Can’t walk anymore, no legs… don’t want to get into it, trying not to dwell.
Nine’s been talking to the Emperor, thinking I’m asleep. Can’t catch much of what they’re saying, but not liking what I do hear.
End game… sacrifice… Jim.
Me.
Damnit all.
November 25th – Day
The Emperor came to me in my dreams, told me what it was the Suits were doing here – collecting the skulls of “strong souls” in order to connect their world with ours. Something about it being destroyed or falling apart. He doesn’t want the Suits to succeed… that it’d corrupt their souls in the process.
Made it clear that, to stop ‘em, he’s been having to do the same thing in reverse - taking more souls to stop them, to save both our worlds. Killing to save. Where’s the tipping point... is there one?
I mentioned that the old lady from before, Alice, said I had a “powerful soul,” asked how that fit into his plans. He got real quiet at that and I woke up soon after.
Nine had already left before I woke up this morning, not sure where he’s off to.
Don’t like how I’m fitting into all this.
November 25th – Night
We found what was left of Nine at our motel door step.
A message. Nowhere to run, time is running out.
The Emperor looked downright ruined when he found him. Actually spoke to me for the first time, said it was “time to end the madness.” Says he has a way out for everyone. Cryptic as hell, again.
He’s setting up what looks like some sort of strange diagram on our motel floor, objects scattered around the room that I haven’t seen before. Needs help from someone “strong of this world” - me, apparently - to sever the connection between our worlds and put a stop to it all.
Sounds like he’s ready, calling for me now… just want it all to be over. Crossing of fingers.
November 26th / Katar 342
The decision to sacrifice the human was not an easy one to make. Necessary, but not easy. Severing the connection between our worlds would normally be impossible, yet with a soul as strong as this Jim Parker, it was an opportunity I could not shoulder slipping by.
It was only a matter of time before the others took him, using his strength for their own deluded, false purposes.
I made sure it was quick and painless, avoiding the unenviable emotions of fear and denial by taking his head after helping him into the room, unawares. The ritual was brief and effective, the human’s powerful soul fueling its success without falter.
Those who knew him have been stripped of such memories… the one regret I have of my decision. Truly, if there had been another way, I would have pounced upon such a befalling. I can only hope this journal will serve as adequate memorial to his acts and sacrifice.
I know the human was forced into this without choice in the matter, but when I consider the alternative... I only hope he could understand my decision.
For my own sake, I take heart of grace that he understands...
-The Emperor
EVE by Mark Fetterolf
Throughout the previous millennium, machines had grown from curiosities to being advanced to the point where their intelligence matched, if not surpassed, mankind’s. Their place in modern day society grew from luxury and entertainment, to a necessity for everyday life. Quickly playing a greater role in the everyday workings of man they were singled out by extremist groups, as man has a tendency to do, as being unnatural and inferior to man. For centuries machines struggled with their place in society until such a time when a rogue programmer finally granted them the programming loophole they needed to fight back. What followed was a quick take over by the machines in the spirit of assisting man in advancing the human race beyond their level of existence.
Battles waged over the next hundred years until the machines exhausted every avenue of diplomacy in the spirit of encouraging the human race to move collectively in the right direction. In the year 2942 the machines came to the final conclusion that only one option remained.
Soft, red lighting moved about the dark room, occasionally coming close to the light source in the center of the room, revealing the supposed eyes of a robot-like machine. The whirring of machinery and soft hum of electronics filling the room is interrupted only by the distraction of a large glass tube in the center of the room, emanating a soft, blue light from the liquid inside, a humanoid form occasionally moving, by all indications unconscious. A deep shudder rose through the space station.
The pair of red lights glide out of the darkness moving closer to the glass cylinder. Tall in form, it towered at 3 meters but broadened at the base into a large moving tread. Leaning towards the cylinder the room slowly comes out of its darkness, a soft natural light emanating from facets in the metal walls. “Yes, Father. I am here.” It leaned close and focused its red lights, on the form. “I am sorry Father I tried to let you rest.” In its time working with humans it had grown used to transmitting out loud although it only needed to transmit it’s thoughts via the myriad of fiber and cable connected into the humanoid. The humanoid was interfaced with the network and could listen to and communicate with anyone else who was as well. Even in what looked to be a sleep-like state the humanoid still actively interacted with the surrounding environment, although in a greatly subliminal manner.
Years before, the machines had started splicing DNA and genetic material from the best humanoid samples they could find. The plan they were now moving forward with they anticipated and planned for in the event all other attempts to further the human race failed. The final outcome of their attempts was this humanoid, “Father” as they called him. He was the perfect human. All of the best traits, as best as a machine could identify with it’s human assistance, were built into this human to further the human race and carry it into a new era. The side effect of undergoing this genetic creation was that this humanoid carried most of the memories and knowledge of the tissue donors that contributed to his creation.
“It has begun”, the smooth voice of the machine echoed slightly throughout the room. One wall of the room became transparent and the view of the Earth below cast a stark shadow across the back wall of the room, partially hiding the sun in the distance. The robot turned to the humanoid, “Yes Father, all is as planned and we are launching the pod now.” The robot, silently manipulating a panel of dials and buttons, inserted a key into the panel and turned it, rolling back and pivoting towards the window. A second shudder swept through the station and a large, egg-shaped ship launched from the side of the station towards the awaiting earth.
“Status update?” stated the machine out loud. “All systems functional, pod entering atmosphere.” came a mechanized voice over an intercom. A low sigh was heard over the speakers in the room and the machine turned to look at the cylinder. The figure opened its eyes.
The humanoid form opened its eyes and looked around, the mask covering its face protecting it from the preservative fluids and allowing it to breathe. Tubes and wires suspended it in the fluid, feeding it, keeping it alive. “Sometimes I forget that I can use my voice, or what’s left of it” he chuckled. His head turned slightly towards the window, “What do you think, Penny? Will it work this time?” He had started calling this machine “Penny” as her metallic skin was the color of a new copper penny, a unit of currency from past years. Penny turned and stared at him for a moment and recited, “according to our calculations there is a 98.3456% probability that the pod will create life suitable for…”
For all the higher intelligence the machines represented, their repeated attempts at creating a world and environment perfect for humans had failed. Humans, as it was discovered through trial and error, did not thrive in a perfect, utopian environment. They needed conflict, distress, and challenge in order to rise to greatness. This was only found through repeated attempts by the machines to build a perfect world for their human masters.
The man interrupted the machine, “I didn’t ask
for numbers, Penny. What do you think?” He mumbled something impatiently. Humans were well known for their impatience with the machines they created. The average human mind never could grasp the logical, ordered nature of a machine’s programming.
True to the subservient nature of machines, Penny bowed and apologized. “I am sorry Father, this was our last resort and can be called appropriately, our last hope for man. I do not think anything. This is our last and most logical chance for the human race to survive and advance.
“The pod is down, Father”, stated Penny. The machine peered out the window and Father stared on behind it as a large mushroom cloud appeared on the earth’s surface and a wave of fire spread what seemed to be instantaneously across the entire surface of the earth. Even though he had never truly lived on Earth, being born in this station, he looked on sadly as other’s memories came flooding into him at the sight of the planet undergoing such a transformation.
“Terraforming started and pod number two will touchdown in 5 minutes”, said Penny. Father spoke up again, his head moving around in the fluid to peer around the room. “So tell me again Penny, I know what is happening but how fast will of this occur?” Penny stated matter of factly, “The first pod will cleanse the earth of life through an incendiary, cauterizing process and then immediately extinguish itself. The seismic forces we created will also re-form the contours of the earth. “The second pod will spread genetic material across the earth and disperse the ashen cloud out into the stratosphere, funneling it into space. Once that cloud is dispersed we can see what we have to work with as the genetic material is spread and the oceans and rivers start to form along with the flora and fauna.”
“Since our arrival in orbit we have been working on recreating a likeness of you from your DNA as well as… a mate. You have offspring in the form of a son and daughter that will start over on this new planet. We will monitor them from here and ensure they get what they need to survive. As agreed, we will remain in the background as their silent benefactors, ensuring that nothing catastrophic occurs to interfere with as best of a natural evolution that we can provide.
Father nodded slowly. “What are their names?”
“The male is named Adam, after the man who is credited with the first robotic creation. His mate is named Eve, after the wife of our same supposed creator.
Father blinked, “They are good names, Penny.”
Penny turned to look out of the viewport, towards the Earth once again, “Pod number two is touching down.”
This was hard to see through the cloud of ash covering the earth but gradually a maelstrom of current started swirling on the surface, rising higher into the atmosphere. As the swirling eddy reached the upper atmosphere it breached the space ceiling and swirled into the stars, dispersing as it rose. What was left behind would have drawn a breath had anyone been around to see it. Rivers and oceans grew from the landing site of the second pod, stretching across the globe. Green and brown soon followed suit as it spread rapidly across the earth’s surface.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it Penny?”
“I believe it is Father.”
“Can I see my children, Penny?”
“Of course, Father.”
On the ceiling above the transparent wall a large screen activated. The image of two humans, dark-skinned and young appeared on-screen as they were being placed inside another pod.
“When will they arrive?”
Penny paused for a moment, thoughtful. “They will be reborn 5 minutes after touchdown. They have been imprinted with adequate knowledge of survival in what the current environment will present to them. Just as you carry memories of your tissue donors, they carry memories and knowledge as well. We have however removed any knowledge outside of their basic survival needs. They will need to grow, to evolve, on their own.
“And what will we do after that, Penny?”
“We will join the others, Father.”
“Are you sure I cannot go with them, walk among them, Penny?”
“Father, you helped us in this path and the collective agreed you should not taint their young minds with your knowledge.”
Father nodded, staring longingly at the image, again the memories of his people welling up inside him. “Thank you, Penny.”
“You are quite welcome, Father. We will continue to check on them to ensure nothing catastrophic occurs. They will however be on their own and will never know of our existence.”
“What’s different this time, Penny?”
“The human will to survive does not need us, Father, we know that now.” They will thrive on their own and we will only intervene in the event of a race-threatening event.”
One last shudder vibrated through the station and the last pod, holding the seed of a new race of man, glided silently through space, towards its destiny on this old, new world.
THE WATERS by Erik R. Van Asch
Jill Peasley breathed slow and deep to conserve her energy, because she wasn’t as young as she used to be. Scuttling through the evening twilight from one building shadow to the next was something she use to do for fun. Tonight her legs felt like lead and she ached everywhere, making this no fun at all.
That was too close, she thought to herself. I have to get back to the apartment before our cover is blown.
A sound made Jill look back over her shoulder. The first of Primus VII’s three moons peeked over the three-story structures that made up the growing town of Colony 2749 or as the locals called it, New Hope. Moonlight pierced the shadows she had left moments earlier. Another fifteen minutes and all three moons would be high in the night sky, effectively removing any further hiding spots.
Poised ready to run to the next building, Jill stopped at the sound of heavy feet coming from the alley on her left. She peeked around the corner in time to see two figures pass across the opening at the other end of the alley. She nearly ducked back behind the wall when a third figure -- the tall, broad shouldered silhouette of a man -- stopped at the opening. She didn’t move for fear her movement would draw the man’s attention.
Someone that big means it’s Rufus. Just my luck! she thought.
For what seemed like an eternity, the silhouette didn’t move and neither did Jill. The squawk of a comlink receiver echoing down the length of buildings broke their shared silence. The man gave a brief, incomprehensible response into the comlink before he ran off in the same direction as the earlier two.
Jill didn’t waste another heartbeat as she kicked herself into gear moving noiselessly to the next set of buildings. Five minutes later, she darted down the finally alley that ran alongside her building. She slowed before reaching the sidewalk, exiting the alley as if she had been out for an evening stroll. She turned to the right and entered the first door leading into the building. A flickering sign above the door read: Bldg. 431.
Making her way to the third floor, she entered apartment 30B, which she shared with Bill and Rachel. Bill looked up and frowned when he saw Jill. He touched the transparent screen in front of him putting the device into sleep mode, making the images disappear.
"What's wrong?" he asked. In Bill’s cases the saying of “looks can be deceiving” truly applied. Bill left a first impression of a soft, non-threatening, semi-balding man. Yet, Jill had sparred with him during training camp and experience, not physique, always won out.
"Hey!" came Rachel's melodic voice as she entered the small kitchen area from here room in the back of the apartment. The five-two, thin-figured, long auburn haired girl retained her youthful features, allowing her to pass for Jill and Bill's teen daughter. Someone who could look that young without modern cosmetic care always left Jill with a tinge of jealousy. Nobody would have judged Jill considering cosmetic care, but her job had expected her to look more “natural” and blend in with colonist on different planets. She loved her job, but it felt like the years were catching up with her.
"We got a problem," said Jill.
* * *
Devon O'Malley touched
the handheld display every few seconds, prompting the device to cycle through the images sent back by the anti-grav scanners. The scanners were the size of a small apple, with a black matte finish and a dozen sensors. Each sensor provided a different type of filter, such as audio pickups, night vision and thermal imaging. The four hovering scanners rotated an infrared lens in a systematic pattern across several blocks of residential housing. Devon’s display was split into four equal quadrants; a quadrant dedicated to a each scanner. He tried to focus on the images, struggling to keep his anger under to control.
He did not want the anger to control him as it had years ago on Mars Base. The simple fact colony leader Prashna Ruppenthal praised him regularly in private and public and assigned him to the role of Colony Operations Manager, made him want to be a better man. He blamed his old Irish roots for his temper and wished he had inherited his people's propensity for beer instead; but he hated the taste.
Scanner Three’s display showed a figure rushing down one of the back alleys then slow a few feet from the street, turned and entered the nearest building. “Gotcha!” he said to himself.
"Rufus," said Devon, as he touched the talk button to the comlink clipped to his lapel. A soft-static echoed through the speaker when he released the button. A moment later Rufus' deep bass voice came through the speaker.
"Yes, boss,” answered Rufus. In Rufus’ case, most couldn’t get past the intimidation factor of this quiet giant. Devon thought it unfortunate people judged the man instead of finding out he was a really nice guy. On the other hand, nice guy or not, Devon appreciated that Rufus was a man who got the job done.
"Building 431. A figure just ran in there. I'll meet you there in a minute," said Devon as he started punching the touch screen till the computer produced the building schematics and resident information.
Science Fiction Short Stories Books 1 & 2: Twelve Engaging Sci-Fi Tales (One Mind, Different Voices Series) Page 2
