diff --git a/lib/core/environ.ex b/lib/core/environ.ex
index 1ecc6e9..73320ea 100644
--- a/lib/core/environ.ex
+++ b/lib/core/environ.ex
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ defmodule Scopes.Core.Environ do
     addr = data[:addr]
     cells = if addr do
       [dom, cat, item] = addr
+      # update (or create and register) proxy cell
       Map.update(state.cells, {dom, cat}, %{item => new}, 
         fn x -> Map.put(x, item, new) end)
     else
diff --git a/lib/core/program.ex b/lib/core/program.ex
index c9115fd..24486d6 100644
--- a/lib/core/program.ex
+++ b/lib/core/program.ex
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ defmodule Scopes.Core.Program do
         [:csys, :connect | _rest] -> Core.connect(msg, scope)
         [:csys, :create, :succ | _rest] -> create_succ(msg, scope)
         [:csys, :create, :pred | _rest] -> create_pred(msg, scope)
+        [:csys, :create | _rest] -> create(msg, scope)
         #[:csys, :next | _rest] -> next(msg, scope)
         _ -> Core.forward(msg, scope) || Core.notify(msg, scope)
       end
@@ -103,6 +104,16 @@ defmodule Scopes.Core.Program do
     Core.send_message(new, ~w(csys connect)a, Map.put(data, :target, self()))
   end
 
+  def create(msg, scope) do
+    new = Core.create(msg, restart(scope))
+    data = Shape.data(msg)
+    case data[:dir] do
+      :succ -> Core.send_message(self(), ~w(csys connect)a, Map.put(data, :target, new))
+      :pred -> Core.send_message(new, ~w(csys connect)a, Map.put(data, :target, self()))
+      _ -> nil
+    end
+  end
+
   # synapse operations
 
   def multiply(n) do
@@ -128,34 +139,23 @@ defmodule Scopes.Core.Program do
     one = [:csys, :s01, "1-0"]
     two = [:csys, :c00, "1-1"]
     three = [:csys, :s01, "1-1"]
-    [
-      fn state -> 
-        Environ.send_message(state, zero, ~w(csys create pred)a, 
-         %{op: [Core.data_only(), negate()], addr: one})
-     end,
-     fn state -> 
-       Environ.send_message(state, one, ~w(csys create succ)a, 
-         %{op: Core.data_only(), addr: two}) 
-     end,
-      fn state -> 
-        Environ.send_message(state, two, ~w(csys create pred)a, %{addr: three}) 
-      end,
-      fn state -> Environ.connect(state, three, zero) end
+    [ 
+      &Environ.send_message(&1, zero, ~w(csys create pred)a, 
+        %{op: [Core.data_only(), negate()], addr: one}),
+      &Environ.send_message(&1, one, ~w(csys create succ)a, 
+        %{op: Core.data_only(), addr: two}),
+      &Environ.send_message(&1, two, ~w(csys create pred)a, %{addr: three}),
+      &Environ.connect(&1, three, zero)
     ]
   end
 
   def init_recursive_1() do 
     zero = [:csys, :c00, "0-0"]
     [
-      fn state -> 
-        Environ.connect(state, zero, zero, negate())
-        Environ.send_message(state, zero, ~w(csys create succ)a, 
-          %{addr: [:csys, :e01, "1-1"]})
-      end,
-      fn state ->
-        Environ.send_message(state, zero, ~w(csys create pred)a,
-          %{addr: [:csys, :s01, "1-1"]})
-      end
+      &Environ.send_message(&1, zero, ~w(csys create succ)a, %{}),
+      &Environ.send_message(&1, zero, ~w(csys create pred)a,
+          %{addr: [:csys, :s01, "1-1"]}),
+      &Environ.connect(&1, zero, zero, negate())
     ]
   end
 end