Read Test of Magnitude (The Torian Reclamation) for Free Online

its case. I want you to give it to Director Lan2 when you reach general reception at the Science Complex. I’ll message ahead and have him or one of his assistants meet you there.”
    “Yes, sir.” Mip7 was a little shaken by the unnoticed passage of time himself. “Thank you for the use of your shuttle.”
    The governor gathered all the pieces and put them inside a case with a handle, along with the game’s frame.
    “Here you go.” He handed Mip7 the case and then entered something on his lightpad. “You are now cleared for the governor’s shuttle at dock one. My assistant will see you off.”
    Mip7 bowed and exited the governor’s office. At the end of the hallway, one of the governor’s assistants met him and escorted him into the private spaceport lift. Mip7 wondered if there was a way to play the game by himself during the flight.
     
    * * *
     
    “Mip7?”
    Mip7 stood and turned toward the voice. A dull gray Amulite wearing a thin black neck collar—a symbol of authority in the scientific community—bowed before him. Mip7 returned the greeting.
    “I’m Director Lan2. It’s a pleasure to meet a trusted associate of Governor Stugin2.”
    “Thank you, Director,” Mip7 said. “The honor is mine. The governor sends his greetings. He tells me you are old friends.”
    “He told you that, did he? You must be a trusted colleague indeed. We attended university together, too many years ago. Is that the alien device he wants examined?” Lan2 pointed to the case in Mip7’s hand.
    “Yes. It’s a game, actually, from Azaar. Would you like a demonstration?”
    “Not necessary, thank you. Your governor described its basic operation, and mentioned something about an internal tutorial. We scientists don’t like instructions, you know. We prefer to take it apart by molecules first. Whatever is in there, however it functions, we will discover for ourselves.” He reached out his hand.
    Mip7 surrendered the case.
    “I need to get to Research Lab 71 now,” Mip7 said. “I took the public rail here from the spaceport. Can you tell me the best way to proceed?”
    “I assume you already have clearance?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then you can use the green tube to get to RL-70 and walk from there, as it is right next door. RL-71 is the large complex on the ground. You can’t miss it. If you’ll come with me, I’ll show you to the green tube station.”
    “Thank you, sir.” He followed Director Lan2 through a security gate, and then through two large glass doors that led outside to a fifth-story observation deck. They stepped onto a large escalator to descend to the ground level.
    Mip7 looked around and remembered his only other visit here, back with his university class. The C2 Amulen Science Complex was an impressive feat of architecture, and the view from the escalator ride allowed one to take in much of it. For one thing, it was large. Buildings and towers of different shapes, colors, materials, and sizes crisscrossed the countryside to the horizon and beyond. Many structures were single-story and arranged in interesting geometric shapes with center courtyards. Towers and taller buildings protruded here and there, some of which were constructed of dark moriglass in different shades, such as dark blue or red, and others which were metallic or plaster, some with disc-shaped platforms near the top. Several round domes could be seen within the complex, including one built of a beautiful emerald moriglass that was surrounded by exotic vegetation. Plant life was prevalent in the fields between the buildings and along the footpaths, including mini-forests and hedge mazes. Large greenhouses in some spots were being used for experimental agriculture.
    Several modes of transportation could be seen operating, including hoverbusses full of students, and the various tube-transit systems marked by the above-ground tube-rails in their different colors. More than 80% of all Torian scientific research and development came from this