And here is the last bit I'm sending off before I go to bed!
Jimmy and Pix stood in the darkness, the light stick aimed at the door to the room. There were no other doors, no other entrances. No escape. Jimmy held his pistol, knowing he had only seven rounds left. Seven against the entire dark maze of the Forget.
His hand squeezed Pix's. Pix squeezed back.
The sounds of the drums became louder.
├óÔé¼┼ôBe on your guard,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey stick to the sides, then thow their spears, or arrows or whatever.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, licking his lips. He tried to relax into that dream-like state he'd managed when Hir attacked them. It didn't come. He closed his eyes, opend them, and saw a man standing in his flashlight beam. Jimmy snapped his gun up.
And the man dropped. Jimmy looked at his gun, brow furrowing. He hadn't pulled the trigger.
The man, a dark colored stick figure wearing nothing but bones and tribal war paint, had postrated himself on the floor, his forehead touching the ground. He shouted a stream of words in his own language.
├óÔé¼┼ôPix?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix murmured.
The man glanced up, then back down. He repeated his stream of words. Jimmy holstered his pistol and walked forward. Pix held onto his hand, dragging him back.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, Pix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I know what to do.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix bit her lip, then nodded, letting him go. Jimmy knelt next to the man and said, ├óÔé¼┼ôHey...you can stand up.├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. He nodded, slowly standing. He remained semi-bowed, his eyes averted from Jimmy's. Behind him, Jimmy could see more people, all men. They were watching him with undisguised awe, eyes wide.
The man said something, making Jimmy looked back to him. He said the thing again, poking himself in the chest. He said the thing again, then poked Jimmy. He repeated this five or so times till Jimmy finnaly got it.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, poking himself.
├óÔé¼┼ôAbatu,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, poking himself. ├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy.├óÔé¼┬Ø He poked Jimmy.
├óÔé¼┼ôAbatu,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, poking the man. The man looked rapturous, his eyes going wide. ├óÔé¼┼ôPix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, pointing at Pix.
├óÔé¼┼ôPix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu bowed. He then gestured down the hall and rattled off a long string of words. He gestured again.
├óÔé¼┼ôI think he wants us to follow him,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix murmured, walking to Jimmy.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, nodding. He followed Abatu, who lead them past the rest of the group. The hallway continued for quite some time, not branching. It lead straight until it hit a doorway. And beyond the doorway...
Was paradise. Jimmy stared, eyes wide. The room was wide and gently curved to create a small bowl area. At the bottom of the bowl, a small, crystal clear lake lay. Around the lake, trees and grass. Instead of the pink Jimmy had seen in the Yetel area, the grass and the trees were green and brown.
But most surprisingly of all, the area was light. A sun lamp hung from the ceiling, making the entire place look homely. It struck a chord, deep in Jimmy. This was home.
Earth. That's what it made him think of.
Abatu chattered something, pointing to a collection of tents and shacks by the end of the lake. There Jimmy could see more people, sitting around, some working, others standing around the village with bows and arrows.
Abatu lead them into the village. The villagers crowded around, eyes wide. A good half were female, all wearing surprisingly little. Jimmy might have been impressed...but he remembered Pix's hand on his and thoughts of other women vanished.
Abatu lead the two outsiders to the largest building in the place, created by two large doors, some thatch and more wood, cut from trees that surrounded the lake. Abatu opened the door and gestured into the building.
Inside the building, on a small pedestal, lay something that both Jimmy and Pix recognized.
├óÔé¼┼ôA translator!├óÔé¼┬Ø Both of them said, running forward. The translator spoke in the Forgetter's language. Abatu smiled and bowed.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe Holy Relic speaks once more,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe First Godone promised that more would arrive...but I never thought it would be in my life time.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGodone?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôI understand if you are confused,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe First Godone said that new Godones might be confused by their transition to the mortal world, Ha'ga'bringer. And, no offense Godone, but you do look young for a God.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI...I am,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are we?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the Village. The First Godone found us as savages, hunting the other tribes to feed ourselves, living in darkness. The Godone gave us the never-die light, fire and the ability to build. They gave us the never-die water, with it's limitless water-beings. We want for nothing...but our land is constantly attacked by the other tribes.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, but I can not help you with that.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Abatu's face fell for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...see.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut, if you can return me to my...father, I can see that you are provided with all that you might need,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAny and all.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFather? You mean...Godlord?├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu brightened. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe can defend us...but what of Godqueen? One can not be only defended. One must also be guided, healed and loved.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy gulped. He'd almost been able to forget about Mother's death. It felt like a punch to the gut.
├óÔé¼┼ôM...Godqueen is...dead.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Abatu blinked, his face going slack. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat...can not be.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt is,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
Abatu murmured something under his breath. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am sorrowful,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, louder. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat can we do to salve Young Godone's pain?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNot much,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. Pix's hand moved from his hand to his shoulder and she squeezed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe owe you a debt, a debt of pain.├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat can we-├óÔé¼┬Ø
A warning shout sounded through the village, a loud drum sounding soon after. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe enemy comes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu shouted. He turned to Jimmy and Pix. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are sorry, but we must deal with this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'll help,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, pulling out his pistol.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey think your a god, but you can still be killed.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy whispered back. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can't just not help these people.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix muttered, looking away. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's just...last time I was here-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy didn't hear that, as he was already running out of the room.
Three tribesmen held spears, standing at the edge of the huts. Across the lake, seven enemies stood, holding bows and arrows. Five more tribesmen ran up behind Jimmy, holding their own arrows.
Jimmy felt everything go slow. He brought the pistol up and moved it over the enemy tribesmen. He felt something in his mind click. Everything felt right. Jimmy pulled the trigger.
The enemy tribesman's head snapped back, his brains blowing out of the back of his head. Jimmy slid the gun over and waited till everything clicked again. This round went through the eye socket. Jimmy felt detached, as if something else controlled his body. Instinct, these new muscles, he wasn't sure.
All he knew was that everything became normal again on the third dead tribesman. The four remaining, not sure what was striking them down, fled.
The tribesmen around Jimmy stared at him. Then they prostrated themselves, shouting off words and sentences that sounded like Abatu's praises for Jimmy.
Jimmy stood around his ring of new followers and felt very guilty.
------
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you mean you lost them?├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, pulling on the coller of his shirt nervously, ├óÔé¼┼ôI...don't know how we lost them. All I know is that something went wrong, and we're all trying to figure it out!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The rest of the scientists nodded, saying, ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø, ├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø, or ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up, shut up, shut up!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Or some variant of those. The entire teleporting apparatus was being torn apart and put back together again. Every unfathomable piece. Every unknown connection. Every single variable that they did and didn't know about was being cataloged.
The one thing no one brought up was the uncomfortably large possibility that they had all just warped Ambassador Leonite's only son, his only surviving family, into a bulkhead, wall, or into deep space.
About an hour later, one of the scientists threw her hands up and shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôAha!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Un asked, hurrying over to her. The E.L.F, a cute little girl that looked more like a twelve year old than a two hundred year old woman holding a PHD in Temporal Physics, strode onto the main platform of the teleport, where Anna was sitting, bored out of her mind, and poked Anna in the chest.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said.
├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes, you!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm lost,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, rubbing her temples.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is the one variable that we haven't thought of checking?├óÔé¼┬Ø The E.L.F said, putting her hands on her hips. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThat doesn't track Helen,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThen each person who was in the same room would change the teleport's coordinates. That's never happened.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAh! But we've tested this teleport with Slor, Yetel, Human, Xorquin, even the Tettclickclick. The only thing we haven't tried is Anna's race!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm human,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said.
├óÔé¼┼ôA human...with wings, a pheromone gland that's constantly in over drive, fangs and the ability to spread a self replicating nano-virus into other people's systems!├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, waving her finger und Anna's nose
Anna stared at Helen, an eye brow cocked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe did a blood test, dummy!├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are not human.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen what am I?├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna asked.
Helen looked at Un. They both looked at Anna. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, taking one of Anna's arms and hauling her to her feet.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut we can sure as tubes find out,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, taking Anna's other arm.
Together, the three of them marched down the corridor to the bio-labs.
E.L.F
Moderator: Moderators
crap i edited my post and got a http 500 error
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138749/
EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_El_Dorado
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138749/
EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_El_Dorado
Good movie... to bad every major company is only gonna make 3d from now on.CompWiz wrote:crap i edited my post and got a http 500 error
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138749/
EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_El_Dorado
No episode for today. Sorry, but please take comfort by speculating about what happens next and posting.
This is really a cheap way for me to stea-
See some interesting ideas that you guys have...yes...that's what it is.
(I actually know what's going to happen next. I'm just taking a break and want to see what you guys think are going to happen next. I want to see how wrong/right you are)
This is really a cheap way for me to stea-
See some interesting ideas that you guys have...yes...that's what it is.
(I actually know what's going to happen next. I'm just taking a break and want to see what you guys think are going to happen next. I want to see how wrong/right you are)
Someone's been playing too much S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Oh wait...that's me. Hehehe....
But I did just switch of the Brain Boiler and sucssessfully eliminated an entire platoon of Monolith Soldiers and got a SWEET GP-73 machine sniper rifle. It's a good step up from my trusty AK-74 that's begun to show it's age, sadly.
Oh and I checked on my rankings and I'm the Number One Stalker in all of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Hurra! Good thing this game isn't an MMO...or I'd never stop playing it...
Oh wait...that's me. Hehehe....
But I did just switch of the Brain Boiler and sucssessfully eliminated an entire platoon of Monolith Soldiers and got a SWEET GP-73 machine sniper rifle. It's a good step up from my trusty AK-74 that's begun to show it's age, sadly.
Oh and I checked on my rankings and I'm the Number One Stalker in all of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Hurra! Good thing this game isn't an MMO...or I'd never stop playing it...
Zoombie wrote: ├óÔé¼┼ôThe only weapons we can use in the Forget are low tech, for anything above basic gunpowder has a chance of causing a blow out.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat...what is a blow out?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSomething you do not want to find out about. Now head to the Armory. I will direct you from there.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Just what is Anna Hellborn anyway?
Well your going to get an important clue today.
├óÔé¼┼ôPix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, pacing around and around the tent they'd been given. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell am I supposed to do?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, pulling her knees close to her chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get out of here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut we can't just have them think we're gods,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered, rubbing his chin. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe should tell them the truth.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf they do, they'll kill us!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting down next to Pix. He took her hand with his and squeaked closer to her. Pix laid her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's nice here,├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôWarm.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
Pix snored. Jimmy sighed, trying to slowly, carefully let Pix down to the floor. He rooted around in the tent till he found a blanket. He draped it over Pix's shoulders and sat down, watching her sleep. Her antennae sparked, and Pix rolled over.
A ringing sound broke into the silence of the tent. Jimmy spun around, seeing that the ringing came from his pack.
He knelt next to it and pulled his phone out. He slid it over his head and whispered, ├óÔé¼┼ôHello?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHello James,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said. Jimmy almost tore the phone of his head. Instead he stepped outside of the tent.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you want?├óÔé¼┬Ø He hissed.
├óÔé¼┼ôI want to help you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy laughed, bitter. ├óÔé¼┼ôLast time you 'helped' us, you almost got me, Pix and Anna killed. You have five seconds to give me a reason why I shouldn't just hang up right now.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI still want you dead,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, his voice calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôExcept that if you die in the Forget, killed by Trials, then I gain nothing.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen how do you want me to die?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy sneered.
├óÔé¼┼ôKilled by the Xorquin,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy the Xorquin?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's in it for you?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt will start a war,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, still quite pleasant. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, I can guide you out of the Forget. Then you can be safely killed by some Xorquin agents.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't particularly want to die. Good by, Fox.├óÔé¼┬Ø He slid the headset off and shoved it back into his pack. He walked into the tent and sat down, looking at Pix, too angry to sleep.
----
Anna snarled as Helen stuck what felt like a dentist drill into her neck. It squealed like a dentins drill, but it didn't hurt, thankfully. After a few moments, Helen drew away.
├óÔé¼┼ôBone marrow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, grinning. She walked to Un, who was already examining some of Anna's stool sample, blood sample, skin sample, wing sample and so on. The two scientists started jabbering in their own language that sounded like Human, but was riddled with words like ├óÔé¼┼ôCromostilliosis├óÔé¼┬Ø and ├óÔé¼┼ôPolyentonurneranianiam├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôSomething that shouldn't be in a living cell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour basic bone structure, organ structure and so on is human, but everything is...better.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHow better/├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYour muscles are a good two hundred and fifty percent above normal, but they're not larger than normal. We don't know where the leverage, muscle density or anything else that determines 'strength', is coming from. But it's there...and inside every single sample we've taken are...these-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Un pointed at the wall and a projector turned on, flashing the picture of a large, black cube on the wall. It looked somewhat similar to other cubes Anna had been seeing around this area of the ship.
├óÔé¼┼ôThere are trillions of those in your body. They're small, very small and...we have no idea how they work, what they're made of, or who put them there. But we do know what they do.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do they do?├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna asked, snapping her wings in annoyance.
Helen nodded at Un. Un walked out of the room. A moment later, he walked back in, holding a circlet, made up of (what else) black cubes.
He set the circlet on the table, in front of Anna.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, looking at Anna. ├óÔé¼┼ôConcentrate on this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôO...kay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said. She looked at the cubes. Nothing happened.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot like that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôThink at it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThink at it?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes. It doesn't matter what your thinking, just think it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. She frowned at the circlet and started thinking about how moronic this was, how much she hated it and Un by extension.
The circlet spun and floated into the air, humming softly. The scientists started to yammer again, clapping their hands.
Anna frowned and the circlet slowly set down.
├óÔé¼┼ôWow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, grinning.
├óÔé¼┼ôI knew it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a Builder.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôA builder? Are you suggesting humans built Harbinger?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Helen's face fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh...right. That would stretch credulity-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôExcuse me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, coughing. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm still here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Both scientists looked a bit embarrassed.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I am not a Builder,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, snapping her wings out. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd...I'd look like some kind of squid cubist or something.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't know what a Builder actually looks like,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...wait...wait, wait, wait!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Un asked.
A grin spread across Helen's face. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnna's right...she's not a Builder.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen how-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThat...that is a Builder,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, pointing at the projection of the black cube.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat Nano-bots?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThe Nano-bots!├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôHorrifically advanced, numbers into the trillions of trillions, and capable of who knows what...who else but these Nano-bots could have made Harbinger?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut you said there are lots of those in my body,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, her brow furrowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could those build a trash can, let alone a gigantic, planet eating spaceship?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're talking about a lot of nano-bots,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is just a theory.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd it'll stay a theory,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, closing his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that we know that Anna was the X factor...we have to do some more experiments.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Anna sighed, rolling her eyes. The two scientists didn't notice, dragging her back to the teleport.
--------
Pix woke up in the middle of the night, and she didn't know why. She rolled onto her back and tried to go to sleep again...but sleep wouldn't come. Pix sat up and looked around the tent, which was now dark, the sun lamp off.
Pix caught the shape of Jimmy, sleeping as peacefully as a rock. He didn't snore. Pix smiled, laying back down. She took a moment to enjoy the silence and run a basic defragmenter program in her file system. After switching language files, adding in more data, and coping with the way Jimmy made her feel this weird...glow in her stomach, her files were a complete mess.
Pix closed her eyes and let the defragmenter work its magic. Suddenly a message popped up, complaining about a ├óÔé¼┼ôPreviously Unregistered File.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix tried opening the file. It required a password. Pix's brow furrowed and she tried several passwords she had stored in her mind. The first one stopped her short.
├óÔé¼┼ôRequirement: Vocal, Leonite, James, Junior.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix sighed, wondering what was in the file. Knowing that she couldn't get in made her want to scream...but she just rolled over and went to sleep.
--------
Abatu and his loyalest follower, Jugu, stood in the Crucifixion chamber. It was here that Godlings seemed destined to land from the Tunnel Castles. They stood in silence for quite some time.
├óÔé¼┼ôSir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy did you bring us here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDo you remember the mate the first Godling took. She bore him a fine daughter...the Winged One?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOf course, sir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI watched the Winged One leave. I remember her shrill cries.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRemember the Winged One's strength? Remember her dexterity, her ability to learn quickly, and well.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jugu nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy bring me here to talk of this?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôKnow this,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, turning to face his subordinate. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen a man begets offspring, his blood carries into the child. This blood, this...Godling blood is of great power.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said. He never thought to much about children and how they were born. He was only twelve, after all. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I still don't-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIf we were to drink of their blood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, slowly and deliberately. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen we shall have the strength of the Winged One. Understand now? Our village would triple in strength and we would no longer have to fear from the other Tribes.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jugu did see, now. His eyes widened. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...the Godlings...they are Godlings.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe are going to be completely polite about this,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, looking offended. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will draw blood in a painless manner and we shall do our best to make the Godling's happy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAh, that makes sense,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said, nodding. Then his face fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...no, we'd need to drain them dry to get enough blood for the entire village to drink.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Abatu slapped him. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo! Godlings can only be slain by other Godlings. Have you remembered anything from my classes?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes, master,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said, bowing his head. Abatu turned away from him and sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôNext morning, we'll ask the two Godlings. And you will be polite!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes master!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said, cringing at Abatu's sudden flash of anger. He turned and scurried out of the crucifixion room.
Abatu turned back to the corpse and waved his hand In front of his nose to get the stench away. He mused to himself, running his hand along his chin.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe might need a new sacrifice soon,├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis one is getting a bit ripe.├óÔé¼┬Ø
--------
Pix woke up, blinking in the brilliant sunlight that filtered through the door of the tent. She sat up and looked around. Jimmy sat against the side of the tent, sound asleep.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked.
Jimmy jerked, eyes flying open. He shook himself and looked at Pix, still blinking.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, relaxing slightly.
├óÔé¼┼ôI have a question,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, rolling onto her side and laying her head on the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôLast night, I found this file.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhere?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy looked around the tent, starting to get up, as if he was going to discover this hidden file singlehanded.
├óÔé¼┼ôIn my head,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's a computer file.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting back down. He looked somewhat sheepish. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo? What's in it?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's locked, voice keyed to you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought I freed you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI know that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said. She tapped her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis doesn't. My file system is kinda...ornery.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSo it's got a password,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know any password...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Then his mind drifted back to his conversation with his father. That conversation had put so many ideas whirling through his mind that he'd almost forgotten the last thing his father had told him. Karma Sutra.
├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe...├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy sat up, muttering half to himself. ├óÔé¼┼ôKarma Sutra?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix sat up. ├óÔé¼┼ôEh? What did you say?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI said, maybe the password is Karma-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Abatu coughed, stepping into the tent, holding the translator in one hand. Behind him was a furtive, twelve year old boy that had the look of a beaten hull rat. He stayed behind the much taller priest, eying Pix and Jimmy nervously.
├óÔé¼┼ôGodlings, I beg your forgiveness,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, bowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I ask if, before you leave our village, we could request a boon?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôUh su-├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy started. Pix made a hissing sound at him and he shut up.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe'd first have to know what kind of 'boon' you want,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôA simple offering of blood.├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, drawing a wicked looking ceremonial dagger. Pix and Jimmy's eyes went very wide. ├óÔé¼┼ôWith your blood, our warriors would be able to more easily obtain sacrifices and defend out tribe.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix and Jimmy looked at one another.
And, ten minutes later, Pix and Jimmy half walked, half ran through the winding corridors of the Forget, leaving ├óÔé¼┼ôparadise behind them├óÔé¼┬Ø
Abatu stood in his village, looking at the dark wall that the Godlings had left through. He sighed, frowning.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do you think they were so angry with us?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu asked, standing behind Abatu.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut the Godlings are as capricious as they are kind. Who knows what they think?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Well your going to get an important clue today.
├óÔé¼┼ôPix,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, pacing around and around the tent they'd been given. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell am I supposed to do?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, pulling her knees close to her chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get out of here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut we can't just have them think we're gods,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered, rubbing his chin. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe should tell them the truth.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix hissed. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf they do, they'll kill us!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting down next to Pix. He took her hand with his and squeaked closer to her. Pix laid her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt's nice here,├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôWarm.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
Pix snored. Jimmy sighed, trying to slowly, carefully let Pix down to the floor. He rooted around in the tent till he found a blanket. He draped it over Pix's shoulders and sat down, watching her sleep. Her antennae sparked, and Pix rolled over.
A ringing sound broke into the silence of the tent. Jimmy spun around, seeing that the ringing came from his pack.
He knelt next to it and pulled his phone out. He slid it over his head and whispered, ├óÔé¼┼ôHello?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHello James,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said. Jimmy almost tore the phone of his head. Instead he stepped outside of the tent.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you want?├óÔé¼┬Ø He hissed.
├óÔé¼┼ôI want to help you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy laughed, bitter. ├óÔé¼┼ôLast time you 'helped' us, you almost got me, Pix and Anna killed. You have five seconds to give me a reason why I shouldn't just hang up right now.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI still want you dead,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, his voice calm. ├óÔé¼┼ôExcept that if you die in the Forget, killed by Trials, then I gain nothing.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen how do you want me to die?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy sneered.
├óÔé¼┼ôKilled by the Xorquin,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy the Xorquin?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's in it for you?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIt will start a war,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, still quite pleasant. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, I can guide you out of the Forget. Then you can be safely killed by some Xorquin agents.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't particularly want to die. Good by, Fox.├óÔé¼┬Ø He slid the headset off and shoved it back into his pack. He walked into the tent and sat down, looking at Pix, too angry to sleep.
----
Anna snarled as Helen stuck what felt like a dentist drill into her neck. It squealed like a dentins drill, but it didn't hurt, thankfully. After a few moments, Helen drew away.
├óÔé¼┼ôBone marrow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, grinning. She walked to Un, who was already examining some of Anna's stool sample, blood sample, skin sample, wing sample and so on. The two scientists started jabbering in their own language that sounded like Human, but was riddled with words like ├óÔé¼┼ôCromostilliosis├óÔé¼┬Ø and ├óÔé¼┼ôPolyentonurneranianiam├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôSomething that shouldn't be in a living cell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour basic bone structure, organ structure and so on is human, but everything is...better.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHow better/├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYour muscles are a good two hundred and fifty percent above normal, but they're not larger than normal. We don't know where the leverage, muscle density or anything else that determines 'strength', is coming from. But it's there...and inside every single sample we've taken are...these-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Un pointed at the wall and a projector turned on, flashing the picture of a large, black cube on the wall. It looked somewhat similar to other cubes Anna had been seeing around this area of the ship.
├óÔé¼┼ôThere are trillions of those in your body. They're small, very small and...we have no idea how they work, what they're made of, or who put them there. But we do know what they do.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do they do?├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna asked, snapping her wings in annoyance.
Helen nodded at Un. Un walked out of the room. A moment later, he walked back in, holding a circlet, made up of (what else) black cubes.
He set the circlet on the table, in front of Anna.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, looking at Anna. ├óÔé¼┼ôConcentrate on this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôO...kay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said. She looked at the cubes. Nothing happened.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot like that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôThink at it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThink at it?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes. It doesn't matter what your thinking, just think it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. She frowned at the circlet and started thinking about how moronic this was, how much she hated it and Un by extension.
The circlet spun and floated into the air, humming softly. The scientists started to yammer again, clapping their hands.
Anna frowned and the circlet slowly set down.
├óÔé¼┼ôWow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, grinning.
├óÔé¼┼ôI knew it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a Builder.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôA builder? Are you suggesting humans built Harbinger?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Helen's face fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh...right. That would stretch credulity-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôExcuse me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, coughing. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm still here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Both scientists looked a bit embarrassed.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I am not a Builder,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, snapping her wings out. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd...I'd look like some kind of squid cubist or something.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't know what a Builder actually looks like,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...wait...wait, wait, wait!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Un asked.
A grin spread across Helen's face. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnna's right...she's not a Builder.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen how-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThat...that is a Builder,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, pointing at the projection of the black cube.
├óÔé¼┼ôThat Nano-bots?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThe Nano-bots!├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôHorrifically advanced, numbers into the trillions of trillions, and capable of who knows what...who else but these Nano-bots could have made Harbinger?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut you said there are lots of those in my body,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, her brow furrowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could those build a trash can, let alone a gigantic, planet eating spaceship?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're talking about a lot of nano-bots,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is just a theory.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd it'll stay a theory,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, closing his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that we know that Anna was the X factor...we have to do some more experiments.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Anna sighed, rolling her eyes. The two scientists didn't notice, dragging her back to the teleport.
--------
Pix woke up in the middle of the night, and she didn't know why. She rolled onto her back and tried to go to sleep again...but sleep wouldn't come. Pix sat up and looked around the tent, which was now dark, the sun lamp off.
Pix caught the shape of Jimmy, sleeping as peacefully as a rock. He didn't snore. Pix smiled, laying back down. She took a moment to enjoy the silence and run a basic defragmenter program in her file system. After switching language files, adding in more data, and coping with the way Jimmy made her feel this weird...glow in her stomach, her files were a complete mess.
Pix closed her eyes and let the defragmenter work its magic. Suddenly a message popped up, complaining about a ├óÔé¼┼ôPreviously Unregistered File.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix tried opening the file. It required a password. Pix's brow furrowed and she tried several passwords she had stored in her mind. The first one stopped her short.
├óÔé¼┼ôRequirement: Vocal, Leonite, James, Junior.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix sighed, wondering what was in the file. Knowing that she couldn't get in made her want to scream...but she just rolled over and went to sleep.
--------
Abatu and his loyalest follower, Jugu, stood in the Crucifixion chamber. It was here that Godlings seemed destined to land from the Tunnel Castles. They stood in silence for quite some time.
├óÔé¼┼ôSir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy did you bring us here.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDo you remember the mate the first Godling took. She bore him a fine daughter...the Winged One?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOf course, sir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI watched the Winged One leave. I remember her shrill cries.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRemember the Winged One's strength? Remember her dexterity, her ability to learn quickly, and well.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jugu nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy bring me here to talk of this?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôKnow this,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, turning to face his subordinate. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen a man begets offspring, his blood carries into the child. This blood, this...Godling blood is of great power.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said. He never thought to much about children and how they were born. He was only twelve, after all. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I still don't-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôIf we were to drink of their blood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, slowly and deliberately. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen we shall have the strength of the Winged One. Understand now? Our village would triple in strength and we would no longer have to fear from the other Tribes.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jugu did see, now. His eyes widened. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...the Godlings...they are Godlings.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWe are going to be completely polite about this,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, looking offended. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe will draw blood in a painless manner and we shall do our best to make the Godling's happy.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAh, that makes sense,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said, nodding. Then his face fell. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...no, we'd need to drain them dry to get enough blood for the entire village to drink.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Abatu slapped him. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo! Godlings can only be slain by other Godlings. Have you remembered anything from my classes?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes, master,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said, bowing his head. Abatu turned away from him and sighed.
├óÔé¼┼ôNext morning, we'll ask the two Godlings. And you will be polite!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes master!├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu said, cringing at Abatu's sudden flash of anger. He turned and scurried out of the crucifixion room.
Abatu turned back to the corpse and waved his hand In front of his nose to get the stench away. He mused to himself, running his hand along his chin.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe might need a new sacrifice soon,├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis one is getting a bit ripe.├óÔé¼┬Ø
--------
Pix woke up, blinking in the brilliant sunlight that filtered through the door of the tent. She sat up and looked around. Jimmy sat against the side of the tent, sound asleep.
├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked.
Jimmy jerked, eyes flying open. He shook himself and looked at Pix, still blinking.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, relaxing slightly.
├óÔé¼┼ôI have a question,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, rolling onto her side and laying her head on the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôLast night, I found this file.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhere?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy looked around the tent, starting to get up, as if he was going to discover this hidden file singlehanded.
├óÔé¼┼ôIn my head,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's a computer file.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting back down. He looked somewhat sheepish. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo? What's in it?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's locked, voice keyed to you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôMe?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought I freed you.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI know that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said. She tapped her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis doesn't. My file system is kinda...ornery.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSo it's got a password,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know any password...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Then his mind drifted back to his conversation with his father. That conversation had put so many ideas whirling through his mind that he'd almost forgotten the last thing his father had told him. Karma Sutra.
├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe...├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy sat up, muttering half to himself. ├óÔé¼┼ôKarma Sutra?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix sat up. ├óÔé¼┼ôEh? What did you say?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI said, maybe the password is Karma-├óÔé¼┬Ø
Abatu coughed, stepping into the tent, holding the translator in one hand. Behind him was a furtive, twelve year old boy that had the look of a beaten hull rat. He stayed behind the much taller priest, eying Pix and Jimmy nervously.
├óÔé¼┼ôGodlings, I beg your forgiveness,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, bowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I ask if, before you leave our village, we could request a boon?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôUh su-├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy started. Pix made a hissing sound at him and he shut up.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe'd first have to know what kind of 'boon' you want,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôA simple offering of blood.├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said, drawing a wicked looking ceremonial dagger. Pix and Jimmy's eyes went very wide. ├óÔé¼┼ôWith your blood, our warriors would be able to more easily obtain sacrifices and defend out tribe.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix and Jimmy looked at one another.
And, ten minutes later, Pix and Jimmy half walked, half ran through the winding corridors of the Forget, leaving ├óÔé¼┼ôparadise behind them├óÔé¼┬Ø
Abatu stood in his village, looking at the dark wall that the Godlings had left through. He sighed, frowning.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do you think they were so angry with us?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jugu asked, standing behind Abatu.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Abatu said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut the Godlings are as capricious as they are kind. Who knows what they think?├óÔé¼┬Ø
The Xorquin's evil plan is knocked up a notch in the evilness rating. What could they possibly be planning? Are they truly that mad?
Or is there something we do not yet know?
That is for you to decide...NOW!
Jimmy and Pix walked through the hallways. Jimmy smiled at Pix, who was looking pensively around the place. She caught him smiling and frowned.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a horrible place,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou haven't seen the worst of it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust try to cheer you up is all.├óÔé¼┬Ø
They passed a intersection and Pix stopped. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...didn't we pass this already?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I do know that we've been walking for hours and I'd hate it if we'd been walking in circles.
├óÔé¼┼ôHow much food's in the pack?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked, bleakly.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot much,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting down and leaning against the wall. He flipped the pack open and peered inside. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot much water, either.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, sitting down next to him. ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose we can rest for a bit.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy sighed, looking away. Pix laid her head on his shoulder, frowning.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been doing a lot of thinking...and...├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is starting to make less sense,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, looking at Pix. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat crystal we found, right? That's what started this. You...you still have the information right?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut it's encrypted.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight...so the Xorquin want that data...and my father wants the data. And Fox wants me dead, to start a war between the Xorquin. But...but why the tubes would he want to start a war between the Xorquin?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...war profiteering?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix suggested.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut...but that doesn't track? For the Xorquin to hit us, they'd have to march an army across the Armory, through both the Slor AND the Yetel. Even with their allies...who are they're allies again?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThe...Tettclickclick and the Yor,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said. Then she poked Jimmy in the side of the head. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should know that, for crying out loud!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRight, right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, grinning at Pix. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, even with those two on their sides, the Xorquin still don't have a chance of getting through the Slor and the Yetel without being nibbled to pieces by skirmishes and so on. So...why start a war?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe the Xorquin have an ultra secret weapon, and this information is about...what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix trailed off, seeing Jimmy's expression.
├óÔé¼┼ôI really wish you hadn't brought that up.├óÔé¼┬Ø
----------
Jorquin supposed that if Leonite knew where he was, he'd burst a brain vessel. Xorquin minds didn't work that way, aneurysms were a oddly funny event to them. But that wasn't why he grinned. The really delicious thought, the thought that made him want to dance with glee...was that right now, he was closer to Leonite's home than Leonite had been for entire cycles.
Jorquin stood, his legs spread slightly, the soles of his shoes magnetically sticking him down. Because Jorquin wasn't inside Harbinger.
He was above it.
And the sight...was incredible. A sheer, grayish black wall extended as far as Jorquin could see. The edges curved gently down, and In front of Jorquin, it tapered off to an impossibly distant point. So...Harbinger was shaped like a cone. Interesting. At the front of the cone, four prongs stuck into space. And between the prongs, held in place by god knows what...was Earth.
And Jorquin could see this all because he stood on one of the four 'other' prongs that stuck out of the back of the cone. And on the end of each prong was a huge, bulbous engine. Jorquin stood a scant three miles away from one of the greatest energy sources any race had ever discovered, but he was perfectly safe. A half mile In front of him, a team of Xorquin worked. Setting up the explosives.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, as you can see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gleerquin said, hovering beside Jorquin, tethered to the shuttle by a safety rope. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe plan continues on full schedule.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôExcellent,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd, if I may ask, why did you come down here?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin looked at Gleerquin and smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to get away from the council chambers.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He rattled off a long sigh. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is too bad we can not stick these explosives on Leonite's head.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI...see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gleerquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...do you wish to be returned to Harbinger proper?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOne moment,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI want...to watch the Earth for a moment longer.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gleerquin nodded and dragged himself away from Jorquin.
----------
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, checking and re-checking her supplies. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure this will work?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPositive,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, typing in more of who knows what into the computers hooked into the teleport.
├óÔé¼┼ôDo I have enough guns?├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said for the fourth time. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have enough guns and ammo to last you a month. Any more and you'd be weighed down.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna nodded. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure this will work?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYES!├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen shouted.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna sighed. She blinked, rubbing her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know, all I signed up for was killing Hir. I don't actually need to do this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôCome on, Anna,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't want to leave those kids in the Forget...the Forget of all places!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAre we sure they're in the Forget?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen and Un said simultaneously, for the fifth time.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure this wi-├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna started.
Helen flipped the switch.
Then Anna stood in darkness, blinking to herself. ├óÔé¼┼ôWork?├óÔé¼┬Ø She finished. Anna shook herself, snapped her wings out, then back in. She reached up and flicked on both of her flashlights. The two flashlights, one for each shoulder, shone into the room.
A very fresh, very dead man was nailed to the wall in front of her.
Anna gulped, nodding. ├óÔé¼┼ôHome, sweet, home,├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered and turned around, sliding a rifle off her back.
She started pacing down the hall, into the Forget.
Chapter Six: Forget
Pix sighed. She was sure that they'd been going in circles. Sure! But Jimmy kept walking, doggedly. Refusing to stop, refusing to accept the fact that they were doomed.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. ├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy...please,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix sighed, staggering to a halt. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet's...just stop, please. Just stop.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy sighed, slowing his walk. Pix grabbed his hand and stopped him. ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease...lets just stop.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. He looked at Pix, then closed his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry...this is my fault.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, it's not,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes, it is. Fox called me-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix grabbed Jimmy's arms. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBefore we left...last night,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
Pix moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy didn't you tell me sooner? Damn it, Fox has tried to kill us more times than I like to think!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut he said he can lead us out of here,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no, he'll just get us killed,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôBetter to be killed fast then go without water. That's a nasty way to die.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, no, no, no,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, locking her eyes with Jimmy's. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can't give up. We can't!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy nodded. Pix leaned in and brushed her lips against his. They both stood in silence. Jimmy half opened his mouth. Pix grinned back at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôAm I awake?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
Pix pinched him.
├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, smiling broader.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked, also smiling.
├óÔé¼┼ôBecause I can do this,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, stepping forward and leaning in. His nose smashed into Pix's. Pix jerked back and Jimmy swore.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, dummy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, rubbing her noise. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike...this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She leaned in, tilting her head, and kissed Jimmy. Her mouth pressed against his, and her tongue pushed in, meeting his. Jimmy pushed back, his arms wrapping around Pix's waist and dragging her close to him.
Jimmy felt as if everything was in high focus, high definition. Things that he normally paid slight attention to suddenly bloomed in his mind, hugely important. The most important sensation was where he and Pix touched. Fingers, five points on Pix's shirt, right above her intake/outtake point. Their lips, the sides of their noses, the swell of her breasts pressing against his chest. Her arm, wrapped around his back, her other hand, dragging on his neck, pulling him closer.
What is this feeling? Pix thought. A glowing warmth...not in her heart, like she'd always thought she'd feel when she fell in love. Between her legs. An itching excitement, one that she knew only vaguely. Her files glossed over that part of her anatomy, a irritating gray area in her mind.
Pix's hand took hold of Jimmy's hand, pulling it upwards, over her side. It dragged some shirt with it. Pix let the hand rest on her right breast. Jimmy paused, feeling it through her shirt. He felt a slight bump, in the middle, where Pix's nipple pressed against her bra and shirt.
Jimmy squeezed slightly. Pix broke the kiss, drawing a deep gasp of breath, her head turning aside.
Pix looked back at Jimmy. Her antennae sparked.
Jimmy's phone rang. Both of them jumped. Jimmy pulled out the phone, the strange exhilaration he had felt before dissolving into fear. He slid the phone on.
├óÔé¼┼ôHello,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said.
Jimmy stepped away from Pix, scowling.
That was what saved him.
A spear shot through the space where Jimmy had stood a moment before.
Or is there something we do not yet know?
That is for you to decide...NOW!
Jimmy and Pix walked through the hallways. Jimmy smiled at Pix, who was looking pensively around the place. She caught him smiling and frowned.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a horrible place,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou haven't seen the worst of it.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôSorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust try to cheer you up is all.├óÔé¼┬Ø
They passed a intersection and Pix stopped. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait...didn't we pass this already?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I do know that we've been walking for hours and I'd hate it if we'd been walking in circles.
├óÔé¼┼ôHow much food's in the pack?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked, bleakly.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot much,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, sitting down and leaning against the wall. He flipped the pack open and peered inside. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot much water, either.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, sitting down next to him. ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose we can rest for a bit.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy sighed, looking away. Pix laid her head on his shoulder, frowning.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been doing a lot of thinking...and...├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd this is starting to make less sense,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, looking at Pix. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat crystal we found, right? That's what started this. You...you still have the information right?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut it's encrypted.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Pix nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight...so the Xorquin want that data...and my father wants the data. And Fox wants me dead, to start a war between the Xorquin. But...but why the tubes would he want to start a war between the Xorquin?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...war profiteering?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix suggested.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut...but that doesn't track? For the Xorquin to hit us, they'd have to march an army across the Armory, through both the Slor AND the Yetel. Even with their allies...who are they're allies again?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThe...Tettclickclick and the Yor,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said. Then she poked Jimmy in the side of the head. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should know that, for crying out loud!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRight, right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, grinning at Pix. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo, even with those two on their sides, the Xorquin still don't have a chance of getting through the Slor and the Yetel without being nibbled to pieces by skirmishes and so on. So...why start a war?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe the Xorquin have an ultra secret weapon, and this information is about...what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix trailed off, seeing Jimmy's expression.
├óÔé¼┼ôI really wish you hadn't brought that up.├óÔé¼┬Ø
----------
Jorquin supposed that if Leonite knew where he was, he'd burst a brain vessel. Xorquin minds didn't work that way, aneurysms were a oddly funny event to them. But that wasn't why he grinned. The really delicious thought, the thought that made him want to dance with glee...was that right now, he was closer to Leonite's home than Leonite had been for entire cycles.
Jorquin stood, his legs spread slightly, the soles of his shoes magnetically sticking him down. Because Jorquin wasn't inside Harbinger.
He was above it.
And the sight...was incredible. A sheer, grayish black wall extended as far as Jorquin could see. The edges curved gently down, and In front of Jorquin, it tapered off to an impossibly distant point. So...Harbinger was shaped like a cone. Interesting. At the front of the cone, four prongs stuck into space. And between the prongs, held in place by god knows what...was Earth.
And Jorquin could see this all because he stood on one of the four 'other' prongs that stuck out of the back of the cone. And on the end of each prong was a huge, bulbous engine. Jorquin stood a scant three miles away from one of the greatest energy sources any race had ever discovered, but he was perfectly safe. A half mile In front of him, a team of Xorquin worked. Setting up the explosives.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo, as you can see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gleerquin said, hovering beside Jorquin, tethered to the shuttle by a safety rope. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe plan continues on full schedule.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôExcellent,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin nodded.
├óÔé¼┼ôAnd, if I may ask, why did you come down here?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin looked at Gleerquin and smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to get away from the council chambers.├óÔé¼┬Ø
He rattled off a long sigh. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is too bad we can not stick these explosives on Leonite's head.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI...see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gleerquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...do you wish to be returned to Harbinger proper?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôOne moment,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorquin said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI want...to watch the Earth for a moment longer.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Gleerquin nodded and dragged himself away from Jorquin.
----------
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna said, checking and re-checking her supplies. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure this will work?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôPositive,├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen said, typing in more of who knows what into the computers hooked into the teleport.
├óÔé¼┼ôDo I have enough guns?├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said for the fourth time. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have enough guns and ammo to last you a month. Any more and you'd be weighed down.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna nodded. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure this will work?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYES!├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen shouted.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna sighed. She blinked, rubbing her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know, all I signed up for was killing Hir. I don't actually need to do this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôCome on, Anna,├óÔé¼┬Ø Un said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't want to leave those kids in the Forget...the Forget of all places!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôAre we sure they're in the Forget?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYes!├óÔé¼┬Ø Helen and Un said simultaneously, for the fifth time.
├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure this wi-├óÔé¼┬Ø Anna started.
Helen flipped the switch.
Then Anna stood in darkness, blinking to herself. ├óÔé¼┼ôWork?├óÔé¼┬Ø She finished. Anna shook herself, snapped her wings out, then back in. She reached up and flicked on both of her flashlights. The two flashlights, one for each shoulder, shone into the room.
A very fresh, very dead man was nailed to the wall in front of her.
Anna gulped, nodding. ├óÔé¼┼ôHome, sweet, home,├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered and turned around, sliding a rifle off her back.
She started pacing down the hall, into the Forget.
Chapter Six: Forget
Pix sighed. She was sure that they'd been going in circles. Sure! But Jimmy kept walking, doggedly. Refusing to stop, refusing to accept the fact that they were doomed.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. ├óÔé¼┼ôJimmy...please,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix sighed, staggering to a halt. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet's...just stop, please. Just stop.├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy sighed, slowing his walk. Pix grabbed his hand and stopped him. ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease...lets just stop.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said. He looked at Pix, then closed his eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry...this is my fault.├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, it's not,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes, it is. Fox called me-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix grabbed Jimmy's arms. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBefore we left...last night,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
Pix moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy didn't you tell me sooner? Damn it, Fox has tried to kill us more times than I like to think!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôBut he said he can lead us out of here,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no, he'll just get us killed,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said.
├óÔé¼┼ôBetter to be killed fast then go without water. That's a nasty way to die.├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, no, no, no,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, locking her eyes with Jimmy's. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can't give up. We can't!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Jimmy nodded. Pix leaned in and brushed her lips against his. They both stood in silence. Jimmy half opened his mouth. Pix grinned back at him.
├óÔé¼┼ôAm I awake?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy asked.
Pix pinched him.
├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, smiling broader.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix asked, also smiling.
├óÔé¼┼ôBecause I can do this,├óÔé¼┬Ø Jimmy said, stepping forward and leaning in. His nose smashed into Pix's. Pix jerked back and Jimmy swore.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, dummy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pix said, rubbing her noise. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike...this.├óÔé¼┬Ø
She leaned in, tilting her head, and kissed Jimmy. Her mouth pressed against his, and her tongue pushed in, meeting his. Jimmy pushed back, his arms wrapping around Pix's waist and dragging her close to him.
Jimmy felt as if everything was in high focus, high definition. Things that he normally paid slight attention to suddenly bloomed in his mind, hugely important. The most important sensation was where he and Pix touched. Fingers, five points on Pix's shirt, right above her intake/outtake point. Their lips, the sides of their noses, the swell of her breasts pressing against his chest. Her arm, wrapped around his back, her other hand, dragging on his neck, pulling him closer.
What is this feeling? Pix thought. A glowing warmth...not in her heart, like she'd always thought she'd feel when she fell in love. Between her legs. An itching excitement, one that she knew only vaguely. Her files glossed over that part of her anatomy, a irritating gray area in her mind.
Pix's hand took hold of Jimmy's hand, pulling it upwards, over her side. It dragged some shirt with it. Pix let the hand rest on her right breast. Jimmy paused, feeling it through her shirt. He felt a slight bump, in the middle, where Pix's nipple pressed against her bra and shirt.
Jimmy squeezed slightly. Pix broke the kiss, drawing a deep gasp of breath, her head turning aside.
Pix looked back at Jimmy. Her antennae sparked.
Jimmy's phone rang. Both of them jumped. Jimmy pulled out the phone, the strange exhilaration he had felt before dissolving into fear. He slid the phone on.
├óÔé¼┼ôHello,├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said.
Jimmy stepped away from Pix, scowling.
That was what saved him.
A spear shot through the space where Jimmy had stood a moment before.