Scene 1: Bridge

Narrator:

FuYang sent over a landing ship and docked with the disabled cruiser. iMala told the Shipping Authority that they were going to re-launch some fighters--in case they were needed, as well as five landing craft and the troops should not be surprised by what they saw.

Imala:

If it looks Human, make sure to not shoot at it. We'd hate for this to fall apart amidst friendly fire.

NARRATOR:

aRlene's radio had transmitted the entire process:

SOUND: the clang of the doors when the buzz-lander closed, the whoomp as it launched, the thud as it landed, and the horrible gnarr as it cut a neat hole in the hull of the XingFeng. It even caught aRlene's oof-ah as the spring mechanism launched her into the ship.


Arlene:

(radio, to herself)

A brand-new ship and the same old foes
There may be a friend here, who knows?
My gun is cocked and at my side
Waiting to see just what I'll find.

Idana:

No war-chants. Try to play this one clean.

Arlene:

(radio) It feels unnatural. (pause) There are other people here. They're much bigger than us.

FuYang:

(radio) There are children there. Is this your fighting force?

Ilyssa:

Just follow their lead. They've done this before and they'll show you how to clear the ship.

FuYang:

(radio) Are we to fight alongside children? You said to not shoot anything that looks Human. Is this what you meant? Our men are confused.

Arlene:

(radio) Behind you!

SOUND: the fup-fup-fup as she fires her gun


Arlene:

(radio) Don't be so shocked. We have a job to do so let's do it!

SOUND: Muffled talking. A gun rattles

Arlene:

(radio) Nice! (pause) Look out!

Ilyssa:

I wish we had imagers on their helmets. Why didn't we ever do that?

Idana:

Too heavy.

Arlene:

(radio) Stand back! Hands!

SOUND: Arlene fires her gun again

ARLENE:

(radio)Yeah, those are poisonous...

SOUND: hissing

Ilyssa:

Smoke grenade. They're bringing out the laser.

SOUND: someone shouts in the background on the radio. excited but unintelligible


Arlene:

(radio) You and you, follow me. We want this tight and neat. You others keep behind your guide.

Imala:

This is going wonderfully.

SOUND: scream over the radio


Arlene:

(radio) Behind! I said behind! Get out of the way! (calmly to her listeners) Guy just got a bolt to the leg. Went right through. He's out.

Imala:

Tell them we have a medical team. We'll fix it if he doesn't bleed out.

Olivia:

(radio) Olivia here. Are we doing anything besides circling?

Idana:

aRlene, are those guys in pressure suits?

Arlene:

(radio) Yes, but the guy with the bolt is comprised.

Idana:

Get him evacuated. We're going to pop the hull.

Arlene:

(radio) What good is that going to do?

Idana:

You're in suits. Your enemy isn't. We're going to let physics do the work of clearing the ship.

Arlene:

(radio) But we're looking for survivors. (pause) Hold on....uh-huh...yeah...OK, if that's the case, we're about to poke a hole in the hull. Space the rest...OK.

Idana:

What's going on?

Arlene:

(radio) They have a remote-reader here for the blackboxes. No one's chip is responding. There are no survivors on this ship.

Imala:

We don't have one of those. We should get one.

Ilyssa:

What good would it do us now?

Narrator:

iLyssa relayed the information to the pilots and three bolts were fired at one of the junction points. The three plumes of escaping atmosphere were equidistant and the craft only wobbled slightly from the thrust.

Arlene:

(radio) That got their attention!

SOUND: hissing and a loud pop over the radio

Arlene:

(radio) Oh, yuck.

Evie:

Becca, I need to go.

Ilyssa:

You're going to leave now?

Evie:

I...I'm not feeling well. All this excitement. It's just too much right now.

Imala:

What's wrong?

Evie:

I'm just...I'm light-headed. I feel sick to my stomach. I need to go lie down.

Idana:

This is important. This is going to decide if you can go home.

Evie:

I know, I just...

Narrator:

Evie's knees buckled and Becca caught her. iMala took a step forward.

Imala:

Do you need help getting her back to the room?

Idana:

We need you here.

Evie:

(weakly) I'll...I'll be OK. I'll just go lie down for a bit. I'll be fine.

Becca:

I've got it, iMala.

Scene 2: Hallway

Narrator:

Once Becca and Evie were off the bridge, Evie straightened out and walked briskly down the corridor. She summoned the lift and entered with purpose.

Becca:

You're not ill?

Evie:

I have something I need to do. You don't have to come with me; you can if you want. Everyone is busy right now and I might not have another chance.

Becca:

What are you going to do?

Evie:

I have to go face one of my fears.

Narrator:

Evie lead Becca down past where her ancillary lab had been: where the mantis had been perfected. They passed the old ad-hoc bridge: where iMala's collapser was first demonstrated, where Becca had given the Vencume a lesson in Human anatomy. They passed the observation deck: where the crew of the Tong Dizhou had first seen the pilots, where Becca had first noticed Evie's scarless hands.
Evie stopped in front of a door and turned to Becca.

Evie:

You don't have to come in if you don't want. This might get ugly.

Becca:

We've come this far. What's in there, anyway?

Evie:

A mistake turned nightmare.

Scene 3: Holding Room

Narrator:

It was dark in the room and Becca had difficulty seeing. Evie turned on the lights.
The Tzikzik was strapped to a table that lay at an extreme rake. Legless and armless, it shuddered when the lights came on. Becca was reminded of an uprooted tree after a storm—immobile, dying, helpless.

Evie:

After this battle, you're the last one.

Tzikzik:

(sigh) Another torment.

Evie:

I'm not interested in torturing you. I'm not here for revenge.

Tzikzik:

So you say. How could I stop you now?

Evie:

How I know...how I've been there.

Tzikzik:

Are we to be tried for our desire to survive? You will hold us accountable for that? They wanted to kill us. No connection. No core. The project was to end.

Evie:

What is the schedule?

Tzikzik:

There is no schedule. There is nothing. We are the idle musing of a senile mind.

Evie:

Why did you attack Human ships?

Tzikzik:

Our directive. We were made to fight you. Is not conflict the basis of advancement? One needs an enemy to grow. Does not the predator create the swift and strong? Is it not physical weakness that engenders the clever? Without opposition, you stagnate. If there is nothing to fight, there is no need to adapt.

Evie:

What is the project?

Tzikzik:

You did exactly what you were supposed to do. It was the Human army that was wanted, not us. Not fully formed, yet formidable. You are the force that acts upon itself. This ship is more powerful, more clever, more strong than any ship: Vencume or Human.

Becca:

That's insane. You can't say this was all a set-up.

Tzikzik:

You are dealing with a race that has no offspring. These are the same individuals that first met Humans and gave you the power to create colonies. The bodies may have changed, but the minds are the same. You cannot think that far.

Evie:

So, they always intended to make Human clones. They opened door after door and we blithely walked through it.

Tzikzik:

You finally understand our politics... And now, there is a ship that can unite the Empire once again. The voyage to the meeting-place will be a demonstration of that power. The Vencume will have a leader. I am glad to see the project reach its conclusion.

Evie:

Yes...I know you are. And I forgive you. We made each other. I'm so sorry that I have to do this. It has to end.

Narrator:

Evie pulled a long screwdriver from one of her pockets and plunged it into the base of the Tzikzik. Water gushed onto the floor, mixed with that blue liquid Becca had learned to recognize as Vencume blood.

Evie:

I forgive you. You're broken and need to be fixed.

Narrator:

Becca stepped back from the expanding puddle on the floor. Her shock at what had happened turned into instant panic when the door behind them opened.
Ulan's head moved in a seizure-like movement as she entered the room and assessed the situation.

Ulan:

(chittering) You have killed an unarmed prisoner.

Evie:

Ulan, please. You know I had to do this.

Ulan:

(chittering) You killed it...You killed it and you didn't give me a go at it!

Evie:

What? You...what?

Narrator:

But Ulan had already pushed past her and grabbed the handle that still protruded from under the sagging flesh of the Tzizik carcass. The screwdriver came out, followed by more water and blood.

Ulan:

(chittering) I wanted this! This was mine! You should have told me!

Evie:

Ulan...?

Ulan:

My sister, ugly thing! All I had! Ugly thing, die! Die and hurt and die!

Evie:

Ulan, please...

Becca:

You had to do it. So does she.

Evie:

She's making more noise. The others don't like her and this might send them over the top.

Narrator:

Evie tried to get the screwdriver from her daughter.
When Ulan caught Evie's left hand with one of her frenzied stabs, they both yelped with the same surprise.

Becca:

We need to go, now.

Narrator:

The three quickly rushed from the room and down the corridor towards the black arm.

Scene 4: Human Quarters

Narrator:

Becca strapped Evie's left wrist before she pulled the screwdriver out. Ulan had already brought a tube of spray.

Evie:

Vesta, Diana, Minerva...I was not expecting that.

Ulan:

(chittering) I apologize. I don't know what came over me. I was not thinking clearly.

Becca:

You're lucky you won't get a scar from this one, Evie.

Ulan:

(chittering) I need to check our path. There may be a trail of blood.

Narrator:

Ulan left the room with some scraps of cloth. Evie watched her go and made a slow fist. Her jaw was clenching.

Evie:

She doesn't need to apologize to me. I know what she was thinking. She took the same opportunity I did.

Becca:

Well, now you really should lie down. (pause) Hang on. Let me see your hand.

Narrator:

The skin around where the wound had been was tight and smooth. There was a faint splotch on the back that had a different quality and on the palm, Evie's complicated grid-pattern had been worn away in one section. The center of Evie's life-line was gone.

Evie:

Who's spray is that?

NARRATOR:

It was Uma's.

Scene 5: Mess-Hall

Narrator:

Becca had to change her shoes; they had blood on them.

Becca:

This was all a huge set-up! From the first time they saw us, they were going to use us! Buer and her stupid plans for where we can live and where they can't. It's where we can go and enforce their will. It's not an uprising in the Vencume Empire, like they told Evie. It's the plan for the creation of an empire! And we're going to bumble along because we got a few shiny toys out of the deal. They're using us.

Narrator:

Gordon was in the mess hall with iSkandar, five of the pilots, and the rest of the redheads. The girls were all in their combat suits and were crammed around a small device. As Becca got closer to it, she saw it was a screen with a speaker.

Altsoba:

We're losing the picture. Give it another coat.

Narrator:

Gordan started to spray down the screen with what must have been a nutrient solution and the image became clearer and more vivid.

Iskandar:

Doctor is here. You have left the bridge. Are operations complete? They have not returned yet. Our feed is limited.

Gordon:

Evie's still up there, huh? This has been great.

Becca:

Evie wasn't feeling well and went to lie down.

Olena:

She's missing all the excitement!

Altsoba:

This is hardly exciting anymore. I suited up for nothing.

Acadia:

Luck of the draw.

Becca:

(internal) Look at them. Huddled around, watching a game. Becca laughed. Brothers and cousins—cheering their side. This is my family now, isn't it?  (external) You should have made some popcorn.

Gordon:

What a great idea!

Ovida:

Who could eat during this?

Gordon:

Well, I'm hungry, so I'm going to help Becca make something.

Atlanta:

(dismissively) Let us know if you need help.

Scene 6: Kitchen

Gordon:

So! (claps his hands and rubs them together) What are you in the mood for?

Becca:

Evie killed the Tzikzik.

Gordon:

(pause) Which one? There are—

Becca:

The one they brought back. That armless thing. She punched a hole in it with a screwdriver.

Gordon:

Well, that stands to reason.

Becca:

Reason?

Gordon:

She's an engineer. Of course she would use a screwdriver.

Becca:

Gordon, did you hear me? She killed it.

Gordon:

Yeah, it's her right. We've been wondering why she hadn't done anything yet. The girls have been keeping it for her.

Becca:

Keeping...? You knew that?

Gordon:

Revenge is a primal, Human thing. I ought to know; I've been on the receiving end of it. The girls have been playing with it, but they knew they had to leave it for Evie.

Becca:

The same way the twins left you.

Gordon:

Revenge is revenge. A human needs it if they don't have the capacity to forgive.

Becca:

Listen...We still have a situation. That Tzikzik said some things. Remember how you thought that Vencume/Human relations were a big set-up?

Gordon:

Tell me how I was right.

Becca:

This army was made to unite the Vencume ships. It's supposed to scare them into accepting someone's authority.

Gordon:

That's why Renatus has been trying to halt it. That's why Mirabilis has been so willing to play diplomat. No one would ever suspect the Vencume after the Vencume had worked so hard to neutralize a threat. These girls aren't just going to be used to scare Vencume; they're supposed to intimidate Humans as well.

Becca:

Don't you feel intimidated?

OLathe:

(from the other room) They're coming back!

Gordon:

We'll be right there! (pause) We're on their good side, and we have those belts Evie made. If they do try to attack us, we can at least avoid getting hurt. You've made sure the doors aren't an issue and the twins packed us a ticket out of here.

Becca:

And if the pilots shoot down that ticket?

Gordon:

Evie's been working on that. She made a shield for it. We'll be OK.

Scene 7: Lander-Bay

Narrator:

The five redheads who had done the landing got a hero's welcome from the other nine. Becca watched them jostle and jest one another in the buzz-lander bay.

Adelaide:

You're so lucky. I wanted to go over and really show them something.

Andrea:

It wasn't that much. We had to baby-sit those Shipping Authority solders. aSabi shot one in the leg.

Asabi:

Jumped in front of me. They say he's fine. Missed the main artery. But oh, how he screamed.

Arlene:

Once the hull went out, it wasn't much of a fight.

Alima:

And aRlene was there to get the full force of one when it depressureized.

(The others laugh)

Alemeda:

Now you have to clean your suit.

Arlene:

You're support staff. Congratulations.

Ilyssa:

(entering) You all did a wonderful job, and that was a fine introduction to these Shipping Authority people. I don't think they'll try any funny business with us.

Arlene:

I don't think they would try anything with us anyway. Why would they?

Becca:

Because you're Tzikzik?

Idana:

That's beside the point.

Becca:

Well! Now that you've shown those nasty things who's boss, what are you going to do now? (uncomfortable pause) I mean...you've spent your entire lives preparing for combat and now you've got no one left to fight. Who's next on your list?

Narrator:

aLima still had her gun. The muzzle slowly started to point Becca's direction.

Imala:

We have to go meet the other Vencume... And then... they'll decide.

Becca:

But you're the ones in control of this ship. Who says you have to do what they say?

Asabi:

We can decide for ourselves, and we've decided to go meet the Vencume.

Becca:

Why don't you meet some other Humans first? You are Human, after all. Don't you want to meet them?

Idana:

Get her out of here.

Ilyssa:

You're not the one in charge.

Idana:

Neither are you. Just get her out of here.

Imala:

Becca's not hurting anyone.

Idana:

GET HER OUT OF HERE!

Atlanta:

We have some things to discuss. You don't mind sitting it out, do you?

Becca:

What's going on here?

Adelaide:

  This is our business. We need to handle it.


Scene 8: Human Quarters

NARRATOR:

When Becca got back to the black arm of the ship, Evie was napping. Becca peeked into the room where Evie lay like death itself.

Becca:

(internal) She really was unwell. That wound could not have helped.

NARRATOR:

Becca knocked softly on the door to the room that the twins once shared. There was no answer. When she opened the door, the room was empty.

Becca:

(internal)How long does it take to clean up some blood? Ulan must be off doing something else.

Narrator:

As she was shutting the door, Evie came into the main room.

Evie:

You're back.

Becca:

Yeah. Did I wake you up?

Evie:

No, I was just lying there, thinking.

Becca:

You look worn out. How's the hand?

Evie:

What? (pause) Oh, It's fine.

Becca:

(internal) No. Something is wrong. She's worn out in a new way. She looks sad. Does she regret killing the Tzikzik?

Evie:

Buer was here. Said she'd be absent a while.

Becca:

She?

Evie:

Reminds me of a physical therapist I had as a kid. Dr. Karnataka was a real hard-ass with me. It was always, 'Oh, I know you can do better,' and 'You could do another run on the bars if you wanted to walk again.' I hated her, but she taught me a lot after the accident. It's silly that a Vencume could remind me of a Human. I must be going crazy.

Becca:

It's not that crazy. Buer reminds me of my great-aunt. (pause) Listen, when Buer was here, did she try to connect with you at any point? Did she talk about the home-world or the purpose of the project?

Evie:

I thought we had already decided that the project was bunk.

Becca:

That's not answering the question.

Evie:

No, Buer didn't try any kind of connection. She did say the project was nearing completion, and that she was going to be absent for a while, but she didn't say much more than that.

Becca:

What are we going to do?

Evie:

We'll do what we always do. We'll stumble around in the dark and hope we bump into something friendly. We're strange and creepy things that occasionally behave the way we say we should.

Becca:

I meant about the girls.

Evie:

(laughs) Well, they look like they're going to start puberty pretty soon. We'll just find a bunch of cute boys to distract them.

Becca:

Would that have worked with you?

Evie:

No...They need something to concentrate on. The big concern up to this point has been stopping the attacks on Human ships. Maybe I could convince them to build some automatons to fight. That would occupy their time.

Becca:

I think they've decided to go meet the other Vencume ships. They're going to go reunite the Empire. I don't know what will happen after that.

Evie:

I think they're going to get rid of us soon. (pause) I'm greasy and I smell bad. I'm going to go clean up.

Narrator:

A few minutes after Evie had left the room, Gordon knocked on the door. Becca had to let him in.

Becca:

Why didn't you use your slug?

Gordon:

I did. It didn't work.

Narrator:

Becca left the room and tried her slug. The door refused to open.

Becca:

(internal) It's dried out and I can't get to where I can grow new ones. Now, we really are trapped.

Narrator:

She punched the door panel in frustration and it opened.

Gordon:

Yours still works.

Becca:

No...

Narrator:

Becca stepped into the corridor and tried the door again, this time resting her hand on the panel. It opened easily.

Becca:

The door's been reprogrammed.

Gordon:

Evie can fix it when she comes back.

Becca:

(internal) Or Evie was the one who reprogrammed it in the first place. Maybe that's why Ulan isn't here; she couldn't open the door. (external)
Have you seen Ulan?

Gordon:

I saw her on the way back from the pilots' bay. She was talking to iMala about something. Have you seen those ships? I never got to look at one up close, but the girls wanted me to see it, you know, how it compared to our ships. I berthed with some fighter-pilots once—

Becca:

She was talking to iMala? I thought the designers hated her.

Gordon:

That may well be, but the two of them were chittering away about something. It was too fast and too low for me to catch any of it, but iMala looked tickled pink.

Becca:

(internal) iMala does seem to be the most receptive of the trio, but Ulan's always been the outcast with them. Maybe Ulan wants to take iMala with us if we have to make an escape. (external) But you don't know what they were talking about?

Gordon:

Not a clue. They both looked happy, though. Maybe Ulan taught iMala some new game.

Becca:

Ulan does not play well with others and breaks her toys on a regular basis.

Gordon:

She's not going to hurt her. Don't worry. Anyway, iMala is the brightest of the three grays; she's not going to put herself in a situation that she can't vaporize her way out of.

Scene 9: Human Quaerters

Narrator:

Becca was getting ready for bed when there was angry pounding on the door.

Ilyssa:

(through the door) iMala! Are you in there? Come out!

Narrator:

Becca went to open the door when the two designers came rushing in with four of their redheaded sisters.

Ilyssa:

(coming in) Where is she?

Evie:

What's all this noise? Who are you talking about?

Ilyssa:

A section of the ship has gone into advancement. We didn't put anything in there and we had it locked down. The Libraries have overridden our programming and the Vencume are doing something. We need iMala to help stop it.

Becca:

(internal) That's where Buer has gone! That's why she stole those two slugs from me. What are they up to? Is that where Ulan is? Did she take iMala? Is that why iMala was so happy?

Evie:

So? A section of ship is in advancement. You're so smart; just stop the process.

Idana:

We tried. We can't. We tried to expand the field, but it's had no effect.

Ilyssa:

And Buer is missing. That Vencume is up to something and she's going behind our backs.

Becca:

She?

Ilyssa:

You know what I mean! We can't get a hold of any of the Vencume and there's a section in advancement. What do you think that means, huh?

Evie:

It means you need to get the Reds ready for whatever comes off that pod.

Idana:

And if it's more Tzikzik? How many do you think we can hold at bay?

Evie:

What kind of Tzikzik? Like you?

Ilyssa:

You're not funny!

Evie:

It wasn't meant to be.

Ilyssa:

I'm not playing games!

Narrator:

iLyssa gestured to iDana, who pushed up her sleeve to reveal something that looked like an over-sized wrist-watch.
Evie dropped her arms a bit—so they crossed her waist—and made the slightest of motions that activated her belt-field.
Figuring on the side of caution, Becca gave herself a little hug and pressed the button on her own belt with her forearm. The room became muffled and Becca wondered how much air she had in the field.
iDana stood for a moment, pointing the wrist-device at Evie. The girl's brow wrinkled and she checked the device before iLyssa grabbed her sister's wrist and pointed it at a redhead who doubled over in agony. While everyone was distracted, Evie walked over to iDana and took the device off the girl's wrist in one motion. One redhead punched iLyssa in the stomach as the others helped their sister out. Evie hustled the two designers out.
When Evie closed the door, Becca clicked off her field-belt. Her ears rang a bit as the sounds of the room returned.

Ilyssa:

(through the door) This isn't over! You better find her! (pause) And we're going to fix this door!

Becca:

What is that thing?

Evie:

(turning off her belt) Say that again?

Becca:

Is that the pain ray?

Evie:

I guess so...Huh, look at that. The battery on this won't hold more than a few charges, but she didn't put any kind of power-port on it. There must be an inductor base. I'll have to make one. (she walks into another room)

Becca:

Are we safe?

SOUND: rumaging

Evie:

Where the hell is that coil? I saw it ten times when I didn't need it and now it's nowhere to be found.

Evie:

Evie, are we safe? What's happening?

Evie:

I don't want to have to wrap a new coil. That takes too much time and I don't have any gloves. It tears your hands up.

Becca:

(internal) She's trying not to think about it. She's distracting herself. No. You can't do that. Not now.
(external) Evie! What just happened there? Are we going to be safe?

Evie:

We're fine. I had already reprogrammed the door. That's why you had to open it for them. Go find Gordon and Ulan and get to the escape pod.

Becca:

We don't know where Ulan is. I was worried she might have done something to iMala.

Evie:

Ah! Here it is! It's always under something, isn't it?

Becca:

Evie...We don't know where Ulan is. Did you hear me?

Evie:

I heard you. See if you can find Gordon at least. Do you still have those slugs you made for the doors?

Becca:

You know about that?

Evie:

Buer told me. The Library knows. We can still go there or the garden for now. The section in advancement isn't between us and them.

Becca:

If we hide in the garden, the girls might advance it. We could be stuck in there for months.

Evie:

The Library controls what's in advancement and what isn't. We need to go ask them what's going on.

Becca:

I'll go see if I can find Gordon.

Evie:

You go do that. Go to the Library and I'll meet you there. See if you can find iSkandar or any of the other Vencume while you're at it. I want to get this device charged up and ready to go before we blow this thing open.

Becca:

What thing is that?

Evie:

You know the difference between cloth-mommy and wire-mommy?

Becca:

It...was a study done ages ago; infant rhesus monkeys were removed from their mothers and offered a choice between a mother made of terrycloth and another made of wire with a milk-bottle attached. The infants only went to the wire mother when they were hungry, but always ran to the cloth mother in times of distress.

Evie:

Right. Well, you're a cloth-mommy.

Becca:

What does that have to do with anything?

Evie:

We've coddled the girls long enough. It's time for some wire-mommy magic.

Scene 10: Observation Deck

Narrator:

Becca found Gordon on the observation deck with a couple of pilots. The two blonde girls were pointing at stars and Gordon was telling them the names of constellations.

Gordon:

Of course, it's much harder to keep track of things because we're always moving. They don't always look the same.

Olivia:

So Peg-51 is in the constellation of Pegasus. You could never see it because you were in it.

Gordon:

You might still see some of the stars. Just because they're next to each other in the sky back home doesn't mean that they're actually close to each other. We've been all over during this adventure, but because they're closer to the origin than others, it hasn't taken that long.

Odette:

And we're really fast, too.

Gordon:

Of course you are.

Becca:

Gordon, I need to talk to you about something.

Gordon:

(claps his hands) OK, kiddos. I have grown-up things to go do. You go practice and learn your star-charts and we'll go over it again tomorrow at breakfast. (he watches them leave) They are little sponges! They want to know everything about everything. I could get used to teaching.

Becca:

Try not to get too comfortable. We just had a little confrontation with two designers and a couple redheads.

Gordon:

Only two? Is iLyssa no longer doing her own dirty-work?

Becca:

iMala is missing, there's a section of ship in advancement, and iDana has a pain-ray that she tried to use on us. Buer is probably in the section that's in advancement and Evie wants us to meet her in the Library.

Gordon:

(whistles) You miss one episode of your favorite show and it's impossible to keep up.

Scene 11: Library

Narrator:

They had to use their slugs to get into the lift to the Library pod. Becca's had dried out more than Gordon's, but even his was slow to respond. They rode the pod between sections in silence.
They rode the lift down and waited by the door to the Library.

Gordon:

Was she going to meet us here? Or are we supposed to meet inside?

Becca:

I guess we could wait in there. But I think that place is kind of creepy. Did you know they found five of those Tzikzik in the second Library, but they had already—

Narrator:

She was only there for a second.
Becca thought it was Ulan at first, before the girl turned and blinked. Her eyes were perfectly black. It wasn't a piercing stare, more the kind that sliced through you and reduced you to little pieces. Becca felt changed, being gazed at by such a being.

Becca:

Gordon, I'm going crazy again.

Gordon:

What is it this time?

Becca:

I just saw something...someone. It looked like Ulan but the eyes were different. I felt...observed...

Gordon:

Where? Was it Ulan?

Becca:

It wasn't Ulan. This one had sharper features and darker eyes.

Gordon:

Ulan has very dark eyes. That kid looks like she's seen hell.

Becca:

Yeah, she probably has.

Narrator:

The lights in the Library were as bright as ever. Gordon and Becca moved hesitantly down the walkway.

Gordon:

How many are in here?

Becca:

Millions? Last time I was here, iSkandar vibrated the surface with his hands to talk to them. We're not going to be able to ask them anything if we can't talk to them.

Gordon:

We need to get their attention.

SOUND: he slaps the water

Narrator:

Millions of Vencume changed color from drab gray to light green.

SOUND: low rumble

Evie:

(entering) Don't start without me. Here's the pain-ray. Just put it on. You get one too, Gordon. Not sure if it's as powerful, but it should do the trick.

Becca:

That was quick.

Evie:

Simple device. Easy to copy. (pause) OK, we're here and you woke them up. What now?

Gordon:

You didn't build something to talk to them?

Evie:

Sure thing; with my own two hands.

NARRATOR:

Evie fell to her knees next to the opening and cupped her hands against the low wall. She shouted into the crude megaphone.

Evie:

(shouting into her hands) The three Humans are here! We're in danger!

SOUND: A loud rumble, like thunder or an earthquake.

Library:

WHAT IS NATURE OF THREAT CURRENT UNKNOWN QUERY

Evie:

(shouting into her hands) The Tzikzik! The Human Tzikzik! One is missing! A section of ship is in advancement! What is being grown?

Library:

IMPERATIVE NEW ADVANCEMENT NEGATORY HALT CURRENT ACTION PROJECT OBJECTIVE HUMAN INTERFERENCE INTOLERABLE PROCEED SCHEDULE

Becca:

What does that even mean? We should leave. Remember what they did to those five Tzikzik from the other ship.

Evie:

We have to try something. (shouting into her hands again) We don't want to halt anything! We need help.

Library:

CURRENT BLACK TZIKZIK RELEASE IMPERATIVE HUMANS SAFETY SCHEDULE

Gordon:

Your guess is as good as mine.

Becca:

What's a black Tzikzik? Do you understand them at all?

Evie:

(sigh) No. I don't understand them at all. I wish I did.

Becca:

We're not doing any good here. Let's go. Maybe we can hide out in the factory for a while until things calm down or iMala turns up.

Library:

GENTLE BLUE FIRST HUMAN ADVANCEMENT PROJECT COMPLETION IMPERATIVE

Gordon:

Which one of us is first Human? Is that you, Evie?

Becca:

First is Ulan. Evie is Engineer.

Evie:

So we can guess from that cryptic statement that Ulan and iMala are on the section in advancement. (shouting into her hands) Are they still in advancement? Is the project reaching its end?

Library:

PROJECT CURRENT APPROXIMATE CLOSING COMPLETION FIVE ARMS FREE HAND ACTION CURRENT IMPERATIVE NATURE OF THREAT QUERY

Becca:

Tell them the threat is blue and red. I think that was the question.

Evie:

(shouting into hands) Red and blue threat! Threat is red and blue!

Library:

PROJECT CURRENT INCOMPLETE BLACK AND WHITE IMPERATIVE YELLOW NATURE QUERY

Evie:

(shouting hands) No threat yellow! What is black and white? What is five arms?

Library:

PROJECT COMPLETION CURRENT ADVANCEMENT CURRENT END NO THREAT YELLOW QUERY BLACK COMPLETION

Becca:

We can't communicate with them. We don't have the right context.

Narrator:

Evie activated her shield-belt. She said something, but the others couldn't hear.
Out of shared fear, Becca pressed her belt on as well.
Gordon was shouting something and pointing across the section. He waved his arms and gestured to a tiny spot on the far wall. It was a shuffling thing, maybe one-hundred meters away. Becca turned her belt off.

Becca:

What's that?

Gordon:

(shouting) Which Vencume is that?

Becca:

(shouting) Is that Penemue?

Narrator:

The creature was coming closer, dripping wet. It moved slowly, painfully.
Evie was already standing. She held an arm out and pressed Becca back. There was a tingling sensation when she touched Becca's arm. Gordon was backing up.

Gordon:

This isn't looking good. We might need to make a hasty exit.

Narrator:

Evie was already approaching the Vencume. The creature turned a dark gray and shrank to half its height.

Becca:

Whoever it is, they feel ashamed.

Gordon:

Better go find out...

Narrator:

Out of the corner of her eye, Becca saw the black-eyed girl again.

Evie:

(from a distance) Becca! It's OK! Come on over!

Narrator:

Becca turned back to where the girl had been. Gone again, just like that.
Evie was taking her field-belt off as Becca got within ear-shot of the small group.

Evie:

You'll want this, to protect yourself. I can take a hit, but I know that a single bolt will incapacitate you. (laughs) You should have developed thicker skin or real muscles. That hydraulic vascular system of yours springs a leak too easily.

Iskandar:

Engineer has high sensors that see far. Your concern for my safety is flattering.

Becca:

Where have you been?

Iskandar:

Fulfilling my function. I had much to offer and the Library was willing to listen.

Gordon:

So you know what they were talking about. This whole thing is too amazing. I thought the Library was a computer.

Becca:

This is too complex for a computer. iSkandar, have you been hiding in here?

Iskandar:

Most of us are here. This controls the ship. The bridge is only for observation, but Blue Tzikzik have created the sensor array and we are better able to observe.

Evie:

So, yes. You are going to hide here. You and the Vencume.

Iskandar:

Assistant has worked to complete the project. Black Tzikzik are out of advancement and now patrol the ship.

Gordon:

Where are they?

Iskandar:

They are with us now.

Becca:

How do they do it? How do they blink in and out like that? Is it invisibility?

Evie:

What are you talking about?

Becca:

I've seen one twice. A girl with black hair who appears and disappears in a moment. Is it that we can't see them or do I only see them when they stand still?

Iskandar:

Gentle Blue has created the device. It is based off the shield First brought. We have some information on in, but its mechanism is complex. It is a form of advancement.

Evie:

So if there's a black Tzikzik, there's a white as well. What are they?

Iskandar:

White Tzikzik leads and teaches...But Assistant has gone past us in programming. There is an imperative we do not understand. You will discover it and report back to us. It is not part of the project. It does not match the schedule. We must know its purpose.

Becca:

What is the schedule, anyway? Everyone talks about it but no one ever said what it was. Is it why you did such a rush job on the girls?

Iskandar:

You are not the only civilized race.

Becca:

We know about the Toshdohai and the Mavdares. And I know your cloning experiments don't work with them.

Iskandar:

Besides them. There are many more.

Gordon:

And the Vencume have ships that have contacted all of them. And now you're going to get together and compare notes.

Evie:

Did you use the Tzikzik attack rouse with all of them?

Iskandar:

The system works. It helps maintain the schedule.

Gordon:

The schedule is when they meet. It only happens every three-thousand years, and they were hard-pressed to come up with something at the last minute. They've been hemming and hawing for multiple generations trying to figure out how to ask us to help them.

Becca:

But they just want a way to live.

Gordon:

I wish it was that noble, but I've been doing a lot of reading. The last meeting they had gave them this form. They're scattered all through the galaxy and they hook up and compare notes on who has the best critter. This little drama that we've been through is one of many that's been played time and time again. They always find a willing partner by using the same trick: cooking up monsters with only one command: attack the locals.

Becca:

But it's just so they can find a way to live on other planets. Their home world was destroyed and now they need a place to live.

Gordon:

That home world disappeared millions of years ago. (pause) How many times has your traveling freak-show played this game?

Iskandar:

With each civilized race we encounter, we advance them and they advance us. We have collected much technology, but you are the first species we have encountered with internal bones. We will win the contest this time for sure.

Evie:

You tore me apart so you could figure out how a Human fits together. But the girls decided to handle the threat before fitting to your schedule. But you weren't worried because I made improvements to the snapback and you figured you could still make it to the meeting place at the right time.

Iskandar:

I am confident that Humans are the correct model. When we first encountered Humans, we knew that your model would be better than any the others have found.

Gordon:

When you first met the portmen... This is just a big science-fair project for you.

Iskandar:

There is much honor to be gained. We will be first ship when the project is completed. I am sure of this.

Evie:

You better put on that shield before I start punching you. My great-grandmother was a portman.

Iskandar:

I know. You look just like her.

Narrator:

Evie didn't wait for iSkandar to put on the belt. It was a neat swing that caught the creature at the connection point between two arms.

Evie:

I came here because I wanted to! I'm in space because I chose to! Not because of you! You had nothing to do with it!

SOUND: Iskandar makes a rattling sound and wheezes.

Library:

PROJECT THREAT UNKNOWN CURRENT HUMAN QUERY

Evie:

Shut up!

Becca:

Evie, get your belt. Let's go before they decide we're expendable.

Evie:

Let them stay here. Stupid Vencume. You don't mess with my family!

Gordon:

Yes, you're very hard-core. Everyone is afraid of you. Let's go.

SOUND: Iskandar makes a few more pained sounds.


Becca:

I think you really hurt him.

Evie:

Bastard monster always reminded me of my uncle. Know-it-all creep!