Pure Narativium Lenses

[mishalak]

In the near darkness something like a massive reflector telescope with dozens of odd instrument packages added to its sides swung about. It moved with the low groaning of several electric motors then was mostly silent in cool warehouse.

My host spoke again. "It has several pure narativium lenses, it takes too much power, and is generally a difficult and touchy child. Some days it doesn't work at all due to some problem that has developed or some interference from space."

"Yes, but what does it do? Why do you need a translator?"

"Because I'm about to start doing charitable work with it rather than just financing the operation of the device. And I don't speak anything but English and a little bit of bad Spanish. And as I told you I'll have to show you what it does because explanations are inadequate. It should be warmed up in just a few minutes more."

This all was very discomforting. "Why not just use computers to translate what you want?"

"Because the good enough of computers isn't good enough for my purposes at times. For what I plan on doing there needs to be as close to correct a translation as is possible. Plus this being a very small business, micro in fact, it would be useful to have someone who could work with me instead of doing it all myself. Tea?"

I responded that that would be nice and he poured me a cup of fragrant Jasmine tea. Then had me sit next to him at a large bank of monitors. He typed in commands and in addition to the cryptic information on machine status on secondary ones a large one had a black and white image of the ancient 'Respected Leader' appeared on screen apparently preparing for bed. The sound quality was tinny, as he spoke to what seemed to be a valet of some sort. The whole scene was very strange because it was both so personal and also oddly illuminated like it was illuminated wholly from the direction of the camera.

My host spoke again as he manipulated something causing the point of view to rotate and the machine to respond minutely. "This is a live shot. If I know where to look it is possible to use this to focus in on any area within a few thousand miles of this location."

I was flabbergasted. "So you can spy on anyone?"

"Yes and that's just a minor trick in comparison to what the machine can do. It is possible too bump objects between different locations. To be quite blunt I've used the machine to steal enough to keep working on it. But what I'd like to do is bring down regimes like that of the 'Respected Leader' there. I could, theoretically, make ten or so key individuals in the government disappear to somewhere else within the space of an hour. But I need to figure out which people those are so I'm not just removing one group of tyrants only to have a new one arise. Plus it is dangerous to living beings and if I'm going to risk someone's life it has to be nearly sure. That's why I can't rely upon computer translation."

Exhilarating possibilities: to reach out with the hand of a god. "This is real?" I asked because it was all too amazing.

"This is real and this is the best use I can think of for the expensive beast right now. The light of truth upon all I can reach and a finger of god against those who think themselves untouchable."

"I'm in."

Comments

[gomeza.livejournal.com]

"narativium"

*grin*

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

Narativium is the best material to build stuff out of. Light, durable, corrosion resistant, the only trouble is the rarity and expense.