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           I was contemplating things again. I

hated it when I did that. Normally, it was a matter of making a decision and

going with it. But now I was superseded by this resurrected creator and I

wasn't sure how to take this guy. He seemed to both care and to not care. I get

having your own agenda, and I could get behind him if he was really going to

improve things here, but I was yet tome impressed.The creature cared enough to be hanging

with my partner and her old boyfriend, doing who knows what. OK, I knew damn

well what they were doing. This creator seemed to have more mortal qualities

than I would have expected. For some reason I actually found that rather

comforting.As much as I wanted the help of this

being in defeating the Brotherhood, I would have preferred going into this

battle alone. I had no desire to drag anyone else down, not even my newly

converted sex slave. I preferred to endanger only myself. If someone was to die

by my hand, I wanted it to be because of something I did to cause it, not some

inadvertent side effect of a battle or skirmish. I could take care of myself,

but my coverage only went just that far.I had been risking my neck for this

city for years.  My name had become sort

of legend, and a lot of folks didn't even think I was real. I made no attempt

to disabuse them, though I also didn't really hide my existence. I was just me.

I followed my own rules right up until now, when I had this small furless thing

running amuck in my warehouse.I was just working out what I could

do without his help when the three of them appeared. My nose flared at the

smell, and my cock jerked awake. I mentally told it to go back to sleep. This

wasn't going to be the time for fun, even if they had been pattering about

doing who knows what.."I see you finally found your way

out of the warehouse. Nice."Jenar looked a little pale. "Yes we

did. We took time out of our busy schedule to get to know one another.""Good for you. Now how about we get

down to work? If you have some special information on how to get at the

Brotherhood, I'm all ears."The creator sat down. "I have set

things in motion already. There are a few things that I wish I had available to

me, but I don't have time to search the warehouse. It could end up as a waste

of time.""What are you looking for?""Nanites. ""Oh sure, I think we have several,"

I said sarcastically. "What the hell are they?"              "If you

have one you'll have several billion of them. They're microscopic machines."              Veronica

coughed to get his attention. "Really? How is that possible? And how would you ever

work on them?"              "There's

no time for explaining how they function. But if you had any, they would look a

giant crate of black sand."               I

jerked alert. "Sand?"               "Yes,

sand. They are so small that they look like fine sand."                "Well

shit. I wondered why there was a box of something so stupid as sand in the

warehouse. I would have dumped it but I had never seen the likes of it before.

I've been to the Outlands and there ain't no sand that looks like that anywhere

out there."                "Consider

yourself lucky you didn't. Was there an activator with it?"                I

sighed. "A what?"                "An

activator. The nanites are dormant until activated. It doesn't do well to have

them pulling power from the grid for no good reason. That, and without

programming, they tend to wander."                "So

you're telling me that box of sand will come alive?"                "Yes,

in a manner of speaking. Can you show me where it is? If I can find the

activator, I can set them loose ahead of time. They can repair old damage and

get some of the operational systems restored."                "Whatever

you say master. Come on."                "You know

I don't think I deserve that insult. I didn't come back here to interfere. You

wanted help. I'm trying to give it."                I

suppose I did owe him an apology, but I was still feeling testy. When I didn't reply,

he slipped off of his chair and fell into step behind me. The others went to

follow, but he held up a hand. "No, you guys eat. I'll be back up in a little

bit, assuming I can find what I want."                I

didn't give a damn who did what at that moment, but I have to admit that I was

curious about this sand. If it was really some sort of artificial life form, I

wanted to see it in action. I stomped down the stairs until we got to one of

the side rooms. The crate had a hole gnawed into it by one of the little vermin

that tended to seasonally infest the place. The creator scooped some into his

palm and ran a finger through it.                 "This

is it! Now to find the activator. I would think whoever had the sense to hide

this stuff away would know enough to keep the parts together."                "What

is this pile of shit - I mean sand used

for again?"                "They

are integrated bots, designed for undertaking repairs on electrical systems.

Once activated, programmed and released, they handle maintenance of things like

computer systems, video screens, audio systems and more. They can even be

programmed to coalesce into basic forms."                "What?"                "They

can combine to look like a rock, or a something even more angular, like a tool

chest or chair."                "This

stuff could become a chair, one that would support my weight?"                "Even

your massive frame, yes. And then, with a little programming, it could be made

to fall apart underneath you."                "You're

lying."                "I'm

not, but unless I find the activator I might as well be. They have to be active

to work."                "Fine

little creature, so what does this activator look like?"                The

creator stopped, looking around the room. "It's a panel about this long, and

about this wide," he said, using his arms and hands to demonstrate.                 "That

didn't help me much. "Any other details oh wise one? That sounds like a lot of

the shit down here."                "Sorry.

It'll be marked with the number/letter combination of SQT-885, and it has a

display panel that shows the frequency of the transmitter."                "Oh

that. I remember seeing something like that a long time ago."                "And

where is it now?"                "That's

a good question. But if I remember, it should be over here."                I

rooted around under a pile of tarps until I pulled out the old dusty metal

contraption. I remember playing with it as a kid.                "Is

this it?"                "The

one and only. Now to see if it works." He pulled a retractable cable from the

back of the unit and plugged it into a wall outlet. Since there was power to

the whole system now, power rushed into the machine. He flicked a switch and

the unit sprung to life.                 I

watched with a morbid fascination, both at the little creature and at the way

he seemingly knew how everything worked. I smacked myself, for why wouldn't he?

He created it all. It hardly mattered how old it was, he had to know. But his

little brain couldn't possibly hold that much information, could it?                I

nearly jumped when a section of the floor began to move. It was the sand.

Apparently he hadn't been lying about how the stuff worked. It swirled on the

floor as more of it poured out of the holes in the crate. In a few minutes it

looked like a whirlpool as the tiny particles did some sort of strange dance.                 "Well,

the systems are still working well enough. I guess I'll use the basic repair

protocols. I would direct them to specific tasks, but I have no idea how much

damage and destruction the systems have suffered over the centuries. I'll let

them figure it out on their own."                "So

what now?"                "Now

they will spread out and make repairs on the systems they encounter."                "Where?"                "Everywhere.

They will move out from here into every system they are familiar with and

restore it to its original functionality."                Then he

did a really weird thing. He scooped up a mass of writhing sand and swallowed

it.                "Why

the hell did you do that?"                He

looked a little pained. "Some of the components in this body aren't organic. You

have to remember Veracity that this body is a construct. You were born; this

was created in a machine. I might be able to make another, better version if I

want to later, but I was in a hurry. The machine was old and in less than

perfect running order. I told you this body might not last very long."                "I get

that, but what the hell does that animated sand have to do with anything?"                "Don't

worry about it for now. Let's just say that it's going to keep me functioning

for a while longer."                "Whatever

you say boss. What's next then?"                "Next?

I'd say a tour of the city might be nice. It'll help to know what I'm dealing

with."                "Looking

like that? You'll freak everyone out. You look like a hairless reject from the

Outlands!"                "Are

you saying that this place has no idea what I even looked like?"                "That

and then some. If you'll pardon my mouth, you look nothing like I ever imagined

you might. And hell, I still don't think you are what you claim you are."                "What

do you need to be convinced? The earth shaking under your feet? My name being

heralded across the city? My voice sounding all at once from everywhere in the

city?"                "It

might help. For now I just see you as a weak little mortal."                "Your

assessment is correct for that is what I am right now. But you know, maybe

that's just what this place needs at the moment."                "I'm not

following you."                "No, I

suppose you're not. I was just thinking that maybe I needed to fight fire with

fire."                "You're

going to burn down the city?"                "No you

stupid idiot. Oh, never mind. I think I have a plan. Find me a cloak and a mask

of some sort and take me on a tour. Every minute right now is more and more

precious. Nanites or not, this organic flesh will not last forever."                Veronica

allowed him the use of one of her robes, and a rebreather mask was dug out of a

box. It was a weird combination, but not so weird as that anyone would question

it. There was all sorts in the city, and with that all kinds of strange outfits.                A cab

was called and when it arrived, all five of them squeezed into it. "Where ya'll goin?" asked the

driver.                A small

voice came from the back. "The Brotherhood."                "Ya

sure about that?"                "I'm

sure."                "I'll

drop you of a block over then. I have no desire to get them pissed at me. They

have a perimeter around that place and you had better be a member when you

cross it. I ain't no member and I ain't never goin to be. Any of you members?"                Serrena

started to answer but Veracity shook his head. That little voice piped up. "No.

I'm just curious about the place is all."                "What's

there to be curious about? Are you telling me that you've never seen it

before?"                "It's

been a long while my friend. Just catching up on what's been happening since I

was gone."                "Gone?

Where the hell ya been livin? The Outlands?"                "A

little farther past that, you might say."                "Then

you're crazy. No one lives past the Outlands and no one wants to go to the

Brotherhood. I'd suggest ya'll pay up front."                Veracity

stuck a fist in front of the driver. "You'll get paid. Just drive."                "Crazy

and big. My lucky day!" He stomped on the pedal and roared through the streets

until they reached their destination.  As

he said, he dropped them off one block over. As everyone climbed out, the

driver figured he was going to get stiffed. The strange little thing in the robe

and respirator came around to his window.                "Thanks

for the ride. Before you go, how would you like to be paid? I couldn't help but

notice that your vehicle is very old. It looks like it could use some repairs."                "Yah,

she's old., but she's all I got. It's tough repairing the systems on a beast

like this. What are you, some sort of mechanic?"                 That's when he noticed a thin stream of black

crawling into the window. "What the hell?"                "Relax.

Drive as you normally would, but you may have a few system glitches on and off

for a while. If you don't think it was worth the fare, come back to where you

picked us up."                The flow

of black had already stopped. The tiny specks were infiltrating his cab and

were soon out of sight. The driver looked sharply at the robed figure. "You're

a freak, aren't you?"                The

masked figure nodded. "Yes. But I am an honest one. Now go. Remember what I

said."                The cab

drove off. Veronica had noticed the flow as it had left his fingertips. "What

did you do?"                "Helped

someone, of course. And in turn he'll help me. When they're done repairing the

systems on his vehicle, they'll leave and find something else to repair. He's

helping to transport them a little faster than they would have on their own."                "I

see." She didn't of course, but it hardly mattered. If he knew what he was

doing, she had little hope of understanding it.                He

moved towards the next block. "Let's see this fortress."                As they

came into the block that held the library, he was immediately dismayed. It

looked remarkably sinister. A facility for the gaining of knowledge was never

supposed to look like this. It reminded him of something from his memory banks.

It looked mildly church like, but there were overtones of Earth's 1930s and

1940s. From Germany. It was enough to cramp up his stomach, though that was

probably just his cells prematurely rupturing.                 Serrena

was also wearing a hood. Everyone else might be ignored, but a former member

suddenly making an appearance without her uniform might give their presence

away. I stood out like a whore in a church, for I never shunned showing my face

except when I was using my outlawed technology. No one messed with me, and I

knew that if they recognized me, they'd be curious and furious at the same

time.                So it

was that I managed to accidently bump into a fellow that I recognized. He

recognized me as well and his eyes narrowed.                 "Veracity!"                "Hello

Cornelius."                "What

are you doing here? And have you put on some weight?" He was trying to piss me

off.                "What

I'm doing here is my own business. As for my weight I can't help it."                "I see.

Have you got a medical problem? I mean, you can't blame a person for hoping.."                 "Nah, ya see, very time I fuck your wife she

makes me a meal. What can I do?" I was upping the ante a little. After all, he

started it.                "Feed a

man for free and he'll be back asking for more. Feed a man a bullet and you

won't hear from him again."Yeah? Well, if I want to listen to

an asshole I'll fart."                A fight

broke out. Corny wasn't as big as I was, but he was a tough scrapper. In short

order we were rolling on the pavement, throwing punches. He was mad because I

had one upped his insult. He would have been furious to know I had been nailing

the bitch. What can I say? Some girls like something between their legs they

can feel for longer than the time it takes to get the action done.                 By the

time we were separated there was a crowd around us, including a number of

guards from the Brotherhood. Serrena had ducked out of sight, leaving just me

and my sidekick and her boy toy. We got maters settled, but not before the

guards recognized me for who I was. There was very nearly another altercation,

but a claxon went off inside the building and they spilt for the direction of

the doors.                Veronica

came over. "Why did you start a fight? We didn't want to be noticed!"                "Can't

help it. I like to stir up trouble. And who knew the old bastard was going to

show up here?"                "Whatever.

Now our cover has been blown. We might as well leave." She looked around to

confirm her thought with the creator only to find him gone.                "What's

happened to him?"                I

shrugged. "Like I know? The silly sot has probably gone into the building

alone. You heard the alarm."                "They'll

kill him!"                "It'll

hardly mater. The poor little shit is already dying."                "What?"                "You

heard me. He has that sand stuff inside him to keep his body running for now,

but it's falling apart. You heard him before."                "But it

was working just fine earlier!"                "I'm

sure it was. But now it's not. So suck it up. I ain't about to go inside there

to retrieve him. I figure he knows what he's doing."                "I

don't like it."                "Your

choice. It doesn't make a difference to me. You want to try and save his scrawny

ass, you go right ahead. Me, I think he knows what he's doing. I don't personally

know what the hell he's planning, but I have an idea it'll rattle this

fucked-up city to its core."                Since

they figured the moment was lost, the group headed away from the building and

moved over a few streets. There was a café that was mostly empty, so they went

inside.                Veronica

looked perturbed. "I believe him when he says he's the creator you know."                "I

didn't say any different you stupid Vulp. None of this much makes sense to me,

but I could see him having an avatar instead of his real self. I mean, I don't

know a damn thing about anything much outside of this stinking city, but there

has to be a lot of stuff beyond what we can see."                "I

agree. So I think that we'll wait him out. If nothing happens, then life won't

be any worse than it was before we loosed his wonderful self."                "Wonderful?

Just what were you guys doing down in the warehouse? Nope, forget I asked that.

I think I prefer to allow my imagination to roam rather than know the truth."                "He's

talented in a lot of way Veracity. If he truly helped to build the foundations

of our civilization, then I trust him to have a greater knowledge of the layout

of the city than anyone living today."                "Well,

he might end up in that non-lamentable group called the non-living if he's not

careful."                We sat

there for a while, even ordering food to pass the time. For the moment they

didn't know if anywhere on the planet was safe and this place seemed as good as

any.                Someone

came in, followed by a stiff breeze that blew in dirt and dust from the street.

All eyes were on the newcomer, but he merely sat down at a table and paid no

attention to them. HE was just another poor sap who was stuck living in this

dungheap.                "You

know, I hate to admit it, but I'm feeling a bit on edge. And when I'm on edge,

I find that I either need to get violent or have sex."                Serrena

punched me in the arm. "Like there's a difference with you?"                I

grabbed her arm and squeezed. "There used to be. Now everything gets jumbled up

in my head. I can off in a lot a ways you know."                I let go

when she began to struggle. I knew I had a tight grip and was only making a

statement. Could I help it I was angry and upset? I knew it wasn't their fault.

It was my own mistake for opening up that stupid room.                I cast

my eyes to the floor, watching the dust swirl and shift on the tiling. This

city was dirty and stupid. I really should have left it a long time ago. At

least in the Outlands the dust and dirt were supposed to be there. Here in the

city things were supposed to be civilized. I don't think anyone had a concept

of what that word actually meant.                As I

gazed angrily downward, I felt my eyes were playing tricks on me. The little

scattering of material on the floor seemed to flow into abstract patterns. I

blinked and looked again. And damn if it still wasn't doing it. I figured it had

to be eddying air currents until I remembered that the door was closed. There wasn't

a speck of air movement in the café.                 It

dawned on me that the dust was black. Well, not all black, but as it pulled

together the black seemed to separate itself from the common brown stuff.                "Is

anyone else seeing this?"                All

eyes went to where I was staring. "Yes, I think so. Is that the stuff that was

in the crate?"                "What else

could it be? It sure travels fast."                "If it

is the same stuff. What's it doing here?"                As if

to answer, the formless mass swirled around and formed a smiling face.                "Well I'll

be a knocked up mare. The son of a bitch has the stuff working!"