Image by
Pete Linforth from
Pixabay
Cyber Labyrinth
Norman and Sarah walked to the top of a small hill. Norman scanned
for metal in the hopes of finding another access port and, hopefully, food and
water for Sarah. The android looked momentarily puzzled.
“What is it, Norman?” Sarah asked. “Can I do anything to
help?”
“Not at the moment, Sarah,” Norman replied. “I was
momentarily stymied, as I believed I would be scanning for metal versus organic
material. However, I will have to adjust my sensors to scan for a specific type
of metal instead.”
“Why?” Sarah inquired, suddenly feeling as if she might
scream at any minute.
“Because everything beneath the surface layer of this sphere
is metal, so scanning for metal was as if I had gone anosmic and was attempting
to sniff for food. It was as if all the food suddenly smelled like gelatin.”
“Why do you suppose everything under the surface of this
planet is metal?” Sarah wondered.
“I do not think this is a planet at all. I believe it is
some sort of space station which has been terraformed and given an atmosphere
in order to make it appear to be a planet. The effect is Barmecidal once one
realizes the truth.”
“Do you suppose it was designed by the same inept
technicians who built a scientific base inside a dormant volcano only to have
it break apart and, hopefully, send its occupants on an astrovagant journey
rather than having them burn up in a flood of molten lava?”
“I sense similarities in the construction of this station
and Base Lust-69. Please do not be afraid, Sarah. It is my intention that we
shall converge with our companions who were sent on other trajectories. I will
work tirelessly towards this goal and, surely, it shall be accomplished.”
“I’m not sure that can happen, Norman. We don’t even know
where we are.”
“We will find out, just as soon as I acquire you some food and
water. Together we will work towards this goal, Sarah. Between my computational
and processing software and your intelligence, we are certain to discover a
solution.
Sarah’s eyes welled up with tears.
“I’m afraid I’ll never see Julie or Dale or Marc again, and
you’re trying to put rose-colored glasses on my eyes and blind me to the truth!”
Sarah snapped. “If you really think that we can find a way to reunite with our
companions, then do it! Prove me wrong, don’t tell me another lie. Please!”
Norman located another access door. This one had stripes
painted on it.
“If I had a shovel, maybe I could help you get in,” Sarah
suggested, feeling bad about snapping at Norman.
“It is secured with a titanium lock,” Norman noted. “In
order to best breach the lock, I will need to make it cold. This should make
the tumblers more responsive to my pick.”
“Norman, I think I hear water running,” Sarah stated. “I’m
going to go see.”
“Sarah, a moment! I nearly have the lock breached! Please, I
advise you not to go anywhere without me in this unknown territory!”
Ignoring Norman’s warning and her previous training dating
all the way back to her days as a Brownie, Sarah capered down the hill with a manic
grin lighting up her face. She stopped at the edge of a glistening stream so
clear that she could see the sunlight glancing off what appeared to be emeralds
embedded in the sand. Sarah was terribly thirsty. She cupped her hands and
drank.
“Sarah, I’ve found something incredible!” Norman announced
as he hurried down the hill. “Quickly, you must come and see!”
Sarah suddenly leaped up, assuming an exaggerated martial
arts stance.
“Who are you, Metal Man?” she demanded.
“Oh dear,” Norman sighed, sticking his finger into the
stream and running an analysis. “Well, at least the water isn’t poison and the
effects should wear off in a couple of hours. This is fairy water. It should
have a similar effect to psilocybin, which does not explain your sudden display
of fear and aggression towards me. Oh…but this might. You ate a piece of this
necro-mushroom, did you not?”
“What’s it to you, you metal wise guy?” Sarah sneered,
approaching Norman and poking her finger against his chest. “There’s nothing
you can do to me! Oh, you thought I was dead when you and your crew of titanium
thugs mowed me down during that home invasion, but the savvy scientists at Base
Lust-69 rebuilt me, and now I’m fucking bullet-proof! Nobody puts Sarah Swallows
in a corner! Try anything and I’ll put you on the scrap heap, you rust bucket!”
Norman scanned his database and, although Sarah was something
of an enigma, he found nothing to confirm the home invasion that she alluded
to, and he was already aware that her body contained no bullet-proof material
of any kind. He reached his hand towards her.
“If I had any desire to harm you, I’d obviously have reason
to fear your retaliation,” Norman said. “However, I am here to help you. I
assure you I was not involved in the home invasion you describe. The first time
you encountered me was at Base Lust-69. I am your friend, Sarah. It is my top
priority to ensure your safety. I assisted you in escaping when the base
collapsed, and now it is my mission to assist you in reuniting with your
companions. I believe I may have found a way to access the various components
of this space station. Won’t you come with me? When your mind is back to its
normal functioning, you will be able to assist me.”
“Very well, you certainly don’t seem like the sort who would
break in and blow innocent people away,” Sarah agreed, although she continued
to regard Norman with suspicion.
~Cie for Naughty Netherworld Press~
Prompts Used:
Word Salad:
1. Who Are You
2. Break Apart
3. Water
4. Anosmic- absence or loss of the sense of smell
5. Stripes
6. Scream
7. Shovel
8. Barmecidal- giving only the illusion of plenty;
illusory:
9. Station
10. Help
11. Converge
12. Specific
Gelatin
Prove me wrong, don’t tell me another lie. Please..
ASTROVAGANT
[adjective]
travelling through space; traverse through stars.
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This is a chapter from Naughty Netherworld Press' exciting new WIP, Cyberia, due for release on 8 August 2019.
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