The Beaded Tapestry

Phycodurus-8

Dear Analis,

Reluctantly I am preparing to leave the station tomorrow. I believe my time here has been used wisely and I have become strangely attached to your humble lab space.  Obviously it is you I will miss when I leave here as your presence is felt every moment I work in the lab.  The transport from the Derringer-8 will be here shortly after midday and I will be back on board the ship by the following morning.  It is a short trip compared to the journey from Earth but since I will be sharing the small passenger space with ten other travelers it will be a little confining.  It is difficult to fathom that in fifteen days I will be setting foot on New London.  My temporary lodgings in Delfi have been confirmed and as soon as all the formalities for the debarking process  are completed I will immediately begin planning the final leg of my journey.  I heard some disturbing news about the conditions in Delfi so I will arrange that my stay there is as brief as possible.  It seems the protests and demonstrations instigated by the Cultavist sect have escalated.  Some of these have turned violent and though no one has been killed there has been a number of injuries. The confrontations are mainly between the sect and the security forces within the Delfi area but there are also reports of property damage and civilian harassment in the outlying areas. Since these are mostly centered around the more populated areas of New London I am hopeful it will not interfere with my plans. I find it sepulchral that what was once deemed the creative epicenter of the human race is now plagued by the violence of close minded extremists. I hope we can change this in the following years. With the new influx of families and artist scheduled to arrive in the next two years I believe we can tip the balance on New London back to the artistic and scientific endeavors.  From the reports it seems more a center for religious fanatics and belligerent lotus-eaters.  I was never one for involvement in causes,  but I believe this may be my exception as I have never felt this type of dedication to any project in my entire life.

Okay I have had my rant for  today.  On a more positive note I I have made contact with the hired contractor for the build of the studio. He assured me all is on schedule and the majority of the building materials and supplies are already onsite.  As usual on New London all has been stored in temporary underground storage containers so the chance of theft or vandalism is decreased. Addison has been on New London for two years and is an exclusive contractor for the scientific and artisan society. This is his first project for the Louvre and he has given me the impression that he shares our enthusiasm for what we are trying to achieve. I was surprised that he knew such detailed information about our work but it seems the Louvre found it important he was well informed so that the build would go as expected. As there are many specialty supplies needed for the construction of the studio, Addison needed detailed instruction on what they would be used for so there would be no substitute material ordered. This gives me great comfort as I will now have assistance from someone familiar with my new home.

I will give you a bit of advice before you transport to the Phycodurus.  Find a good supply of coffee to bring with you.  The food on board the station is decent and they make good use of the hydroponic crops, but they have not produced any type of natural stimulate close to the real thing.  They do have a synthetic substitute and I know it will in no way satisfy your addiction, so be forewarned. I realize this is information that would have been more helpful before you left Earth, but I had no idea until I arrived onboard. I find it strange to find this lack on the station but I guess they do not have the same priorities as we do.  The coffee on the Derringer was palatable and maybe you can convince the commodities officer on board your transport to arrange a supply for you.  I will try and send you some after I am set up in my new home but I am not sure if that is possible. I now find myself contemplating the condition on New London. It may be that I  have to find a way to grow a coffee crop myself.

The planning officer for the lab sector of the station has all your in depth instructions for the maintenance of the lab over the next year.  She assured me that your instructions will be followed to the letter and that she will send me updated reports of any issues that might arise.  She seems a very competent technician and I believe she will solve any problems with efficiency and speed.  This is reassuring to me as I feel I am running off to join the circus leaving your child to fend for itself.  I know this is what we agreed to but as I stated before I am reluctant to leave but I am also excited to begin my new life.  I will have to schedule a session of meditation tonight or I will never be able to sleep.

Love Always

Victoria

Phycodurus-8

My Dear Analis,

I am laying on my bed attempting to calm down after a very trying day.  The morning started very productive and I was able to complete my first full color rendition of the Anomaly.  Unfortunately that was the end of my endeavors for today.  As I was heading to the observation deck for the midday meal all the bells and whistles on board the ship started to sound.  You can imagine my panic as we are drilled of the dangers that can arise on a deep space station from the moment we step onboard.  I changed my direction immediately and headed toward the muster point assigned to me.  Most of the lab personnel were already gather there and we were quickly directed to the emergency shelter of the station.  It turned out that a series of solar flares were detected originating from Alpha Centauri B. In the past this has caused unexplained responses from the area of space around the Anomaly. As a precaution the station places all non-essential  personnel in extra shielded areas of the station during the event. Needless to say it was not a pleasant afternoon sitting with thirty fidgeting  scientist and technicians in a twelve by twelve meter room for six hours. All of which were complaining about the necessity of the quarantine since they all wanted to be in their lab environments to study the Anomaly during the event. I gathered from the various conversations that the flares were not an uncommon occurrence and many of the longer residence here were questioning the need for such precautions.  It seems their instruments had not picked up any abnormal readings from the Anomaly during the past flares and they were convinced there is something going on that is not being shared outside of official channels. We were finally allowed to exit the shielded area late in the evening and I only had a few minutes to check the equipment for damage before returning to my quarters.  I did not discover any issues with the instruments  but I did notice some strange readings from the optical enhancement unit and the wave unit. They showed significant fluctuations during the alleged times of the solar flares. As this could also be due to the heightened tensions on board during the emergency conditions,  I am not convinced they are detections from the Anomaly.  I still cannot rule out this possibility as no other lab has this type of equipment on board. I have marked all this data with special notations so you can analyze them at a later time.  When I arrive on New London I will contact the meteorology department so they can alert me of any future solar activity.  That way I can send you a schedule for future reference to compare the current data with those from future occurrences.

I now have three composite drawings of the Anomaly along with the full color piece completed today.  I have decided to leave at least one of these composites on the space station for you.  I have not decided which one yet as they all include important but different aspects.  I will know which one will be best for your research before I leave.  I have reluctantly found it necessary to revert to my Hermetics practice of meditation over the last few days. I am no longer a devote follower of the Theorem and I found this a bit hypocritical even though it has turn out to be helpful. As the days have ticked by my emotional instability has decreased and I can now work with a clear purpose.  I was so full of sensory overload when I first arrived that I was worried it would not be possible to use my time here productively.  I will likely not get another chance to study the Anomaly in this type of environment again so I am happy my mental acuity has stabilized.  I can still feel the storm coming and I catch myself standing at the observation window expecting to hear the sound of thunder.  It never comes but the view of the Anomaly brings me back to the present.  I am not sure if it is the renewal of my meditation ritual or the influence from the Anomaly. I am more inclined to give the Anomaly credit. I feel that it is a focal point grounding me  in my own skin.  Allowing me to live in the moment and not slip forward or backward through time.  This is a new thing for me as you know.  I can be so easily distracted by the little things. Regret and disappointments from the past and worry over the future have always flavored my craft. That was what drew me to the Hermetalists in the first place.  The response I get from the Anomaly is altogether different than my experience with the faith.  It is not the mesmerizing reaction caused by the rolling formation of clouds or the incoming waves on the beach.  These are the tactics used for my previous meditation practice.  The Anomaly focus my attention instead of diverting it.  I spent six hours yesterday and four hours today on the color image and my mind was centered completely on my work.  Not a good thing for my digestion as I forgot to eat but very beneficial for my art.  It is by far the most accurate depiction of the Array I have completed.  I begin to understand the concept of pre-recognition that has plagued the artist and scientists on Earth.  All of us had our first view of the Anomaly from photos and  research originating from Earth.  We already had predetermined images in our brains of how the Anomaly looked from those depictions.  Yesterday I concentrated on seeing the phenomenon for the first time without any preconceived ideas of what I should be seeing.  I determined that I was missing something several days ago as I was working on a piece of equipment on the far side of the lab from the observation window.  I caught a view of the Anomaly from the corner of my eye and there appeared to be additional appendices that were not there when i turned back to the window and looked at the view full on.  I immediately looked back at my previous work and I realized how distorted they are compared to what I see now.  I wonder if the readings from the equipment will reflect these differences also.  I spent yesterday and today trying to capture the true image of the Anomaly. I have compared my current work with the last few painting I completed on Earth.  They are worlds apart in color and complexity.  Seen from my current perspective the internal structure of the Anomaly is similar to the working of a clock.  I can see rhythmic pulses and rotating components within the core of the array.  The appendixes seem to flow and ripple with unseen wave currents. On Earth it was like I was studying a still life and now the live model has arrived in the studio.  

I see that I have begun to ramble.  That is a sure sign that it is time for sleep.  I have scanned the completed color rendition with this letter so you can view it while reading my description.   It is also available on the lab archives along with the rest of my work completed here.

Know that I think of you everyday.

Love

Victoria

Phycodurus-8

Dearest sister,

I am making an attempt to write you a letter as I sit in the observation lounge of the Phycodurus.  I have an unobstructed view of the Phenomenon from my current position and I find it hard to concentrate on anything else.  Fortunately for you I am determined to give you a full description of what I am experiencing and this seems the ideal way.  I have tried to write from the lab but the distractions are too high and I end up manipulating the lab equipment or doodling on the letter paper instead of writing words.  

The tremor in my hand is now completely gone and I have made the first attempt at capturing the Anomaly in a drawing.  There is no way to put down on canvas or paper the energy emanating from the Array. Even with the reinforced structure of the station between me and the source I can still detect the strong energy waves that the Anomaly emits.  It is similar to the rise in air pressure before a strong thunderstorm on Earth except there is no rise or ebb to the flow. Only a constant presence that reminds me there is something there.  I have experienced none of the spiritual or emotional waves here that are reported to be present on New London,  but this is as we expected with the research station located so close to the Anomaly. As we are depending on your scientific methods to capture this aspect of the Anomaly along with the energy emanations,  I will try my best to produce a final image to complement your accomplishments.

Looking out the window, the Anomaly fills two-thirds of the observable space from where I am sitting.  The Phycodurus-8 is positioned in space so that the Anomaly appears to be floating away from the station.  It seems to be moving towards Alpha Centauri B and New London.  From the reports this is not the case.  The coordinates for the center of the array have not changed since the scientific community started taking readings over two hundred years ago.  Only the area of space that the Anomaly covers has changed. It is now well over one hundred and sixty million kilometers across and near twice that size from top to bottom.  My first colored rendition included over three hundred different colors and pigments.  As the dominant visual color is in the blue end of the spectrum I have arranged for extra supplies to be ordered for the studio in New London. Our initial research completed on Earth did not indicate that the array ran towards the blue, so I need to change my creative strategy in order to capture the true nature of the array.

The lab equipment has now been completely set-up and all the settings adjusted according to your specifications.  It has been nearly ten years since I worked in a technical environment and it took me some time to familiarize myself with some of the equipment that you have ordered.  Even so, there were some pieces such as the optical enhancement unit and the wave detection module that I have never seen before.  I assume these are two of the pieces you designed and built as there was no manufacturer’s label and no way to access the internals of the instruments.  Following your instructions felt a little like I was one of the Shakespearean witches. I caught myself quoting Macbeth  as I added the eye of Newt and essence of dragons breath to my brew. Double , Double toil and trouble.  That was about the extent of my savoir faire as I completed the final adjustments to the equipment.  All in all it appears everything is working as your instructions describe and no green spectre has arisen from my cauldron as yet.

I have received word from NIcolas on the Derringer-8. He has been released from medical and will be able to transfer with us to New London as scheduled.  From his message it seems that his electronic prosthesis was the cause for the unexpected complication to the stasis process.  Although there have been great strides in regeneration of limbs in the medical field, there is still no reliable regrowth therapy for the optic nerves. I had noticed when I first met him that Nicolas had some type of cyber enhancements installed on his face, but I was not aware until he wrote that he lost his sight to illness when he was very young. I thought it was a voluntary addition  he had requested as this type of modification is very popular with the younger generation.  The medical staff explained to him that it was a rare reaction but they had encountered it before and were prepared for such occurrences.  I am happy that you opted for regeneration of you arm and not an implant.  Although it would have made you more in vogue to have a metallic arm,  it could also have complicated your journey.

The observation lounge was filling with people, so I have now moved back to the lab.  It is now shift change for the stations regular personnel and many head straight for the viewing areas of the Anomaly once they have some free time.  I have spoken briefly to a few of the regular staff member when I have encountered then in the common areas.  They seem reluctant to start any type of friendship with the temporary people here so I have not been able to get much information other than a short response.   I guess it is too much effort to make a close association with someone who will only be staying for a few weeks.  I assume it will be different for you since you will be a more permanent resident.  I was assigned small temporary accommodations near the lab for my short stay here.  They are away from the normal resident area of the space station and are uncomfortably small. Not even a fold down desk or chair is installed in the space. Just a small sleeping bunk and a sanitation room.  The permanent quarters that have been reserved for you are luckily more spacious.  I was only able to view them when I arrived during my orientation tour of the station as they are currently occupied by another staff member.  He will be transferring off the station at the same time you arrive.  He was the exploration pilot slated for the close flyby of the Anomaly.  None of the unmanned probes sent within the proximity of the Anomaly have returned or sent back any data and they have now deemed his flight plans as too risky.  I suppose he will be returning to Earth or one of the surrounding stations leaving his quarters free for you.  I was hoping to prepare your rooms while I was here but as space is a high commodity here, temporary personnel are given the smaller accommodations.  I think you will be happy with what has been arranged for you.  All the rooms have access to an amazing holo program for the resident wall panels.  You can decorate your walls  from  a variety of programmable themes. Some of them also include music and sounds to enhance the experience.  Unfortunately there are no viewing ports on the residential side of the station so I think this is a nice alternative.  Since  the station is dedicated to the scientific study of the Anomaly I guess it makes sense to give viewing priority to the labs. They are all situated on one side of the station with all the residence and support areas on the other.  

I have eight days left on the Phycodurus-8 and I hope in that time any issues with the lab equipment will surface.  At least that way I can attempt to correct the problem before I leave.  I catch myself talking to you constantly when I am in the lab.  Luckily there are no voice activated system running at this time as that could create an awkward situation.  It is very lonely without you here and I wish we could have done this together. Just the ability to discuss with you how the Anomaly is affecting me would be welcomed.  I was not expecting this collection of raw emotions to interfere with my thoughts and creative work, especially not while I am still on the space station. It would be ideal if you were here to compare notes.

I look forward to the time when that is possible.

Love Victoria

Phycodurus-8

Dear Analis,

I have finally reached a point in the lab assembly where I feel comfortable to sit for a few moments and write you a letter.  It has already been four days since I was transported to the Phycodurus-8 and I wanted to write to you while my first impressions are fresh in my mind. Although it has been a slow start to the lab work, I am now making better progress. I have found a sanctuary from the distracting and  sterile atmosphere of the lab in one of the stations three atriums for hydroponics and oxygen generation.  The soothing sounds of water dripping from the moisture generators in the glass paneled structure has a calming effect on me and also allows me to concentrate on my letter to you. The medical staff on the Derringer-8 fully cleared me two days after our arrival here, but I still have the slight tremor in my right hand.  It has diminished significantly in the last three days and I feel confident by the time the lab is operational I can resume my artistic endeavors.  I have said that the atrium is a refuge from the atmosphere of the lab, but I find it nearly impossible to leave it most days as the view of the anomaly is all encompassing.  From my very first site upon arriving it is everything I ever dreamed it would be.  The viewing area on the Derringer-8 was near empty  except for a few crew members and I was able to spent most of my two days of recuperation there.  My hand has been itching to begin the first sketch since that moment and I have been drawing in my imagination almost constantly. Unfortunately as soon as I pick up the charcoal the tremor brings me back to reality. I will have to be patient a little bit longer.  For the first time in my long association with the array I am doubting my ability to capture the true essence of the phenomenon.  It is impossible to put into words the beauty of seeing it´s form suspended in the blackness of space.  LIke a feathered aberration in the deep oceans, spreading its leafy appendices over an unimaginable area of the universe. .  The color variations are indescribable and I will have to use all my ability to mix the color pigments to capture them.  All the images we have captured from Earth do not even come close to the actual view from here. The outlook  from the lab is by far the purest.  The large viewing window uses the true spectrum material we requested and it make all the difference in keeping any type of shape or color distortion to a minimum.  I have also used the main viewing area of the station and as they use the same normal vacuum glass as the Derringer-8 it definitely alters the coloring of the anomaly and also blocks out many of it’s features. I wish it was possible to get a view without any type of interference.  I will have to think on that possibility.

I am currently about fifty percent completed with the instrument set up in the lab.  I am trying to get the essential equipment set up and recording as fast as possible.  Then I can set up the peripheral equipment next as they are not needed to start collecting data from the anomaly. As I predicted the growth of the anomaly near the Flynn foundation is not evident at this time.  The Flynn satellite was just completed six months ago and their research only began within the last few weeks.  It feels strange to be experiencing things now that I know have already happened.  I am tempted to contact them and share what we know from our observation from Earth over the last two years, but as you have let me know they are not willing to discuss their research with us. I know from a news release I read before the journey that they have over three hundred children housed on the artificial satellite.  Most have a degenerating disease or a birth defect that affects their quality of life.  I may try to contact the director of the facility once I am established on New London.  They have a small corporate complex that is near where my studio is planned.  Hopefully I can convince them in person that sharing information can be a benefit to both sides. If it would help with the research to prolong or improve on the life of a child, I am willing to grovel.  

Sadly my friend NIcolas was still under sedation when I left the Derringer-8 and I was unable to see him.  Hopefully when I return to the ship for transfer to New London he will be up and about.   I see from your ship’s itinerary that you should now be beginning your second year of stasis. Right on schedule.  That is encouraging. I enjoyed reading through all the letters you sent during my stasis.  I am still sifting through the data you included but I have started using some of it to set up the correct settings for the monitors installed outside the outer ring of the station. The remote unit is working as expected and I am able to make very delicate adjustments to the positioning arm.

I am a bit disappointed that the committee has not given a designation to the anomaly yet.  If they do not do it soon I will make one for myself as I tire of calling it the anomaly/phenomenon/array. I also want to thank you for the great picture of your new appendage.  Now if you could stop biting your nails long enough to get a nice manicure that would be ideal.

I will continue to write so you will have a running diary of the next year of  activities to read when you are retrieved from stasis.  I considered starting a personal diary to record my activities but it seemed more intimate to continue to write you letters.  I have started a lab notebook with all relevant findings and I will leave this in the lab when I leave and start a new one for the studio on New London.  I hope the lab will be as you expect when you arrive.  

Love always

Victoria