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saveourearth2018-07-13 09:37 pm
warped_replica) wrote in saveourearth2018-07-13 09:37 pm
Secrets Revealed [Log]
Date:End of June
[Ever since the night of the celebration that had captured so much attention when the aurora appeared despite the Earth being inappropriately tilted along its axis for such a phenomenon, Benjiro had been preoccupied by the familiar experience. The number that had returned had burned itself into his mind. He jotted it down on post-it notes or briefly in search engine lines before being respectively crumpled or deleted. He figured his neurons must have misfired, conjuring the number and causing the odd cluster of temporary symptoms that had long passed. Surely, his brain had latched onto the random numerical sequence as significant secondary to the anxiety brought on by the incident. Writing it then, would give him a way to express it harmlessly.
That only worked for a few days.
While writing on his tablet at lunch, he scrawled the number out in some empty space. Before he could turn the stylus over to erase it, something else followed without his input. Messages began appearing. He shut the case cover without powering down. Later that night, when everything was calm and he was certainly alone, he opened it to examine once more. The text was gone...until he wrote the number again. With the return of the text, he started to drag and move it around, revealing more. What had seemed entirely random came with names and clues connecting those names - and beyond even that, audio played. Once he had combed through what he could find, he tried to screenshot the text so he might access it from his photos without entering the number only for nothing to show when he checked the images on the device and again at his computer.
Reliably, the words would appear with the use of that number, but he couldn't seem to capture it electronically.
Since then, he has checked every evening with the number to monitor, reviewing whatever new occurrences he could find through it. More names...one that came with a surname. One that was undeniably familiar as some of the voices in the audio had been. As the first names had been in the first entry he found.
Nearly two weeks since the aurora, late in the afternoon, he stands at the doorway of the office belonging to Professor Jacob Petty with a paper notebook held tightly in both hands. School was over, and technically, these were not his office hours. That alone made the teenager more uneasy as he stared at the floor leaning with his back to the wall and his bag hanging from one shoulder. He has been doing his best to keep focused on everything, especially classes, but by now, his preoccupation with the strange connection has begun to show physically after skipping more sleep than usual.]
[Ever since the night of the celebration that had captured so much attention when the aurora appeared despite the Earth being inappropriately tilted along its axis for such a phenomenon, Benjiro had been preoccupied by the familiar experience. The number that had returned had burned itself into his mind. He jotted it down on post-it notes or briefly in search engine lines before being respectively crumpled or deleted. He figured his neurons must have misfired, conjuring the number and causing the odd cluster of temporary symptoms that had long passed. Surely, his brain had latched onto the random numerical sequence as significant secondary to the anxiety brought on by the incident. Writing it then, would give him a way to express it harmlessly.
That only worked for a few days.
While writing on his tablet at lunch, he scrawled the number out in some empty space. Before he could turn the stylus over to erase it, something else followed without his input. Messages began appearing. He shut the case cover without powering down. Later that night, when everything was calm and he was certainly alone, he opened it to examine once more. The text was gone...until he wrote the number again. With the return of the text, he started to drag and move it around, revealing more. What had seemed entirely random came with names and clues connecting those names - and beyond even that, audio played. Once he had combed through what he could find, he tried to screenshot the text so he might access it from his photos without entering the number only for nothing to show when he checked the images on the device and again at his computer.
Reliably, the words would appear with the use of that number, but he couldn't seem to capture it electronically.
Since then, he has checked every evening with the number to monitor, reviewing whatever new occurrences he could find through it. More names...one that came with a surname. One that was undeniably familiar as some of the voices in the audio had been. As the first names had been in the first entry he found.
Nearly two weeks since the aurora, late in the afternoon, he stands at the doorway of the office belonging to Professor Jacob Petty with a paper notebook held tightly in both hands. School was over, and technically, these were not his office hours. That alone made the teenager more uneasy as he stared at the floor leaning with his back to the wall and his bag hanging from one shoulder. He has been doing his best to keep focused on everything, especially classes, but by now, his preoccupation with the strange connection has begun to show physically after skipping more sleep than usual.]
no subject
Taking notes about a number of his own.
He could think of no logical reason behind all this - but there had to be one. Somehow, someway. But it was frustrating, now, and he was just about at the end of his rope. Petty sighed and got to his feet, resolving to at least get back to more comfortable surroundings at his flat, gathering his things and getting to the door and-]
-Ben? Can I help you?
no subject
Professor Petty! I uh... I was hoping I could talk to you. O-or maybe set up a time to come talk to you about something. It's not about school.
[His shoulders are stiff with nerves, and his hands tighten a little more on the notebook he holds as he sinks back down onto his heels.]
no subject
I have a few minutes. Is everything all right?
no subject
[It's an honest answer, the teenager doing his best to repress the fear trying to creep into his voice. Gaze faltering down again with the admission, he keeps it down as he gratefully takes the space opened and walks through the doorway into the office.
He waits long enough for his teacher to shut the door before he opens his notebook and holds it out to him. The page is opened to one of a few pages of transcript he has written down himself from observing the network as a way to record what he only otherwise can access with his number.]
Does this look familiar to you?
no subject
That's worrisome.
Jacob closes the door behind him, not bothering to hide his own concern. Immediately he gestures for the boy to take a seat, then pauses, looking at the notebook.
It's an interesting mix of emotions that cross his face. Surprise, alarm, worry- and then, a sort of resignation as he lets out a heavy breath.]
You're part of whatever this is too, aren't you.
no subject
So it was really him he identified. Then he wasn’t simply perceiving familiar names and voices.
He nods his head once in confirmation as he closes the notebook to hold on his lap.]
Yeah... The number was in my head before, but not so incessant until after the aurora.
no subject
Numbers. It always comes back to that. I can't fathom what it means, but there has to be something.
[he opens his eyes after a pause]
Was there anything else? Other than the number. Maybe some sort of change?
no subject
I couldn’t find any relationship between my number and some of the constant sequences I could find like the Fibonacci sequence. So I’ve considered the numbers might be identification sequences, or triggers to activate something only we’re sensitive to...
[The question regarding a change makes Benjiro pause to think. His gaze drifts briefly to the sling that the professor wears, but he looks up from it quickly.]
Nothing overt. I don’t remember anything changing from the first time after I had just moved here, and...well, I walked a little funny the day after the aurora, but that went away.
no subject
He's not certain. How can he be? It's different, but it never healed right. Maybe he's just being optimistic...]
I'm curious to see if this'll lead to anything else. Call me crazy, but I have the feeling this is only the start.
no subject
With a worried frown, the teen has to concede he agrees.]
I think you’re right about that.
It would help if we knew why the aurora appeared when it should not have. Everyone saw it that night, yet only a handful of us have the numbers.
no subject
My guess? Some sort of random chance. Which does happen. [His lips quirk in to an almost smile, then fades]
Will you let me know if anything changes you think may be related?
no subject
But, random inclusion is possible if something else is the cause.
[Reigning in his musing for the moment as he mentally starts to review his previous splurges of research, Benjiro looks mildly surprised at the request to report new occurences that could be connected. The surprise passes into relief. Trying to tackle this situation alone had been far too stressful.]
Of course, Professor. I don’t know if I want to use my number yet, but I can tell you in person.
no subject
[He's not naming Sadie.
But he's sure thinking about her.]
When it comes down to it, we have far too little information to do anything but guessing. The most we can do right now is take notes, like you seem to be doing.
no subject
Accommodations? [His confusion is clear. Benjiro is definitely missing something if there may need to be adjustments made to maintain an outward appearance of normalcy.]
[The idea of being limited to observation only is met with a reluctant frown. He knows it logically, but that does not temper his curiousity.]
no subject
[He's not saying who, though. Don't ask.]
no subject
Right. As it is, I don’t think we can talk to anyone that doesn’t have a number without sounding certifiable.
[Benjiro pauses as he considers the connection of physical changes and trying to maintain a separation between normal activities and the numbers. Physical changes would support their claims with visible concrete evidence, but depending upon the severity of those changes, they could potentially threaten relationships to those that were not numbered.
There isn’t anything he can do to plan without knowing more about the limitations of those changes.]
In making observations, I think recording dates, times, possible environmental influences and circumstances, the actual effect, symptoms experienced at the time, and location would be necessary. Can you think of anything else that should be included?
no subject
That all sounds good for now. Include who you were with, if anyone, but I'm assuming that's under circumstances.
no subject
Vaguely, but you’re right. It’d be worth noting the names of those we can identify rather than only if we were alone or with a certain number of people. It’s possible spending time with others that have a number could have an influence.