Still Wet Atop His Ears: The Technetium Cycle

By Conrad Ceevee

It's Barolium's first expedition to the surface. He's joined a caravan on the way to the refrigerant lakelands in search of fluorine, but he's in for a whole lot more than he expected. He's the only tenderfoot on the trip, and the more experienced soldiers are never going to let him forget it!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Technovolved Earth
• Release date: Jul 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223762768

Book preview

The corridor moss crunched invisibly underfoot, the sound helping Barolium keep himself awake. He was exhausted because he barely slept yesternight. He had barely slept since leaving uponto this expedition. Atfirst, he couldn't sleep duewhyto excitement—it was Barolium's first expedition inwith the Surface Army—but that excitement had faded downto a dull roar of boredom, and yesternight he couldn't sleep because the autowagon barrack was uncomfortable and crowded and because it smelled like elsewhose farts.

Wearily did Barolium walk alongside the caravan, near the wall of the underground corridor. He carried onback a security-field beacon, which concealed the massive caravan from any technota—wild robots—who bould seek the tech brought along.

And the tech was remarkable indeed: in the caravan got seven autowagons, three tankers, a portable gun barrel, a medic wagon and a leadership truck neartoback. That would be an incredible haul for any technota. Thatbewhy sixty-four soldiers were aton watch whenever, both defending around and monitoring around.

A massive beast stared at him. Barolium went yelp and turned pale.

He stepped back when he reckoned what it was, having done set his heart toso race.

A goat, zē.

The other soldiers aton watch all stopped short. They snorted when they realized what done startled Barolium. Most didn't even miss a step.

It's just a goat, lo, innit, said one fromamong the soldiers aheadof Barolium. The soldier scoffed off.

A blush bloomed upacross Barolium's cheeks.

The goat astay chewed corridor moss. It wasthere in an alleyito attached unto the corridor, and arear was an electrical control box. The goat reckoned Barolium out an idiot. Everywho reckoned him likewise.

The goat wasn't allthat massive. The species was dubbed the giant corridor goat because it was much larger than most synanthropospheric animals, including the more common street goats that were roundside near Fireteller Colony and in the corridors therearound. But the giant corridor goat was still barely bigger than a dog, zē.

These intercolony corridors connected the human colonies throughout the continent. They were illuminated by bright, efficient bulbs—type 11D, magnesium—which fed the corridor moss and other plants. Corridor moss was invisible when humans were around. The moss sensed movement, which triggered its topside toso roll overup, concealing its green photosynthetic surface and baring a side coveredin dirt and dust instead. The green side re-revealed itself unto observers who stood fewaminutes.

Though corridor moss remained the most widespread base of the corridor ecosystem, other plants and animals were ubiquitous aswell. The corridors were lush and verdant surroundantby flat daisies, wallhangers, ceiling stripes, crevice sundews, side ferns, high ferns, pale moss, creeping ivy and more.

The goat chewed its moss and watched Barolium. The other soldiers snickered. Barolium wasthe only novice aton this expedition, and they let'nt him forget it.

Look alive, o men! And o women too, ofwith abundant courage! Commander Drac Su's boom-happy voice echoed offof the low-ceilinged corridor. He done bin was inavant the caravan, but now he droppin' back, deliverin' encouragement towhomall aton watch.

Barolium smartened up before