- today
This story is written by a human author and adapted with care into a visual audiobook format by our team.
How This Video Was Made:
– Narration is performed using AI voice technology (ElevenLabs), guided and edited by a human to preserve tone and pacing.
– Visuals are created with AI image tools, but every image is manually prompted and selected to match the story’s themes.
– The story format and video structure are fully planned and produced by humans.
This is not automated or mass-generated cont.
#scifi #hfy #scifistories1977
How This Video Was Made:
– Narration is performed using AI voice technology (ElevenLabs), guided and edited by a human to preserve tone and pacing.
– Visuals are created with AI image tools, but every image is manually prompted and selected to match the story’s themes.
– The story format and video structure are fully planned and produced by humans.
This is not automated or mass-generated cont.
#scifi #hfy #scifistories1977
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Part 1
00:00The young girl walked to the edge of the blackwoods and stood in front of the imposing
00:05facade of the largest forest bordering the elven kingdoms. The trees were almost a few
00:11hundred feet in the air, their roots tangling across the strangled ground while the bark had
00:15this strange glow to it. A shiver ran down her spine as she tried to collect her thoughts and
00:21calm her racing mind. There was no sugarcoating how dangerous this forest could be. She didn't
00:27care, though. She had a job to do. She took a deep breath and readied her mind.
00:31Here we go. Don't fail Ceres. She moved closer to the trees and climbed up on one of them.
00:38Concentrate on the bark. Feel the tree's heartbeat. Rustling leaves and swaying branches are its voice.
00:44Listen to it. Feel it. Understand it. Her pointy ears twitched excitedly as she closed her eyes,
00:51calmly remembering aloud her professor's teachings as a swarm of green energy began to surround her.
00:56She carefully used her magic to tie a blindfold over her eyes, and she breathed deeply as the
01:02magic surrounded her. Her mind's eye changed to visualize the world around her, the magic taking
01:08hold of her. An invisible hand reached out to guide her as she took her first footsteps.
01:13The magical energy swirled around her and began to take effect. Massive tree roots moved up and around,
01:19providing a stepping stone for her dainty elven feet. Trees shuffled across the ground, providing her a path
01:24forward. Mighty branches harder than steel gently moved aside and provided a path. She could sense
01:30there was something strange in the air as she continued to walk forward. The trees were all
01:35talking to each other, a modicum of both fear and excitement. Some trees spoke of being unable to
01:41breathe due to a toxic smoke, then suddenly breathing in fresher air than they'd ever tasted.
01:46Other trees speak of strange noises of grinding and cutting. Others speak of strange birds,
01:52far higher in the clouds than they had ever witnessed. Saplings spoke of a strange rain that made them
01:58grow faster, while others spoke of the corpses of the dead being carried away and the fallen being
02:03removed in the dead of night. Saris continued to walk blind on the path the trees were supplying her
02:09as she daintily wandered through the forest, until the trees deposited her into a clearing.
02:14She could feel the soft brush of grass under her feet. Listening closer, she heard the directions given
02:20to her by the rustling leaves and creaking wood, telling her to keep moving forward. Her training
02:25told her to trust the trees, trust the area, sense their whispers and go for it. Saris stopped feeling
02:31tree branches and roots underfoot as she felt a slight incline, followed by green grass. The trees
02:37kept whispering, keep going, go forward. She followed their direction. So much preparation went into this,
02:43caring for a garden of flowers for a year, performing rituals and rites revolving entirely around
02:48blessing trees and scenery, making a bond with a water spirit and tree spirit to strengthen her
02:53connection to the ether. The daily ritual of lovingly planting a new sapling at the forest's edge
02:59and blessing it with nutrient-rich water spells, it was working. Flower patches were appearing at her
03:05feet. Trees nearby grew several feet higher, stronger and greener. Groundwater rose up several feet,
03:12allowing the forest to take advantage of it. Nutrients in detritus and decay on the forest floor
03:17accelerated their decomposition, creating a thin carpet of fresh nutrients for the forest.
03:22Saris continued to follow the forest's instructions, her every step nourishing the
03:27ground for the next generation of trees, as flowers and grass grew fast and proud in her footsteps.
03:34She kept moving forward. The forest's borders expanded with her as she reached a clearing and
03:39kept moving. The forest's whispers slowly faded the further away she got, and she slowed her pace.
03:45Suddenly a loud vocalization erupted from the forest as she stopped dead in her tracks.
03:50Every tree, grass, clump, and flower suddenly screamed,
03:53Stop! Be still!
03:55Saris froze. Trees and forests know when their caregivers and mages are in danger,
04:00and know when to alert them. Saris removed her blindfold.
04:04What greeted her was an enormous machine, a gigantic mechanical scorpion-like beast of steel,
04:09plating and grinding gears staring straight at her. It was at least thirty feet high,
04:15six massive feet with large claws at their tips, the joints covered in armor plating and heavy steel.
04:21The machine had a face, six large glass panes that looked like eyes with armor plating arranged to
04:27appear like a face. Mounted under its body was an array of machinery looking like saw blades,
04:32drills, and what Saris knew to be cannons, just like those used by the mountain elves.
04:37Saris was frozen solid. She couldn't move, out of sheer biblical terror at the sight of this
04:43enormous monster staring straight at her. She closed her eyes by instinct as a bright light,
04:48a laser of some kind, appeared and washed over her for several seconds.
04:52She opened one eye sheepishly, looking around her as if she expected to find herself in heaven.
04:58No, she was still in the field, looking up at the giant spider machine.
05:02Suddenly a loud vocalization came from the beast. An amplified but definitely male voice in clear
05:07elvish. Put some goddamn pants on! The beast yelled out, echoing across the forest for miles around
05:14before it turned around and stomped away from her. I cannot believe this bullshit.
05:18They told me this planet was clean!
05:21Saris stood there dumbfounded for what seemed an eon, before she magicked up her huntress gear and
05:26sprinted at it, following it. Wait! Wait! Saris yelled out as her leather shoes frantically
05:32tried to catch up to the giant machine. Saris's elven feet were able to keep up with it barely.
05:38With a few lucky helpings from passing trees, she was able to jump and climb on one of its legs.
05:44With great difficulty and a little bit of magic, she was able to clamber onto its head.
05:49Her elven body allowed her to keep up with it swaying and bouncing as it clawed its way through
05:54the jagged terrain, eventually leading into a mountain range.
05:58Mount Caridian, what is it doing here? She asked herself as she held on to some object sticking out
06:04the top of its head. I'm going home! Get off my roof!
06:08The machine yelled out, trying to shake her off.
06:11No, no, no! Saris squealed as she held on for dear life, reaching the foot of the mountain.
06:16Fine! You asked for it, girly!
06:18The machine yelled, drastically increasing its speed. It charged up the mountain, perfectly
06:25handling a sheer vertical incline within a few minutes of starting its climb. Its giant claws
06:30dug into the solid rock, and it charged up the mountainside, quickly reaching a point where it
06:36could climb to the side and begin walking along the jagged peaks like an actual spider.
06:41Saris held on for dear life, sometimes screaming in terror as it jumped across mile-wide chasms with
06:48no effort, and climbed up near ninety-degree vertical cliffs as if it was just a casual stroll through
06:53a wheat field. Saris could not help but continue to scream in terror, clinging tightly to the object
07:00she was holding onto, and continued to scream in terror as the beast stopped. She continued to squeal
07:06in fear even as the beast stopped and its pilot climbed out. He stood in front of her, tapping his
07:11foot impatiently as she squealed and gasped her terror out. It took her a while to calm down.
07:16You have a lovely scream. It's like constantly shattering glass being scraped across a blackboard,
07:23he said, smiling at her sarcastically. I would ask, however, that you stop screaming as I only
07:28have one pair of ears, and I would rather not replace them. Saris was speechless. A human. An
07:34actual human was standing in front of her, relatively tall, wearing heavy armor and carrying a portable
07:40cannon. Brown hair, blue eyes, smooth round ears, and a strange smirk that showed perfect sparkling
07:46clean teeth. Saris couldn't really speak as she stared at him in sheer awe, shock, and terror.
07:52So, you gonna let that go or what? He said again, still smirking.
07:56Saris squealed and let go in a panic, losing her balance as she toppled over.
08:01He grabbed her arm, stopping her from falling over. She blinked as she felt the cold steel of his armor
08:06against her skin. This was real. Oh my gods. Relax. Please relax. Jeez. He said, and used a
08:15machine nearby, calling a platform that gently lowered them to the ground. Are all people on
08:19this planet so... jumpy? You... you are a human? Saris said, pointing at him as she backed away.
08:27Yeah. Whoa, wait, wait, you know what humans are? It was his turn to be confused and shocked.
08:33Oh, of course! You don't know what elves are? Saris replied in kind, now just as confused.
08:40Okay. Obviously we need to have a little chat. But, uh, I did tell you to put some pants on.
08:46He gestured to her huntress clothing. I am wearing pants. I use this to hunt deer in the forest.
08:52It's a common garb for us, Saris protested and checked her gear. The human rolled his eyes and
08:58started walking away, holding his hands in the air while shaking his head. Why?
09:03Hey, wait! Saris squealed and charged after him. It was only now Saris noticed where she was.
09:09In the center of a massive factory complex. A factory complex that looked like it was built
09:15specifically to manufacture the very same machine that she came here in. There were hundreds of them,
09:21in many different configurations, styles, and paint colors all built to offer a different function.
09:26They were all arrayed along the ground in a parking lot. Their legs were tucked neatly underneath them,
09:32having their effective size, stacked on top of each other like crates and boxes.
09:37Other machines, cranes, trains, and other things were charging about, assembling parts,
09:43pieces, and components, then slotting them into place. Sparks were flying, the air filled with the
09:48sounds and sirens of a massive industry. Saris followed the human while trying not to panic at the
09:53sight of hundreds of those powerful war machines. Was he assembling an army? Was he preparing an
09:58invasion? The elders needed to be told about this, urgently. Come on in. Wipe your feet and have a
10:04seat. Coffee, tea, soda, or juice? The human said, offering her entry into a building in a gentlemanly
10:11manner. Um, tea, please? Saris sheepishly responded as she ushered herself inside.
10:17The sight that greeted her was, to say the least, far from what she was expecting. It was a cozy
10:23worker's hut with shag carpeting and wood walls, a far contrast from the rest of the place. It looked
10:29like it was cautiously crafted, handmade even, with a dining table, chairs, a comfy single bed,
10:36effectively an entire house cooped up in a small but cozy space. By the time Saris got seated,
10:41he presented her with tea and some cookies. Thank you. Um, she looked at him expectantly.
10:48Marcus, he replied, helping himself to a can of soda from a mini-fridge nearby.
10:54A few minutes of awkward silence followed, Saris trying to think of what to say, and Marcus,
10:59trying his level best not to stare. So you're a human, then?
11:04Pretty much. Apart from some upgrades here and there, I'm human.
11:07So you're an elf, then? Marcus replied in kind.
11:12Um, yes, I am. I'm an elf of Whitebark Sanctum. I guess the term you humans used to use is
11:17wood elves, I think, Saris said, putting down her now-empty teacup.
11:22Why? Marcus said, looking up at the ceiling.
11:26Sorry.
11:28Don't worry about it. He reached out, offering his right hand.
11:32Captain Marcus James Flint, independent pilot operating on behalf of Jupiter Drive Yard's
11:38starship manufacturers. Saris took his hand and shook it.
11:42Saris Merinius. I'm just a hunter and practicing mage.
11:46Pleasure.
11:47Now you said you know about humans, yes?
11:50Please do tell.
11:52Well, history books say that humans were on Varinia around 6,000 years ago.
11:57That's when the first human was ever seen.
11:59There was civilization, wars, conflicts, and other such stuff after that.
12:03Then one day some kind of plague appeared and wiped them out.
12:07It didn't take long. They were just... gone.
12:10It's been like that for a few hundred years now.
12:12And suddenly out of the blue you and your machines arrive.
12:15So...
12:16Saris explained what she could according to her limited knowledge.
12:20Marcus looked up in the air with an eye roll again.
12:23Why...
12:24Saris, seemingly aware she wouldn't know exactly why he kept doing that,
12:28continued.
12:29So, you are human then?
12:31So humans survived, I guess?
12:33What's a starship?
12:34What's a Jupiter Drive and what's a yard?
12:36What's a pilot?
12:38Okay, so...
12:39History lesson.
12:40There's this planet a fair bit away that's called Earth, kay?
12:43It's the cradle of humanity.
12:44It's where we came from.
12:46About 6,000 years ago, a dying precursor civilization known only as the Greys
12:51came to Earth and abducted thousands of people, spreading them across the galaxy in a strange
12:57experiment.
12:58Before the experiment could accomplish anything, this precursor civilization died out, Marcus
13:04began to explain.
13:06Saris's jaw hit the floor, the wheels in her head suddenly coming to a stop as he began
13:10to explain.
13:11So what you basically told me is that this planet was one of the worlds the Greys used
13:17to conduct this experiment they never completed.
13:19And the people they dropped here were all killed off because of some kind of disease barely
13:23a few centuries ago.
13:25And you've been here all along.
13:27And unwittingly got into this strange experiment along with the humans.
13:31Because, yeah, I did do a scan on you.
13:33You have no human DNA in you.
13:35So, it seems contrary to my previous plans, I will be sticking around for a bit longer.
13:41Marcus cheerfully retrieved a new can of soda with a smile.
13:44Saris leaned back in her seat, jaw open, shocked eyes and heavy, slow breaths, as she
13:50just started processing the information she heard.
13:53She was so concentrated on trying to understand the shit she just heard, she failed to notice
13:57her already loose-fitting top fall off.
14:00Marcus simply rolled his eyes and looked up at the ceiling.
14:03Why, God?
14:04Seriously?
14:05Why?
14:07Saris remained still for a few more minutes before Marcus
14:10got up and walked back outside.
14:12Time to get back to work.
14:13New work.
14:14Got to start rebuilding the factory to start building archaeological equipment.
14:18When you're ready to go home, let me know.
14:21And I will give you a lift back to your forest.
14:25Saris watched, her elven ears twitching impatiently as Marcus the Human typed away at the console
14:30on his wrist.
14:31She was staying as close to him as possible, not wanting to get lost in the mass labyrinth
14:36that was the gigantic factory complex she found herself in.
14:40Saris felt very, very small.
14:42Despite the fact she was barely an inch shorter than Marcus, she felt as minuscule as a child.
14:47To her left, arrayed in dozens of rows of perfect parallel lines, were the imposing scorpion-like
14:54machines she came here on.
14:56Hundreds of them, armed, loaded, ready for operations.
15:00To her right, giant, box-like machines, multiple stories high, the roofs of which were moving
15:06with the writhing mass of mechanical arms and twisting gears.
15:10In front of her, an ocean of belts and machines all leading to one large building looming in
15:14the far distance.
15:16The belts saturated in components.
15:18A massive contrast to the scene behind her, a simple shack made of what appeared to be cargo
15:23crates or boxes, turned into a humble home surrounded by trees and plants.
15:29Saris carefully looked around and counted the machines.
15:32A mixture of strange objects and other objects that she could at least partially identify, all
15:37carried along massive complexes of belts and conveyors, some on the ground, others elevated
15:43atop poles.
15:45She carefully considered what was along one particular belt line and failed to identify the component.
15:50It was a white box made of some strange reflective substance with glowing green and blue lights
15:55on one side, holes and ports on the other.
15:58She looked at another belt, stacked high with varying sizes of iron, steel, and copper gears,
16:04with another carrying copper strings.
16:06The factory was awash with a strange symphony of machinery, clanging metal and screeching gears
16:12all conforming together to form a strange, discordant symphony of industry.
16:17In a hurry, Saris's elven ears twitched and moved to recognize various sounds and noises,
16:22knowing some, and being scared by others.
16:25The sudden sparking of a welding machine made her jump, while the clang of a plate press
16:29made her slightly more relaxed.
16:32Oi!
16:33What you thinking, Elfie?
16:34Marcus said, breaking her concentration.
16:37Oh!
16:38Uh, sorry.
16:39I'm just—this place is huge.
16:41What are you actually building?
16:43Saris asked, startled a bit.
16:44Oh, yeah, I didn't actually tell you what I'm here for, did I?
16:48This factory is designed to mass-produce these magnificent beasts, Marcus said, gesturing
16:53proudly towards the folded scorpion-spider robot.
16:57Oh.
16:57Okay.
16:58Need more?
16:59Okay.
17:00These are called the J.D.Y. Epsilon Series Discount Model Colony Service Unit.
17:05To shorten the explanation needed, these are giant service robots piloted by a person,
17:10designed to help planetary colonies function and build.
17:13Er, how can I better explain this, uh, golems?
17:17It's like a giant, super-helpful golem thing you can use to build almost anything, he explained,
17:23gesturing to its parts and components.
17:25Oh, wow, why are they that big?
17:28What can it do exactly?
17:29Saris replied with a raised brow.
17:32Anything.
17:33Construction, mining, farming, harvesting, cargo transport, factory building.
17:37It even has its own built-in assembler and piping system so you can build anything on the go.
17:42Very useful feature for any startup colony.
17:45I then kit them out, transport them off-world, and sell them.
17:48They are dirt cheap, but it's honest work, Marcus explained proudly with a smile.
17:53You?
17:54So there are other humans out there?
17:56Saris asked, her face brightening up.
17:58Yep.
18:00How many people you got in your home village?
18:02Marcus asked, gesturing for Saris to get onto a platform.
18:06Saris climbed on, trying to be careful to follow the various signs and lettering on the ground
18:11and components telling what was safe and what wasn't.
18:14About two hundred.
18:15Including the crazy wizard in the observatory.
18:18I'm not sure he's crazy anymore, really.
18:20Marcus let out a scary, hearty laugh.
18:22Oh God, we have planetary colonies nearly everywhere in the galaxy now.
18:27Humans, just from the colony ships in the Sol Confederacy, number just below nine hundred billion.
18:34Saris let out a terrified squeak and pulled her hands over her mouth in shock.
18:38Marcus simply rolled his eyes with a sigh.
18:40Why?
18:41Why do you keep doing that?
18:43What's with the why thing?
18:45Saris barked in annoyance.
18:47Oh, I don't know, let me think.
18:49I came to this planet thinking I'm going to be alone here.
18:52Then I find an elf.
18:53Elves!
18:54Creatures humanity has always thought of as fantasy creatures in our darkest dreams.
18:59Not only that, but also a naked elf girl blindfolded in the middle of a forest.
19:04What?
19:04Seriously?
19:05Marcus bellowed in a tone of frustration that Saris had never heard before.
19:10I, uh...
19:11So, I'm a little bit annoyed here.
19:14I was told this planet was unoccupied.
19:16That's why I built a damn factory.
19:17Now suddenly I have to stop all of my operations, rebuild the factory to be less than a tenth
19:23of its current size in order to solve a murder mystery.
19:26Now I'm told that elves are real.
19:28Magic is a thing and I had ancestors on this planet.
19:31Yeah.
19:31It seems only fair at this point.
19:33I aim my head to the heavens and ask the gods what kind of sick joke they're playing.
19:38Like, seriously?
19:39Marcus bellowed, more frustrated and annoyed.
19:41Like, holy crap!
19:43What sick joke are you assholes playing?
19:46Marcus yelled out angrily, waving his hands in the air as his voice echoed across the valley.
19:52Saris simply bowed her head, now feeling a bit shy.
19:55Marcus raised the platform they were on and walked towards the cockpit hatch of the giant
20:00machine that brought Saris here in the first place.
20:03As they approached, Maris suddenly turned on his heels and looked Saris dead in her sparkling
20:08green eyes.
20:09Marcus grabbed her, pulling her close, and Saris, too scared to know what to do, allowed
20:14his hands to roam freely.
20:16And to add insult to injury.
20:19The first sentient life form I encounter is the most magnificently beautiful woman I have
20:23ever seen.
20:24And even more so, she seems to enjoy wearing the equivalent of a loose-fitting denim bikini.
20:29I am single, actively looking to start a family.
20:32We're genetically compatible, judging from the scan I did, and yet...
20:36I can do nothing, Marcus said and let her go.
20:38He raised his hands and bellowed again.
20:41Seriously, why?
20:43Saris blushed, her cheeks turning an almost beet red.
20:46Marcus opened the hatch and waved his hand.
20:49In, he commanded.
20:51Not willing to annoy the half-machine, half-human monster in front of her, Saris, still blushing
20:57furiously, climbed in and sat on one of the seats inside the machine.
21:01She marveled at the sight of hundreds of buttons, dials, switches, and levers surrounding her,
21:07and wondered what the peculiar pointy thing near the neck of the other chair was.
21:13Marcus climbed in moments later and sat in the seat next to her.
21:16He ignored her for now.
21:17Saris gasped audibly as the strange, pointy thing slid into Marcus's neck, and a short
21:23black rope connected his head to the seat.
21:26His body went limp for a few seconds, and then he sat up straight again, unconcerned there
21:30was something stuck in the back of his neck.
21:33Okay, then.
21:34Factory reconstruction.
21:36Where's my BP file?
21:37There it is.
21:38Import string.
21:39Copy.
21:39Paste.
21:40Install.
21:41Remove old folder and...
21:42Ready.
21:42Let's see.
21:43Marcus idly said to himself as he worked.
21:46Saris remained jaw open, eyes wide as the empty hull suddenly disappeared, replaced by
21:52the world around them as if the machine's cockpit suddenly became invisible.
21:56The machine began to move around and raised up.
21:59Saris got her first decent look at the factory complex from this high up and could see greater
22:03detail.
22:04A strange haze of heat emanated from some parts of the factory, while smokestacks bellowed thick
22:10sludge from their tops.
22:11All the smoke was sucked into some square boxes on the sides of other buildings dotted
22:16around the factory.
22:17What are those?
22:19The things sucking up smoke?
22:20Saris asked.
22:22Air purifiers.
22:23They clean out the toxic substances like sulfur dioxide and chlorine and other highly toxic
22:29chemicals from the factory's production cycles, then filters all of it and releases carbon
22:33dioxide and oxygen.
22:35In short, bad toxic air comes from factory.
22:38Bad air gets into purifier.
22:40Good air and tree food comes out.
22:41Toxic sludge gets used in other stuff.
22:44Rinse, repeat, Marcus replied.
22:46This explains what the trees were talking about, how they could breathe fresher air than
22:51normal.
22:52It also explained why the forest was so cheerful during the start of her magic ritual earlier
22:56that day.
22:57The machine continued to move around the factory, showing Saris its sheer ridiculous size, with
23:03her audibly gasping in shock, as she saw that the structures continued past the horizon.
23:09By the goddess.
23:11The Ostini wouldn't be able to do this in a thousand years.
23:14How long did it take you to build this?
23:16About two months, give or take.
23:18Production cycle is...
23:20Marcus brought up a graph.
23:21This one Saris understood.
23:23All arrows pointing up with numbers next to them.
23:25280,000 components per day.
23:28Saris let out a shocked squeak, failing to notice her top once again falling off.
23:34How, my gods?
23:35You...
23:35You make 200,000 things...
23:37In a day?
23:38Every day?
23:39Jesus.
23:40This is a very small factory.
23:42We have planet-sized factory complexes called forge worlds that produce upwards of several
23:47million components per hour.
23:49But yes, the factory is in full swing.
23:51I'm gonna have to rebuild it, though.
23:53Just need to do a bit of setup first, Marcus replied, rolling his eyes at the sight of Saris'
23:58exposed breasts.
23:59What exactly are you going to do?
24:02Saris asked.
24:03Dismantle the factory and start producing specific items small scale.
24:07After that, I'm going to get on my ship, go home, and inform my bosses what I found.
24:12After that, the feds will handle the rest.
24:14In short, I will be on the receiving end of the single most hated evil in the universe.
24:20Bureaucracy, Marcus said with a crooked grin.
24:23The machine moved over to a small empty field where a number of flying winged robots were flying
24:29around.
24:30You can't dismantle this!
24:31You can't!
24:32Saris squealed in desperation.
24:35Why's that?
24:35Marcus asked as he started his work.
24:38Saris failed to answer as she saw the construction process.
24:42He built various warehouses and crates built to store devices.
24:45She saw the process of a building being dismantled, and it amazed her to no end.
24:50A hatch opened up, freeing the insides of the assembly unit.
24:54Then drones picked the machine apart with precision.
24:57The arms, the grinders, the cutters, all of it stripped down to nothing in seconds.
25:01The empty shell containing all the mechanical arms and metal presses was folded up like a
25:07piece of paper, then plopped into storage with a loud metallic clunk.
25:11Marcus was about to press a big blue button labeled Purge when Saris cried out and stopped
25:16his hand.
25:17Stop, please!
25:18You can't remove all this!
25:20And why is that?
25:22He asked, staring at her as one of her exposed breasts rubbed against his arm.
25:27I have to tell the elders about this.
25:30I have to tell everyone!
25:31They have to know what's going on.
25:33They have a right to know.
25:34And besides, this is our home, and you are here building on it.
25:38So the least you can do is show what's going on, then apologize for doing so.
25:42She yelled, crossing her arms.
25:44Marcus thought in silence for a few moments.
25:47He let out a loud, annoyed groan and closed the cap on the big blue button.
25:51Act fine!
25:52Holy ball-busting Christmas!
25:54Point me to your village.
25:55Let's take your naked ass home.
25:57I'm not naked!
25:59She yelled back.
26:00Says the one with her tits hanging out.
26:02Cover yourself, woman, my god!
26:04Marcus bellowed in response.
26:06Saris blushed wildly once again as she hastily restored her modesty.
26:11Marcus resumed building his factory warehouses, and Saris once again marveled at the process
26:17of what was essentially a very complicated and massively scaled-up version of the same
26:21process as assembling Ikea furniture.
26:24After this was done, Marcus moved closer to the larger structure near the middle of the
26:29factory, then began to climb its side.
26:32It was a lot larger than Saris anticipated, feeling a bit sick as they climbed up its surface
26:37vertically.
26:38Even in the stable state, the machine made the journey.
26:41They appeared inside a large hole on its side and went through.
26:44Saris, once again amazed at the sheer scale, gasped in awe at the sight.
26:49She looked around to find the chrome-plated, sterile insides of a large hangar, with several
26:55large vehicles hanging or clamped from various parts of the wall, ceiling, and floor.
27:00What is this?
27:01Saris exclaimed, shocked to her core for the umpteenth time.
27:29Yep.
27:30How else could I get here?
27:32Marcus simply replied and helped Saris out of the cockpit.
27:35Buh.
27:36But magic is...
27:37Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from any form of magic.
27:43In the same way, any piece of magic is indistinguishable from any sufficiently advanced form of technology.
27:48Supernatural is a null word that does nothing but waste time and divide people, slowing progress.
27:55Science and magic are simply different ways of accomplishing the same task, and the only reason one is dominant above the other is because nobody bothered to try both, Marcus said, looking at Saris.
28:05She scrunched her nose and scoffed, feeling like she had just been lectured by a guild mage scholar.
28:11Gee, thanks.
28:13Marcus just chuckled to himself and walked towards a control panel.
28:16After pushing a few buttons, a vehicle from the back of the hangar appeared, and Saris questioned its existence.
28:23The hell is that thing?
28:24I can tell it's a flying machine, but why are its wings so small and floppy?
28:28Saris asked.
28:29My .36 Stingray Infantry Support Gunship.
28:33It's a helicopter.
28:34Those aren't wings, they're blades, propeller blades.
28:37They spin fast enough to produce a downward force that allows flight.
28:41This one is a new version of an old design called the Hind, that I converted into a personnel carrier.
28:47Now, in, Marcus commanded.
28:49What exactly are we going to do?
28:51Saris asked while obeying his commands.
28:54They both entered the rear of the vehicle, and Marcus strapped her into a seat near the back.
28:58Put this on, and do not take it off until I tell you.
29:03Saris obeyed, looking at the strange hat he handed to her.
29:06She nodded in approval, and he repositioned a strange cushion closer to her mouth, then stepped away from her.
29:12Check, check, can you hear me?
29:14Marcus's voice suddenly came into her ears.
29:17Yes.
29:18How did...
29:19Radio.
29:20Have you ever held a can or container on either end of a string and spoke to your friends?
29:25He said through her headset.
29:27Yes, of course.
29:28Yes, she replied.
29:30Same principle.
29:31Just a lot more sophisticated, and also no wire or cable.
29:35This makes sure you can hear me through the whole trip, Marcus said as he hopped into the cockpit.
29:40Where are we going?
29:42Saris asked again.
29:43To your little village.
29:45I'm going to deposit you there, talk to your elders, then go around kingdom to kingdom and pick up a delegate.
29:50As you said, I got to show everyone my factory, so I shall.
29:53But we will do it on my terms, Marcus replied sternly.
29:57The engine started up, winding gears and spinning blades spooling up to a deafening whine outside the helicopter.
30:04The six blades on top unfolded from their position and splayed out, then began to spin at ludicrous speeds.
30:10A mechanism grabbed the vehicle's undercarriage and dragged it out onto a platform.
30:15The mechanism moved it away from the starship's exterior, giving it free reign to fly unchallenged.
30:21With a bit of thrust, the vehicle lifted off the platform and rapidly soared through the sky towards Saris' home village.
30:28Saris began to question her actions.
30:30As much as she wanted everyone to see the incredible miracles this creature could make, she wondered why everything was so heavily armed.
30:38Even an elf with a bow could clearly see what was or was not a weapon, and the thing she was riding in was armed to the teeth.
30:46She could piece together what part of the factory went where, and could reasonably guess that at least five of the production lines she saw were making some kind of weapon or ammunition for weapons.
30:56Her train of thought, however, quickly derailed.
31:00You know, Saris, I gotta say something.
31:03It pains me to say it, but I'ma say it, Marcus said over the radio.
31:07What?
31:08You are a very, very brave woman, you know that?
31:11Or, you are psychotically crazy.
31:14I mean, if I come across an unknown battle mech staring at me, I think the last thing I would decide to do is ride it like a bucking bronco for nearly sixty miles.
31:22I mean, I have to ask, what were you thinking? Marcus asked.
31:28Um, I wasn't.
31:30I can't remember.
31:31I actually don't know why I chased you.
31:32Heat of the moment, I guess, she replied sheepishly.
31:36Hmm, fair enough.
31:38Adrenaline does odd things to one's capacity for decision making.
31:41I'll let that slide.
31:42Still, though, that was awesome.
31:45To do that?
31:45Jump on a machine, then hang on it for sixty miles?
31:48That's good.
31:49Marcus's voice was deeper, gravelly now.
31:51The tone he spoke in made Saris blush, and she remained silent for the rest of the trip, choosing only to talk to give directions.
31:59Just before sunset, whitebark sanctum on the edge of the great forest appeared in front of them, the first few plumes of smoke rising from chimneys for the evening meal.
32:09What will happen?
32:14That's the end of the day.