opnet [OpNet] Introduction

[Seraphim]

Let me say this. I'm only writing this because my husband believes it would help me in some way. To speak with novas about my situation.

My name is Erin Napolitano. I'm using Seraphim as my handle here because that's what everyone in the media seems to be calling me and so you might be familiar with my story already. I live in Boston with my husband and two children. My oldest, Robert, died a few months ago in an accident.

God came to me when I needed solace after my son's death. I won't elaborate too much, it becomes prideful if I do, but the Almighty charged me with the task of helping others like me. With His blessing, I am able to mend the wounds of the body and the mind.

We don't always understand God's will, but I do know that my son was returned to Heaven so that I might begin doing God's work on Earth.

I've been told by others that I am delusional, that I've made all this up in my head as a way of dealing with my grief. My husband, among others, believes that I've undergone an eruption, and the gifts that have been bestowed upon me nothing more than typical nova-style powers.

I've spoken with novas before, and none of them say they feel the Will of God working through them, or hear his Voice guiding them. I didn't have the symptoms of an eruption, either. I understand novas have really painful headaches for a few days, but I didn't have anything except a great sense of peace and purpose.

Does any nova here agree with me that I'm probably not one of you? It's very easy to look for answers in science rather than in faith, and it's very easy to see miracles except when they happen in your own backyard. I think my husband wants me to be a nova because if that would be true, then he doesn't have to deal with the possibility that the Almighty has charged his family with a task.

[Hugin]

Quote:

Originally posted by Seraphim:

Does any nova here agree with me that I'm probably not one of you? It's very easy to look for answers in science rather than in faith, and it's very easy to see miracles except when they happen in your own backyard. I think my husband wants me to be a nova because if that would be true, then he doesn't have to deal with the possibility that the Almighty has charged his family with a task.

No, no I do not agree. However, you shouldn't feel alone. A very good friend of mine, Jay 'The Saint' Prince, also felt that he had been touched by god. He also could heal with a touch and could call into being what I called 'focused quantum apparitions' but he called 'angels'. He was a man of powerful faith and presence. He served the Lord in his own way until he was taken away from us. You are not the first to see being a Nova as the example of a higher spiritual being touching us, and you shall not be the last. Welcome.

[Wakinyan]

Who is to say being given a node is not the work of the great spirit? I know a lot of people say we are the spark of the divine/hellfire.

We are the Nephlim of this age, for better or for worse.

[Y.T.]

I,for one Totem. If there is a God,and if said God is powerful enough to make novas, I would hope they would tell us more than what they did.

Seraphim, you are aware that your name means more than one Seraph?Also, if you were touched by God, what makes you believe I wasn't?

[Seraphim]

I can't answer that for you, Y.T. I'm not saying that you weren't touched by the Almight, only that I what I can do is the result of His will, not some random mutation from a satellite over a decade gone.

All I can say is that I felt the touch of God, and continue to feel it everytime I aid those who come to me.

Only you can know if you have felt God's touch.

[H. 'Machine' Mann]

Quote:

Originally posted by Seraphim:
Does any nova here agree with me that I'm probably not one of you?

I don't know you. I couldn't guess as to your mental state. Even if there is a god, the mechanisms in place allow for all the supposedly miraculous things so there's no way to prove or disprove your claim. Are you a nova? Easy enough to answer but I can't offer an explanation of eruption that proves the uninvolvement of god in your's or anyone else's. Whether I believe it or not, I can't prove it.

Quote:

Originally posted by Y.T.:
If there is a God,and if said God is powerful enough to make novas, I would hope they would tell us more than what they did.

Few read the technical manuals anyway. If it bothers you then consider writing your own. I hope you mistakenly wrote "power" and truly meant "knowledge".

[Y.T.]

Seraphim one still hasn't answer why you had the name of more than on Seraph, and not just Seraph.

[Jager]

I believe Seraphim and I share the fact that we were named by others, not by ourselves.

The name is catchy.

If you believe in any Almighty Being, you therefore believe that all of this is their will. That's what almight means.

[Lemmy Chillmeister]

Hey, Yit, why don't you back the fuck off? Lady is fresh as cream and you jump on her back first thing because of something that has nothing to do with nothing? No one jumping down your case for a stupid name. No one jumping on my case for a stupid name. So lay off.

Seraphim, welcome little lady. Heard about you when I played Boston. Sounds like you do good stuff. Don't know if I'm down with the whole God thing. I don't really know what I think about the Big Guy. But, you come one in, kick back and don't let these folks rattle your cage.

[Y.T.]

Lemmy, I ask because it interests me.I ask because it implies either a lack of forethought,care or possibly a mater of urgent care.And Leamy, I have a good reason for this name.

[Wakinyan]

Name issues aside Seraphim. You might be interested to know that many of my tribe find that I am of divine birth. They have hoped, prayed and danced for so long that I guess they believe in me even when I don't. Where you believe you are, others believe I am. Who knows....

[Neil Preston]

Hey, Seraphim. Dad came to see you after your ... becoming. Says your pretty cool.

Y.T., what does your name stand for, anyway?

Incase anyone was wondering:

Neil is my first (given) name. I was named after my mother's maiden-family's name, the O'Neil's.

Preston is my last name. It comes from my Dad, and his Dad's before him, back to the town of Preston, England, were my ancestors came from.

I'm glad to get that mystery off my chest!

[Y.T.]

Y.T. was a call sign of one my grand father's buds back in the great war.Good man, or so I hear.

As for what means, to those who I am friendly,it means Yours Truly. To it means few other things, but you'll have to trust me on that.

[Seraphim]

I'd like to thank everybody who took time out of their busy lives to post here.

Prodigy, thank you for your welcome, but I disagree with everything you said. I'm not a Nova who sees their condition as a blessing, but someone who is mistaken as a Nova.

Totem, our situations seem intertwined somehow. Perhaps I could benefit from a visit with you.

Lemmy, thank you for your kind...words. I'm sorry, your cursing took me aback for a while.

Mr. Mann, I'm not insane. People who've been given callings have often been thought of that way by those who haven't, though, so I know why you'd feel that way about me.

Neil, please give my best to your father. He does what he can to protect those in need, and that's an admirable path to take in life. I understand that you're a healer, and that's a noble path to take, too. I wish you well.

Jager, yes, you're correct. I was given this name.

YT: As I understand the story, someone in the church who witnessed my transformation said the word "seraphim" upon seeing me. You know, meaning "of the seraphim," to describe me to someone else. It caught on from there. As I've come to understand, I could say "I am seraphim," to describe myself as opposed to saying "I am a seraph," and I haven't misused the word.

[Wakinyan]

Well I am not sure how much insight I can give you Seraphim. I don't mind meeting up at all. I have met some interesting people on this board of late and while there are still one or two in particular I want to meet I am always up for meeting more.

Just one question I have. Have you been checked for a Node? I know you don't feel like you're a nova but just a simple blood test or Xray could tell you for sure.

[H. 'Machine' Mann]

Quote:

Originally posted by Seraphim:
Mr. Mann, I'm not insane.

Seraphim, I state nothing more than the fact that I have neither knowledge of you to base an opinion on or the means to ascertain the involvement of god in your eruption. I find it inappropriate to voice opinions rooted in ignorance.

Quote:

Originally posted by Totem:
Have you been checked for a Node?

That wouldn't disprove god's involvement or guidance.

[Wakinyan]

Didn't say it would or wouldn't. I am just curious.

[Hugin]

I would like to make the suggestion to all here, do not attempt to try to convince Seraphim to get checked for a Node, try to use your own Nodes to scan her or sick Utopia after her.

While we may disagree in one or more ways, our 'proof' will mean nothing to her. She has faith, belief with no need for proof other than acceptance of God. God spoke to her directly, no earthly science can countermand His Word.

Trying to press her on this issue will very likely only create tension.

Seraphim, yes, I do disagree with you also. Now that we have gotten that out of the way, what can we do for you? What would you like from us?

[Neil Preston]

I will say this, the Opnet has been a great place to meet people from around the globe.

I figure once I meet 250 or so novas, I will even chance a get together with James 'Prodigy' Meehan. Until then, I'm afraid I feel too inadequate.

[Hugin]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
I will say this, the Opnet has been a great place to meet people from around the globe.

I figure once I meet 250 or so novas, I will even chance a get together with James 'Prodigy' Meehan. Until then, I'm afraid I feel too inadequate.

If you would like to meet, I would have to insist you call me James. I simply use the Prodigy name to keep my connection with Utopia, and thus my break with Utopia, in the public consciousness.

I am quite often in Tokyo, at New Grounds, should you ever wish to meet.

[Neil Preston]

James, I would like to meet with you when I have something to offer. Thanks for the offer.

[TUM TUM]

HOW COME EVERYONE SEE GOD BUT TUM TUM? EVERYWHERE TUM TUM GO PEOPLE YELLING HIS NAME. TUM TUM LOOK UNDER CHAIR, TUM TUM LOOK IN SAMMICH, BUT TUM TUM NOT SEE HIM ANYWHERE. WHAT HE LOOK LIKE AND WHAT HE SAY?

[Sakurako Hino]

*sigh*

TUM-TUM san, God is in everything. The tree, the stone, the sammich you eat. God does't need to speak or be visible.

By the way, God is in you too.

It's like this, we all are parts of the universe trying to understand itself.

Of course, you're eating parts of it probably means you're God's appetite. ~.^

[TUM TUM]

GOD HAVE BIG APPETITE HUH?

[Seraphim]

Quote:

Originally posted by James 'Prodigy' Meehan:
Now that we have gotten that out of the way, what can we do for you? What would you like from us?

I'm not sure there is anything I want from you, Mr. Meehan. Like I said in my introduction, I'm doing this mostly as a favor to my husband, who I believe hopes that I will "come to my senses" or similar rubbish by speaking with Novas.

To answer your question, Totem, yes, I've been checked out by a doctor. I was told that he could find no evidence of a "node" in me.

[Hugin]

Well, please consider me a resource if you ever do have any questions. You might also want to let your husband know that simply 'speaking to Novas' may not be in the best interest of your marriage. There are a number of us who, if we were to believe you to be a Nova, would encourage you to leave him. He may want to keep that in mind when trying to push you into something like this.

[Seraphim]

I'm confused, Mr. Meehan.

Why would anyone try to convince me to end my marriage, even believing that I was a nova? I hope I haven't given anyone the idea that he is a poor husband, because he isn't. He's absolutely wonderful.

[Hugin]

There are some, including myself, that believe that Novas and baselines are significantly different enough as to cause harm to both races by interacting closely. We invalidate many baseline efforts simply by being able to outstip them in nearly every way. Look to the mass decline in baseline sports, entertainment dominated by Novas or Nova related themes, and our effect on technical advances. Baselines in turn, look to us so much as to cause us to resent their needs, lowering them in our eyes.

We develop hubris by comparing ourselves to them rather than striving to improve ourselves for ourselves. They lose a sense of identity by looking to us as ideals. Are you yourself not a little disturbed by how much admiration that Novas receive, that it borders on worship?

[Seraphim]

I don't see how this situation applies to my marriage, though.

What harm can come of loving another soul, regardless of what they are?

[Hugin]

What harm?

I won't speak of your marriage, since you believe yourself to be something other than a Nova.

Imagine another marriage, the wife erupts, the man is a baseline. The women is now stronger than her husband. More capable of providing financially. Her intellect so far outstrips him that he is as a child to her. She now flies through the air as naturally as he walks. She doesn't fear disease, poison, or violent attack. She will remain young and vibrant for much longer as he ages and withers. She has been removed from his ability to relate. A marriage is a union of two people, equals, or at the least, near-equals. The union of baseline and Nova cannot be that.

[Seraphim]

I'm finding this point-of-view both sad and disturbing, Mr. Meehan. While I'm now capable of doing things my husband can't, this hasn't lessened my love for him. I think that love transcends such ideas of equality and near-equality. Compassion...mercy...these qualities aren't dependant on equality.

[Hugin]

Being that your change comes from a higher source retaining the concepts of mercy and compassion will likely be easier for you.

I am strictly speaking of Novas. Those whose powers and changes are secular in origin. Those who are going to be bombarded with information from a society telling them that they are gods, the saviors of mankind. I speak of those to whom compassion and mercy are not intrinsic concepts.

[Neil Preston]

Boy, its going to be a lonely world for us, if we can only love one another.

James, maybe society will bombard us with the concepts of Godhood and responsibility, but can't we ignore it if we chose?

If being worshipped is your thing (not referring to you specifically, James), go for it. I would hate to be guilted into doing anything, be it saving the world, or a date.

[H. 'Machine' Mann]

Apples and oranges, Mr Preston. James Meehan is speaking of social interactions. You are speaking of emotions. I admit there is an overlap and you're wise beyond your years to recognize that social customs are institutionalized outlets for emotions but they are still seperate issues.

Regardless of the nature of Seraphim's calling, these are personal issues. Each of us will find different answers. Whether nova or angelic, Seraphim must find her own answers.

[Sakurako Hino]

Quote:

Originally posted by TUM TUM:
GOD HAVE BIG APPETITE HUH?

Bigger than you realize.

[Ghostwriter]

Seraphim, I have heard of you.

My name is Regan McLachlan, called Codex for the fact I am a living library. Part of my initial education involved theology, so it is good to meet you.

Some novas are monsters made flesh; others are beings who manipulate elements like a child does building blocks. Some are yet channels for divine force.

I don't believe you are an angel - a channel for some of your god's force, perhaps, but not an angel.

But I wish you well in your quest for answers.

[Seraphim]

Ms. McLachlan,

I don't think I am an angel. Not a true angel, anyway, as I was born on this earth. I think I was given the form of a "traditional" looking angel by the Almighty because people recognize it and it comforts them.

All I know is that I felt His touch and must do His work. I don't think I'm anything more than a woman who's been charged with a task.

[Miss Baby]

Seraphim, let me say this.Being touched by God is not always the best thing to say in public.I myself should and do no tell you what your power that be, does, or why they do it.I do on the other hand say it is not nice to try to make others to believe in the same power as you do.I say this mainly to novas, and those such as yourself, because the powers you were given are great,and shouldn't be used to take advantage of others.

So,please if it wouldn't be a bother, let those who want to know more about your faith, come to you.Do not go out looking for more followers, after all most people who can be forced, or willed into a faith, do not have any idea of what true faith is.

[Jager]

Christians, if they are to stay true to their beliefs, must prosteletize, Anne. One can't just "hear the Word", and be quiet about it.

Put it this way; it would be like finding the exit in a burning theater and not telling anyone else about it. Christianity doesn't force you to drag another out of the burning building, but it does require that you speak up, and hold the door open as long as possible.

We may not like it, but it is part of their faith.

[Mister]

Seraphim, due the nature of Nova abilities it possible to be a nova who's node does not take the usual form. Such cases are very rare. They're a number of other tests, from Nova abilities to new technologies. I while I am quite sure from what I have read you are a nova I am also aware I could be wrong. Much has happened in the last 16 years and we are far from understanding much of it.

Discoveries are happening at an astounding rate because we now have much more to discover. What ever you might be and whatever guides you I hope you will be a force for good in the world and help bring peace and understanding.