Voices (599 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.9 on 29 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by orph (View user info) at 2007-09-07 04:48:17 EDT
The dust storm blew in across the savannah, an unusual phenomenon for the area, and the villagers wondered from whence it came. This dust was different, grey in hue rather than the red of the desert sand.
Then the voice floated across the fields, willing them onwards. It was orgiastic in nature, compelling, exciting and seemingly not of this world. It infused the air with excitement, and the listeners responded ecstatically - shouts of pure joy erupted from one and all. The voice soothed their ailments, assuaged their fears, and rectified all their wrongs.
They followed its enchantment, like puppets on a string, seeking its source so they could bathe in the reflected beauty. It willed them onwards, promising delights beyond their comprehension, accentuating every feeling and thought that rushed through their minds.
They danced and played as they followed the voice - it was melodic in its splendour, yet compelling in its insistence that they find their way to the end.
'Is it god?' they wondered aloud, assured that it was, and that they were his chosen ones, being rewarded for their earthly efforts.
'Is it extraterrestrial?' they thought, assured that is was, and they were selected for their intellect and experiences to teach the alien visitors.
'Is it the sound of peace?' they reflected, assured that it was, and they few, the lucky few, were to lie down and pull its blanket of appeasement around them.
It mattered not; the voice manifested anew to each of the listeners, providing every one with their own version of peace and grace.
The villagers, the old and the young, men and women, child and adult, followed the voice. A trance had descended over them all, and they went forth blindly, yet happily, searching and wandering for the source. They were a simple people, not yet caught up in the technological revolution that was sweeping the globe. Their home was a small pocket of an age long since passed.
They trampled their own crops and scattered the herds that sustained them. All was forgotten as their will was sacrificed to the voice. They crossed fences and streams, traversed hills and forests, and finally came to a steep-sided valley, where jagged rocks lined the walls and silver trickle of a brook flowed through the valley floor.
The voice stopped.
For a moment they stood dazed as they noticed where they were, and their previously unblinking eyes squinted at the shafts of sunlight that shone down through the clouds.
Then, a new voice echoed through the valley. This voice was harsh and demanded obedience. The villagers quailed and cringed before it, as it barked its commands through their minds.
They stood, they sat, and they lay down and bowed. Tears streamed from their eyes as they wept and tried to resist the bitter tones that were forced upon them.
The voice focused on Lito, the village elder. He bent down, and picked up a rough-edged stone from the ground. He lifted his arm above his head, crying and shaking as he tried to resist, and struck it down. His wife fell at his feet; blood flowed, staining the green grass. He could not even hold her as she died, as he strained against the brittle voice that urged him on.
He waded through the crowd, hitting left and right as he felled his family, friends and followers. He tried to scream and run, yet the voice compelled him to continue. The voice was always in his head, willing him onwards to further acts of cruelty and murder.
When none were left, the voice paused again. Lito surveyed his work, torn apart with grief and guilt, wondering what kind of evil was this voice?
The harsh voice returned, and with a snapped instruction, Lito ran and ran towards the cliff that bordered the valley. He flung himself into the air, and over the edge. He made not a sound as h plummeted to his death.
*
Senior Specialist-Tech Hawkins entered the Director's office. He noticed the new polymer-moulded atomic structure that occupied a corner of the huge desk that dominated the room.
The Director, a small, mouse-like man sat in the large leather chair by the window.
'The report Director,' he said, handing over a thin dossier.
'Any issues?' the Director asked.
'None sir. The latest field test returned a 100% success rating.'
'And the village?
'Removed sir.'
'Very well, thank you Hawkins.'
As Hawkins closed the door, the Director smiled. The Over-Secretary would be pleased with the results.
They had perfected the mind control; the nano-tech swarm had been a success.
![ist2_1328787_nanotech[1].jpg (35 kB)](http://stuff.ubersite.com/118915489775799247/1/ist2_1328787_nanotech[1].jpg)
User Reviews
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2007-09-08 09:41:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by mystiamoon (user info) at 2007-09-08 09:26:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
*explodes*
Submitted by mystiamoon (user info) at 2007-09-08 09:25:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I love nano technology.
once you grasp the concept your brain almost explosed from the endless applications that could happen in the future.
there is a great site that has alot about the advacnces in nano tech
it's call betterhumans.com
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2007-09-08 00:46:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Reminds me of something I thought of a while ago. May or may not have posted it. Doesn't matter. Yours has better presentation.
How'd you get it from your head to text so well?
Submitted by Lib (user info) at 2007-09-07 15:36:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good read
Submitted by Ballare (user info) at 2007-09-07 11:53:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by zwerg (user info) at 2007-09-07 11:23:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This actually really terrified me
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-09-07 11:06:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Scruggs is the Director - his banjo hangs behind the door.
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2007-09-07 11:03:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
scruggs was probably at the bottom of this
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2007-09-07 11:01:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:53:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Haven't read that one Captn. But have read 'The Diamond Age' by Neal Stephenson - fantastic. In fact all his books are good, especially the Baroque Cycle & Cryptonomicon.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:52:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
hated the story. Well executed though.
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:52:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:50:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well written. Have you read Michael Crichton's book "Prey?" It's in the similar vein, about nanotechnology gone wrong.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:18:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Damnit, that's fuckin scary.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:07:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2007-09-07 08:46:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2007-09-07 07:39:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I like this kind of theme in a short story.
Submitted by Surgeon (user info) at 2007-09-07 06:41:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
cancerous..
Submitted by ShapeShifter (user info) at 2007-09-07 06:00:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by RabiedRooster (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:50:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
A stir in his underpants if you see how much wanking this guy does. Orph yet again another masterpiece
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:36:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Natures_Biggest_Mistake (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:35:27 BST (#)
Ranking: 2
Like i said before HBTS, i am an old user, but i only ever read, not posted. And back then i found the site by typing "bored at work" into google, and just reading the posts that popped up, as they were linked to uber.
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B@W eh? Have you perhaps seen my masterpiece on there?
http://www.ubersite.com/m/110211
It's cause quite a stir, I can tell you!
Submitted by Natures_Biggest_Mistake (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:35:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:31:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Natures_Biggest_Mistake (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:21:08 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
I am new, and have not read your work before, but this was compelling. Beautiful use of language throughout, a well deserved +2.
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Strange, the other day you were claiming to be an old user with a new account.
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Like i said before HBTS, i am an old user, but i only ever read, not posted. And back then i found the site by typing "bored at work" into google, and just reading the posts that popped up, as they were linked to uber.
regards.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:31:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Natures_Biggest_Mistake (user info) at 2007-09-07 10:21:08 BST (#)
Ranking: 0
I am new, and have not read your work before, but this was compelling. Beautiful use of language throughout, a well deserved +2.
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Strange, the other day you were claiming to be an old user with a new account.
Submitted by odin (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:30:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:24:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 i'm buying a house today
Submitted by Natures_Biggest_Mistake (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:21:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I am new, and have not read your work before, but this was compelling. Beautiful use of language throughout, a well deserved +2.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2007-09-07 05:05:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice and sharp
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2007-09-07 04:58:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Always good to have a good read from you orph. Had me thinking of the pied piper at the beggining.