Reports and Excerpts After the Siege of the Heavenly Palace of Divine Light
Within the glassy sphere of a trans-view lens, phantoms of star ships glide past, as if strange and alien fish swimming along in an aquarium. Even more surreal is the addition of an ethereal pair of hands visible in another lens set into the base of the alien device, providing a narrative.
"… the glory of the Empire paraded for the edification of the People and a declaration of support for the newly chosen Archon – long may the Star shine upon his reign… "
The image melts within the semi-sphere, replaced by a projection of a tall, golden spotted feline, hair obscured by a heavy mantle and form draped with gleaming robes. The cheetah stands on a balcony, flanked by his new Chief Advisor, Storm-Born, and the General of the Combined Forces, Anchor-Point. He gives a long "speech", his hand movements amplified by the view in the second lens.
The images melt into another scene, of another cheetah being led off in restraints.
"… Meanwhile, the formerly widely regarded heretic and self-proclaimed prophet, 'Light-of-Star', was put into custody after proof was found of blasphemous and highly illegal experiments being conducted at the so-called 'Heavenly Palace of Divine Light'."
The scenes shift, showing a montage of footage of corridors of translucent vats, each of them holding suspended bodies in various states of formation. Another scene shows what is presumably a laboratory, where disembodied brains float in tanks of fluid, hooked up by cables and tubes to bizarre machines of unknown purpose. Inspectors mill about a table, on which can barely be seen what looks like a large lupine's body laid out, its skull opened up, and the brain cavity empty. Other scenes show "acolytes" being led off into custody, only some of them going peacefully.
Excerpts from report to the Archon:
… goes without significant incident. It would appear that the plans of Light-of-Star depended upon the crucial assumption that only he would have any means of relating to the powers of "magic" of the Sifran artifacts. With that edge taken away, his measures to thwart efforts to uncover his transgressions fell like a fortress of cards. …
… Most interesting is evidence that Light-of-Star is not who or what he claims to be. To begin with, a physician noticed that the structure of his larynx was highly unusual. Inspection has revealed that he possesses functional vocal cords, though some degree of coercion was required to make him demonstrate. Further tests have yielded an explanation: He is, in fact, not of the People at all, but rather of the Khatta, altered by unthinkable means to take on the appearance of one of us. The "mark" on his forehead, needless to say, is not the least bit impressive, since his very appearance is designed by mortals, not by the Star.
We have not yet positively verified his true identity, but it is believed that he may well be a son of Trade Lord Khoman. This would seem to be in keeping with the decor of his private chambers. While the contents are abhorrent by all decent moral standards of civilized peoples, they are wholly in keeping with what would be fashionable amongst wealthy princes of the Khattan Trade Empire. …
… physicians are in the process of determining the best approach toward removing the extra arms on the subject found in the private chambers of the heretic. For purposes of reference, the subject has been temporarily designated "Subject #42". Given the nature of these appendages, and the alterations required in the structure of the torso to facilitate them, the doctors are certain that simple amputation would be brutish and insufficient to adequately deal with the problem. Major reconstructive surgery will be required. As for the "third eye", tests indicate that it is not a true eye, despite obvious similarities. The best means of "removing" it without causing undue trauma – and possible brain damage – to Subject #42 may well be to more or less cover it up. It presents far less of a challenge, however, than that of dealing with the extra arms.
It should also be noted that the presence of functional vocal cords has been detected in the subject, although the subject seems genuinely unaware of this, and has not evidenced a capacity for utilizing them. Xenological experts are being brought in to supplement our regular physicians, who understandably have a lack of expertise in such matters.
Tests suggest that the body is indeed "cloned" and artificially changed at a cellular level during the growth process, in order to produce this unusual form. It is quite likely that the base body form was derived from tissue samples obtained by some means from the original cloned subject. Lacking any samples to compare to, it is impossible to come to a distinct conclusion, but it is deemed quite likely – even obvious – that this is in fact a clone of the Queen of the Savanites, Third-Vision, and that the formation of the third eye was a result of mutated genetic code, not deliberate addition by the clone-maker.
An Imperial neural interface has been incorporated into the chamber in which the subject was found, almost certainly instrumental to the attempts at indoctrination in "dreams" that the subject has reported. This is similar to the devices integrated into "brain vats", though these were hooked up to a "virtual reality" computer of some considerable sophistication and redundancy in systems – the latter factor possibly required due to the interference generated by the high concentration of Sifran crystals on the station. It would appear that the method of operation has been to subject a fully-developed brain to artificially induced experiences, while the clone body grows, and then to place the brain inside the body. Evidently, the indoctrination process took longer than body development in the case of the subject found in the private chambers. The neural interface there is linked up to a virtual reality device that has means by which the operator can take more involved and interactive control in the fantasy imposed upon the subject.
It must be admitted that our own knowledge of this field is fairly limited, since this is an expressly forbidden area of experimentation – and rightly so, as so aptly demonstrated by such blasphemous applications witnessed here. It may be of some use to bring in outside experts from the Nagai Imperium – if it can be determined that these experts are not presently involved in this whole affair (in which case they might have a vested interest in complicating our efforts at learning more). …
… It is believed that it may be possible soon to safely revive the large Naga specimen. Tests suggest that the brain is far older than the body, and older than Light-of-Star himself (or Trade Lord Khoman, for that matter). There may be hope for rehabilitation, then, as this would suggest that the brain actually comes from a living being that has had experiences beyond those artificially imposed by the neural interface. The difficulty will no doubt lie in helping the subject adjust to the realization that any memories from the past few years have been artificially imposed, and are not actual experience. Reports from Subject #42 lead us to believe that these experiences will probably involve memories transplanted somehow from the mind of the deceased Emperor of the Sinai Nagai, combined with artificially created experiences of an afterlife that combines aspects of various Sinai religions (with Light-of-Star as the ultimate deity, of course). …
… Complicating our theories is that, given our present understanding of Nagai controversial "brain-taping" technologies, "recording" of the brain is actually an interactive process, as the brain is a network of neurons and synapses, not a serial data structure – a primary obstacle that has frustrated attempts at creating true and non-organic artificial intelligence in traditional computer systems. This interactive exploration of the brain's many connections requires that the brain be functional – and alive. It is conceivable that the death experience recollected by Subject #42 is either a fabrication added along with the "afterlife" fantasies, or a mental addition for the purpose of "filling gaps". However, if this is indeed a genuine recollection -implying that the subject was, in fact, dead, at the time of recording of the mind – then this would greatly alter our understanding of Nagai capabilities.
That said, it should be noted that it is not infeasible that a neural interface could actually be used for recording purposes on Sinai. It has been demonstrated, at the elevation of "sky islands" there, that neural interfaces several millennia behind the times have functioned for an extraordinary period of usage. It may be that even "brain-taping" has been successfully performed on Sinai … but it is very doubtful that such a procedure could have been carried out on the surface, and any such operation would require several technicians to oversee the process.
So far, it would seem likely that a collaboration with the Sinai Nagai Empire was involved, or some elements thereof. (Considering the current state of the aforementioned "Empire", it can be imagined that some considerable double-crossing was involved.) It is noted that the Sinai Nagai Empire at one point had possession of a sky island known as "Fetiss", but it has been documented that this sky island was taken by forces of the nation of Rephidim before the death of the Sinai Nagai Emperor and of the overrunning of the capitol of the Savanites. Therefore, it is doubtful that any such operation would have taken place there. …
Willow's footsteps echo across the floor of the hospital. She shuddersa bit as she looks in the various rooms and finds many of the clonesawake and moving.
She bites her lip as she pushes her way through a restricted sectorwhere a crew is busily working to revive a large golden snake and walksquietly down a dimly lit hallway. She pauses at a door that reads "42"in handsign and waves her hand weakly over a panel set into it.
The panel glows a fiery blue at the motion and an image of a handappears, forming a questioning gesture.
"Willow," the Skreek signs against the panel. "Can I comein?"
The blue glow dims for a moment and Willow's ears pick up a faintscuffing noise as someone moves around in the chamber. There is noreply for what seems like an eternity … and then finally …
"Very well," the panel signs and the door parts open.
Willow walks in nervously, and then gathers up her resolve. "I came toask you a question… "
The multi-armed cheetah narrows her eyes, looking suspicious.
"How would you like to get back at the people that did this to you?" Willow says with a gleam in her eye as the door slowly slides shutbehind her, leaving the two with much to discuss.
