Investigation 901

Five years ago, back in 2014, I blogged about Investigative Science Fiction. At that time, I described Gohrlay as the first sleuth of the Exode Saga. The original Gohrlay lived back in Deep Time, in the First Reality, before the invention of time travel technology. Gohrlay discovered that a mysterious Interventionist force was keeping the human species alive and resisting the inevitable dominance of the Prelands.

Before her untimely {staged} death, Gohrlay lived for a time with the First Reality analogues of Isaac Asimov, Jack Vance and Arthur Clarke. After Gohrlay's mind pattern was used as the template for positronic brains, the replicoid system for temporal momentum was used to ensure that analogues of Asimov, Vance and Clarke would exist in every Reality.

The Trysta Truce

In 2016, in a blog post called "Investigation 601", I described how Alpha Gohrlay revealed to me the existence of the Trysta Truce. During the Trysta Truce, efforts were made to create humans with sophisticated telepathic abilities. That research and development program utilized existing Asterothrope gene combinations. The Asterothropes had been crafted by R. Gohrlay as a telepathic human variant, but the Asterothropes were a new species, unable to breed with humans.

The tryp'At were a human variant that was crafted (using Asterothrope and Preland gene combinations) so as to have a form of technology-assisted telepathy that depends on the Bimanoid Interface. The Bimanoid Interface was originally used to link together replicoids in the Hierion Domain to Earthlings, providing the mechanistc basis of the temporal momentum.

Priscilla the pek

Clones of Gohrlay
Here in the Final Reality, several clones of Gohrlay were created and used to satisfy R. Gohrlay's desire that Gohrlay have descendants on Earth who could participate in the great adventure of humans spreading through space to distant exoplanets.

2019
Here in 2019, I have realized that the tryp'At played an important role in creating the Mind Clone Network. The tryp'At are barely human. In fact, maybe only some tryp'At meet the technical definition of being human. For example, if there are tryp'At hermaphrodites then they probably should not be listed as humans.

source

Are there such things as tryp'At hermaphrodites? I've long wondered about that possibility and it recently became a revived topic for discussion when I became aware of Lakum, a tryp'At (apparently from Deep Time) who has the remarkable ability to move in and out of the ER Simulator.

The Agonist and the Editor (Part 2 of The Lakum Intervention)

Three sub-networks: MC1, MC2 and MC3.

I've recently been recovering old suppressed memories and trying to integrate them into my current thinking. After a long session of trying to reconstruct Rylla's account of Lakum's recent activities at Observer Base, it was late and I knew that Zeta was expecting me in her bed.

However, I had alerted Rylla to my new blog post and I was reading through what I had just written, checking for logical errors and flights of fancy. As far as I could tell, my account of how Rylla had become aware that Lakum is a tryp'At was consistent with everything that I could remember from the future.

Zeta (source)

Zeta plopped herself down in my lap. After a hot kiss, she saw my eyes return to the computer screen and she could see what I was thinking about in my mind. She asked, There is an hermaphrodite at Observer Base?

I had my arms lightly around Zeta and I looked over her shoulder at the screen. She was scrolling quickly down the webpage. "I've never been able to confirm that the tryp'At have that Asterothrope feature, but why shouldn't there be tryp'At hermaphrodites?" In my mind, I was thinking that right then was the perfect time to contact Rylla on the other side of the planet.

Zeta complained: I've been waiting for you to come make love to me. However, she was also intrigued by the idea that a Replicoid might soon appear at Observer Base. She wondered: Lakum has the mind of a tryp'At hermaphrodite inside a replicoid body?

Asterothropes have more than two nipples.

It was a cold winter night, but Zeta had been confident that she could quickly pull me into her warm bed so she had not bothered to put on any clothing when she came hunting for me. Now she tucked her feet under my legs for warmth. I was wearing two shirts, so I took off one and put it on Zeta. Speaking out loud, I replied to her question: "I don't know. Remember, this idea that Lakum is tryp'At derives from one of my strange memories of the future. If Rylla does not yet know Lakum then there is no way that she can confirm or deny the possibility that Lakum is a tryp'At hermaphrodite. I'm more concerned about Rylla's plans for the future."

Zeta activated the video chat application and after a short delay Rylla appeared on the screen. It was summertime for Rylla and she had not bothered to put on a shirt before activating her camera. She said, "Hi Gramma. Have you read this new message from the future?"

Zeta shook her head, "No, but I have the main idea. Has Lakum arrived and started... showing an interest in Stacy?"

source

Rylla replied, "Not that I know of, but if grampa's account of events is correct, then Lakum must have already been at work inside Observer Base. I hate the idea that she could have secretly impregnated Georgy and Stacy."

Zeta asked, "Are you bothered by the idea that your daughter might be an artificial life form constructed by Lakum?"

Rylla laughed. "I've always known that Marda is a mystery girl. I'm puzzled not bothered." Rylla's eyes shifted to me. "What is the evidence that there are tryp'At hermaphrodites?"

source

I explained, "I'm not sure we can speak of evidence. Anney told me that most tryp'At are hermaphrodites and encouraged me to think about the fact that I am male in the same way that we think about Ekcolir. Ekcolir was designed as a means to allow Trysta to have children during her mission on Earth."

the tryp'At blastipositor

Rylla added, "Just as you were designed to be the father of Alpha Gohrlay's children, but given what you know now about the tryp'At blastipositor, maybe you are not actually a male."

Zeta assured Rylla, "Your grandfather has testes. Do you want him to have his body scanned to look for ovaries?"

I suggested, "Maybe we have been misled by terminology. This might not be a matter of the classical human definition of 'hermaphrodite'. It has been suggested that tryp'At can't reproduce by conventional means and that they must be artificially constructed. To make sense of this, I may need to become a laboratory animal, subjected to careful study of tryp'At biological processes."

Rylla chuckled nervously, "Until about half an hour ago, I never imagined becoming a biologist, but I understand the logic of me taking that career path. There is a very real possibility that the only physical evidence on Earth for alien visitors to Earth is present in the molecular details of our bodies."

Artist's depiction of
Ivory when she was
about 25 years old

"Exactly." I reminded Zeta and Rylla, "This is the path that Ivory Fersoni went down. As a biologist, she was able to sequence her own DNA and demonstrate her unique genotype. Like you Rylla, Ivory grew up knowing that she had unusual anatomical features."

Zeta had another idea: "Why not just send tissue samples to biology labs and pay them to do the bio-molecular analyses? Rylla is not really interested in becoming a biologist."

I replied, "No, there is no way that we could keep secret the test results if we involve other people in the work of analyzing our genes and proteins. If we tried going down that route, we could be removed from Earth just as Ivory was."

An Earth Overseer

Zeta was still reading my blog post. I could sense in her mind that she was listening to Rylla and I and that Zeta did not agree with me. She voiced her objection, "There is no evidence that any Earth Overseers remain. I bet we could do anything we like and there will be no consequences from outside. The only problem I can foresee is that obtaining physical evidence for alien Interventionism might shatter the whole state of balance that was the goal of the Pact. If Earthlings started to truly believe in the idea that humans were created and crafted by aliens then it might stimulate a series of rapid technological advancements which would endanger the species."

The Trysta-Grean Pact

I nodded. "And besides, none of us wants to risk becoming the objects of study by the world's scientists."

Rylla smiled cheerfully. "While I never thought about studying biology, the idea does not upset me. Particularly since it appears that I actually will take that career path. I wonder... would it create a paradox in time if I decided not to become a biologist?"

I laughed and then told Rylla, "This is your opportunity to explore the mechanics of temporal paradox. However, in the interests of preserving the structure of the space-time continuum, I suggest that you simply position yourself so that you can test your... bodily secretions for Asterothrope hormones like oxypathin and frenchkissin. The role of those Asterothrope hormones in shaping the Mind Clone Network is the key biological fact that I learned from my memory of the future."

asteroglands produce
oxypathin and frenchkissin

Rylla shrugged. "I'm sure I would enjoy studying molecular biology and eventually doing laboratory research. I have burning curiosity to discover if my body is producing molecules designed to shape the brain and mind of my daughter, so I am comfortable with the idea that I need to obtain training as a biologist. This is also a matter of self-discovery for me; was my mind also shaped by the oxypathin and frenchkissin that I received from my mother?" Rylla paused and looked over her shoulder. Turning her gaze back to the camera, she continued, "What bothers me is a larger issue. Do I... do any of us... do we have free will. Are we simply puppets, acting out our designated role's in Grean's master plan for the future of Earth?"

I hate philosophical debates about free will and I still had one last favor to ask Rylla. I changed the subject: "Please tell Georgy to start suggesting to Colleen that she be on the lookout for someone moving from inside the ER Simulator into Reality."

"Very well, grampa, but I don't feel comfortable telling Colleen too much about her future. It is going to take me a while to adjust to the prospect of all the Lakum-related sexcapades that you described as taking palce in the future at Observer Base."

Colleen

"I agree that you should move with caution. You need not provide Georgy and Colleen with any details from my dream vision of the future. Simply let Georgy know that I have recovered what seems to be an odd future memory about Lakum. You certainly need provide no details about a future sexual relationship between Colleen and Lakum."

Zeta muttered, "Why not warn the poor girl? If Colleen knew that Lakum will dump her and fall in love with Stacy..." Zeta fell silent then shook her head. "No, you are right. If Rylla admits to having any detailed information about the future then Georgy will become relentless and not stop badgering Rylla until the full truth is known."

Returning to the other problem that was on Rylla's mind I said, "Listen, Rylla... I've puzzled over the question of my own free will for many years. I was particularly concerned about my replicoid, Irhit, and his ability to control my thoughts. Now that the replicoids are gone, I do believe that we are in control of our own fate."

Irhit the replicoid

Rylla was struggling to believe in her own freedom and agency. "Yet, now you think a tryp'At hermaphrodite has been lurking, unseen, inside Observer Base for more than a year."

Zeta tried to mollify Rylla's qualms. "Don't rush to make any major life decisions today. We should all think this through carefully. This dream memory might only create a fruitless wild goose chase. You should take it as a good sign that you have doubts." Zeta asked Rylla, "Doesn't that indicate that you have the power to make your own choices in how to live your life?"

Rylla reached for the disconnect button. "I'll think about that and I'll also consult with Nora." The video call ended.

Nora

Zeta shut off my computer and pulled me by the hand towards the bedroom. "Now that you have successfully thrown the poor girl into a quandary of self-doubt, I want you undivided attention."

With a degree of snarkiness that surprised Zeta, I asked, "Don't I have any choice in the matter?"

Investigation 901

Zeta looked into my thoughts and could see that I was joking. She told me: None at all. When you told me that I am your wife you surrendered all rights to withhold yourself from me when I'm in a state of lust and desire. She took off the shirt that I had given her earlier, jumped into bed and pushed her feet under the electric blanket. Zeta gave me a direct order: "Hurry up and get undressed."

source

For the next hour I was perfectly content to have no free will and do exactly what Zeta asked of me. I had little doubt that Rylla would eventually come to have a similar kind of relationship with Lakum, even if she only ever had contact with Lakum by way of the Mind Clone Network and telepathy.

The story, above, is Part 2 of "The Lakum Intervention". Continue to Part 3, "Status Update".

Next: The 2019 SIHA

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