Consortium 1-1: TD14 Chapter 2
#2 of Consortium
You know, one of the things I probably enjoyed far more than I really should have is just thinking up ways in which things that are normally just hand-waved away for sake of convenience would potentially be done. And one of the things that I've put the most thought into in this regard is language. In the Consortium universe there is no simple universal translator that will automatically let you speak and understand everyone perfectly and instantly. On top of that languages evolve, they change. With sufficient separation from each other, the English language as spoken on the Earth would seem quite different to the English Language spoken on the Moon. And with all the different species and languages branching off from each other over the centuries unless you grew up with someone odds are very low that they'd definitely understand you.
And once you get around that hand-waving, I've found it actually creates a new level of depth for how each character handles the problem of understanding other people. Now for conversations through a computer this can be automatically translated "in real time" by means of a slight delay in the signal. But in person there are three main ways of communicating. Via telepathy (requires being telepathic), the Language of Intent Spell (closest thing to the normal universal translator but highly controversial) and the Translation Orbs (which require carrying around a golden ball and waiting for it to translate everything you say). And I'll admit that there are times when I do get lazy and don't immediately address how they're talking, but I actually found just how they handle things adds a whole lot of extra depth to the characters, giving more insight to who they are in how they handle it. It just creates extra work.
As the two step through the exit to the small shuttle they find the other side a lot more crowded. There apparently are several of these shuttles running to and from the station all the time as there is almost a sea of people walking towards several gates and the noise of the area is almost deafening. Yet despite all that noise, without having to even raise his voice the slightest bit Mige knows that the words he speaks will be heard as if no one was here at all.
"Just breathe. I'm sure you're used to something like this in your time. Just keep breathing and assume it's the same."
Ahead of them all of the people seem to be forming up into a sort line to the various gates and standing in front of each gate is a person holding a sort of golden ball. Each person in the line seems to walk up to these ball holders, say some sort of phrase and then after a few seconds the ball starts parroting each person after they have a conversation.
"The ball translates for them," Mige explains while Richard watches. "When it's your turn, count to ten and it'll begin translating for you and the person holding it."
Richard stares at the fox with a disbelieving look on his face, as if trying to justify that comment. Though it seems less about the fact that Mige had felt the need to explain what they were but rather mild surprise about what it ended up being, despite seeming to be something obvious.
"Okay, I have to ask," Richard speaks up again after overcoming his confused glance, something Mige found rather common for him. "If that thing translates for people, how is it that I can understand you so clearly? Wouldn't you have universal translators by this point or something?"
Mige's head tilts to the side, this time being his turn to be confused.
"Um, well, that's what those things are. They're little computers that hold the dictionary to each and every language that we know of. Well, most of them that we expect to have to deal with."
"But it isn't doing it automatically in real time."
"That's because there are simply so many languages out there with no way to check what language someone is going to use before they start to speak, among other problems. So you count to ten at it so that it can calibrate itself to what language you speak. As for you understanding me I'm not technically speaking your language."
"Then how come I can understand you?"
"Because of a little trick I know of. What you are hearing from me and what I'm hearing from you are not words but intent. You do not hear what I am saying but what I am intending to say and your brain translates it into words you can understand."
"I see. Don't really understand but that is an answer, I guess. But if you can do that why isn't it so common?"
"Well I'm up," Mige comments quickly, noting how he's now the front of the line. "I'll make sure to see to it that you are handled properly and then you're off on your own. Good luck human, and remember to count to ten when it's your turn."
Mige walks up to the man and proceeds to count to ten at the machine and is somewhat surprised when it actually responds with the right language. Mige's people were never really all that populous, only getting up to a few million all on one world, but apparently that was enough that the makers of these translators did include it in the system. Then again, Mige rationalizes, the ones given to the people like this blue individual were probably given far more comprehensive devices that would contain more languages than would be released in the normal version. As the large, blue humanoid begins to speak, Mige tries to figure out what planet that person must be from. The branch of Japanese they are speaking implies one of the alliance colonies but Mige relents that he can't quite make out which world.
"Name?"
"I am Prince Mige Se Yieno," Mige complies cheerfully, before realizing that the spell is still active on that human and with a flourish of his head turns off the spell.
"Okay," the blue individual states after the translation answers his statement, probably mangling Mige's name but that's the limitations you get with technology. "I must inform you that, royalty or not, there will be no special considerations or treatments imparted to you. Do you understand?"
"My dear sir," Mige laughs, half musing how the machine mispronounced the word royalty slightly, "if I wanted to be given special treatment do you think that I would have come on a commercial transport? Let alone the fact that I had not announced that I was coming here beforehand. Rest assured I have no problem with being treated as anyone else on this station."
The blue individual doesn't give any sort of acknowledgment to the statement, instead just seems to listen to the translation and then begins speaking again. "Age and place of origin?"
"Well I'd be considered roughly twelve years old on my home world of Jhraashjerei," Mige responds, half surprised when as far as Mige could tell the machine does a pretty good approximation to how his homeworld would be pronounced in that language.
"What purpose do you have for your stay here?"
"Oh, just a bit of business. Though that doesn't mean I won't explore and enjoy what sights are to be had on your lovely station."
"Sir," the blue figure asks, staring at the fact Mige is floating with a slight bit of expectation, "do you possess any magical aptitude?"
"Oh, right!" Mige yips before looking around himself quickly. Finding what he's looking for a small rounded triangular emblem floats out of one of the pockets and uses the pin behind it to attach it to his clothing. "Sorry about that. So used to being on human worlds where they don't require you wear them. Well that and assisted sleep or otherwise it is by no means comfortable to sleep on one of these things."
The blue figure listens to the ball give Mige's translated response but makes no verbal response of his own. He does, however, move to grab a couple of silvery bracelets from a nearby box. "I'm going to have to ask you to wear these for your duration on this station."
"Of course," Mige raises up his forelegs so that the blue humanoid can attach them securely to each limb. Mige would have possibly tried to do it by himself but that creates problems in if it was put on correctly or not and it's simply far easier to just let the professional take care of the matter. Once it has been placed onto each of Mige's forelimbs the fox speaks up again, "So is that it?"
"Almost. First of all I need to remind you that this station is home to and available to dozens of different races. Though sterilization procedures do help minimize any significant risk there is still the possibility of you running into an alien pathogen. I must advise that you make your way to a clinic at your earliest convenience so as to inoculate you against any of the current expected illnesses that may have slipped through."
"That's all right. I've traveled enough in my day that I should still be good on all my shots. Thank you for the consideration, though."
"Finally I'm going to have to ask to chip you. I must inform you that this is partly a security measure and that it will also serve as your account while on board this station. I must also inform you that though you can use it for credit you will not be allowed to leave until your credit is paid and that you are not allowed under any circumstances to remove it or alter it in any way, is that understood?"
"Of course, standard procedure really," Mige comments before closing his right eye and then turning his head to the side and looking across his nose. The other person takes out a small device and presses it against the exposed eye for a moment.
"Finally I need to inform you that even though this is technically considered neutral territory all races here have signed agreements saying that they will abide by all station laws and any station law broken will be tried here without any protection by the parent race's government. Do you understand."
"Wouldn't have it any other way. Though now that that's over, I need to tell you something," Mige states before moving up close. "You see that human right behind me? Found him on the shuttle over. Based on his reaction pretty sure he'd be a TD14. So have fun with that." Mige gestures back at Richard.
The customs officer stares at Richard first with a mixture of surprise and curiosity at the concept of seeing one of those, but then settles his expression more at annoyance at having to deal with one of those.
"Well, have fun human!" Mige comments before flying off into the station, leaving Richard all by himself.
The blue humanoid gestures at Richard impatiently while holding the ball up. As he gets close he notices that the ball itself is not actually being held by the humanoid but rather it is attached to a sort of harness strapped to his waist. Which Richard guesses makes sense since he'd imagine it would make ones arm incredibly sore to hold up a ball, however weightless, in the same position for hours every day. Richard stands there staring at the blue individual for a while waiting for something to happen before finally remembering Mige's advice and starts counting to ten. Afterwards the ball speaks up "Human language, English selected. Is this correct?"
Richard nods and the blue humanoid begins speaking into the ball, glad to finally be able to get this over with.
"Please state your name."
"Richard Crawlen."
"Age and place of origin?"
"Twenty-two and Earth."
"Am I correct in assuming that you are a code TD14?"
"I don't know what that is."
"Were you or were you not displaced to this current location in space-time?"
"Um, I guess so. I mean at least unless they were doing one hell of a cover up. Furthest we got into space in my time was a man on the moon and the ISS, nothing anywhere close to this thing."
The blue humanoid gives him an annoyed look before leaning into its shoulder and speaking into it.
"Head Guardian Leif, I have a TD14 in customs that needs to be processed."
The blue humanoid then just stands there with the same annoyed expression for a minute or two before the thing on his shoulder speaks back at him in a different language, but the ball picks it up and translates it only to him. With that he looks back at Richard and continues the conversation.
"Okay," it comments, placing one hand over its forehead as if fighting a headache. "Just wait here and you'll be escorted to be processed. Don't worry you will not be harmed. I will need to ask if you have any magical aptitudes that you are aware of."
"No. Magic isn't real, though. Unless you're talking technomagic but that's at most only theoretical where I'm from."
The blue humanoid sighs before pulling out a device and scanning it at me for a moment.
"Okay, your readings should not be enough to really need to do this but since you haven't been tested I cannot gauge that you absolutely would pose no risk so I'm going to need you to put these on," he pulls out another pair of silvery bracelets from a box by the gate. "This will make sure you can't produce anything strong enough to damage the station."
He begins moving in close to snap the bracelets on Richard's arm and at first he hesitates to let him but remembers how Mige didn't even really seem to have any reaction to them, raises his arms in front of him so that the other can gain access. As far as Richard can tell they don't seem to have done anything.
"Finally, everyone on the station needs to be chipped. Do you have a preference on eye?"
"What?" Richard exclaims, not understanding what he's asking for.
"You know what, I don't care. If you want it moved then do so. Just look to your left with your eyes, okay?" he comments dryly, pulling out the thin device from earlier.
Richard is hesitant but again complies since this guy is much larger than he is and really looks like it would be able to do him a lot of harm if it really wanted to and thus resisting is not a good choice. Richard look to the side and grimace as the thing approaches his eye but doesn't really feel anything other than it pressing gently against the cornea of his eye for a second then pulling away. When he looks back forward he finds a human walking towards him, with a sort of navy blue uniform and a rounded triangle badge with some sort of insignia on it. What's strange though is that it seems to be also separated into three parts and all three have a zero on it.
"Okay, you may pass. Your escort will make sure you're dealt with. Please leave."
The new human stops right next to Richard and the blue humanoid practically pushes him onwards towards the human. Once there the human doesn't seem to move, instead putting a hand on a sort of ball at his hip. Catching on quickly Richard counts to ten at him.
"Very good, now let's be going. Doctor Rosh isn't the most friendly of sorts," the human states after having calibrated his translator, waving his arm forward to guide Richard in the direction he wants to go.
Given the fact that he already seems more friendly than that blue humanoid, the fact that he seems to have some sort of gun strapped to his other hip and the fact Richard has nothing else to do he sighs before beginning to walk in the direction the other one wants him to go.
"Granted I don't entirely blame him. I don't think I could handle having to say the exact same things to a bunch of people who are probably annoyed at him for wasting their time for six and a half hours a day, day in and day out. Public service individuals are certainly a pitiable bunch. I'm Chris, by the way," he comments.
"What did he just jab into my eye?" Richard asks as they begin walking, having no comment about someone who doesn't seem to like their job.
"It's just a little chip. Everyone on the station is required to have one. The station constantly monitors every single person on the station. Since people can change their shape this allows us to find anyone on the station. Any biosignal that isn't chipped is immediately arrested and thrown in jail. Same for if anyone's chip is altered. And it's also used as your own account."
"I see," he states as they seem to go into an elevator of sorts. "What's going to happen to me?"
The elevator begins moving again after Chris touches a few buttons along the side.
"Well as a TD14 the first thing we'll need to do is get you to the hospital so they can put you in quarantine until you're immunized against all the diseases we might have to deal with. And then I'll escort you to one of the lieutenant guardians who will give you all your options.