Well, Aria was also affected by the jump in this version, as well- she had that ‘moment’ on the bridge when it first happened. Just as Palle did with the second one, in Engineering. Just as it was noted a number of crew had a ‘reaction’ to the jump at the debriefing of the officers. That those who are sensitive to it ‘sensed’ something was off, but others, like Anna, didn’t notice a damn thing and considered it ‘uneventful’.
Teeeechnically it is a coincidence. I mean, that’s sort of the definition.
Coincidences like that happen all the time, without any causative link. People die walking across haunted bridges, and when they’re driving past graveyards, and when they’re sitting quietly reading the newspaper. People die with their shoes untied, with their hair braided (or unbraided). People die right after surgery, or right before it. People die with winning lottery tickets in their purse, or while trying a new fad diet. And none of that’s really unusual, or – and this is the important part – related to cause of death.
Humans are notorious for picking out patterns where none exist, ascribing meaning and narrative to irrelevant details that surround traumatic events. The pre-existing condition makes it especially suspect. One person dropping dead during Jump out of however many people they currently have stuffed aboard? – that’s a blip, a curious anomaly. If it were five people, or ten, – all of whom suffered similar effects, and had a similar weakness? – that would be data.
Of course, this is only true in the real world. In the world of narrative fiction, every detail mentioned is important to the plot! So, y’know, carry on and all that.
Could it be a non-causal coincidence? Yes. But I think there are two key reasons for Captain Mierter to believe that it is not:
1. Members of the crew have reported unusual physical sensations during prior jumps.
2. Major system failures have occurred during every or almost every recorded jump.
The system failure in Patty’s brain was a lot less dramatic than the one on Level Seven, but humans are physical systems too. And both system failures were apparently impossible.
On a more technical note: Considering that there is a lot of text, and 90% coming from one character, this page reads surprisingly dynamic. Your <em<camera work is excellent, both the move and the zoom.
We could also look at this death as a point of data: the hyperspace device has the potential to induce medical conditions that may lead to death. Patty has done her job one more time.
The Easter holiday and lots of visiting family interrupted Tara’s carefully laid out schedule, unfortunately delaying this week’s page. Tara assured me that she will post a new page next week (4/21)!
I’m disappointed to lose Patty. She was the tallest on the cast page, and I’m a sucker for tall women with lots of personality and life, even fictional ones.
Perhaps Patty had Marfan Syndrome? That’s a congenital disease that hits the arteries of tall people (volleyball player Flo Hyman might be the most famous victim of this condition).
…Great. Brings to mind the old print run, where Aria was the one affected by the initial jump.
Well, Aria was also affected by the jump in this version, as well- she had that ‘moment’ on the bridge when it first happened. Just as Palle did with the second one, in Engineering. Just as it was noted a number of crew had a ‘reaction’ to the jump at the debriefing of the officers. That those who are sensitive to it ‘sensed’ something was off, but others, like Anna, didn’t notice a damn thing and considered it ‘uneventful’.
Teeeechnically it is a coincidence. I mean, that’s sort of the definition.
Coincidences like that happen all the time, without any causative link. People die walking across haunted bridges, and when they’re driving past graveyards, and when they’re sitting quietly reading the newspaper. People die with their shoes untied, with their hair braided (or unbraided). People die right after surgery, or right before it. People die with winning lottery tickets in their purse, or while trying a new fad diet. And none of that’s really unusual, or – and this is the important part – related to cause of death.
Humans are notorious for picking out patterns where none exist, ascribing meaning and narrative to irrelevant details that surround traumatic events. The pre-existing condition makes it especially suspect. One person dropping dead during Jump out of however many people they currently have stuffed aboard? – that’s a blip, a curious anomaly. If it were five people, or ten, – all of whom suffered similar effects, and had a similar weakness? – that would be data.
Of course, this is only true in the real world. In the world of narrative fiction, every detail mentioned is important to the plot! So, y’know, carry on and all that.
Could it be a non-causal coincidence? Yes. But I think there are two key reasons for Captain Mierter to believe that it is not:
1. Members of the crew have reported unusual physical sensations during prior jumps.
2. Major system failures have occurred during every or almost every recorded jump.
The system failure in Patty’s brain was a lot less dramatic than the one on Level Seven, but humans are physical systems too. And both system failures were apparently impossible.
Well that’s alarming. I wonder if anybody else had a bad jump experience and we just don’t know it yet?
On a more technical note: Considering that there is a lot of text, and 90% coming from one character, this page reads surprisingly dynamic. Your <em<camera work is excellent, both the move and the zoom.
Well, technically, it can be a coincidence, but if you are in a universe driven by a plot… *grin*
Poor Patty.
Life.Death. Love. Hyperspace.Patty, we hardly knew ye.
We could also look at this death as a point of data: the hyperspace device has the potential to induce medical conditions that may lead to death. Patty has done her job one more time.
Not much of a reassurance, but there it is.
No new episode this week. Hope all is well at home.
The Easter holiday and lots of visiting family interrupted Tara’s carefully laid out schedule, unfortunately delaying this week’s page. Tara assured me that she will post a new page next week (4/21)!
Hooray! I was working really hard not to ask, so I’m glad someone else did!
Glad to hear that new stories are coming. I was getting frantic!!
I’m disappointed to lose Patty. She was the tallest on the cast page, and I’m a sucker for tall women with lots of personality and life, even fictional ones.
Perhaps Patty had Marfan Syndrome? That’s a congenital disease that hits the arteries of tall people (volleyball player Flo Hyman might be the most famous victim of this condition).