//------------------------------// // Heritor // Story: A Bit of Reason // by LordBarcha //------------------------------// This collection was found among the personal effects of the late Princess Celestia. transcript of recorded conversation: December 13, 2067 A.D. “Doctor Grant.” “Yes?” “I know that this is insane, but could you please look this report over?” “What makes it special?” “It’s an organic compound.  The author claims to have synthesized and tested it more than thirty times.  According to the report, it has an anomalous effect.” “What would that be?” “When it breaks down, it puts out more energy than the energy of its mass.” “How much more?” “Almost double.” “That’s impossible.” “I tested it with less than a microgram of the stuff.” “I sense that I’m not going to like the news.” “The author was lying about testing it thirty times.” “Why?” “The shrapnel from the calorimeter exploding in my face convinced me that trying it again would be suicidal.” “Show me the report.” Summary of Project: Chaos Source         On this day of November 21, 2080 A.D. Testing will begin.  The anomalous compound discovered thirteen years ago is having strange effects on space in the area in exists within.  From what we can tell, this is actually a degradation of space itself.  Certain organisms have demonstrated a capacity to affect the anomalies in an area augmented by this effect.  We will attempt to isolate the factor that enables this.         The second phase is to develop a biocomputer designated 4.9.19.3.15.18.4.  It should allow us to control the effect and to study it to a greater extent. Summary of Project: Heritor         While Chaos Source attempts to control the effects of the anomalous compound, we will seek to use the same methods to avert it outright.  Based on our understanding of the effect, it seems reasonable to believe that an engineered organism might be able to negate it outright.  Intelligence seems to be a factor in the field, so we will be incorporating this into the base design.         Theoretical model 01-Sol seems to have the highest stability and will be generated first.          Theoretical model 02-Borealis shows certain unfavorable instabilities, but is worth testing.  It can theoretically produce the most energy, which makes it worth the risk.         Theoretical models 03-06 offer the greatest stability and lowest overall complexity.  They may prove less efficient than models 01 and 02, but will be able to reproduce, making them the most workable solution.  They will be rolled out after a successful launch of the prototype. Summary of Project: Harmonics         While the other teams attempt to use organic methods, this team will devote itself to developing a means of control using better understood means.  The effect has measurable differences in the presence of certain crystalline structures.  The team will move into orbit for experimentation in zero G. February 14, 2114 I am writing this now to ensure that some record exists of these events.  Sol promised to keep it safe if I could get it to her.         I was originally a high ranking researcher onboard The Cutting Edge, a research vessel working on Project Harmonics.         Project Heritor produced results first.  Unit 01: Sol was produced almost ten years ago, followed by Unit 02: Borealis two years later.  The mass production models were first created roughly one year after that.  The project was completely successful.  It produced intelligent, organic entities capable of manipulating and negating the degrading space around the anomalous compound.  I personally met Sol, who is both kind and intelligent.  I’m halfway convinced she can see the future.  She instructed me many years ago about what to do today.         Our project, Harmonics successfully developed a device to completely negate the effects of spatial decay barely two days ago.  The final product of this is being sent to Sol alongside this account.         Chaos Source is the problem.  It is a refinement of the control aspect, with no attempt to dampen the effect.  Within three seconds of activation, it had already turned the entire control team into daisies.  That was ten minutes ago.  Nuclear warheads are already in the air.  They are trying to wipe it from the face of the earth.  Things have progressed too far at this point.  Humanity is finished.  Last I checked, it was systematically destroying everything remotely human it could find. With any luck, Sol will be able to figure out how to activate Harmonics.  But with a king of madness and chaos on the rise, time might already be up. A/N: To be honest, I tried to squash a massive premise into a very small space. I leave it to you to decide on the success or failure. Reviews are always appreciated.