LIU Atlas - Tacita
LIU Atlas - Tacita
The Ludgonian Industrial Union’s galaxy contains billions of stars and planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
The Ludgonian Industrial Union’s galaxy contains billions of stars and planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the icy tomb world of Tacita. Tacita was discovered and colonized by the Tacetan race, who originate from the small agricultural world of Tacitum, seen in the background. During their initial survey of Tacita, the Tacetans discovered a unique crystalline structure woven throughout the planet’s crust. This crystalline structure has a unique property that makes it glow when in the presence of dead or dying sentient beings. The Tacetan believe these crystals glow because they absorb the souls of the dead, and they now call these crystals, Soul Stones. Because of these Soul Stones, the Tacetan began burying all their dead in elaborate tombs under the planet’s surface. As word of the Soul Stones spread, other races across the galaxy flocked here to bury their dead as well. Now, the burial business is the Tacetan Race’s primary industry.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off here on the planet’s surface. I see a large structure in front of me that I believe is the entryway into one of Tacita’s tombs. Ah, I believe one of these guys is my guide.”
Pompos: “Welcome to Tacita, Doog. I am Pompos, a Spirit Guide. My companion here is Psucho.”
Doog: “Spirit Guide?”
Pompos: “Yes, I help guide the departed. My duties include prepping the dead, conducting funerals, and watching over the various tombs and crypts.”
Doog: “Watching over the dead? Is that really a thing? I mean, don’t they just lay there? Wait! Do we have some type of zombie situation going on! I’m not going in there with the zombies!”
Pompos: “Relax. I didn’t say I watch the dead; I said I watch over their tombs. Some people wish to be buried with special items like jewelry. I keep their items safe. With billions of departed souls here, grave robbers could have a heyday here.”
Doog: “There are billions of dead bodies in there?”
Pompos: “Well, there are billions of dead on the planet, but not all in this tomb. There are several tombs like this spread around the planet, usually close to a concentration of Soul Stone. Come on, let’s head inside.”
Doog: “Spirit Guide?”
Pompos: “Yes, I help guide the departed. My duties include prepping the dead, conducting funerals, and watching over the various tombs and crypts.”
Doog: “Watching over the dead? Is that really a thing? I mean, don’t they just lay there? Wait! Do we have some type of zombie situation going on! I’m not going in there with the zombies!”
Pompos: “Relax. I didn’t say I watch the dead; I said I watch over their tombs. Some people wish to be buried with special items like jewelry. I keep their items safe. With billions of departed souls here, grave robbers could have a heyday here.”
Doog: “There are billions of dead bodies in there?”
Pompos: “Well, there are billions of dead on the planet, but not all in this tomb. There are several tombs like this spread around the planet, usually close to a concentration of Soul Stone. Come on, let’s head inside.”
Pompos: “This particular tomb is called the Eternal Barrow. It is one of our cheaper options for burial.”
Doog: “Cheaper? What kind of numbers are we talking here?”
Pompos: “Well, it’s quite expensive, to be honest. The cheapest options start around 30,000 Credits.”
Doog: “Thirty thousand! Yikes! When I die, just toss me in an old refrigerator box and toss me in some back alley, preferably an alley with prostitutes…just so I’m close to what I love.”
Pompos: “Hmmm, I’m afraid we don’t offer any services like that here. Our customers pay for a chance at immortality.”
Doog: “Immortality?”
Pompos: “Yes. It is believed that the Soul Stones absorb souls once they leave the body. My race, and many others, believe that the soul lives on within the stone. Come, we must descend deeper into the tomb.”
Doog: “Cheaper? What kind of numbers are we talking here?”
Pompos: “Well, it’s quite expensive, to be honest. The cheapest options start around 30,000 Credits.”
Doog: “Thirty thousand! Yikes! When I die, just toss me in an old refrigerator box and toss me in some back alley, preferably an alley with prostitutes…just so I’m close to what I love.”
Pompos: “Hmmm, I’m afraid we don’t offer any services like that here. Our customers pay for a chance at immortality.”
Doog: “Immortality?”
Pompos: “Yes. It is believed that the Soul Stones absorb souls once they leave the body. My race, and many others, believe that the soul lives on within the stone. Come, we must descend deeper into the tomb.”
Doog: “Wow, this place is huge.”
Pompos: “Yes, it is currently the final resting place for about 50 million bodies with room for about twice that amount. As you can see, some of the older tombs are fully open, but we have more economical enclosed tombs now.”
Doog: “Probably smells better…”
Pompos: “Yes, it is currently the final resting place for about 50 million bodies with room for about twice that amount. As you can see, some of the older tombs are fully open, but we have more economical enclosed tombs now.”
Doog: “Probably smells better…”
Doog: “Where is all this green light coming from?”
Pompos: “We refer to it as the Ethereal Glow. It is light given off by the Soul Stones. It lights most of this tomb.”
Pompos: “We refer to it as the Ethereal Glow. It is light given off by the Soul Stones. It lights most of this tomb.”
Pompos: “This is one of our funerary chambers. A large Soul Stone has been exposed here. Dead, or sometimes dying, people are laid out here below the stone.”
Pompos: “As you can see, the stone is glowing brightly as it catches this woman’s departing soul.”
Doog: “Freaky.”
Pompos: “I believe the word you are looking for is ’beautiful’. Funerals here should not be sad. The departed’s loved ones should be happy the deceased has achieve immortality.”
Doog: “Nah, still going with ‘freaky’.”
Doog: “Freaky.”
Pompos: “I believe the word you are looking for is ’beautiful’. Funerals here should not be sad. The departed’s loved ones should be happy the deceased has achieve immortality.”
Doog: “Nah, still going with ‘freaky’.”
Doog: “Are you sure it’s ok to be here? I don’t want to impose on someone’s funeral. I feel weird just standing here watching someone grieve.”
Pompos: “It is fine. This is an open viewing. Any can attend.”
Doog: “Uh, don’t mind us, sir. Just making a television show in the middle of your wife’s funeral. I’m sure she was a great gal. Uh…err…I never know what to say at these things. Let‘s just move on.”
Pompos: “Yes, let‘s descend further into the tomb. The Stone Sanctuary is just down these stairs.”
Pompos: “It is fine. This is an open viewing. Any can attend.”
Doog: “Uh, don’t mind us, sir. Just making a television show in the middle of your wife’s funeral. I’m sure she was a great gal. Uh…err…I never know what to say at these things. Let‘s just move on.”
Pompos: “Yes, let‘s descend further into the tomb. The Stone Sanctuary is just down these stairs.”
Doog: “You know, I’ve been counting all these stairs as journey deeper into the tomb. We’re at 1,526. There’s a good chance I might die during the return trip. I guess I’ll get a free absorption into the soul stone though. So, I’m not too worried.”
Pompos: “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. We’ll take several rests.”
Pompos: “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. We’ll take several rests.”
Pompos: “This is the Stone Sanctuary. A large Soul Stone was discovered here. It has since been enshrined.”
Pompos: “The sanctuary serves as a visitation center. People can return to Tacita to visit their departed family and friends. Many bring gifts or flowers.”
Doog: “Why is this stone glowing? I don’t see any dead people around. Or does that mean someone here is dying? Oldie, you didn’t follow me here, did you?”
Pompos: “Originally, the stones only glowed when near the deceased, but now that so many souls have been stored here, many of the larger concentrations constantly glow.”
Doog: “Hmm, interesting. Well, anything else to show?”
Pompos: “No, that about wraps it up. If you follow me, I’ll take you to a shortcut. There’s a few hundred less stairs this way.”
Doog: “Oh gee, thanks. Only twelve hundred stairs to ascend now.”
Doog: “Why is this stone glowing? I don’t see any dead people around. Or does that mean someone here is dying? Oldie, you didn’t follow me here, did you?”
Pompos: “Originally, the stones only glowed when near the deceased, but now that so many souls have been stored here, many of the larger concentrations constantly glow.”
Doog: “Hmm, interesting. Well, anything else to show?”
Pompos: “No, that about wraps it up. If you follow me, I’ll take you to a shortcut. There’s a few hundred less stairs this way.”
Doog: “Oh gee, thanks. Only twelve hundred stairs to ascend now.”
Doog: “Hey, what’s this?”
Pompos: “Uh, that’s a prep area for the dead. Only Spirit Guides are allowed in there. Please continue on.”
Doog: “Really? I think I might want to see that. Come on.”
Pompos: ‘NO! It is off limits! Doog, STOP!”
Pompos: “Uh, that’s a prep area for the dead. Only Spirit Guides are allowed in there. Please continue on.”
Doog: “Really? I think I might want to see that. Come on.”
Pompos: ‘NO! It is off limits! Doog, STOP!”
Doog: “What’s this? I don’t see any dead people getting prepped in here. It looks more like a backlot or movie studio.”
Director: “Roger that. I’ll send Jimmy down to change out that bulb. Jimmy, did you copy that? There’s a bulb burned out in Funerary Chamber #7. We need to get that changed out soon. There’s a funeral there later this afternoon and the ‘Soul Stone’ isn’t glowing bright enough.”
Jimmy: “10-4. I copy. I’ll knock that out after I replace the skeleton props on the eighth floor.”
Doog: “Oh man, this whole place is a scam, isn’t it?”
Director: “Roger that. I’ll send Jimmy down to change out that bulb. Jimmy, did you copy that? There’s a bulb burned out in Funerary Chamber #7. We need to get that changed out soon. There’s a funeral there later this afternoon and the ‘Soul Stone’ isn’t glowing bright enough.”
Jimmy: “10-4. I copy. I’ll knock that out after I replace the skeleton props on the eighth floor.”
Doog: “Oh man, this whole place is a scam, isn’t it?”
Pompos: “No, uh. We’re…uh…setting up a commercial shoot. Yeah, a commercial. Everything here is totally real.”
Director: “Oh hey, Frank. I see you got the Pompos gig. Man, you’re really moving up in the world.”
Doog: “Just a commercial, huh Frank?”
Pompos/Frank: “Sigh. This is going to cost us a fortune.”
Doog: “Nah, don’t worry. Only like a handful of people watch this show. So, feel free to spill the beans.”
Pompos/Frank: “The Soul Stones were once real, at least, way back in the beginning. They glowed when dead matter was present. My people really did believe in their ability to grant immortality, and we buried our dead here. Decades later, the stones stopped glowing, much to the dismay of my people. Experts were brought in and their discovery was startling. The stones themselves never really glowed; it was a bacteria covering the stone’s surface. This bacteria glowed brightly as a self defense mechanism. You see, we had unknowingly brought our own species of bacteria with us. The decaying dead were covered in it. As our bacteria and the bacteria of Tacita clashed, the native bacteria glowed brightly. Unfortunately, as we brought more and more dead bodies here, the native bacteria was overwhelmed and went extinct.”
Doog: “And that’s when the charade started?”
Pompos/Frank: “Shortly after that. Despite the scientific explanation, Tacita was too ingrained in my people’s culture, and we continued to bury our dead here. Lights were installed to make the crystals glow like the days of yore. When word spread of our tomb world, other races wanted to be buried here, and we really stepped up our game.”
Doog: “Well, it might not make you immortal, but I guess it’s still a cool place to be buried. Speaking of which, I am fretting the ascent a little more now.”
Pompos/Frank: “Don’t worry, there’s an elevator over there.”
Doog: Sweet.”
Director: “Oh hey, Frank. I see you got the Pompos gig. Man, you’re really moving up in the world.”
Doog: “Just a commercial, huh Frank?”
Pompos/Frank: “Sigh. This is going to cost us a fortune.”
Doog: “Nah, don’t worry. Only like a handful of people watch this show. So, feel free to spill the beans.”
Pompos/Frank: “The Soul Stones were once real, at least, way back in the beginning. They glowed when dead matter was present. My people really did believe in their ability to grant immortality, and we buried our dead here. Decades later, the stones stopped glowing, much to the dismay of my people. Experts were brought in and their discovery was startling. The stones themselves never really glowed; it was a bacteria covering the stone’s surface. This bacteria glowed brightly as a self defense mechanism. You see, we had unknowingly brought our own species of bacteria with us. The decaying dead were covered in it. As our bacteria and the bacteria of Tacita clashed, the native bacteria glowed brightly. Unfortunately, as we brought more and more dead bodies here, the native bacteria was overwhelmed and went extinct.”
Doog: “And that’s when the charade started?”
Pompos/Frank: “Shortly after that. Despite the scientific explanation, Tacita was too ingrained in my people’s culture, and we continued to bury our dead here. Lights were installed to make the crystals glow like the days of yore. When word spread of our tomb world, other races wanted to be buried here, and we really stepped up our game.”
Doog: “Well, it might not make you immortal, but I guess it’s still a cool place to be buried. Speaking of which, I am fretting the ascent a little more now.”
Pompos/Frank: “Don’t worry, there’s an elevator over there.”
Doog: Sweet.”
Doog: “Well folks, Tacita is an interesting place. Countless people are buried here because they believe they will have an immortal afterlife within the planet’s Soul Stones. However, it turns out these stones aren’t real, at least anymore. Well, I got an elevator to catch. See ya!”
Note: The Tacita Refund and Exhumation Office is now closed pending the conclusion of several lawsuits. Please try again later.”
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 16 - Tropaeum
Note: The Tacita Refund and Exhumation Office is now closed pending the conclusion of several lawsuits. Please try again later.”
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 7 - Episode 16 - Tropaeum
