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(Author's note: And after reading comments like that, I couldn't very well leave you guys hanging....) :-)
Episode XV: A Few Minor Problems
Even as he pulled the Shredder Pistol from his belt, he knew he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t shoot her....it....whatever it was.
It was *Gayle*, damnit, and the irony did not escape him, either. Here he was, holding the very same pistol on her which had ended her life the first time.
It made him sick (not to mention angry with himself), but the terror won out. He could not kill her, but he could not stay, either. The dark-eyed creature had taken control of Gayle. Cut her off in mid-sentence. Suppressed her. That was part of the terror. The thought that perhaps it could do the same to him. And even if the creature had nothing but the best of intentions for them, suddenly he just didn’t want to know. What he really wanted right then was to put as much space between him and those unblinking dark eyes as he could.
He had no idea where the exit was, or even if it would appear to him when he got close, but that didn’t matter either, so he ran.
“EarthKevin, please....all will be explained....come have a truthsaying with us.” The creature called after him, but it was too late.
He didn’t look back, or even slow down.
The creature sighed, then made a chittering noise deep in Gayle’s throat, and looked around.
In seconds a pair of massive Worm Boils shambled down the corridor toward her.
Demon Boils.
She stroked them as they came up to her, and communicated with them briefly, then communicated with the core system. Located Velociryx in a matter of nanoseconds, and then the three of them headed toward the zoo’s entrance.
He would be difficult to reason with, but he was important to Planet, so she did not see that she had much choice, especially with Kevin running off like that.
She sighed heavily, not looking forward to what would follow.
***
Even though the bulk of Velociryx’s awareness was focused on the computer in front of him, his training served him well. He detected the Psi-potential from the WormBoils long before they got to him. Bigger and more powerful than anything he’d ever felt from a worm. Individually, he could top their peak levels, but as a pair, if they coordinated their attacks....
And of course, other than the Planetary Consciousness itself, the only people who knew anything about his technical specifications or Psi-Limits were dead, so Planet must have arranged this....which meant he was right to doubt. Too late, but apparently right.
He stood and limbered. So be it. He couldn’t beat them both, but he could give them one hell of a fight, and if he was fast, and got very, very lucky.....
He smiled grimly.
“Ready or not....here *I* come.”
His eyes took on a glassy, far-off quality as he willed his Cybernetic Self to take command.
***Psi-Defense Theta-Six....Mind Cloak Activated***
Hiding mechanism. He could sense them by their Psi-Potential, but they could not return the favor. It might mean he could arrange to strike first, and if his attack was hard enough....
Calmly, cooly, he left the office building and went in search of a suitable hiding place.
***
*The Son of Chiron moves* One of the Demon Boils telepathed to her. *I am interlinked with the Monolith, even now*
*As am I, Goliath, as am I....he is very good, and very strong....I want you to be careful when you engage him....he can kill you.*
A faint chuckling filled her head, calming those fears as he gently filled her up with his own emotions.
Strength.
Confidence.
Peace.
*Fear not, Daughter of Chiron....Death means little to us....we are One with Planet.*
*And besides, he cannot best us both.* Behemoth telepathed with an unseen (but certainly *felt* grin). *If he tries for my brother, I will give him a good thrashing until he calms himself.*
She nodded and grinned for them. *Just remember....although he is a Son of Chiron, he is not truly one with Planet as you are....* She did not have to continue.
*We do not fully comprehend the EarthDeath, but no fear....we will take care with him.*
They drew closer.
***
Velociryx cursed under his breath, and did a quick system check. The mind cloak was working. Then how? Why?
They seemed to be zeroing in on him with uncanny ease and accuracy.
Then he realized.
He was inside the computer.
Of course.
There would be no hiding.
He nodded to himself and stepped out in the open, right under the archway.
Waiting.
Waiting.
***
The corridors twisted on forever, and Kevin ran blindly. He could not say if the things he passed were familiar to him or not, because he wasn’t looking at the scenery, and big as the chamber was, he felt claustrophobic.
Trapped.
So he ran.
Off to his right, there was a....what?
Something caught his eye, and he slowed down to look.
A lever, set in against the wall.
He checked behind him.
The thing-that-looked-like-Gayle was not pursuing him.
He breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked at the lever.
It seemed innocent enough.
He smiled wryly and remembered back to his college days on Earth....too many all-nighters spent playing Dungeons and Dragons. “And they always said not to pull on levers.” He mumbled to himself as he reached for it.
Pulled it down with a click.
Another rush of air washed over him as the Monolith opened up, and he stared out, expecting to see the now familiar features of the Fungal Bed near the Landing.
He was more than surprised when his eyes took in the low, sprawling, (*Go on* His mind prompted him, *Just say it...UGLY*) structures that made up the Spartan Base, far below him.
And he was shocked beyond words when he found himself staring down the barrel of an Impact Rifle.
The Spartan soldier grabbed his arm roughly and yanked him out of the Monolith as he looked over his shoulder. “Tell Captain Garrity that it appears we have ourselves a spy.”
He turned his attention fully to Kevin. “And what do you have to say for yourself, little man?”
Kevin opened his mouth to speak, but just then, the Monolith began closing back up. Slowly. Purposefully.
Kevin’s mind raced with possibilities.
“Hurry up men.” The soldier who still held his arm yelled. “Into that damned thing before it closes back up! We’re gonna find out what makes these things tick, and our little man here is gonna show us!”
Before his jumbled thoughts could even crystallize in his mind, Kevin found himself being forced back into the Monolith, an entire squad of Spartan Soldiers right behind him.
Episode XV: A Few Minor Problems
Even as he pulled the Shredder Pistol from his belt, he knew he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t shoot her....it....whatever it was.
It was *Gayle*, damnit, and the irony did not escape him, either. Here he was, holding the very same pistol on her which had ended her life the first time.
It made him sick (not to mention angry with himself), but the terror won out. He could not kill her, but he could not stay, either. The dark-eyed creature had taken control of Gayle. Cut her off in mid-sentence. Suppressed her. That was part of the terror. The thought that perhaps it could do the same to him. And even if the creature had nothing but the best of intentions for them, suddenly he just didn’t want to know. What he really wanted right then was to put as much space between him and those unblinking dark eyes as he could.
He had no idea where the exit was, or even if it would appear to him when he got close, but that didn’t matter either, so he ran.
“EarthKevin, please....all will be explained....come have a truthsaying with us.” The creature called after him, but it was too late.
He didn’t look back, or even slow down.
The creature sighed, then made a chittering noise deep in Gayle’s throat, and looked around.
In seconds a pair of massive Worm Boils shambled down the corridor toward her.
Demon Boils.
She stroked them as they came up to her, and communicated with them briefly, then communicated with the core system. Located Velociryx in a matter of nanoseconds, and then the three of them headed toward the zoo’s entrance.
He would be difficult to reason with, but he was important to Planet, so she did not see that she had much choice, especially with Kevin running off like that.
She sighed heavily, not looking forward to what would follow.
***
Even though the bulk of Velociryx’s awareness was focused on the computer in front of him, his training served him well. He detected the Psi-potential from the WormBoils long before they got to him. Bigger and more powerful than anything he’d ever felt from a worm. Individually, he could top their peak levels, but as a pair, if they coordinated their attacks....
And of course, other than the Planetary Consciousness itself, the only people who knew anything about his technical specifications or Psi-Limits were dead, so Planet must have arranged this....which meant he was right to doubt. Too late, but apparently right.
He stood and limbered. So be it. He couldn’t beat them both, but he could give them one hell of a fight, and if he was fast, and got very, very lucky.....
He smiled grimly.
“Ready or not....here *I* come.”
His eyes took on a glassy, far-off quality as he willed his Cybernetic Self to take command.
***Psi-Defense Theta-Six....Mind Cloak Activated***
Hiding mechanism. He could sense them by their Psi-Potential, but they could not return the favor. It might mean he could arrange to strike first, and if his attack was hard enough....
Calmly, cooly, he left the office building and went in search of a suitable hiding place.
***
*The Son of Chiron moves* One of the Demon Boils telepathed to her. *I am interlinked with the Monolith, even now*
*As am I, Goliath, as am I....he is very good, and very strong....I want you to be careful when you engage him....he can kill you.*
A faint chuckling filled her head, calming those fears as he gently filled her up with his own emotions.
Strength.
Confidence.
Peace.
*Fear not, Daughter of Chiron....Death means little to us....we are One with Planet.*
*And besides, he cannot best us both.* Behemoth telepathed with an unseen (but certainly *felt* grin). *If he tries for my brother, I will give him a good thrashing until he calms himself.*
She nodded and grinned for them. *Just remember....although he is a Son of Chiron, he is not truly one with Planet as you are....* She did not have to continue.
*We do not fully comprehend the EarthDeath, but no fear....we will take care with him.*
They drew closer.
***
Velociryx cursed under his breath, and did a quick system check. The mind cloak was working. Then how? Why?
They seemed to be zeroing in on him with uncanny ease and accuracy.
Then he realized.
He was inside the computer.
Of course.
There would be no hiding.
He nodded to himself and stepped out in the open, right under the archway.
Waiting.
Waiting.
***
The corridors twisted on forever, and Kevin ran blindly. He could not say if the things he passed were familiar to him or not, because he wasn’t looking at the scenery, and big as the chamber was, he felt claustrophobic.
Trapped.
So he ran.
Off to his right, there was a....what?
Something caught his eye, and he slowed down to look.
A lever, set in against the wall.
He checked behind him.
The thing-that-looked-like-Gayle was not pursuing him.
He breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked at the lever.
It seemed innocent enough.
He smiled wryly and remembered back to his college days on Earth....too many all-nighters spent playing Dungeons and Dragons. “And they always said not to pull on levers.” He mumbled to himself as he reached for it.
Pulled it down with a click.
Another rush of air washed over him as the Monolith opened up, and he stared out, expecting to see the now familiar features of the Fungal Bed near the Landing.
He was more than surprised when his eyes took in the low, sprawling, (*Go on* His mind prompted him, *Just say it...UGLY*) structures that made up the Spartan Base, far below him.
And he was shocked beyond words when he found himself staring down the barrel of an Impact Rifle.
The Spartan soldier grabbed his arm roughly and yanked him out of the Monolith as he looked over his shoulder. “Tell Captain Garrity that it appears we have ourselves a spy.”
He turned his attention fully to Kevin. “And what do you have to say for yourself, little man?”
Kevin opened his mouth to speak, but just then, the Monolith began closing back up. Slowly. Purposefully.
Kevin’s mind raced with possibilities.
“Hurry up men.” The soldier who still held his arm yelled. “Into that damned thing before it closes back up! We’re gonna find out what makes these things tick, and our little man here is gonna show us!”
Before his jumbled thoughts could even crystallize in his mind, Kevin found himself being forced back into the Monolith, an entire squad of Spartan Soldiers right behind him.