|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- HADRIAN FOZZCOLT--CUP 2--"FIGHT THAT GOD" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Hadrian Fozzcolt  ||  -------> (Cup SRhf002, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Scientists assumed too much," Teal said. "For many centuries, all that astronomers got from space was electromagnetic radiation in various flavors. They started making all sorts of unfounded assumptions, and the theories they came up with were just so delicious and self-consistent that after awhile no one dared to challenge the basic premise of astronomy--that physics in space are the same as physics on earth." "They're not?" "No. Not at all. But we had to actually GO UP THERE to find this out." "Wow." "The thing is, by the time we came to understand the true nature of the sky, about a decade ago, the Church of Boolevathers began its campaign to return to power. If we told everyone that the church was right this whole time and that science was wrong, that would be it. That would do it. The church would be back in power. And all of us here at BOCORAM would at the very least be unemployed, with a very real possibility of torture and execution. And all the good things about science would also suffer. One thing you're going to find out a lot more about are computers. Computers hold an almost infinite potential for positive global change. If the church were to return to power, however, they'd probably wreck every last computer they could get their hands on, and kill anyone who knew how to make one. I think you can see why we can trust you with this information. Only a madman would tell people the truth about this." "I agree." "Good. Now, back to your original theory, that we spend the money earmarked for space exploration on drugs and girls--like I said, I wish that were the case. The sad fact is, however, that faking space travel is just about as expensive as doing the real thing, were it possible. We have a tough job to do here, an important job. No one is happy about being a damn total liar--but the alternative is so bad that it's worth it." "I don't know if I'm interested in working in this field anymore." Teal raised an eyebrow. "I hear that a lot. You want to be part of a new frontier, not part of some miserable theater troupe. Well, you're free to go, though I suggest you think carefully about your decision. Not because you're going to be harmed if you decide to quit--but because what we're doing will ensure a very bright future to the generations to come, albeit in a somewhat roundabout way." "We fake space missions to stave off church power to ensure the advancement of technological science, which will lead to a great future." "That's it." "What IS up there, anyway?" "Our astronauts tell us it's like a dream. The laws of reality are not the same up there. Two plus two does not necessarily equal four up there. It's scary. Truly scary." "Why don't we see any of that from down here?" "We see very little. Light, radio waves, all kind of EM radiation--which we understand the physics of HERE on the surface. And we assume the physics are the same out there. But they're not." "So what about--what about the angle that if the church is right, maybe they SHOULD rule." "They're right about some things. But if killing and torturing are really the will of some god, then I'll do everything I can to fight that god." -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----