A Brick in the Wall
- The same time Bronya was speaking with Cocolia
- The offices of Dr's Einstein and Tesla
Seele held the mug of hot tea in her hand and gently blew on it. It seemed the Doctor's liked their beverages scalding hot. Seele was too polite to say anything. She held the near molten mug and softly blew on it. In perhaps ten minutes it would better suit her pallet.
"Uhm," Seele began, "May I ask… what did you wish to show me? I don't mean to be rude and I'm always happy to help."
Seele glanced down at her shoes.
"Maybe I can help."
"You're helping by being here," Tesla called from beneath the desk. "Now where the bloody hell is that adaptor cable? How am I supposed to do a 3D PowerPoint presentations when they haven't an adaptor between this hololith projector and-"
"-You did not plan far enough in advance to bring a universal transformer," Einstein interrupted. She too was crouched behind the desk.
"When I want your opinion, mophead, I'll ask for it."
"I believe Ms Seele is hearing your opinions right now whether you have sought her permission out or not."
Seele giggled a little. Which was enough for both Doctor's to poke their head above the desk. Tesla with one red eyebrow raised. Einstein more curious.
"You two must be the best of friends," Seele said with another giggle. "The way you talk and anticipate what the other is going to say."
Einstein was the first to stand. She gave a tug on Tesla's sleeve.
"Perhaps technology will not be needed. It seems clear that Ms Seele is an astute young lady and does not require the aid of such devices."
The two Doctors walked around the table and sat down opposite Seele.
"You wanted an answer to a question," Dr Einstein began.
"And one hell of a doozy to," Tesla added.
Seele blew at her hot tea and nodded. Stared at the swirling liquid that bled off steam and tried to gather her thoughts.
"We all thought that Herrschers were important. And they are. Please I'm not being rude about Herrschers. They are important and scary and powerful. Kiana. Bronya-nee-chan. Mr Welt. Fu Hua. Mei."
Seele could see the pain in Tesla's eyes when that last name was mentioned. Seele had read the mission notes. The chronicle of events that had led up to Mei's defection. Seele had never met Mei. She felt nothing for her. But Bronya-nee-chan. Bronya-nee-chan had so much pain bottled up because of everything. Bronya was Seele's big sister. And Mei was Bronya's big sister. Seele couldn't imagine what she would feel is Bronya were too-
"-You're wasting precious time thinking about other things. I can see it on your face. Focus."
Veliona's sharp tongue pulled Seele up short. She set down her cup of tea, shook the heat of her hands and gave the two Doctor's the most serious look she could muster.
It was genuinely adorable. But the effort was there.
"It seems like Stigma is becoming more and more important. I've been stuck in the Sea for so long and… I know nothing about it. I need to know. And I'm… I'm pretty certain it is going to be more important in the future."
Seele gripped her collar with both hands and pulled down her blouse just enough to reveal the Stigma on her chest.
"My future. And everyone's future."
Tesla sighed and rubbed at her eyes with a hand. Einstein had a thoughtful expression.
"Would you like the honours?" Einstein offered.
Tesla sniffed.
"Sounds like the damned bus to me. Ahhh fine. I do know more about it than you anyway. Not as much as Cocolia did. But enough to make a passable explanation. Of the barely 1% we understand."
Seele looked between the two Doctors with clear confusion. Einstein was the first to clarify in her calm, measured tones.
"Much of what we know of Stigma, or Project Stigma if you like, is conjecture based upon certain assumptions. We can infer information from what it is not or what it does not attempt to do. Absence of information can be as useful as presence. But not as illuminating. And not repeatable in the same way that quantifiable data is. We are forced into using analogies and inferences. Only World Serpent know what Stigma is."
"Bullshit," Tesla muttered. "They just know a bit more than us. If they really knew what it was then they wouldn't be screwing around trying to irradiate cities. They wouldn't be conducting mass biological trials. It's clear they're just in the dark as the rest of us. The difference is they don't have any morals so there's a clear head start."
"Nikola we are becoming side-tracked."
"Fine, fine."
Tesla leant back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. Seele could see the woman was trying to order her thoughts. Think of a way to explain something so complex to someone as simple as her. It was good that nice people like her would take time out of their busy day to listen to one girl's foolish and obviously very complex request.
"Can I assume you've seen some of the genetic algorithm games online that are all the rage?" the scientist asked.
Seele nodded.
"Kiana has shown me some YouTube videos"
"Good. These games usually orientate around 2D creatures evolving the ability to walk. The user puts together a creature with a variable body structure: number of arms, legs, hand and feet. Then you hit the Evolve button. The genetic algorithm tests several permutations against the creature running away from a death flag. Of course, the first generation is all going to die. You hit the Evolve button again. The genetic algorithm tries again and again. Each Evolve changes the walking motion of your creature. Eventually one or more creatures will evolve with the right gait pattern to escape the death flag.
The idea is that you have a fixed goal and a certain number of weighted variables. Survive or die. It is a simple idea but demonstrates a much broader problem. Even something as seemingly simple as waking is not simple. Multiple generations before you get even close. What's weighted in your favour is that the algorithm knows the end goal. Escape the death flag."
Dr Tesla tipped her hand toward Seele. Thus far the girl was managing to keep up.
"We know from the Soulium fragments that ME Corp recovered post Second Eruption that the people of the Previous Era were working on all manner of black project. They were desperate to find a way to stop the Honkai. Just like us. Desperation breeds all sorts of dangerous thoughts. I've checked the recovered genetic database that Cocolia compiled before she went rogue. Just over one million human genomes. And Cocolia took your DNA too, Seele. Mapped as much of your genome as she feasibly could. Each and every one of them has numerous similar sequences to your genome. The placement always varies. I even checked monozygotic twins. Minor permutations that nobody ever noticed because they didn't know exactly where to look. That goes against all conventional science we have observed in other species."
Seele thought about all the experiments that Babushka had performed. The X-10 project. It had led her to being exiled to the Sea of Quanta. To that loneliness. To that constant struggle to stay alive. To meeting… the Serpent.
"Focus. Idiot. Focus"
Seele's thoughts snapped back to the present.
"You believe that this is purposeful engineering?" Seele asked politely.
"For those online games the end goal is to walk fast enough to escape the death flag. What if instead the end goal was to survive the Honkai? That's an incredibly complex goal when you think about it. Resistance to Honkai radiation sickness or perhaps even immunity. Increased base physiological and mental capabilities. Or even something more profound. Start hacking the laws of reality. I dunno. You'd need to scale your genetic algorithm accordingly. The complexity increases by several factors along with all the moving parts. The complexity of this machine. The engineering required borders on the realm of the theological. But someone did build it. We're looking at it in action right now. My theory is that the Previous Era built this machinery but ran out of time in the end. They couldn't test is. At least not back then."
It was Dr Einstein's turn to speak up.
"The Stigma is the single largest live medical trial ever attempted. Each one of us has this machinery built into us. Specific epigenetic pressures are the trigger. Likely some combination of stress and exposure to Honkai radiation activates the machinery. It's the ultimate algorithmic test. Is the combination of genetic sequences that make up your unique version of Stigma viable? If no, then radiation poisoning or a Honkai beast kills you. If yes, then that combination gives us whatever novel advantage necessary for us to survive the lethal radiation along with whatever we might be fighting. After that the machinery fully activates and begins conducting all the right adjustments to the surviving human. Hopefully this information can also be encoded as a dominant genetic trait to the gametes."
Dr Einstein gestured to the dead hololith projector.
"I would have preferred to show you our results. But Tesla and I have been conducting some small research on the side to better understand Stigma and why World Serpent are obsessed with it.
I conducted a test trial exposure of ten thousand blood samples to Honkai radiation. Monitored and observed reactions at a genetic level. The cells of course died. But looking through the debris of the negative supercoil I could find sequences matching several we have categorised from your genome. The machinery waking up and failing the test."
"How many people do you think have died due to Honkai radiation exposure over several thousand years?" Einstein asked Seele.
Seele shook her head. Turned to Tesla for help.
"Pass. Too many to count."
"According to Schicksal records there are only two Natural Stigma. Of everybody that has ever been exposed to these unknown parameters only two variables have led to survival and been passed on to the next generation."
"And apparently they are two very different evolutionary adaptations to fighting the Honkai," Tesla added. "The success rate of this Stigma project is so frighteningly low I think we'd have a better chance of solving the Fermi Paradox."
The tea would be cool by now. Seele reached out for the mug, cupped it in both hands and sipped. This was a great deal for her to take in. And the Doctors were right. There was so much to assume. But at least… at least there were answers.
"The two clowns don't know anything."
"That isn't very nice, Veliona."
"That doesn't make it wrong. They haven't given us an answer. Just danced around it."
Seele sipped thoughtfully at her tea. Veliona was cruel. But correct. This wasn't an answer. More an explanation of how Stigma worked. Not the purpose of it's work. What was Stigma?
"What is Stigma?" Seele mumbled after another sip of her tea, "It can't just be getting stronger. Bronya-nee-san is very strong. Kiana is very strong too. The Serpent wouldn't have let Bronya go so easily in the Sea. Or me."
Tesla gave Einstein a sideways glance. Einstein shook her head. Which Tesla prudently ignored.
"Time for a thought experiment. Imagine you are locked inside a room made of bricks. And you are the Herrsccher of Bricks. How do you break out?"
A wrinkle formed in Seele's brow. She turned the idea over in her head.
"Herrscher of Bricks?"
"Straw and sticks didn't last against the Honkai wolf," Einstein deadpanned
"Shut up, mophead."
Seele smiled again. The two were very close. Then returned to the question.
"Well I'm the Herrscher of Bricks. That's my Authority. I have control over bricks. I can just command the bricks to collapse. No more room. Right?"
"Good. Any other ideas?"
"Uhm. Well other people could live in that room so I don't want to destroy it really. Maybe I can just make the bricks in one wall move out the way so I can leave.
No. How about I remake the bricks in the wall so there is a window. Then I can just climb out. I haven't broken anything and I've left someone with a nice window in their brick room."
The bright look in Seele's eyes was almost blinding. Tesla started to reach for her sunglasses before Einstein slapped the hand away.
"All good ideas," Einstein said. "As a Herrscher you have Authority over a concept. In your case you control bricks. You have numerous potential to work with bricks."
"Here's the fun bit," Tesla said with a grin. "What do you think the difference is between a Herrscher and a Stigma bearer? How are your abilities different from Bronya's?"
That had Seele pause.
"Well. Who would have thought. She's not a complete raving idiot. Finally, a good question."
"You knew all along?"
"…"
"Other me!"
"I only know what I know. I know what you know when it's the right moment. Believe me I hate it as much as you do. It would be nice to know it all. I have a feeling that's part of the problem. As they said, so many moving parts. But think about it, Seele. You can feel it right?"
Seele nodded. The Doctor's were accustomed to Seele's occasional distractions. They let her sit and ponder. Her distant gaze or look like she was conversing with someone else. That was just how she was. Easily distracted by her own thoughts.
"Yes. I can feel it. Its… there but not. Like trying to hold smoke in your hands. I don't like it. Veliona."
"That makes two."
"There's a difference between us?" Seele half questioned, half answered.
"As a Herrscher of Bricks you have authority over bricks and all the possibilities that bricks hold" Tesla explained. "As a Stigma bearer, if you wanted to break out of that room, you could just summon a wrecking ball."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
Einstein looked to Tesla.
"Pardon?"
"Hey everyone stop looking so stupid. Mophead has an excuse. What I'm saying is that Herrscher's are limited in possibilities by their Authority. A Stigma is different because it doesn't work with existing possibilities, it creates possibilities."
Two pairs of eyes. Red. Blue. On Seele. Very intent. The young girl tried her best not to squirm.
"Drink your tea you idiot. And try not to let your hands shake so much they slosh the liquid everywhere"
Taking the advice, Seele sipped at the tea. Admired the burnished plasma-steel floors beneath her feet. Wiggled her toes. Took a few calming breaths.
Looked up.
Red. Blue. Two pairs of eyes. Examining her. Tesla was the first one to crack. She tapped something into her gauntlet and cleared her throat.
"I just sort of hit the ground a few times. I was worried about elder sister Bronya. I was angry that I was being a coward. That I hadn't fought like she had. I broke through and returned to her."
Einstein raised an eyebrow.
"The Previous Era were far more technologically advanced than us. They built the Eye of the Deep for the express purpose of accessing the Sea of Quanta. According to your debrief you punched the ground until you were able to breach the walls between realities. Even the Herrscher of the Void would find such a feat difficult."
Tesla pulled up another report.
"Something inside me snapped. I had to stop them. So I summoned up all those chains to hold back the beasts. Then everyone attacked. Nobody was hurt. I was so happy."
The face of the young woman was beginning to turn a shade of Tesla's hair.
"This one is from Kiana. I'm always amazed at how competent Seele is. Hua is too. She's so gentle and kind. And that comes across in her fighting style. Most of the time she's as strong as we are. And then there are moments when even Hua is cautious around her. When she gets focussed and you become the target. Suddenly it's like the grim reaper is after you."
"Project Bunny 19C"
That one had Seele looking up from her mostly empty mug. Einstein's gaze was steady. Thoughtful. Tesla lowered her gauntlet and let the other scientist speak.
"Bronya has given us a formal written account of the X-10 Project. I have read through Cocolia's notes. In the quantum gap between realities you were able to awaken something within Bronya. An ability to manifest a construct using ambient Honkai energy. An ability wholly separate from that of the Herrscher of Reason and yet sounding very similar in nature."
Einstein ticked off her fingers.
"The ability to shatter dimensional boundaries. To summon up chains to defend people from Templar grade of Honkai beast. To call form combat experience similar to a seasoned Valkyrja. And finally, enabling someone else to manifest a still unexplainable ability.
These are not the abilities of a Herrscher. These are the abilities of a Stigma. We have similar stories throughout history of people with a broad selection of superhuman abilities. It is quite possible they too were Stigma bearers."
The tea was cold. Seele set aside the cup. Rested elbows on knees, chin on palms.
"I'm… able to create possibilities?"
"Mophead and I have disagreements on how to define Stigma. My hypothesis is that if Herrscher are all about a natural phenomenon, then Stigma is a concept. An ideal. That's what your ability is. It all orbits around that concept. Your power comes from your ideal. You make that ideal manifest."
"Can I ask what's my ideal, Dr Tesla? You must have some idea."
The Doctor opened her mouth, then thought better of it and kept her peace. Seele's frown returned. She looked to Einstein. The woman looked as composed as ever.
"So what's their dirty little secret hmmmm?"
"Why?" Seele finally asked.
"For your own safety," Einstein answered. "This is all hypothesis and conjecture. In addition we do not wish to harm you."
"Words can harm me?"
"The Herrscher of Sentience would certainly agree."
Tesla cleared her throat.
"Do you remember the Herrsccher of Bricks? What if I told you your power was wrecking balls?"
The seconds ticked by. Seele kept her head resting in her palms and thought it over.
"It can't be taking you that long."
"But I want to be certain."
"You knew the moment the words left your lips. Stop playing stupid."
"I'm not playing."
"Your stupid when you want to be and smart when you want to be. But start being you. Stop being-"
"-me?"
"Don't get snappy at me."
"Sorry. I'm just a little frustrated."
"And don't apologise either! Don't get snappy at me but be unapologetic for it too. You need to get stronger. I can't be your spine all the time."
"I know. I'm sor… I will do better."
"A little better."
"If my power were wrecking balls I'd start to think that every solution was a wrecking ball," Seele surmised. "If you tell me what you think then it might limit my abilities. Subconscious limitations on myself. And if you're wrong and I'm actually capable of something else then you might have damaged me irreversibly."
"Bingo," Tesla admitted.
Seele sat up and nodded. Took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled through her nose. She smiled warmly to the two Doctors.
"Thank you both. I know this was a lot to ask. It's like I'm asking you for the secrets of the universe. And you were able to give me so much. Thank you for your time."
She was up off her seat and bowing politely.
"Thank you again."
Tesla waved it off. Though there was a prideful cast to her face. Einstein simply inclined her head in return.
"I apologise that we could not give you more. More smoke and empty theories. But for now, it is what we are working with."
"So we can create possibilities huh? Now the big question is what's the catch behind it all? This ideal as the redhead put it."
"We can talk later. I think we've bothered the two nice Doctor's enough."
"Fine. Whatever."
Seele gave another polite bow and left the office of Dr's Tesla and Einstein. Trying to think about everything they had said, about how operated and possibly why was mentally taxing, even with Seele's other self-assisting. She looked up to see a very focussed Bronya walking towards her.
"Is everything okay, Bronya-nee-san?"
"The Bronya does not know. But she needs to move quickly. The Bronya and Seele-chan will head to the hanger bay. Exit and drive down to Arc City. The Bronya has a plan."
Seele nodded. Her expression was still confused. Distracted.
"Is everything okay, Seele-chan?"
"What? Hmm. Oh. Yes. Sorry Bronya-nee-san. I can't stop thinking about wrecking balls. But I'll do my best. Explain everything on the way to the hanger."
