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Post by ShinKei on Dec 22, 2010 20:56:28 GMT
Pushing open the large double doors of the brand new extension to the university's scientific facilities, one is first hit by an unidentifiable smell. This sensation, however, is quickly overawed as one's eyes wander upward and outward, the human mind taking a moment to absorb the enormity of the laboratory.
This was the very feeling Harun Brannon experienced on the first day of his PhD studies. The vast expanse of floor, adorned with sporadic tables covered in computers and chemical equipment and complicated looking machinery, made him wonder which table was to be his and, more importantly, if he was ever going to find it. And the sheer height of the roof was simply intimidating.
A helpful post-doc showed him to his desk. Even at first sight, it was evident that the contents of this table was worth more than most of the contents of his house. There was a touch-screen computer built in to the desk, one screen rising up from the surface and one screen flat against it to serve as a multi-purpose keyboard. Around the edges of the desk were test-tube racks and various chemicals scattered among other tools and machines which Brannon had never seen before. Some resembled archaic steam engines, while others could have come straight from a sci-fi film.
Harun had read the basics of "Exo-physics" in a file given to him by the overseer of the project. The giving of the file had been accompanied by the signing of an Official Secret's Act, and to boot the file had CLASSIFIED written in large, foreboding red calligraphy on the cover. But everybody seemed so busy, nobody looked about to explain his role in the project. Tentatively, he fired up the computer, re-read the file several times, and waited.
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Post by ShinKei on Feb 27, 2011 22:03:56 GMT
-< FEBRUARY 8th >-
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Post by lordnightmare on Feb 27, 2011 23:13:02 GMT
As Markus looked around the giant room, he marveled at its cleanliness. he looked at Harun. "kinda makes me feel outta place. after all ive been living on the street so long im not exactly clean. and yet this place. i mean even the door handles smell of disinfectant. that reminds me, do you mind if i have a shower when we get back to your place later." then he whispered purposely loud enough for Harun to hear, "stuff like this will make a fortune on the black market"
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Post by ShinKei on Mar 8, 2011 19:09:25 GMT
Harun cast the newcomer a stern glance, and whispered.
"There's people here who aren't too fond of jokes."
Before long, one of said people approached. Professor Sir Roger Maryl did not have the look of a scientist. He was wearing a black suit and elaborately sewn yellow and black tie. His dark blue dyed leather briefcase was battered, and a distinct black char ran across it's side. From this, he produced a laptop and set it on the table next to a dull metal box the size of a small fridge. He said nothing for a while, and once he had sat down in front of his laptop, he peered over his glasses. Harun remembered, the first time he had met the man, he had been wearing a monocle. The memory made him chuckle to himself.
"Mr. Brannon." His voice grated slightly.
"Professor," came Harun's reply.
"What is the purpose of this consultation?" The Professor's eyes reflected a dull boredom. Harun calculated his response carefully. He was not prepared to embarrass himself.
"I believe I have discovered a specimen of vital importance to the project."
A bold statement, he knew, and he winced. It sounded grandiose. That was not the desired effect. The professor's eyebrows raised in a confusing expression which could have been interpreted as either indignation or amusement. "And what would be the nature of this specimen?"
Harun looked towards his odd companion. He had said enough, and was prepared to let the "specimen" do the rest of the talking.
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Post by lordnightmare on Mar 9, 2011 17:40:10 GMT
"pleasure to meet you sir " Markus said as he offered his hand which the man seemed to be ignoring. Markus lowered his hand realising the "gentleman" was obviously not interested. Also despite not looking like a professor, Markus got the distinct impression that Harun had forgotten what he said about others not knowing, a fact he intended to make clear. "Harun, may i have a word with you",he leaned in and added quietly "without the stiff"
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Post by ShinKei on Mar 11, 2011 7:32:44 GMT
"Excuse me one second, sir," Harun said, rising to his feet with a small bow. He turned and muttered, "respect this guy, yeah? What do you want."
Granted, the Professor could have had some manners.
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Post by lordnightmare on Mar 11, 2011 16:30:06 GMT
"not meaning to sound rude, but did you hit your head sometime last night. i said we cant get anyone else involved. especially some bad mannered old guy who probably does nothing all day but sit on his". he stopped as he noticed his voice had gotten louder and louder. the bad mannered old guy was staring at him with one hell of a disapproving look. "no offence"
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Post by ShinKei on Mar 12, 2011 22:21:44 GMT
Harun glared at the ragged polaran with venom. This was Roger Maryl... he wanted to shout. He owed this guy both his education and his profession... he contained his anger.
"When you said 'nobody else should be involved', i thought you meant whoever told you about the exophysics department. If you really want to find out more about these -" he glanced at the Professor - "disturbances; he's your man." Once again, he glared a dagger at Markus.
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Post by lordnightmare on Mar 14, 2011 0:23:27 GMT
At that moment Markus wanted to slap himself. Harun really looked peeved. typical. The first person to show him kindness in a long time, the first person since Carl he really thought he could trust, and he looked like he could murder Markus there and then. Maybe Harun was right. maybe it was time to let go of the past and let people back into his life. After all, surely there must be some people worthy of being trusted. Markus looked down at the floor, his hair covering his face. "sorry Harun" He turned to look at the professor. "i also apologize to you sir. i believe we may have gotten to a bad start. allow me start again. My name is Markus crysta, and i believe i may be able to help you with your exophysics project. however there are life threatening issues we must address first. after that i would be honoured to help in any way i can".
Markus felt like he was about to cry.
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Post by ShinKei on Mar 14, 2011 21:32:51 GMT
Harun was taken aback. The formerly tough-exteriored Markus' eyes began to moisten, and he applied the handbrakes to the argument: his eyes lowered as he muttered an apology. Had Harun's comment been that... commanding? What had he done to elicity this sort of respect?
Markus slowly turned, and reintroduced himself to Maryl. The Professor's expression remained unchanged: one of faint amusement. But the resent was gone from his eyes, and something like a flicker of interest passed through them instead.
Run with it. 神恵
"You know, this is the biggest and most advanced centre of the newest field of science in the world." Maryl turned to Harun. "You think you have anything to offer our experts, feel free."
The comment was intended as reassuringly sarcastic. Harun had never been quite sure how that worked, but the Professor simply had a way with sarcasm. And yet, Harun knew that he would regret his implied irony very soon. Because "our experts" ain't seen nothing yet. Harun smiled - somewhat mischeivously - and, content with Crysta's change in attitude, turned an expectant look towards the Polaran once again.
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Post by lordnightmare on Mar 14, 2011 21:43:52 GMT
Markus felt Reassured for some reason. he let the armour around his mind loosen a little but not a lot. as nice as this life was seeming, he had a nice life once before. he wasnt going for a repeat. but still, maybe after all this was over he could settle down, but right now the universe needed saving. "Sir, i have it on good authority that there is a problem with the universe that needs fixing. and i could really use your's and the university's help in fixing it."
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Post by ShinKei on Mar 14, 2011 21:56:12 GMT
"Well, spit it out then. We can't fix anything unless we know where to start."
Harun was amazed at Maryl's sudden co-operation. He sensed Markus relax a little, and with good reason. The Professor's tone had become much less harsh and condescending. But it was still confusing.
Much like...
Give this one a chance... He shook his head.
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Post by lordnightmare on Mar 18, 2011 22:25:40 GMT
"well at first i didnt quite understand what the problem was myself, but thanks to Harun i think i finally understand it. from what information i have, combined with the knowledge of exophysics provided by Harun i can pretty safely say it's the end of the universe as we know it. basically i'm a polaran. a being with all three exophysical powers which as Harun has told me means i am giving off massive embryonic waves so much so that only one polaran can exist at any one time. however there is a being in another universe paralell to ours who is trying to gain all three powers which will make him a second polaran. this will cause a universal catastrophe. were talking major fireworks."
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Post by ShinKei on Mar 25, 2011 23:55:30 GMT
"Master Crysta, may I remind you that if you are to begin making science fiction claims, at least get your facts right. We now know that there are no parallel universes, or if there are, they are completely separate from our own, and have no effect as such on us. What you may be referring to is an exophysical world. These are worlds made up of basically nothingness, permeated by chunks of "existance" which fall from our universe. Technically, life there is completely impossible with our current technology. If you have any information concerning this, please share it, including your 'Polaran' ability. I would very much like to see a demonstration of this.
"Secondly, embryonic...?"
"Baryonic," Harun interjected.
"... Ah. Right." Maryl sat back in his chair and sighed. This kid was going to take work. He lay his hand on the dull metal box beside him, and a flurry of activity revealed that the box sported a keypad on the side facing Maryl. A dull whir was heard as the machine's cooling system kicked in.
Harun had read so much about this machine. He had very much wanted, for some time, to see one in action. In fact, he had read the entire file and user manual. He could probably operate one himself.
The hum had now become such that, while it was not actually obstructing anybody's voice, it made listening and concentration somewhat more difficult, and Maryl's voice raised slightly above it.
"Markus, I ask you a question. I see that you are not carrying a name card or visitor pass." Indeed, this was true. Harun jumped: How had he forgotten to get a visitor pass? But then the thought struck him also, as Maryl continued. "These rooms are specifically and precisely designed to detect unauthorised intruders, making use of thermal imaging, air pressure sensors and a number of other tests. Not only should you not be here, the intruder alert should have sounded by now." He leaned over the desk and studied Markus' face. "Why didn't it?"
The hum of the box intensified.
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Post by lordnightmare on Mar 31, 2011 17:23:47 GMT
"how should i know. after all, they're your systems". for an instant Markus' arm twitched.
And then faster than Maryl could blink, Markus seemed to disappear and re-appear behind Maryl with a knife to his throat.
"NOW PROFESSOR, I REALLY WOULD PREFER YOU TO TURN OFF THAT MACHINE. i don't know exactly what it does but whatever it does it's giving me a bad feeling. and after 10 years of living on the streets, I've learned to trust my feelings."
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