4-16 YC 116
24th Imperial Crusade medical facility
Offices of Dr. Ezra Thomas
19:20
"Thank you for seeing me on short notice, Dr. Thomas." Leela used her most charming voice, which she felt was surprisingly convincing. The good doctor really couldn't have refused her request, though he probably didn't know that. "I know my request is a bit unusual."
If Dr. Thomas was in any way uncomfortable, he didn't show it. His demeanor was one of a calm professional secure in his own environs. Leela couldn't quite decide if he looked perpetually amused or perpetually disappointed, in a somewhat condescending way. Perhaps that was the occupational hazard of being in a mental health specialist for possibly the most mentally disturbed population in the history of humankind.
"Ms. Yttria, you do realize that I can't discuss any details of a patient I may or may not have. In addition to it being an abhorrent breach of ethics, it is quite illegal for me to turn over such information to an unauthorized person. If the MIO were to show up, then I could certainly divulge to them. You aren't an officer of the MIO are you?" His expression made it clear that he already knew the answer to that question. The MIO wouldn't be handing credentials out to a Sebiestor anytime this millenium.
"I don't suppose I could convince you that it's in the best interest of your patient?" Leela knew that was a throwaway, but figured it was as good a starting place as any. Why use a stick when you have a carrot?
"I'd have to question just how you'd know what was in the best interest of my patient and why the patient couldn't make that determination for himself." His tone was extremely condescending, which made Leela feel less guilty about her next move.
"Didn't you write in your notes from Ryven's sixth session that you felt it would probably be necessary to enlist the aid of those in his inner circle in order to accurately delineate the distinct boundaries of his individual personas?" She was paraphrasing somewhat, but that was the gist of one of the conclusions the doctor had included in his notes.
Dr. Thomas's mouth fell open of its own accord, his face reddening. "You read my notes? Those are extremely confidential!"
Leela shrugged with a 'so what' gesture. "Can we just assume that I've read all of your notes up to this point and also add that I am in Ry's inner circle and have known him both before and after the experiments of Dr. Tobit?"
Dr. Thomas was still livid, but slowly the lines of rage began to smooth into reluctant acceptance. Ryven's descriptions of Leela Yttria had apparently not been exaggerations on his part. He could see why Mr. Krennel had been attracted to her. She struck him as extremely confident in her own realms of expertise, and furthermore, she seemed legitimately concerned for Ryven's well-being, enough that there was an added hint of danger in her eyes. She wouldn't use violence unless she had to. However, if she had to, she would be capable of extreme violence. What a strange set of circumstances that would put Leela and Ryven in the same social circles. Complimentary to each other in many ways, but absolutely incompatible in others. If I had another twenty years to explore this one's mind, I could retire an extremely wealthy man on the information she must have stored in that mind of hers. Many would pay handsomely to keep their secrets in the shadows where they belong. Finally, he spoke. "What do you want to know?"
Leela smiled. This was easier than she expected. "I've figured out a way to get the evil Ryven out of that head of his. I just need to know how to split the two personalities apart from each other so that the evil one can elect to utilize my method."
Dr. Thomas frowned deeply. "Ms. Yttria, I don't want to disappoint you, as I am beginning to suspect that could have serious consequences in regards to my health." Leela just nodded. Dr. Thomas continued. "Separating the two personalities may not be possible without extreme long-term damage to Mr. Krennel's psyche."
Leela's expression hardened. "Explain."
Dr. Thomas sighed heavily. "In many ways, they are two distinct psyches. One is the twisted and tortured version of the original Ryven. The other is the implanted personality that Dr. Tobit managed to create, seemingly ex nihilo. This is not the complete picture." He massaged the bridge of his nose, as if afflicted by a sudden headache. "The two psyches share a host of common memories and traits. They are not duplicated, but rather held in common. Removing either one would deprive one of them of that core of data. They would be incomplete, would know they were incomplete, and would be driven quite mad from a relentless process of searching in vain for whatever that missing piece might be. Even if that wasn't of great concern to you, determining the boundaries between the two psyches would be problematic under the best of circumstances."
Leela's shoulders slumped. "You're not telling me it's impossible are you?"
Dr. Thomas sighed and shook his head. "Impossible? No. But, it's damn near. It's never been done, so far as I know. I'll need some time to think on this."
Leela nodded, accepting the situation, though not happily. "Fine."
"How will I get in touch with you?"
Leela stood up and walked over to the door, turning back to face him and smiling. "Don't worry. I'll be watching you." She walked out the door, letting it close behind her.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Research
Leela and Zhou's Place
Undisclosed Location
3-31 YC 116 09:34
Leela had somehow managed to sleep, despite the crisis. The floor of the living room, slick black marble, was still wet in the spot where Evil Ry had stood, rain dripping from his long black coat, dagger held to Zhou's throat. She had slept because she knew that she needed to. In crisis mode, Leela could prioritize and isolate her emotional self for the sake of finding a solution. She was finding this to be more than the usual challenge in the current situation. Her first love and her new one were both in peril, and she might be the key to saving or damning both of them. No pressure.
Within moments of waking, she had finished her most bare bones hygiene regimen and made her way to the room she generally thought of as her "study." The room was perpetually dark, illuminated only by the glow of numerous computer screens. A persistent hum of electricity gave the room a strange resonance that most people found extremely unsettling. To Leela, this room was more like home than anywhere else she had ever been. She had been engineered for this, after all.
In front of the impressive array of displays, a single black chair sat, cushioned and comfortable, but also outfitted with an intravenous feeding system that would keep her both hydrated and nutritionally balanced for the duration of her research. There was also an emergency stimulant system that she could use to inject a stream of high quality stimulants into her bloodstream if she became too tired to focus. She sat down in the chair and began her work.
If her search were a simple one for unclassified or commonplace information, she'd have simply utilized the massive skills library and compendium of capsuleer knowledge to rapidly gain the information she sought. However, despite a rather extensive knowledge in the basic workings of cloning technology, infomorph psychology, cybernetics, fluid router networks, quantum entanglement, and so on, the precise question before her was a bit beyond the mundane. She needed information that would not be so widely available, nor would it likely be so simple. She had a theory, but she needed something more solid to go on. Further, she needed a better understanding of the entity known as "Red." She would cross that bridge eventually. She knew that delving into that rabbit hole meant a visit to Cerra Manor and a likely unpleasant conversation with Shalee Lianne, who may or may not be helpful, depending on the day.
Leela's mind began to draw a diagram of the interconnected technological trees she would need to explore. Holographic technology, specifically those wired into stationary or possibly even mobile frames. Clone neuro-scanning and transmit technology that engaged upon clone death and ways it could possibly be accessed for the purposes of live transmit (arguably the most important piece of the puzzle). Cybernetic implantation and spontaneous mutation/adaptation of host neurological cells and/or psychological remapping of neural pathways in the locus of the cybernetic implants with emphasis on the hostile repurposing of those implants by the host's gray matter. The potentiality of utilizing fluid router communications equipment to transmit live brain scans faster-than-light and in real time. Finally, how to generate a psychological schism event such that the two embedded Ryven personas could become truly separate and exist in two "bodies." So, re-invent the most significant scientific and technological achievements of the last century or so.
She didn't have to add the most important item on the list. It was always there, underneath the rest, etched into the fabric of every inchoate scheme or rambling stream of hypotheticals. She must isolate the Evil Ryven. She must isolate him, remove him from the mostly good Ryven, create the illusion that the Evil Ry was free and able to operate as he might wish, and then trap him. Then, when he's trapped, Leela would serve him his just desserts. Leela smiled unconsciously, her lips curling in what a casual observer would have found to be a disturbing, even sadistic, grin. In the past, Ryven had always been the one to get his hands dirty. This time, it was her turn, and she wasn't going to be holding back.
Undisclosed Location
3-31 YC 116 09:34
Leela had somehow managed to sleep, despite the crisis. The floor of the living room, slick black marble, was still wet in the spot where Evil Ry had stood, rain dripping from his long black coat, dagger held to Zhou's throat. She had slept because she knew that she needed to. In crisis mode, Leela could prioritize and isolate her emotional self for the sake of finding a solution. She was finding this to be more than the usual challenge in the current situation. Her first love and her new one were both in peril, and she might be the key to saving or damning both of them. No pressure.
Within moments of waking, she had finished her most bare bones hygiene regimen and made her way to the room she generally thought of as her "study." The room was perpetually dark, illuminated only by the glow of numerous computer screens. A persistent hum of electricity gave the room a strange resonance that most people found extremely unsettling. To Leela, this room was more like home than anywhere else she had ever been. She had been engineered for this, after all.
In front of the impressive array of displays, a single black chair sat, cushioned and comfortable, but also outfitted with an intravenous feeding system that would keep her both hydrated and nutritionally balanced for the duration of her research. There was also an emergency stimulant system that she could use to inject a stream of high quality stimulants into her bloodstream if she became too tired to focus. She sat down in the chair and began her work.
If her search were a simple one for unclassified or commonplace information, she'd have simply utilized the massive skills library and compendium of capsuleer knowledge to rapidly gain the information she sought. However, despite a rather extensive knowledge in the basic workings of cloning technology, infomorph psychology, cybernetics, fluid router networks, quantum entanglement, and so on, the precise question before her was a bit beyond the mundane. She needed information that would not be so widely available, nor would it likely be so simple. She had a theory, but she needed something more solid to go on. Further, she needed a better understanding of the entity known as "Red." She would cross that bridge eventually. She knew that delving into that rabbit hole meant a visit to Cerra Manor and a likely unpleasant conversation with Shalee Lianne, who may or may not be helpful, depending on the day.
Leela's mind began to draw a diagram of the interconnected technological trees she would need to explore. Holographic technology, specifically those wired into stationary or possibly even mobile frames. Clone neuro-scanning and transmit technology that engaged upon clone death and ways it could possibly be accessed for the purposes of live transmit (arguably the most important piece of the puzzle). Cybernetic implantation and spontaneous mutation/adaptation of host neurological cells and/or psychological remapping of neural pathways in the locus of the cybernetic implants with emphasis on the hostile repurposing of those implants by the host's gray matter. The potentiality of utilizing fluid router communications equipment to transmit live brain scans faster-than-light and in real time. Finally, how to generate a psychological schism event such that the two embedded Ryven personas could become truly separate and exist in two "bodies." So, re-invent the most significant scientific and technological achievements of the last century or so.
She didn't have to add the most important item on the list. It was always there, underneath the rest, etched into the fabric of every inchoate scheme or rambling stream of hypotheticals. She must isolate the Evil Ryven. She must isolate him, remove him from the mostly good Ryven, create the illusion that the Evil Ry was free and able to operate as he might wish, and then trap him. Then, when he's trapped, Leela would serve him his just desserts. Leela smiled unconsciously, her lips curling in what a casual observer would have found to be a disturbing, even sadistic, grin. In the past, Ryven had always been the one to get his hands dirty. This time, it was her turn, and she wasn't going to be holding back.
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