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The emerging science fiction futuristic story, 200 odd years from now, of life based on the trajectory of the current madness.
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Rule of Twelve, Double Take - Ch1 A routine descent (Passage 5/5)

(… continuing)

For the descent, Larinette took the seat next to Dukk. She had her sandy blond hair tied back, thus he could take in fully her fine features and light blue eyes. It felt odd, but nice to have his companion at the controls with him for this maiden descent. It was odd because usually he or Rachelle sat there as the other was at the helm.
As second, Larinette’s role was to monitor the thrust and pitch controls. Annee sat at the console behind her and was tasked with monitoring other traffic and handling communications. Bazzer sat in the back of the cockpit monitoring the reactors and other rig systems. Dukk would keep an eye on the Nav, autopilot and oversee everything else, ready to step in if something didn’t feel or sound right.
Whilst all automated, systems weren’t infallible, and this rig was old. Knowing what was happening just before something breaks, helped reduce the chances of overreacting and making it worse.

“Dukk, make it a good one,” it was Rachelle on the comms.
“Will do, Captain,” Dukk replied.
“I don’t want anything getting in the way of my celebration this evening,” Rachelle added.
“Where are we going, Shell?” said Bazzer joining in the comms.
“Not the Auld Dubliner again, I hope,” piped Annee.
“Cheek of you! You suggested it for old time’s sake!” Rachelle retorted.
Annee chuckled to herself at her console.
“Well at least no-one will get lost again, hey Bazzer,” Larinette joked.
“So, who’s buying the drinks, you or Dukk,” Annee added.
“Don’t look at me, every EU I have is committed to putting the captain happily into retirement,” Dukk replied.
“You buy the first round, and the rest is on me, how’s that Dukk?” Rachelle said.
“Deal! Now time to focus or no-one will be doing any celebrating later,” Dukk concluded.
The comms went quiet.

With everything in place, Dukk engaged the descent sequence on the autopilot. This started with the port bow thruster pivoting the rig one hundred and eighty degrees.
The rig shook and groaned. Even Dukk felt his stomach turn. The necessary maneuver and the resulting g-force push the g-suits to their limits. Being familiar with the feeling didn’t make it any less unpleasant. He was glad as always that he wasn’t sitting in the back with the passengers.
Next the main engines gave a quick burst. This slowed the rig so it would drop out of orbit. Another burst of the bow thrusters brought the rig back one hundred and eighty degrees again.
Now a final burst of both tail and bow thrusters pointed the nose into the forty-degree angle needed for re-entry.

The re-entry alerts sounded just before the colour of their view changed to bright red. Then a thunderous noise engulfed them as they entered the atmosphere. They were now committed and at the mercy of their preparation.
It was a moment Dukk loved and hated equally. It was terrifying but also comforting. For a brief time, there was nothing further he could do but wait. Things were just as they were and will be as they will be.
Soon the view and the sounds changed. They were in the atmosphere.

(to be continued...)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 1 - A routine descent (Passage 5 of 5)]

All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2021 BJ Allen

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Rule of Twelve books to be narrated with the help of A.I.

I am investing in A.I. driven narration to bring the Rule of Twelve books to life.

It will be more than just narration in the traditional audio book sense. The A.I. will enable me to bring dialogue to life with character specific voices. This will create a rich and engaging narration.

Over the coming months I will be in catch-up mode, building the narration for already published material. Eventually, the aim will be to concurrently release chapters in both written and rich narrative form.

The narration will eventually make it to audiobook form for platforms like Audible and Spotify. However, to get it sooner, you will need a Locals subscription. The Locals App works just like your favourite audiobook app. So, you can listen on the go. Becoming a subscriber also helps keep this whole show on the road.

I look forward to sharing the journey with you.

Bradley.

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Rule of Twelve, Book 2, Convergence

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Rule of Twelve, Book 1, Double Take

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Psychological Safety is a trojan horse

Marr nodded with a wink as she put her hands on the back of Luna’s chair and started to speak.

   “Emeelie, what if I have a room with a single door and I put you in it. The door isn’t locked, and you can leave at any time. The room represents a life experience. Now what if I dropped a lion into the room. What would happen?”

   “All things being equal, eventually the lion would get hungry and want to eat me.”

   “What are your options?”

   “Obviously I would leave via the door, immediately,” Emeelie answered.

   The others laughed.

   “Sure, and every other time a lion is dropped into the room you are in, you’d leave too?”

   “Yes,” Emeelie said with a hint of hesitation.

    “What if there was a possibility that a lion might be dropped into every room, from that moment on. How would your experience of life pan out?”

   “Dreadful. Limited. I wouldn’t be able to stay or even enter any room.”

   “Right. You’d spend your time running out of every room and miss every potential experience.”

   “Ok.”

   “What if I put a chain on the lion and anchor it to the wall?”

   “That would work. I would be able to enter the room again.”

   “Right. So, the lion would need to be chained down for every room you may enter.”

   “Great.”

   “This is the trojan horse.”

   “How?”

   “If I am controlling the lion with chains, I am controlling you.”

   “What! How?”

   “I can choose to use chains or not. I can determine which room you can enter and which you cannot. Your potential for life experiences is controlled by me. You allow yourself to be the victim.”

   “Of the lion’s hunger?”

   “No, my will. You are allowing me to depower you.”

   “Oh.”

   “Yes, oh. Your safety becomes dependent on me or somebody else putting chains on every lion.”

   “Not good.”

   “No. What else could you do that leaves you empowered, but not eaten.”

   “I could learn to defend myself against the lion.”

   “Yes, or even tame it. Put chains on it yourself, so to speak. That way you could go into any room you like, regardless of whether there is a lion in there or not. You’d be safe without anyone else’s intervention. You’d stay empowered. You would experience life to its fullest.”

   “So psychological safety is a trojan horse. It puts my safety in the hands of a third party. It depowers. It turns people into victims.”

    Marr nodded and smiled.

 

-------

Excerpt from Rule of Twelve, Book 3 - Regeneration, Chapter 17

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Rule of Twelve, Book 3, Chapter 13
Regeneration - Power

 

1

 

Dukk opened his eyes. It was dark.

   “A dream. It must have been a dream,” he muttered as he tried to fathom where he was. He tried to digest the pre-dawn excursion with Craig.

   He swung himself out of bed. Marr was gone.

   He checked the time. Mid-afternoon.

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Rule of Twelve, Book 3, Chapter 12
Regeneration - New ground

 

1

 

“What in the world is going on?” Craig demanded as the doors to the south banqueting hall, closed behind them.

   Dukk, Marr and Emeelie stood before him. Beyond was the atrium bathed in orange light from the setting sun.

   On the opposite side of the atrium the doors to the north banqueting hall were open. Music and chatter could be heard from within.

   The noise from the others disguised the deathly silence that engulfed the four.

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