Wakinyan Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Damn it! Just when I think I am getting this body figured out I start something new. I was sitting here reading some interesting Nove FanFic when I started noticing I had a uncontrollable urge to start preening. Next thing you know the feathers start coming out by the dozen! They're all over the house now and it is annoying. Some interesting facts though. If I change the color of the feather before I pluck it out it stays that color. So if any of you guys would like some feathers I can send small ones or some over three feet long and any color you choose. I am sure they would make great dream cathers or pimp hats. I am giving some to the council to make war bonnets and other things with. I have been told my new feathers should be back in just a few days and I should expect to shed and molt once or twice a year... I am so multifunction. How nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakurako Hino Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Quote:Originally posted by Totem: Damn it! Just when I think I am getting this body figured out I start something new. I was sitting here reading some interesting Nove FanFic when I started noticing I had a uncontrollable urge to start preening. Next thing you know the feathers start coming out by the dozen! They're all over the house now and it is annoying. Some interesting facts though. If I change the color of the feather before I pluck it out it stays that color. So if any of you guys would like some feathers I can send small ones or some over three feet long and any color you choose. I am sure they would make great dream cathers or pimp hats. I am giving some to the council to make war bonnets and other things with. I have been told my new feathers should be back in just a few days and I should expect to shed and molt once or twice a year... I am so multifunction. How nice. If you could send about 5 in red, please do so at your convenience.Might as well make something of it, huh?I would be wiling to make a donation to your tribe if need be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David 'Dr. Troll' Smith Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Has this affected aerial abilities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted April 15, 2004 Author Share Posted April 15, 2004 For the moment I am not to nimble in flight as I usually am. I tried going hunting this morning and took out two pine trees in a ball of feathers and ppine needles when I was trying to land. Not exactly graceful I know. I will go down to the post and send those for you Endeavor. I wouldnt mind so much if it wasnt so damn itchy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Craft Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Mind sending me a couple of samples? I can PM you a NYC address so you don't have to mail international. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugin Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Might I also ask for a few?I would be happy to reimburse you of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted April 15, 2004 Author Share Posted April 15, 2004 Lucky I am a big guy and I have plenty to spare. I will just go pick some out of the shopvac I just burnt out. If any of you are looking at these for scientific reasons be sure to let me know if you find out anything of interest. Don't worry about the feathers Prodigy I still owed you for the keyboard anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakurako Hino Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 If they have any properties, I'll let you know. But for the most part, I'm just going to have them as decoration. I do have a case I can put them in, that is humidity and climate controlled.In any case, I appreciate the gift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Craft Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 "If any of you are looking at these for scientific reasons be sure to let me know if you find out anything of interest."Of course. I don't expect too much, but if something comes up you'll be the first to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwriter Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 I must admit that my only reason for wanting feathers is personal. My damned quills keep on breaking while I try to touch up a twelfth-century medieval Bible. Bloody thing - I had to research silversmithing and gemcutting to fix the blasted cover!Every man and his freaking dog wants me to repair their old books and gets real temperamental when I use old-fashioned know-how instead of my powers. *sigh*Word of advice - save as many feathers as you can, honey. I know an ornithologist named Mary Farcreek who lives in your area. She specialises in imping raptor feathers - makes a nice profit on tending novas with wings. She's Lakota, so hopefully she might fix you up for cheap.I hope this helps.Codex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted April 16, 2004 Author Share Posted April 16, 2004 Oh that reminds me Codex. These feathers can stop a 30mm armor piercing round. I think my injuries from the michaelites is what caused this molt. Just might be refreshing my natural armor, I guess. I will drop a box full off at the post for you Codex for you to try and make new quills from. Enjoy them. I am literally giving myself away here people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwriter Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 Oh, shit. I'd better be careful or they might ruin the parchment. *shrugs* Stuff it, I'll repair the damage.Thanks, honey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakurako Hino Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 Totem, the reason your feathers are so resilient is because of the polymers within the lattices of your feathers. I got a chance to do a molecular scan. Wow.It'd take a ton of research years just to figure out how to produce this chemically.High quality material. And when layered, amazingly resilient. Of course, your coat of feathers probably gives you better protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 Hmmm....Just be careful sending your genetic material around the globe, okay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kestrel404 Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 I was not originally planning on asking, since I am new to this board, but Miss Endeavor's discovery has me very intrigued. If you could send me one of your feathers as a sample, I'm sure I could return the favor later. I'll PM you my address.By the way: Hello everyone. I have been lurking for a short while. I will introduce myself in a new thread, so there is no need to take this discussion off of Totem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugin Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 Quote:Originally posted by Totem: Lucky I am a big guy and I have plenty to spare. I will just go pick some out of the shopvac I just burnt out. If any of you are looking at these for scientific reasons be sure to let me know if you find out anything of interest. Don't worry about the feathers Prodigy I still owed you for the keyboard anyway. Thank you, I will have someone come out and pick them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted April 16, 2004 Author Share Posted April 16, 2004 Damn Jager I never thought about that until you mentioned it. I mean there just feathers right? I don't want a bunch of totem clones running around or something I guess. I wonder how the guy who makes eufiber sleeps at night with all of his 'stuff' all over the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted April 16, 2004 Author Share Posted April 16, 2004 I was meaning to ask Endeavor. Do you think I could commercially sell that compound or maybe just the rights to try and recreate it? That might be the revenue source I have been looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakurako Hino Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 *laughs*I feel really awkward about that question, Totem. The only thing that I can say, is that you should try every attempt to secure the molecular layout of the polymer in your feathers.Simply put, you made it, you should have the rights to it. Especially if someone can reproduce the G-Polymer. (Yes, the G stands for Griffin.)Now, I can point you in the right direction to attorneys and lawyers experienced in copyright and patent law, but the steps you take have to be yours.You may pick up unwanted fame. For you and your tribe.Oh, and don't worry about you getting cloned, Totem. I don't know if Nova genes clone true, and if I remember correctly, it is unethical for scientists to make clones of Humans and Novas. Not to mention there are moritoriums on cloning in several countries, and cloning is under S&T restriction. At least that is what I know. I may be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Craft Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 There are some real nasty tricks one can do to someone with a sample of their DNA. Takes some serious tech and know-how, though - so you probably don't have too much to worry about right now.You probably don't want to sell your feathers directly - if they turned out to be a money-maker, you'd have way more demand than supply. That would drive the price up, but you'd probably get more intrusive attention than it's worth.It's a good idea to copyright the molecules involved - then you can sell research and (eventually) manufacturing rights without too much personal involvement. I'm sure Endeavor can hook you up with the right people. This may not be profitable, but it's definitely good to cover yourself legally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Craft Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 Oh, yeah. Something I came across.Your feathers seem to retain the ability to change color - there's a chemical trigger that controls the hue. I've been fiddling around with one of your samples, and I found a few enzyme combinations that trigger basic changes: bright red, ?70% cool grey, a yellow-tinted brown, etc.Every change is of a duller hue, though. I think that I'm either damaging the receptor sites by not exactly reproducing the right enzymes, or that the sites are just beginning to break down now that the feathers have been plucked. Either way, I think there's going to be a practical limit on how many times I can do this.And a question: can you generate patterns on individual feathers? Everything I've produced in the lab are solid hues, but that could just be that you have a finer control than I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakurako Hino Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 Alex, something to keep in mind. Those feathers are now away from his quantum aura. They may only keep their properties when around him. Just a theory. And yes, the enzymes may also be a key. But remember, Feathers are just another form of Hair, Fur, or Scales. A feather is practically dead material, but somehow Totem can influence the polymer's photogenic properties by secreting hormones into the feather.The color shifting may only be possible through biological interaction. Perhaps like a mood ring, that actually works? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted April 17, 2004 Author Share Posted April 17, 2004 Most likely the wonderous properties will degrade given time from me away from me including it's ballistic defense I would guess. To answer your question Alex. Yes I can generate simple patterns on each feather attached to me. Nothing more complex than say a crude geometric shape and various mixure of base colors. Emotional response sends cascades of color through them though. Watch my XWF fight for a demonstration on that. However the greatest benefit is my natural instinct to camouflage myself. I do it without even thinking about it so it must be completely reflexive. On a side note the new feathers are about all grown in now and the itching is leaving. It happened faster than I thought it would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakurako Hino Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 I just tested a theory out.I tried sending some of my quantum into a feather.Other than the effect of it's beauty staying longer when changed using the enzymes Alex described, there are no further effects.The interesting news is that the kinetic ablative properties of the feather remain intact. One side effect though is as the feather spends more time away from Totem, the harder and less flexible it is.Hell, if I waited a little while, I could make a sword out of one of these babies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kestrel404 Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 Thank you for sending me a sample, Totem. I'm taking a break from my normal lab work to play with it. As Endeavor stated above, it is very difficult to synthesize the polymer from your feather that gives it its durability. However, I did note one thing of interest about your feather which has not yet been mentioned.While it is about as dense as a normal feather, it survived without warping in our lab's wind tunnel at its highest setting (we can approximate mach 2). It is entirely possible that your body made your feathers as durable as they are for enhanced flight speed, rather than as armor. If you cannot fly that fast, it is possible that your abilities will develop in that direction. I'll probably have more on the polymer itself when I've gotten it into the lab proper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted April 19, 2004 Author Share Posted April 19, 2004 Right now my speed is around 300MPH. Of course it is a lot more if I am in a dive. I could try to get my speed faster maybe I will work on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiGeist Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 Don't sonic boom. Or you'll end up nude again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted April 20, 2004 Author Share Posted April 20, 2004 Hmm maybe that would get rid of my feathers faster next time I molt. I'll have to keep it in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kestrel404 Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Good news! I had an idea about synthesizing that polymer, but it was so oddball that I wanted to do some research first. I was talking with a Genie (genetic engineer) over lunch today and she said I might be on to something.The hardest part about synthesizing the polymer from Totem's feathers is in the last stage, when a complex mixing/folding procedure has to take place at a very rapid pace. Machines to do that don't have the delicacy and humans don't have the speed. But I think that a genetically engineered silk worm could perform the task. I've written up some specifications for the process and sent it out to another lab specializing in GM critters, and we'll see whether this idea is feasible once Triton's genetics think tank takes a look at it.Totem, if this works out, it could be pretty big. I'd say you should get yourself a good patent/research lawyer (offer a small percentage of your profit, so you don't have to pay up front) to secure your claim on this stuff. I'll work on my end to make sure Triton plays nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted May 4, 2004 Author Share Posted May 4, 2004 Somehow the need to Patent myself makes me feel dirty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Tell that to Buendia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zed Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 You want a weird feeling? Disney wanted to buy the rights to me. Not the character Zed, but me. I'm telling you, ever since they let Eisner's disembodied head run the company, it's gone downhill. I hear they put a fishtank filter in the jar to keep the fluid clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted May 4, 2004 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Damn. Zed knows. Now, he must DIE!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakurako Hino Posted May 5, 2004 Share Posted May 5, 2004 Quote:Originally posted by Zed: You want a weird feeling? Disney wanted to buy the rights to me. Not the character Zed, but me. I'm telling you, ever since they let Eisner's disembodied head run the company, it's gone downhill. I hear they put a fishtank filter in the jar to keep the fluid clean. Watch Futurama much? ~.^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kestrel404 Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 Wonderful. We just got back the first batch of GM spiders. Spiders were chosen over silk worms because their spineretts were perfect for the mixing job. Only a few small changes in the chemistry of the spider's silk glands had to be made.The spiders were born this morning in the lab. In a few days they should be spinning their silk, and we'll see what kind of properties it has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singularity Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 Alchemist and Totem:I can offer my services if you wish to test the strength of the fibers and (by extension) your (Totem's) feathers. The energy I can emit from my hands and feet has been able to penetrate nearly every substance and nova I have had to remove. Could be a good way for you to determine your limits without risking your life in the process, Totem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakinyan Posted May 11, 2004 Author Share Posted May 11, 2004 I don't have a issue with it. Just hook up with Alchemist for the testing purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kestrel404 Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 I don't know how valid that kind of testing would be, at least as far as Totem is concerned. The polymer strands that will come from the spiders (I won't call it silk, because it most likely won't be flexible once it sets) has very little to do with what was found in Totem's feathers beyond chemical composition. Thank you for the offer, though.If you want to help in my research, though, please stop by my lab in Connecticut (the only Triton lab in the Hartford area) or send me a private message and we'll discuss how you can help. I should even be able to get you contractor's wages (a very respectable amount for a nova contractor). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singularity Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 Don't worry about the money: I have plenty of it. Send me the address and I'll book a flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kestrel404 Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 You know, so far, I've been calling this stuff 'the polymer', the samples of it are labeled 'Totem', and it's complicated enough that there is no way to give it a chemical name. Totem, do you want to name this stuff before our PR reps get ahold of it and name it 'Impervium DX 40'? If it were me, I'd call it 'Totemite', which almost as bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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