*****AUDIO FILE***** "Chapter 50 - Primoridial World - Audio File" [The White Raven, Chapter 50, Primordial World] [Research Facility, Planet Demonia] Prince Mischief sat in front of the observation window watching. The seed firestorms had ended six months ago, but the machine-monster had never come back. Mischief checked his wrist implant for the tenth time that day, it had been a year and a half ago when the machine-monster gave him the oxygen-spheres. “Where are you, machine-monster?” whispered Mischief to himself. All the oxygen-spheres were laid out in tunnels for hundreds of miles in every direction; it had taken a whole year to place them. The air was sweet and pure, for the most part - placing oxygen spheres in tunnels with… bad stuff… had been a mistake. Those tunnels Mischief had closed off because the air had started the decay of… bad stuff… where before they had been mostly mummified. “I want to go outside.” Mischief bounced back and forth on his feet and stared into the mist - that’s what was out there now, just mist. He could see the stars sometimes, but not often, the mist was thick and rolled across the ground like living shadows reaching out and devouring the ground. “That’s it, I’m going outside, it looks safe.” Mischief touched the glass, it was warm, but not hot. The thought to TD-jump to the other side of the window was a temptation, but maybe it would be better to do it a little at a time. Mischief headed towards the hanger bay, but he left the door open; he had all the doors open in the research facility to keep the air circulating. The little oxygen sphere was still spinning and making the whooshing sound of air. He had tried moving the sphere, the noise had gotten annoying after awhile, but that had been a serious mistake - it had taken almost a whole week to grow the skin back on his hands. The naylocliano moss was all dead now, first there were too many toxins and it was dying, now there wasn’t enough toxins left in the air to feed it. Mischief pushed the control button to open the launch tunnel doors and they swung aside. Mist poured into the bay in rolling clouds and filled the room to Mischief’s knees. He walked cautiously at first, but the way the mist parted around him was fun and he ran and jumped, making the mist swirl and part in paths only to collapse on itself again. Mischief didn’t even slow down at the entrance to the launch tunnel, too many years trapped in the research facility lent a sense of giddy freedom to the open air beyond. He danced and ran through the mist, happy to feel the clean air on his face. The ground was soft under his bare feet, a startling contrast to the hard floors inside the facility. Mischief ran until he stumbled on something hard, he tried brushing the mist aside and caught a glimpse of white concrete. There was a memory, something from long ago, but he remembered so little of what happened years ago. He remembered Ring, but not his face, he had forgotten what Ring looked like, it was too long ago. There had been someone else with Ring, a mean woman, but he couldn’t remember her name. Mischief walked along the concrete trying to remember what it was, he had only been six years old back then. “What else have I forgotten?” Mischief looked back at the research facility, the light from the window was just barely visible in the night. He remembered having a brother, but couldn’t remember what he looked like either. “What was my brother’s name?” The concrete ended and he was on soft ground again - it tickled his feet. Mischief knelt and ran his hand along the ground, it was grass. “I remember my name, I’m Zam, but I think they called me something else.” Zam pushed the memories aside, it had been too long, and he had been alone for all that time. The memories were just dim disjointed flashes of images in his brain. “I’ve been here forever, I’ve always been here,” whispered Zam. “Maybe those memories were just a dream. Did I dream having a brother?” The mist… it smelled so perfect… so sweet… I was created here. I’m part of this world. Zam sat in the mist and inhaled the sweet air - and his memories floated away. I am Zam. A sound alerted him and he glanced around. A clicking sound… then he saw it coming out of the mist. A beast that looked like a cat, a monster cat, with huge curved fangs hanging from it’s mouth. Danger. The cat was danger. Zam searched for somewhere to hide. There was a light in the distance, was that safety? Zam stood and started to slowly move towards the light, and then the cat saw him and charged. An instinct, he could get away. Zam concentrated and jumped towards the light. Yes, he could jump away from danger, but the light was still far away. Zam ran towards the light, and the beast chased him. Zam didn’t look back, but he knew the cat was right behind him and jumped to the side and kept running towards the light. The cat was confused to see it’s prey disappear, but re-acquired the small running boy and changed directions. Zam ran and jumped again at the last moment, and continued to run. The cat roared it’s frustration and searched for the allusive prey. Zam was close now and jumped into the light. The sound of the cat crashing into the glass was loud and Zam crawled further into the bright room. The glass held and the angry cat swiped it’s massive paws at the window, leaving deep grooves. The room was filled with the mist, something on the floor was trying to push the mist away. The room seemed familiar, had he been here before? He explored the room and found another window looking down on… large things that looked like birds. The thing on the floor was starting to clear the air and Zam shook his head, trying to remember. He almost had the memory of what those bird things down there were, but then the cat walked into the room below with the big metal birds. Danger. The light wasn’t safety, this place must be where the cat lives. Zam backed away towards the other glass with the outside beyond. A memory of this place was at the very edge of his mind… something familiar… the thing on the floor was clearing the air. Zam shook his head again, but then he heard the cat just beyond an opening in the wall. He couldn’t stay here. Zam jumped back outside into the mist and the memory that was almost there faded again. Zam turned and ran into the dark… into the mist. ***** [Seed Ship, Draekus Moon, Planet Demonia] “Are we at Phase three now?” “Yes, I gave the order earlier,” replies Ring carrying Corae into the room with him. “Hey, be careful with that stuff, it’s great for accelerating the growth of plant life, but it has a nasty side-effect on any humanoid with a vertebrae.” Vel has her hands inside protective gloves built into the glass enclosure. “I know, I’ve read the warnings, it causes disorientation, confusion, and even amnesia. You don’t think it can get inside the research facility?” “No, it has a thicker consistency than fog. The air pressure inside the research facility will keep it out,” replies Ring walking around the glass and looking at the plants inside. “I sent a message last year through a terraformer for Mischief to stay inside until it comes to get him.” Vel looked back at the plants she was working with. “I’ve recorded a 43-inch growth every 21 days,” says Vel. “By next year we’ll have a primordial jungle covering 73% of the planet.” “Okay, time to grow some oceans,” says Ring. “This is going to be a spectacular display,” says Vel. “The collection terraformers are ready to unleash hell on the planet.” Ring set Corae down and let her run and play, then checked the Vid-display of the terraformers waiting in orbit to begin reigning down the ice asteroids collected from the Hurein Belt beyond the Demonian solar system. “We have 410 billion cubic miles of water ready to drop,” says Ring. “Let’s do it,” says Vel pulling her hands out of the gloves and waving them dramatically in the air. “Unleash the ice-age.” “This will be a very short ice-age,” says Ring giving the command to start dropping the asteroids.” “Yep, two years,” says Vel. “The fog will super-heat when it comes into contact with the ice and start melting the asteroid fragments.” “It’s going to be a nasty two years,” says Ring. “Intense heat and cold coming together, I wouldn’t want to be in the middle of those storms as we get the water cycle started.” “I’m more amazed everyday with the Aedi figuring all this out and actually make it work,” says Vel. “I can see why it took them nearly a million years of research before they terraformed their first complete world.” “I think it’s more frightening that the Corax spent the same amount of time perfecting their war machines and developing a virus that could wipe out the entire Aedi species,” replies Vel. “For Goddess sake, the Aedi colonized countless galaxies.” “I can’t help wondering if some Aedi survived, or if there are other seed ships still out there.” Ring concentrated on the Vid-screen and gave the order to begin the rain of ice onto the planets dry ocean beds. Vel walked over and put her head on his shoulder. “Any new theories on why it has to be us giving the orders?” whispered Vel. “No, I’m still missing something in all this,” whispers Ring. “My only guess is that Draekus can’t execute any orders unless an Aedi gives the order.” Vel reached down and adjusted one of the asteroid’s trajectories, the current trajectory had been too close to a fault line. “You got to watch those, we don’t want to crack the planet,” says Vel. “Nobody likes a backseat driver,” replies Ring. “Dammit, look.” Vel points at several small asteroids being broken up for the plunge to the surface. “Draekus is altering some of their courses.” “We gave the order to begin the water cycle,” says Ring. “Now she can get involved.” Ring and Vel wanted to keep the asteroids out over the dry ocean beds, and away from Prince Mischief, but Draekus was altering some of the courses to drop them on dry lake-beds near the research facility. “That’s going to be a brutal impact, but he’s inside the research facility, he’ll be fine,” says Ring. “And he can always go deeper into the tunnels.” “I’m not as worried about him as I am the complex animal life we sent down three days ago,” says Vel. In a natural evolution system, the complex animal life wouldn’t develop until after the water cycle had finished and the planets water stabilized, but this wasn’t a natural system. The Aedi discovered that to simulate the chaos of a natural ecosystem and force the distribution of animal life; the two cycles had to be reversed in an artificial system. Without it, the animals would gather in clumps at the first source of water and the predators would destroy the delicate food chain. “We’ve introduced some nasty critters down there,” says Ring. “Had to,” replies Vel. “During the final phase when we introduce the most dangerous predator, the food cycle will adjust properly, but without the predators we put there… well… it would get ugly.” “The Demonians will prey on the largest predators, and likely cause several extinctions, but the lesser animal life necessary for the ecosystem will have time to flourish,” says Ring. Vel saw something on the list of predators Ring was trying to hide and pushed his hand away from the control panel. “You didn’t?” scolds Vel. “I thought we agreed to skip the Cretaceous Period.” “Have you ever seen a modern Demonian?” says Ring giving Vel a lopsided grin. “They’ll love having those to play with, it’s my special surprise for the Demonians - I’m saving their horns, they’ll love me for it.” “They’re supposed to lose their horns through evolution, they don’t really need them anymore,” argues Vel. “They'll need them now,” says Ring. “Oh Ring, you’re being silly,” replies Vel. “Velociraptors are incredibly dangerous.” “So are Demonians,” says Ring. “Welcome to Ring’s Prehistoric World.” “You do know Prince Mischief is down there,” scolds Vel. “Didn’t he say something about being a superhero,” replies Ring laughing. “He’ll be fine, he’s behind steel doors, and anyway, he only looks like a Kitsune, he’s more Demonian than not.” “That little superhero is the one down there, not you,” says Vel. “Maybe we should call it Zam’s Prehistoric World.” ***** [Albatross Dry-Dock, Eagle Province, Planet Darai] “That’s the fuel injector,” shouts Teal. “You’re insane, look, that’s a sonic pressure valve,” shouts Willet. “And since when do sonic pressure valves get connected to a fuel intake valve,” screams Teal. “You’re pointing at a sequencing valve,” screams Willet. Raen stood off to the side listening to the two mechanics screaming at each other. Raen didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to know these two were in way over their heads, they needed help, and that help was on the way. Raen stared at the valve they were arguing about - it looked more like an oxidizer intake valve to him. The Albatross was a mess, the entire back half was dismantled, and hull plates scattered the ground like discarded children’s building blocks. The old engines that came with the ship lay in pieces over a five acre plot of dirt, and the new engines rested in a cradle designed to hold them until installation. Raen wasn’t sure what was wrong with the new engines, but they certainly looked wrong. Pigs were likely to fly before those things ever did. Raen heard a Dart Ship approaching and glanced up. About time, here comes the cavalry. The Dart Ship landed in a cloud of dust, and the canopy opened. Lord Struthio stood up in the cockpit and looked at the ship, then at the new engines. Raen winced slightly, this was going to be painful. Lord Struthio didn’t bother waiting for a ladder and jumped to the ground and strode towards Raen, the anger on his face obvious. “So, this was your plan the entire time,” says Lord Struthio. “We’ve had this discussion before, have you forgotten that House Eagle is a subject House to House Struthio.” “No, my lord,” says Raen surprised that Lord Struthio had pieced together Raen’s plan so quickly and understood what was going on. “Yet you were going to exclude the rest of the House from your plans,” says Lord Struthio, his eyes narrow and angry. “I messed up,” says Raen. “You don’t need to chastise me like a child.” Lord Stuthio’s eyes softened slightly. “You of all people should know that the Ravens strength lies in all their Houses working together as one. We must be one united Struthian House. If you attempt to exclude me again, I will place a House Governor here to monitor you.” “Yes, my lord,” says Raen. “Alright, you’ve eaten enough mud for one day,” says Lord Struthio. “I can see what those engines are supposed to be for, who’s the physicist backing you?” Raen hands Lord Struthio the notebook with the equation. Lord Struthio opens the notebook and glances up. “Gordon and Son’s Paint?” asks Lord Struthio confused. “No, the equation is several pages back,” replies Raen. Lord Struthio flips the pages and reads the equation. “Brilliant, why didn’t we ever think of this before?” says Lord Struthio. “But, the equation is wrong, who is the physicist and when was this written?” “It’s a secret… Emperor Sionnach solved the equation when he was six years old,” replies Raen. “I should have known, Sionnach is a brilliant physicist, but he wrote this when Needle Ships were in production,” says Lord Struthio. “This equation would probably work on those old ships, but not on a Battle Carrier.” “Can you fix it?” asks Raen. “I can,” says Lord Struthio. “This is the way it’s going to work; House Eagle has gained enough experience to fill the supporting crew roles, House Struthio will take Command Positions with Admiral Clap shadowing my every move to learn how to be a Battle Carrier Commander, and House Cassoway will take the military role. Your Storm Wings will shadow Lord Cassoway until they have the experience to operate on their own.” “What do you want me to do?” asks Raen. “Do what you do best,” replies Lord Struthio. “This will be very expensive, get back to that senseless monstrosity you call a palace and make us enough money to build and operate this Battle Carrier.” “I can do that,” says Raen. “I have an idea to increase and diversify my holdings off world with a stock split and using the aggregate index of liquidity and equity in money markets, spreading a risk-free bond issued in three-month Treasury bills in the intramarket…” “Stop, you’re hurting my head,” says Lord Struthio. “I get nauseous thinking about how easy you make money. Trans-dimension equations are easy compared to your mumbo jumbo financial magic.” Lord Struthio turned away from Raen and descended on the hapless Willet and Teal still shouting at each other. “Everyone pipe it,” shouts Lord Struthio. “Put down whatever you are holding… yes, I’m talking to you… don’t look at Raen… I’m in charge… now put that down and step away from the rocket ship… you’re damn lucky you didn’t try to test fire those engines… you would have made a crater the size of your province… you… yea, up there on the ladder… did you hear me… get down from there… you… what’s your name… doesn’t matter… get on the horn and call Cass… tell him I want Team Dark Horse here within the hour… hey you… the spiked tailed lizard… don’t just stand there whipping your tail at me… get those hull plates moved… don’t you lower your horns at me you over-grown scaly gila monster… yea… that’s better mate…” Raen walked back to his truck and climbed in, feeling a little sorry for the crew of the Albatross. Lord Struthio was usually an easy-going person, but when it was time for business, he was a tough man to work for. ***** [Somewhere on Demonia] Zam lie on the rocks looking down at the creatures in the valley. They looked like dinosaurs, with huge mouths full of teeth, and very bright intelligent eyes. One of the creatures stood off to the side while the others ate one of the big cats. The creature looked like he was on guard duty, sniffing at the air and watching in Zam’s direction. Zam was pretty sure the beast knew he was up here somewhere, but Zam had kept very still so it wouldn’t know exactly where he was. The cats were definitely dangerous, but these things had taken down the cat with very little effort - Zam needed to stay away from them, but where could he go. There wasn’t any trees, just endless rocky hills covered with grass and a few saplings. The sky lit up and Zam looked up to see thousands of little streaks of light traveling across the sky. The creatures below in the valley also watched the streaks of light. The big jawed toothy creatures panicked and ran further out into the valley, and then the bright lights began striking the ground. The impacts didn’t cause much damage, a light shock wave rumbled through the rocks, and some debris was thrown into the air. Zam couldn’t know that the ice asteroids had been broken up in orbit by Terraformers and were now just muddy balls of frozen ice, or that the mud-ball comets were all around fifty feet in diameter. The damage from a low impact ice-comet strike would be minimal compared to the destructive power of the heavier mass of iron or rock, but there were so many of them raining down that it felt like a small perpetual earth quake. One of the mud-comets hit one of the creatures and it just vanished. Okay, the comets were dangerous if they hit you. The comets reacted violently to the mist swirling around on the ground and great clouds of steam rose into the air. Then a larger mud-comet hit the center of the valley and Zam ducked down just as the shock wave of ice particles roared past his head. Zam rolled off the rock just as a mud-comet struck the ground near him. The shock wave threw him into the air and slammed him back to the ground. The mud-comets were striking the ground at 600 mph, still a danger, but not nearly the danger of a regular comet striking at 30,000 mph. Zam rolled and stumbled back to his feet and ran as the sky filled with the dangerous balls of muddy ice. The mud-balls were falling all around him; he jumped and dodged and slipped in the melting ice. Zam was scared now, he had already jumped seven times to avoid the falling ice and was exhausted, wet, and covered with mud - rivulets of water cascaded over the now drenched hills. Zam slipped into one of the newly formed streams of water and was swept down a hill, rolling and spitting up water. Fortune was on Zam’s side as he crawled away from the flash flood of water - a tunnel entrance was right in front of him. He scrambled into the tunnel and crawled to the back where a door was. Zam stared at the door, but the memory of what the door was used for or where it went wouldn’t surface in his mind. He was confused and scared, there was no where else to go. Zam sat against the door and watched the mouth of the tunnel. The ice-balls of mud continued to fall, and then it just got worse. Tornadoes formed outside and roared across the entrance of the tunnel. Zam curled up in a ball and shivered in the cooling air.