Posted By: slydogx
WIP - 10/31/23 01:14 PM
I hesitate in posting this for a couple reasons. First, it is hard science fiction and perhaps not a good fit here. Second, it is in draft and not yet polished. It is an excerpt from what I hope will be my future novel, and something I can be proud of.
I am posting it because I think the act of writing, and this Pen and Quill forum in general are important and valuable. There has not been any traffic in some time, so I am contributing what I can.
Along with a flash of bright light came a glimmer of consciousness, a journey from the void to self-awareness. In an instant, the boy knew he was a boy, he knew he was three years old; he knew he was alone, floating.
The first voice he would ever hear pierced the veil of his solitude. Mechanical, measured, without emotion.
“Subject – 36 - month wellness check. Chamber 05.16. Male. Heritage genetics – Anglo Caucasioid. Intellect Enhancement Module confirmed. Status is green, no error codes.”
After a brief pause, the voice continued to drone on.
“Begin stimulus response protocol.”
An electric hum began to build, increasing in intensity to an ear pounding crescendo. The boy’s body contorted in pain as his muscles involuntarily contracted, his back arched, jaw clenched, hands clawed.
“Pass. Stasis mode resumes in 10 seconds.”
Release, blackness, void.
Then, awareness of a familiar presence.
The Worm, which had taken to lurking at the back of the boy’s mind roared forward to the space behind his eyes. Its lips curled back, exposing row after row of glistening, dagger like teeth and exhaled a venomous hiss that sounded like water being poured on a bed of embers.
“This new world of man is corrupt and lazy and fallen. Change it must, and change is coming, but it will not come from the COMSOC councils and their tepid mediocrity. It won’t come from sycophantic Overmaster faggots or their sweaty Underboss henchmen and certainly not from brainless Troglodyte pit labor.”
Its eyes narrowed to glowing red slashes and its toothy grin grew impossibly wider than it already had been. Pausing to run its tongue along the front of its teeth, the worm’s voice dropped to a rumbling baritone whisper.
“Change will come from the half-starved victims of the COMSOC’s folly. Not those content to scrape an existence from the crumbs provided by the Worker’s Council, not the sheep in constant blind confusion following the edicts of the irredeemably fallen World Church. It will come to the world, screaming into the light in blood and chaos and violence like a newborn baby. It will come from one who serves no king.”
As much as it was possible for a thing so reptilian, so dangerous, so alien, the Worm’s aspect softened to that of a parent consoling a child. Behind its impossibly deep voice, a comforting rumble signaled ease and contentment. “Sleep now, child. Fear not the darkness. Fear not the void. I am here ever on watch. I occupy the space between the spaces. You are never alone.”
With that, the Worm’s eyes snapped shut. Like the sheathing of a thousand times a thousand swords, its lips uncurled to hide crimson gums and jagged white teeth and it faded into the background as if it had never been.
Release, blackness, void.
I am posting it because I think the act of writing, and this Pen and Quill forum in general are important and valuable. There has not been any traffic in some time, so I am contributing what I can.
Along with a flash of bright light came a glimmer of consciousness, a journey from the void to self-awareness. In an instant, the boy knew he was a boy, he knew he was three years old; he knew he was alone, floating.
The first voice he would ever hear pierced the veil of his solitude. Mechanical, measured, without emotion.
“Subject – 36 - month wellness check. Chamber 05.16. Male. Heritage genetics – Anglo Caucasioid. Intellect Enhancement Module confirmed. Status is green, no error codes.”
After a brief pause, the voice continued to drone on.
“Begin stimulus response protocol.”
An electric hum began to build, increasing in intensity to an ear pounding crescendo. The boy’s body contorted in pain as his muscles involuntarily contracted, his back arched, jaw clenched, hands clawed.
“Pass. Stasis mode resumes in 10 seconds.”
Release, blackness, void.
Then, awareness of a familiar presence.
The Worm, which had taken to lurking at the back of the boy’s mind roared forward to the space behind his eyes. Its lips curled back, exposing row after row of glistening, dagger like teeth and exhaled a venomous hiss that sounded like water being poured on a bed of embers.
“This new world of man is corrupt and lazy and fallen. Change it must, and change is coming, but it will not come from the COMSOC councils and their tepid mediocrity. It won’t come from sycophantic Overmaster faggots or their sweaty Underboss henchmen and certainly not from brainless Troglodyte pit labor.”
Its eyes narrowed to glowing red slashes and its toothy grin grew impossibly wider than it already had been. Pausing to run its tongue along the front of its teeth, the worm’s voice dropped to a rumbling baritone whisper.
“Change will come from the half-starved victims of the COMSOC’s folly. Not those content to scrape an existence from the crumbs provided by the Worker’s Council, not the sheep in constant blind confusion following the edicts of the irredeemably fallen World Church. It will come to the world, screaming into the light in blood and chaos and violence like a newborn baby. It will come from one who serves no king.”
As much as it was possible for a thing so reptilian, so dangerous, so alien, the Worm’s aspect softened to that of a parent consoling a child. Behind its impossibly deep voice, a comforting rumble signaled ease and contentment. “Sleep now, child. Fear not the darkness. Fear not the void. I am here ever on watch. I occupy the space between the spaces. You are never alone.”
With that, the Worm’s eyes snapped shut. Like the sheathing of a thousand times a thousand swords, its lips uncurled to hide crimson gums and jagged white teeth and it faded into the background as if it had never been.
Release, blackness, void.