Hermann Gottlieb (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mathemagier) wrote2025-08-03 01:28 pm
mathemagier) wrote2025-08-03 01:28 pm
IC Contact Post
[Screened calls go straight to voicemail, where an impatient recording answers]
You've reached Dr. Hermann Gottlieb. Leave your name, number, and business if you expect a return call. Thank you.
August 17th, perhaps
Dr. Hermann Gottlieb—
Apologies in advance for this being handwritten, but of course I lack a computer and printer and, to be quite honest, wasn't feeling up to going to the library to print this out. But in the interest of nostalgia, it really only made sense to hand it in to you in a physical form so, that said, you'll have to excuse my handwriting. I promise future correspondence will be conducted in a more professional, type-written manner.
Returning to our earlier conversation, however, I rebut your assertion that our shared connection, our neural bridge, does not qualify as a "power." I contend that your choice of word for us, "awareness," implies a state of being: a consciousness, knowledge, and observation. Power, however, implies action: either the ability to do or act, or the possession of control or authority. Our connection could be considered awareness but the definition is far too limiting. What we have is a cognitive power.
(Unscientific Aside: The fact that our ability could easily be some sort of comic book power clearly says, Hermann: it's a power. And if you are choosing what you consider to be a "power" as actually a "superpower," superpower simply means it exceeds natural or known ability. Even in the case of our post-Drift society, our neural connection cannot be considered within the bounds of normal human function. You and I are superhuman. It's a power, buddy. It is a comic-book superpower.)
For the purposes of discussion, our connection will be defined by its known abilities: radar (proximity detection and general "compass" sensing), empathy (transmission of emotional state), and shared thoughts/memories (what it says on the proverbial tin). Speculated abilities--that we may someday read each other's minds, etc--will be left out.
(Note: I reserve the option to discuss with you any speculated abilities at some point, however.)
Power suggests an ability, an action. Without the ability to turn it off-and-on our connection is more of a passive ability, like an open radio channel, but it is not a one-way broadcast. I am not just transmitting and you are not just receiving; projecting into the void between us is not the extent of our interactions.
As we established in our previous experiments(??), your emotions have a power over me--and vice versa. On multiple occasions, we have triggered each other; a few times we have pulled each other back. I wasn't merely conscious of your feelings and able to choose to react. Instead, with our connection, feelings exert a force: your fear, happiness, sadness, etc directly affects my mood and colors my perception of reality, maybe without me always realizing it, as though suddenly looking through the world with Hermann-Goggles on. Or blinders. Or perhaps more a blindfold with you leading me by the hands. More research under less duress is required.
The ability is passive only in the sense that it is constantly running in the background, but the effects are not passive when applied to us. Your pains--because mind and body are connected--become my own. I suspect my neuroses affect you, or can/will. Our connection is not just an awareness of the other's state. If it was, it wouldn't bother you so much. It would be the usual Newton chatter in the background: an always-on mental radio. (We lived with each other nearly 24/7. Even mental chatter wouldn't be that distracting).
Our connection is a discussion requiring active participating. It is a cause and effect, Newton's First Law put into mental practice: two forces, two objects acting upon each other and when one is unbalanced, the unbalanced force causes the other to respond.
It is also a shared experience. You are not on the outside looking in. You are on the inside--in the same boat, so to say.
In the first instance, you are the observer. You are aware of my condition, but it doesn't actively affect you and you can leave if you want. You could ignore it. In the second, you're part of this, whether you want to be or not.
But all of that? That's all largely an argument of semantics. The classification above is playing fast and loose with words that have no actual meaning to either of us as scientists. We're not linguists, Hermann, and the two words are largely unrelated in the actual scheme of things. Besides, I don't have your definitions of the terms or why you label it awareness, so I feel there are unknown variables.
I will, in the interest of not wasting paper back and forth on the subject, concede that the term awareness in psychology deals largely with cognitive abilities and how we perceive and react to the world. Point for you. That doesn't make this thing between us not a power. We're well into para-psychological territory here, though, so I don't think science will be a good backup in our arguments. But power and awareness do not have to be mutually exclusive. We have the power of enhanced awareness? Still a power--a superpower, no less.
The truth is, where do you define the end of awareness and the beginning of power?
It is not a cure-all, it's not a strength skill, it's not even your techno-fixer. But it is a power. It is an ability, one with many uses--and if usefulness if what makes it a power and not just an awareness, then so be it. This is a useful skill. If we can transfer memories, as we saw that we could with the telescope, it isn't entirely unlike uploading data wirelessly from computer to another. There are a multitude of highly useful applications for that.
In retrospect, I take back what I said earlier: I want to discuss speculative abilities here, now. It is not a far leap of the imagination to assume we could go from sharing present-emotions and past-memories to sharing thoughts in the moment. With a power like that, we could do a number of things.
Consider the following:
(a) co-process data like a network of super-computers, because two minds are better than one and our minds are superb
(b) transfer information wirelessly, including abilities (imagine, Hermann, sitting down to a piano and playing Brahms' Hungarian Dance, no. 5 flawlessly with the aid of downloaded memory of mine)
(c) real-time status updates on each other (peace of mind that someone always knows where and how you are…just in case)
(d) out-of-body experience (the ability to perceive the world through each others' senses, as if your mind is in the others body--at the very least provide visual)
(e) mind control (you might be able to control me, and I, you)
We could solve highly complex problems without vocalizing (although this is not an invitation to not talk). We could relay information without speaking (this has spy applications written all over it, not that I'm suggesting we play spy, although we would make killer spies), but it also makes us adaptive in the moment and useful as eyes and ears when mechanical instruments are unavailable. It makes us potentially able to tap into each other's databases of knowledge without the other being present. Even if we cannot send words back and forth, if we can only send fragments of impressions, think about how useful that would be! We are extensions of each other. We could be, essentially, our own two-man hive-mind.
This really comes down to one thing. I would argue, Hermann, that you would prefer it was awareness--that you would rather that definition over "power." It is cleaner, more controlled, to believe you are only observing my emotions and I yours; it is easier to not be involved. I think our argument the other day successfully detailed to us both that it does not seem to matter: there is no going back. The tape has been ripped up. Otachi Jr aside, our lab was our Jaeger.
We cannot just be aware. I'm not Saturn, Hermann, and you're not an astronomer looking from a safe distance. We are, if you prefer it in your language, a binary system, something like particles in quantum entanglement, two parts that act in response to each other. The fact remains that we are irrevocably combined, synchronized, push and pull, two halves of the same piece.
If it's not a power, it at the very least certainly warrants something more than awareness.
I haven't written a letter in so long, I think I'm rusty. Nine/ten years feels like forever. Haven't even written a paper in a long time. I don't even have a proper envelope for you! Next time, promise. But I feel like we should celebrate.
You know, I don't know about you, but I've thought about donating our letters to a museum. The Geiszler-Gottlieb Correspondence was pretty historic. Someday we'll have biographers and I honestly don't know how I feel about that. Maybe I'll keep the letters, leave them guessing. It's more fun if they're left to guess, right?
Those letters were epic, though.
-- Newt Geiszler
no subject
While I resent your insipid assertion in relation to the inelegant nature of superhuman capabilities, I'm forced to concede the dynamic properties of our empathetic exchange. I'd argue that the Drift is not a superhuman capability however, and as our connection closely resembles it, you'll forgive my hesitance in referencing it otherwise.
I won't waste time rehashing the technical minutiae of a phenomena you're already intimately familiar with, but suffice to say the Drift is a mutual exchange of information and feeling, both past and present. The Ghost Drift is what lingers after a connection is severed, typically lasting only hours and fading, whereas our continues to be an active exchange. Whether or not the Ghost Drift itself classifies as a 'superpower' is ultimately the discussion here, and serves as my frame of reference.
In addition, I'd like to point out that it may be wise to understate the extent of our link to others.
Given the subjective definition at hand however, I'd like to remind you that I am a physicist. To my mind, 'superpower' refers to any ability that does not conform to the physical laws. In essence, where phenomena ceases to be understood to the point that it becomes the widely hated umbrella of 'magic'. Certainly, your apparent regenerative capabilities fall under this category.
As we've come to realize however, an alternate dimension suggests new criteria and differing variations of those laws-- something I've yet to be able to study in any level of respectable depth. In time, I will remedy this, but in the moment, it makes for greater obfuscation in defining the ambiguous line between human capability and 'superpowers'. Naturally, this presents something of a dilemma. Do I categorize our abilities by the laws I'm familiar with, or withhold a stated opinion until I've charted the extent of this world's definitions- an endeavour that would take a lifetime and yet still remain incomplete?
Logic dictates that these abilities, granted to us through the Porter in some nebulous fashion (and thus 'magic' in itself), are defined by this world as powers we never possessed in our own. As such, they should be scrutinized through the veil of this world. Our drift makes for a complex exception, however. Ostensibly an ability we were already in possession of, yet enhanced in a fashion. The matter is endlessly vexing and has no clear answer.
I don't refute your assessment of my desire for something more controllable in nature. Certainly, I never held any aspirations for becoming superhuman to begin with, and in the wake of all that's happened, still don't possess any particular inclination toward it. It's pointless to wish otherwise of course, and I can admit there are some benefits to this exchange, if not perhaps on the level of your own speculations. While it's true our connection appears to be strengthening for indeterminable reasons, I doubt the extent that it may develop.
In similar order, I will address them.
(a) Inherently flawed comparison, as minds do not process data in the same vein as a computer. But the underlying concept seems sound enough, if our minds are data feeds processing sensory input on separate channels and convening to reach more informed and educated conclusions.
(b) Unlikely. Even with your technical knowledge and my passing familiarity with the instrument itself, I highly doubt either of us will be playing masterpieces anytime soon. Perhaps it would be somewhat easier to achieve, but by no means simple. This goes for any other such combination of abilities. You will not understand my mathematics overnight, but perhaps you may pick it up faster. Extensive testing would be required in any case.
(c) By far the most reasonable of these suggestions, if only because we're able to do this to a limited extent as it is. We can already detect distress and other strong emotions in one another on a psychological level, if without real intent.
(d) This sounds like something out of your science fiction films, and rather alarming to even consider. Neither of us have experienced anything even suggesting this is a possibility, and I'd rather hate to wonder what might happen to whomever's having the experience.
(e) no.
(f) You mentioned telepathy earlier on, so I'm going to quickly include it here. It seems like a progressive step from (c) and (b) respectively, although I can't say I'm entirely partial to the idea myself. It appears as though we may experience flashes of it at times, but I can't be certain. Conceptually, at least.
That said, I suppose I can see the application of our neural ability, even if we have absolutely no intention of becoming anything remotely similar to spies. Good god, Newton. Whether or not that makes it a power is still wholly up for debate, but if your opinion of it is defined by action, then I suppose that's fair enough.
All in all, I can't really say that I regret any of it, even if that single impulsive action does seem to have bound us more closely than we could have imagined.
I must confess I look forward to being a part of history in texts. Suffice to say Lars Gottlieb will be only a passing mention in comparison. And while I believe our letters are worth preserving, I'm of the opinion they could settle for copies if we were pressed to release them.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. What sort of celebration did you have in mind?
no subject
I did you the service of using your preferred title. I ask you do the same for me. Drop the Doctor on me or I will continue to refer to you as I please rather than how most pleases you. I will allow for the Newton because I think it might break you to shorten it to Newt.
I don't see why I have to understate our link to others. I like the link and as you well know, I like to talk about cool things, which we are. I do not boast my own accomplishments, ergo, I am not boasting about the link, so there is nothing improper about me discussing my powers and I don't see why I have to understate it. They are nice powers.
Ghost Drift qualifies as superhuman or at the very least "enhanced" human abilities. It transcends even the notion of augmented, because there is no longer a Drift apparatus attached. I maintain it still is a superpower by my definition.
But under your definition, neither of my abilities are superpowers. Neither qualify as magic unless your brain fails to comprehend things like starfish regenerating limbs. Axolotls (wiki them, Hermann, if you are unfamiliar with them--if for nothing else than that they are cute little buggers) possess an ability to regenerate limbs. They're very often studied in biological fields for this ability. Toxicity as a defense mechanism in animals is definitely not without precedence. Mammalian though I may be, it is not outside the realm of possibility that a complex organism such as myself might both be regenerative and toxic. There are stranger things in heaven and Earth, Hermann... As I assume your own abilities are within the realm of your scientific understanding, neither of us are superhuman by your definition.
I'll admit that yes, alternate dimensions mean new laws and criteria, but I am not measuring us against the same yardstick as everyone here. I'm not entirely convinced sometimes that Qubit isn't alien, for one. I prefer to have us measure ourselves against our own world's definitions, but I see your point with the porters. But by that standing, I am pretty sure by virtue of simply being imPorts we are superhuman. ImPorts have powers and abilities that the regular residents of this world do not, correct? Thereby rendering us all superhuman alien visitors like Goku or something and rendering the question of whether Qubit is alien moot (still curious).
Since you mentioned the benefits of 'this exchange'--care to elaborate, Doctor?
(a) Flawed comparison, but close enough analogy to make the point.
(b) Shame. I was really looking forward to downloading knowledge like the Matrix. I am always up for testing, extensive or otherwise.
(c) We can cultivate this ability to use it on demand, I believe.
(d) Science-fiction becomes science-fact eventually, Hermann.
(e) yes.
(f) I'd like to experiment, if you are up for it.
Impulsive actions have the best results. Life is about experiences. And apparently those are supposed to be better with other people.
Lars Gottlieb will the a footnote at best. "Gottlieb" will instead be the name of the man who closed the Breach, who pioneered the Jaeger coding, who drifted with a Kaiju. Lars should be so lucky as to ride your coattails into the history books and I'm certain that if not for your obvious inclusion, he would be forgotten. The UN is not going to want to remember who voted yes on that damn Wall and for that he should be grateful.
I'm going to buy every book that comes out and have you sign it. And when you publish about the Breach, I'm going to buy out the local bookstore and have you sign them and send copies to those assholes back at MIT and Cambridge. And everywhere else. And my dad and uncle, even though neither will understand a word you're saying, you pompous ass. Would it kill you to write a layman-readable book? They did both manage to read A Brief History of Time and you don't have to explain all of time--just a gap in the ocean to another dimension. You can do it.
-- Newt Geiszler
PS. What are you feeling up to? More letters reveling in our brilliance? Confetti? Promise of drinks later? Or coffee now? Kind of new and different to have a penpal across the hall instead of across the pond.
PPS. How are you? Okay, that question feels dumb considering the discussion of our empathic powers, but--How are you?
no subject
You are impossible.
And the reason I suggest discretion isn't out of propriety, but rather caution. Just as the Drift has the potential for abuse, so too is our connection exploitable. You should well understand this.
While you may have been granted the abilities of a starfish, you can't contest that such levels of regeneration are humanly impossible. This is what makes them incomprehensible. It is nothing that could be replicated. Although I accept that as imPorts we are now inherently superhuman, perhaps some allowance should be made for our 'powers'. After all, the civilians of this world are supposed to be widely ordinary by comparison.
In regards to the benefits of our neural link, I'm essentially referring to the potential for data transfer. There are entire swaths of information that could be exchanged in such a fashion, more easily than any technology or instructional method we've developed to date.
(b)+(f) Amenable, though I wonder if we'll ever run out of experiments for this.
As far as my hypothetical books go, I should hope I won't be writing most of them. Those I do however, will not be reduced to such a gross oversimplification. However, I will make a concentrated effort to be as concise as possible. It wouldn't do for all my work to go unappreciated by means of a steep learning curve, after all. I must say your ardor is entirely unnecessary, however. I suppose it's petty vengeance, but he will not talk his way out of this one.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. As if we need letters for that. I'm not sure alcohol is wise or foolish in the wake of what we've experienced. Perhaps a rain check on that.
PPS. Marginally better, as you surely know. It's still not a good day, but these letters have helped redirect my focus, so I appreciate them. I anticipate a return to baseline mobility tomorrow, and gradual improvement over the course of the week. You seem to be doing much better.
no subject
Superhumanly impossible?
Point taken. I will do my best to keep our connection relatively private, but as I'm sure you can understand it is difficult sometimes to think in terms of I instead of We. That's probably pretty telling even when we're just talking to benign simpletons.
I thought you might have had other ideas in mind. Okay. Rest assured, we will never be out of experiments for anything, Hermann. We'll be busy for the next century.
It wasn't ardor. But, for the record, one of us has to express the enthusiasm for our successes that you won't.
-- Newt Geiszler
PS. Rain check it is, then.
PPS. The letters help. If mobility is back up and running tomorrow and you care to mobilize and meander down the hall, my door can be open. If not, fine too. I understand need for space.
no subject
Yes, superhumanly impossible. There's no possible way a human could adopt the regenerative properties of a starfish. For the record, I never had a problem admitting we are superhuman- teleportation isn't what anyone would consider subtle, after all. Superpowers however, I take umbrage with.
And yes, I understand the pluralization of ourselves could be telling. However in most cases, I believe it will be interpreted differently. Perhaps not flattering, but inaccurate nevertheless.
I suppose I can appreciate your enthusiasm at points.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. Alternatively, it is entirely possible you could walk across the hall yourself.
no subject
I stopped talking about the super-powers. I just wanted to know if my level of "impossible" was superhuman, since I get told that a lot. Flatter me. Tell me it is.
You mean that our pluralization will be interpreted as crazy? Let me let you in on a secret here, Hermann, one I'm sure is not a secret to you or will not long be a secret to you if it was before: I am used to being called crazy. You get that a lot, when word gets out that you see a therapist and require drugs to level out your brain chemicals, and when your neuroses are evident in your mannerisms. I can kind of handle that. Can you, though? And don't take this as a challenge. Just don't. It is not a fun way to go through life, especially in dealing with your peers. "Ten years experience..."--you've fought hard for that recognition, but trust me, it goes out the window and means very little when they think you're cuckoo for chocopuffs. It might be easier to let them know.
You're making me preen.
-- Newt Geiszler
PS. Oh, so that's an option.
no subject
I have no intention of doing so when you manage that perfectly fine without anyone's assistance.
Nothing quite so extreme as that. I'm referring to the type of relationship it may imply to those unfamiliar with either of us. Certainly, that has already been misinterpreted at least once while we've been here.
We've both fought for recognition, Newton. And we'll get it- in our world if not here.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. I never stated it wasn't.
no subject
Fine then. Rude.
Okay, I'm apparently not following you. You could stand to be less vague.
Exactly. We're rock stars. (It's not just about recognition, though. As long as you know what you're getting into, Hermann.)
-- Newt Geiszler
PS. You never stated it was.
no subject
If I must be blunt, I'm sure you remember when Hiro asked if we were married. That sort of misinterpretation.
I'm well aware of how to handle such things, if you'll recall.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. It figures you would observe the invisible boundaries but not the physical ones. Newton, short of contracting a terminal illness, I'll never forbid you from visiting. Even then, I doubt I'd be able to stop you.
no subject
Oh! That! But we got that before the Drift. I mean, I'm pretty such some of the jtech are still convinced we're married, but then again, I'm not entirely sure Tendo ever tried to correct them either.
White-knighting for me is different than defending yourself.
--Newt
PS. Technically it is a physical boundary. You do have a door.
no subject
Ridiculous, even so.
Yes Newton, I was a pathetic child in my youth, I'm well aware, thank you. You should know very well I don't tolerate disrespect any longer. After all, I've certainly lectured you enough.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
PS. I can't very well leave it open for just anyone to walk in.
no subject
You're ridiculous. If people want to think we're married, we can let them. Doesn't bother me.
Right, I forgot I was talking to a badass. (And you weren't a pathetic child. You were a nerd and kids shove nerds in lockers because they're threatened by our badass brains. And then we save the world and get all the cheerleaders!)
--Newt
PS. Maybe I'll be over later, then. I'm busy having a very interesting snail-mail conversation with my Best Friend and walking across the hall sounds like too much work. Brb gtg shove this under his door.
no subject
I don't recall any cheerleaders. But then, I suppose I'm married now.
In an effort to save us from this post-script ridiculousness, I believe these letters are getting short enough to nearly qualify as text messages by now. I'm also not certain the term 'snail mail' qualifies when the delay is hardly significant.
-- Dr. Hermann Gottlieb
no subject
You did better. ROCK STAR! But if you want cheerleaders, I'm sure we can find you cheerleaders for a night. I'd hate for our marriage to get stale.
I could take my time delivering them. Actually, no, too much work. As it is, I'm pretty much sitting in the hall outside your door.
And technically they've always been text messages.
--Newt
action;
Dr. Geiszler-
That is an atrocious combination.
-- Dr. Gottlieb
[It's okay, he'll wait for him to read it. Then shove his door open wider and wave Newton inside]
Before anyone believes I've forced you to sit in the hallway as retribution for some disagreement or another.
action;
Whoa, dude, a little warning next time.
[He frowns at the letter and follows Hermann in, bringing with him the pad of paper and pen he had been writing with.]
Oh, too late. I'm pretty sure everyone who's ever met us is convinced you've put me in the doghouse or on the couch for one reason or another.
And what do you mean 'atrocious combination'?
action;
Hermann wanders over to his desk where the little pile of letters has been collecting in the corner in a neat stack. He plucks up Newton's most recent 'note' and waves it for emphasis before adding it to the small pile]
Our names, of course. It would make for a terrible introduction or signature.
[He should offer Newton tea or coffee, but Hermann makes it as far as the sofa before he decides sitting back down is a better option]
Kitchen is yours if you want it.
action;
Oh. That.]
Well, then we're going to be one of those ridiculous couples that keep their own names, because I'm not going to introduce myself as Newton Gottlieb. We don't need more Dr. Gottliebs in the world, thanks.
[He wandered into the kitchen.]
Going to make some tea, then. Want any?
action;
[The house barely felt big enough for him and his father, let alone anyone else]
I'll take a cup, thank you.
[Hermann sets to work on flexing his fingers to keep his dominant hand from cramping up. It's the last thing he needs on a day like this and much as he'd enjoyed their exchange, he's somewhat relieved that it's come to a close for now]
...You're not insane, Newton.
action;
[He fussed with putting water on to boil and finding them cups, not looking back out at Hermann as he responded.]
Of course not. I-I never said I was.
[Faint surprise. Cautious relief. Gratitude.]
action;
Just as he's not 'pathetic', he can't help but remember those feelings and the brief hesitance he'd felt placing 'Dr.' before his name on that missive. But at least they can assure each other that they don't believe it]
Did you want to attempt any experiment in particular?
action;
Funny. He never thought the positive voice in his head would be Hermann's.]
What are you up for? Because it's been a busy couple of days and we don't have to push for experiments. This isn't the war.
[He poured the water over the teabags, spooned in sugar, and brought the cups out to Hermann.]
But I'm totally game for any thought sharing. What kind of things do they make Jaeger pilots do? Or is it just the Kwoon?
action;
Hermann accepts his tea with a flicker of a smile]
I can't say; neither of us made it past that point. I was exempted from combat training as soon as they ran my numbers.
[That had stung a bit, but was to be expected. He'd only just managed to slip through the first few weeks without drawing attention to himself. If not for their desperation and his brain, he doubts they would've kept him at all]
I know they run a simulation before the pilots enter a Jaeger for the first time, but we can't exactly replicate that.
action;
Newt sits and offers a supportive smile.]
We drifted with a MacGyvered Pons. We can definitely slap together our own Drift training program, too.
What about empath stuff? Granted, it's kind of hard to play detect-that-emotion since we'll have to work ourselves up to feeling that emotion. You get the most feedback, I think. What am I doing when you get a ping off me? What do you think I can replicate here?
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)