Category: Story

Harness the Lightning (Caveman Chronicles)

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The Index -|-

Xir padded silently toward Zara. “All Ganix warriors here,” he said quietly. His white-painted face was impassive, but his eyes smiled at her

“Thank you, Xir,” Zara said looking up at the warrior. He was tall for a caveman, and he absolutely towered over Zara’s tiny frame.

Around Zara a large group of warriors stood quietly. They did not fidget or shift as children would, nor did they stand at attention as soldiers might. They merely stood, straight-backed and strong. Their arms were generally crossed or hung straight down, but either way, the left hands held two spears. Some of the especially large warriors held three spears in their left hand, but among the Ganix it was considered a sign of arrogance.

From the moment Zara had stepped out of her Mama’s womb, she had grown in the shade of these stoic warriors. Because of this, she was not intimidated by the expressionless, white-painted faces. She knew all of them by name and though they never smiled, they treated her like a favored daughter. Being the daughter of the Pale One, she was special to them, and they respected and cared for her as they would their own children.

Today, Zara intended to provide for them out of the abundance of her skill and power as she knew they deserved. She motioned to Xir with her hand, and he pulled a reed blanket away from the bulky pile of sticks in front of her.

The Ganix warriors looked but did not exclaim.

Laid in a bundle were dozens of spears. The point on each spear was shiny-grey and flecked with shards of green stone that glittered in the sunlight. The point was angular, two diamonds connected at the sharp ends. The tip of the spear was held by an overlapping diamond shape below it. Centered on this diamond was an oval of yellow stone. Below the two diamonds, the base wrapped around a flexible wooden shaft, and out of the base protruded two barbs made of the same material.

Zara bent and grasped a spear which she lifted to show to the warriors.

“This is a new spear that I made for you,” she explained handing the first one to Xir. “This spear will prove to be strong against the Xi.”

Xir nodded and held the spear by its leather-wrapped shaft. He twirled it with his right hand and seemed to weigh its effectiveness.

Another warrior nearby watched Xir and then held up his left hand that held three spears. “Have spear,” he grunted and pointed a knuckle at Zara’s spear. “This better?”

Zara nodded and did not take offense. The Ganix were nothing if not honest. They wanted lethality and usefulness above all else, and if they were to learn another weapon, she knew that she would have to provide something worth their while.

She grasped another spear and walked through the circle of cavemen warriors and faced the side of the slope ahead of her. The fir trees waited calmly without a sound. With the spear in both hands, left hand further back, Zara slid her right thumb onto what felt like a knot under the leather that wrapped the spear’s shaft. She took a deep breath and stared at an old, dead fir tree at least forty paces in front of her.

Then Zara tightened her grip and gently pressed the knot.

There was an immediate, high-pitched crackling roar that lasted for a split second. The spear recoiled in her hand, and the dead tree ahead of her cracked in two with the top falling backward as if it had been rammed by a meat-yak bull. What remained of the tree trunk burst into flame.

Zara nodded with satisfaction and turned toward the Ganix warriors. Her nose wrinkled as she smelled the tell-tale faint odor that permeated the air around her. “It works,” she said.

The large warrior with three spears in his left hand lifted his chin and grunted. “Yes.”

“Every warrior must take a lightning spear,” Zara said. “The Xi destroyed our village and livestock and killed some of us with only three ships and the Pale One fighting against them. They will have notified their brothers, and eventually their brothers will return to finish the task. We must be ready to defeat them.”

Just then Kpleeb jogged up to the group and stopped, panting from his exercise. He looked around at the group and at the burning tree.

“Well,” he said after an extra moment of breathing, “it looks like you’ve got things under control.” He grinned and knelt to give Zara a side hug. “That crackle is loud! I heard it from inside the cave!”

Zara could not help but be thrilled that her Da was proud of her. She reached up and tugged from her ears little balls of yak’s wool. “It is quite loud, and I have an idea to make it a bit quieter, but we need the warriors to be training on these quickly!”

Xir stepped toward the tree and then looked back at her stoically. “I try?”

Zara helped him feel for the knot under the leather. “Don’t press that until you’ve aimed and are ready to destroy your target!” She put her hand on his forearm and turned to face the rest of the warriors. They had all stepped forward to watch. “If you strike any living being with this lightning spear, including a caveman, they will die. Do you understand?”

There was a silent chorus of bobbing heads.

“Alright, Xir,” Zara said, “tighten your hands and press the knot. Be prepared for the spear to jump in your hand.” She put her palms over her ears.

Xir slowly tightened his grip until Zara saw that his knuckles were white and his forearm muscles bulged with the effort. His thumb twitched, he flinched, and the resounding crackle-whine shook the nearby foliage. A small tree far up the slope quivered and a nearby flock of birds fluttered noisily away from the warriors.

“No work,” Xir said.

Zara shook her head and put the yak’s wool balls in her ears before taking the spear from Xir. With a quick motion she aimed and fired at the middle of the burning tree, and the tree exploded into flaming shards of dead wood that rained down around it. She switched her aim at a boulder near the tree, and the boulder exploded as well. After that, she fired one more time at the ground in front of the burning stump, and the ground erupted in a shower of dirt, twigs, and rocks.

“It works,” she said with a smile at Xir. She handed the lightning spear back. “You can see the power of this weapon. With practice you will all be able to defend against the Xi and their flying lutu.” As Zara looked around at the group of warriors, she saw each of them retrieve and heft their new spear with a considering eye and what might be a new respect. They were quite ferocious and deadly warriors, but their fighting was limited to the range of their small hand-spears. She hoped this weapon would increase their effectiveness.

Xir lifted his chin. “Ganix practice. Ganix win.”

“I believe you,” said Zara patting Zir’s arm. She turned and picked up one of the spears and then addressed the group. “Follow me.” she said. She walked down the hill to the left. She knew the way well, and there was a trail that wound down through the rocks and trees into a very small canyon. In the center of the canyon, in one of the stone walls was a small cave. She stopped there and the warriors stood behind her eyeing the hole warily.

Zara spoke again. “You know the tundra-wasps live here and just how dangerous they are. When you can shoot down five tundra-wasps with the lightning spear, only then will you be ready to fight the Xi.”

The warriors gripped their new spear and looked at her.

[They are amazing fighters, and I have to prove to them that I can do it as well.]

Zara picked up a stone the size of her small fist. “Move back at least twenty paces,” she said.

The warriors complied without question.

Zara flung the stone into the hole and then held her lightning spear at the ready.

There was no sound for a moment. Two moments even, but after a bit, a noise began to rise from the cave.

“Do not move,” Zara called over her shoulder.

After another moment, a half-dozen tundra-wasps burst from the cave opening. They were as big as Zara’s forearm, sleek and fast. They hovered, buzzing angrily near the entrance as if daring any intruder to show its face.

Zara had done all of her homework. It was dangerous enough with a handful, but the whole colony would easily kill any small group of cavepeople. She already knew that during the day time there were only a handful of guards at the tundra-wasp nest. The rest of the enormous wasps were out foraging and usually returned at dusk.

With an anxious sigh and silent prayer that her plan would work, Zara threw another rock at the group of hovering wasps. They responded by immediately attacking. With incredible speed, they covered the ten paces between the cave and her position within two seconds.

Zara was ready. Her lightning spear whine-roared in a quick chattering succession, and she rolled to her right before swiveling to meet the second pass. Three wasps lay twitching on the ground behind her, and three more dove toward her like sideways hail in a fierce, winter hailstorm.

Her lightning spear barked again twice, and then once again. The last tundra-wasp tumbled to her feet with its legs still kicking. Zara scanned the mouth of the cave one last time to make sure that no other tundra-wasps were around. As far as she could see, there was no additional danger, so she waved the warriors over.

Xir arrived first and appraised her with serious eyes. “Dangerous,” he said.

Zara looked down at the still twitching wasps. One of their stingers still vibrated and oozed a drop of white poison from it’s tip. It was said that a single sting from a tundra-wasp would leave a permanent scar and sometimes required amputation of limbs.

She nodded. “These are nothing compared to the Xi. We must be ready.”

Xir lifted his chin and began to speak to the other warriors.

From the slope near the mouth of the canyon, Kpleeb watched the scene before him.

[She will be a great leader. They already trust her, and she appears able to fight and to design great weapons. But will she really bring the fight to the Xi or merely defend?]

Reflecting on the Future (Caveman Chronicles)

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The Index -|-

Zara sighed and leaned back. The workbench in front of her was littered with parts and pieces. She had collected every known gadget that her Mama had made and sequestered herself away from everyone. for days.

Am I afraid? Perhaps a little. Prudence seems wise at this point, and we are not prepared.

The look on Kiipo’s face was cemented in Zara’s mind. The unemotional, unflappable Xi had been surprised when she had melded with the lutu. Not just surprised but shocked enough to express something. Up until that moment, she had not believed that the Xi knew emotion. She had assumed that they had grown as a people without emotion and perhaps their faces did not even contain the muscles to express what was so common with cavepeople.

I was shocked as well. Though I am clearly something a bit different than the cavepeople, I did not expect the lutu to recognize my touch.

So she had questioned Kiipo quite thoroughly after dragging it in and placing its body under her blue net. The Ganix warriors stood nearby and passively watched the questioning unfold.

Now she knew.

The lutu should have only recognized an authorized Jariit, of which Zara was certainly not one. So yes, of course Kiipo enabled the self-protect mode when it realized that she could actually meld with the lutu. Within thirty seconds of Zara cutting off the lutu’s power, Kiipo’s countenance changed again. It became utterly unemotional, as hard as a stony exterior could become. With coaxing, Zara discovered what she thought was Kiipo’s indescribable fear.

Kiipo had been flummoxed that the self-destruct had been canceled by one who was not Jariit.

“It was not canceled. I severed the power,” Zara had explained.

“No one can sever the aji,” it had stated absolutely.

“I did,” had said Zara matter-of-factly. “Maybe you just aren’t strong enough.”

Kiipo had locked its eyes on her and then after a few, long moments it barely moved its chin upward. “In Xi legend, there are tales of the Ixant who can completely control the aji. I do not believe these legends to be true, and I am not positive that you speak the truth about the severing.”

What ridiculous myths the Xi have, Zara thought.

She had shrugged and retorted, “I don’t know what an Ixant is… or if I am one, but you can believe what you want. I was kind to you, but after what you have done, I will not allow you to be near your lutu.” Then she had walked away and left Kiipo to stew in its thoughts.

When Kpleeb, Zara, and Xir had visited the Ganix village after the attack, there were multiple huts that had been burned to the ground. The pen that had been used to corral the milk-yaks had been shattered and all of the yaks had been dispersed. There were knee-deep pits in the ground where lutu canons had blasted warriors with some kind of energy canon mounted on the lutu.

Thoka had built defenses in advance, and it was clear that they had functioned. The village walls were made of yellow stone and were mostly intact, but the locations of the defensive pods were only smoking craters. In Zara’s mind, that meant the Jariit had targeted the defenses because they posed a threat. It also meant that the Jariit could see the defenses. The lutu had soared directly over the walls and pummeled enemies from above. By examining the wreckage of the other crashed lutus, Zara saw that Thoka had been able to attack the lutu and crash them into the ground with the help of the defenses. Those lutus were physically damaged and some had arm-sized holes in their exterior fuselages.

But Mama died in the process. My weapons need to be stronger. There needs to be more of them and new types as well. Surely, once these Jariit fail to return, the next attack will be much stronger.

Now, Zara looked at her workbench and considered what she had to work with.

Thoka’s stash included what Zara considered to be a rough thruster. It was a ruddy-red ring that worked in concert with Thoka’s spiral bracelet to shove or push enemies away. What she considered to be a sibling of the thruster was a more directed bolt of power that used a green thread to pinpoint the resulting jolt. Another of Thoka’s many tools was a remote air expander that Zara called it an exploder. Zara had heard from Jial that Thoka had used it during the battle with the Xinti at the river village against Chief Kilow’s tribe. Lastly, there was a necklace that amplified the voice and one that magnified vision.

Zara examined each one and reminded herself that these few tools were actually astounding technology compared to what any tribe of cavepeople could wield. Thoka had spent time retraining herself to wield a power she could feel but not see, and the results had created an environment that would enable her to win a battle against most enemies.

Despite that strength against the Xinti, Thoka had been wounded severely and killed when the Xi had arrived. They were clearly a more powerful enemy. Zara leaned against her backrest in the smaller room. She pictured in her mind a dozen or more lutu swarming from the sky, and a horde of Ganix warriors defending. Zara was worried.

Who would win in such a battle? The weapons mounted on the lutu are incredibly powerful, but they can be overcome. They must be overcome, otherwise, the Xi will surely kill me, Da, and all of the Ganix.

Zara knew what she had to do.

Self-Destruct (Caveman Chronicles)

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The Index -|-

Zara munched on a small, thin wafter that one of the Ganix women had brought her. It was crispy and contained small chunks of a nut that the Ganix used in many of their foods. The flavor was earthy and slightly sweet. Zara had no idea how they were made, but it was one of the best food items that was available to her. The Ganix often ate bowls of stew that were made from tubers and river otter. It offered warmth in cold weather, but Zara found it to be quite bland.

She looked at the small stack of crisps next to her on the stone table and then at the red tiered object on the wall.

I wonder what the poda, goo-like substance, tastes like and what it’s made of? It might not even be good for me to eat. Kiipo and its kind are different than us cavemen. Their bodies turn into dust when they die. Ours rot and are consumed by nature.

She glanced at Kiipo who was sleeping. She stood quietly and went to the red device. With her Qon sense, she reached into the device near where the poda tube had appeared. She could sense the tube under the surface and traced it further into the depths. It was akin to feeling the contours of a complex object in a completely dark room. There was a line of pale green that traced along the tube, and soon she found a small reservoir. The reservoir was triangle in shape, but the corners were rounded and several dozen colored lines of the invisible force led to one of the corners.

I cannot get the poda out of the reservoir without breaking the device or without using Kiipo’s amulet.

She made up her mind to wait until the next time Kiipo needed sustenance and then snag some of the poda for analysis. Looking back at Kiipo, she pondered the conversation with her Da.

I know he doesn’t trust the Xi. How could he? They killed Mama and they captured both Mama and Da and did terrible things to them. Why though? The Xi appear to be very advanced. They could fly in their lutu from one celestial orb to another at great distances, at least according to Kiipo’s stories. Stories I must believe having seen all that I have seen. With that kind of technology, why do they need to capture simple cavemen? Why experiment on them? Clearly this behavior indicates that they see us as being less than them. So much less that they have no concern for our lives or our families.

Kiipo’s leg twitched, and Zara rechecked the bindings. The red and orange-tinged threads of the invisible force strengthened the ropes, and a grid of pale blue lines wrapped its entire body like a blanket. Her blue blanket was designed to prevent Kiipo from using the invisible forces, and it did work. When they had first captured Kiipo, it had resisted the blanket and pushed hard against the bindings but had failed to break through.

It does appear to be telling us the truth, and this one at least seems innocent.

Kiipo blinked and its eyes shifted toward Zara.

“Good morning, Kiipo.”

“Good morning, Zara,” Kiipo said.

Zara saw a flexing at its bindings. Kiipo tested the bonds each time it awoke.

“Why did you attack us, Kiipo? We did nothing to you.”

Kiipo answered after a short pause. “I have told you.”

“Yes, I know. You told me yesterday and the day before. But why? We have done nothing to the Xi. We did not even know of the Xi.”

“You killed Uuiit. Is that not enough?” Kiip’s neck slits fluttered momentarily before resuming their normal pace.

“Uuiit attacked us first. We defended ourselves. Now you have come to Phaedro and killed Thoka, my Mama.”

Kiipo tilted its head slightly. “The Jariit, we received instructions to come and destroy the people at this place. We were only told that you had killed Uuiit and must be destroyed.” Kiipo paused again. “If not for this reason, I would not be here, bound and helpless.” Its face remained utterly passive and emotionless.

“How many Jariit are there?”

Kiipo paused and then answered. “Truly, I do not know, but there are many. Perhaps a million or more.”

Zara thought for a moment about the ramifications of the number and then asked a question to provide some clarity. “How many Xi are there?”

“Many, many. I do not know, but when I was in training the estimate was at least one hundred and forty-three billion. I suppose it is a larger number now.” Its fingers twitched.

Zara thought about the math. 1 million was only a tiny fraction of 143 billion. Surely they would need more Jariit. “Kiipo, are there other kinds of Jariit? Those who pilot the lutu for other reasons or in other areas?”

Kiipo lifted its chin slightly. “Jariit only pilot the lutu for Xi Ank. There are other Xi who pilot other craft, including lutu, for other reasons. Some operate only inside the atmosphere of a planet.

Zara nodded. “So, the Jariit must be very special. An elite group perhaps.? Is it difficult to become Jariit? Many years of training?

Kiipo lifted its chin and its neck slits fluttered. “Jariit are the best pilots.”

Even with its emotionless face, Zara could see that it was proud.

“How do you control the lutu?”

Kiipo tilted its head before he answered. “I will the lutu to move and it moves.”

“Same with the weapons you fired at us?”

“Yes.”

Zara considered for a moment the problem with taking over their weapons before she nodded at Kiipo. “Can you show me?”

“Why do you want to know? Why would I not simply fly away?”

Zara grinned at Kiipo. “I don’t trust you, and you will not fly away. Even though I like you, I would make your body into dust.”

Kiipo was motionless and Zara sensed the invisible bonds being prodded and flexed. After a moment, the flexing stopped.

Zara stood and went to the cave entrance and summoned the Ganix warriors that were there. When they followed her inside, she eased the bonds on Kiipo’s legs and spoke. “Show me how you control the lutu.”

The Ganix lifted Kiipo and half carried, half dragged it through the cave into the daylight. They stopped where the lutu rested, and Kiipo blinked its eyes as it looked around. The lutu itself split and again revealed the compartment where the Jariit would sit.

Zara examined her bonds on the craft itself before she spoke. “Can you operate the lutu without entering??

“In some ways, yes,” said Kiipo. “I can summon the lutu as well as perform diagnostics, and enable self-defense mode.”

“What is this ‘self-defense’ mode?”

“I can command the lutu to stand watch and forcibly destroy any entity that attempts to enter or harm the lutu.”

Zara nodded and made a mental note to sooth Kiipo into believing that they would not harm it. After all, she thought, if it has nothing to live for, the lutu may kill everyone around.

“Okay, well, fire the weapons. I want to see what it can do.”

Kiipo glanced at the Ganix. “You broke the lutu when you forced it to land. I cannot operate it in this damaged state.”

Zara smiled coldly. “I did damage the lutu, but it has opened itself to you. It is not completely damaged. Show me.”

Kiipo shrugged and slid into the lutu’s recliner. When he did, Zara noticed a wide-array of invisible forces coming alive inside. The compact clusters were connected via fat, multicolored lines. The interior began to glow and a detailed hologram appeared in front of Kiipo.

“Try to fly,” said Zara.

The fat lines oozed power toward the tail-end of the craft, but none of it flowed past one of the larger clusters behind Kiipo’s seat. The lutu did not move.

“It is damaged,” said Kiipo. Its long finger aimed generally toward a flashing portion of the hologram.

“Now try to use the weapons,” said Zara.

Kiipo did not answer, but the same fat lines of power grew and nothing happened. “It is the same,” it said. “The ghsikn is damaged.”

“Get out,” said Zara. When Kiipo was standing on the ground again with the Ganix holding its shoulders, Zara slipped into the seat. Immediately, the hologram pulsed and she felt a flash of understanding. The blinking portion was indeed a warning, and yet somehow, she could feel the lutu around her. It was subtle, but she felt the systems and sensors. Without moving, she focused on the flashing icon which expanded. Lines of power slid away from it and connected with infinite other systems. She blinked, adjusted her focus and stretched her mind.

The lutu responded with a shudder and a quiet cough.

Zara looked at Kiipo who for the first time had a strange look on its face. The lutu tightened around her and shuddered once more, this time the cough was louder. The reclining seat under her became very hot and burned her legs and back. Then it became extremely cold. A purple icon began to flash on the upper right corner of the hologram. It was circular with slowly, reducing triangle. Zara could see fat pipelines of power feeding into a swelling cluster in front of her feet.

“Kiipo, stop this destruction. Now!” Zara yelled.

The Ganix warriors roughly picked Kiipo’s body up and laid it face down and then placed their knees on its back.

The lutu continued to count down.

Zara panicked momentarily before she regained her calm. The cluster would fill to overflowing and then burst. In her mind, she felt the intention inside the lutu. It was committed.

Zara reached out with a needle of Qon and severed the fat line leading into the cluster. The golden thread sliced cleanly, and the hologram began to blink in many places before the entire lutu became silent and produced no further power, light, or response. She stepped out and walked around the lutu once before standing near Kiipo.

“You attempted to destroy the lutu as well as me and you and the warriors?”  Zara voice was small but her anger shone through in the tone.

Kiipo did not answer. It merely closed its eyes and appeared to wait for the consequences of its actions.

Zara stormed toward the cave with a scowl, and the Ganix followed her dragging Kiipo between them.

Escape and Symmetry: A Captive Tale

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The skrriiiitch of sharp fingernail echoed on the metal wall behind me. I grimaced and swiped a hand across my crusty, gray overalls before pulling hair down to muffle the penetrating noise. I bent closer to the object in front of me and whispered silently.

“With perfection comes escape.”

Mentally, I traced the thin, curved line until it made a hard left at the dimple. Though I tried to suppress it, a momentary grin broke out on my face. The angle right there was sublime despite the difficulty that the dimple had created. I brushed my hair out of the way with a quick back-hand and picked up the fork. With utmost care, I extended my fingers with the sharp tine downward.

Skrriiiitch!

My hand twitched involuntarily and barely brushed the object with the tine. With a quiet sob, I swiped my hair downward again to muffle the noise. At the swipe, the fork nicked my forehead and a sharp pain bloomed. With hair over my ears, I ignored the pain and bent closer to examine the object.

Above the upper-right side of the curved line, a finger’s-breadth away, the surface was faintly marked. Another sob welled up from my innards and threatened to overcome my senses. I forced it down with great effort.

[is it ruined?]

My eyes frantically scanned the area. The curved line was unbroken. I sighed and licked my finger.

[salty. sour.]

My neck twitched as I gently rubbed the accidental mark with the tip of my wet finger. When I lifted my finger the mark was not gone, but it was dulled, and I sighed again.

Then I saw it. A boundary line jutted outward, away from the curved line and intersected with the dull mark. It was beautiful. My thoughts became captivated by the unexpected symmetry. To clear my vision, my hand swiped hair out of my eyes.

[the pattern shines with an light all its own! why didn’t i see this before? it just needs a…]

I reached out carefully with the fork to trace a ray of the pattern’s internal light. As I adjusted my grip, something sticky locked my finger’s movement, and my fork nudged the object again.

“GuhRAM!” I barked explosively as my head flailed involuntarily downward just once before I regained control of myself. Quickly, I scanned the room behind me to see if anyone had noticed. The dark monitor shifted its lens in my direction and paused. I shrunk down, kept my face toward the object in my hand and acted nonchalant.

[nothing wrong here. where is bad-cop?]

My head swiveled ever-so-slowly in the other direction. At the window I saw the backside of the light monitor’s frail structure and jerked my head away.

Skrriii-iiitch!

[focus]

I shifted the fork to face the object at an easier angle.

[three more lines, maybe 4. it’s time]

I opened my eyes wide to block out the periphery. All it would take is focus. [focus] My hand edged closer, and when the tine touched, it left a thin, crimson mark. I blinked at the unexpected color. The red shone with a deceptive light. It was muddy and beneath it the dimpled surface bled through orangely.

“No!” I said quietly, but still too loud. With my finger I tried to brush the red away, but in its place was a larger and thicker red mark. There was a footstep behind me. Cradling the object carefully in my left palm, I turned my head. The dark monitor was there with that implacable expression of boredom. It nodded over my head, and I turned the other way. The light monitor approached with lazy, swaying hips in its normal manner.

[i’ve done it now. play cool.]

I smiled toothily and then dialed it back a notch when I realized that it was maybe a bit too much.

“Uh, how are you today?” I asked. My left hand slowly circled behind me to keep the object out of its sight. The light monitor’s lens was dull and its voicebox crackled.

“What did you do, Lindy?”

[how did it know my name?]

I stammered, “nothing?”

Skrriii-iiitch!

I looked to my left and hoped Arthur would distract the monitors. He lifted his massive fingernail from the table in front of him and gazed at it intently.

[is he sharpening that for an escape weapon?] The thought ricocheted around my noggin for a moment, and I decided it was utter foolishness.

That was when I felt the object disappear from my hand.

“Nooo! Give it back!” I wailed. There could be no coming back from a loss of the object or from the wailing for that matter. My head swiveled rapidly toward the dark monitor who now held hostage my perfect escape plan.

[how had it become the bad cop?]

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” said the dark monitor. Its lens shifted toward the receptacle in its hand.

“I’m clean enough!” I blurted. “These are not the droids you’re looking for!”

The dark monitor chuckled dryly and nodded at the light monitor. “We need to rotate the movies more often.” It held out the receptacle.

I gritted my teeth and my eyes slid over the beautiful shape of the object in the other hand. I could see the curved line beckoning me. My Shangri-La, even through the red marks.

[no! i am so close!]

I could see that the red mark had shifted and become attached to the dark monitor’s hand. Without thinking, I chuckled, and when I saw the depth of its infection, I laughed even harder. In a moment I was guffawing chaotically with my head thrown back.

[you can’t fight the infection!]

My head flung itself forward as if it had been tapped by a wallaby holding a lucky rabbit’s foot. I wasn’t laughing now. Then I felt the light monitor’s clamper force my head back. With its other clamper, it pried my chattering teeth open and the dark monitor emptied its receptacle into my mouth.

My eyes bulged with disbelief. How did the monitors switch roles so quickly?

Darkness crept in from the edges, and I sighed, then slumped.

[try agam-moro]

It was dark and I felt a gentle swaying. Then it was dark. And silent.