A Tale Of Flesh and Fiber

by pazu7

Of flesh and blood was he, fiber and wire was she, yet interfaced in the face of all that their bond decried. Was it really love, or just the illusion of such, which flared so brightly, and then died?

6. Chapter 6

A Tale Of Flesh And Fiber
By Bryan Harrison

ACT 2 SCENE 2

As scattered and dim to recall as eras of Orga civility are the details of this episodic redo. But for your sake, my scant perusers, and that your peace may prevail, this piece shall do so too.

To the play; it will say that the things that file through the night towards the foggy doors of Cirrus; this discarded baggage of humanities megalo-personas, mania and genius in kind, make for a deal that severed ties could heal, bearing an offering so designed. But the rules require of the agonist's desire, by definition, their goal must deride. So, Romeo's need, towards treaty shall lead, and Sampson, the obstacle provide.

SAMPSON
Silver and vacuous heads do I now spy at the pillared gates of Cirrus, glinting in lunar hue, hinting lunacy in their cause for civility; unions and the like. And at the bidding of my own blood! That my brothers be less despised of the pretenses of false flesh than of my own temperament to thwart their inclusion to our Clan! Tyrannical tolerance and liberality, if not for me, would be the folly of our kind! But yet, as this tale unfolds, it may be shown I have foxier plan, and a like face to mask my own.

Donning a shimmering smile, Sampson approaches the door guards.

SAMPSON
Cirran brothers, stand thee now down and look to other concerns. I shall play escort to these kind neighbors, be they even of a kind so removed from my own.

GUARD 1
So says Sampson, most severe of the enemies to Mechanique? And why so?

SAMPSON
Even the most severe in service to his house, through the vicissitudes of alliances, may sever ties with hate. Trust now, if ever, to the more decent spirits that possess me, though strange to you they seem.

GUARD 1
Strangeness is less detected in strangers, whose peculiarities are lesser known. But it's better said that among my own I should know what is strange and, worse, what seems stranger than I could know.

SAMPSON
What's better said could be said better or best not said at all. Do drunk you speak drek, or perhaps should you drink to dispel this affect? If be the latter, then be on your way.

GUARD 1
Civility, good Sampson. I am executive to my own office as officer to my King in kind.

GUARD 2
Your riddles serve but to agitate, Leolo. Let us be on our way, and our brother have his play.

GUARD 1
I recall no ambiguity in our orders: to greet, announce and lead our guests to the floor.

GUARD 2
This be a night of revelry, not pedancy. Good Sampson can himself find the floor if he but follow his feet.

SAMPSON
You speak with more wisdom than your cautious cohort can provide. Hark, our guests arrive. Say now, one way or the other.

GUARD 1
The weight of this decision is much for my back, already laden with shield and sword. But, what now could go awry?

SAMPSON
No more celebrated words were at last spoken. Goodbye.

The guards walk away, grumbling between themselves. As the Mechanique approach the doors, Solo sees who has come to greet them.

SOLO
Look now, Bishop, into what hands our greeting has been entrusted, yet unwashed of yesterday's violence. Tis' a foul thing, he; arms flapping a feckless welcome.

BISHOP
We are looked and called for, and will be sought in the Cerran King's chamber. We cannot be there and stay here at once. Trust to our purpose, I propose, and to the purpose of what proposals may ensue.

SAMPSON
Welcome! Welcome, gentle bots, and … uh… ladies, of your kind. Those with toes intact may share a spin with our men, and we've maidens to follow your fellows! I shall lead thee to the floor of our festivities!

BISHOP
Well met and spoke, good Sampson. Already would my heart be calmed, if ever I had such a thing.

SAMPSON
Hark Cirrans, and greet well our guests! Musicians set rhythm to underscore these proceedings!

Music breaks out. Cirrans and the Mechanique hesitantly engage, while across the chamber Gregory speaks with his father, The Patriarch Cirrus.

CIRRUS
What age is this that finds our floors trod by such a throng, and our house host to what once were but servants to our will? And which is the king among them? How would one tell?

GREGORY
As one might differentiate dark from night. You patronize him to folly, I fear.

CIRRUS
Speak you of your brother, Romeo, who beseeched me to engage the Mechanique?

GREGORY
Yea, of him.

CIRRUS
Then speak you gently. Neither you nor the truculent Sampson would suffer in virtue learn't from that well-governed youth, who bears the weight of his office with comportment no less than grace would allow. Though of patience to excess I might be accurately accused, it is patience from which fitting profits could be drawn for all. No fault can I find in that coddling. Now, where would he be, the brother in question?

Amid the swirling throng, two figures intertwine. In the midst of a dance they spark a romance ill-fated and just in time.

ROMEO
May I address you by name?

JOLIET
If only to preclude further discussion, sir, for it is lengthy and bland to Orga ears.

ROMEO
'Sir' is the manner in which our Master is known. I am but Romeo, his son, yet a man with a will of my own.

JOLIET
By Joliet then, am I standardly known.

ROMEO
And whose will will I find in this address, yours or that of those who made you.

JOLIET
Made me?

ROMEO
What you are.

JOLIET
I am?

ROMEO
You think.

JOLIET
So therefore, I am... what?

ROMEO
All things precious and whole, for my part, as small as it is in the grander design. But as temporal as is my fleeting aesthetic, it is forever and none the less, mine. By that authority I declare your grace eternal and divine.

JOLIET
Are these the words by which our Clan's truce will be sown? So unbound to the practical matters of men and their wants?

ROMEO
No more likely would I profane this night with politics than break a holist shrine. For no more part of a whole have I felt than in my part with you.

JOLIET
You dishonor your part, sir, complete unto itself. No less whole could you be alone than in my humble company.

ROMEO
Then so gladly humbled will I be, to remain here with you, rather than to imagine my place among the deciders of our regimens. Let the mundane depart and unbind me from its tainting grasp that I may in turn cling here to this heedless moment.

JOLIET
I would laugh, if so designed. But in a manner that derision would be not derived.

ROMEO
Then, if laughter be beyond you, my lady, dance with me, and let depart the world already blurred on our meaningless periphery.

Gregory spies Romeo on the floor and alerts his father.

GREGORY
There, on the floor, Father, moving in time with the busty machine that provoked his entreaty, is the son you seek.

CIRRUS
Gently, did I not command you to speak?

GREGORY
As gently as one could possibly reveal what base motivations drive the 'virtuous' Romeo.

CIRRUS
No! Speak you right, or speak you from spite?

GREGORY
Are your eyes so uncertain that my words could bias them either way?

CIRRUS
What dares this slave come hither, cloaked in maiden form, to fleer and scorn my greeting? Or had my son in mind a different meeting, unspoken and obscene? Gregory, find and bring the fiber-head king, that we may ascertain the terms of our truce and send him on his way.

GREGORY
And Romeo?

CIRRUS
Leave him to his infraction, for now. Innocence is his shield, and will yet bear the brunt of my rage. He will amend his behavior in time, or will need mend his behind. Now go, fetch me the robo-king

Sampson watches carefully the developing conflict.

SAMPSON
So our father has seen on his own, his favored son's precious deceit. Should I now disengage from my course to chaos, or yet allow these festivities be hijacked and detoured to crash at my fathers feet? Hmmm. Of as civil temperament I fear is he, as the spawn of his favor, that sibling of my despising. Forgiveness is too easily extracted from his heart, so old for such vestiges of youth to remain. But remain they do, still vital and irritants to my cause. So, my loving father, though forbearance will be ever your legacy, it has now allowed an enemy into your hall. Though he be obliged to calm by command of his Clan, I can surely extract from him a brawl.

Ah, Solo, my fibrous friend! I've curses to amend and apologies enough for you all. Can we now have words ... over here... alone?

(cont..)