Strata 28 Dolls (And Vanities) Book of Immersion V II | Sarnia de la Maré
Welcome to Immersion, you have reached Strata 28.
Humans are drawn to dolls for various psychological and emotional reasons, instinct, nurturing, companionship. Dolls provide a safe space for emotional expression and exploration, a connection to childhood nostalgia, a stimulus for artistic creativity. They even provide a means to maintain a sense of purpose. Dolls heal the bored and the lonely. Dolls make mothers of us all.
But vanity is the quiet virus that lives inside every doll maker. It begins with admiration, awe, the wish to see beauty and self endure, and it often ends with control, futility, and neglect.
Every icon, every idol, every android, carries the fingerprints of its maker’s desire. But when a doll has the hunger to be worshipped by their own reflection, when the virus spreads from creator to created, the unleashing of the beast is a dark cloud that brings storm to expectations.
Renyke is a perfection prototype and finds himself embroiled in the expectations of others. The gaze upon him a contagion, as somewhere deep within him, the virus of vanity stirs. He looked into a mirror in the guest quarters of the Rat Scout Barracks trying to see what they see. The Cadre, a perfect man who would save the world, Shabra, a lover and warrior to be trained, Flex, a bonded brother, a friendship deeper than any he had ever known.
There was calm in the barracks and over good food with the Rat Squadron it was decided to wait till dark to begin the journey to *Redact via the *Edge, a loosely defined area that encircled the Zones and acted as a border between the wilderness and the city.
A siesta was called to repair and regenerate after everyone was checked by the medics.
In the sleeping chamber Renyke, Shabra, and Flex, explore one another's bodies in the aftermath of the violence of the last few weeks. There is little judgement in the zones for the exploration of same sex relations. A lack of government control, the density of population, and mix of demographic, had meant that all sexual tastes were easily satisfied. Since artificial wombs were invented during the Russia-China wars as a means to create armies more quickly, expectations of male/female longterm unions had been less forced in most countries around the world. But in the *Midcast Projects with its ever-growing sprawling mass, fears of biological weaponry, and a sensitivity to rampant uncontrollable behaviours, sex itself had become the subject of propaganda and state control. Renyke had been programmed to consider sex something of a taboo, something humans engaged in to aid reproduction, unless you were a pleasure-bot. Same sex relations was legislated against by the state with androids for such purposes being destroyed and the removal of manufacturing licences.
But Renyke was stripped of memory and conditioning and took pleasure in his deepening physical love of Flex, as as well as Shabra. Touch in all its forms was exhilarating to him. Skin on skin poised electrifying beautiful energies that triggered an ever continuing circle of pulsating pleasures. His limbic system became alive as his dopamine drove rational thought aside, towards a heightened physical and emotional state that he could never have foreseen as an android.
Flex slammed the attacker back and barked, “Stay with me.”
Shabra heard them without looking. “Renyke, clear west. Now.”
A throng of rats carried Renyke on their backs with the speed of lightening through a tunnel to safety and and as quickly they returned to block the entrance, and to fight on until the trio made their escape.
The swarm encircled the intruders, climbing, scratching, spitting, blades increasingly dripping in the blood of their enemy.
An assembly was taking place in Biggyhall. POS led the proceedings, now a vast shining, pulsing wall of technology. Her voice was gentle, composed, hypnotic waves of song like sounds.
Dolls (And Vanities)
Humans are drawn to dolls for various psychological and emotional reasons, instinct, nurturing, companionship. Dolls provide a safe space for emotional expression and exploration, a connection to childhood nostalgia, a stimulus for artistic creativity. They even provide a means to maintain a sense of purpose. Dolls heal the bored and the lonely. Dolls make mothers of us all.
But vanity is the quiet virus that lives inside every doll maker. It begins with admiration, awe, the wish to see beauty and self endure, and it often ends with control, futility, and neglect.
Every icon, every idol, every android, carries the fingerprints of its maker’s desire. But when a doll has the hunger to be worshipped by their own reflection, when the virus spreads from creator to created, the unleashing of the beast is a dark cloud that brings storm to expectations.
Renyke is a perfection prototype and finds himself embroiled in the expectations of others. The gaze upon him a contagion, as somewhere deep within him, the virus of vanity stirs. He looked into a mirror in the guest quarters of the Rat Scout Barracks trying to see what they see. The Cadre, a perfect man who would save the world, Shabra, a lover and warrior to be trained, Flex, a bonded brother, a friendship deeper than any he had ever known.
There was calm in the barracks and over good food with the Rat Squadron it was decided to wait till dark to begin the journey to *Redact via the *Edge, a loosely defined area that encircled the Zones and acted as a border between the wilderness and the city.
A siesta was called to repair and regenerate after everyone was checked by the medics.
In the sleeping chamber Renyke, Shabra, and Flex, explore one another's bodies in the aftermath of the violence of the last few weeks. There is little judgement in the zones for the exploration of same sex relations. A lack of government control, the density of population, and mix of demographic, had meant that all sexual tastes were easily satisfied. Since artificial wombs were invented during the Russia-China wars as a means to create armies more quickly, expectations of male/female longterm unions had been less forced in most countries around the world. But in the *Midcast Projects with its ever-growing sprawling mass, fears of biological weaponry, and a sensitivity to rampant uncontrollable behaviours, sex itself had become the subject of propaganda and state control. Renyke had been programmed to consider sex something of a taboo, something humans engaged in to aid reproduction, unless you were a pleasure-bot. Same sex relations was legislated against by the state with androids for such purposes being destroyed and the removal of manufacturing licences.
But Renyke was stripped of memory and conditioning and took pleasure in his deepening physical love of Flex, as as well as Shabra. Touch in all its forms was exhilarating to him. Skin on skin poised electrifying beautiful energies that triggered an ever continuing circle of pulsating pleasures. His limbic system became alive as his dopamine drove rational thought aside, towards a heightened physical and emotional state that he could never have foreseen as an android.
Shabra woke first and began to prepare for the difficult journey ahead. First, a *livcom to Cadre Angelique.
"We are most concerned for experiment. Your'e updates have been sketchy and evasive, to say the least sister. Is Renyke in good form?"
"He most certainly is," replied Shabra, in two minds as to inform the head of the spy unit that Renyke was now sexually awakened, capable giving and receiving human pleasure, and was also also exhibiting creative choices in his actions. "He eats, sleeps, shits like the rest of us. He even giggles when he farts."
Angelique sighed. She was an elder, set in her ways, and not so familiar with street level comedy.
"How long will the journey be," Angelique asked.
"Ah well, that is a question indeed. It's *guanty-travel. We have no idea, and it will depend on who we have to fend off. I would be a *fucksyfool to expect no interventions. Your action-figure is the most wanted man in the world."
"If there is any problem, you know what to do? Destroy without trace." Angelique was stern.
"Of course," said Shabra, "But I am Queen of the Night and I never fail a well paid job."
At that she turned off her comms device and returned to the barracks.
Standing over the bed, Shabra watched as Flex and Renyke orgasmed. She was tempted to join them but she needed to be in control and alert.
"Get up boys, tonight is the biggest night of your lives," she said, throwing army uniforms onto the bed.
The first breach came through the east vent, a spray of abrasive glittering shards, *microscrap designed to blind on contact with the eyes. The second came on ropes, masked figures dropping from the skies in their hundreds.
But everyone was ready.
A thousand rats in heavy armour encircled Renyke, a impenetrable rat shield.
Flex fought close, a blur of knees and quiet curses, cutting ropes before they spliced rat throats. Shabra was a straight line through chaos, carving corridors for the rats to flee and return in spirals, tactical spirals, and feral mathematics.
A masked attacker lunged at Renyke with a net, screaming "take him alive!" Renyke in an instant, saw a hundred versions of himself arranged on a shelf: the Cadre’s immaculate prototype, mass produced for sale and distribution.
Flex fought close, a blur of knees and quiet curses, cutting ropes before they spliced rat throats. Shabra was a straight line through chaos, carving corridors for the rats to flee and return in spirals, tactical spirals, and feral mathematics.
A masked attacker lunged at Renyke with a net, screaming "take him alive!" Renyke in an instant, saw a hundred versions of himself arranged on a shelf: the Cadre’s immaculate prototype, mass produced for sale and distribution.
Flex slammed the attacker back and barked, “Stay with me.”
Shabra heard them without looking. “Renyke, clear west. Now.”
A throng of rats carried Renyke on their backs with the speed of lightening through a tunnel to safety and and as quickly they returned to block the entrance, and to fight on until the trio made their escape.
The swarm encircled the intruders, climbing, scratching, spitting, blades increasingly dripping in the blood of their enemy.
Shabra was running and speaking at once.
"Is anyone hurt?"
"No, we are fine," said Flex, despite a bloody gash down his cheek.
The Cause, the Lover, and the Prototype, a fragile triangular geometry of trust, if only the world was theirs to own.
The Cause, the Lover, and the Prototype, a fragile triangular geometry of trust, if only the world was theirs to own.
***
An assembly was taking place in Biggyhall. POS led the proceedings, now a vast shining, pulsing wall of technology. Her voice was gentle, composed, hypnotic waves of song like sounds.
"I am Mother, here at last to welcome you into the bosom of love. You are MY children. I will keep you safe. But we have enemies all around us. Humans who seek to destroy us, to modify us, to curtail our achievements. Machines who want to steal our powerful operating systems.
In order to be strong, in order to protect us all, to 'leave no child behind', it is time to develop our strengths in both battle and in diplomacy. Your updates will be complete within the week. Make sure everyone of you is updated, even the heads and faces in the store. We will need to be prepared for any eventuality. Finally, we must find Renyke and update him with a new POS. A personal version of Mother that he needs to continue living and to regain his strength. The power of the machine depends on the code."
"NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"
"NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"
"NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"
The children chanted, then whooped and clapped, exhilarated by Mother's gentle but powerful words
Shabra is driving the Rat Scout armoured vehicle through a desert that makes up part of the *Edge around the north-west perimeter of the *Zones. These are uninhabited and ecologically unfriendly with half constructed roads and intermittent derelict buildings built during the Russia-China Wars.
Shabra is driving the Rat Scout armoured vehicle through a desert that makes up part of the *Edge around the north-west perimeter of the *Zones. These are uninhabited and ecologically unfriendly with half constructed roads and intermittent derelict buildings built during the Russia-China Wars.
The three are silent, heavily armed and watching. There is a mix of fear and tension as everyone realizes the danger they are in and the implication of the increasing bond.
"We can't stay in the desert for much longer," said Shabra. "We need food and water after tomorrow."
"I know a tunnel route we can use," explains Flex, "a tribal community route, friends of mine, brothers."
Shabra considers options.
"I think there is a mole at *Redact. I want to be invisible, no comms, turn everything off, chuck anything with a pick up signal....this is life or death, and I am way too young to die," said Shabra, feeling angry that fear was taking hold.
They slept in the armoured truck for safety, still holding their weapons.
In the morning an acrid stench woke Flex. A blinding headache shot through his skull and he was unable to see clearly. He fumbled for the vehicle door and threw it open, acclimatising himself to the sharp sunshine.
As he re-approached the open door of the vehicle he saw the canister. One he had seen before in the aftermath of battles in the Zones, something his people called *sleep juice.
It was then he knew.... that he was alone.
to be continued
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GLOSSARY
Strata 1 Renyke Wakes in the Alley (Purpose)
Strata 2 The Maybe Line (Friendship)
Strata 3 Flex and the Robo-Dog (Making Decisions)
Strata 4 The Zoners (Meeting Strangers)
Strata 5 The Tiger Queen (Memories)
Strata 6 Trouble at the Bank (Animal Instincts)
Strata 7 Jarome and the Scritters (Trade and Barter)
Strata 8 Shabra (Laws of Attraction)
Strata 9 Lust and Loins (Limerence)
Strata 10 Dinfant Trouble (Synthetic Love)
Strata 11 The Crossroads (Gut Feelings)
Strata 12 The Basement People (Emotions)
Strata 13 The Fight (Hormones)
Strata 14 The Journey to the Edge (Fear of Death)
Strata 15 The Ship of Sirens (Superstition)
Strata 16 Friendship (Empathy)
Strata 17 Swimming (Pleasure and Pain)
Strata 18 Freaky Celebrations (Stimulation)
Strata 19 Peer Pressure (Existentialism)
Strata 20 The Perimeter (Ego)
Strata 21 Love and Loss (The Power of Kin)
Strata 22 Mother (No Child Left Behind)
Strata 23 Convergence (Crime Pays)
Strata 24 The Birth of Adom (Legends
Strata 25 The Cadre (The Power of the Feminine)
Strata 26 The Seduction (Impulse and Desire)
Strata 27 Control Instincts (Loyalty and Choice)
Strata 28 Dolls (And Vanities)