A Future We'd Like to See 1.14 - Making the Grade
By Twoflower (Copyright 1993)
 
     Class notes, Mr. Q'woruarargnst, Reality Engineering 101. 
Subjects : Informsorbs OO'ooaf and OI'sswwt.  Project : Final
Exam, reality engineering.
 
     This record is all notes taken during examination of OO' and
OI's universe construction exam.  Timeline starts here,
compressed greatly as this universe had a longer lifespan than
other classmates.
 
     Many billions of units pass by and life has not formed yet. 
This is possibly due to the cheap building materials used, a
second-hand pocket reality purchased from a used reality dealer. 
OO' and OI' weren't very wise in choice of raw material, as the
universe they selected was only capable of holding three
realities and 6 major species.
 
     The first four species begin to develop on reality level
one.  They seem accelerated in growth, discovering basic laws of
universe faster than they can handle.  As a result, there is
infighting.
 
     By the time the first four have left their home spheres,
they begin to war on each other.  Species three seems confined to
its sphere, as sphere-exiting attempts are unsuccessful due to
some obsession with self-destruction.  Poor materials to start
with, bad coding by OO' and OI' don't help matters any.
 
     Species two meets species three.  Three and two have a very
minor conflict, and two accelerates three's growth rate, giving
them sphere-leaving capabilities.  Three seems to be civilized to
some degree as they calm fighting between two and one, but this
is soon called to a halt as the major conflict is spread to
millions of minor ones.
 
     Six develops on reality three, and seems to be the most
successful of the other five, achieving a primitive form of
civilization as we know it; however, six lacks curiosity, and
only contacts one through four once, resulting in near
destruction for the whole project.  No other contacts are made.
 
     Five is introduced in reality two, which is now accessible
through reality one.  Five seems to generate more conflict, and
the entire species is banished to an isolated realm of reality
two.  This will count heavily against OO' and OI'.
 
     One through four are allied, and start building something
resembling civilization.  All four pass completely over the one
object which could have explained the mysteries of their
universe, dismissing it as a mere child's toy that is fun to use
on moving level changers.
 
     Psi abilities are finally achieved, causing major conflicts. 
Note, these species are much too argumentative and primitive. 
This does not grade well.
 
     Culture continues to develop, but true peace and knowledge
is never achieved.  Part of this problem is the lack of
comprehension regarding the 'toy' mentioned earlier.  That alone
might have saved the project.
 
     Species three, despite being the original binding force,
breaks the bind and all four are thrown into heavy war.  They are
all killed by various primitive weapons which can only remove
three star systems at once.  Six continues on, halfway to normal
civilization, and five continues to cramp the space they are
given, as most of reality two was destroyed along with reality
one.
 
     I give the whole project a C+.  And that's only for effort.
 
     OO' and OI' rewind the project, conduct appropriate after-
project procedures, and the project is moved to public display as
an example of what not to do.  It is placed in time-replay, so
that the pattern is repeated from front to back many times for
other informsorbs to examine.
 
     It should be noted that the two informsorbs next to them,
who developed a multi-species multiverse have gotten an A+ for
their work with anthropomorphics and ringworlds, which proves it
wasn't due to any disharmonics in seating areas as OO' and OI'
have pleaded.
 
     As for the species involved, the Murfles, the Ytts, Humans,
Sarens, AIs, and Thinkers, I can only hope the apology installed
as part of the after-project procedures is enough to cover the
damage done to their potential by these two jokers.  Fortunately,
they have a few million years to come to grips with this, and can
lead out whatever passes for a worthwhile life in their diseased
universe before the end.  A followup report will be given in the
one in a million chance that on one of the time-rewinds, they get
it right.  You can only pity the poor beings that had to endure
this project.  End of class notes.