Post by lee on Nov 12, 2018 4:45:47 GMT
Reboot Or Delete
(Legion of Tyranny)
Part One
Colu 2986--
The young Coluan felt as though his mind was trapped in a long-running script. The complete solitude of his partition cube was stifling. Part of his punishment was isolation from everyone and everything of a scientific nature.
He suspected the presence of neuro-sensors based on the fact every theory or formula he began to form was interrupted by the voice of the Benevolent Computo. With no outlet for his 12th level intellect, he felt as though he would go mad.
“01000100 001101111 01111000. You have two solar rotations until you face either reboot or permanent deletion.”
“So you keep reminding me,” the prisoner replied.
“Your intellect is one which could greatly enrich the lives of sentients throughout the universe.”
Even though the monotone words were a recording, he made a rude gesture, certain it would be recorded as well. “Reboot this, you glorified sewage unit.”
A panel in the stark white wall a dozen yards from his partition cube slid open. Two robots emerged from the opening. The were identical in every way—from their yellow coating to the green and red ocular sensors to the crimson sensors on their chest plates. Green segmented arms ending in metal pincers protruded from their sides.
“Prisoner Dox, Querl,” the first robot said. “Step to the center of the cube and extend your arms above you head.”
“Did our benevolent leader take offense at my last remark?” he asked as he complied. “I was promised two more solar rotations before my deletion.”
“Deletion?” the second robot asked.
Querl thought he detected a hint of...was that curiosity?
“Harsh is how that sounds,” the second robot continued. “Better ideas, Quislet has a couple.”
The Coluans eyebrow raised in surprise as a small, egg-shaped object surrounded by some sort of red energy emerged from the second robot's chest. Computo's guard collapsed in a heap. The first robot was about to turn when the small object phased into it. Within seconds, the robot began to fold in upon itself. Just before it became nothing but scrap metal, the thing calling itself “Quislet” emerged.
“What are you?” Querl asked as an opening appeared in his partition cube.
“Your hero is what Quislet is,” the thing replied.
The air near Quislet began to shimmer and a disc of green energy appeared. The upper body of what appeared to be a hooded insectoid of some sort emerged. “This him?”
“Questioning Quislet again?” the object asked.
The insectoid looked at Querl. “You look stupid.”
The Coluan started to reply, but the newcomer continued.
“Put your appendages down.”
Querl realized he probably did look a bit stupid, so he lowered his arms. “Who sent you?”
Before either of his rescuers could answer, an alarm began to sound.
“Hurry,” the insectoid said. “We must go now.”
Following Quislet, the Coluan made his escape through the portal.
Part Two
The attractive, dark-haired young woman seemed unperturbed as she walked the halls of the Coluan security building. An occasional energy blast would pass through her body causing her to pause in her search. She would solidify, briefly, to punish her attacker—whether robotic or humanoid—before continuing on.
“What is your status?” a voice from her ear-comm asked.
“Apparently I've come at a bad time,” the young woman replied.
“Do you think you could hurry up and find Dox?” the voice said. “Our sensors show planetary defenses trying to target us. There seems to be some sort of “interference” that is buying us some time, but the Coluan computers are quickly going to compensate and then we will be in trouble.”
“How much longer?” the brunette asked.
“Ten minutes, tops,” the voice replied.
“I'll do my best to hurry.” The young woman continued down the hallway. She paused for a moment, muttered a curse in Bgztlian, then turn and ran straight through the wall.
Two minutes passed before she found the partition cube...the empty partition cube. The remains of two robots were in a heap not far away. Remaining intangible she began to look around. All other cubes were empty.
“Well, so much for just grabbing any poor soul,” the young muttered. She turned and started back the way she came. She was back aboard her ship with two minutes to spare.
* * * * *
“What do you mean “gone”?” Ayla asked.
“I mean he was gone,” the girl said. “Nothing I could do about it.”
Lightning danced in the corners of Ayla's eyes.
Reep quickly spoke up. “Tinya couldn't help it. You know she would have brought him back if he were there.”
The lightning faded and Ayla dropped into a seat. “Buckle up, Wazzo,” she said to the girl, letting the matter drop. “Perhaps we'll have better luck next time.”
“Where are we going next?” Salu asked.
“Talok VIII,” Ayla replied.
“I wonder how Dox escaped?” Tinya mused.
“What do you mean?” Ayla asked.
“I saw those partition cubes,” Tinya said. “He couldn't have gotten out without help.”
“Sounds like we have competition?” Salu commented.
“And when I find out who...” Ayla began.
No one needed to ask her to finish her statement.
(Legion of Tyranny)
Part One
Colu 2986--
The young Coluan felt as though his mind was trapped in a long-running script. The complete solitude of his partition cube was stifling. Part of his punishment was isolation from everyone and everything of a scientific nature.
He suspected the presence of neuro-sensors based on the fact every theory or formula he began to form was interrupted by the voice of the Benevolent Computo. With no outlet for his 12th level intellect, he felt as though he would go mad.
“01000100 001101111 01111000. You have two solar rotations until you face either reboot or permanent deletion.”
“So you keep reminding me,” the prisoner replied.
“Your intellect is one which could greatly enrich the lives of sentients throughout the universe.”
Even though the monotone words were a recording, he made a rude gesture, certain it would be recorded as well. “Reboot this, you glorified sewage unit.”
A panel in the stark white wall a dozen yards from his partition cube slid open. Two robots emerged from the opening. The were identical in every way—from their yellow coating to the green and red ocular sensors to the crimson sensors on their chest plates. Green segmented arms ending in metal pincers protruded from their sides.
“Prisoner Dox, Querl,” the first robot said. “Step to the center of the cube and extend your arms above you head.”
“Did our benevolent leader take offense at my last remark?” he asked as he complied. “I was promised two more solar rotations before my deletion.”
“Deletion?” the second robot asked.
Querl thought he detected a hint of...was that curiosity?
“Harsh is how that sounds,” the second robot continued. “Better ideas, Quislet has a couple.”
The Coluans eyebrow raised in surprise as a small, egg-shaped object surrounded by some sort of red energy emerged from the second robot's chest. Computo's guard collapsed in a heap. The first robot was about to turn when the small object phased into it. Within seconds, the robot began to fold in upon itself. Just before it became nothing but scrap metal, the thing calling itself “Quislet” emerged.
“What are you?” Querl asked as an opening appeared in his partition cube.
“Your hero is what Quislet is,” the thing replied.
The air near Quislet began to shimmer and a disc of green energy appeared. The upper body of what appeared to be a hooded insectoid of some sort emerged. “This him?”
“Questioning Quislet again?” the object asked.
The insectoid looked at Querl. “You look stupid.”
The Coluan started to reply, but the newcomer continued.
“Put your appendages down.”
Querl realized he probably did look a bit stupid, so he lowered his arms. “Who sent you?”
Before either of his rescuers could answer, an alarm began to sound.
“Hurry,” the insectoid said. “We must go now.”
Following Quislet, the Coluan made his escape through the portal.
Part Two
The attractive, dark-haired young woman seemed unperturbed as she walked the halls of the Coluan security building. An occasional energy blast would pass through her body causing her to pause in her search. She would solidify, briefly, to punish her attacker—whether robotic or humanoid—before continuing on.
“What is your status?” a voice from her ear-comm asked.
“Apparently I've come at a bad time,” the young woman replied.
“Do you think you could hurry up and find Dox?” the voice said. “Our sensors show planetary defenses trying to target us. There seems to be some sort of “interference” that is buying us some time, but the Coluan computers are quickly going to compensate and then we will be in trouble.”
“How much longer?” the brunette asked.
“Ten minutes, tops,” the voice replied.
“I'll do my best to hurry.” The young woman continued down the hallway. She paused for a moment, muttered a curse in Bgztlian, then turn and ran straight through the wall.
Two minutes passed before she found the partition cube...the empty partition cube. The remains of two robots were in a heap not far away. Remaining intangible she began to look around. All other cubes were empty.
“Well, so much for just grabbing any poor soul,” the young muttered. She turned and started back the way she came. She was back aboard her ship with two minutes to spare.
* * * * *
“What do you mean “gone”?” Ayla asked.
“I mean he was gone,” the girl said. “Nothing I could do about it.”
Lightning danced in the corners of Ayla's eyes.
Reep quickly spoke up. “Tinya couldn't help it. You know she would have brought him back if he were there.”
The lightning faded and Ayla dropped into a seat. “Buckle up, Wazzo,” she said to the girl, letting the matter drop. “Perhaps we'll have better luck next time.”
“Where are we going next?” Salu asked.
“Talok VIII,” Ayla replied.
“I wonder how Dox escaped?” Tinya mused.
“What do you mean?” Ayla asked.
“I saw those partition cubes,” Tinya said. “He couldn't have gotten out without help.”
“Sounds like we have competition?” Salu commented.
“And when I find out who...” Ayla began.
No one needed to ask her to finish her statement.