synopsychic | Week 3: early

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Week 3: early

As far as I can investigate into such things, the Orthorhombric Lattice is the originating point for all of this. Thetan is furious enough to disregard the risks.

For me, the greater good outweighs the risks. Doing a Sift on the fractals will give us more information and we are going to need all the information we can to fix this in a way that doesn't cause further harm. Even with significant psychic protection, there is probably still risk.

Given the risk, please take time to consider if it's worth it to you before volunteering. Who knows Sift or is willing to learn it in order to figure out what these fractals do? There are other useful skills from that world as well, so if you know them, or are willing to teach them before we begin, please speak up.

Once we have gathered a group and coordinated, I propose that the Sift itself happens on Aratta. The signals and even just the INVLEP software does influence choices, but to a greater extent in the dream.

If you know of other methods for getting information from the fractals, I would like to hear those as well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm on Aratta for the moment. Thetan wasn't a dreamer, and if we go to Questing Country in spite of that, I want it to be his choice.

Okay. I can meet with you there. The game store has enough foot traffic to not be weird for us bumping into each other.

I will be there shortly.

[And Thace will be.]

[It doesn't take Casper long to get there either - having a map memorized means you know the shortcuts, too. He's sitting on something that looks to be a bench, though one clearly designed to attempt to accommodate multiple species. He waves.]

Hey.

Hello.

[Thetan is in control, mostly, although Thace is very present. He's tall and purple, very much a Hecatite Synthetic. After a moment of prodding he sits next to Casper.]

My passenger has been discussing plans with you.

Yeah, he has.

[He keeps his voice low, in case anyone walks by who would care.]

... You okay?

No.

[Thetan sees no reason to lie.]

Finding out where all of this came from is not unexpected, but deeply disappointing.

[Something about his expression shifts, and there's a subtle difference in pronunciation that indicates Thace is in control now.]

We're working on it, and glad for your help.

I'll be around if you ever feel like talking to someone to unload some of the burden might help.

[Ah, there he is.]

That's what I'm here for.

[He's supposed to be a hero and help people. That's it.]

More than just, that, but excellent.

[Because Casper deserves help from others and freedom to be himself too. Thace isn't going to push it farther than that.]

Are you ready?

[No.]

Yes. What do I have to do?

[He doesn't even have Interface, so he's got no clue.]

I remember how Kanji did it.

[After reconstructing the memory with Advanced Mnemonics, anyway. He holds out his hand.]

Okay.

[He holds his hand out too, vaguely wondering if people are going to think they're dating. Do synthetics date other species? Something to ask later.]

[The interface is awkward at first, because Thace taught himself through a single memory of one, but once initiated, it's simple enough to pass Sift along. It takes seconds, in the physical world.

Although it might be a little tiring for Casper. Thace currently being in a Synthetic body doesn't quite feel the same strain.]

There.

[He can feel the skill flow into him, and then another - there's a strange sensation of linking, but not the same kind of connection a psychic one would be. There's a cold, clinical 'taste' to it that reminds him of formaldehyde and scalpels, and he sticks his tongue out slightly in an attempt to get the 'taste' out.]

[Eventually it settles down and he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. He's not sure he likes it, but he'll use it if the mission needs him to.]

Got it.

Excellent. We'll meet back here when we're all ready to get to work.

[And then Thetan is back.]

You are another one of them. What can you tell me about everything?

[It's not that he doesn't trust Thace (okay, a little distrust) but he wants more than one viewpoint.]

[He notes the switch, but doesn't mention it.]

It depends - which 'everything'? There's a lot of them.

What I have been researching with your friend, and events surrounding it.

... I have a particular hatred for those forcing others to become something they wouldn't on their own. I don't have much in the way of technical skill - I have basic computer literacy, but I don't know what to do with code. Still, when we find those responsible... I'm fairly good at getting into places, even if I have to do it the direct way.

I'm just glad that we got called. For one, we've managed to keep people from being at each others' throats, and for another... this is one of the better options of places we could have returned to. We're pretty sure we're almost done being pulled around by the Arcana, so having this as a last stop is good. It doesn't make the situation any less dire, but we could be dealing with things that make us go insane by looking at them instead.

I like these Arcana less and less the more I hear about them.

[But there is a hard-edged smile.]

Forcing things on others is abhorrent. Especially wisdom. If it is good and beneficial, explaining will share the wisdom and it will continue to be passed on.

Oh I hate my patron, but my boyfriend likes her for cultural reasons. He's allowed his opinion, I just don't like what her archetype can signify.

... Yeah. Forcing people to convert is... pretty horrific. Human history alone has awful stories of people being forced to convert to a religion or be killed. I imagine other species have their own similar stories, be it religious or political or social beliefs. Dialogue and life by example are really the peaceful ways of doing it - sharing, not forcing.

This will be a stain on the Orthopraxy for generations. Even if everything is restored to previous states perfectly. I don't understand how they could have done something like this. Why didn't someone stand up and say 'this is the wrong way'?

[He holds a hand out and gently puts it on Thetan's shoulder.]

It was likely a small group of individuals who thought that their way was the only way. Many species have individuals whose egos go out of control and they assume no one will mind if they take over and make things 'right' according to them. Or, if they know there'll be resistance, they don't care because those people are clearly wrong and either need to be taught or destroyed.

[Thetan so clearly recognizes those things Casper is describing, and it makes him shudder.]

I don't have the subroutines for nausea but if I was organic I think that would be the effect of the emotions I am experiencing.

I've got you. We'll do what we can and try to set up things better in our absence. We can't stay forever.

... Much as this place is nice, some of us need to get to our home worlds. Personally I've got to go fight and try to survive a war.

[He has to keep reminding himself. He's not going to be able to run away from it.]

It will have to be a fight. Whoever set up this... experiment--

[he spits the word]

has power, and they will need to be stopped from reinitiating. Others will need to come to our cause, but I think that much of Aratta can be swayed by the logic of forcing others being wrong.

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