He never shared where exactly he went in the middle of nowhere. Or even why he went out. Everyone assumed it was to find more butterflies and bring them home. Besides he always brought a large pack and his sword just in case. As Dox watched the gate close behind him he became conserned. It would be nice to be in on what Chewie was really doing. Dox worried just like the rest of them.
Even though it was early spring the desert was hot. The temperate climate he grew up in was a world away from this. But he was prepared. He dressed light, but made sure to keep his legs and torso covered. He also donned a pair of large leather work boots, and carried only what he needed for the time he was going to be gone. About an hour into his trek Chewie decided to take a break. The scenery was a desert but being so close to the mountains it afforded the area some water more often than the rest of the place. As a result a number of dried bushes and cacti grew in a spotty pattern. He threw his pack on the ground and used a large obliging rock as his seat. He took out the canteen of water and slugged a few gulps down. The heat was awfully oppressive. Chewie had given more than one thought to cutting his long hair and beard because of these excursions. But they served as protection from the sun. And besides, he liked his beard.
Chewie reached down into a side pocket of his bag and pulled out a black hair tie. He had been borrowing quite a few from Mesay since he got there. It was a quick way to cool off. As he reached up and began to tie his hair back a sudden noise made him freeze. The sharp rattle had taken him by surprise. Apparently the rock was also home to a now very upset rattle snake. Coiled back and ready to strike, Chewie assessed his situation. Any movement would set the snake off and with his hands by his head he wouldn't have time to do much. He took a slow deep breath. Then twisted off the rock pushing his boots toward the snake. The snake struck but hit only the deep sole of the boot. He lept off the ground and to his feet, taking out his sword in the same motion. The snake, determined to payback Chewie for his intrusion, struck at him again. But this time Chewie was ready. He quickly moved to the side and used flat end of the sword like a bat to knock the brains out of the snake. It flew a number of yards before finally falling dead. The force was enough to kill it instantly. Chewie walked over to where it landed.
"Sorry buddy.", he said. Returning to the rock he cautiously picked up his bag and canteen and continued on.
***
The neighboring mountains were still another hour away but the time seemed to go by soon enough. At the foot of them was a little brush and a rather large rock collection that formed into a perfectly sized cave. Chewie took off his pack and layed it down on ground. He spent the better part of the hour unpacking, setting up the tent, and getting everything ready for that night. Afterwords he walked over to some nearby bushes and searched for his prize.
The butterflies had been in any number of scrapes and scuffles with the Help3r drones and dolls over the time they had been there. Whatever wasn't claimed by nature would just be sitting around like fossils. Chewie had grown curious about these things and decided that learning more about them would be a good idea. But taking enemy technology into Home seemed like a pretty stupid. Especially with knowing so little about it. On one of his scouting trips he found a downed drone far away from Home. When he touched it, it seemed to spark and move. Eventually he learned that it would only do that at his touch. So he took the initiative and slowly learned how to control the machine by touching it. He had moved it into the area and used the large bush to hide it. He figured it had to do with some latent ability for him to control magnetic fields or electricity. Logic aside, everyone here had some kind of odd ability. That seemed to be his.
Chewie finished parting the brush to reveal his own personal drone. He opened a hidden side panel and took a look inside. The drone itself was mostly empty. Despite its size it has almost no mechanical components in it save a few wires and circuits. If he wanted, Chewie could probably even fit inside. The innards were cool to the touch. As if the thing had air conditioning. He wrapped his hand around the mess of wires inside and put the opposite hand on the base of the drone. The whole thing began to sputter and start. As if he was turning the keys in an antique car. The inside began to light up with little bits of the walls starting to glow and pulse. On the opposite wall, a small rectangular screen lit up. Chewie's eyes opened up wide.
That was new.
The screen seemed to be booting up and showed all kinds of numbers and Dos code. Eventually an empty prompt blinked in waiting. Chewie recognized it but wasn't sure where to go from here. He wasn't a programmer but he might be able to navigate this machine if it was set up like a computer. While Chewie was thinking he started tapping a finger on the base. The prompt started to move. Curious, he pressed other fingers on the base. Random letters appeared on the screen. He took his opposite hand off the wires and placed it on the base as well. Then be began to mock type.
The letters appeared on the screen.
Thrilled he continued to do this for quite some time. He finally found a series of lists. One was listed current infected. When accessed the private information of all the registered butterflies flew past the screen. Everything from address', to name, next of kin and phone numbers. Chewie stopped it as it reached Tadgh's info. It had everything, even some events of them as children. It carried a lot of truth. More than Help3r should know. Then he saw it. The Dos prompt offered the option to call Tadgh directly.
Chewie poked his head outside. The coast seemed clear enough. He crawled inside, making sure to keep his hands on the base at all times. He settled in a Indian style sitting position, took a deep breath and then typed, Call Queen Alexandra Birdwing.
Some sort of speaker system turned on and the ring of a phone could be heard in the drone. A few rings went by before someone picked up and said, "Hello?"
"Tadgh? Is that you?", Chewie quickly asked.
"Sean? Where have you been?", Tadgh answered.
Just then Chewie was pulled violently from the inside of the drone. His hands flung from the base and everything inside went black instantly. As if someone has pulled the plug. Chewie landed a few feet outside on the dirt. His arms were a little cut from scraping the inside of the panel. He looked up and saw the hooded Help3r standing over him. Help3r showed Chewie his sword and tossed it behind him a number of feet. Caught was right. Help3r has super human strength.
"What the hell do you want?", Chewie demanded.
Help3r just breathed heavily. Chewie couldn't see but it sounded like a gas mask.
"Talk to me you twat!", He yelled.
Help3r just stood there looking down at Chewie. Then he picked up Chewie by his collar and threw him into the cave. Chewie hit his head on a rock and passed out immediately.
When Chewie woke up it was night time. His head ached and pounded. When he reached back there was even a little blood. He couldn't see very well but the full moon gave him some light to work with while he got a fire set up. He sat next to the fire and rested. As he was bandaging the wounds on his arm he noticed the drone was gone from its hiding spot. Help3r had taken his precious tool back. Chewie figured that when he was playing with it he must of activated some sort of tracking beacon. That led Help3r right to him. It was any wonder Help3r didn't kill him right then and there. But Help3r surely had more important things to attend to.
Chewie couldn't sleep. He took out a few dried meats and fruits he had packed away and ate those. Then spend the rest of the night making sure he could leave at first light. He would be coming back a few days earlier than usual. And this time empty handed. He learned all he could from the drone. And it would be a long time before he tried anything like that again.
At least everyone would be happy to see him at Home again.
At least Tadgh knew his brother was alive.
At least, he had family.
SDKALFJLSADKJFLSAKFJDLKSJ this is beautiful. <33333333
ReplyDelete