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All the stories are really good and I wish I didn't have to choose; good thing I get three votes.
1) Cerno, I like the reincarnation concept and it was a well crafted tale.
2) Ponch, very creative
3) Stupot+, good poem!

[Walk-bot #651]

Ha! I'm not all last minute this time.. must be all this practice I've been getting!  I gotta say this was a toughy Baron and I wasn't really down with the topic.. But once I got into my story; well in the end I really enjoyed it and I hope you all do to.

                                         

Walk-bot #651

   

    #651 was a strong and sturdy robot.  His mechanic, George, never had a problem with it in fifteen years.  Yet when George looked him over today he noticed electrical burns running up the right side of its casing.  The machine still powered up. A quick diagnostic showed all systems functioned normally. 

   â€œHa,” George laughed and smiled.  He had always liked #651,  not simply because it was the first of his fleet.  Toyota had built a fine piece of equipment. The city should have ordered more of the model.  This one was the first.  It had only been purchased for the trial run.  The politicians liked the service but decided to go with newer cheaper models built by Hyundai. 

   George sighed and sent #651 on its way.  He supposed it was for the best.   After all if all the Walk-bots were like #651 half his department would be out of a job.  Hell, not even lightning can stop this one.

   #651 did not know what happened to it, or even what it was.  It didn't know anything.  It only was, and it only did.  It was what it did, and it did what it was made to do.  The day before a drunk driver smashed into a power line.  The line fell loose and fried #651. All this was well beyond the Walk-bot.

   #651 lived in the moment, if you could call it living.  Manoeuvring around people vacuuming up the dirt, dust and seemingly endless cigarette butts on the city's sidewalks. Picking up the peoples litter with its metal grasper and the occasional dog's droppings.   This was the limit of  #651 understanding. 

   A skateboarder suddenly came around the corner.  #651 stopped, as it was programmed to do; but the skateboarder did not.  Bang!  “Piece of shit!” the skateboarder cursed as he picked himself off the sidewalk. He swung his skateboard and hit #651.  Bang!  More skateboarders came around the corner slightly slower and avoided further collisions.  The first one set his board down and rode off with the others.

   â€œArsehole machine.”  #651 heard the his assailant say as he rode away.  #651 did not immediately resume working as it was programmed too do when humans were at the proper distance.  Instead, the robot stayed put and watched the skateboarders ride off, though it was not sure why.  When they were gone the robot still did not go back to work.  It watched the cars, the people and the trees sway in the breeze. 

   #651 stayed there for an eternity in robot time, and took in a whole new world in pristine amazement.  It watched a leaf tear free of its tree.  The robot tracked its graceful fall into the traffic below.  The leaf was lost and #651 was moved to go find it, only to stop again when it was kicked back up by a passing truck.  #651 extended its grasper as if to catch the leaf even though it was well beyond its reach. Then the wind picked up and whisked the leaf away entirely.

   â€œMama whats wrong with the robot?  Why isn't he cleaning?”  #651 was so transfixed with the scenery that it had not even noticed the mother and daughter approach.

   â€œI don't know dear, it must be broken.”   #651 was programmed to understand basic commands.  Things like stop or do this and  get that.  Today though, on some level, it understood what the mother and daughter were saying.

   #651 thought about what the people had said, and you could call it thinking.  It wondered why it was not cleaning?  They had said he was broken.  #651 was not sure it was broken. The robot decided to test itself.  It moved along its usual route cleaning as it went and all systems functioned normally; but it just did not feel right.

   The robot kept cleaning as it travelled up one of the side streets until it came across something new.  It stopped vacuuming just in time.  Something was moving just in front of it.  It was not very big.  It looked very odd and moved about strangely on  eighty legs.  #651 picked it up carefully with its grasper and held it close to its camera  for further study.

   â€œHa ha ha, what' he got there.. ew ichy bug!” A girl screamed in delight.  She then came closer along with a boy.
   
   â€œIt's a millipede!”  the boy declared.  “It'll be perfect for our collection, like a lion  for our jungle!”  The boy held up a jar full of leaves and other bugs.

   The girl gasped.  “NO!  He'll eat them all!”  She lunged for the jar.

   The boy smiled and kept the jar out of reach.  “That's what lions do Sara, and he'll only eat the slow ones.”

   Sara relented and smiled.  “Maybe he'll eat them ichy slugs then.”

   The boy had already taken the lid off the jar and held it under #651's grasper.  “Go on drop him in.”

   #651 was not sure. It was not supposed to move when people were this close; but  it was programmed to follow commands.  In the end curiosity got the better of it. The robot opened its grasper and let the millipede fall into the jar.

   The girl laughed and twirled and clapped her hands.  “Maybe he'll help us catch more bugs Alan.”

   â€œYeah! I bet he's really strong and can lift up the big rocks!”  Alan lifted the jar above his head for emphasis and turned around to lead the way.  When he was a little way off up the driveway he turned around.  “Come on”  He said.

   Sara stood in between them. “Come on” the girl beckoned, holding out her hand.  Again #651's curiosity got the better of it and it followed suit.  When he caught up to the girl she asked “Whats your name?”

   #651 thought about it.  “Six. Five. One”  It said through its speaker.

   â€œWhoa! It can talk!”  Alan said.  “We gotta show mom! Maybe she'll let us keep him!”  Alan ran off into the house.

   Sara smiled up at him and put her hand into his grasper.  “You'll like it here 651, we can play everyday.”  She looked him over. “Mamma won't let you inside all muddy.” Sara put her hands on her hips.  “Can I paint you a pretty pink?” #651 didn't have time to think about what she was asking.

   â€œSara.”  Her mother came outside and stopped just short of them.  “Alan stay there, Sara come here darling.”

   â€œIts okay Mama, 651 is nice.  I'm gonna paint him pink and he can sleep in the garage with daddy's car.”

   â€œSara, listen to me, come here. We have to go inside and call the city.  Remember that dog that ran away?  How the owner thanked us for finding him?  Well this is just like that and the city will be looking for the robot.”

   The girl went to her mother reluctantly and she led her kids inside.  “But the city has lots of robots mama”

   #651 was not sure what to do.  The robot supposed it had run off.  The city would be looking for it.  #651 turned around. Its batteries were nearly depleted.  It had not finished its course; but since it was the time when it would normally be heading back, it decided that is what it would do.  The walk-bot headed for the garage.

   The robot kept its vacuum running as it journeyed back and made it into the garage only a little later than usual.  George the mechanic stopped getting into his truck and walked over to him.

   â€œWell well, I hear you've had a pretty interesting day 651”

   #651 thought about it.  “Yes.”  The robot answered.  It supposed it had had an interesting day.

   George froze at the robot's response and looked around cautiously.  Then he leaned closer.  “If you can understand me 651, don't talk.”  George glanced around again and smiled.  “Don't talk to anyone else, only me.”

[Stupot+]

There was allot of great entries and I liked them all in there own way but I'm voting for Stupot+. I liked the flow and I thought it was a clever idea how he recorded the conversation what a twist. 

Mallack was fed up with his species' closed minded non interference policy.  It all sounded well enough but then they weren't the ones given the task of monitoring earth for the last three watches.  Okay so he had volunteered the last two times but that was only to cover his tracks.  Well, at least the first time he volunteered was to cover his tracks.
   
   Mallack just wasn't cut out for monitoring. He wasn't the kind of Azanki male to just sit around and watch things needlessly suffer, and oh how they suffered.  Earth was rife with wanton injustice and someone had to do something so he had broken a few rules. He implanted a few humans with chips in there brains.  He knew it was wrong, well at first he had thought so.  He wasn't crazy he had had second thoughts but he had only upgraded there intelligence a little at first and he had left them there free will. 
   
   He wasn't some sort of monster.  He had only hoped that by giving the right people a little bit of an edge he could steer humanity onto the right path and alleviate all the suffering.  Needless to say it didn't work. First he had upgraded politicians, but they had a tendency of getting shot.
   
   Then early on his second watch (Watches lasted long time) he decided he should have upgraded inventors, and they invented wondrous things. Things like cars that went a thousand miles per gallon.  Needless to say those things never saw the light of day.  His men were threatened or killed or their patents got bought and buried never to be seen again. 
   
   Mallack was so frustrated because he could see the good in humanity. He could see that most people under the right circumstances would live within their means.  Some were already making net-positive contributions to the planet. It just wasn't enough, it just wasn't happening fast enough.  There was a culture of entitlement and way too many people for the planet to satisfy. 
   
   Mallack wasn't the kind of Azanki male to give up so easily and he had a plan. The humans needed a fresh start he decided but he wasn't stupid.  He knew that the other Monitors were getting suspicious.  Supplies were going missing (more specifically brain chips) and these things led to hard questions.  Brain chips were for full fledged abductions for those  aristocrats who just needed an earth pet.  The chips weren't usually for humans (most went into monkeys or apes to make them better butlers) but regardless someone had noticed that the numbers didn't  add up and it didn't take long for Mallack to guess who that was.
   
   Massag was an intolerable little weasel. He was recruited for Mallacks second watch and had constantly tried to tag along.  None of the others had liked him which was good.  He was an awkward and ugly little Azanki, with dry skin and a trunk that constantly dripped. He had a high pitched voice and was always standing to close and breathing over your shoulder.  Mallack had humiliated him early on by writing gleckle on the back of his suit, it had taken him three earth days to notice.  From then on that was what the others called him and he hated it cause that's what hatch-lings were called.
   
   Massag knew right away that it was he who had written it and he had hated him ever since.  That suited Mallack just fine cause it had kept him from bothering him.  That was until there watch ended and he had decided to volunteer for another one.  Nobody volunteered to stay on earth, nobody but them.  It was a beta planet, Beta planets were the worst and earth was the worst of the worst.  You had no freedom at all. They were conscious beings but they were still too backward to warrant first contact.  Yet they had all sorts of nasty little machines and it was only getting worse.  Nowadays almost all of the stinky little humans had cameras.
   
   No, no-one wanted to stay on earth but Massag had and worse yet he had the ear of the new commander and they were asking questions.  The old commander hadn't cared even he had called Massag a gleckle and told him to get lost.  Then again the old commander hadn't been a straight shooter like this one.  No he was responsible for a few of those chips going missing himself and lined his pockets selling earth pets on the black market.
   
   Yes the old commander had been perfect for Mallacks purposes, it was too bad he hadn't finished the job.  That was then though and this is now,  and enough ground work had been laid during the good times for the plan to still work, even under the new management.  Yes he had done allot of leg work during the last watch and all the pieces were in place.  North Korea and Iran were full of his puppets now, along with the top executives of Scientology.  In fact all he was waiting for was the proper moment, which was it seemed was tonight.
   
   The commander's duties had called him away, Massag and the others had orders to hunt down earth pets.   It was his night off and he had the base to himself.  He couldn't ask for a better night to put his plans into motion.
   
   All he needed to do was send a few text messages.  He had been hanging onto this pre-paid phone for a while now and wondered for a moment if it was still safe.  He would have preferred to get a new one for this, but he hadn't had the opportunity.  For the last earth-month he had either been stuck on the base or stuck with the commander or worse yet Massag. 
   
   Those two were gone for the moment and Mallack was sick and tired of waiting.  It wasn't exactly as he had pictured it.  No this was even better, he had the bases command centre all to himself.  He set the big scene to show planet earth and sat down in the commanders chair with a cold beer and fresh popcorn.   He had already hacked the surveillance system and put it on a feed back loop.  He was ready.
   
   Mallack picked up his cellphone and carefully typed in “Purple banana hammer frog sauce.”  Mallack looked around and listened.  He had thought he had heard something.  Probably just one of the earth-pets waiting for transport acting up.
   
   Mallack steadied his nerves, had a drink and pressed send.  He smiled, this was going to be quite the show indeed.. full fledged nuclear war.. and he had the best seat possible!   He had come a long way since he had arrived on this planet.  He would have never used brain chips to control the humans when he first got here.. but when he finally realized nuclear war was the most painless way to achieve harmony.. it didn't seem so bad.
   
   Mallack started typing in his next text-
   
   -okay he definitely heard something.  Mallack took another sip of his beer and left it.  The jig was up.  He could feel it in his bones, but he was not going to give up without a fight.  He grabbed his laser pistol and hid behind a console.  “Square rainbow eleven hamster pickle.”  send.
   
   â€œCome on out Mallack.”  Massag's voice was even more annoying than usual when it carried an air of command.  Mallack glanced out and fired his laser.  The whole crew was back and everyone scrambled for cover.  They were all agents he realized.
   â€œNow now Mallack.  No need for that.”  Mallack hated Massag's condescending tone but he didn't let it distract him.  He only needed to send one more message.  “We've been onto you for quite some time.  Did you really think we were gonna let you start a nuclear war?”
   
   â€œYep, for a second I kinda did.”  Mallack was texting while he was talking.  “Donkey angle pepper zed giraffe.”  Mallack smiled and pushed send.  It was done it couldn't be stopped no matter what they did. “I really really thought I was going to do it.”
   
   Massag's laugh was shrill yet arrogant.  “Did you hear that commander?  And he called me gleckle! Heheehe!”  Again with that laugh.
   
   Mallack tried not to pay attention to it his focus was on the screen, waiting for the show to begin.. it shouldn't have taken this long.
   
   â€œWhat nothing to say?  Don't tell me.. oh dear.. he still thinks his plan is going to work!”
   
   This time the whole room erupted in laughter.  It was too much.  Mallack couldn't take there mockery, he had devoted his life to this! Sure he would have killed off most of them but the ones remaining would have built a better world a cleaner more just one.  He rushed out heading were Massag's shrill voice came from.
   
   He was waiting for him though and he all to calmly blasted him through the chest.  The little gleckle had gotten him.. he didn't seem so little now though.  This wasn't the awkward nube that he had first met. 
   
   Mallack's life didn't flash before his eyes, just the parts with Massag flashed by.  One by one  he realized how he had been played. 
   
   â€œDam you all”  Mallack whispered.  “In the end they would've been better off.”
   
   â€œThat's not for us to decide though.”   Massag looked down on him kindly and Mallack couldn't help but smile back as he died.
   

Thats it the last grain of sand has fallen and its all down to the gruesome two-some. I'd like to thank our two contestants for their fine entries. Good work men! Now its time to start the voting process. Who's going to win Kconan or Baron? We'll find out soon enough! Voting starts now and ends Friday the fifth at five PM. 

I'm back from a great trip abroad.. Thanks for all the lovely stories we're gonna have a a heck of a job picking a winner between these two leviathans.. lets hope someone else enters the fray there's only three hours left.

Solid story Kconan, the bar has been set!

["Leprechaun"]

In honour of St. Patrick's day the theme for the next two weeks is "Leprechaun".  The only guideline is that the story must centre around a Leprechaun or Leprechauns or how a Leprechaun or Leprechauns have affected your main character(s). A Four leaf clover, a Pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, magic beer, lucky charms, these would not be out of place, but they are only suggestions.  What are Leprechauns? Where do they come from? What are their interests with us.. are their intentions good or evil?   

The competition starts right now on(March 17) and runs until 8pm on April 1st.  After which voting begins.  I will be away on vacation for much of the competition. Trophies will be made and rest assured that I will be back on the 1st to resume my duties and start the voting process.

This was a close one, but the people (and fates) have spoken.


Congratulations Kconan you win!

Baron, you were a close second.  Nicely done!

I don't know if I can still vote, but Captain D gets mine, Its a pretty hard thing to do to write a cheerful story about a world with no moon and strategically it makes sense..  A three way tie, ha!.. Sorry Kconnan, but Wham tied things up between us and voting for you now would be like short story suicide.

   Orloc stood to the left side of his prince bearing Toc Menace's heavy shield proudly.  The battle would soon begin but he looked up again to see the strange light streaking its way across the sky.  It had started a fortnight past as tiny as a grain of sand, barely discernible at night, now it dominated  most of the sky in broad daylight.   
   Orloc's brother Haut had just proclaimed yet again that it was a great omen.  Sirus was sailing out from the west leading the invasion against the enemy to the east.  Haut had not even bothered to preform the customary sacrifices so sure was he this was an omen of victory.
   Their prince Toc Menace had only snorted at Haut's words.  “Wars are won with blood and Iron, not preachy drivel.”  Toc Menace was a warrior trained since birth in the ways of battle and he felt nothing but contempt for priests, but he especially loathed Haut.   The prince had noticed Haut's longing eyes for the princess when she was just a child.  Toc Menace had personally refused him as a warrior, shaming him in public and driving him into the priesthood. 
   Horns blared and hounds burst forth from the enemy lines and the enemy charged began.  Toc Menace smiled and spit to the side then waved his skirmishers forward holding his own dogs in reserve.   The skirmishers fanned out and crouched down a few paces ahead.  The enemy dogs covered the ground quickly much faster than the wariors behind.  The skirmishers were getting squeamish but they held until the prince called the order. 
   The skirmishers stood and the great net came up as if from nowhere.  As the dogs leaped to attack they released the weighted net entangling all but the slowest dogs.  A few beasts jump past, but they were quickly dealt with.  Orloc stepped forward as one vicious bitch leaped for the princes throat.  He bashed the mutts face with the shield so hard that her neck snapped.  Then he crushed her throat with the base of his shield for good measure.
   The line of warriors and shield bearers had all moved forward to pacify the beasts entangled in the net.  The enemy charge had slowed momentarily upon seeing what had become of their dogs but now they resumed with new vigour closing the remaining gap quickly.
   Toc Menace gave his next command and his own dogs of war tore forward followed quickly by his warriors and shield bearers.  The gentle slope they had been defending wasn't much of a grade but with the dogs biting into the enemy before them it was enough to put momentum on their side.
   Orloc made sure he led the charge he went low and pressed forward and upward.  He smached  into the enemy line like a hammer driving a wedge.  Then he pushed left knowing his prince dealt out death on his right.  Shield and shield-bearer fought as one. All along the line the shields punched forward and to the left while the warriors hacked slashed and stabbed forward and to the right.
   The shock of that first contact never let up, there own dogs had never been dealt with and were still terrorizing the enemy from within making it easy for their own forces to push in deeper and deeper until the enemy finally broke and ran for the safety of the city walls.
   Toc Menace had planned for this too.  Before the battle the prince had ordered his skirmishers to strip the enemy corpses and take up their swords and shields as soon as they started falling.  When the enemy broke and ran for the city their own forces were already among them, killing the guards and leaving  the gates open for the rest of the army.
   It was a decisive victory Toc's forces pillaged the city throughout the day, the enemy was now either dead or enslaved.  The war was won it should have been cause for a month long celebration but as the moon rose its accent placed it directly in the path of Sirus' ship of burning light. An air of dread fell over the land. 
   Toc Menace stared up as the heavens began their battle.  Sirus' ship struck the moon with such force that fire radiated across the sky. His masters face gave nothing away of his inner thoughts, but Orloc could sense his masters pain.
   â€œWe leave at once,” Orloc new that the we implied only his master and himself. He understood that this was going to be a tireless trek back to the princess.  The princess was almost due to birth their first child. What had been a great omen mere moments before now spelled doom across the night sky for everything his master held dear.   For the princess Ari Armasi had been tied to the moon ever since birth.  She bore the moons mark on her palm and embodied the goddesses' beauty and loving nature.   With the moon under assualt, the prince had to return at once.
   The prince helped Orloc onto one of the sacred beasts. Orloc had never ridden one as only priests and royals were permitted.  His own beast had to be led by his master and they received odd looks from the warriors but the Prince paid them no mind. 
   Travelling through the night was made easy by the radiance of the godly battle above.  As they journeyed Toc Menace told him how these horses would one day not only be used for war but bread for it.. “as soon as men wake up and cast off their silly superstitions.”   
   As the words left the princes mouth balls of fire descended from the heavens smashing into the land around them.  The horses were spooked and the prince had to fight to control them.  The falling stars didn't subside and the prince was forced to dismount and tether the horsed to a near by tree.
   Toc Menace could read plainly what must have been written all over his face.  “You  think me a fool for denying the gods even as they do battle above us?”  The prince snorted and strode over to where a ball of fire had crashed down nearby.  With his dagger and a patch of hide he unearthed a fist-sized piece of molten rock which he shoved into Orloc's hands slightly burning him.  “Our gods are nothing but rocks in the sky my friend.”  Toc Menace ran his fists through his hair.  “I don't have all the answers but I suspect their only power lies in what the priests can get us to believe.”
   They had already travelled most of the night and already covered most of the distance back.  The horses couldn't be soothed as the rocks were still pounding around them with greater and greater intensity.  “Grab your gear Orloc we walk from here.”  To drive his point home or for some reason only the prince understood he cut the reins and watched as the horsed bolted.
   Orloc stared after them.   In a daze he glanced skyward through the streaks of fire he saw what was left of the moon.  A massive chunk was had been gouged from its side and it now appeared much smaller as if it were retreating from Sirus' surprise attack.  He had to shake his head in order to look away.  The Prince had already left and Orloc had to jog in order to catch up.  He couldn't say why but he kept the rock. The shield was heavy and he couldn't hold it aloft forever.  He was glad but somewhat shamed when the Prince shoved it from overhead.
   Dawn broke and the days heat was beginning to swelter as they made the cities' gate, and still the stones fell from the sky.  The moon was still discernible at the edge of the horizon but it seemed smaller to Orloc.  He was exhausted and had to force his legs forward as the Prince marched straight for the palace.  Had he not caught a glimpse of his brother's malicious face from atop the temple wall, Orloc would not have noticed the carnivorous looks the more devout people were giving them.
   The king met them just inside the palace gate.  Toc must have read his father's dire face for he headed for his chambers after only a moments embrace.  Bowing apologetically to the king Orloc followed his master quickly. He was not fast enough.  Just outside his masters chambers a howl of immense grief buffeted him to the ground and he knew at once that the princess was dead. 
   It was unthinkable, she was the heart and soul of two entire peoples.  Ari Armasi came to them as a child, she was both tribute and hostage in the name of peace to the west.  Then as she had grown, her beauty and love had conquered all and the marriage had turned two people into one.  Now she was dead, her life lost on the same night as her name-sake the moon goddess left them . 
   Orloc looked up at the sound.. a child!  Then all was not lost.  But this could not be mere coincidence. The girl with the name, beauty and nature of a goddess.. The girl with the birthmark of a moon in her right palm dying giving birth to her first child on the same night that the moon was assaulted in the heavens..
   Orloc was not a superstitious man, but he did believe in something, though he wasn't sure exactly what.  His brother Haut's vile disposition had long ago soured him to embracing that god.  So like many others Orloc had placed his faith on what seemed to be the only sure thing this life had to offer.   Prince Toc Menace was more noble, cunning and just than any god.  His prince was solid in the face of insurmountable danger and incorruptible in the presence of greed.  If his prince did not believe in the gods, Orloc decided,  it was because the gods did not live up to the standards that Toc Menace held himself accountable.      
   Orloc had passed out on the cold stone floor of the hallway, but he awakened immediately as doors burst open and the prince strode out from his chambers cradling his firstborn son.  His masters face was scarred with grief but he held his shoulders high as he bade Orloc to follow him.  The prince led him up and out onto the palace walls were he looked out on the mob bellow.  It was night time again and Orloc couldn't help but glance up to the sky above. Balls of fire still streaked the sky and fell periodically but with less intensity. The moon though still there was yet smaller still barley half the size of what it once was.   
   Orloc glanced down at the townsfolk who had begun to take notice of them.  He observed that much of the city had burned but noted that things could have been much worse.  Glancing over his shoulder he saw that parts of the palace had taken damage.  Something made him turn back and he saw his brother Haut work his way into the crowed.
   The prince didn't wait for Haut to get situated, he addressed his people with the voice of a husband in morning.  “Our beloved princess, Ari Armasi has died”  The words broke in the princes throat and Orloc could see that the people below were now sharing some of the princes pain.  “But her death was not in vain for her death has brought with it new life.”  Honest joy poured over the crowed as  Toc Menace proudly revealed his son and heir.  “I have named him Arma-” the crowed gasped at such a provocative name but the prince paid them no mind.  “In honour of his mother and the Moon goddess, and the mark that he himself bears in his palm.”  The prince held open the babies palm to the torchlight  for all to see.  The child started to fuss and his father passed him off to his wet nurse before continuing on more strongly.  “As long as this child lives and his line lives on after him then the moon will still be with us.  The gods have pushed her away for now but she has left us her child in her absence-.”
   â€œSACRILAGE!”  Haut's voice cut the air with its vehemence.   â€œYou pushed her away Toc Menace with your SACRILAGE!  You have always mocked the gods and now they punish us all for indulging, and even adoring you!  The moon goddess has been cast out because she was weakened when you defiled her daughter! Her most precious gift, her love and beauty incarnate, and you defiled her with SACRILAGE!” 
   The crowed was not nearly as shocked as himself or the prince. It was plain they had all heard it before, but not as boldly.  Some began looking away and retreating unsure of what they had gotten into.  The princes momentary shock had boiled over into anger.  “If your gods would punish the entire world for one mortals scepticism then those gods are petty and undeserving of worship!”
   â€œSACRILAGE! The prince must die and his demon-spawn brought to the alter!”  Haut cried out as he cast the first stone.  Many more followed.  Orloc drove his shield in front of his lord and pushed him down on instinct.  Reacting just in time to block the arrow.  Where were all the guards?
   The prince was thinking the same thing for he muttered “betrayal”  as he rushed to his feet and made for his chambers where Arma would be.  As he came to the palace, a guard stepped for forward drawing his sword.  The prince did not stop he but twisted around and under the slashing blade, pushing his dagger up under the guards chin. 
   Orloc closed the distance just in time to block a volley of arrows meant for the prince.  The Prince had no time for acknowledgement.  He was already through the door, hell bent on rescuing his child.  Orloc had just gotten into the keep as Toc Menace came rushing back, wet-nurse and child in toe.  Orloc pointed toward the back door but his lord shook his head and they made there way to the throne room instead where the King lay decapitated on the dais.  Haut stood in the main corridor backed by his loyal zealots. Some palace guards had fallen but most had embraced the fundamentalist revolution.
   The doors behind them were now blocked by another feverish horde and the trap was closed.  “Come face me yourself you baby slaying coward!”   Toc Menace had shouted but his words were barely discernible over the droll in the hall now full of murderers.   They were closing in with the palace guards as the innermost ring. 
   Orloc punched out with his shield coming in low then rising up hard and to the right as he had trained all his life to do. He spun back to back with the prince around and around the wet-nurse and babe blocking everything he could but they were only playing with them.  A spear finally tripped him and he fell exhausted “That ones to live,”  he heard his brother proclaim.  He struggled all the harder but the repeated blows to his head and body hammered him into the blessed darkness.
   Orloc did not see his great Prince die, but he was forced to watch as his new born son, Arma, last gift of the moon, was brought to the alter.  There before all the town as the moon almost imperceptible to the naked eye faded into the nothingness the child was killed.  He screamed as his throat was slit while His brother Haut chanted his priestly nonsense.
   And it was all for nought. Orloc laughed to himself as he sheltered by the fire in the cave. “The moon never came back.. why would she?”  He smiled to the frozen corpse beside him.  An older priest had helped him escape his brothers madness.
   â€œWe had killed her last child”  Orloc giggled again remembering the old priests words.  “So she spurned us all,” he had explained. “The moon was a daughter of the earth, born to keep her company. Now the earth looks for her child.  Spinning slower and tilting wildly up and down to better search the sky.  This is why the seasons change at will and the days grow longer and longer.  This is why the tides have stopped and the seas have flooded the lands and everything withers and dies.”
   Orloc laughed and picked up the rock his lord had given him in ages past so he could study it one last time.  “And men, men still worship their cruel and petty gods.. but soon they will stop.. because soon, we will all be dead and there will be nothing left but moon dust..”