0: Strattos

In the distant future... The students walked down the corridor with awe. For the first time, they were actually within the Central Historical Annex. The massive building housed Tilthe records from every moment of human history, more then 5 million years worth. The group’s guide--a short, fat man named Tully--was explaining the exhibits on display, and with an obvious air of pride, giving lengthy explanations of exhibits he had a hand in creating. Despite their obvious boredom, the students diligently paid attention--a tour of the Central Historical Annex was a very rare opportunity. As the group continued down the seemingly endless corridors, a slender man of fair height and complexion wearing the traditional white robes of a Master Student joined the group, and for several exhibits continued to act as if he were one of the history students. As the group passed a closed corridor, a student near the back of the procession attempted to get Tully’s attention. “Excuse me, Mr. Tully ... Mr. Tully.” Stopping the group, Tully turned to face the students. “Yes, young man? Do you have a question?” The student waded his way through the group to the front to address Tully. “Yes sir, what is down that corridor? I thought this tour was of the entire facility.” “I’m sorry young man,” Tully said, “but that area is currently off limits. We will not be venturing down that way this day.” The student frowned, and as the group was about to begin moving again, the Robed man in the rear spoke up. “Oh, c’mon Tully, we don’t want to disappoint these fine guests now do we? I think they should see the exhibits in that wing.” Tully, flustered that someone would supersede his authority, asked that the one who had just spoken come to the front. As the man ventured forward and Tully saw the man's face, Tully's expression quickly changed to one of shock. “Director Ilumis! My ... Ahh, sir, what a surprise to see you, sir. I was under the impression that the Director was supervising the completion of the final stages of the Tilthe phase two experiment.” The Director of the Central Historical Annex, Ilumis, traveled to the back of the group, and stood in front of the sealed corridor. “Tully, you are dismissed for the remainder of the tour. I will guide the students from here.” Still in a state of shock, Tully nodded and scurried off down a side corridor. The students, likewise shocked, stood in further awe. The Director of the Central Historical Annex was standing in their midst all this time. To meet such a revered figure was more of an honor than most ever achieved. “Now quickly,” the Director spoke, “follow me.” The Director led the students down a long white corridor, with exhibits from great battles of human history on either side of them. Stunned and awestruck, the students barely managed to follow the Director down the myriad of turning white passageways, all seeming to look exactly like every other white passageway they had seen since entering the Annex. The Director stopped in front of a long section of smooth white wall, quietly whispered something, and a section of the wall slid away to reveal a large domed room. Around the perimeter of the circular room was enough seating for three times as many people as were in their group. In the middle of the room, adorned by all manner of flashing and oscillating light patterns, was a large, silver sphere. “Now, I know none of you have ever seen one of these before,” the Director pointed to the large sphere in the center of the room, “but this is a Tilthe machine. The Tilthe, as some of you may know, allows us to obtain a first person view of any event in history from the perspective of anyone alive at that time. Using many Tilthe machines, we have collected here the most extensive record of human history ever. Now everyone, please be seated.” The students quickly took seats around the perimeter of the room. Ilumis walked to the Tilthe, and placed both of his hands upon its surface. “There are those,” the Director spoke, “who would keep the availability of certain knowledge limited to a select few. For if knowledge is power, then the enlightened man is truly a god in his own right. You men and women have been studying history for at least a few years to be granted this tour, but you’re still young. It will be up to you to decide the future of this information. I am indeed sorry to place such a burden upon you all, but elements beyond my ability to influence have decided that, as many before, the knowledge we have gained today must be censored. Twisted and retooled for public consumption. Only recently have we begun to understand the importance of the events leading up to the destruction of Polaris in AD 2887, so much was hidden to us ... and now it is again being swept into the sands of time. What you are all about to witness must be burned into your minds, you must never forget what you see here today, for you will likely be the last humans to see it as it really happened.” The Director looked at the faces of the students, all in mixed states of shock, wonderment, and curiosity. Finally, he once again peered at the massive sphere before him, his outstretched hands gently resting on its flawless surface. “Veea,” the Director said in a commanding voice. “Yes Director?” a female voice replied. “Begin display, archive nineteen.” “One moment please ..."