Broken Semantics

[STSF Shadow 0]

Broken Semantics

 

Main Entry: bro•ken

1 : violently separated into parts, shattered

Syn: damaged, destroyed

 

Broken. Shadow waved a tendril gently through the leaf that had just fallen from his plant, trying to understand how this could be “broken off” to grow a new plant. The plant’s existence was apparently different than that of other biologicals on this vessel. In his limited experience Shadow had yet to meet a biological that could, for instance, break off an arm and grow another of its species. He had questioned The Hefner extensively about his species’ reproduction – the meaning, the process, and anything else The Hefner cared to share – and he had not mentioned anything about reproducing in this manner.

 

Strange.

 

The Levy had given him the greatest gift – the gift of life, of the biological life that existed in Shadow’s new home. Now, by using the smallest amount of energy possible, he searched the plant’s energies to see how they were formed, how they moved, and how they combined to foster growth. Their molecules, atoms, and subatomic structures should give him insight into how, if something were broken, it could grow an entirely new copy of the original. And in the investigation he hoped he would be able to understand the concept of biological life.

 

His greatest fear, of course, was that he would cause injury, but his energy tendril easily passed through the leaf and did no harm. He found that energy begat energy, or more properly, it encouraged a different form of energy. The initial injury released a different energy that encouraged cells to grow rather than to die, eventually resulting in the formation of a new plant.

 

Interesting. Then why does not destructive energy beget constructive energy in the larger biologicals instead of damaging them? The Marshall was injured and nearly perished. The JoNs had been injured, though not as seriously as the Marshall, but could also perish if injured further. The Levy, The Tordai, and The Socom had energy manipulators of various design that could regenerate cells and repair damage. Why could they not stop what they called death?

Shadow puzzled over these things as his tendril continued to observe the internal workings of the plant, essentially watching it grow. He knew he could power down enough to investigate the crew because he had done so to The Levy. Perhaps . . . .

His tendril paused at a rudimentary root sprouting from the leaf’s stem. Perhaps their instruments were not as delicate as his energy tendril. And if his tendril were more delicate perhaps he could . . . .

 

Placing the leaf in what The Levy called “growth medium,” Shadow turned his thoughts to another broken item, a non-biological item that no one had attempted to repair. Instead, it had been hidden and remained a constant source of consternation for its owner. It was non-biological; therefore it could not “die.”

 

Perhaps he, using a delicate tendril . . . .

 

Something else worth investigating.