by Joseph Rhea
“Not to mention that even trying to create something with your mind again could kill us all.”
“Yeah, there’s that…”
She kneeled in front of him. “So, if you can’t risk using your new ‘abilities’ and we don’t have any Sentinels to help us; can we really complete this mission of yours?”
“I think it’s safe to say that we are the Sentinels now,” he replied. “Or at least, that’s what we’re going to become in the weeks and months ahead.”
She stood up and gently stroked his hair. “My God, you actually look happy, Alek.”
He started to deny it but then realized that she was right. As he looked up at her, the height difference between them reminded him of his life before the interface—a life confined to a wheelchair. He stood and hugged her. “You know, when I first met Javid, he told me that I was a Sentinel in training. He said I was sent here to ‘bring order’ to Cyberdrome.”
She looked up at him. “You don’t honestly believe that, do you?”
He gave her another squeeze. “Of course not,” he said as he gently pushed her toward the door. “Go tell the others that the S. V. Mathew Grey is ready to leave this sector. Strike that—ask them politely if they are ready to leave.”
She glanced at the monitor showing the hangar. “Couldn’t I just...”
“Some things should be done in person. I don’t want Cloudhopper thinking we’re up here making all the decisions.”
“But we are, aren’t we?” she asked straight-faced.
“Get out of here.”
When she was gone, he turned to a screen showing a wide-angle view of the Core. It really was beautiful, he had to admit, but in a way he couldn’t easily put into words. Javid called it HomeSpace, and now he knew why. Something about it just felt familiar—like returning to the place where you grew up. It felt like home.
He shook his head. Either I’m going crazy, he said to himself, or maybe Javid was right after all. He looked at his hands, then back at the monitor, and realized the truth of it. Maybe this really is where I belong.
— End —
IMAGE
GALLERY
3D COMPUTER MODELS
DESIGNED FOR CYBERDROME
A large number of computer-modeled interior sets, virtual vehicles, robotic machines, furniture, hand props, and people were built for Cyberdrome over the years. This was undertaken primarily to provide images for both the planned Cyberdrome digitally-illustrated eBook and Graphic Novel projects, but also helped greatly in writing the Cyberdrome Novel by giving us real 3D environments in which to “live in” and write about.
All of these models were designed and rendered by coauthor, David Rhea. Note that all models and images are copyrighted by David Rhea, and may not be scanned, photocopied, or used for any reason without his prior written consent.
GALLERY CONTENTS
Interior Sets (8 images)
Virtual Vehicles (5 images)
Living Machines (6 images)
Cast of Cyberdrome (1 image)
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
To our families, Cheryl, Gia, Jaida, and Jaxon; thank you for your patience and understanding during the many years it took to write, rewrite, edit, and polish this manuscript.
Thanks also to the writers and editors of the Online Writing Workshop (onlinewritingworkshop.com), the members of the HarperCollins UK website, Authonomy (Authonomy.com), the writers at Critters (Critters.org), and especially the generous individuals including Cheryl, George, Bill, and Eve, who gave up their free time to help edit this story.
Finally, a special thanks to award-winning author, Dianne K. Salerni (HighSpiritsBook.com) who not only gave us our first glowing review for PODRAM (podbram.blogspot.com) but also went out of her way to promote our book wherever she could. Thank you, Dianne!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
This novel was written by Joseph Rhea, a research scientist working in Washington, DC, and codeveloped and illustrated by his brother, David Rhea, a mechanical special effects artist working in Southern California. The Rhea Brothers (pronounced “Ray”) actually invented the word “Cyberdrome” in 1985, bringing together cyber (referring to man-machine interface) and drome (meaning field or arena). They trademarked the name and used it for a 3D multi-player computer game they created in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Since then, their Cyberdrome-related projects have expanded to include a 3D artificial life simulator, the beginnings of an illustrated ebook and digital comics, and finally, this novel. Future projects include a sequel to this book, a new massively-multiplayer online (MMO) game, and even a movie script, all based on Cyberdrome.
For more information, please visit
www.cyberdrome.org
Table of Contents
Copyright
Part 1: Earth
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
Part 2: Metal
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
Part 3: Fire
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
Part 4: Water
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
Image Gallery
Acknowledgements
About the Authors