The Last Search For Arlow Tsai In The Multiverse

Case File: First Appearance #24

Arlow Tsai just got a hard conk on the head. His guts are unsteady. Since here has not had food for a while, he is coping. He breathes steadily to calm himself.

The [Medical Site Lead] says: "Blows to the head like that are commonly practiced here on Wroug."

Arl thinks he has noticed three kinds of vocal patterns in this Wroug.

At the commune, Arl's mom was known to be an 'unknotter' of problems. She would listen and help to resolve conflicts. She told Arl to listen and acknowledge, not to steer (but guide if possible), and adapt to new information.

Arl: "Blows like that to a human, has an effect... loss of some thinking..skills. Am I allowed to ask questions? To answer .... more thoroughly?"

[Medical Site Lead]: "Yes."

Arl: "So.. blows to the head. Do they sometimes lead to young Wroug having skull damage or brain trauma? Trauma or damage that affects prospects for an enjoyable life? The chance to raise a family?"

[Medical Site Lead]: "Yes."

Arl: "Over time, has that kind of thing reduced? More cases long ago, and fewer today?"

[Medical Site Lead]: "Yes."

Arl: "OK. I am a bit disorganized. Here is my theory. The largest amount of energy that can be applied to skull due to a fall is related to a height above ground. It is proportional to the square of the height. Beings like me cannot take blows of that kind. Deaths occur every year. When we become light headed, the urge to collapse during the fall is great. The legs collapse to reduce height and the spine absorbs energy by flexing. The Wroug have followed a societal pattern to eliminate a select part of the population, those with weak skulls or brain tissues. Societal evolutionary forces are generally disruptive and sacrifice some features in favor of the societal selectors.

So, I would say that beings like myself have an instinctual and evolutionary demand to fall in that manner. It is not a matter of character."

[Medical Site Lead]: "I very well considered answer. Turn around. I am going to conk your head again."

Arl is shaky, but decides he must turn around. He collects his bearing and turns. He keeps his eyes focused on the forehead of the wroug (to limit an appearance that he is glaring).

[Medical Site Lead]: "I will not hit you again. This was a test. Next test: tell me what was the foremost reason that you faced me?"

Arl: "Fear"

[Medical Site lead]: "Fear? Explain."

Arl hopes his assessment of vocal tone means risk has greatly reduced.

Arl: "I had to consider that I was in a situation of vindictive authority. Demands made with the sole purpose of a pretext to punish. Without more context, I decided that any resistance or reluctance would lead to worse damage.

If they damaged me to a point of collapse or unconsciousness, a vindictive person would likely become satisfied in establishing proof of power. "

[Medical Site Lead]: "Your examination is taking a long time. Do you have any thoughts as to why?"

Arl: "I.. we earthlings might have phages and viruses that are gene swapping actively."

The Wroug takes an instinctive half step back, but then says: "Possibly. But instead of sitting at far end of the room, you should be spending more time at the examination table. That is where all the equipment is focused."

Arl follows the [Medical Site Lead] to the examination table.

As he walks there, a loud claxon alarm rings, red lights blink on/off, it illuminates the area with the strange illustration. Arlow Tsai still has signs of earlier infectious attack on his male form.

The five Wrougs in black suits leave the room and find the protective side walls beyond the transparent doors.