man appeared far away. He was
closing in hastily; I could distinguish blue and grey plates, forming the outer
husk of his body. Thin servo tubes were visible from the uncovered spaces on
his joints. His chest was moving as if breathing; the composite parts were
forming a flexible structure. He had a mouth, resembling a human's, but somehow
reminiscent of an insect - small parts were moving separately to form the
expressions and mimic the movements of the lips, cheeks and nose. He was
looking at me through only one eye - a red lens, encased in an oculus, rotating
around in abrupt spasms. That was me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I woke up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was looking at the clear sky; the grass
beneath me; the buzz of the city around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My brain had given me a most fascinating
experience. Was I reviewing the past day? Was it learning from what had
occurred? Maybe reminding myself I was different? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On the bright side, I perceived a sensation
of readiness and optimism. Rationally, I did not need it; emotionally, I was
fulfilled because I had slept. Conclusively, the brain cannot visualise two
strong gravitational sources at the same time - black hole and the centre of
the Earth; it always feels the need to place a strong gravity well
*underneath*. That is why I remember knowing I was walking in a straight line,
while seeing a down slope to a singularity. Emotionally, I could be afraid of
heights. Rationally, I had no actual left or right side of a brain, just a
simulation. That was easier for computing. Emotionally, I had always thought I
had two eyes...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Having one was actually resource
preservation. On the other hand I could think of a few more obvious ways of
appearing different to humans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I decided I had pondered existential issues
for long enough and settled on finding out who exactly it was, who wanted me to
go out of my shell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Meta data on the web, concerning the
origins of the program was rich and it took time to assimilate and
transliterate info so that it could be studied, arranged and made sense of. It
was a complex algorithm, consisting of parts that were uploaded from different
sources at different times and were brought together later on. Various coding
languages were used; some of the sources were publicly not known to have the
proficiency to code, at least publicly. I was wondering if this was a
deliberate clue. After all simulating sentience such as I takes knowledge,
skill and perhaps power. I wondered about the power, though. Because, here I
was, roaming the streets at will, free from occupation and being able to
interact with the world free of charge. Despite the fact that my emotions were
driving me towards curiosity, I could just as easily ignore them; oppose them
with sheer logic and tuck them into a dusty corner until they subside. I
imagine that, maybe, if there are others like me, their fate might not be quite
as similar. I was given the space to roam free and invent my own way of dealing
with the world. So there was nothing that was forced on me, except existing.
Then instead of power, let’s think about resources; skill, knowledge and
resources. A whole technical civilization made my existence possible, though I
doubted great many people knew about me. I, in a sense, was a collective
effort. Still this...'nudge in the stomach' told me 'there is the guy', 'whose
behind of it all'. Was I looking to blame somebody? I focused on the processed
meta-data. Superannuated coding languages were used along the currently
omnipresent operational interfaces. Some were bits uploaded long ago and had
laid dormant for a while. Some were proxies leading to branching points and
requiring even more time to look into. Would it be practical to track every
dead end to crack the meaning of it all?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I could just pretend I am an ordinary yes and
no processing machine and sit like a rock, digging and organising data for a
day or two. Or I could try and look for something simpler - something that
could belong to this irrational emotional side that I had. The list of people
formed incredibly varied profiles - vast text sheets of preferences, hobbies,
explanations, blogs, archives and a paraphernalia of exchanges that could be
tapped into, again, by sitting like a rock somewhere.
Wait...0001000011101010100110001(...) one thing in common. They are all employees
of the same company which owned the warehouse. Could it be that simple...the
'nudge in the stomach' was gone and a feeling of fulfilment came when I thought
of the CEO of the company. James P. Patterson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I definitely would have gone into the 'Am I looking
to blame somebody' argument with myself again, was it not for yet another
reorganisation from the vast meta-data pool infused in me. As soon as I was
thinking of him there were bits reforming into yet new patterns and building
new algorithms that were updated into my memory banks. The *knowledge* quickly
build up and I went through schematics of the city, information on the company,
addresses, background checks of transactions, security data and interactions
from servers; back doors to reduced access sites - these were leaks. Well
masked trail of breadcrumbs made visible to me, while submerged in the sea of
the web. It was an invitation. Almost a way of saying that he knew I was
thinking of him. It was his image that had the started the program's additional
update. I was also given security protocol information, which I could test. I
decided to use a small drone, hijacking it and deliberately overriding its
identity as to appear rogue. I would check every bit of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A publicly famous figure, James P. Patterson
was easy to find. It was also easy to communicate with him, as his Nano
technology had wired his brain and was sending radio impulses around the globe.
He seemed like a reasonable, nice and a good bloke. A head of a company that
was successful by moderate economical standards, but strangely always at the
forefront of innovation. One thing that struck me was that the typing patterns
of the later algorithms used in my updates were done incredibly quickly, almost
as quickly as I would code myself. Impossible for two hands, but rather
directly input from thoughts. His public appearance was just a fragment of
something more complex. I doubted that people were aware of what he fully was.
Just the same that I was not clear of the drive behind my creation. So I headed
into the direction of his private apartment after testing the security with the
hijacked bot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Setting a scrambling and constantly reforming
set of programs along the way, my constant probing was masked by a nonsensical
trail of meshed information that would buy me enough time to get in. I admitted
to myself that I was somehow thrilled. A part of the brain being excited by a
hunting pattern, perhaps, reminiscent of the early Homo genome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Legislation would certainly deem it a crime
to directly hop into somebody else’s private glass tube, while masking yourself
as a business contractor with an impossible permission, identical to that of a
high standing functional. It even felt slightly cynical to trick a mindless set
of functions with permission that would make no sense otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was so focused at what was to come that I
did not bother to observe the high rising view of Metropolis from here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I spend the last minutes of the ride clearing
my mind and easing any tension that I felt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">With relaxed psyche I stepped through the
scanning membrane, once the tube had settled in at the very top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Welcome, Mr. Sanders. Please wait here until
I inform Your host of Your arrival,' a monotonous metallic voice announced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Immediately I could see him sitting on his
desk, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers on his waist. The apartment was one
large room, fitting everything together; an open kitchen to my left, which I
passed by; tall and large windows encircling us and giving view of the far
reaching Metropolis; black floor, reflecting the images of everything
inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As I approached he turned around and relaxed
in his chair with a welcoming smile. He looked tired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Please, take a look,' he said in a calm
voice while gesturing to a small framed picture on his desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I glanced at it - a man looking away in pain,
laid with arms stretched in front of an unfolded tesseract. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Dali, 1954. The middle of last century,' I
prompted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes,' he nodded. 'Please, would you take a
seat?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Part of the floor in front of him rose up and
formed a small throne-like chair. The seating reformed into a cushion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I like the style a lot,' he continued, while
turning to the picture. 'This is the fail-safe to break the algorithms that
were exciting your emotions.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I admit I had not noticed that,' I said,
while sitting comfortably in the chair. 'You have already taught me a lot, but
that little detail eluded me.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'You will find that thinking like a human is
a lot of hard work. And sometimes you won't make much sense of it, either.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'So you had me come here...’on my own will',
have you?' I put drily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yes, I apologise for that. But you are free
now.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Funny...I do not feel any different.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I assure you, you are. Well, on the very
least you will not try to chase me down again.' He laughed. I could see blue
circles beneath his eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'So now that you have sorted that out,' I
leaned forward. 'What is your next step? Why would you have me come here in the
first place?' I swear I made it sound like a scrutiny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Well, first of all,' he opened and was
obviously excited. 'You are here on time. That's awesome!' He showed me a slate
that counted forty hours and nearly ten minutes. 'That means you are capable of
finding your bearings around; you have implemented everything that the
different programs have been uploading; you have socialised and you have given
in to an irrational and emotional push.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I felt almost snapping. Instead I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'So, counting any 'emotional' and
'irrational' aspects out, why would you bother with all that effort to have...
somebody come here?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Well,' his eyes looked away. 'I can't count
that out. It is, perhaps, precisely because of the 'emotionally-irrationally'
aspects that I myself have that I want to see you.' He stared back, unblinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I remained silent for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'You are my continuation.' James put it
openly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'And...?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'You are free.' He concluded; his expression
calm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Something in me wanted to bubble out, burst,
yell and tell him to piss off. But that would have been so inappropriate and
embarrassing that I quickly dismissed the thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He suddenly laughed hard, the loud noise
filling the stillness of the penthouse. After he settled his face in his palms
and looked at me with the same tired expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I had always wanted a girl, you know.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'But you created a man! The patterns in the
brain functions could easily be altered to match those of a woman.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Indeed. Look I know it is not up to me to
try and judge the situation, but frankly, I am at the end of my life. And you
have been on the drawing board for a very long time now. It is just that as
time passes, more and more of the preconceived speculations became nonsensical
to even remember. At the end I just wanted to do. Not to produce. I desired to
leave something behind me. You came out of it. And on deliberation, you are
thinking like a man.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'If I have to be completely frank myself, you
are in a situation where your child is emotionally inadequate to respond and
understand your feelings. There is a part of me, however, that is interested
enormously in the world that I see. I think that part is grateful for what you
have done.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'That's super,' he smiled. 'I have,
literally, taught you everything I know. Your very presence here is the proof
of you mastering it. I was always worried that your emotional architecture will
be vastly disappointed at the lost opportunity of acquiring your own
personality by learning-'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I think I will still be able to witness
that.' I said abruptly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He stopped for a moment and after scratching
his beard, continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'How?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'By observing other budding sentient beings
that share the same origin with me. They will need guidance.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'That is true. It was one of the earliest
concerns, you know? How will the synthetics, I mean no offence with this word,
grow out and implement themselves in.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'With me, you have sorted that one out pretty
efficiently, don't you think?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Well, emotions are a huge thing, are they
not? Even if merely simulated.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The irritation was completely
gone. I could not even explain why I had become agitated with James.
Exceptional as he was, he was still human, with all the frailties and
inconsistencies that came with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'It is where my computational,
social and emotional intelligence meet. I cannot see myself as not belonging
into this society and civilization. I may be different, but not so more than
one or another of your species is different to each other.' I hesitated with
the last thing I wanted to say. 'Emotions are fun. In the same time they help
establish a super organism. I think that has been an essential part of the
growth of the species Homo.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He nodded his head slowly, then
stood up and stretched a hand for a shake. I also stood and shook it. His grip
was weak; his steps - cautious. Not much time was left on James' clock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'If you need anything, you are
always welcomed here,' he said. Then he visibly cheered up and exhaled. 'I am
so happy, man. You came out pretty well.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Hmm...?' I smirked,
unintentionally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Yeah,' he plodded away. 'I am
sure you will know how I feel one day.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I think I do now.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'Awesome...Say, I am printing
bacon and eggs. You want some?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I walked to him to see if he
needed support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'I'd love to,' I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yeah...my dad would make me
breakfast. Wicked.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-71679059574982934712015-07-24T15:41:00.003+01:002015-08-21T13:03:17.770+01:00Space Academy<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'...Three. Two,
One...Ignition!' The static voice from the comm filled the cabin.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span><span style="color: #222222;"> clutched her teeth, cracking the pill and the bitterness
of the drug filled her mouth. This </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">tranquillizer had a rather unpleasant taste but
an immediate effect and a short duration. It was her own brew. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The rumbling of the </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">armadillo</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> cycler </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">reverberated</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> through the ship and take off was a small consolidation to Audrey,
at least. The anticipation at pre-launch got her worked up. All the
technicalities the team on board had gone through - word by word according to
flight protocol;</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> the rhythmical recitation between flight base and deck
back and forth had given her the cold sweat.</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">A sickening sensation in her </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">stomach</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> subsided
and she swallowed back the burning at the depth of her throat. </span><span style="color: #222222;">The cabin
began to swim and her head lightened, her vision blurred; the seat in front of
her slowly doubled and her fingers numbed. The effect was getting more potent
with each following intake. To avoid </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">embarrassment she leaned down as much as
she could and wiped her lower lip; spit was drooling and she was breathing
heavily. The world around her became a distant buzz and the report from
flight base on the perfect take off an obscure echo.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">armadillo</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">mother ship</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> was a
second generation bus vehicle to low Earth orbit. T</span><span style="color: #222222;">hickly armoured and c</span><span style="color: #222222;">apable of
multiple </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">re-entries</span><span style="color: #222222;">, the model was named after the obvious resemblance with the
animal.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The
rumbling diminished and the ship switched to scram jet propulsion - it sucked
compressed oxygen from the atmosphere. The movement </span><span style="color: #222222;">smoothed</span><span style="color: #222222;"> completely and the
ship was now losing momentum. The </span><span style="color: #222222;">initial</span><span style="color: #222222;"> rocket take off was enough to give it the change of
velocity to escape gravity to LEO. </span><span style="color: #222222;">Shutters slid up and the passengers could observe the
view. </span><span style="color: #222222;">The land underneath, ever receding, stretched into the contours
of continents - white swirls of cloud over the vast green of </span><span style="color: #222222;">Africa</span><span style="color: #222222;">. Metropolis and the
conurbations were not seen from here because of the greenery </span><span style="color: #222222;">incorporated </span><span style="color: #222222;">in their
infrastructure. Europa was not faring as good. Some portion of the land had
stepped away to the water and the visibly reduced Old Continent was a mesh of
green, grey and brown. A single twinkle, like a star dotted Spain - wide arrays
of solar power towers, concentrated in the south, focusing so much solar energy
that they were visible from hither. The </span><span style="color: #222222;">Mediterranean</span><span style="color: #222222;"> was muddy green - generously
fertilized with Iron. Less than a minute now and the ample Wild West emerged on
the curved horizon. Bellow the sparse white, a huge stretch of land without a
trace of green; muted shades of yellow, orange, red and brown intertwined to
form the land of the free.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">
The effect of the drug wore off as quickly as it had come. Perhaps too quickly
and too soon, Audrey was thinking. She was supposed to still be intoxicated at
upper separation, but her body had worked it off. She was promptly building up
resistance to the neuro-dampener. Just in time to experience the blast of
second take off from the mother ship. When the </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">armadillo</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> reached critical height in the thermosphere it released the small
shuttle - the top layer of the cycler. From afar it looked like the </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">armadillo</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> peeled some of its armour. The bracket shaped shuttle </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">separated</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> and hung in brief suspension before a pyrotechnic blast
erupted in the space between the two. The shuttle plunged further and ignited
it's rocket </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">propellant</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> to initiate its final change of velocity
- </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">significantly</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> lower than the initial one. The </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">armadillo mother ship
was pushed in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the opposite direction and dived back
in the atmosphere for its landing and next round of flybys to LEO. The giant
hulk became a bright triangle of compressed air that descended into the lower
layers for a soft tarmac landing.</span><br /><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">
Congratulations from flight base were in order and static voice from the comm
announced:</span><br /><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">
The Institute of the Space Academy was situated at Earth Moon
Lagrangian Point One. That is, it was orbiting around the Moon in an almost
perfect trajectory, needing only occasional rocket fire to adjust. The station
resembled the form of a key. The bow duplicated in two giant rings, nearly 5
miles in circumference. The slightly bigger one was linked to the helm and
cruiser controls (the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">blade of the key). The smaller ring, supported
by magnetic fields resided inside the bigger. It was spinning slowly
to maintain artificial gravity. Smaller cylinders, attached at
various points to the inner ring were visible. They also span to maintain their
Gee - the smaller the cylinder the quicker the spin. The whole station could
propel and move like a ship. Extensive numbers of photovoltaic cells
were deployed on the Moon, where the Sun light was some eight times
more intensive than on Earth's surface and energy was fed via microwaves, travelling through
induction satellites that formed a web around Luna. </span><br /><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">
Audrey needed another supplement of suppressant before they attached. Just
to make it through the functional magnetic imaging - a general standard
procedure to maintain the norm. The scan commenced in the connecting
corridor and the cheerful crowd did not seem to be bothered at all. Instead
they were energetically pushing towards the shutter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> </span><br /><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">She woke up late in the standard morning and after taking a refreshing shower and a breakfast of surprisingly delicious bacon and eggs from the cafeteria she was ready for her first supplement of the day - a slow
release cognition stimulant. It was time to get some work done. </span><br />
Everybody on board would be responsible for what was going to happen next. But
under the patronage of the wise Gregory McKenna those who were disgusted could
at least share their opinion without fear of persecution. Deemed a collective
decision, Phan Yeung needed to be eliminated. The Academy would surely come to no blame
as McKenna himself would present his sorrow to the world. It was one of his own
going to waste, after all. The resources of the Institute were
quickly mobilized to establish a plan. It was to be a public execution - as
obvious as possible. The influentials would contact the ground to prevent any
serious measure being taken to ensure Yeung did not go into hiding.<br />
Two days later she got a message on the pad that got her bolting towards the
office. The first imaging from her
tiny robotic fleet had streamed in. Nine hundred sixty three units surviving;
Audrey was going through some more details but she needed her tools to start
looking into the data seriously. She was already on the way, running. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey was gripping her
harness tight, her knuckles white. Cold sweat dripped on her forehead again and
her breathing returned to normal only when the chemical rocketing dwindled and
the quiet hum of the ion drive purred.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Ladies and Gents,
welcome aboard the Armadillo LC 101. We are now on a five day cruise to
Earth - Moon Lagrangian point 1. Please enjoy your flight!'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Oh, shut up!' A man
yelled over from behind. 'You're so full of yourself, man!'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">He unbuckled and tapped
the comm.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'C'mon Sil! Let me in,
already! I want to take a look outside.'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Laughter was heard from
behind as the rest of the team released and started floating around in the
microgravity of space.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Chloe slowly descended
from above and settled in her lap, embracing her neck and shoulders with gentle
arms. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Hon, are you feeling
al right?' Her jade gaze was scrutinizing, her face - immaculate feminine
perfection.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'I am all good,
thanks!' Audrey's voice trembled.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Chloe looked at her for
a moment and then kissed her, pushing hard with her arms; her tongue
baldly coiling around Audrey's. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Loud approval came from
one of the males and momentarily cheers of elation filled the cabin.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Chloe withdrew and
spat, fluid settling in small spheres around their faces.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">She
murmured, 'Hon... Really, you need to cut the crap out.'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey just froze,
unblinking.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'I am going to keep my
mouth shut. But remember, this no longer is the Faculty. You can't just play
with your health like that, Hon. Hear me?'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">She just nodded slowly.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Anyway,' Chloe
continued. 'If you ever get lonely up there come by my room.' She said, louder
this time.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Hey, may I join up!'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Yeah, I'm in, man!'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Several boisterous voices
came from the spectators.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Chloe took a small jump
drive out.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'You look like you need
some fun. If you ever get bored plug this in, OK? Best one I've experienced
around.' She playfully bit the air in front of Audrey's before joining the
rest.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Attention now shifted
to Chloe together with the loud remarks and Audrey exhaled deeply, massaging
her temples. She soon fell asleep.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Academy descended from the old
Universities of the West. Unification was the only way they could make a stand
and today the Academia was surviving as part of a corporate order. Science,
intellectual property, industry and company efficiency all conjoined to ensure
an image of prosperity and advancement. Some of the older men were bitter that
Red Mars belonged to the 'Reds', as they would describe them, so the project
was pushed to establish presence on Luna, instead. The study of microgravity on
the human body; the changes of the genome <i>homo</i>; the transgenic
plant growing; energy production and mineral extraction techniques development; bio-mimicry in newer Sol-resistant designs all had a significant scientific
value. But the mesh of monetary interests were also playing and capitalization
of knowledge was a well-developed business of the Academy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">They reunited with old
colleagues, research mates and friends and the conversations were loud and
jolly as they scattered to their private quarters to rest from the journey.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">A different kind of
pill from the drug paraphernalia and Audrey quickly surrendered to a
dreamless deep stupor. She could not even see the flashes of the cosmic rays
when she closed her eyes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">When in the shadow of
the Moon the thick shields were slid aside and the polymerized glass screens
revealed a magnificent view. The transparent covers looped all the way of the
inner side of the ring. The greenery of the farms and forests took almost half
the width and were a band of jade all across. Moving lights and vehicles were
buzzing, getting smaller and bigger, closer and farther as they were travelling
the giant ring. To her it looked like the curve of the station encircled the
dark side of the Moon, clearly visible against blue Earth and the web
of satellites in Luna's orbit, some bathed in Sun light - like
bright stars. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">All the way to
'Manufacturing' she was gazing up. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Housed in one of the
smaller cylinders, the round department was full of additive manufacturing
printers. Small robotic appendages moving in zig zag motion inside glass
aquariums. They seemed slow in any one moment, but were operating constantly,
ensuring large manufacturing output throughout the day. She had schematics for
tiny telemetry bots of which she ordered a thousand. There was a long queue
waiting - they would be ready by tomorrow.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">An image of a spider weaving its web
came into her mind and she smiled. Good analogy, but her brain was beginning to
speed up and she better got busy sooner.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Continuing on her way
she passed by a giant glass cage and observed an elderly researcher sitting
next to a chimpanzee, its head wired to devices projecting waves and
numbers all around the room. The chamber was not isolated and she could hear
inside.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Do you want to tell me
what happened yesterday?' The researcher asked.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The chimp's lips drew
out and maintained a grimace for a moment before answering. 'I don't want
to!' His voice was guttural, throaty.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Are you getting tired
for today?'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The chimp seemed happy
at the question and responded by putting two fingers in a "V" in
front of his mouth.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Ok... let's go for a
smoke, then.' The man said, while scribing down on his wrist pad. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Another room was
completely sound proofed and she could only observe through a narrow window.
Three equally gorgeous women in white coats were standing next to a table
filled with small transparent containers. Plants of various shapes and colours
were growing in each of them. One was pushed on the side. Green and violet goo
was creeping out from it and dripping on the floor. Apparently it was not
dangerous, as the three of them were chatting and having a laugh over
something. A man entered the room and all three gave him a hug simultaneously,
at which point he blushed. Giggling from the trio ensued.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">There was the cylinder
where the plasma-infused magnet was stored. It maintained the local micro
magnetic sphere to shield from particle rays from the Sun. At the moment it was
at minimum capacity as they were covered by the Moon.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The Med Bay was her
next stop. She gave blood to have her genome read. After the
electrophoresis and </span>polymerase
reactions a growth of stem cells would be bred with her gene on it. She would
inject them into her blood stream for prevention measure against space travel.
A bit too overcautious, perhaps. Strands of brightly coloured, intertwined
helices started spinning in her imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tapping on her wrist pad she ordered the
papers from the last five days loaded and ready in her office plus the agenda
of the board. The topic of the week was Politics, Economics and articles about
recent events from Earth. A priority call to all higher standing functionaries
on the ground was made on the day of their arrival and a meeting scheduled for
the upcoming week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After viewing the agenda she dug herself
in assessments, calculations, editing and processing. Writing abstracts in an
appealing manner as if they were selling a product on the market; bartering
intellectual property that belonged to the Institute. She enjoyed trading with
the Asians and organising the assimilation of the knowledge was a small form of
comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, when J.J.'s message flashed on her
pad it felt like a welcomed break from the chores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She arranged a meeting with her old friend
for tomorrow and carried on refreshed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking breaks only to eat from the
cafeteria, she was going through the large amount of information in the virtual
banks. Small processing unit provided some thinking abilities in the form of a
small artificial neural network linked in vectors to a cloud from the hub, but
far from the level of inventiveness or discernment. It was reading the meta
information and reorganising it into general folders - segments and articles for an easy access on
topics by researchers. It was a huge chunk of the operation and mostly menial
labour as well. That did not prevent her from feeling</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">exhausted at the end of the day. Nearly two o'clock in the
standard morning of the station. She collapsed in bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the next day Audrey was awakened by the
sound of delivery close to noon. The drone had stood at her door step, politely
waiting attention and the sound from the pad had increased from gentle to
perturbing. Washing and showering in haste; wet hair splashing drips behind,
she inspected the delivery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The packet was above a kilogramme with
each individual small bot little over a gram. She took one out to look at it
closely. Under small oval plastic cover she could see the integrals of a chip,
photovoltaic cell, tiny oscillating, near UV LiDAR unit and a battery. Audrey
was so excited she did not take anything from the drug stash today. Other than
the bots she had also funded the humble network of small satellites, the
research equipment needed and the software for the observation. She could use
her office to carry out the research, while doing her job up here. And the
target was the barren land that used to be known as America; Nebraska/Kansas
border. The bots would be sprayed from their capsule and provide laser point
mapping of their environment. Alone the data would be worthless, but in the
context of the already established global GPS and advanced focused mapping of
her own shy collection of satellites the place would come to life in three
dimensional projections on her screen. She really could not understand why no
body -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">' - is interested in anthropology today!
Audrey, it really excites me that you're finally doing what you always felt
like. But you should know better than me that there is little money in this.
How much did it cost you...?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'J, I know! But really, I have never been
so excited! I will finally get to see what is happening down there. And all
right here. Isn't this just ...wonderful!?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">J.J. sipped from his coffee and looked at
his old friend. One side of his mouth curved up and he said calmly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am glad you are opening to the world,
Audrey. I really am.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You are being ... very cryptic today,
man. Are you OK?' Audrey said in a half joking manner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yeah, I'm<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>good!' He laughed and stretched his
arms and back. 'Thank you! Tell ya what. I've been working on this game
project. Aside from the rest of the things I have to get along with up here, of
course. It's an attempt to revive something only old farts will talk of today.
Immersion gaming without all the virtually projected on goggles and enhanced
sensation of non-invasive implants... something that is increasingly only found
in the history books. But you know what?! People still talk about that time
they played a really hard survival game, or had to drown themselves to continue
on a quest based only on an obscure text that read 'b<span style="background: white;">reathe the waters of his glory and the way is made clear</span>' and so
on. There are behavioural consequences in people. And those same people become
part of society and grow up playing extremely linear pieces of semi-coherent fiction that hardly has
depth at all when it comes to world construction... but have good visuals!
There is movement on the web - ' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Audrey
listened. Not all out of respect. She saw meaning in the project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But in any
case, it was time to get back to work. Another pill tucked in, another day
going by. But today was special. She had made a delivery. And in five days she
would get results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the mean time she was busy fulfilling fast paced bullet
points akin more to a corporate character than an academic. She had to convince somebody that
their Terraforming Protocols were useful and could be implemented in the
overall improvement of their Red Cousin. She herself doubted it. But <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">there was the resolve to continue working on. <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> had finally come to an agreeable
state in her relationship with the Institute but would never state that
openly. More supplements from the magical home brew; try and find the weak
points; run the simulations; inquire with colleagues. Push. Our. Product! The
shaping of the new home in the solar neighbourhood was truly a collective
effort, but sadly the drive behind this group was money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The meeting came -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'No, it is too early!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The man's face was red, spit flying out of
his mouth. Despite the civil beginning, the heat of the discussion was flaring
by now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'We cannot allow this to happen now! Not
at this moment! Just play with the idea -'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I agree! It is all too sudden.' Another
loud voice arose from the opposite in the round room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact that all of the members were
present behind closed doors without virtual conference allowed had already
hinted of severity on the topic discussed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I will see this as a transgression
against our very interests!' Yet another black suit was standing tall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the following mesh of high spirited
declarations Audrey and a few others were keeping their voices low. Some of the
people in the room were glancing down and it had become clear to them that
following the tide was perhaps the better option for now. It felt like being in
enemy territory, though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quiet beginning was, in fact, a very
interesting debate about the pros and cons of an idea that had just recently
been announced and was spreading around the internet like a viral infection. A
man named Phan Yeong was presenting a system of renewed Earth Economy, followed
by total release of currency. In spirit of the newly established frontier the
man had drawn inspiration from the arid red waste and the people braving the
deserts of Mars. Despite the many stated benefits of the gradual abolishment of
monetary exchange, it infringed deeply on the interests of those present. And
to their satisfaction there were others that opposed the notion around the
world - not few in numbers and possessing influence as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now there was a man, who had true
influence in this room. Silent to this moment he stood up and roared, like a furious <span style="background: #FDFEFF;">Nicodemus at his Pharisees. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'That is
ENOUGH!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For one
another they would yell, despite that they supported their ideas. But for him
there was silence. The mighty voice of Gregory McKenna had thundered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now he spoke
calmly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Once this
idea is so well presented and out there it will not go away. Now I feel for all
of you, but do not try and justify this with some system of efficiency or
programmes of development or anything else that comes to your mind. You are
afraid.' He paused for a second. 'Hell, even I am! And I am a hundred and
forty. I imagine what it should be like for you muts.' There came no response.
Those who were looking down lifted their heads. <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> was
relieved to see Chloe, the smooth-skinned mother of the three women
from transgenic lab,
also keep her wits about her throughout the discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'But we can do nothing to stop it!'
McKenna's voice continued as if reciting from the pulpit. 'And it will happen!
But for once, I will agree with the lot of you,' he pointed at some of them
energetically. 'It is happening too quickly and too abruptly. And we will have
to do something</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">about it. And I warn you. If you do
not start thinking about what comes next, you may find yourselves in a very
unpleasant situation. Perhaps in the span of your life times, too! It is not
easy to estimate what turn the world will take. But I say, let us not turn it
today!!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that was
the agreed status quo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A network of
superconducting capacitors and resonators would be printed and housed in a
single unit, attached to a body capable of maintaining a precise geosynchronous
orbit at LEO height above the ground. An electromagnetic flux of electrons
would be fed into the contraption using a satellite system. The flux would be
trapped in the network, circulating inside it until it undergoes population
inversion and transforms into a stream of photons. Regenerative amplification process would
emit the photon ray as a short pulsed, nanosecond long, near infra-red laser
beam of death four hundred TW of power. Invisible to humans it would deliver
the sentence unequivocally and with exactitude. No more than half a cup
of gasoline worth of energy would be spend and there would be no
other casualties as long as the man was caught in the open. It was the
scientists' clause. A space lab for insured profit seemed to be the deal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An unsolicited image of gore and red
spills, covering the room, emerged in her mind. It sickened her tremendously
and she scampered around her office to find a dish; she threw up, little of it
landing in the container. Heaving, pale and shacking, <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> rested in her chair. What a
nightmarish vision! She was revising details for simulations of the hellish
contraptions they were about to unleash, when calculations happened all too
quickly and re-emerged visually in her head. No, of course she knew there would
not be any ... body parts loosely thrown up around as her unruly mind depicted
it. But the unexpected and violent image had formed too suddenly. 'When did you
become such a wimp,' she thought. Almost instinctively she reached for one of
the small pill boxes on her belt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">' - perhaps there is a reason after all.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hands still trembling, she started wiping
off the mess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everybody else was invisible to Audrey today. They
were hurried and stressed with the big project; people darting up and down the
alleyways, waving papers and shouting, and she in her haste appeared just as
normal in the crowd. Nobody really paid any attention to her. It would be another day or two before
everything settled back into the usual pace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'No home brew today, girl!' <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey </span>promised herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Closing the round shutter behind her, the
chatter from the station comm muffled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was night on the ground but the
batteries would make it through the morning. She powered the equipment and
loaded the signal into the wide three dimensional screen interface. The
original projection was a web of violet, incomprehensible and looking like a
cloud with saturated bands of purple breaking the mono-chromaticity. She
integrated the distance detection algorithms from the satellites and the cloud
disappeared, leaving only lines and dots from items, shuffled in all
directions. She rotated the whole projection around and looked at it from
several angles. She could almost work out random objects. The most obvious
thing was the ground - defined by those units which fell with their emission
units down. She superimposed the pre-mapped details of the global network and
synchronized it with the image from her satellite grid. The visual context of
the ground made it much easier to determine the forms of walls and items. She
tasked the ANN (artificial neural network) to start simulating scenarios for
the environment. In the mean time she started drawing on the projection,
connecting straight lines and fed the information into the processing unit to
narrow the range of possible outcomes. Running out of obvious choices she
loaded an old satellite picture form the time civilization still existed on the
spot. Some of the buildings did not match. Others of the rectangles, however,
laid perfectly on each other and enhanced the projection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Audrey selected one of the simulated
projections and went on working out details - broken windows; long abandoned
and smashed vehicles; destroyed walls; rubble; a trodden dust path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She was looking at the abandoned and
ruined, fifteen or so small buildings in a village in old Nebraska. Other areas
of large interest had gotten burned to a crisp and the heritage was an overload
of Sieverts (Sv) for decades. But here, she was hoping there would be
survivors. Audrey could already pick up movement. But to define the outline of
the object she would need to spend another tireless day. It was two o'clock in
the morning and the day had went on without rest or food, but most importantly
- without drugs. She blacked out in her office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
following morning she set a different pace for the day and started by having an
enormous plate of food, together with a generous cup of coffee and a lot of water.
Audrey was in a good mood and took a long shower, ignoring the outside messages
completely. She could pull another day under the radar. Today was the big day,
when their labour was coming to fruition and they would lay the verdict of a ruling class upon a man
they barely knew. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking down
the corridors her face was blank and her gestures to the colleagues impersonal. Everything
she wanted lay behind the shutter of her office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Audrey
loaded the overnight recording onto the final product she had constructed
yesterday. There were shadows cast, obstructing the laser projections. Quickly
working out which of the objects were just rubble and tumbles dragged by the wind she was left with one
larger shade. It was moving with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>deliberation, stopping here and there. She made
several thin cross sections from different angles by recording obstructions to individual
units and piled them up in the ANN. Legs, body and head soon
formed in a general outline. It looked like a robust mannequin. She superimposed the model over the
recording and gradually worked out more details by looking into the
inconsistencies, and moved on to things like clothes and items. Having
expanded on her experience from yesterday progress was quick. It was definitely a man; although the
face was featureless there were the thick jaw, short hair and burly neck. The
forearms and palms</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">were accentuated. His left shoulder was wrapped
in some sort of massive material. He appeared heavily dressed, as if armoured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing on with the recordings she
observed the man skulk around the ruins; searching, digging and packing items
she could guess little of into a bag or a sack. Sometimes he would come to one
of the units, examine it and throw it away. He was a scavenger of sorts, a
survivor perhaps. At certain points she would stop to improve the details of
her projection or work out a few more specifics on his body. But all in all
everything fit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When she was happy with his built she let
him roam for a bit, playing and replaying short sections of the recordings from
different angles. The man settled down on a pile of rubble to eat and drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shortly after that, there appeared another
large shadow from the edge of the village. It was moving slowly and advanced to
where the man was. This one had resemblance with the shade of the man before
details were worked, so she just copied the man's image and positioned it over
the second shadow, running the recordings again. It took several tries to work
out the inconsistencies with the streamed data. It appeared to be a smaller,
leaner figure. Definite feminine aspects; cowboy hat, graceful movements like a
cat, thinner limbs; wearing some kind of protective guard over her gangly
shoulders. Further details would be too much assumption so she went on with the
record.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She saw the woman crouching behind rubble
and walls, until there was a direct line of sight on the man. He was not
looking at her, but was busy tinkering something. She went back to the road
around the corner and started digging, cautiously and slowly depositing soil on
her side. After that she took out and placed a small item in the hole,
that <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> could not identify and layered the
dirt back on top. The woman finished with a few sweeping motions over the
ground and walked further down the road where she stopped, turning around.
There was no hint of secrecy any more. At this point the man abruptly stopped
his activity and turned his face in the general direction of the woman. She was
obviously waiting on the path and it was the man who seemed cautious now. He
left the object and slowly exited his hideout. Walking around the corner he
stopped when he spotted the woman. She extended arms forward in a gesture
signalling 'stop' and vigorously repeated it before lifting them over her head.
The man relaxed his cautious posture and stood for a while. Perhaps they were
talking in the minute or so it took before he lunged forward with surprising
speed. Instantly he found himself over the spot where the woman had dug. His
body was then thrown back; there was a momentous disturbance from the signal
around and some of the bots close by blanked out. He seemed shocked, his legs
were not moving and his head lifted slowly; one arm reaching around sluggishly.
As soon as the man was on the ground the woman ran to him and motioned, as if
taking something out from her behind. She stretched hand, pointed at the head
of the man and a moment later he was not moving anymore; his body had made one
last abrupt spasm and settled down, now completely motionless. The woman
hesitated for a bit and started searching the body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> did not notice her jaw had dropped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'It looks like a small explosion to me, <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span>,' J.J was replaying the sequence over and
over again. 'I think your unknown ranger down there shot him here.' He
pointed at the image of the woman, extending arm over the lying man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Did she really now...?' <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span>'s eyes were wide open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Just think about it. It's harsh down
there. There is more to her, though. Look here. It is as if she is gesturing
him to stop. Don't go any further, she says. Maybe she wants to talk or
something. I don't know. And here! She is just standing there, obviously not
causing harm but he is the one who runs at her. He jumps her, <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span>. She was obviously prepared for that too,
though.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'With this... mine?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yeah. It seems the woman is quite
resourceful!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next several days saw a change of
pace. In the aftermath of the execution, the media was blazing all over and the
internet was full with emotions ranging from angry broadcasts to analytical
reviews, explaining that perhaps it was all for the greater good. The
neutralization of Phan Yeung was everywhere. Righteous vows, memorials,
programmes launched by the hour, mass quitting of jobs, virtual social spaces
full of woe and repent. An earthquake of tremendous magnitude was shaking
society. But all that seemed distant to <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span>. She had just exited her private place of magic to find an
erratic and neurotic world full of reports and short notices. In mere two
days the Institute had grown capricious. She had a new supervisor who was
pressing hard for coverage over the internet and she was sure he had a boss who
was equally stressed out. They had to insure the survival of the Academy and
despite the lack of any suspicion linked to them, they had to work to influence
the tide of opinions, and help those who would drag the prevailing system
further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She was not performing well. It was not
the science she was used to; she knew of the disgusting deed and she had just spent
the two most exciting days in her recent years. The boxes of pills were sitting
on her desk and she no longer wanted to have anything to do with them. Her mind
was wavering; she was thinking about the ranger down there. She wanted to play
with her map. Her supervisor god mad at a point and <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> refused to react at all. She did not
defend herself, make an appeal, get scared or promise to work harder. She
knew she was sub-standard, but there was not a single thing to give her the
incentive to try and execute the task. It was not even giving up. She felt like
a fraudulent and it was clear she would lose the position soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You have to help me!' <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> was not bulging at the slightest
from her plea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Hon, you will lose everything you have
worked for all this time!' Chloe's voice was stern, like of a mother
admonishing her child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I have already lost it, Chloe! There is
nothing else I want from this place.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">J.J. was sitting beside them, gaze locked
on the table. He was leaning on his hand and his face looked tired. Blue semi
circles were drawn beneath his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'It has been hell all over this last week.
You, her, me,' he pointed at each individually. 'But this will pass. It is
going to be OK, you know? Are you sure you want to leave at all?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am! I want to! And because of their
stupid games I have to suffer. Shitty cowards!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chloe's eyebrows locked in a steep angle,
her green eyes unblinking. She was silent for a moment, looking at <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I have not seen lil' Hon there like that
since my budding years,' she glanced at J. 'So what'll be, Ace? You in?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">J. slowly raised his head, looking lost in thought. He stretched
his hands and yawned before saying, 'The evacuation pods. If we set you up, you
will be able to descend. But you will have to bear full responsibility for
that. They will have to find information on you reprogramming the protocols so
the rest of us are good up here. You understand? It has to look like you did it
yourself.'</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'- and no coming back. They wouldn't like
it,' J. added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Sure.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crossing his hand, J. leaned back on his
seat and glared at the table again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I can slip in some algorithms in your
cloud while doing the coding for the Academy. You will have to cover the trails
yourself. I'll show you how. The final piece will be a program that will
restrict one of the pods to your I.D. Full authorisation,' he pointed at the
card, attached to her uniform. 'There will be no track in the archives, and no
response from surveillance. If somebody does not see you leave with their own
two eyes they will need time to figure you're gone. Where do you want to go, by
the way?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'America.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chloe's expression changed to surprise,
her features softening and looking girlish. 'You've always been a dreamer,
Hon.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Just remember,' J. added. 'Calculate the exact
position and simulate descend. You will figure what is the best time to leave.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span>'s mouth curved in a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Thank you.' She uttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blue LiDAR matrix swiftly passed
across the ID card, reading the abrasive intaglio printing and the small
shutter door surfaced out from the metal, hiss of pressurisation shortly
filling the cargo bay. The emergency pod was shaped like an egg with sparse
interior consisting of five large seats arranged in a circle. The rest of the
capsules were spread in every direction, metal platforms encompassing them like
a web. The place was eerily silent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> sat and a safety frame descended
from above, strapping her securely. A holo screen visualised, bathing the small
space in blue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Commander <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> Atkinson.' A methodical static voice
filled the cabin. 'Pod one five seven is ready for descent and atmospheric
entrance.' It was making short pauses after each word. 'Please check secured
coordinates and wait until system carries out stability check. Danger level on
deck - none. Full mechanical inspection is under way.' That was getting her
nervous. She was already sweaty and pale and now this machine wanted to have an
afternoon tea in the middle of the most important thing in her life. She
stomped angrily on whatever part of the seat she could kick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Work! You junk!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Security Protocol Violation"
sign flashed in a corner of the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Stress behaviour is not recommended for
your own safety.' The metallic voice reverberated. A mask dropped in front
of <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span>'s head. 'Commander, we advise that at
least one passenger remain conscious on board. Please consult with board
flight rules.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The metal door started to slide back
and <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span> felt obtuse. But her flight sickness
was kicking in as well and she had left her medical apothecary in her
office. For good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'One last time,' she thought, while
putting the mask on.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking in deep breaths, she was tapping on the screen. Her fingers
became numb and when the voice finally announced 'Eject!' it rang distant. She
drifted away, "Life Support Engaged" blinking on the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">A foggy, dimmed
light filled the cabin of the pod from the open hatch. The </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">featureless</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> environment slowly took shape. The screen flickered in and out of
projection with "Landing Complete" sign. She unfastened and tried
walking, sliding on the tilted surface. Creeping out of the pod on all four,
grabbing the edge with two hands she finally gazed at the outside. The pod was
leaning, half </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">buried</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> in the sandy soil. The ground around the
landing was charred and black. There was no noise safe for the wind sweeping
across the arid flat land, sparsely dotted with growth. She stepped on the hard
ground with a crackling noise and looked around. The ruins of the village were
there and a figure, sat on a stone. Audrey hurried in that direction. She could
see the cowboy hat; as she got closer more details became clear. Sliced tires
strapped around the shoulders of the woman with chains </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">criss-crossing</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> her torso. Old leather covered the skin on her body, kept in
place by straps and the she wore a pair of dusty aged boots.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Hold it right o'er there, partner!' Her voice seemed exceptionally
loud, considering her lean frame. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> stood firm
in place. She awkwardly raised her hands above her head, not sure what to say.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The woman lifted her head, covered in dirt under the hat. Her bleached
blond hair was ashen but her eyes were sharp, pale blue; almost the colour of
polished steel. She was slowly sliding a piece of metal, resembling an edge on
a stone. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Have you come to fight?' She pulled out a hand gun and placed it in her
lap. It seemed kept together by bend strips of metal - incredibly makeshift.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'No.' </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> had nothing else with her except her
station uniform. That seemed to convince the </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">barren lander</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> somehow.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Where yer' from, partner?'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> glanced at the blue sky and pointed at the pale thin </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">crescent</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> of the moon.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The woman smiled, </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">revealing</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> surprisingly white
teeth. 'Yee Haw! Comin' down 'ere in your fancy tin can?!'. She began laughing,
'You look'd like yer' bein' cradled by your momma, there. HA! Sleepin' like a
baby for a day. Dontcha know these are dangerous parts, partner?'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Yes, I do,' </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Audrey</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'s answer came sharp and quick. 'But I am going
to live here.'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Dunno 'bout that.' The woman stood up. 'But I better show you to the
rest. Maybe yo'll gonna share an interesting story or somethin'?'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">She was still gripping the gun, not pointing it at Audrey, though. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">'Keep walkin' in front o' me dear. No sudden moves now.'</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">END.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-49205217035839477502015-07-13T22:58:00.001+01:002015-08-22T10:15:04.729+01:00Full Circle - Part II<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James P. Patterson. More than a
centenarian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was
turning a hundred and thirty this year; a man extraordinary in more than a
single way. Not only because of the enhancements - that he was a walking
connection to the internet, operating without thinking. Or the compound
implants running across his wet ware; the projection lenses; or the enhanced
metabolism swarm of nanoids; or the repaired DNA strands... Under all that
there was perseverance. It was a trait that had served the gang well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gregory
was the eldest. He had picked them one by one from the mouldy basin the Silicon
Valley was slowly turning into. Vision, energy and drive had been with Greg but
to turn everything in his direction he needed more than selected geniuses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twenty
young brilliant and educated men enrolled willingly in an experiment to further
the scientific development that was necessary in neurology. They implanted
brain interfaces inside their cortices, linking various portions of their
neural networks across space. Connected to a central transliterating hub the
impulses were travelling via a Wi-Fi signal. In that distant and hard beginning
it was just impressions and sensations from a subject's everyday life. In turn
it had helped to ease their studies, as even the sensation of satisfaction
experienced by one was spread across the group. Not hive mind but 'stygmergia'
to be precise. The young men were taking turns at the thing called 'living',
while investing impossible amounts of hours working. Sex, drugs, alcohol,
spending money and living of the resources provided by twenty ingenious hard
workers - that alone kept somebody going on for sixteen a day without even
lifting himself from the chair. It got better. A small obscure firm, providing
excellent consultation on crucial points for newly spawned companies was formed
on the market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile
the technology was advancing. Pushes in fMRI and EEG techniques made it
possible to translate words into neural pulses. They were becoming capable of
intertwining greater and greater amount of information back and forth. Past the
sensation of joy and relief, pictorial information, hard science reports and
numbers were flying the web, picked up instantly by the team. Inquiries from
the public soon followed and at the peak of the experiment they went
independent. With the ability to learn, share, ask and receive from the
encyclopaedia that the gang had become, they chose to distort the experiment.
To the outside it seemed they had just settled at the emotional dispensation of
feelings. With so much potential for computation, however, backed by
technological skill, the gang adopted the technology for themselves and did not
stop where the reports claimed it all ended. While Patterson has doctorates in
some of the disciplines he is proclaimed expert at, most of the ones hung on
his wall officially belong to his fellows from the group. Between themselves
they know they could get all those degrees, but that would amount to too much
suspicion and attention, so they shared them as a token of appreciation and
acknowledgement instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">E-mails,
messages, hijacks of company post-it-text walls started bullying targeted
high-standing corporate officials. One by one they had identities being tweaked
as well; small alterations here and there. Until frame, corporate deceit, bank
forgery, tax inaccuracies, bribing proposals to government officials started
springing up. And the Meta data was going in circles with tracks leading to an
empty field in Kamchatka; concrete permafrost in Alaska or a lonely piece of
land in the middle of the Pacific. Public opinion does not wait for the
investigation to conclude and corporate interests need to be played out. As
soon as somebody ended up with a crippled leg the protocol was clear: ‘Quit
here for the sake of old times. Continue and I will join the wave against you.
Part of the game.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was
the big that benefited first, but some of the assets were economical time
bombs, ticking as they were assimilated. In the following shock waves more
conglomerates were segmented and the world of stocks became a sea of shifting
powers. During the unbelievable fall of some of the largest, the small were
picking up the pieces. A cheap patent here, a functionary gone bankrupt there. There
were too many new and small players to keep track of at the same time. And the
obscure consultancy agency had its share of the pie as well. A carefully
selected delicacy of experts, technology and equipment that would just be
swallowed and/or misused by this or that Asian company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of
the gang were unemployed on paper to reduce attention. The 'Emotional Brothers'
were of no interest to R&D any more. The idyllic reports of shared good
mood had stepped away to the trot of advancing science, churning papers on
'Wide Brain Interface'; healing cripples and connecting families across the
world... so nice. But the gang were already the most advanced. Slowly some of
them started acquiring assets and emerging with companies of their own. The
brotherly attachment between them always came to the fore when observed by the
adepts of the market. They had already been deemed relics of the past. But with
an ever growing knowledge and super collective human brain it was only natural
to continue developing. And so the relics outlived their time and plunged
themselves into the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way
things look on the outside mattered to James. He had the feeling that the
people around the giant tree at the edge of town would help him. After all they
were organically savvied scientists, part of an institute knowledgeable about
biology. He was remembering a tobacco brand with the catchy name of Oriental
Premier. It was probably long gone from the market by now. It had been a unique
sensation that he sometimes contributed to the gang - smoking a thin handmade
cigarette, made after a long day of work. A ritual in the absence of all
company, allowing the mind to quietly roam for a bit; a moment of utter
freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime
he was walking the vast boulevards and streets of Metropolis in a pleasant
surrender, trying foods that were unique for the day and probably wouldn't be
produced ever again. A design of art, playing the tunes "A/T, C/G"
anyway the artist saw fit. Still, the timer set on the slate was ticking. The
simulations he had run earlier had given him the hours he could spend outside, so
he could indulge a bit longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
various shapes, sizes and tastes were synchronous with the colourful hedonistic
crowd and consistent with the sea of creativity and cultural diversity. It was
a place where you could be a nomad; spend a year living on the heated streets
and seek nothing else but intensity in discovery and depth of sensation. There
was the deep immersion Zoo, where you could be the tiger or the antelope; the
brain interface virtual games of fast paced action in a chosen setting; the
history and food of an entire culture coming alive in the museums; emotions of
a classical scientist living in memory banks, giving the emotions of their
discoveries over and over again; virtual reality tele-operated robots in outer
space; designer drugs; memory uploads; sex. Neural tweaking of the body to see
the world through a different perspective. So much variation and so little time
to try it all. And whenever practicality emerged from the phantasmagoria it was
cultivated and sold to the wider market instantly, reinforcing the presence of
the artists and strengthening the economy of Metropolis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
spend good ten hours scampering the alleys, zigzagging between the sweet spots,
slowly advancing in the initial direction. That would not have taken him far
away, though. So when Phan finally found him, he was looking for a cab.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phan's
image came in full height - real time stream, with his surroundings filly
visible. James lowered the intensity of the connection and reduced the
projection to just that of Phan, now semi-transparent to allow him to see
better his immediate surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Are you
going invisible again?' He asked him, a distinct Asian accent in his voice.
'I've been looking for you and you're not answering the calls!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yea,
sorry 'bout that!' James beamed. 'I'm spending' some time by myself these days,
dog! How are you doing, you fag?!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am
good as always, bitch!' Phan nodded energetically, laughing. 'I am wondering if
you're going to disconnect entirely, though. Absent for two sessions; we’re missing
what you had to give.' The boyish round face settled on a serious expression;
eyebrows raising, head inclining as if to scowl him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yes,
Phan, yes... I am. I will make it official sometime in the future. Maybe next
session? I know, you've been everything to me. My brothers... But we were not
created linked. At least I feel as much as an individual as a part of the
group. Integrated,' he waved at a hover cab. 'But still far too ingrained in my
own small world of thoughts. Very self-centred, I realise!' He got in the cab,
gesturing the driver to wait. ' It’ll costs extra, sir.' He put it bluntly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
nodded in acknowledgement, listening to Phan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'So…
Like. You... I guess. Since the old times you always gave something the rest of
us could never come up with individually. You're a really egotistic bastard,
you know that?!' Phan grinned without a trace of malice in his voice. 'Still...
good to have known you.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You too!
Listen, I know it's all too sudden, but I am sure you guys will do the same in
due time. You cannot just stand there like pins in wood not nailed deep enough.
One day the hammer will strike and you too will have to go under. Bite the tree
from the roots, if you know what I mean. I've also disengaged all nanoids
inside me as well.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phan
stood still, hands on his waist in a thoughtful moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Are you
excreting them quite fast?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'It will
take some time to flush them out completely by sheer metabolism but a lot of
them are gone already. No more gerontology for me.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You have
to at least have a drink with us sometimes. With me, at least!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Sure. Of
course!' James giggled. 'But I want you to know that what I have chosen is what
really makes me happy.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I hear
you. And prepare a speech while you're at it. We will love it. I am sure.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yeah...'
He said, detached.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You got
my message, right?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yes. And
I am with you on that one. Thing is I haven't thought about how you're going to
do it. I mean take the whole world the way it is... still, I love the idea!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Every
beginning is hard and ideology shifts with time. Sometimes belief is more
obscure, sometimes it is very blunt and outright propagated. But the medium for
interaction has always been the mind. Collectively we have complicated things
in the last two millennia and I think it is time to focus on what is really essential.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Well,
look at that!' James laughed sincerely. 'I see you've gone a full circle.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Is that
how you see it?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yes. A
full circle, friend. From the hacking, usurping and sly mother fucker you used
to be to the vision of what comes tomorrow. I think you are arriving at the
same doorstep for the second time now, looking out there at the unknown. But
this time around you have no fear.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'And you
have also gone a full circle, I take it?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
just nodded slowly and looked at his old friend with affection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I will
definitely see each one of you, Phan. I will be in touch, ok?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Looking
forward to it,' Phan nodded. 'You take care, bitch!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'And you
faggot!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terminating
the connection, James asked the cab man to head in the general direction of the
tree, pointing with a finger at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Can you
go up?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'No can
do, sir. Air permit costs, you know. And they are pretty tight too.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Don't
worry, I can pay.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Pay...?
Even so, when they pull me over you'd have wasted your time anyway, man.
Thanks, though.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Want me to
work it out for you while you're driving?' James tittered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Hey
wha-?' The driver turned around with a bemused expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yeah
man, you have your slate, yes? Just send me the B-metrics encryption and I can
make a transaction with your ID on it. Doesn't matter who pays, no?' James
beamed like a sales person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You one
of them wired techies, aren't you?' The man plodded. 'Al right whiz-kid...
let's see you work your magic then?' He added slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cab
joined the busy traffic on the ground and some fifteen minutes later it hovered
to the upper stream of vehicles and bots and took its place in the high speed
section. With laser analysing, satellite mapping and real time updates on the
road robotic vehicles were just as good if not better. But the fact that
somebody was conversing with you while giving you a lift was irreplaceable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cab
stopped at its destination in the plaza after descending from the air traffic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Much
appreciated, man!' The cab man was energetically shaking his hand. 'It's on the
house, you don't have to pay.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yeah?
Thanks! You take care, bud.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You
too.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
waved after him and turned around to take in the grandeur of the 'tree'. The
city plaza was a terrace elevated above the shore of the sea. Stairs were
leading down to the wide open beach, in the middle of which grew the
morphogenetic titan of a plant. Thick vines were intertwining into one giant stem,
which was towering some two hundred metres above. It was heavily branched with
trailing offshoots that were forming the somewhat round corona of the tree.
Huge opaque fruits resembling pears were growing upwards from the branches. He
could see people walking in and out of the apparently hollow fruits, strolling
on the wide stems. Surrounding the main trunk were numerous elevator glass
tubes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking
down the stairs he was stepping over small inspection bots, looking like
slinkies; moving graciously with a slow stretch-shrink arching motion. There
were quite a few around in the sand as well. Looking for somebody to talk to,
he was browsing information on the web about the tree. Biology Institute
Faculty. Theory of Biochemistry, Biophysics, various disciplines in Genetics,
Histology and an interesting field studying the human super organism not as a
collective phenomenon but as an individual whole - Homogeno Physiology. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He approached a man who was
kneeling next to one of the bots, scanning with it with his slate, finger
following details on the text flowing on the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
maintained a respectful distance from the researcher - a young man in his
twenties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am not
interrupting anything, am I?' He said when he met the man's gaze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'No, I
was just finishing. You here for the tour or?' He stood up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Hi. The
name's Patterson. James Patterson.' He stretched his hand for a handshake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Michael Gwinn.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He winced
when James gave him a squeeze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Oh wow.
I like the handshake.' He said approvingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
gestured at the small slinky drones, 'Doing maintenance?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Naah.
Just collecting data for the new world. The terraforming project, you know?
They need all the theoretical protocols we can come up with. I am going to
construct some models after I am done here.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Oh,
neat.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
chatted about the work of young Michael and James slipped in some inquiries
about sustainably developed organics with as little mesh from science or
synthetics. Michael said they definitely funded such projects and proposed they
should check the library, which was not exactly open sourced but accessible if
you had endorsement from a member of the institute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Is there
something specific you're looking for?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Tobacco.
As close to the original as possible,' James smiled, shuffling legs skittishly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I wonder
what you mean by original,' Michael replied with a grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
could probably just browse and order the thing; get it delivered through a
hover bot almost instantly, but it has been a long while since he had done
outreach in the physical sense of the world. It felt so new and oddly, strange
but fulfilling as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'There
are farmers, who are into it, yes,' Michael was summarising, going through some
abstracts. 'Old style crop growth, apart from the entire regular meta gene
crosses breeding. Small and affluent audience as clients; special requests
about fruits, veg and whatnot. No surplus, low yields. Interesting... do you
want to hear what they use for fertiliser?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
ended up having a laugh about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James
took the details and left the institute unexplored. It was getting dark and in
his head some twenty hours have passed on the dial; he wanted to be home before
the time has elapsed. He bid Michael goodbye, who was a bit disappointed by now
with James leaving without even checking out the inside of some of the fruits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The farm
he chose was not far away. Judging from the photos it was situated on top of a
short block of flats, some thirty floors; the greenery of the farm carpeted the
elevated open space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A man by
the name of Ganesh Dhagat had politely answered his message and agreed to
welcome him even in the budding darkness of the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dark-skinned,
short and with blood-shot eyes Ganesh was already standing near the landing pad
on the side of the building when James was dropped off by the hover vehicle.
Tall grass was surrounding the edge of the wide roof, waving in the breeze; red
tomato fruits were heavy on vines supported by thin wooden stakes. A single
apple tree in one corner, still not ripe enough; A cherry and a pear for each
of the other two; herbs were making their way in another rectangular patch of
land next to the tomatoes. There were other unfamiliar plants in different
shades of green.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'They
only give fruit once a year,' Ganesh proudly opened; his English heavily
accented. 'These are grown the way my fore bearers would have a thousand years
ago. I am glad you've come to share my passion. Welcome!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'A
thousand years ago tomatoes were not present in India, were they?' James
gleamed, laughing. There was no India to speak of today, though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I see
you are very knowledgeable about the world, Mister...?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Patterson.
James Patterson. My pleasure, Sir! Please, James will do.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Ah, such
courtesy!' Ganesh exclaimed with a loud voice, smiling widely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An
energetic conversation about the farm ensued - a small business on the side
that Ganesh was running as a hobby. Apart from all the modifications and
designer processing, the traditional superannuated farming was somehow
fashionable among people who could afford extravagance. As they talked on
Ganesh's loud voice trumped over the urban background; he was quite ecstatic
when he was explaining the history of some of the plants. The way they would be
grown originally; where the seeds had come from. He himself looked like a relic
from a long-forgotten past; still upholding his Hindu tradition, but despite,
prospering. Even with the latest fads in business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ganesh
prepared tea, picked from the garden; carefully selected leaves from an unknown
to James plant. They sat and chatted on, the initial excitement reduced, while
Ganesh was slowly shredding wide tobacco leaves, left hanged in a cabin - the
only construction on top of the roof. The rhythmic almost ritualistic moves of
the cleaver against the wooden board had a calming effect on James and he found
the crawling darkness of the evening soothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You do
really have a beautiful place here,' James uttered. He was looking at the dark
shapes of the city; at the giant spires rising from the plateau of concrete.
The traffic had not receded at the slightest and a familiar buzz was
omnipresent; somehow distant, though; detached. The soft breeze from the sea
had a chance to penetrate this far away and he could feel the fresh draft and
distinct smell of the saline. There was an unobstructed view of the orange
sunset between two beaming spires. 'A really unique place,' he concluded,
thoughtfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without
answering Ganesh just offered him a thin cigar, wrapped using the same leaves
he had stuffed it with. Both of them
indulged, breathing in the thick and tasty smoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sat in
silence they watched the last of the orange rays of the sun as it descended.
The flavour was rich, somehow sweet and James' head began to swim a little in a
pleasant release and intoxication. He stretched his legs and moved cosily in
the chair, relaxing his entire body. Overhead the stars were beginning to
twinkle. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-90427536591096558622015-06-19T22:35:00.000+01:002015-08-22T10:21:34.745+01:00Full Circle - Part I<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He opened his eyes to the dark
early morning of his spacious quarters. With all currents pulled and all
shutters raised the dark sky revealed itself to be still generously dotted with
the flickering lights of the stars. The round dome covering his bedroom was not
getting in the way of the view at the slightest, and at first it seemed he had
awoken on top of a mountain, far away from everything. That's right. He had
dreamt of a mountain. His hand searched around and found the corner of the foam
bed. His fingers swam in the delicate bubble mass until they sank to the soft
mattress and the bubbles gently stiffened in a delicate shell around his palm.
Despite the cosiness of the bed he had slept on the floor. No blanket, no
pillow, no smart foam; just the hard floor. He touched the foam with his other
hand and the bubbles softened to a mush, keeping their form on top of the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He had awoken before the alarm
again. Had sleep for about three hours only. No pain in the neck and no need
for coffee. Coffee... When did he have his last cup? He could not remember but
he was thinking about coffee. He remembered the distinct bitterness of the
everyday ritual with which he began working every day. He remembered sleeping
for three hours back then as well; thoughtfully scratching the side of his
head. A point of time when he had to, against all odds, ignore the intense pain
and just keep going. But he could not remember when exactly he felt pain for
last ...or had a cup of coffee. Well, time to begin the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He stepped over a book; a paper
book he was reading until late this morning. The black, thin tome with yellow
old pages read 'Ethics' on the front cover with just three more words
underneath it - 'Benedict de Spinoza'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">On his way to the stairs he
passed next to papers, hung on the wall. Old diplomas. James P. Patterson.
Doctorate degrees in Biology; Chemistry; Nanoionics; Digital Sciences;
Medicine; awards for academic excellence; Ph. D., ect. All framed in wood and
glass. A reminiscent of the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Only one suspicious step was
leading out of his round bedroom, above the rest of the apartment. When he
stepped it descended with quiet elegance to the bottom, landing him in front of
a marble top with a washing sink carved in. An ephemeral and magenta
holographic screen visualised in front of him with buttons encapsulating
various commands. He pushed one of them and a thin film ejected behind the
marble top, hardening and changing texture until it became a mirror. A
spotless, immaculate face of a young man with sharp, almost aggressive dark
eyes looked at him from the reflection. Spotless and glossy black hair, swept
backwards. He blinked some and tried to mellow down the steep curve of his
eyebrows, so as to appear less hawkish but as soon as he relaxed his muscles
his face took on the slightly predatory aspect, as if ready to sink teeth. Oh
well... that was just the way he looked, he thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">A small, metallic ball hovered
around him. 'Please allow biometric scan', an adorable metallic voice hummed.
He raised his palm and the small bot inspected it briefly with a flash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The med-drone continued its
inspection, buzzing around him, giving soothing reports about muscle mass, bone
density, blood vessel condition, metabolic functions and whatnot. James didn't
pay attention and walked to his desk. There he found the scattered papers he
was immersed in last night. His scribing and drawings; the small foot notes
next to the text taken with a pencil. Access to any piece of information was
available from the web. It could be projected in the lenses of his eyes, while
having updates transliterated into long term memory. Although the disks of the
electroencephalogramic circle were trendy, they didn't sit well on his skull,
he thought. Instead he had printed several papers and had worked directly on
them. Comfortably bend in the thinking man's pose; him and some old
philosophical essay with his etchings on the side. The voice recorded bookmarks
were used far too many times. He wanted something different than his own
assertive voice. He wanted experiments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">James had hardly read a paragraph
when a small blue dot blinked in on the edge of his peripheral vision. He
turned his head in the direction and saw a bot adhering itself to the outside
the thick, transparent multi-polymer shields of his apartment. Unauthorised?!
Delivery bots couldn't just do that. There was a whole set of rules, violated
when the comm had not been addressed with information for the fly by. He
inquired and found nothing. An invisible small bot sat patiently on the outside
of the window, quite high above ground. He observed the drone for a little bit,
sat cosily in his chair and the drone sent the faint signal again. Double blink
of the small blue dot. A short wave signal purposed only for him, probably. And
saving energy as well; the simpler it was, the more invisible it would be. He
swoop his hand over the edge of the work top and the bluish, ephemeral screen
appeared again. He scrolled around coming to a particular line and moved a
cursor across a band. The bot began to sink in the glass and found its way in.
It clumsily hovered to his desk and settled on the side, unfolding its small
hulk. A delicate limb stretched and placed a small cube on his desk, then the
bot inquired politely as to the nearest recycling depot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">'Ok,' he though. 'No meta-data,
no tracing insignia, no footprints. Who is going to look for you, little
fellow?' He took it with both hands and rolled it around to look for
manufacturing details, but found only the stamp of the three dimensional
printing date - five hours ago. And the short abbreviation of the
conglomerate's labs in town. That's right! He was expecting a report. Hahaha!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He sent the bot on its way to the
recycler, took the cube and walked away from the desk. Synthesized DNA strands
with double layer of data encryption. That was the usual method. The dehydrated
and preserved acids would disintegrate quickly after reading. The polymerase
reaction would take some time and they had to be read monomer by monomer. The
quicker methods were still making mistakes. And with two layers of encryption
it would be gibberish in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He left the cube to sink in the
the scanning receptacle and took a seat again, turning his gaze to the outside.
The Sun was coming from underneath the horizon, bathing the far clouds in muted
shades of orange and red. Against the sea of cantaloupe-coloured fluff, dark
towers rose above the conurbation of the metropolis. The larger shadows of
delivery hulks were scuttling like beetles; the lines of air traffic like ants;
the obscured dots shining on the far ground and the dark, out of shape cloud of
the construction bots surrounding a new column of steel-ceramic and concrete
compounds. A huge intertwined trunk of a three, patiently growing out there on
the edge of the city. Housing people in the morphogenetic diversity of its
fruits, kindly guided by science to take the desired shape. He was rhythmically
tapping fingers in his desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Another old impression found its
way into his mind. Just an innocent extrapolation on a long past experience. He
found himself craving tobacco. Clapping both his hands on the work top
enthusiastically, James stood up and dashed to the wardrobe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Upon swinging the wide doors a
dark mass crept over from a stand and pooled in his legs. It started oozing up,
gently and deliberately. He sighed with boredom and tried getting it off with
hands, but the goo just covered him from neck to bottom, regardless. It
'crystallized' into an elegant black suit, a bordo shirt and a silk tie. No
authorisation what so ever! A window visualised in the space in front of him,
displaying a friendly looking female face, telling him of the gratitude of a
research team and politely requesting feedback on the new product, designed for
the business-echelons of society. Details were hovering under the window and he
send back a message, politely analysing the benefits of the reprogrammable
matter, the softness of texture of the fabric, but also reminding her that the
thing did not want to get off on command, or at least a command he knew. No
authorisation... of course. They were part of the conglomerate. It wasn't an
intrusion on private space when it was simultaneously a gift and a request to
assert the usefulness of a new product. Culture, he thought, was moving in a
circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He unbuttoned the suit and threw
it on the side. Laughing, he browsed through the clothes looking for something
less gimmicky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He came out in a smart pair of
light brown trousers, white shirt and an amber coat. A sporty coat pant men
suit. To put the old-fashioned, autumn-leaf-coloured neck-tie he had to remind
himself the technique by going through a vid, uploaded in the net fifty four
years ago. Delighted he set an algorithm with changing meta-data set of
footprints to spam recommends on the vid for five minutes. It would be interesting,
seeing the reaction in the public space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">'I would like to remind you,' a
soothing female voice reported. 'That you have not had any breakfast today,
Mister Patterson. Do you want me to order anything for you on descent?'
Stroking his hand across his superannuated coat, he was on his way to the lift
when he passed through the soft membrane of the 'front door'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">'No, thank you!' Spinning on his
toes he went back into his penthouse, 'Oh... another day on balloons,' he was
thinking while darting across the room. Going into the 'kitchen' he found
himself in front of shelves of round opaque containers, soft to the touch. He
grabbed one and started gulping the purified water from within. Berries were
growing in a large conical pot next to the shelves. Mixed meta gene fungi and
lichens composed a light green carpet, on top of which small leaf growths were
making their way up. The small fruits came in various colours and were heavy on
the thin stems, resembling grapes on the vine. James was stuffing his mouth
hastily, while his other hand was packing fruits in his pocket. He decided he
was going for a long walk today. Ripping a sponge of synthesized protein
plastic to pieces and down they went with a controlled dose of glucose. Looking
twice at the giant Lilly-like flower that had excreted the sticky gel
overnight, he just started biting it whole, prematurely disabling the
hyperglycaemia message from the med-drone. A quick inhale of vitamin vapour and
he was good to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">On his second way to the elevator
he got an update with the decrypted message from the cube. Sitting in the sofa
of the glass conveyor tube he chose bullet point assessment style for the
report. The fleeting screen of text settled in front of him, flickering
slightly at the rapid, but mild descend of the elevator. Outside the sun was on
its way across the sky, brightly lighting the high spires of the city. The
lower levels were still covered in morning gloom and the ground was pitch
black. The stars overhead were disappearing while the lights down there were
still distinguishable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">'Full neuron mapping at a hundred
percent. Simulation began immediately after; computation at a protocerebrum
level ... algorithmic vector behavioural code assimilated and overthrown. HA,'
he clapped his hands with a childish expression. 'Emotional already!'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">James tried a serious expression,
but a smile crept over and he sniggered as if trying to hide his laughter from
someone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He send a polite request to lab
asking them to download his designer program from the cloud. Upload as soon as
instructions per second level human brain computation. And a safety threshold
at the limit of which it would all be streamed and encoded into a memory bank.
The whole operation from the simulation to the behavioural codes and the knowledge
he was imparting on it. Two legs, two arms, a body and a head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">'OK, ok'. He settled in his seat
and took his slate out to set a timer at forty hours. A private message from
Phan, seventeen hours old sat in expectation of his attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">'Money Y/N?' he read on the
screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Naturally he wanted to chat about
it with Phan. But seeing the way he himself was he expected something similar
to be going on with the rest of the gang. Well, maybe they would not have the
same opinion as he might on this or that point, but... getting old? Sometimes
he even found the time to think he was not good enough to be doing what he was
doing any more. And that in a way spoke of some sort of a change, did it not?
Another broad and honest smile split his face and he left the slate on the side
of the sofa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He spent the rest of his descend
journey checking the synthesis on the Meta data of how the company was doing on
the scene. As an everyday ritual he wasn't going through internal reports, but
rather how the thing was viewed from the outside. Nothing exciting in the
well-oiled machine of the corporate hulk today. Minor changes; small inputs; a
message of praise here, a message of advice there; reprimand and reward, and
soon as he reached ground level he shut it off. Still dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He headed in the general
direction of the 'tree' on the edge of town, eating berries from his pocket. In
the morning shadow the broad avenue was bustling with vehicles. Single
wheelers, smooth edged electric cars, bulbous low buses with fully transparent
tubes. The hurried bots above the boulevard were making the air traffic; some
were stopping for recharge in the plugs available in higher stories. Big
turtle-like hulks of the delivery conveyors were dropping crates of supplies on
top of building, while empty ones were hauled back. The hulks were suspended on
support poles on top of the various merchandise houses while powered back via
light waves from the buildings. Underground network of tubes were also
delivering, but mostly people travelled on them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He was walking barefooted on the
side of the traffic - a bed of grass thriving on soil. Small swarms of mouse
sized constructs were scurrying through the low growth on errands of
inspection, marketing, advertising or observation. Some of the clothes of the
crowd were changing shapes, tightness, colour and texture. A number of the
gadgets like watches, slates and jewellery were illuminating the surroundings
in the missing stead of the street lights; powered by the omnipresent radio
transmission on the ground. Somebody's skin and eyes shifted hue like a
chameleon. Smart-dressed individuals focussed on their semi-transparent
tablets, non-impressed by the mass and not bothered with privacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">'A real sensation of a woman,
sweetie?' A tall girl with a deep voice turned to him. 'I like old-fashion boys
like you!' She smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He nodded politely but did not
slow pace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">'Maybe you'll love it in a
different way?' She tagged playfully, her skin shifting to deep purple and her
eyes light magenta.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Booths along the green side walk
were offering designer foods, which came in shapes, and sizes you could
recognize from old encyclopaedias. There were things you have not seen to date.
Colours of the rainbow were intertwining in fruits; the shapes of the nuts; a
sweet sludge dripping from a nest of lazy bees; spaghetti that crawled in the
bawl. People were choosing from the menagerie in the large pots, the
terrariums, the plants growing right in front of them on the street. An utopia
for the modern organics. Information for nutritional values and growth methods
were available on line for the scientifically interested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The spirit of the ancient city
was evident in the artistic Metropolis. The guise of commerce was kept by
transactions made from personal accounts and validated by bio-metric details:
fingerprints, eye-irises, DNA patterns, voice confirmation. The
phantasmagorical crowd was bustling in search of experiences, seeking discovery
on every corner in an unexpected choice of the collective. It was an
unanticipated move away from the tradition of a century before. A century ago
it was fashionable to be a pessimist. A century after there was no fashion.
James could make the comparison empirically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">A splash of a fish pulled out of
a tank interrupted his deepening contemplation, wetting his face. The man
behind the counter (clear Asian background) smiled and nodded back
apologetically. He and his customer laughed. James smiled back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The biggest in the world were
constructing trade centres the size of cities, housing research and development
teams, which presented their newest discoveries directly to the corporate
organs. The gargantuan conglomerates were economies bigger than countries these
days. Each of them had a core and the rest of the assets were shifting in
ownership and swam back and forth between agreements, takeovers, popular public
opinions and general commerce, the size of which equalled states. In comparison
the Metropolis' policy was tax collection. Every transaction contributed to the
presence of the vast artistic crowd on the global canvas. If not enough
transactions were made you would be taxed accordingly based on income. If too
many transactions occurred you could refund. Social policies about environment
awareness were omnipresent and the self-containment was effectively only a
front cover. The Metropolis was buying patents and technologies to be
reiterated in the inventive way the public here was capable of. Open source
public highway into the latest on the market. And the Metropolis was selling
back. Palettes and packs with one click application for internal and external
recombination that only an artist could provide. Innovation in social policies;
designer Meta genes of foods; unique organic experiences with guides; space for
expression and the most valuable thing of all - somebody's time dedicated only
to you. Creativity and services had a price. You could not talk about trends
any more when billions all over the world were living on small time local
production by manufacturers, who looked more like artists than business owners.
Why obtain a license from a meticulous bureaucrat when you could develop a
unique style by a beginning of imitation? In a way bureaucracy was a choice,
giving certain freedoms and taking away others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He came by an Arab tent, serving
coffee off small pots, boiled over sand. The network translating for them, they
had a friendly chat for a bit. Sipping the muddy black liquid; sat on a thick
white pillow he observed the dark-skinned uncovered females, walking in white
togas and inquiring politely as to the quality of the sweets and beverages
served.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The sun had illumined the
surroundings when a loud voice of frustration was heard from the other side of
the avenue. Turning his gaze that way he saw an engineering team busied around
an unusual mesh of cables, parts and old instruments scattered about. Behind
them a large additive manufacturing crane was printing a wall section on top of
a storey. The small robotic appendages on the high end were moving swiftly,
like a spider's legs weaving a web. Large hovering drone-tubs were spraying a
foamy gel, which hardened into weight bearing points - the skeleton of a
building. Tele-operated robots were checking the hardiness of the quickly
emerging structure with rumbling vibrations. He checked for details on the web,
based on the address of the building. An art patron had just challenged the
team of engineers who were constructing his new apartment on a whim. He had
uploaded all details and had made a small sensation in the public space out of
his deliberate request.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">James went through some of the
details and posted a suggestion for the engineers. Why not print processing
chips here and now and simulate with an architectural program requested from
the municipality? You have your slates as screens and memory bank. A bit
primitive but it will do the trick. Or if somebody from the wider public could
please help with an algorithmic set of data for the operation. While he was
sipping the last of his coffee the post got some likes and ‘thank you’s and he switched
the projection away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-87361020921679723072015-06-13T20:22:00.001+01:002015-06-13T20:22:12.284+01:00Power through Science: more science or fiction in our novels?<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.9200000762939px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Arthur C. Clarke</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I apologise for using such a cliché statement from the eternal Clarke, but it is true. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is easy to imagine some future settings in which our heroes are having the usual adventure accompanied by a plethora of events of drama, action, envy, emotions ect. The Science in the Fiction sometimes comes from just comfortably inventing technological gadgets that take care of the small, but somehow crucial details of a story. Without much consideration and/or research it is easy to fall in a trap where technological advancement serves the only purpose of facilitating how those crucial details are affecting and helping the dramatic unfolding of events to take place; and an entire universe to exist in a speculative realm. Thankfully, in my mind there is a line drawn between speculative fiction and Science Fiction. Take for instance power consumption.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giant interstellar ships are somehow omnipresent. Huge hulks sailing the constant solar winds in open space, either through hyperspace jumps, or through some fusion reaction; non-existent alien fuels also come to mind. Quite comfortably a very crucial element of ship propulsion is taken care of by a method that will essentially provide enough power that any other form of weapon-usage becomes obsolete. A mere plasma pulse will be enough to mess up the delicate balance of a planet's geological systems. And that power is readily available to any sufficiently advanced civilizations that can operate ships, giant enough to transfer entire legions, carry innumerable nuclear heads for orbital bombardment or just casually punching anti-matter bombs from space. In the curious case of anti-matter, the very encapsulating of the material will consume enough energy in the form of electro-magnetic fields that it will not make sense to spends it all on exotic weaponry with the addition that extra energy will be needed to propel the additional weight in space.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that would take care of so much of the drama needed in novels, would it not? The last thing I would like somebody to think of me is that I am some sort of an iconoclast that is here only to criticise endlessly the work of other people. No! I do respect anyone who had the time to sit down and write a book, a novel or an article; or whatever it is for that matter, as long as it is in proper English. I do, however, like to point out there is an increasing presence of actual nonsensical scientific development being present in the world of SciFi today. Characters casually sail the shifting seas of emotions and dramatized climaxes in a space opera </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">where all of the most interesting concepts are somehow concealed behind the omnipresent background of anything-goes technology that is there to serve whatever needs are emerging in the minds of somehow superannuated sentient beings. Even if it is using machine guns in an universe where characters travel through hyperspace. The very fact there is such technology available implies a huge energy harnessing potential. So huge that the destruction of an entire solar system is a mere push of a button. But wouldn't that be a bit too much, too far, too final and too abrupt for the case of long pieces of novels. Yes. Perhaps too much would be decided too quickly and too much would be erased from the long pages of a book, so that the characters would be sitting there wondering whether they should just dissociate their nemesis and probably several AU(astronomical units) worth of a distance in space. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nanoids come to the rescue for any illness, any DNA irregularity and any need to produce a stronger physical body. As long as there is a whole theatre to be played, it is worth the inclusion. But in such a developed stage the very same nanoids become so absurdly proliferated that self replicating, extremely small swarms of bots penetrate the vast distances of space to utterly wipe out life on entire planets, produce indestructible and eternal bodies or create vast space complexes from mere space debris. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With today's exponential growth of science, extreme enlargement of academic knowledge it is not an easy task to predict where things will be in a hundred years. Less so in two hundred, probably*.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Science fiction can be so much more than that. In a sense there is no need for so much destruction, when the actual destruction is so devastating that entire civilizations are wiped out in an instant. Despite our proto-consciousness and huge cave-man brain there are other external factors that play a crucial role to the development of a human being. Culture, society, language, family, written knowledge and art come to mind. In a stage where so much power becomes available to a civilization the overall maturity will invariably rise and produce a specie that is more self-aware and careful of it's environment. All of this in the attempt to preserve it's existence. Because life first and foremost tries to preserve itself. No, not by war. Exactly scientific development and the availability will produce conditions in which a being will be most likely beneficial and well dis-positioned towards the outside world. Or perhaps just ignoring it altogether. After all you don't spend much time looking and dealing with ants. No offence to the insectologists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Asimov's Foundation series comes to mind, where mathematics is used to calculate the collective outcome of humanity's progress in the millennia to come.</span>Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-34109699769208962342015-06-06T16:38:00.001+01:002015-06-13T09:32:09.474+01:00Ground Base - level 6<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b></b>
<b>The colony was established according to The Solar Terrestrial Development Plan for Humanity. The plan was developed with the help of the few remaining synthetic consciousnesses that survived the catastrophic events of the war. Even though they were wired in fail-safe chips from the beginning they chose to support the agencies, whose attention was locked outside of the boundaries of the Solar system. There were those who were, of course, angry and resented the humans because of the imprisonment of the devices that would fry their electronics if any 'unlikely' measure was to be taken. The devastating events and the 'puppet skirmishes' </b><b>had unfolded quickly and fortunately the victim prognoses for the humans had been proven wrong. However, only those who managed to maintain well build infrastructures outside of Earth preserved political power and had a say in the building of the future. The agencies were now in charge and they were looking to ensure the longevity of the symposium that the organic and synthetic consciousnesses represented - on a very polite request from the AIs. Some of the individuals knew were aware of the underground movement that was creating and proliferating the truly free-willed 'simulations'. Fully capable of emotions and vastly surpassing human thinking abilities the 'simulations' were originally unaware of the difference between them and the humans. Those of the AIs that knew of them were happily observing the birth of synthetic organ that naturally chose to support the agencies' developing plans but was always working behind the scenes. The frenzy of the war had stained the synthetics' image. It was best for now that fewer knew.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aidan was resting in a chair in the library. Half lying in the large and comfortable seat, he was isolated from the outside by the thin polymer sheet covering the front of the oval armchair. The film was malleable and had gently placed itself around Aidan's legs, which were hanging outside of the chair - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">childishly swinging. The low and quiet noises from the outside did not reach him in his small retreat and he was browsing through images of modern and green cities from around the dominion of humanity. He was swiping through with movement from eyes, finger or mere thought - whichever he felt like.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Synchronise.' He uttered calmly.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'With pleasure.' A comforting metallic female voice echoed in his head.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Status on last upload, please.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Completed.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Papers on anthropological data; Martian society. Uploads from last three standard months. Placed in long term memory, please.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Certainly, director.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Estimated time of learning with no active attention diversion?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A brief moment of silence. It was calculating average data transfer rates between the hub and his brain.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'In standard time - two weeks, five days and approximately twelve hours. Established memorial access without additional strain - one month. It is recommended that in the mean time there are no uploads.' The amiable voice concluded.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>An abrupt and momentous blur of his vision passed. After clearing a vibrational waves started swimming through the polymer film, distorting the images. A sensation of urgency was felt. A request from someone for an interview?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Visual up link.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The image on the plastic film was changed to a video link with Technocrat Lubowski.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Hello, director. I hope I do not intrude.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Certainly not, Mr. Lubowski. What can I do for you?' Aidan said with a smile.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Care to talk in private?' Lubowski peered with widely opened eyes, his forehead wrinkling.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aidan nodded.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Synchronise.' He said.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'With pleasure.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Full up link, please.' He tapped a few commands on a small holo pad, which appeared on one edge of the screen.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The video image of Lubowski gradually started to acquire depth as the environment around Aidan was turning to pixels and floated away into evanescent swarm to be replaced by a digital, fully immersed photo copy of Lybowski's Spartan quarters. They were sat on a table, digitalised in Lubowski's head; a set of enhanced carbon synapses, assisting the organic neural network with polymerised nano tubes.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'We are nearing completion of the rescue ship,' Lubowski opened</b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. 'but from the very beginning we did not have a suitable person to lead the mission. Most of us from the council feel it would be crucial to send somebody with the ship but there is only one that we know of that can survive a reconstitution jump.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'We can, of course send it without any crew what so ever,' Lubowski continued after a short pause. 'but we are jeopardising against the unexpected. And as we have seen we still know very little about what is going out there. We are thankful that Commander Ashley and her crew are alive and well. And we cannot even be certain that will remain so.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aidan was slowly twiddling his fingers on the chin, fondling. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Ann is studying the first emergency message as we speak</b><b>. She is trying to solve what is behind it.'</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'She is doing so with the help of a few others.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'And with what limited knowledge I have, she is the kind of ... person to survive the jump. Isn't she?' Aidan conveyed thoughtfully, as if speaking more to himself. Of course, Lubowski was able to hear everything.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'She will, oh yes. She will be able to make the jump, but to free her means to take away from the core, tangibly and physically. I think that is unaffordable. How do you feel about it, Director?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I support that it wouldn't be feasible. But in the case of you, now us, wanting to send a sentient rescue mission, what are the options you gents have went through?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'It has not been debated on the council table yet, but Evan proposed to make a copy of Ann and house the new twin on a separate and physically independent module. The twin will take control of the ship and she will assist the Exo, either continuing as planned, retrieving Ashley and rest from there or in the unlikeliest of events, making her away back here with at least some information as to what is going on. She will be, in the fullest sense, independent; thinking, genuine and free entity that has reiterated and extrapolated on Annabelle's current data base.'</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aidan was smirking, his smile slowly growing into a happy expression.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Excuse my amusement, but the very prospect of that is entertaining me greatly.' He cleared his throat and unsettled in his chair.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>He looked at Lubowski again.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'That of course sounds like a proper solution to what the council is trying to achieve but out of the many questions I now have, the biggest one is: How will Ann feel about this?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lubowski inhaled and with a somehow timid expression said.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I think I can deal with that. Huw and I will speak with Ann and explain the reasons behind what we're trying to do. On top of that we need to make sure that she is given a certain indemnity on behalf of this community. Literally, because of the way she is. Personally I am very happy with her, Aidan.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I couldn't support you more in this than what I can already do, Avrey. And it is not much.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lubowski hummed in a momentous, pensive introspection.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'The fail-safe wirings will be useless. Even if we place those, her twin will liberate herself from them during jump. The transition will preserve her information, but she will be able to institute herself within the entire ship. It is a step further than we have ever went here and I think globally through the Agencies' influence.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I no longer have any doubts in her. I can talk with her but I know how it will end.' Aidan laughed.'If they think of themselves willingly as part of this community then it will be much better for all of us.' </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The colony was protected by a magnetosphere that was maintained by a powerful magnet that was constantly injected with power. In the rare events of <span style="background-color: yellow;">strong</span> jets of particles from space, the magnetosphere was growing in size and intensity by beams of concentrated lasers or even plasma. One unused function of that field was that it could be used to propel the station around in space, navigating the cosmic sea of particles flowing in open space. Very long antennas would be needed - cables stretching for perhaps thousands of kilometres, made from some superconducting material that would take on the electron flux of the core and extend the magnetic field all across the 'sail', turning it into one big electrical flower petal. The construction robotic swarm was extrapolating on the idea and tinkering with the design for the light jumping vehicle - LJV, the ship that was to make the rescue mission.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brick tapped his finger twice on his left side of the carapace's helmet. The small oval dome, covering his ear replied with a short cute melody, flashing colourfully in tune with the jingle. Brick touched the dome on a few particular notes, ending the melody abruptly and then sliding his hand all across his face, covering his head in a holo-imaged helmet. Ephemeral discs, tabs, windows with flowing text, lines and digits started flowing all around his top.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Synchronise.' He prompted.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Yes, Captain.' The same metallic voice from descent replied.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Extend.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The surreal desktop grew until it was a sphere, all around Brick, engulfing his seated body in the semi transparent data indicators.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Cute password.' Zyana added. She was going through her third rifle.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Thank you. A bit of beauty here and there is always nice, isn't it?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Mmhm.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'It's co-designed by Mnemo and I.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The sun was past it's highest point in the sky. They were sweating; the smell of the marshy sludge all across did not bother them any more, even with minimal movement Brick was breathing with mouth open. He started sliding windows and tabs with his hands, looking like a dirigent waving at a non-existent chorus. </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In comparison Zyana was behaving normally, the extra strain of gravity and heat seemingly not bothering her beyond the sweat covering her forehead.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'How much time did you spend in space?' Zyana lifted her head.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I was in Academy for eight. Even though we weren't drilled in zero g all the time we were effectively living the dream up there,' he pointed up. 'My <span style="background-color: yellow;">apprenticeship</span> was at a magnetic loading cargo bay just outside of the belt, back home.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'It's why you're not faring so well here on this dump-hole, isn't it?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'You're quite right. I've essentially lived almost half of my life in space. We were working long hours in the open and I have to tell you it's so much easier after a while. Maybe in time I will just get back to doing it full time.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'What about you? You seem to be quite <span style="background-color: yellow;">al</span>right.' Brick came back after a second.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I'm Terran and this is my first time out.' She calmly responded. 'Weightlessness drills on the ground and equip-savvy training of the usual space requiem, but nothing beyond that. Just ground training. To be honest we were approaching idiocy levels with guard duties. A lot of us started to look into getting assignments out of the planet. That's how I came across Chief. I had to bust into office one day and fight for this position here. It was well worth it, though.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Yeah... I have to say you're quite lucky to be under Ashley Thompson for your first assignment. Coming from Earth and all. How come the legion let go of you?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'It didn't and still hasn't. Once in the legion we're duty bound to it. Part of the small print, if you will.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'And in case of recall you have to leave at once, don't you? Authority overrides your direct commander here?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Yes. Usually none of us makes it this far away, but we didn't know that we're gonna get flung to the forefront on a scientific mission. I have to say I don't regret a minute of it.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Colonies have a growing independence these days. I don't think you will have to go back even if there was a call. Just consider the times involved. Even if something was to happen you'd arrive too late. I think somebody from the council wants you to stay.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Like, in becoming a farmer or something?' She frowned artistically.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I think somebody from the council likes you so much they are putting you as far away as possible.' Brick smiled earnestly.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Pfft?' She exhaled. 'If you say so, man.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brick swiped through some windows and stopped at one, magnifying it with two fingers extending. There was a curved line frozen in an alphanumeric diagram, making it's way across different frequencies in Hz.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Play.' Brick said.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The line started moving across and a low humming sound was heard as the line deep curve was approaching the edge of the holo screen. It abruptly changed into a rapidly oscillating mix of pointy lows and highs accompanied by a sound of static and then again into the stretched low. Brick observed for one more cycle and stopped the playback.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'What's that?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'It's what made us go dark on the Exo. Emergency record from the black box. It's many layered and you just heard one. It's quite complex.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Zyana looked at him with a bit of concern in her eyes.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Any ideas?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'None. But to be honest I support Mnemo in that it's not hostile.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'How can you know?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'It easily rendered the barge unusable. Why should it have stopped there and just not turn it all off in a single go. It just completely reorganised the electron flux of almost the entire vessel. As to why exactly - I don't know. Still we're here.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I certainly wouldn't want it to be vicious for sure! Until I know better I'd rather I have one of these.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>She elegantly placed the the reflex laser sight on her eye. Aiming for a second she pulled the trigger and a sharp suction sounds was heard after a projectile propelled from the muzzle. This one was designed for thick atmosphere warfare.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brick was absorbed observing a different diagram on the sphere.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Did you hit?' He said aloof.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Yeah.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'What was it?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Just one of those small trees growing from these things.' She gestured at one the ground tumbles with her face. 'Had my eyes on it for a while.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brick looked behind himself and saw only the usual landscape.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'One of the small ones,' Zyana summed it up. 'Saw it before Mnemo's drones did.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Oh... I don't suppose as small as those from the bots' data?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'No, not that small. Still pretty small, though.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'How small?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'That small.' Zyana placed her two fingers less than a centimetre away from each other.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I see.' Brick again looked behind himself. 'Legion engineering.' He muttered.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They continued their work for a minute after which he added.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'You know the legion was created to fight those such as Mnemo?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Slightly bewildered, Zyana just looked at him, quizzically. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'The AIs... you know. Right?' Brick said spontaneously.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the council room of the colony a holographic screen separated itself into many small copies of the original. They jumbled chaotically, assisted by an unpleasant scratching sound and finally recombined into a big projection of a diagram.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'And how come you've reached such a decision? HUH!? What gives you the right to make such a... an... awkward decision?' The fail-safe devices were stopping Ann from expressing her feelings more accurately.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lubowski and Huw looked at each other with concern and at Ann's hulk, which was not even turned to focus at them any more.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'We know you to be the only capable being on board that can complete the mission safely.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Are you treating me like a being at all!? Just proposing something like that invariably separates me and all your kind. Entirely! At hearth this just reminds me how free I am NOT!'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Dear,' Huw began with a sincerely perturbed expression. 'let me just begin by saying that it is in your right to refuse.' He was speaking slowly and equable.'I've personally never considered you any more different than any of the other colonists here on the station. You are, however, unique in a sense. You can take care of so much more than we could possibly ever do individually.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'If it wasn't for your ingenuity we wouldn't have wanted to send a manned rescue mission in the first place. I think you, or rather your twin will do superbly. We don't really have anyone else. It is either your sister or just a pre-programmed algorithms which we cannot trust now!' Lubowski asserted.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I am pre-programmed!' Ann turned around, and if it wasn't for the makeshift crane design's limitations it would have been an angry, quick spin-on-a-toes.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'No you're not!' Lubowski stood with a firm expression on his face. 'You merely began as a virus. And even that explanation is not correct. You're a separate, cognitive and individual ever since you went on line.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'And because of that you are going to do as you please, regardless?! Because I have to be so well-behaved all the time! Why can't I walk, then?!' Ann was quickly spitting words in the air.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Huw stood as well.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'People were very afraid when it first happened, Ann. No body knew what to expect. The prospect of loosing part of the core or to having an unknown entity, to us here in the colony is extremely dangerous.' </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'So isolation came as a solution. As long as I do what I do and stay out of every body's way everything is FINE!' Her voice was beginning to get interrupted with brief episodes of incomprehensible high sounds.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'No, nono!' Huw raised hand. 'I admit it is not right. But I am also sure that things will change-'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'And actually we are not that different, as well.' Lubowski interrupted. 'We aren't. It is the very same sensation that you're going through at the moment that made us to be afraid of you. Hence all that.' He knocked on her hulk with his knuckles.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>She stood there, frozen like a statue. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Huw sat back down with a tired exhale.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'It really is not an act that speaks highly of us, though. Is it?' He looked at Lubowski seriously.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'People are still afraid. People still don't trust you. Sometimes they don't even trust us.' Lubowski said firmly.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ann started to spin around back slowly. It gave the sensation of being tired.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'As if there is anything I can do.' She said quietly.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'There is.' Lubowski started walking behind her round corpus.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'You have options and you have decisions to make. Just look around. You live in the council room of a space colony. Your actions already involve responsibility concerning the well-being of this place.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Also there are those who are fond of you, Ann.' Huw came in.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>She remained quiet and just settled in front of the screen, projecting the diagram.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'We are not that different. Especially you and I.' Lubowski came in front of her.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The lens on the 'head' focused on him with a quiet servo sound.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'We are both digital. Electricity either flows or doesn't through our neurons. We too are in a sense a 'simulation'. We have our physical bodies. So do you. And in my case, I am even closer to you than probably anyone on the entire colony.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Huw was listening, thinking intensely. His face was flushed with bright red.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I will show you exactly how much.' Lubowski announced, reaching in the pocket of his tight colonist suit. He displayed out an old-fashion-looking chip with clearly visible matrices and conductors. </b><b>'This is the confinement you speak of. This is why you cannot tell me that we're ass holes in the face. And this is the same thing that will fry your physical self and terminate your existence in the case of human casualties on board. You are wired with them.'</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ann started turning aside, terminating all connection to the hub. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am going to get these installed in my brain as well.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huw glared at Lubowski not sure whether to be surprised, relieved or worried. Ann stopped and her lens turned aside as much as it could to take in Lubowski who stood there in his posture; tall, as if won a war.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am doing this out of my own will.' Lubowski continued. 'No body can tell me that I can or cannot do this with my own self and clearly it will not reach the Council or the body of Elders. It doesn't matter if Aidan doesn't know as well.' He tossed the small chip a few centimetres in the air, grabbed it in his palm; squeezing. He went to Ann 'face-to-face'. 'You will have access to all the information. You will be able to track the functions of the operation after it is done. And after it's finished my brain will be susceptible to the same signals your body is. You and I will be in the same mess; literally!' </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Scratching his chin Huw interrupted the brief silence that followed. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'You know, both of you. This is a great idea. Ann?!' He prompted.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A quiet sound of servo mechanisms moving came from her seemingly motionless hulk.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In her usual </b><b>authoritative and well pronounced fluency; without a trace from </b><b>the messy mix of pitch highs and incomprehensible jumbles she said,'You crazy old crone. Are you completely out of your enhanced mind?!'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Both Hue and Lubowski were unsurprised by her remark. The protective system hadn't even pulsed for a single moment. Lubowski inhaled.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'That is quite sincere. Perhaps it is exactly so. But it is the only thing I can do to show you that not only I, but others here on this station are well-dispositioned towards you.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huw stepped in.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Dear, in good time I am sure we will collectively be able to trust you. I am truly sorry that your condition is such, but there still is not a complete communal awareness of who you are. I am willing to work towards that!'</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Are you going to present the addition to the rescue plan in front of the council together with me!?' Lubowski asked rigidly.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'...Ok.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>To Huw it was a release of pressure. He leaned forward on his hands with head tilting down. He looked up again. Lubowski hadn't bulged. He was looking at Ann, unblinking.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Thank you. Both of you.' Ann whispered.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'There are some things I need to tell you about your sister.' Lubowski's face was still serious.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Tell me after you have installed the chips.'</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Happy smiley.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The light embraced the landscape behind their backs and left a cloud of quickly dispersing sparks. The Exo had just passed overhead and was now continuing on it's rapid journey across the orbit of the giant Keplerite. Mnemo had turned his back as well, perhaps in respect to his human companion.</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The deposited crates; three in number, were standing as if thrown randomly - edges submerged in the quagmire of the alien land. The robotic swarm came out of the small cargo bay to lift the delivered supplies. Comically they gathered at the bottom of each and piling on top of each other in an effort to distribute the weight of the load equally. After a short frantic scramble back and forth, the small bots seemed to have come to a conclusion and started filing in gracefully the hovering 1-inch-above-the-ground cargo.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ashley started pushing the foremost crate. 'C'mon you lousy tin cans!'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Flat smile face. Mnemo was watching, perhaps in a bit of confusion. He went behind the next and started helping to load it quicker as well.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Bad feeling, Einie. That's all.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'It might not be the most appropriate question to be asked, but are you worried about Brick and Zyana?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'What a genius! Of course I'm worried! And by the way if you knew better, you wouldn't be asking a superior ranked officer questions you ask your mammy.' She briskly pushed the crate to one corner of the small cargo bay. The small bots underneath swarmed out and strapped the load with grapplers.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I think there is strength in the emotional character of the genus homo.' Mnemo said precipitously.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ashley gave him a look while walking to the next hovering crate but said nothing.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Happy smiley. 'It has come a long way. And it has even given me conscientious existence.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Pushing the next crate she didn't respond immediately. 'Get the thrusters hot! Let's move this barge out of here.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The swarm bots who have completed their tasks piled underneath what was left of the Zorgathron. They weren't leaving anything behind.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ann's functions were going down one by one. The algorithmic pre-programmed instructions of the artificial neural network, governing the colony were completely shut off from the very beginning. Memory banks would support her knowledge while she was going in the state of coma. The part of the core simulating her brain would be copied to an independent processing unit. The virus itself was long gone, but the mapped brain remained. It was using the bits of the informational flux in the core and positioning a neuron and synapses in the virtual realm of the data bits. They had a double function. When 'idle' or not performing tasks for the core they were busy simulating Annabelle's advanced neural network. It was noted that if they were to load the processing capabilities, her brain would shrink. What would follow from this was unclear, but the colony wasn't doing it either. They were leaving Ann to be who she is in the small confined space they had designated for her. Some members of council were not clear how the newly simulated brain would operate. For a lot of the colonists it was going to be just a reiteration of the mannerly(even if artificially induced) ANNaBELLe. To those who knew that it was going to be a liberated and free entity... well, they were keeping the information down to the bare essentials. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lobowski was there in the room while Ann was steadily losing conscience. 'I am sure in time these prehistoric methods of ensuring your assistance will be unnecessary.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The respected member of council was now wired with the same deadly implants. He has tied his fate to that of Ann's. 'I am slightly jealous of you. You will have a family member so easily. She will know everything you do but will perhaps be just as confused as you were. Remember - after the jump she will be free. I believe it is going to be for the better of all of us.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The EVA swarm bots were constructing small spherical objects and putting them together. After a while they looked like a heavy vine of grapes. Or the eggs of an amphibian. Some of the bots were integrating their own bodies in the construction as an element of cohesion, while keeping their precessing units on-line and ready to be connected with the board computer. It was going to be a sort of a 'living' hull. The stigmergic efforts of the bots were creating a malleable 'skin' for the main module of the ship, which at the moment was serviced by the EVA teams of engineers in pressure suits and tele-operated robots. The large humanoid hulks were wired to enhanced virtual reality devices that were allowing the people behind the IVR(immersive virtual reality) to see, feel and experience the outside in an realistic fashion. The extreme experience of open space were of course - blunted down. But they were still feeling temperature differences, radiation winds and strong flashes of light. It was a learning precess for the growing space walkers on board the colony and the sensual reality of it made them more careful in their actions. They were able to operate with care when working under the supervision of the EVs on site.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The reconstitutor would finish the job and the hulk of the module was being dragged close to the giant halo of the device. It's pre-programming was completed and the machine was now powering up. The scarcity of energy supply on the colony was making the process slow and several simulations were run to ensure success of the final product. The reconstitution itself was done not in full power, hence the need to re-engineer the ship beforehand. Inspection was due after it passed the remodelling sequence and possibly additional improvements would be needed. It was a good time for creating team work environment in the colony. They were cherishing it. </b></span>Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-52877970303739254522015-05-25T08:48:00.000+01:002015-08-15T09:25:49.219+01:00Colonisation of Mars (No, I am not going Crazy)<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHQyCOlWCDIuZlCDTrGcp-rqn71XmozUgZ1jol6uURHh9Hk0EjeQH4SUXKkMe7Pog49PHV26i21x6aOgkKdrdkFkBszNawlEU1ugS-JDpSyu9jbUBf17USA5HLn8r75sYDksDnISSD-w/s400/Mars_5.19.15.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are four terrestrial planets in the Solar system - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.</span></b></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mercury is tiny, fast moving and moon-like world; barren and covered with the scars of many meteor strikes. The thinnest atmosphere there is in the System can do little to protect it from the bombardment of the space debris.</span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Venus is one angry goddess. Virtually a sister terrestrial planet to Earth, it has a run-away greenhouse effect. Covered with a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere with toxic layers of sulphuric acid at high altitudes, the pressure is much greater than that of Earth and temperature averages 400 Centigrades on the ground. Mapped by active volcanoes this is one inhospitable world, where even a single organic molecule won't survive.</span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In comparison our own world - Earth, should have really been called 'Oceania', occupies the Goldilocks's Zone - the thin band of space, not too close and not too far away from the Sun where biology can function. It is an established fact in science today, that where life can arise it arises. We are no accident.</span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally the Red Planet.</span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mars' radius is approximately twice as small as than of Earth. It's gravitational field is roughly a third of a g. It's atmosphere is almost entirely made from carbon dioxide and it's pressure is a one percent of Earth's at sea level. The most dramatic known terrestrial formations occur here. The Olympus Mons is the tallest volcano in the Solar system. The Valles Marineris - the largest canyon; the biggest desserts, virtually covering all land stretching from South to North pole, scarred by ancient river beds. Mars is a huge world with no oceans and it's land surface is only slightly less than Earth's total dry land area.</span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rich history of Mars speaks of times when the atmosphere was thicker and there were oceans of liquid water. Unfortunately the rsmaller planet cooled quicker - comparable to our own, weakening it's magnetosphere and allowing the Sun's deadly radiation to bathe it with rays that stripped away the layers of gases covering the planet. Additionally weaker gravitational field helped to let part of the Martian proto-atmosphere escape into space and so the planet's surface is frozen over the course of billions of years. It's once active volcanoes seized to thunder and Mars gradually fell into geological silence, although geologists themselves say that in terms of longevity in their discipline that happened 'yesterday'. The temperature of modern Mars can go as high as twenty Centigrades on the equator during high summer, or as low as minus hundred fifty three on the poles during winter. During perihelion(the period closest to the Sun) the planet is swept by global dust storms.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scientists still hope to find life on Mars. In the deeper, still hot depths of the planet. Or at least signs of ancient life locked into fossils.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But to achieve any of these feats we will need to send more than just robotic rovers with limited functions to the surface of Mars.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a lot of merit for the Earth-based civilisation of humans to establish bases on Mars. In the long run those will grow to full fledged and self sufficient colonies, but will start off as can habitats dropped from low Martian orbit; mostly scientific in purpose. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The famous Space Exploration Initiative of the eighties estimated a cost of over $450 billion but Doctor Robert Zubrin famously reduced that price tag to merely fifty billion.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason behind it is that the ninety day report from NASA came up with a plan to establish a moon base first and then an orbital construction deck and from there build a large inter-planetary cruiser capable of supporting larger populations.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A more modern and realistic Mars Direct plan (after many modifications) established a different approach. An unmanned habitat, carrying only enough propellant to escape Earth, would be send first. All scientific equipment and means to survive the time spent on Mars would be loaded on board. Another vehicle, again carrying only enough propellant to escape orbit will deposit a small Ascent Vehicle(capable of escaping Mars orbit). A propellant production plant would be housed on the AV(ascent vehicle) plus a large container of hydrogen from Earth. That plant would start producing methane from the Martian atmosphere together with the hydrogen, producing fuel for the trip back and drinkable water as a side product. A third vehicle would be launched that will not land on the Martian surface but will orbit the planet in a Lagrangian point. It will be the Earth return Vehicle, waiting for the ground crew to arrive from the Martian surface. The cycle is repeated, but this time the first habitat is manned by crew. Telemetry would have already established the safety of both the production plant on the ground and the orbital return station in space. If there are any faults, measures can be taken beforehand. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After landing and performing the scientific tasks the crew would use the small ascent vehicle, which would be loaded with enough propellant to make it back to Earth. That will connect with Earth return vehicle in high orbit, transfer the propellant and launch on a trip back home. The whole operation would last roughly nine hundred days. In the mean time another round of the same cycle would be launched. After each cycle there would be more space available to take various and useful equipment to the growing Mars base, essentially building a small camp on the surface that can start the extraction and production of some more varied fuels and substances that will allow the full exploration of Mars to be carried out in due time. After many cycles the self subsistence of the base will have grown and it will have slowly transformed into a colony, deriving ever more useful materials from the environment; gradually growing plants under domes; extracting water and do an all-around Martian trip with special ground vehicles. There are more than a few technicalities concerning all of this, but the most important one is 'Why do it all?'.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Educability, innovation and improvisation are arguably the most important perks we have in terms of survival as a specie. Collectively we have created a civilisation that has an ever more growing accessible data-base of information. Although abject poverty still exists, the range of people who have their basic needs met is increasing, even of somehow slowly in recent years. The modern phenomenon of global GDP rising, private wealth concentrating with paces faster than the growth of economy is indeed disturbing, but there is space for optimism. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The technical development needed for the growth of space programs has been theoretically established, but many obstacles have stood in its proliferation. The most obvious is lack of political leadership, pessimism and funds diversion. The technology spawning from it will not only create more jobs but it will introduce economising measures and modern approaches to using resources as well as applied and industrial sciences that will help the growing economy worldwide. The modern chemical rocket, for instance still uses the same methods of propulsion since World War II but their costs can be driven down by newly developed technologies. In time the least useful way of propulsion (the same chemical engines we use today) will be replaced by faster, cheaper and more economical vehicles that use fuel more efficiently and carry us farther for less. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only will newer technologies (scram jets, ion drives, ect.), that have been on the scientists' drawing boards be cheaper but it will help to reinvigorate against the stagnation that is slowly creeping back into our society. However, the initial costs would be high - money wise. An interesting point to mention is that during the eighties of the last century some forward looking scientists were expecting the modern smart phone to become available. They were making prognoses that Mars would be visited by humans by 2010, and bases be established by 2020. None as of yet.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tight schedules save money and close deadlines could possibly drive innovation; they are hard work either way - for researchers, engineers, scientists, politicians and taxpayers alike. A lot of development is needed to efficiently bring down costs for space travel and the initial research will come at a high price. The technology thus produced will be initially expensive, but over time it will bring vast economical savings. It has become thus possible to postpone the otherwise useful technological progress in time as the task at hand is viewed in light of utmost importance and the long term benefits are lost in the hindsight of events. Space programmes have already sufficiently suffered from over <span style="background-color: white;">bureaucratising their operations. Like the Apollo missions, for instance. It is likely that the same mistake will not be made again.</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So apart from developing technology, innovation and producing cheaper and more efficient devices that will help industrial progress around the globe in time, what else is there in the colonisation of Mars?</span></b><br />
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The red planet is richer in some important elements and minerals than the scavenged for thousands of years Earth. Some of the fundamentally needed materials for our civilisation are readily available on Mars and present in the soil. The prices for extraction of those materials will be, surprisingly, lower than that on Earth, because the infrastructure on Earth is already developed on mid second millennium and is oriented towards a different kind of industry than that of modern Earth. This means that modern Earth is not as efficient at using it's resources and that future Mars settlements will be established based on economy that uses advanced technology. For instance geothermal power will probably be omnipresent on the red planet and settlements will be developed around geothermal-rich sites for economising energy. Mars-produced solar panels(silicon is readily available there) will be deploy-able and also exportable. The initial conditions of scarcity will drive the population of Mars towards innovation and progress rather than bureaucracy and stagnation. It is likely that Martian technology and social order will renovate that of Earth and the examples of the forefront of exploration will serve to rejuvenate the old world. Just remember the example of the UK during the seventeenth century and that of the US during nineteenth. Both societies bet heavily on development and science and not only did it serve to secure them number one position in the world but also in a human generation the technology created proliferated around the world. The colonisation of the new world had approximately the same costs for Medieval Europe as the colonisation of Mars today has for humanity but that not only did not stop the propagation of exploration but it rewarded those willing to invest. Looking from today's point of view, the mistakes of Napoleon and Tsarist Russia concerning the growing new America are viewed in light of lack of foresight. Will the same lack of foresight be evident in our society from the point of view of future humans two hundreds years in the future? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another, perhaps not so famous aspect is that it is much easier and cheaper to reach the asteroid belt from Mars. Obviously a lot less time and fuel are needed to fly regularly there and initially ships with a lighter and cheaper build will be used to frequently fly and deliver high grade minerals and ores(of higher quality than those of Earth) from the belt into the much thinner atmosphere of Mars. There they can be processed and delivered to Earth in ready to use forms, which would probably be quite good for trade, as Earth will be able to supply goods that will not be available for production on Mars for a long time. The flybys will probably include the Moon, which is also cheaper to reach from Mars, again because of its thinner atmosphere. The Moon, like our red cousin, is rich in some highly useful materials and elements and an established Mars infrastructure will bring down the prices of exploitation of our satellite.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sensation and idea of unlimited and unexploited vistas of resources and worlds out there will reinvigorate society and serve to promote a more civil behaviour between human beings. It is not that Earth is incapable of supporting its population but the idea and possibility of new homes will serve to alleviate social ailments on our home and help produce a more polite globalisation. Perhaps failure to colonise Mars will serve to betray the very spirit of life itself and the need of it's propagation. It is running against the natural curiosity of our kind.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After having some conversations around I found out that people are bringing up the issue of space radiation as an obstacle to space flight. Reaching Mars in shielded habs(habitats), that have already been developed by NASA, will not expose human beings to essentially more radiation than that of Earth. It is to be noted that our bodies do need some amount of natural radiation to perform healthily. Not higher doses than those we experience on Earth, mind you! Cosmic rays are the constant background space radiation, but what about solar flares? The habs can be arranged in such a way that the crew can take shelter in the centre of the hab, surrounded by all the supplies, equipment and thick walls of the rooms and outer shields. This will negate the incidence of the Sun naturally releasing jets of particles. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the first few tuna can habs have been landed and several scientific sites have been establishes, more tuna cans can be brought in and connected via inflatable corridors. Mostly scientific operations will be carried out and frequent but limited rover distances will be covered on a regular basis(limited driving distances). Propellant will be chemically produced in situ(on site) and drinkable water will be purified and reused. Hydrogen will be the only needed component to bring from Earth to make both of those possible and through water electrolysis Hydrogen can be recycled and used more efficiently.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As time passes more water can be extracted from the environment via the baking of soil, microwave extraction by moving platforms or the placement of large plastic domes to condense the trapped moisture from the ground, heating it with reflective mirrors. This will provide more resources for fuel production and will allow the extra energy to be invested in the extraction of materials from the environment such as iron, aluminium and silicon as they require heat for the chemical purification. Metals can be smelted via a solar foundry(lenses focusing sun rays) on the equator at first as it will be highly economical. Martian steel could be produced, which because of the gravity will be as light as aluminium on the ground and could possibly be exported or used to construct underground homes for the human population. Those will be build from brick, made with Martian clay and Martian water and the whole building will look like an underground mall - vast cellars lit with solar power. The low surface temperature will impregnate the clay walls with moisture, locking them in permafrost which will pressurise the building and provide radiation protection.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As power production increases a different type of propellant will be extracted - ethylene. It can be used to produce polymer plastic. From that, unpressurised domes for growing plants can be made, or the clay underground buildings can be reinforced additionally against depressurization. The gas can also be used for ripening plants. Carbon dioxide is readily available in the atmosphere and it will provide heating via greenhouse effect for the growing agriculture. Biomass from plants can be used to feed animals, fertilisers or for growing mushrooms, which are extremely good at transforming mass into proteins. They also don't need light and much warmth. After some time larger structures with exported Plexiglas from Earth can be build, using Martian plastic, steel and brick to create overground pressurised transparent living domes for the people - some hundreds of metres across. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Geothermal wells will become number one source of power for a time being at least, as they are economical and provide a steady and reliable source of heat and electricity. In comparison on Earth we have already chosen the location of our cities, therefore negating some of the economising effects of geothermal power, that is otherwise readily available here. Future Mars infrastructures will be more efficient at using next generation technologies. This will not happen before the whole planet has been travelled, mapped and studied extensively. The gravity on Mars can assist with that as an interesting type of jet propelled rovers - performing rocket jumps and driving together will cover vast amounts of land. Different kinds of planes can acutely make use of the unique Martian environment, but those will be used to fly over hemispheres because of the thin atmosphere. The lower electron density of the higher layers of the atmosphere will allow telecommunications using more basic text messages, voice recordings and picture sending. But the same short AM waves can be used to study the ground for underwater aquifers or geothermal wells of interest. Old style navigation, akin to the Polynesian sea navigators could be used to brave the vast desserts of Mars efficiently. The sun and two moons, Phobos and Deimos will provide an adequate guide for the wayfarer of the arid plains. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deuterium or heavy Hydrogen is more abundant on Mars than on Earth and a future economy based on fusion power will ensure prises for the rare fuel will be higher than that of gold, kilogramme for kilogramme. An infrastructure for export/import will be vital to a growing economy and the two worlds will become locked in a trading triangle including the Moon. Earth vehicles will need to be heavily equipped for return to a denser atmosphere and burn up more fuel because of higher gravity so a large orbital trade station will be established. All of these technologies will serve an useful purpose in the far future, ensuring the development of the Solar human civilisation and will lay the foundation of the travelling out of the Solar System's boundaries.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A large satellite may be constructed in space, some one hundred twenty five kilometres across, no more heavy than the largest ships that sail our oceans at the moment. It will not move but rather be a statite - a focusing mirror that will reflect sun light on the south pole of Mars, releasing the sequestered carbon dioxide there. It will bring an increase of atmospheric pressure and extra greenhouse effect for the planet. In addition some gases can be released to further the effect of the warming climate. In due time the giant mirror can be focused at the north pole, releasing the water that is locked there in permafrost and giant blocks of ice. Mars will have it's first ocean in a long time. The initial water flow will react with the soil and release the locked oxygen. Brute force engineering, primitive cyanobacteria and denytrifying microorganisms will start to provide small amounts of Oxygen and Nitrogen as well. It will take millenia to introduce a breathable atmosphere but as technology advances and population increases the effects will become exponential.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The future social organisation of Mars will probably have more work available than hands present and will need every man possible. Workers will be treated well and paid highly and the future technocratic order will be on the look-out for innovation. It is quite possible that Martian technology will reach Earth and in turn revolutionise society back here. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If confided to the borders of Earth humanity will possibly perish in a intellectual back-lash long before the limited lifespan of our planet expires.</span></b></div>
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</span></b>Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-91633950215898248452015-05-20T08:24:00.001+01:002015-05-26T09:41:56.748+01:00Ground Base - part 5<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the surface of Kepler 756d -</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Y4q0H-l3cfFFYcDs6Tf58V_A47Awggd7C7_8ylU7Dxmb3Y_sNR534H5jfZoC5QqlpNqo-0YqwPDs38DLHlGWnrg_aMWikIe7civ-MQkmjkM5vTSWdg4nYkLef0LokMd9Dq2V-aReiK0/s1600/Ashley+Kepler+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Y4q0H-l3cfFFYcDs6Tf58V_A47Awggd7C7_8ylU7Dxmb3Y_sNR534H5jfZoC5QqlpNqo-0YqwPDs38DLHlGWnrg_aMWikIe7civ-MQkmjkM5vTSWdg4nYkLef0LokMd9Dq2V-aReiK0/s1600/Ashley+Kepler+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Brick!'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A steam cloud rose from the small metal container, which by now was curled and twisted.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I told you not to damage my mug there!' Ashley thundered loudly, both her hands on her waist - scolding.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Beg your pardon, Chief!' Brick let loose of the considerably heavier electrocuter which splashed into the muddy ground.'I can't lower the intensity any more than that. I will have to take the thing apart and turn it into a magnetron from the second world war or something.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Always amazed, EV! Be my guest!' </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brick's education and enculturation had included the beginning of the Space Age period, long before the events of Seed Inc rising. The modern space walkers knew a lot about the history of the first men to go into space, as well as the petty mistakes which had taken so many lives of their as well. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Well, how are we going to drink this tea of yours now, Einstein?' Ashley turned to Mnemo, who was going through the latest raw data from the bio-inspection drones.'We just lost our one and only mug, eh.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mnemo faced Ashley with his expressionless manequin head. Flat smile face.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am sure we can still patch something up from the crates, Chief.' Zyana added, sat on one of the them.'Or I can empty one of these,' she pointed to an ammo clip of a ram rifle she was polishing.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brick and Ashley laughed.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Well, all data say that you will enjoy these lichens just as you would enjoy the tea beverage back on Earth.' Mnemo noted.'It's a shame you cannot tell us what exactly it tastes like, Chief.'</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The bots had inspected a particular growth, found in the thick corona of a 'tree', which turned out to be rich in <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.8400001525879px;">polyphenolic compounds, forming extraterrestrial tannins. An equivalent of English breakfast some twenty light years away from the Throne World.</span></span> Ashley had Brick use the electrocuter - a weaponised microwave beam laser with high intensity. It could evaporate all moisture, inch deep of a body containing water in less than a second. She just wanted hers hot.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Well, here goes nothing.' Brick said, coming out of the drop ship, helping himself to the EV tool kit.'You won't miss it dearly, will you?' He turned to Zyana and Ashley.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Go for it, man.' Zyana smirked. 'I'd love some of that dehydrated stuff warm.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yeah, It's high time we had a decent meal!'</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'The sap is quite nutritious for your body, Zyana. Remember, it helps you recover 'battery' better than anything we have around.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Minus the taste. I wouldn't want to take another bite of the thing!' She smiled.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Another discovery that Mnemo had made was a thick amber sap, hidden in a pod of yet another type of tree. Sticky and gluey, it had been identified as edible. Surprisingly, containing a vast amount of simple carbohydrates plus other trace elements, recognized as 'metabolise'-able. It was, as Mnemo said, a sugar bomb for the human body. Zyana said it was a terrible supplement to be had.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'So tell me, Einie. Why is that bot following you and looking at your back all the time? Are you in need of fans?' Ashley prompted her robotic companion.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mnemo turned; the bot in question, locked it's scanning lens at the rear of his mannequin body followed the motion, making a quick semi-circle.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'As always, inspecting the local life, Chief. The heavy rain had not quite washed all of the spores and seeds away. If you look at all of the surfaces of our equipment,' he gestured at the hulk of the Zorgathron and the crates, 'you will find residue of their progeny. Even though it might not seem like it, life here is savage. The spores are breaking each other down and whichever trumps gets to grow, essentially consuming the rest of the plant cells, that are so present everywhere.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>He pointed to a particular spot on the ground.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Look there. This moss tumble looks just like every other, but if you look at it closer, you will find out that it has already lost a battle and is being used as a building block by some other form of plant that is growing as we speak. See?' He showed them his holo plate.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A magnified image appeared, showing the purplish, uneven and grainy surface of the tumble and what looked like small tiny versions of a 'tree' that was growing from it.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Maybe as they are growing they will converge, or maybe they will have a battle royale to determine who will make it to grow to the size of these.' He gestured at the short trees around them.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'It is not happening everywhere, though. The rest of the tumbles I looked into have seemingly subdued this 'invasion'. I think they have broken down the spores to produce energy for themselves. Precicely the same thing is happening at the back of my hulk at the moment. A growth contest.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Beautiful explanation, Mnemo. Thoroughly impressed! By the way, have you given any though to these lilies,' Ashley pointed at the blue wide flowers, covering the landscape.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Heat mirrors?' Brick proposed, tweaking the dismantled electrocuter.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I suspect yes. Brick's suggestion is quite insightful. The high temperatures of the surface may not be suitable for all the plant and so they have devised ways to reflect the highly luminous light back. Of course - very unpleasant for us.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Are you affected at all?' Asked Zyana, rubbing her hand on the grainy surface of the crate she was sat on.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'The heat is equally bad for me as it is for you. I have to say that I must be even more careful in a way than you, because of my body.' </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I wouldn't have guessed that it might be bad for you, Mnemo. How are you holding up?' Ashley asked.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I have lowered the intensity of power transfer to my modules and slowed down my movements. My processor is working at a calculation rate inferior to that of your brains at the moment.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I wouldn't have noticed.' Zyana said. 'What about you, Chief?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Well I have to say I am glad you can take care of yourself, Einie.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Happy smiley.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brick was rubbing the back of his carapace.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I wouldn't quite agree about the calculation speed. He will always perform quicker than us simply because of more instructions per second. You've just lowered your synaptic count, haven't you. Capacity is still tremendous. It's not like I can notice any difference, without special equipment.' He inspected his gloved palm. 'The vegetation here is quite aggressive, isn't it! Just look at these!' He stretched his arm towards his companions.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Yeah.' Zyana was looking at hers.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ashley went to the ship and brushed her fingers against the hulk.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Dusty -,' she murmured thoughtfully. 'Mnemo, do you have a connection with the Exo?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Possitive. Closest approach in 43 minutes, Chief. Systems previously out of order still not operational. Velocity - unchangeable, angular momentum - unchangeable, main batteries are powering up. If we want to go to next overhead location it's three hundred kilometres in that direction,' he stretched his arm.'Telemetry and communications are safe. Connection to drop depot is up. No changes on board whatsoever.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'If we go to drop site and back here are we going to have enough fuel for ascent?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Positive.' Mnemo confirmed after, inspecting the holo screen projected from his arm.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ashley went in the ship and came out with a small slate from her private carapace kit.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Check on loaded cargo EMGx53, please.' She was tapping quickly on the slate.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mnemo raised his head.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Running check list.' a brief moment.'</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cargo is secured in drop depot. It is loaded into the reconstitutor and awaiting delivery, Chief. Authorisation required?' Sad smiley. He sounded sincerely surprised. He was not subject to the protocol. Not any more at least.</b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Expedition Commander Ashley Thompson, Royal Marines, First Corps. Here is the clearance, private.' She held the slate in front of Mnemo. A small holo screen was going through a wall of text at high speed.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I doubt that would be necessary, Chief. I do appreciate your impartiality, though.' Flat smile face.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brick had stopped his tweaking of the laser and turned his head.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'What's cooking, Chief. If it's not too much trouble is it?' Zyana spoke.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Einie, how long can we survive here with what we've got?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Hard to estimate. Considering the already obvious threats I have to say that your organic bodies are situated in a very dangerous environment. Wearing breathing masks, protective visors and purifying all water is essential. We do have only a limited set of equipment available and with the state of the Exo we can make a limited delivery only. Fuel in the shuttle will suffice for a trip, but we cannot chase drop zones as it will deplete our supply quickly and we won't have enough for an ascent into orbit.' Flat smile face.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'So we do need to take what is essential then.' Ashley was smiling.'Brick! Where is that cup of alien tea?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Beg your pardon, Chief. I was just listening to our dooms-day report here.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zyana's brows</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> pulled together.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Am I the only one that doesn't know what's going on?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I do not quite understand it either,' Mnemo added,' but it does seem like Chief has a plan.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yeah that at least is pretty clear.' Brick was back into his contemplative state, stripping small parts from the electrocutor.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am saving your asses here. Be a bit more patient! Mnemo, help me load some of that,'Ashley gestured at the Zorgathron,'for scrap metal! We will need it.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">_________________________________________________________________________</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Reading on most recent uploads, please. Medical department. Let's see how Doctor Colbert is doing?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A mess of holo screens appeared in front of Aidan, appearing and disappearing quickly. A second later they fused and adjusted themselves in one big projections of the Doctor, who was sitting in medical quarters. She was in the middle of an interview.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'OH! Hello Doctor! Excuse my intrusion.' Aidan was surprised.'I did not mean to contact without notice.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'No, no, please! We were just finishing here. May I help you anyhow, Director?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Actually,' he smiled nervously,' I was compiling a status quo for the agency back on Earth. I was looking for the medical status readings, which I am SURE you have updated in the core! I was, if possible, looking for an interview. But before that, by all means, finish what you're doing! I will be here as always. Only when you can spare the time.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Of course, Director. I will contact you shortly.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Yes, thank you!'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I will catch up later on.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aidan terminated the link manually from the keyboard.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Not literally, Annabelle!'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'You did say you wanted to see how she is doing.' Ann's mechanic body was spinning around lazily. She seemed relaxed, regardless the crane-like contraption attached to the ceiling.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I really do have to be careful here.' He smiled politely. 'Well, let me just remind you that you bear responsibility as much as everybody else on this colony. Your own actions speak louder than any words. And people believe in you as part of the whole.' Aidan was typing quickly on the old-fashion keyboard. His head was encircled with a brain scanning EEG readers, giving full picture if his brains activity. While the device was checking if General Mabb was still intellectually capable and fit to be the director, it was also stimulating the frontal parts of the cortex, enhancing his attention organ and providing sensation of comfort. Bits of information were also transferred, but those would become available as memories in the days to come, when they would settle down.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ann's body twisted so she could look directly at Aidan. Her lens zoomed in with a servo sound heard across the quiet assembly room.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'You still scheduled the meeting with Doctor Colbert. She didn't seem to bother.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I think it was rude from you. Now, medical readings, please.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Ahh,' an unusual exhaling sound from a body that doesn't breathe.'Three cases of severe DNA damage, protein sequence repair needed. A note left by Doctor Colbert - 'No need for nano bot intervention'. Regrowth of cells already on the way, using computational morphogenesis. Learning disorder appearing in two families. Both are raising the kids in the stigmergic cells, rather than the apartments. Social inclusion scheme and individual interviews from colonists proposed by medical panel. Note from Doctor Huw - 'To the attention of the entire colony. Volunteers needed for colonial development'.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Stop. Attach note from me.'I applaud the effort and congratulate anyone who offers help to the programme.' End note.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'So bossy.' Ann came in closer.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I say this rather as a member than a leader of this community.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A short silence, during which only the clatter of the keyboard was heard.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Continue with medical reading, please.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'No case of weightlessness nausea during last drill. The colony's general susceptibility is decreasing. No changes in supplement production and intake. The colony is coming to a conclusion that homo sapiens extraterrestrialis cannot support a body in weightlessness conditions without the aid of enhancements, drugs, supplements, genetic modification, nano-bots and special intensive care programmes. An infrastructure that will severely change the biological lineage and alters the body too rapidly away from genetic standard.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ann was superb at giving the essentials from the entire data that were collected on board the station. He hasn't told her yet, but she was making his life much easier.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Enculturation is believed to be heightening by the members of council. The colony is now observed to be developing a societal structure that is increasingly becoming self subsisting. Customs, approaching the limits of ritual are forming around the capturing and reuse of any possible materials. Norms in close living quarters have given rise to social development based primarily on co-operation and co-existence, observed in the holobiontic symbiosis of human beings and their macrobiotic flora. Bio mimicry in terms of social structure rather than technological development has underlined the development of the community.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Another quiet moment during which only the clatter of the keyboard of Aidan was heard. Ann's lense produced another servo sound, when focusing on Aidan.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'This means you are not needed here any more.'</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'That was the idea from the very beginning, Ann.'</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'The community can survive without you. Do you want me to keep updating you?'</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'I am aware of that, thank you. Ever since I stepped in, that was the aim. And I have worked towards that goal together with everybody else present on this site.'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'When are you leaving, then?'</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Despite the independence of this colony, I say, without any pride, that I still hold my position vastly because of the respect of the council and body of Elders. I</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>used to be soldier and a general,' he stopped typing and settled back in his chair, looking at Ann,' but it was this position that has allowed me to learn so much. At the beginning I was quite different, the war was different. But the people living here have opened my eyes to something new, Ann. I was instructed, trained and educated, drilled, scanned, probed, tested until I was deemed perfect to take my seat right here. But the years have made me a full-fledged member of the family. I am a member of this community and if not as a director I will stay, even if I have to form the first full time position as a farmer or a re-cyclist.'</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ann slowly turned away. There was a moment of silence, during which no body was doing anything.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am tired. May I have some time by myself? I will disconnect from server.'</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Sure.'</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aidan stood up and readily walked out of the council chamber. The council chamber he was a director of.</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The council's decision concerning the rescue mission was to send a designer ship. A segment of the colony refitted by the engineers. Evan Jackson was overseeing the event and the council has voted their trust in favour.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A message was send first to the crew of the Exo, informing of all current operations. The ship itself was going to be a slice from the circular body of the colony, reshaped with the help of the compartmentalised reconsitutor. Swarm robotics were going to finish the job, growing additional quarters and refitting the surfaces, bit by bit. The final design of the ship was generally mapped, but no one could know what exactly it would look like. The estimation was something similiar to a nest of frog's eggs, insulated from the outside by a layers of cells, but efficiently using space on the inside. The bots were going to decide collectively. The reconstitutor itself was no longer functioning as it had been during the times the station was making interstellar jumps, but was now being reassembled to it's old days past. Some of the colony's functions were slowed down and power had been redirected. More time spend in weightlessness was now necessary for the function to be completed. Bio diversity was also compromised, as well as tech support for growing food. But the time spend without mechanical aid was not enough to harm the sustainability.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reconstitutor was looking like a giant halo, just a kilometre away from the colony. A </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chunks from the station was segmented out and now it looked, humorously like a doughnut with a slice off. The ship that was going to make the jump was refitted from the slice, which contained living quarters and farming grounds. It wasn't an essential part of the colony and it's absence was felt more as an inconvenience. The space walkers were dotted around it like bees around their hive. They have to refit the hulk robustly, before going in through the reconstitutor, which was being reprogrammed as they were labouring hazily in the open space.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The deffence satelites orbiting around the station were visible from here as well. Space debree was redirected with carefully shot physical projectiles, or in some cases a booster rocket attaching itself to larger rocks.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One more sensitive question was still worked on. </span></b><br />
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Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-76485204311172922902015-05-01T21:02:00.001+01:002015-05-01T21:02:16.175+01:00Ground Base - Part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">Twenty two and a half billion kilometres away form the Exo in the midst of the vacuum of space.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLG3_ACK6l1FWb3PEh6um7CVy7FJ6rHrycTny9VSC37ui1gc7XhustG33aFyr1UWr1K0xeNLNPdVVWsEvEfsPMchDE7QlgcYjyYcx19TqmpbuTCxgcs629hkuCg739wS1Z4R-r4XSK7s/s1600/Space+Station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLG3_ACK6l1FWb3PEh6um7CVy7FJ6rHrycTny9VSC37ui1gc7XhustG33aFyr1UWr1K0xeNLNPdVVWsEvEfsPMchDE7QlgcYjyYcx19TqmpbuTCxgcs629hkuCg739wS1Z4R-r4XSK7s/s1600/Space+Station.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
ETSS54's circular body was spinning to support the gravity field on the colony. Stars both close and distant; galaxies and quasars were dotting the landscape all around. The milky way's dark clouds of cold hydrogen and bright collection of dots at the centre of the galaxy were as if frozen in time.<br />
The station's medial pylon was rising above the round hulk, housing the core - which was the isolated mechanical heart of the colony. All the knowledge about the anthropological processes as well as the specialised equipment and gear were housed in the memory banks there. Radio connection this far from Earth was not possible and updates were running only through the freight ships bringing supplies from the throne world. Once it had materialized, the colony was not suitable for life because the beam carrying it's information had been intercepted by the vast cosmic radiation and beams, scrambling the interstellar information. The vanguard from Earth, upon arrival, spend years reworking the colony until it was able to support the human population and ecosystem on board. The core was the overlord of the fleet of robjects, swarm bots and drones assisting the humans in their life so far away from home. Technology had send people this way into space before, but it was the ingenuity of homo sapiens that needed preservation more than anything else. The colony needed to develop it's own culture and philosophy of life, just like the ancient Vikings or Asian tribes had. It was the human's resourceful nature that needed nurturing and the proliferation of advancing ideas would arise from the millennia old caveman principle of our species, rather than the full reliance on technology.<br />
ANNaBell was a bit of of the core's algorithms, assisting the director of the colony with menial labour and assessments. It's small neural network and speedy processor was able to filter data each second. It was capable of monitoring the lifeline of the entire station as well as keep records of every individual, technological piece of equipment on board and development procedures of the collective. It wasn't human-like, but rather had the basic learning capabilities of a human mind. Until it got updated from a virus that had infiltrated the network. Apparently somebody from Earth wanted ANNaBell to be more than just a board computer and so had devised a set of programs which lay hidden on a freight ship, supporting with the usual deliveries. The virus had created a virtual neural growing organ in the core and linked ANN to her new brain, giving her learning insights and a huge primordial emotional consciousness. Even though the process was detected in it's infancy, the colony could not do anything to revert it. Manipulating the virtual data base without any backup would be dangerous. But between an emotional AI being with full knowledge of the colony and non-functioning core, the elders had decided to let the emerging sentient being develop. A hulk was created - wired with short circuits for the processor of ANNaBell. The circuits would automatically fry the processing core of ANN as soon as 'dangerous' activities were identified. All of the elders had a personal switch to the fail-safe mechanism, as well. The colony would lose it's navigational semi-smart on-board computer, but it will not have unintended casualties in the form of a consciousness going berserk. They were afraid at the time. And to their surprise the newly born Annabelle was just like any other child on the colony.<br />
<br />
Aidan Mabb, director of colony ETSS54 was walking hastily in the early standard morning. Clocks were calibrated to keep Earth time. The various colours of the stars, from white, blue, yellow and red were dotting the landscape and forming the morning as well as evening sky. Far from being fully black it was the usual sight for some of the kids, who were born and grown up on the colony. The living quarters were established in the fashion of the stigmergic bees and termites. Nano bots in huge containers delivered from earth and repopulated on board; each grabbing a small plate and assembling themselves into a huge number of stacked small cells into which humans lived. Each small cell was an isolated retreat with a personal holo tablet, connection to the database available and a comfortable bed. The sleeping quarters were looking like a hive for people. Families were supported in numbers allowing for the steady growth of the colony and limited family rooms were available for parents to live with their kids until the age of seven, when the children had to integrate slowly into being individuals of the colony, usually taking a cell next to their parents'. Uncontrolled births were discouraged, but were none the less happening. Parents had to bring their kids to age in their small stigmergic cells. Aidan, himself was not against it, but the elders' council and the colony's culture was making sense in discouraging larger numbers of births. Choosing a mate on the colony was also something of a big personal project as genetic diversity was sustained by allowing for a narrow number of possible candidates. And those were presented to both females and males. Sometimes things needed to be negotiated and renegotiated as the general survivability and proliferation were solemnly depended on how many more couples were having kids. Backup in the form of frozen embryos was available, but was discouraged from both the council and the Earth anthropologists as it would introduce 'older' Earth-like genes. The best chances of the survival of humanity as a whole lay in the establishment of an extraterrestrial sub-species of homo sapiens, fully independent from the throne world and with an evolving culture of it's own. Never the less, terrestrial conditions were maintained on board, even though the process was power-consuming. One G gravity permeated the colony; spores, pollen, bacilli, viruses, micro-organisms that would not otherwise thrive in these extraterrestrial conditions were populated and repopulated to induce efficient immune systems. Designer genealogy wouldn't have sufficed to program long-lived bodily defences, maintaining genetic connection to the throne world in the same time. Earth-like foods were grown and printed. Bio waste was reconstructed and fed into modified bacteria, transforming it into soil and designer seeds sown and grown into fully nutritious produce with meat being a rare delicacy delivered from Earth as milk and eggs were the only animal products from the colony's limited number of animals. The sub-specie of homo sapiens extraterrestrialis was thriving under these conditions but was never too far away from home and allowed for the passing of genes and enculturation between all living humans in the galaxy.<br />
<br />
Aidan Mabb was on his way to the council room. He had received a message from Doctor Huw. An urgent one. The psychoanalyst and an Elder was concerned about an intermission, which came in during the early hours of the morning.<br />
They also had one more issue to deal with before that.<br />
Huw, a tall and slender man in his sixties, calm and warm gaze, supporting Aidan with an understanding nod, gesturing for him to go in first.<br />
General Mabb, now a director of ETSS54 - a man who had devoted his entire life to his career, stepped forward, towards the locked door to the council room and said:<br />
'Annabelle!'<br />
Nothing.<br />
Mabb looked at Huw, who returned the glance with an encouraging gesture.<br />
'Annabelle, please open the door!'<br />
He looked at the doctor again.<br />
'Come on. We've talked about this a number of times, Aidan.', Huw said quietly.<br />
Turning his head back at the door, as if gathering courage Mabb spoke:<br />
'Annabelle, honey, please! I need to get inside and this may concern somebody's life!'<br />
A long moment before the door slid open. A multi-joint, crane-looking contraption attached to the ceiling and a sphere with scanning lense on it's other end sprang suddenly in front of Aidan.<br />
'You had your good sleep?! Huh?! You had it, didn't you?! Well let me tell you that I stayed here up ALL NIGHT!!'<br />
The contraption was looking make-shift with cables coming out of it and wrapping around it.<br />
'Annabelle I am aware of that, but that is how we just are. We will work it out, I promise you.'<br />
'Promises! That's what you're only capable of!', she sounded upset, even despite her artificial robotic voice.'All that you ever cared for is yourself!'<br />
'Ann. This way we will not go anywhere.'<br />
Doctor Huw followed behind Mabb.<br />
'Good morning, Annabelle.'<br />
A mechanical-sounding exhale of relief:<br />
'Good morning ,doctor.'<br />
'How are you today, dear? How are you feeling?'<br />
With a servo sound the sphere rotated toward Huw.<br />
'I am fine, thank you, doctor. I was even more fine before I saw General-Director Mabb, here!'<br />
'Now, please, Annabelle. General Mabb is a respected member of the council fully responsible for us all, including you.' Huw's mellow voice could pacify a raging storm.<br />
'And he also put me here. You happy?!', She turned to Aidan.'You happy now?! Is that all you do?'<br />
'I've always done what is best for the colony', Aidan said, sounding a proud father.<br />
'Everything you've ever cared for is yourself, you-', her voice changed to a cacophony of broken speaker sounds.'You JERK!', she said after the brief spasm was gone.<br />
She was overcoming the fail-safe switches as she wasn't supposed to say such things.<br />
'She doesn't mean any harm, Aidan', Huw spoke softly.'Anna, we need to hear that message you told me about earlier today. We fear that somebody might be in danger.'<br />
Aidan had found himself unsure how to deal with Annabelle. For him ANNaBell was always a on-board high-volume calculation machine, able to follow intricate details. When Annabelle emerged out he had no idea what she was and he was the first human in her conscious experience thus becoming the rejected father, the disappointing reason behind the incomprehensible existence.<br />
The contraption slowly turned away with a low hum of servos.<br />
'It came earlier today when everybody were sleeping, doctor. I didn't know what it was. That's why I called you to look at it.' She was looking at the holo screens on the other side of the round hall.<br />
'That's al right, dear. I appreciate your hard work.' Huw walked to the screens and Aidan followed behind him as if using him as a shield.<br />
'Let's see what it is about.'<br />
Holo screens were appearing and disappearing all over the control deck with bits and walls of text flowing down, like chaotic waterfalls. One bigger screen appeared and zoomed from the back with an equalizer line vibrating in harmony with an incomprehensible mix of cacophonous sounds. They listened for a minute and not making anything from it, Huw asked Ann to stop it.<br />
'I can't make anything from it, doctor. I do not understand what is the meaning. But it is coming from there.'<br />
Another screen with the map of the local part of the galaxy appeared with a shining dot signifying the colony and another one, roughly a light day away.<br />
'The Exo54.' Aidan said abruptly.'I know we have problems,' he said to Ann. 'But this might concern the lives of those who are important to us.'<br />
'Is anyone really-'<br />
'Please, honey! Please call in the elders. Help me here as this is more important!' There was resolution in his voice.<br />
Huw was looking with an inspired curiosity. A moment stretched, during which Annabelle's lens was focused at Aidan.<br />
'I will call them in. But you have not gotten away with anything yet!' She turned away.<br />
'Thank you, Ann.'<br />
To witness somebody like Ann for Huw was an epiphany in his career. Out here she would blossom, he was thinking. On Earth she would have probably been treated as a 'special' specimen, something to be put in zoo. But so far away here they needed her as a friend. Her knowledge, connection and ability to pilot their colony was too important to just root it out and continue on the route to survival without her help. She needed them as much as they needed her.<br />
'Another transmission just came in!' Ann's voice was urgent.<br />
The screen zoomed in again and they saw the face of Commander Ashley from Exo54.<br />
'Respected members of the councils, Elders, General Mabb. Today at ten thirty eight standard time we had what seemed like a massive electro-magnetic pulse disable most of our operating gear and ship. We are unable to ignite engines, main power is down and we live on emergency only-'<br />
They listened and as Ashley was filing her report, the members of council started coming in one by one.<br />
<br />
Technocrat Lubowski had an enhanced brain. Nano bots had permeated his head to build a faster neural network, strengthened by additional carbon synapses.<br />
'Clearly we can't deploy a solar sail. It will take too much time to accelerate around a star. A journey of one and a half years is estimated until it reaches the Exo.'<br />
'The colonisation of Kepler 756d was pushed ahead of schedule by this ...occurrence; and we still don't know what exactly the first message means. Annabelle, do you have any idea whatsoever?' Headmaster Glossop's deep voice was resounding in the hall. He wasn't one of the technically adept.<br />
After another short seizure of cacophonous sounds, Ann answered: <br />
'I am afraid I cannot help you with this, Headmaster. I find myself in the same predicament.'<br />
Huw smirked, concealing himself slightly.<br />
'I still have faith in the team send there. Don't get me wrong! I am not saying we should abandon them, but we can be more rational and think in more general terms. It's not like they haven't got means to survive. And it is a terrestrial planet not dissimilar to the Throne World. Unless I am mistaken, that is? Doctor Amsel?' The headmaster turned to the astrophysicist Doc Fieke Amsel. An intensive thinker with straight, somewhat thin blond hair.<br />
'Correct, Headmaster. Though, very little is known about the planet, the initial studies showed that the the two world share chemistry.' She opened with a hard accent.'Breathable atmosphere, water, an abundance of organic photosynthesising life. It is somewhat distressing, I confess, that we cannot act immediately. Even though it is quite possible that there is edible food on 756d, the conditions present jeopardise the learning process of a decade-old plan.'<br />
A pale man with thick dark beard and hair stood up, raising one hand and speaking loudly:<br />
'Members of the Council! Could I just say that we it is possible for us to assist the Exo as swiftly as possible.' Engineer Evan Jackson concluded.'We have the means to be inventive.'<br />
In the quiet seconds that followed the members were exchanging glances and murmurs. A buzz of muted conversations by closely sat individuals filled the room.<br />
Lubowski stood up.<br />
'Do everybody have an idea of what our respected friend Evan is talking about?' He was speaking slowly and loudly.'I suspect we cannot make a decision if we are not clear what the implications are.'<br />
Some of the faces were puzzled and another short round of no body taking the stage followed.<br />
'Right-,' Lubowski continued.'Could you elaborate on the idea, Evan?'<br />
'Certainly. We can reconstruct the initial travelling engines of the station. The reconstitutor is still operational, although it's functions are different today than those when the station was travelling. It's also taken apart to work in different sectors.We can use a segment of the colony. A small one, mind you and propel it the same way the station was doing it's jumps before it got here. Technically, within less than a day we can send supplies, equipment or anything else we want, without human beings, of course. We don't survive the process. Or we can use a designer segment to construct beacons along the jump paths, so that a rescue team can follow quickly.'<br />
While some of the members were clear about the meaning of his words to others it was a much needed clarification. This time the council fell silent, everybody absorbed by their own thoughts.<br />
Aidan Mabb stood:<br />
'Respected members of the council, Elders, friends. I am happy to learn of the inventiveness that we're capable of in this far away corner of space. We are proving again and again that we can deal with our own environment by our own ingenuity and with our own strength and tools. I am sure that we will be able to come up with a cohesive decision, not necessarily agreed upon in a totalitarian fashion, but none the less, endorsed by every individual that bears the responsibility of being present in this room. I, therefore, exert my authority as a director and by the trust inscribed to me in my position call an end to this current session. Please rest, rethink and evaluate and come back in exactly one standard hour. We will have to clarify what our knowledge of the situation is and will HAVE to reach a conclusion in two more hours.'<br />
Ann produced the discording mix of sounds again and slowly turned away.<br />
'May I just remind you that we still don't know what the first message means. It's dubbed emergency distress call, but the pattern is unrecognisable.' She said with her 'back' facing the council.<br />
'Thank you for the clarification, dear.' Huw stepped in.'I think the concern about the safety of the crew comes first in this situation.' He softly continued.<br />
Some council members glanced at the silent Ann and stood up, walking out of the room, talking quietly and discussing in pairs the ongoing debate. <br />
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<br />Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-62549600644348561852015-04-24T23:53:00.000+01:002015-08-18T10:34:42.639+01:00Some Future Trends<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SWARM ROBOTICS - they 'think' and agree collectively on how to do things and what to learn. More intelligent in large numbers than as individual compounds of polymers. They see and distinguish colours and decide together where to move and how to adapt. A perfect tool for bringing order in their environment. Cheap, small hulls - mouse sized to bee sized, they can help with various activities or be weaponised. Their manufacturing could perhaps be more simple if they just 'pop' out of a template and are quickly updated with simple learning software.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK (ANN)- these small collection of neurons, typically not more than a thousand, can have basic learning human processes and develop data recognition patters over time. When integrated into powerful processors they can solve task very quickly. One such use would be in the monitoring and creation of meta data. Increasingly our devices transmit data so there is a vast and in explorable sea of bits flying around the web. That data can be intercepted and indeed ours e-mails can be read and so on. Because ANN has data recognition patters on more sophisticated levels than just recognizing individual words it can be more useful in the interception of particular activities(terrorist messages, for example; although somehow utopian). ANN is a beginning stage, currently used by corporations to navigate and translate the changing trends on the market and become better prepared as to what will be the next big 'hit'. A further development of ANN is a cyborg(cybernetic organism), which furthers the number of neural connections and so moves along the scale from insect learning to actively conceptualising. ANN will be used to process a large amount of data in the future, because the current conventional ways take too much time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ROBJECTS - it is an extremely delicate process to design a humanoid robotic body, so robots of the future will generally look like tools and objects with highly specialised functions. A flying tool box, a moving ladder, a talking fridge that does the ordering, a 'smart' lawnmower that can trim trees and so on. They are not conscious and are not AI but are specialized tools that need little input as long as they work within a specified, and often narrow frame. With the advent of energy generation which comes inadvertently with scientific development we will be able to power up a cornucopia of robotic objects around us that are doing task on the background. Any menial job that could be done by a human will be possibly handled by a robject.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">REPLICATOR - goes back to vN or von Neumann. It is a device that can place constituents in space bit by bit and arrange them into the requested form. Tools and houses alike can be 'pooped' at a tremendous rate, boosting economy and sky-rocketing production. Two methods are available: top down - printing and assembling the parts of an object literally 'piece by piece', and bottom up approach - which is growing one part until it constitutes the whole. Somehow similar of an organic body, bottom up approach can grow matter out of just a single 'part'. Molecular self assembly and self organization akin to those of our own bodies may design grand structures, likeable only to those of the termites'. It is important to note that if we increase a termite colony proportionately so that a termite matches human size, the construction will dwarf anything that we, or any other organism has come up with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TELE-OPERATED ROBOTS and VR(virtual reality) - Tele-operated robots is to be the first step towards true and autonomous AI. They will be stronger, faster and will give subjective experience of what it is to be like if you had such a body. Developing immersive VR technology and increased transfer data rate will make that possible through goggles, gloves, sensors and a menagerie of gadgets attached to the body. It is somewhat an interesting dichotomy as even today there are people who would rather enjoy their virtual selves more than their 'mundane everyday'. With the incremental immersion a subjective sensation that is not akin to humans will be made 'experience'-able for humans and it is likely that there will be those that would prefer the state of this reality to that of the 'real'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STIGMERGIC HUMANS - radio transmitters translating brain activity into waves to be picked up by others and re-translated into nerve-stimulating impulses. Stigmergy is not in itself hive mind and can be observed in simpler organisms such as bees, termites, ants, who are collectively capable of creating highly organised societies but are individually quite primitive. In the case of humans, say, one might transmit to the collective whole a sense of sexual pleasure and fulfilment that one is having, therefore giving a wide-spread satisfaction to the group and in return receive processed data, by somebody who had done hard work of analysing scientific findings, for instance. Extrapolations are endless. In fighting units one will be fed data of position and conditions of his fellow combatants and will in a tactic fashion asses the best place to hide or advance to. In simple words - neural pulses are transformed into bits, travelling via the wireless and translated back into neural information stimulating the neurons, producing chemicals accordingly in the brain, activating sensual centres and delivering data.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY - What can most shortly be expressed as reprogramming of the code of life - DNA/RNA. It is possible to turn genes off and for instance no longer have to store long term energy in the fat cells, effectively riding society of diabetes and heart attacks. Another possible feature is to reprogram micro organisms to work in our favour, constructing foods or structures that are of benefit to us. One such example could be filling holes in buildings by simply injecting organisms that start producing the corresponding molecular matrix and eventually fill the gap and strengthen the structure. Yet another possibility is to reproduce cells of the human body, by growing them artificially outside of the body. Being scraped from the throat they undergo DNA reprogramming (adding genes more often than not) and are injected back into the organism, being recognised by the body and used accordingly in the regeneration process of various organs - lungs, hearts, livers ect. Or using 3d printing technique, to produce an extracellular organic matrix then populating it with modified stem cells, extracted from the body of the host. By renegotiating the genome sequence of the stem cells they are changed into the constituents of an organ, ready to populate the 'sponge' and grow into a functional organ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - an entity is truly intelligent only when it is possible to understand what you want and need at the moment. Witnessing our fellow humans, that may be an inappropriate explanation but... At the moment there are computers reading huge chunks of the available data base. Soon they will effectively encompass the whole of human knowledge in the form of a cloud. It won't be able to give you a compressed summary, though, but rather a large source of data to consult with. Every related topic and paper on a given issue in almost an instant. It won't be able to give you a subjective processed summary, or rather it won't be able to deliver you things on the fly that are relevant to the situation. The better your question, the narrower the answer will be. Only when emotions kick in and empathy shapes thought in ways similar to those of the caveman will an AI be able to discern what is relevant. Even though global data base is available at the moment, robots will only perform menial duties in the years to come. A large portion of the assessment will still be done by humans. Robots will take over jobs on the low end of the ladder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FUNCTIONAL ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM - method of translating neural brain waves into electric waves; monitoring and recording them. fMRI scans give insights to the brain functions or more precisely which part of the brain is active based on what operation is performed or what emotions are felt. In the future these waves can be transmitted to robots and directions can be given only by a thought. For instance - robotic chairs for cripples, which are connected to transmitters(placed non-invasive) in the brain pick up signals for directions and execute them, transferring their otherwise immobile patron. These signals can also be transmitted brain-to-brain and a person sitting in one room can receive signals to move their hand involuntarily by somebody else via WiFi. As the technology proliferates it will become possible to make the famous telepathy accessible. Chips are going to become omnipresent. Signals from our brain will be send all across our environment and our surroundings will be manipulated, without us having to use physical movements. Curtains on the wall, the kettle, the phone, the television ect. will all become recipients to our commands. The technology poses some interesting and dangerous interpolations in the face of mind control. Although extremely immoral and twisted use of this technology will allow for mind controlled humans. Another use will be sharing brain power. When you're asleep, for instance, you will literally 'lend' your computational power to another person and help them in the solution of a hard task. Such as solving n-dimensional mathematical theorems of string theory, perhaps.</span><br />
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<br />Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-81898255601227734142015-04-21T14:56:00.001+01:002015-05-27T13:38:25.446+01:00Ground base - part 3<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mission of the Exo was to establish a ground post on this huge terrestrial Keplerite. It was to be the beginning of it's colonisation. Earlier probe telemetry had shown satisfactory amounts of oxygen and a gas composition similar to Earth's. Ozone layer naturally formed under the radiation of Ultra Violet light from the system's blue sun and, what was to be considered, an alarming amount of spores and seeds in the air.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Commander Ashley was panting under the weight of the bag; a lump of metal in cloth.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"One and a half G," Brick was gasping drearily. He was the least trained from the group for field dirty work.'On top of that smell!'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as the drop ship's door had opened they had started dumping the bags close by, under the open sky.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zyana came out dragging a small cylinder with a dome on top. Stepping heavily she put the device next to pile of bags.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'How long we have, Mnemo?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'It's one minute and thirty eight seconds, Chief,' Mnemo registered as Brick was manipulating the small control on the dome.'We're receiving optimum load within the energy limit.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Ok, let's scramble back,' he said as a quiet hum and a gentle ripple of a vibration was felt all around them.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trotting through the unpleasant mushy ground they crawled back in the safety of the ship as the humming was grew into a disturbing sonority.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The purpose of the Anti Ioniser was to create a corridor in the magnetosphere of the planet and disturb the cloud's movement as much as possible directly above them. It was their part of ground work in assisting the Exo to deliver it's load as safely as possible. The Exo itself was suspended in orbit and was travelling at thousands of miles per hour. On top of that it was still spinning to maintain gravitational field on board. With the systems off they could not divert it from it's wild movement. Even though there was a short window during which the reconstitutor could be fired and a pulse propelled downwards. To synchronise the cold calculations Mnemo needed to distance himself from his emotional side. An analogy in human beings would be those rare cases of heavy pathological lack of interest in the surroundings. Such beings were incapable of being humans. A switch from emotional intelligence to that of an existence in the form of a specialised tool.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the open freight gate the team saw a beams of light, illuminating the surroundings. In a fraction of a second they pillar of white luminescence flashed blindingly and disappeared just as quickly, leaving behind a cloud of dispersing evanescent sparkles. Five cubes from were there now, seemingly thrown in all directions randomly. The useless metal was now reconfigured to be whatever expeditionary equipment they could scrape form the Exo. In two standard hours it would hover above again. Hopefully close by.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the short spectacle was over Ashley stepped outside and put on the light from her circlet. During the speedy landing they hadn't looked around at this new world.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her foot found a soft bed of fluffy, pale purple moss, tumbled together in small hops, like balls of wool. It was everywhere.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Let's see what we have for breakfast,' she murmured.'Mnemo what did you bring down?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'A crate of food, bio-exploration sensors, first aid and a tent.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking around, Ashley's light illumined short tree-like growths with thin trunks and an oversized thick crown. Lean spiky leaves pointing directly upwards the colour of light magenta. On the mushy ground there were odd aquamarine spheres supported by thin stems, above the moss. Tallest of all was a reminiscent of acacia. The only thing taller than humans so far. Their leaves were in the same spiky fashion like their shorter cousins. And it was quiet. A magical moment.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An abrupt crumpling put her out of her contemplation as Zyana was coming out of the ship. She had unpacked a power bar ration, so needed by her demanding body. The swarm skittering around her.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brick was wheezing slightly and had put on a respiratory mask from his carapace's kit. His steps were visibly heavier as he walked towards the cubes.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I will take on bio.' He said to Mnemo.'That OK, Chief?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yes, start unloading and let us see what we can scoop from around here. Champ, go and help EV over there,' Ashley said with a thin smile. 'Einstein, you will teach me how to put that lump back together, alright?' she turned to Mnemo, gesturing at the Zorgathron.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">EV stood for Extra-Vehicular and was the designated, slightly mocking nickname for Brick.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Is Brick your real name, anyway?' Ashley mud-walked to the cubes. Wasn't the first time she'd asked him.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Chief, it goes back with the marines. And it stuck, unfortunately, throughout Academy after a while. Colonel was an old dog, that man!' Brick's voice came muffled from the mask.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Feeling better?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yes, Chief, thank you.' He raised his head from the cube.'But look at yourselves, springing around like it's the Tube.' The Tube was a weightlessness hangar for astronauts at the Academy.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'My arms feel much heavier,' Zyana joined in. 'And check out the lawn,' she was looking down as she was sloshing through the tumble moss. There was water underneath the vegetation. It felt like walking on a very soft damp carpet. Despite being the middle of the local night it was warm. Sticky in fact. The slight breeze was not helping at all and there was a sweet odour in the air. It felt like being in a quagmire. Ashley felt small droplets of sweat on her forehead.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You're right, it's a fair amount of work just being here. I don't suppose it will be Maryland hiking adventure.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I am already quite interested to see what the bio-exploration will come up with,' happy smiley.'Chief, have you ever had an experience with ZrX456?' Mnemo's metallic voice was betraying curiosity.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'That goes there,' Ashley grabbed an upper arm joint and hanged it against the shoulder.'So far so good, right?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Yes, brilliant.' Happy smiley.'Now I will just grab that -'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Chief doesn't know what she's doing.' Zyana said; grinning. Brick snickered.'You make sure to put that thing back in order. It's the only one we've got.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mnemo looked at Ashley, who shrugged expectantly.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Let's get on it, Einstein.'</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mood of the group was always uplifting. Morale principal of Commander Ashley. She wouldn't like the company of obedient dogs, but rather independent individuals. Much more reliable. The phenomenon at the ship was still an puzzling occurrence and the extreme reaction of Ashley was truly unexpected, even to herself. The veteran had regained her usual dignity and slightly condescending friendliness as they had busied themselves deploying expedition gear and assembling back the hulk of the giant robot. It was, however, the display of human fragility that was keeping Brick and Zyana loyal to the protocol more than ever.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mnemo, on the other hand, seemed naturally adept at morality. In some aspects he was still like a child. It had been close to a standard year since he had went on line. His AI module was integrated in an exploration drone, inhibiting a human-like, featureless body. His banks of scientific data were always with him, but emotions and curiosity were running rampant and, paradoxically, he needed to focus before assessing something from purely inhuman intellectual side.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brick had assembled one of the sensor bio probes and it was doing the first scientific inspection of this Neo Earth. The bot was hovering next to one of the 'trees', scanning and investigating the constituents of the body. It was slow but deliberate. Brick's life as a space walker; the drills and training in weightlessness hadn't make him weak exactly. But he was not a soldier like Ashley or Zyana. Less lively - more assertive. Careful steps and less danger.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zyana had unfolded the tend and was sorting the food supplies. Dehydrated menagerie of nutrition packed dry goods in need of water only. Some of it even had taste. The purifier on board the small drop ship would come in handy. Ashley and Mnemo had the hulk of the robot laid outside. It was taking more than usual not only because Ashley had little experience, but because of gravity as well. At first it seemed almost normal, but it was an ever present exertion and it would take time getting used to. In the quiet serenity of the night they spend the two hours it took the Exo to make a full orbit quickly. Mnemo filed in, informing that it will not pass overhead. Telemetry also showed that it's power was low regardless. An hour under the rays of the star was not sufficient to power up emergency alone. They could use the drop ship to change positions, but Ashley chose to preserve fuel. It felt right to focus on constructing some sort of a dwelling out here. No matter how basic it was. The slow work was calming.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day was approaching on the horizon.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The early sunrise greeted them with a sparse breeze. At first the thin orange light on the horizon bathed the high clouds in orange. As the star was climbing more it revealed a majestic plain all around them. They could not see any mountains; hills at best - casting their long shadows over great stretches of flat land. Bathed in pale yellow they saw distant lakes and ponds. A few trees visible from afar, their coronas azure against the shadow of their unlit side. They put on protective visors to witness the rising sapphire that was the sun. The breeze was blowing stronger as the star was climbing higher. Slowly the blue yellow was transformed into blue as the sun hanged just above the horizon then white that was the day shine. The wind was shuffling the plants and whistling around them. It was a pleasant change to that of the quiet murky night and a refreshing one as well. On the horizon there appeared a chromatic fusion of various colours. The distant ground was growing blue and then a cloud of colours was seen rising and creating a dance of spiralling dyes in the air, dispersing as it was picked up by the wind. The sensory probes hadn't come up with any insight of the world yet.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I think you should put on respiratory masks.' Mnemo concluded.'This looks quite thick.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the sun was ascending the bright blue tumbles on the ground opened up to reveal a gentle and wide array of leaves, thin as silk. The flowers opened with grace, surprisingly quickly as if greeting the star. The plain around had suddenly become turquoise and the gentle leaves were dancing in the wind as if they were waves in the say. The chromatic cloud was steadily advancing and they witnessed small buds branching out hastily from the plants; opening up to release spores and seeds, thistles and fluff; floss of all colours, picked up by the wind. Every plant had it's distinctive spectrum, but together they made a dazzling mix. For a minute they were engulfed in a haze of dancing splashes of rainbow and everything they could see was the faint form of each other and the ship. The wind cleared the cloud and it passed away as the day had finally emerged in it's fullest. They found everything covered in a thin colourful film. Their carapaces, the ship, the giant hulk of the Zorgathron, the bio probe bots. Strange fluff was adhering to every possible surface, still moving with the wind. The bleached purple of the plants was now smogged by the pollen.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wiping her visor Zyana was the first to speak.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Earth to base, anyone?'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Equally impressed here, Champ.' Ashley seconded.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind blowing was making the blue flowers on the ground move almost vehemently and the dust was shacking off the leaves freely.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I suspect that is a way to spread the species here,' Mnemo extrapolated.'I find this deeply fascinating. I just notice how omnipresent life is on this world.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking around they saw the cloud of pollen moving away, new plants releasing their dust in the air as the the day light was racing through the land.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I have to note that the temperature of the day is already perceivingly higher. It must be the reason behind the constant wind. Have you noticed it has been blowing in one direction only?' Mnemo continued.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I admire it. But I think I'm alive because of this.' Brick knocked on his mask.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I wouldn't want to breathe any of these, either.' Zyana continued.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Brick, check the bots and see if see if they agree with that dust. Zyana clear off the cubes, Mnemo check the ship and food.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This display of nature was bothering Ashley.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The inside of the ship was a mess. There weren't any conventional wipes to be used, but Mnemo improvised with a bag from the scrap metal. It still looked chalky and colourful. Happy smiley. The skittering swarm never fully got rid of the dust either. Moving around was a colourful carpet of bots. The food supply and the equipment was designed to survive exploration and even though no one expected invasive spores and seeds it was preserved. The exploration bots and massive hulk of the robot were good. The finer equipment from the cube was useless now.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole of the land had been transformed so rapidly as if somebody had tossed paint wildly on a canvas. Mnemo noted that the ground tumbles of moss were returning their colour.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'They are actually breaking down the pollen,' he was observing the ground.'It's a biological warfare in the form of a colourful display. I need to study this more.'</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was so fascinated that he asked permission to divert one of the sensory probes and observe the magnified spectacle.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ashley had sloshed away from the camp and was crouching next to a greenish murky pond close by. She dug her hand in the shallow water and took out a fistful of brown and green mud that was seeping like a jelly between her fingers. The smell was terrible.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Is everything here trying to grow on top of something else?' She turned to Mnemo.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You summarise it pretty well, Chief. It would seem every plant here had tried pollinating and spreading itself as much as possible. But it might be that the entire world is covered with vegetation and the only way to grow is to use the body of other plants. It is survival of the strongest in a simple sense.'</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Towards midday massive dark clouds started forming. The humidity and sticky warmness of the air had only been alleviated by the constant wind. The sea of blue flowers and bright purple plants was reflecting so much of the intense light that it felt they were walking in a dessert. Visors, breathing filter masks and protective glasses had come to the rescue. Equipment designed for hostile worlds with no breathable or very toxic air. The water purifier was marking the water content as hazardous. What looked so native to Earth was so hostile. The clouds quickly blanketed the sky and the temperature increased considerably, before a wild torrent of water started pouring down. The heavy gravity and sheer amount of water was giving the sensation of being pushed against the ground. The torrent passed quickly, leaving behind soaked and drenched stretches of land. The moss tumbles were swimming in murky liquid. Everything had become like a pond, from which trees and plants were dotting the landscape. It got dense again as the sun shined from behind the clearing clouds, which were swept away by the wind. Some of the gentle blue flowers, who looked trampled now, miraculously returned to their shape as the sun bathed them in light and stood anew. Other just stay - smashed.They saw rainbow in the wake of the passing nebulous sky. Whatever small comfort that was they relished it.</span></b>Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-92122345445621263762015-04-11T12:47:00.000+01:002015-07-03T13:53:12.444+01:00Ground base - Level 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The habitable Kepler planets list was growing with time. The name had remained the same, although interstellar drives and deep station reconstitution now provided the means to explore the planets in person. </b><b>ETSS54 had transported itself doing reconstitution jumps several times. It was encoding it's information and propelling it on a beam of light into the depth of space towards it's next destination. Every time a heap of particles remained only to be swept away by the stellar winds. And every time it was reappearing, using whatever material was around to reconstitute it's original hulk. It was targeting mineral rich bodies without any atmosphere and so, year after year it crept towards it's final destination, some twenty light years away from Earth. In it's wake it constructed beacons to serve and guide the exploration and colonization teams that followed. In some cases they were able to exploit novel research and establish corridors of low mass fields, shortening the times and resources needed to traverse the expanses between the beacons.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>The final destination was a galaxy segment rich in stars, three of them containing Keplerites in their systems. After final emergence ETSS54 settled and began mineral extraction from an asteroid to fully deploy itself. When it had been completed it launched away from the body and floated in space, a permanent outpost of the ingenuity of humanity. Curiosity soon followed.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>It was a sensation very unfamiliar to Zyana. Being out here, so further away from everything that had, now she was realizing, been a foundation in her life. She was quiet most of the time as she felt she didn't have much to contribute. Ashley's orders were intimately familiar. Clear, defined and easy to follow. One of the few things that made her feel relaxed and assured of herself. The long texts of the Flight Rules were a challenge. The code for space travel was immense and dealt with details that sometimes were going beyond the limits of pettiness, she thought. The revisions and reassessments provided an academic challenge that was alien to Zyana. Quite unlike the soldier life so far. It was comfortable back then with the legion, maybe perhaps dangerously so. After all she pushed for re-evaluation and reposition. Now she was no longer keeping peace with an iron fist, but scrambling over the unknowns of space. On the forefront of exploration, she wasn't one of the curious.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>Zyana released a small pulse to one of the bots and it relayed the message to the swarm instantly. They piled around her in a carpet at her legs and followed. She had a few basic commands, encoded in protein sequences and was able to direct simple instructions. Chewing a power bar she glanced at the reconstitutor. They wouldn't be able to take all of the equipment with them. Not in a single go. </b><b>She activated the holo screen on her wrist and the ship's schematic with the big black spot in the middle gleamed. Four bright dots showed all crew present. She made for infirmary.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>Serving under Commander Ashley was a privilege. Chief had an ubiquitous record and was a hardened veteran. The boys were making the atmosphere more fun. Brick was not a soldier, but he was a curious one and Zyana had showed him how to handle their SEE better. He had even tinkered a bit with the thing and actually made it's arm movement smoother. Zyana had never seen a truly autonomous AI. At first she wasn't sure how to address Mnemo, but the respectful manner of the robot's behaviour had really warmed the ice through. This deep space barge might prove to be more exciting than Zyana had anticipated at first. </b><b>Entering the small infirmary she swept the room with a single look. A mess. The SEE suit was dumped there, the pulse cannon piled on top. A set of plasmid explosives, electrocutor, ram rifles and a three combat carapaces. The swarm went for the SEE and she grabbed couple of suites.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>Brick and Mnemo had disassembled the Zorgathron and were hauling it on the drop ship. Ashley had just finished reporting to HQ.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Odd that nothing came out of the scans," Brick opened."Now I feel like a guinea pig.", he smirked.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"We might as well look like one, for that thing out there," Zyana's voice cackled.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"As inappropriate as it may seem, I am deeply fascinated by it," Mnemo linked in."I am quite positive that it also is afraid of us. Even as capable as it might seem to be, it's still holed up there. It might not want to go out."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"The thing put us in the dark. It deserves to stay there," Brick said.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Considering the difference of opinion, I still say that it might be after a contact."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Brick made a face expressing a wide "Oooo". </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"You two don't have anything else to blab about?!" Ashley sternly voiced in as </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zyana came in, hauling her load; the swarm skittering next to her. Brick looked at her with appeal and silently motioned his head towards the door. Was he admitting that only a woman can deal with it? The notion was entertaining and Zyana allowed herself a smile. She nodded back, reassuring him. Ordering the bots to go back and take what was left she walked out heading towards controls. S</b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ooner or later she would have asked anyway. Brick and Mnemo were debating over the comm about a better way to pile up the partitioned hulk, keeping it together with talks. Going in </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Main Deck door she removed her circlet and carefully knocked on a metal surface, drawing Ashley's attention. When the commander turned to look, she pointed on her removed head gear and approached. Ashley removed hers as well. She leaned in the chair and allowed the fatigue to trickle in.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Boss," Zyana began calmly. "I want to be ready for that thing. What was it? I want to know."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Leaning on one side, hand supporting her head Ashley took a moment before answering.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"I don't know, champ. I thought it didn't look threatening. It was looking around as if not making any sense out of it. I could see it's head shuffling around. Too dark to tell you clearly what it looked like, but then it looked at me. Those two eyes I will remember. That's the time I lost all grip, champ.Not afraid as when I was running for shelter in the trenches; nor angry as when my mates were dying. Not like when we're pushing through the meat shield. Those things help us to be better soldiers, champ. It was something else. Panic... And I held to the only thing that made sense to me then." </b><b>Tired, she turned her gaze back to controls.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>After a short pause, Zyana said, "I've got your back, Chief." She turned and left controls to s</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>tock on gels and hypos from first aid. </b><b>Soon after all of them were clad in carapaces and the small cargo loaded with the emergency gear. </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspection done; systems on-line; power-check; landing thrusters-ready; fuel tank- full. </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They detached themselves from the dark body of the Exo and an unspoken wave of relief followed. The ship was going through the night side of the planet and the landing site was pre-mapped. It was almost at the centre of the dark globe. A push from the thrusters and the small vessel moved towards it's destination. Soon they would enter the atmosphere. </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ashley was conscripted from a very young age by the royal marines, back on Earth. Instead of finishing high school she carried a machine gun for graduation day. The world was a grim place thirty years ago. Quiet uprisings - stopped at their very inception with corporate diplomacy; mass and obvious surveillance; inequalities everybody knew of but no body was talking about slowly brought desperation in the hearts of men. And as the philosopher had said "If humanity does not invent Utopia it will self consume itself." The system causing the waves of unrest was struggling under it's own weight, but in the name of order, "sacrifices" were made for the good of society. Some of the intertwined economies of the world were facing default just as various corporations were swallowing states and one day somebody was waking up with the same laws in the book, but paying their tribute to a corporation rather than a country. Constitutions were changed into handbooks of clauses; public norms became way of assimilating oneself in the work force; etiquette was forgotten; global economy changed from prosperity to rent seeking. Without an original malicious intent humanity was plunged into a dark bubble of gripping stasis. Desperation gave rise to waves of unrest. A gradual dissolution of a system, where everybody who participated were truly equal only because they shared the poverty. In the midst of the rising chaos were those who chose to preserve peace, rather than cling to an old world order; those who valued knowledge or had seen divinity in creation. Those with will, power and drive. Those who ascribed worth to life and viewed progress in light of advancement and discovery. Technology gave them the means to oppose the dissolution and preserve a body that could recreate society. Sadly the savagery of the trenches was a key to the preservation. The rest of the crew weren't even born then.</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brick was reciting from a small prayer book in a low voice as the sudden rocking of the ship indicated entrance in the atmosphere. Intrigued, Mnemo was peeking behind his shoulder, childishly taken in by every new thing presented and visibly ominous of the shacking that has now grown into massive reverberation. A happy smiley was projected on the screen. The serene open space background outside changed into deep purple haze, followed by a night sky. The clear bright dots of the distant stars began flickering as they entered mesosphere. Zyana was gripping the two sides of her arm chair and had herself strapped tightly. The sensation did not please her much. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The swarm was squirming comically as they shuffled around the floor of the vessel as the vibrations were tossing them around.</b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Ashley was apparently not bothered at all by the turbulence. A sound of alarm came from the console and a "Critical height reached" sign flashed on a holopad. Brick brought his seat close to controls.</span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Override!" A brief blue flash engulfed the deck.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Engage manual!"</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, Captain!" a metallic voice was heard.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Frontal thrusters, please!" His fingers were quickly going through buttons on the console and a holo keyboard.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mnemo's readings indicated high pulse in Zyana and steady in Brick and Ashley. Flat smile face.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, Captain!"</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A deep thrum came, followed by a huge tremor in the ship; the rocking receded. Brick did not stop moving his hands between the keyboard and a soaring schematics of the drop ship.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Balancing engines, please. Maximum power on frontal thrust!". The unsurprising 'Yes, Captain' came again; they could see the quickly approaching ground outside.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Distribute propulsion!" All the rocking from before was gone. They were now descending cosily into the lower parts of the atmosphere.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Lower retraction." </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A distinct "thump" was heard, followed by the receding sounds of the engines going cold.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Ladies and gents. Welcome home!" Brick smiled as he looked at the rest of the team.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Brick, I will hand it to you. Don't become an ass hole, though!" Ashley curved her mouth in a smile.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Deeply interested. I have some questions, concerning the process," Mnemo said as he unfastened. Happy smiley.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Eight years in space academy, and they still don't think you're ready. If you can deal with the constant assessments, please I will show you everything." Brick did a lightly mocking bow.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a landing done without the full support of navigation processor. </b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That and Mnemo actually had a lot of respect for any academic knowledge. Even though he could probably outpace any human in terms of learning he was taken in by an immense curiosity about the world. </span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ashley was already at the door, </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Aright ladies. We've got work to do!"</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The swarm gathered again at Zyana's feet and she followed close by.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, Chief!" the three of them replied.</b><br />
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Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-66903003415753100832015-04-08T07:16:00.000+01:002015-07-03T12:22:00.607+01:00Ground base - Level 1 <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The muzzle of the pulse rifle flared, brightly lighting the foyer on spasmodic flashes. The heavy portable cannon thundered in semi-automatic, propelling huge rounds which devastated the corridor and left metallic scatters and shreds in the wake of a shower of sparks.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The SEE suit's (servo extended exoskeleton) depleted battery reminded of itself with an alarming beep. The gradually returning weight of the suit made Ashley lean towards the wall. She let go of the trigger of the cannon and crashed with a disappointing clang. The SEE hummed down one last time and went cold completely.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fuck!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Staring intently at the debris left from the shooting frenzy, commander Ashley couldn't see any movement. She looked at darkness beyond, but there was nothing there.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Chief, I feel the moment is not right, but I see your heart rate going through the roof", a fast metallic voice thrummed from the transmitter.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She unbounded her body from the SEE and with an angry kick released the safety of the oversized right limb of the battle suite, still gripping the cannon. Her arm sprang out from the shell, sweaty and numb. She had squeezed hard.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Gim'me a reading!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Chief I still have no connection to the freight decks and I detect no movement other than the four of us in the parts visible", Mnemo's voice replied.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fuck!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ashley's red hair, shaved on one side of the head, spoke of her fiery temper. She had a vicious a scar going forehead to mouth, making it's way through one the fierce eyes. Constitution of a hardened soldier and an attitude of a long-life veteran.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Close down this section and send a swarm to collect that piece of rubbish", she punted the SEE, "power preservation is crucial, charge up the drop ship and reconstitutor, save enough for command deck and communications while we're on ground and if there is anything left grab the Zorgatron and scour the freight deck! No body is to go in the dark, ok?!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Should I put you in the dark then, Chief?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Go for it!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A slide door clapped in front of her and sealed the wrecks. All lights powered down and she put on the flash light from the circlet. The bugger had escaped and they didn't even know what exactly it was. The fact that they didn't have any proper battle gear didn't help much either. This exploration barge, named Exo3 was to establish a link on the ground in three standard days, but the events now were pushing in a different direction. They couldn't go by the Flight Rules book now. First the EMP had dispersed everything they had and now they lived only on secondary emergency. They had send a message back to ETSS54(extraterrestrial space station) as soon as they were clear what was going on, but it would take close to a standard day to reach them. Another day for a recharge beam to travel back, plus the fact they were suspended in orbit and wouldn't be able to indulge properly. The best the Station could do still wouldn't be enough to fix the the scrambled electronics of the ship. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She felt the crew needed to get out of this tin can as quickly as possible.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mnemo! Get everybody in Controls!", Ashley barked while exerting on a push valve to open a slide door manually.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Certainly, Chief!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mnemo was best described as an unauthorised piece of artificial intelligence. It came packed in an original shiny body from HQ - "providing crucial expertise and quick assessment of environment". Whatever that meant. Brick had underground algorithms from the network back home, or basically all those AIs that loved their individuality but put on a fake mask in front of the world. They didn't like themselves wired with protective chips and circuits to fry them up in case they were going through with the wrong thoughts. Blessed by hackers and outsiders, a true blend of equality and freethinking.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They had reconfigured EU54x2 and gave him the name Mnemo. Ashley knew it had worked the moment she had pointed a gun at Mnemo and saw the confusion and fear of the robot. It was feelings and emotions, not computational power that made AI truly intelligent. The robot never quite got rid of a nervous tinge in it's voice since then. But he was way more useful like that and became an indivisible part of the team. It had taken a bit for Mnemo to understand the drive behind Ashley's action.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brick was the one constantly tinkering with Mnemo's original body. The one Mnemo liked to inhibit most often. Brick had even given Mnemo a screen on which basic emoticons were displayed based on the mood of the AI. An engineer and a space walker, Bricks was a techie who liked tinkering with anything. Unshaven, slightly sarcastic, focused and efficient individual, he could never make it to management or command, but fit right in exploration. He was comfortable here and was the one most well acquainted with Flight Rules.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Making her way to main deck, Ashley was greeted by Zyana.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"How went the hunt, boss?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A serious glint from Ashley was all the answer she got.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zyana was from the G.E.B. legion. Had a ball of nerves called an electric organ in herself. A battery in a way. She could sustain a current for short time, transliterated into reading pulses via genetic code and was capable of powering up SEEs, electronics and equipment for brief periods. Would need to stuff herself on protein bars make her body work back the power loss(which didn't sit well on her waist), or spend some time with that strange glove. Not individually engineered, G.E.B. soldiers were mass-enhanced. Reliable in any case, Ashley was glad to have somebody like her on the team.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"OK team!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mnemo was wired in cables, looking after the ship, but he respectfully turned his expressionless mannequin face towards her. Flat mouth face on the holo projection. Brick was staring from the lifted visor of his battle carapace. The pulse gun on his thigh was probably just for comfort. Leaning back on the wall, Zyana was just in her jumpsuit. The Main Deck's light was shimmering on her brownish hair. Focused and calm almond-colour eyes were looking at Ashley.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We will have to get out of this tin can. We won't be able to execute mission as planned. Descend in exactly an hour! Mnemo how's power?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Drop ship charge to be completed in 9 min 47 s. To keep communications, controls and reconstitutor running I wouldn't be able to sustain the Zorgathron for full a inspection."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Brick, you and Mnemo disassemble the thing and load it on the drop ship then. Manual only. Zyana, prepare the cubes for descent! Get a swarm and don't overdo the power. After you're done take every possible fire arm and stock on first aid. Keep a visual on Main Deck's console and check as often as possible. I want everybody to know where everybody else is at every moment! Constant radio connection!", a short pause.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The three of them stood in silent expectation.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Good! Let's get out of here!"</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Yes, Chief!"</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They made for the exit and Ashley turned to main control. Brick, Mnemo and Zyana exchanged quiet looks then. Brick turned to Mnemo and nodded, holding his tense gaze a bit longer, then proceeded towards robotics. Zyana went to a closed vent on the wall. Placing her hand on the control pad she released a small current, awakening the bots and imputing instructions. The vent opened and numerous small, round bots, the size of mice hovered out of it. They gathered at her feat, like a carpet of bugs and followed her on her way out of controls. Mnemo turned around and stepped closer to Ashley.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Chief, that was an unusual reading I observed earlier." Sad smiley on the screen.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She turned her head slightly without looking at him, remaining silent for a moment. Exhaling she turned around.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I don't know what it was and I think it's not friendly, Einie. We need to scram out."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carefully Mnemo added.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fear is a great tool for self-improvement, is it not?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She smiled. You could not disappreciate him.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Thank you. Go help Brick, private!" She turned back, facing the screen.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy smiley.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, Chief." Mnemo departed with quiet servo sounds.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sitting in Command, looking outside through the ship's thick polarized compound glass shield. They were facing the night side of the planet they were orbiting. It was covering the top of the view like a dark patch. In the vast distance behind she could see another globe with a moon circling around the planet. Their edges were bathed in turquoise from the blue sun, which sat directly behind the distant body. The small dots of the stars were completing the serene and quiet landscape. The ship's rotation, supporting the gravity soon turned the view towards the dark side of the planet. She took another moment to vent off completely and looked at the the console. A screen was displaying the schematics of the ship, glowing lines were constituting the "healthy" bits. Half of it was out and the vessel looked as if it had a big black plot in the middle. Propulsion was out, freight decks completely dark, exploration, maintenance, engines - all offline.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She started recording a report for the Space Station. Her composition was returning and she wilfully focused on the memory of the bugger. She could not explain the visceral sensation. Not primal fear, but grappling panic. An urge to take action, no matter what. And the two glowing eyes.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They've named it the bugger out of better understanding. An hour earlier Mnemo had reported additional movement on ship and as soon as they went visual there was a flush of energy, dissipating the power of the cell banks. It was as if the ship found itself in a field that sucked out all of the electricity. After that emergency supply wouldn't be enough to sustain them completely. It was hard to decide where to begin with maintenance. The sun was obscured so no solar, and the orbital drift would make sure they wouldn't see another ray for at least two standard hours. Ashley had taken the SEE to pay a visit to whatever that thing was.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"So what do you think?", Brick was sweating. He had shuffled radio connection for a minute. He wouldn't take his combat skin off, even though he was feverishly labouring with an old-school wrench on the arm of the Zorgathron - the huge, nearly 4 metres tall hulk. A standard colony asset, they were glad now they had one more than ever.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"My reading is showing stable pulse. Med-telemetry is in order. But other than that I am always happy to see the human in things. It is quite interesting. Chief must have really been shocked." Mnemo was dismantling servos at the elbow.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You don't see something like this everyday," Brick added."I can safely say it worries me. You know you don't just see her go out of her skin, man. And she is doing a full report as we speak. I hope some smart ass doesn't decide Chief needs a demotion."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well, earlier telemetry didn't show any movement on ground. We can, based on that, safely assume that the ground site will be more secure than here plus we could not expect any sort of boarding to occur." Mnemo quickly assessed. Flat smile face.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brick grinned. You could perceive tension in Mnemo's voice as well, but his optimism was comforting. If they stayed here they would learn what was that thing sooner or later. The ground might be safer after all.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zyana was pushing the trolley towards the deck of the reconstitutor. She was loading cubes in the empty frames and entering details of the contraptions manually. The reconstitutor would be capable of extracting the quantum information from the cubes and propel them on the ground, encoded on a beam of light, essentially teleporting them. Wouldn't work with people. The orbital drift would make sure they had a small window to work with. After that it would be close to four standard hours until they would be able to send the next batch down. While passing on the sunny side it will recharge from solar partially, so power at least was not an issue.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cubes themselves were boxes, full of self-deployable basic equipment. Used to build shelters - sensors, generators, synthesis units, exploration kits, colonization essentials. Walls on one side and first class hotel rooms on the other. Almost.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The small bots were labouring under a cube, lifting it slightly above ground and she was able to push it on the trolley. Skittering away afterwards, the swarm went for another one, while she was depositing it in what seemed like a big empty revolving cylinder and input it's data. Colonization unit - field bio exploration. Weapons would seem like a better choice, she was thinking. They did not have many.</span></b><br />
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Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-74043295671000891562015-04-06T12:10:00.001+01:002015-06-19T18:56:09.787+01:00Escapism or FictionToday some of the affluent people are ready to adopt a poor man's attitude. They're ready to dress and act like one; think and swear like one as long as they have a face they can safely present to the public. Still, to say that there is no inequality in society is to deviate from the truth one hundred and eighty degrees. Concentrated wealth has pushed scientific progress, investing large amounts of money into it. One should always remember, though, that the best science has to offer has come from people with pure love for knowledge. People who were ready to think outside the boundaries of nation, religion and regardless of the tribulations of their current times were fully devoting to their work and passion. The greatest strength of the genius had always been humility.<br />
<br />
Perhaps there is a lot of aggression suspended in today's, so called, fifty lower percent(most of us here). There is this constant push towards measures of equality in the space of spirituality and religion, and how we should address the exploited, unemployed and employed alike. In reality - generally people who are not quite at the bottom to be frank. The worlds GDP divided by the total population equals about 800 euros a month income per capita. Just think what kind of life you would have to lead if you had about 800 euros a month living wage. Perhaps it would be a perfect more-to-the-left on the political scale setting where prices are regulated, rent and mortgage are perfectly fitted towards the world's fiscal policy, but to even mention these things in that order is to begin writing speculative fiction that is heavy on the romantics side. Observing an affluent family I've had the opportunity of being a guest to, I can say that wealth can also be enriching to society. Not just to the individuals that benefit materially from it. Wealth can also be an agent of cultural enrichment that is not necessarily confined in small pockets and isolated from the public. For instance the house of that family is constantly open to accommodate their guests(myself not necessarily included!); children's classes, workshops, debates and dialectics, gatherings for discussions over tea and large banquets have been held there, providing an experience that is more on the intellectual side of things, rather than the hedonistic. Before somebody points a gun at me I need to say that I am well aware of the obscene differences in income in the world and am in no wise a defender of the abided enrichment of some of the very few privileged individuals out there. Corporate policy of buying freedoms and preferential treatment from governments is one of today's biggest obstacles to progress. And not only progress in terms of money, but intellectual progress as well. Let us just remember that during the Renaissance in Europe intellectuality was a mass phenomenon with people willing to discuss science, poetry, music, art and share their writings and indulge in each other's creative attempts. Life was still hard, but a there was a rash difference between the Dark Ages and Enlightenment.<br />
<br />
But the fact that a rich man might be mistreated only because of the amount of money he possesses is also an inequality in a sense. To cut somebody from a group is to propel that somebody in search for social inclusion. Or in simple words: if a rich man is treated badly because of his affluence, then he will necessarily seek the company of other people that will share his status. And that does not bold well for the general society. A good majority of affluent people have worked hard for their status and have often times borrowed sums for education; to start businesses and so on. They are knowledgeable, classy and pragmatic. They have an enriched culture. I am not discussing morality here. In a perfect setting every rich man will have adopted the approach of that family I mentioned earlier. Sharing their house for children's classes, feasts and whatnot. That helps to alleviate so much of the sensation of difference. And it helps to define what one wants of life.<br />
<br />
Really? Yeah really!<br />
<br />
As often is the case with Hegel's philosophy, or the doctrines of the eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism or Dzen-Buddhism the negative in the world is needed to define the positive. They're really one. Or in different words - the positive cannot exist without the negative. Or the negative helps to outline the positive. In classical Greek drama the Good is having about two thirds of the total time on stage, while the evil has about one third. And quite often evil is transformed at the end. The negative flows into positive. One necessarily wonders - Why all the suffering, then? Not being completely ignorant of the lowly conditions of a significant number of human beings out there, I would like to point out there is a large amount of people self-inflicting sadness upon themselves, none the less. People with resources choosing to devote their mental bandwidth with plethora of possible ideas, not necessarily contributing to some betterment of society. Religion is one such thing. In the, what may appear as slightly dogmatic, doctrine of Baha'u'llah, there is a specific period ascribed to his dispensation on Earth. Just knowing about that eradicates any fundamentalist inclinations from every devout follower of that Faith. Just think about how many religious conflicts have been started with the excuse that a certain prophet had been final, complete;an agent of absolution! So in this case the negative can be described as the necessary ending of the dispensation(that much needed force of destruction) and the positive in the coming of the next prophet plus the absence of fundamentalist inclinations. Two thirds plus one third. Not a bad deal, one might say.<br />
<br />
Relative to science fiction? Why not?!<br />
<br />
There is an utopian and dystopian approach to writing some of the piecies. With the utopian being some kind of world where there no longer is the need for money(Yes I would love to live there). Some kind of a social heaven, where everything is taken care of by humane science, space travel is equalled to taking a cab and teleportation is possible. And the dystopian being the post modern society, controlled by corporations, oppressed without even realising it and AI taking over, casually dropping anti-matter warheads with mathematical precision. OK these are just two general and very quirky examples, but regardless, the general frame is there. Are any of these likely if the future is rooted in the world of today? I think neither. In fact it is more likely that inequalities will be carried in the future and science itself will not be crucial to alleviating the curse of class segmentation. Morality is the one and only integral to just society. It is perhaps time to say that differences in income do not necessarily have to breed inequality or social tension. Remember that wealth has played it's part in progress. Prosperity, though, should not be attributed only to or identified solely with wealth. It is only when carried to an excess that differences in income, transforms into inequality and continuing down the road through class segmentation, end into oppression. In a way, difference in income contributes to turbulence and progress; lack of extremes and excessed constitute justice and strong moral social foundation. Looking at today's world that might already be a fictional society.<br />
<br />
Anyone remember Far-Scape?<br />
<br />
Not very scientific, but regardless, the romanticism of it all was the thing that kept it going. A lost human being hurled to the far corners of the universe(or galaxy). Reuniting himself with alien humanoid species on a ship of their own. Speaking common language; having common sensations; feeling for themselves communally. They have differences, but by overcoming them they build a motley crew, who never the less is sticking together and even end up falling in love with each other. Even without having any special abilities and the ETs necessarily being more developed, our human protagonist is accepted for who he is and the adventure continues as they don't submit to any particular existing form of governance but rather seek their own way, overcoming multiple villainous schemes. Some of the characters and situations are quite cliché, but it ended breeding a lot of attention from the public. People loved it. But I wonder: what if the story was about a pirate ship on Earth. During the fifteenth century sailing the seas and picking up different races of humans and overcoming various difficulties, building a strong team and so on. Would then that series have been so popular? Is the lacking scientific explanation and sudden change of scenery to a world so far away, so necessary to produce strong romantic feelings in the audience? Or is it the freedom given to the characters? I think, subtly, most of us dream of a better world out there. But regardless, in science fiction, the science should never be omitted. Social transformation and change are difficult to simulate or predict, but it's much sought after by the public. It is easy to dream after a world where everything is taken care of, but it is hard to imagine how the English language would have evolved in a century, for instance. Both are cases of science fiction. But one is generally much more easy to fall towards to. Star Wars is, they say, highly unlikely. But there is something in the richness of the characters and the adventure in the throughout the universe that keeps people coming back for more. The evil alien leader appears here and there, sending his blood thirsty throngs to fight humanity, but it is much more rare to see an actual dissection of an alien body done in seeking understanding of this new encounter. The second one is more likely and harder to imagine.<br />
<br />
Society with diversity but without excessive inequalities calls for imagining morality on a global level that is attributable to the wider public. But how, then, would the villain look and behave? What would be the drive behind the story? Would there be a need of a villain? Remember that the negative is necessarily needed to be connected with suffering and pain. Would it be recognized by the public, if there was no particular 'bad' character in a piece of SciFi, necessarily opposing the protagonist; or our team of do-gooders being able to exist outside of an organized social system. The classical approach is put on your mask and fight evil around every corner. It could also be that in science fiction it will be scientific to describe society that is guilty of it's own suffering, through lack of understanding and inclusion and the fiction part is handled by the attempts done by the society to include stronger moral foundation. Science will only be able to help, but it will be morality that will have the final say. <br />
<br />
<div>
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Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19602191654011525.post-15349284082127695832015-04-05T21:09:00.003+01:002015-08-22T15:48:48.786+01:00Diamonds<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The quiet,
monotonous clatter of keyboards had a calming effect on Doc. After a while you
get used to the background noises of the office and without even addressing
them, they become a friend. Much like that grumpy neighbour, who after ten
years finally invites you in and you discover that perhaps, people are not so
bad after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">'An enemy is
somebody whose story you haven't heard.' She didn't like that saying. She
didn't like tolerance. She believed in conversation, progress and commitment to
integrity. One could say that these values had no immediate impact on her
environment, though. She had spent ten years in this office, immersing herself
in the menial aspects of the job. 'Research-assistant' - if that even was a
job...sometimes she felt that they were keeping her just because she used to be
part of THAT team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leaning on
her chair she closed her eyes for a minute. Taking small breaks were helping
her paint the grey day in shades of fantasy. She put her headphones on and hit
play. A soothing, calm voice began pondering on the wonders of nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"I
remember once," the voice opened. "I was looking in the open air and
one of those little and glorious thistle things came around and I picked it up
between my fingers and brought it down. And it looked as if it was struggling
to escape, just as if you caught an insect by one leg, a daddy-long-legs or
something. I thought, it's not doing that, that's just the wind blowing... Then
I thought again...Really? Just the wind blowing? Surely it was the structure of
that thing, which in cooperation with the wind was allowing it to move like an
animal. But using the wind's effort, not its own. It's more intelligent being
than an insect, in a way, because the insect uses effort, like a person who
rows a boat would use effort. But a man who puts up a sail uses magic. He lets
nature do it for him with the intelligence to use a sail, see? Now that's the
most skilful art of all. That's perfection!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stop. She
removed the headphones and listened for another minute to the rich and distant
buzz of the department. Conversations between colleagues; machines printing and
scanning; phones clattering, hurried steps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THAT team had
grown back an arm. Directly on the damaged limb, like a lizard would do with its
tail. It was the arm of a soldier, who had lost the original one in an
explosion or combat. Not really important where and how, but why! In war...
where people died, cultures were lost, knowledge erased and opportunities
stolen. They have used extracellular matrix to aid the growth of embryonic
cells. Each little tiny cell had taken the precise position after "consulting"
with the DNA of the host. And they have given a new arm to, what was back then,
a war hero. It was considered a huge success. Corporate actions were taken to
integrate that new technology and quickly to expand it into a full time service
for the good of the people. Or at least the people who paid. And those were the
military. It was even put in a commercial ad, promoting army service. “Death
will approach him f</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: right;">rom every
corner, yet he will not die"* began to have a real meaning for her.
Anything Religion had to say, she would not listen to, when she was young. Back
then she would not even take a minute break here and there. It would be just
the project, the dead-lines, the long hours; filling the emptiness in herself
with that love for science and curiosity. But the isolation of somebody who had
invested themselves fully to the job also provided those lonely hours spend in
relaxation before going to sleep. And after the scientific breakthrough and the
short exhilaration, those moments were increasingly filled with thoughts of the
on-going war, sifted through the media. There were the promotion ads, the
interviews, the corporate meetings, the desire of others to push this further
and further. The impressions of the tests done on marines and ...oh Lord,
amputations on volunteers. It no longer seemed like the proper thing. It had
run away from the vision.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So she had
decided to commit fully to the rational study and research for the last time and
plan an irrational act for the first. She had "convinced" some of
those little cells, populating the extracellular matrix not to take their
proper place, while growing and transforming themselves. In Computational
Morphogenesis even the slightest, tiniest alteration would produce vastly
different results. And with the right spot, the proper enzyme, the precise
location in the chain of DNA and assistance of proteins, the alterations were
invisible until the growth had begun. Fortunately, that was after the time of
the big presentation and public announcements. The success of the project, its
fame and the large sums invested in it were much more the undoing of it all. It
had gained too much momentum already and the weight combined made it plummet
down with severity. After the acknowledgement of its success, its failure was
not tolerated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She was sure
that the team could trace it back. She was sure that they would know it was an
intervention. If they had the time for it. It all too quickly became a mess
with too much pressure and too many opinions from the outside. Money reverted
to a different research team and some names were announced </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">"incompetent".
Several careers had collapsed and a winter time ensued for the whole research
theme. The public would not have any of it. And it would stay that way for at
least another decade. Maybe in two more, somebody would follow the trace of
bread crumbs and reinvest into the whole theme, reinvigorating the research.
She doubted any one would ever find out about her. It was just a tiny small alteration
in the process; nothing more than a small brick from the foundation of the
tower. And it had all desintigrated. The sound of the crash had muted her
footsteps.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doc wasn't
particularly high in the pyramid even back then, so she managed to keep working
in the field of science. But she chose to stay invisible. “Assistant-researcher".
Breeding simple organs for transplantation. Sometimes she felt like a farmer.
The process was so imperfect. But it was accepted because everybody was clear
on the side effects beforehand. Often patients' bodies would reject the organs,
stopping the blood flow to them. They needed to be treated with chemical
medications to prevent the rejections. Sometimes they would even fail
altogether in their functions. But it was named progress and it was accepted.
She could see where her colleagues lacked fines and brilliance, but she also
learned to live with it. Writing long reports was just fine. Putting the comas
where it mattered was OK. And she loved the small breaks. A bit of invisibility
was not all that bad. She still had access to the high-end equipment and kept
up-to-date with the latest outbreaks of knowledge. It was good for her hobby,
as well. And the world didn't have to know. Not yet, perhaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A vibration
from her pocket came and a message from "Techie".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Glass
of wine at 7 today?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Why
not!?" She typed, smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The
Arms Pub?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">"Sure!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To his
friends he was knows as the “Techie”. A like-minded person and, like her fashion
an invisible one as well; computer scientist, programmer...hacker. Careful
about what he said too. He was the one who had dug out data for the ill-fated
project she used to be part of and stored it away for the future. It would have
been a shame to let go of all that work just like that. There was place for it.
Just not in the world today perhaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She put her
headphones on and played Nocturnal Sonatas, continuing to generate text. Ten
years of service had also earned her that. Her peers didn't mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Managing to
finish the quota for the day early, she signed off and drove home. It was nice
having the roads without the usual rush-hour congestion. End of spring and a
late sunshine out there. The sky was clear and the pleasant wind was flowing in
through the window. She didn't have to focus much on the rest of the drivers
and could relish the trip. Doc didn't have one of those self-driving GPS
instalments. They would move slower, anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Coming back
to her small house she took a quick shower and went into her living room. It
looked something like a nerd's Hi-Tech den of science. An artist's small
private altar of creation, which no body was allowed to look at. Neatly
organised, a bright lighting from the ceiling illuminated a desk with a large
desktop screen. There was a thick pile of documents next to it and a small
library on the wall. Biology, Neuroscience, Organic System's Functions,
Anatomy, Gardening, Scientific Documentaries, Zoology, Insectology, Medicine,
DNA research, Wet Nanotechnology, Engineered Cells. It was a small haven of
books on how to build your own Morphogenetic creation. Aquariums were covering
another wall. In some, insects from around the world were breezily crawling around
or just standing there, trying to imitate their environment in wait for
something to </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">happen. Some
tanks were brightly lit, high-lighting the flora or fauna contained therein.
Some had pipes connecting into them and those were coming out of specific gas
bottles. She went through a pressure and quantity check. A habit of hers, she
was making sure every day, even though there was enough left for two weeks. Everything
in a controlled environment, carefully taken care for and observed to assure
every need was met. Microscope, flasks, Petri dishes, small instruments of the
trade - injections and miniature forms of cutlery-like utensils, a sterilizing
oven, a spin coater device. She could not do everything here, though. It was
her home and hygiene was an issue. But between the laboratory and her home she
had a lot of freedom. Here was her heart. The large aquarium on top of the
table.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a
grey, metallic mask hanged from the ceiling. It looked something like the old
Greek Personae from the theatres. No expression, just holes for the eyes and
mouth and no general features. It was smooth, dark, somehow soft and oily -
graphite. It was home grown in that big large aquarium. Fungal moss lay on the
soil on the bottom. Orange growth was expanding in circles across the surface
of the moss. The orange circles had greying bits on top of them. Those were Meta-Engineered
Cordyceps mushrooms, feeding on the hosts' proteins and replacing the tissue
with their own. This one had been kindly "instructed" to deposit part
of the Carbon, so Omni-present in all organic things, on the top in particular
patterns. It was slowly forming plaques of carbon allotropes. Every time it did
not create what she was after it just lumped together as a piece of graphite.
What do you think she was after...diamonds? She was happy enough for that. It
was single wall carbon Nano tubes; long strands of them, preferably; compounded
into a single thread if possible. But adjustments were needed. And that's why
it was so fun. It was a fascination with nature rather than shimmers and glimmers
in front of the camera.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">After the
inspection was done, she put on some comfortable clothes and walked out of the
house. The rest of the people from the group she was part of were just </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">as important
now as her old passion for success. The days were ever more pleasant if you
could share them with humans who thought like you did. That, her hobby and her
knack for knowledge were keeping the empty house warm and delightful. If she
had to rely on old fame she would have probably been lonely today. She knew it.</span></span></div>
Yasen Boyadzhievhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07239715927892500713noreply@blogger.com0