Read Online Emperor Mollusk Versus the Sinister Brain by A. Lee Martinez - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: A. Lee Martinez
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bits are which.”
Zala studied the images. “How do they get anything important done?”
“Don’t judge them too harshly,” I said. “I don’t really get it either, but it seems to make them happy.”
She shook her head. “How did they manage to remain unconquered for so long?”
“Tenacity.” I smiled. “They’re a very stubborn race. Also, lucky. The atomic blast interacted with the gravitons in a one-in-a-million way. Instead of blowing up their planet, it formed a space-time anomaly, a singular phenomenon in the system. Possibly the galaxy.”
Zala said, “Its many and varied life-forms, its strange ability to defy every reasonable expectation of extinction, its ridiculous inhabitants. I’m beginning to see why this world captivates you.”
“It is full of challenges. The anomaly was very near collapsing on itself, possibly destroying Terra, until I found a way to stabilize it.”
“More of that Terran luck,” she said.
I gave her a view of the island. “The anomaly sits on this landmass existing in a state of quantum flux, sporadically accessible, usually by accident. Or with the help of a quantum synchronizer.”
“I wasn’t aware such technology existed in the system.”
“I invented it. The relative stability of the Terran anomaly made it easier to crack the problem. Although it was made considerably easier by my preliminary studies in space-time. I got a commendation for my work on wormhole theory. Primitive stuff, but not bad for a preschooler.”
“Do you ever get tired of remarking upon your own brilliance, Emperor?” she asked.
“I’d remark upon it less if it wasn’t such a frequent topic of conversation.”
I pulled up a map of the island.
“The anomaly has allowed fauna and flora from Terra’s past to slip into the present. The radiation has caused mutation to run rampant. I call the place Dinosaur Island.”
She smirked. “Very creative of you.”
“I’m an evil genius, not a cartographer.”
Zala sat back in her chair. “I think I can guess the rest. You located a secret laboratory or storehouse or whatever on this island on the egotistical assumption that no one would be able to unlock entry to it.”
She’d hit the word egotistical a little hard, but she wasn’t wrong. I had made a mistake, and that mistake had unleashed consequences on Atlantis.
“No pithy response?” asked Zala.
“No pithy response.”
I activated the synchronizer and transmitted instructions to our Venusian escort. A doughnut-shaped island materialized in the ocean below as all around the air took on an emerald hue. A volcano at the northern tip belched plumes of blue-black smoke.
The thick jungle hid most of the island’s many dangers, though a family of speckled apatosauruses was visible on the closest beach, and a flock of pterodactyls soared nearby. Another flock flew in from the east. And another appeared from seemingly out of nowhere to surround our ships. Radar was unreliable on Dinosaur Island.
“They’re just curious,” I said. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
My saucer’s sensors beeped a warning.
“We’ve lost shields.”
The pterodactyls’ eyes flashed as they projected dozens of lasers at our craft. The armor plating held its integrity. One of the great winged reptiles collided with the saucer. It scrabbled for a perch, but its claws slipped across the alloy. The saucer’s rotation flung the pterodactyl away.
The Venusian scoutship had eight or nine new passengers. Without its shields, the attacking beasts were already burning and tearing their way inside.
I activated the starboard blasters, picking off the onslaught. The background radiation confused advanced sensors, forcing me to manually zap the reptiles. My defense of the Venusians was stifled by a sky darkened by attackers. I lost their craft in the living cloud.
Sensors screeched another warning.
Zala scanned the monitor. “Multiple incoming projectiles of indeterminate type.”
“Now
Zala studied the images. “How do they get anything important done?”
“Don’t judge them too harshly,” I said. “I don’t really get it either, but it seems to make them happy.”
She shook her head. “How did they manage to remain unconquered for so long?”
“Tenacity.” I smiled. “They’re a very stubborn race. Also, lucky. The atomic blast interacted with the gravitons in a one-in-a-million way. Instead of blowing up their planet, it formed a space-time anomaly, a singular phenomenon in the system. Possibly the galaxy.”
Zala said, “Its many and varied life-forms, its strange ability to defy every reasonable expectation of extinction, its ridiculous inhabitants. I’m beginning to see why this world captivates you.”
“It is full of challenges. The anomaly was very near collapsing on itself, possibly destroying Terra, until I found a way to stabilize it.”
“More of that Terran luck,” she said.
I gave her a view of the island. “The anomaly sits on this landmass existing in a state of quantum flux, sporadically accessible, usually by accident. Or with the help of a quantum synchronizer.”
“I wasn’t aware such technology existed in the system.”
“I invented it. The relative stability of the Terran anomaly made it easier to crack the problem. Although it was made considerably easier by my preliminary studies in space-time. I got a commendation for my work on wormhole theory. Primitive stuff, but not bad for a preschooler.”
“Do you ever get tired of remarking upon your own brilliance, Emperor?” she asked.
“I’d remark upon it less if it wasn’t such a frequent topic of conversation.”
I pulled up a map of the island.
“The anomaly has allowed fauna and flora from Terra’s past to slip into the present. The radiation has caused mutation to run rampant. I call the place Dinosaur Island.”
She smirked. “Very creative of you.”
“I’m an evil genius, not a cartographer.”
Zala sat back in her chair. “I think I can guess the rest. You located a secret laboratory or storehouse or whatever on this island on the egotistical assumption that no one would be able to unlock entry to it.”
She’d hit the word egotistical a little hard, but she wasn’t wrong. I had made a mistake, and that mistake had unleashed consequences on Atlantis.
“No pithy response?” asked Zala.
“No pithy response.”
I activated the synchronizer and transmitted instructions to our Venusian escort. A doughnut-shaped island materialized in the ocean below as all around the air took on an emerald hue. A volcano at the northern tip belched plumes of blue-black smoke.
The thick jungle hid most of the island’s many dangers, though a family of speckled apatosauruses was visible on the closest beach, and a flock of pterodactyls soared nearby. Another flock flew in from the east. And another appeared from seemingly out of nowhere to surround our ships. Radar was unreliable on Dinosaur Island.
“They’re just curious,” I said. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
My saucer’s sensors beeped a warning.
“We’ve lost shields.”
The pterodactyls’ eyes flashed as they projected dozens of lasers at our craft. The armor plating held its integrity. One of the great winged reptiles collided with the saucer. It scrabbled for a perch, but its claws slipped across the alloy. The saucer’s rotation flung the pterodactyl away.
The Venusian scoutship had eight or nine new passengers. Without its shields, the attacking beasts were already burning and tearing their way inside.
I activated the starboard blasters, picking off the onslaught. The background radiation confused advanced sensors, forcing me to manually zap the reptiles. My defense of the Venusians was stifled by a sky darkened by attackers. I lost their craft in the living cloud.
Sensors screeched another warning.
Zala scanned the monitor. “Multiple incoming projectiles of indeterminate type.”
“Now
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