Little Pieces in Search of A Bigger Picture

The Collective: Art Vs. Science, 7-9

Chapter 7: The Maker's Memories 

The room is damaged. The Calamity had crushed many of the devices, exposed most of the carefully stored bits to air and moisture, and ruined them. Nothing escaped damage of some sort. It had taken many ages to clear the room of boulders; eventually the roof was restored. 6-1-20-8-5-18 had lost much of his programming. Eventually he was found and repaired. He had been in this room when the world changed.

He'd been holding a disc that was precious to him. It had belonged to the Grand Designer - his own Maker. He carries his Maker inside himself, a gift given before the Morticien succumbed to the Plague, his face showing the telltale blue signs of melting. He had been called by the Designer's human name. A name the Calamity had taken from him, a name he cannot retrieve. He had been given his new designation, 6-1-20-8-5-18, by the Matron - who had been so deep underground that it took her 50 years to clear a pathway back to the Factory.

Only 6-1-20-8-5-18 can access the fractured information from the bits, who knew how to use the machinery needed to remember the science of the Morticiens. He enters once every 100 cycles to mine the data, to find out if any hold a clue to where the living Sleepers are, the ones who were chosen to preserve the race, free from the Plague. It's useless, 6-1-20-8-5-18 has mined each one many thousands of times.

6-1-20-8-5-18 has had troubling concepts of late. He sees through walls, through rocks and roots, and finds the Sleepers. It is impossible, and may be a fault in his circuitry. "I should be repaired," he contemplates. And yet – the thought makes him...feel...makes him fearful. He is different from all the Morthagi – even the Matron.

If only there were a way to find the Sleepers. All the preparation above ground, and the eventual destruction of the Intruders, would open the way for the Morticiens to rule again. A blip from a speaking device alerts him that one of the Eyes is witnessing something worth viewing. 6-1-20-8-5-18 jacks into a wall outlet and sees a young human sink into the ground.

He saves the image of the human, and sends the information to a small party of Morthagi who are near to the location. Here, in this room, he is connected to all Morthagi. He overrides this party's objective and sets them to follow the human at a safe distance.

Chapter 8: Sweets for The Sweet

Old Ennia, Sal Dugo, Dolci and Grant Pieblacker were sharing a table at the Old Priest and The Young Witch. It was the day of the young woman's Initiation. Dolci had barely touched the fried fish crisps. Her eyes shifted to each of her companions, seeking comfort and reassurance in their returned gazes, but found nothing except a hint of mischief in both Ennia's and Sal's gazes. Grant, however, was nursing his hangover from two nights ago. The celebration of Sal's surprising and astonishing Initiation had lasted into the small hours of the morning.

"You know, cousin, it would be a shame to waste that fish," said Sal.

She pushed it over to him. "You have barely stopped eating since yesterday! I'm amazed your stomach hasn't exploded."

Old Ennia laughed. "When new magics are first achieved, great hunger is just a side effect. You know that, lass. It's no surprise he eats like a hill giant, considerin' he's been Leaf-touched. Give your cousin a break!"

"Don't waste your breath, Ennia," said Grant, who belched after he'd drained the pitcher of Drunken Bastard's Respite that she'd fixed for him – a mixture of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and a liqueur made from – well, from something known only to the mystic. "Haven't you noticed that she's the only one who can keep the EarthSwimmer from being completely insufferable!"