diff --git a/gopher/RSS Revenant/1627.txt b/gopher/RSS Revenant/1627.txt index 8c01fc9..6b8ecad 100644 --- a/gopher/RSS Revenant/1627.txt +++ b/gopher/RSS Revenant/1627.txt @@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ fortification built into the cliffs face. "...Glodians power also came from their ability to sycrentize with other cultures, their own culture fascinated with the art and socio-political theories set forth by the Flalo people before them, -also desired to seek out new arts, technologies, and advances to -society." Onyx busts of kings and great thinkers whirred past me in -space like I was supposed to recognize them. I set the tablet down -and walked back into the lobby. +who also desired to seek out new arts, technologies, and advances +to society." Onyx busts of kings and great thinkers whirred past me +in space like I was supposed to recognize them. I set the tablet +down and walked back into the lobby. "You can take off that mask, already" Hex said, balancing her athame on her finger. "The water in the sinks has a bit of sulphur diff --git a/gopher/RSS Revenant/1628.txt b/gopher/RSS Revenant/1628.txt index 4950cb8..03b5104 100644 --- a/gopher/RSS Revenant/1628.txt +++ b/gopher/RSS Revenant/1628.txt @@ -1,8 +1,8 @@ A tiny Mr Swarm crept across the wall and was trying to reach Mr Swarm's doorknob, stealthily making running leaps, scattering up the door, and sliding down again. Hex and I tried to keep from -snickering, but finally he gained enough purchase to twist the knob -and swiftly slid into the room. +snickering, but finally he gained enough purchase to pull the +handle and swiftly slid into the room. I'd been trying to convince Super Hex to let us use her tarot to play poker without making any progress, something about "the @@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ of monsters and gods. Religions worshiped the first invasion as the return of the ur-creator or vindication for years of recounting dozens of prophecies, others dreamed of the new knowledge they would acquire would appease their ancestors curiosity through their eyes. -But soon they were soon subjugated, they had never considered their +But they were soon subjugated, they had never considered their gods would be so demanding, many said they were monsters - until the resistance ships came, first with defenses, then with the cure, a biological weapon of some sort. New gods had offered new diff --git a/gopher/RSS Revenant/1630.txt b/gopher/RSS Revenant/1630.txt index 9e324fd..8426545 100644 --- a/gopher/RSS Revenant/1630.txt +++ b/gopher/RSS Revenant/1630.txt @@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ but the cost was great. The Nalmykians developed a genetic solution to their troubles and merged their carbon-based DNA with a silicate construct similar to a virus. This new lifeform speaking to us now was left behind to launch the last cruisers forgotten in space. -With nothing to do but think. +Centuries alone with nothing to do but think, and wait for their +planet to fall into their sun. "What do you want from us?" Hex intoned, absent-mindedly flipping a tarot card between her fingers. @@ -36,3 +37,13 @@ while under their guidance. "Trillions and trillions, we are all you see before you. These forms were chosen in accordance to your ratios, but this is the last of our species." they echoed without delay. + +"And what species is that?" asked Mr. Swarm. + +"The Protectorate of Nalmyke," came the chorus of nearly human +voices. + +"We, ourselves, are lost in space; can you help us find our way +home?" I asked. + +"The Protectorate cannot, but we can take you to those who can." diff --git a/gopher/RSS Revenant/1633.txt b/gopher/RSS Revenant/1633.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7eb2ac0 --- /dev/null +++ b/gopher/RSS Revenant/1633.txt @@ -0,0 +1,48 @@ +I awoke to a buzzing, not an alarm, but a tone inside my head. The +Protectorate had completed several upgrades to the ship, and as we +studied their anatomy and composition they were studying ours. I +guess centuries of advancement hadn't sped their analytical powers +as much as I expected. Perhaps there's a hard wall as to how fast +the universe can experience itself. I hadn't had any major side +effects to the tests we've been running on one another, except for +this tinnitus. + +Biological integrity, hormone generations and modifications, +pheromonic communication, a list of discoveries had soon filled our +datastores - which had also been adapted by the Protectorate - the +efficiency of all our technologies had increased to magical +proportions. Even Super Hex didn't comprehend exactly how these +changes worked, but none of our interfaces had changed so we kept +doing that we've always done. + +Their DNA was 92% similar to ours, after accounting for the fact +that they had Silicon in the positions where Phosphorus usually +resides. Mr Swarms lab now contained several homunculus-like +chimeras, created with the help of the Protectorate and Commander +Cranium, each floating in their own little jars like horribly +deformed tadpoles. I have no idea how they were created, but I +wanted to smash them. + +The Refeshlicator still worked as expected, producing my usual +tepid coffee infused with the taste of sugar and cream and an +elephant ear pastry. There was no natural dairy in either of them, +but they tasted as fresh and organic as the finest artisanal +bakeries back home. + +It's been 2 years since I had last set foot on Earth, and now I had +started to lose hope of seeing it again; or what's left of it by +now. Last I heard The Revengerists had prevented the total +annihilation of Freedonia at the hands of Dr Evilus, but at great +cost to New Luxembourg. Not that the rest of the planet wasn't a +total catastrophe, but at least the Artic colonies had stopped +battling over their borders. + +The Nalmykians had taken us deeper into formerly uncharted space, +by our calculations we were nearly 40 lightyears away from home; +and no closer to finding our way back. At least our ship had a new +opalescent paint job, even if the Protectorate didn't like to be +referred to as paint. The golden filigree was a nice touch, like a +more organic rococo; but I couldn't help but feel like hundreds of +horses were watching me through these peepholes throughout the +Revenant. + diff --git a/gopher/listing.gophermap b/gopher/listing.gophermap index b1c105f..37af35a 100644 --- a/gopher/listing.gophermap +++ b/gopher/listing.gophermap @@ -1,3 +1,4 @@ +0RSS Revenant - The Protectorate /RSS Revenant/1630.txt 0Excelsior - Systems Admin Report - Stardate Epsilon Delta 10 Epsilon /Excelsior/008.txt 0outpost M-48 - FTL Travel /outpost M-48/FTL travel.txt 0Relay station A-18 - Last Humans /Relay station A-18/Last Humans.txt diff --git a/gopher/rss.xml b/gopher/rss.xml index 2b94878..22cef09 100644 --- a/gopher/rss.xml +++ b/gopher/rss.xml @@ -2,6 +2,64 @@