JustViewer's Proposal

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Item #: RPC-001

RPC-001, emitting "flares"

Object Class: Beta

Containment Protocols: RPC-001 is located in the dedicated observation chamber at OL-Site-12. Due to the anomalous properties detailed below, relocating RPC-001 is currently impossible. Two guards equipped with echolocating (blind) visors are to be stationed outside of RPC-001's observation chamber to remove/assist any personnel who have been directly exposed to the hypnotic effects of RPC-001.

Description: RPC-001 is a large black sphere of unknown substance or origin, measuring slightly under 1 meter in diameter. The sphere is not solid, and is not displaced when objects are placed within.

RPC-001 absorbs certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, though the specific frequencies absorbed do not remain constant, with the exception of the frequency ranges ██-██████ kHz, and ██████-██████ kHz (this includes the visible spectrum). Light absorbed by RPC-001 is released along the edges of RPC-001 in small bursts (known as "flares") lasting approximately 1 to 5 seconds. Flares occur less than 10 hours after light exposure, and only radiate electromagnetic frequencies which RPC-001 has been exposed to within that time. Additionally, a flare has never occured in the direction of a conscious observer under the influence of RPC-001. Frequencies not absorbed seem to have no effect on RPC-001, nor are they affected by it.

When viewed by a conscious subject, RPC-001 imbues the subject with an experience which has been described as "[implying] a larger conversation, but… insignificant on it's own" (see test log 001-█). The experience consists of an entire conscious moment, with consistent sensory inputs (field of vision, auditory input, etc.) and a consistent accompanying thought. The moment does not change with time, despite presenting the phenomena of the passage of time within itself.

Those who have experienced the effects of RPC-001 claim that the thought can be best described as preparing to say the words "Every man says he would, yet we know some did not", (slightly over half of personnel tested actually vocalized this phrase immediately upon being freed of the effects of RPC-001) which the speaker is presenting as a rebuttal in a larger (as of yet unknown) argument.
Because this conscious moment encompasses all the mental faculties of those subject to it, one who has looked directly into RPC-001 cannot remove themselves without outside intervention.

There has been some difficulty discerning the exact details and source of the moment presented by RPC-001, due mostly to the attention of the subject. Though personnel subject to the effects of RPC-001 claim that the moment includes a vision of a night sky, no information relevant to location can be determined because the subject was not focused on the constellations present, or other relevant astronomical details (and therefore, Authority personnel sharing their experience are not, either). Additionally, details about the identity or body of the subject cannot be determined for similar reasons, despite personnel subject to RPC-001 describing feeling immersed in an identity and body which is not their own.

+ Excerpt from the research notes of Dr. Laloux

The hypnotic properties are gradual, but the moment presented is not (that is to say, there is no transitional thought which contains any part of the experience presented when observing 001 directly). They manifest early on, when the object begins to enter the field of vision. At this point (in my experience, while interacting with 001 directly) I have found myself drawn to look toward the object by "my own desire", even had I set out to simply catch a perhipheral glimpse and then look away immediately prior to the actual exposure. I've yet to conceive of a way to test if this is a matter of willpower (in my view, "willpower" comes in too many different forms with too many different motivators to be effectively measured), but I highly doubt this is the case considering the overwhelming connection the object is able to establish with ones consciousness, a connection I see to be a level above the various memetic hazards the organization has secured (though I admit, many of my colleagues on site disagree with me on this point, simply by virtue of the fact that many known memetic hazards have more reach and lasting effect).

Once under the influence of the object itself, making distinct observations becomes rather difficult. One is subject to the whims of the subject of the moment/experience presented, whom some of us at Site-12 have come to call "Person X". The name is temporary, but we have had some difficulty with designations (specifically, whether RPC-001-1 would refer to the experience itself, or the subject of that experience), so this serves as an effective compromise for the time being.

Person X does not, in the moment, focus on their own identity, location, the identity of their conversational partner, or most other details one might consider relevant to understanding/investigating the context of the moment. Rather, he is totally involved in the content of the argument he is presenting. While one might assume this gives some insight into the context of the overall argument, one usually forgets the amount of information considered within a single moment. It is relatively small compared to what the mind can accomplish over even a few seconds. To explain further, I find this situation comparable to the momentary consideration of a single chess move while planning several moves ahead within a game. In this situation, the mind is totally encompassed in the move being considered, despite its function within a larger plan.

When subject to the effects of 001 I was nonetheless able to pick up on information passively or subconsciously considered, though in such a way as not to be able to draw conclusions which could be described as anything more than marginally useful, unfortunately. Proprioceptive response was one of the sources of this type of information. Person X is in the midst of moving an arm, which I have noticed is much thinner and longer than my own. However, I could not determine the dimensions specifically enough, with such a limited amount of focus, to positively identify Person X as human or otherwise. The dimensions of the limb feel alien to me, but I do not believe that they are of an alien being (I don't mean extraterrestrial, but simply not of a human form. Observations about the origin or history of Person X are out of the question). It seems unlikely, however, based on the spoken language being English. The arm is draped in a loose fabric, but the rest of the clothing is indeterminate (personally, I suspect he/she wears a loose-fitting robe).

The background noise present is high pitched, yet soft. It is certainly not loud or dynamic enough (nor important enough, it would seem) to draw the attention of Person X. Several sounds have been proposed by the research team at Site-21 which might fit the momentary feeling of this noise, including the sound of distant rushing water, a light wind, or even small machinery. Nonetheless, the focus of Person X once again prevents us from making more distinct observations.

As for the phrase about to be spoken ("Every man says…"), I find it to be the least interesting part of the whole situation, something I've had difficulty convincing my collegues of. In my view, it only serves to give insight into the limits of a conscious moment in the human mind (or, the mind of a superficially similar being). I belive it to be unlikely that this conversation would be of serious consequence to anyone besides Person X. Even for him ,this might be an inconsequential conversation on a temporary issue or a matter of opinion.

Dr. ████ has presented the question of whether or not the entire moment refers to a real conscious state of an existing being, or whether it is some sort of fabrication (like a movie broadcast directly to ones consciousness). Personally, I do not believe that, at the stage we are at in researching 001, this question is of either any use or relevance. Still, I keep the thought in the back of my mind, in case we were to come across some data which would make this theory of more consequence to our studies.