A Time For Change

Chapter 7

A sudden rush of despair and anger washed over Mari, and with forced, adrenaline fuelled fury she stood up and shouted.
"Then why are you here? What are you for if not to change it."
Destiny moved to meet her with a speed that was almost imperceivable. The placement from one position to another seemed to come without any connecting movement that would justify the transition from one state to another, and for the second time since first encountering this strange being, the fear rose in Mari so much as to cause another loss in bladder control. The warm liquid erupted from her, staining the front of her skirt before running down the inside of her legs - legs that shook to the point of almost being unable to support her. The burning sensation of bile in her throat caused her to gag and Mari realised that this fear over revulsion was - True fear. Primal and untamed..the evidence of which now pooled at her feet. Destiny's face was uncomfortably close to Mari's and she could see herself reflected in those large green eyes - Eyes filled with insanity's rage.
"Do not dare to question my place in this world woman." She hissed. "It is because of you and your kind that I and my kind exist. You invited us here. Your greed and arrogance has placed you in history as coming up wanting."
Mari's legs would hold her no more and she fell back into the chair she had been sitting in. The uncomfortable feeling of wet clothing went unnoticed, placed as it were as something trivial compared to what was happening right now and what was to come.
The anger seemed to drop from Destiny as quickly as it rose.
"To give them time to prepare." She said softly. "To limit the bloodshed, and for you to teach them compassion."
Conflicting emotions of fear and anger were causing Mari's head to spin and her next words were forced.
"For who?" She asked weakly. "Those that would seek to hurt the children?"
Destiny laughed. It was a horrible sound. Grating. Malicious and without mirth.
"No-one said it was fair." She said. "But think on - When fairness is only practiced by one person then that person can dictate the morality of those who come after. But when observed by no one." She left her words to complete themselves with the suggestive undertones of the individual imagination of those who would understand such implications.

Mari let the words settle, lost in the images they created - So much so that she did not notice that Destiny had gone - Realizing only when she Jumped at the sudden reanimation of the professor, who said nothing other than to look confused. He scanned the room and then settled his gaze on Mari.
"My internal clock reports an hour missing from my run time."
Mari smiled at him because, for the first time in his life, something organic knew more than he did about himself. The oppressive pressure and the treacle like consistency to the air had now gone. Mari's demon had left her to ponder her words. She had said a decision was made here today - But today was not over.
"We have had a visitor." She said simply, another tear of relief rolled down her cheek. The tear, unexpectedly turned into a sob that was stifled by a hand to her mouth. The nightmare was far from over. A Storm was coming that would leave a world of demons such as Destiny Sails.
"Or maybe she was an Angel sent to warn us - Who knows?" Said Mari after recounting the last hour to the professor. She picked up the paper she had submitted and tore it in two.
"Your work." Said the professor.
"It was incomplete." Replied Mari.
The professor looked around again.
"I have questions." He said,
"Welcome to the human race professor."
Mari bent over and kissed the professor on the top of his head, an action that added to his confusion. She folded the ruined papers in half and walked towards the door, very aware of the professor watching her leave. But before she left, Mari stopped and turned to the android.
"Before I go sir." She said. "I have a question for you."
The personification of the worlds combined knowledge looked blankly at her and managed to look old and slightly pathetic. Like a confused old man whose younger years had been snatched away by wars whilst his older memories were slowly dissolving through illness and neglect.
"A question?" He asked.
"Something for you to think about, and maybe the completion of my work." Replied Mari.
"Please.."
Mari looked down to compose her words, noticing for the first time the stain on the front of her skirt. She tried to brush it away before stopping herself from engaging in another futile exercise - Something that her whole life had been full of and brought into sharp focus from that strange visitor known only as Destiny Sails.
"Are you aware of early twenty-first century gaming systems?"
"Indeed." Replied the professor, still in a state of confusion.
Mari nodded.
"If you try to place a game in an incompatible console - Would it play?"
"No." Replied the android. "That's what incompatible means."
"Does it then mean that that game is broken?"
There was a pause in the conversation, filled only when Mari said.
"Nor are the children - This is something I needed to be reminded of."


THE END