Juffo-Wup

Juffo-Wup is a concept, almost religious in nature, which the Mycon often mention along with the Non and the Void. Together with the Deep Children and Spears of Light, these phrases are the major portions of what other races term the religious litany of the Mycon. Since most Mycon conversations soon degenerate into seemingly incoherent ramblings, the true meaning continues to remain a mystery. Many of the ramblings and responses of the Mycon mention Juffo-Wup, so it may be possible to learn something about this concept. However, the mostly non sequitur responses make it difficult to accurately determine Juffo-Wup's role in Mycon culture. According to the theory that the Mycon are biological constructs, Juffo-Wup is the result of the corruption of the original Mycon programming.¹

Being a concept deeply rooted in an alien psychology, Juffo-Wup might be beyond human capacities to comprehend and adequately define. None of the proposed definitions convincingly incorporates all the contextual clues at hand. Though the concept's religious nature can not be denied, it is likely that, similar to the Deep Children and Spears of Light, Juffo-Wup corresponds to something real and actual. One must also remember that the Mycon are not the product of evolution, but are biological constructs of "the Creators"; Mycon culture and psychology, therefore, might not obey expected patterns. Without additional insight, whether from the Mycon or from another source, this will remain a baffling and contentious subject matter.

Void and Non

Invariably the Mycon frequently mention the Void and the Non along with Juffo-Wup. The Void is usually taken to mean interstellar space, similar to how the Slylandro and the Spathi sometime use the word. For the Mycon, the Void is also associated with the destruction of the Non, effectively turning the Non into empty space. The Non refers to anything that isn't a part of Juffo-Wup (Non-Juffo-Wup), or rather all non-Mycon races. The Mycon, as agents of Juffo-Wup seek to either turn the Non into Void or Juffo-Wup. They claim that their ultimate goal is to turn all Non and all Void into Juffo-Wup, though what this means is unknown.

Mycon quotes concerning Juffo-Wup

The following are some of the ramblings that the Mycon make in reference to Juffo-Wup:

Nature

• Darkness is Void; Juffo-Wup is light.
• Juffo-Wup is the hot light in the darkness. All else is unfulfilled Void. The source of Juffo-Wup is at 629.1, 220.8 (the co-ordinates of the Mycon homeworld).
• Juffo-Wup flows through Time and Space.
• Juffo-Wup is the power of life... hot warmth in the cold Void. It flows through all things, binding them together, making them one. You are Non-Juffo-Wup, you cannot understand.
• Juffo-Wup is All... omni-existent, spreading and changing the Non into Juffo-Wup. You are the Non, who must become Juffo-Wup or Void.
• Juffo-Wup is inevitable.

Mycon

• We are the Mycon. We are part of Juffo-Wup.
• The Deep Children are part of Juffo-Wup -- home builders.
• We are the agents of Juffo-Wup. We are the Mycon.
• We look to Juffo-Wup for direction, and it provides the pattern endless expansion with purity of achievement and intolerance of error.
• We do not interpret the will of Juffo-Wup. Only the source is so empowered. Until instructed otherwise, Juffo-Wup requires that we remain here.
• Juffo-Wup fills in my fibers and I grow turgid. Violent action ensues.

Non

• You are Non -- not part of Juffo-Wup.
• You are Non-Juffo-Wup, you cannot understand.
• You are not a part of Juffo-Wup therefore you must cease existence. We shall make you cease to exist, for Juffo-Wup.
• You impede the flow of Juffo-Wup through the Universe. We will now remove this clog we will now aid Juffo-Wup by eliminating you!.
• You are an obstruction to Juffo-Wup. You must be removed.
• Juffo-Wup acknowledges the existence of un-Voidable Non. When we are faced with such, we join, absorb and wait for our opportunity to learn the weakness that will allow us to Void the Non.
• Perhaps, if we were to plant spore sacs in your brain organ and let its tendrils spread through your flesh then you would truly understand Juffo-Wup... become part of Juffo-Wup.

Places and objects

• The Juffo-Wup is strong in this place.
• The source of Juffo-Wup is at 629.1, 220.8.
• This is a special place filled with Juffo-Wup. But it is not the source.
• Below is the pod of Juffo-Wup -- there for a thousand centuries.
• You have taken something from us which we value... which is important to Juffo-Wup.

Propagation and completion

• Acceptable new worlds are a priority for the rapid and complete spread of Juffo-Wup.
• A single spore lands, finds nourishment in decay and attains maturity...In turn it exhales a cloud of life, a thousand spores land...so progresses Juffo-Wup.
• When Juffo-Wup is complete, when at last there is no Void or Non, when the Creators return, then we can finally rest.

Notes and references

¹In the 1998 chat, Paul and Fred have explained the origin of Juffo-Wup: "The Mycon were biological tools of the Precursors. They had been programmed for terraforming, but when the Precursors vanished, the Mycons were left unattended. Over the following millenia, their programs drifted, forming the worship of Juffo-Wup."