[Story] Tales of Annihilation -- Latest episode: #29 Blood and Fire IV

Wha.. did you..



...






human?

Anyway... I am hating you for that cliffhanger but awesome job with that one

I'm also hating you for that cliffhanger but I have to say awesome job! You answered some questions about the spider bot while still keeping me interested to know more. Then you decided to throw humans into the mix!

I feel like the most hated person in the world at the moment!

Loving the works so far

Really like your works! Humans!! I hope 2 more stories are enough to bring it all together! Great Job!

Bump

Bump Bumpity bump (can't wait for the next part but don't rush it or the quality will go bad )

(Just a reminder: The first post in the thread has a list with links for many great fan-fictions from other authors.)

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Note: This one turned out to be a bit shorter. Short enough to fit into a single post.

Questions without Answers

Rhea sat there alone by the great pile of ashes that remained after last night's ceremony. The woman's screams still haunted her; she could almost feel the terrible agony as she watched the flames of the bonfire consume her.

She looked around the camp, and she could still see the hundreds of people that cheered by the fire, drinking and eating and celebrating as if they'd accomplished anything. But in the morning, Camp Furor was near empty; everyone was either on the fields working, or recovering from last night's booze.

She thought there was nothing for her to do at this cursed place, but the voices inside her head thought otherwise, as the voice had commanded her to travel there, but the reason it did not reveal.

As she arrived, she was welcomed to the camp by a person in red robe, hiding behind a strange mask. She'd always been familiar with the tradition of the worshipers to wear those robes and masks, but nothing in this world prepared her for the moment he removed his mask, revealing the face of a living human. He called himself Mort.

Mort told her last night, just before the ceremony to wait patiently. She'd been waiting since then, mostly patiently, but whenever she was about to lose her patience, the thing inside her chest made it sure for her to find it once more.


[…]


Hours later she grasped a man being escorted by two of the red robes – the man looked strangely familiar to her. As they reached closer, she realized it was Harris... Harris Raphani. What the – !? This can't be true, I must be dreaming... She thought to herself.

One of the red robes departed off them as they headed towards the main building. The woman approached her and told her to follow her.

[…]


It was an ancient building at the edge of the camp, at the border of a flourishing forest. It looked abandoned and was partially in ruins. A giant tree stood tall and proud above it. Two red robes stood guard at the entrance. The woman went ahead to dismiss them.

Harris and the other red robed person – the human – entered, and Rhea followed. The woman stayed at the door.

She found herself in a gloomy hallway. The bricks in the walls were ancient, and some of the roots found their way in between them – they most likely belonged to the giant tree, Rhea thought.

They soon reached a door with a hall behind it. An ancient looking chandelier hanged down from the ceiling, which provided some light in the otherwise dark and windowless hall. Below, in the center was the ornate round table with several seats around it. Some of the seats were already occupied though.

A woman and two men gazed at them as they entered. They did not wear red robes though. The only person with red robe and mask was the human whom they followed all the way in.

Mort, the human removed his mask and sat down, then as he made himself comfortable, he pointed at her and Harris to take a seat, so they did. Rhea expected him to introduce everyone, but he did not.

There was complete silence until Mort started speaking. “Why do you think you are all here?” he said, but nobody could answer. Rhea looked at the other three whom she never saw before. What are they doing here? What am I doing here?

Mort took an ornate chest from below his robe, and placed it on the table. “I suppose you all recognize this,” he said. Everyone took a short glance at one another, some of them touching their chests, and Rhea recognized that everyone in the room carried one of those things in their chests.

“They were created by the same machines that destroyed your home world.” he said. “However, we reprogrammed them, and now they serve us.”

“And who are you?” one of the two men whom Rhea did not recognize said.

“I am of a small group of humans. Our mission is to cleanse this galaxy of the machines that our kind had created long time ago.” he replied.

“If that is your mission, then why torture us?” Rhea asked.

“Wait... what?!” Harris said. “Your kind created those things?”

“Yes. The machines that destroyed Telia once served humans, but they no longer do.” Mort said.

Why did they create them? Rhea wondered.

“Why are we here, Mort? Tell us already!” the woman demanded impatiently.

Mort hesitated for a few moments. “You are here to follow my orders.”

“Why should we?” the bigger man said.

Mort looked at him, “Because we must unite the telians once again, Tyke.” he replied – at least Rhea finally knew his name. “That, however, will be quite the challenge.”

“Why can't you humans just come out and show yourselves? Why hide behind all this religious nonsense?” Harris said.

“Have you ever wondered why they never attacked your precious new planet for forty-eight years?”

“No? Why?” said Harris.

“The machines are divided into four major factions, and they fight each-other, each for their own reasons. One of these factions, the Foundation, believes there is a god out there that they serve, and are willing to crush any opponent that does not share their belief in his name. Forty-eight years ago, we noticed a large group of small spaceships being chased by the Synchronous, another of the machine factions. We managed to trick the Foundation to think that the spaceships they chase are full of biologic creatures that worship their precious god, the Founder. The Foundation attacked the Synchronous units and those then retreated, and they escorted the telians to a new home. Since then, New Telia is under the Foundation's protection.”

Rhea gazed at Mort, surprised and speechless, and so did the others. Wow, she thought to herself. Still, that doesn't answer the question; why am I here?

“Hard to believe, is it?” said Mort. “The machines that destroyed Telia now protect you all on New Telia, without you even knowing.”

“Nonsense!” the smaller man whom Rhea didn't know stood up so sudden, she had not seen. He appeared rather upset. Though, the man was not particularly large, he did have some muscles, he could easily beat the soul out of anyone with bare fists. He was young, but not very handsome; his blue eyes were so pale they were more like gray, and his skin was terribly dark and brown, full of scars.

“You think so?” said Mort.

“Yes, I do.” the man replied. “The machines did not attack, because they don't know where we are.”

“Oh, you think? Let me tell you... almost EVERYONE in this galaxy knows exactly where New Telia is located, because of all the signals your kind foolishly sends out into deep space, using the technology they'd stumbled into and have no idea what purpose it serves.” Mort replied. “Now sit back down.”

The angry man sat down, but did not seem to calm down. He placed a hand to his chest, he seemed to be in pain. The damn thing, Rhea thought.

“You still did not answer, human.” said the woman. “Why are WE here? And why us?”

“You are all here for one reason; to unite each of the nations on this planet. To do so, you will weaken them, provoke wars and things like that.”

“That is how you intend to unite us?” Harris said with disbelief.

“Yeah, you blatant liar!” said the angry small man. “You serve THEM, you do the dirty work for them, so they don't have to waste time on us.”

Mort looked at him with disapproval. “It is necessary, so the Followers of Nyl can take over, as we must keep up the disguise of a religious race, until it is time for a counter attack.” he said, but this time, he seemed to run low on his patience.

“No, bastard,” the angry man said. “You want us all dead, burned on bonfires like the woman last night!”

“Calm down, you idiot!” Mort said, with an impatient tone in his voice.

“CALM DOWN?!” the man yelled back at him. “There's no calm down! You put this wretched thing in our chests, telling commands inside our heads and causing pain when we don't do how you wish! I WILL NOT CALM DOWN UNTIL THIS THING IS IN ME!” he finished as he slammed his fist against the table.

“It is necessary to – ...” Mort was about to say, but the man interrupted.

“NECESSARY?!” he yelled, and stood up and walked up to Mort, around the table, so quickly and so sudden... he placed both his hands around Mort's pale neck, and with a simple move, he broke it. His lifeless body slammed into the floor, together with his chair. The man looked down at his corpse, “Your LIFE... was not necessary.” he said.

The man looked up at the others, with both his hands placed against his chest; he seemed to struggle. Shortly, blood trickled out of his nose, and within a few moments, he was on the floor, beside Mort. The others tried to help him, but they could not. He died.

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Damn . That ending was sad. I enjoyed it though . Keep the awesome stories going

@SolitaryCheese giveth humans and @SolitaryCheese taketh them away

*hint* *hint*

I know, its just that Mort seemed like a cool guy

*hugs*

Ok I played all the way through and I got 8 sub commanders total lawls, it was literally a faceroll. on absurd enemies start with 3 commanders but 8 subcoms had em boxed in and I could actually go afk and still win unfortunately the orange faction leader was bugged and I couldn't fight him so I can't win it cause its bugged. The faction leader is on a star with no path leading up to its, its ******* bullshit!!!

6/10 would read again

Bump

Announcement time...

Blood and Fire III will be #20 instead of #19.

The reason for this is mainy that I need to sort a few things out first before completing it. It is about halfway done at 2000 words, and like always, it won't fit a single post... boo-hoo.

Worry not, though... despite Blood and Fire III being delayed, another episode, "Legendary" will take the place to be #19. It is definitely coming soon.

Sooner than later, but definitely before the end of times.

​

PS.: I like announcements.

How do you know when the end of times are ? Are you a time traveler ?