26. Matters of the Heart(Neosiak City Centre)“He’s not been the same since the incident after the camp one conversion,” said Kohnphid. “He’s been distracted, unfocused, listless and maudlin. He’s lost interest in many people, including me.”
“It’s good that you came to see me,” said Kolvazian, pouring some fruit juice for Kohnphid and herself. “I feel your concern and sense of abandonment. I have trouble reading Stohv because of his abilities. He can conceal his thoughts.”
“Is there anything we can do?” asked Kohnphid.
“Well, we can congratulate you on your courage for a start!” replied Kolvazian with a chuckle. “You’re amazing! You go where few others would dare. You’re in a relationship with a superior being. Stohv’s power is growing. Soon he’ll be a god, literally.”
“He saved me from danger outside the city,” said Kohnphid. “I had to repay that debt. Also, I find his lofty ideals very attractive. When we met, I was only trying to make a living. We talked and he said that he wants to change the world. It’s fascinating: hardly anyone is that ambitious!”
“But he’s still flawed,” Kolvazian pointed out. “You could tell and you wanted to help. Unfortunately, his weaknesses have sent him where we can’t follow.”
“Could we lure him back?” asked Kohnphid. “He has obligations.”
“We’ve been calling for hours, the region spirits and I,” answered Kolvazian, shaking her head. “He feels that it’s more important to search other realities than to be with us. None of us can bring him home. However, we may be able to improve your morale. Drink up.” They both drained their glasses.
“I don’t know if it’s possible,” said Kohnphid. “I had this vain hope that I could keep him. I clung to it. I was wilfully blind. Now, the hope is ebbing. He told me that he experienced an entire lifetime in a second: a hundred and twenty years in the blink of an eye. He found love with a woman called Rafoyla. They had five children and a few dozen grandchildren. When he died in that reality, he was dumped back here. It’s hard to process, despite his talents.”
“That’s astonishing!” said Kolvazian. “I felt his anguish but not the reason. Imagine the psychic impact!”
“I’d rather not,” said Kohnphid sadly. “That kind of pain wrecks people. He wants his great love back. He yearns for that straightforward, natural life. Here, he’s under crushing pressure.”
“Does he know how he went to that reality?” asked Kolvazian. “I got the impression that he was sent against his will.”
“Yeah, he was ambushed,” said Kohnphid. “We think that the shadow men were involved. He was taken away and attacked with true love!”
“That sounds ridiculous until one realises the fiendish malice behind it,” said Kolvazian, taking Kohnphid’s right hand in her left. “I hope that Stohv can hold himself together. It’d be easy for him to crash and burn.”
“Don’t say that,” said Kohnphid. “I can’t bear to think of it. Let’s go outside and enjoy the sunshine.” Kolvazian thought that that was a good idea so, hand in hand, they left her borrowed house and stepped into the garden. They walked around the main lawn, examining flowers and budding bushes. Kolvazian pulled out some weeds and swatted a few pests. A Transformer was parked on the concrete at the side of the house. He noticed the two women and transformed, taking care not to hit the house as he did so.
“Hi, Huardod!” said Kolvazian. “How are things?”
“Mainly fine,” replied Huardod as he clumped toward her down the paved service track. “We’re demolishing parts of the old city centre today. You’ll hear some bangs and crashes but we’re keeping it minimised. Some brick and block walls can be lowered onto flatbed trucks and removed without being broken up.”
“Those new buildings are imposing,” said Kohnphid, looking at the redevelopment area a few hundred metres away. “I guess we just have to get used to them.”
“You might be living there soon,” said Huardod. “You’ll appreciate the expansiveness of the rooms. There’s plenty of space for big folk like us!” He swung his arms high to emphasise the point.
“Us?” queried Kohnphid.
“You’ll join us before long,” said Huardod with what passed for a smile. “You’re bound to appreciate a new, better body.” He flexed his metal muscles into a body-builder pose to show off.
“Who says I’m being converted?!” demanded Kohnphid. “I thought I was exempt!”
“Stohv’s orders,” said Huardod. “Sorry, didn’t he tell you? His head’s messed up right now.” Although the weather was warm, a chill ran down Kohnphid’s spine. She didn’t want to be reminded of her conversion.
“I don’t know how your relationship will progress once you’re converted,” said Kolvazian. “It’ll almost certainly be longer but its nature will change. You’ll have to work it out as you go. We’re all on a steep learning curve.”
“Damn, I want more time with him as an organic!” exclaimed Kohnphid. “You’re married: you know how it is.”
“True but I also know when to make sacrifices,” said Kolvazian. “I’ve left my husband and son to be here, helping the project. I felt that it was the right thing to do. By the way, Anflom and Xegeniti are due for conversion next month. Spenbela’s going along to help. Not long after, it’ll be my turn.”
“You’re so calm about it!” said Kohnphid. “How can you treat it like it’s nothing?!”
“I suppose that’s my gift,” replied Kolvazian. “I see things you can’t. Sometimes, I see the future. We’ll do so much good work! The visions are endless.”
“Hooray for us,” said Kohnphid sarcastically. “Hey, the wind’s picking up. It’s a warm wind. I’ve got prickly heat.”
“Something’s coming,” said Kolvazian. “It’s Stohv, most likely. He’s inbound from another reality. He’s not having an easy journey.”
“Maybe it’s time to prove myself as a guard,” said Huardod. “Where’s he arriving?”
“There,” said Kolvazian, pointing over the fence at the garden next door. “It’s not totally clear...” They watched Stohv materialise on the neighbour’s lawn. He was lying sprawled out, apparently unconscious. A creature appeared with him. Immediately, it leapt onto Stohv and raked him with its many claws. Huardod jumped the fence and seized the creature with his strong right hand. The beast was three metres long and had twelve legs. It had a large mouth at the centre of its belly. He pulled it off Stohv and held it up. It tried to slash Huardod but his armour was impervious.
“Oh my God!” screamed Kohnphid.
“Kill it!” groaned Stohv, waking up in pain.
“Wow, my first alien!” said Huardod, turning the creature to see it from other angles. A few seconds later, he collapsed the torso with a squeeze of his fingers. Dark purple blood gushed out, staining all it touched. The legs still twitched so Huardod snapped them off one by one with his left hand. Meanwhile, Kohnphid and Kolvazian climbed over the fence. They dragged Stohv clear of the dying alien’s gore and checked his injuries. He was bleeding a fair amount but the scratches weren’t fatal.
“What happened?!” asked Kohnphid urgently.
“I met my match and more,” wheezed Stohv. “I wanted to destroy him but...I wasn’t ready. He sent too many enemies against me. I blocked most but that one got through. Thanks, Huardod! Burn the body in case it...gives birth, spreads parasites or pumps out plagues.” Huardod put the dismembered body on a patch of bare earth, sprayed it with oil and ignited it with a spark. It burnt fiercely. Huardod watched it and applied more oil to ensure full incineration.
“Stohv, you’ve exposed us to alien pathogens!” realised Kohnphid. “That’s unconscionable behaviour!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll clear the area,” said Stohv, using his power to identify and remove alien microbes from the gardens. “I’d never make you suffer like that. I want to help you all, to elevate you to a higher state of being.”
“Don’t forget to heal yourself,” said Kolvazian. “Those claws were probably loaded with germs.” Stohv waved his hands and bent reality to knit his wounds closed with no scarring. Disinfection was part of the procedure. After that, he sat up and embraced Kohnphid.
“Have you worked out your issues yet?” she murmured in his ear.
“No, it’ll take a while,” said Stohv. “At least I made good use of my anger. That evil force will think twice before attacking me again. I definitely damaged him.”
“So you don’t think he’ll strike back?” queried Kolvazian.
“Not soon,” answered Stohv. “Besides, I studied him and learnt his territories and methods. I won’t be surprised again.” Kohnphid ended the hug and turned to Huardod.
“You’ve changed my stance on conversion,” she said to him. “You defended us effortlessly from the alien. I can see the value of a metal body now.”
“Stohv, she wants to continue her organic relationship with you,” said Kolvazian. “Is that feasible?”
“In the long run, no,” replied Stohv. “However, I’ll show her my simulation technology. She’ll see that it’s a great substitute.” He smiled at Kohnphid, who was intrigued. Then, he went over to the blazing alien and poked it with a stick. He thanked his lucky stars that he’d built such formidable guard robots! His heart still ached at the loss of his family with Rafoyla but he had plenty of time to come to terms with it. For now, he had to endure. He’d do his best to convert the world but he’d have to take time out for personal issues.
27. Gunboats and Diplomacy(The sea south of Neosiak City and also Urnod Clerf, two thousand kilometres east of NC)A high-speed Transformer patrol drone found the armada when it was thirty kilometres from Neosiak City. The fleet came from Urnod Clerf, the regional superpower. There were a hundred and fifty nine warships and also sixty one auxiliary ships. They were close to firing range. Their target was the city, since it was being overrun by rebel robots. The plan was to shell a swathe of the city and thus persuade the robots to surrender. Urnod Clerf felt duty-bound to attack because the robots had recently taken over parts of the government and military in their own country, Phlentch (where NC was situated). The UC armada steamed on, unaware that they’d been detected. The sailors kept watch and warned off some fishing boats with small cannons. No other vessels were around. Soon, they were approaching the point of dropping anchor and opening fire. The auxiliaries veered off and waited at a safe distance. The smaller warships went ahead of the main battleships because their firing range was shorter. Without warning, a fleet of submarines with unconventional designs surfaced next to the warships. Each vessel was visited by one or two of those submarines. Large hatches opened in the newly-built underwater craft. Giant robots emerged and boarded the warships, climbing up the hulls using any available hand holds or making their own by denting steel plate.
Thousands of sailors tried to repel boarders but, for the most part, they didn’t have the strength. Many were pushed aside. Small arms had little effect on the robots. Ricochets were a great risk on crowded ships, so the sailors had to stop firing. Some brave seamen used grenades or heavy machine guns, knocking down a few Transformers and pitching one into the water. (That one refloated himself and then returned to his mission.) Again, these measures proved to be counterproductive as flesh was much more fragile than metal. The Transformers had no weapons of their own but used their strength to start neutralising the ships’ fighting capabilities. They broke through decks and bulkheads, crippled control systems, buckled cannon components and threw many tonnes of ammunition overboard. As they worked, the Transformers told the sailors that they didn’t want to hurt them. They promised a peaceful action as long as there was no more resistance. Nevertheless, a few obstinate captains decided to fight back, either by blowing up their ships or by using their heavy cannons. The result was that nine ships exploded spectacularly and five more were badly damaged by shell fire. Over twelve hundred sailors died or were injured. No Transformers died but several lost body parts, which would be replaced later.
Upon seeing the carnage, the other captains were chastened and opted not to resist further. There was a flurry of flag signals between ships. Obviously they were outmatched and didn’t want to waste lives in a one-sided conflict. Using speaking tubes and officers as relays, they told their men not to engage the saboteurs. Instead, they were to rescue those in the water. A few thousand sailors had abandoned their scuppered ships and now had to be recovered. It was strange for a proud navy to allow their guns to be silenced but they obeyed orders as usual. The Transformers worked quickly and the ships were deprived of their main firepower within an hour. After that, the mechanoids used their submarines to ferry stranded sailors to auxiliary ships. When the casualty situation was largely resolved, the Transformers returned to their submarines and headed back to Neosiak City. Before they left, they warned the UC Navy not to attack again or else they’d lose more vessels and personnel. The Navy was allowed to turn around and go home. Once back in their city, the Transformers reported to Stohv. He responded by speeding up the population conversion process. Dozens of region spirits went out to pacify people. Many suburbs were swept and their citizens gathered. Shortly, three hundred thousand more Transformers had been created. Adjustment to fundamentally different new lives was hard but there was work to be done. Their old bodies had to be buried in mass graves just outside the city limits. After that, they had to sort out their properties and household effects. Perishables were buried and billions of obsolete items were burnt for speedy disposal. Next, they began to demolish their old homes. It was very difficult on an emotional level but it was a new dawn and the region spirits maximised their influence to help people along. Most importantly, all those who’d been converted into mechanoids were far tougher and therefore safer than those who were still organic. Given the threat of major military assault, Stohv’s actions were merciful and highly effective.
As the naval barrage was halted, UC spy planes saw the exploding ships and soon returned to base. They reported the shocking news and recommended no further attacks. The UC high command used their discretion and cancelled a mass aerial bombing blitz on Neosiak City. They already knew that some of the Transformers could fly. They reasoned that their airforce would be neutralised just like their navy. Instead, they opted to open direct negotiations with the Transformers, something which the Phlentchian government had failed to do. They didn’t realise that those negotiations would be prevented by holographic interference. They assembled a diplomatic team with an armed escort. By the next day, the diplomats were en route to Phlentch. They’d travel by sea to the east coast of the Braufion continent. After disembarking at Haganovew City port, they’d drive overland through Simboline, Zaras Mina, Zaras Maja and Dyorompid before entering Phlentch. From the border, they’d try to contact the Phlentchian government in the capital before heading for Neosiak City. Of course, it was important to gather the latest information prior to tackling such a delicate, unprecedented meeting. They hoped that they’d have success in the first ever attempt at diplomacy with mechanoids. They were all realists, though. They’d read hundreds of reports this year. They suspected that their plan had no chance of success but they had to try anyway. That was their job and they’d taken oaths of national loyalty.
28. To the Conqueror, the Spoils(Neosiak City, inner north-eastern suburbs)Kohnphid sat on a small sofa in the hallway and fretted. This borrowed house was plush but the situation outside was worsening. Lately, the whole city had heard shellfire and explosions at sea. Clearly, there was a risk of bombardment. Hundreds of thousands were in danger. The Transformers were more resilient but even they could be smashed by direct hits. The fate of all lay in the hands of Stohv. He’d become very active in the last few days, spending hours at various locations in Plentch and abroad. She waited for him to come home at the end of the day. Although he had great power, he still needed some food, drink and rest. Kohnphid read a newspaper to stay informed. Despite the Transformer blockade, some goods like newspapers were allowed through. It seemed that the world was waking up to the threat in Neosiak City. Militaries were preparing for battle. There’d already been one confrontation, where a fleet had been repulsed. Another might happen tomorrow. Kohnphid worried that time was running out. She hoped that she could persuade Stohv to stop the impending war, for everyone’s sake. Eventually he reappeared, kicked off his shoes and strode into the kitchen for refreshments. There were sounds of hasty chewing, chugging and swallowing. Kohnphid went to him, moving smoothly so as not to jangle his nerves.
“Hi, how was your day?” she said quietly. “I heard you picked a fight with the UC Navy. You’re braver than anyone I know but I wonder if you could hold your...”
“They had to learn the price of their actions,” said Stohv, turning to her and spraying crumbs from his mouth as he spoke. “I could’ve stopped them bloodlessly. Those sailors might’ve been saved. Instead, I chose to give them the opportunity for death in battle. Some people need hard lessons.” His anger made her hesitate. She’d never seen him quite like this before. He reminded her of Gyhuly only he was more intense.
“Right, I understand,” said Kohnphid, moving on. “Say, why don’t I cook you something? You’ve been working hard and you deserve it.”
“Later,” said Stohv. “These buns and cakes are enough for now. A full stomach would slow me down.”
“Please, take whatever you need and come to the lounge,” said Kohnphid. “You should sit back and let yourself recuperate. You’re still flesh and blood, aren’t you?” She went forward and swept his hair back into place with her fingers. With her other hand, she took a bun from the counter.
“I’ll rest for a short while,” said Stohv, letting her lead him to the lounge. “My Transformers and other allies are recruiting as we speak. They can continue without my help.” In the lounge, Stohv lay down on a large sofa and Kohnphid sat in a matching chair next to him. She stroked his head, trying to make him wind down. His eyes stayed open, though. He was still preoccupied.
“What are you thinking?” asked Kohnphid.
“I’m monitoring my people,” replied Stohv. “We’re moving fast through NC and some have gone beyond. The armed forces are being depleted. We’re targeting men of fighting age and bringing them into our ranks. Other groups will follow in due course. We’re on the way to the capital. The government will fall in three days. The ministers will become mechanoids under my control.”
“Revolution,” murmured Kohnphid. “You’re really doing it. I had doubts at the start but now it’s going ahead. Do you want to be a dictator?” She leant forward and slipped her hand under his shirt via the neck hole. She felt his chest and found an open wound in the centre.
“Hey, what’s this?” she queried, alarmed. “Why didn’t you heal this earlier?”
“I’m leaving it there,” said Stohv. “It reminds me of things, like the weakness of organic flesh and the loss of my family with Rafoyla. The wound is over my heart. My loss hurt more than anything else has.”
“I get it but I don’t want to see that gaping hole,” said Kohnphid. “Close it up, would you? There are other ways to remember your family.”
“Alright,” said Stohv, healing his wound in less than ten seconds. “It’s an impediment.”
“Look, isn’t it time you mechanised yourself?” suggested Kohnphid. “The threat level keeps climbing. You’re being attacked with increasing force. You need full protection.”
“I have full protection,” said Stohv. “What I need is optimum intelligence and flexibility. Organic brains provide that. When I say brains, I mean the plural. I have back-up bodies from other realities.” He made three of them appear in the room. They stood, waved and smiled at Kohnphid. Startled, she stared at them and then waved back. They disappeared again in fifteen seconds.
“I use their brains to augment mine,” explained Stohv. “A thousand heads are better than one. We make a great team. We haven’t put a foot wrong yet.”
“You’re overflowing with surprises!” said Kohnphid, giving him an upside-down kiss on the lips. “What’s next?”
“Another invasion, I guess,” he said. “There are plenty more areas to pacify. If I don’t do it, the natives get restless.”
“Where this time?” asked Kohnphid. “Zaras Major? Notendomp?”
“No, I plan a lightning occupation of your personal space,” replied Stohv. “You’d be well advised to surrender now. Excuse the taste of siminiorn in my mouth.” Kohnphid tittered with delight as she climbed on top of him. She was very glad that he’d calmed down and refocused on her. She preferred him like this. His commander persona was excessively fiery and serious. She’d have to keep working on him, to keep him sweet: not just for her but for everyone.
29. Petty Prejudice Writ Large(An asteroid field billions of kilometres from Neosiak City)Nature says that I shouldn’t be here. In this system, the number of major bodies is fixed. My arrival is aeons premature. Yet here I am. I fly in your face, Nature. You simple-minded frump, I tear through your fragile tissues and rip open your heart. You lie mortally wounded and I crush you between my bulk and your own rocky foundations. I showed you. Now I’ll carry out my mission. I can’t abide the life world here. It carries the spores of the Great Enemy. I must try to eradicate those spores. Caution is needed. The Great Enemy is fully prepared to counter me and my kind. One mode of attack won’t be enough. I must use many methods. I begin with the fundamentals. I position myself among the asteroids and redirect them inward, toward the local sun and the planets nearby. My only tool is my personal gravity. It’s a slow way to attack but I’m very patient. My next method is to fire nuclear weapons at the Enemy’s root on the fifth planet. Rail guns launch the projectiles in a burst that will descend randomly. Of course, this assumes that the Enemy won’t intercept them. Not all will hit the target precisely but the biosphere will be heavily contaminated. Billions of people will die.
In defiance of Nature’s laws, I materialise in the debris field. I choose the best site so that I can manipulate all the rocks. The Great Enemy mustn’t establish a Primary Agent in our universe. I’ve no choice but to sterilise the system, no matter the cost in time, energy and dereliction of duty elsewhere. I begin my detailed survey of the region. Moments later, I find anomalies: a planet and some artificial probes. The planet’s mainly metallic and shouldn’t exist so close to a gas giant. The probes are coming toward me. They’re caught in my gravity. They’re moving too fast to be probes. They’re missiles, in fact. I scan the planet. It’s artificial, like me. It has a malevolent spirit inside. It’s one of my hated brothers. He’s sure to attack me, so I have to neutralise him before my mission can proceed. I’m moving toward him when his missiles splatter across my skin. They tickle and burn slightly. This is how an organic feels, when plagued by smaller organic pests.Infinite curses, it’s one of my brothers! He mustn’t interfere. He’s unbearably disgusting and knows nothing except treachery and sabotage. I must vanquish him quickly.
DUNABNOT, YOU AWARD-WINNING AMALGAMATION OF UTTER GARBAGE! Get off my patch! I claimed this diabolical mission before you!HOFLANT, YOU INCONVENIENT STAIN! Prepare to be dissolved and expunged!
So we clash. First, I hit him in the mind with my mighty brainwaves. He appears to be mentally injured, reeling under my assault. I know that he could easily be bluffing.The dope comes on fast, thinking I’m concussed. My brilliant bluff seems fruitful as I bathe his flank in disintegrator rays. The skin on his east side melts and vaporises. He strikes back by teleporting large asteroids into my disintegrator weapons. My west side is rocked by massive nuclear explosions because of the sudden matter insertion. He’s approaching at fifty thousand kilometres per second. He hasn’t planned this but the speed will dismember both of us. I try to retreat by teleporting away. He jams me.
Dunabnot must die, even if it requires a suicide attack. His presumption goes too far. This is my mission and he’s refusing to respect me.I respect Hoflant’s plain ego but nothing else. His challenge and my unyielding response will show that I take no nonsense from such pretenders. I teleport pieces of his broken skin and flesh into his brain, causing catastrophic explosions at his core. It doesn’t stop his charge but it makes his reactions very slow and mechanistic. His body’s now being controlled by automatic back-up systems.
KILL! KILL! KILL!I’m hit by millions of his weapons. Most of my skin’s pulverised and shredded. My manoeuvring’s far too slow. My senses are impaired. Moments later, we collide. I imagine that there’s a blinding light as he hits me. We tear each other into tiny pieces as the blast bursts forth like a miniature sun. My core’s breached and we’re both gone, hurled back to the dark dimension from whence we came. Our bodies fly apart in trillions of haphazard shards. The mission’s failed.
Your fault, Dunabnot.Your fault, Hoflant.
No, your fault. Your fault.
So they bicker, as is their wont. They’re so immersed in loathing that they fail to see their success. They did enough to destroy civilisation and most life on the fifth world. Their wreckage and the scattered asteroids will also devastate most other planets in the system over the next few million years. Good work, you two!30. Loving Earth Greets Metal Sun(A town in the superpower nation of Xendelan, five thousand kilometres south west of Neosiak City)Ruliss crouched between a bush and a pollard that was used to grow firewood. She was extremely anxious as the sun rose inexorably over the village. She couldn’t leave until her boyfriend Bivineu was ready. Despite his fine words the night before, he’d overslept and now he was running late. In his back bedroom, he was frantically throwing necessary items into his haversack. He’d nearly finished when he knocked over the pet zhandrik’s climbing frame. He lunged but failed to catch it. The metal, cage-like structure clattered to the floor. Now, Bivineu knew that he was in serious jeopardy. It was nearly time for his parents’ alarm to activate. His mother and father would be sleeping lightly. The sound of the frame had probably woken them. He put the frame back on its side cupboard and then picked out some underwear. Throwing those last clothes into the haversack, he left everything and opened the window. He didn’t bother to put all the unwanted bric-a-brac away or shut the cupboards and drawers. It looked as if his room had been burgled. That didn’t matter now. He and Ruliss had to escape and dodge the draft. He put his pack on his back, climbed out of the window, hung by his arms from the windowsill and dropped to the yard pavement below. The impact was a shock this early in the morning, especially since he was panicking. He ran over to Ruliss and then the couple headed for the back gate. They left the backyard, banging the gate behind them.
‘War with Phlentchian Robots: Draftees Need Heavy Weapons Training’ said the newspaper headline. Colux read it at the front door and swore under his breath. He had a terrible sinking feeling. His boy Bivineu was due to be called up very shortly. On the door mat below, there were some leaflets. Colux picked them up and was about to recycle the lot when he remembered that the draft letter might be among them. Under the adverts for cave diving holidays, crochet classes and spankological therapy, there was a small, official envelope. Trembling, Colux opened it and there was a letter that potentially threatened his son’s life. His hand dropped and his eyes closed as his heart felt like it was doing a somersault. He didn’t want his precious child to fight giant robots in a far-off land. What chance did Bivineu have, even with a truck full of complicated missiles? It seemed like the worst kind of folly. The awful truth was that they had no choice. The government had decreed it a global emergency. The robots were, perhaps, the greatest threat in history. Not only could they kill people effortlessly but they could absorb their very souls and hold them captive indefinitely. Colux took the letter to Bivineu’s room and knocked on the door. There was no answer. It sounded like the window was wide open. Colux opened the door and had his second fright of the morning. Bivineu had gone without leaving a note or any other explanation. Many things were untidy. Was it kidnapping or...draft dodging?! If the latter, Colux understood but dreaded the public shame that would follow.
In another house down the road, Uncle Ztivrus couldn’t sleep. The common worry about war added to all his other worries. They conspired to bring him to full alertness. He shrugged, rose, performed some ablutions and dressed in basic attire. His wife Ucioan slept on. He padded softly downstairs, took the newspaper and went to the kitchen diner. He was about to make himself a drink when he saw two youngsters running down the alley. They looked very familiar. Why were they up and about so early? He decided to go and have another look, so he unlocked the back door, opened it and jogged to the back gate. In the alley, he saw two haversacks on the youngsters’ backs. One of those haversacks was a gift that Ucioan had given to Bivineu last year. It’d been customised with badges, so it was unique. Conclusion: Bivineu and his darling Ruliss were...eloping? Taking a sneaky holiday? Draft dodging?! Ztivrus didn’t want his nephew doing that! He had to stop them, so he ran after them.
“Bivineu, come back!” yelled Ztivrus, his voice cracking. “What are you doing?!” The youngsters glanced behind them, saw Ztivrus and then ran slightly faster. They couldn’t be caught or else they’d face severe penalties, either from the family or the state. Ztivrus was fast for an older man: Bivineu had to run faster. Ruliss tried to keep pace but then she tripped over some uneven concrete and tumbled to the floor, grazing her hands and arms. Bivineu couldn’t leave her behind, so he attempted to lift her upright. With her pack, she was heavier than usual and thus harder to lift. As Bivineu struggled, Ztivrus caught up and seized them both. Bivineu pushed him. He stepped back but kept hold of the pair. Bivineu grabbed Ztivrus’ hand, wanting to prise it off him. Ztivrus was desperate not to lose them, so he pushed them down onto the floor.
“Uncle, please let us go!” squealed Ruliss. “We don’t want Bivineu to die!”
“Well then, don’t betray your country!” panted Ztivrus, a little out of breath. “There’s a very serious crisis and our young men must go into action. Why don’t you get it? If the robots have their way, they’ll kill us or enslave us! Biv, do you want Ruliss pulped on the street? That’s what they could do!”
“They’re lying to us, Uncle!” countered Bivineu. “The media are making people believe that the robots are bad but I’ve read other stories that say different.”
“Bah, those are the real lies!” insisted Ztivrus. “I’ll let you up but you should go home and wait like everyone else. Ruliss, you can’t go along with this...wishful thinking. You’ll be disgraced. People won’t forgive you.”
“What’s all the shouting?” asked a neighbour, jogging toward the three. “It’s antisocial. Who’s the troublemaker? Is it you, Bivineu? Why are you here, Ruliss?”
“They’re training for the army!” lied Ztivrus with a nervous laugh. “They were trying to escape but I tracked them down and caught them. They’ll have to be quicker next time!”
“Really?” queried the neighbour, gazing at them sternly as they got up. “It sounded like something more drastic than a training exercise. Who’s betraying the country, Ztivrus?”
“No one, Drikonuth,” replied Ztivrus. “Bivineu is raring to go and Ruliss is considering joining the auxiliaries. She doesn’t mind hard graft.” Ruliss’ eyes opened wider and she looked at Ztivrus apprehensively. She saw that she might have to serve, to stay safe from an angry, patriotic community. She hadn’t planned on it but she wanted to save her own skin!
“You know, I think I’ll report this,” said Drikonuth. “Normally I wouldn’t but the situation is critical. I heard that our men are shipping out tomorrow. Bivineu, go home and you’ll find a draft letter, most likely.”
“I’m begging you, Drikonuth,” said Ztivrus. “Don’t report these two! You’ll only give them a hard time in the ranks.”
“I already explained,” said Drikonuth. “A big attack might come soon and we need total discipline, not kids slipping away to God-knows-where at dawn.” Ztivrus put his head in his hands. He didn’t want this to escalate. Two entire families could be stigmatised. He prayed fervently that things wouldn’t go sour. That’s when things went weird instead. There was a rapid shift in the atmosphere, in the feel of the morning. The sunshine seemed brighter. The air seemed lighter. Everyone’s mood lifted very quickly, causing them to stop and look at each other in puzzled delight. What was doing this?!
“Did you drug me?!” asked Drikonuth with his last gramme of doubt. Ztivrus grinned and shook his head. This was the best feeling he’d ever had, outside the bedroom. There had to be a reason: it was so intense! He turned his head and saw a glowing woman rising straight through the alley surface. It was impossible but she made it possible. She was some kind of angel ascending. She’d come for them.
“Judgment Day!” exclaimed Bivineu, holding Ruliss around the waist and leading her to the ‘angel’. “This is all we could hope for; we’re saved, Ruliss! Everything’s going to be brilliant!” They embraced and kissed before their glowing saviour, who gazed at them benevolently and smiled.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, Miss, but what’s happening here?” enquired Ztivrus.
“Good news, Ztivrus,” said the woman, somehow knowing his name. “You’re all being promoted to a higher league. Follow me to the improvement zone.” No one questioned her any further. Her aura was too profound and comforting. They felt like they were floating on clouds as they walked through the streets to a field on the edge of town. After they were all absorbed into giant robots, Ruliss discovered that her robot transformed into a jet aircraft. She zoomed upwards and saw the whole scene below. Thousands of people were entering the field, where robots waited to bond with them. The glowing woman was the irresistible lure. According to Ruliss’ new internal database, that woman was called Wiqual and she was a region spirit. She wasn’t normally seen but circumstances had forced her to emerge. In fact, all her people were coming out of hiding. Ruliss looked into the distance and saw other crowds assembling around other glowing people, with groups of robots waiting to unite with them. Travelling quickly across the landscape, Ruliss soon realised that many towns were going through the same process. The database indicated that the whole nation would soon be converted to a mechanoid population. High in the sky, Ruliss laughed loudly and attempted a few aerobatic tricks. Only a short while earlier, she and Bivineu had been running away to meet the robots in Neosiak City. Now, the robots had come to her country in their millions, saving everyone the trip. The outcome couldn’t have been better. The superpower of Xendelan was falling, as would all other nations in due course. That didn’t matter because it was destiny. Everyone would be fully linked to engines of salvation and all would be well. As for future plans, Ruliss looked forward to meeting this mysterious leader of the movement, the man ‘Stohv’. His database entry painted him as an extremely interesting man. In the mean time, Ruliss would rejoin Bivineu and the others. They could explore their new robot abilities together.
31. Down on the [Redundant] Farm(A rural area of eastern Xendelan)It was the gentlest possible end for the livestock. The family watched as eight hundred and nineteen animals lay down, slept and passed away. Levondal, the local region spirit, took care of that. She was euthanizing millions of domesticated creatures that lived in her area, plus a few who’d strayed in from other areas. They weren’t needed anymore. The people had all been mechanised and would subsist on pure energy and minerals henceforth. A small number of animals could live wild and so they were set free. The rest wouldn’t survive without care, so their purpose was ended. A handful of animals in each region were, apparently, intelligent enough to join the Transformer ranks. They were converted but then they required a great deal of education. None of the animals on this farm fell into that category. It was gut-wrenching to see the family pets deprived of life, albeit painlessly. Everyone was affected. They mourned their old friends and lives. A door had slammed shut and wouldn’t reopen until they reached the hereafter. The farm was desolate and haunted, invisibly gloomed by disappointed essences cut short. Despite their new power, the family felt oppressed by the atmosphere. Swiftly, they changed into excavators, dug mass graves and buried every animal. Afterwards, they cleaned themselves up and went to clear out the farmhouse. They used their smaller forms, which were cleaner and could enter the house as usual.
“Hell, this is all a massive drag!” said Wendra as she quickly scanned her more significant documents. “Talk about a down side. I feel like I’m slaughtering my old self. Levondal did it once but I’m doing it again, in a more agonising way.”
“Same here, Wend,” said her father Beain, piling up obsolete print-outs on the chairs. “It would sicken me, if I still had a stomach. Don’t worry about it, though. We have a new purpose now. We’re in service to great leader Stohv. We’re going to have some big adventures soon, guaranteed. Chin up!”
“How can I keep my chin up when I’m losing my favourite toys forever?!” said Wendra, scanning three-dimensional images of her toys.
“My mother burnt my toys when I left home,” responded Beain. “I coped and so can you. We can’t hold onto things in the long run anyway. They always deteriorate. Your scans will last a lot longer and you can print copies later.”
“You won’t though,” added Grandpa Zuvi. “Cuddly wootsies are pointless to super robots like us.” He carried some bulky furniture outside and began breaking it up. The cheap wooden cupboards had no value and would soon be heaped on a bonfire.
“Dad, I don’t feel well,” said Wendra’s little brother Ektir as he entered the room. “It’s lump, it’s in my head.”
“We explained it to you earlier,” said Beain. “We all have copies of Stohv’s personality in our heads. They keep us strong and focused. You’ll get used to it soon. In the mean time, keep busy. You could help by dismantling the fences. They’re not needed anymore. Wind up the wire and pile the stakes for burning.” Ektir seemed distracted but did his father’s bidding. He went outside and used his larger body to rip up fences.
“Tszftidrkiketnk!” exclaimed Beain’s wife Envola, as only static-spouting mechanoids could. “I can’t get over how utterly weird this is! It’s beyond my wildest dreams!” She got up, turned around and tore her armchair in half with her bare hands. She’d already part-broken it with her weight. She was considerably heavier and stronger now.
“Steady, love!” said Beain, rising to prevent any violent outbursts.
“Should this be happening?!” asked Envola, her eyes shining very brightly and her metal muscles twitching. “I mean, we just let them kill the whole herd! Now, we’re tossing away so many valuables. We’ve been hijacked, Beain! We’re puppets and I have all these profound emotions thundering through me. I’ve never been this angry before. It scares me. Why couldn’t we have kept our old lives? I loved farming. I could still love it. Do we have to demolish the place? What’s wrong with the old ways? I don’t want to...” Beain put his finger on the place where her lips used to be.
“You don’t want to be locked in a metal prison body,” he said, continuing her sentence. “You want the freedom of the flesh. You want a shorter sentence, locked in a meat and bone body. I heard you earlier, when we interfaced. We all did, in fact.”
“Yeah, I know the arguments about this,” said Envola, turning and walking around the room restlessly. “What is freedom? What is duty? Should we interfere with other worlds? Is interference the same as helping? An expanded consciousness reveals a greater environment with new priorities. God, I sense people out there, far away beyond the stars. That’s one of the worst things. I shouldn’t have to deal with their problems. I have enough here. It’s not right! I’m not ready! If I’m not, the kids aren’t either. We have to protect the kids, Beain!”
“No you don’t!” said Wendra, getting up and destroying her armchair as her mother had done to her own. “Ektir and I have grown up fast. We’re all equally strong and clever now. We still love you but there’s no need for you to coddle us anymore. We don’t need these comfy chairs. We don’t need toys, night lights or lullabies. We’ve matured almost instantly. We’ll be fine from now on.” She threw down her chair and gave Envola a short hug. It felt like an extravagance, a hangover from their organic life. They soon pulled apart.
“I’m fine too,” said Zuvi. “I might have a head full of odd sensations but it’s fantastic being so tough and fast. It’s better than being young again!” He leapt with joy and put his head and shoulders through the ceiling. As he landed back on the floor, he brought down a shower of wood and plaster but he didn’t care. He found his new life to be excellent: certainly better than dying in a few years, as he’d expected before mechanisation.
“OK, I can handle this transition period, just about,” said Envola. “I don’t object to Stohv’s huge power or Levondal’s bottomless well of compassion. I can learn to live with alien thoughts in my head. Mainly, I’m having trouble with the evil entities out there. They’re working hard to destabilise everything.”
“What are you talking about?” queried Zuvi.
“Don’t you feel them?” asked Envola. “They’re enormous and they’re coming closer. They’re far away but they’re fast and they send out agents. The nearest one is there, in the east.” She pointed: everyone turned their heads to look through the east window but they saw nothing.
“I can’t do much about things I can’t see or feel,” said Beain, standing up and throwing his remaining documents into a box. “These papers are all useless now. I’m glad I didn’t keep too many when I was organic. I’m going to clear the bedrooms next. All clothes and bedding must go.” He stomped upstairs.
“I’ll empty the attic!” said Zuvi. “There’s some metal we can use up there, if it isn’t too rusty.” He went upstairs, opened the hatch and pulled himself into the attic. He started rummaging and then threw things down through the hatch. There were many thumps and bangs. Meanwhile, Beain opened windows and hurled hundreds of fabric items into the yard.
“All our clothes!” said Wendra sadly. “All that time spent shopping and choosing, for what?”
“There are bigger problems now,” said Envola. “We’ll be glad that we don’t have to use clothes again. One of those evil things is heading this way. It’ll be here in a few hours, I estimate. I hope that Stohv and the others can stop it.”
“How do you know these things?” asked Wendra. “We’re all basically the same with our new bodies, so why don’t I sense them too? Are you sure about this ‘threat’ or do you have a malfunction?”
“If you want to call your own mother a liar, go ahead!” said Envola with a shrug. “The truth will arrive soon enough.”
“I’m going to check on Ektir,” said Wendra. “He probably needs help with the fences. We have at least twenty kilometres of them to unravel.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Envola. “We may need to bring him in before the big nasty gets here.” They went outside to the front drive, entered their larger forms and drove across the fields. Ektir had already removed a few kilometres of fence. The wire was coiled in rough bales here and there while the posts were piled haphazardly on the grass. He was very easy to track. They found him five kilometres away, on the other side of a low ridge. He’d stopped work on the fences and now he was throwing fence posts into the distance. He seemed to be aiming at something.
“Taking a break?” asked Envola, transforming next to him. “I don’t blame you. It’s dull work. Still, we have to finish so the animals are free to roam in future.”
“Ektir, are you alright?” asked Wendra. “Talk to us. Mum says that there’s a bad creature coming our way. We should try to avoid it.”
“Targeting enemy,” said Ektir. “Multiple hits but no damage caused. Enemy is immune. Low probability of victory. Under attack. Defences diminishing. Two minutes to collapse. Abandon me. Hope is gone.” He kept picking up fence posts and propelling them into a distant copse. Half a minute later, he’d used them all. After that, he stood still and gazed into the distance.
“I’ll see what’s wrong with him,” said Wendra, using her fingers to interface with Ektir’s head. “I love this mind linking. It’s so...” She stopped talking and stayed still as a new influence connected with her. Envola watched her, bemused at first and then concerned. Wendra had frozen in place. Envola poked her with a finger but there was no reaction. Ektir was also unresponsive. How could she unfreeze her children? Envola considered taking them back to the house. It’d be an effort because they weighed more than ten tonnes each. Perhaps if she interfaced with them, she could ‘reboot’ them? She wasn’t sure because Wendra had just fallen victim to some malign influence. There were no instructions available concerning this situation. Envola reasoned that, given their strong bonds, she could make Wendra and Ektir ‘snap out of it’. She prepared herself and linked with Wendra. She was expecting a pleasant, bonding experience like before but instead she found herself floating in darkness. Amid the virtual reality, there was a deep voice grumbling.
“So you’re farmers,” said the voice, sounding irritated. “I loathe farmers. You’re the enablers of civilisations. That makes you priority targets.”
“Who are you?” asked Envola.
“I’m Stohv’s brother,” replied the voice. “If you prefer, I could be his sister instead. We’re from an extremely large family and our genders are totally fluid.”
“How can you be brothers when you feel so different?” queried Envola. “It’s like you’re opposites.”
“It’s a game we play,” said the voice. “At the start, we pick sides and adjust ourselves accordingly. We could switch places any time and the scenario would be identical.”
“The ‘brothers’ thing is hard to accept, especially when you’re making me feel weak and unwell,” said Envola. “Please let us go. We have no quarrel with you.”
“No quarrel? That’s hard for me to accept, little mother,” said the voice. “You pledged yourself to Stohv absolutely. Why would you do that? Why do people join a movement if there’s no cause, nothing to push against? It’s simple logic. Is Stohv churning out faulty brains now?”
“I didn’t pledge!” objected Envola. “We were overrun, doped by magic and reborn in metal. There was no choice.”
“Well, why did those region spirits agree to come out and snare you all?” demanded the voice. “That’s not normal. When have they ever done that before?”
“Stohv must’ve persuaded them,” replied Envola. “It’s his power. It seems limitless.”
“The region spirits wouldn’t interfere in the natural order,” said the voice. “Why would they alter the course of your progress? You’d expect them to resist Stohv, at least a little. Have you seen resistance?”
“No, I guess not,” said Envola. “They’ve done his bidding without a word of complaint or a single misstep, as far as I know.”
“You have to conclude that there were no objections,” said the voice. “In other words, you ALL went along with Stohv’s plan. You WANTED to join him, even those who seemed most unprepared and unwilling. You were already his servants. You were merely sleeping and now you’re waking. I’m assisting in this new awareness, so how about a thank you?”
“Umm, this seems strange but thanks, I suppose,” said Envola. “Sometimes people don’t understand their motivations. Your conclusion seems logical. Maybe we do want to be his workforce. My family already has a strong work ethic.”
“So now you understand why you have to die, like your precious livestock,” said the voice. “I won’t be gentle but the outcome will be the same. If I fail, one of my other brothers will finish the job. You can count on it.”
“Wait a minute, you said this was a game,” said Envola. “You don’t have to play. You can do something else. There are more peaceful games out there, surely.”
“I detest your ignorance of cosmic matters but, at the same time, I forgive you,” said the voice. “You’re a tiny pawn. Perhaps you could tell the other pawns about us before you’re all crushed? That’d be useful.”
“Understand this, at least,” said another voice. “When people play games, they COMMIT to the fun. No one likes a spoilsport!”
“Damn!” thought Envola before she lost consciousness.
32. Carousel Whirlwind(A rural area of Xendelan, the inner north-eastern suburbs of Neosiak City and then far beyond)Queylou sat at the front of the mech-airliner and watched the scenery race past. He reflected on the stupendous things that’d happened to him recently. He’d heard about the new mechanoid threat and then tried to fight it. Of course it’d been superior, defeating his force without firing a shot. After his initial failure, he’d gathered intelligence and made contact. His next strike had been pre-empted when Ageleid rolled into town. No one had been able to resist her. She was a divine attractor, worthy of myth and legend. She’d flicked a brain switch, making people accept mechanisation with open arms. Queylou and everyone he knew had become robots in a matter of hours. Post conversion, it was increasingly difficult to defy Stohv. Some had wanted to flee but none could go more than a few hundred metres before returning to base.
As a warrior, Queylou was entranced by these new robot bodies. Their power and versatility were overwhelming. Organic life was superseded: there was no going back. However, the people soon found that they knew very little about their new biotechnology. The greatest minds in the occupied world began a programme of research and discovery. Like any intelligent creatures, Transformers had to know themselves in order to move forward. Stohv allowed it. Queylou fully supported it too. In fact, he’d just helped transport some Plentchian experts to Xendelan for a conference. He hoped that they’d be able to make some collaborative discoveries soon. He was keen to learn the composition of Transformer flesh so that all its capabilities were revealed. In the mean time, everyone could explore themselves. For example, several Transformers had combined to make this mech-airliner. It wasn’t properly streamlined but it was still fairly fast and it had unexplained anti-gravity propulsion. It flew silently, so it was part-way to being a stealth ‘plane. At present, the interference plague was jamming radar so every aircraft was partly stealthy. Queylou was amazed that this combined mech-airliner held together for many hours at high speed and altitude. It was another expression of Transformer strength and he was grateful.
“I see five people driving down there,” said Smilbu, scanning below using her superlative robotic vision. “No wait, two of them are towing the other three. That’s unusual. I haven’t seen any Transformers break down yet. Shall we investigate?”
“I vote yes,” said Tengokal. “We need all the data we can get.” The others on board agreed.
“Sky Lynx, take us down,” said Queylou. “Those five may need rescue.” The mech-airliner Sky Lynx started his steady descent. He didn’t want to drop down too quickly in case there was an ambush. Some Transformers were still angry and unpredictable. Also, there was the possibility of alien attack. The existence of shadow men proved that aliens were interested in the Transformers. Smilbu continued to watch the five Transformers on the ground. She was joined by the others on board: Vivi, Juthaik, Edlex, Tengokal and Sygim. Most people had telescopic vision these days. Queylou felt it necessary to monitor the environment for potential threats...and other features. It was a struggle to ignore the female Transformers present. They’d been given amazing, tight, sexy bodies, although they’d never be sexual beings again. The combination of feminine features and super-tough hardware was alluring enough to be a dangerous distraction for Queylou. He was supposed to be an asexual person but he’d had a high libido before and couldn’t forget it easily. All he could do was turn away and try to calm down, usually by thinking about the quantities of material needed for building Tower Thirty Two in Neosiak City. In future, he might have to persuade the females (reluctantly) to get modified so that they didn’t scramble his brain anymore. A few minutes later, Sky Lynx landed in a field. He didn’t separate and transform because there was no need. Queylou and the others walked out and stood in the adjacent road, where they intercepted the five Transformers in whom they were interested. The two in front - who were towing - transformed and greeted Queylou’s group warily.
“Queylou, I recognise you,” said one of the two. “You’re in my database. What do you want?”
“Beain, I know who you are as well,” said Queylou. “You were added to my database only a few hours ago. Don’t worry, we’re not military anymore. Our army was snuffed out peacefully. We’re only here to offer aid and perhaps a ride. We noticed that your three friends aren’t functioning properly. That worries us, frankly.”
“Tell me about it!” said Beain. “I found my wife and children paralysed on the far boundary of my farm. They were all interfaced with each other. We didn’t dare join the link. We separated them, converted them to vehicle mode and then decided that we needed help. We’re towing them to Apjen City for repairs.”
“What’s wrong with them?” asked Arrafor. “Did you see how it happened?”
“I wish we had,” replied Zuvi sadly. “They’re non-responsive and we don’t know why. New tech is fine until it malfunctions. That’s extremely troubling when my daughter, grandson and granddaughter are involved. A lift in your big air freighter would be most welcome.”
“Wait, there’s a risk,” said Beain, putting his hand on Zuvi’s arm for a moment. “We suspect that Envola, Ektir and Wendra are under alien influence. We can’t prove it yet but we both felt it. If we put them inside...”
“Sky Lynx,” said Sky Lynx from the field. “Thanks for considering our welfare.”
“Er, yes, Sky Lynx could be infected with this alien force,” said Beain. “That’d kill us all in a crash.”
“Oh God, not another weird problem,” said Juthaik. “First it was holograms, then robots, then spirits and now invisible alien forces! How much more is going to happen?!” He turned away for a moment in exasperation.
“If you’re worried about alien infections, what about Apjen City?” queried Vivi. “If you take these three there, they could infect thousands more people. It’s better if they get help here, where no one lives.”
“We didn’t think of that!” said Beain, looking at his father-in-law Zuvi. “At least Queylou’s group prevented it. We must try not to panic in future.”
“Easier said than done, these days,” said Zuvi, gazing pensively at Envola. “The things going on are so intense.”
“And that trend continues!” said Ektir, transforming and standing up. “Wait for this, boys and girls!”
“Ektir, what’s going on?!” asked Beain urgently. “Why are your eyes black?”
“You’d do well to remember me,” said Ektir, possessed. “They call me the Inverter. My speciality is changing people in fundamental ways. I flip minds so that they do things in an opposite way. You’ll see!” Everyone could feel a dark force seeping into their souls. Queylou’s group backed away from Beain’s group. Sky Lynx separated into twenty five individual Transformers, who scattered across the field in a vain attempt to escape.
“You’re touched, you’re tainted!” yelled Ektir as the enslaved Wendra and Envola transformed and rose beside him. “Now, this world will succumb!” Far away in Neosiak City, Stohv was assaulted by the Inverter on a psychic level. He was bludgeoned, mentally and spiritually. He lost some of his usual control, including his blockade on electromagnetic waves. Suddenly, the airwaves burst back into life. The interference plague ended. Telephones, radios, televisions, computers and all related technologies were operable once more. Most importantly, a network linking all Transformer brains was activated. The Inverter exploited it instantly, rushing his malign commands around the globe.
“Stohv, you’re hooked!” said the Inverter over the network. “I’m inside you now. You’ll never be free of me again. I’m going to invert you totally and bring you over to my cause!” In dire jeopardy, Stohv summoned all his strength and drew upon the power of the region spirits worldwide. Bolstered to his maximum level, Stohv dealt the Inverter a crippling blow and scattered his spirit across hundreds of distant galaxies. Even as he did so, he sensed other dark entities closing in. They’d attack in a matter of hours and he wasn’t strong enough to repel them all. Defeat was imminent. In his borrowed lounge, he collapsed on the floor. Kohnphid ran to his side and checked his condition. He was still conscious but drained and dizzy.
“Stohv, what can I do?!” asked Kohnphid, deeply worried. “Is it one of those assaults you mentioned?”
“Yes my love, that was an assault,” confirmed Stohv. “Never fear, though. I have a plan for this turn of events. It’ll all be fine!”
“That’s good!” said Kohnphid with a smile. “Tell me my part in this plan.”
“Just kiss me for luck!” replied Stohv. “I’ll handle the rest.” Immediately, she bent down and touched her lips to his. As she did so, Stohv took her soul and put it with his own. She slumped lifeless to the floor next to him. Stohv continued with his plan, summoning all the world’s souls and region spirits to him. Land, sea and sky became a carousel whirlwind of joyful, dancing, spinning quintessence, drawing inward to the Prime Mover. As Stohv became an ultra-powerful, divine juggernaut, the world around him died. He absorbed every scrap of animation from plants, animals, microbes and other genera, even deep in the crust and high in the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the region spirits formed themselves into a dense array of crystals, held within a strong metal sphere that Stohv imported from his workshop. Millions were crammed in, tightly packed. The sphere radiated waves of pure, psychic power that buffeted the house in which it sat. As walls cracked, ceilings crumbled and floorboards splintered, Stohv entered the sphere and took control. He directed the energies into a perpetual, super-circular flow. He left his flesh body to rot and became master of the world’s life force. As he settled into his ‘forever home’, he opened a gateway and escaped to another galaxy, travelling there through thousands of realities to prevent pursuit. He rematerialised on a metallic planet in the so-called ‘Milky Way’ galaxy. Once his people had reshaped it according to his requirements, this would be his magnificent new base ‘Cybertron’. He reached out and gave life to some metal nearby. It formed itself into microbes and began to evolve rapidly. For some reason, memories of a vbotriq and a zengerloj flashed through his mind.
Back on his old, dead world. The dark entities found nothing of value beyond decay and minerals. Forests fell apart. Animals bleached in the sun. Aquatic creatures carpeted the ocean floor with their corpses. Flying creatures would never take wing again. The first generation of Transformers lay still, silently mocking those who would’ve stolen them. The would-be conquerors withdrew to their territories, disappointed and resentful. They took their shadow men spies with them.
Stohv was the first of his kind, at least in this part of the multiverse. He felt that he needed a new name to mark his new status. It had to be simple. He settled on one at last. He became ‘Primus’ and commenced his great works. Dahuva looked down and was most pleased.
InspirationsCliveden House (now a hotel and spa), near the towns of Maidenhead and Windsor, England, UK. Thousands of famous, wealthy and important people have visited over the years, including the current Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle. It has extensive gardens and woods, plus a few secluded riverside holiday cottages for rent.
Old covered markets in the UK, e.g. Watford, Llanelli. Also open air markets, e.g. Harrow, Aberystwyth, Borth. Some of these markets have shrunk or closed down since I last visited. They were out-competed, often by online traders.
UK harbours, e.g. Llandudno, Holyhead, Rochester.
The Shard skyscraper, London Bridge Station, London, UK. It has a viewing area near the top. Also, other similar towers worldwide.
AC/DC – Who Made Who?
Elkie Brooks – The Very Best of
The Darkness – Permission to Land
Eagles – The Best of
Iron Maiden – Edward the Great [Greatest Hits]
Nirvana – Nirvana (compilation album, black cover)
Rolling Stones – Let it Bleed
Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
Simon & Garfunkel – Greatest Hits
South Park – Chef Aid
Gwen Stefani – Love Angel Music Baby
A recent immigrant who is soon to have her own museum! I dreamed about her in June 2019. We met in a record shop, appropriately. We tried to talk but she was surrounded by fans within ten seconds and I had to retreat. The dream ended.
NotesStrangely, I found this news story today (15 July 2019). The ‘gimp suit man’ looks a lot like one of the shadow men from this story.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -suit.htmlDahuva looks nothing like this , unless he wants to [
]:
https://www.numatic.co.uk/product-view. ... 6&r=4&sr=1The fear induction of the shadow men is based on a strange experience I had in 1994. I was outside a church / cemetery in Llanfair P.G., Anglesey, Wales, when I was hit by a sudden feeling of intense panic. I walked very quickly to the main road, two hundred metres away, and the panic ended. I was shaken up and went home. I believe that I was literally spooked by an invisible entity from the cemetery.
The influence of dark god 'The Inverter' persisted for a very long time. It helped Primus to switch roles and become a destroyer of lives in my stories 'Inversion', 'Krunk' and 'Retarded'.
CharactersTop goodie – Dahuva......... and wife Tywan (a mortal woman)
Top baddie - (unnamed, speaks at the end of chapter 29)
Future Primus - Stohv........ and wife Rafoyla; daughters Quemdeg, Tuinkudee, Kootle; sons Tuinkudom, Splant. Also has at least two older sisters (unnamed). In the main continuity, Stohv doesn’t marry or have organic children. In the alternative life, he does.
Dark gods - Dunabnot, Hoflant, The Inverter, several others (unnamed)
Region spirits – Uthaim (m), Spenbela (f), Najemthit (m), Knuvitlev (m), Zueptal (m), Tajirifie (f), Ageleid (f), Levondal (f), Wiqual (f)
Agents - Pravit (m), Ejinot (f), Clofell (m), Nybia (f), Tolmik (m), Kaphelmex (f), Fylpoat (f), Kuon (m)
Pilgrims – Kneyo (m), Ftanji (m), Sbeaz (m); Zewanib (f); Dlonesh (m), Smendrig (m), Ybonvey (f), Uvilaut (f), Buhal (m)
Bandits – Gyhuly (m, leader), Zmekolevv (m), Kohnphid (f), Thiglak (f); Riztanzi (f), Duronkest (f), Olpur (f), Viboniu (f); Cohndipid (f)
NC citizens – Zeegla (m), Mioklur (f, older), Vuirenz (m, has 2 or more houses), Seglior (m, older), Nuvia (f, older)
NC Town Hall – Mayor Gultbriek (m), Deputy Mayor Chonspikta (f), P.A. Sihn-theeya (f), Guard Whiaterp (m, eldest), Guard Deegnytys (m, middle), Guard Jiunoya (m, youngest)
Family 1 – Aquorey (father), H’klierens (mother), Phynehr (eldest, daughter), Dhobrait (middle child, son, new silver Transformer), Theenoplyn (youngest, daughter)
Family 2 – Kolvazian (mother, psychic), Anflom (father), Xegeniti (son, 5)
Family 3 - Mother and father (unnamed), Tralpior (daughter), Pejecks (fiancé), Smeitakis (m, cousin), Hobliv (nephew), Lefuprei (f, friend)
Family 4 - Colux (father), Ztivrus (uncle), Ucioan (aunt), Bivineu (son), Ruliss (girlfriend of Bivineu), Drikonuth (neighbour)
Family 5 - Beain (father), Envola (mother), Zuvi (grandfather, father of Envola), Wendra (daughter), Ektir (son)
Army – Colonel Queylou (m), Captain Tengokal (m), Captain Juthaik (m), Guard Edlex (m), Guard Sygim (f), Driver Lembune (m)
Queylou’s women – Arrafor (wife), Smilbu (former girlfriend), Vivi (former mistress)
Holograms – Smilbu (Queylou’s girlfriend appearing as a younger woman / Quozbai (Queylou’s uncle appearing as a younger man), Aeryod (Ejinot’s former boyfriend)
Transformers – Lekasris (formerly f, 9, now gold), Dhobrait (formerly m, 13, now silver), Thubni(glo) (formerly m, 72, now light blue), Camchass (formerly f, 49, now dark blue), Zydzwup (formerly m, 57, now red), Brakton (formerly f, 26, now orange with yellow flames), Bleybrus (formerly m, 32, now green), Tralpior (formerly f, 22, red, orange and yellow), Pejecks (formerly m, 24, dark blue), [Tracks – merger of Tralpior and Pejecks, dark blue with red, orange and yellow flames], Rulbuir (formerly f, 49, now mauve with silver stripes), Dhuobteela (formerly f, 34, now red and blue), Huardod (formerly m, 52, now dark green), Sky Lynx (25 Transformers combined), Ratchet (created purely by Stohv in his alternative life)
LocationsNeosiak City is on the south coast of Phlentch nation, which has a temperate climate.
Other places in Phlentch include Ploknar City, Sletal Town, Vywpent Town, Schampli City, Ott Rejyos City, Hrankley City, Brundiq City, Dunquaz City, Afeniak City, Plomba Town, Trinkul City, Chettlov City, Aundrend Town and Mouftiva City.
Phlentch is on the west side of the Braufion continent.
East of Phlentch are other places on Braufion, such as Haganovew City in the Simboline nation, Zaras Mina nation, Zaras Maja nation, Notendomp nation and Dyorompid nation.
Two thousand kilometres east of Braufion, on its own continent, is the regional superpower Urnod Clerf.
Five thousand kilometres south west of Phlentch is the largest superpower Xendelan, on its own continent. One place in Xendelan is Apjen City.
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All this thinking and writing has been fun but it's made me far too sedentary. I've gained weight again and had to buy new trousers. Now, I'm trying to cut down on snacks and do a bit more exercise. [Sigh.] Authors be warned!
I'll take a break from writing for a while. There are real-world issues going on. My job's changing, I need to slim, there are appointments to keep, procedures to learn, papers to sort, heavy things to move, emotions to navigate, snowflakes to manage and, above all, I need new ideas!
Update: ideas are appearing. I need time to knit them together. The snowflakes are backing off, thankfully.
