Mostly, yes!
Also funny story, once properly edited, formatted and spell checked the original Darkside is a whopping.... 700 pages LONG!
Darkside: Extermination
Moderator: Moderators
Jason was having a hard day. First he was told that his secret weapon was now useless, if happier, then he was told that three sections of his department were dangerously low on funding and three of his corporate sponsors cut their support. On top of that, learning that apocalypse was hurtling at human space, seemed like an after thought. ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø he said into his intercom ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you please send a message to the Black Ops and the Transcendi. We need to talk├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø his computerized secretary said, her voice slightly altered to sounds artificially created, so as to prevent people from thinking he had a real secretary.
After a few moments his secretary called back ├óÔé¼┼ôSir...I have a response├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was fast├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said, turning on his conference chairs. They were four chairs, each one with three small projectors floating around them. Two people snapped into place, being broadcasted from wherever they were. There was a woman with green eyes and a man with a cigarette dangling from his lips. ├óÔé¼┼ôCyanide├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason tipped his head to the woman ├óÔé¼┼ôKliner├óÔé¼┬Ø he tilted his head to the man. Kliner blew out a puff of smoke. It cut of quite abruptly when it hit the edge of the projection ring. ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose you called us for the same reason I was about to call you guys├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyanide said.
Jason sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe readings?├óÔé¼┬Ø he hazarded. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyanide said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOur sensor arrays have also detected these readings├óÔé¼┬Ø Kliner said, putting his cigarette out on the armrest of the chair ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I suppose that this means we are all going to die├óÔé¼┬Ø. They were all silent for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...what are we going to do about it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBravo├óÔé¼┬Ø a voice said from behind the two visitors. Jason looked up, blindly reaching for a gun. Then a man stepped into the circle of light in the middle of his office ├óÔé¼┼ôBravo, Jason├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, clapping slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôYou got to the gist of it far quicker then many race's do├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is this? Kliner asked. Cyndie had gotten up and was standing half in, half out of the projected area.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am called Taraka├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I am here to deliver a message├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe got it├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said, leveling his pistol at him ├óÔé¼┼ôYour race is coming to kill us├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe bear you no ill will├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just...youre getting a bit to dangerous for your own good├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut you have roughly one century of warning. After that...this entire little civilization of yours will be nothing but black grit├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you for the warning├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get the fuck out of my office├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka smiled and snapped his fingers. Then he was gone.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're starting the bombardment├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure this will work?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThese are anti-matter bombs. We only have twenty of them, and all of them detonating on the planet will crack the surface and turn this planet into an asteroid belt. The S-02 will survive, but it won't be as dangerous├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut it still...It feels a bit unnecessary├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOrders from the top├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour ex-husband actually├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked over at Michelle ├óÔé¼┼ôMichelle...ready to fire?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The projection nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôWe only have ten A/M bombs, but if we touch them down on the right spots they can just weaken the surface of the planet├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Michelle looked over her projected shoulder at Mike, Sarge, Mankowski and Helena. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are they here?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe deserve to see the end of this├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone cross your fingers├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy looked puzzled. Mike and Mankowski actually knew what Keller meant, and crossed their fingers. ├óÔé¼┼ôFiring missiles├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. Missiles arched out of their launch pods and streamed into the atmosphere of Dantana. They streaked through the dark side of the planet, creating thirty bright flashes.
There was a pause. Then, right on cue, thirty massive, white flares shot up over the planet, expanding over an entire hemisphere of a planet. Massive chunks of crust lifted into space as bits of the planet were blasted into space. Magma spewed into space, creating a red haze around the planet. ├óÔé¼┼ôWow├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ônow that is a light show├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then ten more white flash's appeared on the opposite side of the planet and the entire thing was cracked into millions of pieces. Three large hunks slowly, ponderously, floated out into the space around the planet. It looked like a glowing ember, with a hazy, almost liquid like atmosphere of molten rock surrounding it.
The furious destruction slowly ended. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was what we came here to do├óÔé¼┬Ø. Bits of the planet were boiling, melting and writhing. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts hard to believe anything could survive that├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said softly. Mike put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her tight. Helena's face brightened ever so slightly. Eve sighed slowly, sitting back in Keller's chair. ├óÔé¼┼ôBy the way├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said to Eve ├óÔé¼┼ôYou really have to stop stealing my chair├óÔé¼┬Ø. But they all kept looking at Dantana. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell thats that├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've got to set course├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôHelmsman├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôSet course for...home├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike walked down the hallway, the little kid following him. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow do you like your new tong?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts nice├óÔé¼┬Ø The boy said. Mike almost tripped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou spoke!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the kid said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt seemed time├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôAre...are you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The kid thought ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I never got to tell you my name├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The kid stuck his hand out ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm Mike, pleased to meet you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike took his hand and shook it ├óÔé¼┼ôNow thats just strange├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey Mike!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski said, turning around the corner. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike and Mike said at the same time.
Helena sat in her room, reading a novel. Then there was a knock on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôEnter├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said softly. Sarge looked into the room ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was just wondering...how do you feel?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm...better. Tipp's dead├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...I'm alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarge sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI know you've talked about it with some shrink, but...if you need anyone to talk with...just tell me├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks Sarge├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think I just need to be alone for a while├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarge nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI can understand that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, standing. Then he walked out of the room, door closing behind him.
Eve and Lizzy both sat in the cafeteria. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy a marine?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôCouldn't you have found someone who doesn't get shot at for a living?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve gaped, almost choking on her bagel ├óÔé¼┼ôMom!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not at war, or anything├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYet├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop worrying├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf he acts up...I'll kill him├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. Eve grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I know of some ways├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured. She reached for her cup. The cup slid into her hands. Lizzy and Eve stared at it, both stunned speechless.
Taraka put down his newspaper and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI knew it wouldn't work├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, looking at the two women. He got up and placed a tip on the table, conjuring some ancient money out of thin air. He dropped the quarters on the table and smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat will confound them├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, and walked out of the room. Halfway between stepping out of the cafeteria and the hallway he dissapeared.
So Eve is still a problem?
Just about
Taraka...
I told you not to call me that.
Whatever. You said she wasn't a problem anymore. She could change our plans irrevocably
I underestimated her desire to be human. If she really wanted to, she could be human. But I suppose she'll have to learn that she's not human and no matter what she says, she will never be human. Its just a matter of time...
Jason sat alone in his office, slowly rolling a pen over his desk, from one hand to another. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to the empty office ├óÔé¼┼ôIts started├óÔé¼┬Ø. He got up and picked up his hat. He placed it on his head and cricked his neck. Then he pressed the intercom ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôCancel my appointments and contact my doctor. I'd like some lips now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. Jason took his finger off the com and sighed. He walked out of his office and into the white house. He walked down the halls and into the oval office. ├óÔé¼┼ôMr. President├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes Marshall?├óÔé¼┬Ø the President asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have a problem├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I need to explain some things├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Michelle walked down the hallway, feeling the ship thrum around her. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is the plan?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe still have our...extra A/M bomb├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Interrogator smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your plan now, Capitan?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a five year voyage, so we have plenty of time to wait for exactly the right moment. But could we sneak some officers on board the Agamemnon├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø The Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have some idea's about that├óÔé¼┬Ø they both walked off down the hallway, discussing their plans.
Cyanide looked at her army. They were the best soldiers in the universe, each one a Transcendi, each one a deadly warrior. It had been almost hysterically simple to create them. They just took a very good warrior, scanned and copied their mind into hundred of people. They numbered a single ship regiment, about three hundred. But Cyanide would have wagered on her side any day. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø A trooper said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are ready. Where should we deploy?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe White House├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyanide said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to make sure the Marshall never gets in our way again├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cyanide smiled. She could care less if baseline humanity burned, as long as her Transcendi escaped unharmed. And she would see to it that they did burn...she would.
Keller and Sarris sat in their office. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure that we should have bombed the planet?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean we didn't really do anything├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôwe spread out the S-02, made it less concentrated. We also put in in asteroids, witch are easier to avoid, and finally we laid down a message buoy. Anyone who visits this system will know not to touch the asteroid field where Dantana used to be. But finally the biggest reason I did it was to deprive the Excalibur of A/M weapons├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDidn't we lose our weapons too?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSarris├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, grinning at her ├óÔé¼┼ôGive me more credit. I only fired half my payload├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Gloria tinkered with the device. It sputtered and smoked as she hooked up the power. She swore and unhooked the power. The device stopped its sputtering. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt would be nice if I had an MN2 mine├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't get that for you├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, leaning against the far wall of her work shop. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike Junior piped up. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know you can't honey├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said absentmindedly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not honey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Junior protested. Gloria shook her head, pushing away from the table. Her movement knocked the device over and it whirred up. A small sphere of nothing appeared in the door behind Mike. Mike jerked away from the door and stared at the hole. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt works├óÔé¼┬Ø.
On the larger of the three chunks of Dantana there was a colony of S-02. It was growing. It had been the size of a city. Then it had become the size of a small tree, cut down by ferocious matter anti-matter reactions. Then it had rebounded and expended over the entire chunk in a matter of moments. The furious heat that had made the chunk mostly molten was quickly quenched. Now the asteroid was colder then the space around it. Then...slowly...ponderously a thought worked its way thought he S-02. Cells fired, acting as neurons. High Energy Particals shot thought the creature, acting as electrical signals, in parallel with a human brain. The thought unified the creature, gave itself definition.
I...am...Adam
To be continued...
After a few moments his secretary called back ├óÔé¼┼ôSir...I have a response├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was fast├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said, turning on his conference chairs. They were four chairs, each one with three small projectors floating around them. Two people snapped into place, being broadcasted from wherever they were. There was a woman with green eyes and a man with a cigarette dangling from his lips. ├óÔé¼┼ôCyanide├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason tipped his head to the woman ├óÔé¼┼ôKliner├óÔé¼┬Ø he tilted his head to the man. Kliner blew out a puff of smoke. It cut of quite abruptly when it hit the edge of the projection ring. ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose you called us for the same reason I was about to call you guys├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyanide said.
Jason sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe readings?├óÔé¼┬Ø he hazarded. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyanide said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOur sensor arrays have also detected these readings├óÔé¼┬Ø Kliner said, putting his cigarette out on the armrest of the chair ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I suppose that this means we are all going to die├óÔé¼┬Ø. They were all silent for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...what are we going to do about it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBravo├óÔé¼┬Ø a voice said from behind the two visitors. Jason looked up, blindly reaching for a gun. Then a man stepped into the circle of light in the middle of his office ├óÔé¼┼ôBravo, Jason├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, clapping slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôYou got to the gist of it far quicker then many race's do├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is this? Kliner asked. Cyndie had gotten up and was standing half in, half out of the projected area.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am called Taraka├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I am here to deliver a message├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe got it├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said, leveling his pistol at him ├óÔé¼┼ôYour race is coming to kill us├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe bear you no ill will├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just...youre getting a bit to dangerous for your own good├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut you have roughly one century of warning. After that...this entire little civilization of yours will be nothing but black grit├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you for the warning├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow get the fuck out of my office├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka smiled and snapped his fingers. Then he was gone.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're starting the bombardment├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure this will work?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThese are anti-matter bombs. We only have twenty of them, and all of them detonating on the planet will crack the surface and turn this planet into an asteroid belt. The S-02 will survive, but it won't be as dangerous├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut it still...It feels a bit unnecessary├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOrders from the top├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour ex-husband actually├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked over at Michelle ├óÔé¼┼ôMichelle...ready to fire?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The projection nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôWe only have ten A/M bombs, but if we touch them down on the right spots they can just weaken the surface of the planet├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Michelle looked over her projected shoulder at Mike, Sarge, Mankowski and Helena. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are they here?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe deserve to see the end of this├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone cross your fingers├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy looked puzzled. Mike and Mankowski actually knew what Keller meant, and crossed their fingers. ├óÔé¼┼ôFiring missiles├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. Missiles arched out of their launch pods and streamed into the atmosphere of Dantana. They streaked through the dark side of the planet, creating thirty bright flashes.
There was a pause. Then, right on cue, thirty massive, white flares shot up over the planet, expanding over an entire hemisphere of a planet. Massive chunks of crust lifted into space as bits of the planet were blasted into space. Magma spewed into space, creating a red haze around the planet. ├óÔé¼┼ôWow├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ônow that is a light show├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then ten more white flash's appeared on the opposite side of the planet and the entire thing was cracked into millions of pieces. Three large hunks slowly, ponderously, floated out into the space around the planet. It looked like a glowing ember, with a hazy, almost liquid like atmosphere of molten rock surrounding it.
The furious destruction slowly ended. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was what we came here to do├óÔé¼┬Ø. Bits of the planet were boiling, melting and writhing. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts hard to believe anything could survive that├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said softly. Mike put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her tight. Helena's face brightened ever so slightly. Eve sighed slowly, sitting back in Keller's chair. ├óÔé¼┼ôBy the way├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said to Eve ├óÔé¼┼ôYou really have to stop stealing my chair├óÔé¼┬Ø. But they all kept looking at Dantana. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell thats that├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've got to set course├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôHelmsman├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôSet course for...home├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike walked down the hallway, the little kid following him. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow do you like your new tong?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts nice├óÔé¼┬Ø The boy said. Mike almost tripped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou spoke!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the kid said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt seemed time├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôAre...are you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The kid thought ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I never got to tell you my name├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats your name?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The kid stuck his hand out ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm Mike, pleased to meet you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike took his hand and shook it ├óÔé¼┼ôNow thats just strange├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey Mike!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski said, turning around the corner. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike and Mike said at the same time.
Helena sat in her room, reading a novel. Then there was a knock on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôEnter├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said softly. Sarge looked into the room ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was just wondering...how do you feel?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm...better. Tipp's dead├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...I'm alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarge sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI know you've talked about it with some shrink, but...if you need anyone to talk with...just tell me├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks Sarge├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think I just need to be alone for a while├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarge nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI can understand that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, standing. Then he walked out of the room, door closing behind him.
Eve and Lizzy both sat in the cafeteria. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy a marine?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôCouldn't you have found someone who doesn't get shot at for a living?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve gaped, almost choking on her bagel ├óÔé¼┼ôMom!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not at war, or anything├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYet├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop worrying├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf he acts up...I'll kill him├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. Eve grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I know of some ways├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured. She reached for her cup. The cup slid into her hands. Lizzy and Eve stared at it, both stunned speechless.
Taraka put down his newspaper and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI knew it wouldn't work├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered, looking at the two women. He got up and placed a tip on the table, conjuring some ancient money out of thin air. He dropped the quarters on the table and smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat will confound them├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, and walked out of the room. Halfway between stepping out of the cafeteria and the hallway he dissapeared.
So Eve is still a problem?
Just about
Taraka...
I told you not to call me that.
Whatever. You said she wasn't a problem anymore. She could change our plans irrevocably
I underestimated her desire to be human. If she really wanted to, she could be human. But I suppose she'll have to learn that she's not human and no matter what she says, she will never be human. Its just a matter of time...
Jason sat alone in his office, slowly rolling a pen over his desk, from one hand to another. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to the empty office ├óÔé¼┼ôIts started├óÔé¼┬Ø. He got up and picked up his hat. He placed it on his head and cricked his neck. Then he pressed the intercom ├óÔé¼┼ôSandra├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôCancel my appointments and contact my doctor. I'd like some lips now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø Sandra said. Jason took his finger off the com and sighed. He walked out of his office and into the white house. He walked down the halls and into the oval office. ├óÔé¼┼ôMr. President├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes Marshall?├óÔé¼┬Ø the President asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have a problem├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I need to explain some things├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Michelle walked down the hallway, feeling the ship thrum around her. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is the plan?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe still have our...extra A/M bomb├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Interrogator smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your plan now, Capitan?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a five year voyage, so we have plenty of time to wait for exactly the right moment. But could we sneak some officers on board the Agamemnon├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø The Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have some idea's about that├óÔé¼┬Ø they both walked off down the hallway, discussing their plans.
Cyanide looked at her army. They were the best soldiers in the universe, each one a Transcendi, each one a deadly warrior. It had been almost hysterically simple to create them. They just took a very good warrior, scanned and copied their mind into hundred of people. They numbered a single ship regiment, about three hundred. But Cyanide would have wagered on her side any day. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø A trooper said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe are ready. Where should we deploy?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe White House├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyanide said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to make sure the Marshall never gets in our way again├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cyanide smiled. She could care less if baseline humanity burned, as long as her Transcendi escaped unharmed. And she would see to it that they did burn...she would.
Keller and Sarris sat in their office. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you sure that we should have bombed the planet?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean we didn't really do anything├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôwe spread out the S-02, made it less concentrated. We also put in in asteroids, witch are easier to avoid, and finally we laid down a message buoy. Anyone who visits this system will know not to touch the asteroid field where Dantana used to be. But finally the biggest reason I did it was to deprive the Excalibur of A/M weapons├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDidn't we lose our weapons too?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSarris├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, grinning at her ├óÔé¼┼ôGive me more credit. I only fired half my payload├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Gloria tinkered with the device. It sputtered and smoked as she hooked up the power. She swore and unhooked the power. The device stopped its sputtering. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt would be nice if I had an MN2 mine├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't get that for you├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, leaning against the far wall of her work shop. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike Junior piped up. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know you can't honey├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said absentmindedly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not honey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Junior protested. Gloria shook her head, pushing away from the table. Her movement knocked the device over and it whirred up. A small sphere of nothing appeared in the door behind Mike. Mike jerked away from the door and stared at the hole. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt works├óÔé¼┬Ø.
On the larger of the three chunks of Dantana there was a colony of S-02. It was growing. It had been the size of a city. Then it had become the size of a small tree, cut down by ferocious matter anti-matter reactions. Then it had rebounded and expended over the entire chunk in a matter of moments. The furious heat that had made the chunk mostly molten was quickly quenched. Now the asteroid was colder then the space around it. Then...slowly...ponderously a thought worked its way thought he S-02. Cells fired, acting as neurons. High Energy Particals shot thought the creature, acting as electrical signals, in parallel with a human brain. The thought unified the creature, gave itself definition.
I...am...Adam
To be continued...
