maskormenace | [Video and then Audio] First Network Dive

[When the feed clicks on, it initially shows a young girl, maybe nine or ten years old, with red hair and unnaturally blue, almost glowing, eyes. She is sitting outside, on the steps of what some people might recognize as the front porch of one of the De Chima import houses. After a few seconds of filming her eyes narrow, as if she just noticed that the camera turned on, and she makes a faint, annoyed noise under her breath, and then opens her mouth, perhaps to say something, but changes her mind. Instead, after a few seconds of searching, she clicks the feed off.]

[A short while later, the feed resumes, audio only.]

My name is Shelke the- [She cuts off, and there's a brief beat before she continues.] Shelke Rui.

[Her voice is flat, not quite emotionless but very close. And she sounds tired. There's a small pause as she gathers her thoughts again.]

I am looking for anyone familiar with manipulating forms of life energy. Or anyone familiar with the term 'mako', though I suppose that is...unlikely. Or anyone who has worked with genetic manipulation. Or genetic degradation and...wasting diseases. Or any genetics.

[She draws in a frustrated breath to stop herself from just listing off fields of science. The problem with not knowing how things work in another universe is having no idea who can help you.]

Conversion of magical energy might also apply. I have not found much evidence of magic as a concept in this world, though. I am uncertain the life stream even exists here, I haven't found any reference to it, as impossible as that-

[She trails off.]

Sorry. Never mind.

[Another tired breath.]

If anyone can assist, please let me know. It is an...urgent request.

That's all.

[There's a pause as she starts to hang up, then realizes she's probably supposed to say something else.]

Thank you.

[Click.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Geneticist, checking in. Never heard of mako before or the life stream? Is that what it's called? I'd love to hear about them, though. Maybe I can still help.

Maybe. I don't know.

[She doesn't really know how to be positive.]

It is a difficult problem to explain, the science in this world seems...different.

The life stream is the...life energy current of the world I come from. Mako is what happens if you harvest it to use as an energy source.

You're right. The science is definitely different. Is the life stream, an actual physical thing? Can you see it? Why would anyone think harvesting something like that is a good idea?

Because it made them powerful.

[She says this like it is the most obvious thing in the world.]

But yes, it is a physical thing, if you know where to look. And sometimes it bubbles to the surface and crystallizes in places also.

What kind of powerful?

That sounds like a dangerous resource for people to have access to.

It was. Is.

[Shelke hesitated for a moment.]

If you convert the lifestream into Mako, it can be used to fuel most anything. If you crystalize it, people who hold it gain access to special magic. And if you inject it into people...or various other means.

It can make them extraordinary. As long as you don't mind the occasional side effect.

What kind of side effects are we talking about here?

It varies from person to person.

In my case, my body is dependent on mako to survive.

You... Tell me this place gave you the ability to survive without it.

As far as I am aware, no.

I have the supply I had with me. But that's all.

Could I have a sample of it?

[There is a long hesitation before Shelke answers.]

...Yes. Though I do not have a lot to spare.

[Any to spare, but she knows rationally she'll have to lose some if she hopes to somehow create more.]

[Cosima understands that she doesn't have much to spare, that she'd rather not give any. But there's little she can do to help without having a sample to study.]

Give me what you can spare. I'll make it work.

...Alright.

[She hesitates.]

Do you know where De Chima 001 is?

I do. I live right near by, actually.

[Huh.]

That is where I am staying. If you can come here. I am still getting my bearings.

[Video and then Audio] First Network Dive

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