Well, doesn't time fly....
It's a new year here in Caledon, so effort should be made.
Having lost my diary (though recovered my pants) in a lava cave, then the island sank, it's only know (thanks to the meddlings of Lightfoot returning this tomb to me) I'm able to put pen to paper.
Have things advanced in our quest to return home?
Yes, and a most emphatic no.
New players have appeared on the scene, this 'friend' of Lady Darklings called The Jinn. Cornelia has had a tragedy and (as a consequence) we have had a minor revelation. Drillon is around less and less these days. Sen keeps herself busy with work. I have not seen Sollis since before we went to the island. Kira is growing up, quickly, and has a heart troubled with tribulations of teenage love. Terry is Terry, I'd be lost without her and never tire of her stabilising influence (though I wish she'd close some damn doors sometimes). Alfonso is stoic, spending much time in his laboratory, and Fuchia potters on, scattering dust on cotton and silk. Lapin is a dame now, and spends her days with her art. The ETC is as well as can be, and I have opened up the gardens and the aquarium to give us more space and a place away from the hussle of Caledon prime.
I will try to write more, as time and tide permit, but it is often difficult with so much to do.
Our goal has not changed. We will leave this place. Tempting though it is to get swept along by new found friends and cinematic fancies. For now we earn a living and keep trying.
More soon (with luck).
O
Showing posts with label etheric travel cabinet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label etheric travel cabinet. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Explaining Why
My dear Miss Elytis,
Thank you for your concern last night. I'm more touched than perhaps my brisk nature sometimes shows and your kind words meant a lot. I understand this is as difficult a concept to grasp as that of coffee without caffeine, and I hope this will help. To us, my regeneration is essential. I feel it is important to explain why this must be so. I owe everyone that, and this is not the time for mystery.
Terry and I arrived here some, well, in your time line 8 months or so ago. For me it has been much longer but that's an other story. In short, our craft (known commonly by the good people of Caledon as our Etheric Travel Cabinet) was disabled and, we believe, we were attacked in mid-flight. It's possible this was a side effect of what happened to my fellow Time Lord (though she is a whole different kettle of fish) Sen Pixie.
Sen is an expert Temporal Engineer and SIDRAT technician. She is far older and more experienced than I in these matters. We believe it was her who was attacked, and her travelling companion the Time Lord named Solis. Together with Drillon (who was exiled here by the High Council long ago) we are the only 4 of our species in your relam. It's highly likely that any other Time Lords you meet are inherent to this world and may be VERY different in nature.
We are now without power. Our power source, the Eye of Harmony, is cut off from the black sun beneath the Panopticon on Gallifrey. Possibly the power is being diverted away, we're not sure and lack the knowledge to confirm this. We have some residual energy, enough to make short forays across the grid, but not enough to escape atmosphere or return to our dimension.
Sen was attacked, and killed, of that we have no doubt. Disturbingly, she was attacked from 5th dimensional space (from the region of space/time in which the interior of the SIDRAT sits, which is theoretically impossible). She chose to save herself by uploading her conciousness into her TARDIS, a version of the ETC of which you know, and survived this way. Eventually downloading herself into a dying Time Lord host here in your world. Solis was nearly killed, escaped shortly before my death in the ship's escape pod, and was flung back in time. Suffering amnesia she lived for generations, regenerating at old age, hailed as the living goddess of a primitive a superstitious jungle tribe. Her and Sen were only reunited recently.
I myself, then in my first regeneration, died not long after arrival. Rassilon be praised we landed in a far outpost of Caledon at Pena. Terry had transformed, she protected Emilly with her body. She is Shidi, as you know, and survived the impact. I did not. We were taken in by good carni folk and cared for until I recovered. Of all the people here, only they have never know me to be different. When I regenerated I was greatly changed, but my form was one better able to live in this world and in Caledon. The ETC, my dear old friend, was badly damaged.
Terry and I have been friends a very long time. I love her like a sister. She is my friend, my long suffering assistant, my companion since the beginning of all this, and the reason I carry on. Emilly is Emilly and is simply fabulous anywhere. She has made a good life for herself here, but we are all trapped. We don't belong. We must go home, but we are not able. We must solve this. This is not our planet, and we are reminded of that every day. The main thing holding us back is knowledge.
Solis is a master historian. Sen is, well, an engineer I suppose. Drillon is all muscle, and was forced to regenerate far too recently when attacked in his own craft. I am a molecular biologist and have never had the smarts for work such as this. We need a better mind.
The ETC is ready and finally repaired. I have a working Zero Room to help my regeneration. Sen has done this once before, in theory. I have done extensive calculations. I was trained to work the Genetic Looms of Gallifrey and this is something I know can be done. We can craft a better mind. This is something I can do, and something that will be the catalyst for much more.
The obvious questions come to mind. What is our missing energy being used for? Why was Sen attacked and what has the power to do such a thing from 5th Dimensional Space? After my regeneration we can look to this with a fresh and superior intellect. We can solve this.
I will enter the Zero Room (the walls of which will shield me from the rest of the universe and provide a restful environment for recuperation) and upload 'myself' to the ETC mainframe. We will then destroy my existing body, I will manipulate my genetic code to what we need, and I will download my conciousness into my new form. I will stay in the Zero Room during this time as the regenerative cycle creates a large amount of energy which is often not entirely contained within a Time Lord's body. Sen has experienced a very similar process once before and she will be there to help me. There is much more to Sen than meets the eye.
So, there you have it. I have tried to do as much as possible in these last few days. Yes, I will be different after the process, there is no denying that. I will, however, still be me. Me, but smarter and in a different body. I may be confused or disorientated at first. This is perfectly normal. A limited degree of amnesia is not uncommon. It will pass. I get to do this 12 times in my lifetime. I am 411 years old. I'm statistically doing marvellously. Oh, and yes, I know I live in a time machine but the First Law of Time forbids such frivolity.
On Thursday, there will be a short good bye drink in the ETC before hand. I don't want a lot of fuss. If you can attend, that would be lovely and I know Kiralette would appreciate your support. I want a dance with Terry, and one with Virrgina, just in case. I have said my goodbyes to Emilly already as she is singing in Paris that night and doesn't really understand (bless her). One last whiskey with Alfonso, Roy, Angus and O'Tool if he can make it. I hope for no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. I hope they will all go forward in their beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.
Thank you for being a friend. Thank you for your concern. I know, like me, you sometimes feel distant from the ways of Caledon society and we have spoken of this before. Your friendship and kind attention has always been appreciated. I'm sure beyond doubt that our friendship will not change.
Keep your chin up. Look after the nice ones. The very best of wishes.
Doctor Oolon Sputnik
Commodore of The Imperial Navy of Caledon
x
Thank you for your concern last night. I'm more touched than perhaps my brisk nature sometimes shows and your kind words meant a lot. I understand this is as difficult a concept to grasp as that of coffee without caffeine, and I hope this will help. To us, my regeneration is essential. I feel it is important to explain why this must be so. I owe everyone that, and this is not the time for mystery.
Terry and I arrived here some, well, in your time line 8 months or so ago. For me it has been much longer but that's an other story. In short, our craft (known commonly by the good people of Caledon as our Etheric Travel Cabinet) was disabled and, we believe, we were attacked in mid-flight. It's possible this was a side effect of what happened to my fellow Time Lord (though she is a whole different kettle of fish) Sen Pixie.
Sen is an expert Temporal Engineer and SIDRAT technician. She is far older and more experienced than I in these matters. We believe it was her who was attacked, and her travelling companion the Time Lord named Solis. Together with Drillon (who was exiled here by the High Council long ago) we are the only 4 of our species in your relam. It's highly likely that any other Time Lords you meet are inherent to this world and may be VERY different in nature.
We are now without power. Our power source, the Eye of Harmony, is cut off from the black sun beneath the Panopticon on Gallifrey. Possibly the power is being diverted away, we're not sure and lack the knowledge to confirm this. We have some residual energy, enough to make short forays across the grid, but not enough to escape atmosphere or return to our dimension.
Sen was attacked, and killed, of that we have no doubt. Disturbingly, she was attacked from 5th dimensional space (from the region of space/time in which the interior of the SIDRAT sits, which is theoretically impossible). She chose to save herself by uploading her conciousness into her TARDIS, a version of the ETC of which you know, and survived this way. Eventually downloading herself into a dying Time Lord host here in your world. Solis was nearly killed, escaped shortly before my death in the ship's escape pod, and was flung back in time. Suffering amnesia she lived for generations, regenerating at old age, hailed as the living goddess of a primitive a superstitious jungle tribe. Her and Sen were only reunited recently.
I myself, then in my first regeneration, died not long after arrival. Rassilon be praised we landed in a far outpost of Caledon at Pena. Terry had transformed, she protected Emilly with her body. She is Shidi, as you know, and survived the impact. I did not. We were taken in by good carni folk and cared for until I recovered. Of all the people here, only they have never know me to be different. When I regenerated I was greatly changed, but my form was one better able to live in this world and in Caledon. The ETC, my dear old friend, was badly damaged.
Terry and I have been friends a very long time. I love her like a sister. She is my friend, my long suffering assistant, my companion since the beginning of all this, and the reason I carry on. Emilly is Emilly and is simply fabulous anywhere. She has made a good life for herself here, but we are all trapped. We don't belong. We must go home, but we are not able. We must solve this. This is not our planet, and we are reminded of that every day. The main thing holding us back is knowledge.
Solis is a master historian. Sen is, well, an engineer I suppose. Drillon is all muscle, and was forced to regenerate far too recently when attacked in his own craft. I am a molecular biologist and have never had the smarts for work such as this. We need a better mind.
The ETC is ready and finally repaired. I have a working Zero Room to help my regeneration. Sen has done this once before, in theory. I have done extensive calculations. I was trained to work the Genetic Looms of Gallifrey and this is something I know can be done. We can craft a better mind. This is something I can do, and something that will be the catalyst for much more.
The obvious questions come to mind. What is our missing energy being used for? Why was Sen attacked and what has the power to do such a thing from 5th Dimensional Space? After my regeneration we can look to this with a fresh and superior intellect. We can solve this.
I will enter the Zero Room (the walls of which will shield me from the rest of the universe and provide a restful environment for recuperation) and upload 'myself' to the ETC mainframe. We will then destroy my existing body, I will manipulate my genetic code to what we need, and I will download my conciousness into my new form. I will stay in the Zero Room during this time as the regenerative cycle creates a large amount of energy which is often not entirely contained within a Time Lord's body. Sen has experienced a very similar process once before and she will be there to help me. There is much more to Sen than meets the eye.
So, there you have it. I have tried to do as much as possible in these last few days. Yes, I will be different after the process, there is no denying that. I will, however, still be me. Me, but smarter and in a different body. I may be confused or disorientated at first. This is perfectly normal. A limited degree of amnesia is not uncommon. It will pass. I get to do this 12 times in my lifetime. I am 411 years old. I'm statistically doing marvellously. Oh, and yes, I know I live in a time machine but the First Law of Time forbids such frivolity.
On Thursday, there will be a short good bye drink in the ETC before hand. I don't want a lot of fuss. If you can attend, that would be lovely and I know Kiralette would appreciate your support. I want a dance with Terry, and one with Virrgina, just in case. I have said my goodbyes to Emilly already as she is singing in Paris that night and doesn't really understand (bless her). One last whiskey with Alfonso, Roy, Angus and O'Tool if he can make it. I hope for no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. I hope they will all go forward in their beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.
Thank you for being a friend. Thank you for your concern. I know, like me, you sometimes feel distant from the ways of Caledon society and we have spoken of this before. Your friendship and kind attention has always been appreciated. I'm sure beyond doubt that our friendship will not change.
Keep your chin up. Look after the nice ones. The very best of wishes.
Doctor Oolon Sputnik
Commodore of The Imperial Navy of Caledon
x
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Almost There
Today we made excellent progress.
After all this preparation, Sen and I met this morning and (with her in-depth knowledge of the type 70) spent the day replacing the final links and in preparation for the regeneration.
She is ready. Some testing is needed, but she is ready. We ran her over to Caledon on the cart (something of a Palava in itself) and replaced the residual charge at the Tesla Society tower.
Now, we just bide our time while I work out the maths. The mind must be paramount. Funny, I'm not worried or nervous. I know with absolute conviction that this needs to be done.
After all this preparation, Sen and I met this morning and (with her in-depth knowledge of the type 70) spent the day replacing the final links and in preparation for the regeneration.
She is ready. Some testing is needed, but she is ready. We ran her over to Caledon on the cart (something of a Palava in itself) and replaced the residual charge at the Tesla Society tower.
Now, we just bide our time while I work out the maths. The mind must be paramount. Funny, I'm not worried or nervous. I know with absolute conviction that this needs to be done.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Head Down
I've had my head under the console most of the day, busy.
There's a lot of corrosion under here, but with the parts Virrginia has secured for me and rare grid metals Angus managed to find (how does he do it) I may just have a working camelion circuit within the week. While not essential, this goes a long way towards the peak status required. Terry has been busy on a personal project and I've seen her less than I'd like. I confess I miss her terribly when she's not around and it was good to have work to keep me occupied.
Young Kiralette is now in our employ, in a dusting capacity. I'm not sure if this will lighten the load, she brought some kind of potted plant with her, but she's keen. Her sister is also keen. Keen that is that if Kira is to hang around the ETC then she is to useful while she is doing so and she seems to feel her sister is some form of potential liability.
I confess I don't care much for Kirawill, wife to Lord Bardhaven, but we are both civil enough to each other in the same way Zealot and I are. She is the sort of feline who knows she is gifted with first class breeding and has long lost any magic for a world that her sister still finds beautiful.
I began a few sketches of my new genetic matrix this evening. I have high hopes, if all goes well.
There's a lot of corrosion under here, but with the parts Virrginia has secured for me and rare grid metals Angus managed to find (how does he do it) I may just have a working camelion circuit within the week. While not essential, this goes a long way towards the peak status required. Terry has been busy on a personal project and I've seen her less than I'd like. I confess I miss her terribly when she's not around and it was good to have work to keep me occupied.
Young Kiralette is now in our employ, in a dusting capacity. I'm not sure if this will lighten the load, she brought some kind of potted plant with her, but she's keen. Her sister is also keen. Keen that is that if Kira is to hang around the ETC then she is to useful while she is doing so and she seems to feel her sister is some form of potential liability.
I confess I don't care much for Kirawill, wife to Lord Bardhaven, but we are both civil enough to each other in the same way Zealot and I are. She is the sort of feline who knows she is gifted with first class breeding and has long lost any magic for a world that her sister still finds beautiful.
I began a few sketches of my new genetic matrix this evening. I have high hopes, if all goes well.
Monday, May 07, 2007
The Day After
I popped out for some milk and a few bits then walked slowly back to Mayfair. The shops are still open, with the stiffest of upper lips, but Victoria smells like burning prims. What a mess.
Left a jar of anchovy butter on Kiras swing for her. Bardhaven looked particularly quiet, and only a chambermaid could be seen stowicly going about her duties.
Sat on the ches longue in the console room reading a book for a few hours, then got back to work on the cabinet.
Began the bulk processing, but I'll look at the footage tomorrow. There's a lot, and most of it will be unusable. I need a clear head, a bit more sleep, and a few spare hours.
Left a jar of anchovy butter on Kiras swing for her. Bardhaven looked particularly quiet, and only a chambermaid could be seen stowicly going about her duties.
Sat on the ches longue in the console room reading a book for a few hours, then got back to work on the cabinet.
Began the bulk processing, but I'll look at the footage tomorrow. There's a lot, and most of it will be unusable. I need a clear head, a bit more sleep, and a few spare hours.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
The Doctor is In
Work is going well on the ETC, I had checked on the chaps and chapesses around the Guvnahs mansion (leaving a cunningly transformed Terry with a close eye on group of rather 'enthusiastic' weasels), and I decided to take a break onto a small personal project.
I was ensconced in the Mayfair Studio until the wee small hours, changing my Panoptikon to a Eidoloscope. This is a simple but delicate task, adding a basic intermittent mechanism to keep the two-inch film moved continuously during showing and improve the reliability of frame rate.
Being a glass house (for the excellent coastal light it provides), the studio affords a splendid outlook. Eventually, my attention was unavoidably drawn to the road outside where Miss Kelley had been walking backward and forwards for sometime, seemingly reciting dialogue and practising a cough. Having my hands full I allowed her to continue a while, I have no desire to become embroiled in amateur dramatics, and eventually she approached the door.
It's always nice to see her. She is a ray of sunshine. But this evening she came with grave news.
For sometime now Zealot has referred to me as Doctor Sputnik. I have no idea why. I do hold several doctorates, and a professorship or two, but they are from the Academy on Gallifrey and if Zealot knew about them I'd be worried indeed. Not that Zealot doesn't worry me I hasten to add.
Young Miss Kelly had taken this title to be literal, and was in search of a medical practitioner. It appears 'our mutual friend' is not fairing well by her treatment under capture.
I wasn't the sharpest tool in the old woodshed when at The Academy, not by the standards of my peers, but a distinction in Micro Cellular Biology I did mange to scrape and I can slap on a trauma bandage with the best of them. When we first arrived here I resolved to keep myself and Terry healthy with a regular dose of panacea to keep out the diseases of the Victorian age. Nothing is infallible, I have heard of some nasty viral stuff called 'grey goo' on the mainland that I have yet to examine, but it's a start. Typhoid, tuberculosis, smallpox, cholera, the sniffles, hayfever, even syphilis (god forbid) are all simple stuff to remedy with the power of a time travellers hindsight.
We nipped into the Cabinet and I added some base vitamins, a general restorative of future extraction, some peppermint essence and a slow release food supplement.
Within a few minutes she was on her way over the fences, back across Mayfair to Bardhaven. In the name of the First President I prey nothing bad befalls that girl. She is taking a terrible risk and we are so very powerless to interfere.
I tried to get some sleep but couldn't meditate. Even the Zero Room seemed full of psychic static. Next time I see her, I really must give her a transmat bracelet just in case.
I was ensconced in the Mayfair Studio until the wee small hours, changing my Panoptikon to a Eidoloscope. This is a simple but delicate task, adding a basic intermittent mechanism to keep the two-inch film moved continuously during showing and improve the reliability of frame rate.
Being a glass house (for the excellent coastal light it provides), the studio affords a splendid outlook. Eventually, my attention was unavoidably drawn to the road outside where Miss Kelley had been walking backward and forwards for sometime, seemingly reciting dialogue and practising a cough. Having my hands full I allowed her to continue a while, I have no desire to become embroiled in amateur dramatics, and eventually she approached the door.
It's always nice to see her. She is a ray of sunshine. But this evening she came with grave news.
For sometime now Zealot has referred to me as Doctor Sputnik. I have no idea why. I do hold several doctorates, and a professorship or two, but they are from the Academy on Gallifrey and if Zealot knew about them I'd be worried indeed. Not that Zealot doesn't worry me I hasten to add.
Young Miss Kelly had taken this title to be literal, and was in search of a medical practitioner. It appears 'our mutual friend' is not fairing well by her treatment under capture.
I wasn't the sharpest tool in the old woodshed when at The Academy, not by the standards of my peers, but a distinction in Micro Cellular Biology I did mange to scrape and I can slap on a trauma bandage with the best of them. When we first arrived here I resolved to keep myself and Terry healthy with a regular dose of panacea to keep out the diseases of the Victorian age. Nothing is infallible, I have heard of some nasty viral stuff called 'grey goo' on the mainland that I have yet to examine, but it's a start. Typhoid, tuberculosis, smallpox, cholera, the sniffles, hayfever, even syphilis (god forbid) are all simple stuff to remedy with the power of a time travellers hindsight.
We nipped into the Cabinet and I added some base vitamins, a general restorative of future extraction, some peppermint essence and a slow release food supplement.
Within a few minutes she was on her way over the fences, back across Mayfair to Bardhaven. In the name of the First President I prey nothing bad befalls that girl. She is taking a terrible risk and we are so very powerless to interfere.
I tried to get some sleep but couldn't meditate. Even the Zero Room seemed full of psychic static. Next time I see her, I really must give her a transmat bracelet just in case.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
A Late Visitor
I had a visitor last night.
Often of late I have found myself in conversation with Miss Kelley. She is a most charming creature, very pleasant, that reminds me much of the New Earth felines of 5,000,000,000. She is, I am told, not entirely indicative of her species, having at least the veneer of Victorian sensibility. She is quick of eye, strong in spirit, has an adventurous streak a mile wide, yet wraps herself in pretty crinolines with seemingly little comfort but the greatest of pride.
She visited me in the ETC to bring me news and share my supper. She had never visited us properly and as I showed around our home, Terry currently being away visiting the Dracoforms and having missed the excitement of the last few days, she gazed wide-eyed at the workings of the ETC. I took her over to New Babbage, and we walked and talked a while in relative safety.
When one spends time with her, one soon begins to realise how frightened she is of reprisal by her Master Zealot. In my opinion, a cat should not have a master...
...I will say no more, but suffice to say, she's a very brave young lady.
Caledon and Neualtenburgh owe her more than they may ever know.
Often of late I have found myself in conversation with Miss Kelley. She is a most charming creature, very pleasant, that reminds me much of the New Earth felines of 5,000,000,000. She is, I am told, not entirely indicative of her species, having at least the veneer of Victorian sensibility. She is quick of eye, strong in spirit, has an adventurous streak a mile wide, yet wraps herself in pretty crinolines with seemingly little comfort but the greatest of pride.
She visited me in the ETC to bring me news and share my supper. She had never visited us properly and as I showed around our home, Terry currently being away visiting the Dracoforms and having missed the excitement of the last few days, she gazed wide-eyed at the workings of the ETC. I took her over to New Babbage, and we walked and talked a while in relative safety.
When one spends time with her, one soon begins to realise how frightened she is of reprisal by her Master Zealot. In my opinion, a cat should not have a master...
...I will say no more, but suffice to say, she's a very brave young lady.
Caledon and Neualtenburgh owe her more than they may ever know.
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