10 Minute Tales

Apr 9

Queenson grinned confidently. "I don't think he'll be able to." he reached into his pocket... and paled when he realised the jammer wasn't there. Abe had it last! "Oh, damnit..."

"You are unable to activate your jammer?" Sentinel asked, his voice hiding a smug delight. "Something so simple, and yet..." the hologram shimmered slightly; the window's view changed, now showing the city as it was. The view was shaking wildly. The former president's belongings were tumbling to the ground; drops of crystal fell like some brilliant, sparkling liquid.

"Stop it!" Aurora yelled, head twitching slightly in anger as she stomped forward. "This is going to kill all of them!"

"Your corruption is too deeply rooted to be successfully purified." Sentinel's monotone replied. "Before creation came destruction. Before restoration must be purging. The humans worthy of salvation are-"

"All of them!" Queenson roared. "Shut that signal off now, or I am going to dismantle you as far down as I can physically dismantle you!"

"It is too late. Even if I did as requested, the city has been irrevocably damaged. It would be more suitable t- error." he suddenly broadcast, much louder. "Signal is unable to reach destination speakers due to interference by another device."

"Another device?" Aurora asked, looking over at Queenson. "Did you...?"

"I don't have it." he shook his head, not understanding. "I think I left it with... with Abe..." he grew quiet. "He must have..."

"It is inconsequential." Sentinel growled. The hologram faded, replaced by the gently pulsing walls of the Experience Chamber. "I am stronger than you are. You will not be able to stop me."

"We'll see about that, you damn bucket of bolts." Queenson primed his gun, pointing at the wall.

"Uh, Queeny? Ain't nothing to shoot at, we're back to normal."

"Really? Then where's the door?" Aurora blinked, and looked around. Sure enough, the door seemed to be all but gone, a mere speck of light on the wall that was shrinking fast.

"... got to hand it to him, he can come up with some good holograms."

"How about this one, then?" Sentinel's voice echoed. Aurora turned again, fists bunched. Before them stood a hologram of a humanoid figure, though taller and more muscular than any human could reach. The figure was nude, but modesty was preserved by the figure's bright glow. Queenson had to avert his eyes slightly, squinting through narrow slits to keep his gun straight. "You are in a world of my design." it spoke, the voice deeper now, darker. More emotional. "And you are not welcome in it."