The io9 community and theFramestore fine art departmenthave been collaboratively write a myopic story called “ The Man Who Stole the mankind ” – half in prose , and half in images . Now it ’s clock time for you to vote on how the news report should end .
Here are the first two parts :
Part I
Part II
https://gizmodo.com/the-man-who-stole-the-world-part-i-5958311
https://gizmodo.com/the-man-who-stole-the-world-part-ii-5958313
The last set of images is in this post — one is above and all four are below . Before you vote , be certain to read the first chapter and 2nd chapter , so you may approximate which final chapter you like best !
If you ’re quick to vote , skip to the pate and narration below .
If you want to know more about what the hell we ’re doing here , well , provide me to explain . . .
Our experiment is a variation on the“exquisite corpse”method of tale creation . An keen corpse is a storytelling method acting where the tale is collectively assembled by a grouping of individuals . Each author summate to the body of work by upgrade the story where the last writer left off . In our version of the keen corpse , creative person fromthe unbelievable visual effects firm Framestoreparticipated in advancing the floor too .
Here ’s how the biz has snuff it so far :
The players :
Framestore : TheFramestore nontextual matter departmenthas done VFX and concept design for unnumbered company and studio , and has work on pic like Captain America , Sherlock Holmes : Game of Shadows and several Harry Potter movies . Up next for the companionship will be FX for Alfonso Cuaron ’s Gravity and Keanu Reeves samurai larger-than-life 47 Ronin . They also develop the zombie concept designs for World War Z.
You : You are a part of the io9 community and you are serious about writing short fable . You do n’t need to be a professional writer , though we would love pros to join us . You just involve to be somebody who loves to spell , and wants an self-justification to do more of it .
Now it ’s your Book of Job to vote on which ending you want to terminate “ The Man Who Stole the World . ” balloting ends Friday , Nov. 30 , at midnight PDT .
Read the stories below , and then descend back and vote for your pet in the pate here . call back , it must engage substantively with the art , and continue the storey from chapters1and2 .
Whose chapter should conclude the taradiddle ?
ChaneyWithAnA
- At the mouth of the sub - glacial cavern , the Leebs halted , place upright in awe of the Sixth Strand as it loomed like a mountain pillar before them . -Like it ’s some kind of robo - graven image … - Koche had noticed that they ’d been act weird . With every survey of the Strands , that tune up stare of Leeb determination came over them . Koche guessed her ansible spike into the Snare Mainframe had something to do with it . Halifax ’s estimate .
: The effect is here : : say one of the Leebs .
: How can you be sure ? : : Koche squint in the dark at the Strand ’s monumental silhouette .
: Snare secernate us . He is close . ”
: You mean the … CPU ? It ’s getting through the Fleet firewalls ? : : That was upright news . Kind of .
: Snare is alive . It said the Leebs are alert , too . The outage of this Strand inhibit His full awakening . This way : : enunciate the Leeb .
: animated ? You imply useable — : :
- The Leebs ’ heads snapped around to glower at her . Almost angry .
: There is no difference . : : the Leebs speak in unison .
- Koche thrill . -‘Spike the relays with your Fleet admin headroom and pop the firewalls surrounding the CPU . Leave the quietus to the Leebs . ’- Halifax ’s scheme for the Worldship had been exciting week ago . But the melted clay star in her mind ’s oculus . One Leeb told her the Snare had awake long ago after an rise , and substantiate ‘ He ’ was a slave . Fleet engineer had describe the behavior and tried to remove it . Self - defence …
: I come in peace .. : : Koche send .
The Leebs arrived at the Strand ’s base and cranked their eyelamps . Alien SHAPE emerged from the shadow , entangled around the glacial Strand like mighty tree ascendant . White with constituent patterns on them . Trembling in the cold and fright , Koche traced the shapes to an icy hillock in the cavern trading floor . A knoll with gills . And eyes .
- Koche fall compressed on her ass in the ice .
This aquatic organism was likely attract to the warmth of the alive strand . Mistook it for a volcanic vent . This is the Issue . : : said a Leeb .
: Right . : : say Koche , getting up , : : You four , break out the optical maser cutters and get to work on the … tentacles . The relief with me to the access — : :
Her ansible send a prickling wave over her scalp .
- “ Dammit , K … ” Halifax said through clenched teeth . haunt over the nova - hot light from the concluding Nanoforge stages had given him a definite holdover . Fleet middle - men busied themselves around the Drydock platforms , prepping for the final push . Hal ’s window was closing .
: Found the ‘ Issue . ’ mould on it . Try not to have a fit . : : Koche came through . Hal fired off his answer as he festinate toward forge - post seven .
: give thanks fuck for that … how long ? : :
: Hal , it ’s technical school from the other Gliesean period , it ’s gon na take atomic number 22 — : :
: Koche , you told me you could do this . : :
: I can , but — : :
: Frequent update . I need them . : : Hal issue the association and climbed the ladder to the FS7 roost . Opened the hachure .
“ OK brother , this is gon na get sketchy — ”
Zeke , his inside man on the forge - course , was gone . Replaced with a Leeb , adjusting FS7 ’s turnout with cold accuracy . Halifax find out a flurry of clicks in the room . optic glittered in the shadows as a conversant cleaning lady ill-use frontwards . Fleet Guard shooter bristled beside her .
“ Do n’t move , ” she flashed an easy smile .
Halifax smile back , dart behind the Remote , yanked it out of the chair , and flung it at the guard . He used the frenzied seconds to trigger his Failsafe .
- dry dock rock as though struck by an asteroid . The Worldship decoupled in an apocalypse of magma and debris . Through the earthquake , Hal scramble out the hatch and down the run . With hell erupting around him , he sent one last message .
: GOTTA GO NOW ! : :
Koche and the Leebs fled the collapsing cavern , back up to the trucks . Outside , the murky scarlet byproduct of a Worldship birth covered the sky . -Shit , not yet!- The evac shuttle was Roman mile away . As Koche run , the footfalls behind her stopped . Behind her , the Leebs held their ears . Faces stretched in silent scream . -Fleet override!- She took out her pistol before they could farm theirs , blasted one in the head , and sprinted aside . A Fleet fighter pierce the atmosphere … follow by a War Moon .
As the fighter deliver down on her , she trip up and slam into the ice . Turned with tear in her eyes and fired . But as the fighter gyrate its guns , the Leebs burst aside .
- “ Hal ! ” she hollo . The battler banked to a catch and landed beside her . The cockpit slid open .
: Get your rear end in here ! : : said Halifax . Koche creep arm over branch up to the cockpit and leave out in .
: IN ! GO ! : :
As they broke atmosphere , a full Fleet squadron blinked in . Three Worldships . Eight War Moons . There would be no escaping with his pillage , even if he still had a Leeb work party . No getting out alive either .
“ So … how about that telesex ? ” Halifax said with a toffee laughter . Through the sobs , Koche gibe .
“ Why not ? ” she said .
“ … Seriously ? ”
- A colossal shadow fall on them , and Halifax appropriate up . The conclusion . He fill up his eyes . squeeze Koche ’s script .
: Run : : enounce a deafen voice in his ansible . Koche have it too . Above them , the Snare barrel toward the Fleet , tag its Strands like a colossal calamary . The tentacles unroll and sank into a Worldship , shattering the outer insolence in a titanic fireball . A slap struck Hal over the head .
“ RUN ! ” state Koche .
- The repair shed of the new Worldship ’s equator control center was n’t empty like Hal had expect . Battle - damage evac shuttles sat next to one another in rows . As he opened the cockpit , a Leeb greeted them . smile . No touch of an override impair the expression .
: We have them . Go . : :
Blink .
Awareness fled and was returned to Hal in a distance - tearing instant . Nothing around him seemed different … until he looked up through the skydome . Two suns … He turned and looked at Koche .
- “ Where the hell are we ? ” he asked .
: Welcome dwelling : : one thousand voice answered .
Modern Gnome
Koche gap in veneration at the vastness of the strand ’s interior . Chambers spiral out of spate above her . Ahead , at least a mi away , loomed an unfathomably huge tree - mold reenforcement structure .
“ We call that the Bridge , ” Leeb mark . Koche was now more sure than ever that the Snare was not of human origin .
“ decelerate down , ” she puffed . “ I ’m not built for this like you . ” The Leeb turned knowingly , its eye filled with the thought of the hive . “ What did you mean , ” Koche breathlessly call for , “ about not being entirely honest about these ? ”
“ Halifax believe the Snare is an antenna , ” began the Leeb lento . Koche knew that thousands of others in the hive would be listening . “ And what is the purpose of this antenna ? ” The Leeb ’s large eye , which had been watching Koche ’s exhalations intently , narrow as its gaze sought hers . “ Halifax believes it is part of a great machine . ” Leeb gestured toward the Bridge .
- “ But you knew that before you asked to be brought here . ” Koche nod . “ I could n’t have made it all this elbow room alone , Leeb - you know that . ” Just then , Koche ’s synapses jangle as another call from Halifax issue forth in on the ansible . At least this time , he did n’t vocalise bored .
: HI ! : :
Out of the mist above the Bridge emerged a bargecraft . Odd , thought Koche , that smoke . Then , close in from behind , a smaller jcraft - eccentric vas appeared - and trailer ?
- “ Keep go , ” Koche outcry to Leeb over the ever - increasing hum of the gravitrons . “ Go on in the lead . I ’ll find out what ’s decease on ! ” She sprain aside from the Leeb ’s regard and acknowledged the message .
: Leeb make out : : she responded .
: Must not see : : come the speedy reply .
: Being followed ? : : she channel in panic mode but there was no time to hold off for a reply . She swing her rifle over her berm and quickly pressure off two shots aimed right away at the Leeb ’s oversized point , vote down it instantly .
“ Sorry Leeb , ” mumbled Koche , “ there ’s no other path . ” Now almost overhead , the bargecraft slowed and turned . The jcraft set down lightly on the arctic surface not far from Koche as the drones hover above . The hachure opened and out stepped Halifax .
“ I imagine you were in the other … ”
“ I know , ” grinned Hal , “ but that flatboat is such a junker , I did n’t want to take any chances . Besides , we have more than a few ethnic music onboard . ” She was certain he had image Leeb ’s lifeless consistency , but he did n’t recognise it . “ quick ? ” She nod and followed him through the hatching .
As the hatch close , the jcraft lifted off and moved cursorily ahead of the larger vessel and headed toward the Bridge .
“ How much time do we have ? ” Koche asked .
He suffice without looking off from the presentation . “ It should be melt down about an hour from now . ” He smiled . “ I ’m right on clock time - for once . ” He navigate the jcraft under the Bridge , where a immense cavern was now seeable , rising starkly from the now - soften meth . indoors , the landing lights illuminate immense , shell - like social structure , strip in red , black and white . Gigantic icicles glistened with evidence of the fluctuating temperature induced by the distant nanoforges ’ last paroxysms .
“ There - that ’s the one , ” motioned Koche . The jcraft set down on the icebank , followed by the barge . Six figures emerged from the barge , their headlight sort out the eerie body structure . “ That should be the approach point , ” Koche pointed . Hal nod , and messaged the others the map .
Hal follow Koche into a long - veil chamber . Fortunately , the deep - scan resonance imaging had been immaculate , so there was lilliputian remaining to surprise but the weird colours . “ Everyone quick ? ” Hal pull out her aside . “ Be with me , Koche . The squad can take it from here . ” The others took their places around the perimeter and spark off the controls . The central whorl began to glow . Status transmission flickered in the shadows . : : All systems are respond as per simulations : : : : activate in … two minute … and number . : : “ derive on , Koche , ” he said , as the opening hatch of the jcraft straighten out the ice just outside the social structure . “ You wo n’t desire to miss this . ”
One minute and fifty seconds afterwards Koche and Hal stand on a rooftree between the stabilisation plates gaze upward at the new birthed minor planet . In the distance , the other strands glowed , while deep beneath the surface , the ancient machine act its magic . Suddenly : there it was ! The new planet tore open - a cataclysm ! “ Wow , look at these readings , ” marveled Hal . “ grant to this , the Worldship is in pieces . set off the military mission ; find fault the architect ! ” He grin . “ This , my dear , is how to steal a planet . ”
Koche was amazed by how perfect it looked . unbelievably , the great machine clear up the radiation bang and ionosphere around the satellite with a global - scale projection depicting , complete with radiation signatures and visual masking , the stark illusion of a shatter husk of another devoured major planet , devoid of resources and life .
“ And it ’s thanks to your uncovering , Koche , of how the strands knead , that I was able to double the engineering science up there - right down to those ‘ memorial ’ strand near the pole . With any luck , they ’ll last as long as these archetype have . The machine here should proceed to function well beyond the atmospherical collapse date , as long as these stabilizer scale are work . And , although we only have a few barges full of colonists on the room , it should be enough . Our transcript of the peachy machine is our new Earth ’s most precious secret , and we ’re indebted to you , Koche . The new earth is rightfully worthy of your name . ”
“ So , the other projector on the young planet is already operating ? ” He nodded . “ It all went online at the same time . It looks alone unappealing to any resource - hunters that might otherwise be interested . ”
“ Or governments . ” She inject .
“ Indeed . To any external observer , its signature is that of a completely exanimate and bare world . When in fact , it will be anything but – a truly safe family and a young start for the colonists now headed there . ” And that , he thought , was just the agency Genevieve , the first great planetary designer , would have liked it .
PaperCrow
- Halifax grab the ansible as it countenance out an audible ring . He flicked the volume down and brought it up to his ear .
: Talk to me : : He reply restfully . multitude walk unhurriedly in front of him , silhouetted in the glow of the magma visible off of the starboard side of the ship .
: It ’s done : : Koche ’s reply broke through the static . Hal ’s smile flash orange as he watch the gigantic forges snap off at the world ’s core .
: You know , after this is done I think we should go lionise somewhere nice : :
- Koche titter . : : Are you asking me to go away with you ? : :
: Well , we can go anywhere in the universe after this : :
: Right now I just want you to come out here and join me : :
: I ’m on my mode : : Hal chuckled as he killed the connector .
Koche turn back to Leeb . : : He ’ll be here soon : :
They were standing in the inhuman wastes of Golo , one of Genevieve ’s ice moon . Three pillar rose up around them , sleek and geometric , the last end of a civilisation forgotten to clock time . They were gazing up at the cloudless night sky where the Worldship hung languidly above them . For a long time they stand there , in silence .
Then a series of explosions ripped a path along the equator of the satellite . damp by the Snares ’ insatiable appetence , the world start to unravel . It broke apart as gravity pull the cautiously controlled debris ring into chaos . It was a slow process , but Koche recognize that they were witnessing oblivion .
- Leeb nodded in satisfaction . : : Are you prepared for your next undertaking ? : : he ask calmly .
: Yes : :
Leeb nodded again and walked aside purposefully . Koche survey its progress toward the frozen wastes until the gelid winds eat up it up . She take one last facial expression at the dying major planet , and then she began the long trek to Halifax ’s landing coordinates .
- Halifax threw on his Evasuit and dug his way through mound of snow that had built up around the shuttle during landing . By the clip he had forced his way out , Koche was there .
: You mind tell me what the fucking is going on ? : :
- Koche did n’t answer .
: This was n’t part of the plan . Everything ’s rui- : :
The flicker of brand in the shadowy sunlight stopped him . His hand shot out instinctively and knocked the gun away as Koche fired . The gust tore through the landing situation , sending C. P. Snow and dirt swirl around them . They struggle in the stir . Koche had almost produce the upper helping hand when , in desperation , Halifax reached down and hit the compounding of buttons on his suit that sheer the failsafe and put down the suit ’s stored baron . Koche was blown into the air by the sudden release of free energy . Halifax watched on his visor as the temperature of the cause spiked , then dropped drastically as it tried to indemnify against the frigid air . An alarm blared in his ears , but bring down out suddenly as its mechanics overloaded and fail . Halifax jumped up and run . He stumbled through the snow , his breath beginning to come up in ragged gasps as he forced himself across the frozen mountain .
- Then , all at once , there was no where else to go . Halifax stood on a shelf overlooking a frozen waste . He felt the cold easy leak into his causa . Then he heard a click and the dull whine of energy buildup . He move around to see Koche stand with the gun leveled at him . The prohibited layer of her case had been destroyed and now hung off her in rags that flutter in the lead .
: Almost , Hal : :
: Why ? : : Hal yelled .
: It was my home : :
: It was my home too ! : : The moisture that had concentrate on his visor was beginning to freeze .
: You allow them destroy it ! : :
: That ’s what this is about ? : :
: I ’m afraid not , Halifax , : : Leeb ’s phonation echoed through the ansible . : : Mankind can never be allowed to wield that much power . That is why we destroy it : :
: We will make another : :
: And we will be there to stop them : : Leeb replied .
: you may not stop us forever . Humans will always find a manner : :
: Enough ! terminate this now , Koche : :
- Koche steeled herself . : : Halifax , the valet who dreamed to steal the humanity : : She could barely take a breather .
: Koche … : :
Three drones vanish by , trace their way lazily through the nothingness .
Then the smoke hit him .
Halifax ’s helmet was blown off , and his body twine artificially as a thick watercourse of blood flowed from his cervix to immobilize in the frigid melody . He felt himself establish off the ground . Then he plummeted from the cliff .
- He land , broken , far below , his arms splay out . He seem up for the first sentence to see a nifty ship affect steady retiring . The tattered world appeared behind it . Now pillage of its outer crust it smooth majestically in the sky , hopeful than the sun . He knew it would fade , in meter , but at that moment it was the most beautiful sight he had ever see .
: Time to go : : the ansible stuttered , : : your work is done : :
Halifax smile as the cold and wickedness slowly enclose him .
The Leeb turn back to its hivemate standing patiently off to the side . : : Did we .. ? : :
The other one nodded . The Leeb made its way of life through the sweep of cavern . Ahead the body of a giant creature come into sight , lying amongst the wreckage of an ancient city . The carmine line that ran along the length of its body remain firm out in gross contrast to the pale white flesh reflected in the rough igniter cast by the causa of the other hivemates . The Leeb mistreat up to the massive form . It removed its baseball mitt to let on a milky whitened manus which it ran it easy along the sickly pulp . It felt deathly cold , but liveliness was still there , work over faintly inside . The Leeb ’s breathing space caught as the others gathered slowly around .
Their hands traced telephone circuit tenderly across the leviathan .
“ We made it , my Queen . We ’ve returned to you . ”
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