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BGC Blues 7
Resurrection
Part 1: In Quest of Survival
The hatch slid back and Priss lurched up out of the pool of=20
cryogenic fluid, falling out of the capsule as she retched. Her body was=20
expelling the thick fluid from her lungs and Priss could only wait until it=
=20
was done.
Oh shit. She brushed at her face, trying to clear her eyes and=20
nose. Light seared her vision as she opened her eyes and stared at her=20
surroundings uncomprehendingly as her body tried to acclimatize itself.
The sun felt good against her chilled skin and Priss absently=20
wiped at the fluid that covered her. The colors around her were painfully=20
bright to eyes that had been closed for centuries and she rubbed them with=
=20
a shaking hand.
<Sylia? Arashi?> Muscles trembling, Priss pushed herself into a=20
sitting position.
=3D Right here Priss. I don=92t think Sylia is awake yet.=3D Arashi=
was=20
scrambling to get Priss=92 body fully functional as she kept up a steady=20
stream of chatter. =3D Just sit still for a few minutes and let your body=20
recover.=3D
Her mind was reeling, images from the past and half remembered=20
dreams trying to surface at the same time. Rather than try to make sense of=
=20
them or focus on anything in particular, she let her mind drift until the=20
bombardment of information began to slow. Priss leaned back against the=20
cryotube and focused bleary eyes on the grass around her. <Arashi?>
=3DYes?=3D
<Why is there grass around my cryotube?>
=3DWhat?!=3D Arashi activated the scanners within Priss=92 arm and=
then=20
cleared up Priss=92 vision. =3DUm. Because your tube is outside=85 in the=
woods.=3D
<Oh.>
Priss reached up and opened the hidden space in her left bicep,=20
removing the wedding band she had concealed there so long ago. She slipped=
=20
it onto her right hand and watched the light play across its platinum=20
surface. A slight breeze drifted over her, reminding Priss that she was=20
wet=85 and naked. Bracing a hand against the smooth metal at her back, she=
=20
pushed herself to her feet.
The world spun wildly and she held on to the tube until things=20
began to right themselves. A few minutes later, she began to feel better as=
=20
her body got used to being upright again. Priss looked around but there was=
=20
nothing familiar about the terrain. <Where are we?> Where=92s the Pit?=20
Where=92s Sylia?!
=3D No idea. I can=92t detect any kind of electrical signal. No=20
satellites. No radio. Not even an energy reading.=3D Arashi saw Priss=92=
blood=20
pressure begin to soar and all of her stress indicators began to spike.=20
=3DCalm down Priss. You know the cryotubes could be separated from the=
mother=20
unit and still function perfectly. We just have to find out where the other=
=20
tubes are.=3D
Pushing her fears aside, Priss took a few cautious steps, pleased=
=20
when things stayed more or less still. <I think the suspension process is=20
playing hell with my emotions.>
=3DA good guess. Try and relax until you=92ve been up longer. You=
know=20
how you are without your coffee.>
Taking better stock of her surroundings, Priss saw that she was in=
=20
a small grotto, enclosed on three sides by high stone walls. Dense forest=20
made up the fourth wall, but she paid little attention to it as she pushed=
=20
through the tall grass towards the nearest cliff face.
=3DWhat part of =91sit down and rest=92 did you misunderstand?=3D
Priss didn=92t answer, focusing instead on the shadowed wall under=
=20
the overhang. =3DLook at this Arashi.=3D
Stick figures danced across the rough surface, silent story=20
tellers of the cryotube=92s fate. =93Amazing.=94 The sound of her voice=
startled=20
her, making Priss jerk.
=3DLooks really primitive.=3D
=93They dragged the tube here. Set this place up as some kind of=20
shrine or something.=94 She traced the fading paint with a finger. =93Wonder=
=20
how far away we are from the Pit?=94
There was no indication of the passage of time, but several=20
drawings she assumed were mountains had been drawn along the stick people=92=
s=20
path.
=3DScan the paint. Maybe we can get an age.=3D
Priss laid her cybernetic hand over the pattern and let the=20
scanners work. Arashi analyzed the findings, dismayed at what she found.=20
=3DChrist! Best guess the scanners can give me is about 2000 years old=
Priss.=20
I=92m going to access the cryotube=92s controls and see how long we were in=
=20
suspension.=3D
A moment later Arashi had her answer but she could scarcely=20
believe it. =3D Total time in suspension was 13,637 years, 2 months, 23=
days,=20
18 hours and 17 minutes.=3D
Priss felt her knees fold and found herself back on the ground.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Two hours later Priss was dry but still naked. After trying in=20
vain to wrap her head around her current situation, Priss had given up,=20
deciding not to think about it until she was clothed. Which gave her a=20
whole new set of more immediate problems to worry about. The Pit had food,=
=20
clothing and tons of other supplies. Unfortunately she had no idea where=20
the Pit was now. That left her with the contents of the cryotube.
She had pulled the tube apart as much as she could without tools and now=20
had several long lengths of wire, two 3 inch screws, 1 tritanium access=20
panel 12 inches square, a handful of synthetic insulation and a short=20
bundle of fiber optic cable. Within her arm, she had her claws, scanners,=
=20
palm plasma cutter, energy blade and the compression barrel that fired=20
explosive rounds. Or did when I could get explosive rounds.
=93Why didn=92t I put an emergency kit in the individual tubes?!=94 Or some=
basic=20
tools in my arm?
=3DHmph! Because we hadn=92t planned on anyone removing the tubes=
from=20
the Pit.=3D
Priss went back to the cryotube and checked the interior. =93Almost=
=20
dry.=94 She had not cut up the metal interior of the capsule despite its=20
possible usefulness. With night approaching, Priss could feel the=20
temperature beginning to drop. =93Guess I better start gathering wood.=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
The fire burned cheerfully in the cool dark and Priss tossed=20
another branch onto the blaze. She had built the fire around one end of the=
=20
capsule, hoping that it would help warm the interior. After collecting what=
=20
she hoped was enough wood for the night, Priss had considered what clothing=
=20
options were available to her. While she could probably fashion something=20
out of grass, the result would hardly be warm or comfortable. In truth,=20
other than modesty, there was no urgent reason to cover herself.
As she lowered herself into the chamber Priss decided that=20
tomorrow she would hunt and possibly solve two problems at once.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
The small deer grazed peacefully, unaware it was being stalked.
Priss had been watching her intended victim for a while now,=20
trying to decide the best way to do this. Images from some of her more=20
disturbing dreams flashed through her mind and she grimaced. <Well I=92m not=
=20
about to bite it=92s throat out..>
A fact for which Arashi was fervently grateful. =3D Just use your=
=20
claws. What=92s the problem?=3D
The problem was=85 Priss closed her eyes. The problem was knowing=
=20
that this act would change her life forever. Even now she could feel the=20
beast within her stirring, its interest peaked by hunger and the sense of=20
blood about to be spilled.
=3DYou had no trouble with Kutsuu.=3D
Priss=92 eyes flew open and she clenched her teeth around a snarl.=
=20
<That was different and you know it! This animal has done nothing to me=20
Arashi!>
Arashi consoled her by pointing out that while killing this=20
creature was barbaric, it wouldn=92t be in vain. Food and clothing waited=
for=20
her at the foot of the hill. Her survival versus the deer=92s. Priss=
extended=20
her claws and felt the beast stretch within her, filling her completely.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Under Arashi=92s guidance, Priss began the gruesome task of tanning=
=20
the hide. =93I did not hear you say that.=94
=3DPriss.. Trust me on this okay? It=92s necessary.=3D
After having scrapped the hair, fat, flesh and membrane from the=20
hide, washing it and then drying it, Arashi wanted her to mush the brain=20
and fat into the shallow bowl she had made from the access panel and heat=
it.
<Then you=92re going to rub the paste into the hide.>
=93The hell you say!=94 Priss tried very hard to block the squishy=
=20
sounds that were surrounding her. =93Arashi, how do you know this is the way=
=20
to do it? You=92re making this up aren=92t you?=94
=3DNope. My imagination isn=92t that good. And I know how to do=
this=20
because all of the enclaves got together and decided that in a worse case=20
situation it wouldn=92t hurt to have some basic information on hand.=3D
=93On how to make a worse situation even worse?=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
A few days later Priss donned a rough made top and what was little=
=20
more than a loincloth. Two pieces of leather bound around her waist with=20
strips protected her modesty and little else. <Gotta get a bigger deer=20
next time.>
As Priss had labored over the task of clothing herself, she and=20
Arashi had been discussing their options.
=3DWe can pick up on the other cryotube=92s signals but we have to=
be=20
within a 2-3 mile range.=3D
Priss turned the meat she had hanging in the fire=92s smoke. =93And=
=20
since we can=92t assume that mine was the only tube removed, we have to=20
consider that they could be anywhere. 14,000 years is a long damn time.=94=
=20
Too long, what if they didn=92t-NO! Can=92t go there. Can=91t think that=
way. If=20
I made it then they made it=85she made it.
=93Actually I shouldn=92t have made it at all. Why didn=92t the=
cryotube=20
breakdown?=94
=3DGood grief Priss! Think about all the redundancies that went=
into=20
those things. Self recharging power cells generating enough energy to run=20
up to four cryochambers and nanobot repair systems for anything that they=20
could be put into.=3D
=93But it wasn=92t supposed to be for this long. What if the=
others..=94
=3DEnough! You can=92t keep thinking like this Priss. The only way=
to=20
know what happened to the others is to find them.=3D
=93So I guess we need to start searching. That means making some=20
sturdier clothes and something to carry stuff in.=94 Priss watched the wind=
=20
rustle through the trees around them. Their color was beginning to turn,=20
indicating the rapid approach of fall and bad weather. =93Since the weather=
=20
is cooling off, I suggest we go south.=94
=3DAgreed.=3D
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
A roll of thick fur that Priss had chosen to act as a bedroll was=
=20
tied onto the just finished leather backpack. She tied the pack closed and=
=20
stood; looking around the place she had called home for the last three=20
weeks. Cold wind blew through the clearing, brining the smell of rain with=
=20
it and Priss was glad she had taken the time to waterproof her pack and=
cloak.
Despite the threatening bad weather, she was relieved to finally=20
be starting on her quest. She slung the long strap across her back,=20
settling the axe into place. She had cut away the interior of the cryotube,=
=20
fashioning several crude knives and tools with the plasma cutter.=20
Unfortunately the cutter was a huge drain on her arm=92s energy cells and=20
they took time to renew. Priss was reluctant to overuse them for fear they=
=20
would fail or rupture. I=92m pretty sure that they were never meant to last=
=20
this long. <Have we got everything?>
Arashi ran down her list and answered yes.
<Then I guess we=92re off.>
She slid the hatch closed on the cryotube, sealing it from the=20
outside. Even the plasma cutter couldn=92t scratch its case and only one of=
=20
the enclaves could open it again. She had left a message inside, just in=20
case one of the others found it before she found them. Priss chuckled as=20
she thought of her words, now burned into the metal.
Gone south for the winter.
She shouldered her pack and began to walk south, towards warmer weather=20
and hopefully, her family.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
It took her several weeks to work her way to the base of the=20
mountain range as bad weather and rough terrain had slowed her progress,=20
but as she stared out over the wide prairie in front of her, Priss couldn=92=
t=20
help but feel pleased with herself. She, who had been born into an age of=20
push-button living, was doing quite well in this primitive world she=92d=20
found herself in.
The sun was falling to her right and she began to make camp for=20
the night. Despite the fact that she could see perfectly well in the dark=20
with Arashi=92s help, Priss had decided that it would be more prudent to=20
travel during the day. A nighttime encounter with a very large,=20
leopard-like cat had taught her that lesson as well as giving her another=20
fur for her growing collection.
<You know what I can=92t figure out? Priss carefully bored through=
=20
the tooth she held with the fine point of one of her claws. <If that thing=
=20
was a leopard=85well, they weren=92t that big were they?>
The creature had been almost twenty feet long not counting the=20
tail and only the carbon mesh that ran under Priss=92 skin had kept it from=
=20
slicing her into pieces.
=3DAfter this much time, anything is possible. Obviously earth=20
wasn=92t completely burned in the flares. There=92s no way to know what=
effect=20
the radiation had on the animals that survived.=3D
<True, but answer me this: Almost 14000 years have passed. Looking=
=20
at the same amount of time from the era we left, a hell of a lot of things=
=20
happened. Civilizations rose and fell. Mankind expanded across the world.=20
Technology advanced. But I look around and see absolutely no sign of=20
anything like that. Surely there would be ruins of some type?>
<Only if mankind survived.>
=93Ah, but we know it did. The fingerprints and hand prints in the=
=20
paintings were made by humans.=94
=3DYes they were.=3D Arashi considered this briefly then ventured,=
=3D=20
The designs were also very primitive, perhaps a developing society?=3D
<If a civilization had risen and fallen in the last 14000 years=20
then shouldn=92t there be some sign?>
=3DWe may not have reached it yet, Priss.=3D
<And why didn=92t they figure out how to open the cryotubes?>
=3DPerhaps the tubes weren=92t discovered until later, after the=
fall?=3D
Priss strung the tooth onto the thin strip of leather and picked=20
up another tooth. <Lots of questions. No real answers.>
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Priss grinned when she spotted the man near the river. <Guess=20
that=92s one answer.>
The man was dressed in roughly woven garments and was throwing a=20
net into the swiftly moving water.
Priss moved closer, taking her time and giving him a chance to see=
=20
her. <Wonder what language this guy speaks?>
=3DActually it wouldn=92t matter if he spoke something you know.=
After=20
this much time the language would have evolved into something completely=20
different.=3D
<Hmm. Good point. Maybe I can draw some pictures or something?>=20
The man had seen her now and was waiting for her to reach him. Priss held=20
up a hand in greeting which he returned. <Okay, that=92s good.>
When he spoke Priss realized that the language didn=92t resemble=20
anything she had heard before. <Oh well. Let=92s see if a picture will=
help.>
She knelt and began to draw in the dirt by the man=92s feet,=20
flipping her cloak out of her way.
A horrified gasp escaped the man and Priss=92 head jerked up at the=
=20
sound. He was staring at her artificial arm as if it were the most=20
frightening thing he=92d ever seen.
Priss rose to her feet and held up her hands as she spoke=20
soothingly. =93It=92s okay. I=92m not going to hurt you.=94
The man had lost all color and with a small scream, he turned and=
=20
ran, leaving his net behind.
=93Well damn. That could have gone better.=94
Priss flexed the fingers of her metal hand and sighed. =93If this=
is=20
the kind of reaction that I=92m going to get from people then we=92re in=
trouble.=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Priss hiked back into the woods and found a spot to camp for the=20
night. She had hauled the man=92s net in and released the fish, taking=
enough=20
for her own dinner first, before laying the net over some rocks to dry. It=
=20
was a well-made and cared for net and she hoped the fisherman would return=
=20
for it.
After dinner, Priss laid out the large leopard pelt and cut it=20
into pieces. Building the fire up, Priss began to sew a cover for her arm.
It was another three days before she reached a small village and=20
by that time she had finished the glove. Fur covered her from fingers to=20
shoulder, with straps stretching across her back and chest before tying=20
under her opposite arm.
<Man, I hope this works.>
=3DNothing like wasting your time to make you feel silly.=3D
<No help, please.>
=3DSorry.=3D
Priss had also sewn a tunic and trousers from the remaining hide,=
=20
hoping that the rest of her clothing would overshadow the oddity of her arm=
=20
covering. <Have you had any luck in translating their language?>
=3DSome. The more I hear, the easier it becomes.=3D
She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and tied it with a thin strip of=20
leather before tying a last band of leopard hide around her forehead.=20
Picking up her pack and the bundle of furs she had collected, Priss headed=
=20
for the village.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Once inside the village Priss saw that the huts formed a loose=20
circle around a larger hut in the center. Wondering if that was the=20
leader=92s hut or some kind of community place, she wandered closer. From=
the=20
doorway she could see several areas that looked like seating surrounding a=
=20
large fire pit. <Wonder if I should introduce myself to the boss or..?>
Priss saw the large man coming towards her and paused. <Or maybe I=
=20
get myself into trouble for just standing here.>
The man was well over six feet tall, and from the size of his arms=
=20
and the numerous scars on his face and body, Priss concluded that if he=20
wasn=92t the boss then it wasn=92t for lack of trying. <Oh boy. Please work=
=20
quickly Arashi. I really don=92t want to piss this guy off.>
The man spoke but Priss shook her head and answered in Japanese.=20
=93I=92m sorry. I don=92t understand you.=94
Whispers raced through the gathering crowd when they heard the=20
stranger=92s words.
Priss slowly knelt and drew a group of mountains, pointing over=20
her shoulder from the way she had come before making two circles, one on=20
either side of the mountains. Priss waved her hand at the village around=20
her and then tapped one of the circles. Then she touched her chest and=20
tapped the other circle before pulling her finger across the mountains to=20
their circle.
The headman nodded and Priss smiled. <Thank God for that.>
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Priss spent a week at the village, in which time she learned their=
=20
language and some handy tips for survival in this new world she found=20
herself in. She had traded the furs for a good pair of boots and a woven=20
shirt along with what information they had about their past. They called=20
the cryotube in the mountains a =91metal stone of the gods=92 and they=20
considered it very taboo to go near it. They had heard stories of other=20
stones but didn=92t know where they might be found. The headman, Doran,=20
suggested that she try the coastal tribe to the west.
As Priss set off, she remarked to Arashi <Well at least we know=20
which side of the continent we=92re on. Now we just have to figure out which=
=20
one.>
=3DYou do realize that the land masses could have radically=
altered?=3D
<You know Arashi, for someone who shares my head you don=92t seem=
to=20
know much about it.>
=3DYou know what I mean.=3D
<Oh sure. I was just trying to make conversation. Be polite, ya=
know?>
=3DSince when?=3D
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
It took another three weeks to reach the coast and Priss had=20
collected another bundle of furs along the way, as well as carving some of=
=20
the bones and antlers into things that the villagers might take in trade.
Inspired by what she had seen in Doran=92s village, Priss had even=
=20
managed to carve herself a long thin flute from a deer bone. It had taken=20
several tries to get the tone right but at last she had an instrument she=20
could play. The fine points of her claws made excellent carving tools and=20
she had put them to good use.
The music was a welcome distraction to her at night, when the fire=
=20
and Arashi were her only company. Thoughts of Sylia would rise and at times=
=20
they were too much for her to bear. She missed her wife. She missed her=20
friends. It wasn=92t supposed to be like this. We were all supposed to be=20
together.
Instead she found herself alone in a world that was the same, yet=
=20
radically different. The landscape was unfamiliar; the animals had changed,=
=20
other species stepping into fill holes left by the solar flares and their=20
aftershocks. Even the plants were different, not that Priss had paid that=20
much attention to these things before, but one did expect apples to be=20
white inside, not bright green. <What was up with that anyway?>
=3DHigh chlorophyll content maybe.=3D
<You mean you don=92t know? Amazing.>
=3DDon=92t be a smartass. There could be several reasons for that=
=20
development but it would take time to research.=3D
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
=93We have lived by the sea for over ten generations. Those that=20
first came here were fleeing the Overlords.=94
Priss sipped the strong ale that the villagers made. =93Overlords?=
=20
Who are the overlords?=94
Everyone in the large hut paused at her words and Priss smiled=20
weakly. =93I=92m afraid that not much of my village=92s history is known.=94
=93The Overlords walked the earth, leaving ruin in their wake. They=
=20
were shaped like us but made of metal and had terrible strength and=20
powers.=94 Shamas, the leader of the Bear tribe, paused his eyes cloudy. =93=
So=20
much was destroyed by their hands. Fields burned, homes crushed or torched.=
=20
Only structures like you see around you were allowed to stand. They ruled=20
the people and used them for their amusement.=94
Priss kept her expression neutral. (Boomers, of all the things=20
that had to survive.) =93I have heard a little of these overlords, but in my=
=20
village they were called boomers.=94 Her eyes swept the room, easily reading=
=20
the fear. =93Are there still Overlords?=94
=93Not so many now. Stories say that the Overlords went to war with=
=20
each other and most were destroyed. There has never been an Overlord in=20
this village but to the south they are said to still attack occasionally.=94
Deciding a change of subject was in order, Priss brought up the=20
cryotubes. =93In the mountains my people found a metal stone. Have you heard=
=20
of such a thing?=94
Brock, Shamas=92 second in command spoke up. =93We have heard of=
the=20
god stones, though I thought they were a myth. You have seen one? Truly?=94
Priss nodded, adding, =93Yes, my tribe believed that there are nine=
=20
stones in all. I am hoping to find each of them.=94
Brock was leaning forward now, his expression earnest. =93It is=20
believed that the gods sleep within them. The one you found=85?=94
Gods? Oh boy. Shaking her head, Priss lied. =93I found no way to=20
open the stone. Perhaps once I have found them all.=94
Brock seemed disappointed. =93Perhaps. I know nothing of where the=
=20
others might be, but there is a tribe to the east, near the great forest=20
that has much knowledge.=94
=93Well I guess I must go east then.=94 She drained her cup and=20
stretched. =93But until then, is there anyway I can repay you for your=20
hospitality?=94
Shamas shook his head. =93Visitors are very few to our lonely tribe=
=20
and you have gifted us with your presence and your tales of the north. It=20
is we who owe you.=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Priss spent the next few days helping the tribe with their daily=20
task, pointing out ways that they could do things better or easier when she=
=20
could. Brock had followed her around, wanting to hear more of her village=20
and finally Priss had to concoct a story to stop his questions.
=93My tribe is gone, Brock. A firestorm swept through the village,=
=20
killing everyone. I had already started on my journey when it happened.=20
That=92s why I=92m searching for the god stones.=94
Brock nodded solemnly. =93You wish the gods to return your people.=
=94
Priss laughed outright. =93No. Several others of my tribe had gone=
=20
in search of the stones. I=92m hoping that if I find the stones, I=92ll find=
them.=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
The next morning, Priss went to the fields the tribe tended=20
further inland. Small trenches irrigated the carefully laid out rows and=20
Priss was relieved that they seemed to be doing well.
Brock was at her heels again and she stopped by a vine like plant,=
=20
recognizing what she thought was tomatoes. =93What are these?=94
Brock told her, but the word was unfamiliar. =93They=92re very=
good.=20
Try one.=94 One of the workers called out a greeting and he waved back.
The sharp flare of pain in her hand surprised Priss and she dropped the=20
fruit she was trying to pick. =93Damn!=94
Brock turned at her exclamation and saw her trying to pull a thin green=20
snake from her hand. He paled when he recognized it. =93Oh no! Get Shamas=20
quickly!=94 The others in the field bolted for the village.
Priss tossed the tiny snake away muttering, =93Goofy thing wouldn=92t let=
go.=94=20
<I=92m guessing that the carbon mesh isn=92t that fine?>
=3DNope. =3D
<Figures.> She felt Brock at her side and noted his expression. =93What=92s=
wrong?=94
Brock took her arm, guiding her across the field and toward the village.=20
=93Oh Priss=85 I=92m so sorry.=94
He looked so miserable. =93It=92s just a scratch Brock, take it easy,=94
=3DUm, Priss? Sit down. Right now!=3D
Priss sat down against one of the trees surrounding the village=92s=
perimeter=20
and looked at the mark on her hand. The flesh around the wound was turning=
=20
black. <What the fuck? Arashi?>
Shamas was in a full run and the sound of his feet striking the ground=20
alerted them to his arrival. He slid to a halt beside them, going to his=20
knees. =93Priss! Gors said you were bitten by a death asp.=94
She held her hand out for his inspection and he gasped. Shamas clasped her=
=20
shoulder, looking her in the eyes. =93I promise you my friend, I will make=
=20
sure that your tribe knows of your fate and that you were looking for them.=
=94
Oh this is not good. <Arashi?>
=3DThis is going to be rough. The poison is extremely fast spreading and=
it=92s=20
killing everything it touches. I=92m working on it but you=92re going to go=
out=20
for a bit.=3D
Shamas was still speaking. =93You have helped our people greatly Priss. We=
=20
will honor you in our songs and history.=94 Priss=92 ears were buzzing and=
her=20
vision was clouding. As she felt consciousness slip away, she heard Shamas=
=20
final words. =93We will never forget you Priss.=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Arashi began to bring Priss out of the coma state she had been in=
=20
for the last 16 hours and continued to repair the damage caused by the=20
venom. As she worked, she realized that she could hear drums through Priss=
=92=20
ears. The sounded low and mournful. =3DSounds like a funeral.=3D
She brought the arm=92s sensors back online. =3DHm. Lots of heat signatures=
=20
surrounding us.=3D Priss was slowly waking and Arashi continued to study=
what=20
the scanners could tell her. The arm was lying on organic matter. No=20
surprise there, but now one of the heat signatures was coming closer.=20
Arashi realized that the temperature was way too high to be a human at the=
=20
same time the ambient temperature began to rise. The toxins found in smoke=
=20
began to register on the scanners and Arashi realized that they had just=20
set her and Priss on fire. She sent a flood of adrenaline through Priss=92=
=20
body. =3DGET UP NOW PRISS!=3D
Priss=92 eyes flew open and she leaped from the funeral pyre she=
was=20
on, landing hard on the ground. The villagers moved back in shock as Priss=
=20
rose to her knees and began patting herself to make sure she wasn=92t=
aflame.
Shamas fell, pressing his forehead to the ground and the others=20
did the same.
Still trying to orient herself, Priss ignored them and shakily got=
=20
to her feet. I feel so weak. <Arashi? What=92s going on?>
=3DIt took a lot to counteract the venom=92s effect Priss. You were=
in=20
a coma for a while. =3D
Priss looked down at herself, realizing that her clothes were=20
different. Her leopard tunic and trousers had been replaced with almost=20
black buckskin. The material was really soft and fitted her closely, the=20
dark leggings tucking into equally dark boots. <Nice.>
She glanced at the villagers who had yet to move and stopped when=
=20
something flashed at the edge of her vision. Priss touched her hair and=20
felt several small braids. Black feathers had been worked into the braids=20
and she sighed. <Nice of them to give me such a send off.> The leopard skin=
=20
cover for her arm was still in place, however she noticed a beaded band was=
=20
now around her upper arm. Now all I have to do is explain to them why I=92m=
=20
not dead.
Priss crouched down beside Shamas and touched his shoulder.=20
=93Shamas? It=92s okay, I=92m not dead.=94
Shamas slowly raised his head, not meeting her eyes. =93Of course=
=20
you aren=92t Divine One. We are yours to command Goddess.=94
No way in Hell! =93Shamas get up. I=92m not a god.=94 She pulled=
him to=20
his feet and glared at the rest of the villagers. =93I am not a god,=20
understand? I wasn=92t dead, I was just unconscious.=94
Shamas wasn=92t buying it though. =93The bite of the death asp is=
=20
fatal. There is no cure.=94
Priss rolled her eyes. <Well? Any suggestions?>
=3DUm, no. They have a point.>
<Arashi.> Priss saw the gleam in Shamas=92 eyes and knew that more=
=20
than thinking that she was a god, he wanted to believe it. What the hell do=
=20
I do now? Tell him the truth?
=3DSure, just tell him that you=92re 14000 years old and that you don=92t=
age,=20
have metal claws, incredible strength, speed and stamina. That you have=20
more knowledge than anyone currently walking the Earth and can do things=20
that no one in their world can.=3D
<Put it like that and it does sound like I=92m a god.>
Priss exhaled forcefully. =93Somebody bring me my things.=94 Several people=
ran=20
off and Priss resisted the urge to groan. =93Shamas I am not a god. I can=92=
t=20
explain why the bite didn=92t kill me, but if you and your people can=92t=20
accept the fact that I=92m as human as you are then I=92m going to have to=
go.=94
Alarmed, Shamas held up his hands in a placating gesture. =93Please=
D..Priss.=20
Stay with us.=94
Priss didn=92t miss the slip. =93I can=92t.=94 She took her pack from the=
winner of=20
the race to it and thanked them before turning away.
Shamas didn=92t know what to do. He could hear the people beginning to=20
grumble, their unhappiness with Priss=92 departure obvious. How could she=20
deny what she was? She had turned away death itself. Shamas paused. Perhaps=
=20
this was a test? A test of his faith. If he truly believed that she was a=20
god then she could not be killed and he could prove it. If he had doubts=20
then he would do nothing. Shamas squared his shoulders and drew the knife=20
at his side. He would not fail this test.
Priss heard the running steps but didn=92t turn, not realizing the danger.=
=20
She felt the impact as someone tackled her and then another, duller hit.
Shamas plunged the blade into Priss=92 back with all his strength, feeling=
=20
the blow vibrate through his arms. He pulled the blade back and stared at=20
the bloodless metal. It was true. The world turned over on itself as he=20
flew through the air.
Priss stood before him, her fury terrifying. He held the blade up. =93As=20
human as we are? Not so, Divine One.=94
Glaring at the man, Priss fumed. =93Why couldn=92t you leave it alone? Are=
you=20
that desperate to blindly follow a myth?=94 She ripped the cover from her=
arm=20
and the sun=92s fading light glinted off the mirrored surface. =93Is this=
what=20
you wanted to know?=94 She reached down and gripped Shamas=92 tunic, lifting=
=20
him into the air with her cybernetic hand. Raising her human hand to his=20
face, Priss extended her claws. The metal was as brilliant as that of her=20
arm the points wicked sharp. Rage had the beast rumbling free in her chest=
=20
and she growled. =93I am not a god!=94 The tip of one claw pricked the flesh=
=20
beneath Shamas=92 eye. =93You don=92t have a name for what I am.=94 She=
thrust him=20
away and he landed several feet away.
Priss stood before the villagers, radiating anger. =93I only wanted to help=
=20
you.=94 She picked up her pack and sprinted from the village.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Sheer temper kept Priss at a swift run throughout the night. Miles rolled=20
away under her pounding feet and she didn=92t let herself think about what=
=20
had happened. There was nothing she could do about it now, anyway. She had=
=20
to keep moving, keep searching.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Two months passed as Priss traveled on. She had begun to wonder if=
=20
Brock had been telling the truth about the eastern village when she saw the=
=20
first signs of humans. Cultivated fields stretched out over the hills and=20
Priss could see spirals of smoke rising lazily into the sky beyond the=20
trees. Finally.
She increased her pace to a slow jog, wanting to get there before=
=20
the sunset. As she drew closer, Priss heard the first scream. She dropped=20
her pack and ran, charging into the center of the clustered huts, expecting=
=20
the worse. She wasn=92t disappointed.
The boomer was a far cry from the sleek machines of her time, but=
=20
as it tossed the fleeing villagers through the air, it showed that it had=20
the same capacity for destruction. Stained metal and exposed wires aside,=20
Priss knew that the machine was dangerous and she wasn=92t in a hardsuit.=20
<Let=92s see if I still remember how to do this.>
She unhooked the axe from behind her back and leaped forward,=20
bringing it down in a sharp blow to the machine=92s knee. Surprisingly, the=
=20
boomer=92s armor gave way and it fell. The machine howled and Priss couldn=
=92t=20
help but smile at the familiar sound. Something=92s never change.
Priss didn=92t hesitate. She swung again and watched the axe blade sever the=
=20
head from the boomer=92s shoulders. The boomer trembled for an instant and=
=20
then with a hollow popping sound, collapsed.
=93Hmph. Wonder why it didn=92t blow?=94 She knelt beside the=
machine,=20
scanner active, but the machine was dead. <Or deactivated as Sylia says.>=20
Which reminded her of something else Sylia did. <Hey Arashi? Is there=20
anything in this sucker we can use?>
=3DI=92m not sure. It=92s definitely worth a look though.=3D
Priss proceeded to rip the machine=92s arm off, watching the yellow=
=20
fluid saturate the ground beneath it. =93Man I hate boomer guts.=94
She continued to dismantle the boomer, tossing things they might=20
be able to use into a pile. She was aware of the villager=92s cautious=20
return, but she didn=92t look up from her task. =93It=92s okay, the machine=
is=20
dead.=94 Priss pulled the brain from the casing and winced. =93What the hell=
is=20
this mess?=94 Wires, circuits and what looked like actual organic brain=20
matter merged together in a nightmarish tangle. <Any ideas?>
=3DIt=92s possible that they=92ve lost the ability to create=
certain=20
parts.=3D
Priss removed the back panel and blanched as she looked at the=20
human spinal column before her, realizing why the boomer had been attacking=
=20
the village. =93Sonofabitch.=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Several hours later, Priss had buried the flesh parts of the=20
boomer and was now cleaning up the remains. The villagers had yet to=20
approach her, terrified by the woman=92s cheerful butchering of their most=
=20
dreaded enemy and the death colors the woman wore.
Priss opened the housing of the boomer=92s arm, surprised to find=
it=20
weaponless. <Usually there=92s a gun. Guess they don=92t have the ability to=
=20
create those either. Strange.> She stacked the armor pieces, then began=20
sorting through the circuits she had found. <Could we build anything from=20
this stuff to help find Sylia and the others?>
Arashi studied the jumble of parts. =3DPossibly. The big problem=20
would be a power source.=3D
<My arm wouldn=92t work?>
=3DMaybe, if we deactivated the scanners, sensors and weapons. Of=
=20
course it may not work and if the device was lost or destroyed then you=20
would never be able to power your arm again.=3D
Priss sighed heavily. <So I need to take the next boomer out=20
without destroying the power core.>
Sounds a lot easier than it will be I bet.
She bundled up all of the parts and wrapped them in a fur, before=
=20
turning to the few villagers that had been brave enough to venture closer.=
=20
=93Hello. I am Priss, of the Nightsaber tribe.=94 <God I hate this meet and=
=20
greet crap. The others are better at this kind of thing.>
An older woman, her hair streaked with gray, stepped forward. =93I=
=20
am Mace, the leader of the Red Fox tribe.=94
<So leadership isn=92t gender based. Nice.> =93Can you use some=
help=20
rebuilding what this thing destroyed?=94
Mace was at a loss. =93You=85 how did you do that? You killed an=20
Overlord.=94
Priss sneered at the damp stain that was all that remained of the=
=20
boomer. =93It was easier than I thought it would be.=94
=93Don=92t you fear their wrath?=94
How to answer that. Truth is not an option. Obviously the boomers=
=20
are still causing problems in places and a good healthy fear of them would=
=20
be wise but=85 they think the boomers are some kind of higher being=85that=
=92s=20
bad. Now if I can get them to see that and not think I=92m a higher being.
Sylia=92s methodical insistence on research sprang to mind, giving=
=20
Priss her answer. =93In my tribe our elders,=94 Sylia would have something=
to=20
say about that remark, =93have spent many years learning about the=
Overlords.=20
It is said within my people that knowledge gives strength. They learned=20
that the Overlords can be killed and how to do this. They learned what the=
=20
Overlords are.=94
=93They are gods.=94 Mace sounded unsure.
=93No.=94 Sylia=92s voice rang through her mind, making Priss=
smile.=20
Illustrate your point, put it on their level. She looked around and spotted=
=20
a wooden rake lying next to one of the huts. She picked it up and faced=20
Mace. =93You use this in the fields, yes?
Mace and several of the others nodded.
=93It=92s a tool. You made it to make your work easier.=94 Priss=
pulled=20
the boomer head from her bundle and held it up. =93Long ago, these were=20
created by people like you and me. They were also tools. Not so different=20
from this rake really. Now suppose that this rake,=94 She held up the item=
in=20
question. =93One day decided that it was better than man. That it should be=
=20
in charge, should rule over man.=94
Priss tossed the wooden implant down and gripped the boomer head=20
with both hands. =93That=92s what happened. These tools, these machines,=20
decided that they were better than man. They were stronger and in some=20
cases smarter. Why should they take orders from such weaklings?=94 Shaking=
=20
her head, Priss dropped the metal, watching it roll a few times before=20
stopping at Mace=92s feet. =93Maybe they shouldn=92t have to, but that=
doesn=92t=20
give them the right to attack us either. They=92re not gods, they=92re not=
=20
invincible and they sure as hell aren=92t better than us.=94
Mace smiled a little and kicked the head back to Priss. =93I guess=
not.=94
Seeing that she had reached her audience, Priss gave a mental=20
cheer. On to business then. =93How often is your village attacked like=
this?=94
=93Perhaps four times a year.=94
Priss scowled as she picked up the bundle of parts and swung it=20
over her shoulder. =93How many people did it take at a time?=94
=93Two. It was always two.=94 Mace followed as Priss walked back to=
=20
the edge of the village and retrieved her pack. =93Why?=94
=93There=92s a saying among my tribe: Know your enemy. The more you=
=20
know, the easier they are to predict.=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Later that night Priss sat in the small hut she had been given and=
=20
sorted through the parts again, more carefully this time, trying to devise=
=20
a remote scanner. <It needs to cover a lot of territory, be able to send=20
the information back to us and if possible, be controlled by you.>
The sarcasm was heavy in Arashi=92s reply. =3DSure, no problem.=
I=92ll=20
get right on that.=3D
<Come on Arashi. I know we don=92t have much to work with but I=20
think we can do this.>
=3DYou sure are in an optimistic mood tonight. What=92s up?=3D
Priss triggered the plasma cutter in her palm and began chopping=20
the boomer=92s armor up. <What? Just because I=92m not moping you think=20
something=92s up?>
=3DHah! I got it. You got to kick ass today. That always puts you=
in=20
a good mood.=3D
Not being able to argue the observation, Priss said nothing, but=20
began humming as she worked.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Priss saw the boomer head go rolling past as the village children=
=20
kicked it along and had to laugh. =93Now that=92s a nice sight.=94 She=
finished=20
lashing the final roof beam into place and swung down, landing easily=20
beside the half repaired hut. =93Okay, Reda, its ready for thatching.=94 She=
=20
saw the young man she was working with nod and then headed for the well.=20
The water was cold and clean, and Priss drank several dippers full before=20
filling a skin to take back to Reda.
It had been two days since the attack and the village was quickly=
=20
recovering. Priss had been helping them rebuild, learning a lot from them=20
at the same time. In return, Priss had been giving them a crash course in=20
boomer biology, teaching them where and how to strike the machines. Careful=
=20
manipulation of the metal she had collected from the boomer had resulted in=
=20
spear tips and arrowheads that should pierce the boomer armor.
She was very careful to explain that this knowledge came from her=
=20
tribe, wanting to make sure that no one else got the wrong idea about her.=
=20
Making it sound like everyone knew how to destroy the overlords, Priss=20
continued to encourage the villagers not to fear the machines.
The weapons were now spread out around the village, readily handy=
=20
in case of attack and Priss couldn=92t help but feel a strong sense of=20
satisfaction. The monsters in these people=92s lives weren=92t of their=20
creation, but they had to deal with them all the same. She watched the=20
children come running back, laughing and playing catch with the head.
Arashi knew what she was thinking. =3D It will take longer to find=
=20
the others that way.=3D
Priss shook her head and began to hand bundles of thatch up to=20
Reda. <Yeah it will, but I can=92t look Sylia in the eye and know that there=
=20
were people I could have saved but didn=92t. They=92re being hunted for=
parts=20
Arashi. From the looks of the deterioration of that spine, the replacements=
=20
don=92t last long, so the boomers need to keep harvesting=85 I can=92t walk=
away=20
from that.> Everything that the Knight Sabers stood for, all that Priss=20
believed was right and true was in danger.
The afternoon wore on and as the hut=92s roof neared completion,=20
Priss saw Mace walking towards them. She jumped off the roof, bouncing=20
lightly to absorb the force. =93Afternoon, Mace. What=92s up?=94
=93The scouts you sent out found signs of an Overlord to the east.=
=94
There was no censure in her eyes, but Priss winced anyway, knowing she had=
=20
taken a liberty. =93I=92m sorry about that. I wanted to ask you first but=
you=20
were out with the hunting party.=94
=93I only wonder why you want the information.=94
Priss shrugged. =93I found pieces of human inside that boomer, pieces that=
=20
were breaking down. If I=92m right then the Overlords are attacking to get=
=20
the parts that they can=92t build themselves. If it was taking two people=20
each time, then the odds are good there=92s another one out there somewhere.=
=20
And it=92s going to come looking for its buddy.=94
She leaned back against the hut she had just repaired and crossed her arms=
=20
over her chest. =93I need to move on, to keep looking for what=92s left of=
my=20
tribe. I can=92t do that until I know that you and your people will be safe=
=20
from the boomers.=94
Mace=92s expression was bewildered, =93Why should that matter to you? We are=
=20
not of your tribe.=94
The laugh that escaped Priss was soft. =93I know it seems strange to you,=
but=20
in our tribe=85 it is not honorable to abandon those in need. I guess you=20
could say I would be shamed in the eyes of my people. Besides, I happen to=
=20
enjoy kicking boomer ass.=94 Her grin was just this side of feral and Mace=
=20
blinked.
=93What do you propose to do about the Ov.. boomer?=94
=93Oh, I have some ideas.=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
For weeks, Priss drilled the villagers in the basics of=20
hand-to-hand combat. As they progressed, she taught them new ways to use=20
the spears they had previously used only for hunting and showed them the=20
advantages of a skillfully wielded staff.
Mace had not protested Priss=92 teaching and had instead eagerly=20
participated. As the day=92s classes ended, she waited until the others had=
=20
left before approaching Priss.
=93Would you take your evening meal with me, Priss?=94
=93Um, sure.=94 Priss blinked at the seriousness of Mace=92s tone.=
Why=20
are all the hairs on my neck standing up?
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
Priss entered Mace=92s hut, unsure of the leaders motivation and hoping that=
=20
she was simply being polite. I really hope that she wants to talk more=20
about boomers.
Once they were seated, Mace explained why she was there. =93I=92m getting=
old=20
Priss and that=92s not good for the tribe. We need a younger, stronger=
leader=20
that can guide us.=94
Seeing where this was going, Priss began to protest. =93Mace I can=92t-.=94
=93Please, hear me out. I know that you are committed to finding what=92s=
left=20
of your tribe, but once you=92ve done that, once you=92ve finished your=
quest,=20
I want you to return here and become our tribe=92s leader.=94
Priss was astounded at the offer. She didn=92t speak, trying to=
sort=20
this new development out in her mind.
Mace was contented to wait, knowing she had caught the younger=20
woman by surprise.
=93Mace, I=92m honored by your faith in me, but my search may take=
=20
years to complete.=94
=93And I will rule in those years. Perhaps another will be chosen=
as=20
leader before you return, but all I would ask for now is your promise that=
=20
you will return.=94
=93Alright. I=92ll return here when I=92m done, but I can=92t=
promise=20
anything more.=94
Mace nodded and held out her arm, which Priss took, sealing the=20
promise. =93Then that will have to be enough.=94 She smiled suddenly,=20
dispelling the seriousness of the moment. =93Now, about that boomer that the=
=20
scouts have been following=85=94
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
The boomer was moving west, in the direction of the village. Priss and the=
=20
group of hunters she had chosen were following at a safe distance. They had=
=20
taken turns getting close to the machine and then falling back, using the=20
boomer as a practice target. Priss held up a fist and the warriors stopped=
=20
behind her.
She motioned them to her and spoke quietly. =93Okay, its time to take this=
=20
thing down. Remember what I told you and you=92ll be fine. It=92s okay to be=
=20
afraid but if you feel like you can=92t do this then fall back so you don=92=
t=20
get in the way.=94 She could see the outrage in their expressions and knew=
=20
she had ticked them off. =93Don=92t confuse bravery with stupidity. There=92=
s no=20
shame in admitting that you can=92t do something. But if you let pride push=
=20
you into a situation you can=92t handle then others could get hurt. Be very=
=20
sure before you attack.=94 If Sylia could hear me now.
=3DShe=92d be laughing her ass off.=3D
=93You three go to the left, you three to the right. Reda, Mace and I will=
=20
come up from behind. When I give the signal we=92ll feign an attack and keep=
=20
it distracted. Then the rest of you move in and finish it off.=94
Priss gave a low whistle and then she was running, bursting from the bushes=
=20
and yelling wildly. The others were right behind her and together they=20
began throwing stones at the boomer, keeping its attention on them.
The other groups rushed in, spears ready and drove the weapons into the=20
machine=92s back. It howled in surprise and perhaps pain before a spear=20
thrust through its neck, severing the head. The boomer fell forward.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
The village was celebrating and Priss watched them, unaware of the almost=20
maternal expression on her face. <They did good and more importantly, they=
=20
learned that if they work together then they can do anything.>
Drums were rumbling throughout the village and Priss sighed, remembering=20
her last performance. <Miss that.>
Arashi chuckled. =3DSo what are you waiting for?>
<I think my music is a little out of date here.>
=3D Really?=3D Arashi quickly translated one of Priss=92 songs.
If you could look into
Someone's heart
Whose heart would you choose to look into?
If I could have seen your feelings then,
Where might the two of us be now?
I hate the setting sun, because
It makes me feel lonely, somehow
I won't forget that look in your eyes,
Which you only let me see
I won't forget your words
No one can live alone
When summer fades,
I remember you
I can never again be that happy
I hate tears, because
They wash everything away
I won't forget your gentleness
Which only I know
I won't forget your warmth
No one can live alone
Priss had to laugh. =93Okay I see you point. Maybe things aren=92t that=20
different.=94 She left the shadows of the trees and went to join the=20
celebration, to forget for a time, her own loneliness.
=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D|=3D
End Part 1
http://www.shehulk.net
'All the things I really like to do are either immoral, illegal or=
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- Alexander Woollcott
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