Interlude - Noninterference

Interlude - Noninterference

Noninterference

Life was strange. Often times we could make plans so complicated, so in depth, that we could not imagine them going awry. Yet, often they did. Reality seemed to have the power to interfere, to conspire and change our so carefully made plans. How? That was the mystery. All that existed came from the same source, such variance shouldnt exist at all. And yet, it was there. Did that mean that the source of it all was somehow flawed? Or was it just the ultimate proof of their free will? That even such tiny pieces of them could make changes.

Take for the example the Domes. They were imagined as a test, a passing grade. Something that was meant to come after the Iterations were made whole, after the first steps were completed. After the people had the time to grow and to spread, to conquer the world around them, and after they had achieved a cultural and scientific revolution.

They had gone through this for almost a countless number of Iterations. Realities upon realities, civilizations upon civilizations, worlds and universes, stretching so far into the past to the beginning of it all. Some variance was to be expected. They had dealt with it before. But this one, this was supposed to be the final one, the end of the great work.

Yet even here it had sneaked through, plans were changed, projections altered.

Zha Miya watched as a force approached a Dome. It was too soon, but most things in the Infinite Realm seem to be so of late. It had started promising. The First three Iterations arrived, the most barbaric of the Iterations, the people from realties where greed for power and might were virtues. And they accomplished what they were supposed to, they carved out a space for themselves in a harsh world. They grew strong, and they fought amongst each other, they hindered their own growth. They saw nothing that wasnt in front of them, their ability to think inward and improve was never nurtured.

Then came the builders, the growers, the ones that enabled them to spread and tame the conquered world. They were oppressed, as they were always supposed to be, their drive curtailed in order to prevent them from expanding too much. They specialized, the world advanced in a way that allowed them to support their population. They knew how these things went, Zha Miya had guided many worlds along the path herself. First came the Primitive Era, the age of brutality and survival. Then came the Expansion and Exploration, then came the Industrial and Cultural Era, then the Era of rapid Advancement.

Everything had gone according to plan for so long. A few aberrations were to be expected, and were accounted for. Then came the Seventh, and what she thought was another aberration had been growing more and more out of control. Their projections that were within margins now swung widely out of them. And it had all come to pass so fast.

A few incidents here and there over the years had started to multiply. A dozen Glimpses and Grasps over a thousand years now turned into hundreds over decades, all over such a short period of time, a scant number of years. The Way of Time, and the other on the edge of being formed. Too soon, all of it. She looked back, run the numbers again and again, everything that had happened was within the margins on its own, but together

The Seventh had more of an impact than they had anticipated, beyond just the two monsters from Earth 7. The others were aberrant as well, though not to the same degree. All of the last three Iterations were the same, the dreamers, the ones who were better at innately understanding complicated concepts. Whose worlds and histories were shaped so that they were better at those things. They were always supposed to teach the others, but it was all happening too fast.

A Dome opening up ahead of schedule had always been a possibility. They had known what kind of a devastation the monsters inside could cause. All of their projections said that a Dome opening early would cow the people into delaying facing another for as long as possible. Instead, here they were. Two Domes demolished before they could even become a threat. That wasnt the test that was envisioned. Yet, it was a test still. They were coming together, they were dealing with them, even if it was on their own terms.

The unexpected had been expected. Even if Zha Miya hadnt imagined anything like this. The Ways were open, Aspects would start to truly form ahead of schedule. There wasnt anything to do but adapt.

The Dealmakers head barely moved in a tilt, but she did notice it.

All things carry the spark. Free will is desired. True Death was integrated into the new design, it is as part of it now as all else.

Of course, Zha Miya said. I just worry that something is going to go wrong, the projections

I understand your concern, the Dealmaker said. I have inquired. Unpredictability is not a concern.

Inquired? Zha Miya realized what he was talking about just after she spoke the question. Immediately, she bowed her head. To have her concerns be brought before the Three was unimaginable.

You can still watch, projections are a tool, nothing more. Time was formed and settled; we always knew that as they came into their power we will be less needed, more restricted. They are the ones that make the rules.

The Dealmakers words made her raise her head up again to look at him.

I still cant dismiss the nagging in my mind, Zha Miya admitted.

The Dealmaker nodded. I I confess the same. There is nothing for us to interfere with, he paused, then added. Yet.

Zha Miya understood and inclined her head. Ill keep watch.

The Dealmaker tapped his finger against the table and she was back at her station, as if nothing had happened. She looked at her screens, showing Raazel walking the streets of a great city, one of the largest and most advanced in the Infinite Realm. His actions were erratic, hard to predict even for the best models. He was searching for something, learning about the Framework around him. She just wished that she knew what he was searching for.

Only the Dealmaker could see into the minds of others, and only if invited. She wondered if perhaps he knew already. She cast a glance at the other screen, seeing the countdown, the point where all projections went awry, where everything was thrown out of balance. It was coming.