KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
have you heard CyleVyteGheeDhee recently?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
no, I haven't.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
maybe 'e has moved.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
moved? why would 'e move?
There is some variation on the surface. I landed on a solid table of rock, as planned. There are other large rocky areas, but the majority of the surface is covered in small pebbles of curiously similar size. Which is why we are here. Why I am here.
As soon as the safety analysis is complete I will go out for a quick study. In the meantime I'll just compose a symphony or something. Yeah. Thought no-one was listening.
KarmOhliSkaiJete::
that show from AhlaSkaiDreeOhli was great.
SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
you think? i wasn't so keen.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:
why not?
SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
oh, it was just very like the show from HooaKrypGhuiGhui.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:
ah, i didn't hear that one.
SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
you really should track HooaKrypGhuiGhui. 'e is much better than AhlaSkaiDreeOhli.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
i'm getting a lecture from SaarLaaaFaarJaaa on why HooaKrypGhuiGhui is
better than AhlaSkaiDreeOhli.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
yeah; 'e is a real zealot.
I'm alone. And bored. You travel all this way and then you just want to get on with it. Safety first, I suppose. It would be a shame to jump out the ship and collapse into a dead heap. Yes; that would definitely put a bit of a dampener on the mission.
Mission? When the hell did this become a mission? It was supposed to be a simple investigation: What is the surface of PIP-5193 like? Why does the planet emit infra-red in this strange way? Is it really as Dodo dead as it looks on all the other standard assessments? And so on. Until someone offers to pay for a proper visit.
KarmOhliSkaiJete::
CyleVyteGheeDhee where are you?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
still no sign of h'?
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
no. nothing.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
i still don't think 'e has moved.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
so what's 'e doing then?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
maybe 'e is putting together a show.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
CyleVyteGheeDhee?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
yeah, why not?
If this is just a rock then my career is screwed. Shit, now I think of that. Whatever happened to "think positive"? OK. This might not just be a rock, my career might not be screwed.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
why do people make shows?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
hello? because people like to hear them.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
have you ever made a show?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
yes, once.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
why only once?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
because it wasn't very good.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
oh.
The IR camera seems to show that some individual pebbles are giving off more heat than their immediate neighbours. How can that be? Surely any underground heating would affect several pebbles over an area. Unless the material composition of the pebbles varies radically. Strange.
SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
has KarmOhliSkaiJete heard from CyleVyteGheeDhee yet?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:
no. i don't think so.
SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
oh.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:
what do you know SaarLaaaFaarJaaa?
SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
me?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:
yes, you, the biggest gossip in this town.
SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
'e has moved.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:
and CyleVyteGheeDhee told you that?
SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
oh yes.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:SaarLaaaFaarJaaa:
well, i'm not telling KarmOhliSkaiJete. CyleVyteGheeDhee can burn h' own bridges.
Maybe medicine would have been a better career choice? Less travelling. None if you get set up in your own clinic. Mother would have been proud of me then. Anyone can go out into space and explore rocks.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
there is another reason why people make shows.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
yeah?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
they get bored of other people's shows.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
but there are so many good ones.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
i know, but every few decades the fashions sort of converge don't they.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
i guess so. and that makes different people want to make shows?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
yes. i think that is what drives them to do it.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
is it hard making a show?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
yes.
Ah. All done. Oh, hang on. Is that water just near the surface? I'd expect those patterns near trees or other large vegetation - but there's nothing here but rock. Unless there are plants under the rocks. But then they'd be in the dark. Unless the rocks transmit some light, somehow. Gah. I'll just go out and look.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
i was going to make a show.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
was?
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
ok, i thought about it but gave up.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
well, try again another time.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
do you think CyleVyteGheeDhee is making a show?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
probably.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
we just haven't heard from h'. and 'e must be doing something.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
i guess there's no other reason why 'e would be quiet.
OK. On the surface. It's a rock. The variation in heat seems to have gone. Hmmm. I'll record this anyway for comparison. The pebbles seem to be pretty firmly stuck to the ground. I can't dislodge them with my foot. And it looks like there is a single layer, which is strange.
AhlaSkaiDreeOhli::
let the show begin;
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
AhlaSkaiDreeOhli is on.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
ok.
AhlaSkaiDreeOhli::
worlds collide. a conflict long forgotten, is resurrected.
AhlaSkaiDreeOhli::
a man stands. alone and at once united with h' fellows.
AhlaSkaiDreeOhli::
but can imperious Ut survive an onslaught from afar?
AhlaSkaiDreeOhli::
our man, brave Ohli, must rise to lead his blood-kind.
AhlaSkaiDreeOhli::
for this day will be long and decisive.
Ah ha. Found another 'hot' stone. Much hotter than the rest in fact. I'm going to lever it up and test its composition. Always wanted to try out this archaeology kit.
AhlaSkaiDreeOhli::
as the truth can be heard.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
that was a strange ending.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
yes; very odd.
Close up, underneath, it looks more like a plant than a rock. Has some sort of root complex. No wonder it was so hard to lever up. Putting it in a sample bag. You're coming home with me mister rock. The scouts are back. Nothing new. So it looks like the rocks are it. Disappointing and yet fascinating. Au revoir PIP-5193.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
maybe SaarLaaaFaarJaaa was right. AhlaSkaiDreeOhli isn't as good as 'e used to be.
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
damn that SaarLaaaFaarJaaa.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
yeah. heard anything else good lately?
DreeDreeSkaiDree:KarmOhliSkaiJete:
well, there was a short piece from KoooJeteAhlyOfgi i liked recently.
KarmOhliSkaiJete:DreeDreeSkaiDree:
cool. i'll look out for h'.