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Hidden Destinies; The journey of life
Topic Started: Oct 24 2009, 04:34 PM (3,639 Views)
Pokeking
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[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
High above, Terry could see the ground below. Everything passed quickly and he wondered if there was just one speed on this thing. He could make out several things though. The castle and the surrounding community were throwbacks to an earlier era and were retrofitted to suit modern conveniences. Daedalus City was left far behind and from the map on a screen, there wasn’t much except farms and little towns on the road. Theobald said, “The Athena Foundation is a huge complex. It isn’t a city like the capital or any other community. Think of it like a humungous family. Every adult who lives there works for the Foundation, the Foundation teaches the children, and so on. The technology in the city Athenapolis is unrivaled and can be overwhelming to outsiders. They are an open-minded people and think deep thoughts.”

The city of Athenapolis zoomed into view and the air shuttle slowed. There were many tall buildings and it would need to slow to avoid crashing into them. The shuttled lowered and attached to a rail. They were still a couple stories above the ground, but it was as if the shuttle belonged in the city. It moved along the rail and approached the central building. It entered and slowed to a stop. The shuttle announced, “Athena Foundation Headquarters. Administrative building. Research and Development.” The doors opened up and the group disembarked.
"Occasionally -but not often- a dream of mine forms a usable fictional plot." H.P. Lovecraft
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Pepper
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[ *  * ]
Alaia looked outside. It was interesting outside though everything went so fast it was hard to see it. She looked at Theobald as he spoke. She nodded, Interesting.. Alaia saw the building and felt the shuttle lowering. She sighed with relief as the computer announced where they were and the door opened. She climbed out and looked around.
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There were a few automatons around. It seemed that each one of them had a sentry at its core as if they were miniature vehicles piloted by them. Jung noted, “As you notice, the basic unit is what I used to be, a sentry. We become part of the larger machines and control it. I could enter the machine and control it if I wanted to. I am an upgraded model, but everything that I was is still a part of me.”

A pair of doors and an automaton appears. It had a humanoid appearance, but it was only three feet tall and where its neck ended, there was an aidebot. The robot said, “We weren’t expecting your arrival here sire. I had to run down here to greet you. Welcome Eminence, guests. I am Locar, aidebot to the Minister of Technology, the Lady Alexandra. I am to escort you to her so that she may give you a personal tour. Come after me.” Terry’s parents and brother followed Locar and he followed them.
"Occasionally -but not often- a dream of mine forms a usable fictional plot." H.P. Lovecraft
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Pepper
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[ *  * ]
Alaia nodded at Jung. This was quite interesting. When the doors opened, she was surprised at the automatons humanoid appearance. Even though it was only three feet tall and it had a aidebot for a head. She listened to the aidebot's words and then followed the others through the doors.
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More automatons. Some were basic sentries which delivered papers and small items. Larger items required a sentry driven contraptions. To Terry it seemed quite efficient. There were Icarians present still. They didn’t have their wings out which good because from his own experience, they could get in the way when trying to do something.

Locar led them to a set of double doors and they opened. It was an elevator, but when Terry and the others got inside, it started moving sideways. It looked up and said, “I have asked this lift to take us directly to the Minister’s office. There maybe a couple of stops because it isn’t programmed to go their directly. Sorry for the delay.”
"Occasionally -but not often- a dream of mine forms a usable fictional plot." H.P. Lovecraft
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[ *  * ]
Alaia was amazed at the many automatons. She watched the surroundings and saw more Icarians without their wings out. Alaia looked ahead and saw that Locar was leading them into a set of double doors. As they opened, she saw it was an elevator. She got inside along with the others and was surprised when it started to go sideways. She nodded at Locar when he spoke. She wondered what other surprising things were in store for them.
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The lift would travel for a couple of minutes, then halt, then moved again, but in a different direction as if it was navigating a maze. It finally stopped and opened up into a large room. A middle aged Icarian woman with brown wings was there to greet them. She said, “Welcome to the Athena Foundation. I am the Lady Alexandra. Sir, it’s a pleasant surprise to see you here. Who are these two young people?” Theobald motioned to Terry and the boy stepped forward, “I am the younger prince, Iakona and this is my best friend Alaia.” She exclaimed, “Oh, Highness. It’s nice to finally meet you. What brings you here?” Theobald said, “I thought you could give a tour for my son and the Midori diplomat. We also need an aidebot assigned to Alaia” She said, “Of course. We will go out these doors and start the tour.”
"Occasionally -but not often- a dream of mine forms a usable fictional plot." H.P. Lovecraft
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Alaia waited anxiously for the lift to stop and open. When it did, she saw a middle aged Icarian woman with brown wings waiting for them. She curtsied to her, really not knowing what to do. She listened to Theobald and the Lady Alexandra talk. She followed the rest of the group, and walked beside Terry.
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As the crowd walked, Theobald asked, “Minister, before we proceed further, there is something I’d like to bring to your attention.” Alexandra turned around and asked, “Yes, liege?” Terry’s father said, “These two are from Earth as you know and this has resulted in gaps in being able to communicate effectively.” He leaned towards Terry and Alaia and said, “Sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I wasn’t sure how to tell her.” He then turned back to the minister and said, “Before we go further into the tour, can you administer a couple of data wafers for full fluency in Icarian?” She replied, “Of course. That will be easy, right this way.”

They entered a little nook where there was a computer console and next to it was a box that resembled a nickel and dime toy vending machine. The minister turned on the computer and entered some commands. This resulted in twinkling lights and bleeping sounds. A small door opened in the box and a couple of clear spheres slid down into a catcher. There was something inside in each of them, a data wafer. Terry walked over and took one of the spheres. He wasn’t sure how to open it, but it opened exactly like a plastic Easter egg. The wafer was bendable like a stick of gum and even though it was clear, it was somewhat foggy in appearance. The minister said, “Just put it in your mouth and hold it in, letting it dissolve.” He took the wafer and put it in his mouth and like Alexandra said, he waited until it dissolved. Soon his head felt fuzzy. This he speculated was the work of the wafer granting him the knowledge of his people’s language. He wasn’t sure what to do with the sphere, but Alexandra took if from him telling him, “I’ll take that because we recycle them.”

Once Alaia took her wafer, they would be on their way.
"Occasionally -but not often- a dream of mine forms a usable fictional plot." H.P. Lovecraft
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Alaia watched and walked with them. She smiled at Theobald, he hadn't hurt her feelings in the littlest bit. Alaia followed the others and saw the machine. It looked kind of cool! Alaia followed Terry's example and took a sphere. She saw how Terry's opened and tried it, it worked! She picked up the data wafer, following the minister's example, put in her mouth and let it dissolve. Soon her head too felt fuzzy. Wow, this is weird, she thought. She handed the minister her sphere, smiled and looked at Terry.
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The group moved on with Alexandra switching to Icarian and Terry could understand it much better. She said, “I understand you’ve lived on the Earth. I’ve often wondered what type of technology they have there. I am not sure what the future hold for you, but we creating a new device just for you. Follow me.”

After two floors and some more walking, they came into a room with a dozen Icarians. They were fiddling with devices similar to his desk back at the castle. The minister said, “This room is devoted to the creation of power stations for the automatons. As soon as we heard your story, and add to that the idea that perhaps someday we will reveal ourselves to the people of Earth, we are creating an adapter. It will seek out a power source and through conversion, will draw energy like other devices that are native to the area. After the tour, we will head to the cartography room so you can tell us where on Earth you want us to deliver the objects.”

Terry asked, “But what if the Hough Council decides against me?” Lady Alexandra said, “Try not to think of that. Live in the moment. I too have a seat on the High Council. Unfortunately, protocol prohibits me from discussing with you how I will vote. She said, “Now, we will visit the fabricator room. This is where we assemble the basic automatons and upgrade them.”

The boy was disappointed, but he understood. She seemed like a nice lady who could possibly vote in favor of him.
"Occasionally -but not often- a dream of mine forms a usable fictional plot." H.P. Lovecraft
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[ *  * ]
Alaia followed them. She could understand Icarian, mostly, now! She just followed the others wherever they went, not knowing where they were going at all. She looked around the new room and studied everything. Alaia hoped that the High Council wouldn't vote against Terry. That would be quite bad, but she put the thought from her mind quickly. She smiled softly at Terry and continued walking.

ooc: I'm SO sorry for the extremely late reply!
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(ooc: I understand. No need to appologize)

The group proceeded down a series of steps before they could enter another room, buzzing and chattering could be heard. Jung moved forward and squealed, “It’s been years since I’ve been here. This is the nursery.” However, it wasn’t a nursery like any that Terry had heard of.

There were a number of Icarians wearing goggles huddled over tables strewn with circuitry and parts. They wore gloves shining with twinkling lights and they moved their fingers about as if conducting a symphony. They took the pieces and connected them to others. Alexandra said, “The melody you here is the innate melody of automaton consciousness. It allows all of them to communicate with each other and by extension Icarians with others. These pieces of circuitry by themselves are nothing. We assemble them by hand using these gloves to regulate artificial intelligence by basing it on our own. Without this, the automatons would lack the ability to have a personality and communicate with biological beings. It is a mutual relationship that has lasted for decades.” The Minister picked up one of the completed units which only emitted a series of nonsensical buzzing noises similar to babies. “Although here in this room we assemble the automations and give them the spark of what would be considered life, there is much that still needs to be done. I would appreciate it if you each pick up an automaton. This way to the education room.”

Terry picked up another babbling automaton and his family members each picked up one and began to proceed to the education room.
"Occasionally -but not often- a dream of mine forms a usable fictional plot." H.P. Lovecraft
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[ *  * ]
ooc: :)

Alaia looked around when they were inside the next room. It was interesting, it defiently didn't look like a nursery to her! But, it kind of resembled one in a way, she thought. She listened to Alexandra. She nodded and picked up a automaton. Alaia followed the others to the education room and studied the automaton in her hand on the way.
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Locar the aidebot explained, “It takes a month for an automaton to develop from what you hold to one suitable for assignment. Their memory capacity is the same as those that pilot the many machines throughout our land. Automatons that have been upgraded to be aidebots have more memory space due to our specialization. However, even I couldn’t get to where I am now without being here first. First, we need to teach the others how to communicate with others of our kind and with Icarians.”

The aidebot gestured what looked like large ovens. Alexandra placed the automaton in a tray and following cues, Terry did the same. Once the tray was full of newly constructed automatons, the tray slid into the wall. A glass wall slid over the tray as an aidebot came into the small chamber with them and began to teach them. Despite being the size of grapefruits, it was like a small classroom.

Locar said, “After we’ve taught them the languages they will need, we then teach them about our country and its history as well as that of our worlds. We then move on to teaching them about the Athena Foundation and the services it provides. We try to instill in our young a sense of fealty to each other and to our friends the Icarians. The second phase in the education is teaching how to pilot our many crafts.”
"Occasionally -but not often- a dream of mine forms a usable fictional plot." H.P. Lovecraft
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