This is a Chain story passed between @zakludick and @therneau. Each writer authors a post based on the events of previous episodes and carries on the story.
There is very little collusion between the writers as it is challenging to discover and develop a story by attuning the writing to the partner's plot, style, and presentation.
For now @therneau is sitting out of the chain for the time being and @zakludick is progressing the story on his own.
Space Lore Log SLZT.Q3
The Professor stared in awe at the sight before him. He had made some study of the insects on the African plains, including ants and bees.
What he saw now in the binoculars made those industrious insects look lethargic and uncoordinated by comparison. It was as though each fluttering or crawling insect was made up of a larger animal that was turning the earth, producing more insects, and building a structure all at the same time.
As each moment passed, the rate of their construction, multiplication, or construction of larger shapes increased in speed.
"What are they Prof?" Peter asked, also doing his best to see the bugs from far away through the lens of his camera.
The Professor said nothing for a moment, searching for a sign. There! He had spotted what he feared the most... He could see a clutch of shiny black insects bunched together, they were being brought all sorts of materials by rows of insects while this crew constructed and activated new workers.
"They are self-replicating robots." The Professor said, lowering his binoculars and looking at Peter's panic-stricken face and the awed expression on Elizabeth's usually stoic features. She was a beautiful woman, the Professor realized that the only reason she was still single is that she intimidated Peter and the other scientists.
"Robots?" She asked.
The Professor could just nod. "And they have been draining the landscape dry. They seem to be breaking down all raw materials and then converting it into whatever they need."
"Professor... whether or not they are robotic... they are cooperative," Peter said. "They are behaving in a way that indicated that they seek to gather and build... this is more than just reproduction..."
"Yes, Peter... There must be some further goal." The Professor said, wiping his sweaty forehead. "And there must be a queen."
Just then the Professor spied something rising out of the dirt where the robotic insects were gathered the most. He quickly used his binoculars to get a better look.
I hate it when I am right.
Out of the dirt, she came. She was dozens of times larger than any of the drones that attended her. Her body was somewhat bulbous, but her head and mandibles were angular and made her look wasp-like and even a bit arachnoid.
A shiver traveled down the professor's spine when she turned and seemed to look straight at him with those cold, logical eyes. From this distance, he could not make out any sounds but it seemed as though the Queen was screeching.
It was then that the wave of black metallic bodies became noticeable, sweeping up, low to the ground coming right at them.
"Start the car!" The Professor choked out.
"What?"
"Start the car and get as far away from them as possible and fast!" The Professor ordered.
Once more, Elizabeth gunned the land transport's engines and they tore through the earth and small plantlife in their effort to escape the wave of death that was speeding towards them.
The car sped down the earthen track, it was not a tarred road. Even in this year, there were massive parts of Africa that were simply not tamed. They seemed to be losing the wave of insects around every turn.
"What are we going to do?" Peter yelled.
"We must have lost them!" Elizabeth shouted.
The Professor was struck with uncertainty. Perhaps the metallic bugs, being super efficient would go back to other tasks and leave them alone or perhaps there would be some that kept coming, in an implacable advance and pursue them.
Either way, they did not move as fast as a car and as long as they kept moving, they would be able to escape and find help. "The authorities need to be notified. That is our main objective at this point." The Professor looked behind them and tried to see if they were still being followed.
"We should be able to see a swarm of them coming and we should be able to see where they are gathering and nesting as they look they are draining the surroundings of all natural resources." He continued to himself.
"They are quite efficient at that." Peter remarked.
The Professor nodded. "It stands to reason that they simply seem focussed on protecting that Queen and that they won't be venturing out. I am sure that we can outpace them and stay safe. I vote we go back to our base and collect..."
"Guys!" Elizabeth shouted.
The Professor had time enough to look around to see three rows of the bug-like insects making lines right across the road, there was no way to dodge them, the rover was going to need to go over these lines. On closer inspection, these insects were large, as bigger then a tennis ball in size.
The rover went over the first row and with screeching and exploding sounds he realized what they were doing. They are popping the tyres! The next row came up, he could see their bodies angled and sharp parts sticking into the air.
The vehicle went over the second line but ground to a halt before they could reach the third line. "Something is wrong! I've lost power!" Elizabeth shouted as she tried the ignition again and again, ramming her foot into the gaspedal as she tried to get the engine back up and running again.
A cold shadow hit the Professor and he looked up, seeing a wave of the insects come out of the lush forest, descending towards the scientists in the car.
Log SLZT.Q3 completed!
Let's leave it on THAT note! 😁😁😁
See you next time!
| by @zakludick | by @therneau |
|---|---|
| Branch Log | Queen |
| SLZT #26/Q1 | |
| SLZT.Q2 | *** |
| You are here! | *** |
| by @zakludick | by @therneau |
|---|---|
| New Earth | SLKT |
| SLKT #1 | |
| SLKT #2 | *** |
| Coming Soon! | *** |
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