Cara
"Is he crazy?!" Matt gasped, when Ben launched himself at the Drone.
"I've probably rubbed off on him," Madiza commented. Kestrel un-slung his plasma rifle, and began blasting at the Drone.
"Hurry! I'll help him!" he cried. Without stopping to argue, we headed to the Computer and ATM. Without pausing, Madiza began typing on the small pad in front, fingers dancing feverishly across the keys. As she worked, doing something too complicated for me to understand on the screen, she was humming feverishly. It was something about a General, and vegetables, as far as I could figure out. We stood around her protectively, in case the Drone should overpower both Ben and Kestrel. The way things were going, it seemed a possibility.
I don't want to insult their prowess in fighting, but the truth is, they were no match for that Drone. Even with one arm, all it had to do was look at them, and make that droning sound, and they fell to the ground, nearly immobilized. Which was why they stood on opposite sides, so it would only get one at a time. Unfortunately, the Drone was apparently not all that dumb, because while it turned on Ben, the rifle thing on its' back unslung itself, and began blasting at Kestrel. He ducked, dodged, and finally went for its' legs. The Drone jumped, and smashed down on his chest. He must have either been very tough, or wearing some kind of protective armor underneath the uniform, because he shoved the Drone off, and got up, without any evidence of being hurt.
Now they were cornered. The Drone, to our surprise, turned its head up into the air, and began making that awful noise upwards.
"It's calling for reinforcements!" Kestrel cried. "We need to stop it NOW!"
"Almost done!" Madiza sung out. Ben leaped onto the Drone's back, and grabbed its' head, trying to wrench it free, as he had with the robots down in the tunnels. But this Drone was made of tougher stuff. It reached up with the free arm, and grabbed him by the neck, pulling him down. And then, just like magic, the light died out of its' eyes, and it slumped down.
"KillCode activated!" Madiza proclaimed happily.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Freegans part 52
Ben
"...So, what now?" Matt whispered.
The Kestrel scrutinized the Drone for a few moments. Then he pointed to a small symbol on its' chest.
"It's a Cone Drone," he said. Both Matt and Cara snickered. If I'd had my voice, I probably would have too, since the name was so silly.
"It means," said Kestrel, turning to us (he was probably glaring, but we couldn't see with the helmet on)"that it can only affect whatever people are within the scope of the cone. So if one of us creates a diversion, leading the Drone away, it will give Project 112 an opportunity to type in the KillCode."
"Okay, that's good, but who is going to create the diversion? It can't be Madiza, and probably not you either, leaving Cara, Lucy, Ben, and..." Matt stopped talking when he realized that everyone was looking at him.
"What are you- oh, no. No, nononononono. No way."
"You said it yourself, it's narrowed down a lot," Kestrel commented.
"I didn't mean me!" he squawked.
We were wasting time; the future of the world was basically at stake, as well as our lives. Without stopping to think about the consequences, I stepped forward, and ran towards the Drone. Without really thinking, I did a martial arts kick at its' arm, slamming into it. To my surprise, it made a loud, sickening CRUNCH, and bent inwards! Landing on my feet, I prepared to fight. But suddenly, this loud, awful noise began emanating from the Drone. It reverberated through me, knocking me to the ground. The room swam before my eyes, and my stomach churned. Despite the nausea, I began trying determinedly to crawl away. As long as the Drone was distracted by me, the others would have time.
Hurry, I thought. Please.
"...So, what now?" Matt whispered.
The Kestrel scrutinized the Drone for a few moments. Then he pointed to a small symbol on its' chest.
"It's a Cone Drone," he said. Both Matt and Cara snickered. If I'd had my voice, I probably would have too, since the name was so silly.
"It means," said Kestrel, turning to us (he was probably glaring, but we couldn't see with the helmet on)"that it can only affect whatever people are within the scope of the cone. So if one of us creates a diversion, leading the Drone away, it will give Project 112 an opportunity to type in the KillCode."
"Okay, that's good, but who is going to create the diversion? It can't be Madiza, and probably not you either, leaving Cara, Lucy, Ben, and..." Matt stopped talking when he realized that everyone was looking at him.
"What are you- oh, no. No, nononononono. No way."
"You said it yourself, it's narrowed down a lot," Kestrel commented.
"I didn't mean me!" he squawked.
We were wasting time; the future of the world was basically at stake, as well as our lives. Without stopping to think about the consequences, I stepped forward, and ran towards the Drone. Without really thinking, I did a martial arts kick at its' arm, slamming into it. To my surprise, it made a loud, sickening CRUNCH, and bent inwards! Landing on my feet, I prepared to fight. But suddenly, this loud, awful noise began emanating from the Drone. It reverberated through me, knocking me to the ground. The room swam before my eyes, and my stomach churned. Despite the nausea, I began trying determinedly to crawl away. As long as the Drone was distracted by me, the others would have time.
Hurry, I thought. Please.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Freegans part 51
Matt
The Tower produced some helmets, and tossed five to us.
"You'll need these if you want to blend in. It's part of the standard dress code." I decided that I liked the Tower. The helmets, I was not so enthusiastic about. It felt like my friends and I were being swallowed up by the black evilness of the consumerists. I felt kind of claustrophobic with the thing on, even though I could breathe just fine. I looked through the viewing lens at my friends, and couldn't even see them. I just saw soldiers; rather small ones, but soldiers nonetheless. It creeped me out.
The one closest to me turned its helmeted head in my direction, and said, "For a group of people obsessed with fashion, these guys sure are negligent when it comes to their soldiers' outfits." Never had I been so glad to hear Cara give a smart-alecky remark.
Ox gave us a final briefing.
"Whatever you do, you MUST not give us away. To do so would be fatal. Do not speak unless you absolutely have to. Try to avoid being seen at all costs. And keep an eye out for Drones."
Then, slowly, he turned the wheel to the submarine door. With a loud, ominous creak, it swung open.
We filed out in a neat, orderly fashion, trying to act as natural as possible. My palms were sweating, and my mouth was incredibly dry.
You are not a spy, I kept telling myself. You belong here.
Yeah, right, my brain replied.
The Prison Sanctum was really big and metallic, kind of like a hospital. Or, at least, like I imagined a hospital to be, never having actually been in one before. I wondered why the consumerists were so fond of long corridors and metal walls. The Ox gave us a silent message with his fingers, splitting us up into three groups. His group headed off one direction, the group led by Le Masque in another, and our group, led by Kestrel, went the third. Our mission was to find the Computer and ATM of Light, and have Madiza type in the KillCode. I was sure it was much easier said than done. For one thing, how would we know it when we saw it? I had seen computers and ATMs in books before, but never in person.
I looked around the corridors as we walked, searching for any clues. I don't know what I was expecting; maybe a sign post with an arrow pointing in the right direction. No such luck. It seemed like we had been walking around for hours upon hours, and my feet hurt. Suddenly, Madiza reached out and yanked on the Kestrel's sleeve. He turned, and she pointed to a passage on the left eagerly. Nodding, he turned our squadron that direction. We walked along, looking confident and self-assured. And then, we stopped short. The Computer and ATM of Light was there, all right. It looked like the two machines morphed together somehow, which was pretty weird. However, we had a small problem. The entrance was being guarded by a Drone.
The Tower produced some helmets, and tossed five to us.
"You'll need these if you want to blend in. It's part of the standard dress code." I decided that I liked the Tower. The helmets, I was not so enthusiastic about. It felt like my friends and I were being swallowed up by the black evilness of the consumerists. I felt kind of claustrophobic with the thing on, even though I could breathe just fine. I looked through the viewing lens at my friends, and couldn't even see them. I just saw soldiers; rather small ones, but soldiers nonetheless. It creeped me out.
The one closest to me turned its helmeted head in my direction, and said, "For a group of people obsessed with fashion, these guys sure are negligent when it comes to their soldiers' outfits." Never had I been so glad to hear Cara give a smart-alecky remark.
Ox gave us a final briefing.
"Whatever you do, you MUST not give us away. To do so would be fatal. Do not speak unless you absolutely have to. Try to avoid being seen at all costs. And keep an eye out for Drones."
Then, slowly, he turned the wheel to the submarine door. With a loud, ominous creak, it swung open.
We filed out in a neat, orderly fashion, trying to act as natural as possible. My palms were sweating, and my mouth was incredibly dry.
You are not a spy, I kept telling myself. You belong here.
Yeah, right, my brain replied.
The Prison Sanctum was really big and metallic, kind of like a hospital. Or, at least, like I imagined a hospital to be, never having actually been in one before. I wondered why the consumerists were so fond of long corridors and metal walls. The Ox gave us a silent message with his fingers, splitting us up into three groups. His group headed off one direction, the group led by Le Masque in another, and our group, led by Kestrel, went the third. Our mission was to find the Computer and ATM of Light, and have Madiza type in the KillCode. I was sure it was much easier said than done. For one thing, how would we know it when we saw it? I had seen computers and ATMs in books before, but never in person.
I looked around the corridors as we walked, searching for any clues. I don't know what I was expecting; maybe a sign post with an arrow pointing in the right direction. No such luck. It seemed like we had been walking around for hours upon hours, and my feet hurt. Suddenly, Madiza reached out and yanked on the Kestrel's sleeve. He turned, and she pointed to a passage on the left eagerly. Nodding, he turned our squadron that direction. We walked along, looking confident and self-assured. And then, we stopped short. The Computer and ATM of Light was there, all right. It looked like the two machines morphed together somehow, which was pretty weird. However, we had a small problem. The entrance was being guarded by a Drone.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Freegans part 50
Lucy
We were right below the Prison. It was on an island, out in the middle of the ocean, and it did, indeed, look like a giant squid from below. The giant mass overhead had several branches out in different directions, like giant tentacles. As we floated up, I saw that some were actually hollow tubes, big enough for some kind of underwater transport to pass through. We all stared, goggle-eyed. Finally, Matt asked, "So, how do we get in?"
"We need to park in one of the docking bays."
"Isn't that a little risky? After all, they may recognize the fact that we don't belong to them," Cara pointed out.
"We'll enter on the far right bay, where we're least likely to be noticed. Besides, almost all submarines look the same nowadays."
"But won't they ask for some kind of code or something?"
"That's where I come in," the Kestrel replied.
We slowly began to rise up toward the docking bay. Cara, Matt, Ben and I looked at each other nervously. Madiza was smiling, as if this were the best day of her life. Without saying anything, we took each other's hands, and squeezed hard, in a reassuring way. I felt as if there were something in my throat, and imagined that it was probably my heart. Looking at my friends, I realized that the same was true with them. It was nice to know that they were as afraid as I was. Except Madiza, that is. Even if she had been looking scared, she probably would not have reassured me.
Finally, the submarine was parked at the docking bay. On the viewing screen came the phrase, Password? Walking to the keyboard, Kestrel quickly and efficiently typed something in. After a tense second, we saw the words, Password confirmed. Everyone let out a breath of relief. We were in.
We were right below the Prison. It was on an island, out in the middle of the ocean, and it did, indeed, look like a giant squid from below. The giant mass overhead had several branches out in different directions, like giant tentacles. As we floated up, I saw that some were actually hollow tubes, big enough for some kind of underwater transport to pass through. We all stared, goggle-eyed. Finally, Matt asked, "So, how do we get in?"
"We need to park in one of the docking bays."
"Isn't that a little risky? After all, they may recognize the fact that we don't belong to them," Cara pointed out.
"We'll enter on the far right bay, where we're least likely to be noticed. Besides, almost all submarines look the same nowadays."
"But won't they ask for some kind of code or something?"
"That's where I come in," the Kestrel replied.
We slowly began to rise up toward the docking bay. Cara, Matt, Ben and I looked at each other nervously. Madiza was smiling, as if this were the best day of her life. Without saying anything, we took each other's hands, and squeezed hard, in a reassuring way. I felt as if there were something in my throat, and imagined that it was probably my heart. Looking at my friends, I realized that the same was true with them. It was nice to know that they were as afraid as I was. Except Madiza, that is. Even if she had been looking scared, she probably would not have reassured me.
Finally, the submarine was parked at the docking bay. On the viewing screen came the phrase, Password? Walking to the keyboard, Kestrel quickly and efficiently typed something in. After a tense second, we saw the words, Password confirmed. Everyone let out a breath of relief. We were in.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Freegans part 49
Cara
We were in a submarine! I had never seen one before, except in books, so this was a really exciting experience for me. As I peered out one of the portholes, I saw several species of fish; this was unusual, since I'd assumed they'd all be extinct by now. Then again, maybe the consumerists needed them as a food source.
Us kids (well, all except Madiza) sat on a bench in front of the Ox, who explained what was going to happen when we got there.
"We need to go in quickly, and quietly. If any Drones catch us, it will be disastrous."
"Why?" asked Lucy.
Kestrel pressed a button on his watch, and a hologram appeared. It was a giant creature, about 8 feet tall, and because it had some kind of levitation boots, it wasn't touching the ground, making it look even taller. I craned my neck, getting a look at its face. The Drone had a hard face that looked vaguely like a human's, except it had no mouth. That, and something about it just looked creepier. Probably the fact that it was obviously not human. It's arms reached down past it's knees, sort of like a chimpanzee. The hands on those things looked incredibly strong. I was not liking this thing already. My low opinion increased when the hologram slowly turned to reveal the guns on it's back. I was reminded of a scorpion's tail. The overall effect of this Drone gave me the creeps.
Suddenly, Matt said, "Doesn't look too bad." I gave him an 'Are you insane?' look.
"What?!" he protested. "All we have to do is-blast them with plasma rifles or something! I mean, it's not like they have secret weapons or anything, right?"
"Why do you think they're called Drones, Matt?" asked Kestrel.
"...Like the male bees?"
"No. It's because of the low moaning noise they make. It messes with your inner ear, making it impossible for you to run away. If you try, you stumble and fall, every time. Also, these Drones are incredibly strong. Once one grabs you, it would be nearly impossible to make it let go. They are the ultimate capturing machines."
Matt sat silently for a moment. Finally, he said, "I would like to retract my previous statement."
"So, what do we do about them?" asked Lucy.
Kestrel pressed another button, changing to a different hologram. It looked like a cross between two different machines.
"This is the Sacred Computer and ATM of Light," announced the Ox. "We need to get to it, and then Madiza needs to punch in the KillCode. That will give us an extra hour in which to find Deep Thought, and any of our other comrades, and set them free. If we don't manage it in the alloted amount of time, we are lost."
Something in the finality of his words sent chills running along my spine. I knew he wasn't talking about not finding the way back. I involuntarily shivered.
We were led to separate rooms, and given new clothes. They were in black, and made out of some weird material. I wondered if they were mithril, and had a small chuckle with myself. I changed clothes, but kept the levitation boots. Call me sentimental, but since they'd saved my life at least twice, I felt a kind of attachment to them. When we came back, I smirked at how Matt and Lucy looked: like little kids playing at being ninjas. At least, until I realized that I probably looked the same way. The dark coloring made Madiza look even paler than she was, so that she was practically the color of snow. Ben, despite his emaciatedness and matted hair, looked dashing, but that was what came of coming from the consumerist community. There was no such thing as an ugly person there, at least on the outside.
Matt asked, "Do we get any weapons?"
"You shouldn't have to. At all times you will be protected," was the Ox's reply. Matt looked crestfallen. At that moment, Madiza cried, "Ooh, it's a giant squid!" We went to see what she was looking at, and realized that we were here. At the Prison Sanctum.
We were in a submarine! I had never seen one before, except in books, so this was a really exciting experience for me. As I peered out one of the portholes, I saw several species of fish; this was unusual, since I'd assumed they'd all be extinct by now. Then again, maybe the consumerists needed them as a food source.
Us kids (well, all except Madiza) sat on a bench in front of the Ox, who explained what was going to happen when we got there.
"We need to go in quickly, and quietly. If any Drones catch us, it will be disastrous."
"Why?" asked Lucy.
Kestrel pressed a button on his watch, and a hologram appeared. It was a giant creature, about 8 feet tall, and because it had some kind of levitation boots, it wasn't touching the ground, making it look even taller. I craned my neck, getting a look at its face. The Drone had a hard face that looked vaguely like a human's, except it had no mouth. That, and something about it just looked creepier. Probably the fact that it was obviously not human. It's arms reached down past it's knees, sort of like a chimpanzee. The hands on those things looked incredibly strong. I was not liking this thing already. My low opinion increased when the hologram slowly turned to reveal the guns on it's back. I was reminded of a scorpion's tail. The overall effect of this Drone gave me the creeps.
Suddenly, Matt said, "Doesn't look too bad." I gave him an 'Are you insane?' look.
"What?!" he protested. "All we have to do is-blast them with plasma rifles or something! I mean, it's not like they have secret weapons or anything, right?"
"Why do you think they're called Drones, Matt?" asked Kestrel.
"...Like the male bees?"
"No. It's because of the low moaning noise they make. It messes with your inner ear, making it impossible for you to run away. If you try, you stumble and fall, every time. Also, these Drones are incredibly strong. Once one grabs you, it would be nearly impossible to make it let go. They are the ultimate capturing machines."
Matt sat silently for a moment. Finally, he said, "I would like to retract my previous statement."
"So, what do we do about them?" asked Lucy.
Kestrel pressed another button, changing to a different hologram. It looked like a cross between two different machines.
"This is the Sacred Computer and ATM of Light," announced the Ox. "We need to get to it, and then Madiza needs to punch in the KillCode. That will give us an extra hour in which to find Deep Thought, and any of our other comrades, and set them free. If we don't manage it in the alloted amount of time, we are lost."
Something in the finality of his words sent chills running along my spine. I knew he wasn't talking about not finding the way back. I involuntarily shivered.
We were led to separate rooms, and given new clothes. They were in black, and made out of some weird material. I wondered if they were mithril, and had a small chuckle with myself. I changed clothes, but kept the levitation boots. Call me sentimental, but since they'd saved my life at least twice, I felt a kind of attachment to them. When we came back, I smirked at how Matt and Lucy looked: like little kids playing at being ninjas. At least, until I realized that I probably looked the same way. The dark coloring made Madiza look even paler than she was, so that she was practically the color of snow. Ben, despite his emaciatedness and matted hair, looked dashing, but that was what came of coming from the consumerist community. There was no such thing as an ugly person there, at least on the outside.
Matt asked, "Do we get any weapons?"
"You shouldn't have to. At all times you will be protected," was the Ox's reply. Matt looked crestfallen. At that moment, Madiza cried, "Ooh, it's a giant squid!" We went to see what she was looking at, and realized that we were here. At the Prison Sanctum.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Happy Hannukah!
Yesterday, Hannukah, or Chanukah, or however you spell that, began at sundown. So, today, even though we're not Jewish, our family is having potato latkes and salmon for dinner! It's going to be a marvelous kosher meal! Happy Chanukah, everyone!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Freegans part 48
Madiza
We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine! Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink! Lots and lots of water! Going down! Ooh, fishies! Little little fish, Cynoscion nebulosus, spotted seatrout! Where where where are we going? Ask the Professor, he'll know. Ox is the Professor. Does that make me Ginger or Mary Ann? Hee hee hee hee!
"We're going to the Golden Church's Prison Sanctum, out in the middle of the ocean."
Gold gold gold all that glitters is not gold. Still really pretty, though. That's the place of the KillCode, need to remember that. Of course I can, not hard at all. Wonder how far we are under the sea. Not quite 20,000 leagues. Under the sea, under the sea! Nobody beat us, fry us and eat us, in fricassee! Wouldn't put it past them, nope, nope, nope. Ooh, bright shiny lights! All in gold...
We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine! Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink! Lots and lots of water! Going down! Ooh, fishies! Little little fish, Cynoscion nebulosus, spotted seatrout! Where where where are we going? Ask the Professor, he'll know. Ox is the Professor. Does that make me Ginger or Mary Ann? Hee hee hee hee!
"We're going to the Golden Church's Prison Sanctum, out in the middle of the ocean."
Gold gold gold all that glitters is not gold. Still really pretty, though. That's the place of the KillCode, need to remember that. Of course I can, not hard at all. Wonder how far we are under the sea. Not quite 20,000 leagues. Under the sea, under the sea! Nobody beat us, fry us and eat us, in fricassee! Wouldn't put it past them, nope, nope, nope. Ooh, bright shiny lights! All in gold...
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