Erin's Challenge, E010, Purple Terrace Wound.'

Purple Terrace Wound

Eren’s Challenge

By Kenneth Shumaker

Episode 010

With InUPress

September 5, 2017

Eren’s Challenge

In Kenneth Shumaker’s Eren’s Challenge, we enter the world of the robotics research technician, a mature human male, Eren Mallet. During Eren’s 5th Galaxy Palcard sector journey, he encounters hazards with his friend, Esmelda(Es) Lantora, the mature human female who is an ambassador’s administrator. The pair struggle with adventures and dramatic developments while in the metropolitan industrial trade city of Goral, on the planet of the Krenar. Here, they fight with bureaucrats and the Hean priestly hierarchy.

In the previous Eren’s Challenge episode 009, ‘Emerald Hound Raffle’ …

Events went from being tense with Angel to being tense with Es. So, Eren bought a pair of raffle tickets from an emerald hound. The raffle is a trip to a distant planet. Then, he showed Es how to clean.

We continue with Eren’s Challenge episode 010, ‘Purple Terrace Wound’ on …

Lezmor 5th RD 78

One day blends into another for the typical industrial worker. Not so for me, and now Es is joining me on my journey into the chaos of the unknown. The thrills from the threats of ever-present danger sometimes trigger nerves in me that cause stone cold emotionlessness. At times, the thrill brings a reaction of overt laughter, often misguided.

To top it off, Angel now knows about me and my grinning laughter. And at our last meeting, she teased me with this knowledge. The knowledge which she gained from her chief elder Pargon, Lieutenant Unhrah.

I sent Es off to her usual job with Ambassador Uiora this morning, so things can resemble a return to ‘normal’.

Sitting here in my Trontal office with my research assistant, Jill, I listen to her complain about the restrictions placed on us by the company.

Turning casually to Jill, I ask her. “Do you like this work?”

Startled, Jill sits back, almost crossing her eyes as she looks at the space in front her. She scrunches her face, shrugging. “I don’t know. I like research … I hate all of this business politics.”

Leaning toward her, I boldly ask, “How far do you want to get in this business?”

Fuming angrily, she glares at me, “I just want to successfully build robots. I don’t care about management shit.”

Looking her in the eyes, our eyes lock. I frown as I answer her. “To successfully build ‘shit’, you need to learn the politics of the business. We have been ‘officially’ restricted. You want to create a working Archy, and not a half-assed ‘IT’, right?”

Lowering her gaze, red faced, she whispers, “I guess.”

Lifting her chin, to look into her eyes again, I state, “I know in your heart that you do, but you’re afraid of fighting for Archy, and that’s normal. In fact, it’s what is expected. But I don’t buy into it, and I happen to know the back doors into secret funding portals and ‘unofficial’ approval sources. IF we want to fight to complete Archy on time, I need all of you on my team and working with me – AS a TEAM! Got it, Jill?”

Looking at me with a small upturned grin she hesitates as she asks, “You’re serious?”

I wink and produce a broad-as-a-spade grin, saying, “Do I have to get my rum from the filing cabinet to show you how serious?”

Energetically shaking her head, she leaps up and hugs me as my com buzzes the ‘Death Hymn’ of the gnolls. This ring tone is now Angel’s personal calling notification, which I set yesterday.

Quickly embracing Jill, I then excuse myself and tap the screen, swiping aside the yellow bar. “Greetings Pargon Angel … how may I be of service?”

The serious gnoll on the other side of the screen replies, “Good response, Eren of Gor, my friend of Challenge Change. I need you in my cube as soon as you’re done work today … no excuses … bring Esmeralda with you.”

Whispering under my breath, I swear, “Gor!”

Angel grins broadly and says, “I heard that!”

I burst out laughing at seeing her grin.

She breaks the connection.

Jill stares at me oddly and asks, “A gnoll asking you to go to them? Why?”

I give her a short nod, replying, “An old acquaintance from the Arrival. I was in attendance when they stepped off the ship; she calls me occasionally. They have no sense of human manners … what are manners to them, may seem rude to us. No worries, it’ll be a friendly chat.” I lie to Jill.

Her expression just shifted another degree further closer in her respect for me. I hate that.

…..

At the end of my shift, on the way out of the research office, I key Es on my com. When she responds, I simply say, “In front of Angel’s Tower, to her Cube. Now.”

Es’ only response before we break connection is, “I’ll be right there.”

I drive home, quickly change into my recently cleaned synth-suit outfit and call for a Quickie Cab to head over to the Friend Tower.

Arriving at the front of the tower, I step out of the Quickie Cab, where I meet Es, dressed sensibly in slacks, a blouse, a blazer, and wearing flats.

We walk into the Friend Tower lobby together. In silence, we take the elevator to Angel’s penthouse. Whree we go through security with Pargon Lieutenant Unhrah and then we stand, nearly peeing ourselves, as we find ourselves in the presence of seven huge various coloured gnolls, each of who dwarf the huge Angel.

Angel growls in New Goren. “Took you damn long enough! Let’s get to business!”

By, Kenneth Shumaker

To be continued in the next Eren’s Challenge episode 011, ‘Rundle Treat Yen’ …

Having dealt with one issue, more crop up. Angel continues to drop Eren and Es into the woods of concrete and iridium-glass, deeper under the pressures of oppression. Can the two find any paths outbound?

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Join Kenneth Shumaker (Rusty Knight) in his Dragoman Bloodgrue Volume collection anthologies. ‘Dragoman Bloodgrue, Volume I: Fare Where?’ is the first of the episodes of the Dragoman Bloodgrue serial series. Read how Bloodgrue tests the gods’ resolve. Do the gods let the brave be fools? Is Bloodgrue brave or a fool? Follow Bloodgrue to see where his life’s path leads him. In ‘Dragoman Bloodgrue, Volume I: Fare Where?’ we are introduced to Bloodgrue as he begins his journey climbing the social ranks of Mount Oryn in North Docks. Purchase as a paperback or e-book at:

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