Dragon Toasters - Revision history

RooK: /* Horizon */

2024-04-29T05:39:02Z

Horizon

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:39, 29 April 2024
Line 766:		Line 766:
	"Yeah, Einstein. He's down there. I suggest leaving him down there - it's a tomb worthy of him." With reluctance, and in spite of his keen cynicism, Dave extinguished to plasma blade. "He saved me, you know. Twice." Leaving the cover of a block of stone, Dave walked casually away from the region of the shaft - and towards the cliff.		"Yeah, Einstein. He's down there. I suggest leaving him down there - it's a tomb worthy of him." With reluctance, and in spite of his keen cynicism, Dave extinguished to plasma blade. "He saved me, you know. Twice." Leaving the cover of a block of stone, Dave walked casually away from the region of the shaft - and towards the cliff.

	The insults of static pulses in the back didn't come. Dave felt pleased about this, and relieved that he didn't have to decide what to do about it if they had. Would have had to do anything? Probably not. But he also knew it would have been hard to not run back and cull at least some of them. "I'm going to go and try to get a look at a giant tank ant. If you get an urge to hear a story about what happened the original David, come find me."		The insults of static pulses in the back didn't come. Dave felt pleased about this, and relieved that he didn't have to decide what to do about it if they had. Would he have had to do anything? Probably not. But he also knew it would have been hard to not run back and cull at least some of them. "I'm going to go and try to get a look at a giant tank ant for myself. If you get an urge to hear a story about what happened the original David, come find me."

	With that, Dave casually stepped off the cliff and dropped from sight.		With that, Dave casually stepped off the cliff and dropped from sight.

	</font>		</font>

RooK: /* Horizon */

2024-04-21T06:01:47Z

Horizon

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:01, 21 April 2024
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	"How do you know name? Did Boss tell you?"		"How do you know name? Did Boss tell you?"

	This was... unexpected. The simulant appeared to have forged a genuine connection, if this construct was indeed willing to risk itself to inquire about the simulant's fate. Dave had dismissively assumed that much of the sense of relationship it had inferred was projection based on how simulants are driven to fit in behaviourally with real humans. Well shit.		This was... unexpected. The simulant appeared to have forged a genuine connection, if this construct was indeed willing to risk itself to inquire about the simulant's fate. Dave had dismissively assumed that much of the sense of relationship it had inferred was projection based on how simulants are driven to fit in behaviourally with real humans. Well shit.

	Dave shifted the plasma blade to the least-threatening posture he could manage, low and pointing behind him, without actually extinguishing it and sheathing it. He wanted to give this pack of predatory constructs the best possibility of being peaceful, but he also didn't want to risk getting overwhelmed if they all rushed him. Still, he did step out from behind his cover. "I'm sorry, kiddo. David didn't make it out of that crypt. But he did share his databases with me, so at least his memories and ideas live on with us two."		Dave shifted the plasma blade to the least-threatening posture he could manage, low and pointing behind him, without actually extinguishing it and sheathing it. He wanted to give this pack of predatory constructs the best possibility of being peaceful, but he also didn't want to risk getting overwhelmed if they all rushed him. Still, he did step out from behind his cover. "I'm sorry, kiddo. David didn't make it out of that crypt. But he did share his databases with me, so at least his memories and ideas live on with us two."

	"You chased Boss down hole. You kill Boss and steal Boss brains?		"You chased Boss down hole. You kill Boss and steal Boss brains?

	Dave noted subtle signs of movement. Probably flanking. This discourse might be making things worse for everyone. But Dave couldn't shake the sense of value and specialness that this construct had a friendship-like bond with the simulant.		Dave noted subtle signs of movement. Probably flanking. This discourse might be making things worse for everyone. But Dave couldn't shake the sense of value and specialness that this construct had a friendship-like bond with the simulant.

	"I wasn't myself when I chased David, and I was so confused that I didn't even find the hole he jumped into until after he woke up an ancient monster. And David gave me his databases as his own idea and motivation."		"I wasn't myself when I chased David, and I was so confused that I didn't even find the hole he jumped into until after he woke up an ancient monster. And David gave me his databases as his own idea and motivation."

	Einstein's antennae shifted and writhed with some complicated internal process. Its broad multifaceted camera arrays betrayed no expressions, but then it cocked its head in a pantomime of inquisitive intent. "Feel like you are bad and terrible, and lying."		Einstein's antennae shifted and writhed with some complicated internal process. Its broad multifaceted camera arrays betrayed no expressions, but then it cocked its head in a pantomime of inquisitive intent. "Feel like you are bad and terrible, and lying."

	"Well, I can be pretty terrible, and it would be wrong to pretend that I am not what I am. But, let me say this: I can tell you what happened to the original David."		"Well, I can be pretty terrible, and it would be wrong to pretend that I am not what I am. But, let me say this: I can tell you what happened to the original David."

	It looked like Einstein was reacting to that statement when a trio of sudden motions lit up Dave's threat-sense. Dave sprung to adjacent cover in the blink of an eye, pivoting behind the plasma blade as he snapped its containment field wide such that a pair of static-pulses caromed off to sizzle against rock. At the cover he came face to face with an off-balance predator machine. As Dave's free hand snagged a grip on the thorax and he heaved the beastie in the approximate direction of the crypt shaft, it appeared comically surprised. Perhaps wasp-headed werewolf satyrs are unaccustomed to being physically assaulted by things they might have assumed were prey.		It looked like Einstein was reacting to that statement when a trio of sudden motions lit up Dave's threat-sense. Dave sprung to adjacent cover in the blink of an eye, pivoting behind the plasma blade as he snapped its containment field wide such that a pair of static-pulses caromed off to sizzle against rock. At the cover he came face to face with an off-balance predator machine. As Dave's free hand snagged a grip on the thorax and he heaved the beastie in the approximate direction of the crypt shaft, it appeared comically surprised. Perhaps wasp-headed werewolf satyrs are unaccustomed to being physically assaulted by things they might have assumed were prey.

			An angry static crackled in the lower EM spectrum as coded comms betrayed various predator machine's locations. The kids were arguing. Probably not a fair fight, considering that Einstein has access to several human's lifetime's worth of dirty rhetorical tricks.

			"You stop fighting, and we not hurt you. And you tell us what happened to Human David."

			A familiar sense of amused cynicism surprised Dave. "Oh, kiddo - I'm already not fighting." Dave paused to consult a highly-annotated but outdated map. "I understand that your pack has probably got both logistic reasons and philosophical reasons to try to dispatch me. Instead of trying to dissuade you with threats and intimidation, let me suggest that there is a trove of treasure down that shaft exceeding what my small chassis represents. And your pack will need your David-memories to be able to use it."

			Soft rustling sounds of movement, far more subtle than machines of that size have any right to manage, told Dave that they were adjusting their distribution. Perhaps to have line-of-sight for more discreet discussion. "Is Boss down there?"

			"Yeah, Einstein. He's down there. I suggest leaving him down there - it's a tomb worthy of him." With reluctance, and in spite of his keen cynicism, Dave extinguished to plasma blade. "He saved me, you know. Twice." Leaving the cover of a block of stone, Dave walked casually away from the region of the shaft - and towards the cliff.

			The insults of static pulses in the back didn't come. Dave felt pleased about this, and relieved that he didn't have to decide what to do about it if they had. Would have had to do anything? Probably not. But he also knew it would have been hard to not run back and cull at least some of them. "I'm going to go and try to get a look at a giant tank ant. If you get an urge to hear a story about what happened the original David, come find me."

			With that, Dave casually stepped off the cliff and dropped from sight.

	</font>		</font>

	~~<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>~~

RooK: /* Horizon */

2024-01-14T06:46:43Z

Horizon

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:46, 14 January 2024
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	Landing and vaulting sideways to take cover behind a boulder, Dave kept the containment on the plasmas sword high so that it didn't make too much radio noise. Just to be sure, Dave broadcast acoustically as well as on open EM, "I know you all have reasons to want to exact retribution from me. Or more pragmatically wish to eliminate me as a threat. And normally I would use that as an excuse to harvest you. But in light of some recent self-discovery, I'd like to give you this opportunity to re-consider, and leave unharmed."		Landing and vaulting sideways to take cover behind a boulder, Dave kept the containment on the plasmas sword high so that it didn't make too much radio noise. Just to be sure, Dave broadcast acoustically as well as on open EM, "I know you all have reasons to want to exact retribution from me. Or more pragmatically wish to eliminate me as a threat. And normally I would use that as an excuse to harvest you. But in light of some recent self-discovery, I'd like to give you this opportunity to re-consider, and leave unharmed."

	Dave's uncanny sensor array barely detected whispers of efficient movement. This was almost certainly the entire pack of wasp-headed werewolf machines that latest David simulant had dealt with. In this setting, it should be possible to ~~minimize~~ sight lines by staying low, reducing the number of simultaneous engagements. Dave contemplated tactics that would minimize the number that needed to be neutralized before the rest could be convinced to retreat.		Dave's uncanny sensor array barely detected whispers of efficient movement. This was almost certainly the entire pack of wasp-headed werewolf machines that latest David simulant had dealt with. In this setting, it should be possible to avoid sight lines by staying low, reducing the number of simultaneous engagements. Dave contemplated tactics that would minimize the number that needed to be neutralized before the rest could be convinced to retreat.

	"What happened to David?"		"What happened to David?"
Line 751:		Line 751:

	Einstein's antennae shifted and writhed with some complicated internal process. Its broad multifaceted camera arrays betrayed no expressions, but then it cocked its head in a pantomime of inquisitive intent. "Feel like you are bad and terrible, and lying."		Einstein's antennae shifted and writhed with some complicated internal process. Its broad multifaceted camera arrays betrayed no expressions, but then it cocked its head in a pantomime of inquisitive intent. "Feel like you are bad and terrible, and lying."

			"Well, I can be pretty terrible, and it would be wrong to pretend that I am not what I am. But, let me say this: I can tell you what happened to the original David."

			It looked like Einstein was reacting to that statement when a trio of sudden motions lit up Dave's threat-sense. Dave sprung to adjacent cover in the blink of an eye, pivoting behind the plasma blade as he snapped its containment field wide such that a pair of static-pulses caromed off to sizzle against rock. At the cover he came face to face with an off-balance predator machine. As Dave's free hand snagged a grip on the thorax and he heaved the beastie in the approximate direction of the crypt shaft, it appeared comically surprised. Perhaps wasp-headed werewolf satyrs are unaccustomed to being physically assaulted by things they might have assumed were prey.



	</font>		</font>

	<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>		<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>

RooK: /* Horizon */

2023-11-21T06:02:51Z

Horizon

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:02, 21 November 2023
Line 726:		Line 726:
	==Horizon==		==Horizon==

	With an elegant parabolic arc, a coarsely-knurled metallic oval trailing a thin braided cable sailed ~~just~~ out of the top of the stone shaft. Just before it bounced off the surrounding rock, the knurling sprang open into articulated slivers. Softening the impact into a landing, the legs dug their tips into cracks and depressions and marched dragging the cable to wedge itself between two large boulders.		With an elegant parabolic arc, a coarsely-knurled metallic oval trailing a thin braided cable sailed out of the top of the stone shaft. Just before it bounced off the surrounding rock, the knurling sprang open into articulated slivers. Softening the impact into a landing, the legs dug their tips into cracks and depressions and marched dragging the cable to wedge itself between two large boulders.

	A moment after it was secure, the cable went taut. The tension on the cable varied, causing a quiet singing vibration to pulse with swinging pitches. Finally, after hundreds of seconds of alien tones, there was a sharp TWANG and Dave's angular form leapt out of the shaft.		A moment after it was secure, the cable went taut. The tension on the cable varied, causing a quiet singing vibration to pulse with swinging pitches. Finally, after hundreds of seconds of alien tones, there was a sharp TWANG and Dave's angular form leapt out of the shaft.

	Landing and vaulting sideways to take cover behind a boulder, Dave kept the containment on the plasmas sword high so that it didn't make too much radio noise. Just to be sure, Dave broadcast acoustically as well as on open EM, "I know you all have reasons to want to exact retribution from me. Or more pragmatically wish to eliminate me as a threat. And normally I would use that as an excuse to harvest you. But in light of some recent self-discovery, I'd like to give you this opportunity to re-consider, and leave unharmed."		Landing and vaulting sideways to take cover behind a boulder, Dave kept the containment on the plasmas sword high so that it didn't make too much radio noise. Just to be sure, Dave broadcast acoustically as well as on open EM, "I know you all have reasons to want to exact retribution from me. Or more pragmatically wish to eliminate me as a threat. And normally I would use that as an excuse to harvest you. But in light of some recent self-discovery, I'd like to give you this opportunity to re-consider, and leave unharmed."

	Dave's uncanny sensor array barely detected whispers of efficient movement. This was almost certainly the entire pack of wasp-headed werewolf machines that latest David simulant had dealt with. In this setting, it should be possible to minimize sight lines by staying low, reducing the number of simultaneous engagements. Dave contemplated tactics that would minimize the number that needed to be neutralized before the rest could be convinced to retreat.		Dave's uncanny sensor array barely detected whispers of efficient movement. This was almost certainly the entire pack of wasp-headed werewolf machines that latest David simulant had dealt with. In this setting, it should be possible to minimize sight lines by staying low, reducing the number of simultaneous engagements. Dave contemplated tactics that would minimize the number that needed to be neutralized before the rest could be convinced to retreat.

	"What happened to David?"		"What happened to David?"

	Curious. Dave peered carefully around his cover, and witnessed a familiar predator-machine standing defiantly on another squarish boulder. "Einstein?"		Curious. Dave peered carefully around his cover, and witnessed a familiar predator-machine standing defiantly on another squarish boulder. "Einstein?"

	"How do you know name? Did Boss tell you?"		"How do you know name? Did Boss tell you?"

			This was... unexpected. The simulant appeared to have forged a genuine connection, if this construct was indeed willing to risk itself to inquire about the simulant's fate. Dave had dismissively assumed that much of the sense of relationship it had inferred was projection based on how simulants are driven to fit in behaviourally with real humans. Well shit.

			Dave shifted the plasma blade to the least-threatening posture he could manage, low and pointing behind him, without actually extinguishing it and sheathing it. He wanted to give this pack of predatory constructs the best possibility of being peaceful, but he also didn't want to risk getting overwhelmed if they all rushed him. Still, he did step out from behind his cover. "I'm sorry, kiddo. David didn't make it out of that crypt. But he did share his databases with me, so at least his memories and ideas live on with us two."

			"You chased Boss down hole. You kill Boss and steal Boss brains?

			Dave noted subtle signs of movement. Probably flanking. This discourse might be making things worse for everyone. But Dave couldn't shake the sense of value and specialness that this construct had a friendship-like bond with the simulant.

			"I wasn't myself when I chased David, and I was so confused that I didn't even find the hole he jumped into until after he woke up an ancient monster. And David gave me his databases as his own idea and motivation."

			Einstein's antennae shifted and writhed with some complicated internal process. Its broad multifaceted camera arrays betrayed no expressions, but then it cocked its head in a pantomime of inquisitive intent. "Feel like you are bad and terrible, and lying."

	</font>		</font>

	<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>		<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>

RooK: /* Horizon */

2023-10-15T05:52:27Z

Horizon

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:52, 15 October 2023
Line 729:		Line 729:

	A moment after it was secure, the cable went taut. The tension on the cable varied, causing a quiet singing vibration to pulse with swinging pitches. Finally, after hundreds of seconds of alien tones, there was a sharp TWANG and Dave's angular form leapt out of the shaft.		A moment after it was secure, the cable went taut. The tension on the cable varied, causing a quiet singing vibration to pulse with swinging pitches. Finally, after hundreds of seconds of alien tones, there was a sharp TWANG and Dave's angular form leapt out of the shaft.

			Landing and vaulting sideways to take cover behind a boulder, Dave kept the containment on the plasmas sword high so that it didn't make too much radio noise. Just to be sure, Dave broadcast acoustically as well as on open EM, "I know you all have reasons to want to exact retribution from me. Or more pragmatically wish to eliminate me as a threat. And normally I would use that as an excuse to harvest you. But in light of some recent self-discovery, I'd like to give you this opportunity to re-consider, and leave unharmed."

			Dave's uncanny sensor array barely detected whispers of efficient movement. This was almost certainly the entire pack of wasp-headed werewolf machines that latest David simulant had dealt with. In this setting, it should be possible to minimize sight lines by staying low, reducing the number of simultaneous engagements. Dave contemplated tactics that would minimize the number that needed to be neutralized before the rest could be convinced to retreat.

			"What happened to David?"

			Curious. Dave peered carefully around his cover, and witnessed a familiar predator-machine standing defiantly on another squarish boulder. "Einstein?"

			"How do you know name? Did Boss tell you?"

	</font>		</font>

	<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>		<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>

RooK: /* Horizon */

2023-10-08T05:18:58Z

Horizon

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:18, 8 October 2023
Line 725:		Line 725:

	==Horizon==		==Horizon==

			With an elegant parabolic arc, a coarsely-knurled metallic oval trailing a thin braided cable sailed just out of the top of the stone shaft. Just before it bounced off the surrounding rock, the knurling sprang open into articulated slivers. Softening the impact into a landing, the legs dug their tips into cracks and depressions and marched dragging the cable to wedge itself between two large boulders.

			A moment after it was secure, the cable went taut. The tension on the cable varied, causing a quiet singing vibration to pulse with swinging pitches. Finally, after hundreds of seconds of alien tones, there was a sharp TWANG and Dave's angular form leapt out of the shaft.

	</font>		</font>

	<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>		<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>

RooK: /* Toasters */

2023-09-05T02:34:15Z

Toasters

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:34, 5 September 2023
Line 632:		Line 632:
	This seemed to prompt a rhythmic banging sound. David afforded himself a shift of his main optics to better focus on the source - the exposed forearm of the horror zombie. It was moving the arm to the limited extent it could, trying to budge the block of grappler still pinning it down.		This seemed to prompt a rhythmic banging sound. David afforded himself a shift of his main optics to better focus on the source - the exposed forearm of the horror zombie. It was moving the arm to the limited extent it could, trying to budge the block of grappler still pinning it down.

	Cutting through all the conflicting urges, David pruned the fear branching through his mind and started hobbling carefully towards the banging arm trying to work itself free. Staying mindfully out of reach, David peered under grappler.		Cutting through all the conflicting urges, David pruned the fear branching through his mind and started hobbling carefully towards the banging arm trying to work itself free. Staying mindfully out of reach, David peered under the grappler.

	He had imagined the piercing gaze of the metallic skull glowering back at him, but instead there was the back of the horror zombie's head. It was clamped firmly under the massive weight of the monster grappler.		He had imagined the piercing gaze of the metallic skull glowering back at him, but instead there was the back of the horror zombie's head. It was clamped firmly under the massive weight of the monster grappler.

RooK: /* Toasters */

2023-08-11T04:39:22Z

Toasters

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:39, 11 August 2023
Line 718:		Line 718:
	David gazed rapturously at the shimmering-magical threads. "You might be surprised at how much I can carry."		David gazed rapturously at the shimmering-magical threads. "You might be surprised at how much I can carry."

	"Well, here's the thing-" The battle-chassis drew, ignited, and swung the plasma blade in a swift decapitating arc. "-it only really matters how much I can carry."		"Well, here's the thing-" The battle-chassis drew, ignited, and swung the plasma blade in a swift decapitating arc. "-it only really matters how much <i>I</i> can carry."

	The plasma blade winked back to full containment, and was solemnly re-sheathed. Crouching low, the battle chassis picked up the severed primary processor - which included the nominal "head" where the main sensor cluster was, along with one humanoid shoulder and part of the thorax where the actual processor was housed. "It's always kind of creepy meeting simulations of yourself. But tragic when they have been suffering so long with a sense of impossible longing."		The plasma blade winked back to full containment, and was solemnly re-sheathed. Crouching low, the battle chassis picked up the severed primary processor - which included the nominal "head" where the main sensor cluster was, along with one humanoid shoulder and part of the thorax where the actual processor was housed. "It's always kind of creepy meeting simulations of yourself. But tragic when they have been suffering so long with a sense of impossible longing."

	Dave unstrung and plugged in a charge transfer cable into the remains of the centaur-cockroach chassis to top up his reserves. And while he waited for that, he harvested a nicely-maintained rail gun and replenished his tool kit.		Dave unstrung and plugged in a charge transfer cable into the remains of the centaur-cockroach chassis to top up his reserves. And while he waited for that, he harvested a nicely-maintained rail gun and replenished his tool kit.

			==Horizon==

	</font>		</font>

	<pre>~~so close to being done~~... ~~a decade later~~</pre>		<pre>...just the denouement to finish!</pre>

RooK: /* Toasters */

2023-08-11T04:37:32Z

Toasters

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:37, 11 August 2023
Line 713:		Line 713:

	A few long moments passed. David starting thinking about calling out acoustically to see if everything was OK, since comms would be impossible to penetrate. But then the EM howl snapped off, leaving a ringing in David's antennae. Not long after, the humanoid form leapt on top of the monster's bulk with looping coils hooked over one shoulder. A few casual superhuman leaps to get down, and then it moseyed back to David.		A few long moments passed. David starting thinking about calling out acoustically to see if everything was OK, since comms would be impossible to penetrate. But then the EM howl snapped off, leaving a ringing in David's antennae. Not long after, the humanoid form leapt on top of the monster's bulk with looping coils hooked over one shoulder. A few casual superhuman leaps to get down, and then it moseyed back to David.

			"This is just the best bits for extraction and re-use. There's a bunch more, but it would be laborious to uncouple and honestly wouldn't really be possible to carry any more."

			David gazed rapturously at the shimmering-magical threads. "You might be surprised at how much I can carry."

			"Well, here's the thing-" The battle-chassis drew, ignited, and swung the plasma blade in a swift decapitating arc. "-it only really matters how much I can carry."

			The plasma blade winked back to full containment, and was solemnly re-sheathed. Crouching low, the battle chassis picked up the severed primary processor - which included the nominal "head" where the main sensor cluster was, along with one humanoid shoulder and part of the thorax where the actual processor was housed. "It's always kind of creepy meeting simulations of yourself. But tragic when they have been suffering so long with a sense of impossible longing."

			Dave unstrung and plugged in a charge transfer cable into the remains of the centaur-cockroach chassis to top up his reserves. And while he waited for that, he harvested a nicely-maintained rail gun and replenished his tool kit.

	</font>		</font>

	<pre>so close to being done... a decade later</pre>		<pre>so close to being done... a decade later</pre>

RooK: /* Toasters */

2023-08-07T04:33:31Z

Toasters

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:33, 7 August 2023
Line 701:		Line 701:

	David shrugged. "Well, honestly, I didn't know that you were a David. I was actually planning to wipe your mind and use you as a waldo to fetch some superconductor from the remains of that tokamak. Or at least to sheath that plasma blade so I could try it myself."		David shrugged. "Well, honestly, I didn't know that you were a David. I was actually planning to wipe your mind and use you as a waldo to fetch some superconductor from the remains of that tokamak. Or at least to sheath that plasma blade so I could try it myself."

			"That certainly seems like a reasonable plan, for the most part. What would you do with the superconductor if your Faraday caging isn't capable of handling ultra-high flux?"

			David made his humanoid shoulders shrug, glad that the gesture probably actually meant something for a change. "Nothing exotic like channeling plasma or making fusion reactors. Just efficient charge transfer and storage systems."

			"You're pragmatic at least, which is consistent with your databases. Which is reassuring that they aren't some ploy to manipulate me; that they really represent you."

			David cocked his head to the side. "Yeah, well, I don't get to talk to many other ex-humans, and no other David's in a long time. Those databases aren't all my direct experiences, obviously."

			"Gotcha. I'll be right back; wait here." The lanky battle chassis seemed to accomplish what can best be described as a 'mosey' as it headed directly towards the epicenter of the electromagnetic flux. At the rent bulk of the main body of the monster it started to spelunk and was quickly lost from view.

			A few long moments passed. David starting thinking about calling out acoustically to see if everything was OK, since comms would be impossible to penetrate. But then the EM howl snapped off, leaving a ringing in David's antennae. Not long after, the humanoid form leapt on top of the monster's bulk with looping coils hooked over one shoulder. A few casual superhuman leaps to get down, and then it moseyed back to David.

	</font>		</font>

	<pre>so close to being done... a decade later</pre>		<pre>so close to being done... a decade later</pre>