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2 Short Stories Introduction-pg.3 • The Folder-pg.5 • Salesman-pg.8 • Be More Careful-pg.10 • The Volcano-pg.11 • Cards and Questions-pg.16 • My Love-pg.18 • The Infirmary-pg.19

3 INTRODUCTION Hello, my name is Garrick Johnson. I am majoring in creative writing, this semester I took a fiction writing course, in this course I wrote quite a few different short stories. The stories in this portfolio are some of my favorites. The first story is called “The Folder”, it was the first major story I did this semester. Its setting was inspired by Ironclad warships from the 1800s, the story itself was designed around building tension in stories, so it centers on an interrogation scene between the captain of a ship and a traitor. The next story is one of my smaller assignments called “Salesman”, in this story my instructions were to make a story where a customer has a conflict with a salesman. The next story is “Be More Careful” I was assigned to make a story around an argument where both people avoid talking about the reason for the argument, my next major story, “The Volcano” actually gives context to this story. “The Volcano” was my second major story where the assignment was to expand a previous work, so I chose to expand “Be More Careful” by giving it some wild and wacky context. The next story is one where I was to use a real-life overheard conversation as a starting point for a story, and then make up the rest. It’s called “Cards and Questions” the first few lines of this story are indeed real, which is very… strange. The second to last story is called “My Love” the assignment was to make a story with an unreliable narrator, so I made a story about someone slipping in and out of consciousness and having strange dreamlike hallucinations, towards the end you should be able to peace together what is happening to him and what lead up to this point, there IS a story buried under all the strange pseudo poetic imagery, its just deeper below the surface, so to speak… The Last story I did for this semester, and the last major story is “The Infirmary” this is the biggest story in the portfolio, and one of the longest linear stories I

4 have written so far. It follows a rather unlucky man as he is brought from one strange industrial place to another as he tries to stay alive and escape from hellish circumstances. These are my stories this semester, I had a lot of fun writing them, they really challenged my creativity in the best ways possible. I hope you will enjoy peering into some of my off the wall ideas.

5 The Folder Tiberius Guard waited at the table in a private conference room. He was the captain of a titan class ironclad warship, the largest types of ships in the navy, standing hundreds of feet tall in the water and spanning nearly a mile long, they are magnificent testaments to human achievement and naval power. As he waited, his concentration on the hall which seemed to go on forever, made all the constant clanking and churning of heavy machinery and engines beneath his feet fade into the consistent low hum of silence. He could see Niall Balor, the man he had called a meeting with, in the hallway approaching, it took some time for him to arrive due to the scale of the ship. Niall entered the room with a confused look on his face. “Commander Tiberius, sir.” He said, “might I ask the purpose of this meeting?” Tiberius looked up at him with a graveness in his eyes. “Sit down,” he said in a deep serious tone. “Yes sir, of course.” Niall replied. Tiberius straightened a folder that was lying on the table, drawing Niall’s attention to it. “I would like your opinion on something, Niall… let’s say that you caught a man sharing sensitive information with the enemy, what do you think his punishment ought to be?” Niall focused his eyes on the folder. “Well,” he began, “he would be a traitor, and would have committed treason, and the punishment for treason by law, is death.” Tiberius nodded. “I did not ask what the law requires,” he stated, “I asked what you think his punishment ought to be.” he said with an unwavering gaze.

6 Niall felt droplets of sweat begin to form on his forehead. “I believe the devises of the state work well enough for my liking, I think the punishment ought to stay the same as it is.” he answered, “Might I ask what the meaning of this theoretical situation is?” he added. Tiberius sighed, “I want to know the truth, Niall.” Tiberius placed his hand on the bull yellow folder labeled “Classified Information” as he spoke. Niall’s nagging curiosity as to the contents of the folder was becoming unbearable. Thoughts raced through his head. Had he been discovered? Did the folder contain proof of his treachery? Or was this a just a test and the folder was merely a prop? His face grew cold and the back of his neck was burning. He tried to formulate a response. Time felt as if it stood still and simultaneously, he was deathly aware that he was taking too long to answer… “The truth of what, commander?” he said after a moment. “I think you already know.” Tiberius answered. Niall slowly nodded. “If you’re referring to the rumors of there being a spy aboard this ship, then yes, I have heard of them. I never placed much thought on these rumors because I didn’t think they could be true… sir.” Tiberius studied the response; he could tell that Niall was getting more comfortable with his position in the conversation, so he decided it was time to throw him a curveball. “Alright,” he said as he handed him the folder. “Since you’re my second in command, I think it would be beneficial for you to know everything that has been gathered about this potential double agent. all the evidence we have is in this folder. I’m assigning you to look into it.”

7 As Niall took the folder, a wave of uneasy relief washed over him. He flipped through the papers and saw that the events that were listed were the things he had done. His relief quickly turned into paranoia; he had no idea how much had been discovered until now. When he got to the bottom of the list, he saw something that he didn’t recognize, something that he didn’t do. For a split second he thought about saying something. but then thought that it must be some sort of trap devised to make him accidentally reveal himself. “What do you think?” Tiberius asked, Niall furrowed his brow, “yes, this seems like a real problem, I will follow up on every lead, sir… I will strive to get to the bottom of this in short order.” Tiberius looked down at the table and spoke. “I should expect you will…” he said, “You’re dismissed.” With that Niall left the table, taking the folder with him. As soon as he got out of the doorway his hands began to shake. Tiberius sat at the table for some time after Niall left the room. He sat silent, motionless, thinking about everything that had happened. He knew in his heart that Niall was the traitor. He knew that his treachery would be hard to reveal. All he needed was some concrete proof. His mind turned to anger as he thought of him, his second in command, turned over by the enemy. He had taken an oath to serve as Tiberius had taken an oath, but he has broken it, now his honor is broken as well. Tiberius once thought of Niall as a friend… but now, all he thought of him was a traitor. The End

8 Salesman Morgan walked through the department store, completely bored with his life. he walked down the fresh produce isle, the canned food isle, the paint isle, then the place they kept the tires, and that is when he was accosted by a salesman who seemingly came out of nowhere, “Hey there friend, I’ve got something to show you! I bet you’ve never seen a tire quite like this one, it’s got special lining, special rubber, special pricing!” The salesman said with a fast and ecstatic voice. “Uh... sorry I’m not interested.” Morgan said. He started to walk away forward expecting that he would just be on his way but the salesman practically leaped over Morgan’s shopping cart to block his path. “Oh buddy, you might not know it but you really want this tire! In fact, I like you so I’ll cut you a deal, 15% off, it’s a steal! This tire will never fail you, it will last forever, even if it wears out, it can still be of use to you! It’s the best tire you’ll find, and that’s a fact!” “Look, I don’t want your tire alright? I already said I wasn’t interested, step aside please, so I can finish my shopping list.” Morgan was getting aggravated, he wondered what this salesman was thinking, blocking him from moving on, if anything, it made him not want to by this ridiculous tire even more. “If only you knew,” the salesman laughed. “If only you knew how amazing this tire is, you wouldn’t need to finish your shopping list!” “Listen, I DON’T WANT TO BUY THE TIRE!”

9 “Yes, you do, it’s a bargain!” “I’m getting tired of this, I’m leaving.” “But if you leave, you won’t have this fine tire!” “Good.” “Bad.” “What?” “You need this tire!” “NO, I DON’T! I’m leaving, and that’s the end of it.” After that, Morgan pushed his cart forward, no matter what, the salesman was forced to get out of the way. Morgan paid for his groceries and left. He was annoyed, angry and confused… but he wasn’t bored anymore. THE END

10 Be More Careful Handfield set his drink on the coffee table slowly and then leaned back into his seat with a long exhale, Margaret sat in a chair across the table looking down and rubbing her forehead, “I can’t believe it…” she said, “Look, Margaret, I know your probably upset but- “ “Probably?! Come on, Handfield I’m more than upset, you can’t just keep going off and doing things like that, you’re going to get yourself killed!” “Okay, I may have been a bit reckless, but it’s kind of in the job description, you knew that when you married me.” “No, your job description is studying volcanoes not… THAT!” “THAT… was an anomaly, you’re acting like this happens all the time, but I don’t usually do what I did when, well… you know.” “I’m worried about you, you’ve been getting more and more daring lately and pushing your luck, eventually luck runs out, even for you.” “you’re right, Margaret, I have been pushing it lately, but there’s a method to my madness, the discoveries we’ve made, the prospect of a Nobel Prize, it’s all so exiting!” “Yeah, it’s all about you, isn’t it?” “Hey, wait a second, it’s for both of us… right? Look, I see your point, I’ll be more careful… I promise.” THE END

11 The Volcano A helicopter sped over the blue, tranquil waters of the Pacific Ocean carrying Dr. Handfield Regan, expert volcanologist and geophysicist and genius in his own right. Two weeks ago, he had been hired to scout out an extinct volcano on a far-off but developed island. His goal: to ensure the volcano was extinct. He determined it was, and his employers, the authorities on the island, decided to continue with their plans… plans that were kept secret from almost everyone. but something unexpected happened and Dr. Regan was called back to the site. “So, how long before we reach the island?” he said, “Not long, sir, about six minutes,” the pilot answered. The pilot was one of the coral people, natives of the island. Recognizable for their brightly colored coral-like antlers, grayish-blue skin, and large pointed ears. “By the way sir, I’m a big fan of yours. I listened to your TED talk about how Volcanos can be an allegory for toxic relationships. It was eye opening! When I finished it, I broke up with my girlfriend, and I’ve never been happier!” Dr. Regan paused for a moment, trying to think of a response. “Oh…” he said, “uh, that’s good… I think?” As the helicopter approached the island, Dr. Regan could see the volcano and a pillar of black smoke rising from it. “Unbelievable! When I read the new graphs, I thought they must have been a mistake, but it really is active again!”

12 “Yeah,” the pilot responded, “As you can see, things have changed since you came here a couple of weeks ago… I heard rumors that you helped local Volcanologists scout out that place for some sort of maximum-security prison, that the volcanic rock would be strong enough to contain some powerful being.” “I can’t really answer that, all that stuff is classified. I don’t even know that much.” The helicopter circled around the volcano from a distance. “I’ll put us down as close as I can. You’ll need a thermal shield for when you’re closer to the opening. When you get up there, find Commander Akoni, he’ll tell you what’s been going on,” the pilot said. Once they landed, Handfield hopped out, grabbed a thermal shield, and ran up the pathway. Closer to the site commander Akoni was overseeing a group of guards as the volcano spewed up more lava, “Take cover!” he yelled, The rows of guards quickly held up large disc-shaped ceramic plated shields over their heads, not a second later, red glowing lava rained down. “Steady, keep holding!” he said. The guards were pulling on chains that connected to container that was directly above the fiery abyss of the volcano. The container was slowly floating upward as the guards attempted to keep it in place. Dr, Regan, jogged up to Akoni, “I thought you said this volcano was extinct, Doc?” Akoni said,

13 “It is! Or at least it was.” Handfield replied. “It doesn’t make any sense, two weeks ago this place was little more than a pile of rocks with no seismic or volcanic activity whatsoever, but now… it’s more alive than it’s been in decades. This is impossible.” Akoni looked over at him, “indeed.” “Look, commander. You came to me because you wanted a second opinion on the situation, and, as the world’s foremost volcanologist, all I can figure is that it’s an anomaly. I can’t explain it.” The Commander turned to him and was about to say something but was interrupted by a loud clanging sound. “Did that come from the container?” Handfield asked, Akoni replied, “Things just went from bad to worse! You should take cover, Doc.” The container shook as the guards were struggling to hold it down. The loud clanging grew faster and faster until it finally burst open with bright flashes of light. Floating above the lava was a vortex of darkness and light. It was Kiako, a coral person, his antlers seemed to blaze with black and white fire. His eyes glowed with piercing light of the sun and lightning bolts flashed from his hands. “Wait, he’s one of your people?” Dr. Regan asked, commander Akoni looked over to him, “I thought I told you to take cover! Yes, he is one of us, we have worked very hard to conceal that fact, so I’ll appreciate it if you don’t tell any-” he was interrupted by a loud voice,

14 “You dare try to contain me? Did you think these stones would be strong enough to hold me down? Luckily for me, I can adapt, but not so lucky for you, I can adapt! Have fun with this newly active volcano, I’d stick around but I’ve got bigger fish to fry!” after he said that he shot up into the air with a sound like thunder. Commander Akoni and Handfield stared in disbelief. “What do we do now?” Handfield questioned, “Kiako has escaped, there’s only one thing we can do.” He said, “What?” Akoni turned to him and spoke. “It’s time to call in his brother.” “You’ve got to be kidding me, there’s two of them!? I think I need to get out of here!” “I understand, but we may need your help again soon, Kiako’s power seems to influence the functions of the earth. Once we find his brother, we’ll need a way to track him down, I think you could help us do that… with all your experience.” “Alright, I’ll help… but I need to get home and talk with my wife first, before I go off on some monster hunt.” A few days later, once Handfield had returned home, he told his wife, Margaret, what had happened. “You did what?!” she exclaimed Handfield sat down on the couch and passively stirred his tea. “Margaret, look, I know that it was dangerous, and you’re probably upset but-”

15 “Probably nothing! You could have got yourself killed; this is serious stuff!” “I know, it is serious, but that’s why it’s so important.” “But look at you, when you got home you were covered in soot, that can’t be good on your lungs, and that demon thing could have attacked you! You’re in over your head Handfield, you need to stop being so reckless! You keep pushing your luck, and eventually it’s going to run out.” “Well, he isn’t technically a demon, but I do see your point… I felt like I was in over my head when I was there.” “I’m just worried, I’m worried about you and I’m worried about whatever it is that’s out there.” “I know, I’m worried as well… I’ll be more careful, I promise.” Right after he said that his phone rang… “It’s Commander Akoni… I’ve got to go.” The End

16 Cards and Questions “At every major holiday I get a card from this guy.” She said. “Do you know him?” the other said. “Oh, heavens no… I don’t have any idea who he is.” “that’s so weird, what’s in these cards?” “they’re just simple cards wishing me a merry Christmas or a happy 4th of July, or whatever the holiday is. Some of the cards have pictures in them, he just looks like an older man, sometimes his wife is in the pictures as well. I think it must be some sort of joke, but he has been sending these cards for over ten years at this point!” “Wow, that seems pretty long time for it to be a joke!” “I know, that’s what I think. I don’t know why else he would send them, the cards aren’t creepy or anything, and it seems like his wife at least knows about the cards… it’s really stumped me, it’s kind of funny though.” “Yeah, I don’t know what I would think if I got those cards every year. Is there any way you could send a card to him?” “I don’t think so, there’s no return address” “Oh… oh well then, I was thinking you could send a letter to him to ask him why he sends the cards, but I guess you can’t.” “Even if I could, I don’t know if I would want to. It might ruin it, ya know?”

17 “Are you worried you’ll hurt his feelings?” “Of Course not, I just think… I don’t know it’s kind of nice to get the cards, people don’t really send cards all that often anymore, usually people just post a generic, “happy holidays” on Facebook and call it good. Getting cards is fun, and if it weren’t for this guy, I would miss getting them.” “I don’t know, it still seems kind of weird.” “Well, it is but its fine… oh, this is my bus.” “Alright, see you later!” “Sounds good, bye!” THE END

18 My Love My love, your eyes are like the cold light of the moons warm embrace, I see you, you’re here with me again, we never had a chance did we… specters dance in the night like the waves far above me, becoming smaller as the clock ticks by. Silence always scared me, but now I don’t feel fear at all, I feel like I’m finally home. That light! It flies higher than all the world, higher than the tallest palm tree, isn’t it beautiful, my love?... where have you gone? Alone again, that light is but the moon dancing in the distortion of the waves, the sea will take my tears to you, wherever you may be. It’s like snow, now… it’s the coldest abyss, a limitless void, deep blue under the night, the clear star filled night, I see that our time is running out, can you feel the clock ticking? I See you beckon to me like the stars in the ocean, I hear the music of freedom like a drum, slowing its tempo, fluttering, then going silent… Music so beautiful has never been recorded. Like a warm blanket that wraps around me, I am embraced by the warmth like the sun on the beach that we used to visit. I’m here, on that beach with you walking along the shore, you laugh, I hold your hand… a hand as cold as ice… why are you so cold? why won’t you wake up? I’m right here, I won’t leave, I’ll find who did this to you! I’ll go sailing, build a raft to escape! they think I did it, stormy weather would toss me, I fall like a stone, like my love is lost… but here now you’re with me, it’s a miracle. The shapes that form around your face are unimaginable and bright. The water… the water… all is fading… I think this is the end, but the silence doesn’t scare me, I’ll see you soon, I’m sure… I feel like I’m finally home. THE END

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20 THE INFIRMARY “Where were you last night?” voiced a dead eyed interrogation robot, “Where were you between 8:30pm and 9:00pm?” “I was attending evening rite, as all do at that time,” the man chained to the table said, “There are no cameras in the temple, therefore you cannot be spoken for. I have recorded your alibi as weak to non-existent.” “Wait, what about others at the rite, surely you could ask them if they saw me?” “If the evening rite you may or may not have attended is functioning in accordance to protocol, the heads/faces of those in attendance should have been shrouded with a traditional hood for the entirety of the service. With that fact in mind, it would be difficult for anyone to properly recognize you… therefore you cannot be spoken for.” “This is unbelievable, you can’t prove anything!” the man slammed his fists on the table. The interrogation robot stared, unmoved by the outburst. He picked up a small stack of papers and began looking through them, “I have recorded that you believe that I cannot prove anything. I would like to correct that belief by presenting to you something that one might consider… proof.” the robot tossed the papers to the man in an almost sarcastic way. What was written on the paper was a record of transaction detailing the purchase of illegal weapons. “This deal was supposed to be under the table,” The man thought to himself, “Someone in the underground must have been undercover!” a bead of sweat fell down the man’s forehead…

21 “I hope you understand the seriousness of the charges that will be brought before you in court.” the robot said, “There is only one plea you can make that could save you from the rope, insanity.” The man looked up at him, confused. An interrogation robot suggesting that he plead insanity was strange. For robots programed with great concern for proper protocol, lying to the judge and jury about one’s mental state should’ve most certainly been out of the question. “that’s a very interesting suggestion coming from a bot, I’ll admit, the thought had already crossed my mind.” “Your court appointment will take place tomorrow, have a nice day.” A guard came through the door, unfastened the man’s cuffs from the table and led him to a cell to await trial. While he waited, he thought about what the interrogation robot had suggested. It was true that the thought had crossed his mind before but that’s all it was, a passing thought, now however, he was seriously considering it. The unforgiving brown metal benches of the holding cell provided a sleepless night before the day of the trial. When the day came, the man knew he would be found guilty of the charges brought before him, but he had also made up his mind on an insanity plea. A few years in a psych-ward was, in his eyes, a better fate than to hang. He told himself that it was for freedom, that everything that he did was for freedom, but whether or not he fully believed in the cause of the small revolutionary group he became entangled with not three months prior, he was about to sacrifice a great deal for it, whether if he hangs or is deemed insane. “State your name.” the judge said, “Hendrix Shoemaker.” the man answered,

22 “Are you aware of the charges brought before you?” “Yes, your honor,” “Then how do you plead?” “There are times in my life where I have these blackouts, and when I awake, I find that I had done many disagreeable things, your honor… I believe I’m insane.” “Insanity, is it? Well, the jury will decide your fate.” As Hendrix waited, the droning and repeating low hum of industry seeping through the earth-toned metal walls seemed to become louder and louder until it was deafening. The beating drum of churning machinery was an ever-present sound, to the extent that its often easy to simply tune it out. That becomes difficult when one is allowed to do nothing, and have nothing to distract from it. “The jury has come to a decision,” the judge stated, “you have been deemed to be lawfully insane, therefore you are hereby sentenced to the infirmary, a mental institution aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration. You will remain there until you are cured of your affliction.” He slammed his iron gavel on his podium and Hendrix was quickly moved out of the room. He was taken to a train station and placed in a seat with his handcuffs attached to a chain that was riveted to the floor. There were over thirty other people in his cart, most sat in silence, with only a few people talking in a hushed tone, but not a one of them looked like they were rightfully deemed insane. Hendrix figured that most people would rather lie than hang.

23 When the doors were closed it became completely dark, the train had no windows. For a moment all were silent. With a jolt, and a red light that flashed on with a loud click, the train began to pick up speed. The train was a metal capsule, rocking back and forth, hitting bumps and creaking, it took jagged turns, dips, and rises. It was anyone’s guess where it was going. “I’ll bet we’re on a suspended track now,” said a passenger sitting beside Hendrix, “I do here that echo… I wander how high up we are?” Hendrix said, “I find it best not to think about it. To me, it’s a strange blessing that this horse lacks windows.” “Ha, this city is not one for someone afraid of heights.” “Yes, I discovered that quickly, unfortunately I had to move here for work, it was either work here in a factory, or work in the rural tar pits, in the Iron Flats, a dangerous job, that is… even more dangerous than the factories, if you can believe it.” “I’ve never been to the Iron Flats but I have heard some stories, nasty business.” “By the way, the name’s William, William Mason.” “Hendrix Shoemaker.” Their conversation was cut short when a blaring alarm sounded followed by an automated voice through the intercoms, “Arriving at the infirmary in (one) minutes, please remain in a proper upright seating position.”

24 The train began to lose momentum and then suddenly stopped with a booming clash, jolting everyone forward as far as their short chains would allow. The red light flickered out and the automated voice began to repeat a word, “Arrival… Arrival… Arrival.” The doors slowly opened and guards came through the carts from the back of the train and undid the prisoners’ chains from the floor. Everyone was directed to stand and walk; the infirmary was straight ahead. The infirmary was a massive building with great metal spires in the middle, an ornate gothic design and large pointed windows. Truly, the facility was a sight to behold, the likes of which Hendrix, or anyone on the train, had ever seen before… but something seemed wrong to him, something seemed very wrong. The majestic scale of the infirmary began to contort and loom down on him in his mind, as if it were scolding his very existence, judging his every movement and every thought with relentless malice. This unexplainable dread made him stop in his tracks. “Did I make the wrong choice?” he said to himself, “Keep moving!” a guard demanded. The dread only grew as they got closer to the large sharply arched double doors of the building. As they were upon the threshold he noticed a strange sound, clanking and grinding machinery, the sound was familiar to everyone, but it seemed out of place in this sort of institution. At this point everyone began to shuffle nervously while waiting Infront of the door that had not yet been opened. “I don’t like this!” One of the prisoners shouted. There was no response… With a sliding screech, the doors finally opened. A dark cloud of soot rolled out of the door like a living shadow. No one was too keen on entering, but that

25 decision was quickly taken from them when the walkway they were standing on started moving forward, pulling the prisoners into the darkness, a massive conveyer belt the whole time. Once inside things happened quickly. All the prisoners were being separated and pulled off into the smog by something fast moving, Hendrix saw William for an instant then one second later he was gone. He looked back and forth to try and see what was happening but soon he too was snatched, he looked up to see the thing that had captured him. It looked nearly eight feet tall, it was robotic and had a long leathery cape-like robe, it’s metal head had various pipes and tubes going in and out around the sides, its asymmetrical camera-like eyes were glowing neon green, a vibrance Hendrix had never seen before, the vibrant piercing color alone was both beautiful and terrifying, but the robotic enforcer itself was only the latter. He was taken to an operation room and placed on the table, his hands and feet were bound to it with metal cuffs. “Hold on, there’s been some sort of mistake! I was supposed to be going to a mental institution!” Hendrix shouted, “Do you take us for fools?” something asked from the shadows with a strange, deep, half-electronic voice. “Do you not think we know what you really are?” “My sentence requires that I go to an institution,” he answered, “A liar to the end, it would seem. You know, you can go to hell for lying same as you can for stealing… Of course, we know that you are not actually insane, that is why you are here, this is not an institution for the mentally ill.” “But it was called the infirmary, how can this be?”

26 “An infirmary is a place where the ill go to be cured, here you will be cured of the greatest earthly sickness… death.” He stepped out of the shadows; he was twelve feet tall and five feet across at the shoulders. He wore a large tannish-brown leather lab coat over dull colored metal armor and had goggles resting above his eyes. He wore a metal breathing apparatus, his head seemed to be metal as well, his artificial eyes looked like the eyes of one of those devils who could either be laughing wickedly or weeping in sorrow, and they glowed pure white. “I will make you live forever…” he said as he walked closer to him. “You must have the wrong man, please just let me go!” “Hendrix Shoemaker, twenty-five years old, born to Randall and Mary Shoemaker in the year 3746 AD, a background in philosophy as I understand it. Arrested for suspicion of collaboration with terrorist groups by supplying them with illegal, stolen weapons. An offence one can hang for, as you no doubt have already gathered. So, as you can see, we most certainly have the right man.” “How do you know all that?” “I make an effort to know all who enter into my kingdom. Now… let’s not delay the procedure any longer.” The procedure was an extensive surgery with no painkillers. Once it was completed most of Hendrix body had been replaced with mechanical parts, goggles were welded to his face, as was a sort of breathing mask. His body was made thin and distorted because everything but the bare essentials had been removed or replaced with metal. In his head was placed an external

27 neural chip that had a way to control him when activated. In his chest was created a large cavity that went all the way through, in the cavity, a dark metal spherical reactor was inserted and attached to his spine, a reactor that kept him alive and glowed neon green, his partly robotic eyes did as well… he was made into a cyborg that had more in common with a robot than a human. “Now you are perfect,” He said, “Now you will live forever… with this reactor of my own design, you will have no need to sleep, no need to eat, and no need to die. You are reborn, with new purpose, to work the mines, to dig for the metal that fuels your reactor, and all reactors that keep the gears of this great civilization turning!” “Why?” Hendrix said sorrowfully through a half electronic voice. “Robots lack the higher discernment to mine this metal, but humans are too weak to survive the conditions of mining it, it’s highly radioactive after all… The obvious solution was to make man… machine. The world was running out of resources in those days long ago, I had act quickly. Then, like an olive branch from above, I discovered the metal, made the reactor, and saved the world.” “I’ll kill you for what you’ve done to me!” “The neural chip in your head should prevent that from being possible.” “I’ll find a way!” He started to laugh, “For over five hundred years, all who enter here tell me that, and yet, here I stand. Now, to the mines with you, serf.” Hendrix was brought down a massive spiral stair in the middle of the infirmary, black smoke and soot rose from the depths. The stair went far into the earth and all around he saw

28 thousands of other workers that had undergone the same procedure as he did. No one there looked like a human, perhaps they had reached a point where they weren’t human anymore at all. “You will be stationed here, serf.” Said one of the robotic enforcers He was pushed to a tunnel on the side of the stairs and handed a pickaxe. There were two other “serfs” in this particular tunnel, one had a larger replacement arm with a built-in chisel, and the other was wearing black clothing instead of dull tannish-brown like most everyone else. “So, you’re the replacement? My name is Graves Smith, and his name is Darrow Fletcher” the one in black said, “what’s going on here!” Hendrix shouted in a panicked voice, Graves and Darrow looked at each other for a second. “You’re new.” Graves said, “This is the price, my friend, this is the price for society to survive… apparently.” “Who is the one who made us this way?” “No one knows his name, no one knows where he came from, people in here simply call him the mad doctor. He is a genius, he’s psychotic, and as far as anyone is concerned, unstoppable.” “We need to get out of here!” “Easier said than done, friend, I’ve been here for two hundred years. Anyone who gets sent here never leaves.” “There must be a way.”

29 Hendrix toiled in the mines for over a hundred years, every day he thought about how to escape and how he would have his revenge on the mad doctor. The work was exhausting, his bones grinded against metal as the reactor in his chest forced him to constantly be awake and alert. The chip in his head prevented him from trying to rip it out as well as trying to escape. the chip had many functions, it prevented them from intentionally harming themselves as well as forced them to work if they were deemed “idle” for too long. “Has no one truly ever escaped this place?” Hendrix asked as he swung his pickaxe into the stones, Darrow made a noise like static. Graves Spoke up, “Hendrix, the only release from here is death, and the only way to die is if you’re destroyed by some freak accident, this is what happened to the man you replaced. In that same accident, Darrow badly damaged his neck and the mad doctor fixed it just enough so he could still be productive… but not enough for him to be able speak again.” “that’s no surprise.” Eventually, as time went on, the tunnel they were working in became unstable. They knew that this could just maybe be a chance to somehow loosen their chips, so they began to dig outward, making the tunnel more unstable until it finally collapsed, the impact of large boulder threw Hendrix back and the chip was crushed by the force of him hitting his head on the rocks. Darrow was pinned to the ground by a large boulder and was unable to move. “Hendrix this is your chance, run! You have to get out and tell someone what’s really going on here, I need to help Darrow, but someone needs to escape!” Graves said, He ran as fast as he could, this was his only chance to escape, revenge on the mad doctor could wait. The only thought that crossed his mind was reaching the door. The enforcers noticed

30 him and began quickly approaching. He pushed over a cart full of the glowing metal to slow them down. As he ran for the door, he caught a glimpse of the mad doctor watching him run with similar intrigue as a biologist when watching the behavior of cells through a microscope. Hendrix pulled a large rusty lever and the door opened with a gust of air. When he got outside, he Jumped off the walkway as soon as possible in fear of it activating and pulling him back in. Then he ran out into the unknown, and he ran for a long time, without need to sleep, without need to eat, without need to die. He was free, broken, but free. “I swear on my unending life, I will avenge us” THE END