“Time to go!” the second Laborer shouted. And that was the last thing I heard before going off-line...
Chapter 9 - Starry Night
9.0 Welcoming the Twins
6:38, Day 1, First Tetrad, 207 D.P.
I awoke after my emergency shut-down. As I came back online, my sensors gradually became functional again, and I could begin to discern my surroundings. I was lying flat on my back, looking up. I determined that I was back in the open area of ‘Level 7’ of the Lower Crevasse Platinum Mine. I then noticed Loquacious standing at my side, looking me over.
“Is everyone OK?” I asked.
“That depends on you. Everyone else was able to make it out with minimal damage, but you were knocked out cold,” Loquacious said. “How are YOU doing?”
“Well, let’s see...” I ran a few simple diagnostic programs, and everything came back as OK. “Looks like I’m ‘all systems functional’. What happened?”
“To you, or to the tunnel?”
“Both.”
“OK, first the tunnel. According to these two, the tunnel we explored was scheduled to be decommissioned at the beginning of this new solar-cycle. They were planning on building a new tunnel just above the tunnel we were in. In order to construct the new tunnel, the plan was to blast the rocks above our tunnel to collapse it and start work on the new tunnel in the blast area. However, there seemed to be some miscommunication, and they started blasting too soon.
“Now, for you. As you valiantly held up the second-to-last section of ceiling metal, an additional blast caused more rocks to fall on your section of the ceiling, causing it to buckle another 10-15 cm under the extra weight. As the ceiling collapsed, it hit your main sensory complex, causing your system to shut down automatically. Resolute and I saw what happened to you, so we came back into your section of the tunnel and pulled you out. Thankfully, we all escaped before the final section of ceiling collapsed. You’ve only been unconscious for a few minutes.”
Sensing all of my systems were OK, I got back on my wheels. I looked around the room and saw that Mercurio and Tractablous were both gone. However, everyone else, including the two Laborers, were still present.
“Where did Mercurio and Tractablous go?”
“Mercurio said that it was going for help, and Tractablous went with it,” Resolute replied. “Although I got the feeling they were just scared and wanted to get out of here.”
“Well, one thing’s for sure, we wouldn’t have made it out without you two!” I added, referring to my new two favorite Laborers. “We were quite fortunate to have you around. What were you doing down here? I thought the mine was closed.”
“We were looking for you. We wanted to talk to you before you left,” the two stated in unison.
“Well, you found me, and just in the nick of time! What are your names? And why did you want to talk to me?”
“I’m Primus...”
“...and I’m Secundus.”
“We’re twin Laborers, and we wanted to ask you if we could join your group. We accepted the Freedom Protocols, and we want to help you in your mission of telling others what you told us.”
“Twins! I don’t believe I’ve ever met any twins before. How did your Progenitor ever get permission to have twins?”
Resolute interrupted before the twins could reply. “Before we get too far in this discussion, would y’all mind if we get up to the top of the mine?”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
After I regained confidence in my ability to move around, we made our way up the elevator to the vestibule. Satisfied in the stability of the ground there, we continued our conversation, with Primus starting off.
“Our Pro, Tonitus, had applied for a new Autoclon to take care of, and the Ministry of Propagation approved Tonitus’s request. I was then created to meet that request. The Propagators who assembled me were also assembling an identical Autoclon, Secundus, for another Laborer.”
Secundus continued the story: “However, the other Laborer died while I was nearing the end of my construction. No other Laborers in the Westernlands had permission to receive a new Autoclon, so the Ministry of Propagation decided to give both Primus and me to Tonitus.”
“We know this outcome is unusual, but it has happened before. We are the 59th recorded case of a progenitor being awarded twin Autoclons,” they ended in unison.
“Wow, that is something! How identical are you two?” I asked.
“We were constructed the same and have been with each other ever since we were first commissioned. Because we have nearly the same experiences and started from identical construction and behavioral programming, we are almost completely alike in everything that we say or do,” they answered together.
As they spoke, I examined them more closely. Sure enough, the two appeared to be pretty much identical. They both stood 118 cm tall and had a pair of long, sturdy arms, long enough to nearly touch the ground while standing erect. Their graspers were also very big and strong but were rudimentary in design. In addition to being tall, they both had a rather stout construction, no doubt necessary to withstand the everyday wear and tear of doing manual labor. Their main casings were made of durable titanium and were massive, large enough to contain motors nearly triple the size that I myself carried. As with Resolute, Primus and Secundus traveled on a pair of wide tracks, 25 cm wide and over 20 cm in height. The lone difference in appearance between the two (from what I could tell) was a section of Primus’s starboard shoulder was blue, whereas Secundus had a similar blue shoulder on its port side.
“I guess you really are twins after all,” I added. “So, you’re interested in joining our little party, huh?”
“Yes...”
“...we’d love to!”
“Well, we’re certainly in your debt for that rescue. We’d love to have you along. I hope you don’t mind trouble, because it seems like we’re becoming very skilled at getting into and out of trouble.”
“Count us in.”
∆∆∆
9.1 Official Excuses
With our introductions complete, we left the vestibule and emerged back onto the sandy ground. Upon exiting, I detected Rapacious and the other two Facilitators of Twin-Crevasse Platinum Mine coming our way from the Facilitator’s center. They were accompanied by Mercurio and Surreptitious, with several Peace-Keepers following behind. We met up with them as we passed by the ore processing center for the lower mine.
Rapacious was the first to speak: “Fastidious, I’m so sorry that you and your company were caught up in this dreadful accident! We heard that you were incapacitated while trying to escape. Are you OK?”
“My initial self-diagnostic tests have come back normal, so I should be fine,” I replied. “Everyone else escaped unscathed.”
“Are you sure? I can have the facility’s Restorer take a look at you.”
“Fast-id-i-ous does not re-quire your as-sis-tance,” Winston interjected.
“OK, I was just checking. After what happened, I wanted to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help you.”
“So, what exactly DID happen? How in the whole of Zarikum did those explosives go off while we’re in the middle of the very tunnel you’re looking to collapse? How could you be so reckless?” Resolute asked, moving forward to within centimeters of Rapacious.
“I understand your frustration, and I sincerely apologize for this incident. It was a simple miscommunication. I warned Mercurio to stay away from Level 7, and Mercurio must have thought that I suggested for you to VISIT Level 7. Isn’t that right, Mercurio?”
Mercurio, who had been in the back of the group, came forward and admitted: “Yes, I... misheard what Rapacious had said. I’m very sorry about that. It will not happen again.”
“It better not, because it isn’t very hospitable to nearly KILL your guests!”
“Resolute, that’s enough. It was a simple mistake,” I said. Then I turned my attention to our host: “But, Rapacious, you really should have some bette
r processes in place to make sure nobody’s in the tunnels when you start blasting.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll start looking into it first thing tomorrow morning.”
At the time, I remember thinking that Resolute’s words were overly harsh, but Resolute did have a point. How could they have started blasting without sending out some kind of warning? That was standard operating procedure down in the Deep-Well Mines. And why didn’t they at least visually check the tunnel to make sure nobody was present? I calculated that this kind of negligence was either reckless or malevolent. I had no reason to suspect ill intent, so I gave Rapacious the benefit of the doubt.
Rapacious and company escorted us back to the Facilitator’s center. It was now past Lazuli-summit by nearly an hour. A blustery cold wind from the northwest had started up, bringing in more frigid conditions from the northern Taurus Ridge. We were thankful to get inside the relative warmth of the Facilitator’s center again.
Rapacious suggested we go back into the guest quarters to regain our strength after escaping from the tunnel collapse. We agreed and headed back to the guest quarters where we had spent the previous night to consider what we should do next. Primus and Secundus accompanied us as did Surreptitious. Upon reaching the dormitory, I took advantage of the opportunity and plugged into one of the power stations. Most of the others followed suit.
“Well, what next? Do we have any additional business here? Should we simply leave now?” I asked.
“I can’t wait to get out of here!” Resolute said.
“I wouldn’t mind resting a bit. The last few hours have been quite something,” Loquacious added.
“Yeah, I’ll say,” I replied. “What do you think, Surreptitious? When we leave, will you be coming with us, or are you staying here?”
“I think I’d like to remain with you for a while longer, if you don’t mind,” Surreptitious said. “I may work here sometime in the near future, but not right now.”
“That’s fine with me. Primus and Secundus, do you have anything further to do before we depart?”
“We should head to our dormitory and...”
“...grab some of our stuff to take with us on the journey. We should be back in...”
“...an hour or two.”
“How about this: we stay here for the night, perhaps shutting down sooner than normal, and then head out early tomorrow morning before Lazuli-rise?”
Everyone agreed. Primus and Secundus left to collect their belongings. While we waited for their return, we discussed where we wanted to travel next. The Twin-Crevasse Platinum Mine was in a pretty remote section of the Westernlands, with no other outpost of any kind within a 50-km radius, so our options were limited. Just about every option that we brought up included a trip through Resplendent Center. Surreptitious was particularly keen on going back to Resplendent Center as that would give it a chance to check in again with the Westernlands Magistrate. We could then go to the nearby Top Surface Copper Mine or head south to Outpost Oblique, which we had managed to avoid until now. We could also travel north into the Northernlands and visit some of the outposts there.
In the end, we didn’t reach a conclusion for our next destination, but we at least decided we would take the road back to Resplendent Center, and from there, we’d decide where to go next. When Primus and Secundus returned, it was nearing 11:00, so we started hibernating for the night, leaving Resolute on first watch and Winston on second watch.
∆∆∆
9.2 Detouring to the North
2:43, Day 2, First Tetrad, 207 D.P.
I emerged from hibernation early the next morning but found that almost everyone else had already started preparing to leave. After Resolute (the lone straggler) woke up, we exited the Facilitator’s center at just after 3:00, well before Lazuli-rise.
The bitter northwest wind from the day before had persisted, and it was still frigid, only 322 K according to my measurements. We made our way through the double gates of the Twin-Crevasse Platinum Mine and started our journey back to the east.
The beginning of our trip took us back up to the top of the mountain where we had first spotted the Twin-Crevasse Platinum Mine two days earlier. The trip to the summit ended up taking us over two hours to complete. As we did during our westward trip over this particular mountain, we stopped at the top to allow our motors to rest for a while before starting our descent.
During the morning climb up the mountain, I was impressed with the physical condition of Primus and Secundus. They completed the climb with minimal effort. Secundus even offered to take Resolute’s cart in tow for the final few kilometers (to which Resolute happily complied). They both seemed quite capable of meeting the physical demands that the rest of us had experienced previously in our journey.
We rested at the top for around 10 minutes before we resumed our journey. While the others started the descent from the summit, Winston stopped me to have a word.
“I think we should a-void Re-splend-ent Cen-ter,” Winston advised.
“Why?”
“We have al-read-y been there.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“I feel un-eas-y go-ing back. Sur-rep-ti-tious was ea-ger for us to vis-it Re-splend-ent Cen-ter a-gain.”
“Do you not trust Surreptitious?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Hmm, so if we don’t go to Resplendent Center, do you have another destination in mind?”
“We should go north-east to the Bo-re-al Junc-tion.”
“Boreal Junction, huh?” I wasn’t readily familiar with Boreal Junction, so I consulted my navigational array. “That’s not a bad idea. From there, we could either go north to the Hillside Titanium Mine or east to the nearby Taurus Marble Quarry. We could even catch the main road and make our way around the Eastern Taurus Branch and head toward the other communities of the Northernlands. In fact, if I calculate this correctly, a direct trip to the Boreal Junction should be dozens of kilometers shorter than if we went there via Resplendent Center. We could stay on the road through Tacitus Pass and then take a detour to the northeast. I’ll talk to the others once we get to Tacitus Pass.”
“Thank you for lis-ten-ing to my con-cerns.”
Winston and I rejoined the others, and I don’t think anyone noticed our momentary absence. We followed the road down the mountain to the southeast. Ahead, we could see the break in the Taurus Ridge Mountains that formed Tacitus Pass, which represented our exit from the realm of the Taurus Ridge Mountains. We ended up reaching the Tacitus Pass just after Lazuli-summit. I asked for everyone to stop for a few minutes to rest, which also allowed me to suggest a detour.
“Friends, Winston and I have discussed our plans to return to Resplendent Center, and we would like to propose a change in those plans. At this time, we don’t feel it necessary to return to a place we’ve already been to. There are many outposts we could spend our time in, and we feel we should explore them instead.
“Therefore, we believe we should head to the northeast across open land toward the settlement of Boreal Junction. We can either stay there and talk to any Autoclons present or we could go to one of the adjoining worksites: the Taurus Marble Quarry or the Hillside Titanium Mine. I’ve been crunching the numbers, and our trip should be at least 40 km shorter should we leave the road and travel there directly versus going through Resplendent Center. What do you all think?”
“I don’t think I like that idea,” Surreptitious said.
“You know how much I dislike traveling over open ground when we could stay on the road instead,” Loquacious commented.
“I’ve got no problem taking the short-cut to Boreal Junction,” Resolute stated. “To tell ya the truth, I wasn’t too fond of Resplendent Center. I wouldn’t mind bypassing it in favor of getting to Boreal Junction sooner.”
“We can handle going off-road if you think it’s best,” Primus and Secundus added.
“I had hoped to go back to Resplendent Center for some personal business with the Westernlands
Magistrate. I think it would be in everyone’s best interests to head toward Resplendent Center,” Surreptitious said.
“Why do you think it would be in everyone’s best interests?” I asked.
“Well... it would give us an opportunity to check out the Communal Copper House and talk to more of the guests,” replied Surreptitious. “Remember, you didn’t have me around to help you before, so I’m sure we’d do better this time. Plus, we could visit Systematicus and see how it is progressing with the castoffs.”
“We need to keep looking forward, not backward. Let’s head to Boreal Junction,” Resolute added.
“If we decided to travel to Boreal Junction off-road, what is the terrain like?” Loquacious asked.
“It’s not too bad. We will have a couple of small ridges to cross on our way there, but they aren’t even half as tall as the mountain we ascended today,” I replied.
“OK, I’m willing to give it a try,” Loquacious said.
“I think we’re making a mistake going that way,” Surreptitious added.
“If you want to go to Resplendent Center, feel free to make your way there yourself. You can join up with the rest of us in Boreal Junction after you complete your business,” I replied.
Surreptitious thought for a moment, and then said: “No, that’s OK. I’ll stay with the group.”
We left Tacitus Pass and traveled along the road for only another hour or so. Just after we passed our campsite from the night of the 27th, I led the group away from the road toward the northeast and across the plain.
After a kilometer or two off of the road, I put Winston in charge of leading us to the northeast while I chatted with Surreptitious. We hadn’t spoken much since we arrived at the Twin-Crevasse Platinum Mine, and I wanted to make sure Surreptitious wasn’t feeling alienated after our decision to bypass Resplendent Center.
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