QUALA
THE PLUSH PLANETARY TAKEOVER
by
Mark Richmond
Co Written by
Robert Watts
Illustrated by
Skidone
SMASHWORDS EDITION
PUBLISHED BY:
Mark Richmond on Smashwords
Quala – The Plush Planetary Takeover
Copyright © 2010 by Mark Richmond
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Smashwords Edition License Notes
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Mark Richmond would like to thank.
My Mom and Dad for all their support and not thinking that I am crazy for doing this! Sulan Dussault, for putting up with my late nights, and for strenuously editing my writing into something enjoyable to read. Robert Watts, for the many hours of discussions with Rum and Cokes in hand, and honing this story into something epic and spectacular. The sculptures are also insane to look at!
This story will continue on a monthly basis so please return to the website each month to get the next chapters.
* * * * *
November 24th, 2012
the prime time show KNOW NOW
FAIR & BALANCED NEWS NETWORK (F&BNN)
F&BNN interview - Sir Bristol Bennington,
CEO of the PLUSHEMZ TOY COMPANY
The newscaster, a ravishing Asian female named Yumiko, with short black hair, brown eyes, showing a little cleavage and flashing a wicked smile, introduces a very distinguished and respected person.
“Hello again everyone this is Yumiko and I am here via satellite with one of the most interesting people in the world, if not the richest - by the way I am single… wink, wink, ha, ha...” - “4 time Nobel Peace Prize winner, Knighted by the Queen of England, Pharmaceutical, Military Technology and Computer Software Mogul, numbers 1, 2 and 3 on the Fortune 500 list, and the Chief Executive Officer and President of his latest genius mega billion dollar PLUSHEMZ TOY COMPANY - none other than SIR BRISTOL BENNINGTON - welcome and thank you so much for appearing on our show!!”
BB – “You are most welcome. No other than the queen herself could have been quite so eloquent with such an introduction. I am flattered, and please call me Sir Benny.”
Y – as she flips her hair back and blushes… “Sir Benny, in the 1960’s starting your first company at age 14, you have built many mammoth companies, and now have come out of retirement to start up this new company PLUSHEMZ! Why did you do this?”
BB – “Well Yumiko, I have made $trillions from my companies, paid back the U.S. debt to China, brought peace and good fortune to the Middle East, and established free worldwide health care. After doing all of this, I’ve decided to finally give back to all the children in the world - every single one of them - it’s the last humanitarian accomplishment I wish to fulfill.” Pausing, “... Actually one of two final accomplishments…, the second is the introduction of my new plan to put an end to Global Warming. The first being to endow children with modern technology and internet access all over the world through my new toys PLUSHEMZ.”
Y – “That is simply amazing! Is there anything you cannot do? Or, won’t do for the benefit of the world?” ... “Well, we are very excited to have one of your PLUSHEMZ toys right here in the studio, which I will eagerly be broadcasting live for the auto release of my PLUSHEMZ favorite, as my favorite animal is the Panda Bear.” “Along with these cans of FEEDEMZ - by the way, it’s great you thought that children should have the responsibility for feeding their own toy! Now that brings up the question, why do you have a specialized, unbreakable package that is also time released for precisely on Christmas Eve, exactly one month away?”
BB – “There’s a very specific reason I have gone through painstaking hours developing the most technologically advanced toy. I’ve developed a very intricate intranet system ran through my very own satellites which will all activate at the same time. Each toy has it’s own IP address and each owner will have their own login page to view video feeds and recordings from their toy; therefore, I needed to make sure that not a single head start is made by any single toy or it may accidentally activate some toys while still inside the packaging. You see, each toy will automatically bond with it’s new owner, it’s family, pets, and every little aspect to their lives. It will be the most constructive part to the family unit. It’s the same love and respect you get when you have a pet dog or cat for example. It can even take care of your real pet, help the child with their homework, monitor their health, make sure Mom and Dad cook healthy meals, as well as help cook those meals. Imagine the ability a parent will have to tune in to their child’s daily life, knowing they won’t be bullied, and that they make it home safe from school. The toy will protect that child to the utmost.”
Y – “Is the toy dangerous to any human?”
BB – “Not the slightest! It purely observes and protects - if there is any eminent danger, the toy will contact the authorities and also broadcast it’s whereabouts via GPS tracking and telecommunicating, while at the same time recording and broadcasting video of it’s entire surrounding… Every child, and adult for that matter, will be absolutely safe from harm, short of the worst type of situation involving weaponry and so forth, but then no one is safe in that situation. However, for the first time, video and digital photographs would be taken - the ultimate deterrent to a criminal.”
Y – “This is absolutely genius! I have one for each of my children, as well as I have one here in the studio for myself. It is just amazing, this is a BIGGER RESPONSE BY THE CONSUMERS OF THE WORLD THAN THE CABBAGE PATCH KID AND TICKLE ME ELMO COMBINED!! Already 1.5 billion toys have been sold, and that means that you have equally donated that same amount to all the unfortunate children in the world. Why have you done this?”
BB – “It’s very simple... The better the education of the youth of the world, the better the outcome. Imagine getting rid of the idea that there is any youth out there that would be considered ignorant or following the wrong idealism simply because they had to rely on someone else’s false information. That will now fade away into a past memory; like people’s memory of slavery or the effects of the atomic bombs that were dropped.”
Y – “Wow! We eagerly await the release of this amazing new toy! It will surely be revolutionary in its own right - one of the greatest feats in human history. But what happens next? And how does this involve the solution to Global Warming? Give us a little hint Sir?”
BB – “Simple. The first step is education - the end of the worry to public or private schooling. The toy will make up for what is not gained through education elsewhere. The second step, toward the riddance of Global Warming, will be announced at my very own exclusive LAUNCH PARTY on my private island. It will be a week long, starting with the release of the toys. I have already sent out invitations to my favorite stars of the world to include, famous actors, musicians, singers, sports stars, and models. In fact, I would definitely invite you, Yumiko, however there is no press allowed - I do apologize.”
Y – “WOW! So you heard it here first - a super exclusive private release party with the world’s superstars attending!!! Sir Bristol Bennington, thank you so very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us here on F&B’s KNOW NOW show. Please join us again! And folks at home, join us on Christmas Eve for the big launch of the PLUSHEMZ toys - it is sure not to be missed!”
BB – “My pleasure Yumiko!”
Y – “Next, we have Governor Swarzenegger live discussing his newly accepted campaign for vice presidency with his running mate for president Sarah Palin,”….
DECEMBER 24TH, 2002
Rocinha Favela, Rio De Janeiro, Brasil
The Arrival of the Phoenix on Earth
In a fiery rage, the Phoenix sent by Orchid, rushes to Earth and crashes down with a massive burst of white light just south of Rio De Janeiro, Brasil, outside an orphanage in Rocinha - a favela (a shanty town made up of mostly bricks and metal siding with the average median income equal to $100 a month). The population is close to 70,000 people, but those are only the documented ones. Many more are not born in a hospital and have not been accounted for. Within this favela lies an orphanage that houses lost, abandoned, and orphaned children resulting from their parents’ deaths from gang-related, drug warfare that is rampant.
When the Phoenix reached Earth’s atmosphere, a massive earthquake is felt around the world, with exception of the orphanage. Not enough to cause mass destruction, but a shake that almost occurs as an above ground shock wave rather than a below ground, massive tremor. Lying at the doorstep of this orphanage, is the unclothed, unconscious baby girl; steaming, but unburned with a slight ring of fire around her. A large, weathered, black woman named Mãe do Mar (Mother of the Sea), dressed in a white gown with various ethnic beads around her neck and wrists, smoking a cigar, immediately comes outside due the commotion outside the door and sees her lying there! The sight of a ring of fire and this little baby lying in the middle of it is a sign she had envisioned many times over from her spiritual dances that she performs at her ritualistic meetings. Mãe do Mar is a high priestess in an Afro-Brasilian spiritist practice called Condomblé, brought to Brasil from West Africa, where millions of Africans were forced into slavery from the 16th thru the 19th centuries. They brought with them, a very complex mix of religion, mythology, and an elaborate ritual system introducing it to the new world. There were many rituals and offerings over the centuries utilizing various types of foods, animal sacrifices, cigars, cachaça (Brazilian rum), flickering candles that almost never go out, and rhythmic drumming. The fire and the drumming are the mediums that connect the earthly world with the spiritual world. The foods and drinks are the offerings to the spirits to bring not only safety to the community, but powerful spells, as well.
Mãe do Mar believes the spirits have sent a messenger, as she knows the time has come.
Mãe immediately takes a large puff of her cigar and exhales the smoke over the girl (protecting her from evil spirits). The smoke surrounds her body then swirls up into the night reflecting blue and amber colors from the fire on the ground and the full moon above. She then grabs a blanket and starts to cover her when she notices a birthmark in the shape of a phoenix on her upper arm, glowing.
She proceeds to cover her up and carry her in to her own crib in a tiny 5’ x 5’ room made of stacked bricks. It has a clean, swept, dirt floor and a small window left open from spacing of the bricks and overlooks the ocean from above the mountain side. Mãe lights many candles in the room to rid any evil spirits from invading this, now sleeping, mysterious baby girl. It is essential to live on the mountain side in the hot, humid, tropical setting that southern Brasil has to offer, for it rains a small amount of time almost everyday and then it is sunny and hot the rest of the time. As the tired, old woman of the orphanage looks out the window above the exhausted and sleeping, mysterious baby from her doorstep, she re-assures herself of the good she is doing while admiring the romantic orangeish glow of the hillside at night, right on down to the base of the mountain where the ocean reaches the shoreline. Surrounded with the orange glow of flickering candles, Mãe do Mar wonders... Is the end near?
DECEMBER 9th, 2012
Hong Kong, China
The Last Toy That Almost Wasn’t
A massive, modernly constructed super-factory, 5 square-blocks large, is in it’s final stages of production to the entire line of artificially intelligent toys. The last on the assembly line of 2 billion toys, is a koala bear, almost complete, needing only his super video-tech eyes, is bumped off of a conveyer belt by a loose screw in the leg support. The remaining constructed toys moved along, but the moment that the screw popped out, the very spot that this particular koala was, caused it to bounce off with ease. The toy had been crossing a pivotal section of the conveyer belt, that the now loose support leg, caused it to shake such that this last remaining toy was bounced off of the rubbery conveyer belt. On to the floor it went.
Immediately one of the factory workers rushed over to place it back on the conveyer belt as the koala was discovered, but it was too late. All the other toys had completed their process right down to the final step - the installation of the high definition video camera eyes. The Koala had only received one and hadn’t reached the final stage. The floor worker immediately phoned the supervisor and questioned what he should do. The supervisor answers his phone, only thinking that now everything was ready to ship and he will receive his $100k bonus, with which he can pay back his bookies and have an evening with two “working girls” at a local club. Annoyed and angered, he shouts back into the phone, “Package it and ship it!!! (Chu huo!!!)” The factory worker does what he’s told and removes the damaged eye, grabs a staple gun, and staples the open space shut of the right eye on the toy where normally one of two HD video eyes would go. So with staples and only one eye, the final toy is placed in it’s time released packaging, boxed, and placed on the truck. This batch of PLUSHEMZ are to be taken to the airport and flown to Brasil. There was a name printed on the tag, labeled Kimi, a girl with no last name, in a Rocinha favela orphanage. This toy will be hers for eternity.
Over the next 2 weeks, this shipment of A.I. toys go from truck, to plane, to another plane, finally landing in Rio De Janeiro, Brasil and then carried to many various local shipping trucks to be spread around the hillsides of the underprivileged.
DECEMBER 23RD, 2012
The truck that Quala is on arrives at the base entrance to Rocinha Favela. Looking into this favela is not very inviting as the streets are stained and dirty with trash, raggedy dogs, urine, rotten food, and broken furniture sitting out in the street. There are many pathways that lead up a long hillside within the favela as a maze twisting through seas of plywood and brick box houses with dirt floors and fires in coffee cans used for cooking. There’s no need for warmth, as it’s December 23rd, the beginning of summer in Brasil. It is hot and sticky at 90 degrees with 85% humidity. Quala is lifted out along with 12 other PLUSHEMZ toys destined for the orphanage at the top of the hill. A young boy in a sweaty tank top, short shorts, and flip-flops hoists the box of toys over his back with straps almost like a backpack and heads off up the winding favela pathway.
After a long trip, the final toy, the one-eyed koala, finally arrives at the orphanage. All of the other toys were immediately spoken for, with the exception of the koala addressed to a girl named Kimi. The old woman of the orphanage chose this final toy for her mysterious doorstep wonder of 10 years now. Mãe Do Mar decided to nickname this little “doorstep” girl, who had no name to this point, … Kimi. Previous to this moment, Kimi had only been given nicknames of affection, since Kimi has never spoken to anyone prior to this day and never wanted a name.
This delivery happened somewhat late in the evening, so all the children in the favela woke up on December 24th to these amazingly complex packaged toys.
... (transitioning to Kimi’s room – with a view that zooms in from above as she lies in bed waking up from a fetal positioned sleep) ...
(As she hears commotion from right outside her room...) Adjusting her eyes by blinking from blurry, to less blurry, to clear, she discovers that she has some special condumble ceremonial clothes laid out. She has grown up practicing this belief through teachings from her beloved divine step mom, and realizes it is not only Christmas Eve, (which, they too, celebrate in there own way) but there must be a special ceremony about to take place. As she gets dressed, she smells musty cement and the sweet smell of tropical flowers that grow on the top of the mountain. She puts on a tiny blouse top and a flowing, linen skirt that doesn’t quite reach her ankles. There’s a pair of tiny sandals on the floor, and as she gains a little confidence, she stretches out of the bed and slides her feet into the sandals.
Just as she sits up, her hair, which is normally long, thick, and wavy, is now pig-tailed through many large African beads extending out to the sides of her head just above her ears. Mãe Do Mar did this as one more reassuring protection against evil spirits, as well as adorning her with many protective beads and a figa around her neck, a clenched hand symbol that further protects her. For the first time, the little speechless girl feels like a princess, but does not know why.
She walks into the front room. The room goes silent as she creeps forward with her slim, petite silent walk, donning her new hairstyle. This scene would make anyone stop - even the adult caretakers of the orphanage. Her bigger than normal hazel eyes gaze upon the crowd. She feels like she knows what’s about to happen, but just at that moment, there’s something else in the room that has also captured everyone’s attention.
Instantly Mãe Do Mar says, “Everyone, this sister to you all, now has a name. The answer to our questioning chants and prayers has taken place. I want everyone to welcome…, KIMI.”
(She will now no longer be called “menina” or other nicknames.) “Kimi?” The silent newly named orphan girl says to herself.
“Kimi, as you are only in the first stage of your beautiful life, we present to you this new toy that is solely yours.” Before this day, her toys were simply hand made paper kites, old beat up soccer balls, and homemade dolls of yarn and cloth. Kimi says nothing, but feels at least she has something to cling to that belongs to her, without the worry of it being taken by the other neighborhood kids. “Kimi, this is a toy that will come to life tonight on Christmas Eve. It will be your best friend and teddy bear, it’s a Koala, but you will probably want to name it, as everyone else has named theirs.”
Kimi grabs a marker and writes on the PLUSHEMZ box a name for her new toy. Not knowing how to spell koala, she writes, “Quala.” Kimi says nothing, but is familiar with what everyone is saying, in the slang Portuguese language mixed with African dialect of the favela, and with the condumblé clothes everyone is wearing. No one, however, is familiar with her new look or has ever seen her without hair covering her face.
Kimi, perhaps the most middle-aged of the group of children in the orphanage, retreats back to her tiny room. Still saying nothing, and a little confused as to what is happening, but is excited about one thing… her new koala toy in its really hi-tech packaging. The box with the toy, is a little over 2ft high, about 1.5ft wide and deep, with windows in the front and sides. She can barely stand while carrying it due to its weight and awkward size.
She lifts the toy package onto her single-sized bed, and does nothing else all day but gaze into the one open eye of a koala that almost seems like it’s looking right back at her. It seems like Quala is studying her. Kimi falls into a deep sleep, hugging the package that is now laying down sideways with the koala facing Kimi.
As Kimi sleeps, she begins to dream. As she dreams, she is the celebrated center of attention during the final day of Folia de Reis (a 12 day celebration that starts on the 12th of December and ends on the 24th, Christmas Eve). For 12 days, people sing and dance in the streets of the Favela, singing songs of Catholic and Condumblé comparisons. They go door to door for 12 days of Christmas caroling mixed with a bit of Halloween, but rather than wearing Halloween costumes, they mimic the 3 Kings and wear crowns with colors of green and gold. The music played has a very African style of drumming and dance on this final day of celebration, the Folia De Reis, and ends with the whole town grouping together at the Orphanage with a big ceremony led by Mãe do Mar. There is a large circle of burning candles, offerings of bottles of Cachaça, cigar smoke throughout, and the sleeping Kimi lying on a bed covered with leaves of the Bananeira (Brazilian banana tree).
Throughout the Favela, news has spread over the years, about this little girl, how she arrived, and what the spirits have spoken to Mãe Do Mar. The end is thought to be near and Kimi is the key to human survival on Earth and the Heavens. There are also many people in the Favela that know about Kimi’s phoenix tattoo that grows along her arm each year, many of whom have adorned her with many gifts to ward off evil spirits from them and their loved ones.
This night, Christmas Eve, 2012, everyone is excited about the release of their PLUSHEMZ Toys. Not only are they adorning Kimi with gifts and offerings, but in return, wish to have their companion toys blessed by Kimi to rid of any evil spirits for the new year. Everyone has lined up in a large circle, 5 to 10 people deep, with offerings of rum, cigars, lamb, and chickens, all to appease the devil and his workers. All the offerings are laid out around Kimi; heads of chickens are cut and the blood spilled around the bed. The blood trails in and around the candles, which, from time to time ignite the small spills of rum causing a bluish flame that rises up out of the blood. Drumming and African style dances are performed and the people hiss to scare away any immediate evil spirits. Kimi, still sleeping and unaware of what is going on, has her eyes twitching and her body shaking. She is in her own dream state, which is exactly what everyone was waiting to see. It means the communicative spiritual state has been reached. The ritual picks up in pace. Once again Mãe Do Mar takes a large puff of her ceremonial cigar and blows the smoke over Kimi, allowing her a safe journey into the spirit world where she will learn what is to become of her life - what her destiny will be. Then, she will be guided back to her Earthly human shell and awakened.
KIMI’s SPIRIT JOURNEY
10pm within the circle of ritualistic practice
“Hello? Anyone here?” The sky is a bright, almost illuminated white, and Kimi is walking as if floating in an all white environment, similar to walking on a cloud and being in the middle of the cloud. The only difference is everything is clear with nothing on the horizon. She walks in an emptiness of white. It is the crossover point of arriving at the spirit world to the gates of the spiritual side.
“Hello little bubble gum,” A rugged, 50’ish white man says, looking that of a pirate, only instead of the puffy knicker pants, boots and tricorn hat, donning the look of a Harley Biker. He has a long, braided, black ponytail and huge hoop earrings, moustache and goatee. He is short and chubby with big arms and wearing a bandana that pretty much covers his eyes, smoking a cigar bringing with it, a nutty, wood smell all around him.
K - “Are you a pirate?”
P - “Ha ha ha, no I am no pirate, my father makes me wear this. I am so happy to finally meet you, Kimi. For 10 years I have observed you and am so proud that you have turned out the way you have.”
K – “What?” (feeling very wierded out at this point) “Who are you?” (inside, Kimi finds herself talking without any of the inhibitions she carries on Earth. For where she is now, carries with it no social distortions or even the feeling of cold or hot. Her clothing now changed, wearing what she always imagines as being very beautiful - a self projection.) Kimi is in an all white flowing sun dress with her hair in the same beaded pigtails, but with only all white beads. She is barefoot, but she can’t feel the ground even though she is grounded.
P – “I am the son of the father of space and your Earth is my final destination. Things have gone very wrong in the whole collection of galaxies, stars, and planets. I am here to bring things back to order. And I need your help to fix this Kimi.”
K – “My help? And how do you know my name? I have always felt like I can take on the world, even at my age, but this sounds weird, and you are too. What is it you want? (She feels like getting the heck out of this weirdo’s way...)
P – “It is hard to explain this all to you in a short time. What I have been doing has taken millions of years to accomplish, and I know I only have a few minutes to talk with you because the Orchid is coming to meet you soon. She is a beautiful goddess who brings the balance to my work here in the element that you humans call space. We are in the hallway of a black hole that is between my space and her space, called the heavens. I cannot continue any further, and I surely mean you no harm, I just need your help. Orchid is working to take over my space and I am trying to bring back the universal order my father and I once had. You are the key to unlocking the gates of the heavens and allowing me and my father to restore proper order in the universe. I will send you a message later, but now I must go, but be very wary about what the Orchid is going to tell you. Goodbye Kimi.”
K – As the pirate man fades into the distance, Kimi shouts, “Wait, what is your name?”
P – “Just call me Vivaldo…, little bubble gum.” (his voice was heard, but he could not be seen)
Kimi thinks to herself, mind racing with questions. Little bubble gum? I’m no little bubble gum, and what flavor? I hope not regular flavor… I like watermelon.
(Suddenly drumming could be heard and a white mist of fog spreads around. Even though Kimi can’t see the ground, she feels tremors from something large beneath her.)
A huge African Elephant’s trunk from way above her comes into view as if greeting her in a respectable way. Then, coming into full view as the mist dissipates, a beautiful woman walks down the length of the trunk and hops off. This woman is surrounded by four giant floating sea horses ridden by well armored Samurai Monkeys, they lower their heads and the mysterious woman speaks.
O - “Greetings Kimi, I am Orchid. It is so nice to finally meet you - you are the manifestation of the phoenix I sent to earth. It’s the reason you have the birthmark of the phoenix continually growing on your arm. Don’t be afraid - we must go this way (pointing behind her) . There are many things I must tell you while we meet in this spirit realm. Your physical body is still at the orphanage. Only your mind has traveled here to meet us.”
(As they progress deeper into the spirit world, Kimi speaks out.)
K – “Are you my mother? I have dreamt about you... I feel like I know you.”
O – “ I’m not your mother, but I do have a hand in why you are you. We are in desperate times and your help is essential. Growing up without parents was unavoidable, as you were chosen as a savior. Life on Earth will never be the same when you return. Many challenges are ahead.”
K – “I understand… For some reason, I have known about you my entire life, but always thought of it as a dream.”
O – “Kimi, you are the physical embodiment of myself, my spirit, and my essence. You are the most powerful woman in existence right now in an earthbound state. You have all my love and care as if I were your mother. Kimi do not let that stop you from believing in exactly who you are and the love for you that people around you have.”
K – (with tears rolling down her face) “I will, I have always dreamt and believed this. I trust you - but, what exactly is about to happen to make me so important?”
O – “Young Kimi, dry your tears, I am here for you always! I am so sorry that things have come to this… Without you there would be no solution other than to give up on the life that you see on earth. Yes things would still exist, but not the humans or the mammals. I have empowered you with infinite knowledge and strength. What I cannot provide you with, is the ability to conjure up at thought, an army that can support you to the fullest, such as these Samurai Monkeys that support our existence through the souls of the actual sea horses and monkeys on planet earth. The more the mammals are depleted or endangered on earth, equally affects us in the heavens. Their souls are our souls here at the edge of space.
I know that you have spoken with Vivaldo, the self proclaimed “pirate.” He and his father have always had alternate ideas for existence of any form in the universe. He is at war with the universal laws established by the gods, manipulating the souls held by all insects on earth. He is creating his own insect army to take over the spirit world ridding the existence of all life on Earth, except for insects.
Now you know what is at stake, but you have the souls of every mammal on earth and in the heavens to support you. Mammals on Earth are only a shell and can’t help you physically. Knowing that they are alive means their souls are helping you from the spiritual side, giving you and us here in the heavens, the power to end this war in the spirit world.”
KIMI’s Awakening
1am within the circle of ritualistic practice
Quala – (In a raspy low voice) “KIMI!... KIMI! Wake Up!”
K – Groggy, blurred vision, just coming to… all of a sudden… popping up, eyes wide... “What’s going on? Quala? You’re out of the box?!?” Getting a big greeting hug for the first time, she looks around over his shoulder. People lying on the ground everywhere, motionless. The children, the townspeople, even Mãe do Mar!! She immediately runs over to her, ignoring what Quala is trying to say to her in the background.
“Mãe! Wake up!” Shaking her, but there’s no reaction in her lifeless body. In fact, everyone is lifeless - it’s silent - no singing, drumming, footsteps, laughing. No sounds at all except the now loud voice of Quala.
Q – “Kimi, we need to get out of here right now! There’s a problem, something that I knew but couldn’t tell you!”
K – Reaching out at Quala for his paw, she heads into the interior of the favela. A little distracted, she is now looking and walking with her new cherished toy and holding his soft yet firm grip. They race into one of the nearby dwellings.
K - In a panic, “What’s happening? Where is everyone?”
Q – “I can only explain what I know. It isn’t good. When the toy release happened, you were in your trance. I was so excited to see you, I ran right over, the same way every toy did to their new friends. But as they hugged, the humans just collapsed about a minute after. There is some type of effect given off that has disabled the humans around here! I think that maybe I didn’t have that same effect when I hugged you because you woke up. I must have not been complete, which is why I’m missing my eye. What I know is, we need to leave this place and you cannot come into contact with any of the other toys!”
K – “How can we do that Quala? There must be thousands of you guys in my neighborhood - and where do we go? I’ve never been anywhere but here and maybe the beach once in a while…”
Q – “We need to get to the water. The toys cannot survive if they get wet - neither can I, so I need to get something protective as it looks like it’s about to rain, but that will buy us some time.”
K – “I just had the strangest dream. It seemed so real,” Kimi whispers, “It was kind of warning me of this, am I still dreaming?”
Q – Pinching Kimi, “No, this is very real.”
Kimi and Quala creep from dwelling to dwelling, as if they we’re playing hide and seek, looking for rain proof clothing. The only things they could find were some bright yellow rain coats and rubber boots.
Q - “We need to be very careful. The toys have some deadly effect that I don’t have. It will be important to keep you out of sight as much as possible and we need to find a toy store and pick up as many water toys as possible - water guns and water balloons.”
K – “Oh, I know! We can go to Old Man Rudolfo’s store - he’ll have that! But how do we get inside?”
Q – “I’ll get us inside!”
K - “I’m scared!! I just want to hide!”
Q – “We have to get you to safe grounds. I won’t let anything happen to you Kimi. Let’s rest a little and figure out a plan then head out in a few hours. Their camera eyes won’t be able to adjust as quickly at dawn.”
Dawn of a New Day
5am somewhere in the Rocinha Favela
It’s still dark and pouring rain. Kimi and Quala, donning their new yellow raincoats, pants, and black rubber boots, head out into rain and flooding water and walk slowly down the tightly packed maze of the favela. They are at the top of a hill crammed full of tiny little single-story cement dwellings. Down they go, with their backs sliding against walls. They creep until they get to the corners of buildings, stop, then dash across walkways. There are no roads on this hill, just tiny cement walkways. At just about every turn, there are PLUSHEMZ of all available types lying twisted from exposure to the rain. Some still clutching their lifeless human adoptees. Just a little further now, they can see Rudolfo’s store just across a wide street diagonally down the hill from where they stand.
Kimi thinks to herself, how strange it is to not see any people alive. There are close to 100,000 people in her favela, with at least 10,000 people in her section, between her dwelling and the base of the hill.
K – “Quala, I don’t think we should go in there.”
Q – “I don’t think you should go in, yet. Let me go first, I can see PLUSHEMZ walking around inside Rudolfo’s.”
Quala hops over a stream of water, sliding a little, but regaining balance and runs over to the store front. He grabs an abandoned chair in the street and smashes the tiny window above him. He then puts the chair down and attempts to climb in. Just then, three PLUSHEMZ climb out, ignoring Quala, and head up the hill. Quala climbs up into the window and looks back at Kimi across the street giving her a thumbs up.
She gives a thumbs up back, and watches Quala go inside the store. She then hears buzz noises and footsteps. She turns to look behind her.
Standing right in front of Kimi, at her same height, a Panda PLUSHEMZ…
Panda – With a big friendly smile, as if it’s an old friend... “Give me a hug, I love you.”
Kimi backs out into the street…
Panda – “Awwwe, hug me!” it shouts, as it walks toward her out into the rainy street.
This PLUSHEMZ had definitely taken a few hits from someone - it was all dented up, missing part of an arm and disoriented.
Panda – “Don’t let me get wet...” he says in a friendly, high pitched voice.
Kimi, now in the middle of the street starts to turn and run, but stops abruptly, eyes wide. There are now the same three PLUSHEMZ that came out of the store earlier, hearing the Panda, walking under an overhang by the side of the street. They are looking for their new owners, and think Kimi might be the new owner. They all smile, and, impatiently waving at her, yelling, “Give us a hug! Are you lost? We’re calling help for you okay?”
The Monkey PLUSHEMZ says, along with another Panda and Tiger, “We can’t go out on rainy days...” Just then, the damaged Panda out in the street, flashes brightly followed by a deep, quick sounding BOOOM! as it exploded and fallen down sizzling. At that moment, it seemed as if every surrounding window for blocks had a PLUSHEMZ toy peeking out and waving at Kimi, smiling. As if they knew her, they were just excited to see someone alive. They’re on their way down their individual pathways to come and give Kimi a hug.
Quala heard the explosion and is finally able to work the locked front door open.
Q - “Kimi! Run over here!”
Just as she does, the PLUSHEMZ, now collecting in numbers, follow behind her. Once inside, Kimi locks the door as Quala jumps up onto a desktop and slides a box in front of the broken window.
K – “There’s so many of them out there!”
Q – Looking at Kimi, “We need to get as many squirt guns, water balloons, paint balls, anything you can find that can slow down those toys! They don’t want to hurt you, but something happens when they hug - so, don’t get a hug from anyone but me okay, haha!”
Kimi nods yes, and they head inside and pick up as many squirt guns that can fit in Kimi’s pants and jacket, 20 packs of 50 water balloons, and a super soaker with twin tanks that Kimi straps on to her back. She also grabs a plastic Army helmet and straps it on and throws one over to Quala too.
K - “We need to be ready!” Kimi said with a smile. She then picks up a backpack to store all the packs of water balloons.
(Meanwhile)
A Glitch Discovered
Bristol Bennington Headquarters – Computer Tech Room
Inside the massive warehouse on Bennington’s remote island, several computer tech’s are monitoring the results of the PLUSHEMZ attack. The room is dark and the handful of technicians sit within there own hi-tech workstations with 6 stacked flat screens lined up to make 1 large picture that can be used as touchscreen or with a mouse. They are monitoring the progress of the PLUSHEMZ takeover. There’s a supercomputer in a refrigerated room right next to them which tracks each and every PLUSHEMZ - any questionable activity that occurs, sends a message to one of these techs. Each tech handles a different continent where they can make an instant fix on the spot or report strange activity directly to one of Bristol’s assistants. Suddenly, over in the South American quadrant, the tech notices a flashing signal on his screen:
“Defective Toy Alert! Zone: Rocinha Favela – Quala Toy Q22-59’13S/43-14’55W, Warning: Detecting malfunction of Operation Nano Release. Nano’s not present, video monitoring at 50%.”
The tech pulls up the screen image feed from Quala’s video stream. A few seconds and the tech sees exactly what Quala sees back in the favela with Kimi, in wide screen HD.
“Holy crap! There’s a human alive unaffected by this Quala!” He immediately sends an alert to BB’s staff.
A Minor Matter
Outside on the beach at Bristol’s “A New Day” Party for his celebrities
One of BB’s assistants gets an alert on his PDA about a living human unaffected by the Koala toy…
Tech - Leaning over and whispering in Bristol’s ear... “Sir, there’s a rogue toy and it’s host, a little girl, is unaffected by the deadly Nano’s from her toy, near Rio.”
(Bennington and his top scientists had developed a microscopic nueron nanobyte capable of disabling the central nervous system of their adopted hosts. When the PLUSHEMZ give a hug, the nano gets released into the ear of the host and within minutes they are rendered unconscious.)
Bristol – “You, Junko, and Sparkles check it out. If it looks unusual, send the disposal team over from Buenos Aires for one last mission. We can’t have a single human left. There was enough to deal with in Argentina, I am not pleased!” He whispered back, turning his face with a big smile, he prepares to address his celebrity filled crowd.
Bristol Bennington steps out onto a large stage (as the famous rapper Reynold’s Rap finishes his intro song). Escorted by two models and 6 Gorilla Plushemz, Bristol raises up his arms like a referee signaling a touchdown.
Bristol - “We did it!” (crowd roars) “We have completed the most successful toy drive ever! I want to personally thank Penelope and Giselle for being my top spokes models generating billions of sales around the world and getting people to such a frenzy that people were dying to have one! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this is only stage one. You and the PLUSHEMZ that you have beside you are going to become stage two!” (crowd roars in excitement again.)
“I thank you all once again for being here, and now it is time to really go to work for the second stage. This week you will learn exactly how from this day forward the Global Cooling Movement has begun and what parts you will have in it. After you leave here, you will arrive home in a situation of absolute world peace consisting of no border issues between nations. Trade agreements between countries will be non-existent and the terrorist acts around the world, completely eradicated!! You see, this was the important step that I needed for you all. You will become the future ambassadors to your countries. Through our PLUSHEMZ distribution, each and every leader of each country has fallen - I do mean that in a good way!” (crowd roars again) “No more political red tape. All have unanimously contributed to an actual global system that will benefit all! I will explain more as the week goes on, but enough of my boring ramblings. For now we celebrate, for you all are now the hope and future of this planet!” (huge applause and whistles.)
Blazing Squirtguns
12 noon – Rudolfo’s Toy Store
The rain stops as Kimi fills up the final squirt gun and proceeds to place all of them in her belt, arm bands, jacket pockets, boots, and straps on the now filled, double-barreled, super soaker pack. They fill each others’ backpacks with as many water balloons as can fit. Locked and loaded, Kimi pumps up the Super Soaker, as does Quala. They rush to the door of Rudolfo’s. There’s a collected crowd of PLUSHEMZ just outside the door, and for some strange reason, all chanting Kimi’s name. Quala pauses for a second - he just received an internal message from BB HQ.
Q - “Kimi, all the toys in the area have been reassigned to be yours and they’re trying to change my settings. Quick, click the button (lock settings) behind my ear, for that will hold them off for a while.”
(A heavy fire wall was set to block the incoming download...)
Q - “This is going to be more of a challenge than I thought.” Quala see’s a motorcycle helmet in the corner. “Here put this on and put the tinted flap down. That should keep anything from getting into your ears or nose for now.”
Kimi takes off the army helmet and squeezes on the motorcycle helmet.
K - “It’s kinda big, but it’ll do.”
Q – “When we go out, stay back to back and spray in bursts, from side to side.” (Quala, with his satellite connection, pulls an area map up of their vicinity on his HD video eyes) “Follow my lead - there’s a soccer field 6 blocks up and 2 blocks down. We must get there as fast as possible.”
K - Kimi nods, “ready!”
Just then Quala plays an .mp3 file from “Carlito’s Way” and broadcasts it from the speakers in his ears. “Here comes the pain!!! Click Clack...” He kicks the door, but it doesn’t open…
Kimi reaches up and unlatches the door, flips up her visor, then yells, “HERE COMES THE RAIN!” She drops the visor, kicks the door open, and both Kimi and Quala jump out into the street, back to back, spraying water in a full 180 degrees.
PLUSHEMZ of all types back up into each other, falling over each other. Then,
“FLASH/BOOM – FLASH/BOOM – FLASH FLASH / BOOM BOOM!” the closest toys start exploding all around them. The rest of the confused toys start to retreat. Kimi and Quala run as fast as they can down the street 6 blocks up and 2 blocks over.
Q - Just about to reach the field, “The exit path from this part of the favela is on the other side of the soccer field, if we can just…”
As they arrive to the field, there are Plushemz all over the soccer field standing around lifeless kids and parents.
Q - “Kimi, you run right to the middle of the field and spray whatever you have left in the soaker. I’ll meet you on the other side, just wait in the middle.”
Quala runs off to the side and behind a shack. Kimi pumps up her super soaker and runs toward the middle of the field spraying a path. When she gets to the middle of the field she starts spraying in a full circle - the toys stay back, as if they know they would explode. There’s a gurgle from the tank on her backpack, and the water stream eases to a slight dribble. She decides to quickly remove the super soaker tank. It gets caught on the helmet, which is too big, and can’t pull it over her head.
The PLUSHEMZ advance on her in a hurry - they see that she is stuck.
“We’ll help you get that off Kimi,” some of the toys say. Just then, towering over Kimi, a large Elephant PLUSHEMZ puts his hand on top of her helmet like palming a basketball and begins to pull.
Elephant - “You’ll need to remove this in order to get the super soaker off Kimi,” (in a deep but friendly voice.)
Kimi being lifted up off the ground, holds her helmet on with both hands, not allowing her to grab any of her squirt guns or water balloons. Suddenly, Kimi hears a funny noise on the field. Gurgling, then “pop, pop-pop!” all over the field water spouts pop up and start watering the field. The toys scramble in all directions. Kimi lets go of the helmet and falls to the ground. “FLASH – FLASH FLASH, BOOM BOOM BOOM, FLASH BOOM!” Water is spraying all around and PLUSHEMZ are exploding everywhere. Kimi is disoriented and doesn’t know where to go. “FLASH BOOM BOOM FLASH BOOM BOOM FLASH, SSSZzzzzzzzzzsssscckkkkkk!”
“KIIIIMMMMEEEEEEEE…. RUUUUN THIIIISSS WAAAAY!!!” Blinded by the spraying water, explosions and smoke, Kimi puts her head down and runs as fast as she can to the voice, leaping over toys. She runs right into Quala, hugging and kissing him.
K - “I’m so glad to see you Quala!!”
Q - “Kimi, we’re almost to the Lagoa Barra Highway!!”
Place Your Bets
Back at BB HQ / Technicians Monitoring Room
[Emergency tech’s are viewing Kimi and Quala through their HD video feed on their flat screens…]
“Slap – Slap!” High Fives all around.
Tech 1 - “You owe me $50, I knew they’d get away!”
Tech 2 - “Alright here you go, at least we can have some fun before we waste ‘em. Besides BB will never know - he’s outside having the real fun!”
While leaning back in his reclining desk chair, a shadow shows up behind the tech’s.
Bristol - “Oh it appears you are having all the fun and games...” (in a very slow and deep tone.) The technicians sit up with shocked looks and turn towards Mr. Bennington, noticing that he now stands behind them with four 900 lb. muscle bound, Hippo PLUSHEMZ, tattooed bodyguards.
Bristol - Grinning, “Oh, I want to play a different game, called Feed My Hippos...”
The men are instantly devoured.
Bristol - “Get me two more tech’s and send the crew from Buenos Aires to take care of this other matter.”
Take Them Out
Along the Lagoa Barra Highway - 2pm
K - “Why’d you stop? I can see the highway from here.”
Q - “I’m pulling up a satellite visual. Google maps is cool, but the U.S. Navy one works better - it just took me a moment to access it. I was looking for boats. I get a live feed from this satellite, and there are some at Barra Da Tijuca, just under this bridge. We can make it out without being noticed. The only problem is, we have to stick to the highway to get there. I think much of it is safe, but we have to pass through a tunnel. I have a feeling we’re going to need more than water balloons for this.”
K - “Well, I’m with you and I know we’ll be okay.”
Q - “Alright Kimi, but we must stick to the highway.”
Kimi and Quala head down to the highway, uninterrupted by any Plushemz, it just looks as if Kimi is fine with her toy and there’s no need for alarm by the drifting Plushemz. For the last few hours they have been able to stay at a safe distance and get something to eat at a small market.
K - “Yes, I see the highway!! It is so weird not seeing anyone on it? Only all of these empty cars. Where are all the people?
Q - “I think the toys have been moving them off of the highway, for safety, they don’t know what might be wrong with their owners, in fact I don’t either, other than something has been triggered in the toys themselves, except me of course.”
As they walk along the highway, Kimi shouts, “Oh, there’s the Gavea Golf Course! I could only see that from my window in the past, I’ve never been so close to it, I guess I never had a reason. And now I do.”
Q - Well, there’s good in every bad I guess. We need to hurry, it’s already 4 and we need to get to the boats before dark. We’re at the first of 2 tunnels, we have to go through both to get to the boats.
K - “What’s to worry, we haven’t had any problems with the toys around here, and I can almost see to the other side, there’s just a few cars in the way...
They go in... It’s really dark. Quala grabs a flare from the trunk of one of the abandoned cars and lights it. A reddish glow emits, but still leaves many shadowed areas. They walk through yet another maze of cars, still no people around, making it even more creepy. Eyes wide, Kimi grabs onto Quala as they slowly step to the halfway point of the tunnel. Just then, “bum bum bum bum bum...” a low pitched chopping sound comes from outside the end of the tunnel.
Q - “It sounds like helicopters!”
Excited, they run the rest of the way. Just as they get outside the tunnel, Kimi, now with eyes squinting from coming out of the dark, barely makes out 2 choppers heading their way.
K - She runs further out into the middle of the highway, waving her arms and yelling, “Over Here, Over Here! Quala, humans! Live humans have come looking for us!”
At that moment, amidst the commotion, two PLUSHEMZ hop out from inside a bus and start walking toward Kimi and Quala from inside the tunnel. Then, “buddah buddah buddah ping ping ping!” automatic machine gun fire comes out of the first chopper (a Super Cobra Attack Helicopter) spraying the ground in front and around Kimi and Quala. They start to turn and run back into the tunnel, but the PLUSHEMZ are waiting there with open arms for a great big hug. They turn back around and... “fffffssssshhhhhhheeewwwwww!” a missile is launched, heading straight for them. They dive over the median of the highway protected by cement. “Krrraaaakkkkooowwwww!” The entire tunnel entrance with PLUSHEMZ is instantly obliterated - the shell of a Panda head rolls towards them. Quala grabs it. Kimi and Quala run to the inland side of the highway towards a row of nice homes nested in the hillside.
Q - “Put this helmet on Kimi! I have a feeling with all the things that have been happening, they are after you! Try to mimic the way I run.”
They run up a hill and arrive at an extravagant 3-story house.
K - “Let’s go in there and hide!”
The helicopters hover over the house...
K - “They must have seen us!”
Three men, slide down on ropes from the second helicopter (a BlackHawk), in all black tactical gear and machine guns. “They went in there,” one of them shouts.
Kimi and Quala enter through the back of the house and immediately dash towards the front. Kimi then notices a little girl lying motionless on the floor. She stops, and for the first time, all the craziness catches up to her. She turns the body over and, shockingly, the girl looks similar to her. Kimi starts to cry. She takes the panda helmet off and lays it down next to her as she closes her eyelids and says a quick prayer to herself.
“BBBDDDDTTTTTTTT, BBBBDDDDDTTTTTTT BBBBBBDDDDDDDDDDTTTTTTTTT!!!” Machine gun fire rips through the house as if it was made of styrofoam. Kimi remains standing there in shock, emotionless, not even paying attention to what is going on around her. After what seems like a full 30 seconds of straight firing, the guns stop, one of the militia men say, “That awtta do the job - which one a you wimps is going in to check on the mess?”
Q - Whispers, “I have a plan Kimi, when I say go, you run out the front door...” Kimi (not waiting) runs out the front door.
Quala has to act fast. As the militia men bicker about who is going in to check, Quala throws as many water balloons as he can at them. “Bishhhhhhshs - splash, Biiiiisssshhhhh bbiiiiiissshhhhh splash splash!” All three get hit. Quala runs as fast as he can through the house as 3 grenades bounce in through the window right behind him. He gets to the front door and, “BBBBAAAAADOOOOOOOOM!!” Quala goes flying into the street. The house half collapses from the concussion. Kimi grabs Quala by the foot and drags him into the forest to hide and looks back across the street at what might happen next.
She can hear them talking on the radio... “There’s a girl here, confirmed dead, and what looks like part of that toy. Mission accomplished, over....”
Receiving voice - “Roger that, we need you in Havana now, so get moving.”
Kimi says to herself, “huh-vah-nuh.”
The militia men retreat back to the BlackHawk and take off. After about a 100 feet, the chopper starts to spin out of control. Kimi looks up into the cockpit window and can see 2 PLUSHEMZ inside hugging the pilot and one of the men. Then, “BLAAAAAAAAAAM!” the chopper explodes into the second Cobra helicopter at the base of the house making a fiery roll down to the rainforest.
K - Now relieved, looks down at Quala, “Let’s get out of here, we need to get to the boats before dark, right?”... (no answer)... “Quala?” A tear begins to fall down her cheek. Quala shows no sign of power, lying in her lap, limp and lifeless.¬¬
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