Nebulous Pilot Episode II Part One: Story Time With Tim

Greetings and salutations, faithful followers of this blog! I’m Timothy Scott Purvis and this is the second part of my Nebulous pilot episodes for a potential animation! Now, it didn’t go anywhere but I feel that the story was pretty good even though it was a little silly in its initial designs. As such, I’ve decided to share those initial idea with you fine folk at the end of the year! Stay tuned for the first part of Episode II. First, though, a little bit of self promotion. If you’re not interested, scroll on past those squiggly lines to see my brief thoughts on this part of the story. Though I do hope you’ll consider some of my written works pitch and head on over to my author’s page to support the cause!

Alright, without further adieu:

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SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION STARTS!

I would appreciate if you have Kindle or even if you want some paperback goodies if you’d head on over to my page and maybe show me some love there. I mean, if you’ve been reading a while and see something you like, wouldn’t you like to have it in your personal library? I have some cool short stories available for cheap. Also Tales From A Strange Mind that collects my short stories (there’s also a Kindle edition but, for some reason, Amazon wouldn’t let me link them together) , Tales From A Strange Mind II which collects my old novellas, Red Star Sheriff (Which also has a Kindle edition but Amazon, am I right?) my first novel ever released, though, yes, it does have some grammatical errors and drags on for way too long, sigh. But I still love it and I will be writing a follow up sometime within the next few years. I have a collection of my poems called MisAligned: The Heart Waxes Poetic which collects my old poems but not some of my newer ones included those flash fictions! I’ll probably do that in the future as well. And if you love the perfectly inane, why not check out my Star Cloud scripts presented in book form? Star Cloud The Original Scripts. Another one where Amazon was being difficult with me in connecting the Kindle and PB versions. Still, the paperback they let me sale for cheap and it’s well worth a look if I say so myself. Or, if you don’t want to click on individual links (all of which will take you to my author’s page anyway), just click on my author’s page directly by tapping my name: Timothy S Purvis See for yourself what all I’ve published since I began this venture in 2016.

I mean, if you like my work, of course. No pressure. Just trying to find my way in this world without working menial tasks and suffering physical and mental issues as a result. If only I could merely stay home and write. That would be my most epic fantasy brought to life. Well, if you don’t want to do that, you could also donate to my cause down below after all is said and done. It would help. You know, if you liked what you saw and all. Up to you. I don’t have a lot of reviews on my materials because of low sales. I mean, very, very low sales. In the single digits. Right now, I have to rely on Pubby for reviews and those people only read your synopsis and recap it for a five star review. I want honest opinions. Not mean ones, but honest. So, if you ever find yourself buying some of my work, I’d certainly appreciate some feedback. Again, up to you.

End Shameless Self Promotion!

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And now we have the second part of the Nebulous pilot. This was either part of the first episode or its own episode depending on how I thought this might play out at the time. I wrote all of this around 2001 just before the world changed forever that September and I got involved with other matters. I still want to continue the story someday, but, for now, it will remain a dream I had while gaining a graphic design degree!

In this chapter of the episode, the crew of the newly minted Nebulous escape into the Capitol Continuum itself to seek out help as they evade a pirate looking to bring them in for their alleged crimes. Well, they are space pirates after all! So, here we go, part one of episode two!

Episode II Part 1

The Outer Rim of the Terran Solar System…

The docking bay of the space station Creole Haven looms large over the docked golden ship.  Within the ship’s bowels, most of the crew members’ debate. Its focus, the strange being brought in by them… or rather the one that gained them access into the strange golden ship.

  “Well…? Don’t you talk?!” Nellene questions getting nearly into its unblinking and mechanical eyes.

  “Hmm.” QuKi ponders with his alien digits brushing his elongated chin.

  QuKi finds himself perplexed. His diagnostics reveal startling evidence of the creature’s form and function.

  “Kookie?” Nellene turns her attention to QuKi while Wave and Marcus continue lightly touching the robot.

  “Why must you call me ‘Kookie’? I am Qu Ki Ea Son!! Legal heir and son of En Ki, the lord ‘Ea’, of the Annunaki!” QuKi raises his voice and puts his long fingers onto his knees.

  Wave stares at him with a smile. QuKi issues no further comment on that comment on that matter. While Nellene still demands an answer. QuKi waves her off with his right hand.

  “Yes, Yes… this “robot”, as you call it, is no robot as you know.”

  “Huh?” Marcus inquires with his interest perked.

  “The diagnostics point to analog technology, the like of which hasn’t been seen since the 21^st century on Terras… or what it once was called, ‘Earth.’” QuKi says looking the robot in the eyes. It stares back at him and blinks once.

  “So? What does it matter what he’s made of?! He’s still a robot!” Nellene shouts.

  “Not necessarily. Robotic lifeforms and synthetics as well as anatons are all programmed. This being could not possibly have been programmed for its technological make up does not allow for program.”

  “Huh?” Nellene.

  “Simple… it learns not calculates. Witness… being, heads up…” QuKi says tossing a round object at the being. Its reflexes react and it catches the ball with its right hand while flinching mechanically. Then it questionably looks at QuKi.

  “That doesn’t prove anything! I know synthetics that can play catch!” Nellene.

  “Not with the speed of a human being. This was pure instinct to defend itself from attack. Interesting to say the least. I should pay a visit to the Haven’s library. I wonder if it’s what I think it is.”

  “Which would be?” Nellene asks as QuKi rises to his feet and passes the robot. It continues watching QuKi.

  “…” QuKi stops by the exit of the ship’s ten forward. “Something… I once read about.” He finishes and departs ten forward. Wave drinks a beer he had in his tote bag.

Maavyn and Karson meanwhile are within the Haven heading towards a bar. A long conversation had been ensuing between the two. Beyond them, lays the Creole Haven Tavern. To their right, the large spanning window separates them from open space.

  “So what made you decide this as our destination?” Maavyn inquires as they approach the Tavern.

  “Figured be the easiest way to evade any followers. Here we are on the fringes of the Continuum, they would never think to look for us here!” Karson replies waving his hands somewhat.

  “Never? Hmmm… sounds like wishful thinking.”

  “Maybe. But still…my ‘source’ should still be loitering about and I think I’d like to have a word with the scumbag BEFORE the Continuum is alerted and he bolts.” Karson says setting a mean gaze at the entrance.

  “Good thinking… let’s just hope our two-day detour didn’t give them more than enough time to react.”

  “Subspace’s a bitch. But we had to. And their tech still isn’t as great as they’d like to think. An audio transmission alone will take four days at full saturation. I think we have time, especially since the Continuum uses video feed as well… less they came up with another system in the last three weeks.”

  “Soon have time enough to find out. Heh… Creole Tavern… first place we met, you scalawag!” Maavyn says tapping Karson on the shoulder and giving a smile.

  “How can I forget.” Karson says with a sigh as they enter the thoroughly packed Tavern.

  Every type of creature in the Terran system is present. From the synthetics to the Anunnaki. Though Karson looks dubiously at the two Anunnaki present in the large Tavern. It isn’t usual for members of their species to be abroad in the system. Despite the fact they have an uneasy truce with the Continuum, their homeworld, Nibiru, is still under danger of the continuing outreach of the Continuum.

  “Niburians.” Maavyn says quietly.

  “Yeah, I saw the Anunnaki. Just wonder what brings em here?”

  “Inside the Continuum the Anunnaki are Niburians.”

  “This is the Outer Rim.”

  “Nonetheless… I think you’ll find them to refer to themselves as ‘Niburians.’”

  “Regardless… over here.” Karson says leading them across the first floor of the three-story structure.

  They pass over to the primary bar and Karson asks something of the bartender. He leans over the bar and motions up to the third story. They begin the trek upstairs oblivious to the bartender pushing some sort of button below the bar. Two Anatons follow the duo up to the upper level.

  On the third floor, Maavyn and Karson proceed across an entertainment galley. The second floor contained the dining establishments.  Now they pass by unusual Power Reality devices used to enhance game play through neuro synapses.  As well, they pass the ages old and standard game machines built to gobble up Continuum credits.

  Dimmed lighting and bright game machine lights make it impossible for the two to see the two Anatons following them from behind. An employee only room lurks beyond. Maavyn and Karson look around them and then enter the room.

  “Seems no one’s home.” Maavyn says with his blaster in his right hand. “Let’s get outta here. I don’t like the way this feels.”

  “Good idea…”  Karson says. As they turn around, the two Anatons enter the room and point laser rifles at them.

  Karson and Maavyn drop their weapons and put their hands up. From behind them, a voice of familiarity to Karson rings through the sudden silence.

  “Your coming brings bad tidings.”

   Karson turns quickly with his arms still high and retorts sharply to his erstwhile benefactor.

  “You shouldn’t have set me up, Trae! I’ll make you pay for turning us over to the Continuum!”

  “Turning you over?! Hah! Anatons… return to your duties at the doors. Report any Capitol Soldiers coming!” Trae speaks as the Anatons turn lowering their rifles and return to the first floor. “You’re mistaken, lad.”

  “Then why the Anatons?” Karson asks with his arms still in the air.

  Maavyn maintains the same position with his eyes still wide. Trae looks at them and sighs.

  “You can put your hands down now, I think.” Trae says as they do so not having noticed they were still in that position. “The Anatons weren’t for you… though they were to ensure you weren’t with the Continuum. No, no… it was a safety precaution, lad. It isn’t safe here. Nowhere, either, I’d say.”

  Trae had turned and now was going further into the backroom. Maavyn and Karson reluctantly follow.

  “You should not have come. I sent you to retrieve the artifact.”

  “Artifact?  There was nothing there!” Karson shouts. The old man turns hastily with eyes wide.

  “Nothing?! Did you not go to the hangar bay?! Did you not go to the room beyond?!”

  “Yes… I did. All we found were a bunch of robots that came to life and started firing at us!” Karson says.

  “All? Surely one did not.” Trae says and stares at Karson.

  “There… was one.” Maavyn starts. Karson hushes him with a gesture of his hand.

  “One? What of this one? Importance?”

  “Great is the importance. Let me tell you a tale…” The old man Trae takes a seat in his large lounger.

  Maavyn props himself against a wall while Karson sits upon a stool.

  “Alright, but make it fast. I need to know what to…” Karson begins.

  “Yes, you do need to know ‘what’… now still your impetuous ways for a minute or two…”

  Trae begins his tale with Maavyn and Karson listening intently.

  “…It isn’t exactly ‘Once upon a time…’ but it was a long time ago. It was well before the annexation of the Americas by the Ulyssian fleets. Well before the Capitol Continuum. It was within the confines of the Confederate nations, in fact, that the origins of the tale is begun…” And Trae relates of the man with his gadgets who wanted to build just to build. “…This man of yore, his name has been lost to time, a pity. But his desire was to create. He was driven by an unseen hand to play and build his toys… his constructs. Til one of those constructs…”

  “Killed him and took over the world?!” Maavyn shouts out suddenly. Karson silences his following smile with a wry expression. Trae looks to Maavyn but ignores him and continues.

  “…Rather, it is to say, those constructs took on a life of their own. Oh, no, no take-overs for you see, he built small things first. Creepy, crawling thingies. And they were built from circuit boards that he took from within junk… old transistor radio parts from the junk yard, old wiring from TV’s…”

  Trae takes not of their puzzled expressions.

  “Yes… ah yes, you wouldn’t know of those things being as they were of hundreds of years past. Hmmm… a transistor, first off, is a small circuit board composed of welding allowing the electrical impulses to travel upon it… some were useless by themselves until put against a speaker, a tiny comm unit, essentially, whose primary purpose was to allow you to hear music played over the airwaves, which were broadcast from stations built for just that purpose. Radio stations. Anyhow, a television, or TV, did essentially the same thing, except with video as well as audio signals and there was more to view than just music videos!”

  The old man laughs as the two nod in understanding and wishing for him to continue.

  “From these things he made imitations of living things. Crabs and insects. And they moved! But without programming. At first, he thought it just an electrical response forcing the kinetic energy within them to move their soldered legs. But then he noticed an oddity about these things. They used their soldered antennae to FEEL! He was amazed and put his devices through test upon test.”

  Maavyn and Karson look at him with wide eyes of amazement.

  “…He put them in mazes. They found their way out with the feelers. And, thinking those a fluke, he put the things back into the same tests, only to find that they remembered their way! And those things never stumbled once after memory! He would play the part of the destructor and broke their legs! They struggled but still managed to find their way! What this man was unaware of, was the first of life created outside the bounds of flesh. He made his findings known, but many scoffed at him calling him rude and unruly names. Nut job, freak, robotboy, eccentric seemed to be a favorite amongst more intelligent folks. However, all the while the governments were in the beginning stages of synthesoid study which eventually led to the Anaton movement. But both these beings lacked what this man had created, the instinctual drive of life.”

  “So, what you’re saying is…?” Karson begins but Trae finishes.

  “…Is that what you have found is the descendant of this technology! These are intelligent, instinctual beings, deprived of flesh, but not of thought! Just as this man’s earliest models, they are inquisitive, and they learn. Not like a machine learns or is programmed… but actually learn! Hehe! Very exciting! You see, the governments on Earth, excuse me, Terras never learned how to efficiently use the technology because of the random variables. After the final victory of the Ulyssian nation over the Nazi armies, the primitive forebearers of the analog race sought cover in the Ulyssian lands. Though the war was over between the worldwide powers, the second and last Civil War was just beginning to play out between Union and Confederate states and this race wanted nothing to do with war…”

  “But those, whatevers, in the ship… they had guns! They wanted to kill us!” said Karson still puzzled.

  “Then these ones are dangerous, lad. They have traded freedom to serve the Continuum. They are afraid of the Continuum and what it had intended to do with them.”

  “Which was?” Maavyn inquires quietly.

  “More than likely to destroy them. You see, these things are impractical on the battlefield. They don’t need to eat, though. And are just as strong and maneuverable as a man. But it is just their nature not to fight. This is why you are not dead now. The Continuum considers them a blasphemous race.”

  “Given this is true, then why are they invaluable to the Continuum?” Maavyn asks coming up and standing next to Karson and before the old man.

  “Good question. I can hazard a guess but I won’t. Your exploits have destroyed those housed in that cargo hold. And yours…”

  “Wait a minute!” Maavyn draws forth his laser pistol as Karson stands up and holds him off with his right hand while pointing at the old man with his left.

  “How do YOU know about our ‘exploits’, as you call it? We’ve told you nothing of it! Or of the fact that we actually took that thing with us!!”

  “Anlatik.” Says the old man starting to lean on his cane.

  “What?” Karson continues.

  “It is what their race is.”

  “So, what! Answer the question!!” Karson starts to get antsy.

  “Simple, Karson, you underestimate your foe. A dangerous game to play when they are more advanced than you realize. Remember, I said they considered the race blasphemous, not that they wouldn’t use them.” Trae lowers his head some.

  “Are they… telepathic?” Maavyn asks while lowering his weapon. Karson’s arm comes down as well.

  “No. Not in the least, less you believe in ESP, which all living things are in tune with. Unfortunately, they do have a ‘feeling’ of each other’s presence. They know where all of their race dwell. But not whether they are benign or benevolent. And since all on board that juggernaut were destroyed…”

  “Which means at least one is alive within the Continuum! And you have an inside source within the Continuum heart! How much time, Trae?!” Karson hurriedly asks in gasping breaths.

  “Not much time, I gather. You should probably leave now, though. You shouldn’t have come here.” Trae says as Maavyn looks at the floor in thought.

  “However, that didn’t stop you from keeping us.” Maavyn says looking at Trae.

  “Since you were here, I needed you to understand. Now you do. Or at least, you will. Now go.”

  With that Maavyn and Karson exit the room and leave the Tavern owner to his pondering. Trae walks to the edge of the third floor railing and watches the two men exit the front of the Tavern.

  “You didn’t tell them everything. Now, they will really have to figure the puzzle out on their own.” Comes a voice engulfed in shadows at a table just outside the gaming area. It is a small snaking facility for those in the know.

  “Not necessary. Would only jeopardize what we’ve come so far to move forward. But all in good time. They will know.”

  “Providing the Continuum doesn’t get them first.” The voice says taking a drink from his silhouetted glass of wine.

  “Open the Long Fallen Gates, for the race is begun.” The old man says after a few moments of silence.

  “‘Let loose the dogs of war’… so the saying goes.” Replies the voice.

  “Let us hope… that it does not come to that. But if so, may it be swift.”

“Get the ship prepped to launch!” Karson yells into his headset he just put on. The voice replying back is that of Nellene.

  “How soon?” she asks.

  “Now! Where’s Kookie?!” Karson asks as he and Maavyn rush forward down the open corridors of the Creole Haven. They don’t pay much attention to the lack of people in the halls.

  “I don’t know, he said something about a library and left the ship!”  Nellene replies.

  “A lot of help you are! See if you can buzz him!” Karson says shutting off the link. “Well, now if we can get the ENTIRE crew together and ditch this berg, we should be alright!” Karson and Maavyn round a corner and are stopped by several armed soldiers.

  The leader of the soldiers is a woman a few inches shorter than Karson. However, he doesn’t notice her stature first and foremost, but the deadly saber she brandishes in his face.

  “Where ya off ta in such a hurry, sweetie?” she says with a smile.

  Karson looks slightly to his right at Maavyn and they exchange a shrug.  In less than it took to cast that view, Maavyn draws his firearm and starts taking out the soldiers. Karson draws his saber and expertly knocks the woman’s weapon sideways.  With the soldiers stunned, they turn around and head back in the direction they came. Deftly, they change course down another winding hall.

  “Well, get up, you swine! Get to it!” The woman cries giving chase to the two men.

  Coming out of the library, QuKi maintains in his possession several books on ancient robotic history. He starts to head back to the ship but sees Maavyn and Karson rushing at him at top speed. He perks his brows and hears Maavyn yelling at him.

  “Kookie, you flotsam! Get yer ass in gear! We’ve got company!”

  “Company?” QuKi watches them zip by him.

  Immediately, he turns to see the soldiers coming at him, one isn’t paying attention and runs smack dead into him. His books fly all over the ground. And he sits up from the ground as the soldier gets back to his feet.

  “Get off the streets, citizen! Pirates are abroad!” The soldier exclaims regaining his pursuit.

  The soldiers disappear around the corner following Maavyn and Karson.

  “Great. We can’t go anywhere without twiddledee and twiddledum lootin’ somethin’!” QuKi laments to himself and gathers a few books speedily and heads towards the ship in the proper direction. “Likely to be guards around the docks.” He mumbles.

Karson and Maavyn quickly take a back route through the Haven hoping that the ship will be prepped in time for them to just blast off without any problems.

  “Don’t worry, looks like they ignored Kookie. He’ll have the ship ready by the time we get there.” Karson comments to Maavyn.

  “Better!” Maavyn replies with laser fire zooming over their heads.

  They navigate several halls while seemingly having lost the soldiers. They pause for a moment to catch their breaths.

  “That was fun. Where… to… next?” Maavyn inquires.

  Just then a sword barely misses Karson on the head. Several hairs get taken off. The woman leans over him menacingly.  Maavyn goes to grab her and disarm her. But the dark haired beauty elbows him in the gut and tosses him to the floor.

  “Now where was I? Oh yeah! Karson Montonie, you’re wanted by the Continuum… Dead or Alive. Preferably dead I’m told!” The woman says with a smile.

  Karson barely blocks a downward slash of her saber with his.

  “Hey! Proper introductions first, lady! You know my name, but who are you and why do you work for the Continuum…?” Karson shouts parrying several blows. “…I mean… you’re obviously in the same business as me, and obviously much more ruthless, and the Continuum doesn’t hire our kind… so…”

  “Oh, hush! This is a fight, not a talk-a-thon!” The woman says nearly taking his head off. “But… you’re kinda cute! So, before I take your head, call me Keena! Ok, back to business.” She quickly laments with a quick pose and then a deadly thrust to the abdomen.

  Only with great skill does Karson evade the thrusts of Keena. Meanwhile, Maavyn sees this and realizes they don’t have time for these games. It’s obvious they’re evenly matched and equally obvious that soon, more soldiers would be coming. So, Maavyn, being the gentleman that he is, takes the butt of his gun and approaches the fight quickly intent on knocking the woman out. However, a quick jab to the ribcage with the woman’s left elbow stops his momentum and steals his breath as he falls down.

  “Hmmm.” She smiles without looking back. And shrugs.

  “Hey! He’s just trying to end this quickly!” Karson objects.

  “So am I!” She retorts with another deadly cross slash. Karson ducks and loses a few more hairs.

  He comes around and jumps over the body of Maavyn. Keena does the same but is grabbed by the heel by Maavyn as he tosses her to the ground. Karson jumps on top of Keena and wrestles her for her blade.

  “Just hand it over!”

  “Oh! I bet you say that to all the gals!!”

  Suddenly, Maavyn rips the blade away from her.

  “Hey! No fair helping!” Keena cries out.

  “I’m sure your soldier friends would’ve waited til you thoroughly trashed us before interfering, right?!” Maavyn replies.

  “Your belt!” Karson extends a hand to Maavyn to get his belt while Keena puts up a fierce struggle.

  It takes both men to tie her tight with their belts on her wrists and ankles.

  “You can’t leave me like this! HEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPP!!!! They’re trying to hurt a POOR defenseless WOMAN out here!!!!” Keena shouts out as the two men start to retreat.

  Maavyn draws back and takes off his boot then his sock and goes to shove his sock in Keena’s mouth.

  “Put a sock in it!” Maavyn says as Keena makes a grimace of disgust.

  “Nice.” Karson shakes his head as they make a break for the ship in the hangar bay.

Within the docking bay, Nellene commands the local ship hands to prepare for the ship’s release. They do as commanded. QuKi comes running into the hangar bay and looks around quizzically.

  “Problem?” asks Nellene.

  “I expected resistance.” QuKi states as he and she enter the ship’s interior. Nellene looks back and sees several soldiers enter the bay.

  “Well, no. No resistance, unless you count them.” She points and QuKi looks back. Without hesitation, QuKi grabs Nellene and pulls her into the ship just as a volley of laser fire opens up.

  “Didn’t we already do this scene?” Marcus inquires taking his place at the helm beside QuKi.

  “Not now, Marcus. We have a problem.”

  “No kidding. Opening up laser turrets. See if they’re anywhere near as bothersome as that Juggernaut’s crew.” Marcus says as the guns on the underside blare into action.

  The soldiers near the entrance take cover and fire at irregular intervals. QuKi sets the ship’s engines into ready mode.

  “All we need now is the Captain.” QuKi says.

And so we come to the end of another Story Time With Tim. I really wish I had more to say about these tales of mine. I’m sure some insight into my madness would be appreciated from those who follow this blog weekly. However, I just find it difficult to find anything to say about my work. This piece, for example, is part of a larger storyline spanning not just years and decades but eons. In fact, it’s part of a story that starts well before the Big Bang created the universe.

This particular part of the tale I imagined being a story of space pirates facing off against a galactic evil. Yeah, I know, cliche’. What story set in space doesn’t feature such things? But, it’s set within our own solar system and very few sci-fi tales worry about our own solar body at large but rather our exploration of space beyond. Hell, even Star Trek barely focuses on Earth with most of its tales being set far out in deep space. I thought, why not think about how we settled our own backyard rather than lightyears away on some foreign planet? That was my thought, anyway.

I’m still delving into the thought. My book Red Star Sheriff is actually a lot about that. Links above! In fact, Red Star Sheriff is set in the same universe as Nebulous and I’ll be tying them all together eventually. For now, I hope you’ve enjoyed a glimpse into my imagination from twenty years ago. There will be more to come and there is only one more part to Nebulous left. For now.

Until next week, my friends. Read to you again soon.

~Timothy S Purvis