The Rivals Who Never Met
Lo’c pounded his anvil over and over until he felt the sudden give that could only mean he broke through the material. It took him about four hits each time to smash his pre-shaped stencil. It made it vastly easier to get the precision he needed to create the gears his designs used. He looked up from his work as he heard footsteps coming down the hall. Machera strode in, he gave a comically awkward salute in an attempt to show respect. He wasn’t used to be noticed before, social skills were not his thing. Machera ignored the silliness of the gesture, “Progress?”
The huge man scrambled over toward the corner of the room, knocking some things over in his haste. “The designs have assisted in its mobility, and we have found ways to bestow it simple consciousness. But the problem is the lack of reflexes, it takes too long to understand and react to things.” he threw a piece of scrap metal at a prototype’s head, it failed to dodge or react until after it had already been hit. “They can do simple tasks, but they can’t fight yet. They’re also a little innocent, like children. Don’t think they’d want to fight.”
Machera moved closer over towards the barely cognitive automaton. “What is your name?”
The machine responded, “I am Villet. Who are you?” it had a naturally inquisitive tone. A few others were lined up in a row near it, all of them were silent and allowed Villet to speak for them. Machera ignored its question, “Why do you not move when things come toward you?” The automaton answered, “Why should I?” Lo’c chuckled heartily, “See? little guy’s like a kid. I’ve been having me help manage the forge, keeps it hot for me and tells me when metal is heated enough.” Machera ignored Lo’c and continued to question Villet, “Because otherwise you might become damaged.” Villet responded, “But I am fine. Nothing but a little de-”
Machera grabbed one of the swords floating behind her and cleaved the automaton in half. It fell over and in a panicked voice it called out, “What happened? Why would you do that?” It’s legs were not attached anymore, so they didn’t move. It scrambled with its hands and tried to push itself backwards into the wall to get away from Machera, “No, no stay away! Stay away!” The high prophet advanced on it, grabbing a hammer from a nearby table. Lo’c fidgeted, “Uh…boss?”
Machera proceeded to hammer its artificial skull in. It didn’t scream, it didn’t seem to feel pain, but it kept begging, “Stop, why are you hitting me?” and its voice slowly started to fade and then it fell still. Machera stood back up and turned to look over at the others that were lined up, their brightly lit eyes looking at their fallen brother expressionlessly. She threw the hammer at one, it ducked and covered its head. Cowering into a ball on the floor. With that she turned to Lo’c, “They have reflexes. They just need fear.” there was an awkward quiet as she left, Lo’c looking down at the hammer she’d handed off to him in her departure. The murder weapon. He wasn’t sure how to feel about watching what was one of his only friends down here get smashed to pieces, but he definitely was not going to speak out against Machera’s actions…especially when they produced results. Machera called back, “Tell the animators to make sure they can feel pain.”
On the other side of the known world, Basu Rohan shuffled down the metal halls that surrounded him. Pipes running embedded into the ceiling to stay relatively out of the way. The robed and slightly hunched figure continued to perform his inspection, after some hours he finished. Making his way up the stairs, the sound of his footsteps changing as the ground beneath became a wooden floor. He waved an all clear to begin the test, staying right where he was. He was confident it would work this time, or at least that it would fail safely.
A few moments later the hiss of steam could be heard, followed by a tremendous roar. Flames below the ledge illuminated the entire room, and the room was quite vast. The chains along the edge of the machine that suspended it in the air and began to slack, audibly clinking as each link in the chain folded into one another and the entire platform rose. Basu called out “Begin test number one!” and pressed his fingers against his ears to block out as much sound as possible. It helped but the sound of the explosion practically kicked him in the chest, and the entire machine shook as the massive cannon fired into the ocean nearby. The resulting splash of it hitting the water was visible even from what must have been a few miles away.
Basu asked, “How much did the ship move?” a response came, “About two inches!” The tekno jagara took a moment to consider this information. “Okay lets scale this up, fire all three.” The airship let loose all three of its cannons at once, Basu could feel the deck below him shift backwards. He didn’t have to ask before they called out, “Five!” he shrugged, “Good enough. Dyaus will be pleased with this prototype I’m sure. Send for Marshal Devada.”
“Do you want the engines left on?” Basu pondered and then decided, “Yes, run out the fuel it has on board. See how long it lasts.” Soon Dyaus’ new Sanika army would be ready. Basu was sure this machine would be the key to conquering the world, and his ticket to a promotion.
Shade sat on a ledge in the upper shadows of the building, he had been watching the whole time. “Well this isn’t good.” he thought to himself.
Locust Leaves Lasting Recollections
Eret scanned the thousands of possible futures. Locust was on his knees to even out the height, hands on his hips waiting. Eret kept looking, he had to find a way to hit Locust in the mask but he could not find any courses of action through all of time that would let him land that hit. He kept looking when he heard, “DODGE” and before he realized that came from the present he felt Locust hit him in the forehead and knock him over backwards.
He rubbed his head, “Hey! You didn’t say you would hit me…hey why didn’t I know that was going to happen?” Locust stated, “I didn’t think about it, I just did it. No matter how many futures you can see a person’s reflexes will always pick the option based on what you start to do. You can’t find a way to hit me can you? Because no matter where you throw your fist, no matter how you try to cheat and grab some dirt or a rock, I always move out of the way too fast.”
Eret nodded, “I…literally cannot hit you.” Locust imitated the nod, “Right. Because no matter what you choose to do, I will react too quickly for your body to find a way to keep up. This is why you walk into walls too. You don’t need to keep processing visions all the time you know, sometimes all you need to see is whats coming right at you.” This time Eret saw the future ahead of time, and managed to duck just as Locust said “DODGE” only to realize as the vision finished, and so did the reality, that Locust just re-angled his hit to still catch Eret right in the forehead once again.
“No amount of foresight will prepare you for that. Sometimes you have to live in the moment, and only experience can give you those skills. You physically lack the body and experience necessary to touch me, but Thandar who cannot see the future would definitely get a hit in even without his power.” Eret nodded, he kind of knew this already but Locust’s practical teaching methods were kind of fun, kind of like playing in the dirt. Just it stung a little. Suddenly Eret froze as he heard the voice of his god. Sadness fell over his features and Locust cocked his head curiously. “Uh, you’re to join Song Yi’s campaign to the south east.” Eret tried not to reveal his disappointment that ‘Uncle Locust’ was going away again.
Locust thought for a moment before saying, “I see. Well then, I have to go soon as they’re marching by the morning.” he looked around, Thandar was watching them intently. Eret knew Thandar would try to replicate the way Locust played with him out of jealously of Locust’s apparent skill at befriending the high prophet. Though as Locust said, practice and all that.
Locust interrupted Eret’s thoughts, “Time to live in the present Eret. Quick, find a future in which we ditch Thandar for awhile.” Eret processed several futures…and then realized what Locust’s plan was. He paused, looking over the future and saying, “I’m not sure we should…” Locust punched him in the forehead again, “In the present Eret, come on lets do this!” Eret scrambled and found one, calling over to Thandar, “There’s an Aetas guardian who will be in the audience hall soon who has details about the Mao Yachi ever since Lin Sun blessed the area. There’s a complication that we need to deal with, could you-?” Thandar just nodded and got up to go deal with it. That was actually true, and it would keep him busy for awhile. Thandar assumed Eret didn’t want to stop playing with Locust, partially true, so didn’t pressure Eret to come along to deal with it.
Locust suddenly stood up and ushered Eret toward a nearby wall, “Come on come on.” “Should we really-” “In the present Eret!” suddenly he threw the child prophet straight up the wall and managed to land them perfectly on the ledge where Eret teetered dangerously. Eret didn’t know it until now but he didn’t like heights. He kept trying to check futures to make sure he didn’t fall but before he could finish Locust had leaped up the wall and tackled him off the top. Doing a bit of a flip before landing on the road outside rather smoothly and putting Eret down on the ground.
“Come on lets go see the city.” Pushing Eret forward. He knew Eret had trouble walking at anything resembling a decent pace, especially out here in unfamiliar territory. That’s why he forced the child to hustle. “There you go, come on!”
For the next hour or so they wandered around the city, Locust erratically changing plans and directions several times, making it nearly impossible for Eret to keep up with his visions and the actual events around him. He was getting better at it though over time. He didn’t feel comfortable doing this, but Locust had been so fast and insistent Eret got himself in too deep. He could stop it, he could just ask to go home, but did he want to? He was anxious and trying to read the future closer but Locust kept making that harder and harder.
Eret finally stopped walking and just stood there. Locust looked back at him, “Eret? Come on we need to keep moving or else-” Locust saw it. Eret was sort of awkwardly standing there trying to figure out how to say what he wanted. Locust could tell Eret was looking into the futures to try and figure out how to say it without embarrassing himself, which provoked a thwap upside the head from Locust. “Where?” Eret stammered something unintelligible and just pointed awkwardly.
An hour or so later Locust was standing in front of Naberius, “You know how long we were gone don’t you?” The demon nodded. “If you take those memories from him, I will personally kill you. Do you understand?” Naberius wasn’t intimidated, “It doesnt work that way. I just clean backwards until-” Locust grabbed the taller demon by the throat and demonstrated remarkable strength until he forced the demon onto their knees. Andelko didn’t do anything about it, most people figured him for a mindless brute. But Andelko understood enough to know to sit this one out. Locust glared, as much as his metal plate of a face could, down at Naberius. “Then take a lesson from every warrior that surrounds you and get better at what you do.” Naberius was about to respond but Locust let them up, Eret wandered in, “Uh…whats going on?” The child seemed unsure of himself and what he had walked in on.
Locust pat the kid on the head, “Saying my goodbyes. Its a Senshi thing. You ready to go visit the dream world? I heard theres a talking lion there.” Eret smiled and nodded, the kid was oddly quiet right now. Thandar appeared from the inner areas of the temple, “Come along. I’ll take you to the gate at Con Lai’s temple before me and Andelko head to Kaga.”
Eret saw the future and immediately said, “I’d like Kinzoku to take me.” Thandar looked over and had a suspicious tone to his voice, “Whyyy?” Kinzoku was also curious about that decision. Eret walked over to Kinzoku and hissed at her, “Now please.” She didn’t really delay, but Thandar followed along, “Whats going on?” Locust was already out the door and he waved back, “Have fun everyone I’m off to war. Let it never be said Locust doesn’t keep his promises though. Told you I’d get you laid before I left.”
Thandar’s response, “WHAT?!”
Kinzoku sprinted off with Eret towards Con Lai’s temple and Locust sprinted off the other direction. Before Thandar could figure out who to chase Andelko put a hand on his shoulder. Andelko didn’t talk, but his grip was tight enough that Thandar realized he wasn’t going to get anywhere from here. He sighed defeated, “I fucking hate that guy.” Naberius strode up next to him, “Relax, you might be angry now but in a year you won’t really care. It’ll still mean the world to Eret.” With that the demon went off to follow Eret to the dream world to conduct their experiments.
Good news and Bad news
Vris uncorked a bottle, she had found this surprisingly quickly. She muttered thanks to Zaeed, because remember those six other Djinn he took with him when he let his friends keep Sahar? Turns out he hadn’t sold all of them. What came out was a drunken and busty woman who seemed confused as to where she was. “Ohh hey theresh. I’m Hiba!” she seemed a little excited, “I am at your service my master…or do you prefer mistress? you’re not the kind I usually ‘service'” she made air quotes in the air around the last word. “But if you’re interested I don-”
Vris didn’t have time for this. “I wish to know how can someone kill the god of madness Eli Pierce. Can you do that?” The girl paused and her eyes glowed momentarily as she gained the knowledge through the wish, “I have bad news.” she answered. Vris nodded, “Yeah I knew it. Oh well. Do you know how I might get anything useful? Can I wish to know where to find a Djinn or person that might know how to kill him?”
Hiba hiccuped and replied, “You have to actually say the words ‘I wish’. I’m not allowed to grant implied wishes anymore…” Vris rolled her eyes, “I wish to know who knows how to kill Eli Pierce, the god of madness.” Hiba’s eyes glowed bright yellow again, “I have good news!” Vris’ features brightened with excitement, “Really? Who?” Hiba smiled and looked so pleased with herself, “There only mortal man in the world who knows with absolute certainty, they’s to the west. His name is Zachariah.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
A Good Nights Sleep
The dream realm was generally a quiet place. Baridi coasted around on the outskirt of mortal dreams, peering in out of curiosity. She could tell which one were lucid and which ones weren’t. The ones that weren’t couldn’t remember or really see her. They could but their mind wasn’t conscious enough to process a reaction, they were too distracted by their dreams.
Baridi then however came across something that was peculiar to her. When people dreamed they couldn’t form legible text unless they were lucid or directly reading it in the dream. She found one dream though, a dream where papers, books, and scrolls were everywhere. The scribbles on them looked sharper then any other dream, as she picked one up she read it and realized it had real text. But she could tell the dream was not lucid.
She ventured in deeper, she couldn’t quite understand what she was seeing but it didn’t phase her. She knew it couldn’t hurt her so whatever strange thing she was looking upon was of no concern in this realm. She made her way over toward a lone figure, one she singled out as the dreamer. There was something wrong though, they were curled into a ball whimpering. She was fairly certain they were crying as well, she called out to Milenkosi. The poor creature looked like it needed him to take them away from a nightmare desperately.
As the great lion appeared out of nowhere and gazed upon the crying figure he approached. Nudging them with a great paw, his glowing golden light was soothing enough to draw their attention. “Do not fret, you will be okay. Come, come let me take you away.” the figure sniffled but put up no resistance to being dragged away from their nightmare, the things they saw even Milenkosi had never seen before. Humans and their weapons of war he assumed, perhaps torture tools guessing by this figures reaction.
As they left behind the strange dream Milenkosi let the man rest in front of Con Lai’s temple. Their terrified friend just curled up into a ball in the grass, resting next to the comforting glow of the lion. It asked, “Where am I?”. Milenkosi responded, “This is the temple of Con Lai. Goddess of dreams, fear not your nightmares will not haunt you while you are here.” The great lion could feel the poor tortured soul calming down now that it was away from its nightmares. “Who are you? Are you Con Lai?” it asked. Milenkosi shook his head as Baridi was off looking into more dreams for fun, “No no. I am her prophet, I am Milenkosi. Who are you?”
The figure paused as it seemed to try and remember, “My name is Abalam.” The dream lion just nodded sagely once again, lazily resting his head in the grass, “It is nice to meet you Abalam. You may explore the temple if you wish, or you may remain with me until you awaken.” The creature called Abalam nodded again, “I think I will stay here, you are warm.” The lion purred as he was stroked by his rescued friend. “Very well then, let us enjoy the misty air together. Sleep well my friend.” Together they lay there peacefully, until Abalam awoken and was removed from Milenkosi’s side. The lion hoped the poor fellow wouldn’t need rescuing again.