Machine, page 5
part #1 of The Peradran Legacy Series
The line quickly became a mob in front of the stage. Everything from the outrageous to the ordinary could be seen pushing their way toward the front. Never the less the guards let the first in line on the stage; an average job of a minotaur.
The procession continued but Morbannon would now search the guild wagons again. They gave him a feeling, like they were the attraction now. They were set apart by the wandering crowds of Festival goers. The nearest guild was the masons. They stood in groups of three or so around the cart talking shop – they all had mugs. There seemed to be fewer people around this cart than the others but nothing seemed to stand out. Another cart seemed to stand alone; the Tanners Guild. Most of the guild members had a mug. Behind the cart there was a young woman dressed as a warrior, sword and all. She was arguing with a guild member; a middle-aged man in his late forties. She kept pointing at the man, gesturing widely and shifting the sword on her hip. She raised her left hand away from her sword, revealing her wrist. Gleaming there in the light was the Amulet, it was a tiny ruby charm. Morbannon moved toward the cart, immediately the young woman stood alert – she looked around, then at Morbannon. She pushed aside the man she was arguing with and unsheathed her sword. The man protested but she stood between him and Morbannon, sword at the ready. Morbannon continued his advance. Casually he reached out for the sword, placing his palm on the point of the blade.
“You,” he paused dramatically, “have something that belongs to me.” He nodded at her charm.
Cohiri clenched her opposite fist and released the sword. It hovered in the air, point still on Morbannon's palm.
Morbannon smiled. “I don't want to hurt anyone, just give me a chance to explain.” Cohiri smiled back, the light from the Amulet danced toward her finger tips.
“You will not take my Amulet - it is part of me now!” Her voice seemed to echo. For a novice she was quite powerful, enhanced by the Amulet of course. Morbannon's hand wavered just a bit and the sword broke the skin. He could feel the blade quiver with the taste of blood. Like most enchanted swords, Cohiri's craved battle. For what good would a magic sword be if it didn't. The nature of her sword differed from Morbannon's though. His could not function without the hand of its wielder. Cohiri's power was that of a Steel Wizard, young as she was. Cohiri was inexperienced and she knew it.
“Listen to me Cohiri…” He stressed the fact that he knew her name. “I only need the Amulet for one day, you can be present the entire time. Think of it as a chance to learn something.” Cohiri knew he told the truth but without the Amulet she was nearly powerless. To give away control would mean to be defenseless against the man before her. Her Dancing Sword alone was no match for his power.
As the thought entered her head Morbannon spoke again. “You are not as powerless as you think. As you have yet to learn Cohiri.” Morbannon's eyes grew dark. Arcane power answering his beckoning.
“I have little time. Withdraw your sword and listen to me.” The power flowed through his words and for a moment Cohiri let down her guard, nearly submitting to his command. She caught on and answered with a concentration of the Arcane. The sword moved as if it had been freed from unseen bonds, moving with the speed of her thoughts. Morbannon barely caught his balance as he drew his own sword to defend himself. He knocked away the sword with an advanced disarm move but the laws of combat had changed; there was no hand to disarm the sword from.
The assault continued. Morbannon was on the defensive, he had no time to assert his power directly at Cohiri. Until her attack they remained out of sight behind the cart. Now Morbannon was openly defending himself against an unmanned sword. The blades clashed together with a flurry of sparks. People backed away from the scene. Cohiri remained still, fists clenched. The glow from the Amulet was as bright as the moon casting a deep red shadow from behind the cart into the square.
The city guard made good their entrance; three of them arrived on horseback. They demanded the quarrel cease lest they all be thrown in jail. Cohiri willed the sword to return; it hurtled through the air directly into her hand. Morbannon was not going to give up that easily, he was too close. He dove under a horses belly, rolled to his feet then ran at Cohiri. He had to reach her before she released the sword again. Another horse was behind Cohiri. The guard ordered her to drop the sword. She dropped to one knee and rolled away from the guards reach. Now that she had revealed herself as a Wizard she knew she was dedicated to self preservation. The Lord’s Council was not lenient toward reckless magic users. Cohiri moved away from the guard, concentrating on the Amulet. Morbannon reached her before she could form a spell, their swords met. Morbannon pressed hard, forcing Cohiri to defend herself with the sword.
The guards closed in again, moving to surround the battling duo. Morbannon spoke quickly. “Follow me now if you want to escape the guards, more approach – look!”
Cohiri stole a glance toward the square. Four mounted guards were riding in on them. Quickly she returned her attention to Morbannon. Their swords were crossed, the blades were sliding along their edges causing sparks to fly.
“I don't trust you! Stay back!” Cohiri called on the Amulet for strength. She released the sword again. It danced from her hand slashing fiercely at Morbannon.
Without looking she ducked beneath a guards polearm. Her sword flashed, dancing above her head and into the guards chest. Returning in time to block a thrust from Morbannon's sword to her legs. Cohiri was surprised it attacked the guard, she was beginning to lose control of the sword; she didn't expect its battle-lust to be so great.
Cohiri faltered and the sword faltered with her, allowing Morbannon the advantage. He locked blades with the Dancing Sword and grabbed the handle. Flipping it in midair he forced it back into Cohiri's scabbard. She recoiled from the action as if it was thrust into her belly, so quick was the movement. She stared at Morbannon; his was one of the faces she saw when she discovered her power, there was no doubt. With a single word Morbannon grabbed Cohiri's hand. Arcane light filled the air and in an instant they were both gone. A little dust devil swirled where they stood. The injured guard fell off his horse. With nothing left to fight the stupefied guards rushed to their comrades aide.
High above, Morbannon regarded his captive. His magic suspended her; if he should release her she would fall to her death. Cohiri read the look in Morbannon's eyes, and she looked toward the ground far below and shuddered.
Above the rushing wind Cohiri spoke. “Why is my Amulet so important to you? Why didn't you just kill me?”
Instead of answering her Morbannon focused on the forest. They started to move at an appalling rate. The wind rushed by, stinging Cohiri's face. Barely a minute later they were descending on the forest. In a surge the trees were at their feet. Within the trees, lights could be seen. Shadows moved about the branches and voices could be heard. They were speaking in an exotic tongue.
“These are the Khapr of the Lalgoræ, they do not fear the Arcane here. I know one of them, when he returns he will help us. For now we must camp on the forest floor.” They descended slowly through the trees, passing layer upon layer of walkway and porch. The wandering shadows took no notice of them.
On the ground again Cohiri let out a sigh. She went to her knees and touched the earth with the palms of her hands. She wondered if she would ever be able to do that herself.
“Who are you?” Cohiri asked, still finding comfort from the solidity of the forest floor.
“My name is Kagen to my Lalgoran friend. To you I tell my true name; Morbannon. Pleased to meet you Cohiri.” Morbannon nodded his head in a good-natured manner and brushed his hair back with his hand.
It was dark on the forest floor – the moonlight barely filtered through the canopy of trees.
“We cannot build a fire here. We must move out from under the Khapr above.” Morbannon began to walk through the forest. Cohiri stood to follow, but she hesitated.
“Why should I follow you? You want my Amulet.”
Morbannon responded. “Only for a day. During which you may be present. Besides you may learn something about your power; its not all instinct.” He returned to where She was standing. “You are new at this; you should seek out an instructor.”
Cohiri nodded. “I'm going to An'gor. There I will find a teacher of the Arcane. I will use what comes naturally to get into an influential guild.” Her voice was enthusiastic and confident.
Morbannon responded conversely. “Your powers are raw, unrefined. Magnified by the Amulet. No guild in An'gor would accept you with such an item in your possession. They would expropriate it before they even talked to you. Seriously now young lady, don't you think it wise to lay low here, with the Lalgoræ? They would be very helpful in exploring your talents. You would also be able to return home. Things in Koroot will cool off quickly enough after the Festival.”
Cohiri absorbed Morbannon's words. Looking up into his face she said, “I can not return to Koroot; Ciltia also wants my Amulet and I don't think she has an offer quite like yours. Now that I have shown my power, the guards will be able to identify me. My sword probably killed one of them.” All at once the events of the evening caught up with her. She began to shake, it started with her hands and spread to her legs. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to recompose herself. Morbannon waited patiently with his arms folded over his chest. After a minute Cohiri stopped shaking but she continued to sob into a kerchief she pulled from her sleeve.
“I lost control... the sword acted without my will... why?”
Morbannon rubbed his chin, and asked, “How did you acquire the sword?”
Cohiri stopped sobbing and answered soberly. “I summoned it of course.” She drew it from her scabbard. It glowed slightly in the dark surroundings.
“Cohiri, you don't just summon a sword – a sword that dances on its own. You had to fight it didn't you? Of course. Because the sword is infused by a spirit. A free thinking spirit that can act on its own. If you are not powerful enough to control the sword, it will eventually control you; forcing you to do battle to satisfy its nature. If you are not wise enough to ease its desire for blood, you will become its victim.”
Cohiri held the sword stiffly, unfamiliar with such a weapon’s weight and feel. She thought she was just good at that sort of thing. She wanted the sword to fight, and fight it did. She didn't think about losing control to a battle-raged spirit. She carefully sheathed her weapon, reluctant to rely on it again.
Morbannon added, “I will help you; if I can reveal the spirit I may be able to work out a deal with it – a method of control that you can mutually agree on. If the spirit refuses it should be destroyed immediately. The sword is much like a curse after that if not destroyed. The spirit would surely be enraged for being forced into servitude.”
Cohiri was composed now and she regarded her charm; the ruby seemed unusually dim. She unclasped it from her wrist and handed it to Morbannon. It lay in his hand inanimately. He closed his fingers around it tightly and thought, 'Almost too easy'.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE BEGINNING
Since my return I had grown familiar with the new PPT and the world around me. But the Void was another story. We spent uncountable hours reviewing video. Studying digital recordings and discussing the Suit.
During the first study the Suit proved increasingly mysterious. Communication was nearly nonexistent, Neither we nor the Suit managed to express any thought to the other. The Suit did cooperate somewhat eventually. At first, when animated the Suit’s first action was to destroy. When there was nothing to fight the Suit turned on the inanimate. Smashing the walls of the isolation chamber into tinfoil. After a period when the isolation chamber was being repaired, the Suit was kept in operative status. During which time the inanimate Suit required a human to operate it – not being preprogrammed for such a simple task as walking to another room.
Access to the Suit was ingeniously simple; the front would open up and the arms and legs contained panels that would unfold open to allow entry. One needed only to step inside and fit their hands into the massive gloves. A special skin suit was required however and was wired with all the necessary servo-sensors.
When the isolation chamber was ready the Suit was deactivated again. Immediately it animated and began to pace the new chamber in the limited mechanical way that was possible for the Suit; from wall to wall, over and over. After about an hour of unchanged activity they witnessed the wildest phenomenon. The Suit stood still in the center of the chamber and opened its access panels – as if someone was to enter then. It remained like that for nearly ten hours; access panels open.
I watched the condensed video of the first day. From the time when I was unconscious until my return just before noon the next day. Nothing surprised me more when the video ended and I looked to the real time monitor. There I saw the Suit turn, face the camera and begin to gesture. Turning its hands in and out and locking the fingers together. Just like the red-cloaked figure in the Void. The Suit repeated the movement several times. Very precisely every action was copied. The scene lacked the mystical effect present during my revisitation to the Void the previous week. The hidden message was there in my memory ...this is real... I formed the image of the red cloaked man in my mind. The image stirred, the gestures were repeated.
The Void was real, there was no doubt. When I returned to the Void it was for mere moments. Perchance at the whim of the unknown red-cloaked figure. When I had returned, the ride home was nearly over. A ride that should have lasted an hour easily. Lena took no notice of my departure, which meant I was physically present with Lena all the while. But I was somehow transported perceptually into the Void. Altering my perception of the time differential between Earth and the Void. Not a trivial event in any method.
I returned my attention to the monitor. The Suit was still for now. I checked the audio output and had to turn it up. The echo of the ventilation panel sounded through the speakers. It sounded like an empty room.
Every so often the Suit would move imperceptibly; a servo would drone or click subtly each time. If I watched closely enough I could see a finger move or wrist turn slightly. Each movement had its own unique sound that echoed slightly through the speakers.
Just then Alan walked into the room. He carried in his hand a briefcase. “Hey Eric, anything new?” He indicated the monitors with his eyes.
“As a matter of fact, yes. I just witnessed something that relates to the episode I told you of last week. The red cloaked man - his gestures were duplicated by the Suit.”
Alan raised an eyebrow. He then moved into a chair beside me and rolled over to the replay monitor. “Where's it at? You got it?” I handed him the note pad with the counter position logged on it.
“Thanks.” He took it from me and read the description aloud. “Hand and wrist movement, digit articulations – repeated several times.” He then tapped in the counter position for the video playback. He watched intently as the Suit turned to the camera and began its somatic foreplay.
He said, “I see what you mean, very interesting. This rates pretty high on the weird scale. You sure the gestures are the same?”
I answered assertively. “Yes I'm sure. Positive. I wish I knew what it meant.”
On cue the speakers sounded loudly. On the monitor the Suit had opened its access panels. Save for the left arm. There the panels were closed. It motioned with that arm to come in. To come into the Suit. The Suits padding inflated and deflated in quick gasps, filling the speakers with its rhythm.
Alan said aloud, “You know, this attempt at communication makes it obvious.” He paused to see if I knew what he was going to say, I didn't. He continued, “Its obvious that we must try to communicate back. Maybe we could try sign language or symbols. Which reminds me, this is yours.” He handed me the briefcase. “Open it.” I did; inside was a mobile phone and a stack of papers. An ID clipped to an envelope, and a fancy pen set. “You'll find some photos at the bottom. They are of your re-entry. Very good quality. There should be a key also, for your new office.”
I was still thinking about the Suit and the connection to my episode. “How does it see?”
Alan was a little surprised by the question. “What?” He asked cleverly.
“The Suit, does it have a camera?” I didn't know. That small detail was part of the mission's few diminutive elements.
“Yes. There is a small fisheye camera on the helmet.” He stretched out to point at the monitor. “Right there.”
I used the zoom tool to get a closer view of the helmet and there it was. In the center, like a tiny eye designed into the helmets curvature.
The access panels were still open but the Suit no longer gestured to enter. It stood rigid and the panels in the left arm opened. Tiny servos whined during the action. The dull yellow-tan padding continued to breath in a slow ominous rhythm. Over the surface of the expanding tissue there coursed fine silver sensor circuits as would be vessels, coming together and separating, again and again hypnotically. The micro pumps not completely in chorus but just out of sync and sounded like a series of staged mechanical sighs. It was like watching a sea creature display in slow motion. The padding in the panels breathed slower than the padding in the main frame. Making the Suit look more alive than it should.
“It hasn't done all that before!” Alan's voice was alive with amazement.
The scene was made complete by the audio of the tiny compressors sighing like electronic lungs. The Suit was alive. There was no doubt. In its own unique way, it was sentient.
Alan relaxed in his chair. “This stuff is amazing. Theo is very happy. He reviews our findings daily. Everything is nice and neat. He's talking about another mission. To test the time differentials. We have a new design for the Void Suit. The crew is finishing the programming as we speak. Kevin has agreed to pilot the mission. His task is to enter the Void and leave thirty seconds later, his time. If our math is correct, Kevin should reenter our space roughly three hours later – our time.”
