Subject: The Inner-Space Warp: Ch.2 Standing Up
Author:
Posted on: 2015-10-01 22:13:00 UTC

AN: The PPC belongs to Jake and Acapulco who created it, but I wish it was mine, all mine. SWIFT is mine, and I'm gonna be typoing it without periods from now on, cos that's easier.

--------

The room was a mix of a modern corporate boardroom and the great hall of a medieval castle. A long, pinkish-grey table stood in the middle, surrounded by pinkish-grey exectutive chairs. On the wall beyond one end of the table was a large screen for displaying PowerPoint presentations. However, the wall itself was made of large stones, like the other walls which were decorated with banners showing emblems of flying birds. Curved archways lead into dark passages. Tall pillars soard up to the vaulted roof. And the whole place was lit by flamming torches.

Paslee Torhan got up from her seat at the head of the table. She was an Asian Woman in her early thirties. Her dark black hair ran in a straight cascade down her back, and the long bangs of her fringe hid the delicate bronze skin of her forehead, allowing her eyes to peep out from underneath it, like two deep pools beneath a dense shrubbary in a m,usterious garden.

She stood up, strightend her designer, baclk trouser suit, and adressed the people siutting in the pinkish-grey chairs around the table.

"Fellow deparment heads, and other members of SWIFT, welcome to our fist general board meeting since our assets were halved in the unprovoked attacks carried out by the PPC four years ago. The wraith farm in Liliput had been set up as a dummy target for such attacks, so we weren't surprised when it was crushed underfoot by a PPC thug."

She paused and took a deep breath before continuing.

"The loss of the farm in the land of the Yahoos was unexpected. Apparently, two PPC adjitators called Alice amnd Printworthy persuaded the Houyhnhnms to side with them. That was something we hadn't anticipated. I'd like to hold a minutes' silence for all the men, women, and slash wriaths lost with those farms."

Paslee lowered her head, and the others did the same. All this recent history was known to Paslee's audience, of course, but reminding them of it was a good way to start the meeting. Once the minute was over, she resumed her speech.

"However, the good news is that the staff at our farm in Brobdingnag managed to stand up to the PPC. And, of course, this one here in Laputa," -- she gestured around her -- "managed to avoid attack by flying the island faster than the PPC pprtal devices could target it. Since then , we have been building up our strength, and I know thjat with your help and hard work, we can grow to become even stronger than before,"

She went on to discuss facts and figures in details, with representatives of the different sections of the different wraith farms each making thweir reports. When all this was done, they moved on to the final item on the agenda.

" 'Any other business.' I believe Septannus Batraic has something to say."

"Thank you," said the bearded man sitting three chairs down on her right. He stood up. "Now, our return to the slashfic business will mean nothing unless we can stand up to the PPC. As a few opf you already know, and as some of you may have guessed, us in the Farms Defense Sectiopn have been making plans." He paused rubbed his neatly trimmed brown beard with the back of his right hand. "We're going to attack the PPC and take it out."

Gasps came from around the table. Paslee just smiled to herself, pleasd by the reaction, and kept on watching

Batraic continued, "Of course, we can't go in unprepared. I don't know if you've heard of EYE-PATCH, the Elvish -- Yes, Elvish -- People Against Those Crazy Humans. I've sent some of my people to a few modest proposals to them, and stir them up against the PPC. They will weaken it, and we'll step in for the kill."

--------
After the meeting was over, Paslee returned to her quarters and poured herself a stiff drink. She sat buy the arched window, looking out throught it diamond panes at the farm buildings below.

Taking a long sip of her whisky, wondered if protecting tha twas really worth kiling the innocent civilians and children in PPC HQ. Wouldn't that make SWIFT no better than the PPC agents themselves?

Without realising it, she had raised a hand up to brush the hair out of her eyes. And she felt it, there above her left eybrow, taunting her as usual with its presence.

SHe finished her drink with a large gulp, and slammed the glass down on her desk. At least they'd be giving those civilians and children gift of a swift, clean death. SOmething that Paslee would never be lucky enough to experience herself.

Reply Return to messages