The Flipswitch Chronicles. Part 1

"We've all gathered here because of one thing. We've all realised something, and we're not going to wait for the rest of the world to catch on. It will be too late for anyone by then. Shall we get to it, then?"

The Traveller spoke to half a dozen other people in the room. This was not their first encounter, yet the strangers still kept their distance from each other, ready to jump anyone with a glint of distrust reflected in their eyes. This proved quite an unproductive feat since it just made everyone extremely twitchy. Perhaps it was for the reason that they knew each other well, that they acted so.

The Philosopher raised his staff and flipped one of the many switches upon it. "By Galvani, the tension in this room is most uncondusive for any sort of formal discussion," he said aloud. His staff gave a whirring noise and stopped vibrating.

"Really, what's gotten into us? We know we can't do anything if we don't work together." The Pysicist dusted his waistcoat and closed the space between him and the Philosopher, placing his hand on the Philosopher's shoulder. "I call for a truce."

Chaos of disagreement erupted, and the Psysicist fell back on his step. "Temporarily, at least!"

"ORDER! ORDER!" shouted the Traveller.

"WHO DIED AND MADE YOU LEADER?!" The Mercenary bellowed across the room, arm outstretched, holding a peculiar gun to the Traveller's general direction. There was only the highest probability that a shot from it will fatally find its way to its intended target, but the Traveller knew better than to quiver or fear.

"Nobody had to die, and even if anyone did die, it wouldn't make me a leader to you bunch of crocks. I am only calling for order," the Traveller sneered. He cleared his throat, hoping to clear his mind enough to recall his prepared statements.

"We are a broken civilisation." His voice started again into the murmuring crowd, looking at everyone until attention was seized. "We get that. We can't help it. But let's be objective. And selfish as we are. Let's use each other to get what we want. Let us acknowledge that we will be left for dead should we not pick ourselves up, and not do anything unecessary that will just delay our own selfish plans. If we stick to who we are, I believe everyone can get what they want."

The Biologist rolled her eyes, and spoke in a condescending tone. "Nice speech, Doc, but-" She halted. Damn, the Traveller made sense. "But I fail to see how some of you will be of any use to me."

"You know you just tumbled off the clever stairs into the ranks of the stupid, right? We know you are self-centered, but maybe, just maybe you should learn to bolt your mouth shut sometimes?" The Philosopher spoke.

Inwardly, the Biologist agreed. Outwardly, she just humphed.

The Traveller rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. "Now if everyone could give this obviously important-looking huge piece of parchment a spec of attention at least," -he pointed to said large parchment hanging from the ceiling- "you would actually be remarking on some very smart realizations instead of helping each other sound patheticly dim-witted," he proposed.

"Galvani, is that really...? But how did you...?" the Physicist baffled, while considering the placement of markings spread across the parchment.

"I travel, and I do not travel blindly," the Traveller said.

"This opens windows! No, it brings down walls! Yes, yes, this will most definitely break my research!" The Physicist cried in excitement.

"These points coincide with certain land properties. If we analyze this, just imagine!" the Chemist said, more to himself, but the others could hear.

"Now hang on just a moment! By what I understand, I cannot condone! The infinite risks we will be exposed to alone will crush our very being!" the Philosopher remarked. Apparently he had said something the Traveller wasn't quite comprehensive of. None of the other accupants of the room quite understood, in fact. But even through well-rehearsed pokerfaces, the Philosopher knew dumb-found anytime by the mere silence. "Look, our being- our individual, exists because there is a barrier that forms our psyche, that keeps us in shape, and keeps the life in us from spilling over to anything we touch. If we attempt what it is we understand, and drag with it those we do not understand, we won't be able to control any of it! We certainly cannot replicate it!"

"I beg to differ," the Biologist said. "I have on numerous occasions successfully replicated even the most complicated subjects. I do belive that replication, at least is well within our tecnologies."

"But it is not replication we seek, is it?" The Mercenary said in his usual growl.

"No.... but certainly, if we find the right primers, we can achieve this!"

"Am I the only one to admit I have no idea what is going on?" The Engineer said pitily.

Without shifting her gaze to the Engineer, the Biologist said, "Good, at least we all know who's last in the race."

"Since when are we racing!"

"Engineer! You are here because I need your machines. You will learn the way soon enough by yourself."

"Indeed I don't see how this is going to be a race when everyone will eventually share what they know! Why can't we just team up?" The Philosopher said in a wondering tone.

"You think we'll fall for your pseudo-rational voice? Don't make yourself out to be greater than what you really are, a stinking lowlife!" said the Mercenary.

"We all know by now how risky this occupation will be. Nobody wants to be the most vulnerable, that's why the most efficient way to get the job done is for everyone to think 3 steps ahead in every direction," said the Traveller. "I believe we have order within ourselves, that's the only way possible."

"You can truly feel the rusting mechanics of this world in this room alone. We don't have much time," said the Chemist.

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Can you guess what the problem is, and how they planned to overcome it?