Monday, May 28, 2012
Butterfly Apocalypse: The Phonecall
Avi found a strange sort of entertainment walking the hallways of Home. One of her favorite games would be to keep strolling in a strait line. Never backing up. Never turning around. And seeing how many rooms she could hit in a certain period of time. Sometimes, if she didn't want to be found she would just think of being lost in the hallways and that's where she would stay. Of course if anyone really needed to talk to her they could use the Hivemind. But the past few days had been uneventful. And while the lack of chaos was always a good thing. She would often find herself bored. Avi had not yet discovered her new ability like the others. And as such she would get frustrated when she couldn't keep busy. The first butterfly didn't have a power yet.
How lame.
Avi opened the entrance and walked out onto the empty courtyard. The wind was picking up and whipping around her. She looked up and saw nothing but blue skies. For a moment she thought of life. What things used to be like. Everyone seemed to be happy just being here. They wern't worrying about their families and friends back home. Truth was, Avi was missing the old days. She hadn't thought that would have been possible. This whole experience was a welcome adventure despite the dangers involved. The people here loved and cared for her. But it wasn't home.
Her real home.
Suddenly a giant flying shadow fell over her. It banked hard and doubled back. Moving closer to the ground the creature put his feet down and landed running. The giant bird like wings helping him keep balance. Normally this would of spooked Avi but she already knew who this creature was.
“Hey Avi!” Dox called as he approached. His wings shrinked behind him and seemed to disappear. He had to have one of the coolest powers of all. Flight. Compete with wings.
“Dox! What's up?”
“Your going to want to go back inside.”, Dox started. “A huge sand storm is headed this way and fast.”
“Wow a real sandstorm?”, Avi said surprised. The wind started to pick up again. This time it seemed more violent.
“Yeah. I'm going to cover up the turrets then get the hell inside.”
“Have you told the others?”
Dox smiled and tapped his temple. “Just did.”
“Alright I'll head in.”, Avi smiled back.
“Okay. See you inside.” Dox turned and ran off. Just as quickly as they had disappeared, his giant wings came back and soon he was off the ground. Avi could see the sand and dust start to swirl. She couldn't even see the sky that well anymore. The sand was beginning to hit her face. She turned to head in when she suddenly heard an odd sound. It was almost like a ringing but the wind was drowning out most of it. She cupped her hands over her eyes to see better and looked around, finally finding what was making the noise. A cellphone. It glowed as it rang. Avi knelt down and picked it up. It rang again and the screen blinked No Number. The wind was now pelting her with sand and dust.
Tarvok opened the entrance and yelled out. “Avi! Come on! Get inside!”
Avi clutched the phone and ran for the door. When she finally got inside Tarvok had to use all his stregnth to shut the door. He locked it then turned to Avi.
“What were you doing out there? Didn't you hear Dox?”, he asked.
“Yeah he told me but I found this phone...” Avi stopped as she held up her hands. Nothing but sand was there, filtering through her fingers.
“Hey! What happened to the phone?”
Tarvok looked at her oddly. “Uh....Avi....that's the strangest phone I've ever seen.”
“I know I had it.”, Avi insisted. “Maybe I dropped it.”
Tarvok shrugged, “Maybe. Are you sure you saw a phone?”
“Yes Tarvok.", Avi explained angrily. It was in my hand ringing. It even lit up and said no number on it.”
“Ooookay....”, Tarvok droned. “Well maybe you did drop it. But no sense in looking for it now.”
“Tarvok! If that was a working phone then we need to go get it. It might be the only way to communicate with the outside world here!.” Avi was pretty insistant. Everyone knew that Home has many comforts. The use of phones or the internet was not one of them. “We could tell our families we're okay!”, Avi proclaimed.
“I'm not so sure Avi. It seems kinda odd that there is a phone all of a sudden. Especially when we haven't seen anything like that since we got here.”, Tarvok offered.
“Everything here is odd. Besides....I...” Avi stopped. She didn't want them to think she didn't like it in Home. She was grateful for the protection. And to be surrounded by this family. She just wished she could make sure things were alright back.....home.
“Come on Avi. Let's go play a videogame. I'll let you beat me again.”, Tarvok smiled. Avi recultantly went along. All she would be able to think about that night was the phone.
***
The next day the storm has passed. It was another bright sunny day. Avi has spent the whole morning scouring the perimiter of Home for the phone. It's not like there was any real place it could hide. But she came up empty handed. The thing was gone. Frustrated, she decided to blow off some steam at the range.
The fireing range is actually a long thin table suspending a number of empty soda cans from the Mess Hall. Avi had set it up on the opposite side of Home. Furthest away from the entrance while still being in the courtard. She may not have had a power but she did have two 9mm pistols that she practiced with for a few hours each day. She was getting very good very quickly. And was possibly the most adept of the butterflies at her chosen weapon. As she was setting up the next round of cans a sound filtered through the air.
A ringing sound.
Avi quickly looked around and desperately searched for the location of the phone. She ran a few feet and found it in the middle of nothing. Just laying on the ground. The screen lighting up with the No Number text glowing across it. Avi picked up the phone and answered it. She waited a minuet and listened before saying....
“Hello?”
A light static could be heard.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
“Who is this?”
The deep labored breathing from a gas mask fell into Avi's ear.
“Help3r? What do you want?”
The call hung up. Avi scrolled though the phones memory and tried to search for any numbers or information. But it was clean. Like a brand new phone. Then she dialed a number. She was calling her house. It rang and rang. Then someone picked up and answered.
“Hello! Hello! It's me...", Avi was interrupted by the same labored breathing. It stopped long enough for her to hear someone calling out in the background.
"Who's there? What do you want with me? What have you done with my daughter?" Avi recognized the voice. It was her Mother.
"Help3r!", Avi screamed. "You stay the hell away from my family do you hear me?!" The call dropped and all she could hear was a busy signal. Avi dialed again and again but the same busy signal answered. Yelling and throwing her arm up in anger. She was about to chuck the phone at the ground when she heard an alert tone come from the phone. She lowered her hand and saw that a new text message had been received.
"If you want to keep your family safe you'll do exactly what I say."
Clearly it was from Help3r. Avi felt trapped. She didn't feel like she had a choice in the matter. Whatever Help3r wanted, she would have to comply.
"What the hell do you want Help3r?", She texted back.
"Paradox, the winged one. I want a sample of his blood.", The message said.
What on earth could he want with Dox's blood? God knew any idea of collecting it didn't appeal to Avi. Let alone giving such a thing to Help3r.
"How do you propose I get this sample for you?", Avi asked.
"On the inside of the battery cover is a small strip with a sharp end. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CUT YOURSELF. Get the sample from Paradox on the strip and place it back in the cover. Then toss the phone over the wall. If you tell him what your doing I will know. You cannot speak of this to anyone.", Help3r instructed.
Avi thought long and hard. She couldn't understand why this was so important. She knew that Help3r always made good on his threats.
"And if I do this you'll let my Mother go?", Avi asked.
"Yes.", Help3r responded.
Avi couldn't stand this. But what could she do. Her anger grew and grew until she finally yelled in the hivemind; Dox! Please come quickly!
Avi quickly took the battery cover off the phone and found the strip. One side had a sharp end almost like a small blade but with tiny teeth in it. She removed it, careful not to cut herself. In the next second Dox plummeted down in front of her. The look of concern and rush over his face.
"What's wrong Avi?", Dox asked.
Avi's eyes welled up. She was about to cry. This whole thing was so horrible. She was torn from her home. Brought to this strange place in the middle of nowhere. And didn't even have an ability to show for it. Now her Mother was in danger and she had to betray a friend, her family, to help her. Help3r was many things but a bluffer was not one of them.
Quickly she grabbed his hand, and dragged the sharp end of the strip against his skin drawing blood. Dox quickly pulled his arm back and covered up the scratch with his hand. Avi slammed the strip back into the phone, clicked the cover back in place and ran to the wall. Dox called out to her, but she was already at the wall. She threw back her hand and chucked the phone as hard as she could over the wall.
"Take that you asshole! You better keep your promise!", Avi yelled. She collapsed and started to cry. Dox ran up to her and knelt next to her.
"Avi, what was that all about?", Dox asked. "What the hell is going on?"
"I'm so sorry Dox. I'm so sorry.", Avi turned away from Dox in shame. Dox scooted closer as one of his wings reached over and covered her in a sort of hug. Avi went ahead and leaned into it. She just sat there and cried as Dox tried to understand what happened.
She wouldn't tell Dox why she did what she did. She wouldn't have to.
Dox would find out why soon enough.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Butterfly Apocalypse: The OT%
The Library at Home is quite a sight to be seen. The entire place is painted in a light blue with white undertones. The floor has a matching blue carpeting that is so comfortable, most Butterflies care to walk around barefoot on it. The ceilings are three stories tall and the walls lined with books that go all the way to the top. Seeing as how communication and therefore the internet is mute in Home, the books serve as an old fashioned tool for information gathering. As such the entire area is spread into three levels with a series of categories. When Beat first discovered the Library she found the seemingly old room to have no real identification system placed for the books. As she spent her time there she found that no matter what the subject, she could find it in the Library. Something that she originally figured was oriented around the convenient nature of Home. But when the others tried to do the same, it was near impossible. It was clear this was a part of her ability. Beat had connected with an eidetic memory associated to Home. If she didn't know something, she knew how to find information on it. Between that and the Hivemind they all shared, Beat had become the Butterflies' walking internet. As such she spend most of her time in the Library looking up anything she could find. Especially information on Help3r or Roivas.
On this particular day Mesay was helping Beat analyze the logs they had gathered from the past year. The two had poured over them all day. Pages and pages spread out over a large table between two of the bookcases on the first floor. They were interrupted by Izzie, running into the Library and up to where they were working.
"Beat! Mesay!", Izzie hollered. She had stopped just short of them and tried to catch her breath. Mesay rose from her seat.
"Izzie, catch your breath. What's going on?", Mesay insisted.
Just then an odd sound came from around the corner of the nearest bookcase. It almost sounded like the combination of a breeze and roaring flame.
"That.", Izzie finally offered.
The three quickly rushed over to the origin of the sound and found a taller man in his early thirties. He was in a simple t-shit and jeans and was surrounded in an odd oval of burnt carpet. Curled in the fetal position he coughed and shook.
"Paul!", Beat and Mesay yelled.
"Yeah, Paul. He's a butterfly now.", Izzie explained.
Beat and Mesay helped him sit up. Paul looked around wide eyed and shocked. His eyes glowed a bright blue before dimming down to his natural color.
"Beat? Mesay? Izzie? Where the hell am I?"
"Home.", Beat responded with a smile.
"Paul, what possessed you to become a butterfly?"
"Mesay!", Izzie scolded. "Come on, its Paul. You can't tell me you aren't super excited to see him."
"Well yeah but....This is still a dangerous gig Banana. I was hoping not to have to worry about anyone else.", Mesay confessed.
"Hey...", Paul started to get up. "Don't think you were the only one who was worrying." Paul wobbled and almost fell again. Beat and Izzie caught him and helped him over to the table with the spread out logs. Mesay lingered for a second and knelled examining the scorch marks. She had seen a number of butterflies transported via Roivas power. But never like this before. Mesay stood up and walked to the others. Paul was sitting in one of the chairs and grabbed his head.
"So that's the catch huh? Dizzy as hell and I'm not even tipsy.", Paul quipped. "Where am I again?"
The three caught up Paul to the situation and to his new home.
"Wow. Well....that explains a lot.", Paul said.
A blond, long haired woman with a hat and glasses ran into the Library. Followed by A dark, short haired woman with various tattoos and thick gloves on her hands.
"We came a soon as we heard.", Joie said as she adjusted her glasses from the run.
"So, Paul. Now your just as screwed as the rest of us huh?", Xuch jabbed.
"That's what I was saying.", Mesay agreed.
"What do you mean you heard?", Paul asked. "Oh...hivemind. For real huh?"
"Yup!", Joie smiled.
"Well isn't this just peachy. We got the old gang back together. One more trip into hell right guys?", Xuch asked.
"I sure as shit hope not. I got better things to do.", Mesay answered. "Paul, can you walk? You should have something to eat. Your going to get really hungry soon. Trust me on that."
"Yeah, the dizziness if fading a bit."
"Let me help you.", Xuch offered.
The six of them left the Library and escorted Paul into the Mess Hall. In the kitchen they all decided to fix a little something for themselves. Paul was amazed at the availability of nearly anything he wanted. But everyone was fixing sandwiches and he still too confused to bother being picky. Izzie handed him one as the others started to talk about their current situation. As Paul bit into the sandwich he didn't feel satisfied. In fact it wasn't anything like he really wanted. Something warm like comfort food would of set him right. As he took another bite he nearly spit out his food. The cold cuts were now hot, and the bread soggy from warm melted cheese that dripped on his fingers. Paul put down the sandwich and got up to grab a towel. Wiping the mess off his hands he wondered what happened to his food. Suddenly the towel smoked and singed where he was touching it. Izzie first noticed the odd behavior. It wasn't a moment later that everyone else did too as Paul panicked at the now burning towel in his hands. He dropped it quickly as Beat ran over to help. She stomped on the fire until it was out then reached out to Paul's hands to inspect them for burns. She grabbed his hands then in the same instant quickly pulled away. She looked down and saw her now burnt fingers.
"Get to the sink! Put your hands under cold water!", Izzie was already at the sink as she yelled and had the water running. Beat got there first and started to cool her hands. Paul followed but as his hands hit the water there was a loud hiss. Izzie and Beat both backed off to avoid the hot steam now pluming from the sink.
They all stood in amazement for a moment.
"Paul! Take you hands out of the water!", Mesay yelled. Grabbing a pair of hot mitts from the oven she walked over to Paul. She put the mitts on and when the steam had mostly dissipated, started inspecting Paul's hands. No burns, no singeing, no black, no damage at all. She removed her hands when the mitts started to smoke.
"Guys...what the hell is going on?", Paul demanded.
"Calm down Paul.", Mesay insisted.
"How can I calm down when everything I touch gets burned!" From Paul's hands grew two small fires. They licked and encircled his hands. He didn't even notice it.
Mesay motioned for Izzie and Beat to back off as she did the same. "Paul, just listen a second. There is something we didn't tell you about yet."
"What?", Paul desperately requested. The flames dissipated and fizzled out. Paul looked at his hands again and saw the smoldering heat rise up from them.
"There is another odd circumstance to being a butterfly. Apparently we all have received some kind of ability or another. When you enter Home the way you did. They tend to be a little more intense.", Mesay explained.
"Are you saying I got here differently than you?", Paul asked.
"Not me.", Mesay answered. "Some of us got here by plane or train or car. Others were transported here. By Roivas. Do you remember anything that happened before you got to Home?"
The imagery flashed though Paul's mind. He didn't remember much.
There was black.
Then little points of light.
Some odd form watching.
The next thing he knew he woke up in this strange place with all his friends surrounding him.
"I don't....not much. I don't remember much.", Paul tried to use words for the memory but it was too far out of reach.
"It's alright Paul. None of us do really.", Mesay comforted. "I know this is a lot to take in but I promise, you have everyone here to help you with whatever you need. And Home provides the rest. In a way, it's kinda fun."
"Yeah I mean come on guys. We basically have superpowers. We're fucking superheroes!", Xuch proclaimed.
That made everyone pause a second. Real superheroes. Real abilities. It really wasn't until now that they had grasped the full extend of their situation. Everything came so easy at Home that they found themselves not questioning much. And that scared them more than anything. One of the biggest fears they all had was becoming some kind of mindless puppets of Roivas. What better way than to give them all a treat. Something for their trouble. What exactly was the endgame here? And when would they need to do something more than just sit around and wait?
Mesay broke the silence. "Beat why don't you go find Blue and get that burn fixed up."
"Alright." Beat walked off in search for Blue.
Mesay took one hand out of a mitt. "I'm sorry Paul." She took her hand and tested it against Paul's. When she found it cool she took the other mitt off, grabbed his hands, and squeezed giving a soft smile.
"Sorry?", Paul asked. "For awesome superpowers and a trip through space and time? I should of signed up sooner. It figures you guys would be having all the fun while I sit at home and go to work."
Paul's quip took any heaviness off the group and made it disappear.
"OT% for life right?", Paul offered.
Mesay smiled, "Damn strait."
They all laughed and hugged at that. Even Beat could be heard laughing and joking along with them.
"This actual Hivemind thing is going to take a while for me to get used to though.", Paul admitted.
On this particular day Mesay was helping Beat analyze the logs they had gathered from the past year. The two had poured over them all day. Pages and pages spread out over a large table between two of the bookcases on the first floor. They were interrupted by Izzie, running into the Library and up to where they were working.
"Beat! Mesay!", Izzie hollered. She had stopped just short of them and tried to catch her breath. Mesay rose from her seat.
"Izzie, catch your breath. What's going on?", Mesay insisted.
Just then an odd sound came from around the corner of the nearest bookcase. It almost sounded like the combination of a breeze and roaring flame.
"That.", Izzie finally offered.
The three quickly rushed over to the origin of the sound and found a taller man in his early thirties. He was in a simple t-shit and jeans and was surrounded in an odd oval of burnt carpet. Curled in the fetal position he coughed and shook.
"Paul!", Beat and Mesay yelled.
"Yeah, Paul. He's a butterfly now.", Izzie explained.
Beat and Mesay helped him sit up. Paul looked around wide eyed and shocked. His eyes glowed a bright blue before dimming down to his natural color.
"Beat? Mesay? Izzie? Where the hell am I?"
"Home.", Beat responded with a smile.
"Paul, what possessed you to become a butterfly?"
"Mesay!", Izzie scolded. "Come on, its Paul. You can't tell me you aren't super excited to see him."
"Well yeah but....This is still a dangerous gig Banana. I was hoping not to have to worry about anyone else.", Mesay confessed.
"Hey...", Paul started to get up. "Don't think you were the only one who was worrying." Paul wobbled and almost fell again. Beat and Izzie caught him and helped him over to the table with the spread out logs. Mesay lingered for a second and knelled examining the scorch marks. She had seen a number of butterflies transported via Roivas power. But never like this before. Mesay stood up and walked to the others. Paul was sitting in one of the chairs and grabbed his head.
"So that's the catch huh? Dizzy as hell and I'm not even tipsy.", Paul quipped. "Where am I again?"
The three caught up Paul to the situation and to his new home.
"Wow. Well....that explains a lot.", Paul said.
A blond, long haired woman with a hat and glasses ran into the Library. Followed by A dark, short haired woman with various tattoos and thick gloves on her hands.
"We came a soon as we heard.", Joie said as she adjusted her glasses from the run.
"So, Paul. Now your just as screwed as the rest of us huh?", Xuch jabbed.
"That's what I was saying.", Mesay agreed.
"What do you mean you heard?", Paul asked. "Oh...hivemind. For real huh?"
"Yup!", Joie smiled.
"Well isn't this just peachy. We got the old gang back together. One more trip into hell right guys?", Xuch asked.
"I sure as shit hope not. I got better things to do.", Mesay answered. "Paul, can you walk? You should have something to eat. Your going to get really hungry soon. Trust me on that."
"Yeah, the dizziness if fading a bit."
"Let me help you.", Xuch offered.
The six of them left the Library and escorted Paul into the Mess Hall. In the kitchen they all decided to fix a little something for themselves. Paul was amazed at the availability of nearly anything he wanted. But everyone was fixing sandwiches and he still too confused to bother being picky. Izzie handed him one as the others started to talk about their current situation. As Paul bit into the sandwich he didn't feel satisfied. In fact it wasn't anything like he really wanted. Something warm like comfort food would of set him right. As he took another bite he nearly spit out his food. The cold cuts were now hot, and the bread soggy from warm melted cheese that dripped on his fingers. Paul put down the sandwich and got up to grab a towel. Wiping the mess off his hands he wondered what happened to his food. Suddenly the towel smoked and singed where he was touching it. Izzie first noticed the odd behavior. It wasn't a moment later that everyone else did too as Paul panicked at the now burning towel in his hands. He dropped it quickly as Beat ran over to help. She stomped on the fire until it was out then reached out to Paul's hands to inspect them for burns. She grabbed his hands then in the same instant quickly pulled away. She looked down and saw her now burnt fingers.
"Get to the sink! Put your hands under cold water!", Izzie was already at the sink as she yelled and had the water running. Beat got there first and started to cool her hands. Paul followed but as his hands hit the water there was a loud hiss. Izzie and Beat both backed off to avoid the hot steam now pluming from the sink.
They all stood in amazement for a moment.
"Paul! Take you hands out of the water!", Mesay yelled. Grabbing a pair of hot mitts from the oven she walked over to Paul. She put the mitts on and when the steam had mostly dissipated, started inspecting Paul's hands. No burns, no singeing, no black, no damage at all. She removed her hands when the mitts started to smoke.
"Guys...what the hell is going on?", Paul demanded.
"Calm down Paul.", Mesay insisted.
"How can I calm down when everything I touch gets burned!" From Paul's hands grew two small fires. They licked and encircled his hands. He didn't even notice it.
Mesay motioned for Izzie and Beat to back off as she did the same. "Paul, just listen a second. There is something we didn't tell you about yet."
"What?", Paul desperately requested. The flames dissipated and fizzled out. Paul looked at his hands again and saw the smoldering heat rise up from them.
"There is another odd circumstance to being a butterfly. Apparently we all have received some kind of ability or another. When you enter Home the way you did. They tend to be a little more intense.", Mesay explained.
"Are you saying I got here differently than you?", Paul asked.
"Not me.", Mesay answered. "Some of us got here by plane or train or car. Others were transported here. By Roivas. Do you remember anything that happened before you got to Home?"
The imagery flashed though Paul's mind. He didn't remember much.
There was black.
Then little points of light.
Some odd form watching.
The next thing he knew he woke up in this strange place with all his friends surrounding him.
"I don't....not much. I don't remember much.", Paul tried to use words for the memory but it was too far out of reach.
"It's alright Paul. None of us do really.", Mesay comforted. "I know this is a lot to take in but I promise, you have everyone here to help you with whatever you need. And Home provides the rest. In a way, it's kinda fun."
"Yeah I mean come on guys. We basically have superpowers. We're fucking superheroes!", Xuch proclaimed.
That made everyone pause a second. Real superheroes. Real abilities. It really wasn't until now that they had grasped the full extend of their situation. Everything came so easy at Home that they found themselves not questioning much. And that scared them more than anything. One of the biggest fears they all had was becoming some kind of mindless puppets of Roivas. What better way than to give them all a treat. Something for their trouble. What exactly was the endgame here? And when would they need to do something more than just sit around and wait?
Mesay broke the silence. "Beat why don't you go find Blue and get that burn fixed up."
"Alright." Beat walked off in search for Blue.
Mesay took one hand out of a mitt. "I'm sorry Paul." She took her hand and tested it against Paul's. When she found it cool she took the other mitt off, grabbed his hands, and squeezed giving a soft smile.
"Sorry?", Paul asked. "For awesome superpowers and a trip through space and time? I should of signed up sooner. It figures you guys would be having all the fun while I sit at home and go to work."
Paul's quip took any heaviness off the group and made it disappear.
"OT% for life right?", Paul offered.
Mesay smiled, "Damn strait."
They all laughed and hugged at that. Even Beat could be heard laughing and joking along with them.
"This actual Hivemind thing is going to take a while for me to get used to though.", Paul admitted.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Butterfly Apocalypse: Brother
Chewie opened the entrance to Home and let it shut behind him. He was off again, and at daybreak when most of the others were asleep. Dox was awake of course. Watching Chewie leave the comforts of Home yet again. Chewie was one of the few of them that could actually leave and come back on a regular basis. Even if the potential risks kept most everyone inside, no one would of asked him to stay. They might be a family but they were also individuals and allowed their freedom.
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Butterfly Apocalypse: 4192213 912185268 14227 14228262
Mesay opened the door to her room and quickly shut it behind her. It was a heavy, thick metal door that was for both protection and to keep her cats in. At least it did one of those things right. Resting her back against it she took a deep breath and sighed loudly. The three cats were already at her feet. Rubbing against her legs and meowing for dinner. She reached down and pet them all in succession.
"Hello Opie. Hello Sovy. Hello Duclet. Time for dinner?",she greeted.
All three meowed louder at the word. She carefully dodged the three underfoot and went to a nearby cabinet inside was one can of cat food. There was always one there. It changed sometimes to random things. Sometimes it was tuna. Other times it was packed crab meat. Mesay just figured it was placating to the cat's tastes that day. It was nice that she never had to worry about going to get any though. Every night it was there, waiting. Just like how she felt.
Every day.
Waiting.
It had been a long day and after the fantastic hot shower she got ready for bed. Slipping into her comfy pajamas and under the nice warm blankets. The cats all jumped up on the bed and snuggled against her. It didn't take long for her to quiet her thoughts and gently slip into a restful nights sleep.
"Hello Opie. Hello Sovy. Hello Duclet. Time for dinner?",she greeted.
All three meowed louder at the word. She carefully dodged the three underfoot and went to a nearby cabinet inside was one can of cat food. There was always one there. It changed sometimes to random things. Sometimes it was tuna. Other times it was packed crab meat. Mesay just figured it was placating to the cat's tastes that day. It was nice that she never had to worry about going to get any though. Every night it was there, waiting. Just like how she felt.
Every day.
Waiting.
It had been a long day and after the fantastic hot shower she got ready for bed. Slipping into her comfy pajamas and under the nice warm blankets. The cats all jumped up on the bed and snuggled against her. It didn't take long for her to quiet her thoughts and gently slip into a restful nights sleep.
***
....................flashing.....................
....white.....
............................................dark..........
.............darkness............
..........cold...........
.....where am I?.....
I....
......I just want to go back
FLASH!
CRACK!
Mesay woke up at the sink in her bathroom. Looking down there was some kind of brown liquid in the sink. She coughed and spat. God, what had happened? Why was she up? She touched her hands to her lips. Bringing it to where she could see it. The liquid was coming from her mouth. She quickly got the cup she used for rinsing her mouth out and did just that. Washing the liquid down the drain with the rest of it. Finally she looked up at the mirror.
FLASH!
CRACK!
Instantly the wind was knocked out of her. She desperately tried to catch her breath. Bracing the sink for safety and doing all she could to not collapse. A hum began in her ears and she used her fingers to try to relieve the odd sound. She looked up and caught a glance in the mirror.
FLASH!
The hum was suddenly deafening and with that she found herself on the bathroom floor. Gasping for air. She couldn't breathe and her body felt so weak. The cats quickly came to her meowing and licking her face. The panic and adrenalie started to kick in. She couldn't breathe, she was going to die. She had to breathe. Mesay pulled what she had together and got on her hands and knees. Her cats walking beside her panicking themselves, meowing wildly. She got to the door and moved the handle. Putting what she could behind it. The door was too heavy. She felt herself starting to lose consciousness. The air wasn't coming, her strength leaving, her eyes closing. Finally with her last full breath she thought for help.
A moment later Banana and Hoop pulled open the door. Mesay collapsed half outside of her room. The cats staying close. Beat and Dox crowded around to get a close look at her. Chewie looking on and holding an arm out so little Zero knew to stay back. Blue and Xuch came running up.
"What the hell happened?", Xuch asked.
"We don't know. We just heard her.", Beat responded.
"Yeah us too.", said Blue.
Dox put his ear to Mesay's lips. "She's still breathing a bit. Come on Mesay! Breathe. Breathe!"
Mesay gasped for air her eyes opening wide. The cats stopped clamoring to their adoptive mother. Dulcet hissed and they all ran back into the bedroom. She quickly looked around and sat up. Backing up into a corner away from the others. Dox and Banana tried to catch her but she was not herself. Darting her eyes around, she hugged herself. Her eyes wild, everyone backed off.
Her eyes....
they were.....
.......a bright glowing blue. They were all scared by what they saw.
"Mesay?", Dox started. He knelled beside her, "Mesay, please." He touched her shoulder and her eyes shot to him. Instantly he was pushed back. Chewie caught and held him. Dox gathered himself as Chewie brought him to his feet. When Dox opened his eyes they glowed that same brilliant blue briefly before fading to his normal shade. Everyone looked back at Mesay. The glow in her eyes faded to her natural dark brown. Her breathing returning to normal and her muscles relaxing. Beat and Banana fell to her side.
"Mesay are you okay?", Banana asked.
"Wha.....happenineng Izze...", she stammered.
"We don't know hun but we gotta get you some water." Banana turned to Chewie and Hoop. "Help me get her up. We need to go to the Mess Hall."
The three helped her to her feet and for the most part dragged Mesay into a neighboring door that just so happened to be the Mess Hall.
***
After about twenty minutes, seven glasses of water and the assembling of all the other butterflies they we're finally able to get more than a few words out of Mesay.
"Guys, I don't know what happened. I was going to sleep then I just....woke up at the bathroom sink."
"You don't remember walking there?", Beat asked.
"No. I just woke up and couldn't stop coughing and spitting up this weird stuff."
"What kind of weird stuff?", Chewie asked.
"I don't know. It was kinda brown and all over the sink when I first came to. So I washed my mouth out and then...." Mesay paused as if she forgot something. She started to grimace as she grabbed her head.
"Why...why can't...It just happened. Why can't I remember what just happened?" She looked up at Banana. "What just happened?"
"You we're on the floor. Then you shot up and opened your eyes. They were....a bright blue. And you looked at Dox and he got pushed back. Then his eyes went that blue too." Banana tried to make sense of what she was saying while trying not to panic her. This whole thing was screwed up. What on earth was going on?
Mesay looked concerned at Dox. "I attacked you?"
"Not really. I mean, I don't think you meant to.", Dox tried to explain.
Mesay looked down. She was clearly very upset. She couldn't remember anything and on top of that some how she went after Dox. Who else would she have gone after? Why did she do that anyway?
......the dream.
"The dream!", Mesay yelled.
Everyone was taken aback by this.
"What dream?", Chewie looked on suspiciously.
"It wasn't me Dox I swear! I'm so sorry! I was...dreaming and.....it's gotten worse. I think its getting worse.", Mesay rambled. Concern crossed over everyone's face.
"The dream where I'm in the dark. And there are flashes of light and the voice."
"What does the voice say?", Chewie pressed.
"I never know when I wake up. It's never much. Guys I'm so sorry this has been happening for so long that I just thought it was me or this place. I've never done this before now. Please I'm sorry!", Mesay buried her face in her hands. She was acting so odd. This whole thing was so odd. They were going to have to get to the bottom of this. For Mesay's sake. For all of their sakes.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Butterfly Apocalypse: Float like a butterfly...
She was out back beyond the gate. On the edge of the desert and the mountains that they called Home. It wasn't a very popular idea for one to go outside the safety of their fortress but she had to practice somewhere. God knows that Dox might not always be at the ready on the roof. Or Chewie might be on another mission when Hoop freaked out at the sight of them being in danger. Once again, weather it was true or not, Mesay felt that if push came to shove she might not be able to defend Home and her family from a threat. The shameful display she put on during that one attack had been eating away at her. She was hardly able to lift the two drones let alone throw them properly. If she was going to have this power she needed to make it useful damn it. No more "magic tricks" for Zero. No more spirit hand puppet shows for Chewie. This was serious now.
Luckily the landscape was littered with giant boulders. And being in the middle of nowhere made it easy to mess up without consequence. She had painted a red 'x' on a nearby rock about the size of a car. Mesay took a long minute to focus herself. She closed her eyes and felt the wind go by. Heard it whistle and whirl around her praying for that kind of lightness. She knelt down and touched the ground imagining the sturdiness of the earth as part of her own. She used her memories to conjure up the last time she went swimming and hoped for her ability to flow like the water does. Then she kindled the fire inside. The essence of her spirit to go forward and use what she had to help others.
In her head she saw them. In the blackness, two spirit hands reaching out to her. She opened up her eyes and picked a target. There was a boulder about the size of her a few feet away. She used her hands and felt that spirit running through her. Motioning to grab the rock, it started to shake and stir. More she put her focus into it the more the rock moved. Finally with a grunt she moved her hands up and slowly the rock ascended. She still couldn't believe what she was doing. Something had changed inside her. Something had moved her. Altered her. Before she arrived at Home.
She held up her hands as high as possible and held the rock there for as long as she could. When her arms started to shake she knew it was time to throw. She focused on the target she had picked. Her arms were shaking very hard now. She didn't leave herself enough time to aim properly.
'Damn it.', she thought.
Then with what little strength was left she pulled back her arms and motioned to throw the rock.
It missed the marked boulder by inches.
Mesay fell to one knee gasping for air. Trying to breathe right and stand up at the same time. Those two functions were always so hard after she practiced. She allowed herself a full collapse on the ground out of frustration. Looking up at the nearly cloudless sky she closed her eyes. Then she started punishing herself again.
Damn it, you weakling! How the hell are you going to protect them now huh? You must just not be the protector. Your role is not to help them. What are you going to do now? Just stay down. Or get the fuck out!
"Water?", Beat offered.
Mesay opened an eye and looked up. There was Beat with a water bottle. She went back to looking up at the sky and said, "Sure."
Beat walked next to her and knelled down. "You wanna get up first?"
"Yeah that might be a good idea."
Mesay slowly sat up and took the water bottle from Beat. She opened the top and squeezed a large mouthful of water into her cheeks. Beat started to laugh at the almost chipmunk look Mesay had to her. Even when she was upset she was funny. She offered a quiet smile and a hand up. Mesay gulped the water down and with shaky legs, took Beat's hand and brought herself back up again. They looked at the boulders.
"Practicing?", Beat asked.
"Sorta yeah.", Mesay responded.
"Frustrated?", Beat continued.
"Yup", Mesay answered.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Mesay didn't say a word.
"Your not useless, you know.", Beat started again.
Mesay angrily pulled her face away. A clear sign she was ashamed. She didn't like looking at people when she felt that way. Let alone when they knew she felt that way.
"You've done really well Katie. I'm not sure where some of us would be without you here. You keep us happy in this place. And if you ever ran off, we would come and find you. So don't think about it."
Mesay's eyes became glassy. She felt like such crap and so useless sometimes. But here was her friend. Her family, telling her that she wasn't shit. That she was useful and needed. And that running away wasn't an option. Beat was one of the few people who knew her so well. But she was right. No sense in pitying herself. Time to suck it up and try again. She wasn't going to get anywhere thinking she was crap. Because even if she was, the only thing to do was to move forward. Time to get this under control!
Mesay put out her hands again and started to summon her strength when Beat's hand landed on her shoulder.
"Don't you think that's enough for today? Besides we got to get dinner going and you're up for for sous chef tonight."
Mesay lowered her hands and smiled. "Yeah I suppose so."
They both turned and walked back toward Home. Mesay started cracking jokes again and Beat laughed. Someday, maybe, she would tell her friend about what happened before she ended up in Home.
Maybe, if she had the guts, she would tell them all about Roivas.
Luckily the landscape was littered with giant boulders. And being in the middle of nowhere made it easy to mess up without consequence. She had painted a red 'x' on a nearby rock about the size of a car. Mesay took a long minute to focus herself. She closed her eyes and felt the wind go by. Heard it whistle and whirl around her praying for that kind of lightness. She knelt down and touched the ground imagining the sturdiness of the earth as part of her own. She used her memories to conjure up the last time she went swimming and hoped for her ability to flow like the water does. Then she kindled the fire inside. The essence of her spirit to go forward and use what she had to help others.
In her head she saw them. In the blackness, two spirit hands reaching out to her. She opened up her eyes and picked a target. There was a boulder about the size of her a few feet away. She used her hands and felt that spirit running through her. Motioning to grab the rock, it started to shake and stir. More she put her focus into it the more the rock moved. Finally with a grunt she moved her hands up and slowly the rock ascended. She still couldn't believe what she was doing. Something had changed inside her. Something had moved her. Altered her. Before she arrived at Home.
She held up her hands as high as possible and held the rock there for as long as she could. When her arms started to shake she knew it was time to throw. She focused on the target she had picked. Her arms were shaking very hard now. She didn't leave herself enough time to aim properly.
'Damn it.', she thought.
Then with what little strength was left she pulled back her arms and motioned to throw the rock.
It missed the marked boulder by inches.
Mesay fell to one knee gasping for air. Trying to breathe right and stand up at the same time. Those two functions were always so hard after she practiced. She allowed herself a full collapse on the ground out of frustration. Looking up at the nearly cloudless sky she closed her eyes. Then she started punishing herself again.
Damn it, you weakling! How the hell are you going to protect them now huh? You must just not be the protector. Your role is not to help them. What are you going to do now? Just stay down. Or get the fuck out!
"Water?", Beat offered.
Mesay opened an eye and looked up. There was Beat with a water bottle. She went back to looking up at the sky and said, "Sure."
Beat walked next to her and knelled down. "You wanna get up first?"
"Yeah that might be a good idea."
Mesay slowly sat up and took the water bottle from Beat. She opened the top and squeezed a large mouthful of water into her cheeks. Beat started to laugh at the almost chipmunk look Mesay had to her. Even when she was upset she was funny. She offered a quiet smile and a hand up. Mesay gulped the water down and with shaky legs, took Beat's hand and brought herself back up again. They looked at the boulders.
"Practicing?", Beat asked.
"Sorta yeah.", Mesay responded.
"Frustrated?", Beat continued.
"Yup", Mesay answered.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Mesay didn't say a word.
"Your not useless, you know.", Beat started again.
Mesay angrily pulled her face away. A clear sign she was ashamed. She didn't like looking at people when she felt that way. Let alone when they knew she felt that way.
"You've done really well Katie. I'm not sure where some of us would be without you here. You keep us happy in this place. And if you ever ran off, we would come and find you. So don't think about it."
Mesay's eyes became glassy. She felt like such crap and so useless sometimes. But here was her friend. Her family, telling her that she wasn't shit. That she was useful and needed. And that running away wasn't an option. Beat was one of the few people who knew her so well. But she was right. No sense in pitying herself. Time to suck it up and try again. She wasn't going to get anywhere thinking she was crap. Because even if she was, the only thing to do was to move forward. Time to get this under control!
Mesay put out her hands again and started to summon her strength when Beat's hand landed on her shoulder.
"Don't you think that's enough for today? Besides we got to get dinner going and you're up for for sous chef tonight."
Mesay lowered her hands and smiled. "Yeah I suppose so."
They both turned and walked back toward Home. Mesay started cracking jokes again and Beat laughed. Someday, maybe, she would tell her friend about what happened before she ended up in Home.
Maybe, if she had the guts, she would tell them all about Roivas.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Butterfly Apocalypse: An explanation of the accepted.
"At the time, it was just the four of them. Chewie, Hoop, Beat and Banana."
Mesay told them everything she knew. At least as much as any of them knew. It was more an explanation of the accepted than what was really going on. When everything started falling apart Banana, "borrowed" her Mom's car. It was the only way she could think to be safe after showtime made an attempt on her life.
"Wait! Showtime tried to kill Banana?!", Sage interrupted.
"Yeah, pretty fucked up huh?", Mesay quipped. "Anyway with the other butterflies out of communication she went to the closest friend she could think of. Beat, who wasn't near to her at all mind you, but had been quite worried after receiving the call from Banana. She printed out all the logs and put them in a giant file folder. When Banana finally did arrive she already had a saddle bag packed. This was real, and if they wanted to get through this, they would have to stick together and figure something out. They decided that going to Caught was the quickest way to get answers.
They got pretty far until the car broke down in southern Wyoming. In the middle of flippin nowhere. Beat and Banana tried calling out for a tow truck or anyone but the cell phone reception sucked so they started walking."
Hoop was actually on his way to visit family. He was wandering around the train station when he found Chewie unconscious on the terminal floor. When Chewie finally came to, his eyes were as wide as saucers and he had no idea how he got there. Hoop explained where he was but the whole thing just confused him more. He had nothing on him except a letter in his pocket. In an odd writing it said Wyoming on the envelope. When he opened it up, all it said was 'Your family is waiting for you'. Chewie decided to follow the note and Hoop couldn't help but tag along. Even though he didn't know the area at all, Chewie led the way. He felt pulled in the direction to go.
Mesay continued. "They found Banana and Beat walking away from a car and joined up with them. Strange coincidences are strange."
Home itself is a huge building. It stuck out of the landscape like a sore thumb. A giant tan polygon with no noticeable doors or windows. Save for the gate and actual entrance into the building. The actual count of how many rooms or levels was up for debate. The Main Hall, where they were now, was about the size of a small church. There were tables and chairs every few feet and two separate rows on each side. The group crowded around, listening to her tell the story. Clearly Tarvok, Sunni, Sage and Blueeyes were just as confused as when they had started. But they allowed Mesay to finish before tackling her with a slew of questions.
"When they got here they looked around the entire area and couldn't find any doors or windows. It wasn't until Banana started talking about a door that one suddenly appeared. After coming in and walking around a while they started talking about being hungry. Then they found the Mess Hall. It was like every time Banana thought of something it just showed up. The really bizarre thing is that the fridges and cabinets were fully stocked. And it was all real, fresh, food. Just about anything you could ask for. Then Banana started wondering what happened to me."
They all paused. Mesay seemed put off by what she was about to say.
"I apparently landed on one of the tables. As if I was dropped from fucking nowhere. They said I started moaning. Probably from the pain of the fall. I was mumbling and gasping for air. And....my eyes....they were this bright neon blue for a few seconds.
All I remember is being dizzy and confused. I have no idea how I got there. Remembering my last thought outside this place is almost impossible without me getting a massive headache.
Honestly, I don't like talking about it."
Despite all the questions in their head they couldn't voice any. None of them wanted to grill Mesay about whatever she had experienced. But between her display this morning and now this story, they were a little at unease. But this had been the safest place they had seen in days. Since even before Chewie found them.
"Well....", she started. "Let's go get some food huh? I get super hungry after saving people and being all badass like that." She snickered as she walked past them seemingly fine again. It broke the tension just enough for the others to just go with it. Lord knew they were hungry as hell too. All those canned beans Chewie had weren't very satisfying. Especially split between five of them.
"Yo Envoy! Hurry up huh? Dinner is almost ready!", Mesay chided.
Mesay started laughing hysterically.
"I'll have to tell you about that later. Eventually the others started showing up. Some of us remember how we got here, some of us don't. What you experienced out there were Help3r's drones. So far all we've seen are the dolls and brick things. He's a literal little fucker when it comes to weaponry huh? Help3r has been trying to get in here almost as long as we've been here. But I think our lack of communication outside is what helps keep him out. That and this huge fucking fortress!"
Mesay motioned largely with her hands and arms and started laughing again. The four of them were all taken aback by the the outlay of Home. It's funny that she had been explaining things for the better part of the day and they all still had no idea what was going on.
Just like old times.
Mesay told them everything she knew. At least as much as any of them knew. It was more an explanation of the accepted than what was really going on. When everything started falling apart Banana, "borrowed" her Mom's car. It was the only way she could think to be safe after showtime made an attempt on her life.
"Wait! Showtime tried to kill Banana?!", Sage interrupted.
"Yeah, pretty fucked up huh?", Mesay quipped. "Anyway with the other butterflies out of communication she went to the closest friend she could think of. Beat, who wasn't near to her at all mind you, but had been quite worried after receiving the call from Banana. She printed out all the logs and put them in a giant file folder. When Banana finally did arrive she already had a saddle bag packed. This was real, and if they wanted to get through this, they would have to stick together and figure something out. They decided that going to Caught was the quickest way to get answers.
They got pretty far until the car broke down in southern Wyoming. In the middle of flippin nowhere. Beat and Banana tried calling out for a tow truck or anyone but the cell phone reception sucked so they started walking."
Hoop was actually on his way to visit family. He was wandering around the train station when he found Chewie unconscious on the terminal floor. When Chewie finally came to, his eyes were as wide as saucers and he had no idea how he got there. Hoop explained where he was but the whole thing just confused him more. He had nothing on him except a letter in his pocket. In an odd writing it said Wyoming on the envelope. When he opened it up, all it said was 'Your family is waiting for you'. Chewie decided to follow the note and Hoop couldn't help but tag along. Even though he didn't know the area at all, Chewie led the way. He felt pulled in the direction to go.
Mesay continued. "They found Banana and Beat walking away from a car and joined up with them. Strange coincidences are strange."
Home itself is a huge building. It stuck out of the landscape like a sore thumb. A giant tan polygon with no noticeable doors or windows. Save for the gate and actual entrance into the building. The actual count of how many rooms or levels was up for debate. The Main Hall, where they were now, was about the size of a small church. There were tables and chairs every few feet and two separate rows on each side. The group crowded around, listening to her tell the story. Clearly Tarvok, Sunni, Sage and Blueeyes were just as confused as when they had started. But they allowed Mesay to finish before tackling her with a slew of questions.
"When they got here they looked around the entire area and couldn't find any doors or windows. It wasn't until Banana started talking about a door that one suddenly appeared. After coming in and walking around a while they started talking about being hungry. Then they found the Mess Hall. It was like every time Banana thought of something it just showed up. The really bizarre thing is that the fridges and cabinets were fully stocked. And it was all real, fresh, food. Just about anything you could ask for. Then Banana started wondering what happened to me."
They all paused. Mesay seemed put off by what she was about to say.
"I apparently landed on one of the tables. As if I was dropped from fucking nowhere. They said I started moaning. Probably from the pain of the fall. I was mumbling and gasping for air. And....my eyes....they were this bright neon blue for a few seconds.
All I remember is being dizzy and confused. I have no idea how I got there. Remembering my last thought outside this place is almost impossible without me getting a massive headache.
Honestly, I don't like talking about it."
Despite all the questions in their head they couldn't voice any. None of them wanted to grill Mesay about whatever she had experienced. But between her display this morning and now this story, they were a little at unease. But this had been the safest place they had seen in days. Since even before Chewie found them.
"Well....", she started. "Let's go get some food huh? I get super hungry after saving people and being all badass like that." She snickered as she walked past them seemingly fine again. It broke the tension just enough for the others to just go with it. Lord knew they were hungry as hell too. All those canned beans Chewie had weren't very satisfying. Especially split between five of them.
***
Mesay led them through the narrow hallways. Tarvok looked up at his new surroundings. The hallways were ridiculously tall and oddly narrow. The light bounced and diffused off the walls so evenly, that the ceiling was practically invisible. But he figured it had to be up there, somewhere. At least wherever the light was coming from. Where was the light coming from?
He touched the walls and felt the slightly textured surface. Everything had a light peach hue to it. This building must have been brand new. No scuff marks, no dings, no repairs. In fact there were no signs or indicators of where they were in the building. As they turned a corner Tarvok stopped and looked down the one they had just been in. Then at the one they were walking down now. They looked exactly the same.
"Hey Mesay!", Tarvok started. "How do you even know where your going? Every hallway looks the same."
"That is an excellent question Tarvok. It seems that you don't need to know how your getting around. You just need to know where your going."
The confusion silenced everyone until Sunni finally blurted out, "What!?"
Mesay stopped in her tracks, sighed in frustration and then turned to everyone. "This would be a lot easier to show you than to tell you. So let's just go back to the main hall."
She turned and walked off again in the same direction. Tarvok hurried to catch up with the group.
"But isn't it back that way?", he offered.
Mesay stopped at a doorway and opened it. She motioned them to look in. It was the Main Hall.
"We went in a big circle?", Sage suggested.
"Nope.", Mesay responded. "Now lets go to the back to the entrance." She started walking again this time quicker. Mesay had to explain this at least 10 times before to the other butterflies. Normally she was patient but her stomach was starting to hurt from being so hungry.
They turned the next corner and arrived at another door. When she opened it the evening light was coming through. When did it get so late? Envoy was in the courtyard, finishing putting doll parts into a giant trash can on wheels.
"Yo Envoy! Hurry up huh? Dinner is almost ready!", Mesay chided.
Envoy held up a middle finger. "Oh yeah I'll hurry and clean up your mess Mesay!"
"Hi Envoy!", Blue called.
"Fuck all of you!", he offered back in the cheeriest of voices he could give.
Mesay snickered as she shut the door.
"You see? All you gotta do is think or say, I'm going to my room. And you'll get there. You just keep walking. Nothing here is very far from anything else. Now can we please get something to eat? To the mess hall!", she cried and quickly walked off. They all tried to keep up.
"How did you figure this out?", Blue asked.
"Trial and error. And Dox and Chewie theorizing. One time those two tried measuring this place."
"Hi Envoy!", Blue called.
"Fuck all of you!", he offered back in the cheeriest of voices he could give.
Mesay snickered as she shut the door.
"You see? All you gotta do is think or say, I'm going to my room. And you'll get there. You just keep walking. Nothing here is very far from anything else. Now can we please get something to eat? To the mess hall!", she cried and quickly walked off. They all tried to keep up.
"How did you figure this out?", Blue asked.
"Trial and error. And Dox and Chewie theorizing. One time those two tried measuring this place."
Mesay started laughing hysterically.
"I'll have to tell you about that later. Eventually the others started showing up. Some of us remember how we got here, some of us don't. What you experienced out there were Help3r's drones. So far all we've seen are the dolls and brick things. He's a literal little fucker when it comes to weaponry huh? Help3r has been trying to get in here almost as long as we've been here. But I think our lack of communication outside is what helps keep him out. That and this huge fucking fortress!"
Mesay motioned largely with her hands and arms and started laughing again. The four of them were all taken aback by the the outlay of Home. It's funny that she had been explaining things for the better part of the day and they all still had no idea what was going on.
Just like old times.
***
When they finally reached the Mess Hall, everyone was there. The hall was very long and wide but with a short ceiling that made the place look longer than it was. The whole place was busy. Beat, and Euph were in the kitchen at the far end. The smell emitting from there was out of this world. Beat apparently was a fine cook. And it was Euph's turn to be sous chef. Xuch and Banana were just outside joking about something.
Zero, Avi, and Roses were doing the finishing touches on what could be best described as decorations, while Tiro gave them direction. Zero had been working on them all day and was very proud of them. Avi rolled her eyes every time something wasn't just quite right to Tiro. He loved to pester her with that kind of thing. Mesay interrupted the action by opening her arms and announcing their arrival.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Four more have come home!", she proclaimed.
Everyone walked up and greeted with smiles and remarks. Hugs and handshakes. Sage, Tarvok, Sunni and Blue were overcome with happiness and comfort. Things may have gone to shit but here they were. Roivas wasn't messing around when they said this was a family. It really felt like that. Envoy, Chewie, Dox and Hoop were the last to arrive.
After some time Kirsten rang the bell nearby. Dinner was ready. They all gathered at the kitchen window and one by one helped themselves to the sweet spread of food. Everyone picked a spot and started. This was Home. Their new home. And the odd thing is that it didn't feel odd at all.
***
As the night came so did the jokes, conversation, laughter, artistic sentiments and general catching up. Soon though a number of them started getting tired. Sage approached Mesay to find out where he should bed down for the night.
"So, where does a butterfly get some shut eye around here?", Sage asked.
"Just go to your room.", Mesay responded with a smile.
"Uh.....I don't know where it is.", he sarcastically replied.
"Uh....you just go remember?", she retorted. "Look I'm not going to baby you guys all through this stuff. It's easy Sage. Just leave the mess hall with the intention of going to your room. You've gotta figure this out sometime."
Mesay shooed him away and out. Sage looked on down the hall. He was a little spooked. She may have been sure that he would of found his way but he seemed less convinced. Regardless Sage started walking. He went down the hallway. Observing everything including how quiet it was. No hum, no clacks, no bumps, no echos, nothing. This just made his nerves worse. Regardless Sage kept it in is head to just keep walking.
Keep walking.....
Keep walking....
.....keep walking.....
...........
He had seemed to have been walking for quite some time but without a watch he couldn't tell. He couldn't tell anything at this point. He could be anywhere. Who knows how long he has been walking.
He was lost.
Oh god he was lost.
Lost in a place he didn't know. And couldn't find.
He probably couldn't find the Mess Hall again.
He couldn't even find Mesay or Hoop.
He might even be lost forever.
..............
Lost forever in this place! God what did he walk into? Why didn't Mesay just walk with him?
God why couldn't he just find his room?!
Just then Sage noticed a door. He rushed up to it and opened expecting the Mess Hall. What he got was.....a bedroom. Tons of shelves lined the walls but they weren't filled. A drawing board was at one corner. The shelf above it had any number of drawing supplies including paper and pencils. A few empty notebooks lined a shelf above his bed. A nice bed, already made.
This was....his room. He found his room. Sage looked back out into the hall. He suddenly realized what had happened. He shut his door and stayed inside for quite some time afterward. This was Home, his home. And it might take some getting used to.
End part 2
Friday, April 6, 2012
Butterfly Apocalypse
She woke up to the light melodic techno playing from her phone. That's its only use anymore. As an MP3 player and an alarm clock. Electricity came easy enough here. Communication with the outside world? Not so much. A colony full of artists trying to survive together. Each one had surprised themselves with their roles and the almost simplistic falling into their places that followed. "Everyone has a role.", they were told. "You all chose your own." Actually what they were told was, "2252292121322 19268 26 9121522. 2126261515 24191212822 21269 12413." The code was second nature by now. It might as well have been written in English.
The glow from her computer screen guides her sleepy eyes and hands to the switch for the ceiling lights. A soft purple and blue hue gently light up the room. It's a very small space for a tall woman with three cats, but it was better than nothing. And it was a home. The walls were filled with various drawings and trinkets made by the others. Sometimes Mesay wished she could recrproicate by doing the same. She was a much better writer or singer. She has other talents now though. Much more useful ones. They all did.
Two of the cats stretched and moved toward their cat mom. Sovy and Opie started nuzzling her face as she sat up. Dulcet was still at the foot of the bed. Ignoring all the movement, determined to sleep a little bit longer.
"Good morning Opie. Good morning Sovy. Good morning Duclet."
The alarm went off. Red lights flashing beneath her door a shadow crossed it. The loud knocking that followed finally spooked the cats into their respective hiding places. Mesay got up quickly and answered. A tall skinny man with brown hair and goggles on was smiling back at her.
"Morning! We got Dolls approaching the perimeter. You might want to check it out.", Hoop reported.
Mesay, still sleepy shut the door. A minuet later she left the room in jeans and a tank top, slamming the door shut behind her and rushing down the narrow hallway. Hoop followed.
"How many?", she asked.
"A lot.", he responded.
Mesay stopped at a small computer screen. She quickly brought up the outer perimeter cameras. Sure enough there were quite a few of them coming full speed. Even two flying drones. But why this random attack?
"Where is Dox?"
"He's on the roof already. Everyone is ready to go. But I thought the amount of crazy was a little odd."
Mesay pulled up the main camera. She turned it toward the fairly large mass coming toward them. Zooming on the incoming danger she spotted a few odd figures leading the charge. New proxies maybe? No these were different. They sorta looked like....
"Shit."
Mesay turned from the screen and ran down the hallway, ducking around the next corner. Hoop, surprised, quickly followed. She was way ahead of him and heading toward the main entrance. Hoop had caught up just in time to see her running into the blinding light of the day from the entrance. The operating button for the main gate had been pushed. Hoop stayed by the door, breathing hard from the run. Mesay rushed toward the gate as it slowly raised. She stopped and looked out at the figures in front of the horde. There were five. The tallest one waving frantically.
"Mesay!", Chewie yelled.
Chewie was making a run for it. Along with four others. Sunni, Sage, Tarvok and Blueeyes we're right behind him. Well, as close behind them as they could manage. It's funny how fast you can run when you have fifty some odd Help3r dolls chasing you down. The flying drones passed overhead. Chewie watched as the mechanical rectangles sped past and moved ahead of them. They descended right into their path.
Chewie and the others stopped cold in their tracks. Home was only thirty feet away from them but the damn drones blocked the way. If they got any closer they would be knocked out for sure. Chewie looked behind them. Help3r's creepy doll horde was getting closer. Soccer outfits and blond hair, it would of been more ridiculous if they hadn't seen how dangerous these things could be. They were there to eradicate the infection. In this case Chewie and company.
The drones floated in front of them. They're brick like doom seeming imminent. Chewie pulled the sword from the sheath on his back. He motioned for the others to get close. Tarvok took out his Nunchucks. Sunni clenched her fists. She may not have had a weapon but she'd be damned if these creepy bastards take her before punching a few. As for blue she did her best not to panic. The dream she had was coming back to her now. And suddenly it made a lot more sense.
Readying themselves a loud noise screeched through the air. The drones seemed to twitch and move erratically. The five brought all their attention to them expecting the worst. Suddenly they raised up and beyond was Mesay holding her hands up as if lifting something heavy. Chewie smiled devilishly.
"Everyone run!", he screamed. And they all followed, running past Mesay and to the gate.
"Get everyone inside! I'll slow them down!", Mesay yelled.
Her arms shaking from the weight of the struggling drones. The noises of metal on metal ringing in her ears. She summoned her strength and closed her eyes. Imagining her spirit hands taking the now raised metal and flinging them toward the Help3r dolls. The brick drones followed suit, moved by some unseen force as Mesay motioned her arms and hands, psychically chucking them at the threat.
Blueeyes, turned and looked as the noise of metal on earth hit her hear. Beyond Mesay was a giant mess of drones, dirt and doll parts. Blue's eyes we're wide and shocked at the scene. Hoop came and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back into the entrance. He pushed the close button for the gate.
"Mesay! Let's go!", Hoop yelled.
Breathing hard and exhausted from the effort she looked up at the damage. Mesay was a lousy shot. About fifteen to twenty taken out and it only slowed them down. A few seconds later the rest were getting up. They were almost on the gate. She turned and tried her best to run back. Ducking under the slow moving gate and trying to get to the entrance. The gate make a clunking sound. It had frozen mid closure. Mesay turned and she could see the dolls starting to make their way past the gate. She couldn't run anymore. Turning toward the dolls, there was no way she was going to let them get into the entrance. She stopped and held her ground.
Hoop looked on from the door. He screamed two more times for her but she wasn't moving. Hoop slammed his hand against the door control again and again but it wouldn't budge. The remaining dolls were now in the gate and approaching Mesay. Chewie pushed Hoop's hand aside and hit the intercom button.
"Now Dox! Now!", he ordered.
"You got it Chewie.", Dox responded back into the mic headset.
From the top of the building Dox was standing at the edge with a slew of turrets. They were all targeting the dolls.
"Fire!", Dox yelled, and an array of bullets rained down on the dolls. Plastic and parts going everywhere. They made quick work of the things and soon the dolls stopped moving. Dox spoke into his mic and the turrets stopped their fury. He walked to he edge and looked down.
"Everything okay down there?", he called.
Mesay just looked up and smiled. She turned again to the entrance and slowly limped to Hoop and Chewie. When she got inside she stumbled a bit. Tarvok caught her and helped her up again.
"It is far to early in the morning for this shit.", Mesay quipped. "But now we have more of the family safe at Home."
"Mission impossible, possibled. Right Chewie?", Hoop joked.
"Not quite.", Chewie said. As he walked further into the bunker. He stopped and looked back at the group. "I'll be in my room cleaning up. I'll see you all in the mess hall....and thanks Mesay."
Mesay faintly saluted Chewie and smiled.
Chewie continued down the hallway.
"Well!", Hoop said clapping his hands together. "I guess this calls for a special dinner. I'll let Beat and the others know."
"I'll take them to the main hall.", Mesay offered.
"Uh...you sure? You look a little rough round the edges there."
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I'll just....take it easy.", she said as Mesay gathered herself again. "Oh and before you do anything Hoop, we need to get that gate closed. And clean up Help3r's mess."
"Yup, I'll call Envoy. He's on cleaning duty today anyway. Lucky him.", Hoop snickered as he walked off.
"Come on guys, follow me. I bet you have lots of questions."
Mesay slowly walked down the hallway. Tarvok, Sage, Sunni and Blueeyes followed. Questions indeed. They fought awfully hard to get this far. It was nice to see some friendly faces, especially in a safe environment. But what in the hell was going on? They would find out how bad it was soon enough.
End part 1
The glow from her computer screen guides her sleepy eyes and hands to the switch for the ceiling lights. A soft purple and blue hue gently light up the room. It's a very small space for a tall woman with three cats, but it was better than nothing. And it was a home. The walls were filled with various drawings and trinkets made by the others. Sometimes Mesay wished she could recrproicate by doing the same. She was a much better writer or singer. She has other talents now though. Much more useful ones. They all did.
Two of the cats stretched and moved toward their cat mom. Sovy and Opie started nuzzling her face as she sat up. Dulcet was still at the foot of the bed. Ignoring all the movement, determined to sleep a little bit longer.
"Good morning Opie. Good morning Sovy. Good morning Duclet."
The alarm went off. Red lights flashing beneath her door a shadow crossed it. The loud knocking that followed finally spooked the cats into their respective hiding places. Mesay got up quickly and answered. A tall skinny man with brown hair and goggles on was smiling back at her.
"Morning! We got Dolls approaching the perimeter. You might want to check it out.", Hoop reported.
Mesay, still sleepy shut the door. A minuet later she left the room in jeans and a tank top, slamming the door shut behind her and rushing down the narrow hallway. Hoop followed.
"How many?", she asked.
"A lot.", he responded.
Mesay stopped at a small computer screen. She quickly brought up the outer perimeter cameras. Sure enough there were quite a few of them coming full speed. Even two flying drones. But why this random attack?
"Where is Dox?"
"He's on the roof already. Everyone is ready to go. But I thought the amount of crazy was a little odd."
Mesay pulled up the main camera. She turned it toward the fairly large mass coming toward them. Zooming on the incoming danger she spotted a few odd figures leading the charge. New proxies maybe? No these were different. They sorta looked like....
"Shit."
Mesay turned from the screen and ran down the hallway, ducking around the next corner. Hoop, surprised, quickly followed. She was way ahead of him and heading toward the main entrance. Hoop had caught up just in time to see her running into the blinding light of the day from the entrance. The operating button for the main gate had been pushed. Hoop stayed by the door, breathing hard from the run. Mesay rushed toward the gate as it slowly raised. She stopped and looked out at the figures in front of the horde. There were five. The tallest one waving frantically.
"Mesay!", Chewie yelled.
Chewie was making a run for it. Along with four others. Sunni, Sage, Tarvok and Blueeyes we're right behind him. Well, as close behind them as they could manage. It's funny how fast you can run when you have fifty some odd Help3r dolls chasing you down. The flying drones passed overhead. Chewie watched as the mechanical rectangles sped past and moved ahead of them. They descended right into their path.
Chewie and the others stopped cold in their tracks. Home was only thirty feet away from them but the damn drones blocked the way. If they got any closer they would be knocked out for sure. Chewie looked behind them. Help3r's creepy doll horde was getting closer. Soccer outfits and blond hair, it would of been more ridiculous if they hadn't seen how dangerous these things could be. They were there to eradicate the infection. In this case Chewie and company.
The drones floated in front of them. They're brick like doom seeming imminent. Chewie pulled the sword from the sheath on his back. He motioned for the others to get close. Tarvok took out his Nunchucks. Sunni clenched her fists. She may not have had a weapon but she'd be damned if these creepy bastards take her before punching a few. As for blue she did her best not to panic. The dream she had was coming back to her now. And suddenly it made a lot more sense.
Readying themselves a loud noise screeched through the air. The drones seemed to twitch and move erratically. The five brought all their attention to them expecting the worst. Suddenly they raised up and beyond was Mesay holding her hands up as if lifting something heavy. Chewie smiled devilishly.
"Everyone run!", he screamed. And they all followed, running past Mesay and to the gate.
"Get everyone inside! I'll slow them down!", Mesay yelled.
Her arms shaking from the weight of the struggling drones. The noises of metal on metal ringing in her ears. She summoned her strength and closed her eyes. Imagining her spirit hands taking the now raised metal and flinging them toward the Help3r dolls. The brick drones followed suit, moved by some unseen force as Mesay motioned her arms and hands, psychically chucking them at the threat.
Blueeyes, turned and looked as the noise of metal on earth hit her hear. Beyond Mesay was a giant mess of drones, dirt and doll parts. Blue's eyes we're wide and shocked at the scene. Hoop came and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back into the entrance. He pushed the close button for the gate.
"Mesay! Let's go!", Hoop yelled.
Breathing hard and exhausted from the effort she looked up at the damage. Mesay was a lousy shot. About fifteen to twenty taken out and it only slowed them down. A few seconds later the rest were getting up. They were almost on the gate. She turned and tried her best to run back. Ducking under the slow moving gate and trying to get to the entrance. The gate make a clunking sound. It had frozen mid closure. Mesay turned and she could see the dolls starting to make their way past the gate. She couldn't run anymore. Turning toward the dolls, there was no way she was going to let them get into the entrance. She stopped and held her ground.
Hoop looked on from the door. He screamed two more times for her but she wasn't moving. Hoop slammed his hand against the door control again and again but it wouldn't budge. The remaining dolls were now in the gate and approaching Mesay. Chewie pushed Hoop's hand aside and hit the intercom button.
"Now Dox! Now!", he ordered.
"You got it Chewie.", Dox responded back into the mic headset.
From the top of the building Dox was standing at the edge with a slew of turrets. They were all targeting the dolls.
"Fire!", Dox yelled, and an array of bullets rained down on the dolls. Plastic and parts going everywhere. They made quick work of the things and soon the dolls stopped moving. Dox spoke into his mic and the turrets stopped their fury. He walked to he edge and looked down.
"Everything okay down there?", he called.
Mesay just looked up and smiled. She turned again to the entrance and slowly limped to Hoop and Chewie. When she got inside she stumbled a bit. Tarvok caught her and helped her up again.
"It is far to early in the morning for this shit.", Mesay quipped. "But now we have more of the family safe at Home."
"Mission impossible, possibled. Right Chewie?", Hoop joked.
"Not quite.", Chewie said. As he walked further into the bunker. He stopped and looked back at the group. "I'll be in my room cleaning up. I'll see you all in the mess hall....and thanks Mesay."
Mesay faintly saluted Chewie and smiled.
Chewie continued down the hallway.
"Well!", Hoop said clapping his hands together. "I guess this calls for a special dinner. I'll let Beat and the others know."
"I'll take them to the main hall.", Mesay offered.
"Uh...you sure? You look a little rough round the edges there."
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I'll just....take it easy.", she said as Mesay gathered herself again. "Oh and before you do anything Hoop, we need to get that gate closed. And clean up Help3r's mess."
"Yup, I'll call Envoy. He's on cleaning duty today anyway. Lucky him.", Hoop snickered as he walked off.
"Come on guys, follow me. I bet you have lots of questions."
Mesay slowly walked down the hallway. Tarvok, Sage, Sunni and Blueeyes followed. Questions indeed. They fought awfully hard to get this far. It was nice to see some friendly faces, especially in a safe environment. But what in the hell was going on? They would find out how bad it was soon enough.
End part 1
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