| From: | "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.CAIS.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | PSI: Origins (new draft) |
| Date: | Tue, 13 Sep 1994 01:18:10 -0400 |
By 2050, thaumaturgical scientists had finally finished proving
that magic exists according to laws which conventional scientists did not
totally understand. Though this was considered a major breakthrough and
received a lot of media coverage, it still did not answer the underlying
question of how magic _acutally_ works to the satisfaction of the largely
mundane (non-magical) general scientific community.
At this point, a small number of papers were released which showed
something even more confusing. While testing large numbers of people who
had proven themselves to be magically active, researchers at MIT&T had
discovered that not all "mages" used the same -- or even similar --
methods to acheive similar effects.
Much of this could be explained by the differences between
hermetic and shamanic practices, so they removed all shamanic mages from
the test group and tried again. And again. And again.
After some time, it was found that the majority of the so-called
hermetic mages worked according to well-known and mostly understood
formulae, gathering their energy from the Astral plane. But some neither
followed these formulae _or_ used Astral energy. As if that wasn't enough
of a surprise, it was found that the more powerful of this type could
access and travel through Astral space just like any other mage!
Through continued research, a new magic-like discipline was
discovered, which is called Psionics becuase the energy seems to come
mainly from the persons' own mind. There are very few people, human or
metahuman, with Psionic abilities -- though s ome of the figures may be
attributed to general ignorance of the differences between Hermetic magic
and Psionic abilities, it is generally thought that the development of
Psionics is unrelated to The Awakening, and has actually been an ongoing
process thr oughout the history of mankind.
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M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Dr. Pamela Ecenbarger, Cheif Statistician
Thaumaturgal Research & Statistics Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology & Thaumatugy
FROM: Dr. Robert James Andersen, Statistician
RE: Statistical Anomalies in Brainscans During Magical Activity
A growing number of anomalies have been cropping up in the
brainscans of "Active" group two. Though I, personally, am not an expert
in brainwave activity, I thought it interesting and perhaps even alarming
that two of the 100 subjects are not utilizing the same portion of the
brain while causing the daily newspaper to ignite.
These two, numbered 58 and 34 respectively, do not show the
characteristics usually seen by those tapping into what is usually called
the Astral Plane. Instead, an unlisted brainwave (charted but not
currently included in our statistical program, perhaps due to assumed
insignifigance) is being created in extremely high amounts.
In an attempt to find an answer to this quandry, I did some minor
research into the backgrounds of both subjects. In each case, a high
interest in brain-affecting technology was shown.
Subject #58 has been found incapacitated after forcible ejection
from the Matrix, and it is beleived (but not proven) that he came across
some form of illegal security program. After one of the three times this
has happened during #58's time at MIT&T, he was in a coma for more than 72
hours.
In a different but similar situation, #34 has been arrested for
using illegally modified simsense chips, and had just finished undergoing
preventative treatment before agreeing to work with our project. Again,
the most recent use resulted in a coma which lasted more than 72 hours.
I beleive that this is more than a coincidence, and would like to
assemble a small team of specialists to do further research. Please feel
free to discuss this idea with me; I only await your approval.
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M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Dr. Robert James Andersen, Statistician
Thaumataugical Research & Stastistics Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology & Thaumaturgy
FROM: Dr. Pamela Ecenbarger, Cheif Statistician
RE: Statistical Anomalies in Brainscans During Magical Activity
This line of research is not a part of your assigned duties, and
is not within the purview of this arm of the Department. Please cease any
such activity forthwith.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
