Log:Riftgate - RG-1 - 05 - Inheritance

Riftgate_-_RG-1_-_05_-_Inheritance|RG-1 Inheritance 2009/02/01 	 Jade Diamond Alex Kismat Jolt 1

Riftgate Chamber
The walls, floor and ceiling of this chamber are constructed of the same shiny metal as the Security Area. The expense of entirely enclosing an area some twenty yards wide and the same distance deep, and fifteen feet high, with Questonite must have been considerable. Dominating the chamber is the Riftgate itself. The glittering black metallic ring is ten feet in diameter although the portal diameter itself is a mere eight feet across. There's a definite warping of local gravity which can be felt close to the Riftgate. When active the interior of the ring displays a shimmering silvery surface with rippling reflections.

On the left side of the chamber as you enter is the control console, several banks of electronics and optical computing systems, and a small but self contained cold fusion generator capable of powering the Riftgate independently of external power. At each corner of the chamber are ceiling mounted automatic weapons just in case something unwelcome comes through.

Setting Out
Janet is waiting for the team members to arrive. The technical staff are all busy as usual. Edwards is standing by to supply any additional equipment. The Rift isn't open yet but telemetery monitors are recording signals from a remote prode.

Jade is prompt as usual, and already in uniform. "Hey-what's-the-mission-for-today?" she asks, pretty cheerfully, looking at the telemetry herself before heven waiting for an answer.

Kismet arrives in her usual fashion, walking in with a reserved friendly smile and a neutral posture. "Good afternoon," she bids to Janet and Jade.

Janet nods to each team member as they enter. "Good afternoon. We have an potentially interesting one today. The world seems to be untouched by human hands in the area the probe has roamed. Initially there were no radio signals. Normal atmosphere. Very clean, no airborne contaminates. Nominal temperature and pressure."

Alex comes into the hall chamber, chewing on a donut and holding a coffee. He's got a white lab coat on over his lightly armored body suit. "Hey," he mumbles are mouthful of powered donut.

Jade says, "No-humans-plant-and-animal-life-though?"

Jade says, "Hey-Alex-how's-it-going?"

Jade says, "Hey-Kismet."

Janet looks at Jade, "Animal and plant life in abundance. Native to this area of the world. Your starter for ten points, Jade. What was the key point in my first statement?"

Jade says, "That-there-were-initially-no-radio-signals-implying-there-now-are."

Alex says, "'Initially'... What's the status of the radio signals now?"

"And-what-signals-are-you-getting?" Jade asks, looking at the monitors for an indication of an answer to that very question.

Janet nods with a look of satisfaction. "Exactly. Thirty six seconds after the probe passed through the gate a radio transmission commended. It's a repeating one hundred and forty-four length sequence of beeps. The number of beeps in each burst is 2, then 3, then 5, 7, 11, 13, etc.."

Kismet looks curious, "How long did it take for the radio signals to start?" She starts prepping for the trip with a standard backpack.

Jade says, "Someone-searching-for-intelligent-life-most-likely-then."

Jade says, "But-it-wasn't-there=to-start-with? How-long-after-the-probe-went-through-did-it-start?"

Janet nods again. "That was our guess too. A beacon."

Jade says, "And-have-you-found-the-source-of-the-beacon is-it-on=the-planet-or-from-space?"

Kismet looks amused when Jade asks the same question in what must be minutes later for her.

A tech brings up a time scale showing the signals started 36.000236 seconds after the probe passed through. "We're managed to get a location by triangulating while the probe has explored. Subtracting the time for the probe's presence to reach the source, and the time for the radio waves to return to the probed, it's exactly 36 seconds to the limit of our measurement.

Janet says, "The probe reports back by rift transmittion. That's internal and the probe is shielded as far as we can manage. There's no standard radio emissions from it unless we intentionally send a signal."

Jade says, "About 5.396 gigametres then, hm."

Alex says, "Is there a pause in the repeating radio message? I'm trying to guess whether the radio signal started in response to our probes, or if we arrived in between transmissions."

A technical calls out, "Col, we have a bearing shift."

Janet "The signal started at the beginning of the sequence."

Jade says, "That's-space=all-right-much-too-far-for-the-moon-and-too-close-for-any-planet-assuming-similar-layout-of-the-solar-system oh-really?"

Jade looks at the data while try to calculate mentally what the signal source is doing.

Other technician is working. "Second anomaly, Col. No cosmic radiation."

Jade blinks. "None?"

Alex says, "Can we analyze the doppler shift of the signal? How quickly is the source moving?"

The first reports, "New source location. It's now originating from where Sandy Bottom Island is on our dimension. But the signal strength is the same. It's transmitting at a lower power."

Jade says, "Do-we-have-the-rubber-raft-we-requested-a-fortnight-since we-might-be-needing-it unless-you've-scouted-enoug-to-know-otherwise."

The second technician answers Jade. "There's nothing coming from outside the solar system. That is assuming there is a normal solar systenm over there. No cosmic radiation. No background radio emissions. No high-energy particles except from the Sun itself."

Kismet finishes preparing. She looks much like she has little understanding of all the sciencey talk.

Alex says, "Hunh."

Edwards grins, "Given a fortnight I can get anything. Yes, Jade. We have three of them in stores, Modified as requested."

Jade says, "Sounds-like-we've-been-isolated-somehow-that-or-it's-a-very-small-universe I-suggest-we-get-a-move-on if-they're-coming-looking-for-us better-if-they're-not-coming-through-the-gate-to-visit-us."

Alex nods. "Sounds good. I'm interested it taking a first-hand look at this."

A technician answers Alex's question, "There was no doppler shift, Sir. The source was in one location. Then it was in another. No measurable movement or break in transmission."

Jade smiles to Alex, "Good-to-have-another-good=brain-along."

Jade says, "Teleportation-then-most-likely."

Alex smiles back. "I was thinking the same."

Jade checks telemetry for signs of a sonic boom in case it's just very fast flight though.

The technician lloks doubful. "If it was, they adjusted the transmission so the start from the new location tied in exactly with the end of the transmission from the original location."

Kismet suggests, "Maybe there's multiple sources."

Alex nods to Kismet. "Good idea... What say we open up the box and find out what's inside?"

Jade says, "Hm-interesting that's-a-posibility as-is-that-they're-tinkering-with-the-telemetry-to-give-us-false-readings I-wonder-though...."

Jade says, "Well-let's-go-speculation-on-limited-data-only-gets-us-so-far."

Jade hauls her backpack on.

Kismet nods. "I'm ready."

Alex sheds his labcoat and stuffs his donut into his mouth. "Mnnrhf!" he says, nodding.

The technicians look at Janet. She nods, "Open the rift." Without Kibin to admire the effect they simply open it quietly. No sound effect or swirling vortex this time.

Crossing the Rift
Jade looks at her companions and decides to through first, which she does promptly.

Alex walks through too, shrugging on a backpack of equipment as he goes.

The air of the other side is fresh and crisp, with a bite of chill from a winter's day. The sun gives some heat though. The trees and leafless except for the evergreens and the ground is covered by fallen leaves. There's the sound of birdsong and a chittering of animals braving the weather.

Jade looks about, taking in the geography. "The-low-parts-of-the-city-are-likely-to-be-marsh-if-it's-like-Earth-1-before-humans. I-wonder-what-it-looks-like-at-night."

Alex says, "Hmm. I'm not too eager to find out. I'm a city boy at heart -- camping out here isn't all to appealing."

Kismet is surrounded quickly by a lightly glowing violet aura to meet the winter chill. "Probably really dark if there's no moon."

Jade says, "I-meant-that-the-lack-of-cosmic-radiation-implies-a-lack-of-visible-stars well-shall-we-head-to-the-island?"

Kismet nods. "I'm ready."

Jade heads east. "I'm-surprised-they-let-you-come-on-missions-Alex-I'd-have-thought-you'd-be-thought-too-valuable."

Kismet smiles. "We're his meat shields?"

Alex says, "It works both ways -- I insisted on going on the field missions -- made them put it in writing."

Kismet nods thoughtfully. "Writing is a good thing to get statements in, yes."

Jade says, "Ah-good-plan hm-I-didn't-have-to-insist I-hope-they-don't-think-I'm-dispensible!"

A large wolf comes through the trees towards the group, padding placidly over at a walk as it approaches.

Kismet glances at the wolf, "Single wolf is pretty rare, right?"

Jade says, "Coyotes-can-display-pack-behaviour-so-it's-likely-canines-can-learn-both-solitary-and=pack-behaviour..."

Jade says, "Hi," to the wolf, experimentally. While observering it to see if there's anything odd about it.

Kismet quietly says, "Wolves aren't solitary animals. They work in packs as a rule."

More wolves are filtering through the trees following the assummed pack leader. The leading wolf gets to the closest member of the group and rubs up against their legs.

Jade nods, "As-a-rule-yes."

Alex says, "Without humans about... I wonder if it knows to fear us... huh?"

Kismet suggests, "Wolves... don't mark other creatures like that." She offers her hand, and gently sees if she can meet mind contact with the leading wolf.

Jade says, "Hello-can-you-understand-us?" Then starts clicking her tongue in the prime number series.

Alex says, "Hunh. I'm no animal behavioralist, but this is... it's like they've been domesticated."

Alex tries slowly reaching to pet the lead wolf, like one would a dog.

A group of cubs yap excitedly as they prance and leap around the party. The older wolves pass by, rubbing up against legs if they happen to be close enough on their way. The leader rubs its head into Jade's legs for a moment longer, and then returns to the head of the pack as they go into the woods.

Kismet hms. "Possible. They don't have the sort of mind we do, so I can't really say much. They're not only domesticated, but trained to be very friendly."

The pack leader rolls its head to rub up against Alex's hand as he pets it.

Jade says, "Interesting-why-am-I-half-expecting-to-see-leopard-lying-down-with-lambs-now? Come-on-let's-get-to-the-island-seems-the-mostly-likely-place-to-learn-more."

Alex smiles. "It's like a petting zoo."

Kismet looks mildly troubled. "I hope not."

Alex follows Jade's lead.

Kismet also follows, concentrating and seeing if she picks up any signatures of a more mental nature as the three move along.

Jade leads the group to where she expects Harrisburg creek to be - that is, about where Sea Breeze Boulevard runs.

Alex checks on the status of the radio signal while walking.

The radio signal is continuing.

Jade says, "Hm-well-there-are-normal-predator/prey-relations-so-how-do-the-wolves-fit-in?"

Kismet asks, "What have you seen the relations in?"

The creek is roughly where you would expect to find it. The area that Jade expects to be marshy isn't however. It's firm ground supporting the open woods and wildlife that you've already seen.

Alex says, "Let's see... What do the wolves eat? We've see signs of birds. Any other animals?"

Jade waves her hand about, "Oh-the-animals-in-geneeral-havn't-you-noiced?"

Jade says, "Hm-we=may-as-well-stay-on-the-south-side-of-th-creek-since-it's-dry-land it-makes-a-good-landmark-to-follow-anyway."

Kismet looks happy with the solid ground. "I hear them, but I've only taken notice of wolves so far." She shrugs. "You ever notice how most breeds of domesticated dogs look wildly different from wolves?"

The walk to the shore is uneventful. When the party gets in sight of the shore line they spot the first sign so far of any variance to an untouched world. There are a pair of metallic (?) pillars set in the rock at the shoreline. There are about 24ft apart and six feet high. Each is six inches in diameter and colored a shiny pale gold hue.

Kismet adds, "Flopping, rounded ears, curling tails, these are traits that develop as a dog loses the need to hunt." She looks at the pillars, thoughtful. "This has... some implications to me. Like direct control over the behavior rather than breeding it."

Alex starts to hum the music from 2001.

Jade says, "Possible-yes again-the-isolation-from-the=rest-of-the-universe-suggests-perhaps-a-zoo-or-garden-scenario or-other-things."

Diamond cocks her head to the side as they reach the shore and sees the Pillars. She glances across at the island and then looks at the others, "There are matching pillars on the island." she says as she peers into the distance.

Kismet nods to Diamond. "Sadly it's the least troubling thing I've seen so far."

Alex says, "Hmm. Maybe it's some kind of transportation device."

Jade nods. "Let's-find-out-what-they-are-shall-we?"

Alex walks up to the pillars and starts to try and figure them out.

Kismet looks around in her pack for a spyglass of some kind.

Jade approaches the same pillar as Alex, carefully.

As Alex steps between the pillars while examining them... he vanishes from sight.

Jade says, "Alex!"

Kismet ohs. "I guess it is teleportation."

 Kismet says, "Alex?"

Jade finds a stick to poke through the barrier, and tries to pull it back.

 Jade says, "Alex, are you there?"

 Alex says, "Yeah guys... I'm on the island. Sorry..."

Kismet ahs. "He's over there." She points to where she spies Alex through her binoculars.

The stick vanishes at the point where it passes between the pillars, and is whole and undamaged when Jade pulls it back.

 Jade says, "Should-we-join-you?"

Diamond cocks her head to the side, and seems a bit curious.

 Alex says, "Yeah. Seems like the fastest way to get here."

Jade nods and steps through.

Kismet ahs. "It's a gate." She grins. "I'm gonna jump over." She does so, begins leaping from where she is toward where she saw the gate's other point.

Jade checks the signal source again.

Alex says, "This seems much more advanced than our Transmat gates. We might learn a thing or two from them."

Diamond nods and moves to follow the others.

The signal is still on the same bearing and seems to be coming from about the direction of the lighthouse on the home world island, that is the furthermost highest point of the island.

Jade says, "Whoever-they-are I-wonder-why-they-set-this-up why-isolate-the-sea (assuming-of-course-the=sea=is-actualy-there)?"

The island is clearly a haven for seabird life, just as it is on the home world.

Jade says, "A-bit-hard-to-prove-unless-there-is-way-to-get-to-it but-another-strange-instance-of-isolation-hm."

Jade leads the way south across the sandy part of the island.

Alex follows along

Clearing a crest line you see the end point of your journey. Where the highest point of the island is sits a pyramid about sixty feet high and the same across the base of each face. It's the same pale golden hue as the pillars. The side facing you has a recessed doorway set in it.

Jolt has apparently been following the others all this time. She's been pretty quiet up until this point since she dont really know too much about whats going on "Hrm... I thought you guys said this island looked empty"

Alex nods. "I hope that they're not worried about being burgularized." He approaches the obvious entrance of the pyramid.

Jade says, "Well-the-door=seems-very-obvious do-we-walk-into-the-trap?"

Kismet looks for markings on the pyramid.

Jade looks for any marks or anything else to give an indivation of what this is beyond a metal(?) pyramid.

Jade also attempts to scratch the pyramid with a couple of objects, to get some more idea what it's made of.

Diamond cocks her head to the side, "Well I can walk in and see if it is."

Set into the front of the fairly obvious door is a cubical depression. It's about six inches on a side. To the side of the door in the recess into the side of the pyramid is a shelf. On the shelf are a number of shapes, some sixty or seventy at a guess, rather like three-dimensional tetris shapes, each with a color pattern on it.

Other than the door the pyramid is entirely featureless.

Kismet suggests, "I wouldn't be comfortable with that, but... I have no say in what you do."

Jolt peers at Jade for a moment and takes off her sun glasses and focuses on the metal. Jolt activating her magnetic sight to figure out how much of the pyramid is actually made of metal.

Jade says, "Intelligence-test?"

Alex looks at the puzzle pieces. "Hmm. Let's see if we can figure this out..."

Diamond shrugs, "I am not the brain here, just the oldest." she laughs a bit.

Jolt hrms and peers harder for a moment or two "Interesting... none of this metal is magnetic in the least" she informs the others "Well the only way to find out what's inside is to use the door"

Looking at the shapes the heroes see there are six distinct colors. The five of the same colors are visible on the walls and base of the depression in the door.

Jade goes to help Alex trying to work it out.

Jade says, "No-surprise-not-a-scratch-I-wonder-if-you-can-scratch-it-Diamond."

Jolt hrms and thinks "I really hope we aren't opening some tomb of ancient great evil or something..." she laughs

Kismet shakes her head. "Those usually have warnings, not puzzles."

Kismet adds, "Or both. Warnings are key when you meet ancient evils."

Jade grins on finding Alex can solve the puzzle as easily as she can.

Alex says, "Ok, I think I've got it..."

Jade nods. "Simple-really."

Jolt idly whistles the Tetris song as they work. Its a big puzzle basically not that she was ever good at them but she knows how to put peices that fit together in similar places.

Diamond looks at them and just shakes her head a bit, waiting.

Jade says, "So-it's-an-intelligence-test-of-sorts-like-the-primes-the-question-is-why?"

Jolt says, "To keep away the door to door salesmen?"

With some work Jade, Alex, and Jolt helping, manage to assemble the 72 pieces into a cube that fits into the door depression, with matching color patterns to the walls of the depression.

Alex helps Jade assemble the bits. "Well, it means you don't have to remember any combinations or worry a bout losing your keys."

Jade says, "Good-a-theory-as-any."

Jade says, "So-shall-we-insert-the-key?"

Kismet looks thoughtful. "It's automated, reducing the need for personal involvement on the part of the host."

Kismet shrugs. "If it's malevolent, I doubt it would have so much trouble involved in the setup for a result of entry." Alex says, "Sure"

Jade puts the presumed key into the depression.

Jolt will stick with her theory, its plausible in Mythbusters style. Then again so are big explosions "A jail has an involved setup for entry as well" the zappy girl points out

Kismet nods. "Though usually not in the form of an aptitude test."

Jolt hrms and thinks "True... You have a point"

The door lights up. A mental voice is 'heard' by everyone, although Kismet can tell there's no invasion of your minds. It's a broadcast <>

Diamond cocks her head to the side and touches her head, "Um, what was that?"

Jade says, "What-is-the-purpose-of-these=trials?"

Alex says, "Hunh."

The mental voice 'says' <>

Alex says, "Who are you?"

Kismet looks mildly uncomfortable. "Something really terrible happened."

Jolt hrms and thinks for a moment "Well it sounds like its some sorta test for a reward"

[To Kismet] Jade says, "What-do-you-mean?"

Kismet replies, "What do you think requires an inheritance of a world?"

<>

Kismet asks, "What happens if we are deemed unfit to inherit this world?"

[To Kismet] Jade says, "Oh-you-were-just-stating-the-likely-obvious."

Alex looks to Kismet. "That doesn't sound so bad, actually."

Diamond cocks her head again and looks back and forth between the others and the door.

<>

Jolt hrms and thinks "Well that doesnt sound too bad..." she admits, here she thought it might be flaming hot death or something equally horrible. Diamond nods, "I am all for it."

Kismet ahs. "Sounds.. a lot less harsh than what I was thinking." She nods. "Okay."

 Kismet subvocalizes: "We made contact with the remains of a civilization."

 Kismet says, "Seems they aren't here now, but they left a test for inheritance."

Jolt smiles and after short amount of pondering "Yeah why not take these tests" after all being returned to their place of origin doesnt sound like any of the trials will be potentially lethal.

 Alex says, "Poses an interesting question. They clearly have technology far in advance of ours. Even if we can pass the trials, are we ready for the rewards?"

 Kismet says, "I'd say we can try and see."

 Jade says, "Another-question can-we-take-them-at-face-value? were-there-native-humans-on-this-planet? did-they-pass?"

<RG> Jade says, "That-said-none=of=the=plant-or-animal=species-imply-humans-were-ever-on-this-world."

<RG> Alex says, "I say we try and see."

<RG> Kismet says, "I'm still wondering about the wolves, myself."

<RG> Kismet says, "I mean, why are they still domesticated in behavior?"

<RG> Alex says, "Maybe there's a zookeeper"

<RG> Jade says, "And yet they're not dogs - the species aren't feral, they're wild."

Jade says, "I-say-we-try-otherwise-we-don't-learn-much contact-with-the-locals-is-after-all-our-mission-even-if-they're-absent."

<RG> The same 'voice' as the mental messages says with a hint of amusement, "I can relay your deliberations to those without communicators if it would assist you."

Alex says, "Right. Let's proceed."

Kismet nods. "Well, that makes things simple. Are our signals reaching their intended destinations without assistance?"

Jade giggles. She'd assumed they been able to listen in and so the whole taking it to comms was silly.

Kismet doesn't look surprised when the voice speaks, though she does seem intrigued.

Jolt nods and thinks "Well lets go try."

Jade says, "Sure-who's-going-to-do-the-honours?"

Diamond shrugs and reaches out to touch the door, after all if something bad does happen, she can probably survive it the best, silly over confidence.

Kismet nods. "I'm ready." She looks for the source of the mental voice, as best she can pinpoint it.

Jade says, "Do you mind my asking what your species is, or was?"

<<We called ourselves human. But as you will be aware in mental terms all species will identity themselves by that term>>

<<Inorganic contact. Unable to perform genetic analysis>>

Jade says, "Hm well-whatever-you-are I'm-intrigued-by-the-general-lack-of-indication-of-your-having-been-on-this-planet."

<<We returned it to it's natural state before departing>>

Kismet continues looking for the source.

Jade says, "Ooh-very-interesting-who-wants-to-be-sampled-genetically?"

Diamond cocks her head to the side and giggles, "I am only partially inorganic," her armored skin shimmers and then oozes back to where it comes from leaving her in flesh, and tries to touch the door again, to see if that makes a difference.

Jolt shrugs for a moment and looks at the door "I hope I dont screw up anything by touching the door..." she seems hesitant

<<Genetic analysis concluded. Terrestrial DNA. You may proceed.>>

Kismet asks Alex, "How is it, do you think, that thought-based communication can be simulated with devices?" The door just blinks out of existance revealing a passage leading into the ptramid. Except the passage is longer than the base length of the pyramid.

Jade says, "Sufficiently-advanced-technology."

Jolt hrms "I guess only one of us had to touch the door"

Kismet nods. "That much I know. What I'm wondering would be the medium. Radiation of some kind?"

Alex says, "Brains are - for lack of a better term... *sigh* What Jade said."

Jade says, "Well-what-sort-of-test-are=we=expecting?"

Kismet shrugs. "Expectations are liable to fail us. Let's just proceed."

Diamond shrugs, "No clue, let us go find out?" she asks softly.

Jade grins to Alex. "Or-magic-works-too-but-I-dion't-know-much-about-that."

Jolt shrugs too and gets ready to follow Diamond

The passage leads to another door.

<<Beyond this door is a trial of might. If you are to inherit our world and knowledge you must possess the strength to hold it against those who would wish to take it. You may still leave if you wish>>

Jade smiles and indicates with her hand yielding the floor to the more physical metas.

Diamond cocks her head to the side and her skin seems to ooze and shimmer again and solidify into its hardest form. She smiles, "I am all for it."

Kismet nods. "Let's get on with it then." SHe looks at Jade. "Keep in mind strength comes in more than simple physical power."

[To Kismet] Jade says, "I-know-that-of-course."

The fight against the holographic opponents is tough and hard fought before you eventually win. The presence of Diamond and Jolt helps a lot. Kismet is not without use as the holograms react accurately to mental powers. Jade is fast and effective as always.

Kismet nods. "Sorry. I'm only a mind-reader when it's permitted or necessary." She grits her teeth. "Like now..." [ <You have passed the trial of might. The final test is one of the essence of humanity. One of you must open your mind to us if you wish to continue>>

Jade looks about. "Who's best, do you think?"

Kismet grimaces. "Probably me, being the most highly-guarded mind present... but there's a reason for that."

Diamond shakes her head, "I don't mind my mind being looked at, it is up to you all though."

Jade says, "I'm-willing-to-do-it the-question-really-is-what-they're-looking-for but-then-again-perhaps-trying-to=choose=the=best=counts-against-us oh-dear-I'm-still-suffering=from-the-classroom-trick-question-mentality."

Jade says, "Still-who-would-you-say=best=exemplifies-the-essence-of-humanity?"

Kismet nods. "Well, if we're going to lose because of what we think, it doesn't matter who gets scanned."

Kismet adds, "They can read our projected thoughts as it is." Jade says, "True-well-as-I-said-I'm-willing."

Kismet nods. "Go ahead. I'm really not."

Diamond cocks her head to the side a little, "You don't have to if you don't want to Jade," she shrugs and then nods.

Jade says, "Well-one-of-us-has-to I'll-do-it-unless-someone-else-feels-better-qualified."

Kismet nods. "It's only one of us, so someone step forward." Jade looks about. "Ok. I'll-do-it."

Diamond thinks for a moment, and being the slightly over confident sort, steps forward but as Jade speaks up, she bows slightly.

Jade lowers the mental shields about her mind so carefully erected about her mind as a consequence of having gone to school with telepaths. "You may enter my mind."

The volunteer feels a soft touch riffling through her mind and memories. Then...

<<We entrust our world and its creatures to you. Treat it and them with kindness and when you are finished with them restore them as we have done, ready for those who will follow you as you have followed us. Beyond the door that has appeared you will find the depository of our knowledge. We would not deprive you of the joy of discovery, nor the possibility that you will find answers better than ours in your search for truth. So the globe will give you an answer only when you have gained sufficient knowledge by your own efforts to formulate a concise question. The answer will be; YES. THAT IS CORRECT; NO. WE KNOW THAT IS INCORRECT or; WE DO NOT KNOW. In time we shall meet. We will be waiting for you>>

A door appears and opens. In the chamber beyond a six inch diameter sphere of glowing light hovers in the air.

Jade says, "Thank you - we-are-honoured...."

Kismet looks thoughtful. "Overall, I think this went well."

Diamond cocks her head to the side a little, "Interesting. They can confirm, but not just give, it makes sense."

Jade looks at the globe, and then to Alex. "What-do-you-think? Even-with-those-safeguards-that's quite-a-prize."

Kismet nods. "Actually, I can probably work a way to ask anything, even that which is beyond our present understanding..."

Jade says, "But-you-woudln't-want-to-spoil-the-joy-of-discovery?"

Kismet smiles. "Discovery can be a joy and or a burden."

Jade says, "Now-is-the-globe-portable-or-does-one-have-to-come-here-to-consult-it? I-suppose-we=can=ask-it!"

Kismet nods. "Also I wonder how long a single question can be. It said concise."

Jade says, "The=other=question-of-course-is-is-can-Transmat-be-entrusted-with-the-guardianship-of-a-whole-world?"

Kismet points to the device. "If you can find a way to ask that, with displayed evidence, it might have an answer."

Jade says, "I-wouldn't-imagine-they-know-that...."

Kismet looks thoughtful. "What's TransMat's mission statement?"

Kismet nods. "Given time I can find out by subjecting someone in Transmat to a deep scan, the way the device just did with you."

Jade says, "Jon-Masters-seems-a-good-guy-but-ultimately-he's-a-businessman-and-a-world-is-a-lot-to-exploit."

Jade in any case goes to ask the sphere if it has to be used in situ.

From the globe: -- YES. THAT IS CORRECT --

Jade nods. "Yes-it-has-to-be-used-here-which-is-as-well-taken-to-Earth-1-it-could-easily-fought-over."

Kismet looks thoughtful. "Ask whether the sphere has the information obtained from scanning you."

Kismet hms. "Are we obligated by contract to divulge information to TransMat?"

Kismet adds, "If so, I can cause you to not have the information in question, but that would require showing a lot more trust in me than I've displayed."

Jade shrugs, and asks if the sphere has the information from the scan.

From the globe: -- NO. WE KNOW THAT IS INCORRECT --

Kismet steps up to the sphere. "Is it possible to reverse the eligibility of the inheritance granted through negligence or maligned choice?"

The globe provides no answer to that question from Kismet.

Kismet looks puzzled. "not even a 'we don't know'. That's interesting."

Jade says, "Trying-framing-a-simpler-question."

Kismet nods. "Do you understand my previous question?" she asks.

Kismet grins slightly. "Musing in the form of whether one can actually break it with simple words comes to mind..."

From the globe: -- WE DO NOT KNOW --

Jade giggles.

Jade says, "Well-at-least-it-distinguishes-between-not-knowing-and-not-understand-the-question."

Diamond cocks her head to the side, "So what do we do?" she asks.

Kismet looks thoughtful. "Actually... uncertainty isn't a good sign in that particular matter. Well, I'm already seeing a lot of destructive potential in this."

Kismet looks around, "Are you still discussing with us?" she asks of the pyramid.

Jade says, "Better-uncertainty-than-imprecision."

The pyramid now has a feeling of vancany, as if whatever there was of the previous occupants has departed.

Kismet frowns thoughtfully. "That's... interesting. I have the feeling that whomever was speaking to us was not automated."

[To Diamond] Jade says, "I'm-not-sure-what-do-you-all-think? on-the-one-hand-we've-been-entrusted-with-guardianship-of-this-world-and-I-don't-think-we-can-care-for-it-ourselves-on-the-other-hand-can-TransMat-be-trusted-with-it? Can-Earthgov?"

Kismet smiles. "No one can truly be trusted with it. THat's the beauty of having such a society as ours."

Jade says, "Although-looking-at-it-practically-another-world-we-can-expand-onto-without-going-out-to-space-is-very-handy-given-current-relations-with-the-Guild."

Kismet nods. Thoughtul, she inquires, "Does a space-faring organization named The Guild exist?" of the sphere.

From the globe: -- YES. THAT IS CORRECT. SOLAR SYSTEM SHIELD BLOCKS ACCESS --

Kismet frowns. "Anyone else worried about that response?"

Jade says, "No-that-confirms-my-suspicions."

Jade says, "But-did-they-shut-the-Guild-out-or-did-the-Guild-shut-them-in?"

Jade asks the globe, "Did-the-Guild-construvt-the-solar-system-shield?"

From the globe: -- NO. WE KNOW THAT IS INCORRECT --

Kismet shrugs. "We can find out more later. Either way, they left this place but not by space travel. They abandoned it rather than expanding."

Jade says, "And-left-it-for-us-or-for-some-future-intelligent-life-evolving-here-that's-not-so-bad it-suggests-that-it's-not-an-accident-that-we-were-let-in."

Jade says, "But-as-you-say-we-can-learn-more-later. We-may-ourselves-eventually-do-what-they-did-here that's-no-bad-thing-is-it?"

Kismet points out, "I can't see a reason to abandon the place. It might not be bad, but what reason is there for not a single cultural group, even a small one that would prefer to remain, left behind?"

Kismet suggests, "There may be inhabitants still, just not in this region."

Jade says, "It's-hard-to-speculate-if-they're-advanced-enough-to-restore-Earth-to-pristine-condition."

Jade says, "There-may-of-course-we-can-ask-the-globe."

Jade says, "My-assumption-though-is-they-have-left-to-another-dimension."

Kismet shrugs. "Actually it's easy to speculate. Why leave it behind entirely if it's still worth using? Why cut all contact off from one's homeland? Advanced or not, they have a sense of sentiment about them. The wolves are a very big indication of that."

Jade shrugs. "Most-children-give-up-their-toys-ultimately-no-matter-the-emotional-attachment it's-just-a-matter-of-how-long-it-takes."

Kismet takes a breath. "Well, the next question is, how do we use this to benefit us without turning it into a weapon? And by us, I mean our world. People are going to ask questions concerning physics that I'm not entirely comfortable with."

Jade says, "It's a good question, but not one I'm happy to try to answer without more people here to discuss. And maybe knowing what's in our contracts."

Jade's inclination is to tell people being careful to make sure they share. Earthgov needs to know, not just Transmat. Environmentalists need to be told to make sure Earthgov doesn't just strip-mine the place. Mostly, enough people have to know to stop any one group exploiting it too much.

Jade says, "Of course, many things can go wrong with that. And the orb is another problem. Arguably more dangerous."