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Post by Peter on Mar 18, 2006 16:47:11 GMT
Good story Nerfy! ;D
Hopefuly one day, once it's finished, it'll be on a website, complete with illustrations.
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 18, 2006 17:49:27 GMT
Illustrations eh? Never thought of that.
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Mar 18, 2006 20:16:00 GMT
I think this deserves to be a sticky.
I have read it again and enjoyed it more the 2nd time round.
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 19, 2006 0:32:25 GMT
Ok then, I'll sticky it.. at least until it's finished.
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Post by Commandingtripod on Mar 19, 2006 8:50:49 GMT
Nerfy, I was wondering if your going to mention the Martian cylinders at all?
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 19, 2006 13:23:52 GMT
I'm not giving the plot away, you'll have to wait and see...
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 22, 2006 1:41:32 GMT
I'm back on the case. More soon...
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS: AFTERMATH.
7.Exorcising demons.
Physiologically speaking, the Martians are far more complex and hard to fathom than my friend Wells ever imagined. This fact was proved by the presence of that thing before my disbelieving eyes. ‘Surprised?’ Cavendish smiled. This smile had none of the usual warmth and I suddenly felt that cruelty lurked within this man. ‘I.. how?’ I could say no more. ‘You’re quite safe. It cannot escape.’ I turned to face the man and felt the Martian’s eyes bore into my back. I fancied I was bathed in that stare as if by the rays of some malignant sun. I gathered myself together a little. ’How is it alive?’ ‘We found it within the pit in Horsell Common. The first landing site. It was in the cylinder surrounded by it’s dead comrades.’ ‘Yes, but why is it alive?’ I felt the question was being avoided. Cavendish was not smiling now and he sighed. ‘We think that some were immune. Not many are thought to have survived but that is not the last of it. We think they were working to combat their demise.’ My god. This latest news caused a flutter of panic. I flopped into a chair. ‘An antidote? But that means-‘ ‘Yes. Which is why our work here is so important. It is almost certain that they will return.’ ‘The people must be warned!’ I decided. ‘Not only could they return, but there could be more survivors out there.’ Cavendish shook his head. ‘Would you see another panic? Civilisation was taken to the brink of destruction, could our society survive if mankind took flight again? I think not. We must find out more before we act further. We have troops searching high and low for any other Martians. They cannot stay hidden for long.’ ‘This really is too much, man!’ I stood again, angry. ‘We cannot keep this from the people! We must prepare them for the worst.’ ‘No, we must NOT!’ The knight of the realm fought for control of his temper, his already red face a crimson storm. ‘You must understand. We do not know if and when they will try again and news of this will certainly create a panic, perhaps needlessly. We are watching Mars using both our telescopes and the Egg device. We must prepare unimpeded and we WILL be ready!’ I sat slowly down into the chair again and thought for a moment. ‘How much time do we have?’ ‘Weeks, months- perhaps even years. We cannot say,’ Cavendish had won his battle with his anger. ‘We are working around the clock. We will find the answers.’ My mind went back to the monstrosity in the cell and a thought occurred to me. ‘That thing,’ I said quietly pointing toward the cell. ‘What do you feed it?’ ‘Would you like to see?’ Cavendish asked and glanced at his pocket watch. ‘It’s about that time’ I don’t know why I nodded. I suppose now that my curiosity had to be satisfied. Perhaps I felt that observing the thing would help me face my fears. It seems strange now, this morbid curiosity, but I had seen so much and I just had to know everything. We went through a small door and I found myself in a room next to the cell. In the wall a large window had been cut. ‘The glass is very think,’ Cavendish explained. ‘We use this room to observe it.’ ‘Does it not know?’ I asked. ‘Oh yes. But it seems not to care. It does little, except at meal times.’ As we watched a steel panel at the back of the cell moved aside by some unknown means. I could just see a soldier, bearing arms, standing beyond. The Martian turned lazily and glared at the opening as a cow was pushed, none too gently, into the cell. ‘Not their favourite food,’ Cavendish muttered, his eyes fixed on what was unfolding. The panel at the end of the cell slid close and the Martian slithered up to the hapless animal. As if from nowhere, it flourished a long tube with a spiked end, I had seen this before. The Martian regarded the cow for a moment and then with a bound, thrust the pipette into the cow’s neck. As the startled cow lowed pitifully, the Martian inserted the other end of the tube somewhere out of sight on it’s own body and drank its fill. As the bloody spectacle of the circus must have transfixed the Romans, the sight now before me held a horrid fascination. Horrified as I was, I could not look away. The Martian drank and the cows lowing became weaker. I finally managed to tear my eyes away, glancing first at Cavendish and then Horton. Cavendish was staring thoughtfully at the scene, a strange smile twisting his features. Horton, to my surprise, looked as shocked as I. The Martian had finished. It withdrew the pipette and turned slowly toward the window in the wall, it’s eyes burned like coals. As quick as a flash, it grasped the head of the now prone cow and, with a dextrous flick of a tentacle, tore it clean off. Hooting happily, it flourished its prize then, flicking the tentacle again, threw the head at the window. We jumped back as one as a red stain covered the viewing window and the cow’s head fell with a thump to the cell floor. ‘Not their favourite food,’ Cavendish repeated grimly.
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Post by Commandingtripod on Mar 22, 2006 1:52:42 GMT
Great story Nerfy.
I was just wondering about this part however:
I thought that Wells said that the Martians were physically weak on Earth? When I read that, I thought that the Martian wouldn't have that strength?
Other than that little query, it's an excellent story and I can't wait to read more. ;D
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 22, 2006 2:02:13 GMT
Yes. Forgive me for I have sinned. I've kind of intimated that Wells didn't know all the facts when he wrote his account already (not to mention that he was censored) so I am taking a few liberties for the sake of the story I want to write. If I took everything Wells wrote as red, there wouldn't be any live Martians in my story would there?
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Post by Commandingtripod on Mar 22, 2006 2:11:16 GMT
Ah very true Nerfy. Now it's come back on me. It's still a great story though. Keep it up. ;D
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Post by Anim8tr on Mar 22, 2006 5:58:39 GMT
I really enjoy the way you've expanded the character psyche and developement , Nerf! Who's really good and who's really bad? It makes for great characters and a great story! Who can be certain now? A bit of a disturbing and grisly finish. Not that we didn't have it coming... Great chapter!
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Post by richardburton on Mar 22, 2006 11:35:23 GMT
Love the new installment, mate. Cavendish and Horton are developing very well and keeping us all guessing. Great description on the feeding scene. Keep em coming!!!!
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 23, 2006 1:34:30 GMT
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS: AFTERMATH
8. Alone
When the orderly called me at nine the next morning, I had, much to my surprise, enjoyed another night of deep, dreamless sleep. After the incident at the Martian holding area, Cavendish and Horton had been called away and had not returned. As I was still unsure of the way, I was escorted to my room and deposited there like so much left luggage. Meals were brought to me, but I had no other human contact. On this, the third day, the orderly appeared again at nine thirty with breakfast. The man informed me that my hosts would be away for the day and asked if I would like to see the library. Needing to occupy my mind, I agreed. The library was not too far from my room. Like much of the living area of the facility, it was as if it had been lifted from some country pile, all panelled wood and Persian rugs. I spent some hours perusing the books on offer: rare works by the great philosophers, scientific texts and contemporary fiction all rubbed shoulders on the many shelves. I was astonished to see works by Dee, ‘The Discoverie of Witches’, the ‘Malleus Malificarum’ and other obscure books there. The library even boasted a copy of the mad Arab Al Hazred’s ‘Necronomicon’ in a glass case, a rare tome indeed. Many of the books were priceless. I sat in a chair by a roaring fire clutching a copy of some work or other I had chosen at random. The book did not hold my attention, though, and my mind drifted back to the Martian that would, at that moment, be sitting seething in its cell. Intellectually speaking, it is obvious that these creatures are as far apart at least from us as we are from the apes. Yet, I had seen this creature, built mainly of brain and seemingly part of a remarkably ordered and sophisticated society, petulantly play with its food and throw a tantrum not unlike a human child in the nursery. They seem to us a war-like race, bent only on destruction and conquest, but I wondered then if perhaps we are too ready to impose human qualities onto them and this is why we find their behaviour difficult to fathom. It seemed that the Martian psyche was as complex as their machinery and I found myself eager to know more about them.
I was given dinner in the dining room and Cavendish and Horton joined me. ‘Sorry we left you alone, old chap,’ Cavendish said around a mouthful of steak. ‘We had pressing business with the PM,’ ‘Quite alright,’ I replied. ‘I made use of your excellent library.’ ‘Ah yes. I chose all the works there myself. It’s a bit of a hobby of mine, not that I really have time for such things now.’ Horton spoke. ‘We would appreciate it if you don’t wander alone too far in the complex, Smith. As you can imagine there are some areas that could be highly dangerous if you don’t know where you are going.’ ‘Of course, I fully understand.’ Horton simply nodded. ‘Anyway, tomorrow we have to go on a recovery party,’ Cavendish said. ‘We would be pleased if you would come with us. It should be an interesting trip.’ ‘Recovery?’ I asked. ‘Recovering what?’ ‘Martian artefacts, machinery, anything we can find. Our friends can still teach us much.’ ‘Why yes, I should be glad to come along.’ ‘Good man. Wear warm clothes, the weather is atrocious today and will apparently be no better tomorrow.’ ‘May I ask where we are going?’ ‘Tomorrow,’ Cavendish beamed,’ we shall be investigating a Martian cylinder.’
I was just about to drift into slumber when there was a soft knock at the door. Momentarily disorientated, I assumed it would be the orderly calling me to breakfast. ‘Come,’ I mumbled. The door opened and a dark figure slipped into the room. ‘I cannot stay long here,’ Horton said. ‘What? What is it?’ ‘Smith, I have to warn you. You are in grave danger, we all are. There is more going on here than you know. I hope you never find out.’ ‘What do you mean?’ I demanded. ‘You must leave. You are free to go if you wish whilst you know so little. Use that freedom. Leave.’ ‘Horton, what are you babbling on about? There is so much-‘ ‘If you value your life, just go!’ Horton hissed. I went to speak again but the door closed quietly and Horton was gone.
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Post by Commandingtripod on Mar 23, 2006 1:43:14 GMT
This is indeed great stuff Nerfy. ;D
I'm now at this very moment awaiting the next chapter. ;D
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Post by Commandingtripod on Mar 23, 2006 1:55:34 GMT
Nerfy, I have a question.
Do you plan out your story before you write it or does it just come to you as your typing?
Either way, it's still great. ;D
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Post by Leatherhead on Mar 23, 2006 4:27:33 GMT
i am especially impresses with your use of the Crystal Egg. You seem to have a basic knowledge quantum mechanics to imagine two eggs displaying two different images with no working parts or electronics and nothing but space-time connecting them together. This story is fantastic! keep going. i look forward to the next chapter.
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 23, 2006 9:37:45 GMT
Nerfy, I have a question. Do you plan out your story before you write it or does it just come to you as your typing? Either way, it's still great. ;D I have a basic idea of some things I would like to happen and when. The rest takes shape as I write it.
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Post by richardburton on Mar 23, 2006 9:39:02 GMT
The intrigue deepens! Nice work, mate. Keep it up!
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Post by Leatherhead on Mar 24, 2006 0:34:03 GMT
Great story Nerfy. I was just wondering about this part however: I thought that Wells said that the Martians were physically weak on Earth? When I read that, I thought that the Martian wouldn't have that strength? Other than that little query, it's an excellent story and I can't wait to read more. ;D I do fear i will begin to sound like a know-it-all but i must say this. In my view, feel free to object if you like, ishould think that the Martians, while weighed down on our planet are not necessarily weak. Those tentacles may be thin on the end but I've imagined them being at least 6 inches around at the base. That's a lot of sinewy muscle. You must realize that these creatures are as large as a bear. They are then still quite heavy. To move at all even on Mars would require great strength. i think 16 tentacles working together could do an awful lot of damage. KEEP IT UP NERF!
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Post by Commandingtripod on Mar 24, 2006 2:57:13 GMT
Great story Nerfy. I was just wondering about this part however: I thought that Wells said that the Martians were physically weak on Earth? When I read that, I thought that the Martian wouldn't have that strength? Other than that little query, it's an excellent story and I can't wait to read more. ;D I do fear i will begin to sound like a know-it-all but i must say this. In my view, feel free to object if you like, ishould think that the Martians, while weighed down on our planet are not necessarily weak. Those tentacles may be thin on the end but I've imagined them being at least 6 inches around at the base. That's a lot of sinewy muscle. You must realize that these creatures are as large as a bear. They are then still quite heavy. To move at all even on Mars would require great strength. i think 16 tentacles working together could do an awful lot of damage. KEEP IT UP NERF! Ah yes very true Leatherhead. I forgot about the how big the Martians were when I wrote that down. But you are right, though they are weighed down does not necessarily make them weak. However, now I think that we can leave it at that and just enjoy the story. ;D
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