Michael Brachman's Blog: Tales of the Vuduri, page 14

Finale 1 - Blanket pointers

When I first came up with the idea of Rome's Evolution, I had only thought it through to Rome and Rei capturing Troutman and Steele. But when I started writing it, suddenly, I realized that this was not the end but the beginning of a deeper, more insidious plot. So here is a 6 part series on what was supposed to be the finale.

Yesterday, we let Rei think he was going to have one last moment of peace. But today, the blankets do their job as best as they can, trying to warn Rome and Rei that Steele is upon them:

     Even though it seemed nearly impossible, the dense stand of trees grew even thicker. The going was so slow, Rome had to hold Rei’s hand and pull her through each opening as they wound their way through the cane-trees, tree by tree. They came across one final stream, the deepest one yet. While Rei could still wade, the water was too deep for Rome and she had to resort to swimming. She was a surprisingly good swimmer and she beat Rei across by a wide margin. The water was downright cold. Rome waited for him patiently on the far side then they climbed the bank together. As they were climbing up, Rei noticed Rome was shivering so he draped the Deucado cloak around her shoulders to warm her up a bit.
     There were no trees on the far side. Instead, a boulder-strewn glade lay before them. There were a few patches of threadgrass but it was mostly just dry soil. The whole scene reminded Rei of the place where he first met the Deucadons: Triden, Melloy and Steben. It was made even more similar because in front of them was a vertical rock wall, almost a small mountain. Rei thought back to that day. It was the first time MINIMCOM had ever used his transporter. He had relocated Rei to the top of the cliff and it was only after he did so that the little computer informed Rei it was the first time he had ever attempted it with a living creature.
     The major difference between this glade and the other one was a tiny waterfall which dripped down the mountain and the little rivulet that formed at its bottom made its way to join up to the stream they had just crossed.
     “Look, Rome,” Rei said mentally.
     “What?” Rome replied.
     “The blankets are climbing up the front face.” He pointed to the dense rock formation ahead. “Look at the way they are forming an arch.”
     “What do you think it means?” Rome asked.
     “When I was making my way back from the Ibbrassati village to your father’s base, I came across a glade just like this. There was a cave tucked in there that was the Deucadon’s base of operation.”
     “A cave would be a perfect place to hide. Do you think Steele is in there?”
     “Something’s up. The blankets have been laying out the road for us steadily and now this? Look, there. I think they’re trying to tell us something.”

What are they trying to say? They are saying danger, danger, Steele is coming!

Finale 1 - Last moment of peace

When I first came up with the idea of Rome's Evolution, I had only thought it through to Rome and Rei capturing Troutman and Steele. But when I started writing it, suddenly, I realized that this was not the end but the beginning of a deeper, more insidious plot. So here is a 6 part series on what was supposed to be the finale.

Yesterday, MINIMCOM appeared in the sky for just a minute to reassure Rei that he was nearby. Today we lull Rei into thinking he has one last moment of peace before he has to confront the big bad of the story:

     “You are welcome,” MINIMCOM replied. “And thank you for such supreme confidence in me.”
     Rei couldn’t help but laugh. With renewed conviction, Rei and Rome plunged into the deepest part of the forest yet. Rome put her hand on Rei’s shoulder and let him lead because he could see far better than she could. It wasn’t long before they came to another creek. As before, the current group of blankets stopped and they waited for their cousins to appear on the other side. This creek was narrower but the swiftly moving water told Rei it was deeper. Once again, he took off his shirt and balled it in his cloak and helped Rome down into the little river. He held her hand high overhead as the water came up to her neck. The bottom of this creek was smoother so the footing was easier, thank goodness.
     As before, the cane-trees lining the tree bank were the bushier, split trunk kind. They looked like giant slingshots to Rei. He stared at them as they crossed and wondered what the slight deviation from the norm meant and why they required more water. Some day, he would have Rome ‘ask’ one of the blankets but for now they had to keep going.
     Because the cane-trees were bushier, there were more leaves on the ground, many of which led down to the water. Climbing up the far bank was a little trickier. The capillary action of the leaves and humus wicked up the water and soaked it making the soil wet and somewhat mushy. The moisture also hastened the decay of the leaves.
     It appeared that the sticky bushes had given up their claim to this land so the whole thing smelled like a mildly pleasant compost heap. Once again, when they got farther away from the water, the density of the cane-tree species changed back to the single trunk variety. A gentle breeze wafted through the area and the click-clack of the cane-tree trunks formed a soothing, ethereal cadence. Rei realized there truly was peace in this forest. The creatures, the trees, all lived in harmony. Though they had started out as intruders, somehow, Rei now felt their welcome. It was too bad they were fighting for their lives. Some day he’d like to come back here and soak it all in.

Actually, he may not want to do that. Before it is all over, he will have very bad memories of this place.

Finale 1 - The beginning

When I first came up with the idea of Rome's Evolution, I had only thought it through to Rome and Rei capturing Troutman and Steele. But when I started writing it, suddenly, I realized that this was not the end but the beginning of a deeper, more insidious plot. So here is a 6 part series on what was supposed to be the finale. Today we set up the confrontation during final approach:

     Rei wasn’t sure what the water would do to his electrostatic blouse so he took his shirt off and crumpled it tightly into a ball and covered it with the Deucadon cloak. Rome had gotten used to seeing him with no chest so the sight did not alarm her. Rei held his balled up shirt and cloak over his head with one hand and held onto Rome’s hand with the other as they slid down the bank where it was slightly narrower to ford the creek. The water was cool but not uncomfortably so. The bottom was made of silt and rocks and it was a little bit slippery so they took their time crossing. There were one or two deep spots but for the most part just going slowly was enough.
     Once they reached the far bank, as they ascended out of the water, Rei shook himself like a dog then put his shirt back on. Once again, Rei held Rome’s hand as they climbed up the bank. Ahead the trail of ‘blankets’ beckoned. The trail led through a series of cane-tree woods alternating with rocky outcroppings. Each of the rocky stretches represented a clear area with nothing overhead. It was in those flat areas, strewn with boulders and rocks that Rei looked up to search for signs of MINIMCOM, even though it made no sense. If Rei could see him, then Steele could see him too and tip their hand. Finally, though, Rei had had enough.
     “MINIMCOM, do you read?” he asked.
     “Yes, is there a problem?” the starship asked.
     “It’s just that it’s been a while since we’ve seen you.”
     “Why do you need to see me? I am more or less directly overhead,” MINIMCOM replied. “We can see you just fine. That is all that matters.”
     “But we can’t see you,” Rei responded. “I’m not saying it’s rational. Can you please just phase in and out for a second to put my mind at ease.”
     “As you wish,” MINIMCOM said but Rei could tell from his tone that he was irked.
     MINIMCOM’s reassuring jet-black presence became visible high up in the air. Rei smiled and tapped on Rome’s shoulder, pointing toward the sky. Rome looked up and nodded.
     “Thanks,” Rei said, “that’s all I needed.”
     MINIMCOM promptly disappeared again. “You are welcome,” MINIMCOM replied.

Now it is time to follow the trail to the end, to Steele himself!

The Evolution of Rome's Evolution

After I had completed The Ark Lords, I was pretty much done with Rome and Rei and the 35th century world of the Vuduri. I had a few little short stories that I wanted to publish which ultimately became The Vuduri Companion. I also wanted to try my hand at a YA novel which ultimately became The Milk Run but as far as major novels in the original continuity, I was done.

I did have an idea for a story but it wasn't very substantial. It felt like a novelette or more likely a novella but certainly not a full length novel. I still had the one or two Darwin stragglers skulking about the planet and I wanted to find them and extradite them. The plan was for Rome to evolve to become a mind reader and use her new abilities to track down the would-be assassins. I had this cool idea to have the climax occur where a bad guy shoots Rei right in the chest with a hand gun and the bullets fly right through him. For that to happen, I needed Rei to be wearing the PPT tunnel vest and he required that piece of hardware because his back was healing as a result of an attempt on his life.

It was all nice and clean and short and a tidy way to gain closure so that's what I set out to write. But, as always, when I was in the shower, I suddenly had a glimpse of another, much larger loose end. What of the now leader-less Onsiras? Were they just going to go away? Don't we have to deal with them some day?

The two plots dovetailed and became a full-fledged conspiracy and now what was supposed to be short ended up as even longer than The Ark Lords.

So over the next few days, I wanted to show you how the book was supposed to end and how I was able to clamp on the hook into the final, deeper climax. The fight scene between Rei Bierak and Dan Steele was my first full-length fight and sure, it ended with another hand getting cut off, but it was very satisfying, especially because Rome ended the fight, not Rei.

The series starts tomorrow and is entitled Finale 1. I hope you enjoy it.

My EcoSphere, part 2 of 2

Yesterday, I introduced you to a fascinating showpiece called the EcoSphere which is a complete, working ecosystem holding some shrimp and algae and all it needs is light to run. I worked it into Rome's Evolution as part of the explanation as to why there was so little variety in the lifeforms there. Here is the second part:

     Rei stooped down to where the water lapped up against the bank and scooped up a handful of water into his mouth. Rome did the same. Rei leaned back on his haunches then extended backwards so that he was lying on his back. He looked up at the canopy above them. Nothing on this planet was as it seemed. Rome decided to lie down as well and snuggled up next to him.
     “Look,” she said, pointing to the tree tops. The trees here were of the bushier kind that Rome had discovered lining the Great Southern Bay. “The bushier cane-trees must need more water. They are aligned here along this creek. I had noticed that the ones MINIMCOM transplanted to my campus were not thriving as well. That must be why. I’ll tell him to make sure they get more water when we get back.”
     “Whatever,” Rei said. He considered their circumstances. “You know, I used to think there was something wrong with this world. Its utter lack of biological diversity. But from what you said, they must have known what they were doing.”
     “Yes,” Rome replied. “They have built an optimal system.”
     “I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised,” Rei said. “When I was a kid, I had this thing called a bio-sphere. It was a sealed glass globe. All it had was some water, some air, a dead wood-like plant, some algae, some rocks and a few shrimp.”
     “Wouldn’t the shrimp suffocate eventually?” Rome asked, “If it was a sealed globe?”
     “No,” Rei said. “That was the sleek thing about it. All you had to do was supply light. The algae made oxygen which the shrimp breathed. The shrimp ate the algae. Their waste was food for the plants and so on. It was perfectly balanced and I had it for a long time.”
     “This world is perfectly balanced as well,” Rome said. “I hope we don’t upset that.”
     Rei sat up. “We’ll try hard not to. But we’d better get going.” He stood up then helped Rome up.

My EcoSphere, part 1 of 2

About five years ago, one of my stepsons got me an EcoSphere as a Hanukah present. It is a really neat novelty item, endlessly fascinating and while I am on my second one, the thing lasts for years. The EcoSphere looks like this:
It is an enclosed glass sphere with a branch-like thing, some algae and some tiny shrimp swimming around. How do they breath, you ask. The reason it is called an EcoSphere is because it is an entire ecosystem, completely balanced. Here is how it works:

When I was constructing the ecosystem for my fictional world of Deucado, I used the EcoSphere as my inspiration to keep the number of animals and plants to a minimum, mostly because I am lazy. Here is how I worked it into the story:

     Not quite believing what he had just witnessed, Rei contacted MINIMCOM with his EM link and did his best to explain Rome’s encounter with the ‘falling blankets’. The starship accepted his word but it was clear from his tone that he was somewhat skeptical.
     As each ‘blanket’ fell from the trees it curled into a cylinder, pointing to the next. The trail that was formed was easy to follow. Rei didn’t even bother to use his sonar vision at first as the ‘blankets’ appeared to know exactly what they were doing. As Rei and Rome went through deeper and denser portions of the forest, the canopy of vegetation overhead was so thick, it made it dark, like night. Rome was able to use her infrared vision to walk while Rei was forced to use his sonar vision to navigate his way among the trees.
     At one point, they came to one of the little creeks they noted from the air. The blanket trail stopped there. Rome stooped down and touched the blanket closest to the water.
     “They do not like to cross the water unless they have to,” Rome said.
     “So what do we do?”
     “We wait,” Rome replied. “More will come.” She turned and looked across the stream and saw a series of blankets wriggling out of the woods. “There,” Rome said. “They are on their way.”
     Rei watched as another group of blankets lined up to form a path that led into the woods on the other side of the creek.
     “OK,” Rei said. “We cross but I need a drink first.”

Tomorrow, part 2 so you can see how I used the EcoSphere as my inspiration for the ecosystem of Deucado.

The Blankets - 4

Yesterday we saw that through psychic contact with the blankets, Rome was able to solve many of the mysteries of Deucado that had confounded scientists since they arrived on the planet. Many of the planet's caves which looked artificial, were, in fact, built by the ancestors of the blankets when they had intellect and bones. The planet only experienced a brief respite from the continual bombardment from the sky so all the lifeforms of the planet decided to devolve into a more adaptable form.

     Rome looked up at the top of the being holding her. She nodded. “Yes,” Rome answered. “That was their original form. Now they are nothing but blankets and swishies. Even the plants were involved. There used to be a multitude of species on this world. The plants decided on the cane-tree form, the sticky bushes, the threadgrass and the flowers. That was all they needed to survive from one generation to the next.”
     “So this whole planet, with next to no diversity, was a conscious decision on the part of the indigenous population to survive the rain of meteors and the like?”
     “Yes,” Rome answered. “That was their solution. And for millions upon millions of years, it worked. They had given up all hope and all the associated pain to live in the forms you see in front of you.”
     “Can you tell them that we have figured out how to stop the things from falling out of the sky?”
     “Yes,” Rome said. “They know. And they do appreciate it. That is why they did not kill me. They just never had anyone to talk to before.”
     “Oh wow,” Rei said, walking up to where Rome was standing. He reached out with his hand and stroked the leather-like surface of the creature nearest to him. He thought he felt a vibration, almost like a cat’s purr, beneath his caress.
     “So now what?” Rei asked. “They know we’re here. We know they’re here. Where do we go?”
     “They do nothing. Life goes on as before. However, they understand that there are other humans trying to harm us. And they want to help.”
     “They do?” Rei asked. “How?”
     “They know where Steele is hiding!” Rome said, giddily.
     “Omigod,” Rei said. “Where?”
     “It is far but they will lead us,” Rome answered. The composite creature released its grip on her and slowly, each of the animals making up its body climbed down and away. Soon there was nothing left but the original ‘blanket’ that had tried to engulf Rome.
     “I don’t understand,” Rei said.
     “Look,” Rome replied, pointing past Rei.
     Rei turned around and saw ‘blanket’ after ‘blanket’ forming a path like you’d see when people used logs to line a road, leading into the woods.
     “And we just follow them?” Rei asked.
     “Yes,” Rome said proudly. She walked up and put her arm through Rei’s elbow. Gently, she tugged him forward. “We just follow them to Steele’s hideout.”

Wow! An entire scout team to lead them to Steele's hideout. Let's get going!

The Blankets - 3

Yesterday, Rome was not only not killed by a falling blanket, she was able to communicate with it and an entire colony of falling blankets group together in a vaguely humanoid construct. Rome walked up to mass of blankets and let it hug her. Rei was fascinated and horrified at the same time:

     “Rome!” Rei shouted. “Do you know what you are doing?”
     “Yes,” answered Rome, her voice somewhat muffled through the leathery flesh of the creatures holding her. “It wants to talk.”
     She twisted around and looked upward into the coils of ‘blankets’ that would have been its face. She stared, enraptured, as it filled her mind with imagery and substance. Finally, she nodded and turned back to Rei, still held within the grasp of the composite creature.
     “These are the living embodiment of Deucado,” Rome intoned. “They have been here for millions upon millions of years.”
     “What do they want?” Rei asked, somewhat frightened of the sight before him.
     “They want nothing,” Rome said. “They have dedicated their existence to surviving from day to day. So it has been for eons.”
     “Was there anything before?” Rei asked, catching the implication.
     “Before that, they were living, sentient beings, like us. They were vertebrates. They roamed this planet and continued to evolve for ten million years during the time when the sky stopped raining its punishing stones upon them.”
     “So then what happened?” Rei asked. “How did they become what…what they are?”
     “They tried to live,” Rome continued. “They went down under the ground. All those caves we have found. They were built by their ancestors. They used…” Rome struggled to find the words. “They used hand tools and magma guns, like the hoses your firefighters once used, to carve out gigantic caves, to protect them from the asteroids pummeling the planet.”
     “So all those caves…” Rei stuttered. “They were built by hand?”
     “Many of them,” Rome said, almost hypnotically. “But it was not enough. After a long break, once again, death came down upon them from above.”
     Rei started to speak then stopped.
     “As a planet, every creature decided, the fear, the pain, it was no way to live. They decided, as an entire world, to devolve into the adaptable forms you see today. No bones, no worries. They live, they die. Each day becomes the next. There has been peace, tranquility, even happiness, ever since.”
     Rei snapped his fingers. “Then those fossils, the ones that Wally found. They were real. That was what they looked like before?”

There you have it. I've been setting you up for this over the last eight years. Deucado is an amazing world and a testament to the tenacity of life.

The Blankets - 2

Yesterday, Rome and Rei had entered the woods to the west of the resort city of Ur. They were trying to track down Dan Steele, the one remaining would-be assassin. Unfortunately, one of the "falling blankets", the floppy creatures that hover above, in the trees, had fallen on Rome, trapping her and suffocating her. Will Rei be able to save her?

     “Rei!” Rome shouted mentally, “I can’t breathe.”
     Rei raced back to where the bundled form of his wife was writhing around on the ground. He straddled her body and pulled on the edge of the ‘blanket’ with all his might. The thing wouldn’t budge. He could feel its leathery skin constricting around her.
     “Rome, Rome,” he said helplessly. What he saw was the end of his life before him. The woman he loved more than humanly possibly was suffocating in front of his eyes. There was no way he was going to let this happen. He took a deep breath and pulled once more with all his might. Suddenly, the ‘blanket’ released its grip and Rei went somersaulting backwards over Rome and onto the ground.
     The ‘blanket’ removed itself from Rome’s form but she just lay on the ground, shaking. Rei got up and went over to her. He peered down at her. She was laughing.
     “Why are you laughing?” Rei asked, reaching down for her. “You almost died.”
     “It’s alive!” Rome said, excitedly, pulling herself to her feet. “It’s alive!”
     “Of course it’s alive,” Rei said.
     “No,” Rome replied. She turned and looked at the ‘blanket’ which was beginning to curl itself up like a rug. Once it was a tight cylinder, it bent at the middle into an ‘L’ shape. Rome went over and caressed it.
     “What are you doing?” Rei asked. “Those things are dangerous.”
     “No,” Rome said. “When I was touching it, it spoke to me.”
     “It spoke to you?”
     “Yes!” Rome said.
     Suddenly, there was a sound like a whump and another ‘falling blanket’, even larger than the first, fell in front of them. It wriggled its way over to the first one, the one that had covered Rome and curled itself up into a cylinder as well, leaning against the first. There was another whump then another. Soon, there were so many ‘falling blankets’ that Rei realized for the first time how very much in danger their lives were every time they went into the forest.
     The living creatures climbed over each other forming a tower nearly ten feet tall. Some of the blankets stretched over the ends to form an approximation of limbs. Along the ground, some of the smaller ‘blankets’ climbed up and inched their way toward the end. When the whole process was complete, the entity in front them looked vaguely humanoid. Huge, but humanoid nonetheless. Each of the components tightened up then the composite creature held its ‘arms’ out, beckoning to Rome. There was no hesitation in her actions. She walked toward the mass in front of her and let it/them envelope her in the equivalent of their arms.
     “Rome!” Rei shouted. “Do you know what you are doing?”

Isn't that the coolest image? One blanket alone was one thing but now they are face to face with an entire colony. And Rome can "talk" to them! What do you think they have to say?

The Blankets - 1

Yesterday, Rome and Rei decided to track down Dan Steele, one of the would-be assassins, on foot. They entered the woods at the western edge of the resort city of Ur. They didn't really have a plan other than to use Rome's enhanced vision and Rei's super-hearing with MINIMCOM hovering overhead looking for motion or a heat signature. What they found will shock you!

     “OK, my fearless tracker,” Rei said. “Where do we start?”
     Rome twisted in place and looked back at the city then turned to look forward. “There is no reason why Steele would take a circuitous route. We just need to align ourselves to Troutman’s house and then go west. Steele would stay somewhat close to Lake Eprehem. He would need water and food.”
     “Yeah, but that little river we saw means he didn’t have to stay just by the shoreline.”
     “He would if he wanted to catch swishies,” Rome said. “We have to start somewhere.”
     “OK, let’s do it,” Rei said. He closed his eyes and OMCOM’s ‘gift’, his sonar vision, kicked in. The sound of their footsteps was good enough to ‘illuminate’ the trail. Rei swept his head left and right and stopped almost immediately.
     “What?” Rome asked.
     “You were right,” Rei said. He opened his eyes and trotted over to the edge of first stand of cane-trees then stooped down. Clustered at the base of the trees were the ubiquitous sticky bushes.
     “Here,” he said, pointing to a bush. “Someone’s been by here. You can see where some of the leaves were pulled off. The leaves stick to everything.”
     “Excellent,” Rome said. “Let us continue in that direction.”
     They parted the bushes and entered into the forest proper. Through the occasional break in the trees, Rei looked up but saw nothing. At one point, he called up to MINIMCOM who assured him that he was directly overhead.
     Deeper and deeper they went. Occasionally, Rei thought he heard a rustling noise overhead but when he examined the leaf canopy carefully, using sonar, he detected nothing. However, as they marched along, Rei’s sonar vision was able to find small scuffs, more leaves pulled and where the ground was softer, the occasional footprint.
     “This is easy,” Rei said, smiling. “Who knew?” He trotted on ahead.
     “Try to go a little slower,” Rome cautioned. “Your special sight lets you manage your way around the trees but I still have to use my eyes.”
     “Sure,” Rei called back to her but something ahead caught his attention. “There,” he said, darting forward. “I found a…”
     Suddenly, Rome screamed. Rei whipped around and saw a ‘falling blanket’, one of the largest he’d ever seen, draped over his wife.
     “Rei!” Rome shouted mentally, “I can’t breathe.”

Oh no! Could this be the end of our darling Rome? Let's find out.