Path: usenet.ins.cwru.edu!b62535.STUDENT.CWRU.Edu!adm4 From: adm4@po.cwru.edu (Teral Acorn) Newsgroups: alt.devilbunnies Subject: A sign from god. (but which?) [s?][longish] Date: Sun, 17 Sep 1995 05:55:49 GMT Organization: CWRU Lines: 74 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: b62535.student.cwru.edu Teral slammed his paws on the computer keyboard, and switched it off in frustration. "Damned human computers. At least the bunnynet connection worked. [chitter]" But he did't dare use the bunnynet. Loren was watching it, now. Loren was watching everything that went on in UCirc, and giving orders with frightening speed and detail as well. But Teral hadn't forgotten everything he'd learned in thirteen years as head of security. There were places in UCirc to hide that only he knew of, and exits only he could open. And the campus computer labs were deserted, late at night. But he couldn't bring himself to speak outright what needed to be said. He'd told of Loren's plan on IRC, but who took what was said on IRC seriously? As if the Four actually planned to destroy the sun! And aside from that, who ever listened to squirrels at all? "I know Loren's crazy, Aldin, but what can I do?" Loren had always been a powerful leader, and with this new quest driving him he was aflame with passion. There wasn't a squirrel in the warren that doubted him or his plan, even the mentats, always the last to agree with anyone else, were behind him one hundred percent. Teral had approached one of his friends with his concerns, and had been met, to his surprise, with shock and horror. He had not been reported -- one learned more in security than cameras and passageways -- but he didn't dare risk it again. Sometimes he found himself doubting his own doubts. Maybe Loren WAS right; he was guided by the gods, after all. Wasn't a world without bunnies worth the risk? Wasn't it better than a hopeless battle, alone against overwhelming odds? "But if we win, we lose our souls?" That was what Rick would say, and Aldin as well. Maybe. Then again, maybe it was possible not to acknowledge the death and destruction that Loren's plan would bring. Humans, certainly, were capable of such denial. And of course, the alternative had to be considered. If they lost, they lost their souls as well -- to the Ky00t. Wasn't it better to willingly give something up, rather than have it taken from you? Teral was confused. He wanted to talk to Aldin and Kralk about it, to get advice, but the human network was obviously down for the night. [sighflick] Next week, perhaps. He didn't dare bring it up on the newsgroup -- Aldin, at least, would tightbeam a reply, which would go straight to Loren... Sometimes he thought the gods conspired against him. Or at least, conspired in his presence. He'd think about it in the morning. Forgetting where he was, he curled up on the chair and fell asleep. His dreams were dark. He rose from his body, up through the cieling, through the sky, into the darkness of space. * A pink and yellow lizard languidly devoured the sun. * A sparkling fragment of ice circled the earth, a black cloud spreading in its wake, then accelerated away into the void. * And the moon... the moon's face was scarred with three dark letters, burned deep into the lunar rock, spelling out 'CHA'. Teral awoke to the sound of human voices. "Shit! How did that thing get in here!" He ran for cover, and scurried down his hole, closing it securely behind him. "I bet it nibbled all the wires." ----------- Teral Acorn