13340/Evolution is a Bitch

Evolution is a Bitch
Date of Scene:	12 November 2022
Location:	Labs - Titan's Tower
Synopsis:	More science needs to be done on the birds! Oh well, Kian's getting used to that.
Cast of Characters:	Kian, Victor Stone

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Kian has posed:
    Whereas Kían had thought that a little time in the lab might help answer a few questions, the reality is that he has almost no backing in the biological sciences.
    Which means that if he had tailfeathers, this would be a pain in them.
    "Ai, qokh!!" he snaps, with sharp and uncharacteristic frustration, in much the same way that an Earthbeing might exclaim 'Jesus wept!!' and then bang their forehead into folded arms on a lab table, only to sit up moments later as if nothing had happened.
    He takes a deep breath, exhales slowly, then takes another.
    An unbiased observer might think that they didn't help.

Victor Stone has posed:
    Vic's in the lab because Vic's often in the lab, and hears the bird-man's complaints from wherever he's ensconced fiddling with… something.  Who knows what?  He's always fiddling with something.
    So as Kian takes deep breaths, Cyborg comes around a corner and peers at him curiously.  "What's wrong?  Computers not cooperating?"

Kian has posed:
    Kían looks up sharply… then visibly relaxes.  "Unfortunately, the computers aren't the problem right now," he says, slumping over his seat.  "I am told that if the computer breaks, I have my choice of blaming Bill Gates or Lex Luthor.  But it isn't a computer problem, it's a reality problem."
    He sits up a little straighter, adjusting the Rannian translator he wears like a silver circlet.  "I don't know how much of the latest you're familiar with.  I, uh, learned something when we vacationed on my world not long ago.  Like, uh, that, uh, my people are, uh, are, uh… uh, have you looked at any of the recent records?"
    For someone who's usually pretty forthcoming with whatever's on his mind, Kían seems unusally reticent.

Victor Stone has posed:
    Vic frowns slightly.  "I… uhhh… no, actually, I haven't.  I mean, I'd meant to go, but I was kinda worn out from the Rann stuff, and…."  He shrugs.  "I'm sorry I missed it."
    He walks over to look at whatever Kian's been looking at.  "But, okay, so you learned something that's bugging you?  Or… doesn't seem possible?  I mean—'impossible' is kinda relative, I've been learning, but hit me, what's up?"

Kian has posed:
    "I'm trying to get the word 'impossible' out of my vocabulary.  Other than the requests my viceroy makes of me," Kían huffs.  "Those remain impossible.  And I need three more from her before I can have breakfast."  He laughs shortly.  "Six impossible things before breakfast.  I got that from the books Terry left me the first time he thought he was dead and was wrong."
    Kían stares at the lab table.  "The problem is that I have no backing in biology, all my training is in physics.  Cait says my genetics are a perfect match for an extinct Earth race called Ne-an-der-tal-en-sis.  Which implies my furthest-back ancestors were taken from… well, from here.  And my viceroy has tasked me with finding out who did it and why.  And I don't know where to start."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "Ohhhhh," Vic says.  "Well… I mean… if the DNA's a perfect match… I'm not sure what biology can tell us, besides… well… I mean, a perfect match?  You have… wings.  Shouldn't there be wing-code in there?  Is there, like, unactivated wing-code with Neanderthals?"
    He frowns thoughtfully.  "Maybe we need to, like, do an expedition to some old Neanderthal site, see if we can find anything?"

Kian has posed:
    "Well, not a perfect match," Kían says, considering, "but close enough that there's no question we're related.  I suppose Earth doesn't have any fossil record including winged humanoids.  And that suggests to me that the genes for wings and telepathy were added to the Neander-tal-ensis, not latent in them.  Which would also match closer to our creation myth… uh, legend.  The story is that we were made from an older, un-winged, un-telepathic race."
    He frowns, sourly.  "The story is annoyingly unhelpful as to the why, and as to the who did it.  I doubt a Terrestrial Neander-tal-ensis site would help, unless they left some sort of writing behind."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "It's a start," Vic says. "I mean, maybe there'll be evidence at some place where a bunch of them randomly disappeared… maybe radiation in the rocks, say?  A signature of… well… it'd almost have to be aliens, right?"
    He ponders, thoughtfully.  "Maybe looking at your world would help, too.  Try to find places where you first were… set down?  Maybe there's still something there with isotopes from Earth or… something."  He reaches up to rub at his chin.  "But we should definitely go over your DNA with a fine-tooth comb, maybe your 'creators' left a signature of some kind."

Kian has posed:
    Kían blinks rapidly.  "I don't think I like the idea of having a secret message written in my genes," he says with a small shiver.  "I mean, if we're made, what's the difference between us and organic robots?"
    He leans back, trying, and not really succeeding, at looking less tense.  "I think you're right about researching some of our earliest known sites, but that's going to mean becoming an archeologist when I'm already a physicist.  I should see if I can recruit anyone on the homeworld to look into that."
    He stares at the tabletop a moment.  "And the other thing that bothers me is that if we were created… what were we created for?  I'm not a big believer in destiny and fate, I don't like the idea that I was made with a purpose other than to just live the best life I can."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "I mean… that's the big question, right?  What was any of this made for, if it was 'made' at all.  What's the point?  What's the purpose?"
    Vic ponders that for a moment, and then says, "I mean… really, I'm not sure it matters.  We could track down your creators, if they're still alive—who knows, with aliens—and they could shrug and say 'I dunno, seemed like fun at the time.'  Or maybe it was an experiment, to see what kind of culture would come from wings and telepathy.  Or… maybe there is or was some kind of purpose, nefarious or otherwise.  But what's all that matter now?  They're not around anymore.  They can't tell you what you are.  They're like your ancestors or parents more than anything."
    After another moment, he adds, "You ought to talk to Donna, now that I think about it.  If anyone might've noticed this kind of thing happening back in the day, it'd be the Amazons."

Kian has posed:
    "I don't know.  How long have Donna's people been around?  And how long have the Neander-tal-ensis been gone from this world?  I don't think they left any records.  I haven't come across any, but I could easily be looking in the wrong place."
    Kían listlessly taps on the tablet in front of him.  "I think the oldest evidence we have of any sort of highly advanced life on our homeworld is maybe 350,000 years old.  That's the oldest I've found any record of in our systems, anyway.  And there really isn't any record of anything earlier, not that I can find."
    He flips the tablet over and drums his fingers on the back shell.  "You'd think whoever made us would have the decency to have left us a manual."

Victor Stone has posed:
    Vic waggles his hand back and forth.  "I mean… that sounds about right, I guess?  350,000 years is right within the range of where estimates place Neanderthals, and they died out… I dunno, about 40,000 years ago?"
    He looks to Kian.  "Look, why don't you let me run your DNA through some sequencing programs, see if we come across anything that sticks out.  Maybe me and Cait can run some models on what might've needed to be done to insert the genes that make things different."

Kian has posed:
    "I don't have any objection to that.  I don't know how well you have the Neander-tal-ensis sequenced, but you could probably tell what's common between them and my people, and what's unique to us," Kían replies, thinking it over briefly.  "I don't really know a lot about biology and all, so I'm willing to leave it to those who do.  I mean, I assume our ancestors on Earth didn't have wings.  I'm sure someone would have mentioned it to me by now if they had."
    Drum drum drum go his fingers on the plastic tablet case.
    "I suppose if we find whoever made us, that probably means they're advanced aliens and not gods, right?  Gods aren't mortal beings, however advanced.  Which," he finishes brightly, "at least means they can't make me be an avatar, if the beings that made us are natural and not divine.  I think."
    He shakes his head once, and laughs dryly.  "Oh well.  At least I'm giving the hierarchy something to think about."

Victor Stone has posed:
    Vic snorts.  "You're presuming they are advanced aliens and not gods," he points out.  "We've met some gods, after all, and beings that I can't even classify, 'Daniel' and his 'sister'.  Don't tempt fate, man."
    He grins.  "Have we showed you the movie with the line 'if someone asks if you're a god, you say yes' yet?"

Kian has posed:
    "Nnnno," Kían says slowly, trying to recall for certain.  "And I've genuinely spent years saying 'no' to more or less that question, at every possible opportunity.  And for that matter, how would you tell an extremely advanced being from a god anyway?"
    He considers a moment.  "You know, I'm not sure I even really want to know who made us and why.  If there's a why, that implies a purpose.  And that goes right back to my people just being organic robots again.  And my appearing on this world as being something other than accidental, because otherwise we wouldn't know."  The birdman smiles lopsidedly.  "I once told someone that it was a lot easier to believe in destiny when I had no reason to think I personally had one."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "I mean… it's your people, so it's up to you how far we dig.  You could always try to lie and claim 'no there's no evidence this is anything but a giant cosmic coincidence!'"  Vic grins at him.
    "But aren't you at least a little bit curious?  I know I am."  A pause.  "And… we're definitely gonna have to show you Ghostbusters."

Kian has posed:
    Kían's eyes widen.  "I couldn't lie, not even if I wanted to!" he breathes, more than a little scandalized.  "I mean, yes, I want to know, but I don't want to know that we're just automatons.  Or that we were made by someone just playing around and they lost interest just after making us.  So I guess I do want to know, but I'm afraid of what I might find."
    He turns back and forth slowly on his lab stool.  "Does that make sense, that I do and don't want to know at the same time?  And I think Terry has about ten or twelve movies he says I need to see, so you better get with him about getting it in the queue."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "Sure, Terry has however many—but this is important," Vic replies with a grin.
    Then he sobers a little.  "Yeah… it makes sense.  I get it.  I'd feel the same way, about knowing… oh, I dunno, that angels are real and actually want to end the world."  He makes a face, and then sighs.  "That's why I'm saying… it's up to you.  If you want us to dig, we dig.  If not… we don't."

Kian has posed:
    Kían shrugs.  "It's not even really my decision about looking.  My viceroy has told me to find out, so if I can, I must.  I can't turn down a request from the imperial family.  But, she didn't say I had to find out right away, so it's nothing I… we need to powerdive into.  So I think your first idea is right, going over my genetics and seeing what's common to the race we were made from and what's unique to us.  And, I don't know, if our avian heritage came from Earth birds, too?  I'm sure I can get some volunteers from my world for genetic material, since I'm not a normal Akiár.  I'm sure my sister would volunteer.  For that matter, my sister would probably ask if you could clone her while you're at it, so she can cause twice as much trouble as usual…."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "We do not need a clone of your sister," Vic says with a chuckle.  He's making a list (and, indeed, checking it twice) while they talk.  DNA samples, sequencing, talking to people.
    "How come you can't turn down a request from the Imperial Family?" he asks, curiously.  "I mean… like literally, you're compelled to somehow?  Or just that the consequences would be dire?"

Kian has posed:
    Kían delivers that same scandalized look as from before, from when asked if he could lie.  "I mean I can't!  They're the Imperials!  They're trained from birth to put the needs of both our worlds ahead of their own wishes and desires, it's only fair that I make myself available to them!"  The birdman's tone is like that of a parish nun who's been asked to tell the Pope to, uh, perform an impossible biophysical act.  "I mean, it's only fair for their sacrifice.  They're not allowed to follow their own hearts, for the sake of our people."
    And then he snickers.  "And you're right, the universe—or the multiverse, if that's what we live in—doesn't need two of Shíri.  One is enough."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "…Right," Vic says slowly.  "But they're 'Imperials,' so they have all the power, right?  So it's kind of a… noblesse oblige thing?  They're in charge, so they're trained to put everyone else first and serve the people."  His tone sounds skeptical, but he doesn't really press the issue.
    "How are they taking this back home, anyway?  I mean… it's a big shake-up, right?"  A pause.  "Oh, hey, mind spreading your wings a bit?  I want to get some really good measurements so I can see which Earth birds to check first.  Ones that have similar wing structures and colors seems like the most obvious, yeah?"

Kian has posed:
    "I don't really know how my people are taking it," Kían admits, staring at the desktop.  "That's going to be all tied up with my status as a Rhyták and I really just don't want to know.  Which is probably stupid because that means whatever happens I won't be ready for, but I really don't want to know."
    He sighs heavily.  "Well, it's too late to stop them from declaring me a godling, even if I don't want it."  He smiles weakly.  "Even without Gar and Terry, that would be enough reason for me to stay on Earth."
    He hops off his seat and spreads his wings, after first looking to make sure he's not going to hit anything.  "My wings match what your world calls a red-tailed hawk.  But I know fellow Akiár'yw who have wings that match cardinals and sparrows and all.  We don't seem to be related to any particular bird."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "Hmmm."  Vic takes the measurements anyway, and says, "Maybe it's something further back, that's extinct?  It's worth a look.  And if it isn't DNA from any Earth bird… then we know that, and maybe that's a clue to what's going on."
    That done, Vic files it away with all the rest of his notes and says, "Whatever's going on, you're a Titan, yeah?  So you'll always have a place here, whether or not your people declare you a godling.  And you'll be in good company if they do—look at Donna."

Kian has posed:
    "I suppose," Kían says with a small smile.  "Gods, when I came here I didn't even know what a Titan was and now I am one.  And I still can't explain what we do to my people, because they have no idea what a 'dik-hed' is."
    He folds, and flexes, and re-folds his wings.  "I would guess our avian heritage does come from Earth birds, since Earth birds are related to Earth Nean-der-tal-en-sis somewhere evolutionarily, even if it's a long way back.  Hyperadvanced science aside, it's got to be easier to combine two species from the same planet than it is two species from different planets.  And many of our birds resemble Earth birds, at least broadly speaking.  I translate my clan, t'Kaeh, as 'hawk' because the bird of our clan is very like an Earth hawk.  I'm slowly coming to accept that our world was seeded.  And I really don't know how I feel about that."

Victor Stone has posed:
    "Wait, you're saying… even more species on your world were brought there from here?"  Vic ponders that for a moment.  "We should probably get samples from a bunch of species on your world.  Including, like… trees, plants.  Maybe they seeded everything."
    "We'll figure it out," he says confidently.  "Whatever's going on.  I'm starting to think you can't be a Titan without some mystery of your origin to solve."  He grins.  "I think I've got what I need, though."

Kian has posed:
    "I don't really know.  But there are a lot of similarities between the birds on the homeworld and birds on Earth.  And evolution is such an unpredictable process that a single organism's difference three billion years ago means… the Gods only know what.  My world is a colony world; there was some extremely simple life there when we settled the world, but it's no use to us other than as another example of life that's not ours.  We're too different biologically to be any use to each other, as a host, a food source, or anything."
    Kían sighs heavily.  He does that a lot.
    "If I'd known about this before we vacationed on my world, I would have been sure to have samples sent from the homeworld.  I can ask for them, but it might be a while before they're ready.  And it'll have to wait for the next time Terry's ready to do a chocolate shipment.  Opening the Rabbit Hole to my world takes a lot out of him."

Victor Stone has posed:
    Vic waves a hand.  "That's fine.  We've got some time on this, right?  You need time to adjust to the idea, and we've got to sequence the DNA and make comparisons.  And we need to show you Ghostbusters."
    He shakes his head.  "I didn't have 'Terry becomes an interstellar chocolate dealer' on my 2020s bingo card, but… here we are."

Kian has posed:
    "I think the phrase he used was 'drug mule'… whatever that is," Kían says with a shrug.  "I looked up drugs, but the definitions are confusing.  And I looked up mules, and Terry's not one of those."
    The birdman does not draw any other potential comparisons between Terry and mules.
    "But yes, you're right, this isn't anything that requires an immediate answer.  And really, I won't mind it it takes a while.  My people are still dealing with the forced First Contact with Earth because of me."

Victor Stone has posed:
    Vic opens his mouth.  Ponders for a moment.  Then—"Yeah, a 'drug mule' is someone who carries drugs across a border.  Like a mule being a pack animal.  It's a metaphor, kind of.  I mean, Terry's not really a drug mule, either, because technically the chocolate's not illegal or anything."
    That's Vic, corrupting the sensibilities of innocent bird-men everywhere.
    He turns to a computer to get the DNA started sequencing and says, "Right, well, I'll let it do the computations in the background then.  No rush.  You got any big plans for the evening?"

Kian has posed:
    Kían laughs.  "I've been living here almost three years, I have learned to not make plans.  That's the best way to guarantee something happens to interrupt them!  And no, chocolate—and other psychoactives, for that matter—aren't forbidden on my world.  That was the definition of 'drug' that confused me.  Telepaths appreciate things that make your mind do interesting things, after all.  And only one person has to use it for all their friends to enjoy the effects."
    He looks up, eyes widening slightly.  "Uh, that doesn't mean I plan to use psychoactives that are illegal here.  Even if I disagree with them being restricted.  I'm guessing that would be awkward for the Titans if I did."

Victor Stone has posed:
    Vic chuckles.  "Yeah, probably best to follow the local laws, being upholders of justice as we are and all.  Well, if you don't have any plans for the evening—maybe we should watch a movie?  Doesn't have to be Ghostbusters… but something to take yor mind off the worry, huh?"

Kian has posed:
    "I think I'd like that.  Especially if you have anything that involves winged beings like me.  Other than Harvey Birdman, I've seen that," Kían says, clearly unaware of 'Flash Gordon'.  "I'd like to see what the Earthly take on birdfolk is."
    Also spoken like a man who's never seen 'Barbarella'.
    Good luck, bird, you're going to need it.