The Beaded Tapestry

Dear Annalis,

I have just brought to a close my third week with Nikolas and by the end was able to resume the wondrous activities the complex had to offer. I was unaware Nikolas shares my interest in fitness and he joined me on my daily runs. His pace is quite a bit faster than my own since he is fully acclimated to the higher altitude and has significantly longer limbs, but I have risen to the challenge as this plays into my competitive nature. I normally prefer my runs to be a solo activity, but for both the competitive and reclusive side of my nature the activity has done wonders for my recovery. By the end of my visit I had fallen into a daily routine, stabilizing my physical as well as mental health with normality. I am amazed how quickly my system adjusted to the conditions and by the end I was able to match my running duration and speed with that of my desert statistics. This was opportune since the daily culinary meditations with Nikolas would quickly have changed my physique had I not created a counter balance. The evening rituals were not always as elaborate compared to those first two experiences, but they remained a focal point of my daily litany. Nikolas included a few lessons, allowing me to handle his precious utensils during my attempts to duplicate his instructions. I do not think I could ever come close to reproducing any of his amazing creations, but at least my meals will be more palpable when I return to the studio.

It was a bleak day when my visit came to a close. Water dripped from the eaves of the complex and mist shrouded the entire top of the cliff side robbing me of a final glimpse of the Equine from this vantage point. To relieve this disappointment, I made one final visit to the amphitheatre to fill my system with the soothing vibration, saying farewell to the wondrous experience before my departure. I will miss Nikolas, but my greatest forfeiture will be the intense auditory relationship with the Equine I have gained from this trip. I will have to discover an alternative to this aspect of the Equine at my studio, but I know it will only be a poor substitute for the amphitheater’s reality.

I am now headed home once again, full of hope and enthusiasm. It was difficult leaving Nikolas and his wondrous home but the anticipation of returning to my work has made it bearable. The first two legs of my return trip are complete and I am now sitting in the Geotrain watching the landscape fly by. The humidity in the atmosphere drops as we head away from the sea and enter the desert belt of New London. The view of the Equine is also transforming, becoming more outlined and focused with every kilometer as the mist dissipates from the air. Unfortunately the new found aural aspects of the Equine are also fading, pushed to the back of my senses and once again becoming a dim echo like drum beats in the distance. I cannot dismiss this sensation entirely even if I desired as it seems to be etched in the chemistry of my being. It remains a constant reminder of my new found affinity with the creature. I am not sure what this will do to my visual representation for the Louvre but I would not negate the encounter I had on the ferry or the amphitheater at the complex even if I could. It was a pivotal point of my time here on New London and an intricate part of my recovery. I must in all fairness give credit to Nikolas as I would still be sitting alone in the dark if not for his ministrations at the end of that first week. I feel this added aspect of my Equine relationship will be beneficial to our project, but we will have to wait and see how it propagates itself into my work. The ultimate test will occur when I am back in the studio with drawing implements in hand. Pointedly I did not bring any of my artistic tools with me on this voyage, not even a pencil, so I will have to be patient for a little longer to try out my theory. I was tempted to produce a graphic representation on my wrist pad just to relieve the suspense but I have abstained from this urge and decided to write to you instead. Ones and zeroes were never meant to represent artistic endeavors although I am sure many neural visionaries will say I am alone in this opinion. Although I love this type of reproduction created directly out of the signals from the brain, they all seem so distant and unemotional as the other categories of the arts. I know we disagree on this subject, but it will not convince me to turn to this alternative when there is nothing else to draw with.

I find myself looking inward on this return journey a little to frequently as I sit alone in my cabin wishing for some outlet for my visions. There are fewer passengers sharing my travels this time so I cannot even use socialization as a distraction. The Equine presence also is not helping as it is just a reminder of what my hand desires to be doing. So once again I have turned to you for comfort and distraction. I can imagine that the staff on board your transport are just starting their emergence from stasis, slowly allowing their thoughts to turn to the preparation of the ship for its rendezvous with the Phycodurus-8. The lab station also will be preparing for your arrival. Arranging your new home for occupancy and saying farewell to the staff that will be exiting their posts. I feel a tinge of envy that you will be seeing the unobstructed view of the Equine soon. As amazing as it is from New London, it is an altogether different animal compared to what you will be privileged to in the next two years. I hope all the equipment I installed for you is producing the results you desire and expect. I have not received any update from the lab planner responsible for the upkeep of your lab since the initial communication almost a year ago. Since her instruction were only to contact me if there were major issues affecting the data output, this seems like a good thing. We will have to see once you arrive and have evaluated the accumulated data, just how successful the lab has performed. This will be the hardest month for me. Trying to concentrate when you are so close. I hope all went according to routine for your stasis during the voyage. There were many augmented people at the mountain complex and I thought of your own addition every time I ran across them. Many had horror stories of their stasis experience similar to what Nikolas experienced. Returning to full consciousness unable to move with the surrounding world out of phase with their own condition. For most like Nikolas it was only for a few weeks, but for one woman with sight augmentation she did not return to her normal state for several months after her arrival on New London. As usual many at the mountain complex were adapted by choice, adding a cybernetic device to emphasize one of the attributes of the Equine , but many such as this woman and Nikolas were not, being equipped mechanical or regenerated adjustments to repair a defect from birth or mishap. My thoughts turned to you every time I saw a obvious replacement limb, happy that you choose the regeneration path. It may be trendy with certain genres but when it is not a choice but a tragic after effect, I don’t think it is ideal to see a daily reminder in the mirror. It does not draw my attention when I look at Nikolas as it did on the Derringer when we first met. It seems to be such a part of him now and an augmentation to his work. Something about the color spectrum and knowing how something will taste without ever having to try it. He attempted several times to explain this superpower of his but I as a mere mortal was unable to comprehend. It is enough to know that he is satisfied with his condition. Not only because he is a generational icon but also a member of the super human race. An Equine cyborg for lack of another nomenclature. I really am going to miss him.

I have received no communication from either Addison or Katryna during my hiatus from the studio, so I hope all is prepared for my arrival. The desire to resume my craft is a bit overwhelming at the moment and I do not want myriads of unpleasant tasks to fill my time before I am able to dedicate myself to my workshop. I hope their silence means all has gone to plan and there are no surprises when I appear.

We are passing into the darkness of the night so I will close for now. , I think I will pursue the meditation guide Nikolas gave me as a parting gift. It is the only memento I took away from that wonderful place and I hope someday I will be able to return, Not only for Nikolas but also for the Equine.

Love always,

Victoria

Dear Annalis,

As promised a continuation of my introduction to this wonderful place. I will keep this narrative in roughly chronological order although my temptation is to begin with the meal Nikolas prepared for me. My second day began with a much needed run over the various trails crisscrossing the surrounding area. The equilibrium imbalance I experienced on the trip here has completely disappeared and my system is slowly starting to adjust to the higher altitude of this region, Even so, my lungs limited me to a slow pace enabling them to grow accustomed to the lower oxygen content here. I did manage to complete an hour of constant mobility before returning to the complex for a much welcomed breakfast. The early morning coffee Nicolas had served me was long gone as I settled down to a simple meal of cereal and fruit pilfered from his pantry. After he made my coffee earlier he was quickly away to his laboratory anxious to begin his creative day. He is as driven as I am if not more when it come to his project and he warned me it would be a late hour before he returned for our dinner, Even during the preparation of our coffee I could hear him talking to himself, analyzing the different chemical reactions of the brewing process and how it could be manipulated to enhance the result. I brought him a few beverage selections from the shop in Newton to thank him for the invitation to visit here. It seems like such a small gesture on my part in comparison to this incredible experience but he seemed to be genuinely pleased with my gift. He has used the variety of coffee beans each morning for the two of us but has retained the selection of herbal tea ingredients I included for his experimental kitchen. It seems at least two of the herbal additives I brought him are not easy to obtain in this area. The pytherium was of special interest to him since he had not encountered this material before and the osmanthus I cultivate in my own hydroponic garden was also new to him. They are both southern sourced plants so they are logically not easy to obtain here. I was surprised he was unfamiliar with the pytherium since it is widely used in the area where I live.

After my run and the replenishment of my nutrients I set out to explore the complex. They have a number of activities planned each day, all focusing around the Equine. The establishment is broken into different section, each concentrating on a separate faculty. The area just below the housing area is dedicated to the visual perspective of the creature. This includes a traditional art and sculpture studio but also offered a virtual theatre displaying the Equine from different perspectives in space. I pointedly avoided this area and headed for the auditory center instead. I had hopes of recreating the wave sensations I experienced on the ferry trip here and this seemed the logical place to expand this type of perspective and steer my mind away from my project at home. The sound perception area is located in the lower section of the main building, dominated by a large amphitheatre that opens to the sea. It is carved directly into the cliffside rock, sixty meters below the stone outcropping containing the monolith of contemplation. The shell shaped structure is immense, able to accommodate several thousand people for scheduled music events. Unfortunately there are none planned during my stay here, but there are several classes on focusing the aural property of the Equine. I attended one of these demonstrations, standing within the focal point of the amphitheatre training my body to detect the incoming waves from the Equine. The most difficult part of the exercise was quieting the mind in order to focus only on the auditory part of the body. With eyes closed, we reached out our perception across the open expanse of the auditorium allowing the incoming waves propagating in from the surface of the sea to enter the vortex of air inside the center of the carved out stone shell. It was similar to the manifestations I experienced on the ferry but intensified. The feeling of something just out of hearing was gone replaced by an allover vibration soaking into my bones and traveling along my spine to finally exit into the rock through the souls of my feet. I felt like a lightening rod collecting the sound particle out of the air and focusing them down to a single stream flowing through my body before directing them into the rock below. Once again the sensation stayed with me long after I left the demonstration. Another surprising aspect of the Equine I did not expect to experience.

I returned to Nikolas's quarters ravenous from my day. I restrained my desire to relieve my hunger in anticipation of the evening meal. I busied myself making notes on the occurrences of the day while I waited impatiently for Nikolas to arrive. It was late as he predicted when he entered the door laden with the bounties of his craft. Several of his team accompanied him, also carrying various pieces of equipment and consumables. To my surprise they deposited these on the large work surface in his kitchen and after given a short salute to the two of us, left the premises. I was then treated to the most incredibly intimate culinary adventure I have ever had. Nikolas began by describing his culinary philosophy and the history behind his concepts. A follower of the eighteenth century practice of Transcendental gastronomy, Nikolas explained how he became fascinated with this practice after reading an ancient book written by Jean Anthelme Brillet-Squarine mapping out this discipline. The ancient manual drove his craft to new extremes in culinary experimentation and set the bases for his future endeavors. The process Nikolas finally settled on uses a combination of the practice of this ancient meditation philosophy with the scientific molecular methods introduced in the twenty-first century. The mix creates an atmosphere that promotes and encourages the diner to savor every bite of substinance and analyze the texture of the ingredients. Allowing each morsel to remain in the mouth until the full chemical reaction is experience to completion before ingestion. It sounds strange when I try to describe it. There are not really sufficient words to do it justice. After his explanation Nikolas then proceeded to demonstrate the various techniques used in his kitchen. We sat well into the night, talking and tasting. Discussing each plate of morsels as if we were art critics at a gallery opening. Some of the dishes were in my eyes to elegant to eat but Nikolas encouraged their destruction with each offering explaining their background history and connection to the Equine. He taught me how best to enjoy each dishes taste and form using meditation and visual techniques pulled from his study. He used the majority of his processes during the performance ranging from spherification to produce his honey caviar with black mushrooms, to foam production for his artichoke and espresso nebulas. Strangely we continued to consume for several hours but I never felt saturated. The last dish of olive oil bubbles encasing wild fungi left an aura of satisfaction that no dessert on Earth had ever produced in me. I remained in a state of enamoured admiration at the abilities of this incredible man as I assisted him, clearing the kitchen of all evidence of our culinary journey. We then stepped out of the house for a short walk to “assist in the process of our natural digestion”. Nikolas fell silent as we passed over the dark paths of the complex allowing each of us a quiet moment to contemplate the experience we had just had. My mind traveled back to the past hours as I gazed up at the Equine in the night sky and realized the creature had remained in my thoughts throughout the entire meal, injecting itself into every bite and flavoring every morsel. I remembered the revelation that I was tasting a small piece of the creature every nibble I consumed. Each creation contained a focal ingredient as the previous night’s offerings but the finished products Nikolas created had an added aspect not included by his staff. The rosewater crystals he created half way through the meal were stained the exact tint of the flowing limbs of the anomaly. The acacia honey mixed with black tea formed a living sculpture of spider web filaments representing the signals emanating from the equine. Each delicate thread an explosion of flavors when broken off and consumed. My mind raced on and on as we walked, making each meaningful connection as I thought of the experience as a whole. Nikolas glanced over at me as we arrived before his door and smiled. “Now you have the full story.” He said then turned and walked inside. It will be difficult to return to my boring soups and concoctions once I return to my studio in a few weeks. I did not think it was possible to learn two new methods allowing me to experience the Equine in one day. I am glad to be proved wrong.

Let us see what the rest of my visit will bring. Tomorrow I feel ready to return to the Equine Journal. The prediction is for stormy weather so it seems an opportune time to continue with my study.

Love,

Victoria

Dear Fellow Traveler,

A bleak and eerie entry from the Equine journal to begin my journey, Together with the equally dark dream I had last night, I feel the desire to share this occurrence with you. I will begin with the narrative from the Equine since it is foremost on my mind. The dream will follow since I also need to relate it.

Silence ensues throughout the surrounding space. Black, matterless, void of energy. No voices rise from the limits of her perceptions. The molecular deconstruction is complete. She is the last. Constricted into the last sustaining sector of her failing macrocosm with no outlet for escape. The loss of her community weighs greatly on her along with the occupation of why. The space continues to diminish and it becomes impossible to degrade her structure further without complete loss of mass. The acceptance of her demise is complete and she embraces the final moments of her exponential existence as it arrives. Her sensors shut down one after another until only a single point of awareness is left. A small gleam of energy is sensed at the apex of her shrinking space. The spark pulses from a miniscule slice in her ever collapsing capsule. Only a molecular distance across, she seizes the chance and slips through. Condensing herself into a string of quantum particles escaping one quark at a time. Stretching her mass to its extreme limit and emerging again on the other side of the exit as the slice in the infrastructure snaps shut.

I can feel the power of this entry all over again as I relate it for you. My heart is pounding and I feel every muscle along my spine spasm at the thought of such constriction. I am normally not affected by tight places, but the idea of being squeezed out of existence is terrifying. There are only three more entries in the journal before I come to the end but I hesitate to continue with my research. The narrative continues to darken as I near the end and I am not certain I want to experience it. If the Equine was not a constant visible reminder in the sky assuring me that it survived this dark adventure, I do not think I could continue with the journal. I always did read the end of the book when the story became too intense. Wanting to reassure myself who survived until the end. Since I know the creature will survive this story I will not skip to the end. If only I could read the end of our novel and see how it turns out. It would comfort me to see us happily enjoying our finished work surrounded by an appreciative audience. Oh well, I must stay with the present and concentrate on the here and now. Dark reading brings dark thoughts as father always said. I wonder what he would make of the next part of this tale.

I awoke this morning to a gloomy house. It was over an hour before Alpha Centauri was scheduled to show its head above the horizon and I was confused what had caused me to exit my sleep. The flagstone floor was cold beneath my feet as I stepped into my workshop and made my way to the door leading out onto the outer courtyard. Someone was standing just beyond the light of the open doors. They had their hands raised above their head, tracing patterns in the air. I walked closer watching the appendages forming intricate spirals and shapes in the blackness. Lights began to gather wherever the hands made contact with the sky, creating bright iridescent pictures until the figure was completely encased with an incredible halo of luminescent and color. It was as if the stars above were drawn to the the outstretched limbs, coming down to the planet surface to dance for them. I must have made some audible reaction because the figure suddenly stopped and dropped their arms. The beautiful patterns disappeared and the speckled night sky returned. I felt a moment of loss and thought at first it was due to the disappearance of the display. I then realize what was missing from my vantage point. The Equine was no longer in the sky above. Only the twinkle of stars and the empty inky black of space. The figure turned as I realized this loss. Thinking to see Katryna I was completely shocked when it was your face revealed by the glow from the doorway. I was just starting to work out why you had come to New London first instead of your New Lab when you collapsed onto the ground. I ran to your side and bent down, You were holding your hands together protecting something against your chest. I bent closer and you opened your fingers slightly. Within the cage created by your hands I could just glimpse the Equine. You slowly lifted your burden and deposited it into my hands, closing them tightly with your own. Your form then slowly faded, leaving me alone kneeling in a completely dark world.  

It wasn’t until the last instant that I realized I was dreaming. I can still feel the heat of the Equine within my cupped hands and the stones against my kneeling legs. When I did actually wake up I spent the morning in a daze, trying to complete the final preparations for my trip, If it had not been for Katryna I am not sure I would have made it to my train this afternoon, This is a lot for me to digest on my journey. I had hoped that the Equine entries would provide some distraction from the dream when I open the journal during the first hours on the train. Adversely it seems to have only emphasized the dark emotions I am already imbibed with. I am going to wait for a few days before continuing my journal study. I would like to see Nikolas before I put any more strain on my psyche. Luckily there is no need for me to paint during this emotional period. I cannot imagine what my creative brain would produce in my current state of mind. After I arrive at the mountain retreat we will see if I can continue till the end of the Equine chronicle.  

Love

Victoria

Dear Sister, 

The Equine creation is now complete and awaiting your attributions. After the difficult installation of the signal filaments, the large electronic assembly was in comparison easy.  I say in comparison since it was by no means a smooth process, but however it went it is now assembled. It will be difficult to keep my hands off till your arrival as the creature changes every day and I ache to add these additional features to the already completed painting. I know this will disrupt the careful connections I have set in place within the piece so I have covered the work and placed it away from sight,  It only awaits your expertise in arranging the complex settings then I can begin the analysis of the operational piece. I realize these numbers will have to wait until you sift through the mountains of data I have sent you and also your own measurements being collected on the Phycodurus at this moment. There is now over eight months of numbers accumulated there alone so I will have to be patient even after your arrival.  It will be more than enough trial for me to wait for this first event, let alone the months till your own  work comes to fruition. I am happy then to have a diversion in Nikolas. The studio is a constant reminder of the long wait so in three days time I am off to visit him for a four week stint. I contacted him last week before I began the final component installation and he assured me it would be no burden for me to stay with him for this extended time.  This will allow me a short respite from my work before Addison must depart for another assignment and I must assume all responsibilities for my compound. Katryna must also return to her own home for a short time to meet with several of her clients and tend to a few personal tasks.  It is not as if I will be leaving the Equine behind once I leave the studio and I am excited to learn more of how Nikolas has been influenced by the creature in his own work. I  also tired of my own simple cooking and the thought of experiencing one of his culinary masterpieces first hand has me salivating already.  He has an extra  room for my stay and although he must work while I am there he says there are ample things in the surrounding area to keep me occupied until he is free. I look forward also to observing another environment of New London since his retreat is located in the coastal mountains.  I will be unable to take the Geo-Train directly to the area as the line ends before reaching his location.  The last six hundred kilometers will have to be completed by sea as there is no land transportation available yet for this area of New London. His restaurant is closer in kilometers than Delphi but because of the transportation situation it will take me the same amount of time to travel there.  Two days by train and one on the Zephyr ferry.  The later is a cross between a sailing ship and a high speed hydro-plane.  It uses only wind power as a momentum force but can reach speeds in excess of one hundred kilometers per hour.  Another form of transport for me to experience but I am not looking forward to this ride as much as I was to the Geo-train. At least it will keep my mind off your impending arrival and the finished piece locked away in my atelier storage.  This will leave me only a wait of a month upon my return to the studio before your ship is scheduled to arrive.  Katryna will also be returning to continue her studies and I will have the full operation of the studio site to occupy my thoughts. Addison will be leaving as soon as I return so I hope I have learned enough from him to keep everything operational. 

The weather has begun to clear since the summer is approaching.  The humidity has dropped allowing for more attributes of the Equine to appear that could not be viewed in the danker atmosphere of the winter months. I struggle with the desire to start another representation of the creature even though I know there is no time to complete it before I leave for my journey. I know my creative brain needs a pause before beginning a new work, but my inner self is struggling with this decision.  I detect no signs of the Equine growth toward the space containing the Flynn satellite but it is still a few months before this phenomenon was viewed from Earth.  The time gape is very  prevalent in my thought as I wonder what is being viewed on Earth now.  Has the Equine revealed what it intends by this time on Earth, or is it still unclear what the creature it growing towards.  It will not help to check the messages from mother Earth as the question will no doubt cross the incoming message of what we are about to experience here  and what Earth viewed two years ago.  It would be helpful if the message barrier could catch up to the space travel time, but as sound data and matter are two different things, the Gambol process would not work.  I cannot believe I have been away from my home planet for almost two years.  It seems like only yesterday that I boarded the transport in Brighton for my adventure into space. I am surprised how quickly this planet has become my home.  I know it has everything to do with my relationship to the Equine.  I feel I am sharing my life with it, watching the magnificent view of its ever present form above me.  This may be why my hand itches again to copy the ever changing form onto canvas.  It is the only way I truly feel connected to it and I feel an almost addictive tendency that I must return to time and again.  Afraid that if I do not then it will be impossible to maintain the relationship I have learned to rely on.  If i describe it this way it sounds very unhealthy. This is not what I am trying to portray as I have never felt more alive and center than I do now.  I only find it difficult to imagine my life before this creature was present.  I hope once our work is completed and the finished piece is displayed on Earth that I can be near it.  I cannot imagine returning to normal life on Earth without being able to experience the Equine on at least some level.

I am taking the dream journal with me on my trip to see Nikolas.  I want to concentrate my full attention on the remaining entries and this will be easier away from the studio.  It will be sad when I have completed them all.  I have found great comfort in the journal pages.

Love,

Victoria

Dear Annalis,
Another offering from the Equine journal. I feel definitively drawn to this conversation with the creature. The first appearance of time reference appears in this passage. It gave me the impression that this is a new concept for it to grasp.

Tendrils of energy flow outward. Reaching to the far corners of her limits, searching out the signals powerful enough to grasp. The waves fluctuate along the entire spectrum attempting to locate an oscillating match within this quadrant of existence. Various energy signatures draw her attention but are quickly dismissed as their patterns and frequencies disrupt her current symmetry. The search continues for many cycles of the solar body before at last success. Nearly two-hundred celestial intervals have elapsed since her emergence into this quadrant and her hopes of discovering an adequate advocate had swindled. Here at the extreme range of her newly extended sensors appears energy that sings in harmony to her own. Powerful, steady and unphased by her touch. A dialog is started and she once again moves forward.  

As I read these words again, I cannot help thinking of Katryna and her relationship with the Equine. From the dream journal the Equine infers that it takes a distinct mind to allow cognizant contact. Brain waves emitted at a specific frequency and additional oscillation to attract the creatures own complicated wave emissions. I know from Katryna that there have only been a handful of people over the last hundred years who were able to communicate with the Equine on her level. I believe only a few dozen by her estimation and all native Neo-Britannians. I am not sure how to interpret the Equine’s reference of time intervals. It could be referring to the celestial cycles of Alpha Centauri II or even Proxima as it is also within this system. Since there has only been human colonists on New London for a little over two hundred planetary years I believe it is referring to the planetary time frame. As I said before, time seems a strange and unfamiliar concept to the Equine so I may be completely off track in this assessment of the dream entry. I cannot help but conclude the ability to attract the Equine by these few is related to the brain activity detected by my scans. Harmonic frequencies seem to draw the creature to these people. In reference to the scans completed on Katryna, she does have definitive increases in certain frequency ranges not prominent in the Earth born brains. It also fits in with the creatures reaction to the music performed at the conservatory. There was such a vast offering of wavelengths and frequencies during the performance I attended and later the recordings that I studied, the Equine must have been basking in the glow of these oscillations. I must delve deeper into this line before I attempt to include an auditory addition to my art.

Another week has passed and Katryna is settling into her new role here at the studio. She has taken over the archival tasks needed to capture my daily activities and has started recording the complicated processes needed to obtain the sustainability test results. This has given her new insight into how her own relationship with the Equine works by studying my processes. She also has a talent with the care of living things and has started creating a paradise in my hydro garden and greenhouse. Since Addison will be leaving the site in a little over a month it has been a great help for her to stabilize this area of my complex. Along with the archiving of my own activities she has been experimenting with new way to record her own visions from the Equine, hoping to discover a way to make them more clear for her clients. Although the artistic aspects of her apprenticeship did not come to fruition it does seem that she is going to benefit from her time with me. I feel a bit guilty at times since her presence here has been extremely helpful in adding additional data to my study of the local environment and inhabitants. I hope as time progresses she will reap the harvest of our collaboration. She has not been forthcoming on how her own studies are progressing but I hope she will reveal this in her own time. It is enough for me now that she is benefiting to some degree.

I have now completed the full depiction of the Equine using only Neo-Britannian material. It is a mesmerizing piece and I catch myself staring at the canvas every time I pass it in the studio. It is several centimeters larger than any of my other renditions and the native material adds additional depth and vibrance compared to my earlier works. I have been occupied over the last few days with the installation of the intricate signal connecting lines within the piece. The frustrations caused by this complicated application is beyond description. It takes my full concentration to keep my hands steady as i run the delicate gossamer wires through the weave of the canvas, creating connections between the different emission points. Luckily I can do most of this installation from the back side of the painting. If I had to execute this task in full view of the hypnotic rendition of the Equine form I would be unable to maintain the needed concentration. I reminds me of grandmother teaching us to knit. One false move and the entire pattern unravels. I still have at least two more exhausting days to complete this task then I can move on to the larger electronic components. After that I will have to wait for you. The neural repeater levels and delta frequency wave settings are way beyond my pay grade. These will have to wait for you and your completed research results at the space lab before the levels can be set. I have included a scan of this last piece with this letter. I completed the scan before I began the connector installation so there would be no interference from the electrical signals. I was able to tweak my resonant camera to catch the new aspects of the Anomaly in this latest work. This includes also the visibility of the new spectral additions my equipment previously did not pick up. It is the most accurate image I have achieved so far on a digital level and if I compare the copy to the original there are few omissions. I only hope that after it travels millions of kilometers through space to your lab that nothing gets lost in the vastness of empty vacuum.

I have still not heard from the Flynn foundation scientist Dr. Falton. This is unfortunate since within the next month the movement of the Equine should start to be apparent. I have given up any attempt to contact him and hope that in time he will contact me. I have attempted to obtain more information on the satellite facility over the last few weeks through public channels. There has been a few tidbits of information there as the foundation is busy building up to the official opening of the research center in the next few months. This may be why Dr. Falton is out of contact. His is the head of the research division and must be swamped. We will just have to wait and see. It does not help to dwell on this particular mystery since all my attempts have been to no avail and it distracts me from my true goal.  

The time is quickly drawing near to your arrival in this system. When the components are in place for my latest piece I am going to contact Nikolas. A trip to the highlands will be a welcome divergence to help me wait out the last few months. I also cannot move forward with our project at that point as I will need your expertise. I miss you so much.

Love,

Victoria

Dear sister,

Once again you return to my dreams. Silver snowflakes tumble from the leaden sky, covering your shoulders in a glittering mantel. Your auburn hair is pulled back away from your face and cascades down your back in an elaborate braid glittering with drops of melted ice. You are clad in the ensemble mother created for your first visit to the opera but now in a mature rendition. The lake behind you is frozen and I can just make out the fish struggling to reach the surface. They collide with the ice in a vain attempt to crack the thick rime separating them from the world above. You gesture to the sky above and when I direct my gaze up to the snow ridden air I see the Equine. It’s form is just visible through the thick cloud layer and I can make out a strange distortion maring it’s beautiful form. The creature has become elongated. Straining horizontally three times the normal width. An overpowering sense of suffering reaches me from the Anomaly. Panic and extreme exertion radiate from the space above, filling my mind beyond it’s limits and crushing my delight at seeing you. I pull my gaze from the sight above and focus once more on your face. There is sorrow in your eyes and tears flow from them to drop like frozen opals onto the snow covered ground, I stare at the quickly growing collection around you marveling at the reflection of the Equine within their opulent surface. Although I welcome your return to my dreams, I awoke this morning very unsettled.

I have just returned from my run, totally exhausted but saturated with life stimulating endorphins. I forgot how invigorating this natural form of exercise can be having depended exclusively on the simulator since my departure from Earth. The systems were necessary aboard the Derringer and space lab but I should have made more time here on New London for natural exercise. I have been relying on the computer environment installed in my workshop for my daily exertions but I realized this morning it was inadequate for my current mental state and I made the decision to extend my run to the outdoors today. Not only because the weather condition are now ideal for this type of activity but it was the only way I could pull my spirit back to the present. My thoughts kept returning to that icy shore and the tormented creature above. I knew the simulator would not be sufficient to return my attention to the present and it has been a good reminder of my enjoyment of this natural activity. I have now returned to a semblance of my normal self but the need to relay this experience to you should be the final treatment to allow me to return to work. I cannot begin to interpret the meaning behind this vision but on any type of level it was not encouraging. It brings back the view of the Equine we saw from Earth that will soon be visible here on New London and the growth towards the Flynn foundation satellite. I hope our original conclusions for the movement are correct and that the Equine is reaching out to the children in order to assist the research there. The vision last night brings a more sinister prognosis for the elongation of the Anomaly’s limbs and the idea creates an ominous atmosphere for my thoughts to dwell in. The run has not totally washed away these dark ideas but I am able to analyze it now with a bit more logic. I will return tomorrow to the Equine journal as I seem to find guidance there when I most need it. The entries strangely correspond to my current situation and although this may only be coincidental it is equally comforting either way. A small nudge of guidance if you will from my companion above.

Katryna arrives tomorrow and I am as prepared as I can be for her apprenticeship to begin. I have the one reference piece of the Anomaly completed and enough raw material for her to produce the basic spectrum of paints. The first task will be the discovery of a green tint material to replace the pytherium and also a native source for the canvas conditioner. I only hope my present state of mind will not be too evident when she arrives but I fear this will not be entirely possible as she is a very perceptive soul. I am not ready to delve into our dream encounters at his time since it would interfere with the work she will be undertaking. In the future it might be helpful to consult with her in the interpretations of my dreams but for now I want to keep them to myself. They are to intimate to share as they are my only contact with you for now. 

I have completed the setup of the metrology equipment, including the creation of an interface with the lab equipment in the workshop. Hopefully this will streamline the direct comparison data between a real time solar event and the lab equipment readings during the same period. The shielded bunker built for the atmospheric units should block out any erroneous signals from the planet surface and record only the noise projected from Alpha Centauri. The only issue with the setup was the miscalculation of the bunker size. I forgot to include the increase in size of the liquid helium separation unit. Since it needs to be ten centimeters longer to compensate for the atmospheric conditions on this planet this was not included in my original designs. It is a little tight within the structure now but since I do not need to spend more than a few minutes a month inside this should not be an issue. The isolating gap for the liquid helium to encapsulate the receiver was sufficient so at least that part of my designs were not affected by the thinner atmosphere of New London.The passive environmental controls create a stable atmosphere within the space so the equipment will also need a minimal amount of maintenance. Before sealing up the bunker I did scan the strange symbol inside the atmospheric scanner. I have compared it to the shield symbol present in my notes from the Louvre. They are identical. I am now convinced you placed this inside the unit before it was assembled. I am very curious why you did this and did not mention it to me, but since it will be six month before I am able to ask you I will have to be patient. It is not a normal thing for you to keep secrets from me. Maybe a little mystery to keep my mind busy or a distraction to pull me out of my artistic stupor? Whatever you reasoning I will have to wait and wonder. 

I feel the workshop whispering my name. I only hope the dream last night will not affect my next representation of the Equine. I will begin my work day with one of the stronger music selections from the conservatory. That should bring up memories of the creature during the performance in Delphi and push the visions of  last night to the back of my thoughts. I would rather paint the dancing Equine than the distorted vision I experienced over the icy lake.

With loving thoughts. 

Victoria

                                                               Delphi

The vibrations draw her attention as soon as the projected extensions of conscious thought touches the small orb floating in the vicinity of the energy source. Rhythmic throbbing echoes out into the air surrounding the fragile creatures. It does not emanate from the life organ of the small beings, but is produced by them all the same. Music. She plucks the name out from one of the thought wavelengths present within the small dwelling used by the planet’s occupants. The sound travels through the empty space between the spinning orb and her coordinates. There is a delay from when the sound reaches the creatures hearing organs and the point in time the wavelengths reach her sensors. She squeezes the space between her location and the creatures so the music is experienced simultaneously amongst them. She wishes to examine the creature’s thoughts in conjunction with her own and the time delay caused by the great distance between her and the planet would affect the outcome of the experience. She begins to analyze the different visionary patterns the sounds produce within the minds of those closest to the music source. She feels the emotional response generated within them as the music progresses. The intricate structure of the wavelengths produced by the vocal organ of the performers mix with the various organic instruments to produce a harmonic offering that sparks an inner awakening within her. Euphoric attachment to a long deceased companion flows through the thoughts of one creature, creating a connection between her past and the thought patterns the current complex wavelength produces from her exposure to the musical ensemble inside the structure. Visions of the individual’s entire life filter through her sensory system, absorbed as visual frequency waves radiating down her ever expanding limbs. The increase in information combined with the overwhelming emotional emissions assist with the growth rate of her complex neural system. Additional flowing feather-like structures unfold on the ends of her extended limbs. New spectral color ranges add to the existing library of data within her network, allowing her to transmit new displays and patterns, She hesitates to send waves back to the humanoid fearing it will alter, or altogether halt, the current stream of information the creature has in response to the music. The need to reach out is too great and she sends a small push toward the planet, adding a touch of sympathy in her transmission for the sadness the music inflicts on the creature. An aura of well- being and gratitude surrounds the message to assist with the repair of the individual’s psyche. A noticeable change comes over the humanoid as her message reaches across the vast space to settle within the mind of the woman. A softening of the intense melancholy the music had produced occurs. The woman’s mind turns to more pleasant thoughts provoked by the music. An almost palpable sigh of content travels down her neural receivers, creating again new growth and spectral variations as she withdraws her attention from the quaint scene and returns her vision inward.

I needed to relate this passage from the Equine journal first to you Annalis before I continued with the rest of my letter. My entire experience this evening has been flavored by this Equine entry and I wanted to set the stage before continuing with my narrative. 
I have just returned from the music conservatory and I am sitting down to record the experience as soon as possible before the wonder of the evening dissipates. The performance began just after Alpha Centauri fell below the horizon and the large artisan hall was filled to capacity. Acoustic panels translucent to the sky above allowed an unimpaired view of the full splendor of the Equine above. No clouds marred the evening’s spectacle and all eyes remained fixed on the vision above, as if the entire population were viewing it for the first time. As the lights dimmed, a hush fell over the crowd in anticipation of the opening number. My seat slowly reclined back to allow a direct viewing of the sky above as the music commenced. It is beyond my feeble literary powers to attempt to describe the sound filling the auditorium this evening, but for you I will try. As the music progressed my mind flitted through every emotion I had ever experienced throughout my entire life. Compassion, pain, love, despair, all were equally endured as the music reverberated around the perfect acoustical space. I felt I was the Equine itself, experiencing the human condition throughout our history on a pure emotional level. The sensations of joy were equally as welcomed as the experiences of sorrow, and my mind revelled in each new offering from the musicians. Vocals and instrumentation combined in such a way that it was difficult to distinguish one from another. The Equine above pulsed and oscillated in response to the vibrations felt through my seat, sending full spectral rainbows down it’s flowing limbs, engaging visual senses as well as oratory. I had to remind myself that this was no visual aberration created on a screen but a real sentient being experiencing the performance in union with the audience.
I heard an audible intake of breath from the audience as the music came to a close and we were once again returned to our seated positions, I realized my face was damp with emotion and noted several people nearby dabbing at their own eyes. A slow murmur rose within the auditorium as the crowd awoke from the euphoria of the performance. I could not bring myself to even speak to another human being for fear that the spell would be broken, so I quickly ducked out of the hall, foregoing the after reception and silently walked back to my lodgings. The Equine was my only companion, hanging in the sky above as I made my way through the darkened streets. 

Upon returning to my rooms I immediately took up my dream journal and read the aforementioned entry. I had already read this passage at my studio, but it had now taken on an entirely new significance, and the need to read it again was overpowering. I know now that our project will not be complete without this added concept. My response to the Equine has never been this intense and the added emotional connection I experienced tonight has given me much to contemplate. I must step back from my original vision for our project and see how to incorporate this extraordinary addition to the experience. I know it will put a strain on an already complicated task, but if you had been with me tonight, I know you would be of the same mind. The Equine experience is not complete while we omit this sensory addition. I only wish that you had been able to attend. I have been altered in a very significant way. It remains to be seen if it is for the best.

My love Always,

Victoria