010: Off to The Deeps

[joertexas]

She'll send the file over to you. It has a tangled mess of shell companies and major manufacturers. Not all are certain, but he has an ownership stake in the three largest industrial concerns that could be as little as 10% or as much as 40%. One in particular, Gravrison Interstellar makes starship parts that get shipped far and wide. He *might* have a controlling interest. Also, it is one of the largest and worst polluters according to your earlier research. Your guess is that his family has had interest in this business for a very long time. Generations.

Jaelah enlists Roscoe's help in untangling the mess by delving into every computer they can access in the system to ferret out what the good count is into.

[terrymixon]

She'll send the file over to you. It has a tangled mess of shell companies and major manufacturers. Not all are certain, but he has an ownership stake in the three largest industrial concerns that could be as little as 10% or as much as 40%. One in particular, Gravrison Interstellar makes starship parts that get shipped far and wide. He *might* have a controlling interest. Also, it is one of the largest and worst polluters according to your earlier research. Your guess is that his family has had interest in this business for a very long time. Generations.

Jaelah enlists Roscoe's help in untangling the mess by delving into every computer they can access in the system to ferret out what the good count is into.

He'll start working on that angle. The end result will be a spaghetti map as he is all over the place. A real mover and shaker. More than most people realize.

[helvorn]

"Looks like he has a nice file already put together," Aster said after a minute. "Looks like he's got fingers in the industrial sector here. Up to the palm. He's a major investor. On the criminal side, there is a note that someone thinks he's smuggling something based on the ships he has coming in and out, but no one bothered to look too closely. That's sloppy and I'll send an update once we have more information." She grins. "And he is an inveterate gambler. Not the races, mind you, but underground gladiatorial-style games. You know the type. Everything from street brawlers to swordsmen. Not illegal here, and no indication he is an owner or investor, just a patron. I'd wager you can work with that."

William smiled at Garvin. "I like working the angle with the gambling on the games. We really aren't trying to put him out of business as well are we? He may deserve it and he can go down as part of the cleanup of the Duchess. I think we should add him to our list to clean up here." He frowned. "This guy definitely will not be a friend. I vote we take him down as part of the collateral on this mission."

[terrymixon]

The door to William and Ciencia's stateroom opens and Ciencia walks out, rubbing her eyes. "I overslept. Sorry. Late night."

There is, of course, the open question of who is sitting there among you now.

[joertexas]

The door to William and Ciencia's stateroom opens and Ciencia walks out, rubbing her eyes. "I overslept. Sorry. Late night."

There is, of course, the open question of who is sitting there among you now.

Jaelah is investigating the count's activities in concert with Roscoe. Dressed in a synthsilk robe, she is ensconced in a comfortable chair as she uses her implants to access the computers, with a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of sinfully rich chocolate cookies close at hand.

[terrymixon]

The door to William and Ciencia's stateroom opens and Ciencia walks out, rubbing her eyes. "I overslept. Sorry. Late night."

There is, of course, the open question of who is sitting there among you now.

Jaelah is investigating the count's activities in concert with Roscoe. Dressed in a synthsilk robe, she is ensconced in a comfortable chair as she uses her implants to access the computers, with a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of sinfully rich chocolate cookies close at hand.

So, she misses the Doppelganger's arrival? So noted.

To be clear, my comment above was about the fact that Ciencia has been sitting there--and still is--and a SECOND Ciencia just came out of her quarters.

I went back and confirmed that she has spoken, though not much. Feel free to amend your response.

[helvorn]

The door to William and Ciencia's stateroom opens and Ciencia walks out, rubbing her eyes. "I overslept. Sorry. Late night."

There is, of course, the open question of who is sitting there among you now.

William smiles. "There is a spot of tea or coffee ready in the kitchenette."

[terrymixon]

The door to William and Ciencia's stateroom opens and Ciencia walks out, rubbing her eyes. "I overslept. Sorry. Late night."

There is, of course, the open question of who is sitting there among you now.

William smiles. "There is a spot of tea or coffee ready in the kitchenette."

"Thanks," she said as she headed that way.

The Ciencia sitting next to William called out, "Get me one, too."

The new one raised her hand in acknowledgement and headed into the galley.

[Thumper]

William smiled at Garvin. "I like working the angle with the gambling on the games. We really aren't trying to put him out of business as well are we? He may deserve it and he can go down as part of the cleanup of the Duchess. I think we should add him to our list to clean up here." He frowned. "This guy definitely will not be a friend. I vote we take him down as part of the collateral on this mission."

Walt is in the room sitting in gym clothes and flip flops, sipping on a cup of coffee...black

"I like that idea. Cleaning up the biggest polluter should help clean up what he and, likely, his ancestors left behind."

[Tiglath]

The door to William and Ciencia's stateroom opens and Ciencia walks out, rubbing her eyes. "I overslept. Sorry. Late night."

There is, of course, the open question of who is sitting there among you now.

William smiles. "There is a spot of tea or coffee ready in the kitchenette."

"Thanks," she said as she headed that way.

The Ciencia sitting next to William called out, "Get me one, too."

The new one raised her hand in acknowledgement and headed into the galley.

Garvin grins at William "You're goin' to 'ave to get team shirts made... you know with numbers on".

Addressing the Ciencia fixing beverages he says "Shouldn't one of you be in Vincennes right about now?"

[terrymixon]

William smiles. "There is a spot of tea or coffee ready in the kitchenette."

"Thanks," she said as she headed that way.

The Ciencia sitting next to William called out, "Get me one, too."

The new one raised her hand in acknowledgement and headed into the galley.

Garvin grins at William "You're goin' to 'ave to get team shirts made... you know with numbers on".

"Yes, but which of us is #1?" the one beside William asked. "There lies the rub."

Addressing the Ciencia fixing beverages he says "Shouldn't one of you be in Vincennes right about now?"

“Pax Imperii is still a week out from Vincennes,” the one in the kitchen said. “I’ll be on board when it arrives to start setting up house. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the infighting with the remaining Dukes, but I was literally born and raised for this fight.”

She returned with two coffees, handing one to her Doppelgänger and settled on William’s other side, leaning into him just like the other Ciencia was doing. “What did I miss?”

[helvorn]

"Thanks," she said as she headed that way.

The Ciencia sitting next to William called out, "Get me one, too."

The new one raised her hand in acknowledgement and headed into the galley.

Garvin grins at William "You're goin' to 'ave to get team shirts made... you know with numbers on".

"Yes, but which of us is #1?" the one beside William asked. "There lies the rub."

Addressing the Ciencia fixing beverages he says "Shouldn't one of you be in Vincennes right about now?"

“Pax Imperii is still a week out from Vincennes,” the one in the kitchen said. “I’ll be on board when it arrives to start setting up house. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the infighting with the remaining Dukes, but I was literally born and raised for this fight.”

She returned with two coffees, handing one to her Doppelgänger and settled on William’s other side, leaning into him just like the other Ciencia was doing. “What did I miss?”

William put his arm around both women. "I thought about getting shirts that said 'Thing One' and 'Thing Two' but I was outvoted." He kissed the cheek of the second Ciencia. "We were talking about our approach to Aki and it has morphed into getting rid of the planetary count."

[terrymixon]

Garvin grins at William "You're goin' to 'ave to get team shirts made... you know with numbers on".

"Yes, but which of us is #1?" the one beside William asked. "There lies the rub."

Addressing the Ciencia fixing beverages he says "Shouldn't one of you be in Vincennes right about now?"

“Pax Imperii is still a week out from Vincennes,” the one in the kitchen said. “I’ll be on board when it arrives to start setting up house. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the infighting with the remaining Dukes, but I was literally born and raised for this fight.”

She returned with two coffees, handing one to her Doppelgänger and settled on William’s other side, leaning into him just like the other Ciencia was doing. “What did I miss?”

William put his arm around both women. "I thought about getting shirts that said 'Thing One' and 'Thing Two' but I was outvoted." He kissed the cheek of the second Ciencia. "We were talking about our approach to Aki and it has morphed into getting rid of the planetary count."

They pulled back and both gave him identical looks of distain. “We are not things,” they said in unison with matching tones. Then they laughed in delight at that.

“The count here is something of a creep,” the latecomer said. “I’m sure he deserves it.”

[joertexas]

The door to William and Ciencia's stateroom opens and Ciencia walks out, rubbing her eyes. "I overslept. Sorry. Late night."

There is, of course, the open question of who is sitting there among you now.

Jaelah is investigating the count's activities in concert with Roscoe. Dressed in a synthsilk robe, she is ensconced in a comfortable chair as she uses her implants to access the computers, with a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of sinfully rich chocolate cookies close at hand.

So, she misses the Doppelganger's arrival? So noted.

To be clear, my comment above was about the fact that Ciencia has been sitting there--and still is--and a SECOND Ciencia just came out of her quarters.

I went back and confirmed that she has spoken, though not much. Feel free to amend your response.

Jaelah jerks upright. "Who are you?"

[terrymixon]

Jaelah is investigating the count's activities in concert with Roscoe. Dressed in a synthsilk robe, she is ensconced in a comfortable chair as she uses her implants to access the computers, with a mug of hot chocolate and a plate of sinfully rich chocolate cookies close at hand.

So, she misses the Doppelganger's arrival? So noted.

To be clear, my comment above was about the fact that Ciencia has been sitting there--and still is--and a SECOND Ciencia just came out of her quarters.

I went back and confirmed that she has spoken, though not much. Feel free to amend your response.

Jaelah jerks upright. "Who are you?"

“I’m Ciencia,” the woman said with a smile. “Don’t you recognize me?”

[joertexas]

“I’m Ciencia,” the woman said with a smile. “Don’t you recognize me?”

Jaelah sat back and watched William interact with both of them. "Apparently I missed a conversation. Why are there now two of you?"

[terrymixon]

“I’m Ciencia,” the woman said with a smile. “Don’t you recognize me?”

Jaelah sat back and watched William interact with both of them. "Apparently I missed a conversation. Why are there now two of you?"

“You didn’t miss it,” the Ciencia who had been beside William all this time said. “I didn’t tell anyone because I wasn’t completely sure it would work or how William might respond. Bilis updated my continuous backup augmentation last night and made a copy of me. Our memories and experiences sync up via the ansible network Roscoe is building when we sleep, so we’re the same person with a day of different memories—at most—before the sync up.”

The other one nodded. “Bilis said this was something that some Ancients did and that there was no risk, and that it was less confusing that it might seem. Now that we’ve experienced a memory sync, I can say she was right. It’s like remembering being in two places at the same time, but somehow separate.

“As for why, I have to perform my duties here in the Marches but still want to go with you, it was the only way I could have my cake and eat it, too.”

Then they both looked at William and smiled a bit wickedly. “And it has other benefits, too,” they said in tandem.

Metz cleared his throat. “To be clear, this is the first I’ve heard of this. It wasn’t my idea or doing.” He’s looking at Garvin when he says it.

“It will bring advantages and surprises,” Bilis said over the speakers. “Perhaps sooner than you might expect and those might be… unexpectedly challenging, particularly for William.”

[joertexas]

“It will bring advantages and surprises,” Bilis said over the speakers. “Perhaps sooner than you might expect and those might be… unexpectedly challenging, particularly for William.”

"That sounds ominous," Jaelah said after a moment. "By that logic, there should be three or four of us running around all the time. One on the trip, one here, one in the new colonies, and one in the pocket universe. I can't believe that I'm even saying this."

[terrymixon]

“It will bring advantages and surprises,” Bilis said over the speakers. “Perhaps sooner than you might expect and those might be… unexpectedly challenging, particularly for William.”

"That sounds ominous," Jaelah said after a moment. "By that logic, there should be three or four of us running around all the time. One on the trip, one here, one in the new colonies, and one in the pocket universe. I can't believe that I'm even saying this."

“That could be done,” Bilis said, “but more than two instances are increasingly challenging to mesh memories for. The implant does the work, but I cannot in good conscience recommend more than two instances. For short periods, a third instance could be made to work, and as the instances are all the same person, it would not be like killing someone to have an instance removed after the memories are synced.

“As far as surprises being ominous, this one is far from that, though my reading of human nature tells me that this will cause complications. As with every backup of your physical bodies, I send the data to the surgeon bot for evaluation. Congratulations Ciencia and William. You are about to be parents with your children split between two mothers.”

[Tiglath]

“I’m Ciencia,” the woman said with a smile. “Don’t you recognize me?”

Jaelah sat back and watched William interact with both of them. "Apparently I missed a conversation. Why are there now two of you?"

“You didn’t miss it,” the Ciencia who had been beside William all this time said. “I didn’t tell anyone because I wasn’t completely sure it would work or how William might respond. Bilis updated my continuous backup augmentation last night and made a copy of me. Our memories and experiences sync up via the ansible network Roscoe is building when we sleep, so we’re the same person with a day of different memories—at most—before the sync up.”

The other one nodded. “Bilis said this was something that some Ancients did and that there was no risk, and that it was less confusing that it might seem. Now that we’ve experienced a memory sync, I can say she was right. It’s like remembering being in two places at the same time, but somehow separate.

“As for why, I have to perform my duties here in the Marches but still want to go with you, it was the only way I could have my cake and eat it, too.”

Then they both looked at William and smiled a bit wickedly. “And it has other benefits, too,” they said in tandem.

Metz cleared his throat. “To be clear, this is the first I’ve heard of this. It wasn’t my idea or doing.” He’s looking at Garvin when he says it.

“It will bring advantages and surprises,” Bilis said over the speakers. “Perhaps sooner than you might expect and those might be… unexpectedly challenging, particularly for William.”

Garvin eyes Ciencia and adds levelly "Just because the ancients did it doesn't mean we should. If you recall our shared 'istory lessons one of the other "things" the Ancients did was to drive themselves mad and bring about a galactic war. I'd like to think we can all still agree that would be a bad idea. Of all of us, you are the one who would cause the most "inconvenience" should you drive yourself round the twist trying to juggle the shared realities of all your clones".

Switching his attention to Metz he replies "I suppose there 'as to be a first time for everythin' - but you're still not off the 'ook because it all 'appened on your watch an' in the "toy shop" you're in ruddy charge of!"

His brooding ire then evaporates as he gives a broad grin at Bilis' announcement and laughingly claps William on the shoulder and shakes his hand "Well, it's either "congratulations" or "serves you right" - but I'll go with the first!" He gives both the Ciencias a warm smile followed by a chaste congratulatory handshake and hug.