milliways_bar | (no subject)

He raises an eyebrow.

"While I might enjoy investigating such a device, I porefer my own tech... even though I have a tendency of incorporating tech from all times and places into my own."

"Of course. If you don't mind my asking, what world from which do you come? I have seen... chimeras that somewhat resembled you, but you seem as if this is your natural state. I mean no offense, none of us are responsible for our natures." Except for those who alter them, of course.

"I am a mutant. A subspecies of human from the particular Earth I inhabit. Mutants are born from the rection of an X-factor in human genetics causing an altered human baseline. It manifests as anything from green hair to my own feline form."

He smiles.

"No offense is taken."

This is new. It was genetic mutations and the careful manipulation of breeding them that gave Paul his Inner Sight. Might this be a thousand-times great grandfather or uncle?

"I too carry mutated genes, although many generations removed from the original 'mutants'. Long since, the fact of continued human evolution was hidden in my world, but with my appearance it was hidden no longer. We may share a history." Considering the sheer number of Earths represented here, that's unlikely, but the probability is higher than for some he's heard of.

He shakes his head.

"I dont know, unless the more obvious mutants died off before your time, there would be more mutants than normal humans, by the dint of the fact that the x-factor is a dominant gene..."

"By my time, such genes were held only to a few bloodlines that were strictly controlled," by the Bene Gesserit, curse them forever.

"But I see your reasoning. If this x-factor has many different manifestations, I doubt it is what I carry. My people bred for very specific traits carried by many different genes. Simply speaking, I am the first male to carry them all."

"If the future of your Earth held more evolved humans as differentiated as you, I cannot see it returning to a former state unless the mutation was culled from the population by force." And that would have shown up in the minds of the memory-lives inside him.

Hank nods.

"In any case, it is highly interesting... for the genetics to survive anbd be bred for as you say. Other worlds have developed such, different ones for different means and agendas."

"Yes, in my time, however, most of the genetic alterations were done artificially. It was considered an abomination to do so on humans, but groups always exist outside legitimate science. The breeding program was also outlawed officially, but secretive groups exist within all 'legitimate' ones also, no?"

"It's of no importance now, for my world. That way is closed. Are you still able to reach yours?"

"We had a few such scientists who did those things in our time, but they were stopped when we found them."

He nods.

"I commute, so to speak, back and forth to the Earth and back to here, where I live."

Paul nods.

"Another reason we probably don't share the same native universe. I am fascinated by the number of persons who come here from Earth. Well, sifferent Earths, mostly. It was a dead world in my time, only significant in ancient legends of human origins. Here, it's a living home for a majority of the Tavern."

"Ahhh... It must be odd for you then."

"That's an understatement. If I had been told of beings like Tim or the Endless in my world, I would have laughed. Men who live through the drinking of blood, children who use magic, all claiming to come from Earth or a human world, at least.

"I would have never considered the possibility of what Beowulf of Home might call 'aliens'. Intelligent nonhuman creatures. My first day here was quite overwhelming."

Hank nods.

"I understand. My own world has had more incursions from other worlds and times, so I was more prepared for such a place, but even so, it took some getting used to."

"I'm sorry for not introducing myself. I'm Paul of the House Atreides. I am Bound from returning to my own world, but the Door still opens for me. More and more, I become interested in visiting these many Earths, but I dare not go out unless I know I can return also. They are not my worlds, after all."

"Doctor Hank McCoy, but call me Hank. Nice to meet you, Paul."

He nods.

"I understand. Such would be a strange exile."

"From many of the stories I hear, it could be a short, violent one. Many of the Earths, and worlds in general that persons here come from, are in the midst of great wars. Though I am well trained in battle and have much experience with it, I would be a fool to walk into one randomly.

"By your calm, I take it your world is peaceful? That would be a welcome change, and perhaps not such a bad exile."

"Not so much calm as not in the middle of a war. We have unrest and violence, but it is more civilly based than most."

"That is much as my universe in the era before I was born. Humanity spanned the known universe, but government was never a perfect institution. My family was caught in a time of corruption and deceit, and my father assassinated."

Not knowing why he's making the confession, he adds, "I avenged it, though."

More lightly, "Good thing I've not found any of my enemies here."

"Jut remember the rules. Even if you see an enemy here, dont start anything."

"Yes, so I've heard, though my enemies would likely not heed that rule." A wry grin. Let them hate me, as long as they fear me.

"I've seen fighting here, but usually just the aftereffects of it. And any of those I've sent to the sand would find it very hard to start trouble in a place with wizards and gods."

"We have security fort that and self defense is always allowed, just make it clean and no unneccesary killing. If someone comes fater you, best call for scurity and defend yourself."

"I suspect you have little problem in that regard, yourself. You have the mind for electrics," meaning the keypad, "but your body is more reminiscent of a large cat. The two together must make you a formidable warrior." Paul has the skillz, though. Not quite superhero quality, but Seeing ahead helps.

"I prefer not to fight, myself. I will at need, but Iam a doctor by trade."

"Of course. An honorable profession. My apologies.

"I would prefer never to fight, either, but until now I was followed by violence like a shadow. Too much I've brought on myself.

"I would like to fight now only if I knew peace would come because of it, but that is absurd, isn't it?"

"No need to apologize."

He listens and nods.

"Sometimes peace can only come from war... it is a sad but frail truth."