Tales of the Vuduri: Year Four, Page 2

  So here is my two cents worth on why the Eagles failed under Chip Kelly. First, while Chip claims that culture beats scheme, talent trumps culture. You can't let such high-powered weapons as DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin leave without replacing them. And trying to run a read option offense where the quarterback is always a threat to run doesn't work if your quarterback can't run. Instead of taking away one defender, you add one. And we had no deep threat. That allowed the safeties to play closer to the line. Our offensive line was just not good enough to compensate for the extra one or two players in the box to open up the running lanes. And if you can't run the ball, you become one-dimensional. Every pass was a crossing route and the opponent's defense knew what play we were running before we ran it.

  So, in the end, Chip's reluctance to adapt his system to his players and his failure to replace star players, heck, even the offensive line, meant this year was doomed in retrospect. Who will our coach be next year? Who knows? Who will our quarterback be next year? Who knows? Who will be our deep threat next year? Who knows? Bottom line, never will I go into a new season with such diminished expectations. I believe we are looking at 2017, not 2016, before the Eagles can begin to think about being competitive again. It makes me sad.

  So goodbye Chip. I cannot say I am truly sorry to see you go but it certainly was exciting. I wish you the best of luck in your next stop.

  Entry 4-007: January 3, 2016

 

  House Arrest

  I am not a fan of steampunk which is a sub-genre of science fiction that usually takes place in a Victorian society and imbues the characters with access to our level of technology but using the materials and known science of the time. If you ever saw the movie Wild Wild West with Will Smith, you will know what I mean.

  Well, my 35th century world of the Vuduri is kind of like a future steampunk. They have everything we have but always using a different technology base. Part of this was the Vuduri's instance of denying access to any parts of the society that led up to the Great Dying. The other part was my desire to make the 35th century a strange new world.

  When the time came for the Vuduri to place Rome, Rei and Binoda in exile on the island of Maui, they weren't going to trust that Rome was just going to remain there with no supervision. In effect, she was under house arrest. I had to come up with the equivalent of the ankle bracelet placed on current house arrested individuals. So I waved my hands and voila, the Vuduri had a tracking bracelet. I'll let Grus introduce it:

  Grus addressed the three of them. “Your dwelling is just up that trail,” he said, pointing towards a rocky path leading away from the beach. He motioned to Rome who took one step closer to him. “Please extend your wrist,” he asked her.

  “What for?” Rei asked defensively.

  “For this,” Grus said. He reached in his pocket and removed a thin silver bracelet. He looked at Rome’s outstretched arm for a moment, staring at the ring on her finger. He shrugged then snapped the bracelet around her wrist. Where there had been an opening, the metal sealed forming a smooth finish, completely enclosed.

  “This is a tracking bracelet,” Grus said. “It is required because you are mandasurte. The conditions of your release are that you are to remain on or about this island. Please make no attempt to contact anyone off island and please do not try to access any technology. The very fact that you remain alive is a gift. Please remember that.”

  “I will,” Rome said solemnly. “Thank you.”

  Grus defocused then turned to look at Rei. “While you are a hero, your continued association with a convicted criminal makes you unwelcome within the Vuduri world. I would ask that you remain here as well.”

  See? Same but different. The tracking bracelet actually comes back into play when Rei and Rome are kidnapped by Estar but that's a story for another day.

  Entry 4-008: January 4, 2016

 

  Goodbye, old friend

  The die had been cast. In pat 3 of Rome's Revolution, Rome had been convicted of the most serious of crimes and exiled to a beach in Hawaii. For convenience, Rome, Rei and Binoda were transported to their destination in The Flying House. But now the time had come for the Vuduri to leave and take The Flying House with them.

  Here is the scene where they lose their first home:

  Rome reached over and took Rei’s hand as the cargo ramp retracted and the hatch lowered. The Flying House, their home for the last year and more, rose into the air and began to move forward. They watched it bank over the ocean and then fly back directly overhead, returning along the same heading that brought them to the island. Rei thought he saw the wings waggle but could not be sure.

  As their former craft arose high in the sky, a tear came to Rome’s eye which she wiped with her free hand. “I will miss it,” she said.

  “Me too,” Rei replied. They watched as The Flying House became smaller and smaller until finally it disappeared. They stared at the blue sky and low lying white clouds.

  Rome squeezed Rei’s hand to get his attention. Rei turned to her. “But now we get to do our work,” she said.

  We never saw The Flying House again. I don't know what happened to it. Knowing the Vuduri, it was probably refurbished and reconditioned and placed back into service as a space tug. So we bid adieu to our old friend. It served us well but the time had come to move on.

  Entry 4-009: January 5, 2016

 

  The Perfect Scene, Part 1

  I am a hopeless romantic. I even cry when I see sappy commercials. So the chance to write a good, syrupy heart-rending scene was very exciting to me. The fact is when I started Rome's Revolution, I didn't really know where it was going to lead. I had introduced Rome's mother, Binoda, through flashback in the original long-form called VIRUS 5. I had mentioned Rome's father, Fridone, during the same mind-meld between Rome and Rei. I had no plans for reuniting them. Then Part 2 came along and we met Fridone in the flesh. So when Rome, Rei, Aason and Fridone returned to Earth in Part 3, I knew I had my chance.

  So here is my all-time most-favorite scene in the entire Rome's Revolution story:

  “I can do better than that, Mea,” Rome said, touching her temple. “Let us go down to the beach and watch the sunset.”

  “We can do that another time, Rome,” said Binoda, impatiently. “Please enlighten me.”

  Rei touched his temple as well.

  “You really want to see the sunset,” Rei added in English. “It really will help you to understand.”

  Binoda looked very confused but gave up arguing. They made their way out of the hut and Binoda followed them down a rocky path to the beautiful, white sand beach which was somewhat secluded by large boulders on the far ends and a stand of palm trees all around them.

  As the sun went down, the beautiful colors playing among the low lying clouds made for a spectacular view. A gentle breeze brought the ubiquitous smell of jasmine and plumeria wafting over them. Rei stood with his arm around Rome just reveling in the peace of it all. The sunset was magnificent, as it always is in Hawaii but Binoda seemed distracted and unimpressed. They even had the opportunity to see a tiny green flash on the top of the sun just before it set. When the last glowing shards of light from the disk of the sun dipped below the horizon, Binoda could no longer control her impatience.

  “I understand nothing better,” she said to Rome. “It is a sunset. I have seen them before,” she said.

  “Not like this one,” Rome said, pointing over the ocean.

  Binoda turned to look at where Rome was pointing. She was indicating exactly where the sun had been as it disappeared below the horizon. Binoda looked and saw that the air began shimmering, somewhat like one would see just before a mirage appeared in the desert. A ghostly presence sparkled then disappeared then reappeared. The giant ball of diffraction drifted in from the ocean and settled on the beach, just to their south.

  Binoda stared at it, trying to understand what her eyes were telling her. In front of her, four deep depre
ssions appeared in the sand. There was a whining, jet-enginey kind of sound which died off and then, in front of her, a cavity appeared four meters up, right in the middle of the air.

  At last MINIMCOM arrives and the cargo he is carrying will blow Binoda away. Sooo exciting!

  More tomorrow.

  Entry 4-010: January 6, 2016

 

  The Perfect Scene, Part 2

  I am a hopeless romantic. I even cry when I see sappy commercials. So the chance to write a good, syrupy heart-rending scene was very exciting to me. The fact is when I started Rome's Revolution, I didn't really know where it was going to lead. I had introduced Rome's mother, Binoda, through flashback in the original long-form called VIRUS 5. I had mentioned Rome's father, Fridone, during the same mind-meld between Rome and Rei. I had no plans for reuniting them. Then Part 2 came along and we met Fridone in the flesh. So when Rome, Rei, Aason and Fridone returned to Earth in Part 3, I knew I had my chance.

  So here is part 2 of my all-time most-favorite scene in the entire Rome's Revolution story:

  “This is your ship?” Binoda asked. “It is a hole in the air. What is this?”

  “Just watch, Mea,” Rome said with a broad smile on her face.

  As Binoda peered into the hole, a grey, metallic-looking ramp became visible and lowered until it came to rest in the sand. At the back of the compartment, there was something stirring. A robed figure moved forward. When the individual got to the top of the ramp, he stopped and stood there quietly.

  “Who is that?” Binoda asked, turning to Rome.

  Rei squeezed Rome tighter. Rome just smiled. She tilted her head back toward the figure within the ship. Binoda turned back to look at man at the top of the ramp, adjusting her vision to telescopic.

  “No,” Binoda said plaintively, not able to tear her eyes away. “It cannot be.”

  “It is, Mea,” Rome said tearfully. “It is. Go to him.”

  “Fridone!” Binoda shouted and sprinted up the ramp to meet her husband at the top. She kissed him and hugged him and kissed him and hugged him. She was overwhelmed and it was a long time before she was able to speak coherently.

  “Oh husband,” she said finally. “Look at you. Your hair! So gray!” Binoda sighed and whispered, “I have missed you so much.” She grabbed his cheeks with her hands and touched her forehead to his, closing her eyes.

  “My beautiful Binoda,” Fridone whispered. “I have missed you more.”

  “It cannot be,” she said, opening her eyes again. “How did this happen?”

  “You may thank your resourceful daughter,” Fridone said, pointing back down at Rome, standing on the beach. “She saved me. She saved my world and she is here to save this one as well.”

  “Your world?” Binoda asked, somewhat perplexed. “This is your world.” She paused for a second. “Where were you, anyway?”

  “The Onsiras stole me away from here,” Fridone said, somewhat with disgust. “They imprisoned me.”

  “Imprisoned?” Binoda said. “I do not understand.”

  “You will,” replied Fridone. “I will explain all. For now, all you need to know is that I am free and we are together again.”

  “I cannot believe it,” Binoda said.“This is the best moment of my life.”

  Ahhh. Did it bring a tear to your eye? Good. But Rome isn't done yet.

  The final part tomorrow.

  Entry 4-012: January 7, 2016

 

  The Perfect Scene, Part 3

  I am a hopeless romantic. I even cry when I see sappy commercials. So the chance to write a good, syrupy heart-rending scene was very exciting to me. The fact is when I started Rome's Revolution, I didn't really know where it was going to lead. I had introduced Rome's mother, Binoda, through flashback in the original long-form called VIRUS 5. I had mentioned Rome's father, Fridone, during the same mind-meld between Rome and Rei. I had no plans for reuniting them. Then Part 2 came along and we met Fridone in the flesh. So when Rome, Rei, Aason and Fridone returned to Earth in Part 3, I knew I had my chance.

  Here is the final part of my all-time most-favorite scene in the entire Rome's Revolution story. Remember, yesterday, Binoda said, “I cannot believe it. This is the best moment of my life.” Boy was she wrong! The second shoe is about to drop:

  “There is more, Mea,” Rome said.

  “More?” replied Binoda, confused. She looked at Fridone who smiled and merely shrugged.

  “Yes,” she said. “Wait here.” Rome went past them and disappeared inside the ship.

  “I do not understand this,” Binoda said. “I see all of this on the inside but there is no outside. We are in the middle of the air with nothing holding us up.”

  Rei approached then mounted the ramp. “This is the other tug, MINIMCOM,” Rei answered, walking up to them.

  “A MINIMCOM is a computer,” answered Binoda. “This is some sort of vehicle, invisible or not.”

  “Yes and yes,” Rei said. “MINIMCOM has been through a lot but he started out as a computer. Now he is a ship and a computer and much, much more.”

  “Why could I not see it as it approached?” Binoda asked. “Is this magic?”

  “Not magic, my dear Binoda,” Fridone said, “MINIMCOM is just very clever.”

  “Yes, very clever,” said Rome from far end of the cargo compartment. Binoda turned to see her daughter walk toward them cradling a bundle of blankets in her arms. “I have something to show you,” Rome said.

  “What is this you have brought me?” Binoda asked.

  Rome pulled back the blanket, revealing the baby inside. “This is your grandson, Aason,” she said.

  Binoda’s eyes grew wide. Tears welled up in her eyes again. “A grandson? Rome!”

  She put out her arms and Rome handed her the baby boy. Instinctively, Binoda held him and rocked him and began swaying her hips side to side as had humans for the last million years. She stared down at his angelic face. Aason stretched his mouth in what almost looked like a smile then slowly, with agonizing care, turned his head toward Rome. Even at this young age, he was exceptionally strong and exceptionally coordinated, even for a Vuduri. Then he turned back to Binoda, closed his eyes and gave a deep sigh. The was the most eloquent statement he could give as a newborn that he understood her and knew that she was someone who would nurture him and truly love him. Binoda was touched beyond words.

  Aason squirmed a bit and Rome said, “He is glad to meet you, Mea. He says hello.”

  So there you have it. My all-time most favorite scene. The family is reunited. Love is in the air. The time has come for our intrepid heroes to save their new home world and possibly redeem all of mankind.

  Entry 4-012: January 8, 2016

 

  Starship Tattoos

  You don't know me but, in general, I am against tattoos. The reason are varied and many. First and foremost, I am Jewish and my religion forbids tattoos. Second, most of the ones I have seen don't look nearly as nice as the owner believes. Finally, spending summers on the beach has shown me there is nothing sadder than a faded, sagging tattoo that someone got when they were young but as they get older, it morphs into something unpleasant.

  But that doesn't mean I don't acknowledge that tattoos are a real thing and some people really like them. So there came a time in Rome's Revolution when MINIMCOM was feeling himself and wanted to make himself even cooler.

  Here is the scene where Rei discovers that MINIMCOM has been self-adorning and yet he tries to deny it:

  “Is it possible to turn this shield off?” Binoda said. “Can I see the vehicle?”

  Rei walked over to her. “MINIMCOM will let you see it but it can only be for a second,” Rei said. “He is not supposed to be here.”

  Rei closed his eyes then opened them again. Taking his cue, MINIMCOM dropped the cloak long enough for Binoda to see a huge black cargo ship with a flowing, wasp-waisted shape bristling with a whole battery of PPT generators and plasma engines, mounted on the wings.

>   Rei looked at his friend who was also a ship. In no way did MINIMCOM resemble the original shuttle that was his starting point. And yet, there was something else. MINIMCOM looked totally different on the outside from even when Rei had seen him last.

  “What gives?” Rei thought to MINIMCOM.

  “Whatever do you mean?” replied MINIMCOM

  “You are all decorated with doodads and spirals. You didn’t have them before.” Rei thought.

  “Oh those,” stated MINIMCOM. “I determined that I would have better aerodynamic control if I had a reliable and steady flow of turbulence within my air stream when I was in atmosphere rather than a base assumption of dead air as reference level. The somewhat symmetrical nature of the designs was the attempt, only slightly successful, to inversely impress the turbulence, to cancel it, so that the net effect was still air, even though I gained the immediate advantage of microturbulence.”

  “Well, they are pretty sharp, if you ask me,” Rei said, knowing MINIMCOM was full of baloney.

  “Why thank you,” MINIMCOM said then he winked out.

  So there you have it. MINIMCOM is all tatted out. It doesn't last, however, as the microturbulence that MINIMCOM was touting ended up being a detriment when he had to fly at Mach 7. And that comes very soon.

  Entry 4-013: January 9, 2016

 

  Rei's new weapon 1 of 5

  When I first conceived of Rome's Revolution way back in 1973, it was called VIRUS 5 because it was centered around the VIRUS units, how they destroyed the Stareater and the mutations which don't come into play until The Milk Run.