Tag: machine civilization

“The Fallen” 5/7

This is the next shoe to drop: Anton, as a soldier and diplomat of a minor power, sees what will come next: the shrine, the device behind the waterfall. Unlike the one Aqua hid, this will be in Russian hands in less than a month, with the potential to destabilize everything generations of humans, demi-humans, and Machines have worked so hard for.

The latter half of this segment did not exist until Sunday morning: Mass, again. This story is about to go off in a direction I never anticipated.

I would also like to formally thank Kalogeros Stilitis of Gab for his help with the Greek. I taught myself some koine Greek when I was 25 years old, but that was a lifetime ago and I recall almost nothing.

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“The Fallen” 5/6

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day, and a great time to find out things which can not only shatter your world, but could shatter more than one.

Aqua hid away whatever it was that tossed Fussy and Ed three hundred years into the future. Now a team of Russians are about to start excavating their way to what seems to be another one. Reina is not one to take “no” for an answer, so this could have significant political repercussions. Already rapidly becoming famous for her accidental discovery, I have a suspicion that Allie is about to be up to her neck in international/interplanetary politics.

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“The Fallen” 5/5

Allie tells her story, most of it, to her parents. Their pride in her is obvious, as is her modesty; she is no Fussy or Aurie

Between the Lewis Carroll and Easter references, this is becoming an allegory. I need to review my notes for the rest of Part 5 this weekend. I’ve got a pretty good idea about the Epilogue, but need to get from here to there, first.

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“The Fallen” 5/4

It was pointed out to me I never mention holidays in my stories. As far as I can recall, even as Catholic as so many of these people are, I never even mention Christmas or Easter. The way this segment ends makes me think there should be some kind of “Thanksgiving” holiday for the Martians. But, what date? Colonization was not like the landing of the first ship from a distant star, it’s been going on for more than a generation now. Allie’s amazing discovery? Why give “thanks” for that, as it creates a million new problems and possibilities? And, of course, there are three very distinct cultures, led by two races, on Mars; do the Russians and Japanese have the equivalent to a “Thanksgiving Day” in their current cultures? Perhaps I should just stick to shoehorning the religious one’s in where I can.

Back home into the bosom of her family, Allie makes a surprise announcement – on someone else’s behalf – before learning from her diplomat father the leading edge of the ramifications of her accidental discovery.

Still and all, Allie’s parents have something to give thanks for; Happy Thanksgiving to my FUSA readers!

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“The Fallen” 5/3

I swear I did not think about Allie’s name vis a vis that other girl who fell down a hole until yesterday. At least this way I dodged a huge discussion of politics. Maybe that will be tossed into the lap of Anton, next.

The thought I had in the lead-in of the last segment was enough to have Allie voice it to Fussy; outside of war, no one should have to bury their children or grandchildren. Longevity is a curse.

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“The Fallen” 4/25 (end pt4)

And this brings Part Four to a close. I’m beginning on Five, which I think will be the last; it always depends on who wants me to say what. Five will NOT be a half-generational step like the others have been. It will open just a few days after Allie’s rescue and immediately go deep into politics. Further, I vaguely recalled people making future-referential statements, going all the way back to Part One, and I am skimming the MS and making notes for the loose ends I need to tie up.

Once I get a few thousand words in P5, I should have a much better idea as to how all of this wraps up. I certainly could see an Epilogue where, in a year, Allie walks out of a newly bored tunnel, looks around, and says, “I’m back.”

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“The Fallen” 4/24

Bit of a pause there – not panther paws, the other kind – as I worked my way through the conclusion of Part Four; not that we’re there, yet. The old family friend has come to the rescue, a little worse for wear after a set-to with the Watcher. Nichole is almost hopefully nice, always wanting to make friends, even after over a century.

At this point, I need to get them back across the little bit of water Allie waded through way back in 4/2, I think. Not sure how to do that without attracting more unwanted attention. Then, it’s harness, cable, and up. For at least the demi-human. I’d bet Nichole 5 can take care of her self for as long as necessary.

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“The Fallen” 4/23

All the way back to Foes & Rivals, there have been hints that what happened was not just “the Breakup,” the economic catastrophe which broke the US and Western Europe, but what the characters now call “the Change.” The Machines seemed to recognize it first; they are very good at noticing things. Even Aurie in Regent says, “Go outside at night with an old book about astronomy; the stars are different now.”

We get another glimpse of that in this segment. Is Allie tripping? Is she dead? Is this another temporal transference? Trust me, I’ve no idea, either. Nice kitty.

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“The Fallen” 4/21

Allie now knows that Kira and those on the surface are aware of her predicament. It is a comfort to her, to know that, sooner or later, she shall be rescued. When? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, she goes to take a look about.

I mentioned to some other writers I am dangerously close to writing myself into the kind of cavern Allie finds herself in. My stories are driven by interaction. Alone in a cave negates that. So, I’m working on a way out for myself as hard as Kira is for Allie.

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“The Fallen” 4/20

Glad for another Friday as I’ll need a couple of days to see where the story is going; probably when I’m early to church. Having Allie wander around in the cavern is going to get really old fast. And there’s no way a teen girl is going to physically fight her way out of anything.

Speaking of church, I’ve said in other places and interviews that my Catholic faith informs my works but does not drive them. Many of the Hartmanns are Catholic; some more than others. The Empress’ father doesn’t have any faith at all (and finds his daughter’s politics to be a constant source of contention).

Oh, yes: in this segment I finally catch up to that image which started all of this a few months ago. Hope to see everyone on Monday.

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