ic Better Thinking in the Lost World

[Tarrakhash]

Delta was patient waiting and watching and when he saw the doors slide open he was very happy to step into the building itself, intent on scanning the inside once he was within the barriers walls themselves. He suspected he would be able to see what was inside once he was in there, unless the entire building was charged with the static that seemed to keep the dirt, and bugs, off the walls.

 

Not quiet so eager to speak he followed closely letting Dr Archville do the talking for now while he did the scanning and recon.

[Supercape]

GM

 

In response to Doctor Archevilles question, a monkey stuck out his tongue. 

 

"No licky!"

 

His tongue was still in one piece, but had a few flash-burn scars on it. As Doctor Archeville suspected, it was hardly lethal, but wouldn't want to lick it. 

 

Slightly above them, the metal parted, the door sliding open. It was seamless and soundless, and most elegant. And through the door strode an elegant man. 

 

He was dressed in a figure hugging grey suit that seemed half-scientific laboratory gear, half-elegant evening wear, and half-spandex superhero costume. One would of course not that this did not add up, but somehow he pulled it off. He had short cut hair, and, although somewhat short, had a lean muscular frame that looked full of power. 

 

"I Greet you" he said, without threat or, to be honest, particular welcome. 

 

"My name is Uplift" he said, smooth voice, unremarkable volume, unremarkable pace, and with a bland but well elocuted accent. Possibly it had the slightest North American twang. Possibly not. 

 

"And you are?"

[Dr Archeville]

Hunh.  Well, that's still useful information.

 

"Science Lord Vha," Archeville said with a slight bow, repeating the false names he'd given the apes, "and these are my allies, SWAT Del," he pointed to Delta, "Serj Mac," he pointed to the machete-wielding Sgt. Henry, "and Science Lady Tez," he indicated Doctor Cortez.  "We had heard of the unusual activities going on here, and came to investigate.  When we encountered your... associates," he nodded towards their captors, "and they told us of your glory, we simply had to come see for ourselves, and perhaps see if we could join your endeavours.  You've clearly got something big in the works here, involving a number of scientific and technical fields -- genetics, metallurgy, dimensional physics, and more.  I myself am something of a scientific polymath, and would be most interested in learning the nature of your experiments here."

 

He's fashionable, I'll give him that.  And I'm sure that fancy outfit is even more protective than the ape's jumpsuits.

[Supercape]

GM

 

There was the slight raise of an eyebrow, but Uplift said nothing. Instead, he slowly walked down some gleaning stairs to them, almost silent, very agile. 

 

"A number of fields, as you summise" he said, cool. It was not a warm voice, but it had no deathly chill to it either. Uplift came across as measured, intelligent, and driven. But not driven by furious emotion, but by...something else. Philosophy, perhaps. 

 

"It has been some...time. But I believe I recognise you as Doctor Archeville" he said. "I never forget a face"

 

"I never forget anything" he added, the slightest spice of vanity in his voice. "Not any more". 

 

He studied them carefully. 

 

"What have you learned so far, then?" he asked. 

[Tarrakhash]

SWAT Del, as he had been labelled remained silent for now, looking around at the things around him as well as the man who claimed to be Lord Uplift. He scanned the room around him and then Lord Uplift himself, not a stranger to those who 'improved' themselves he tried to work out what the man had done to make himself 'better' as he seemed to think he had, tilting his metallic head his bulbous mechanical eyes whirring as he examined the man his lips curled slightly and he asked,"You make it sound like you've made some improvements to yourself...and the creatures around you...what have you done? No stranger to people who improve those around them as you can see."

[Dr Archeville]

Archeville bowed slightly to the man, "ah, have we met before?  I am afraid to say I do not recognize you, though if you've... altered yourself, as you have these apes," he gestured to their captors, "then I should not be surprised your appearance would have been changed enough that you would be as a stranger to me."

 

Of course, we need not have met for him to recognize me.  As, the double-edged sword of being world-famous.  And infamous...

 

"To answer your question," he replied smoothly, "we have learned about the alterations you've made to these apes, as well as to the materials of their clothing and weaponry.  One working hypothesis," he continued, "is that you've modified the Darwin X virus to work on inorganic materials, such as Daka crystals, which could also explain the structure we see before us," he glanced around at the dome before them.  "We've also detected a number of subspace anomalies in the vicinity of the portal to the Lost World, and numerous exotic particles flooding the area, presumably to force the portal open.  But that all covers the what -- we are still in the dark on the why.  Would you care to enlighten us?"

[Supercape]

GM

 

"'Twas not I who improved this body, or this mind" replied Uplift. "But the gifts are well recieved"

 

He moved quietly, like a panther, around the group, studying them with fierce intelligence. 

 

"Before, I was merely a scientist. A good one. Perhaps even a brilliant one. My intelligence was matched by my passion. Genetics, the code to life, seemed to be a cruel mistress. Blessing some, cursing others. Do you not feel the horrible inequity of it?" he asked. 

 

"Fortunately, this philosophy was matched by someone far greater than I, even in this form. Someone who desired all life to have equity of opportunity, equity of love, and joy, and pleasure. And she made me the man I am today, to act as her instrument on this world...."

 

He pointed his arm towards the monkeys. 

 

"You see the fruits of my labour, yes?"

 

"A step in the right direction. One species should not master another merely because of the fate of random genetics. And now, my friends here are able to determine there own fate!"

 

"All hail Lord Uplift! OOK OOK OOK!" screamed the worshipful monkeys. 

 

At this, a brief flash of discomfort washed over Lord Uplifts face, normally so serene. 

[Dr Archeville]

"Ah, so that's it," he nodded, turning his head to keep an eye on him.  "You were a brilliant scientist with some chronic illness, a 'genetic defect.'  Maybe even shunned and ridiculed by classmates, by coworkers.  And then she entered your life, offering to make your body a match for your intellect.  And now you're going to remake the whole world, and show them, show them all, yes?"

 

So he's not the puppetmaster, just another puppet, dancing on the strings of a puppetmistress.  Hrm.  Let's see if his ego is as enhanced as the rest of him.

 

He gestured towards the apes, "I do admit, this is indeed impressive work... for an initial test run.  But I suppose you'd have to start with chimpanzees, or bonobos, since their genetics and anatomy are closest to human.  It makes sense for her to tell you to start there, if she's planning to 'upgrade' all life, using techniques similar to what she'd used on you"  He smirked, "what's next?  Orangutans?  Gorillas?  How close is she to moving outside of the Hominid family?  Because if you want to talk about genetic inequity, I could talk for hours about the health issues of show dogs..."

[Tarrakhash]

Delta listened and nodded at the Doctor's words, tilting his head and frowning,"Yeah, I knew someone who was all about progress and improving others...that's how I got all my improvements." He looked over at the apes, examining them more carefully for the first time,"Do you think they are happier than they were when they were just left alone?"

 

Delta was certainly not convinced that giving them human level intelligence meant they were happier, they had a lot more things to worry about, with greater intelligence came greater responsibilities and worries, depression and mental illnesses that the monkey psyche was not evolved enough to cope with.

[Supercape]

GM

 

Uplift stiffened. "Genetic illness?" he asked, face calm and almost motionless. 

 

"No. A conclusion you jumped to. I wonder why?" he asked, peering at Doctor Archeville, a look of dissapointment in his face. 

 

"Trying to goad me?" he asked. "A fruitless task. Perhaps I can be goaded, but not when I realise that is someones intent" he stated bluntly. 

 

He stroked his chin, studying the crew like they were in a petri-dish. 

 

"What would you suggest then? That the pleasures and powers of life are afforded the few, like yourselves. Do you think your intelligences should be afforded to you and you alone? Even if you were purely benign, and given your history Doctor, that is an assertion you would surely not make, what of the millions who would jump at thought of such power and brilliance offered them?"

 

"Your concern may be based on choice?" he asked Delta. "But what choice do any of us have, really? Do we choose our DNA?" he inquired. 

[Dr Archeville]

Well, Scheiße.

 

"My sincere apologies, then," Archeville replied with a slight bow.  "Your story seemed... similar to ones I have encountered before.  But a good scientist should not jump to conclusions, they should wait until all the facts and evidence are in."

 

"And if you are asking for my suggestions," he continued, keeping his eyes on their captor, "I would suggest you focus on what it is that they truly need.  Did they," he gestured towards the hyper-chimps, "truly need human-level sapience?  And what are they using it for?  You gave them intelligence, but did you give them education, something to use that intelligence on?  Did you consider what effect this would have on their culture, on the intelligence they were already developing?  Humans evolved intelligence -- pattern-matching, communication, imagination -- because it fit their needs.  Other hominids never developed it to the levels humans did because there was no need to.  On their own, in a few millennia, they might develop a more human-like intellect... or something wholly different, based on whatever environmental pressures they face.  But these apes, they can't," anger began creeping into his voice, "because you stepped in and altered their evolution, imposed your values on them, to make them more human.  Because of you, we may never see what chimpanzee intelligence and society could be, because you twisted them to your image."

 

"But then, then," more anger crept into his voice, "you went and gave them energy rifles?  How does that help them?  How is that any different from some warlord handing out AK-47s to child soldiers?  Who are you really doing this all for, hrm?"

Edited July 22, 2019 by Dr Archeville

[Tarrakhash]

Delta's eyebrow rose at the mention of no one getting to choose their DNA and he chuckled,"So because they didn't get a choice, you decided not to give them a choice either....wow that's not hypocritical at all!" He stilled as Doctor Archville went through his mini-rant and Delta shrugged somewhat,"It does look an awful lot like you are building an army...the question is what do you plan no doing with that army?"

[Supercape]

GM

 

Uplift took a slow breath in, and a slow breath out. He was not above emotion, but he certainly recognised when he was being tilted, and knew how to deal with it. 

 

"Protection" he answered. "I am a pragmatic man. And I take pragmatic precautions. For instance, some people might object to my work, and try to stop it" he said, giving a knowing look at Doktor Archeville and Delta. 

 

"Do you object to my...precautions?" he asked. 

 

"Besides, I need help. I cannot do my work without help, and I prefer the organic to the mechanical. More....well, flair I suppose. Sometimes the errors of life give rise to great leaps. Mutation, or accident. For every hundred losses, a magnificent gain" he mused. 

 

"I have stated my intent" he said. "My vision, my means, my philosophy. You seem not to respect them, although I credit you with the courtesy or prudence not to open fire on me. What then, is your intent?" he asked. 

[Tarrakhash]

Delta sighed it was always the same...precautions became an arms race and eventually led to conflict,"Personally, I understand the need to take precautions, but you are correct we are not here to simply open fire. We are here to learn more of what you do, how you do it and what you plan to do with the resources at your disposal."

 

Delta didn't want to say threat assessment, but he had plenty of time and wanted to make sure they understood what they were getting into, and then there was the patron behind Uplift,"Also, we'd like to learn more about the person who assisted you and got you started. While we will not agree with everything you say, I'm sure, we are here to gather information. We are scientists like yourself, gathering data if you will."

[Dr Archeville]

"My companion speaks truth," Archeville affirmed, "we are scientists, here to investigate what has been happening here, the source of these unusual mutations, and to see if they are a threat.  And at the moment," he paused, looked around at the apes, their weapons, the dome, "while some of what I see here is concerning, I am not ready to classify this as a threat.  Not yet, at least."

 

The other W.E.S.T. agents may have made sounds of disagreement, but he continued.  "I imagine your plans -- and those of your benefactor -- are global in scope, which would meet with no small amount of resistance.  If an isolated ecosystem could be located -- one similar to the Lost World, but even further removed -- would you be amenable to relocating there, and carrying out your experiments in that isolated region?"  He had a few ideas in mind, but they were long shots.  "We would help you move, even provide additional animals and plants to use in your experiments.  Your new creations would be free to create whatever cultures and societies they wanted, to find all the love and joy and pleasure they want," he said, making sure to repeat Uplift's own words.  "But once you are settled there, you all would need to stay there; the only thing we could allow back is information, messages, any research notes that you might wish to share with the world."

[Supercape]

GM

 

"I can appreciate investigation" replied Uplift, almost solemn, almost with revere. 

 

"I was, and am, an investigator. But investigation is redundant if one does not act thereafter" he explained, firmly. 

 

He caught himself getting just so slightly arrogant and angry, and oozed back into a placid coolness laced with warm politeness. 

 

"But enough. I have not forgotten courtesy and custom. Quaint it may be, but still, something to hold dear. Perhaps you would stay for dinner. I doubt you will get the chance to eat dinosaur meat again, and I have a reasonable chef. Or at least, I am trying to train him to be reasonable. If you can pardon his inexperience, then you may find it an interesting dish. And, I hope, interesting conversation?"

 

The invitation was laid out, and Uplift awaited the response. 

[Dr Archeville]

No response to my offer.  He barely even seemed to register it.  But obsessive types tend to not see things that don't fit directly in with their tasks.  Perhaps continued conversation could turn his attentions, and get him to change his mind.

 

He shot a quick text to Delta repeating his thoughts as he responded to their captor-host.  "Investigation does lead to action, yes, but what that action shall be has yet to be determined.  Perhaps that can be one topic of continued discussion?  I would be honored to take up your offer," he bowed slightly, "though I shall leave it to my comrades if they do the same.  I do find this conversation stimulating, and look forward to continuing it over such an exotic repast.  You're sure such fare will be safe for us, no prehistoric parasites lurking about?  And I take it this chef is another one of your uplifted apes?"

 

He slowly approached Uplift, allowing himself to be escorted to the dome's interior.  "Oh, one last question," he stopped in his track, "and I know this may be a bit gauche, but I do need to know: do we have your word that, after the meal, we shall be allowed to leave -- if indeed we choose to leave -- in the same condition in which we arrived?"

Edited August 11, 2019 by Dr Archeville

[Tarrakhash]

Delta didn't reply to the message he got from the Doctor, better to keep signals to a minimum till they knew more about their new 'friend'.

 

"I think a meal would be very interesting, the food as well as the conversation. I'd be more than happy to try something new on this planet. There is always something interesting when it comes to food....have you attempted to uplift any of the dinosaurs or are they being kept free of your gifts for now? After all even a monkey has to eat something."

[Supercape]

GM

 

And so...

 

Aproximately 78.26 minutes later. 

 

At the top of the mysterious dome was the dining room. The metal sheen had parted, and there was only glass (or at least, some translucent material) that curved gently to make both ceiling and walls. The sky was now dark, and the stars glittered. A fabulous antique star-gazing telescope adorned the centre of the room. 

 

But that was not the focus of the evening. Slightly to one side, a dining table had been set out, with pristine clean white table cloth and napkins. Only water was set out. 

 

As Dr Archeville, Delta, and the two WEST agents entered via almost silent elevator, they found Lord Uplift waiting, standing, eyes focussed on the horizon and the night. 

 

"The meal shall be served shortly" he said, smoothly.

 

"I have pondered your coming here. It leaves me in an awkward position.....I had hoped that my work would be done without inteference, but I know sense that is unlikely...." he said, not taking his eyes from the stars. 

 

"The question is, I suppose, what inteference? I suppose you have not come to that determination yet" he finished, turning towards them, and spreading his hand out to offer them a seat. 

 

"Unless your meditations over the last hour have clarified your thinking?"

Edited August 15, 2019 by Supercape

[Dr Archeville]

"Well -- and, again, I cannot speak for my comrades," he stood by the seat at end of the table furthest from their host, assuming he would seat himself at the head, "but I am still pondering it.  There is much to consider here, and many questions left unanswered.  My offer to you, Lord Uplift, still stands: relocation to an off-world site, where you and your benefactor may continue your work in peace, without concern for interference.  We would help you move, if you so required, and could provide additional specimens before you go."  He leaned forward slightly on the chair, "we can even provide some selections for you to choose from -- it can be one early in its development, that has no natural life forms, or just simple plants and fungi, or complex but non-sapients animals, which could be incorporated into your experiments-"

 

Which would mean sacrificing whatever intellects and cultures that they might develop.  Oof.  Maybe he won't take that option.

 

"- or a world that had been inhabited, but underwent some great calamity -- a plague, a nuclear war, runaway greenhouse processes -- which killed of all the native life forms... or all but the most hardy.  You could create a whole world of cultures... or recreate long-dead ones, giving them a second chance!  I see you have done much," he gestured at their surroundings, "with the relatively few resources you have here, and restricted by having to work subtly, to avoid detection.  Imagine what you could do with an entire planet's worth of resources, and able to work openly!  You have much potential, sir," he held out his hand, offering it to Uplift across the table, "and I wish to see that potential flourish... but in an environment removed from here, where you would not face opposition."

[Tarrakhash]

Delta remained quiet for now, it meant likely one of two things were going to happen, either the Lord Uplift would agree and they'd be off to a new planet and the massive task of relocating or they'd be forcefully relocating and that would get messy.

[Supercape]

GM

 

Lord uplift tapped his chin, contemplating. "Your offer is generous and not without merit" he said, contemplating the sky. 

 

"I would be rash to reject it or accept it out of hand...." he said, more softly. "And rashness has no place in my work!"

 

He turned back to them and gestured for them to sit, seating himself smoothly into a wooden chair. 

 

"My work is, however, not purely for the purposes of research, but of implementation" he said, still chewing the idea aorund. "It is unjust that some life is more intelligent, healthier, possessed of more power than others. It is the foundation of tryanny..."

 

"And my patron has a vision of...well, not complete homogeneity, for there must be specialisation and evolution, but at least of a level playing field. And this vision, I share..."

 

"Ah, dinner is served!"

 

A few monkeys carrying dishes came in. It was a rather good smell; of simple food cooked simply, with fresh ingredients and herbs.

 

"Like this dinosaur flesh. We eat it now for sustenance and perhaps pleasure. It is consigned to such fate from the dictatorship of genes....is it not, at some point, unfair?"

[Dr Archeville]

What an peculiar variant of Social Darwinism.  Almost like... Reverse Eugenics.  If he'd kept it purely theoretical, or on some remote place that was isolated from others, I could see myself having some fascinating conversations with him.  Unfortunately, his patron & their work do pose a threat.

 

"Fair or unfair would seem to be a very subjective thing," he began while prodding his food with his fork.  He was not going to eat anything until after he saw his host take a bite first.  "To an herbivore, the advantages a carnivore has are unfair.  To a plant, the advantages an herbivore has are unfair.  But to the carnivore, their incisors are a perfectly natural thing, and the herbivore would think the same of their molars and multi-stage stomachs.  Every living thing has evolved to fill some niche in its environment.  There are missteps, certainly, errors that produce deleterious mutations, though even those can eventually prove beneficial.  And devastation when an animal is forced into a new environment that it was not shaped for -- though sometimes the devastation occurs to the environment, not the animal."

 

"Which brings up another point.  You say you & your patron wish to 'level the playing field,' but to do that," he gestured around vaguely with his fork, "would require more than just altering some animals.  Environment shapes evolution, so unless that changes, you may well end up with similar results to what you'd started with."

Edited September 10, 2019 by Dr Archeville

[Tarrakhash]

Delta had been processing all that the strange man had said and he had formulated a question,"So if the plan is to remove the inequity of the random genetic lottery as to who is intelligent and who is not where do you draw the line? Do you make all the animals smarter? What about insects? Fish?"

 

A moment later a diode flashed on his skull and he made a humph noise,"And isn't that unfair to the plants, or do you plan on making them intelligent? And what do they eat? If you make the herbivores intelligent isn't it worse to eat them? Does everyone become a vegetarian? Or is it then Darwin again? The strongest and quickest eat the others, even if they all start with intelligence. In the end you're going to end up with someone on top taking advantage of the others, except now they'll be smart enough to know...is that better?"

[Supercape]

GM

 

"My plan is not perfect" conceded Lord Uplift. "Riddled with imperfections, it is true. And yet, when one considers action, if were to await perfection of course, we would all be pertperually paralysed" he countered, looking at both Delta and Archeville. 

 

"The only purpose to such critique is to refine ones actions, to make them more sure. Not to stay ones hand" he explained firmly. "Where does one, indeed, draw the line? What, indeed, are the ramifications to the whole biodome? Who can say?"

 

"But I ask you this - is making the world, nay, the universe, more equitable a laudible goal or not?" he demanded, even firmer. His eyes were dark blue and penetrating, a question of hard steel. 

 

"Or perhaps you prefer the uniqueness of your own superior intelligence? Perhaps it is vanity that stays your hand? For if all had your gifts, you would not be special, would you?"