I.

[oldshipmate]

[Voice Post]

While I have in the most general sense no compunctions from appearing as God made me, I cannot say I approve of such measures unannounced. It is an experience I do not look to repeating save in the very grips of lunacy. And lo: let me shun it for now.

I have read your quaint guide and can quite understand the using of this device,

Comments

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert is going to ignore these references to "God" and just stick to the straight science... well, as he's aware of it. Because, for all the oddness of this person's speech, zie sounds like zie has some kind of scientific knowledge, however limited.]

... About the wings... whatever techniques the Malnosso use to graft them to the people here, they are exceedingly e-efficient, comparable with direct cell regrowth therapies. I s-suspect some nanoscale surgery has been done to connect the muscles and nerves... but the wings are not rejected by the i-immune systems of people here...

... I could speak on the other two t-topics as well, but I am... less educated on them.

[Voice]

[oldshipmate]

Speak clearly, now, sir; 'nano-scale'? Immune system?

So I am to ascertain you are familiar with the fine art of live taxidermy?

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Have a scientist sputtering in absolute disgust.]

Live taxidermy?! Why would you even do such a thing?!

[He shakes his head as vigorously as it is possible to shake a head without it tumbling off one's shoulders.] Absolutely not... What a barbaric idea. The amount of suffering that would cause would violate every ethics code under the Terran Penal Code...

Re: [Voice]

[oldshipmate]

You yourself suggested it. You are only familiar with the grafting of the wings? I still require an explanation: nano-scale, you said?

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[The fact that this person could even come to this conclusion from what he was saying scares him.] Just because I know the anatomical w-wing structure of the typical Terran avian does not mean I had to perform such cruelty. Terrans have simulations for that sort of thing. [He exhales, slowly, trying to control his anger. Anger is bad and he shouldn't have any - even if he's trying to get over his violence taboos (not an easy task).]

... Nanoscale means operation at the n-nanoscopic level - generally one to one hundred nanometres, which is... e-equivalent to one billionth of a metre. Nanoscale surgery, for example, has enough precision to work with individual cells.

[Voice]

[oldshipmate]

[It's okay, Robert; most of Maturin's sarcasm flies right over people's heads.]

Simulations indeed. I am to understand you are some species of avian naturalist?

You must have capital spectacles to preform such a maneuvre.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[As if Robert can read sarcasm anyway. But at least he's more composed now...]

I am an astrobiologist. I specialize in... r-research of non-Terran species. I have just had to adjust my knowledge here to match the... unorthodox n-needs of this place.

[... Spectacles?] Generally it would be electron microscopes, actually...

... You must be from a multiverse significantly in the technological p-past of Terra. [Which is the nicest way to say "backwards" that Robert can think of.]

[Voice]

[oldshipmate]

...to confirm or deny, I would have to first be properly acquainted with what the technological past of Terra is.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

Considering you do not recognize the technology I am naming... w-well, that seems to be an indicator.

... But if you have ventured into the B-Battle Dome's clinic, the technology there is from "twenty-first century" pre-Terra. I find that extremely outdated...

... If it helps, my time is 2332 A.D., Standard Terran Years, though in practise that may mean little. For example, a f-friend of mine is from the twenty-sixth century, and yet her technology is comparable in m-most regards to mine.

[Voice]

[oldshipmate]

Ah, terra familias. There's the rub. And so you are enamored with calming to be from my future, and that I am from long of your past? I do sorely apologize to bring such grave and scraping technologia to your door.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

It is not a matter of... c-claiming - it is actual fact. I could easily demonstrate my n-nanocomputer to you, if you wished.

... But I understand if... the contents of the guide are difficult to rationalize. I thought it was absolutely preposterous, the first time I read it...

[Robert sighs a little. He gets the distinct feeling that this person isn't being quite serious with him, but he can't tell for sure, and the fact that this is likely a New Feather means he's trying to get things right.]

[Voice]

[oldshipmate]

And is that a precious small servant?

I have tested what claims I am able with the resources and time I've had thus far. They are improbable, but apparently possible.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

It is precious to me, though... s-servant is not quite accurate. It is a machine, of a sort. It works using electricity, to... vastly oversimplify it. [If Robert's honest, even he probably can't describe the exact process. It isn't his field...]

How have you gone about... testing these claims, if I may ask? I... had wished to be in the company of another dedicated scientist... [... Even if the dedicated scientist is several centuries behind him.]

[Voice]

[oldshipmate]

It uses electricity to vastly oversimplify?

I have observed past logs to verify claims, which seem to form a consistent whole, or perhaps the most elaborate hoax I have ever seen. Furthermore, I have observed the properties of the journals, as you call them, and seen them quite impervious to harm, despite the general fragility of your layman's book.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[... Whelp. Let's reword that.] My apologies. I meant to say that I was... v-vastly oversimplifying how the nanocomputer operates, not... what the electricity does. I would explain more thoroughly, but... f-firstly, it is not my field and so I may be inaccurate, and secondly, I might have to explain several other branches of science in the process... er, not that I am a-against that, per se, but... it might take some time.

[Robert makes an approving sound at the next part. It's... similar to what he did, albeit he didn't have any books to compare them against.] Well... I cannot comment easily on the... resilience of any books outside of the ones I have met in the library... books are no longer used on Terra. But the rest I can... concur with.

[Voice]

[oldshipmate]

I would prefer, in a hitherto unknown world filled with the impending threat of danger, violence, dehumanization, and insult most foul, not to be spoken down to by nameless chuckle-headed jack-pudding.

And do you now carve your nanis into stone? Or trees? Nano-trees?