002; action

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

[Saleh stands at the top of the large hill not too far from the lab. It's a fine spot to be watching the city from, but the view isn't what he's interested in today. This is just a place he's taken a liking to.

Both hands raised to chest level, at first glance, his posture may seem odd when a small cube appears out of thin air. It rotates slowly before vanishing as Saleh drops his hands back to his sides. He lets out a mirthful breath.]

There are exceptions, after all.

[He brushes his fringe aside, only for the breeze to blow it right back in place. He smirks.]

The wind is especially good today.

Comments

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

*Saleh turns, and, taking a look at the boy, responds nonchalantly.*

Just a little something that should belong to only one race.

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

Technically, race is a construction, you know. Genetically, all humans are the same.

*He seems to have misunderstood.*

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

An interesting idea, but then let me ask you, what's a human?

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

? I could go into detail, but it'd be complicated... Humans are mammals, at least, and are presumed to have evolved from the same genetic ancestry as apes, though precisely where the family branched off has yet to be properly uncovered. If that's what you mean.

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

You're a technical one, aren't you.

Well, I suppose some would beg that Huma are an evolved species of Gajuma from that standpoint. Though that'd be an insult to themselves.

*He pauses, ceasing his rambling to direct another question at the boy.*

Now, is a human like you the same as another animal capable of speech?

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

Those terms don't really mean anything to me. Maybe it has something to do with these alternate worlds I've heard of?

Eh? There aren't really that many animals that --

*He catches himself, thinking of that strange creature he met. Something about the man's question bothers him a bit, though.*

I... suppose that depends on what you mean by "the same." Certainly we would not be the same species.

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

In my eyes, you just contradicted yourself. And to think I'd given you some context clues, too.

*But just to humor him, Saleh continues.*

We'll have it your way. Then, what I meant by "exceptions" would apply to something typically exclusive to one species.

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

*He frowns, and replies slowly.*

Well... entertaining the notion that there are more intelligent creatures capable of speech in the universe -- which I suppose I must do, considering my experiences already -- then no, there would almost certainly be exceptions. Biological differences, diet, and so on.

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

*Saleh nods along, then stops.*

Heh, when you put it that way it makes the anomalies sound overly boring.

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

On the contrary. From a scientific standpoint analyzing these differences would be quite fascinating. It would provide us better insight into our own evolution.

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

Would it?

*Despite the question, he's more than a little skeptical.*

There are some things that simply don't transfer over to others, no matter how much research is done.

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

Certainly. Why did these other species develop these exceptional traits? What was it about their environment, their world? Science really does provide a new outlook on the way of the world.

*He seems actually enthusiastic as he talks.*

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

Why, indeed . . .

Ah, don't get carried away. Your science is just a secondary topic here.

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

...And what is the primary topic?

*Guarded again.*

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

*How to word this . . . *

The ability to use Force.

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

Use what?

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

You really should pay more attention. It's what we've been discussing this whole time. The exception that carried over to another species . . . Force.

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

*This guy is starting to tick him off with the way he's talking down to him. Just because he's a teenager...*

There was nothing in the conversation that even indicated that! Anyway, what are you talking about, "Force?" If you mean force as a tactic, I don't think that's really a specific human trait.

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

You're thinking about brute force. Force as I say it is something much more . . . elegantly brutal in nature. And entertaining.

Knowing you, this is something that could be of interest to you.

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

"Knowing me," huh? You sure act like you know a lot for a guy I just met.

Fine, I'll bite. Why would this interest me?

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

Force is an ability that belongs to one species. We call them Gajuma. However, there are rare exceptions where Force manifests in those like you and me.

Why do some Huma develop this ability? Is it something to do with their environment or way of life? No one knows. It'd be an interesting topic to study, don't you think?

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

*Gajuma and Huma... The man claims they are different species. Perhaps they are. Without knowing anything about these Gajuma, anything could go. When he frames it like that, there is something intrinsically fascinating about it... but...*

Sir, this Force... is this what other worlds might call "magic?"

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

*He seems to scoff at the suggestion. While magic seems to be the popular form of arts in amnesiacs . . . *

What is magic, to you?

[allonisaretrue.livejournal.com]

A silly superstition people hold onto rather than try to explore and understand how the world really works.

[hystaria.livejournal.com]

Sometimes superstitions yield more effective results, you know.

If Force was magic, that's what it would be called. However, Force has been tacked with such ridiculous superstitions over the years that no one's bothered to think of another explanation. A shame, isn't it?