Terminal Quotient - Retardant Necrosis by MillsIdeas

retardant necrosis

a graphic Tableau

TERMINAL

QUOTIENT

a broderic cane novel

Mills Publishing Forum Thomas Mills, CEO Portage, MI 49024 thomasmills_MPF@gmail.com mpf.com

prologue

QUOTIENT Broderic Cane Privateer

Hunter Markell • Reid Greaves • Stanton Toten • Bennett Tyrell • Elden Ryant

TERMINAL

4516 – 2,500 years in the future. The known universe is well-settled, well-explored and mired in political and economic corruption – enabling a robust Black Market for goods and services to thrive. Free enterprise has run horribly amok. Black Market privateers answer to no one, run from everyone and reap huge profits on the excesses of human and alien existence. One man exists at the top of this vast galactic enterprise...Broderic Cane.

Daxü

Cane must avoid the CyanoSyndicate (CS3), a tri-galactic military organization responsible for controlling devisive forces that threaten stability within the Local Cluster (of galaxies). It’s agents relentlessly pursue him in an effort to wrestle away his Black Market enterprise and the massive profits it generates. Cane manages to stay a step ahead of CS3 due to clandestine efforts on his behalf by CS3 operative Tonya Waring. Unknown to Cane, a far greater threat is attempting the total eradication of life in a chain of nearby galaxies. Jatai B’Kani, a violently evil entity, has initiated his maniacal plan using self-devised nano-constructs, the Cyrokkin, and “Retardent Necrosis” – the Black Flame.

Tonya Waring

Vi Kader Nano Scientist

But, Cane has powerful friends and unlimited resources: Former Omega Team members Markell, Greaves, Toten, Tyrell and Ryant provide Cane with logistics, operational support and para-military muscle for his Black Market operation. A small intergalactic scientific group led by Vi Kader offers Cane unlimited access to nanotechnology and Velü – a product/construct that generates insatiable demand and unlimited profit. A highly secretive, extremely wealthy industrialist supplies Cane with starships, weaponry and state-of-the-art technology from his vast galactic holdings.

B’Kani, and changling Låel Veillon, are involved in an even darker event – originating on Ancient Earth – that will propel Cane toward a series of events from which there may be no escape. For him, for anyone.

omega

CyanoSyndicate Black Ops

Jatai B’Kani & Låel Veillon

Vx = g* (RS) + ∑ ei ai

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Images are licensed through Adobe Stock Images. TERMINAL QUOTIENT Copyright © 2017 by Thomas Mills All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

Radical Static - CyBot

This story is depicted in a series of large images (graphic tableaus) paired with descriptive graphic panels that pull from the central story, and chapters of text. Absorb the imagery, imagine what’s happening in the story. Then, explore dialogue, quotations, keywords and facts in the graphic panels. Enjoy.

Story • retardant Necrosis • black death The story so far...there is no escape, on planet after planet vast civilizations fall under the suffocating, toxic, oozing black sarcophagus of death, Retardant Necrosis. Spread by the disembodied alien, Jatai B’Kani, whose destructive will was predicated by a dark perversion created through exposure to the Universal Constant. The creative forces that shape everything in the known universe also possess extreme destructive power. Because of this equational duality, B’Kani became the epitome of sadistic intent, unbound, unchecked, invested – from the point of his transgression against all life – with malevolent, unstoppable hatred. B’Kani...born to enhance, preserve, nurture and protect all life, became a despicable purveyor of universal death and despair. Retardant Necrosis destroys everything – plant, animal, human, alien, rock, metal. It’s an oozing, seeping, sinuous...fungal mold – dropped into planetary atmosphere from ships, in an inert form, hitting the ground in large glops. This self-multiplying, ominous, viscous liquid becomes a gelatinous mass of instant death – capable of radiant motion and adapting chemically in response to surfaces it encounters (adaptation and dissolution)... where nothing survives to recount the horrific process. Organic remains are dessicated beyond recognition and absorbed into the seething mass of undulating, primordal filth – a subsumer of all. Pods of filth encompass and obliterate everything and everyone. Recognized by all as “Black Death”...an unknown combination of bacteria and fungi resulting in an odorous, rotting blasphemy – a virulent putrefaction created exclusively for use by the alien Jatai B’Kani.

TERMINAL

QUOTIENT

graphic tableau

characters

Glop! A soft, innocent sound...glop, glop glop...glop glop glop, glop... quickly increasing in frequency and proximity to any individual unfortunate enough to be caught in the open at the onset of a Retardant Necrosis attack from the sky. Hundreds of fine, deadly spines protrude from the black globular clusters, designed to render instant death to any living creature receiving the lightest scratch or skin puncturing wound. Death follows quickly and inexorably, followed by a legion of Kl’nar sect Transectrons – biomorphically enhanced to resist the effects of Retardant Necrosis – rapidly descending from B’Kani’s ThülleCraft to eliminate any possible survivors of the madman’s genocidal rampage.

Broderic Cane: Main Character: Black market profiteer – Starship: Flame of Yarren/ScoutShips: Falcon Class Shrike Daxü: Alien from Atlantis Prime (Stasis Judicant)

Jatai B’Kani’s Transectron legions, an obscure race from the planet Kronek, were selected and developed by the death dealer and supported by Endurian slaves from Enduros III who, unlike the ponderous, slow-moving Transectrons, fly his ships, marshall the resources he demands and withstand his mercurial temper. Both unfortunate races respond to B’Kani’s will and are led through intimidation and brute force, staples of existence in the dark realm of Jatai B’Kani.

Vi Kader: nano scientist/Velü construct Radical Static: Cane’s CyBot

Former Omega team members Hunter Markell: team leader Reid Greaves: mathematician Stanton Toten: “Psycho” Bennet Tyrell: “Daredevil” Elden Ryant: physicist

ksrd

Zetoyllin Yar Khrelan Sefir Trent Drayton Ron Hyden Carter Carrick

Kader Scientific Research & Development

Wealthy Industrialist - Brüell Tarkenton Jatai B’Kani: Alien from Atlantis Prime (Retardant Necrosis) – Starship: Thelos Talon/ScoutShips: ThülleCraft Låel Veillon: changeling AntiStatic: B’Kani’s CyBot CyanoSyndicate (CS3): tri-galactic military organization Tonya Waring: CS3 Agent

Terminal Quotient is a science fiction story crafted from images into an outline of a much broader narrative. It’s essentially pictures supported by words. I’ve purposely left things out – inviting you to imagine plot twists, alternate endings and hopefully, inspiring you to craft your own stories in this manner.

– Thomas Mills, Author-Artist /Entrepreneur

Thelos Talon

necrosis retardant

Black Death

“None shall live.” “Slay all who remain, those unfortunate not to die instantly, will die at your hands.”

4516 A.D. B’Kani sat comfortably, and undeniably in control, upon an ornately carved command chair on the bridge of the Thelos Talon, his massive interstellar starship. A voluminous black cape, cradled his neck and lay loosely over his armored shoulder pads, encircling one arm and wrapping down around his waist and chain mail covered legs. Opulently garnished with polished gems and exquisitely stamped metal foils – executed in strange, ornate shapes and patterns, the cape seemed to reflect a polished and privileged persona rather than the actual nature of the being it entwined. Though appearing in the form of a human male, B’Kani did not, in form, exist in this universe in a definitive way. He was a being of pure energy. Energy, intellect, thought...existing only in an alternate dimension, but able to traverse time and space. His presence in the known universe long ago perverted into a purveyor of death. Any semblance of Jatai B’Kani, a revered scientific presence capable of great empathy, imbued with advanced scientific knowledge as well as great cultural depth and diversity, had evaporated in a moment of extreme

Cannibalistic carrion, these massive insect-like Transectrons served him well. His motives, deceit and sadistic intent were of no relevance to the large, slow creatures. Kill, eat. Kill, eat. Life, and death were simple for them. Yellow eyes watched and learned as leaders killed the rank and file for failure to execute commands. There was never dissent, only compliance.

A three sided-rectangular crack of light appeared in the bridge decking next to B’Kani and began to retract at a downward angle away from the alien. He swirled his cape to ensure his footing and purposefully descended the ramp to his quarters below. The rectangle noiselessly and closed seamlessly over the darkly demented representation of Jatai B’Kani.

B’Kani rose slowly, his large cape adding significant bulk to his intimidating form, standing now before the Transectrons assembled on the bridge. Coldly surveying his legion, he spoke fluently in a dialect known only to the Kl’nar. “You will kill,” he began. “And, you will enable me to kill. Death is your sole purpose. Loss in battle is unacceptable, for it means my goals suffer delay.” B’Kani continued, “I provide you with exquisite means to affect the end I desire. My ships await you. ThülleCraft scouts have been configured to carry and release the so called, “Black Death”. Do so on a planet by planet basis. I accept nothing short of utter and absolute destruction.” “None shall live,” he added grimly.

The small group of Transectrons slowly left the bridge in lifts of threes and fours due to their size and bulk. In the hanger bay where Endurian slaves hurriedly fulfilled parameters previously ordered by B’Kani, an accidental release of Cyrokkin gave visual and visceral support to his final warning. Several Transectrons and Endurians failed to reach shielding areas or access ports and were instantly assaulted by the deadly nanobytes. Two Cyrokkin attached themselves to neck plating of the nearest Transectrons who turned immediately upon the others. The result was horrific. Unbelievable carnage ensued as Transectron fought Transectron. Panicked slaves were simply slashed to death by clouds of swirling Cyrokkin,

5 ego and moral disenfranchisement. B’Kani had inexplicably transgressed against an unassailable creative manifestation, the Universal Constant. He’d attempted to assuage his burgeoning intellect and overriding ego with insolence and disrespect for a supreme creator. But, that was long ago. Surrounded now by a legion of Transectrons of his own design, who neither moved nor spoke, B’Kani evaluated his creations. Large beings with semi-transparent, black chitinous exoskeletons stared at him through pale, yellow, expressionless eyes. Segmented bony plates covered essential internal organs and small brains intended for simple, yet effective motor skills and subservient service to their lord and master.

“You have been naturally equipped to resist the scourge you sew. Ensure the completeness of your efforts! Slay all who remain, those fortunate enough not to die instantly, only to realize their final moments at your disposal.” B’Kani elaborated, “My slaves will pilot ThülleCraft bearing a means to increase the speed and scope of my plans. You will accompany them with Cyrokkin, for disposal on additional planets.” “Make no mistake,” he warned. “These constructs are unstoppable. Even you, are vulnerable. Deposit your cargo and depart immediately...or at your peril!” B’Kani’s accusing glare met only a field of reflective yellow eyes. He detected nothing in return. No remorse, no angst, no hesitation. Nothing but compliance.

into frothy pools of crimson gore which immediately flowed between the embattled Transectrons. The slipping, slashing violence of Transectron and Cyrokkin quickly reached an untenable state for safely onlooking Endurian slaves. Ghastly remains were ejected into space. Transectrons adjacent to the scene tacitly adjusted extraneous gear, straps and fittings. But, the yellow eyes saw everything, and noted...and learned.

cyrokkin

Torn from the mind of Vi Kader, the knowledge necessary to enable B’Kani’s Endurian slaves to recreate her finest scientific achievement in nanotechnology was taken from Kader by force...against her will. The appropriation and bastardization of her work rapidly becomes a universal threat.

ThülleCraft

Cyrokkin

“Andromeda Three! Andromeda Three!” echoed from the magnascan speakers lining the walls of Telemetry Central in the superstructure of the Andromeda Three spaceport at exactly 0600 hours. Two short bursts of static followed before a terrible cacophony of sounds assaulted the ears of the control staff preparing for the day above Centris V. More than one set of headphones hit the floor as volume adjustments were hastily made and visual data began flooding into floating visipanels. “Emergency request... Alpha, Bravo, Zero!” The immediacy of this request and unusual call sign, made it clear to everyone present that the opposide side of Centris V was experiencing a dire emergency. Static again preceded intermittent communication with the planet’s surface. “...large starship...(unintelligible)... dark silhouette against the rising sun, hard to...(unintelligible)...” followed by the sound of violent clashing! The signal went dead. Then...“– it’s black!” a new voice screamed, “all black!” More screams and a calmer, professional voice announced, “...heavily armored creatures, I repeat, heavily armored creatures attacking.” Sounds of objects slamming, wild shouts and sounds of an intense struggle filled the small telemetry unit. “Centris East, Centris East, immediate responders en route! Do you read me?” asked a junior staffer. “Commander, whatever’s happening...” He was cut short by the ranking telemetry officer, “I know, Centris East is virtually unarmed. And our scoutships are only prepared to discourage interference in the Velü trade,” snapped Lieutenant Tillotson. “Commander Tillotson,” interrupted a determined voice from a shrike jockey. “Toten reporting as directed.” “Situational report?” demanded Tillotson. “Nothing,” answered Toten, totally shocked by what he saw and very much at a loss for words. “What?” exclaimed the officer. “Nothing,” repeated Toten. “No sign of any starship and nothing appearing on any of our long-range scanners.” “And on the planet?” asked Tillotson impatiently. “We’re approaching the line between retreating nightfall and encroaching dawn. Everything below appears darker than normal,” said Toten. “Can you be more definitive,” demanded Tillotson, the tension in his voice clearly obvious. “Jesus!” yelled Toten. “It’s all dark! Terrible darkness.” “What do you mean all dark? came the response from Andromeda Three. “They’re all gone sir,”said Toten. “All?” questioned Tillotson. “All...everything...and everyone,” said Toten softly.

“There’s nothing we can do. Half the planet is gone.” said Tillotson in stupifed despair to everyone on the com links. Retardant Necrosis he realized, his stomach turning and cold sweat appearing on his face. “Oh my god!” blurted several of the shrike pilots simultaneously. “The darkness...it’s spreading!” explained Toten. On a hunch Tillotson toggled a magnification key. Squinting slightly as he turned a visipanel to face him directly he saw several ThülleCraft speed by below as strange red clouds appeared beneath the spaceport, spreading quickly across the planet from the opposite direction. “Cyrokkin!” he choked.

Aware of the accomplishments made by Kader Scientific Research and Development and, in particular, the renowned scientist Vi Kader – Jatai B’Kani had invasively appropriated her knowledge and perverted it to support his own deadly initiative. Sharing the knowledge he’d stolen with select members of his enslaved Endurians, B’Kani directed the manufacture of small nanobyte constructs, designed to broaden his efforts to destroy all life. His Cyrokkin rapidly became instruments of pure terror. Programmed to destroy sentient life forms, these small mechanical creatures were capable of seeking victims and silently attaching themselves at the base of a spinal chord or comparable alien pathway leading to a cerebral cortex. A small insertion point went unnoticed by the unwilling host due to an initial numbing agent, applied topically immediately before skin puncture. Supple mechanical spines slid into critical brain centers destroying everything save a primitive, reflexive fight response from humans and aliens alike. Individuals afflicted by these nano-parasites became violently hostile and combative within moments after initial brain intrusion. Intense interpersonal combat would break out and was so devastating to both entities that blunt force trauma and eviscerating wounds ensured none would survive these deathly struggles. Deposited from B’Kani’s airborne ThülleCraft, Cyrokkin were capable of quadrupedal movement and could fly vast distances propelled by internal cyclonic propulsion units. Launched as secondary measures in Retardant Necrosis attacks, Cyrokkin effectively turned victims upon each other or savagely sliced flesh and bone to bloody, raw gore using finely sharpened titanium appendages. A totally dispassionate killing device, Cyrokkin evoked abject, paralyzing terror from victims unable to flee this multitudinous menace. Long distance visual imagery capturing the grisly abilities of these abhorrent servo creatures quickly found its way into the awareness of millions, appearing on visipanels and personal teleprompters virtually everywhere. Panic and a mass exodus from myriad worlds further exacerbated an intellectual disconnect from the growing awareness of Jatai B’Kani, his very existence and genocidal mania, to the emotional realization that the “Black Death” and overwhelming appearance of Cyrokkin were sickening, inevitable, gruesome realities.

Jatai B’Kani extracts a singular, random equation from the Universal Constant – an erie precursor of the terror to come. Millions and millions will die before he can be stopped. Only the Stasis Judicant and Broderic Cane stand between B’Kani and utter universal decay and destruction.

Vx = g* (RS) + ∑ ei ai

stasis judicant

Does Broderic Cane successfully reach Atlantis Prime? Although Jatai B’Kani lost his ability to phase between dimensions, did an ominous craft follow Cane’s ship in a parallel trajectory around the black hole event horizon? Is this a final event from which there will be no escape? What of the prophecy...and the “Chronicles of Cane?” Retardant Necrosis – A Terminal Quotient Episode – “To be continued.” – Thomas Mills

TERMINAL