Hiya! I updated the story's page to include some of my favorite lines and highlights. But you, faithful readers, are so special you get them sent right to your inbox! Enjoy! And by all means, if you have a favorite part from the story, share away! I'd love to hear it!
Beneath White Clouds Director's picks.Highlights from across the story:
The Boss opened one of its little blister-pods, displaying a crackling, energized prod. "That is your work. Work is your function. Comply, Unit." -02 – Grind Below
George spun and tumbled through the sky, screaming. He would have lost Comet but the dog, in a move of timely genius, had clamped down onto the extra flesh of his left moob. -03 – The Plunge
You're here to stick your official bullhorn up my keester and speak my mind for me! -05 – Spin
“I watched them tear her up, and I saw what was in that swell. No cyst. No pus. She's a fruiting shrub. Just like a Lord.” -06 – Swell Sickness
You make me nervous. You're not safe. But I doubt anyone else will listen... -09 – Pushed to the Fringe
“You were fit to bend over and let it prod ya, just like the rest of us! Shiny do-nothings know they can make us do whatever they want!” -10 – The Mess
Maybe it was all the late-term donkey-rompin' that addled your brain in-utero. I dunno. But you couldn't figure out the first step of building a quad-blind self-nulling dummy account through a nested avatar interface, so I'll make this easy for you. -11 – The Fringe Pulls Back
He stared up into the gold... and saw a glimpse of blue. Then the clouds shifted. The hole snapped shut like a bothered sphincter and left him in darkness. Modun fell back and wept. -12 – The Light Above
Oooohhh boy, I really should work on some dumber plans. -13 – Clever Espionage
“Organic constructs have a thing, I think, a drive, way down in the deep-down of themselves, that wants to make more life. I don't understand it. But the Bosses want to control it and they can't. Not 100%.” -14 – Aberrations
I can't believe how far I've already gone down the road to crazytown. But no further. -15 – Family Man
In the hours since as it attempted George's mission objectives, the tiny, fuzzy, bedraggled robot had further edited its programming and enhanced its problem-solving capabilities. It had also developed a capacity for getting pissed off. -16 – The Scorn of Fuzzmutt
The Boss Unit spun about to block his path. “Repeat.”
Modun staggered to keep from running into the robot's extended prod. “Nothing. Nothing. Flatulence.”-17 – Back in the Saddle
“Next time you wipe your ass, make sure you get all the sunshine out.” -18 – Off-Balance
“Something unwanted. In my Plot. Our Plot!” Modun stepped closer to the planted rows, lip curling upward, the spade heavy and perfect in his hands. “Get it!” -19 – Territorial Instinct
“Aw, cripes! Averting your eyes? Really? Is that what he's doing?” -20 – Re-Plunge
“Bite him! Mom! Bite his face!” -21 – Criminals
“Arming these Units will not yield a cohesive fighting force.”
George shook his head. “I don't want cohesion. I want them to get mad!”-22 – Calamity
"I'm not comfortable hearing such a sound justification for murder from my six-year-aaaaauuuugggghhh!” -23 - Rebellion
It's not a coinkidink that I chose to do silhouettes only. If I do manage to draw something worth sharing, I'll do so. But meanwhile, I think I'd better stick with writing.
