Myth busting

About the multiverse

Before even the 2nd Era, humanity had already discovered quantum physics which brough many advancements in most fields, from incredible technologies like Quantum Entangled Particles that gave us Faster Than Light communication capabilities to affordable fusion to many other uses however, they were not the only thing that it created.

Suddenly the belief that a multiverse was possible.

In the broadest terms this inaccurate belief postulates that for every quantum possibility there is a whole universe that exist were that possibility is taken or reduced to a more humane approach for every possible choice that every person makes a new universe is created were each choice was taken.

If this were true then there should be innumerable universes all with varying differences from each other. Obviously, this is wrong.

To calculate a quantum probability, you postulate that X number of possible resolutions exist with different possibilities of ending in each. If you flip a coin you have multiple possibilities with 2 being the most probable, one were the coin ends with tails and one were it ends on heads and from there the possibilities are reduced to other less likely outcomes from standing perfectly on the side, falling somewhere where it is impossible to verify the result, being broken and many more. The same could be done with a dice and the same process is applied, there are finite but unknown number of possibilities but some are much more probable.

Up to this point the multiverse theory holds however there is one more thing missing, the resolution. When you calculate quantum probabilities you grade them in order of likeness forming a “wave” and when this “wave” crashes and reaches resolution only 1 exist meaning that the whole possible existing multiverse collapsed into only ONE choice.

It is theorized that other universe may exist however they are not considered part of the multiverse but merely as others with their own particular rules and disjointed from our own.

However, mainly because of popular media, this belief and others have been spread widely and accepted as correct.

Due to this and other reasons the technological development of humanity has been partially stunted at specific levels where it is not humanly possible to advance much more. With this idea in mind the Myth Busting guide was created to correct misinformation and sparking the mind of more persons to study science and help to pursue even more scientific breakthroughs.

Guide created during year 8375 of the 2nd Era.

It seemed that reaching the city would be far easier than entering. After going through decontamination inside the gate they were forced to get down the mech, inspected for any contraband or dangerous weaponry and then enter to a separated special decontamination rooms where they had to remove all equipment and verify that they were OK.

There were some slight problems when the custom exos from Anne and Mina ‘disappeared’ while being decontaminated a second time and then reported to have stolen military property, some bone may have been broken, some screaming and shouting until direct order came. The Vigiles were ordered to return the exos and lead us to a sterile room for observation with the 2 exo in their ‘portable’ suitcase form.

Marcus was still a bit addled, after using mana consciously he was spent and while the trip had been invigorating now that he felt safe and bored the stress and tiredness came crashing back

"You should contact the lab and explain about what happened. You will need to extend the date honey" said Mina

Marcus looked at her quizzically.

"The mech was modified well beyond specs so it won’t be compliant with the 95% of the original and… well… your mother did pilot that mech, at this point the mech may be able to move but will break down quickly. You could sell it to a local workshop for some money as a wreck so long they don’t fix it or reverse engineer it" Mina said apologetically.

"Marcus, not to be blunt but your mech was a civilian class mech for harvesting, only combat mechs can keep up with that kind of abuse" Anne said with nonchalance

"Ok, let me send them a message explaining this" Marcus typed a quick message, added all the proof of the trip, and asked for the extension.

Not 10 minutes later an official response from Minerva’s Lab came.

"Hello Designer Marcus.

Under Roman contractual you have lost the ‘preferred’ status but can still present your design within 6 standard solar days however no further extension is possible. A secondary set of modules can be sent to you at cost if you so require.

If you have made further changes to the schematics that have less than 95% of similitude you are required to send the new schematics for evaluation which will be answered within 1 standard solar day.

Head Researcher Albus.

May Minerva favor you."

"Well, maybe we can hire a transport back, refurbish it completely and bring it back, that way we don’t need to pay for the modules, again, they should still be in good condition" said Anne.

"Yay… travelling again" Marcus deadpanned

"Now now Marcus, this time we won’t be using your options" said Mina "I will make the arrangements" and she started typing furiously in her pad.

Marcus shot an inquisitive look to Anne who shook her head telling him to leave her alone.

"While Mina is busy how about we play some Mech Warriors" Anne smiled ferociously at Marcus.

"Sure" responded Marcus, while tired he would never turn down such offer.

Mech Warriors was an old ER (Enhanced Reality) tactical mech combat game which Anne introduced to Marcus when young.

Both where incredibly competitive and since Marcus first surprising victory almost 15 years ago they both played together trying to see who was better. It was a thing between them as they knew they could never beat Mina even in 1v2 situation.

The game was raging when Mina stopped torturing her pad. "You may want to prepare to pause your game. We should be leaving in a few minutes and be ready to be transported with a spaceship back home with the mech"

Marcus paused quickly the game and look at Mina dumbfounded "Contamination procedures should last 4 hours of testing and we have been here barely 1"

"That’s playing dirty, you were losing Marcus, accept defeat"

"Later honey, we have to be ready to leave"

The door quickly opened and a woman in a pure white suit came in "Don’t know, don’t care" she said quickly while raising her hand "Yes you have no obvious signs of anything and your suits where on the full time you were outside so the chances of anything happening are minimal, the spaceship is already coming here and the mech is in the cargo bay, get out, NOW please"

Mina just smiled and lead both outside and into followed the navigation arrows to the spaceship hangar. Inside a guard in an exo suit was waiting.

"Hello Whilemina and such a pleasure I had by not seeing you" the displeasure oozing of her voice was notable.

"Ah Clara" realization struck Anne "Mina you shouldn’t" chided

"Hey they had a problem, I just pointed the contractual obligation they had, that our son was a Mech Designer in a governmental contract for the betterment of all and that it would be in their best interest to let us go quickly before the mistake fall upon them"

The airwalk opened its doors to the spaceship that just parked there, the cargo was being moved too.

"Your chariot is here, please leave" the fakes smile could be heard from Clara.

"We will be back in 5 imperial days, keep the bay ready for us. Bye" said Mina while leaving.

The trio went inside to a common transport spaceship and a man of the crew led them to the chairs for passengers.

"What did you do mom?" asked Marcus who was still confused about everything.

"Well, you contract is being enforced by an AI from the government, it also includes the penalty of a demerit mark because your work is deemed to be crucial for the development of this world. The Vigiles were supposed to transport us and protect us until our destination however either they had bad luck, had wrong information about the bird’s nest or the birds had been attacked in some way to target you. Because it is their fault and we proved that building a prototype is possible in 4 imperial days and we only had 6 then if there was a delay it would be their fault and if they couldn’t prove it the Vigile’s entire security department could receive the mark"

Anne laughed a bit and explained. "Your mother has threatened many times other departments in multitude ways and they have found that she always delivers" Anne looked directly and Mina "It was cruel of you to contact Clara"

"I didn’t actually, remember when we helped her obtain that automated mining facility when she was in charge of asteroid mining?"

"The one we needed to clear of pirates for the contract and you tricked her into sending the Praetorian Guard in a fake distress call?"

"Well, she got promoted after that and she went back to her city as the COO of the Vigile guards here"

"Poor Clara. Hey your pause is up. Pick your tablet, I still have to win the last game" Anne wouldn’t leave a competition unfinished and she was back in the thick of it against Marcus.

The trip back proved to be uneventful, after Marcus defeat, he contacted Val once more letting her know what happened and that he needed help again but this time Mina was going to help. Schematics of parts that would need replacement were sent to Val and they would go there directly after landing back in the city.

Landing, sending the mech back to the bay and receiving multiple messages of the like "We can’ let you go out Marcus, whenever you travel there are problems" "Poor mech, it went through hell".

Joking aside they were glad that the three had come back safe and sound and they would help to rebuild the mech once more.

By the end of the day everything was on track and the Caelums returned to the apartment.

Upon reaching home Anne quickly ordered some food, then Mina activated the privacy screen and verified its integrity, she knew Marcus had questions.

"No, before you ask more questions, we are going to teach you a bit more. You were in the thick of it, quite a few beasts died close to you and you have absorbed the mana they released. You have more mana than usual within you, that’s why you feel confident in doing this again, that’s why your shock has not been that strong and why you are not tired even though you didn’t rest. In a single day we flew, landed in the wilderness, you saw 2 applications of mana, saw animals die, flew to the space, and came back home. Now it’s the perfect time to try to coalesce your personal application of mana, to develop your personal ability. Now, take a seat and drink this. It is awful tasting so you should do it in one go" Mina forced a small metallic tube into Marcus hand.

Marcus suddenly felt surprised. Sure, he had been in shock, in fear for his life, then drained and tired, again stress while jaunting on the wilderness and a second wave of fatigue. Yet he started playing the Mech Warrior match with Anne and he got better.

Now that he was thinking of it again there were multiple other feelings mix inside of him yet they were not affecting him completely.

“You are actually using mana again Marcus” explained Anne “unconsciously your mana is being used to suppress your emotions and to energize your body and mind”

He took a seat in the sofa, looked at the tube in his hand and then at Mina, he trusted her so he removed the lid and drank everything.

It was awful, it felt thick with lumpy gelatinous things inside, it was sweet and spicy with metallic taste showing up from time to time. He resisted the urge to spit it or vomit forcing himself to drink it, thankfully it was about half a glass so it was over quickly. When he finished, he looked at his mothers seated in from on him. Anne was smiling and had her hand open in front of Mina while Mina was frowning.

"Fine you win"

They were gambling and again something he did was the source of that. He was questioning WHY did he still followed their instructions and then it hit him.

Fire burning in his stomach, in his guts and spreading. It felt like lava in his veins moving around his body cooking him from the inside. Down his legs, melting his bones, along his arms reddening his skin, up his neck and into his brain. Fire and blood rising, spreading from the inside, sloshing around, like a flame rising from red to yellow and from yellow to white.

And then nothing, all feelings muted, all thoughts sluggish.

Mina played with the virtual display bringing the ‘Metentis Aranea’ schematic in and placed it in front of him.

"How did it feel Marcus? Today?" voices spoke to him, many voices ringing

"Did you feel fear?" said the voice of an old man

"Anger?" a young dashing warrior

"Joy?" a sad guitar

"Crazy?" a flower.

"What did you wanted to feel?" protected, he wanted protection

"Were you protected?" yes… no, I was exposed

"What would have protected you more?" if they saw the mech less

"Would that keep you alive?" no, it needs more movement, more agility, more POWER.

Marcus heard voices, he tried to answer but not all made sense. He saw his mech, he saw how flawed it was. He would fix it, it would protect him, it would keep him safe and if needed it would kill. He worked tirelessly moving his hands changing the design while he kept hearing questions, he heard people crying, others laughing, he kept working while losing his mind, while perfectly sane.

His design changed shape, from spider to bird, to tree, to plant, to something, something big, white and black, and becoming bigger, it would kill him, it would destroy him but he longed for it, it was so fluffy and dark an…

"It never fails Mina, I told you before" Anne looked happy, a bit tired but her smile was wide and full.

"Drugs shouldn’t be your first choice" Mina had a conflicted look in her face. He just took his first step, bit shoddily, bit rushed, but his first step and awakened his ability. It wasn’t how she wanted it to go but it would be best for him to finish his 5 first designs with the least total growth and at the fastest speed, it would decrease the chances of having problems with the Coalition.

"They weren’t, hypnosis was the first, then drugs to improve the hypnosis. Hey it worked as it has worked before, he made changes and he applied his ability to the schematic. I’m not sure what it was but there was some change" Anne defended herself but she sounded happy "Did you managed to catch what his ability did?"

"No, not really, it was a metaphysical change but beyond what I can see" Mina was tired, it was a long day and they had worked hard. She sent the schematic to Val as an update and went to bed.