By David C. Daoust
High above the frigid tundra, the small ship soared through the clear blue skies. The vehicle was in an area uninhabited by the denizens of Twin Crown. That is, by the living breathing humans of Twin Crown. The Droids, however, had an entire city at this regions center. A center also known as this moon’s north pole. The core of this machine-city was the Ark Temple, a structure built to kick off the terraforming processes that turned this previously dead rock, into a habitable moon.
To those in the ship itself, it was just a distant machine, a cold unliving device that did its function, morning, noon, and night, without their concern or intervention. These were men of the newly formed governing body known as the United Moons. This put Judge Raymond Haul on this vehicle, surrounded by other civic leaders that happened to be taking a tour of their moon, Twin Crown. To some a stolen moon, considering its deed of ownership was in none other than the Red Faction’s hands.
Raymond Haul was among those that rose up, revolted against the Confederation that ruled over the Onion; the very Confederation that empowered the Red Faction’s claim to their moon.
Truly, a conflict that had not yet actually come to fruition.
The ship soared in low over the machine-city, droids marching through the streets like the many separate cells headed through one’s own body, functioning for the whole in their deeds. Considering, the Arks and their droids were such a mysterious force, these human observers could only hope they worked in the human’s best interests. Not hope— trust. They could only trust. An unwavering trust their entire civilization was built around. No one doubted the Arks. No one considered them a threat, any more than one would expect their own heart to work against them.
The Ark Temple itself came into view. To those aboard, Raymond included, such a temple stood completely empty of human life. Not a soul would be found below. So, the tour continued, circling the rarely witnessed structures as plans were being made for their defense. Put simply, this temple could prove a weak point in the coming conflict. If it were compromised the consequences would be dire.
It was a strategic point, they all agreed, that would need to be guarded once the Red Faction fleet made their arrival.
Raymond found his attention stolen as the chatter came over the comm device.
It called him away from the current tirade of arguments on how to achieve their objectives… And a welcome respite from the bickering. News of a massive ship, news of the Blue Family Rover. The overly intimidating, Raymond, silenced the room with his interest in hearing the comms. He crossed the small cabin swiftly to turn it up.
They were all surprised at the news. A large ship had invaded the air space. In fact, the ship had made moon fall. Which pretty much threw all their current precautions into the air, along with their hands, as they registered the news. This massive ship should not have been able to make moon fall without these exact men approving it.
They were all fairly stifled as Raymond redirected the ship to the coordinates given.
Whether or not anyone saw the small form appear from the temple’s inner chambers as the small ship jetted out of the region, was most certainly a no.
No one saw the distant figure, waving arms high in the air.
For surely, they would immediately render aid to a solitary living being– stranded within a city of machines.
Discussion ¬