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theeye2000 · 2 months

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The Hubs of Humanity 1

Prologue:

Back in the early 23rd century, as humanity began spreading its wings into the cosmos, the European Space Convention envisioned a groundbreaking project. They named it HUSB – Harmony of Urbanity and Space Bridges or as the public called it “The Hubs of Humanity”. At the projects core stood the idea to create a network of space stations and infrastructure pieces, each intricately designed to reflect Europe’s intricate designs and reflecting the architectural wonders of a wide range of European cities. It was like taking a slice of Paris, a bit of Barcelona, small snippets of Amsterdam and tiny amounts of Vienna and sprinkling their iconic look´s into the seemingly infinite abyss of interstellar space. The cities in the sky fostered significant cultural exchange, scientific collaboration, and good old human connection. Picture space stations modeled after the elegance of avant-garde designs of Berlin, the timeless charm of Rome or the sophistication of the medieval center of Prague.

Construction kicked of on a massive scale and for a while the project was the talk of the galaxy. The stations became marvels of their own right, embodying the spirit of humanity and its creativity. But as fate would have it, the early days of the 24th century brought a devastating cosmic cataclysm. An insidious computer virus, born from the depths of the digital unknown, infiltrated the project´s communication networks and databases. It spread like a raging wildfire, leaving chaos in its wake, and toppling the human economy and causing the once-thriving interconnected system into disarray. The fallout left a haunting legacy for the project, as the collapse progressed and databases where wiped clean many station dwellers decided to abandon their ships, leaving them adrift and causing them to vanish into the vast expanse of space without any trace left. They became cosmic ghosts, silently orbiting in the darkness, their stories and beauty lost to the void. Quickly forgotten by the rebuilding civilization that emerged from the ashes. Their memory fading into obscurity becoming fragments of an era long gone by. The civilization moved continually forward, leaving behind the mysterious past.

Many generations passed, and with the shift of cosmic currents, some of the long-forgotten stations reemerged from the cosmic background, having become new, beautiful obscure or even haunting shells of their former selves. Slowly many of them revealed new and diverse tapestries of fates. Some not just remnants but thriving hubs of life, sustained by reformed ecosystems and their resourceful inhabitants which had found a way to adapt to the sudden challenges of having to find ways to sustain their ways of living in space. Others had undergone large alterations, their original purposes re-imagined by advanced AI and machinery which was once designed to keep the stations operational. These technological custodians ensured the continued existence and advancement of these magnificent stations, evolving them into marvels of automated efficiency and sustainability.

The Hubs of Humanity: Aetherian Arboretum

Now after many of them had been long forgotten and become legends of a marvelous past the first of these celestial relics appeared at the edge of Humanities capital solar system. As it floated trough the vast reaches of the cosmos by pure chance it passed the outermost surveillance satellites of the Human system SOL1. There it was a space station which echoes the grandeur of an age long gone. A picturesque and mesmerizing blend of elegance and the neon glow of a bygone era. Tall ornate structures with their sinuous curves and intricate floral motifs rise from the main ring like structure and into the star lit fabric of space. Facades adorned with dim luminescent neon colors cast a surreal picture upon any eyes there to observe it. As it silently orbited throughout the cosmic ballet of space rocks of a region referred to as the Oort cloud it was greeted by a group of space vessels. Drawn towards it they cautiously approach the abandoned celestial haven.

As a group of explorers set foot onto it for the first time again, they marvel at the fusion of design and cosmic functionality. As they wander the deserted streets, the air is filled with an eerie silence, only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hum of nature overtaking the space. Vines gracefully cascade town the sides of once bustling structures as they intertwine wit the fading light of neon signs that once proclaimed the names of businesses now long forgotten. The corridors and walkways once trodden by station dwellers, now play host to a delicate tapestry of nature. Moss covering lower grounds and growing through cracks in the flooring and resilient ferns and flowers also pushing their way through the seams. Tables, doors, and windows adorned with wrought-iron designs being claimed by encroaching vines. The almost ghostly neon glow flickering and casting a dreamlike scene into the explorers´ eyes. The grand arches and domes of the once famous trading hub now softened by the embrace of ivy and climbing roses.

Amid this fantastic scene of haunting beauty, unexpected inhabitants had found their niche – flocks of chickens, descendants of once domesticated birds, had adapted to the continuous darkness of the abandoned space station. Their plumage had taken on otherworldly beauty as it reflected the surrounding hues of dim neon lights. Their feathers colored in ethereal blends of deep purples, electric blues, and luminous greens they created a mesmerizing spectacle of shimmers and shadows as they moved through the silent station. These avian inhabitants adapted to the perpetual darkness of the station developing nocturnal rhythms and clucking that harmonized with the faint hum of the station´s former vibrancy. They had become the unexpected guardians of this rediscovered neon-lit legacy.

As the explorers reluctantly tore themselves away from these mesmerizing scenes, they delved deeper into the bowels of the ship, where they uncovered relics and objects of the once flourishing and passionate inhabitants. It also became evident that the station had undergone its profound metamorphosis, triggered by the exhaustion of its fusion systems and batteries several generations ago. The once state-of-the-art machinery had gracefully transitioned into a state of energy conservation. Basic life support systems hummed softly, maintaining the atmospheres delicately balanced atmosphere as the surroundings were bathed in the perpetual dim glow of neon lights, nurturing the lush flora overtaking the stations interiors. The artificial gravity modifier, a relic of advanced technology, continued to function on a minimal level. Its low persistent hum serving as an unseen orchestrator, allowing the abundance of plants and neon-feathered chickens to thrive in their cosmic sanctuary.

As the explorers continued their way through the corridors, they marveled at the ingenious processes that had sustained the stations delicate balance over the years. In this cosmic tapestry, the explorers sensed a quiet resilience. An enduring legacy left by a bygone era that unwittingly had given rise to this flourishing microcosm. The space station, now reemerged as a living testament to adaption, whispering its story of metamorphosis through the hushing echoes of its few still operational automated systems, the soft neon-glow of plant lights, and the vibrant clucks of chickens against the backdrop of the celestial stage.

With high anticipation, the explorers access the ship´s extensive database, eager to unveil the secrets hidden within the almost dreamlike structure they had been navigating. As the displays flickered to life, they revealed intricate schematics and blueprints of the station. The designation “Aetherian Arboretum” adorned the digital representations of the mighty station´s architecture. The name resonated with an ethereal quality, capturing the essence of this celestial haven. Armed with the new knowledge of the station´s identity, the explorers felt a deeper connection to it. As it stood as a testament to human ingenuity and the enduring spirit of exploration as it transcended its initial purpose as a hub of exploration and trade, evolving into a beacon of life amid the cosmic abyss. The name now etched into humanity’s records once again it was soon to become a thriving celestial haven again.

The news of the Arboretum´s rediscovery and its unique transformation captured the imagination of Earthlings in a wildfire. Recognizing its unique historical and ecological significance, authorities and swiftly declared it a protected zone and placed it under historic and natural preservation. The once-abandoned station a testament to the harmonious coexistence of nature and technology, underwent careful restoration with the goal of preserving its unique atmosphere while allowing eager tourists to experience the surreal beauty of the station in a small selected section. During the beginning of its restoration, the celestial sanctuary was moved in a stable orbit around Saturn, creating a celestial backdrop that added to the mystique of the cosmic destination. As visitors disembarked onto the transformed space station, they marveled at the now again neon-lit arches, domes and towers, the vibrant flora and the more than enthusiastic clucking of the specially adapted chickens. Educational Programs were established quite quickly to inform about the Arboretum´s rich history, its transformation and the unique ecosystem within it. Conservationists closely monitoring the neon-feathered chickens, ensuring their well-being and natural behavior are not disturbed in any significant way. As the space station orbited Saturn, the "Aetherian Arboretum" stood not only as a destination for eager earthlings but as a symbol of the boundless potential for exploration, preservation, and the celebration of the cosmic wonders that unfolded beyond the confines of Earth.

#humans are weird #humans are odd #scifi #sci fi #science fiction #scifiseries #futurism #scifi worldbuilding

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mfenvs3000f23 · 5 months

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Small actions, big outcomes! Environment as a frequent classroom topic!

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

This is my final blog post and you likely do not know who I am, but if you are interested, I invite you to delve into Madeline Fantin’s interpretive ethics, values, and ideas for the future.

To start, what beliefs do I bring? I am a wildlife biology and conservation student; therefore, the vast majority of my courses have looked through a scientific lens (western science that is). Perhaps the reason I chose my program is due to possibly my most core belief, that individuals have the power and influence necessary to make a real difference. This is why I became a vegetarian even though my entirely Italian family thinks I’m bonkers, I think one person cutting their carbon emissions is a worthwhile effort. Are billionaires flying their private jets around for unsatisfactory reasons and investing in all kinds of large corporations who dump pollution directly into our environment? Yes of course, and don’t get me wrong, I think part of the fight towards a healthy planet is holding the extremely wealthy accountable. Perhaps they are hoping we will put all the blame on ourselves so that we ignore their insurmountable consumption. However, we are consumers too and where possible, we can choose where to put our money and how to live our lives to a certain extent. I believe that however small, the average citizen’s fight against climate change is valuable and necessary. In conversations I have had with the people in my life, I have learned that many people become unmotivated by the “all or nothing” mindset. For example, I frequently hear people say that they “could never go without meat all the time.” So don’t! Have meatless Mondays! Have meatless weekends! Go pescatarian! Go meatless biweekly! There are unlimited combinations of schedules that could provide a more reasonable expectation. The effort doesn’t need to be “perfect” to be worth something. This can be applied to many environmental actions. In most places in Ontario, it wouldn’t be reasonable to ask people to use public transport or bike as a main form of transportation. Most cities don’t have great public transport, and most people live a long, long bike ride away from their place of work. However just because you cannot bike to work doesn’t mean you can’t ever trade the car for your bike. Maybe there’s a friend you often visit just on the other side of the neighborhood, and maybe you usually drive to them, but when the weather is ideal and if you are able, the bike could work! Many “imperfect” actions are better than no action at all I promise!!!! There is no shame in not being the perfect environmentalist all the time, it is near impossible in the society we have created.

I also believe that there is something to be gained from spending time in nature, for anyone. Whether that is a chance to gather thoughts, get some exercise, some vitamin D, you name it. I don’t think it needs to be picturesque either. Sometimes connecting with nature looks like sitting on the curb outside your east campus townhouse because the sun has reappeared after some days of gloom. Sometimes you will have the energy to head to the arboretum, but when you don’t, taking a sunny break on the curb is better than skipping the outdoors all together. Again, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

I believe it is never too late to get started! Everyone, no matter the age or circumstance, should feel like they have a place in the world of nature interpretation and the outdoors. Having not grown up in an outdoor adventure family doesn’t mean you can’t have any outdoor adventures! On that point, outdoor adventures are whatever you make them. They need not be a costly trip to the other side of the continent. Someone with the right mindset could gain more from an hour by the local creek, than someone with the wrong mindset on their trip to Mount Kilimanjaro.

What responsibilities do I have? Well, there are the obvious ones such as to deliver the program I have advertised, inform guests about risk, manage and prevent dangers, present accurate information, check my bias and privilege, to be fun and engaging, and for guests to leave feeling like they have benefitted in some way. Other more specific responsibilities I believe depend on the approach…

So what approaches are the most suitable for me? Well, it is my goal to get into teaching in high school classrooms. This is not the type of environment we have spent the last few months discussing, but nonetheless I think there is a ton of relevant overlap. Nature interpretation could take place in the classroom, or the school yard. There may also be opportunity for class trips where students could be exposed to new ways of learning or new environments.

When relevant to the content, I would aim to stimulate interest and conversation about the environment and environmental issues happening around the world, as they relate to us in Canada and otherwise. I probably plan on living in Canada, and therefore will need to create programs suitable for all 4 seasons. This could mean the same topic modified with each passing season, different topics in each season, or a combination. I am excited to take advantage of the variance each season brings. I think many topics in the high school curriculum could benefit from an environmental lense, and I would look to make connections throughout where possible.

I would look to encourage active learning and participation through mediums the students may be interested in, just like we talked about all the different mediums of nature interpretation. If I’m teaching grade 9 or 10 science, then this class is still required of them, and many may only be there by necessity. They might not want to be there or have particular interest in the content, which is ok, and I would need to navigate how to still make sure they get what they are meant to, even if they never develop excitement about it.

To revisit responsibilities, as a teacher I must provide a classroom environment conducive to learning, where everyone feels comfortable, valued, and that students look forward to attending each day.

For my final blog post outro (☹), I will say that climate doomism is very contagious and easy to get wrapped up in. I think one of the most important things we can do as nature interpreters is spark hope for change. You never know who is looking to you when they are feeling discouraged about the state of the world, and how you can provide them motivation to keep fighting the good fight!

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liminalpebble · 1 year

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The Refugee: Chapter 15

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The next day Magnus and Lenora sat on a parapet along the rocky coast. Loki was feeling particularly generous today after their night together, so when she said she needed to be allowed out of the keep to take a walk and clear her head he gladly let her, provided Magnus came with her. Magnus for his part was grateful for this too, anxious to know how she was after her strange evening. They layered themselves in thick clothes against the cold, although the icy bite of winter was slowly subsiding, into a gray, foggy, dampness that might have passed for early spring. They sat together in the intermittent fog, catching sight of the seascape in fleeting moments.

“I'd almost forgotten the outside world really existed after all this time in the citadel. The view from the windows just began to feel like a painting after so long.”

He put his arm around her shoulder. “Well, hopefully he'll let this at least become a more regular occurrence. The training grounds and arboretums aren't a substitute are they? But if he intends to make you his queen as he says you'll be able to travel to dozens of realms, learn all sorts of things. You might even be able to steer this great ship of an empire to actual benevolence instead of...well...instead of whatever the hell it is now.”

She shook her head, conflicted and exhausted. “I can't think about that right now, Magnus. I can't wrap my head around any of this.”

“I'm sorry. That was a tactless attempt to cheer you up with overbearing optimism.” She snickered at that. There was a heavy pause.

“How are you feeling after...well...everything yesterday. Are you in pain?”

She smiled. He was always an eager giver, a selfless healer, a physician to the core. “Yes. I'm in some pain, but the normal kind of pain a woman expects after...” she looked down. “But he didn't do anything really violent. Not like that first day on the ship. He managed not to be a sadist or selfish. He was actually very kind, so at least there's that. I worry about how it will be once he gets more comfortable though.”

“Was it terrible?”

“Not all of it. Not most of it, if I'm being honest. I almost wish it had been terrible so I could be less confused. I feel...guilty...Magnus. I enjoyed it. I gave in.”

“Lea, look at me. Whatever pleasure or happiness you can get from this bizarre situation, you should. I would much prefer that to the suffering he can inflict. And just because you felt pleasure, that doesn't mean you consented.”

“But I did, Magnus, eventually I did...enthusiastically. And...I'm so confused.” He hugged her shoulders a little tighter.

“Hey..hey...it's alright! Whatever you did is fine. You don't owe me or anyone an explanation. He loves to make people uncertain...to muddy the water. Whatever is happening within you, whatever you feel about it or him, is okay.” He held her hand tightly, waiting for the lost words in her throat to make their way out. After a moment, they did.

“It's just that...it was a gift I wanted to give to you, Magnus. I wanted you to be the first, but maybe you wouldn't have wanted that with me. I don't know, but I wish I had the option to choose for myself. Yet again, I was a coward, letting someone more powerful than me steer the important decisions of my life.”

He hugged her tightly, the bright forest of his eyes dewy with tears.

“Of course I would have wanted it! I would have been honored. It's not like I haven't thought about it or you that way. I'm not a god among men or a king but I do love you Lea, far beyond just wanting you.”

“I love you too, Magnus,” she said screwing her eyes shut as the wind of the sea and a cold sadness whipped at her face. “I love you beyond lust, or family, or friendship. I love you in a way that I cannot fully express.”

“Thank you, Lea. I know what you mean and I feel the same.”

“I'm sorry we never got to know what it could have been.”

“So am I, Lea. But don't be sorry. It's not your fault. I'm still here, and I still love you and I'm honored to know you love me.” He came out of the hug to tug her heavy shawl a little tighter around her and run his hands over her shoulders. He was still crying, mourning all their lost possibilities. He sniffed and laughed, “I've always cried too much, but I haven't seen you cry once. I'm such a baby.”

She gave a weak sad smile. “Most people cry more than I do, Magnus. I wish I could do it more...cry, scream...anything. Sometimes I'm jealous of how Loki can just rage. I wonder what it's like. Instead I just tend to disappear.”

“You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, or can't but...Do you love him?”

She sighed, “I don't know, Magnus. I know I hate him, but there's a part of me that can't help but care about him. Part of my heart breaks for his emptiness and loneliness...relates to it. It's tragic because there's so much good in him, intelligence too, but everything he touches twists or withers or suffers or suffocates. The beautiful parts of him are so beautiful and the ugly parts are so so ugly.”

Magnus looked at her, just realizing something very important. “Funny. I could have said exactly the same thing about the way I love him...and hate him.”

---

As soon as they walked back over the drawbridge and through the enormous black granite entrance, Loki was there smiling to meet Lea, a gleeful ball of chaos contrasting his somber and imposing black keep. He ran towards her picking her up and spinning her around in his arms, like a lovesick boy, then set her down gently with a swift hard kiss and a big smile.

“Darling, did you enjoy the fresh air?”

She laughed a little under her breath in sheer shock at his openly affectionate behavior.

“What's the matter?”

“Well, doesn't this kind of behavior undermine your authority in front of others?”

He said, low and purring, “ Must you always be so sensible? I couldn't give less of a damn. Besides, I'm still terrifying when I'm enamored, perhaps more so” he said with a wink.

She glanced with a weak smile to Magnus, who looked as if he'd just come from a funeral to discover his house on fire, but he was no longer crying at least. She felt her stomach drop, seeing him so shattered. Loki still had one arm tight against her waist, too manic with joy to notice his best friend's plight. “Ouch! Loki, that hurts,” Lea said.

“Oh, I'm terribly sorry,” he said a bit sheepishly, releasing her. “Come with me! I have a surprise for you.” He walked with her down the hall rambling on about the book he was reading and the ideas he had. It wasn't a boring ramble. Loki was many things, but never boring. “Wait, where are we going?” he said suddenly. She had to laugh. It was a bit funny to see the king buzzing around her like a happy golden retriever.

“I'm going to hang my coat up in my quarters.”

“Oh nevermind that, I can do it for you,” he said waving a green glow around her so her coat dissolved, hopefully back to her quarters and not some void in space and time. He looked surprised to see that she was wearing her uniform underneath. “Why on earth are you in uniform?”

“Because I was planning to go work with the department. We're working on the Heksejotun problem and it's really difficult. I'd like to...”

“No no no. Not today, darling! You'll see,” he grabbed her hand, pulling her along.

She was both charmed and uncomfortable with how he was enthusiastically leading her. She would have liked to decide for herself today. She wanted some peace, some normalcy, but Loki was not known for either of those things. They came to a beautiful parlor and as soon as they passed the door frame, Lea's eyes lit up. Before her was a familiar form of tall buxom curves and perfectly styled golden curls. Her luxurious peach-pink dress fanned out as she stood up and rushed toward Lea, holding her firmly in her arms.

“Miss Beatrice!” She gasped in shock. “I was so worried. You never wrote back.I never heard from you!”

Bea was beaming at her former charge with pride, “My god, look at you Lea, my love. How official and scholarly you look, in that uniform, holding your head so high! I would hardly know my little barmaid.”

“Bea, I never heard from you,” she repeated. “Did you get my message from Lo...His Majesty...all those months ago?”

Bea and Loki shared a chilly gaze until Loki broke the silence. “I sent her your message, Lea, but I told her not to write back. I didn't want it to interfere with your adjustment.”

She wanted to slap him. So she decided instead to ignore him, which would hurt him even more. She turned again to Beatrice. “I told everyone that you were just fine, and employed by the empire now. The girls, the regulars, hell, the whole town was thrilled that you were alive and well. Everyone misses the dancing girl of the tavern and the bookworm barmaid.”

She laughed shyly, “I had no idea I was such a celebrity.”

“You really were! And especially after you saved Noa from...well...from this røvhul. You were practically our patron saint!”

Lea looked incredibly uncomfortable at this praise. “Can we please change the subject? Have you trained up anyone for my job yet?”

“Yeah! Wee Rosie from the brothel. She's good...not as quick with the numbers as you were but she's learning.” Lea couldn't help but smile at this. She missed her sisters, her old home.

“That reminds me, Lea! Noa and his family send these, with their undying gratitude.”

Bea carefully handed her a colorful bag, decorated in the intricate geometric Morhari designs. Inside were several polished nuggets of the same blackish-purple ore of her necklace and earrings. Lea gasped, “Bea, I can't accept this."

Bea put her hand over Lea's holding it tightly, “You can. They want you to.”

“Thank you” Lea said quietly. “I don't know what else to say. And thank you for sailing all this way. These gifts...your presence...I don't deserve these.”

Loki interjected, saying with crisp theatricality, “You know, Bea, even this majestic royal røvhul has trouble getting her to accept gifts.”

Bea looked him up and down, annoyed with his interference in their moment. “You know I've never seen you out of your disguised form, Your Worship. Frankly, I like you better blond and a bit sun-kissed, less pale and weaselly. Pain in the ass, isn't he? And I've had to deal with him for centuries. At least when he conquered our village this time the governors are good, not those horrible men from the other cities.”

Lea looked with surprise to Loki. “You kept your word?”

“Do you really think so little of me? Of course I did. I couldn't have those barbarians destroying my empire's reputation.”

Bea looked at him knowingly, her wise gray eyes stripping through his pretense. “What has gotten into you?”

Loki avoided the real answer. “It's more of a 'what I've gotten into' situation, and apparently the answer is 'a gigantic undertaking of cleaning house for an entire empire'.”

“I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think you two might just be changing each other for the better.”

Loki beamed. Lea smiled uncertainly.

---

Lea spent the day with Beatrice, and felt her heart break a bit as she saw the gorgeous statuesque women off that evening from the pier. She hugged her tightly and had trouble letting go.

“Take care of yourself and your girls, Bea. Give them all my love.”

“I will, dear. I promise.”

Loki came forward to kiss her hand and see her off properly. As he rose again she gripped his hand hard so that her long nails dug into his white skin. “Listen to me, Loki. You made me break a promise to that girl that she would never have to run away again. I can forgive you for that, but if you don't treat her properly and give her every single good thing she deserves, god-king or not, I will relieve you of your dagger...and I don't mean the one in your weapons cabinet.”

“I'll do better than that, Beatrice. I'm going to make her my queen.”

“Good. She'll be one of the great ones. ”

“And Beatrice....”

“Yes?”

“If you fulfill your threat, you'll need a bigger scabbard,” he said with a wink and a lazy turn.

“What was that all about?” Lea asked as Loki walked back her way, looking at the indentations of Bea's nails in his palm.

“That was your former boss being very protective of you.”

Lea only smiled, and ran her fingers over his skin in a soothing gesture. He pulled her close.

“Will you come to my chambers again this evening?” He whispered in her ear, honey-sweetly.

“I...I still hurt, Loki.”

“Ah...right. Sorry darling. Of course you need rest. We could at least dine together, have some wine on the ballroom balcony and look at the stars.”

“It's freezing, Loki.”

“Yes, and I'm a sorcerer. I can fix that.”

“Loki. I know you're excited about all of this, but everything is spinning for me. It's only been half a year and everything has changed so drastically and abruptly for me. I just need some time and peace. I need to have some solitude and do my work and...” she trailed off unable to find the words. She was afraid he'd be angry, like a child asked to put his new toy away for awhile, but he wasn't. He lifted her face in his hands, to meet his eyes.

“I understand. I know I'm...chaos. You must be exhausted.” He stroked her hair out of her face as the wind tossed it. “Whatever you need, whatever you want, I will see that it's yours.”

Aside from my freedom. She thought to herself.

“Time, Loki, time and peace. That's what I need for now.” He nodded and kissed her gently.

*a/n: røvhul means asshole in Danish.

@gigglingtigger, @peaches1958 , @lokisgoodgirl , @goblingirlsarah , @sweetsigyn ,Thank you so much for following this story. I hope you still enjoy it. 💛💚💛

#loki fanfic

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jqupohtia · 9 months

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J'qupoh's Relationships (an update/addition)

J'sylpa Rahni - J'qupoh's mother. Seeker of the Sun Miqo’te, former Gleaner that was primarily assigned to tasks for Saint Mocianne’s Arboretum, forcibly retired adventurer with a victim complex. An expert botanist but her true passion lies in thrill-seeking and fighting, and traveling as a gleaner only scratched that itch so much. Moogle obsessed. Once regarded by Qupoh as a hero, but due to some really shit decisions and generally being an asshole they now have a very rocky relationship that he's very conflicted about. Once a decent fighter but got caught up in some bad business that left her the only surviving member of her party, and forced to rely on her children while she recovered.

Miomir Adajana

J'qupoh's father. Helions Hrothgar, researcher formerly working in Saint Moicianne’s Arboretum, most recently working on some research he cannot discuss. Member of Sharlayan's Forum. Specializes in warding and containment magics, but also pretty good at illusions and enchantments, and was the one to teach Qupoh. Means well but has the flimsiest spine in Sharlayan. Qupoh barely knows him and spent years thinking he was a terrible person because of a misunderstanding and J'sylpa being a dick. Tried to reach out a few times, but Poh never answered his letters, so he eventually decided to stop bothering his son and let him have his space. Attempts were still made over the years, but not response ever came. Poh probably would have answered eventually if he actually got them. Only recently reconnected and things are awkward but okay?

J'mogri Miomir

Younger sister, Miqo’thgar, blacksmith and goldsmith who learned her trade from Gobbies, grouchy exterior over a squishy core. Is well aware her brother left to be an adventurer, not just join the Botanists guild, but let him believe she didn't know until recently. Allows Poh the mercy of not wearing anything with heels while around him so he can keep pretending he’s taller. Not that she typically wears them anyway, she doesn’t exactly need to be any taller than she already is. Basically raised by Poh, and he would commit murder for her. Has more friends amongst the goblins than other peoples, and is very skittish around Miqo'te women.

Midnight Dew

Good friends, they were in a relationship for a couple years but broke things off amicably. They’ve kept in contact while Poh is out getting himself into trouble, and while he never went into specifics, he at least gave more of the truth of what's been happening to her than he has to Mogri. Midnight is well aware, and constantly harasses him over it. He’s dreading the day she makes good on her threat to set up a linkshell. Partially responsible for the few Jackal tribe (and others) Tias in Idyllshire challenging Poh. She thought it was funny only because Poh was clueless why other Miqo’te kept wanting to fight him. Poh made her the Thavnairian sarouel she wears and gave her the earrings, and he still uses the cane she gave him up until it breaks at Holminster Switch.

Urianger

In spite of everything, one of the Scions Poh trusts the most. Urianger has seen Poh at some of his most vulnerable moments, and is more familiar with Poh’s weaknesses than some might expect. Though Poh has definitely been angry over some of his lies and the consequences of them, he trusts Urianger to have good intentions and to be a couple steps ahead of the rest of them. If Uri is acting shifty, it’s time to start paying attention. They have had many late night discussions about Astrology and prophecies, with Poh’s childhood fascination being rekindled by Urianger’s enthusiasm for the subjects in the wake of the elezen’s attempts to calm him down after his disastrous experience with the Lord of Levin. Also Poh just finds his voice soothing and Urianger has learned that it is not an issue of him being bored if Poh ends up (quite literally) falling asleep on him.

#ffxiv #j'qupoh tia #character musings #after ages it is time for more Pohlore!#Slowly I will get this stuff cleaned up #j'lorepoh #miqo'te wol #wol oc #Going to eventually entirely replace the old relationship post but for now i'll leave it up

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burnwater13 · 2 months

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Luke Skywalker lecturing Grogu on Ossus. Image from The Book of Boba Fett, Season 1, Episode 6, From the Desert Comes a Stranger. Calendar from DataWorks. Caption reads: The wide world exists in balance. Feel the Force all around you. Through the Force, you will fin balance as well. - Luke Skywalker

The Force. It was the beginning, the middle, and the end of every conversation any Jedi ever held with another Jedi. Given that was a deep core truth of the Jedi Order, Grogu was not surprised that Luke mentioned the Force whenever he possibly could. But he was surprised that Luke thought Grogu didn’t know what it was or how it worked or when you should or shouldn’t use it. It was kind of annoying, truth be told.

The very first lesson that Grogu could recall from his time at the Jedi Temple was Introduction to the Force, or 'How energy connects everything to everyone all the time, for beginners’. What he learned in that lesson was that Force was vast. It was everywhere life was. It bound them all. It bound everything. Everything everything, not just somethings and not others. The Force was not like a lightsaber, except when it was like a lightsaber.

Honestly, Grogu had been more than a little confused by all that. What he knew, even at that very young age, was, if you allowed it to, the Force would pick you up by the seat of your pants and allow you to access the jar of cookies on the top shelf of the masters’ break room. Which was pretty darn impressive from his perspective.

Over the years of education, training, practicing and mentorship, Grogu found that just allowing the the Force to interact with you in a meaningful manner was enough of an understanding. If he tried to grasp the paradoxes of an energy that was accessible to the Sith as readily as the Jedi, but that ‘it’ wanted balance or provided balance or any of those other things people said about it, his head hurt and he needed to make it happy again by eating a cookie.

Does the air care who breathes it? Does life care if the Krayt dragon eats bantha and not algae? Does the sun care if its rays create a rainbow or a desert? Come on. The answer is no. Nope. Never. Not. Nayc. Nobata. Nyeta. Koa. Got it? Good.

Grogu knew that he was not in agreement with the prevailing theory of the Force as taught at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He never had been. He’d eventually learned how to say the words Master Yoda or Master Windu wanted to hear, but he was just doing that to make them happy. When either of the masters called him out on that he’d smile at them and say ‘The Force guides me in everything I do or say’. Or words to that affect. Master Windu gave up arguing with him. Master Yoda just frowned at him and said one day he would ‘understand the Force when as old as Yoda he was’. Grogu had followed the Force that day and managed not to giggle.

But those interactions had spurred Grogu into requesting information from the Jedi Library on the history of Force and it’s ancient to modern theories of access, control, and understanding. He’d endured having his cheeks pinched twice by the librarian who assisted him with his research. Once when he arrived to ask for assistance and once when they brought him the data packs that covered his request.

“Youngling Grogu you are quite the adventurous one. Many a master has become lost when searching for the truth of the Force. Do not lose your way.”

They were being well meaning enough, but Grogu would have been happy to have lost himself that day if it had meant not being pinched yet again.

He took the data packs to an empty study cave (a spot in the arboretum that no one ever went in) and began to peruse them. It was a long slog. He reflected that perhaps those other masters had not gotten lost, but had merely fallen asleep in some obscure part of the Temple and no one went looking for them. Fortunately he still needed sustenance on his journey and the smell of the sour frog soup he’d brought with him kept him tethered to the reality of his situation.

When he completed that first round of research he knew that he would have to do more, but he also knew that he could do that research at his leisure. He didn’t have to answer the question right then and there because all the theories that any Jedi, master or otherwise, had proposed, were just that, theories. They were not proven or disproven. Yoda saw it as one thing. Odon-Urr, a master from ancient times, described it quite differently. Then there was Tela Drak, who worked at the Great Jedi Library on Ossus, who said that the Force was the accumulated essence of all those who lived and all those who had passed from the living world. They also said that the Force in balance resembled water when poured on a perfectly flat surface. It was even and equal and accessible by all.

Grogu agreed with that theory because it explained why the Force seemed to always be out of balance to some extent and why it was so hard to create or maintain balance. After all, nothing was perfect. Sometimes you found pools of the Force, like you might find pools or water. Other times the Force felt like a mist or the tiniest trickle of connectedness. Other times it felt like an ocean.

He wondered if that was why the Sith and the Jedi approached the use of the Force so differently? Most Jedi did small things. Things you might not even notice to adjust the balance of the Force. Like misting the plants in the Arboretum. Sith, on the other hand, always seemed to move an ocean to get a glass of water for themselves. They either did not want to do things in a small way or they were not capable of it. Grogu didn’t know which it was, but it was an intriguing line of study.

“Through the Force, you will find balance as well.”

Huh? Oh, right. Luke was trying to finish up the latest lecture about the Force. Grogu nodded his head and tried to appear interested and wakeful. It was the least he could when Luke was trying so hard.

Grogu had been remarkably well balanced in the Force, given all the big emotions he had to process since the Order had fallen so many years earlier. He had wanted to strike back at the people who hurt his friends. He had wanted to yell, as his masters fell around him, that they had all failed in their mission to maintain peace in the galaxy. He had wanted to cry an ocean as he left the only home he had ever known and was compelled to deal with a galaxy he’d never seen much of during his life.

But he didn’t do any of those things. He had taken a deep breath. He had steadied himself against the pull of the Force as it ebbed and flowed like an ocean at high tide. He had become as steady, stoic, and silent as the statues of the great masters. He had to create balance around himself so he would not be swamped and then sucked into the great imbalance in the Force that swirled all around him.

He would not recommend that as an introductory lesson in managing the Force for peace, calm, and reflection. Nope. He was glad that he had learned that he was not the only Jedi to ever have to become a null spot within the Force. A place where the Force did not change in strength, direction, or persistence. It just was and he was with it.

Spending time with Din Djarin had made him realize that such a place was not unknown to others. He was sure that is what Mandalorians were referring to when they said ‘This is the Way’.

It all made sense. From a certain perspective.

Luke talking to Grogu from the top of the bamboo, looking at the valley on Ossus. Image from The Book of Boba Fett, Season 1, Episode 6, From the Desert Comes a Stranger. Caption reads: Through the Force you will find balance as well.

#calendar prompt a day #grogu #din djarin #the book of boba fett #luke skywalker #The Force

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saharasdawn · 5 months

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HELLO????????? TWO GIRLS FALL (IN LOVE)????????? wlw interactive fiction coming for my goddamn throat forever and always wtf...... /pos

THEIR LOVE IS FLEETING AND BEAUTIFUL AND RADIANT AND EPHEMEREAL!! IT IS HOLY AND UNTOUCHABLE THE SAME WAY CELESTIAL BODIES ARE!! THERE IS A REASON WHY THE 'CELESTIAL' IN CELESTIAL BODY IS INTERCHANGEABLE WITH HEAVENLY!!!!!! LARGER THAN LIFE AND ALL CONSUMING AND UNATTAINABLE YET CONSTANT AND UNCHANGING ALL THE SAME!! IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO HAPPEN YOU CANNOT CHANGE THIS THE PATH OF YOUR SHOOTING STAR WAS PREDETERMINED!! ahem. sorry for shouting

shooting star and clementine. heaven and earth. burning brightness hurtling through space at breakneck speeds until it slowly burns out. simple earthly sweetness yet made to be consumed and before you know it, its gone.

it will come again and again and again every fruiting season (new shooting stars will make the rounds once more)

each fruit is the same variety but never the same exact clementine ever again (will the subsequent shooting stars ever retrace the same path? shine as bright or with that exact hue?)

and one day the tree itself will have to die but a new one will come (our sun. our universe will die and be reborn once more slightly different maybe)

a shooting star is not a star. it is a meteor. meteor is derived from meteōros, greek for "high in the air". icarus flew too close to the sun but people forget that he flew. their love may have ended then in that universe but they loved all the same (and continue to in later times. in other worlds.) a meteor is not a star. a meteor is rock and metal not a flaming ball of hot gas. it is more constant and indestructible, not nothingness that will evaporate. when a star dies it becomes a neutron star or black hole. a collapsed core or a gaping emptiness. it is a good thing then their love is not a star but a shooting star, rocks and metal. constant and grounded.

sorry that's what happens when you leave me alone with anything vaguely poetic or symbolic ;-; all that to say i rlly rlly adore it!!!! concise and impactful DEVASTATINGLY EFFECTIVE!! reminded me of these games: venus meets venus, arboretum, lilium, all that we could ever be, and the solar system tastes like chicken. most of these is vibes some of it is similar stories and format and most of them are older twine. be warned abt venus meets venus for uh. idk messy wlw and transphobia in sapphic spaces and lilium bc it is SO sad. like. tragedy levels sad.

sorry for the long ask WAHAHAHA

I ABSOLUTELY ADOREDDDD READING THIS PLEASE DON'T APOLOGISE and i'm so glad you enjoyed!!!

i absolutely adoreee nicknames and those two suited the girls so much i literally couldn't replace it. one sweet one fast one fleeting one rotting. and even if she finds a new love and another clementine it won't be the one from her memories that got sweeter with time :((

i also got inspiration from that one poem about sharing oranges because. ugh clementine sharing small parts of herself that she'd never let anyone but her shooting star see out of pure love and adoration it's so special to me

and even if the love is fleeting it EXISTED and it was beautiful whilst it did and that's what matters!!! the clementine never gets sweeter but the taste remains

i LOVED all that we could be, one of my all time favourite pieces honestly it's so effective and meaningful and everyone ever should read it!! i'd give my spleen to be able to write something as meaningful as that haha

#mail #dumplingcatho #two girls (fall in love)

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czenvs3000f23 · 5 months

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Unit 10 Blog

Prompt: Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

Last blog post! Crazy to think that this semester is already almost over. I feel like these blog posts have been a good tool to supplement the learning that we did in the course. I've really enjoyed reading everyone's perspectives week by week, and definitely learned a thing or two by doing so.

As someone who's deep in the environmental sciences and seeks to pursue a career in this field, I feel as though I have strong personal ethics. In this line of work, you need to have strong convictions as environmental issues are deeply nuanced and are not as black-and-white as some other disciplines may be. From an ecological point of view, I truly believe that everything is connected and that everything has consequences if things go off-kilter. Even if we can't see it with our naked eye, I can assure you that the implications of anthropogenic changes can ripple through ecological relationships on an individual, population, community, and ecosystem scale.

I really dislike human-centric thinking in which changes in the environment don't matter unless they affect us, whether that be morally, economically, or politically. We as humans have to advocate for things that can't voice their opinions. I don't think that people realize how complex nature really is unless they strive for a career in the environmental sciences. I think the public school curriculum does a disservice in this regard, as they put more emphasis on fields with more profitability. It's surprising to me how out of touch some people are with their environment. I know people who can't identify native Ontario flora and fauna, which is essential to forming a connection with your environment. A mutual friend of mine hasn't even been to the Arboretum up until very recently in his 4 years of undergrad.

I also believe that at its core, environmental education should have no barriers. Children who grew up in urban environments deserve to experience nature at its peak-- not between cracks in sidewalks or confined in a concrete prison. Western science has been and still is dominated by cis-white men who have a very distinct view of what this looks like within an environmental context. We need to encourage other demographics to participate in academia to fill in knowledge gaps that may have not even been realized. In the same vein, I think that understanding Canada's colonial history is vital when considering knowledge gaps. Many Indigenous people are stewards of the environment, participating in guardianship programs to keep biodiversity intact. They also have a breadth of knowledge about the environment since time immemorial. Creating safe and equal opportunities in the name of conserving our planet is essential. I cannot stress that enough.

As I mentioned in previous blog posts over the weeks, I worked this summer as a camp counselor at a farm. I was the only counselor who had a background in environmental science despite camp programming being heavily focused on agriculture and nature. When working there, I often felt as though it was my duty to instill environmental education in the children. I wanted them to be inspired just like I was at their age with science. I frequently brought in my own resources (books, crystals, fossils) to show the campers and to ignite this curiosity.

Touching on the subject of accessibility again, I find that this is a big issue with scholarly journal articles. Personally, I don't think science should be put behind a paywall. Everyone has a right to understand the world around us. I also realize that most academics don't have a say in the monetary aspect of their papers and that the problem lies with the publisher. I'm probably approaching this with some naivety or ignorance due to my lack of knowledge of actually being in that world but, I still feel like my argument holds some merit. Today, so many people are still climate change deniers. When approaching this problem, I definitely think that open-access papers can help with this. People fear what they don't understand.

As a side note, I think that how science is presented in the journal articles itself should be rethought. I'm in a lab and fieldwork course right now where we're basically going through the motions of writing our own research paper. We were heavily discouraged from using synonyms, or really any interesting language. As an academic, I understand why this is. You have to be objective in order to clearly communicate the purpose of your paper. However, as a writer, this frustrates me. You could argue that journal articles are a tool of interpretation itself. Then, shouldn't we approach the methodology of writing papers differently? People whose brains are not wired for science might not even seek out articles about things they're unsure about because of the language barrier. Most people do not have the privilege of attending higher education and have to resort to media outlets that create outrageous/fear-mongering headlines in a subpar attempt at interpretation? Why does there need to be this middleman who profits from falsities and has their own biases?

Everything I've discussed in this blog post are beliefs I hold close to my heart. Without them, I don't think I'd be much of an ecologist or for that matter, a nature interpreter. I don't think we should conform to the way things have always been or approach the climate crisis with apathy. Things have to change. And the only way this can happen is through modes of interpretation. I think this post is a culmination of everything I bring to the table as an interpreter but that doesn't mean I'm right. That's the beauty of interpretation as well, there are always ways to improve, and there are always new perspectives or experiences that should contribute to the conversation.

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vandaliatraveler · 1 year

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A few more treasures from my hike this past weekend in Core Arboretum. I’ve posted detailed descriptions of these ephemerals in the past. So if you want to learn more about these wildflowers, go to my main blog page and search on the plant's common name. You’ll also be rewarded with higher resolution photos. :-)

From top: sessile trillium (Trillium sessile); dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne); twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla); Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica); Virginia spring beauty (Claytonia virginica); harbinger of spring (Erigenia bulbosa); cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata); Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria); yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum); and great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).

#appalachia #vandalia #west virginia #spring #early april #wildflowers #spring ephemerals #core arboretum #sessile trillium #dwarf larkspur #twinleaf #virginia bluebells #virginia spring beauty #harbinger of spring #cutleaf toothwort #dutchman's breeches #yellow trout lily #great white trillium

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go-bac · 6 months

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My tank of creativity

Getting touch with nature is the way I recharge my creativity. It’s my inspiration and my meditation, my sweet comfort, my warm shelters and my secret exile that sends me away from the crews and business of the city. Just standing next to them, the trees, the flowers, under the sun, and it felt like my hands are held by the breeze——in just one touch, erased all my insecurities and anxieties. As I walked through the paths in the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, I felt so alive, it’s like I was breath in the same rhythm with the plants, like I can hear the buzzing of the bees, and the blooming of a flower.

I cherish moments like this, because as we built up our modern fancy life with all the high quality facilities, sometime I found ourselves locked in this cage we called home, I sensed this disconnecting from our Mother Nature. Maybe this is the reason I always go to her when I feel stucked or burnt out, isn’t it amazing how healing it can be? This slowly-forgotten bond between us and nature is also one of the “core” that led me to architecture design, as I read us as the bridge that harvest this harmony between human and nature❤️💚

#go bac fall 23 #artsincommunity #go irl #zhuoyang.w

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chasingmidnightrp · 2 years

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Welcome to NASHVILLE.

Some would say that Nashville has been fine tuned on chords of song for most of its existence. Like all facets and genres of music, this city is a chameleonic mistress, vibrant and buoyant, smokey and whimsical, thundering with the low thrums of a guitar as it mourns at the edge of the Cumberland River. Everyone can be anyone in its embrace, themselves or somebody else for a night, entwined with the soul of a centuries old metropolis that bears the ichor of a myriad of lifetimes. Either blooming from the ground up, or tumbling upon her shores on the cusp of a sun-kissed stream. An identity, a refuge, a thrill will be sated here, for better or worse.

Whether one is a local, or has landed upon her to hide or find themselves, the city opens her arms with the endurance and sagacity of a mother, knowing that perhaps, there is more afoot at her core than what transpires at a first glance. Is there anything or anyone her music cannot lull along its path? Pushing a constellation of stories forth until their ultimate conclusions.

EAST NASHVILLE An eclectic borough, famed for its creative vibe that magnetises artists and musicians.

THE GULCH Upscale and chic, peppered with high-end boutiques, and trendy eateries.

DOWNTOWN & SOBRO Bustling, sleepless and seasoned centre of commerce, where honky tonks play world-class live music without respite. Breathing swag to anyone looking for a good time.

GERMANTOWN Enriched by beautiful Victorian buildings and an abundance of flora, house the city’s Arboretum.

MIDTOWN & VANDERBILT Teeming with fratboys, the Vanderbilt campus houses a notorious academic domain. Luckily the Hospital is close by for reckless partygoers.

WEST NASHVILLE Boasting smaller communities within its outlines, it stretches till Belle Meade, where the rich and famous take up residence in lavish mansions.

SOUTH NASHVILLE A key place for an eclectic shopping spree and brunch with the homies, featuring vintage clothing and a myriad of antique shops.

#chasingmrp #preview #update #jcink rp

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btstwtarchive · 1 year

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130614 [Text] 내일은 나의 마음의 고향 일산!! 4살때부터 산 일산에 가서 방송을 하네요 라페스타와 호수공원 웨돔이 날 기다린다 아아 고향땅의 정기를 받아 내래 토착민의 랩 진수를 보여주갓서 [Trans] Tomorrow is my beloved hometown Ilsan!! Since I was 4 I've been going to Ilsan, and we're doing a broadcast; I'm waiting for the day I go to LaFesta and Hosugongwon Weodom haah I received my hometown's spirit, so I think I'll be able to show the native rap. Translated by BTS_Trans on Twitter.

ARMY NOTES - I believe Namjoon is referring to their filming for Music Core that happened on 130615. -LaFesta is a shopping district in Ilsan and Hosugongwon is Ilsan Lake Park which features a lot of recreational features like a skate park, arboretum and fountains and typically hosts a number of festivals etc.

#bts_twt #2013 #130614 #btstwtpics #june #translated #2cool4skool #OP_RM #kim namjoon #namjoon #bts rm #kim namjoon 2013 #namjoon 2013

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rj-drive-in · 1 year

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It Never Rains But It Pours Department:

Somehow things never happen the way you expect them to.

On the best of days, the dome of the Beta Telescope at Hammil_U, Farside, was very much the textbook definition of unkempt, as one might expect of a lab used primarily by three grad students in astronomy and their professor. But on one particular day in December (it will surprise no one to learn that it was the sixteenth), it bore all the signs of a hovel that had not been attended by any efforts at housekeeping for at least a lunar month; which, in fact, it hadn’t.

The sole occupant of the dome, Arthur Minehead, was as unconscious of the empty pizza boxes and old candy wrappers as he was of the rather spectacular view of the towering crater walls several miles distant outside the dome’s portholes. His attention was solely focused on the screen of his portable computer, which was currently connected to the telescope’s memory core.

So preoccupied was he that he did not realize that he had company until his visitor cleared his throat and tapped lightly on the bulkhead with his knuckles.

“Hey, Arthur,” said the visitor, rather apologetically. “Sorry to interrupt. Er... the door was open.”

Arthur looked up from his laptop, blinking rapidly, his attention returning from a distance of quite a few light years. “Charles,” he said. “No, that’s all right. Come in. I guess I haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”

“Yeah, I’ve been pretty busy.” Charles Colombo was, like Arthur, a graduate student in astronomy; but his stomping ground was the nearly identical dome of the Alpha Telescope, almost a kilometer to the other side of the observatory quad. “We’ve been making some... uh... good observations over at Alpha.”

“Same here,” said Arthur. His eyes flickered to his portable comp and he quickly dimmed the screen– which Charles did not fail to notice. “So what can I do for you?”

Charles shifted uncomfortably and scratched his head. “Doctor Gernsback mentioned that you guys have called a press conference for this afternoon.”

“That’s right. Sorry, but I can’t give anything away ahead of time. It’s very hush-hush.”

“No, that’s not why I’m here.” Charles trailed off into silence and succumbed to another bout of foot shuffling and head scratching.

“Well..?” prompted Arthur.

“The thing is,” said Charles slowly, “we’ve called a press conference also.”

Arthur was slightly taken aback. “Really? You’ve got a big announcement?”

“Yeah,” said Charles flatly. “It’s pretty major.”

“That is bad timing,” said Arthur. “Look, I can’t really tell you anything, but you probably want to reschedule. I can safely say– and no offense– that you’ll be completely overshadowed.”

“I don’t think so. Like I said, we’ve got something pretty major. Trust me on this: Whatever you’ve got, this is bigger.”

Arthur chuckled. “I seriously doubt it.”

The two men stared at each other for several moments.

“How about,” said Charles finally, “if we grab a bite to eat?”

The central arboretum was only ten minutes down the tunnel by electric cart. Arthur and Charles spent the trip making small talk– mostly about sports as the Moon has no weather to discuss– and then parked at the food court. They picked up a bucket of crispy wings and two side orders of fries at Plato’s Man, grabbed a couple of cans of JJ from a vending machine, and then rented a small alcove at Somerset’s– Victorian style, with red bricks and a holographic fireplace.

Charles closed the privacy curtain as Arthur spread lunch out on the dark wood table between the luxurious armchairs.

“So,” said Arthur, touching an unobtrusive switch on the mantel, which caused the holographic fire to spring to life, “what have you got?”

Charles sipped his beverage and said, “You first.”

Arthur laughed good naturedly as he took a bite out of a crispy wing. “Nice try. But you came to me, so it’s on you.”

“All right. I’ll tell you. But Professor Campbell will go supernova on me if he finds out.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”

Charles leaned forward and dropped his voice to a whisper. “We’ve been photographing an extraterrestrial space probe within the solar system.”

Arthur’s jaw literally dropped, nearly into his fries.

“What?! I mean... what?!”

“It’s true. We first spotted it about a month ago, while we were collecting data on the new Green Spot on Neptune.”

“Do you mean to sit there and tell me that aliens have sent a space probe to study the Earth?!”

Charles sighed and shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. It’s an artifact. A relic. We postulate that it’s the alien equivalent of a Voyager or Pioneer, something that just passed on into interstellar space when its mission was over.”

“Well, go on!”

“As you can imagine, we know very little as yet. It’s crossing through the solar system at about 28 kilometers per second and its closest approach will bring it just inside the orbit of Mars. It’s about the size of a bus and pockmarked down to our best resolution. If there were ever any markings, they’re long gone, although we have hopes that an electron microscope will be able to read something.”

“Well, it must have been out there for... for...”

“Hundreds of thousands of years,” nodded Charles. “The most interesting thing is that Catherine thinks she can see the terminus of eleven tiny struts– evidence of a solar sail long since worn down by atomic hydrogen and dust. We’ll have to wait to confirm that, of course. What we can see are seven perfectly recognizable radio dishes. These people seem to have liked odd numbers.”

“Where did it come from?” “Very probably Tau Sagittarii. If not, then from somewhere very far away indeed.”

“Have you... er... listened..?”

“As a matter of fact, Tau Sagittarii has been checked a couple of hundred times over the years. It was the closest possible source of the Wow Signal back in 1977. It’s always been completely silent.”

Arthur shook his head. “Then the civilization that launched it is probably extinct.”

“Possibly. Hundreds of thousands of years is a long time and we have no way of guessing the typical lifespan of a technological civilization. But they may have just moved on to some other form of communication. Or they may simply have no interest in communicating with us. Or it may just not be possible for us to detect signs of civilization at that distance.”

“Oh, I think it’s possible,” said Arthur quietly. “Will we be able to recover the probe?”

“Certainly! We’ve calculated its path to the hundredth decimal place for the next several millennia. But there’s no reason to think we can’t customize a robo-probe and have it out there within a year.”

“This is uncanny!”

“So you see what I mean then?”

“About what?”

“The press conference. Obviously, you’ll want to cancel yours. Otherwise, whatever your announcement is will be lost in the rocket wash of the greatest discovery in history.”

Arthur stared at him a moment and took a deep breath. “Actually, Charles, I think we’ll go ahead with it.”

“You’re not serious.”

“I am.” This time it was Arthur’s turn to lean forward and lower his voice to a dramatic whisper. “You see, we’ve also been observing an alien artifact.”

“What?!”

“We spotted it last month during the Deep Sky Halo Object Survey.”

“But... but...” stammered Charles. “That’s just... just....”

“Uncanny. I know.”

“But this is too much. We can’t both have found extraterrestrial probes inside the solar system at the same time!”

Arthur shook his head. “No. No, this isn’t a probe. And it’s nowhere near the solar system.”

“Then what in heaven’s name is it?”

“It’s... it’s architecture.” He spread his hands as if at a loss for words. “I guess you could call it a work of celestial engineering.” He swallowed hard and when he spoke again his voice quivered with awe. “It’s a Klemperer Rosette, Charles. A Klemperer Rosette of six main sequence G-Type stars.”

A wave of dizziness hit Charles and he had to grip the arm of his chair to keep from falling over– it was several moments before he was sure that he wasn’t going to faint, and several more before he could speak.

“We’ve always theorized about the possibility of... but to actually know that it... you’re very sure?”

“Oh, there’s no doubt. No doubt at all. Each star is of precisely the same size, within two percent of the sun. Their spectra are identical. They’re spaced equidistantly at thirty-eight AU. There’s no way such a thing could happen in nature.”

“What’s holding it together? A black hole?”

“Presumably. But if there is, it’s a perfect naked singularity. There’s no sign of an accretion disk. No radiation at all. And we’ve calculated that each one of those stars has stable orbits in its habitable zone. And you can bet there are planets there– you can bet on that!”

Charles sat back in his chair and put his hand over his trembling stomach; he was sorry now that he had eaten. “So we’ve discovered one civilization that seems to have expired in its youth and another that has gone on to rearrange the very stars in the sky.”

“What a day, huh?”

“I think,” said Charles, “that we need to hold that press conference together.”

“Agreed,” Arthur replied. He reached out and the two men shook hands, with sweaty palms. “We’re going to go down in history, you know.”

“Gernsback and Campbell will go down in history. We’re grad students. We’ll be footnotes.”

“True,” shrugged Arthur.

They gathered up the remains of the food and other trash and dumped it in the waste slot beside the fireplace. Exiting the alcove, they walked back to the electric cart and drove down the tunnel back to the observatory in silence, each preoccupied with his own thoughts, until Arthur finally spoke.

“Mine is the more impressive discovery, of course.”

“But mine can actually be retrieved and studied,” countered Charles without hesitation.

And so it went until the joint press conference late that afternoon, when they and their colleagues, in a most gracious and collegial manner, announced to the world that the question which had most vexed humanity for centuries had finally been answered– twice in one day.

___________________________________

Long Day At The Office Department:

#science fiction #first contact #megastructure #arthur c clarke #microfiction #micro fiction #short story #RJDiogenes #Rick Hutchins

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