Meanwhile, Rome struggled with Estar. Rome squeezed Estar’s wrist harder pushing her arm higher. Estar tried to grab at Rome with her free hand but Rome seized that as well. Estar brought her knee up to hit Rome but Rome twisted in place blocking the blow with her thigh. The action caused Estar’s weapon to discharge blowing a hole in the ceiling exposing the living rock that was behind the ceiling tiles. As the two women struggled, Estar’s weapon fired bolts of plasma upwards again and again.
Finally, the roof had enough. With a crack, a large portion of the rock that formed the ceiling of the lava tube broke off and fell and hit Estar directly on the head, shearing off a piece of her skull. She collapsed to the floor. Rome looked down and saw the contents of Estar’s head emptying out onto the floor. To her horror, what Rome saw spilling out was not brain matter. Instead, it was tiny little wriggling worms that looked like maggots.
“Rei!” Rome said, pointing at the floor.
Rei looked at where Rome was pointing but the growing puddle didn’t phase him. He removed the other restraint from his left wrist and jumped off the exam table. He shouted, “Romey, grab her gun and let’s go.” Rei waved his arm forward.
“Go where?” Rome asked, frozen with terror.
So. Estar is dead and there are squiggly things like maggots crawling out of her head. I'll explain where I came up with that tomorrow.
Entry 4-071: March 7, 2016
Why maggots?
Yesterday, I showed you the second half of the first fight scene I ever wrote. Rome was struggling with Estar, trying to prevent Estar from shooting anyone. The bolts of plasma kept striking the ceiling until a rather large chunk of lava rock broke off. The piece of stone fell and struck a glancing blow shearing off part of Estar's skull. While that would normally be enough to kill somebody, I wanted to make the scene more graphic.
Think way back to when Rei was on Skyler Base. He and Rome were in OMCOM's central storage facility. Rome was intent on accomplishing her mission, that of enabling OMCOM to access Casimir pumps. This, in itself, was completely illegal within Vuduri society yet somehow there was a method by which it could be enabled. Let's review Rei's first reaction to OMCOM's central core:
Rei noted where she was going then walked forward slowly, entering the archway. He took about five steps in then stopped and looked around, then up. As with the Stellar Cartography lab, he found himself standing beneath a huge dome. Only this dome appeared to be made out of a fine metallic meshwork. He walked over to the side and peered in. Within the meshwork, there were millions of tiny white pellets that seemed be wriggling around, almost like they were alive. They reminded Rei of maggots. Every so often, a black pellet would appear. There were also some clear ones. The clear ones reminded Rei of a Vitamin E capsule.
So there you have it. I never, ever implied that the Vuduri were imaginative. That goes for MASAL, too, himself being a product of the 35th century. When he redesigned how the human brain would work, he used the memron model for the infrastructure. Each neuron of the "new" human would resemble a memron. Thus each brain cell would be autonomous and simultaneously entangled with all the others.
This is completely impractical. Human tissue needs to innervated and nourished by a blood supply. Patterning a human brain after memrons is completely impractical and would not have a chance in physiology hell of succeeding. But that's the cool thing about writing fiction. As long is it creates vivid images in people's brains, it's worthwhile regardless of whether it is practical or not.
OK. So Estar is dead. (At least until Aason meets up with her again in The Milk Run) Now what? Rome and Rei are hundreds of feet beneath a seemingly dormant volcano.
Tomorrow.
Entry 4-072: March 8, 2016
Where are we going?
All right. Let's recap. Near the end of Rome's Revolution, Rome and Rei are trapped maybe half a mile underground, beneath the mostly dormant volcano Kilauea. They have just killed three of the Onsiras, Estar and two guards. Now all the Onsiras are mind-connected so within seconds, the room will be flooded by more soldiers. There really isn't any place to go. The room they are in was constructed within a lava tube. They can't go out the front door. They can't go up. They can't go down. There is no back door.
Or is there? Like I said, they are trapped in a lava tube. A tube has extent. The solution to their problem could never have been sussed out by a Vuduri. But to a member of the Essessoni, people like us, there had to be a way:
“Go where?” Rome asked, frozen with terror.
“Here,” Rei said. He rotated a knob on his hand weapon and turned it to maximum power. He fired it directly at the wall behind them. There was a blast and in the clearing behind the wall was a large round tunnel, more of the lava tube. Rome bent over and retrieved Estar’s weapon. Rei grabbed his wife and they ran. As soon as they were three meters into the tunnel, Rei pushed Rome ahead of him then stopped.
“Move,” he said. As Rome started backing away, Rei turned and fired his weapon at the ceiling by the entrance, causing some rocks to come loose. He took two steps backwards and fired again. More rocks came loose. He could see back into the room and the door was opening and people were starting to flood in.
“Romey, come back. I need you,” he said, pointing. Rome turned and aimed Estar’s weapon at the entrance as well. Together, they fired their beams of destruction and within seconds a large rumbling sound was heard.
“Run!” Rei shouted as the whole ceiling started giving way. There was a roar and a rush of air and dust as they made their way down the tunnel and suddenly they were plunged into pitch black.
“Come on,” Rei said, grabbing Rome’s hand and moving forward. While Rome’s infrared vision could use their body heat to illuminate the space directly in front of them, Rei’s sonar-vision could see much further as their footfalls and the rumblings of the rockslide bathed the tunnel ahead in a dense swatch of sound.
Actually, it isn't a bad plan, if your plan is to not get caught. But, in reality, they are headed down. Down to where? Rei didn't know. He just knew he didn't want to be back there. Man of action, ya' know.
Entry 4-073: March 9, 2016
Do it again
Yesterday, we saw Rei use his head to deduce that the room in which they were being held captive wasn't a room at all. It was simply a slice of a cylinder, a lava tube, and there would be more lava tube beyond. As we approach the end of Rome's Revolution, Rei blasted open a portal and our fearless couple escaped into what led beyond. Rei knew full well that within seconds, more soldiers would come. He and Rome caused a cave-in at the entrance but that would not hold the Vuduri who had a lot more technology at their disposal. However, Rei was determined not to make things easy for them:
“Come on,” Rei said, grabbing Rome’s hand and moving forward. While Rome’s infrared vision could use their body heat to illuminate the space directly in front of them, Rei’s sonar-vision could see much further as their footfalls and the rumblings of the rockslide bathed the tunnel ahead in a dense swatch of sound.
On and on they ran, following the tunnel deeper and deeper. After a few minutes, Rei pulled on Rome’s arm to hold up.
“What?” Rome asked.
“How much charge do these pistols have?” Rei asked, breathing hard.
Rome looked down at her weapon. “They must be powered by Casimir pumps so, in theory, they never run out of charge.”
“Great,” Rei said. “Then we have to do it again.”
“Do what?” Rome asked.
“Collapse the tunnel,” Rei said, pointing upwards.
“Why?” Rome asked.
“Because they are going to cut their way through in no time. We have to make it as hard on them as possible,” Rei said through gritted teeth.
“And then what?” Rome asked. “Where are we going?”
“Down,” Rei said.
“Down to where? How will we get out of here?”
&nb
sp; “I’ll call MINIMCOM,” Rei said. He closed his eyes and activated his circuit. There was no response on the other end. He tried again. It was dead. He opened his eyes.
“Romey, you try it,” he said. “I think they messed up my brain or at least my circuit.”
Rome closed her eyes and tried to contact MINIMCOM. All she heard was silence. There was no response on the other end.
“I cannot do it either,” she said. “The signal is still jammed.” Rome looked up and around her. “Or perhaps we are under too much rock.
Rei squatted down. He put his hands up to his face. “This is not what I planned,” he said. “I figured once we got away from them, MINIMCOM could swoop in and beam us out of here.”
“What does that mean: beam us out of here?” Rome asked, confused.
“When I was a kid, there was an old science fiction show that transported people by dematerializing them. It was kind of my pet name for what MINIMCOM can do with his whoosh/pop snap PPT tunnels.”
That old science fiction show was Star Trek, of course. When I write science fiction, I try and depict it as realistic as possible so my characters are aware of the things we know. So Rei loved Star Trek. That's OK. But how would Spock and Kirk get out of this mess? Let's see if Rome can figure it out.
Entry 4-074: March 10, 2016
Aason saves the day
Aason Bierak is a true hero. He is the son of two heroes and genetically programmed to be heroic. So even at the tender age of two weeks, he is standing by, ready to help his parent or anyone else in need. He gets his own book in The Milk Run but for now he just plays a bit part because he is little bitty. Near the end of Rome's Revolution, Rome and Rei are trapped deep beneath Kilauea. They tried to reach MINIMCOM using their RF circuit but they are simply underneath too much rock. However, Rome has a second, more powerful communication channel at her disposal:
“I see,” Rome said pensively. “That is still a good plan. Let me try something else.”
“What?” Rei asked.
“Our son.”
“Aason?” Rei answered, confused.
Rome nodded. Once again, she closed her eyes but this time, she tried to open a connection to her child. “Aason?” she called out.
“Yes, mother?” the child replied sleepily. “Where are you?”
“I am with your father,” Rome replied in her mind.
“But where?” Aason insisted.
“I will tell you later. First, I need you to do something for me.”
“What?” Aason asked.
“Can you contact MINIMCOM? You have the same abilities as your father and me. We call it a telephone.”
“Of course,” Aason answered. “But he told me to call him Onclare MINIMCOM.”
“That is very nice, Aason, my love,” Rome thought. “Can you contact him now?”
“All right,” Aason answered. Then, “He is responding. What do I tell him?”
“Aason, my child,” Rome said. “I cannot tell you how to do this but do you think you could put us together? So that I could talk to MINIMCOM directly?”
“I know how to do it,” Aason replied happily. “Onclare MINIMCOM?” Rome heard him inquire.
“Where are you?” came MINIMCOM’s voice in reply. “I cannot find you on my scans.”
Rome breathed a sigh of relief. “We are deep within the volcano,” she said. “They were going to kill us.” In her mind, she flashed back to the scene of the wriggling little worms issuing forth from Estar’s skull and it made her shiver. “We need you.”
“I am on my way,” answered MINIMCOM. “At my present rate of speed, I will be there within the hour. I can fly faster if you want but then I run the risk of detection.”
“No, we can wait an hour,” Rome thought. “We are on Havei, the Big Island, in a lava tube, within the volcano, Kilauea. I do not know how far down we are but I do know that our EM link does not work. That is why I had to contact you via Aason.”
“That is sufficient information,” replied MINIMCOM. “I will find you when I get there. Do not be concerned.”
“All right, MINIMCOM,” Rome thought. “Thank you.”
Then to Aason, she thought, “Aason, you did well. You have saved your father and me.”
“Saved you?” Aason thought with some panic. “What is wrong?”
“We are beneath a mountain,” Rome said. “We are all right for now.”
“Can you come home now?” Aason asked.
“Not just yet,” Rome replied. “But Onclare MINIMCOM is coming to rescue us. We will be there as soon we can, my son.”
“All right, Mother,” Aason replied.
“I will be contacting you again, soon,” Rome thought. “Your father and I must attend to our business now.”
“Yes, Mother,” Aason thought. “Hurry home.”
“Yes, baby,” said Rome.
Such a good boy. Now all Rome and Rei have to do is stay safe until MINIMCOM comes to rescue them. They can't go back. They can only go forward. And down.
Entry 4-075: March 11, 2016
Lavacicles
What is a lavacicle, anyway? According to Wiktionary.com, a lavacicle is "a geological formation consisting of a quantity of lava that dripped from the roof of a cave as it cooled and hardened, leaving a rounded protrusion." As the lava is rushing down the lava tube, it leaves some molten portions behind and as they cool, they drip down. They are a little bit like a stalactite except they form fairly quickly instead taking years for minerals, dissolved in ground water to form the spiky column. Here is a picture of some lavacicles from the lava tube holding Rome and Rei:
So here are the wonders of the lava tube, as seen through Rome and Rei's eyes, near the end of Rome's Revolution:
They continued down the tunnel, stopping every quarter kilometer or so to collapse the roof. The farther down they went, the tunnel narrowed and it actually became easier to cause a slide. At one point, Rei had a pang of guilt that they were destroying something that was of great geological value but his need to survive and save Rome was the stronger impulse.
Down they went. The original tunnel was obloid in shape and roughly six meters across and about eight meters tall. The ceiling had a slight crown to it so perhaps teardrop-shaped might be a better description. At irregular intervals, there were stalactites, lavacicles really, which hung down and gave notice that the tunnel was about to change size, usually growing smaller. At this point, the ceiling was perhaps only five meters tall, the walls maybe four meters across. Along the sides of the tunnel ran a ridge that jutted out a half of a meter or so. Rei guessed the ridge was form by some residual lava flow a long time ago.
“How far does this go?” Rome asked.
“I don’t know,” said Rei. “I didn’t get that from the Overmind or whatever that was in my mind. I do remember when I was a kid, I recall reading that some lava tubes stretched as far as 45 kilometers or more. I can’t be sure but I think we’re heading toward the ocean.” Rei sighed. “In other words, I don’t have a clue,” he said.
It feels like they are deep enough. MINIMCOM is on his way. They've put plenty of obstacles in the way of the Onsiras. I think it is time for a break, don't you?
Entry 4-076: March 12, 2016
The soul of the machine
After Rei and Rome had put sufficient distance between them and their pursuers, they decided to take a break in the latter portion of Rome's Revolution. This is the first time they had an opportunity to talk about what happened to Rei when Estar tried to integrate him into the Onsiras' version of an Overmind. His observations were quite telling. Perhaps illuminating is a better word.
“OK, let’s stop then,” Rei said. He walked over and put his back along the left wall, sliding down until he caught the ridge. The ridge was wide enough to act almost as a bench.
“I am thirsty,” Rome said. “We left so quickly, it did not occur to me to bring any supplies.”
“
Yeah,” Rei said, thinking back to their escape. “Romey,” he said. “You know we had to do it, right? To shoot them?”
“Oh yes,” Rome said, coming over to where Rei was resting. “When Estar said to execute you, I was fairly certain it was not going to end well.”
Rei laughed gruffly. “I was in their Overmind,” he said. “It was not what I expected.”
“What were you expecting?” Rome asked.
“I don’t know. Like, when we link up with bands, I’m in your mind. You are like, a spirit. I can feel you and see you and your history, all intermingled. But I know it is you.”
“I am not part of that Overmind, if that is what you are saying,” Rome said.
“No,” Rei said, trying to find the words. “I just expected other, humans, something living. What I saw was something else. Cold. Mechanical. They weren’t spirits, they were just points of accumulation. Like a ganglion instead of a brain. There were no actual beings there. The Overmind, the one you described, was like a big, person maybe? There was no person there. Just, data.”
“That is very strange,” Rome said. “It must have been hard for you.”
“That blue crystal thing you said to me,” Rei said. “That saved me. That message, it was from OMCOM, you know.”
“Yes, I know,” Rome said. “That is the secret that MINIMCOM told me in private, back at the beach. OMCOM had sent this phrase along for just this moment. It was a trigger but I did not know for what.”
Rei observed that the Onsiras' Overmind was more like data than people. That's because the guiding spirit was, in fact, a computer. More on that later.
Entry 4-077: March 13, 2016
I poke myself
I enjoy writing. I truly enjoyed writing Rome's Revolution. After all, this story has been rattling around in my head since 1973. One of the advantages of being so intimately familiar with the story is that you can stick in items early and let them percolate until it is time to spring them on the unsuspecting reader. But sometimes the characters turn the tables and spring the surprise on me.