Jae sat on the edge of a broken wall that overlooked the frenzied movement and rebuilding of the geometric interior of the Pivot. However, her eyes were filled with tears, and all the wonders before her were ignored.
“Hey, any room for me?” asked Kim who had followed her.
“We so messed this up,” she said quietly as she wiped tears from her face.
Kim sat next to her and looked out.
“Nice view.”
“Don’t look at it.”
“Why?”
“Because none of us deserve a nice view.”
“That’s kinda mean.”
“No, it isn’t! We’re just as bad as the Prime! Making decisions for them! We never asked them if this is something they want!”
“First, I don’t think we’re as bad as the Prime.”
Jae went “Pfft.”
“But you are right, we messed up, we should’ve asked.”
“What’s wrong with us?”
“Well, you snore very loudly,” he said with a smile.
Jae got up and started to leave but Kim said, “Sorry! Sorry, it was just a dumb joke.”
“I don’t want to hear jokes right now!”
“What do you want to do?
“Crawl into a dark hole and feel terrible about being a monster.”
“I don’t think that’s going to help anything.”
“It’s what I deserve. You too. And Morbus.”
“May I join you?”
Kim and Jae turned to see Fortunato hovering outside the hole in the wall.
“Why would you want to?” asked Jae.
“So we might clear up our mutual miscommunication.”
“Yeah,” said Kim, “That’s a good idea.”
Jae glared at her brother but didn’t leave. Fortunato landed in the hallway they stood in.
“I would apologize for causing you emotional distress-” they began.
“You don’t need to apologize!” shouted Jae.
“-but Professor Morbus has explained that, in this case, it is unnecessary,” Fortunato finished.
“Oh! That’s… right.”
“However, I wish to explain that the nature of my query was born of curiosity, not anger.”
“But you should be angry!”
“I am unsure if I am capable of that emotional state. From what I have observed, irrational decisions result from anger. It does not seem a productive mindset.”
“But we never even asked you if this was something you wanted.”
“While it is true that I was not consulted, it seemed important to both of you.”
“That’s no reason to do something so big, just to make us happy.”
Fortunato cocked his head at Jae and asked, “I had gathered that actions done for the purpose of imparting joy to one’s friends is a common custom. Was I mistaken?”
Jae rushed up and hugged Fortunato.
“So I was not mistaken?”
“You got it right.”
“That is reassuring. Biologic customs are extremely elaborate and contradictory.”
“You’re not wrong about that,” said Kim.
Jae stepped back and said, “I’m sorry I didn’t ask what you wanted.”
“Me too,” added Kim.
“I appreciate your regrets, and offer forgiveness, even though none is needed.”
Jae was visibly relieved and leaned against her brother.
“So, do you really want to do this?” asked Kim, “It sounds dangerous.”
“Don’t do it just because you think it will make us happy!”
“That is not the only reason I wish to do this.”
They all stood there for a moment as the sounds of Mechano-Men flew by, and structures folded and unfolded in the distance.
“Are you going to tell us the other reasons?” asked Jae.
“Yes. One is that I am curious about autonomy. No, that is not wholly accurate, it is something I wish to experience. Even though the outcome is uncertain.
“The second is more difficult to express. Activity in the Pivot is peculiar. Some protocols have changed and others are completely ignored. Our presence is not the reason. While the damage is extensive, it does not account for all anomalies.”
“Are you saying that your gut is telling you something’s wrong?” asked Kim.
“I do not possess a gut nor a digestive system, but as I understand the idiom, that is correct. I do not wish to be beholden to external influences if I am correct.”
“Whatever you want to do, we’ll have your back,” declared Jae.
Kim nodded in agreement.
“That is welcome news as I will require all your aid in accomplishing this task. Shall we return to Professor Morbus so we can proceed?”
The siblings agreed and Fortunato flew them through the corridors, which was exciting and a bit terrifying but in a good way. They arrived at their suite quickly and entered. Morbus was hunched over the desk and didn’t register the other’s presence. Kim cleared his throat but he did not respond.
“Professor, are you with us?” he asked loudly.
Morbus jumped and looked around to see that all his companions had rejoined him.
“Sorry, I got lost in my research,” he stammered.
“Were your investigations fruitful?” asked Fortunato.
“Let’s talk bout that later. I see you’ve worked out any difficulties.”
“We have. It was an extremely emotional conversation,” remarked the Automata.
“Delighted to hear it’s all sorted.”
“Fortunato’s going to try the thing!” blurted out Jae.
“Pardon?”
“I am going to attempt the procedure to gain full autonomy. I will require all of your aid.”
“I see. Yes, of course.”
Kim regarded him and asked, ”Are you okay Professor?”
“What? Yes, I’m fine,” he replied with a smile, “How do we start?”
“Allow me to demonstrate,” said Fortunato who moved to the desk, “Please show Project 7481.”
The crystal map dissolved and a schematic of a Mechano-Man was made. Each step of the procedure was shown, from removing the chest plate to the removal of the core crystal, and then linking that to another machine, and then the whole thing was done in reverse. At the end of the demonstration, a red tint came over the screen with a klaxon sound.
“That is a warning that this is a theoretical process, and as of yet, untested,” said Fortunato.
“I don’t much care for that red light and alarm,” said Morbus, “Also, I’m rather surprised you were granted access to this information.”
“The red light and alarm are merely a warning. As for my access, the Pivot’s systems are not fully restored, so I was able to discover this file.”
Turning to the desk, they said, “Please transfer the file to a data sliver.”
A small hexagonal crystal was built on top of the desk and Fortunato took it gently in his fingers and handed it to Morbus.
“In the repair center, I will instruct you where to place this to begin the process. Are you ready to proceed?”
They all traveled to another geometric structure via the platforms that linked them. Mechano-Men wizzed to and fro as well as a multitude of small geometric shapes.
“Am I wrong or does the activity seem to have intensified?” asked Morbus.
“You are correct, Professor.”
“I wonder if it’s connected to all the reactivated sites?”
“The what now?” asked Kim.
Morbus explained what he had discovered.
“Why didn’t you say this when we came in?” demanded Jae.
“Because getting Fortunato sorted is something we can do immediately and those other sites are quite distant!” snapped Morbus.
Jae looked like she was going to lay into the Professor but instead said, “Yeah, you’re right.”
“Furthermore I must remind… Oh! Thank you, Jae.”
“Anger is not a productive mindset,” she said, looking up at Fortunato.
“Indeed!”
Shortly after that, they arrived at the repair center. It was a long vaulted chamber, lined with metallic slabs that had a console behind each. Other Mechano-Men were being worked on as well as smaller types of Units. A gentle whirring could be heard as repairs were done.
Fortunato moved fluidly to an empty slab and laid down.
“Professor, if you could place the sliver I gave you into the screen behind me?”
Morbus took the crystalline hexagon and held it out to the shiny black panel. Slender tendrils grew out, plucked it from his fingers, and drew it into itself. Prime characters then filled the screen.
“Since this is an experimental procedure, as biologics, you must give permission for it to begin. Please hold up your Authority Bracers and voice verbal consent to commence.”
“Fortunato, this better work,” whispered Jae.
“I am unable to lie, as I have told you before.”
“I wish you could, just right now.”
“If it is of any comfort to you, if I can do anything during this procedure to increase my odds, know that I will.”
“That helps, a little.”
“I regret I could not do more. However, I believe this is the correct course of action for me.”
“I know.”
Kim, Jae, and Morbus nodded at each other, and all said, “We give consent.”
Immediately a flurry of tendrils of various thicknesses erupted out of the side of the slab. With precision and elegance, they removed Fortunato’s chest plate. His inner workings resembled human anatomy if bones and muscles were comprised of mysterious alloys and crystals. In the center of their chest was a large, translucent triskaidecagon glowing with a golden light.
With great fineness, it was removed from its resting place and carried to another machine that had unfolded from the floor. Just as the heart (as each of the others had thought of it) was about to be placed into this new mechanism, all movement stopped. Not just with Fortunato. All the repairs halted and the room became eerily silent.
“What’s going on?” asked Kim.
“Did we do something wrong?” asked Jae.
“I don’t think so, we followed their instructions to the letter,” said Morbus.
Before they could do or say anything else, all the panels in the chamber rearranged themselves into an unsettlingly accurate image of their least favorite Peace-Keeper.
She smiled and said, “Greetings to the Sundered World. I am Thane-Captain Corbyn, late of the Bastion Peace-Keepers. I’m here to tell you that I am going to save the world, though if I’m being honest, not for everyone.”
The End of Part One
Afterward
First I want to thank all my constant readers for coming along with me on this journey. I must confess, I had no idea that what I intended as a short story would grow into a full novel, let alone Part One of a longer story.
I am going to take a bit of a break from the Sundered World to explore other stories as I ruminate on what happens next. Even as I write this, ideas are marinating in my mind. So fear not, I will return to this tale.
I wish to give a special thank you to my fellow wordsmith Melissa Roske who, when I was feeling uninspired, encouraged me to try a different sub-genre of fiction. Without that push, the story of Kim and Jae might have been short, though I hope sweet. Thanks again, Melissa. (Look her up on the interwebs and read her stuff, she’s very good.)
So I’m going to take the Leaper’s advice, and Just Keep Moving.
-LBJ