2. [Video] In which we...

[cursed_analysis]

Discuss an exit strategy


[The feed starts with Arro standing before a projection screen with a small device held in his hand. He smiles widely and takes a bow.]

Good evening, fellow citizens. Arro Caine, at your service once again. Today let me speak to you of business rather than trivalities; though I welcome those as well.

I have put in for a small venture, and alas the powers that be tell me I don't have the monetary requirements met. I have put in an appeal, and I have been told that could take over a month to complete.

Yet I will not let that deter me~ Let me instead of handle this through another means and ask you, the other citizenry directly. As you know, the Genessia Scientific Research Institute of Genessia City has been endeavoring to find us a means back home. I recently joined this effort.

[There is now a slide behind him showing Genessia in bold red, with perhaps a hundred branching points from it, some hitting other red dots on the slide and branching further.]

I'd like to propose an experiment; a possible means of tearing open a dimensional rift. I won't allow another soul to use it, but perhaps if I could take a small bit of help from you so I can study this method; a few witnesses to help monitor, some equipment to record and document as I have no exact measure of how much energy this method takes. I would also need a few clever minds for help on if there is any way to set a destination in detail once we have the means of actually generating such rifts on an even possibly semi-frequent basis.


[There is now a slide of a detailed illustration of a park with a jagged hole in it revealing a city through it, the proposed dimensional rift.]

This is of course on top of the work the Institute is conducting on simply finding the point of origin for all the residents here--those that wish to leave, at least.

Will it result in anything? Well, that depends on you, the government, and the will to succeed.

I will also field questions, concerns, and of course your many criticisms on the matter~ Let me also point out that this is simply a preliminary experiment, so do not get your hopes up, as the Insitute may deem such research too dangerous and ban it. So far I have yet to meet with serious opposition to the concept.

Comments

[Video]

[shy_mage]

I-Is that like teleporting?

[Video]

[cursed_analysis]

Ah, See Bracken~ Hello again.

I did not expect you, but I knew someone would ask, so I prepared a demonstration.

[He places a thimble on an orange sheet of paper.]

Now, imagine this thimble is a person. The orange paper is our dimension. Teleportation is a way to fold space, moving place to place.

[He draws two circles and then puts them next to each other by folding the paper.]

This is handy because it allows great distances to be traveled. However dimension hopping is another matter entirely.

[He holds up a red sheet of paper.]

Imagine this is another dimension.

[He slides the red sheet under the orange sheet and takes up a knife.]

Now, you can think of other dimensions rather like layers of paper on top of each other. What I am proposing is not moving from place to place, but to another reality.

[He slices into the orange sheet to make a hole he can fold out of the way revealing the red sheet underneath.]

Does that help, Ser Bracken?

[Video]

[shy_mage]

I... I think so...

[It was a little confusing, but he thought he got the gist of it.]

S-So, learning how to teleport w-wouldn't help at all?

[Video]

[cursed_analysis]

That isn't entirely correct, as the principles of teleportation are the same here, bending space.

Do you perhaps know how to teleport, Ser Bracken? It would help me quite a bit to learn~

[Video]

[shy_mage]

Y-Yeah, teleporting it easy. You... You just need a crystal, and to be i-in an open area.

[Video]

[cursed_analysis]

Fascinating~

Using a crystal as a medium...I might have to ask you to demonstrate one day, and I am reminded we never compared magic as we discussed doing one before.

Perhaps this would be a good opportunity~

[Video]

[youfool]

[Hey, it's this guy. Ted saw him at the party too near the end, and by then the fireworks were going. He wondered, a little concerned, if his bag might not qualify as a dimension in its own right. 'Folded space'...was that what it was?]

"Hello, Arro. Merry Christmas Eve to you. All I can offer here is well wishes, and perhaps a witnessing set of eyes. Still, the experiment ought to be terribly interesting." [And that means he'll blather about it.]

"Largely because I wonder if the powers that be will stand or...float for it. They most definitely have a restorative purpose in mind; I wonder if simply going back the way we came might frustrate them any? Then again, I suppose if one didn't want to be here all that much, it might make for an efficient way to divide wheat and chaff.

Did you ever think that our point of origin might be Genessia itself...? Goodness, that's horrible. To believe that you'd have to believe something can be 'born' at maturity; something I've never witnessed. Have you?"

[Video]

[cursed_analysis]

I have a hypothesis that many are here more willingly than they might let on, but alas that is opinion and not fact.

[You've touched on a novel line of thought, Ted. Though it is not one Arro has entertained.]

I can confirm for myself at least through prior experiments that my origin is not Genessia. I have more secular beginning, to my occasional dismay.

Ah, but I'm being rude, a Merry Christmas Eve to you as well Ted~

As for opposition? I can not say as it could easily go either way depending on the interests of those involved.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

Hah, so begrudging forbearance might be a little more coquettish than we thought? Well, I can't say 'no' to that; it always seemed that those who intuitively wanted nothing to do with existence were suitably shuffled off.

Ah, you're very sure of where you come from, then? How'd you manage that?

Oh, no rudeness. it's good talk. Yes, the spirits are usually very subdued, and haven't been known to lash out at...anyone, at least nothing recorded. Very inoffensive, that. Might explain why they require quite so many warriors as they're so keenly recruiting.

[Video]

[cursed_analysis]

True enough~ I have observed those that fate seems all too intent on handing a purpose though, to contradict facts.

Yet, for my origins, I had that spoiled in my youth sadly. It can be difficult to unlearn knowledge.

[Perhaps despite his incessant talking, Ted is very shrewd. It may be worth it to endure it.]

I have questioned this, but perhaps I should not as I have found myself in their ranks, to a degree.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

Exactly! It's the one fly in the ointment that makes one wonder about this whole escaping business. Of course, I don't say a word against patriotism and nostalgia and all the rest. But surely one must get at least some intimation of purpose? A reason for being here, even if one would much rather be somewhere else?

Although, then again, a trip to Memoria Park will disabuse one of the perfection of destiny; seems about half of us weren't meant to see the adventure all the way through. An imperfect fate, perhaps.

Er, it's the youth that's in dou--[An unsubtle pause. Speculation about where they ultimately come from; clones or copies or something, was sad and probably pointless till they had something solid to go on.]

never mind. Ah, you were a warrior in some degree? [It seemed more likely than 'spirit'. That's just weird.]

[om_nom_namur]

An' what the hell y' think's gonna be on the other side a that rift? Life's pretty damn good here an' it'd suck if some shitty worlds-consumin' aliens got wind a us jus' chillin', catch me?

[cursed_analysis]

Yet, my good sir, are you content with such? Yes, things are quite good here, though they could be improved still.

However, I do acknowledge your point. I don't intend to go into this completely blind, as it were.

Also~ If I am correct I think you started a business recently? If my venture is approved, might I speak to you of employing your services?

[om_nom_namur]

Ain't no place I'mma love as much as where I come from, but I think my chances a gettin' back there's pretty well sunk by this point. Means I feel like I'm stuck in a damn fishbowl, but I ain't in a bigass hurry t' punch a hole in it, catch me?

Jolly Eddy's is always open t' new clients. But what I think y' might be lookin' for an' what we do ain't necessarily gonna match up. Float yer idea on by me, though. If it ain't what we do I still might know a guy.

So I'm curious how y' think yer gonna break the reality we live in an' not muck it up worse'n bitin' a hagfish. Clearly y' wanna talk, so see if y' can dumb it down so us plebes that's gonna get affected by it know what yer gettin' int', yeah?

[cursed_analysis]

Tut, my good sir~ You cut me to the quick, but let me take on a more approachable tone.

I am looking, specifically for this experiment, additional security. As it seems I will be paying out of pocket; I can't yet promise a very high sum, and I dare not even speak of spending the Insitute's funds. Though the purpose of security would rather be to keep people out rather than deal with what might come in.

Now, as for how to not make a rui-- [a sigh] To keep it simple; I have controlled conditions, and a limited window for such a tear. Mainly; I want to document how much power it takes to actually generate in the first place.

[om_nom_namur]

Figures. Look man, I gotta be real clear with my crew an' our clients. We ain't bodyguards. We don't stick 'round once a person's got where they're goin'. Yer lookin' for the kinda shit ol' Ironwood provides, a'ight? Now, that said, seein' as how all my crew's also part timers, there ain't no problem if they wanna take on additional jobs theirselves, catch me? But that's on them if they wanna stand 'round lookin' for trouble. Hell, I ain't 'posed t' it m'self, but it ain't a service a Jolly Eddy's. Catch my drift?

So what happens if yer tear gets outta control? Shit has a way a doin' that, y' know.

[whiteas]

[ This is why she typically tries to make sure she gets approval access to experiments. This sounds a little tricky, even if it would be an interesting way home. ]

How do you plan on closing it once you open it? I also want to make sure you have a method by which to control the size of the rift once you generate it and know how you're planning on getting around the fact that even teleporters haven't managed to get past the barrier.

[cursed_analysis]

I have documented evidence that space likes to be "whole" as it were, and readily mends tears in itself...when opened in a certain way.

[There's a hint he's dabbled before. Though given this is his employer, he isn't going to play belligerent. If he can assess she isn't angry, he might play coquettish though.]

However, Miss Schnee, this actually ties directly into that project I said I would present; as a common theory with an obstacle is to apply pressure in a correct and focused manner.

The problem with a teleporter is the scattering of matter, there's no force, just transmitters and receivers.

[It is a relatively weak argument from him, but he just doesn't trust Weiss enough yet to share personal secrets, especially not a potentially dangerous one.]

Though, if you have concerns; I would be willing to discuss establishing a protocol. I'm generally not in the business of endangering those around me~

[whiteas]

I do have concerns. No offense, but this place has proven time and time again not to be particularly fond of adhering to the rules of other worlds. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[ She's not going to approve something unless everything possible is done to make sure it's safe. ]

[cursed_analysis]

[He studies her closely, considering very carefully her words and the implicatioins; truth be told, this was the second time he found himself in a place not entirely of his own violition; though it was the first he was in a place that was in no way connected to his home. If it existed in an entirely different plane of reality, not just a simple dimension; then Weiss was extremely correct in her worry. His collected data had been telling him that this was not the case, but she had reminded him of a paramount point; he wasn't sure.

This was almost entirely an aside though, as he had simultaneously been entertaining the idea of pitching the joke to her that he had made this presentation just to get her to speak to him. Not the case, and given that she seemed genuinely on edge; likely not a good course. Alas, perhaps next time he can flirt with her under less grave conditions as she has actually managed to make him concerned. Knitting his hands together, he at last nods.]

I have some more data I need to collect, Miss Schnee, so I do not forsee moving forward with this in the very near future, but for precautions, I need a very large room capable of being pressurized to great degrees, as a start. Also...I might speak with you privately regarding information that might help quantify our situation in general that you might have means to obtain.

[whiteas]

If you want to go ahead and submit an official written statement of what you need, I'll see about arranging a facility. [ She wants to make sure she's got the list and she understands if it's something that sounds as dangerous as this. ] We can meet tonight if you'd like.

[jadedkill]

[Here's the local elementary school teacher. He had been busy as of late, but he's checking the network for any interesting posts and he found this one.]

Hmmm, opening up a dimensional rift? That sound like a dangerous experiment.

[Still, Jade's curious about the tools and means to create such technology, but putting that hypothetical method aside. Or how Arro is going to find funding.]

As for set location, how about Earth? I heard it's a popular home for many residents here.

[cursed_analysis]

[Arro is quite tempted to retort on Earth as being very comfortable, but also a touch boring in the grand scheme, compared to other places. However, such would out him in that he is, much like Guy Cecil, "Well-traveled". So he considers Jade's words for several seconds.]

Well, I am not opposed, but that is the issue in the end; actually forcing a specific destination. You are also not wrong about it being dangerous; a great deal can in fact go wrong. This is why I would like to build suitable precautions...alas, nothing is free.

[jadedkill]

Hmm, so it seems you need to find a suitable location or a test subject to test this theory out. On a piece of land or island or a tree perhaps? After all, I believe ripping up a hole to another universe...it's not so far-fetched.

[With a bit of a dry laugh, if not ironic. Much of Jade's theories applies to people, either dead or alive. Not space or dimension. However, he's curious to try and see science in motion.]

Though it seems people have given you enough input on the matter. Have you built a fon...- [He's about to say fontech.] I mean, machine yet? Or you're just making a proposal?

[cursed_analysis]

I do have a means ready...but this was mainly a proposal; it isn't good to just do something as soon as possible

My only lament is it seems unlikely to proceed.