Tag Archives: Immortal

Arc 14.9.0: Engine

Engine: Part 11

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Nataw said, “Of course. We need you… I’ve been waiting for you to say something like this since all the arguments started.”

Then he stopped and looked over at Kee and Lee, asking, “Right?”

Kee looked up toward Nataw, “I know it’s hard for you. We all have friends among Destroy. If it could possibly happen, we’d like to end this without fighting any of them. We also know that’s unlikely.”

Govan nodded. “I’ve had my own visions. I know it’s unlikely, but hearing you say you see value in their lives is good. The less we kill, the better..” Continue reading Engine: Part 11 →

Arc 14.9.0: Engine

Engine: Part 10

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Nataw sighed. “I’ve been doing what I always do. After the visions came and our whole race went mad, I left. I couldn’t convince anyone in Destroy that killing the younger races was unnecessary, and so I went out to see them before they disappeared. I’m not much of a fighter, you know.”

With a grunt that edged into a growl, Govan said, “It’s not a question of convincing. We all saw what happened. In universe after universe, lesser beings evolved, grew powerful, and sought us out to destroy us. Some of us were even helping them do it, betraying relationships that predate universes. What were we supposed to do?” Continue reading Engine: Part 10 →

Arc 14.9.0: Engine

Engine: Part 9

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From where she stood next to Nataw, Kee smiled. “You met him in the future, and he chose not to kill you. I think Govan will be reasonable, provided we’re talking to the version of him who spared you. If we’re about to talk to a version of him that doesn’t know anything about that, it could become messy.”

“Great,” I thought back to her.

Continue reading Engine: Part 9 →

Arc 14.9.0: Engine

Engine: Part 8

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Tiger, meanwhile, had begun to sniff Nataw and Lee, starting with their butts and crotches.

I wondered if he’d still do that if he understood that they were older than our universe. Then it struck me that, given his understanding of English, he might have decided to start there because he’s a dog.

Nataw watched him and then scratched Tiger behind the ears. Then he said a word that my implant translated as Hideaway’s name in the language of a long-fallen galactic empire. “[Hideaway]. You’re a long way from home. I never liked the Abominators, but I did like what they did with your people. Dogs for hunting dinosaurs. Who’s a good boy?”

Tiger leaned in to the head scratches. Continue reading Engine: Part 8 →

Arc 14.9.0: Engine

Engine: Part 7

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Lee and Nataw stepped up to the group. I overheard Lee say, “I told you that I couldn’t go with you because I was already inside but from a different time. It wasn’t that far, but the future’s unpredictable.”

He looked over the group—both versions of the League and Jody’s unconscious body on the ground.

“This is Nataw. He’s a very, very old friend.” Then he winked.

Grandpa said, “One of your people.” Continue reading Engine: Part 7 →

Arc 14.9.0: Engine

Engine: Part 6

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You can’t save everyone. Hypothetically, I could pass Cassie’s dad an implant, and maybe it could save his brain, but Spark had said that anyone passing through the fight with the Abominators while owning or using an implant could cause major deviations.

It wasn’t worth the risk.

Hypothetically, I could send Jaclyn back to grab Paladin, have him heal Giles from whatever damage the process of empowering him caused, but Vaughn might not even be born then. Continue reading Engine: Part 6 →

Arc 14.8.0: Singularity

Singularity: Part 1

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“Great,” I said. “How? Do you have a password or cheat code or something?”

Lee laughed. “Cheat code? Are you thinking the test Kee set up works like a video game? There are parts that might, I suppose, but no. This is real. I can tell you which parts of the control system you need to manipulate to get through the test.”

“That is kind of a like a video game,” I said. “You go to Reddit and there’s always someone who got stuck at the same point and a bunch of answers on how to get past it. Some of them even work.” Continue reading Singularity: Part 1 →

Arc 14.7.5: The Core

The Core: Part 12

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“You know what I showed you? If you can keep on doing it, from what they said, you can wipe yourself clean of a dominator’s commands. Also, I’ve got a device that can block Dominators’ commands—up to a point. If you’re facing more than ten or maybe five, I’d run away and throw rocks at them from a distance.”

He began to laugh. “Rocks? I think I expected something more complicated from an inventor.”

I shrugged, “If it works, it works.”

Then I reached out with what might be best imagined as a phantom limb and opened a portal to bring him to me. Continue reading The Core: Part 12 →

Arc 14.5.5: Stage One

Stage One: Part 3

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Original Heroes’ League. Unknown Section of Rain Forest, Brazil, October 1959:

Dr. Madness’ War Machine lay in pieces in the clearing in front of the cave.

It had been massive. Longer than 300 feet and taller than 50 feet near the back, where the conning tower had risen above the hull, it gave the middle finger to aerodynamic design in more than one sense. Continue reading Stage One: Part 3 →

Arc 14.3.0: Knock Knock

Knock, Knock?: Part 1

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“Wait,” I said, “who did you power up?”

Lee laughed, “Intentionally? No one you know. That risks the wrong kind of attention, but I do it when it’s worth the risks. Unintentionally? Everyone who stayed near me with the right kind of ancestry—including you and your friends. My kind are a nexus for power. If you can collect it, you’ll get a little more than you normally would.”

That opened up new lines of thought we didn’t have time for right now, but maybe after we freed him, we might.

“Wow,” I spoke the word aloud, prompting the rest of the group to look at me. To forestall questions, I shook my head, “I’m going to want more details about that sometime, but for now, how do we get you out?” Continue reading Knock, Knock?: Part 1 →