Gremlins are Malfunctioning

by Susan Lain

  Of all the humans in the world, Crimson had chosen Shiloh as his voice and adopted daughter. Eliot finally understood. Her duality, a mix of male and female natures, had indeed been a factor in Crimson's choice, comparable to the mythkin phase shifting. Her father ultimately picking a side against her probably had something to do with it too, the shared loneliness that yearned for companionship and family.

  Shiloh wasn't a bad person, just an erring human being who'd been misguided by a powerful force beyond her. She'd lost trust and faith in her biological father and, as a result, ended up being used by an otherworldly entity. She wasn't any more gullible than the next person; everyone wanted to love and be loved, and to be part of a family.

  Alek approached Shiloh with short, inconspicuous movements. "That must have been nice, having him around to comfort you. Crimson sounds like a good friend."

  "Yes." Shiloh surveyed her creation. "He made me feel…special, wanted and loved."

  "If Crimson cares so for a human being, why does he proceed with his plan to destroy us?"

  Shiloh cast a vicious glare at Alek. Her already deep voice took on a thundering bass line edge. "Humans destroy everything they touch. Why should they be spared?"

  Eliot gasped at Shiloh's tone and choice of words, realized instantly what was happening, and whispered in shock, "She's channeling him, Alek. That's Crimson talking through her."

  Alek nodded grimly. "Crimson? You have stood by Shiloh her whole life. Given her visions, calmed her when she's been afraid, consoled her when her father disregarded her, helped her self-actualize through her art. Why do you now want to do her harm?"

  Shiloh lifted his chin in defiance and her tone changed again. She was back to her old self. "I am immune to his toxins, his crimson plague. He will come and embrace me."

  "Like a father would," Alek interjected, causing Shiloh's features to twist, a whole host of emotions flitting across her expressive face. "A parent would save their child. But how will you fare alone in an empty world, Shiloh? You are still human, and we are social creatures. What will you do when there is no one else left but you and him? You're close to him because he's always been there for you. Humans abandon you, the way your father dismissed you. But soon, once Crimson is done, everyone everywhere will leave you."

  Shiloh stumbled back, her gait faltering, her expression distorted in agony. "No."

  "I'm like you, Shiloh," Alek noted, and gestured around him at the others. "We all are. Not just because we all have the sixth sense, but because we're part of the same species. We're the same flesh, the same blood flows in our veins, our brains work at the same frequency." Alek was almost close enough to touch her. "I used to feel so separated and detached from humanity because of the sixth sense. That world felt more real to me than my fellow men and women. But I can't live in the other phase, and neither can you. You're one of us. You belong with us."

  Appearing hesitant, Shiloh wavered, her jaw trembling, her eyes growing misty.

  Then Berry Bomb waved at Eliot, out of sight from Alek or Shiloh—and he was holding in his hand a turquoise-colored decorative piece of stone, sculpted in the image of an oil hellion. His look was victorious.

  Eliot understood that by Berry Bomb removing one of the sacred items the land art would no longer work as a point in the ley line from the Loreblast site to D.C.

  Swift as lightning, Shiloh glanced in the punk rock star's direction and hissed. "Deceiver! I knew you were all liars! The only thing humans know is betrayal. Now we're all doomed."

  "No, wait—" Alek tried to cut in, his arms reaching out to Shiloh.

  The ground beneath their feet shook. The trees rustled in the rising howling winds. Dark clouds puffed larger, thunder rumbled and lightning struck, illuminating the evening skies.

  "Earthquake!" Juan shouted, backing away from the mythkin mound. Others joined him in confusion and rising panic, their murmurs pierced by the rumbling of the ground.

  Eliot grimaced. Everything had gone wrong. It was only a matter of time before the world would be cast in darkness.

  *~*~*

  Eliot acted fast. He closed the gap between him and Berry Bomb, snatched the holy artifact from his grasp, and sprinted up to the mound. Even as the hill quivered beneath him, he saw a line of similar relics—and an empty spot in the chain. He quickly placed the relic there.

  The shaking of the ground ceased, the winds died down and the skies grew quiet again.

  Alek gave him a look utter confusion and rage. He was mad at Eliot for changing the plan.

  But Eliot had his own plan now.

  "Shiloh?" he called out. She turned to him, bewilderment evident in her tilted head and wide eyes too. "Why are we doomed if we disrupt this process?"

  A fire of desperation burned in Shiloh's wild eyes. "When the energy line powers on, any disturbance on the transversal chain will not only stop his emergence but…the link between the two phases will destabilize. Mythkin will be forced into the other phase permanently. The human world will return to the way it was before Loreblast."

  "Why is that a bad thing?" Juan asked from the side, still looking rattled but coping.

  "Because," Shiloh sniffed, "that would mean the death of all mythkin." Everyone except Alek gasped in shock. Shiloh clenched her fists. "They are trans-phase creatures. Duality is their natural state of being. Constraining them to live in a single phase will spell the end for them. They would all die. Entire species in another world would cease to exist because of humans. Surely you'd achieve an award for becoming such transcendent murderers."

  Eliot's head ached and his heart hurt. He didn't see a way out of this. For a long time he'd craved for this, for the Loreblast to be undone and for the world to return back to the way it was. He had never conceived of the possibility that doing so would mean extinction for an entire species, and a sentient one at that.

  "So what you're saying," Anna concluded with a shaky voice as he hugged herself. "Is that if we do nothing now, Crimson will show up and wreak havoc on mankind with his toxic plague. If we stop him, we save humanity but annihilate all mythkin forever." She chuckled without an ounce of mirth, shaking her head, her expression unnerved. "What are we supposed to do?"

  "Whatever we do, someone dies," Berry Bomb whispered, stating the obvious for everyone to hear. "Two species who apparently can't coexist. It's us versus them. Quite literally." He glanced at each participant in turn. "Who is more deserving to survive?"

  "How can we possibly decide that?" Anna cried out in a display of high anxiety.

  "I agree with her," Juan said, nodding even as he frowned. "I'm not qualified to determine who deserves to live and who deserves to die. We're not talking about one or two individuals here. We're talking about the entirety of a species. That's way above my pay grade."

  A young boy, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, with hair so fair it glimmered white, spoke with a sad voice, "I…I don't want the wind wisps to die." He shuddered, appearing so forlorn that it hurt Eliot's soul. "They dance in my dreams. The sky is so full of dandelions, blowballs puffing all around me. They make me feel like I'm among friends." A sullen frown graced his forehead as he murmured, "My parents sure don't want me around."

  The boy's small voice created an awkward, loaded silence. No one dared to speak. To reset the balance of the world, was the devastation of billions of lifeforms necessary?

  Eliot could scarcely draw breath. Their decision would determine the fate of the world. It wasn't a choice to be made lightly. How could any one person take on this kind of responsibility?

  Shiloh barked out a watery laugh dripping with sarcasm. "Humans, the saviors of the world. Deciding who should live and who should die. Such a…a humanitarian approach."

  Eliot cringed. He couldn't fault Shiloh for her skepticism. Humans didn't have the best track record when it came to helping species other than their own. Would they be that selfish or indifferent this time too and save themselves at the expense of the otherworldly beasts? Eliot shuddered, listenin
g to the others but watching Shiloh. He doubted anyone but he had actually listened to her.

  "We need an emotionless decision-maker here," Juan commented reluctantly. "I know I'm way too emotional to make any judgment calls."

  "That's ridiculous," Anna countered in vexation. "It's like staring at statistics and deciding based on that alone what to do. Numbers aren't enough to solve things. Or do you really believe that since there are, like, seven or eight billion people on the planet and only, say, five billion mythkin, they should all die because of, hey, needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few?"

  Juan grimaced. "Did you just quote Star Trek to me?" He harrumphed in irritation, shifting weight and fidgeting. "Look, I don't know, okay? All I know is that I can't fucking make this damn decision."

  Eliot exchanged glances with Alek. The others were deferring to Alek without knowing it. Alek could remain detached and dispassionate. Even if he was connected to the gas gremlins. But Eliot feared what that would mean. If Alek chose humanity, could he live with himself?

  Then he caught movement on the fringe of their small circle.

  Viho limped closer, holding his side, a bandage over his head wound. Had he done that to himself?

  Eliot didn't care. He pointed an accusing finger at Viho, even as he tried to remain calm and impartial. "You told us that Loreblast can't be undone. But what you really meant was that it shouldn't be undone, right?"

  When Viho nodded, a barely perceptible little gesture, Eliot realized that if both were to survive, humans and mythkin had to learn to share planet. Or face destruction.

  For who knew if the downfall of one species wouldn't affect the rest post-Loreblast? All life on a planet, even in different phases, were part of the same vast, complex organism, tiny cogs in a big machine. Removing a single piece from the whole could mean death for everyone. Most people tended to ignore or forget that detail, the interconnectedness of life. The importance of bees, for example, to the entirety of the global ecosystem.

  "Did you know one species would die, old man?" Oliver asked, far sassier than he'd been a moment ago. Perhaps being included as an equal boosted his self-confidence.

  "What does it matter?" Juan argued. "Since we seem to have no choice, the phase shifting has to be reversed. Who knows? The mythkin might survive. Evolution, you know? Survival of the fittest. Maybe they'll adapt."

  Eliot growled. "Does the world need saving? Have things really changed all that much? We still have transportation and technology. The only difference between the past and the present is that, instead of us controlling those things, they're done for us by supernatural beings." Eliot shook his head. "Maybe humans just hate not being in control. That's not the fault of mythkin. Let's not forget that, before they showed up, the world was messed up. Climate change, fossil fuels, rising sea levels, mass extinction of animal species, excessive population growth—humans did all of that."

  With ruefulness clinging to his spirit, Eliot gestured about, indicating mythkin everywhere. "Perhaps we're witnessing…an emergent intelligence. The birth of a new and sentient lifeform in mythkin. It's even conceivable that it was interaction with the human world that accelerated their evolutionary jump forward. In the end, we have no right to say what is right to do by them."

  Anna shook her head, sounding despondent as she said, "Even if that is so, what are we to do? The most powerful of their kind seeks to end human life. Why do we merit destruction and not them?"

  Oliver scoffed. "Didn't you hear him, lady? Adults fucked up. It's too late. If I were this Crimson guy, I'd be pretty fucking pissed too." The tips of his ears pinked, probably over the swearing, as he ducked his head. "Sorry."

  Juan grimaced, hands on his hips. "Screw that adult bullshit. I just turned twenty-one two months ago. I've got my whole life ahead of me."

  Berry Bomb raised his hands and snarled loud in stark protest. "There's no more time to talk in depth. Our backs are up against the wall. Crimson is coming. We need a damn decision."

  "Damn decision is right," Eliot murmured, despondent for he could tell which way the wind was blowing.

  At his side, he heard Alek mutter, "I hate it when people start prattling on without end."

  Viho chuckled next to him, flagging. "You must have Cheyenne blood in you, boy."

  Eliot glowered. The comments seemed inappropriate in the middle of life-altering subjects. Then his brow cleared. An epiphany struck him hard like a head on collision with a train. His brain was wrecked by the inspiration that showed him a whole other dimension of possibilities, and he heard Frankie Goes To Hollywood singing Power of Love inside his skull. His heart skipped a beat, then drummed with a frantic rhythm in expectation.

  "Shiloh?" He approached her slowly, demonstrating that he had no ill will. Shiloh seemed to have accepted that because she made no move to back off, attack, or defend herself. Eliot smiled shortly and took a chance. "Can I please speak with Crimson?"

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Watching Shiloh's expressive face fill with an array of conflicting emotions unnerved Eliot but he didn't take back his request to talk with Crimson. It was important, now more than ever, to keep the lines of communication between their species open.

  Shiloh's eyes narrowed. "Speak your mind." Her voice didn't change but Eliot had a hunch another entity was listening. Briefly Eliot wondered if Crimson was already in transit. Montana was far away but not at the ends of the earth.

  "Crimson, Viho and Shiloh both say you're powerful and wise."

  Eliot used a hushed tone, as he didn't want the others to interrupt. Then he felt Alek come to stand behind him, silent like a shadow. The rest of the group still argued in the background as if their life depended on it. Eliot supposed they weren't entirely wrong.

  "You care for Shiloh, that much I believe is true," Eliot offered.

  Shiloh nodded, a shy smile gracing her lips as her tone changed. "We do, yes. Shiloh is our most treasured daughter." The she frowned, a snarl twisting her mouth. "I hope you won't try the same tactic as before." That sounded like the girl herself.

  "What I said was true, despite the unfortunate incident that followed," Alek retorted dryly.

  "That may be so, human, but your recent betrayal has been neither forgotten nor forgiven," Shiloh remarked, clearly speaking with Crimson's mouth.

  Eliot didn't want to enter into a debate. "Mythkin are energy-based lifeforms, aren't they?" Shiloh frowned in bafflement, her head cocked, but nodded. Eliot suppressed a relieved exhale and went on. "But energy comes in many forms, some less…material than others."

  As Shiloh's brow cleared, Alek huffed out a confused huh. Eliot ignored him.

  "All this time we've been dancing around the real issue. How much we need each other. Humans and mythkin. That's what Viho alluded to when he suggested that Loreblast shouldn't be undone."

  Alek rested a hand over Eliot's shoulder. "What's going on here?"

  Eliot shrugged Alek's hand off. "Crimson and Shiloh have been like a close-knit family for years, her whole life to be exact. What Shiloh didn't answer is: why? I doubt you can really explain it, Shiloh. Crimson loves you, but do you know why?"

  Shiloh blinked, doubt creeping up to her delicate features. Finally she shook her head.

  Eliot gulped. "Crimson needs your love, Shiloh. Love…is just another form of energy."

  Beside him, Alek drew in a sharp breath. "Emotions are energy…"

  Eliot nodded though he addressed Shiloh. "Crimson never did anything to harm humanity or you until humans drilled too deep and caused a violent eruption that transformed the earth forever. After being with you for so long in the spirit of love, Crimson learned in one sudden act about hate. Though he never doubted your feelings for him, he came to understand that not all humans are good. Some thrive on hate and fear, greed and selfishness, violence and death."

  Deep down Eliot knew he wasn't wrong in his conclusions. The question was: would either of their foes would be willing to see the other side of things?<
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  "So many humans are trying to flood the world with negativity," Eliot carried on, keeping his voice soothing. "Crimson, those people aren't the only ones speaking. There are other voices too. Peaceful and kind, individuals trying to keep the world from hurtling into darkness. Crimson, your power is able to reach humans, into their hearts and minds. Search and you'll see that our kind are not a lost cause."

  The garden beneath their feet quaked, tremors causing the mounds of earth to vibrate. Dirt shifted and rolled down the hill. Blades of grass waved wildly, as if silently screaming. Eliot clenched his fists, his heart skipping a beat. They were almost out of time.

  "Crimson, you should listen to Eliot," Alek cut in, surprising Eliot. "When he and I met, I disliked him for a lot of reasons. But none of them were valid. Why? Because Eliot understands that my cynical, sarcastic viewpoint to life is fundamentally flawed. He knows far better than I that hate takes energy—but love fills you with it." Alek turned to Eliot who suddenly couldn't breathe. His brooding features softened and his blue eyes held a tender light. "Believe me, I know."

  Never before had he been close to passing out. Eliot's vision blurred as his soul sang. Which startled him because he hadn't been under the impression that he'd developed such strong feelings for Alek. Until right at that moment when realization dawned on him.

  "Oh…" was Eliot's eloquent response.

  The breeze picked up speed and howled around them. Sunset had faded into nothing, clouded by a sky full of a billowing gloom that blackened the rising night. Blades of grass and branches of bushes swayed back and worth, caught in violent tempests, almost getting torn off at the roots.

  The world around them was crying out in fear. Eliot could relate.

  Then Shiloh whispered, "He's here."

  At the center of the effigy mound, at the highest peak, an opening formed like a rip in the earth. Dirt shook and slid down the sides as a massive entity rose from beneath the ground, a pitch-black shape without a clear form. Eliot shivered in instinctive dread.