OOC: This is a placeholder for Oak's new thread, GMed by Tadeusz.  :)

In reply to Tadeusz (msg # 1):

The new verser enters the Sea Tower, and despite your best efforts you find yourself walking up to the peak of the tower.  Here you see a flash of nearly two dozen faces, of past versers, and then the Trans Dimensional Vortex opens, and flings you outward.

A moment of dazzlement, and you're back in control.

You are floating. The air is chill, say forty degrees.  It stinks of machine oil, rock, body odor, and too hot computer parts.  You're struck by an oddness in the sound quality, something you're expecting is not there.

:: Dearest LORD, please guard and guide me now, I pray... ::

I am thankful that I could be useful in my time as Lord of the Sea Tower.  I will miss that place, and those people.  But now He has other plans for me.

:: Ring.  Can you hear me?  Please acknowledge.  Are there electronic communications within detectable range? If so, begin recording now.  Monitor, and summarize when ready. Analyze current surroundings. ::

Floating...  Zero gravity?  Odors and temperature...  Mining ship or asteroid, perhaps with malfunctioning equipment?  Sound...  odd...

I check for vectors, both for my belongings and for other scriff sources.

I gently attempt to perceive my environment via clairvoyance.

And then, assuming it appears to be safe... I open my eyes, and look around...

You brought peace to a millenia old war, and set a planet back on the path it was meant to be on.  And now, there is much to do.

There are no words, just a feeling.

::Yes. No. Gravity is .001 g.  Air pressure is 10 psi. You may feel more easily tired.  Oxygen is 20%, also cumulative with previous effect.  Temp. 42 degrees Fahrenheit::

Your equipment is detectable 'beneath' you, but you don't see it there.  You detect two other scriff sources.

USE OF NON-PHYSICAL SENSORY DATA GATHERING BY UNLICENSED REPRESENTATIVES OF DESIGNATED SPECIES IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.

The voice is mechanical and it blares through your mind with all the subtlety and warmth of a foghorn. But its just as soon gone.

Opening your eyes, you discover you're in a almond shaped space twelve yards by four yards cut out from rock.  Dim glowlights line the walls in strands.  There is a browninsh hatch with a blue spinning handle. There are some flashing lights imbedded in a wall that look computerish, as if someone put the guts of a computer in the wall.  There is a rice skin parchment attached to the wall/roof with kanji script on it.

There is a functional looking letters message on the wall.  Its out of the way.

Gregham's Tower/Isle of Pirates/ Peaceful Cove/More TBA.

:: Acknowledged.  Please specify procedure for obtaining a non-physical sensory data gathering license. ::

I examine my surroundings.

:: Ring.  Please activate CU2. ::

:: Please analyze and translate the writing on this rice skin parchment. ::

:: Please analyze embedded electronics in this wall.  Can you determine anything of its capabilities or purpose? ::

:: Please analyze hatch.  Does it appear that the other side of the hatch has a similar temperature and air pressure? ::

::Have a designated representative authorize your data withdrawal. Or do you wish to declare an emergency?::

::Activated.

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail."

:Object is not electronic.::  And as you look closer you see a pulse of light down what had appeared to be a opaque cable.  ::It is a computational device.  It is connected to other sources via channels in walls.  Walls are not penetrable by sensors.::

::Sensors do not reach that far. Hatch appears to be made of compressed biomatter.::

Upon closer look at the hatch, you see a tiny peephole.  Looking thru it you see a limp balloon hanging from a nozzle.  It appears intact.  Its purple.  The space beyond may be an airlock space, its hard to be sure as the peephole is so small.

Doublepost.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Fri 20 Feb 2015.

:: Unknown. I have just regained consciousness.  Please identify my current location.  Please specify how to contact a designated representative. ::

It is not the function of this unit to give out information.  Your personal quandaries are of no interest to this unit.

OOC: Heh.  You wanted to meet non-human intelligences with odd cultures.

:: Acknowledged.  What is the function of this unit? ::

After conversing with the friendly unit, I consider my surroundings for a few moments...

:: Ring.  Analyze surroundings.  The sound here seems... odd.  What sound sources and acoustical properties can you detect? ::

I pray for wisdom.  And assuming I don't get any nudges to the contrary, I then attempt to open the hatch...

OOC: Which directions are the various vectors?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:27, Sat 21 Feb 2015.

There is no reply.

::No differences from normal sonic properties apparent.  The Ring is not a full-scale enviromental suite of programs.::

For you, the connection seems clear after you pray.  The Scriff sources are moving about you, slowly.  The sound is odd because you're not hearing things from fifty feet away, which probably means you're in space, and are rotating on a tumbling axis.

You open the hatch.

The space beyond is an airlock space the size of a small closet.  There are two hatches.  One peephole shows a room, and an uninflated and intact balloon.  The other has words in ten languages all in red.  The one in English  is 'Danger: Deth Presur: Czech yor suite'.

:: Ring.  Analyze and identify these languages. ::

I attempt to open the hatch to the room with the uninflated and intact balloon.

As I move around, I examine the environment and how it changes.  For example, is the body odor constant, or is it stronger in some areas than others?  Do I hear anyone else?...
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:38, Sat 21 Feb 2015.

::Mandarin. English alphabet form of Standard Chinese. Wu. Min. Unknown. Unknown, similar to Polynesian. English derivative, simplified. Tonal Machine Code. Probable Non-human. Aztec-Mexican.::

There is a stronger odor near the hatch.  Its more ammonia.

The next room is sphehrical.  And your nose leads you to an alcove, dimly lit at one end of the larger space.  And then you see eyes open, and you see a very long sleeping bag on the roof.  The face looks kind of Han, but oddly distorted, male, and startled/fearful/angry as it pokes out one end of the bag.

Your perception shifts, and now you feel as if you're upside down.

After having pushed off various surfaces to make my floating way from place to place, I gently grab onto the nearest stable anchor to bring myself to a stop, and respectfully incline my head.

"Nǐ hǎo.  Please forgive my intrusion, but I am lost, and need help.  Please, where am I?  Do you speak English?"

If he doesn't look like he understands, I ask Ring to translate into Mandarin, and repeat...

As you spin about in the most untheatening manner possible, he erupts from the sleeping bag with a small pistol shaped object in his hand.  A flash of light. and you feel a serious burn on your chest, followed by instant relief as it turns cold.  And then a wave of heat passes t hrough you, so much that you instantly are drenched in sweat.

Things are wobbling in front of you, your throat is parched, and you feel as if you're about to be versed out.

He's hanging on a niblet of rock between forefinger and thumb with what looks like great grip strength to stabilize himself.  He's nearly nine feet tall, and so skinny  you can see all the bones in his ribs under his shirt.  His eyes are at least twice your size.

He responds to your claim with a haughty sneer.  Its in Yu, Ring informs you.  But it seems he does understand some Mandarin.

" Insult. Insult. Accusation of Foreign and Infernal Allegiances. Accusation of being a bandit assassin sent to slay him in the rest period." Ring replies. ::His speech is highly different than human, so that I am left to guesstimate his meaning.  I believe his jaw shape makes the sounds peculiar, including some sounds normal humans cannot make.::

:: Ring.  Analyze current wound, including possible drugs or poisons.  Initiate healing, including drug neutralization. ::

:: Initiate benevolent empathic field. ::

:: Translate the following into Yu... ::

As Ring translates my thoughts, I speak them aloud...

"'Peace be unto you.'  I mean you no harm.  I recently regained consciousness, and do not know where I am.  Please... what is this place?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:51, Sun 22 Feb 2015.

::Moderate heat exhaustion. Healing initiated. Need electrolytes for optimum effect. One inch circle third degree burn on chest also healing.::

OOC: Botch on analyzing your condition led you to think it was worse than it was.

There seems no effect from the field.

"As if I would tell you. You will be my slave."

And then you see his face sag, and a gentle smile appears on his face. (At first no success, and then he botched on his resistance on the second roll.)

"Friend, you know I cannot answer such a question.  But I can offer you food and rest."  He puts up his weapon, and apologizes tearfully for having shot you.

"Thank you, friend.  Please, what is your name?"

I gratefully accept his food.

"I am new here.  What do I need to know, so that I do not transgress any rules here?"

"Chongan Bai True Belter. I must think, what we can explain to our children.  Take not that which is not yours, nor ask any being knowledge you have not gained for in so doing you incur a debt that is passed down a thousand generations.  You are a son of Earth, sold to the X in the Jittacorne for the foolishness of the Earthlings.  Do not anger neither the Lesser Races, nor the Greater Races, nor the Patron of the X, nor indeed He who holds the Balance in his  hands, and is beyond the Library, so says the Reborn Master Lao.  Now work at what work is put before you, and read those signs that are given freely, and now we rise to work my child.

He pauses, and then nods satisfied.  It takes you a moment to realize you've just received their equivalent of about eight years of schooling.

He hands you a rice bowl, and shows you to to make the rice and shrimp and water chestnut mix into little balls that you then pop into your mouth.  This is followed by a hot and sour soup which he makes fresh after pulling down various wall hangings to reveal cooking implements and bowls in the walls.  The heating technique is to shoot a laser at the soup bowl, and let the bowl warm the soup.

This is followed by 'Never Drank Water.' which tastes kinda minerally, and seems to be something of a ceremonial thing.

He shows signs of heading back to sleep, and offers you a sleeping harness (not as good as a bag, but its clear he does not have much, and what he has is worn and patched.)

As he instructs me, I listen carefully, and nod respectfully.

As we eat, I weave in the following queries into our conversation, listening for the response before proceeding...

"Thank you for your kind teaching, and for your kind hospitality.  Is there any way I can be useful to you?"

"I have a few humble belongings.  May I fetch them, and store them here?"

"How long is the rest period, and how long is the work period?  And what is the work to be done?"

And during a lull in the conversation, I check vectors to see how they have shifted when journeying to this sphere, to try and estimate how far away they may be...

At your first query he asks you 'What is the Second Precept?' With an indulgent smile for someone who has erred.

"As the Reformed Master Lao says, He who made us gave us two eyes, two ears, and one mouth. Speak at most in one in five if you wish to be balanced and wise."

"Yes." He says cautiously after considering the request.

"Shhhh."

You get a sudden flicker of superintelligence. One is five hundred feet away, and the other is 3 Astronomical Units away, and the other is 1/2 A. U. away.  Then the insight into geometry goes away, leaving a headache.

Unless otherwise, you sleep for several hours. Its hard, and your nose plugs up. Zero G sleeping is not completely wonderful.  However when you awake, your body feels easy.

He takes you to another third room, and to a telescope. He shows you pictures of four rocks, and he shows you how to use the scope in a grid pattern, and look for rocks.  And then on the rocks, look for the rocks shown.

You're clearly in the asteroid belt, but its not the Star Wars version. Here great distances separate rocks.

During all this, he says not a word.

After he's gotten you started, he gets started on another nicer looking scope.  He's clearly faster and more competent that you.  What takes you a half hour, he gets done in a minute.  But you're picking it up.

I incline my head respectfully, accepting the gentle rebukes when given.

Before sleeping, I fetch my belongings.  (OOC: Where were they, and what did I see along the way?)

I keep my eyes open for whatever signs (both literal and otherwise) are given freely as I seek to learn the ways of this place.

I learn and observe all I can as I view our surroundings through the telescope.

Whenever there seems to be an opportunity (perhaps during the next rest period or meal), I venture another gentle query...

"Are the teachings of He who holds the Balance in His hands available for reading?  And the teachings of Reformed Master Lao?  Please forgive me if I speak out of turn."

OOC: I'm not saying you 'saw' your belongings, but that your mind took the vectors, the moving, and instantly did geometry, so you knew where they had to be. Or am I misunderstanding?

You look for a way to get down to your belongings, but the whole total rooms are seven.  Almond. Sphere. Work. Closet. Airlock. Bath. And a hidden Panic room.

There seems no way to get down 500 feet.

You see another two of the rice paper signs in the panic room.

Work is His gift for it takes the mind from the injustices of life. Lao.

The hero dies only once, the fearful man a thousand times. Lao.

You note that each room, except for the bath and the panic room has a small bit of writing like the first as the sphere has Iris's Porch/Brig of Bala/Green Grove/More TBA.  Some are longer and others shorter.  The Work room has five designates, and no TBA.

"Lao tells us of the One. Unfortunately, I only have the first part of his Teachings."  He floats over to a drawer in the wall, opens it, bows to it, and very gently takes out a loose bound copy of rice paper sheets cut to large book size.

"Make sure your hands are clean."

And you begin reading.

"I am the clone of Beloved Ancient Master Confucious.  I have been induced by methods to hold what is thought and intuited to be his mind.  I present his thoughts and mine.  I am the Reformed Master Lao.

I write this to the children of Earth in the Jittacorne System. Your ancestors in their greed for knowledge betrayed themselves to the Library. Be not curious.

Say this to your children...

(And you've already read this bit as Bai presented it to you.)

Now while your physical situation is dire, in all cases the moral and spiritual situations are more important, so let us begin."

(And he lays out with several examples over the next page, the Cosmological Arguement for the existence of God.)

OOC: No, you are correct.  I optimistically assumed that my stuff was somewhere within the current facility, and that I would eventually be able to find it by following the vector.

Does the vector seem to be stationary, or does it seem to be moving (like drifting around in space, for example)?  :o

During this reading session (if possible), or spread over multiple reading sessions (as necessary), I gently open each and every page, with Ring scanning them, so that I may access it at any time.  That way, I can even learn audio-book style by having Ring read it mentally to me during my work shifts, and absorb the knowledge as quickly as possible.

During subsequent meals, I very gently seek to make the following queries, one per meal (so as to try to respect their limits of propriety)...

"Some signs are given freely, but I understand them not.  What is the meaning of signs such as 'Gregham's Tower, 'Isle of Pirates, 'Peaceful Cove', 'Iris's Porch', 'Brig of Bala', 'Green Grove', and 'More TBA'?"

"Where are you from?  What connection do your people have to Reformed Master Lao?"

"I can't seem to access my humble belongings.  They are around five hundred feet in that direction.  Is there a way for me to get there?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:47, Sun 22 Feb 2015.

In reply to Oak (msg # 24):

OOC: It seems to be fixed in space, but you're rotating and tumbling.

The words per page runs from thirty to a hundred with fifty as an average, so for forty pages, you're only hitting two thousand words.  And its well written, and easily read.

Its moral guidance.

You're able to read it the first time through.  Your speed seems to surprise Chongan Bai, but he says nothing.

"You are not Deepheld."

"It explains in the First Book which I quoted to you. Listen."

He smiles.

After a couple days, you're passbly good at spotting certain types of rocks in the asteroid rocks. You also spot a couple white circles out there.  He doublechecks your spots, and slaps you on the back in approval.

He has you get on a spacesuit which is rather more reminiscent of something like polymer lined long johns than the NASA variety.  It has some patches, and dirty spots.  There is no air tank.  Instead, right before he puts on your helmet with its tiny knight like helmet visuals, he gives you a pill to chew.

You do, and panic grips you as you stop breathing.  You try various things to get your breathing going again, and then gradually realize you're not suffocating.  He looks bored.

OOC: BTW, what kind of rocks am I looking for?  And what do I know about the white circles?

At some point during a sleeping period, I attempt to look at my companion via Sight.

After I am dressed and he hands me the pill, but before I swallow it...

:: Ring.  Record my current form now. ::

"How do I maneuver outside?"

After I finish conversing, I eat the pill, and pray until my panic subsides, and give him an understanding nod.

And so with another prayer, I venture forth from the station.

Once outside, I examine the facility from outside.

:: Ring.  Analyze star positions.  Identify current location and approximate date. ::

I then search for my stuff by following the vector...
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:59, Mon 23 Feb 2015.

OOC: Geology skill? Circles...unknown

USE of NON-PHYSICAL.....blah, blah....

He frowns at you, and picks up a rope.  The rope is snugged off to a door handle, and you and him go EVA.

Your rock is 200 by 50 ft at the longest and widest.  The stars whirl as he snugs off the rope to an iron ring on the outside.  He points ten feet up to another iron ring planted in the side, and points at you.

Further on, you and he get to a man-high slingshot with some gear attached to it, and a winding winch to pull it back.  Next to it are dozens of plastic seeming 'insects' about a foot long.

He jabs your arm, and points up.  You're not surprised when your stuff wheels into view just hanging out in space five hundred feet away as you were already looking that way for your stuff. A second later and its outof view again.

::High probability that we are 200 lightyears from Earth, give or take twenty lightyears.: Ring replies.  :Date. 1000 A.D. to 4000 A.D. Unable to narrow down further.::

I experimentally attempt to look at him via Sight, to see if their computer is still monitoring my actions outside.

I either watch him use the slingshot, or attempt to use it myself, depending upon what I can discern of his expectations...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:16, Mon 23 Feb 2015.

He helps you load the 'insects', one at a time, into the slingshot, crank it back, and target with a low power laser one of the chosen rocks that had good rocks in it.  The home rock tumbles, but after a few spins, the whole frame of the slingshot blinks green.

He points at the trigger, and encourages you to pull it.

You do, and nothing happens. And then the target is in sight...the ground shakes slightly. The insectoid?? is speeding off toward the other rock which requires a telescope inside, or one on the slingshot to see.

You do this for half an hour, and you're starting to feel out of breath.  Chongan Bai taps your helmet and sticks out his tongue to his left as far as he can.

+@1 Walking mark for doing EVA.

OOC: Was my EVA Sight attempt given the foghorn treatment, or did it work, or did nothing happen?

Are we getting my stuff at all, or just getting rocks?

I look puzzled at him, then experimentally imitate him by sticking my tongue out to my left as far as I can...

OOC: Foghorn.  You don't know.

Stuck to the inside of the helmet is a row of pills. Your saliva loosens one.

Several more hours of shooting, and you're decent at it. Not sure what you want to call it. 1@3 at it, or a bonus at a broader skill.

And then he loads one, fiddles with it for ten minutes, and fires it at your stuff.  You can see it crawl over your stuff laying down a net. Its slow.  An hour later, a hundred foot wide silver white circle extends.

You both go back in, and ride out the twitchiness that seems attendant on stopping the pills.  He offers you a clear, and potent liquor to help which he takes and it does seem to relax him.  After an hour, the effects are over.  And now the both of you are truly, deeply exhausted.

He staggers to his feet and heats up some egg rolls, and forces himself to eat one.  He offers you the other, and then he goes to sleeping bag, and is instantly asleep.

OOC: "EVA Object Collection"?  o_O

BTW, is my stuff safely aboard, or simply gathered in a net outside?

I thank him sincerely but wearily, and crawl off to my own bag.

I ponder the star fields I just observed, and reach for my shard of superintelligence to see if I can get a more accurate estimate of when and where I am.

And then, with a prayer of thanks to the LORD, I swiftly fall asleep as well...

EVA OC 1@3

Your stuff is in a net, five hundred feet away, attached to a solid white circle.

Your shard tries to activate, but your brain is simply too tired to take the strain, and you're unconscious.  Some of the stars were ones you've seen from Earth, just from a different angle, and some from the same angle almost as from Earth.

Ring wakes you up.

::You have been asleep for twenty-six hours. Should I declare a medical emergency?" You feel a bit groggy, and of course nose plugged, but otherwise fine.

This day, you learn the next part of the job.  Each of those insectoids was going toward a rock, and some have landed.  And sometimes their teeny tiny brains get them stuck, and they can't get unstuck so they send a very low power laser message 'help'.  And then you send back instructions.  "Move two inches left. Back up four inches. Rotate..."  Its kinda like controlling a RC car at a range of five hundred miles.

You get the easy ones. Bai takes the ones where the target rock is tumbling weirdly.

Your meal is one egg roll, and tea.  You do note that the tea stays in the cup despite zero gravity.

:: I... think that I am OK.  This may be the consequence of the pills that enabled me to spacewalk without an air tank.  Do you detect any current anomalies in my physical state of health?  How long ago did Chongan Bai get up? ::

I learn as best I can, and observe Bai's technique with interest.

"You are very skilled at this.  How long have you been here?"

OOC: BTW, how long are the work periods, and how long are the rest periods?  How often are meals?  In other words, what is the schedule of a typical workday?

::Only current anomaly is that you do not seem to be aging, or if you are, it is at an undetectably low rate.::

::Four hours, eight minutes ago, Chongan Bai awoke. He planned breakfast, then chose not to eat, and instead set to work.::

Much of what Bai is doing, you're beginning to learn.

"Empty your mind. Your mind gets in the way of speed." He says after fidgetting for a good hour.

Some of his techniques you can't use because his hand grip strength is at least twice, if not thrice yours.

You work for ten hours, take a meal, and work for another ten.  Then bed for nine hours, and one hour rest and relaxation.  He breaks out a handmade board of stone of Go, and challenges you to a game.  Days seem to be roughly thirty hours.

Your one meal that day is half an egg roll, and white tea (boiled water).  Your work day seems longer than before.

I take the half egg roll with heartfelt gratitude.

"You have kindly shared your food with me, though my arrival was unexpected and uninvited.  From my heart, I thank you.  But are your supplies enough to feed us until they are replenished?"

"I have a bit of food in my supplies outside, if there is a way for me to retrieve it.  I would be honored to share it with you if it would be useful."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:29, Tue 24 Feb 2015.

He quotes from Lao.

"To see what is right, and not to do it is want of courage."

"It is being retrieved, and you kind offer is noted. Now let us work."

And with that its a full day of labor, but you do find out what Never Used water is...its ice from the asteroid that has never been drank by anyone or anything before.  He went out, and came back with an armful of ice chunks.

The effect of one pill seems resistable.

As the workday ends, he challenges you a singing contest.

OOC: ??? o_O

I smile and give a friendly and respectful nod.

"I would be honored.  Do you wish to sing first, or shall I?"

OOC: BTW, I didn't respond to your previous post about the Go game.  Do you want to roleplay it a bit, or just summarize? :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:41, Wed 25 Feb 2015.

OOC: Sleeping, I meant  :)

"The guest should sing first, but be aware in our seasonal gatherings, I am well accounted."

You're still playing the Go game.  He is a slow player, given to a lot of hemming and hawing.  He has a mix of sound tactics and weird stuff he pulls out.

I am also a slow player, so it is good that he is a slow player.  I am definitely a novice, so my playing is probably less conventional as well.

"What season is it now?  I have completely lost track of time, and do not know what date it is, or even what season it is..."

It is still the first game, and you're both doing a mix of basic squabbling and wild tangents.  He's much slower than you, but you realize there is no particular reason to rush for him.

"The first season, about halfway through it.  Um, seven generations since the Indebtment. Eight years since I became a man."

He's not a time obsessed clock watching Westerner.  He seems bored by talk of time, although songs seem to get his attention.

I am quite happy to let him take all the time he needs.  I like to study the board, especially since I am such a novice myself...

"I have traveled here from a very far place, and know not the cycle of seasonal gatherings as they are observed here."

"Please, could you summarize them for me, that I may know how best to choose an appropriate song?"

"Master says, 'a prisoner, bound hand and foot, should welcome dinner at breakfast.  The superior man is able to make all time as the Porch of the Gods.'"

I nod thoughtfully, and then begin to sing...

"Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we first begun."

After the last note fades away, I nod my head respectfully, and await his response.

He listens, and tears up a bit.  Its clear he's never heard this song before.

Then he sings 'Blue Suit Shoes' to the tune of Elvis' 'Blue Suede Shoes', but with occasional mispronounciations.  Still he puts a lot of enthusiasm into it.

OOC: BTW, have our conversations been in English?  Were the writings of Reformed Master Lao in English?

I observe his performance appreciatively, smiling at his enthusiasm, and nod appreciatively when he is finished.

Then I pause to silently pray for him, and then sing again...

"Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:06, Fri 27 Feb 2015.

The conversations have been in English, sprinkled with Yu.  The First Teachings were in Mandarin??

As you pray, you feel a deep pity almost overwhelm you. You see in your mind a blind man working his fingers raw and bloody to pick roots out of the ground while an inhuman slavemaster whips him, and just above the poor man's bent over head are orchard branches bending down under the weight of heavy fruit.

He listens attentively, and curiously, and then he breaks out into a Yu folk song about a fisherman catching everything but what he wants to catch.  Its a humorous tale, but despite its tone, rather dark in its words.

Its a bit haunting with its Chinese five toned music as well.

I listen appreciatively again, amused by the tale, yet moved both by the pentatonic melody and by the insight from my prayer.

Then I respond with the following song...

"A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow'r are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And tho' this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph thro' us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow'rs,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Thro' Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever."

"I do not seek to impose (okay, he's a lot more indirect than this), but the use of your songs at the Seasonal Meeting might be met with pleasure as they are a novelty. If you were to teach me....." Big gulp. "I would be indebted. for the time of a Lesser Craftsman's teachings."

Its hard for you to tell if your songs have touched him deeply, or if he's just been entertained by hearing something he's never heard before.  In any case, its clear that he makes a very big deal about 'debt'.

"I do not seek to impose (okay, he's a lot more indirect than this), but the use of your songs at the Seasonal Meeting might be met with pleasure as they are a novelty. If you were to teach me....." Big gulp. "I would be indebted. for the time of a Lesser Craftsman's teachings."

Its hard for you to tell if your songs have touched him deeply, or if he's just been entertained by hearing something he's never heard before.  In any case, its clear that he makes a very big deal about 'debt'.

I smile warmly, and pray silently, and speak gently.

"I remember the words of what you teach your children: 'Take not that which is not yours, nor ask any being knowledge you have not gained for in so doing you incur a debt that is passed down a thousand generations.'"

"But you also teach that we may 'read those signs that are given freely'  Is it not so?"

"So it is with us, friend Chongan Bai True Belter."

"You have kindly shared your food, and you have kindly shared the knowledge you are able to share."

"And it would be my pleasure and honor to share my knowledge with you as a sign for you to read... given freely."

"If you believe that such sharing involves a debt between us, then have you not already paid it in advance with your food and your knowledge shared to me?  But it is not a debt that I hold you to.  Did I not sing it before you, unasked, freely given?  What I give to you is given freely, my friend."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:16, Sun 01 Mar 2015.

"The signs are for things that one must know, or one risks death, or uselessness."  You can see he is deeply touched.

"And..." You can see him struggle with himself. "I am honored by your very gracious offer, but I took the burden of feeding you based on my desire to be the Superior Man that Reformed Master Lao desires us to be. A host must provide for his guest. To cast another out is to throw away your own heart, and become no man."

You recognize some of that as quotes from the Teachings.

I listen thoughtfully, and nod.

"It is well, for truly then there is no debt between us.  You chose to freely share with me... and so do I to you."

"For you have told me of things I must know, or risk death or uselessness... and so do I to you."

"The songs I have sung are ancient, from days long before the first human launched from the surface of planet Earth."

"They speak of the LORD God Almighty, Sovereign Creator of all things.  Truly, He holds the balances of all things, for with Him rest both Judgment and Salvation."

"Those that do not know of His ways and walk in them indeed risk death, not only in this life, but everlastingly."

"So it is my honor to share them with you, my friend... and to do so freely."

You can see him thinking hard. He's clearly examining ideas in his head, and weighing arguments.  Its unusual to see him thinking so hard.

Then  he nods.

"Say on. I would listen to this new thing."

OOC: In the writings of Reformed Master Lao, is there any discussion or example of an evildoer, especially a rebel or traitor, and/or transgressions that are worthy of death?

To bring war to a peaceful land for lack of station is a foul thing.

The ungrateful guest, the ill tempered child, the servant who does not serve, the rebel under a just king, these four things are not good.  Take the last man and throw him down a hill, and beat the others with sticks so that all may see and learn.

If you give your oath to a king, and he does not prefer  you, seek to be superior in patience and harmony.  Do not rebel, for all know the punishment of the rebel.

A man who has killed another man offends God.  Take the man out, and bury him up to his neck, and then deal harshly with him.

I nod, and ponder.

"I recall Reformed Master Lao writing of those that rebel under a just king.  Here is where we must begin.  What is the punishment of a rebel?"

"He is to be thrown down a hill, in this place, we interpret that to mean, he is to be thrown out of an airlock facing toward the Sun, without the suit if one is merciful. With the suit if one wishes to make an especial point."

He pauses.

"In simplicity is the greatest truth. So, I would say in answer, the punishment is death."

I nod solemnly.

"Yes.  Even in such a fallen universe, even where knowledge is so hidden, the just consequence of such evil is known."

"And such is the punishment every one of us deserves, friend Chongan Bai True Belter.  You, and I, and everyone else in this universe, are guilty.  For we are all rebels, and children of rebels.  We have chosen our own ways, and forsaken the ways of the Just King, who is the Almighty God, and Sovereign Lord of all things."

"For such rebellion, we deserve nothing but death, and indeed are under just sentence of death."

I regard him quietly.

"But though we are helpless to deliver ourselves, yet there is still one hope for us."

"Think back to the songs you have heard me sing.  Can you make any guess what that hope might be?"

He thinks back to the songs, and you can see him muttering the words under his breath...

Some he gets totally wrong.

And then his eyes open wide in fear.

"This Christ Jesus who fights the ancient foe of Humanity. You speak as to the Rebels, of taking war to the X in revenge for their trickery. You wish to see if I am willing to suffer the death of a rebel for your cause, well, I am not."

He gets up, all nine feet of him, and vigorous jerks and zags his way out with many hmmmps. And he goes to bed without another word.

"You misunderstand me, friend Chongan Bai True Belter.  I have no such desire.  Please, let me explain..."

After he departs, I sigh sadly, and silently pray.

: O LORD, thank you that you are Sovereign over every facet of this situation, and every situation.  Thank you that you shall bring about your pleasure in your time for your glory. :

: Thank you for your precious promises.  Thank you that "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."  Thank you that "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  Thank you that "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." :

: Please give me wisdom, to know how to lovingly, faithfully, effectively share you.  And please open the heart and mind of friend Chongan Bai True Belter, and of the others in this universe yet unmet, to hear and understand, and to turn from death to life.  I pray in Jesus' Name...  Amen. :

And, with a heart saddened yet peaceful, I go to bed as well.

Over the next few days, he shows his willingness to practise songs, and to share food, but he is not willing to discuss anything.  The time passes, and you learn to go out on the hull, and shoot solar sail launchers at asteroids with him, and then by yourself.

+@2 to EVA skill.  +@1 to shooting.

Four weeks later, on your third EVA, something in the shooter snaps, and a plastic spine of the 'gun' fragment is snapped partially off, and drives right through your right forearm suit, arm, and suit again.  Its not instantly depressurizing, and the spine bit is still attached partially to the shooter.

You're blinking back tears.

OOC: Questions:

(1) Do I have any means of communication with Chongan Bai True Belter?

(2) How long would it take me to get back inside, and how much exertion would be needed?

1. Yes. Low power radio which works fine since you're a very long way from any competing radio sources.
2. Its uncertain how long it would take to break the fragment.  On other occasions when you've decides to go in, it took you a minute and a half to do so, but you were being careful.

The stars drift past as you slowly rotate....

"Chongan Bai...  Urgent...  Need assistance...  Malfunction...  Injured...  Trapped...  Right forearm impaled..."

I silently pray as I watch the stars slowly rotate...

: Is this the means to bridge the chasm that has grown between Chongan Bai and I?  Is this the means to evacuate me from this isolated outpost to the civilization of this universe?  Is this the means to evacuate me from this universe entirely? :

: Dearest LORD, you are Sovereign.  You know best... :
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Tue 18 Aug 2015.

In reply to Oak (msg # 64):

As you wait, you begin to feel a bit dazed, and you see...

Sparkles of flame in the night below you.  Each flame is far, far from another, except for a few that reside near each other.

And there are large flames that do not make you sad, and twenty or so small flames with each large flame.  And these move in complicated routes that follow back on themselves.

And there are smoking embers scattered about in the Great Black.

"They sought the wisdom of fools, and are in bondage." You hear, and you realize you're looking down on the Jittacorne System.

And Chongan Bai is tapping on your face mask.  He's used a hand-held laser to cut through the fragment, and it is still in your arm, but you're free to walk back, which you do with Chongan Bai's help.

:: Ring... Initiate healing... :

As soon as we are within and my helmet is removed, I gather my strength to speak.

"Thank you... Chongan Bai... True Belter..."

"Please hear me... my friend..."

"If I die... I fear not... for I have... everlasting... life through... Jesus Christ..."

"Please forgive... my poor tongue... that made you think... I seek rebellion...  It is not so...  We rebel against... God when we... disobey Him... and deserve death...  But Jesus Christ... paid the price... to reconcile us... to God... forever..."

"If I die... please understand... and remember... my friend... for eternal life... can also... be... yours..."

:: Dearest LORD...  please open... his heart...::

So... tired...

He's paying close attention to your words as he holds your head up, and you see what might be a flicker of understanding in his eyes before you verse out.