//------------------------------// // Information at your Fingertips // Story: Worlds Apart: The Chosen of the Prognosticus // by GMBlackjack //------------------------------// Data’s eyes focused on three separate documents scrolling past his eyes in unison. Tippi, in contrast, was only looking at one with a much slower scrolling speed. Neither of them had found much in the way of anything helpful, and they had been looking for well over a day at this point. Granted, the Enterprise research session had taken longer, but there they kept finding new things to follow. The highly incomplete nature of the Archive’s information was making future success seem unlikely. “I do not believe we are going to find a reference to the Pure Heart directly,” Data said. “It’s here…” Tippi said. “You admitted that your Pure Heart sensors were heavily impeded by the nature of this world.” He glanced at her. “Is it possible that it was moved out of this world and you cannot tell?” “I… no, no that’s not possible. It’s still here, even if it feels… wrong.” Data nodded, taking her at her word. “The Light Prognosticus seemed to imply we would all meet each other again.” Tippi pulled up images of Twilight and Toph she had rendered from her subconscious. “Maybe we should look for them.” “A similar problem arises.” Data performed the searches once again just to demonstrate. “Twilight is not a unique creature in this universe, so it is impossible to pick her out from all the other alicorns that exist here. And elemental powers are hardly unusual.” “There’s got to be something…” “There is, but it isn’t a location or a definite answer.” Data brought up a map of the universe, complete with the primary galaxy, numerous locations around it, and the subdimensions that spiraled off the edges like a bunch of tumors. “I believe we should begin with eliminating where the Pure Heart is not, rather than look for where it is.” “How will that help?” “For one, we can eliminate every location that the Datasphere is directly plugged into reality.” With a wave of his hand, the vast majority of the primary plane—the one they were currently in—vanished. “And then we can run a simple algorithm to cut out places that could never hold an artifact of that power and remain stable.” A large chunk of the smaller areas of uncertainty vanished. However, this still left several subdimensions, pockets of information obscurity, and a few planets that took their security very seriously. Tippi fluttered closer to the map. “It might help to cross-reference with every structure the Archive knows that was built by or at least related to the Ancient Wanderers. They were aware of the Pure Heart, clearly, since they made a pillar for it.” They had already accumulated information about structures related to the Ancient Wanderers, so the cross-reference was easy. That got rid of several of the alternate dimensions. The strongest correlation occurred in the center of a small satellite galaxy to the primary one, but there were plenty of other dots in numerous other locations and dimensions. “How can we narrow this down further…?” Tippi wondered, flying around the map. Data cocked his head. “I believe I have a solution, but it may take some time. Cosmo suggests that the Metarex have been searching this universe ever since the Count recruited them. We simply need to look in places where they would be unlikely or unable to search…” “To do that we’ll have to go through each possibility one at a time and assign a value to it.” “I did say it would be time-consuming.” “...All right, let’s try it. Once we get it down to around ten or so, if we can, then let’s start reading everything we can about those places.” She brought up a map of the satellite galaxy, frowning. “So much information in the Datasphere, and nobody who knows how to navigate it. For all we know, the Pure Heart is literally part of the floor and it’s possible we’ll just overlook it.” “We have to work with what we have available.” “And hope we end up finding it anyway…” ~~~ Ty Lee wasn’t working her inn—not that it ever needed to be worked in the first place—and with Eggman working on more technical projects that needed little to no exploration, she wasn’t working with him either. During the time Vivian and the others were missing, she had spent some of her time in Starlight’s training sessions, but it never felt quite right for her. Which was why she currently wasn’t on Flipside at all. She was on the Enterprise, trying to adjust the pip on her blue uniform as best she could. Apparently, even though she’d expected to be placed on security, her knowledge of chi was classified as a medical skill—and as she’d discovered several times in the Pit, it was very useful for treating magic blockage and similar ailments. So she wasn’t just acting-Ensign Lee, she was Medic Lee. She knew how to use the equipment well enough and was just glad to be out here, but still, she was a little surprised that was her position. That is, until today. She left her assigned quarters with a spring in her step, walking all the way to sickbay to report for duty. Immediately, she saw that some poor mint-green unicorn was on the table holding her horn and grumbling. Seeing as she wasn’t wearing a uniform, she was likely on board as a civilian passenger. Doctor Crusher looked up at Ty Lee. “Ah, just the person I was hoping to see. I know absolutely nothing about ‘magic’ and its flow to the horn, but if I had to guess, I’d suppose that it’s blo—” Ty Lee delivered a few careful blows to the base of the horn, releasing the tighten forehead muscles with careful precision. Immediately, the minty unicorn’s pain ended. “Woah… thanks, doc! That’s much faster than waiting for Flipside!” Ty Lee bowed. “Don’t mention it! It’s… what I’m here for.” The unicorn hopped up and started walking around. “Wow, I… I don’t think even Equestrian doctors could do that!” “Fingers help,” Ty Lee suggested. “Thanks!” She moved to trot out. “Woah!” Ty Lee held up a hand. “I think Doctor Crusher needs to have a bit of a longer look at you just to be sure, all right?” She broke out into a big smile. “...Okay, fine.” She jumped back up onto the bed, grumbling. “I see you’re every bit as skilled as I was told,” Crusher said, continuing to scan the unicorn. “I can see you being a great help here, even for patients without strange, ‘magical’ ailments. Your technique is phenomenally quick and effective.” “It was intended to be used on people who didn’t want to be poked around, so, uh, yeah.” Ty Lee broke out into a grin. “Very easy to use on people who want it to be.” “Next time I get a patient that won’t sit still, you’re on call, Lee.” Ty Lee nodded. “Yes, ma’am!” Satisfied that everything checked out, Crusher let the unicorn go. “Now, you’re probably not going to be sticking around sickbay once we go out there, from what I understand you’re probably going to be the field medic. So… were you trained in basic first aid?” “I was! But… I don’t remember much of it!” “Then this is also going to be a learning experience for you, Ensign. You have skills, but you’ll need them rounded out. So…” She picked up a small first aid kit from under a table and gave it to her. “Let’s begin.” “Yes ma’am!” ~~~ They held the meeting in the Enterprise briefing room. Jenny sat at the far end of the table, looking bored, while the rest of the seats were occupied; with a few people standing, even. Picard was one of the ones who sat, with Riker and Troi at his sides. Vivian, Cosmo, Caspian, and Tippi were all present as well. Bon Bon stood upright at Picard’s side and Tails just sat on the floor nearby. “We’re going to need a bigger briefing room,” Riker said. Data nodded. “If we are to hold meetings like this in the future, we probably will.” “But this shouldn’t take too long,” Tippi said. “So I’ll get right to it. Simply put, we haven’t found the Pure Heart.” “Then what have you found?” Picard asked. “Two locations the Pure Heart is most likely to be,” Data said. “Cross-referencing places the Datasphere can’t prod with Ancient Wanderer connections and the searches of the Metarex…” He gestured at the main screen, which flipped to show two different images; one of a swirling sea of colors with multiple eyes in it, and the other a black hole with a massive web surrounding it. “This is Celerillion and the Thon Iridescence,” Tippi explained. “...The latter of the two is easier to explain.” “The Thon Iridescence is a digital construct that exists in a nearby satellite galaxy,” Data began. “Within the strands around the black hole, many billions of people live in a purely digitized form. It was built long before the Datasphere came online, and has kept the probes that extend the Datasphere from ever getting deep into the Thon Iridescence code. We are relatively sure Thon was actually built by the Wandering Ancients when this universe itself was very young—which makes it slightly younger than Flipside itself.” “So it would have information Flipside doesn’t have,” Cosmo said. “That is one benefit,” Data said. “The other is that it is able to store objects inside the digital matrix of any sort and reconstitute them at will. It doesn’t matter what the object is, so long as it can fit in the scanner. It is very possible the Pure Heart has been stored within the Thon Iridescence since the early days of the universe, under digital lock and key so no one could possibly know about it.” Tippi continued “And since the Metarex have not thought to look outside the galaxy—yet—the Thon Iridescence will be completely uncharted.” “There are two problems, however,” Data said. “The first, that of it being outside the galaxy, depends on Jenny lending us either a ship or a drive that is capable of reaching it quickly.” Jenny smirked. “Oh, I’ll get you boys a drive all right, don’t you worry.” Data didn’t pick up on her ominous undertones. “The other issue is that of the Thon Iridescence’s size. If the Pure Heart is contained within, it would be like we were opening a brand new digital universe to search for it.” “But it is the most likely location?” Picard asked. Data nodded. “It has the strongest ties of any location we found, and even if it is not there, the information stored within about the early days of this universe and the Wandering Ancients would be invaluable.” Picard nodded. “And the second most likely location?” “Celerillion,” Tippi said. Jenny chuckled and shook her head. “The Realm of Dreams...” “Precisely,” Data said. “Celerillion is a realm where every thought can become reality. As such, it becomes rather difficult to ascertain if anything in the realm could be considered ‘real’ outside of it. The Datasphere exists within but cannot say what is there.” “We also connected it to the mural in the Pit of a Hundred Trials,” Tippi added. “Most depictions of Celerillion have it portrayed with eyes floating above the sky. That’s an admittedly shaky connection to the Wandering Ancients, but it’s still remarkable how it lines up. And the Metarex haven’t checked the dimension either. Because they can’t find it. The Archive informed us that Dracogen Enterprises knows of a way into Celerillion, but that we aren't cleared to know.” “I’ll handle that too,” Jenny said. “Just need a superdrive and access to Celerillion. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.” She snapped her fingers and vanished. “...We haven’t decided anything yet,” Riker said. “I do not think she can hear you, Number One,” Picard said. “In any case, I believe we should pursue both of these options. The Enterprise and my crew will head to the Thon Iridescence, while the chosen of the Light Prognosticus take on Celerillion. Unless you object?” He turned to Vivian and Caspian. Vivian simply shrugged. “It sounds like a plan.” “In that case, dismissed. Riker, prepare the crew for unconventional methods of travel.”