Metamorphosis

The darkness is coming. This will be the last time my mind is clear for what will seem like an eternity. The sunlight is the only beauty keeping my thoughts from screaming at each other like wounded banshees hopped up on Hiss. Already I am shivering from the coldness gripping at my heart…thank all that is decent I never have any memories when the sunlight returns. I must finish my task now before the night creatures stake their claim and undo all the good this dual existence of mine can possibly accomplish.
“Sssands are dissssapearing, Life Sssnatcher,” whispers my paid tracker. “Keep your dissstance!”
Trackers are cautious by nature, too cautious. They bordered paranoia at times. “We have an hour yet. Keep your eyes on the prize.” I tap my cash changer for emphasis.
“I’ve ssseen Life Sssnatchersss turn very quickly…Keep your dissstance!”
I ignore the overgrown slug as my left temple throbs with pain. Their infernal S’s grate on my ears like an outlawed form of Chinese Torture. All I want is to find the herb. Nothing else matters. I have less than an hour, though I can feel the swelling in my brain as many of my synapses begin firing haphazardly, the UV rays dwindling down to nothing. Soon my battery pack will be spent and the only thing keeping me sane will be sheer stubbornness.
Thank God I have plenty of that.
“Don’t misssunderssstand me boy. I don’t care how nicccey you ssseem now…”
I cut him off. “Would you shut up? I don’t pay you to talk, Slug. Your forked tongue is making it that much harder for me to stay solid. If you can keep your slime in your mouth for the rest of the walk, I might even throw in something extra.” And once I turn, I might bother to drag my ravenous soul away from you before I rip you to shreds.
I might.
My comment seems to irritate the Tracker, because immediately the entire gray-metallic surface of his body shivers in a way I've only seen once before. The oozing black slime his body slides along on increases in volume. By chance I notice my comm. is lit up.
“What?” I don’t even bother to look who it is. Mistake.
“Don? Don? Where are you? Why haven’t you checked in?”
I curse my boiling brain for not thinking clearly. This is the last person I need to have a conversation with. “Sorry, boss. Just doing a personal errand. You can dock my pay, I’ll be back in two hours.”
“Two hours! That’s an hour an half too long, what are you thinking? You can’t be outside when you morph! Have you forgotten? What’s going on with you?”
My breathing is labored now, and my fingers are tingling. Every word I speak is excruciatingly painful as I almost choke on the increased saliva. “I can’t explain, now. I’ll be back soon. No worries.”
“No worries? Don, listen to me, man…you aren’t right. You have to come back now! Now! I’ve invested too much in you to have you…”
I don’t hear the rest. I bite down so hard on the comm., it chips one of my teeth. Somewhere in the back of my head, alarms and whistles are going off…but I am past the point of caring. I can feel the emptiness and hollowness in my soul. Soon I won’t even know what it is like to feel human.
My tracker is moving faster, now. He is probably terrified. Doesn’t matter, trackers never bail. Their word is more precious to them than money. And money was all they ever thought about.
“We are here,” whispers the tracker. I peer cautiously down the dark alley we arrived at, staring at a large graffiti covered dumpster. There is one large chunk of it missing, as if something larger than an elephant had taken a bite out of it. I can hear slithering and slimy creatures inside busily working. A while ago the sound may have frightened me or disgusted me or filled me with some other appropriate emotion…exactly what I can’t recall. All that matters is the herb. I need that herb.
I turn my attention to where the Tracker beckons; a small opening appears behind the putrid smelling rottenness of decay and filth. Life is found here? A life giving plant that will save? Maybe it takes so much death to bring about life, I don’t know. No matter. I squat down behind the canister and find the space a very tight fit. That means I am already growing.
The passage leads me to the inside of a building that is dimly lit and full of creeping sounds. Some part of my still human mind thanks myself that I hadn’t come earlier. The anxiety would have tortured me. Instead, I feel nothing, only the memory of should having felt something.
I walk down a dark corridor and can smell the dark humidity filled with foul odors and putrefying flesh. My eyes are digressing and I can now discern some infrared movement. The walls are teaming with red heat, creatures I can’t identify or have only seen in the lab. I wonder why none are attacking me or trying to sting or eat me? A distant memory of chemicals and pest repellant seared into my skin…but my memories don’t seem like mine anymore.
At the end of the corridor my eyes discover that which I so adamantly seek. My herb! My salvation. My, my, my joy? What is joy again? Some sort of emotion, though it is all fading so fast. I didn’t expect to come so far down into the darkness. The sun hasn’t set yet, but I am being deprived much too early. My time table hadn’t counted on that. Too late now. Maybe I should feel panicked, but I can’t feel anything.
Just continue.
Continue.
I reach out for the plant, eager to get out of here. I know I have to leave quickly. Why, I can’t remember. As my grotesquely shaped hand oozing pus reaches out, it is struck away quickly.
“Payment! Payment now!”
I squint my eyes in frustration. I can’t decide whether to view my assailant with visible light or infrared. The darkness is playing tricks on me. I’m examining a creature standing about three meters high, almost completely round attached to quite a number of appendages. The creature bounces around so much I can’t discern the location of it’s head. “Now?” I ask aloud, futilely trying to remember how to pay.
“Now! Now, you are almost spent! Payment now, or death for you!”
Am I supposed to pay now? I can see the hybrid Macrantherum Zedoaria, though how do I remember that? It is okay. I hand him the precious metals that I've concealed tightly inside my powerbelt.
A tentacle stretches out and removes the pieces one by one. I then reach out for the plant, and notice the creature blocking me again. Counting it twice? I don’t have time for such delays! I knock the creature away and grab my precious plant. I start running back the way I came. Suddenly, the wall crawlers begin jumping onto my body. I can feel them biting and clawing and digging at my skin. But, my skin has grown callous. My metamorphosis physically is almost complete. My brain is still hanging on, though. But, only for moments. I quicken my pace and can hear the crunching and spurting of bugs and worms and all sorts of genetically engineered mishaps screaming for their share of the world. Too bad, I am stronger and faster!
I made a wrong turn somewhere. No matter, my body mass has quadrupled by now. I can't slow down and slam through the door I originally entered colliding with the dumpster, sending it skidding across the alley.
My brain is yelling at me. What? What? Oh, the plant! I look down and fortunately I had instinctively cradled it beneath my wing that had grown between my arms and back. Can I fly? I can never remember, once I turn the memories are gone. All this will be gone.
I can see the tip of the sun about to plunge us into darkness. The hissing sound of the violent, out of control world is pulsating a melodramatic sound into my ears, inviting me out to play. My salivary glands are uncontrolled as I can anticipate the taste of meat in my mouth.
Suddenly, I feel a presence above me. Instinctively, I jump backward and fling my right manus into the air. I come close to killing the giant bird-like animal that is trying to steal my plant. You can’t have it! I try to scream but the only sounds I hear are grunts and growls. My eyesight is sharp now, I can clearly see the face of the bird creature. It is staring at me intensely. Too intense. It’s intelligence is equal to mine. A Smartbird… what is it doing out here? It is no match for the night world.
It dives again for my plant. What could it possibly be thinking? I can eat it with one half of my mouth and still have room for the rest of it‘s family. As it swoops, I decide to devour it, after all it is time to feast. The hunger of my churning acid is burning through the pit of my enlarged stomach. I can feel the intensity and excitement of my soon to be meal.
As my forearm shoots out, a blast of energy emerges from the bird’s collar. It slams about 200 amps of energy through my body. I nearly drop to the ground, except I have to save my plant. My herb. My, my…
What is the plant for again? Why is this thing so important? I stare at the small, pathetically fragile green leafy plant. No flower, just a few leaves. This plant means something. It is important. I have to get it somewhere.
The bird is hovering in front of my face. Stupid bird! Get out of here, this is my plant!
And somehow, somewhere deep inside the dark recesses of my mind, I remember. Maybe it was the electric charge. Maybe the bird is sending me my memories. I am not sure. But, now I recall. It is all becoming clear, just for a moment.
I have to give the plant to the bird. The bird is going to bring it to her. It is for my wife. She is dying. She is going to die without it. She needs it tonight, and it cannot possibly wait another day. She is unconscious. She would never have allowed me to do this if she were awake. To risk my life. To experience my metamorphosis in the outside world within the darkness and amongst the creatures. Vulnerable and exposed. And by no means the strongest or most ferocious creature that roamed the Earth.
I lift the plant upward, and the bird grasps the pot ever so delicately; it almost appears relieved. I smile. At least, my yellowish teeth bare through my grotesque and misshapen mouth.
I fall to the ground, a mixture of swirling sadness that my mind is in turmoil over. I can hear my wife’s moans, her tender kisses, and her angry tone. “Why did you do it? You shouldn’t have done it! You will die out there!”
I claw the ground with my razor sharp nails and can smell her hypnotic fragrance as if she is standing right next to me. I have one last emotion to experience before my metamorphosis is complete, and the night world consumes me. Will I survive? When the sun rises the next morning, will the creatures ten times my size have devoured me without so much a second thought?
It doesn’t matter. I have saved her life. Beautiful Layna would breathe another day. I have done my job. No emotion for regret or sorrow or pain. I have one last feeling to undergo, before I am gone.
The sun is gone. My human body is gone. My mind, is almost, almost gone.
I love you Layna. I love you so much, my sweet Layna.
And I am gone.

Future Games

“What!” shouted Devin, scarcely managing to prevent himself from slamming his DigCom into the muddy grass. “How is this even allowed?”
His holographic sidekick, a Binary Code intelligence that Devin simply designated BC, responded, “It is well within the rules and you know that.” Slight sarcasm.
Devin grumbled a few more times about the unfairness of utilizing archaic devices at the final stage of the race, but his arguments were lost in the still breeze, and the dim rumbling of the escalators. He glanced at the Intelltree, situated only meters from where he stood, and wondered what its impression of him was, so human and emotional. He detected a hint of malice, and maybe a twinge of smugness, but he knew he was simply projecting his own feelings. The IT’s were genetically engineered to only sense and emit positive emotions. They were trees after all, and there existence didn’t require them to experience such survival emotions as fear, anger, and competitiveness.
Devin was born and bred to compete. Yet still, on this final leg of the journey, his exhaustion level attempting to overwhelm him, he had to remind himself not to give up. This was it! His victory was at hand and the other contestants were over an hour behind him. He had ample amount of time to solve this last puzzle. A seemingly simple choice of non-variant odds, alluding to a possible fifty-fifty choice. But, Devin was a master of the odds. He always beat the odds, and the invincible designer of this computer planet would know that. This tailor made challenge wasn’t going to be that simple. He bet his entire fortune on it.
“BC, what’s your synopsis? And it had better be good this time…”
BC flashed an inappropriate color at him. “Don’t take your anger out on me.” Pause. “Escalators were not a popular subject and I found next to nothing about them. An extremely simple device used during the dawn of the Mechanical Age. Used for a period of time during the Electronic Age. Completely obsolete after the Artificial Intelligence Age. The only item that seems pertinent has nothing to do with their function, but simply an allegory for the thought of raising one to a higher plane, often a symbol, such as the simple staircase; of something that elevates a person to a higher consciousness, as in heaven.”
Devin quickly contemplated. “But, they aren’t going into the clouds…it ends in a tree house. What is the connection between those two thoughts?”
BC shivered within rainbows of calculations. “Irony. There is 59% chance the illusion is to invoke irony, the various concepts of an escalator, combined with a house, both from the same time period, on top of an unaltered tree. A “dumb” tree as we now call them. That’s all I have.”
Devin sighed loudly. “Then you haven’t helped me at all. I obviously have to pick one. Which one? The one on the left, or the one on the right? I can’t believe it comes down to a fifty-fifty choice, Mang F. is so infuriating.”
It was BC’s turn to sigh. “That is what you say after every puzzle. Yet, you always triumph.”
Devin ignored his overly-bright companion and began gently stroking the face of the IT. She didn’t smile, but her eyes became brighter and she focused intently on Devin’s all natural human face. She didn’t speak but implanted her caressing voice inside Devin’s mind. “How may I serve you?” She asked soothingly.
Devin’s initial reaction to conversing with an IT was revulsion, such
‘happy-no-matter-what” type personalities grated on his nerves. It was the only way to win the race, though, and every blade of grass knew that Devin was driven to win at all costs. “How many questions do I get?”
“Three. And that was your first one.”
Simple formality. Even if he hadn’t asked that question, he still would have only received two questions. It was part of Mang F.’s twisted sense of humor. Okay, here goes. “Why did the proud and brilliant Mang F. use escalators for his final puzzle?” His irreverence was lost on the IT.
Her voice softly caressed his mind with pleasurable feelings. “When he was twelve years old he dreamt of this scene. He had never even heard of such an invention, and yet his mind received this image. When he researched it and discovered there actually was such a device in use over three centuries ago, it was the first time he realized he possessed the gift of bringing the universe together, through space and time. It was his inspiration dream. Without it, he may not have become the inventor he is today.”
Devin didn’t have time to wonder at such a capability. He had to solve this puzzle. “Why did he choose this puzzle to be my final one?”
There was a long pause which was quite out of character for an IT. After the long moment, she uttered one short and almost triumphant phrase, “Because you are fearless.” Without further conversation or acknowledgement, the Intelltree closed her eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
Devin staggered backwards as if he had been punched in the face. He wasn’t sure if it was the abrupt removal of her intoxicating word-thoughts, or the simplicity of the answer. He counted the number of words in his mind as if not believing. Four words! “Has there ever been such an answer?” he demanded of BC.
“No, Devin. That is a first.”
Devin stared at the escalator house with anything but fearlessness. The sight of it now nauseated him. So, close! He could taste the victory in his mouth and yet had no idea which one to choose. All his clues brought him nowhere nearer a solution and his precious time was drifting away. He had less than an hour to solve this and then he was relegated to number two, at the very minimum…if he even solved it by then.
Devin slumped down into the grass, feeling the wet mud soak into his body. He didn’t wonder about what was real and what was simply colors and stimulants. His mind was completely focused.
Fearless? Devin knew better, though that was his reputation. He had always made gutsy moves, sometimes downright foolish ones, yet he had always prevailed. When the odds were against him that is when he thrived, flourished. But, this race was different. He was ahead the entire time. He had out-thought and out-maneuvered everyone. Until now, the seemingly simplest one of them all, here waiting for him to decide. Which one? Which one?
Would he simply sit here until he lost? While the other contestants moved ahead of him one by one, would his body soak up the mud, until he walked away filthy, ashamed and defeated? Mang F. would be so thrilled. He was considered a genius by the entire galaxy and it hurt the inventor’s pride that he was unable to stump Devin. Finally, to beat the great unstoppable Devin. To have the last laugh as he sulked and lost, to deny him his great ending. No, Devin couldn’t have gone down fighting a great beast, or exploding in a brilliant flash of energy; but instead stumped by a child’s game, a fifty-fifty choice. Mang F. would have the last laugh…
Suddenly, Devin saw it. That was it! “It’s Mang F.’s pride!”
BC asked, “What is?”
Devin jumped up, screaming with enthusiasm. “Don’t you see? Don’t you see? It’s all about Mang F.’s pride! His dream! He knows I’m not fearless, anymore than he is invincible! What would be my ultimate humiliation?”
BC stammered, quite unsure of Devin’s reasoning. “To lose?”
“Of course! But, not just lose…lose big! Sit here, paralyzed by fear! And what would be the ultimate slap in the face were I to sit here and lose? Why…that I shouldn’t have lost at all, that’s what! Mang F. would hold that over my head for the rest of my life! The fearless Devin too afraid to choose, and he would have won, no matter what!”
BC watched as he ran towards the escalators at a full sprint, not understanding what he was saying. “But, which one is it? How do you know which one it is?”
As Devin raced forward, only seconds away from both choices, he yelled out behind him, “It doesn’t matter! They both lead to victory! Mang F. made it so simple…he was trying to humiliate me. Trying to get me to over think it and be paralyzed by fear. But, he forgot one thing.”
“And what’s that?” wondered BC.
Devin stopped at the escalator, glanced to the left one, and then to the right. Quickly he chose the one on the right and began riding it up towards the house. With a gleam in his eye he turned around and peered at BC who had finally caught up with him. With a chuckle, he replied, “I never over think it. That’s why I’m fearless. Not because I don’t have fear…but because I always act in spite of it.” As the door of the house came into view, he realized something else as well. Mang F. was still a genius, even though Devin could always beat his puzzles.
At least, so far he had.

Pain of Vengeance

The blood orange light cast thin long shadows upon the ground and softly glowed upon her face as the sun lifted above the land. The cold dark night with the scent of night blooming jasmine had finally passed, leaving her weak and worn. The warmth of the new day began to fill her veins with strength that would allow her to continue on her journey.

Visions of the days before flashed through her mind creating ill sensations in the pit of her stomach. With a tight squeeze of her eyelids she took a deep breath and cried allowed to an unknown God for his guidance, protection, and power. As the anger began to swell in her gut, indignation and hate quickly replaced fear. Seeking justice not for herself but for her beautiful younger sister, kindhearted father and strong willed mother. She gracefully rose to her feet and fixed her eyes on the long, steep and winding road ahead.

Loyalty and trust was the cornerstone her family had built their lives around. On the soft day when the gentle mist obscured the majesty of the landscape and the beautiful stranger with sad brown eyes, rode into their lives upon a majestic black horse, never would they have thought the evil this man would cast upon them.

With resolution in her heart and trembling of hands she pressed her foot firm to the ground and moved forward. Vengeance was not what she sought, or so she told herself. With fathers words playing over and over in her mind she knew there would have been no place for wrath.

Doubt began to flood her thoughts as she approached him. Fist clenched with fear, anger, and pain she knew this was the moment of truth...

The Question

Todd’s voice trembled. The lump in his throat grew larger as he smiled outwardly and made a small joke about the couple sitting the next table over. Any moment now, he was waiting for Leah to question him, ask him what was the matter, or somehow otherwise detect what he was up to. He could sense the sweat in his palms forming and feverishly attempted to keep them dry by folding his arms tightly underneath him. There they were safe. He tried desperately not to think about it, after all, he had rehearsed what he was to say a million times…but, how would she react? It didn’t matter. Regardless of how she responded, he had to say his peace, no matter what. But, who was he fooling? They had spoken about this a million times before, so now why at the moment of truth was he panicking?
He moved his arm slowly and brushed his shirt pocket with his hand. The ring was still there. The perfect, exact, precise ring that was simply all she wanted. Of course, her younger sister had helped him out with that small detail, though everything else was his doing. The weekend trip to Paris. The quaint little restaurant which made her so happy. Even the time of year she liked…a little chilly for him, though she thrived in this weather and was in such a wonderful mood. Currently, she was chatting away about some of her family matters…he was only half paying attention, and since he was a man, it meant that he wasn’t listening at all. She could usually detect what he was thinking seemingly without any effort and it didn’t matter how hard he tried to keep it to himself. Why was she not suspicious of him today? Was it because of the amazing trip they were on? Was it the serenity of the surroundings? Did she secretly suspect, but was pretending not to notice him trembling in his seat? Did her sister give it away? That was it! He should never have trusted her sister, she always blabbed her mouth! I can’t believe her…
Stop it! He had to stop thinking about this. He had to stop torturing himself and just tell her. He wanted to wait for the perfect moment, the moment that they would both say something and there would be that special connection they would so often share. The moment when they looked into each others eyes and understood exactly what the other was thinking and feeling and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together. But, when was that moment? Would it come on demand? Was it necessary now? Would they remember in the years to come, or would that be forgotten, and simply the memory of this gorgeous place in beautiful company and the proposal? Why did he worry about such things? They were in love, that was the most important thing!
He recalled the first time he had met her, that fateful day where nothing had gone right and the last thing he imagined happening was meeting the love of his life. He laughed inwardly as he remembered how disheveled and distraught she was, trying desperately to keep her niece in line. Children were not her strong point, or so she said, but he knew it was simply because she tried so hard. He knew someday when they had children of their own, she would be an amazing mother…not because it came natural to her, but because of her large and all-encompassing heart. She would work tirelessly for them, doing all she could in her power to be the perfect mother, and would not stop until she had done everything right. Even if it meant tremendous sacrifices, she would do the best she could…and then some. And that was simply one of the hundreds of reasons he was madly in love with her.
Ah yes, love. How he had fought that! The first time she told him that she loved him had scared him to the core. He most have looked such the fool standing there with his mouth open, unable to reply. It didn’t seem to bother her, she simply hugged him tightly. But, inside, his stomach churned and he ached with desire, yet consumed with fear. Did he love her? Was this what he had always been waiting for? Could he love her the way she loved him? On an on his mind went that evening, the way it was going on now. Yet, only a few days after, he realized that he was fooling no one, if only himself. Yes, he truly loved her and the words meant nothing because he would lay down and die for this woman! He could never stop thinking about her and missed her terribly when he simply thought about her leaving. Love was a beautiful and terrifying feeling. He was afraid to lose something that had become so dear to him. Yet, it was folly to let such fear stop him from spending every minute of his life that he possibly could with this woman…this woman who had been specifically made just for him.
Forget love…now he was to ask her to be his wife! To be by his side forever and never again kiss another man or whisper sweet nothings into someone else’s ears. She was to be his and his alone. That is, of course, if she said yes…
And why wouldn’t she? There was that one time where they had actually fought over her Father’s words , though now it just seemed so silly. They had grown so much together and discovered how to communicate better. They had learned how to tell each other what they felt and had the faith that the other would care and do everything in their power to come to an agreement. Would they fight about such things now? Of course, not…but…marriage is different. Everyday together, every moment, every experience…
Stop it! You love her! None of your fabricated fears are going to stop you from doing this, so stop thinking and just do it! He focused in on her adorable face and smiled broadly, meanwhile his heart began beating ever harder in his chest.
“What’s the matter, Todd? Have you even been listening to what I’ve been saying?” Leah’s expression was playful, though a little concerned.
He blinked rapidly and stared in horror, realizing he didn’t even have the slightest clue. “Of course, I have…” and he just knew he had to tell her. He couldn’t put it off any longer. He loved her so much and his heart and mind were all in a whirlwind. He swallowed quickly, breathing in her scent…yes, yes, she was worth it. He loved her more than anything and this was their moment…
He leaned in closely and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. “Actually, my dear, there is something on my mind that I want to ask you.”