Martian Dreams Part 6: The Waters of Mars
Ultima Worlds of Adventure: Martian Dreams
Part 6: The Waters of Mars
I will now follow-up on the plan to create robotic bodies for the Martians. A Martian named Kaxishek was working on this project in his lab at the North Pole, but no one has heard from him in some time.
Before I try to find Kaxishek's lab, I travel to Olympus to see if the polar explorer Robert Peary knows anything useful.
Bert, in your travels around the North Pole, did you ever find anything that looked like a laboratory?
Damn! What about those lens towers you mentioned?
You think those lenses can melt the ice?
How has it broken?
Alright. How should I repair them?
Okay. Tell me where they are.
I set-out on an expedition to the North Pole.
I am standing on the entrance to the laboratory; it is still iced-over, though.
I head to 55N, 100E and grab the broken motor.
I grab the broken lens from the second tower.
BTW, these oxy-leeches steal oxium, but they are mostly an annoyance.
I scope-out the third tower covered in vines.
I then head back to Olympus to speak with Edison.
Can you repair a broken motor?
Yes.
I now decide to speak to the human inhabitants of Elysium.
First, I speak with Percival Lowell.
How much do you know about the lenses at the North Pole.
In order for the lens towers to operate, the lenses must not be
broken and the lenses must be properly
focused to melt the ice.
How should they be focused?
The lenses on the towers must be focused in order to melt the icecap and fill the cisterns. You must enter the proper alignment coordinates. Controls for such a device normally rely upon entering the approximate time of day.
I then speak with George Washington Carver.
Carver, do you know of anything that will kill a bunch of pesky weeds?
How can I destroy them?
Are there any poisons available?
Cool! Later!
I now speak with H.G. Wells.
What is your name again?
Wells, H.G., of course. Actually, that's my pen name. My friends call me Bertie.
You are an author, right? Yeah, I have heard of you.
1984 kicked ass and so did
Citizen Kane!
I am an author, of course. Can't you see I'm
writing a
book?
You must like writing then.
Yes, writing is what I do best. I've tried science and teaching, but debate and short stories have so far been my forte.
What book are you working on?
I've been working on one while we were here on
Mars. I have most of the notes in my mind. Those dratted
machines gave me the idea.
What is your opinion of Mars?
It is such a cold, forbidding planet. It reminds me of my failed geology classes. *shudders* Ah, well, I didn't give it my all, I suppose. It is definitely time to go back to
Earth when I begin reminiscing about geology. This accidental
expedition has taken away two years of my life.
I never thought about interplanetary explorers missing Earth. I guess it makes sense when you think about it.
I think I shall appreciate it much more now. I can't wait to return to my
Jane.
Who is she?
Ah, my lovely darling. Her real name is Amy, you know, but she will always be my Jane. We are scheduled to be married as soon as I return.
You have to admit: this has been an exciting expedition.
Yes, speaking of nightmares! It was an incredible adventure, though, wasn't it? Maybe I can use the experience as the basis for another book. Yes, something to do with Mars. Or Martians. . .
By the way, what idea did the machines give you?
The one here on Mars controls your
dream state. I have hypothesized that machines could be created to control other things, such as
time.
A
Time Machine?! Preposterous! :monacle:
Yes, a machine that allows you to travel through time. Quite an exciting concept, eh? You will have to read my book after it is published!
Can you explain any of the weird shit in your dreams?
I never realized how important dreams can be. They can certainly show your present state of mind, but they also seem to exert force in the opposite direction, with
nightmares influencing your choices in life. Fascinating.
How did those nightmares influence your choices?
It was ingenious of the Martians to use our fears to trap us in our dreams. That
invisible creature was truly horrible!
Why do you fear invisible creatures?
Such a terrible feeling, to be pursued by something which you cannot see. The idea of invisibility is riveting, though. Perhaps another book . . .
Good day.
Certainly, Sir. You must remember to purchase my book when it appears on the stands!
I now speak with Louis Tiffany.
Well met, Elzair! How may I help you today?
Who are you, again?
Tiffany, my good man. Louis Comfort Tiffany.
What was your profession on Earth?
I am an
artist and a sometime interior
decorator.
What are your current artistic projects?
Right now, i am working mainly in
glass.
Why do you like glass so much?
Glass is such a flexible medium for artwork. It is a pity that not many artists have discovered the joy of working with it.
What have you done interior-decorator-wise?
I have
designed the interiors of many structures, from the White House to armories to private homes.
You have some pretty impressive designs to your name!
I can make or
fix almost anything made of
glass.
I have something that needs fixing.
You have something that needs to be fixed? What is it?
This lens.
Yes, lenses are made of glass. I don't know that I could create one form its conception, but I'm certain that I could repair a broken one.
That is good because I need to have a broken lens repaired.
You have a broken lens? I must have the broken lens to be able to create the new one.
I have the lens with me, Mr. Tiffany.
Excellent. I will return shortly.
Good day.
I will hope to see you again soon, Elzair. Good luck on your travels.
I now speak with Lenin.
Ah, it is the one they call the Avatar. Zdravtsvuy, brother.
Who are you?
You may call me Lenin.
What did you do on Earth?
My premier occupation at this time is to organize socialist reform and revolution in
Russia.
In Soviet Russia . . . aw, fuck it!
My homeland is now badly governed. The majority of the people are oppressed by the
Tsar.
With a stupid name like that, how could they not be!
Assassination is not now out of the question. It is an alternative to be considered.
You want to assassinate your ruler?! Cool! :twisted:
It can be a useful
tool when used for political
advancement of the people's advocates.
What other 'tools' do you have in your toolbox?
Assassination used as a tool is sometimes not recognized or understood by the
masses.
The masses are always retarded.
As here on Mars. The masses did not understand Raxachk's
motives.
And you do?
It is sometimes necessary to
weed a garden. Occasionally, some good plants must perish for the cause.
You consider the plague akin to a weed-whacker?! Dude ...
Raxachk's tool, if used with wisdom ad discretion, could have brought about a
social revolution.
I fail to see anything
social about a doomsday weapon.
The revolution would not have been destructive to the people - or plantals - in general. It would only have destroyed those standing in the way of social
progress.
You think Raxachk is a progressive?!
Unfortunately, Raxachk is not wise or discrete. He planned to use the tool only for personal advancement and
power, not for the good of the masses.
You think dictators want anything else?
In a case of power misused, as for Raxachk, assassination must be considered as an appropriate means to achieve a
goal.
What is your goal?
We must be allowed to return to Earth. There is much there that I must accomplish.
Ooookay then. I am leaving now.
Indeed, we are both busy men. Do svedanya.
I now speak with Mark Twain.
Greetings friend. Pleasant weather we're havin'.
Who are you again?
I suppose you've forgotten already. Well, that's fine. Best call me Clemens, Sam Clemens. Most folks who read know me as Mark Twain, though.
What do you do?
I try to make a living as a writer. Usually works. I've been putting together a journal of our stay here on
Mars for publication when we get home. I think it'll sell. I don't know if many people will be able to use it as a tour guide, though.
How do you like Mars?
The beautiful red planet, home of talking greenery and conversing
crops.
You mean the Martians?
Yep, they would make one heck of a
salad if they didn't talk back.
Yes they would.
You could make a great
meal here if you never wanted to eat meat. Of course, the same objections people have to eating meat would apply here to plants. I suppose they'd just have to overcome their finer instincts, or starve. Always been a carnivore, myself.
Bye.
That's fine. You get to work and I'll wait right here.
I now head back to the lens towers at the North Pole.
I install the broken motor on the first tower.
I install the broken lens on the second tower.
I fill my spraygun up with weedkiller and kill all the weeds infesting the third tower.
Waitaminute! We are on Mars, right?
Right.
So, shouldn't the infamous Face of Mars be around here someplace?
I find it at 37N 36W.
Great! Now, let's find the control system for the lens!
I find it at 57N 24W.
First, I check my watch to find the time is 9:50 AM.
I then operate the controls and input the coordinates 0950.
We will do that, but first let's find that laboratory.
Some reservoirs along the North Pole are now filled with water, but that does not mean it has been pumped across the entire planet.
I find the (now unfrozen) entrance to Kaxishek's laboratory at 54N 112E.
I have a look around, but I do not find much.
I head to the room to the right and find the remains of two metal men. I find a few radium chips on the nonfunctional one.
The other one is still 'sentient', however.
What are you called, robot?
I am called Cutter.
What is your function?
I am a gem
cutter.
Your function is to cut gems?
That is my designation. My appendages are fashioned to
facet gems along the proper planes.
What gems do you need?
They are called
heartstones.
Why do you need a heartstone?
They are used to house the
sentience within the
mechanical men. They are immobile without them.
So that guy really did come up with a solution? How do I get a bunch of these here heartstones? Can you, what did you call it, 'facet' some for me?
If I have the proper
azurite gem, I can
fashion a heartstone.
What is that?
A blue gem used to create the heartstones. There is none here right now.
Is that all you need to fashion a heartstone?
I could do that if I had
power.
What is wrong with your power?
My
energy source is missing.
What energy source do you use?
I use one chunk of radium. Most of my kind are powered with this. My radium source has been exhausted.
Spector uses his tongs to pick up the chips of radium and put them in his lead box.
Spector gives Cutter a chip of radium, and the robot is fit as a fiddle.
So, can you fashion the gem now?
Of course I am capable of cutting a gem. I must have the azurite to create a heartstone. You must bring some to me.
Where will I find some azurite?
Waitaminute! I remember Hearst saying he had an azurite stone.
I travel to the western half of Olympus.
Apart from whacking weeds, a spraygun with weedkiller is deadly-effective against all plantals.
Hearst, may I ask you about the azurite stone you have?
Yes.
What kind of favor?
Alright.
I head west around the mountains.
I end up getting into a BIG skirmish with a pack of proto-Martians. Luckily, I am near the end of the game, so I have plenty of nasty surprises for them.
It looks like the poor bastard Hearst sent out to get a photograph met a nasty fate
Shame. Oh well, better him than me!
I grab the camera and head back to Hearst.
I have the camera.
Hearst hands me the plate from the camera, and I head to Elysium to see if Melies can develop it.
Ah, Monsieur l'Avatar! It is good to see you again.
Can you develop plates?
Oui, I could do that for you.
I have a plate right here, sir!
Excellent! I will return in a while.
I now return to Hearst.
I have the photograph.
I take the azurite stone and head back to Cutter at the polar laboratory.
So, can you cut the heartstone now?
Of course I am capable of cutting a gem. I must have the azurite to create a heartstone.
I have some!
That is good. I will make the heartstone now.
It is yours.
Alright! By the way, how do I transfer a Martain sentience into the heartstone?
Once it has a heartstone, the man is capable of housing sentience. To make it active and sentient, you must transfer a plantal's consciousness into it using the Dream Machine.
I grab the metal woman that was lying on the table. Now I have a body and a heartstone. The only thing missing is a volunteer, and I think I know just the Martian.
I head back to the Hellas Dream Machine.
Uh "Miss" Chsheket, how about joining up?
With no body to return to, I cannot leave this world of dreams. If you procured a
body for me, I would be willing to join you.
What kind of body do you want?
I fear for my safety, Sir. In nothing less than an
indestructible body would I walk in the real world.
Where would I find an indestructible body?
I seem to remember ... Of course! Kaxxishek! Xaktsesh's crazy podmate. At least, we thought he was crazy. Have you found his lab?
Yes.
That's wonderful! It is good to know that he was finally a success. With Prektesh gone, it is my turn. I must be the next to attempt a transfer. If you place an inert body in the Dream Machine and activate the machine, I will be ready. I hope to see you again, Elzair. In the Real-World.
I wake up.
I install the heart-stone into the metal woman.
I place the metal woman in the seat and activate the Dream Machine.
I can see that my services are no longer required. This lady should know as much, or more, about Mars than I do. I will not take any arguments, Elzair. I must withdraw so that you may continue on with this lovely lady. Besides, I should get back to my companions to see what trouble they've gotten themselves into while I've been away.
Ladies and gentlemen, Sherman has left the building!
Greetings, person of Earth.
I do suggest, Elzair, that we spend some time testing this solution to make sure it is a viable one before we try any more transfers.
I must agree wholecormedly, doctor. I would not presume to endanger any of my plantals without being sure of this plan's success.
So, Chsheket, how do you like your new metal body?
If only there were some way to make a body such as this more passably human in appearance . . .
Sarah Bernhardt would know quite a bit about makeup and disguise. We could ask her, Elzair.
I believe we must try, then. Please, Elzair, for the sake of my Grovemates. We should also check with the leader of your people at Olympus.
Alright, we will do that.
I look forward to our conversing again later. Of course, I look forward to everything now that I am alive again!
First, Chsheket grabs all of Sherman's old stuff that he was nice enough to leave behind.
Then I decide to investigate the pumping facility to see why water is not flowing into the canals. The pumping facility is located at 19N 167W.
I wind my way to the west.
I talk to this mechanical man here.
What is your designation, robot?
I am called Diver.
What is your function?
My job is to maintain the pipework here in the master
pumping station.
Tell me about the pumping going.
All water to fill the canals flows through this station.
Tell me about the canals.
Water from the melted icecaps flows into the canals. A person would turn a special
wheel to control the flow.
Did you say you got water from the icecaps?!
There are lenses of ruby atop our towers which focus the sun's heat upon the ice caps, turning great sections to clean, pure water.
According to Mr. Tesla, Mr. Peary had gone to explore the polar icelands on Mars. We should ask Mr. Peary about the
towers.
*jots down notes* Yes, we should ask Mr. Peary about it. It has been a long time since there was water in the canals.
Where is the wheel to control the flow of water?
The wheel is over beyond those
steam leaks.
How do I get past the steam leaks?
There are clockwork sensors that prevent me from moving that far. I could not get past the leaks safely and perform the necessary operation. Some of those like me were once
coated in
green sealant to make them ore durable and lifelike. One of them could pass the leaks with no difficulty.
Where does one get coated?
The coating machine is empty of sealant now.
Where can I find more sealant?
There is naother chamber like this one which hoses the sealant and the sprayer. It is to the southeast of here.
Why must it be green?
Adding color to the
coating did no harm.
Alright, first I head west.
Yikes! There is no way any human could get past that!
Since Chsheket's metal body is immune to the effects of hot steam, I send her alone.
She then operates the valve controls.
We then head out but take a detour to see the sealant machine Diver mentioned.
We find it due south of the entrance to the facility.
I wonder where the rubber is?
It is in these crates, apparently.
Chsheket takes it along to keep an eye on it.
I find a heat ray gun here as well.
Hooray! The canals are finally filled with water!
Now, we just need to find a way to make the Martians look more human and find some ore.
Next time!
