“A genetic sequence from within the simulation, but…why?” Marae remarked, briefly showing a perplexed expression as she observed the hologram. 

Nirann reappeared next to Marae and shrugged. “Could just be noise in the transmission from our program. I did wrap it in an artificial impression of a Rothian mind, and a very realistic one, if I do say so myself.”

“But…it might not be.” Another of the Rothian scientists chimed in. He was a xenoarcheologist named Artek’Qin. His scales had perhaps some of the most elaborate decoration of any Rothian the Humans had seen since their arrival. Much like Marae, he had black detailing on a backdrop of white scales, but his patterns were a mosaic of symbolically-represented scenes from Rothian history in an ancient artistic style. He called attention, for those gathered, of the sequences Freyr had mentioned, as well as others from the Cradle’s language. “Maybe there is something more to this…genetic connection? Whatever species created the Cradle, this object, and however many others are scattered across the galaxy, they clearly had a far reach. They may have even influenced the development of our species, and others.”

Marae looked on somewhat disapprovingly. “Now let’s avoid jumping to hasty conclusions. We have hardly confirmed that the interaction went to such an extent as…”

Artek held up his hands and shook his head. “I know, I know, just hear me out. Whatever the nature of our interactions, this species was still clearly spread out far beyond just one planet. If the evidence is as it seems, then this species was directly meddling with lifeforms. What if this Cradle language follows that connection with life? What if this is a DNA-based language? For a species that may have interacted with many other forms of life, what better a basis for a language than the language of life itself? There could be patterns we are not seeing, hidden among the existing patterns of life. Proteins as letters or ideas, epigenetic markers as accents or punctuation. There are possibilities I do not think we have begun to approach.”

Nirann appeared in a chair so he could lean back and stroke his chin. “I…don’t think I can rule that out. Normal genetic patterns could be hiding deeper ones. I’ll have to write up a custom algorithm to try and filter unrelated patterns, but…I could give it a go. Maybe give it a few trillion iterations in the Core and see what pops up? Oh, and Artek, don’t think I missed that little implication. I do take offense to it.”

“You can try it, but don’t get too sidetracked. Dr. Lang may be right as well. Even if you are right about this language, there could be one or more digital lifeforms within the simulation. Dedicate a subroutine to that task as well.” Marae commented.