MULTIVERSE SURVEILLANCE PORTAL

Emerson Selig

The Metaphysics of Emerson Selig

The Metaphysics of Emerson Selig

Last modified by Charter Agent GFQ
In the journal entry quoted below, Emerson lays the philosophical groundwork for his experiments with resurrection. What is meant by essence? What is meant by, “It is manifest... that every soul and spirit hath a certain continuity with the spirit of the universe, so that it must be understood to exist and to be included... Anything we take in the universe, because it has in itself that which is All in All, includes in its own way the entire soul of the world.” If this is true and if I am always entering every room I have ever entered, perhaps I will always be and always be entering still. Perhaps we do not end. The Egyptian King did not die, his murdered servants did not die and the crops on the walls of his tomb were real crops with real sustenance and the king and his workers still eat them. As long as we still say them, names live. The Egyptians called this essence Ren. Ren is one fifth of a thing’s essence. All that has been named, people, minerals, elements, stars - they all have this essence. A thing without a name is incomplete. To say a thing’s Ren gives this essence sustenance. Although he certainly comes off as a crank, Emerson hit on a truth that more respectable scientists had discarded: the link between a thing’s name and its essential spirit. Instead of calling on the deceased’s literal name, Emerson tracks the deceased through his or her unique sonic spectrum. His machine then harmonizes with this spectrum, drawing the spirit back into its original place. Selig is impressive for an adult human, but he’s mistaken. One can never recall deceased energy. Our own experiments with resurrection were never successful. Most of those ended with an industrial water hose, a drain in the middle of a concrete floor and an agreement to never speak of the experiment again. [caption id="attachment_312" align="alignnone" width="650"] Jean's influence runs thickly through Emerson's scientific pursuits.[/caption]

Suggested Actions: Emerson Selig

Suggested Actions: Emerson Selig

Last modified by Charter Agent 2FV
Emerson’s flirtations with auditory chaos appear to be over, but we could still use him should one of his other family members step out of line. Our point is prefaced with this entry from Emerson’s journal. It occurs to me that the emotions are just waves or constants (like time/space/vibrations/air/light) or something eternal - an aspect… I am not sure that there is ever more or less happiness, envy, charity; how do we not know that these are constants, undiminishable elements (for happiness leaves a body, a relationship, an experience or exchange, but it seems to me that it slides into others and doesn’t dissipate, but redistributes itself to other people, life forms, elements). How do I know that rocks and trees aren’t sad or ecstatic; how can I be certain that the oceans aren’t reverent and irreverent towards the moon? Emerson is obsessed with animism, the idea that the entirety of the Universe is conscious. He’s right, of course, but we should encourage him along this line of thinking. If everything he sees is loaded with meaning, backstory, narrative, or emotions, Emerson will be unable to function. Imagine walking outside and hearing everything around you scream for your attention. It would be unbearable. We could break him in a few days, if we had to. It would be less messy than violence. [caption id="attachment_299" align="alignnone" width="650"] On top of everything else, Emerson is obsessed with conspiracy theories. He's been searching for us his entire life. We're closer than he realizes.[/caption]

Potentially Useful Information: Emerson Selig

Potentially Useful Information: Emerson Selig

Last modified by Charter Agent UEC
Shoe Size: 10 Has never successfully cracked the knuckle of his left index finger. Favorite Color: Tweed Average volume of air inhaled per breath: 487 ml Most haunting awkward memory: Absent-mindedly saying “Love you” instead of “Have a nice day” to the cashier at the grocery store on May 21, 1996, 2:14 p.m. Number of times he’s considered meaningfully reconnecting with his son only to chicken out at the last moment: 11. Favorite Grandchild: Refuses to say. Claims to love both Morgan and Lex equally. Most frequent dream: Seventeen, from Vietnam, wreathed in flame. Favored strategy in Monopoly: Buying all of the red properties. Our scientists synthesized the smell of Jean’s hair, should we ever need that. There’s a vial of the scent down in the vaults. [caption id="attachment_296" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Emerson and his family in happier times. He should have left well enough alone.[/caption]

Emerson Selig: His Family

Emerson Selig: His Family

Last modified by Charter Agent W8F
Jean Selig (Wife) (Deceased): Jean was a matriarch and it could be argued that she was the muse for her family’s descent into creative chaos. She certainly encouraged her husband’s studies in esoteric science, the effects of which are perennial nightmares for the Charter to this day. Emerson is directionless now, which is a good outcome for us. He refused to resurrect his wife, deciding that it would be grossly unethical, but that choice adds to his guilt. Is refusing to save someone the same as killing them? Piper Pastore (Daughter): Emerson was an attentive and loving father (except when it comes to his son Lucius’ terminal condition). Before withdrawing from his own chaotic activities, Emerson encouraged Piper to explore hers through the medium of art. Piper and her family are now living with a very proud grandpa. Nicolae Pastore (Son-in-law): Emerson rarely dabbled in music, but he respects his son-in-law’s work using sound to plumb the secrets of the Universe. Emerson is afraid to collaborate with Nicolae, due to the mistakes that led to Lucius being injured as a young boy. In fact, Emerson may try stopping Nicolae if the musician’s experiments go too deep. That’s lucky for us. These two could be incredibly destructive as a team. Lucius Selig (Son): Lucius is the living embodiment of Emerson’s guilt. After being injured by his father’s experiments on the hamster, Lucius separated from his body and traveled to other dimensions. Many spiritually-minded people would kill for this gift, but it began as a curse for Lucius, who was confined to his home for the rest of his unhappy childhood. Emerson never acknowledged that he was at fault. He lied to Lucius, telling his son that his “blackouts” were a neurological disorder. The acceptance and praise Lucius was denied as a child manifested itself in a grotesque fashion when Lucius learned how to control his gift. He exploited his talents as the leader of the Power of Positive Mechanics cult. Morgan Selig (Granddaughter) and Lex Selig (Grandson): Emerson is a model grandfather. He sees himself as a protector of his grandchildren. Emerson fears the kind of auditory chaos that injured his son Lucius many years ago. He doesn’t want to see that repeated. Although he means well, Emerson has a lot of baggage from Lucius and his decision to not resurrect Jean. He passes on this brooding sorrow to his grandchildren. Emerson’s melancholy can be seen most clearly in his grandson Lex.

Emerson Selig: Esoteric Scientist

Emerson Selig: Esoteric Scientist

Last modified by Charter Agent NPK
Abilities: Emerson Selig has an affinity for machinery. At the risk of sounding absurd, it could be argued that Emerson is able to build a working device without any understanding of what it will do when he is finished. Engineering is an emotional and intuitive act for Emerson; he invents the way a musician improvises on an instrument. This would be fine, if his interests were confined to the material realm, but Emerson’s specialty is in esoteric science. He’s obsessed with what happens to the animating energies of a person once that person’s body dies. This is a dangerous field for someone with his skill. Fortunately, the traumatic events of his life have kept him cautious and afraid to push boundaries. [caption id="attachment_301" align="alignnone" width="650"] Emerson understands the story of Orpheus and Eurydice painfully well. We should have done a better job cleaning up after Orpheus. He's too inspiring to chaos deviants like Emerson.[/caption]

Essential Information: Emerson Selig

Essential Information: Emerson Selig

Last modified by Charter Agent FRE
Alias(es): “Grandpa”* *Administrator note: For the last time: “Grandpa” is a common name used to refer to a male grandparent. It is not, and has never been, an alias. The next agent who screws this up is going to the robot pits. Age: 65 Birthdate: April 15, 1950 Index Number*: [e]3AC913 *(more about this): Deviant individuals, those who trigger the Charter alert system, are assigned a code keyed to their unique harmonic signature. This is used to tag people for further observation or corrective action. Threat Assessment: Moderate Current Address: Milky Way Galaxy> Earth> North American Continent> 45530 Little Lake St., Mendocino, California, 95460> 2nd Floor> Office> His Desk Group Affiliations: United States Army (Retired) Bell Laboratories Skunkworks (Retired) Hair: Gray Eyes: Gray Height: 5’10

Biography: Emerson Selig

Biography: Emerson Selig

Last modified by Charter Agent YSQ
Emerson Selig was drafted by the United States Army to fight in the Vietnam War as a radio operator. While in the field he met a Vietcong Soldier, Seventeen, a fellow child of the Anomaly. Emerson raised his rifle to shoot the enemy combatant, but realized Seventeen was bent over the body of a young boy, apparently trying to revive the youth with a device that emitted shrill sonic energy. Emerson helped get the two to safety and Seventeen was able to revive the child. Emerson helped Seventeen return the child to his village. Shortly after, the pair were surprised by soldiers and Seventeen was shot several times during the encounter. Emerson successfully operated the sonic device and managed to save his friend. Seventeen explained to Emerson that he was a member of a gifted group of humans who could use sound to warp the fundamental properties of time and space. Backed by the miraculous proof of his abilities, Seventeen indoctrinated Emerson in all of the usual anti-Charter rhetoric typical of Anomaly fanatics. Seventeen must have died during the war because Emerson’s journals and scientific writings all reference his death. The mystery of Seventeen turned Emerson’s scientific attentions to the hereafter. He was discharged from the Army and returned to California, where he worked as a researcher for the Bell telephone company. In his off hours, Emerson built a machine for the purpose of finding Seventeen’s energy signature and communicating with it. Instead of Seventeen, the machine put Emerson in contact with other children of the Anomaly, his wife Jean, in particular. Jean, a witch* (Administrator note: Stop using this term. Superstition has no place in the Charter), only encouraged Emerson’s interest in the intersection of science and spirituality. He became obsessed with researching how science could call back a deceased person’s personality, or essential spirit. [caption id="attachment_308" align="alignnone" width="650"] "This ring is for you. I knew it was for you before I even met you." — Emerson proposing to Jean[/caption] Emerson and Jean married and moved to Mendocino, California. They had a pair of twins, Piper and Lucius (imagine that, a Selig siring a pair of fraternal twins) (Administrator note: Snark has no place in the Charter, either, you lowly clerk. Stick to the facts). Emerson was at the height of his scientific powers when the family’s hamster died in 1988. He built a machine that he thought would pinpoint the hamster’s energy signature and draw it back into its body, effectively resurrecting the hamster. Had Emerson been any less careful he would have collapsed time and space. His experiment is infamous in Charter history, which popularly refers to it as “The Mendocino Hamster Crisis.” The experiment was a success (from Emerson’s point of view, anyway) but it also injured his son Lucius, who wandered into Emerson’s lab and grabbed his pet hamster during a critical moment. Lucius was pierced with powerful sonic energy. The hamster was revived but Lucius would never be the same. In fact, Emerson created an entirely different type of headache for us (See: Lucius Selig). The experiment wasn’t a total loss for the Charter. Unbeknownst to Emerson, we were able to turn the hamster into a double agent. Emerson, consumed by guilt over what he did to Lucius, retired from esoteric science. When his wife died he refused to bring her back. Some nights, when most of the family is asleep, he’ll listen to his spirit radio for hours and hours. He’s presumably searching for his wife’s energy signature, but we believe that this is a purely sentimental act; Emerson has shown no signs of attempting to resurrect Jean.