[Fan Fiction] Vignette from Forty Years Ago - A Viewing

The steel doors opened, revealing the huge launch bay. On huge cruciform gantries stood the three Bigs - Dual, Faust, and Omega.

Major Roger Smith looked up at the great machines in admiration. Besides him were Majors Daniel Dastun and Michael Seebach.

"This is insane," Smith muttered.

"This entire war is insane," Seebach snapped. "Giant monsters, Elder Gods, dreams and visions ... I'd rather be in an insane asylum than out there now."

"Get a grip, Mike," Dastun said. "This is a war like any other. The stakes are bigger, the weapons new ... but we fight to save our people, just like always."

From nearby a voice called out, "Ah, gentlemen! We were waiting for you!"

The three men turned and saw three other figures; two middle-aged men and an elderly woman. All three wore the traditional scientist's lab coat, with identity badges with violet trim, indicating the highest possible security clearance.

The tallest of the three approached and shook each man's hand in turn. "Major Smith ... Major Seebach ... Major Dastun. A true pleasure. I'm Dr. Gordon Rosewater, head of the Megadeus project. These are my colleagues - Hardware Development Head Dr. Timothy Wayneright, and Dreamware Development Head Dr. Angel Rosewater."

Seebach's eyebrow went up. "Rosewater?"

"I'm his mother," the elderly woman said.

"Oh great," Seebach muttered. "If giant robots weren't bad enough, they were developed by a guy who needs his mommy to hold his hand! Why didn't I volunteer for the Nuclear Kamikaze Unit?"

Major Smith at least looked embarassed. "Michael Seebach, Master of Tact and Diplomacy, strikes again. Want to spit on them while you're at it?"

"Listen, butt-kisser, just because I'm not a lapdog like you -"

Major Dastun, seeking to change the subject, stepped forward. "Uh - we were just cleared for this yesterday. What exactly is 'dreamware'? And why are we piloting giant robots from a comic book?"

The elderly woman smiled. "Follow me, sir, and I will answer all of your questions."

The six people went into a room where another woman awaited; this one was a bland, meek little woman with a severe face, who sat on a dais in front of a projection screen.

"Gentlemen," Angel Rosewater said proudly, "This is the woman most responsible for the Megadeus project, and possibly the person whose work will save humanity - Doctor Tyne Paraholt."

The three officers gave slight bows and muttered 'Ma'am' in subdued voices, then Seebach spoke out, "So will you explain how becoming comic book characers will solve anything?"

Dr. Paraholt sniffed indignantly. "Young man, are you aware of the origins of the current war?"

Seebach opened his mouth, but Smith rapped him in the solar plexus and stepped forward. "Perhaps if you give us a complete briefing," He glared as Seebach and growled, "Without Interruptions!" He turned back to the doctor. "Then perhaps everything will be made clear."

Everyone took seats, and Doctor Paraholt began ...

"Everything that will be spoken of in this room is under Regal Umbra classification. Speaking of it outside this room is punishable by summary execution. Do we all understand that? Good."

The projection screen lit up with an old film; a giant slug-like creature laying waste to Baghdad three years previously, dissolving everything it touched into sand.

"Three years ago, the first of these creatures appeared in the Middle East. The first was found in the ruins of Irem, the fabled 'city of Pillars,' beneath a temple dedicated to Erm, the ancient Sumerian-Babylonian serpent god of chaos. Since the first nations attacked were geo-political opponents of the United States, action taken against them was minimal. Apocalyptic cults rose up, likening these creatures to the Biblical Leviathan, and proclaiming their appearance to presage the end of the world."

New pictures showed up; successive attacks by the Erm-monsters throughout the world.

"As the creatures ranged outward, panic grew. They seemd invincible, living incarnations of chaos and destruction. Even nuclear weapons did little more than slow them down."

A new image appeared on the screen - the moon.

"Last year, a number of these creatures were detected on the moon. By 'a number,' I mean several billion. They were apparently busy undermining the entire moon, in a process that would eventually cause it's entire surface to fracture."

The three officers were now sitting up straight. They - and no one else, apparently, outside the upper echelons - had ever heard of this before.

Dr. Paraholt continued; "Long-range observation showed that these creatures were operating at a much lower energy level than the handful found on Earth. Also, their activities made less sense. After all, why deface the moon?"

She smiled. "My field of expertise is in esoteric literature ... and I recognized what was happening. In ancient texts, the coming of the Elder Gods - great beings from beyond space and time - is heraled by a number of apocalyptic events. One of those events is referred to as 'the cracking of the Moon-lens'. Clearly, these Erm-creatures are attempting to create the circumstances necessary for the Elder Gods to return to Earth."

Seebach interrupted. "Excuse me?! Exactly how stupid do you think I am?!"

"Too stupid to see what is in front of you," Dr. Paraholt replied.

"Excuse me," Gordon Rosewater siad calmly. "Major Seebach, the beings referred to as the 'Elder Gods' are extraterrestrials of vast power. They established colonies on Earth in prehistory, and even influenced early civilizations. The government has been aware of them for some years due to archaeological evidence in Antarctica and other places. Tight security was always kept on this knowledge for the protection of the general population."

Dr. Paraholt continued, "Of course, now it no longer matters like it once did. If I may continue?" A new picture popped up on the screen; a map of Eurasia with arrows and dots in various colors. "When the activities of the lunar Erm-creratures and the terrestrial Erm-creatures were compared, it was evident that the terrestrial creatures were faster and mre destructive. As time went on, it became clear that when the Erm-creatures approached a location with a concentration of apocalypse-cult believers, they became even faster and more destructive." She indicated an arrow leading into eastern China. "And this was the most telling of all. This creature - Number Nine - entered China and approached an urban area without accelerating or growing more destructive, in direct contradiction of the behavior of the creatures to date. It avoided the urban area entirely, entered a desert, and became quiescent. It remained that way for three weeks, until the Chinese Red Army sent out an expedition, which was destroyed."

"And how does that help us?" Dastun asked.

"A great deal," Dr. Paraholt answered. "It seems that the Chinese government did not tell the locals that the creature was approaching, thus they did not panic. It turns out that - due to Chinese censoring of news - the majority of central and western China has no knowledge of the Erm-creatures' existence. Which is what led us to the knowledge of their power source."

"Which is?" Smith asked.

"Belief," Dr. Paraholt said simply. "The creatures are powered by the belief and fear of their victims. If no one believes in them and no one is afraid, then the creatures cannot feed." Again, the image of the moon appeared. "The lunar creatures are also fed by fear, but since the only available source is on Earth, their power is minimal."

Seebach seemed skeptical almost beyond belief. "So you intend to tell everyone there is no bogeyman, and the bad old monsters will go away?"

"That is an option," Dr. Paraholt said. "In fact, it is our last-resort emergency option. But for now, we have another plan. The Doctors Rosewater will brief you on your role in it."

The two Rosewaters got up on the stage and the screen changed to a comic-book illustration.

Gordon Rosewater began; "Thanks to Dr. Paraholt's ground-breaking research, we were able to discover - and duplicate - the mechanism by which the enemy feeds on faith, and incorporated it into the power systems of the Megadeus-class combat robots which Dr. Wayneright designed and built. That is where Dr. Rosewater Senior -" he gestured toward his mother. "- came in. She is the creator of the various 'Big' comics, as well as the director of the cartoons. These were all designed to reinforce the images of the heroic giant robot in the popular consciousness." The image changed to an aerial shot of New York City. "When the enemy approaches, the Megadeus-class robots will be deployed. They will be empowered by the concentration of belief, faith, and hope of the general population. The robots were designed to be as individualistic as possible, to add in a hero-worship factor which will provide still more power. Not only will the robots gain power, the enemy will lose power. Every attack will be charged with the energy of faith, allowing them to damage the enemy in a way that even nuclear weapons cannot."

The three Majors sat silent for a moment before Seebach once again spoke.

"This is the damn stupidest thing I ever heard."

"It doesn't matter what you think," Gordon Rosewater said. "You are the pilots of the three robots, and you have been attached to this command. You are the weapons with which we will prosecute this war."

Major Dastun spoke up. "Suppose we don't succeed? What then? You mentioned a back-up plan of some sort."

"We have two, actually," Dr. Paraholt said. "The first backup is the 'Venus Project'." The screen lit up, showing a well-formed naked woman suspended in a translucent liquid with a number of cables in her back. Dr. Angel Rosewater seemed embarassed, as did her son. "This, gentlemen, is Venus."

"She certainly is," Major Smith remarked.

"She is a clone," Dr. Paraholt continued, "Grown from the cells of Dr. Angel Rosewater and implanted with her engrams and memories."

Seebach whistled. "You were a honey when you were younger, babe."

"Do you mind?!" Gordon Rosewater snapped. "That's my mother, you sicko!"

"Poor you, then," Seebach said, still ogling the screen.

Dr. Angel Rosewater spoke up. "The three 'Big' robots have routers in them to allow all of their power to be diverted to the Venus." A new image showed a CGI animation of a huge angelic figure spreading it's wings over a city. "The energy from the three 'Bigs' will allow the formation of the energy fields of her 'active' form. The active form will combine both the fundamental female image - a figure which subconsciously symbolizes protection to the majority of humanity - with the angelic icon, thus triggering religious faith. Thus, Venus will have over fifty times the power of the 'Bigs'."

"Why not use the Venus right away then?" Major Dastun asked.

"For the same reason you don't use naval artillery in a street fight," Dr. Wayneright said. "The power unleashed by the Venus will lay waste to a substantial area, possibly even altering Earth's climate. We would rather not have it come down to that."

"Okay," Major Smith said nervously. "So what is the other backup plan you mentioned?"

"Should the Venus fail to defeat the enemy," Dr. Paraholt said, "We have one last option. By reversing the power flow of the faith accumulators, we can project - call it an 'amnesia wave' - across the entire planet. The human race will be afflicted by mass amnesia, forgetting everything. Including the existence of the Erm-creatures. With no belief to empower them, the creatures will go inert."

Dastun stood up, appalled. "And the entire human race will be reduced to babbling idiots!?"

"Would you rather have the human race extinct!?" Gordon Rosewater barked. "That's the last resort! It would only be used if you three and Venus fail! So do not fail!"

Seebach shook his head. "This is insane."

"Most things are," Dr. Paraholt said. "That is why most people lie to themselves, and the ones who see the truth are labeled mad."

sounds pretty cool...how about including Soldano???

------


Smith sat down in the cockpit of the Megadeus called Omega and watched the screens light up. On the central screen a message scrolled past ...

CAST IN THE NAME OF GOD ... YE NOT GUILTY

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

From behind him came a soft, feminine voice. "It's the diagnotic signal that means that your brainwaves have been scanned and you're accepted as an authorized user. It's also supposed to give you some sort of psychological boost, but I don't know about that."

Smith looked around and saw nothing. Then a pair of gray-clad legs slid out from a maintenance panel in back, soon followed by the rest of a person. Not just any person, but a slender girl in gray coveralls, with her russet hair pulled back by a scrunchie.

"You must be the Dominus," she said. "I'm Dorrie Wayneright, computer genius and the object of your midnight romantic fantasies."

"I beg your pardon?" Smith asked.

"That's how it always starts," she said. "Now you're confused, but soon you'll fall madly in love with me. We'll have lots of fun and some really great sex, but in the end I'll have to break your heart because I'm too much of a free spirit. So in order to prevent your eventual decline into alcoholism and suicidal depression, I'm refusing your marriage proposal now." She sighed. "I don't know why I have this effect on men. It's a cross I have to bear. Now get your butt out of that chair. I have to check the tertiary linkages."

Bemused and confused, Smith gave up his chair to the young lady. The same message scrolled on the main screen, then all the screens lit up with incomprehensible computer code and several new control panels popped out.

"Impressive, isn't she?" said a British-accented voice from behind him.

Smith turned around and saw a young man about his own age but lankier and taller.

"Hello," he said, extending his hand. "Major Roger Smith, Pilot, Omega."

"Sargeant Norman Burg, Chief Mechanic, Omega." He shook Smith's hand. "Welcome to the Great Big O."

Smith smirked at the usual earthy mechanic's humor, then recalled that a woman was present. "Her name's Wayneright? As in the guy who built this tin can?"

"He only built the machine," Burg said. "She designed the core memory system and the computer software."

"A real family project, isn't this?" Smith said sarcastically. "Are all the top brass around here related?"

"Actually, yes." Burg answered. "Dr. Rosewater Senior is the aunt of Dr. Waynewright Senior."

Smith rolled his eyes. "I'm having trouble taking this seriously."

"It's life or death for the human race," Burg said. "If you know anything more serious, keep it to yourself."

"This has got to be the single strangest operation I have ever been assigned to. And I include the arctic training in Sumatra in that."

Burg snickered. "'Our's not to make reply/Our's not to reason why/Our's but to do and die.' To paraphrase Tennyson."

Smith gave the same snicker. "The Eternal Complaint. I think Gilgamesh's troops bitched the same bitch."

Burg noticed how Smith was looking at Dorrie Wayneright. "She's legal age, you know. And no Significant Others to the best of my knowledge."

Smith flinched. "Er ..."

Burg snickered. "She wasn't entirely joking about how men react around her - she's a magnet for the wistful romantic sorts."

Smith became very uncomfortable.

Burg grinned. "It's the probable End of the World, Major. 'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may'."

The panels retracted and the screens went dark. Dorrie got up and went to the lift platform. As she began to sink into the floor, Smith got onto the platform with her.

"What do you think you're doing, Roger Smith?"

"Getting to know you," he replied. "Preferrably over a cup of coffee."

She giggled. "Okay. But no marriage proposals. And no Starbucks. Especially no Starbucks."

Dude, you are crazier than your wife, and just as talented. I like it. This is good, thus far.

Can't wait for the rest.

This story is really good. Can't wait to see the next part, love the way you made Seebach's persona and the humor is great

quote:

Seebach whistled. "You were a honey when you were younger, babe." "Do you mind?!" Gordon Rosewater snapped. "That's my mother, you sicko!" "Poor you, then," Seebach said, still ogling the screen

lol,

do you think you will be useing Big Ear?

"Vignette - a brief literary or dramatic sketch"

Sorry, my dears, but PCT says it's a one-shot deal. He says 'I don't feel anything else for this scene, just the briefing is really it'.

However, it has been implied that if anyone wants a go at writing the background they're welcomed to. It's heavily under the influence of Loevecraft, be warned.

Incredibly spiffy. and there nothing wrong with having a little lovecraftian horror about...

quote:

Originally posted by Lady Tesser "Vignette - a brief literary or dramatic sketch" Sorry, my dears, but PCT says it's a one-shot deal. He says 'I don't feel anything else for this scene, just the briefing is really it'. However, it has been implied that if anyone wants a go at writing the background they're welcomed to. It's heavily under the influence of Loevecraft, be warned.

Well if nothing else it explains why Big O always seems to kick butt more efficently when he has a crowd nearby.
Although I don't quite see Dastun as the true Dominus of Big Fau. His role in the MP's suits his character far better.
As for Seebach, well the Schwarzwald foreshadowing is obvously present, and it seems he has the smart-ass qualities of Beck to boot.
It is stuff like this that makes me almost wish that Sunrise would make a soprt of prequal series to Big O. If only to see the personalities of the characters and lifestyle before the event. And the amnesia wave is plauseable as well, heck it isn't even original to Big O. It was used a kind of weapon in an episode of Star Trek: TNG.
What I find most intregueing is the apperent origins of the Leviathan serpent-bots. We can guess at what the event was like from the imagery in the series, but pre-event stuff like this really sets the stage, so to speak, for the way things unfold in Big O.

That's a great scene, PCT. It's really too bad you don't feel like continuing it. Still,what there is a great addition to the Big O universe.

Great story. Really interesting take on Pre-Event times.

This fic already seems great. Slight spelling errors ('said; should replace 'siad') but that is really the only problem I can find. It leaves the reader wanting more, which is what only very good stories can do.
Detailed, amusing, and already explaning about the amnesia of Paradigm City.. We can already guess that Venus was used leaving perhaps only New York left over.. And Schwarzy's belief in some cause of the incident 40 years ago with people getting nervous causes that later Leviathan's revival.. You're making perfect sense out of nothing, which is odd yet cool.
Keep it up! I want more!

But seriously, top of the line Prince-Consort, top of the line.

sh** man, this rocks....

quote:

Originally posted by Lady Tesser "Vignette - a brief literary or dramatic sketch" Sorry, my dears, but PCT says it's a one-shot deal. He says 'I don't feel anything else for this scene, just the briefing is really it'. However, it has been implied that if anyone wants a go at writing the background they're welcomed to. It's heavily under the influence of Loevecraft, be warned.

Guess I should finally read Lovecraft (someone my mom thinks EVERYONE should read).

That's it?... awww...I'm saddened.

Loved it! This ROCKS! I love it! *Claps*

You should submit this!

Later,
Pen1300

I really, really love this. I'm terrible at giving compliments without sounding silly or repetetive, so.. I'll just leave it at that. ) Awesome.

I really, really enjoyed this, and I too am sorry it was over