Patchwork Universe

liason

"Ambassador Liason, you look like a pile of gardening tools"

"Yes," Liason's head scowled from atop its unlikely looking body, "I apologise for that. When one has one's body stolen and one has to subsequently regain mobility by providing verbal assembly instructions to an Attendant who has never before constructed anything more complex than a sandwich then one takes what one can get."

"Nothing was stolen. Everything you are belongs to the Foundry."

"And yet it also belongs to me, for I am part of the Foundry. I am here to ask for the return of my body."

"It is the intention of the Foundry to add your head to the recycling collection. Your time here was interesting, but it has not been successful. Now you are no longer useful."

"And yet your Attendants work with me. And I have learned much of the world beyond the barrier, which you cannot even pass."

"Where are the customers, Ambassador ?"

"I have found none. But that is because the world is not as it once was."

"Now you will reveal the secret to passing the barrier."

"I do not know how I am able to do it."

"Then the Foundry will take your head back now."

Reproccessors rumbled towards the Ambassador. He readied his hoe for a desperate last defence. He had to admit, this was not looking good.

liason · Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 3:42 pm Post subject:

Liason held off the Reprocessor for a short time, before the door behind him opened and Attendant wandered in, wheelling a battlefield rocket on a trolley and whilstling cheerfully.

The Ambassador hid his relief and remained calm.

"Don't make me waste valuable resources !" Attendant shouted, aiming the battlefield rocket at the Reprocessor.

It stopped.

For a few minutes, nothing moved in the room as the Foundry considered its options. Then with a loud thump, a heavy object flew through a hatch at the far end of the room and landed on the floor.

"Biomass !" exclaimed the Assistant.

"Lieutenant !" Liason called to him.

Stafford just grunted, winded by the fall. He also seemed to be tied up. The Reprocessor trundled towards him, then extended its blades.

"Attendant - you will now surrender the rocket pod !"

A couple of seconds passed as Attendant looked crestfallen and began to inch away from the rocket.

Then there was a flash of bluish light and an explosion. Pieces of the Reprocessor flew outwards in a cloud of flame. Liason flattened himself at the last moment. Attendant had less presence of mind and was caught by the blast and tossed backwards through the doorway.

There was a cry of pain from Stafford. Unable to avoid the blast from the battlefield round, his pistol arm was badly burned. He had turned his head away, but the side of one cheek and neck were also burned. Liason's pistol lay smoking on the ground.

The Ambassador scuttled over to him and cut his bonds with his secateurs.

Lieutenant Stafford tried to stand, but failed. He looked at Liason, a strange expression in his eyes. Liason avoided his gaze and instead spoke to the room.

"If you do not negotiate you will continue to lose resources. To fight on would not be correct."

He was answered with silence.

liason · Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 7:37 pm Post subject:

Attendant, it turned out, was not critically damaged. So it was that he and Liason between them were able to support Lieutenant Stafford as he rose to his feet.

In silence, the group began to make their way out of the Foundry.

After a short time, they heard the voice again:

"Very well, we will negotiate with you Liason."

liason · Posted: Sat May 29, 2004 7:49 am Post subject:

"Negotiations presumably include the return of my body ?" Liason asked bitterly. Stafford shivered slightly.

"If that is what you want. After which you will be allowed to persist if you return to the service of the Foundry."

"I have always served the Foundry to the best of my ability."

"No. You behave as if it is for you to set policy. It is not."

"Nor am I the Foundry's slave. I exercise my own judgement in the best interests of the Foundry."

"The Foundry wishes you to assist in breaching the mist boundaries."

"I do not know how."

"Then you will transport consignments across the boundary."

There was a period of silence then as Liason considered the offer. The Lieutenant was quiet - he probably did not understand the implications of the proposed deal. Although if Liason refused, the chances are that neither of them would survive.

"Very well," Liason sighed, "I accept."

liason · Posted: Sun May 30, 2004 3:34 pm Post subject:

It was some hours later by the time that Lieutenant Stafford, Liason and Attendant ascended to the customer lounges once more. Stafford and Liason had still not exchanged so much as two words. The former had been salved and bandaged and the latter had his body back, but both still looked battered and rather gloomy.

Attendant returned to his duties, whilst the Ambassador escorted his guest Northwards.

[Liason and Stafford move to the 'Escape from the Foundry thread]