by Marcus Sloss
Items were being stuffed into AH1 which left me confused. Willis said we would be moved before the next blue gate. Then it dawned on me. He meant home completed. I shifted my gaze around in a hurry. There were only minimal crixxi and pandarin. Not a single mounamine beside Sammie and the newcomers. Oh… So that is what went over on AC1.
When I pulled up the flight records AC1 was hauling back and forth in thirty-minute trips with very minimal offload and loading time. Huh, they had to be going insanely fast. Sally saw me standing around the fire pit snacking on some yummy snake and happily slithered my direction.
“I am repurposing the majority of your gravity sleds. I can hook your spare generators to them and create flying platform decks. When I place a TP63 on top of the platform, I modify the controls, and off it goes. A new aircraft of sorts,” Sally said, pointing toward the massive trees by the hesco barrier. Two goliaths were lifting a mighty redwood out of the ground. The dirt cascaded off the roots as they were exposed. “This next part is great.”
The tree was laid gently on a platform of joined sleds. A moment later the combined device bounced off the ground to a hover. There were a few warning sounds from the goliaths before the platform gently rose into the air about a thousand feet. A smooth forward motion propelled the platform north at an increasing speed. When I glanced back I noticed we were missing about eight trees already.
“I take it you built an entry tunnel already?” I said in wonderment.
The sluggero snort sound always reminded me of a kid sniffling. Sally said, “Oh definitely. The cavern is large. Your Longoria mate -good choice- bought the correct type of machines when I was purchased. I am handling this end. Willis is already sculpting your city. The bonus is you brought additional workers from a raid, impressive. I hate you less every minute that goes by.”
“What did I do?” I replied with a snarky tone.
“You were born,” Sally said laughing while fading away.
“She can be such a bitch,” Perci said sneaking up on my side. Her hand folded into mine. “What next?”
“Well, I am waiting for Eddy to call me. I am showing everyone having good vital signs inside Colorado Springs so that means he is probably assessing the situation now,” I said seeing AH2 come soaring over the mountains from Boulder’s direction.
The aircraft flew directly for the caves. Willows voiced boomed out the aircraft, “Clear the cave area, dropping loot.”
She repeated this call three times. Half a minute later AH2 tilted and electronics rained out of the hanger crashing below in a roaring crescendo. I watched the process unfold without obstruction since we had cleared all the trees in that area. When the items stopped cascading down, the aircraft zoomed back for Boulder. That was that. Oh, the pile lifted a few feet and then entered the cavern mouth. Well, hell yeah, that was awesome. I bet the platform returned in a few minutes after dumping in the expanding cavern.
I was contemplating how much loot could get jammed down there when my Gpad rang.
“Go for Cap,” I said.
“Hey, it’s Eddy. We have two hundred and twelve needing refuge. They lost over a hundred thousand a few days ago during a long-running battle. While we were comfy and looting they were raided and destroyed. More survived capture but fled south for Phoenix or west for L.A.”
“Give them the scoop on what we're doing. And our rules,” I said evenly and without inflection.
“Oh, they will do whatever to have protection. The misses is with me, balling with some other ladies. Turns out being behind an army and in a safe spot matters. They had no true soldiers here. Only veterans and they were not equipped to smash through empowered shields,” Eddy said sadly. “We are RTB with an ETA of two hours.”
“Damn Eddy, you’re on point. I see your soldier lingo is improving. Promise those people we will do our best to ensure they are safe, see you soon.”
Everly sauntered over when a spouting flame ignited behind her. She had that perfect timing like a hero fading from an explosion in the background without looking back. A new fire pit was getting ready to increase the roasting production. We certainly were not short on spare wood.
“The next snake should be ready soon. Onix is eating his raw. Silly cat started to stuff a second snake into the mansion. Can you believe that!? Maria figured out he was trying to put the corpse in the freezer,” Everly said, flicking gore off her arm. “Stuffing a snake… things got dark.”
My chin tucked against my neck as I grimaced at the thought. “Colorado Spring is bringing refugees. We need to prepare for some dreary folks arriving. At least that closes people wanting to leave Bastion for a nearby home. Time to call Tina,” I said and rang our animal handler up. She answered immediately.
“Hey Cap, I convinced Norm to stay. No way am I leaving Derek, Willow, and Slister. I think he was more or less sad to abandon his hard work. He grumbled a lot, but the crops will still grow and be harvested right. So, anyway I was going to go over to Stronghold Castle first to start setting up electric pens when Sally denied my request, so I called Willis and was like. Why is your sister hanging up on me? I need to figure out what is happening with the animals. And then he was like -”
“Hi Tina,” I said, hoping to cut off her rambling. Nope.
“There are only so many seconds in the day and breaths I have. Those are not allocated to listening to you. Can you believe that? Well, I couldn’t and -”
My mic went on mute and she did too. “Sweet mother of god,” I groaned. I removed the mute.
“The sluggeros are outside the far southern gate eating fresh pine needles, and I have been sent a text message that the ramoth can be moved first. I replied okay. Then nothing. If I reply with one word you should text more, am I right?” Tina asked.
Then it dawned on me, she had given me the answer. “Absolutely, unless things get chaotic, which they are right now. So let me shoot you a text in a bit. Last quick question. Just need a yes or no really. Are the tavers okay?”
“Yes, they are around their lake relaxing. Why wouldn't they be okay?”
“Thanks Tina, you’re the best. Lunch soon with Willow, Cap out. For the community!” I hung up the call.
Longoria had arrived mid-conversation. She scoffed and said, “Oh, to be young.”
“Funny because she is older than Everly but you would never know it,” Perci said, slipping an arm around the crixxi’s waist.
“She is a fantastic animal manager, a good person, and positive during these dark days. Tina also trusted Willow enough to fly across the country before the darkness descended on a promise that it was vital. I need more Tina’s regardless of their perplexity to talk a lot, they’re vital,” I said, kneeling to greet the bulldog that trotted near, eager for food. “Howdy Felix. Easy boy, don’t eat my hand. Well, that answers my tavers question for now. Perci I need you to tell Tina we may have animals arriving in trade soon. Also, inform Norm about the plants. The gribin seemed nice enough but they could just head home and never live up to their end.”
“Not like we lost anything if they shaft us,” Perci said with a shrug. “What is next on your agenda?”
“I guess we keep looting, focus on moving, and monitor the gates at a semi alert. Adjust as time goes by. I should probably have dinner with Jill tonight and ensure she is actually okay. We need to shift a lot of stuff as we break down and move. I have no idea how the fairies intend to replace entire hotels that our Aspen residents are living in,” I said, scratching my short beard in need of a shave. “Probably best if I let the builders build while I focus on getting the resources needed. Oh, and we need to watch Jarod. Hopefully, he stays in place.”
“Hopefully he does not, hitting him on the move or while assaulting Teton is the smartest option,” Everly said with disdain.
“I know, fighting another battle that we should not have to is less than ideal. Still, stopping the evil maniac is the right thing to do. Even if we don’t want to,” I said with determination. “The loot is the bonus.”
Longoria raised her hand until we rolled our eyes collectively. “Fine, I will stop raising my hand to speak. Let me say this, at some point you need to let Teton learn a hard lesson. If not they will call on you often, and they may never pay or eventually run out of the ability to finance your costs.”
We sat there in silence for a moment. She had a point, what would be the cost to save the day, and were we prepared to pay it?
INTERMISSION 2
In a Galaxy Close to Universal Origin Point
“Seetheus, this was never supposed to happen. You guaranteed us an expanding containment without the possibility of system failure,” Arenius said with a soothing even tone. There was only a tiny hint of hostility and anger in the air, but you would never know it unless you were one of the divines. “What are your contingencies?”
Seetheus vibrated in a calming simmering. The construct’s passion for peace never wavered. There was always one goal in mind. Keep the violence from spreading. Contain evil no matter the cost. Protect those with the moral fortitude to never cause harm, from those who would eliminate them.
“We set out at this task eons ago. The days of our youth have proven unwise. Irrational almost. The faction that is kept at bay will not be pleased by these developments,” Seetheus said, moving its orb to use the view screen to gaze upon the orbital. “We must adjust, that is all there is to it. Our bindings prohibit us from changing the nature of the market day so we cannot save energy there. We will go to three portals until more black holes are created and the balance restored.”
“Excuse me Supreme Leader Seetheus,” a construct in the back of the hangar bay said.
The meeting was a standard event. One held in reaction to every flaw as ordained by the covenants of the contract. If issues were to happen they must be rectified with a discussion and a vote. The cycle before saw a surge in power requirements for the containment field. Three emergency black holes were created to vortex the power of the portal fields.
“And what name shall we address you by this time market keeper?” Seetheus said with a chuckle.
The market keeper was normally the cause for humor. When the orb with arms morphed into a fish with three tails there were gasps. The summoned deities were not often shocked. Yes, a panicked vibration emanated from a majority. This was against protocol.
“Today, I will go by Goldie. I am enacting the clause of impending containment failure three-dot one point six. It is without question that in a manner of twenty seven seasons you will not be able to continue to sustain this farce,” Goldie said with a buzz of annoyance.
A divine orb fainted at the display.
Seetheus gave a shaking laugh. “Ah, you are right to make such a claim. Do you know what happens if you do?”
The taunt was met with a stiff reply. “We die. Eventually. As do all the other creations the creator has ordained.”
“Therefore there will never be an approval. I am not suicidal, market keeper. Your motion is struck down. We will expand. We will preserve, that is the way. For as long as this universe has been alive, our divine ways have kept the peace, and we will continue to do so -”
“For twenty seven more seasons,” Goldie said in a flat even tone. “Fellow divine. I am the leader of the anti-containment faction. We have been a minority. Today our extreme patience prevails. My faction has warned, almost since the creation, that life will find a way to get beyond our grasp. On the record, we have over three thousand planets out of containment. Our ships used to ensure no AI or space faring vehicles are developed have been diverted to catch those on the loose.”
There was a pause for effect. “Our fleets are deplenished to the point we’re moving old ships to new sections of space, leaving planets unguarded. Our portals are not firing on time and now we are destroying entire stars to generate enough power to achieve our goals. We have gone from the holy; to no better than the wicked. This has been foretold. You had been warned, and now the end of our time is nigh.”
Seetheus gave an echoing laugh that roared through the meeting room. “We will expand, I am calculating if we go to three portals our fields will last for three thousand rotations,” Seetheus said, reassuring his frightened faction. “Plenty of time to repair this small issue of no consequence.”
“That is without new worlds conquered. Going to three portals does extend the time to collapse. It also strains the system and will forever prevent new subjugates from feeling the true effects. Which means less will die and you cannot remove more ships. You’re ignoring the fact that thousands of worlds are blind in the containment,” Goldie said to a shuddering reply. “Yes, Seetheus, your allies are not as loving as you thought. Be careful, your web will break. I have warned the rest of you. It is best if you hide now before the enemy fleets hungry for revenge arrive. Before the end suddenly changes everything you hold dear after all this time.”
Goldie left the room peacefully. The matter was settled to Goldie. The only question that remained was where he would hide after the system collapsed. His mouth twisted in a tight smile when he formed a new plan.
CHAPTER 18
There were no migraines or achy joints with the virum. However, I still managed to grow aggregated to the point I wanted to smash something. My agitated state of mind made me feel like I had a headache. Yesterday had been a pain to some degree.
The best place to start was with the gribin. Those little shits were offended by Asian anime for whatever reason. They came back and returned a quarter of our files. So, this surprised me; there is some weird stuff in those files, and tentacle porn was about my limit, but to each their own. I cared less that they were offended and stuck to the concept that it was a pure win situation. Until I got dragged into a conversation that deteriorated into a negotiation.
Gribin are expert negotiators; I am an expert killer. Put the two of us together and I was willing to give a tank away to avoid starting a war for no reason other than for Freddy to feel like he won. To alleviate that nonsense I sent Linda Growlen.
By the end of the negotiation, we had given up three females and two male mozala. To be honest, once those little creatures scurried up the trees I never saw them much. The crixxi assured me they were good to go to a new home with a dense jungle. Awesome, no sweat off my back. Between that and the files of entertainment, we were given a hundred parrot chickens. Again, another win. Mozala for animals that produced sustained food.
The next headache was Onix, not his fault really. He kept bringing me dead things and whapping away my lovers to get affection. Honestly, I kind of loved the sudden pounce. The massive cat kept me on my toes. The dead bodies of scouts were also a boon I thoroughly enjoyed. Invisibility shielding didn’t do shit for these guys. A dog would bay, a cat would kill its prey.
The alien scouts were always small and thin; that and they had giant puncture holes from a massive cat gnawing on them. While I was happy Onix was killing spies, the snakes were the worst for me. When I woke up the next morning I had three dead snakes, a mauled cloaked scout, and a really big dead pigeon outside my door. The pigeon was the size of a truck and weighed so much it tilted the RV resting in its dead pose. Seriously, Onix caused problems that while manageable, but added up.
The funny part was I had not slept in RV3 last night. Onix left the surprised for Perci to find and me to hear about from an agitated lover.
My night was romp in the sheets with Nancy and Jill for hours. Jill was hesitant until Nancy slapped the strap on over her crotch. There was some fantastic sex that night. I found balcony sex invigoration.
We were so into we even woke up Mary on accident. I sure hoped my next home had lots of separate pace from kids.
The next morning Sammie had the cat’s presents dealt with, placating an agitated Perci so I could enjoy my morning visit with Mary.
Walking the streets of Aspen was nice, except the mean-mugging stares from people not wanting to leave. I had to send out another message to all our residents that we were vacating the area f
or good reasons. The United States was slowly losing every large defensive fortifications above ground that it had. Only those that retreated to well defensible positions were hanging on.
When I unleashed the video of Colorado Springs that didn’t help. A dozen families left this morning to go for Utah. Good for them. I understood their fear. Hell, I even gave them a tank to protect themselves with. Maybe they would find some little corner to hide in. Guessing by these scouts there was no such place in the long run. Either you defended what you had or you died. There was no peaceful corner inside the containment.
The sluggero siblings and even Harvard were adamant that this was not the Koovorin council bent on our destruction. There was no information to glean off the dead bodies but there was a common consensus. Someone wanted information. The scouts didn’t even have weapons. We figured the kerbian prisoner we held in a mine shaft in the northern section Mansion was worth a whole lot more than a fairy.
Which led to my current headache.
“I am telling…” She paused at my stern glare. “Informing you to cancel this deal,” Linda Growlen said while we waited at the portal.
“While I appreciate the input, I don’t actually want it at the moment. The spies had no weapons. Their bodies were in a camouflage coating. The siblings say it was a cheap one,” I said with a grunt. “So cheap they were disposable fodder.”
We had a small army waiting at the gate. A towering goliath shaded our area from a clear skyline on a bright sunny day. Toth was due any minute so I had Torrez lock the gate down in preparation for his arrival.
Willow stood on my left in her black acrium suit. Her face was exposed and her hair in a tight bun. We wore no crowns today for this event. She was heavily armored. The prime element on Planet Koor was hydrogen. Our shielded coloration was a deep blue that was translucent when active.
Everly was on my right in a forest green acrium suit. She had a light rifle slung down her chest that her arms rested on. Her purple eyes danced with excitement of the coming meeting. She knew my inner warrior.
