What happened that last night on Altair IV?
Based on the movie "Forbidden Planet"
Krell
THE FALL OF THE KRELL
by Lloyd A. Green
Goliath found himself lost in the sights and sounds of the Capital, as he stood before the cloud-piercing towers of glass, porcelain, and adamantine steel. The distant movement of the twin moons held his gaze as they glided across the nighttime green sky. In the lower valley, the canal’s hydraulics rhythmically produced the pulse of the city.
“Goliath? You haven’t moved into the state of Torpor, have you?”
Terribilis’ attempt at humor should have shaken Goliath back to needed readiness. Instead, Goliath envisioned his long-gone ancestors during Torpor and their ability to remain inactive for months while in hibernation. Their present species retained some of this adeptness, but they used it only to meditate, for they were no longer considered toads or frogs.
Millions of years of natural and scientifically directed evolution had not only enhanced their mental state but their physical bodies, as well. Gone were the days of the water loss on the surface of their skin. They alleviated their susceptibility to toxic substances from the environment. They were so much more than their genetic heritage. They were the Krell. Within eons, they had abolished sickness, mental illness, crime, and even injustice.
According to Terribilis, there was the possibility that the next step their civilization was about to embark on would not only unlock the final mysteries of nature but cause the destruction of their civilization.
“This is not the time for humor,” Goliath finally responded. He purposely spat his words in Terribilis’ direction.
“Sorry. It’s the stress,” Terribilis stated quietly as he noticeably lowered himself to the ground a few inches. “I wish I had the oneness of mind that you do.”
“We all move with our gifts, my friend,” Goliath replied. “Regardless of my mental enhancements, I will never be able to keep up with your natural computational abilities.”
Terribilis lowered his third eyelid to better focus on Goliath, who stood just three feet away from him. Goliath was seldom one to give compliments, and his look was so severe. Terribilis shrugged off the strange behavior and responded to his friend.
“And statistically, we have only an 11.0 percent chance of succeeding at our intended task. We must proceed, my Brother.
“I accepted your wisdom and our mission long ago, my friend,” Goliath replied. “The entrance is just ahead.”
“Goliath? You haven’t moved into the state of Torpor, have you?”
Terribilis’ attempt at humor should have shaken Goliath back to needed readiness. Instead, Goliath envisioned his long-gone ancestors during Torpor and their ability to remain inactive for months while in hibernation. Their present species retained some of this adeptness, but they used it only to meditate, for they were no longer considered toads or frogs.
Millions of years of natural and scientifically directed evolution had not only enhanced their mental state but their physical bodies, as well. Gone were the days of the water loss on the surface of their skin. They alleviated their susceptibility to toxic substances from the environment. They were so much more than their genetic heritage. They were the Krell. Within eons, they had abolished sickness, mental illness, crime, and even injustice.
According to Terribilis, there was the possibility that the next step their civilization was about to embark on would not only unlock the final mysteries of nature but cause the destruction of their civilization.
“This is not the time for humor,” Goliath finally responded. He purposely spat his words in Terribilis’ direction.
“Sorry. It’s the stress,” Terribilis stated quietly as he noticeably lowered himself to the ground a few inches. “I wish I had the oneness of mind that you do.”
“We all move with our gifts, my friend,” Goliath replied. “Regardless of my mental enhancements, I will never be able to keep up with your natural computational abilities.”
Terribilis lowered his third eyelid to better focus on Goliath, who stood just three feet away from him. Goliath was seldom one to give compliments, and his look was so severe. Terribilis shrugged off the strange behavior and responded to his friend.
“And statistically, we have only an 11.0 percent chance of succeeding at our intended task. We must proceed, my Brother.
“I accepted your wisdom and our mission long ago, my friend,” Goliath replied. “The entrance is just ahead.”
The immenseness of the structure swallowed all who ventured into its aperture. The Krell purposely built the inner doorways wide toward its lower portion to accommodate their bulky size and shape easily.
Based on the lack of response from nearby citizens, no one found odd Goliath’s and Terribilis’ movements through the fourth level’s dark tunnels. Goliath could tell his friend was uncomfortable by the shininess of his arms. Terribilis’ nervousness was causing his glands to work overtime and produce extra mucus to keep his skin moist.
“What if others discover our plan?” Terribilis spoke in his lowest tone. His anxiousness bounced off the far ahead walls long before the echoes of each step of their webbed feet.
Goliath turned his head and peered down at his smaller friend. Terribilis quickly seemed to understand. Unnecessary vocal utterances might cause their capture as they drew closer to their destination.
Terribilis held his long tongue as they walked past the few Krell that surrounded the well-known P.E. apparatus. His fear was making him irrational. The area would have been the best place to set up their work, but to stop here, even temporarily, would be madness. Their planned destination was exceedingly more logical.
They climbed into the shuttle carrier that would take them deeper into the planet. The light-filled tunnel flickered at an increasing pace as the vehicle sped downward.
This car was made for two individuals, Terribilis thought to himself. But because of Goliath’s size, comfortable space is lacking. The cramped space would be short-lived since the journey would take only a few minutes.
As they headed toward the focal point of the site’s energy, Terribilis caught himself again thinking of the primary Plastic Educator, also known as the P.E. That area near the entrance contained the oldest of the power source connections. Attempting their mission in that sacred place held the possibility for the most success, but it also had a more significant amount of Krell traffic. Terribilis felt their vehicle moving close to free-fall as they continued their descent. His heart missed a beat as he reflected on how they had come to this point.
Thousands of years ago, Krell scientists discovered the secrets of controlled matter manipulation at the atomic level. Any object could be built molecule by molecule from scratch by specialized machines. Soon after this, devices called Matter-Replicators were available to all Krell, based on the proclamation, “As we all share, we shall all grow.” These units were limited to feeding a sample of any piece of matter into the M-R for analysis. Once the substance’s atomic patterns were stored, the Matter-Replicator miraculously produced the desired item’s replica. As centuries progressed, inventive Krell minds made many extraordinary replication innovations.
One benefit of this new science was the Plastic Educator. It was found to be uniquely suited to rate the intelligence of the young Krell. As they playfully sat with the three-pronged headset attached to their heads, their neuron patterns were physically doubled or tripled in the course of their fun. The youngling was delighted as they mentally created objects within the secured glass cabinet before them. Eventually, the increasing of the young Krell’s I.Q. level became a routine right-of-passage by seven years of age. But it was not realized until much later that the machine’s ability to teach simple matter configuration would be the beginning of the next Krell breakthrough.
Based on the lack of response from nearby citizens, no one found odd Goliath’s and Terribilis’ movements through the fourth level’s dark tunnels. Goliath could tell his friend was uncomfortable by the shininess of his arms. Terribilis’ nervousness was causing his glands to work overtime and produce extra mucus to keep his skin moist.
“What if others discover our plan?” Terribilis spoke in his lowest tone. His anxiousness bounced off the far ahead walls long before the echoes of each step of their webbed feet.
Goliath turned his head and peered down at his smaller friend. Terribilis quickly seemed to understand. Unnecessary vocal utterances might cause their capture as they drew closer to their destination.
Terribilis held his long tongue as they walked past the few Krell that surrounded the well-known P.E. apparatus. His fear was making him irrational. The area would have been the best place to set up their work, but to stop here, even temporarily, would be madness. Their planned destination was exceedingly more logical.
They climbed into the shuttle carrier that would take them deeper into the planet. The light-filled tunnel flickered at an increasing pace as the vehicle sped downward.
This car was made for two individuals, Terribilis thought to himself. But because of Goliath’s size, comfortable space is lacking. The cramped space would be short-lived since the journey would take only a few minutes.
As they headed toward the focal point of the site’s energy, Terribilis caught himself again thinking of the primary Plastic Educator, also known as the P.E. That area near the entrance contained the oldest of the power source connections. Attempting their mission in that sacred place held the possibility for the most success, but it also had a more significant amount of Krell traffic. Terribilis felt their vehicle moving close to free-fall as they continued their descent. His heart missed a beat as he reflected on how they had come to this point.
Thousands of years ago, Krell scientists discovered the secrets of controlled matter manipulation at the atomic level. Any object could be built molecule by molecule from scratch by specialized machines. Soon after this, devices called Matter-Replicators were available to all Krell, based on the proclamation, “As we all share, we shall all grow.” These units were limited to feeding a sample of any piece of matter into the M-R for analysis. Once the substance’s atomic patterns were stored, the Matter-Replicator miraculously produced the desired item’s replica. As centuries progressed, inventive Krell minds made many extraordinary replication innovations.
One benefit of this new science was the Plastic Educator. It was found to be uniquely suited to rate the intelligence of the young Krell. As they playfully sat with the three-pronged headset attached to their heads, their neuron patterns were physically doubled or tripled in the course of their fun. The youngling was delighted as they mentally created objects within the secured glass cabinet before them. Eventually, the increasing of the young Krell’s I.Q. level became a routine right-of-passage by seven years of age. But it was not realized until much later that the machine’s ability to teach simple matter configuration would be the beginning of the next Krell breakthrough.
As the vehicle slowed to a halt, so did Terribilis’ elusive pondering. All that remained was for them to cross the hundreds of yards of the metallic walkway. As far as Terribilis could see, there were only three other Krell on this level, but their duties were on the opposite portion of the pathway.
The immensity of this one ventilation shaft was breathtaking. Row upon row of nearly silent machinery lined the walkway twenty miles in either direction and twenty miles above and below. Terribilis visualized the giant underground cube from the outside, which measured 8,000 cubic miles. But the expansive size and power of this technological wonder would have been impossible without creating machines that could self-replicate and perform self-maintenance.
And to power all this, the Krell built a complex of multiple power retrieval units, which sank fifty miles in the planet’s body. They stood at the connecting point for the 9,200 thermonuclear reactors, also called the heart of the planet’s power. This system supplied more than just the essential energy needs for their civilization. The primary reason for this overwhelming power was to fuel the next step in the Krell’s future.
The two scientists had finally made it to the overpowering seamless structure which reached towards the fleeting ceiling. For thousands of years, no security system, neither amphibian nor mechanical, stood guard. There was never a need. The machinery that drew its power from the planet’s bowels was not only self-servicing but self-protecting. The system had recognized and accepted the presence of Goliath and Terribilis long before they approached the upper-level entrance. Regardless of their credentials or their intentions, the single glass mainframe tower could not be breached, at least not under normal circumstances.
Goliath felt the rhythmic power surging through the cool metallic floor. Regardless of the six-inch lead shielding of the walls, it was Goliath’s turn to experience the uncomfortable coolness on the moist membranes of his skin.
“Now it is I who needs your reassurance, Brother,” Goliath stated. “Are you certain?”
“I’ve run through the calculations two hundred and twenty-seven times,” Terribilis started in earnest. “I’m certain that the Council’s objective will end in tragedy for our people. Others might claim sacrilege, but we must reverse or at least delay this foolish endeavor. Once the process has started, this plan to free us all from any dependence on physical instrumentalities will destroy us all.”
“Explain it to me one last time, “Goliath queried. “Let there be no mistake.”
Terribilis knew that he could not do this alone, and time was of the essence. Goliath’s bulky form stood immobile. He needed to be convinced one last time, so Terribilis had no choice but to give in.
“After decades of utilizing the Plastic Educator, scientists discovered that the connection between the youngling and the machine lingered. Only for a few microseconds, the young Krell retained the ability to create objects with their minds, even after removing the headset. At first, this connection registered minutely on the machine, but the more the youngling used the P.E., the longer this effect lingered. After a year of indisputable data, learned scholars formed the Cosmic Resonance Collective to investigate and direct this staggering innovation.”
Because Goliath mentioned the CRC, both Krell reflexively touched the top of their heads with their fingertips then exposed their open hands toward the ceiling.
“All bonds grow through Cosmic Resonance,” they both chanted. Terribilis resumed his dialog as if they had not paused to salute.
“The Cosmic Resonance Collective teachings state that all events exert a subtle force on one another regardless of how far they are separated in space. The connection between these fundamental workings of the universe and the Krell mind became the mantra of the newly discovered science.”
“Once perfected, it would undoubtedly be the next step in our evolution—no need for Matter-Replicators or any machinery at all. Once operational, the robust and self-sustaining machines would reach out and fuse the connection between itself and the Krell minds. Afterward, this would enable us to produce any object that we desire. All because we can wish it into existence.
“And you believe that the problem is that emotional temptations will dictate how we use this new science,” Goliath intervened. “But the CRC foresaw this.”
“Yes,” Terribilis replied. “The CRC understood well the hypnotic pull of emotions that tug at the back of our minds. One of which is altruism, which causes the ego to be inflated and affects all decision making. And why wouldn’t you feel a heightened sense of pride when you can create a light speed space ship as easily as you can bend your elbow?”
“But that’s why we’ve been given the intense emotional conditioning for the last few years,” Goliath firmly stated. “To suppress those chaotic temptations in preparation for the Great Transition.”
“And the conditioning almost worked; unfortunately, it is all superficial,” Terribilis responded quickly. “What CRC heads missed is the strength of the subconscious mind and its underlying motivations. No matter how much the CRC conditions our minds or medically-suppresses our emotions, the underlying primitive which we carry in our hereditary patterns will always be a part of us.
“But how can you know this with such certainty?” Goliath asked.
“As you well know, I have been one of the hundred CRC guinea pigs for the last five years.”
“What is a guinea pig?”
“It’s one of the creatures we brought back during the last expedition to the third planet from the giant star in the Sol system, but that’s not important.” Terribilis shook his head and continued. “During the experiments, I’ve seen the wonders of the adventure we are about to begin, but I’ve also encountered its pitfalls.” Terribilis looked away from Goliath and swallowed down a large gulp. “Regardless of emotional suppressions, I experienced the most horrible monsters. They mostly came to me during my dreams, but I’ve seen glimpses even during my awake times. What would happen if the negative motivations from the subconscious were driving the unbridled power of creation? I fear if we cannot control these things, it might be the end of us all.”
“You’ve convinced me of your intentions. Thank you for your patience. It is time.”
“I am thankful …” Terribilis stated aloud, …” to have my childhood friend by my side in our people’s time of need.”
Without another word, Terribilis located and tore off the adhesive strip on the underside of his arm. Bypassing the system’s detectors was easy enough as long as the substance didn’t register as explosive. In turn, Goliath was peeling a similar patch from his arm. The plan was to rub the two strips together, apply the new substance to the wall and run as quickly as possible. Once the corrosive putty ate its way through the glass and to the primary circuits, there would be no turning back. There was a good chance that Capital sentries would probably catch them. Even with their apprehension, the incident would delay the Great Transition start by another day or two. The Council would need time to reset the process. This downtime would help make others aware that there were unforeseen issues with the upcoming event. Hopefully, the seed of doubt would spread throughout the Capital and beyond.
Without warning, an energy field enveloped Terribilis, instantly immobilizing him. The glowing blue stasis field, which stretched from some unseen mechanism above, caused a five-foot circular pattern where he stood. Terribilis held back a strangled cry as he stared at his friend, who calmly gazed back at him.
“I’m sorry, Terribilis, but it’s not your place to hold back Krell-kind from moving to our proper place in the universe.”
“Goliath. You don’t understand what you’ve done. You’ve doomed us all.”
“We of the CRC have noted your complaints and wanted to personally monitor your actions during this final stage of our experiment. I’m sorry, Terribilis, but none of the other participants have shared anything close to your concerns. It is disappointing that you felt the need to pursue your delusions to such a drastic extent. We’ve taken the personal anomalies you spoke about into consideration, and we will be doubling your future programming. And Terribilis, be assured. There was nothing you could have done to stop the Great Transition. By my count, it began twelve hours ago. Most will sleep through the transition but regardless, we should soon all be experiencing its remarkable effects. Yes, I can feel it now.”
As the planet-wide enhancement completed its upgrade, Goliath became aware of a connection to a universe of expansive and finite particles. “This must be the birth and death of stars with the endless power that it takes to perpetuate such tasks.” Upon further inspection, Goliath realized that what he was visualizing was much closer to home. The workings of their planetary system were now accessible to him. He moved with a sea of understanding of the connections between all matter. Goliath collected these remarkable insights within the first few seconds of his newly expanded intellect.
The pain began somewhere in Goliath’s lower back. The distressing uneasiness quickly turned to an excruciating ache. It felt as if something was attempting to rip his spine out of his back. Goliath convulsively twisted his body in an attempt to divert the lethal force from its plan. Just before he lost consciousness, Goliath looked deep in the recesses of his mind and reached out, hoping to discover the insidious source of his pain. To his tearful astonishment, Goliath found himself on the wrong end of his eight-year-old son’s nightmare. The youngling was innocently fighting back a giant green monster and was effectively pulling it apart. There was no way for the sleeping child to know he was harming his father. The only way for Goliath to fight back meant possibly harming his son, but it was too late for even that decision. His large form soon lay dead on the cold floor.
As Terribilis stared at the contorted form crumpled on the walkway, the glowing stasis field flickered and then suddenly dissipated. His eyes filled with fright as one of the Krell in the distance was viciously biting the skin off the other Krell’s face. The horrified screams from the injured Krell were shocking. Terribilis had never seen this type of behavior in their civilized society.
Terribilis had personally experienced this terror on a microscopic scale. His blood ran cold when he realized what was about to happen. He knew that he must find shelter but soon realized there was no place to hide from others’ progressively out of control thoughts. Wrapped with despair, he ran down what he thought was a nearby dark corridor. The floor before him disappeared, but he awkwardly caught and turned himself around before he fell off the edge. When Terribilis looked up, the frenzied Krell across the walkway soundlessly stared at him. There were remnants of green flesh hanging from his teeth. Suddenly the searing heat across the surface of Terribilis’ hands began melting away the webbed membranes between his fingers. Before he could scream, his entire body burst into flames, and the floor beneath him no longer existed. As his chilling screeches faded in the distance, Terribilis died long before his burning body reached the bottom of the twenty-mile pit.
The benevolent and noble race of scholars and pacifists, who had evolved beyond war and violence, was no match for the madness from their own subconscious. All Krell had either killed one another within a single day and night or taken their own lives.
As the millennia progressed, the last remnant of what was known as the Krell civilization disappeared from the planet’s face, which would later be named Altair IV. The winds of time lay waste any buildings or structures that once proudly stood. But within the planet, the great self-servicing thought-machine continued to run. It patiently waited for someone to give the next mental command so it could continue its created purpose.
The immensity of this one ventilation shaft was breathtaking. Row upon row of nearly silent machinery lined the walkway twenty miles in either direction and twenty miles above and below. Terribilis visualized the giant underground cube from the outside, which measured 8,000 cubic miles. But the expansive size and power of this technological wonder would have been impossible without creating machines that could self-replicate and perform self-maintenance.
And to power all this, the Krell built a complex of multiple power retrieval units, which sank fifty miles in the planet’s body. They stood at the connecting point for the 9,200 thermonuclear reactors, also called the heart of the planet’s power. This system supplied more than just the essential energy needs for their civilization. The primary reason for this overwhelming power was to fuel the next step in the Krell’s future.
The two scientists had finally made it to the overpowering seamless structure which reached towards the fleeting ceiling. For thousands of years, no security system, neither amphibian nor mechanical, stood guard. There was never a need. The machinery that drew its power from the planet’s bowels was not only self-servicing but self-protecting. The system had recognized and accepted the presence of Goliath and Terribilis long before they approached the upper-level entrance. Regardless of their credentials or their intentions, the single glass mainframe tower could not be breached, at least not under normal circumstances.
Goliath felt the rhythmic power surging through the cool metallic floor. Regardless of the six-inch lead shielding of the walls, it was Goliath’s turn to experience the uncomfortable coolness on the moist membranes of his skin.
“Now it is I who needs your reassurance, Brother,” Goliath stated. “Are you certain?”
“I’ve run through the calculations two hundred and twenty-seven times,” Terribilis started in earnest. “I’m certain that the Council’s objective will end in tragedy for our people. Others might claim sacrilege, but we must reverse or at least delay this foolish endeavor. Once the process has started, this plan to free us all from any dependence on physical instrumentalities will destroy us all.”
“Explain it to me one last time, “Goliath queried. “Let there be no mistake.”
Terribilis knew that he could not do this alone, and time was of the essence. Goliath’s bulky form stood immobile. He needed to be convinced one last time, so Terribilis had no choice but to give in.
“After decades of utilizing the Plastic Educator, scientists discovered that the connection between the youngling and the machine lingered. Only for a few microseconds, the young Krell retained the ability to create objects with their minds, even after removing the headset. At first, this connection registered minutely on the machine, but the more the youngling used the P.E., the longer this effect lingered. After a year of indisputable data, learned scholars formed the Cosmic Resonance Collective to investigate and direct this staggering innovation.”
Because Goliath mentioned the CRC, both Krell reflexively touched the top of their heads with their fingertips then exposed their open hands toward the ceiling.
“All bonds grow through Cosmic Resonance,” they both chanted. Terribilis resumed his dialog as if they had not paused to salute.
“The Cosmic Resonance Collective teachings state that all events exert a subtle force on one another regardless of how far they are separated in space. The connection between these fundamental workings of the universe and the Krell mind became the mantra of the newly discovered science.”
“Once perfected, it would undoubtedly be the next step in our evolution—no need for Matter-Replicators or any machinery at all. Once operational, the robust and self-sustaining machines would reach out and fuse the connection between itself and the Krell minds. Afterward, this would enable us to produce any object that we desire. All because we can wish it into existence.
“And you believe that the problem is that emotional temptations will dictate how we use this new science,” Goliath intervened. “But the CRC foresaw this.”
“Yes,” Terribilis replied. “The CRC understood well the hypnotic pull of emotions that tug at the back of our minds. One of which is altruism, which causes the ego to be inflated and affects all decision making. And why wouldn’t you feel a heightened sense of pride when you can create a light speed space ship as easily as you can bend your elbow?”
“But that’s why we’ve been given the intense emotional conditioning for the last few years,” Goliath firmly stated. “To suppress those chaotic temptations in preparation for the Great Transition.”
“And the conditioning almost worked; unfortunately, it is all superficial,” Terribilis responded quickly. “What CRC heads missed is the strength of the subconscious mind and its underlying motivations. No matter how much the CRC conditions our minds or medically-suppresses our emotions, the underlying primitive which we carry in our hereditary patterns will always be a part of us.
“But how can you know this with such certainty?” Goliath asked.
“As you well know, I have been one of the hundred CRC guinea pigs for the last five years.”
“What is a guinea pig?”
“It’s one of the creatures we brought back during the last expedition to the third planet from the giant star in the Sol system, but that’s not important.” Terribilis shook his head and continued. “During the experiments, I’ve seen the wonders of the adventure we are about to begin, but I’ve also encountered its pitfalls.” Terribilis looked away from Goliath and swallowed down a large gulp. “Regardless of emotional suppressions, I experienced the most horrible monsters. They mostly came to me during my dreams, but I’ve seen glimpses even during my awake times. What would happen if the negative motivations from the subconscious were driving the unbridled power of creation? I fear if we cannot control these things, it might be the end of us all.”
“You’ve convinced me of your intentions. Thank you for your patience. It is time.”
“I am thankful …” Terribilis stated aloud, …” to have my childhood friend by my side in our people’s time of need.”
Without another word, Terribilis located and tore off the adhesive strip on the underside of his arm. Bypassing the system’s detectors was easy enough as long as the substance didn’t register as explosive. In turn, Goliath was peeling a similar patch from his arm. The plan was to rub the two strips together, apply the new substance to the wall and run as quickly as possible. Once the corrosive putty ate its way through the glass and to the primary circuits, there would be no turning back. There was a good chance that Capital sentries would probably catch them. Even with their apprehension, the incident would delay the Great Transition start by another day or two. The Council would need time to reset the process. This downtime would help make others aware that there were unforeseen issues with the upcoming event. Hopefully, the seed of doubt would spread throughout the Capital and beyond.
Without warning, an energy field enveloped Terribilis, instantly immobilizing him. The glowing blue stasis field, which stretched from some unseen mechanism above, caused a five-foot circular pattern where he stood. Terribilis held back a strangled cry as he stared at his friend, who calmly gazed back at him.
“I’m sorry, Terribilis, but it’s not your place to hold back Krell-kind from moving to our proper place in the universe.”
“Goliath. You don’t understand what you’ve done. You’ve doomed us all.”
“We of the CRC have noted your complaints and wanted to personally monitor your actions during this final stage of our experiment. I’m sorry, Terribilis, but none of the other participants have shared anything close to your concerns. It is disappointing that you felt the need to pursue your delusions to such a drastic extent. We’ve taken the personal anomalies you spoke about into consideration, and we will be doubling your future programming. And Terribilis, be assured. There was nothing you could have done to stop the Great Transition. By my count, it began twelve hours ago. Most will sleep through the transition but regardless, we should soon all be experiencing its remarkable effects. Yes, I can feel it now.”
As the planet-wide enhancement completed its upgrade, Goliath became aware of a connection to a universe of expansive and finite particles. “This must be the birth and death of stars with the endless power that it takes to perpetuate such tasks.” Upon further inspection, Goliath realized that what he was visualizing was much closer to home. The workings of their planetary system were now accessible to him. He moved with a sea of understanding of the connections between all matter. Goliath collected these remarkable insights within the first few seconds of his newly expanded intellect.
The pain began somewhere in Goliath’s lower back. The distressing uneasiness quickly turned to an excruciating ache. It felt as if something was attempting to rip his spine out of his back. Goliath convulsively twisted his body in an attempt to divert the lethal force from its plan. Just before he lost consciousness, Goliath looked deep in the recesses of his mind and reached out, hoping to discover the insidious source of his pain. To his tearful astonishment, Goliath found himself on the wrong end of his eight-year-old son’s nightmare. The youngling was innocently fighting back a giant green monster and was effectively pulling it apart. There was no way for the sleeping child to know he was harming his father. The only way for Goliath to fight back meant possibly harming his son, but it was too late for even that decision. His large form soon lay dead on the cold floor.
As Terribilis stared at the contorted form crumpled on the walkway, the glowing stasis field flickered and then suddenly dissipated. His eyes filled with fright as one of the Krell in the distance was viciously biting the skin off the other Krell’s face. The horrified screams from the injured Krell were shocking. Terribilis had never seen this type of behavior in their civilized society.
Terribilis had personally experienced this terror on a microscopic scale. His blood ran cold when he realized what was about to happen. He knew that he must find shelter but soon realized there was no place to hide from others’ progressively out of control thoughts. Wrapped with despair, he ran down what he thought was a nearby dark corridor. The floor before him disappeared, but he awkwardly caught and turned himself around before he fell off the edge. When Terribilis looked up, the frenzied Krell across the walkway soundlessly stared at him. There were remnants of green flesh hanging from his teeth. Suddenly the searing heat across the surface of Terribilis’ hands began melting away the webbed membranes between his fingers. Before he could scream, his entire body burst into flames, and the floor beneath him no longer existed. As his chilling screeches faded in the distance, Terribilis died long before his burning body reached the bottom of the twenty-mile pit.
The benevolent and noble race of scholars and pacifists, who had evolved beyond war and violence, was no match for the madness from their own subconscious. All Krell had either killed one another within a single day and night or taken their own lives.
As the millennia progressed, the last remnant of what was known as the Krell civilization disappeared from the planet’s face, which would later be named Altair IV. The winds of time lay waste any buildings or structures that once proudly stood. But within the planet, the great self-servicing thought-machine continued to run. It patiently waited for someone to give the next mental command so it could continue its created purpose.
END OF PART 1
Read PART 2
