EARTH FLIGHT BASE (some years later)...Sept.1,1991.....910901b.txt
ORDERLY: PROBAT.BAT ARCHeaTOME
Password: Password: Password: Antony entered the
entry room figuring to find loot.. Finding a 'light..fan' still
working surprised him. The figures seemed to be repeating the
same.. Trying a few words he turned to see graffitee..Some said:
'all locked up'..'go way'...type experessions..One had 'Bill
married Sara and had Jim.' Many years had passed since the
'peak out'. Some said many had just disseappeared into light
speaking a word none had heard before. Others had left to seek
the profits of texture. Trying a few more words he muttered
"Bandit! Darn masked wander." A speaker vibrated "Name"
Name?.What could that be? I'll just say 'Solarer.' "Just one
moment" the speaker cracked. On the opposite wall a crack
appeared wider as the form of a door broke through the debris as
worked by motors powered by solar chips on the roof somewhere..
Antony walked through looking to bring his loot bag. Seeing the
enter rooms had been his wish but not his real goal as he had
merely stopped by to look. This must be the store rooms as the
door closed. Maybe it's a shelter or some reading rooms.
Walking, the hall had doors on both sides with symbols on them.
One door was open and remained dark but light dimly lit through
from the hall lights revealing shelves with articles no one had
seen in many years. On the desk was a panel with dimly lit
lights. Pressing the first one only made more lights lit.
Could it be there were still people here after so many years
being closed? Behind him rolled a chairmoble. "Please, a seat
to?" "Sir, if you will take a seat I can help you." Antony
looked at the closed outer door thinking he was traped but what
the heck they might have something to give him and he had a
niche that had a full charge. A niche was his sidekicks arm to
prevent slug infestations from covering his business. "What is
the Orderly : Probat.Bat Archaetome?" Antony asked, "And why
was I allowed in?" as he sat. "Thank you for caring about this
place and not being distructive. As for the rest that might take
you longer than several lifetimes to learn. The password you
gave was close to the one used by the founder of this place, so,
entry was given to these chambers to examine if you were
interrested or knew of the old ones. Do you wish to continue
into the building?" Antony by this time didn't know whether he
was alone or on some test to go to work here. So he asked, "Are
there still people alive here?" "Not in this building, Sir, but
if you wish a message can be sent to the reception programs by
enterring the password to start what you requested." "Who would
mind if I did?" Antony asked. "Asolutely no one but you might be
welcomed by some distant office." "OK, what password starts that
program?" "Set back and enjoy your stay, You are welcome as long
as you wish to stay as shelter was given to many in the old
days." "You seem to be a smart bot. Do you also cook?" "Hungry?"
"Why yes." "O-P click. Your wish is to eat?" "Yes, if you
stil have anything, It's been awhile.." "Fine, just a little
way now to reception O-P. You will find a Nahbot to assist you
there and soaps on." "Great! These old buildings used to be
like kingdoms." "ARCHTOME." Anton said to himself. "What is
that?" "Archeatome, Very good sir. One moment for GBN. Very
fine, now ready please step carefully to O.P.there." O-P was a
large room at the end of the hall at a closed enterence at the
front of the old building. As the door opened a welcome came
from the Nahbot." "Please be seated. Your meal is ready in the
ops room. You will be prepaired for Archaetome shortly after."
Some time passed as the wheeling bot left tracks in the carpet
that looked as if it had been freshly cleaned. The oder of
fresh coffee filled his nostrels as he neared the table.
Stepping slowly he looked around as he sat down. A lighted fan
came up to display. 'ARCHaeTOME' The food tasted fresh and the
coffee hot all as if this was but another visitor like in the
old days. "Do many come here?" Antony asked. The Nahbot came
closer "Many pass but noone knows the secret of the passwords
to Archaetome.You are the first in many years to find the way.
If you are finished the course is ready." Course? Antony
thought. I'm to take a course here.? Dropping his loot bag he
deceided to trust the bots. "Ready" He says, standing to see
the room work. Everything changed as if by some appointment.
"Don't be alarmed, You are as though you were a VIP taking a
tour to familiarize you for any project you may wish to select."
"Project?" "Yes, the old ones would work on projects here.
Your's is the 'Archaetome' Project which encludes a journey to
see worlds still enhabited by those of the Zavians." "Zavians
were a myth in my childhood." Antony thought. "So it seems you
may know much already" the Nahbot added. The great door opened
to the old offices of the level/n department. Rows of books,
tapes, disks and tubes lined the floor pointing to a series of
chambers all labeled with symbols known to the bots. "Follow the
lights to enter higher levels. Level/n and the rest are at your
service" Taking a turn the Nahbot shown it's light from one
series to another familiarizing Antony to all that the building
held in store. One floor after another was lit befor him. Days
passed as each opertunity gave promise to highter floors. Each
night the room was nearly the same but as he reached the higher
floors the light shown on some of the most rarist of projects.
Nahbot had stated that a coded form would start one of them but
that none had been done for some time and special instructions
would be needed to guide the bots to completion. That had been
the gift of the old ones. "Your time has come for the resting
period. You need only speak to be heard from now on." Antony
noticed there had been no consols for some time. Only wall
screens with speakers. The whole building seemed to be as one
large Nahbot caring for its' charge of guests. Alone Antony felt
emotionally darkened to the thought of leaving his worlds behind
to join some strange race he had only heard of as a mythe. Thus
on the 100th floor day he asked about who he was to be with in
the future. Nahbot had just finished his chores about the hall
and came to answer the last questions Antony had started of
late. "You are scheduled to leave here soon and are to meet some
of the others who had came through as yourself" At last maybe a
new newness to be found. 'A new life.' "Archaetome is ready
Sir." Nahbot flashed. "Follow me to dress for your observance."
At the center of the complex a dome with a telescope mounted in
it lowered to accept its' cargo. Antony was being lifted into
Archaetome. A long hall to his left gave him passage to the
great halls of the museum like entry. Past projects much greater
than the last were left as if to seak greater pleasures. Along
the walk the collections were protected by being hung over a
large drop that appeared in the center of the very long floor as
if perched in the top of a mountain looking down into the caves
so many that numbers repeated in the thousands per floor. All
empty because of the Peakout most of the continents experienced
before the fall. "You must reach the Well of Light before you
depart. Right. Now don't be hasty these halls have been waiting
a long time to host a level/n traveler. "As he approached he
suddenly felt as though he finally knew for sure why he was
permitted in. His family had lived here long ago but left to
find new sources of crystal materials for offering to the Zavian
keepers for passage to Zavia. The Peak had came locking them out
as the light fan had failed to pass them back in. The record was
clear now as the Well neared. Many had come here to give time
to teach the children of new disscoveries. There waited there a
Probe sent from Zavia. The Nahbot had explained of the need for
humans to enter to start the transfer. Archaetome had been
'Easy' it was explaned compaired to what lie in store beyond the
'Portal of the Probe.' Antony entered --tch-- the door opened.
What is this oder. Ah yes. Its' Zavia the land where the air
smells of sawdust, hay and new books it is said like the first
day of school where all is new and must be learned. Antony
paused as he waited for poise to present itself and give him the
correct place in the now populated 'Well of Light.' Antony had
been transported to Zavia where he was like most of the others
now. His place was as he was, new, from the teachings of
Archaetome he knew what to do. Just, now, to go about his
business. Even his lodging was preselected in the Forchip which
itched a little as he passed by a flower. In his chamber he
felt he had lived there for many cycles (A-Z) as now his
thoughts turned to his duties during the next program cycle. He
slept. When he awoke the drehbot had everything ready. Standing
silent waiting for the word of man to bring reason to act.
Motion to give moment to record any rational motive to
cohibitate. Thus began the life given to him by chance in a
mere curiosity to find loot to take for food. He was not just
Antony now but a king if he wished. A planet was his for the
asking. Same for a ship to travel the universe. He was from
Aromco. The door opend as his Drehbot followed. Today was the
day he was to receive the Ghether Crown. A helmet that gives one
an extension to the Forchip in that it did most functions
automatically. Like the room he had just left it also had a
large number of other features to make life more. There at last
he stood. The Drehbot ran a final check. The chamber door
opened to the Hall of Halls. Step after Step he felt every
move, followed, til he came to the table. Looking, there it
was. New and His.
Here are just a few choices you can bookmark now or
later: