Chapter 9: Gary in a lift
Gary the prototype human used a roll of flesh to knock the mute button of his TV control. Perhaps it was the distraction of his soaps that was stopping his new guests (actual humans) from responding to him? But none of them spoke. Gary frowned. Well, part of his flesh that was approximately where a forehead might have been if he had a skull, frowned.
“But nice mind controlling aliens” Gary attempted to break the awkward silence, deciding to test a new theory that he might have spooked his guests with an overly frank explanation of the situation.
“N….Nice?” Jack said
“Yes!” Gary was happy, this was almost like an actual conversation, just like on the telly “For humanity's own good”
“For our own good the aliens control our brains?” the Princess then looked at her less fleshy companions “that sounds crazy to the rest of you, right, or am I not thinking straight from all the mind control?”
“They don’t control your brains” Gary attempted to clarify “Just the six point four million people trapped in London”
“Well that’s ok then” the Princess, incredulous, folded her arms across her chest.
“They are trapped in London? Inside the dome?” Granny took a tentative step forward; she’d been desperate for answers about the dome as soon as she’d seen its magnificent construction, but was now struggling to comprehend what she was hearing.
“They don’t think they’re trapped”
“Because of the friendly mind control”
Part of Garry over by the far window wobbled “That’s me nodding” he clarified after a second.
“So these aliens, the ones that created you, hem millions of people into a city with the haemorrhages then trap them in an impenetrable dome?” Granny was starting to get a little angry.
“Oh no no no” Gary was adamant “The hemorrhages are nothing to do with the aliens, in fact the aliens are protecting the remnants of humanity from them”
“Can I just say that I have absolutely no idea what is going on?” Graham had put a hand in the air like schoolchild asking for assistance.
Usually Granny would be in no way surprised to learn of Graham’s ignorance, but in this case she was with him all the way.
“Ok flesh bags” she began
“What did I do?” Jacoby looked hurt
“Not you lardy, him, it” Granny pointed at Gary while at the same time realising she needed to work on her repertoire of insults. That would have to wait as right now she needed answers, “start at the beginning” she said to the prototype “what are the haemorrhages?”
“Truth be told, even the aliens aren’t entirely sure. The most widely accepted theory is that they are somewhat analogous to what you would call a virus”
“A virus?”
“Yes, albeit one able to rip the very fabric of spacetime in search of sentient species to feed upon”
“Species, as in plural? They’ve done this elsewhere?”
“They did it to the mind-controlling aliens many centuries ago”
“But the aliens are still able to mooch about controlling brains?” Granny was still struggling
Gary continued “The hemorrhages appeared on Kepler-438c when the aliens were at a vastly more advanced state of technological progress than humanity was, but still the planet was lost” the flesh deflated a little, an approximation of sagging shoulders “The small mercy though was that the aliens had other colonies”
“So they survived, worked out how to stop the hemorrhages?”
“How to keep them at bay, but never stop them fully. So instead the aliens regrouped, persevered and took upon themselves something that you would understand as an oath. They could not predict where the haemorrhages would appear next, but they could trace them and do their uppermost to preserve the species that the hemorrhages fell upon”
“Hence the dome?”
“It is a rather inelegant solution, but there is very little time once a hemorrhage is detected. So they warp in a dome to the most diverse population centre that survived the initial outbreak.”
“Diverse?”
“Yes, the widest gene pool on which to base the prototyping process”
“So they can repopulate the planet?”
“Oh no, Earth will never recover. Rather the aliens wish to codify humanity in complete a way as possible for their records”
“Records?”
“Mmmm-hmmm, humanity's’ dependence on a single planet was really quite remiss if you don’t mind me saying. But once the aliens’ work is done codifying you, your species shall always live on”
“Albeit on some dusty alien computer file?”
“The concept of dust, or computers for that matter, is not a common frame of reference for the aliens” Gary said
“But you see my point? And what happens when the codifying is done? When the prototype is perfected? They take the dome and run?”
“No, the dome and the protection is offers will remain for those that wish to stay even once the aliens have departed”
“And the mind control?”
“That will end with the alien’s departure”
Granny snorted “So one day it’s all happy families, next it’s by the way the world outside of London ended twenty years ago, see ya!”
“It will be better managed than that. Indeed, with the prototyping process nearing its culmination the aliens have already begun to prepare humanity for the truth”
“How?”
“It’s really very clever. They’ve started a process of media manipulation. By slowly making those inside the dome increasingly unhappy with the situation elsewhere in the world the fact that none of it is really there is envisaged as being a relief to them when the truth is uncovered”
“Wow” but a noise of resignation rather than surprise from Granny Plum.
Silence returned to the small room, each trying to process they had learnt. Or planning what to do next.
Graham put his hand up again. This time not to ask a question.
But to throw a knife.
Before anyone could react the Knight had moved quickly behind Bree with another, larger, knife at her throat.
The Princess gasped.
The Princess fell, clutching the knife hilt now poking out of her abdomen. A pool of red began to spoil her sea-green ball gown.
Granny was the first to react, despite her age, instinctively reaching for her handbag, for her knife collection.
But the bag wasn’t there .
Graham laughed, the others froze.
“Oh Granny Plum” the Knight had taken on a patronising tone “Just a little too predictable. Nice of you to pass your bag to me when climbing from the gondola. You probably thought that I was trying to make amends for my previous oafish behaviour” another laugh
Granny sneered, hand now reaching into the folds of her jacket.
“You continue to underestimate me I see. I took the liberty of removing this” a flash of the blade he was now holding at Bree’s neck “when we brushed together on the roof. Always kept in your inside right pocket - I had taken a note when I followed you back on New Franklin. I find that the older generations are creatures of great habit”
“You’ll be a creature of broken bones when I get hold of you”
“Threats come easy. But I am the only one here capable of action. The Princess is found guilty of piracy and sentenced to death on order of the New Franklin Steering Committee. Thanks for taking me right to her by the way” a wink at Granny “The rest of you are guilty of aiding and abetting a known felon. All citizenship rights are hereby revoked” he began to edge back out of the room as he said this, Bree still held tight. “This one” a nod at his young captive “will be of use to the scholars of New Franklin, but that…” a nod at Gary “...that thing is above my payscale. I shall recommend that the wingcore dispose of such an abomination”
“Who the frick are you?” seethed Granny
“A proud Knight of the New Franklin wingcore Granny, I never lied to you”
“But?”
“You were all too willing to let me fall into the crude stereotype of the buffoonish Steering Committee, I just played along. Tell me..” he paused at the doorway “...did you like that bit up on New Franklin when I pretended not to understand what dawn was?” a snorted laugh “I was rather proud of that one” and with that he pulled Bree out of the room “Now any of you try and follow me onto the roof, and I slit this little one’s throat” and with that he was gone, thuds of boot on stairwell steps.
The Princess gurgled slightly, Jack quick to her side, mopping the bloody spittle now dripping from her mouth. “Do something” he pleaded to Granny, but she stood still. Instead it was Jacoby kneeling down, producing a grimy looking handkerchief to hold around the knife and try and stem the flow. “Shall I pull the knife out?” the younger boy asked.
“No” replied his father “Not until we have a way of closing the wound” he looked up to Granny, but with the old lady unresponsive he turned to Gary “Do you have any first aid equipment?”
A slow roll of flesh spread from one side of the prototype to the other “A shrug” Garry clarified “But I think there was a bathroom in the adjacent room”
Jacoby went to look, nudging Granny as he went by “We need you Plum” he said, briefing catching her eye.
Granny still stood, unmoving, stunned.
“GRANNY YOU SENILE OLD BAT, GET A FLAMING GRIP AND HELP US” for a moment it Granny was not the only one stunned, Jacoby stopped midstep on the way to the bathroom, and Gary jumped (well, wobbled alarmingly). Jack rose to his feet in front of Granny, breathing hard after his outburst, chin jutting out as if begging the old woman to try and back hand him for such impertinence.
Granny’s eyes focused, first on the young man in front of her, then on the slumped form of the Princess. She shook her head, as if trying to temporarily dislodge Graham from the front of her mind. Time to get back into the here and now.
“Ok” she said quietly, then increasing the volume “Ok, Jack you keep pressure on the wound, Jacoby see what you can find” instructions being followed, Granny rushed to the side of the room where Graham had kicked her bag. How easily he had disarmed her. No. Focus on the now, she chided herself. Drone and headset pulled out and thrust to one side, hip flask squirreled into a coat pocket, bag of mints discarded. Then her hand came across her throwing knives, one missing. FOCUS. Knives push out of the way, further down she dug. Then she founds and grabbed a small towel and a sewing kit. Granny scuttled back to the Princess, at the same time as Jacoby emerged back from the bathroom.
“No much in there” he declared “some boxes of painkillers and some Peppa Pig plasters, that any use?”
“Bring it over”
“Sure….HEY!” his shout directed at the window rather than Granny. In the small corner of glass not blocked by Gary Jacoby had spotted his airship heading off into the distance “That absolute….”
“Get over here” Granny urged. Jacoby stopped mid exclamation and hurried to the others. “Ok” she said as Jacoby knelt next to them “When I pull the knife out you push this towel down hard, you hear me?” towel thrust into Jacoby’s hands “I’m gonna count to three then you lift the towel up while Jack pours this over the wound” hip flask deposited in the younger man’s hands “Then towel back down. Count of five and you edge the towel up so I can start sewing” she produced a needle, thread trailing out behind it. “Pour more drink over the wound as I do it, right?”
“Can I do anything?” Gary was attempting to ooze along the sofa that his flesh had subsumed to try and get a better view.
“You got a hospital tucked away in any of those folds of blubber of yours?” Granny quipped sarcastically.
“I am afraid not”
“Then this is our best chance. On three” she looked at the two Jacobys, both nodded at her instruction.
They worked quickly, if not precisely, Jacoby attempting not to look, Jack nearly forgetting his role when he did look, and Granny’s hand shaking. However after a few fraught minutes the Princess had a raggedly sewed wound where the knife had been.
“That buys us time” said Granny, wiping her hands on her skirt “But not much, she needs proper medical attention”
“But where from?” pleaded Jacoby “That sod took my airship, so New Franklin is out of the question”
“Might I make a suggestion?” this from Gary “I know I wasn’t the most use during your, er, procedure there with the young lady, but I do know where there are medical facilities”
“Where?” demanded Granny
“London” the prototype replied “Of course the aliens have planted lots of stories to make people lose faith in their health service to help them cope in their apocalyptic future once the codifying is done, but it is perfectly adequate right now”
“I don’t want my mind controlled” Jack said
“You don’t have to, take the pain pills that your father found. So long as you take them every few hours you will be ok. They interrupt the controlling signals”
“Simple as that is it?” scoffed Granny “Seems like a trap to me. If anyone could escape the mind control with a few pills Londoners would have freed themselves a hundred times over by now”
“Which is why the aliens removed all the pain pills. They do know what they are doing you know”
“Removed?”
“Yes, replaced them with some vile licorice concoction. You know, to help pave the way for when modern medicine runs out. The aliens have also begun phasing out much of the food and drink you had become accustomed to, high fats and caffeine”
“To ease the transition to when the aliens are no longer here?”
“You catch on fast ma’am”
“Ok, so how do we get the Princess into a London hospital?”
“I can show you, but will need a little help moving” a fleshy wobble
“We take you with us?”
“Yes, the way into London is a little complex. Plus, I’m not sure I want to stay around here now that your former companion is going to be recommending the disposal of my humble abode”
“How the heck do we move you?” Jacoby scratched his head
“I am large, but rather pliable, you should be able to squeeze me through the doors”
“Then what?”
Granny smiled, plan forming “We take the lift”
“But nice mind controlling aliens” Gary attempted to break the awkward silence, deciding to test a new theory that he might have spooked his guests with an overly frank explanation of the situation.
“N….Nice?” Jack said
“Yes!” Gary was happy, this was almost like an actual conversation, just like on the telly “For humanity's own good”
“For our own good the aliens control our brains?” the Princess then looked at her less fleshy companions “that sounds crazy to the rest of you, right, or am I not thinking straight from all the mind control?”
“They don’t control your brains” Gary attempted to clarify “Just the six point four million people trapped in London”
“Well that’s ok then” the Princess, incredulous, folded her arms across her chest.
“They are trapped in London? Inside the dome?” Granny took a tentative step forward; she’d been desperate for answers about the dome as soon as she’d seen its magnificent construction, but was now struggling to comprehend what she was hearing.
“They don’t think they’re trapped”
“Because of the friendly mind control”
Part of Garry over by the far window wobbled “That’s me nodding” he clarified after a second.
“So these aliens, the ones that created you, hem millions of people into a city with the haemorrhages then trap them in an impenetrable dome?” Granny was starting to get a little angry.
“Oh no no no” Gary was adamant “The hemorrhages are nothing to do with the aliens, in fact the aliens are protecting the remnants of humanity from them”
“Can I just say that I have absolutely no idea what is going on?” Graham had put a hand in the air like schoolchild asking for assistance.
Usually Granny would be in no way surprised to learn of Graham’s ignorance, but in this case she was with him all the way.
“Ok flesh bags” she began
“What did I do?” Jacoby looked hurt
“Not you lardy, him, it” Granny pointed at Gary while at the same time realising she needed to work on her repertoire of insults. That would have to wait as right now she needed answers, “start at the beginning” she said to the prototype “what are the haemorrhages?”
“Truth be told, even the aliens aren’t entirely sure. The most widely accepted theory is that they are somewhat analogous to what you would call a virus”
“A virus?”
“Yes, albeit one able to rip the very fabric of spacetime in search of sentient species to feed upon”
“Species, as in plural? They’ve done this elsewhere?”
“They did it to the mind-controlling aliens many centuries ago”
“But the aliens are still able to mooch about controlling brains?” Granny was still struggling
Gary continued “The hemorrhages appeared on Kepler-438c when the aliens were at a vastly more advanced state of technological progress than humanity was, but still the planet was lost” the flesh deflated a little, an approximation of sagging shoulders “The small mercy though was that the aliens had other colonies”
“So they survived, worked out how to stop the hemorrhages?”
“How to keep them at bay, but never stop them fully. So instead the aliens regrouped, persevered and took upon themselves something that you would understand as an oath. They could not predict where the haemorrhages would appear next, but they could trace them and do their uppermost to preserve the species that the hemorrhages fell upon”
“Hence the dome?”
“It is a rather inelegant solution, but there is very little time once a hemorrhage is detected. So they warp in a dome to the most diverse population centre that survived the initial outbreak.”
“Diverse?”
“Yes, the widest gene pool on which to base the prototyping process”
“So they can repopulate the planet?”
“Oh no, Earth will never recover. Rather the aliens wish to codify humanity in complete a way as possible for their records”
“Records?”
“Mmmm-hmmm, humanity's’ dependence on a single planet was really quite remiss if you don’t mind me saying. But once the aliens’ work is done codifying you, your species shall always live on”
“Albeit on some dusty alien computer file?”
“The concept of dust, or computers for that matter, is not a common frame of reference for the aliens” Gary said
“But you see my point? And what happens when the codifying is done? When the prototype is perfected? They take the dome and run?”
“No, the dome and the protection is offers will remain for those that wish to stay even once the aliens have departed”
“And the mind control?”
“That will end with the alien’s departure”
Granny snorted “So one day it’s all happy families, next it’s by the way the world outside of London ended twenty years ago, see ya!”
“It will be better managed than that. Indeed, with the prototyping process nearing its culmination the aliens have already begun to prepare humanity for the truth”
“How?”
“It’s really very clever. They’ve started a process of media manipulation. By slowly making those inside the dome increasingly unhappy with the situation elsewhere in the world the fact that none of it is really there is envisaged as being a relief to them when the truth is uncovered”
“Wow” but a noise of resignation rather than surprise from Granny Plum.
Silence returned to the small room, each trying to process they had learnt. Or planning what to do next.
Graham put his hand up again. This time not to ask a question.
But to throw a knife.
Before anyone could react the Knight had moved quickly behind Bree with another, larger, knife at her throat.
The Princess gasped.
The Princess fell, clutching the knife hilt now poking out of her abdomen. A pool of red began to spoil her sea-green ball gown.
Granny was the first to react, despite her age, instinctively reaching for her handbag, for her knife collection.
But the bag wasn’t there .
Graham laughed, the others froze.
“Oh Granny Plum” the Knight had taken on a patronising tone “Just a little too predictable. Nice of you to pass your bag to me when climbing from the gondola. You probably thought that I was trying to make amends for my previous oafish behaviour” another laugh
Granny sneered, hand now reaching into the folds of her jacket.
“You continue to underestimate me I see. I took the liberty of removing this” a flash of the blade he was now holding at Bree’s neck “when we brushed together on the roof. Always kept in your inside right pocket - I had taken a note when I followed you back on New Franklin. I find that the older generations are creatures of great habit”
“You’ll be a creature of broken bones when I get hold of you”
“Threats come easy. But I am the only one here capable of action. The Princess is found guilty of piracy and sentenced to death on order of the New Franklin Steering Committee. Thanks for taking me right to her by the way” a wink at Granny “The rest of you are guilty of aiding and abetting a known felon. All citizenship rights are hereby revoked” he began to edge back out of the room as he said this, Bree still held tight. “This one” a nod at his young captive “will be of use to the scholars of New Franklin, but that…” a nod at Gary “...that thing is above my payscale. I shall recommend that the wingcore dispose of such an abomination”
“Who the frick are you?” seethed Granny
“A proud Knight of the New Franklin wingcore Granny, I never lied to you”
“But?”
“You were all too willing to let me fall into the crude stereotype of the buffoonish Steering Committee, I just played along. Tell me..” he paused at the doorway “...did you like that bit up on New Franklin when I pretended not to understand what dawn was?” a snorted laugh “I was rather proud of that one” and with that he pulled Bree out of the room “Now any of you try and follow me onto the roof, and I slit this little one’s throat” and with that he was gone, thuds of boot on stairwell steps.
The Princess gurgled slightly, Jack quick to her side, mopping the bloody spittle now dripping from her mouth. “Do something” he pleaded to Granny, but she stood still. Instead it was Jacoby kneeling down, producing a grimy looking handkerchief to hold around the knife and try and stem the flow. “Shall I pull the knife out?” the younger boy asked.
“No” replied his father “Not until we have a way of closing the wound” he looked up to Granny, but with the old lady unresponsive he turned to Gary “Do you have any first aid equipment?”
A slow roll of flesh spread from one side of the prototype to the other “A shrug” Garry clarified “But I think there was a bathroom in the adjacent room”
Jacoby went to look, nudging Granny as he went by “We need you Plum” he said, briefing catching her eye.
Granny still stood, unmoving, stunned.
“GRANNY YOU SENILE OLD BAT, GET A FLAMING GRIP AND HELP US” for a moment it Granny was not the only one stunned, Jacoby stopped midstep on the way to the bathroom, and Gary jumped (well, wobbled alarmingly). Jack rose to his feet in front of Granny, breathing hard after his outburst, chin jutting out as if begging the old woman to try and back hand him for such impertinence.
Granny’s eyes focused, first on the young man in front of her, then on the slumped form of the Princess. She shook her head, as if trying to temporarily dislodge Graham from the front of her mind. Time to get back into the here and now.
“Ok” she said quietly, then increasing the volume “Ok, Jack you keep pressure on the wound, Jacoby see what you can find” instructions being followed, Granny rushed to the side of the room where Graham had kicked her bag. How easily he had disarmed her. No. Focus on the now, she chided herself. Drone and headset pulled out and thrust to one side, hip flask squirreled into a coat pocket, bag of mints discarded. Then her hand came across her throwing knives, one missing. FOCUS. Knives push out of the way, further down she dug. Then she founds and grabbed a small towel and a sewing kit. Granny scuttled back to the Princess, at the same time as Jacoby emerged back from the bathroom.
“No much in there” he declared “some boxes of painkillers and some Peppa Pig plasters, that any use?”
“Bring it over”
“Sure….HEY!” his shout directed at the window rather than Granny. In the small corner of glass not blocked by Gary Jacoby had spotted his airship heading off into the distance “That absolute….”
“Get over here” Granny urged. Jacoby stopped mid exclamation and hurried to the others. “Ok” she said as Jacoby knelt next to them “When I pull the knife out you push this towel down hard, you hear me?” towel thrust into Jacoby’s hands “I’m gonna count to three then you lift the towel up while Jack pours this over the wound” hip flask deposited in the younger man’s hands “Then towel back down. Count of five and you edge the towel up so I can start sewing” she produced a needle, thread trailing out behind it. “Pour more drink over the wound as I do it, right?”
“Can I do anything?” Gary was attempting to ooze along the sofa that his flesh had subsumed to try and get a better view.
“You got a hospital tucked away in any of those folds of blubber of yours?” Granny quipped sarcastically.
“I am afraid not”
“Then this is our best chance. On three” she looked at the two Jacobys, both nodded at her instruction.
They worked quickly, if not precisely, Jacoby attempting not to look, Jack nearly forgetting his role when he did look, and Granny’s hand shaking. However after a few fraught minutes the Princess had a raggedly sewed wound where the knife had been.
“That buys us time” said Granny, wiping her hands on her skirt “But not much, she needs proper medical attention”
“But where from?” pleaded Jacoby “That sod took my airship, so New Franklin is out of the question”
“Might I make a suggestion?” this from Gary “I know I wasn’t the most use during your, er, procedure there with the young lady, but I do know where there are medical facilities”
“Where?” demanded Granny
“London” the prototype replied “Of course the aliens have planted lots of stories to make people lose faith in their health service to help them cope in their apocalyptic future once the codifying is done, but it is perfectly adequate right now”
“I don’t want my mind controlled” Jack said
“You don’t have to, take the pain pills that your father found. So long as you take them every few hours you will be ok. They interrupt the controlling signals”
“Simple as that is it?” scoffed Granny “Seems like a trap to me. If anyone could escape the mind control with a few pills Londoners would have freed themselves a hundred times over by now”
“Which is why the aliens removed all the pain pills. They do know what they are doing you know”
“Removed?”
“Yes, replaced them with some vile licorice concoction. You know, to help pave the way for when modern medicine runs out. The aliens have also begun phasing out much of the food and drink you had become accustomed to, high fats and caffeine”
“To ease the transition to when the aliens are no longer here?”
“You catch on fast ma’am”
“Ok, so how do we get the Princess into a London hospital?”
“I can show you, but will need a little help moving” a fleshy wobble
“We take you with us?”
“Yes, the way into London is a little complex. Plus, I’m not sure I want to stay around here now that your former companion is going to be recommending the disposal of my humble abode”
“How the heck do we move you?” Jacoby scratched his head
“I am large, but rather pliable, you should be able to squeeze me through the doors”
“Then what?”
Granny smiled, plan forming “We take the lift”
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