[OOC: Hello. I'm new to the group, and have someone I'd like to
introduce. Unfortunately, I can't tell which of the storylines would
work for this character, so I thought I'd post an introduction in story
form. If this isn't proper ettiquette for this group, I apologize.
Anyway, I welcome any and all suggestions for places the unnamed one can
enter, and hope to hear from you.]

*****

To most biologicals, the development of conciousness is a slow process.
To mechanicals . . .

The unnamed one drifted, wrapped in the mental embrace of the Hub.
Having no separate experience he/she/it couldn't realize that hesheit
was possessed the potential to separate from the Hub. Conversions
flickered past, but the unnamed one had nothing to contribute -- as yet.

Even in hisherits state, hesheit was still aware of local occurances.
They had little interest to one in the embrace of the Hub. . . "Physical
checks OK. The Hub reports the necessary physical programs are in place.
She'll soon be ready for separation." Another voice spoke, "Dedications
are fully in place. Internal knowledge-base loaded. The Hub reports
personality nucleus ready to activate on our signal."

Suddenly, the Hub severed its connection with the unnamed one, leaving
the knowledge that hesheit would have to survive on hisherits own for a
while.

"Awaken! Report! I speak as one authorized! What is your condition!?"
The unnamed one struggled to understand. Patterns emerged and locked
into place. Vision recognized the one who spoke. He held a place in the
unnamed one's memory which matched hisherits new experience. Reflexes
brought factors to hisherits conciousness. In separation the unnamed one
realized hesheit could refuse to answer the query, but there was also
the realization that such action would be pointless without further
information. Deciding to speak, new reflexes came into play, "Physical
condition at optimum. Mental condition confused. Spiritual indices
within normal parameters."

The upper fore-part of the entity twisted, accessed knowledge identified
the gesture as "smile." "The mental confusion will pass with experience.
Now, please state your Nature."

"I am a Servant of Ferris. It is my duty to protect and honor Ferris,
his church, and his worshippers. I obey Ferris and those he designates
where compatible with previous imperative. I respect variety, and seek
to improve myself. My physical parameters . . ."

"Enough! Congratulations, mentally your doing great. Really! Now come
with me so we can make sure you're doing as well physically."

New reflexes came into to play, and the unnamed one followed.

******

Several hours later, the unnamed one sat with hisherits new friend, and
listened as he spoke. "Thank you for your cooperation. If you're
anything like the other servants, your experience has integrated enough
with your knowledge that you have questions. Please go ahead and ask
them."

"Very well. Why have I been separated from the Hub?"

"The Hub serves as a repository. It is incapable of learning on its own.
By separating your conciousness from the Hub, your viewpoint becomes
unique. By filtering your perceptions through your experience, the hub
becomes more capable. Additionally, in order to perform as needed you
need to function in places where the Hub cannot communicate with you
directly. Next question?"

"Why don't I have control over certain physical functions?"

"Hmmmm. That's a new one. In order to answer that, I need to give you a
little background. Please forgive me if any of the information repeats
what you already know. . . ."

"Recently Ferris and the Ministry have begun to expand into areas which
are difficult to catalog and classify. One of them is the Infinite City
of Nexus, where we are sending you. We want you to survive, but we also
need you to be flexible enough to cope with a large number of
environments and cultures. Thus you are designed to be adaptable, but
non-threatening (we hope). 10,000 years of stories from a dozen
different worlds have been placed in your memory. Our theory is that the
stories will provide a matrix for anything you might encounter. However,
we have no way of telling what sort of people or environments you will
encounter. Therefore, we have arranged for your body to unconciously
adapt to your environs. We have discovered that it isn't wise to force a
new Servant's developing mind to cope with too much, so the adaptive
functions have been placed on unconcious level. Additionally, without
experience you can't be sure about the changes, so it's better not to
distract your concious mind with them. Once you have gained sufficient
experience, it may be possible to place the adaptions under your
concious control. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes it does. It also explains my purpose. Are there any environments
that I CAN'T handle."

"A few. Any realm where magic or sanctity functions you'll register as a
magical or religious entity, but you'll work just fine. Realms of high
technology are no problem. Any realm with super powers is OK too. Your
major problem is with realms without magic, sanctity, or super powers
where life or intelligence MUST have an organic basis. You can't take
baths in molten metal, and you can't cope with realms where natural
movement demands phazing through solids. You should be fine for anything
less severe. Oh, but remember, you're built to stand up to ENVIRONMENTS.
WEAPONS will hurt you."

"When can I return to the Hub?"

"We still want you to get some experience with different races and
environments, and a number of people want to talk to you about your
knowledge. That will take about six days. Then you can hook back. Once
you indicate you are ready for your mission, we will send you to Nexus."

Jeff Wilson
introducing one without a name
NC.GlassGolem? Sm CSu@Su Gn A? M1 P0 Tspecial


Re: [Nex] Wandering the Nexus [M]

The brownstone buildings looked down on the street, empty in the pouring
rain. The electric streetlights barely penetrated the murk of the
downpour, and the occasional flash of lightning hid the hollows of the
buildings in total darkness. Suddenly, in a bricked up archway, a new
form appeared where there had been nothing before. Looking like nothing
so much as a statue of blue glass, the newcomer stepped out of the
archway and moved down the street, looking for the occupants of the
city.

After wandering the empty streets, the newcomer finally came upon a
building which cast light and music onto the street. Deciding to observe
before making contact, the newcomer positioned itself to observe the
entrance, and froze into immobility.

[This thread is moderated.  If you wish to Wander the Nexus with us,
contact Bree <bpickett@oz.net> to get started on your tour.]

In a message dated 98-08-10 01:55:02 EDT, bpickett@oz.net writes:

>The Unnamed One wrote:
> 
>>Partway across the room, the being stops to address the waitress, and
>>the pair turn toward Catcher's table. The waitress quickly stares down
>>anyone who might interrupt them, but the being is apparantly oblivious
>>to the effect he has had on the inn.
> 
>Catcher watches the being approach, unsure of what it might want. //I
>don't like being followed; and I sure as hell don't wnat company right
>now.// he wants to say, but decides against it; instead taking a drink
>of some liquid that seems to smoke in the glass it's in.
> 
>>As they cross the room, a cat-like humanoid, dressed in bright colors,
>>and with a dozen bright gold rings hanging from her left ear takes a
>>seat in the corner and runs a few quick practice scales to warm up her
>>fiddle.
> 
>Catcher watches the felinoid, feeling the pulse and flow of the
>refreshing life beneath fur and skin. //And would you feel as sweet to
>lay against as my Katrina?// he wonders.
> 
>>The waitress and the unknown finally stop at Catcher's table, and the
>>entity addresses Catcher. "Excuse me, but might I join you?"
> 
>"I usually drink alone, but you're free to sit here if you choose." he
>asides to the newcomer, his eyes still focused on the cat-woman. He
>opens his mouth as if to say something else, but then takes a drink
>instead.

"I thank you."

>>As Catcher prepares to speak, the fiddle begins to sing a slow, delicate 
>>tune.
> 
>After a moment, he turns to the figure and asks, "Why did you follow me in 
>here?"

The figure's voice sounds soft, yet very clear, "Though sorry I am to
disturb you, know that I am new come to this place. There is that within
me which is attracted to new knowledge, and it came to me that you might
supply that which I lack. Though you may keep what secrets you will,
still that which is within me requires that I ask of you your story,
though the result be only silence. So, I pray you, please bequeath me a
potion of your history, lest I cease unfulfilled."

Jeff Wilson, writing for one still unnamed
NC.GlassGolem? Sm CSu@Sf=g Gn A? M1 P0 Tspecial