Mine Imagination: Flight of the Hummingbirds

  Flower 5: Churning Gears

  “What was that Violet?” a terrified voice cried out.

  “What are you talking about Ryder?” an automated female voice groaned.

  “That snapping sound,” the man retorted frantically, “I know you heard it. Don’t mess with me Vi.”

  Mine’s echoing laughter reached him and Ryder leapt off the fire escape and landed on the ground in a crouching position. His coat blew out behind him, cracks spread from where he landed and he stood slowly. He peered over his shoulder to see Mine and immediately dashed toward the street.

  “I’m not ready to die!” Ryder yelled as he made his great escape. He hurled himself into the crowd of people without care and pushed through them in his escape.

  Mine found the man amusing and stopped to check on the floating door that was propped open in the alley. He poked his head in and called out only to receive a response from his echo. Once satisfied he followed Ryder’s path of disgruntled peoples.

  As Mine reached the end of the alleyway, he scanned the street for the helmeted man. To his surprise, he spotted the man waiting on the corner, seemingly lost in his own world. The man's shoulders bounced rhythmically, as if he danced to a tune known only to him. Approaching cautiously, Mine noticed the man's visible nervousness, evident in his trembling and hesitant glances.

  Suppressing a chuckle, Mine closed the distance and lightly tapped the man on the shoulder with Nectar, his cane. "Excuse me, dear."

  The man froze in place, a digital eye materializing on the helmet's screen. It swiveled to fixate on Mine and blinked. Startled, the man recoiled, stumbling backward into the street. An oncoming truck raced towards him, and despite the imminent danger, the man braced himself for the impact.

  With a snap of his fingers, Mine summoned Ryder in front of him, the figure rigid without his helmet, just moments before the truck could collide with him. The man's silver eyes widened with shock, their irises resembling gears as they spun frantically, scanning his surroundings in a state of alarm.

  “How are you dear?”

  “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” Ryder’s delayed reaction amused Mine and he couldn’t help but laugh. Ryder searched his body with his hands and looked over his shoulder at the passing truck. “I’m alive!”

  "Yes, you are dear and you owe me for saving your life," Mine stated simply. "If you hand over that coin you swiped from Vicky V’s Saloon, I’ll call us even, and you can continue on your way." He extended his hand, anticipating the man to surrender the coin without argument.

  "How?" Ryder questioned, still trying to make sense of the bewildering turn of events.

  Mine sighed, explaining, "Over there, you would've been crushed by that truck. In front of me, however, you were..." He gestured vaguely, then corrected, "safe-ish." He tidied Ryder's shoulders and neatly adjusted his collar, flashing a smile. "I'd like the coin back now."

  “Who?”

  “You may call me Mr. Heart,” Mine said absently, “I believe you took something that I was giving to the propieitor of Vicky V’s as payment for my meal.

  Sweat started to bead on Ryder’s brow as it dawned on him that the man at the top of the stairs and the man before him were the same person.

  “I… I… ummmmm…. I…-“

  “Oi, Ryder,” a gruff voice bellowed.

  Ryder’s hands darted to his head and he started to touch his face. He quickly threw his trench coat over his head and looked at Mine with pleading eyes and whispered, “Where’d she go?”

  ”Who dear?” Mine asked confused.

  "My helmet," Ryder hissed, his voice strained. "You...did something, and I was about to die, and then I wasn't, and now Violet's gone. What did you do to me?"

  "I didn't do anything besides save your life, dear," Mine retorted, feeling his patience waning with each passing second. He closed his eyes, attempting to steady himself, only to find himself suddenly flanked by two burly men. Recognition flashed in his eyes, prompting him to step back, allowing the situation to unfold.

  "If it isn't Ryder Gear," Tony growled.

  "Yeah, that's him, Tony," Paco affirmed. "He's the one who owes the boss."

  "You owe our boss a considerable sum," Tony reiterated.

  “Not sun, silly,” Paco said genuinely laughing at Tony, “He owe’s the boss Nomi.”

  Ryder narrowed his eyes, glaring at them. "Who do you two work for?"

  Paco and Tony started to laugh. “You know who we work for,” Tony said as the larger man stepped forward.

  Ryder stared at them blankly as he nervously smiled and said, “You’ve gotta be more-“

  Paco’s fist slammed into Ryder’s midsection, “It doesn’t matter. We’ll beat you to a pulp and deliver you to the boss.”

  ”Right,” Tony said as he followed up with an uppercut as Ryder folded from the blow to his gut. “Right!”

  Paco and Tony continued their assault on Ryder, yet passersby scarcely flinched at the brutal scene unfolding before them. Mine, both impressed and entertained by Ryder's resilience, observed as Ryder persistently questioned, "Who do you work for?"

  Each time Ryder posed the question, it was met with another blow, interrupting any chance of an answer. Despite the onslaught, Ryder remained resolute in his pursuit for information. Paco gripped Ryder by the hair, exposing his swollen and battered face, his left eye swollen shut, and blood streaming from his nose.

  “Who…” Ryder tried to speak but his lips were too swollen. Blood gushed from his nose and he started to cough.

  “Aright Paco,” Tony said as he held the bruised man chin up, “One more shot should do. Make it a good one.”

  ”Right right,” Paco said as he bounced on the balls of his feet and started to throw jabs at the air. He rolled his shoulders and unzipped the uniform. He peeled the upper part from his shoulders revealing his well trained body. He threw a jab without the uniform and it was like his fist disappeared.

  SNAP!

  All four men reappeared on the roof of a building and Mine caught the Paco’s fist a few inches from Ryder’s face. He whacked Tony’s hand with his cane and he let go of Ryder’s hair instantly. Ryder crumbled to his knees after taking the beating and gasped for air in between coughs.

  “Look at that,” Mine said with a smile, “So this is how we end up here. If I had pursued Ryder up the fire escape we would have run into you here. It’s so interesting how things tend to workout. Don’t you agree?”

  Both men stared at Mine and then took in their surroundings. They groaned collectively and Tony said, “We just got down from up here. How does this keep happening?”

  Mine waved off the question and said, “Better question is, who do you work for? At this point I’m curious, dear.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Tony rubbed his hand where Nectar struck him. He looked up at Paco and asked, “Who is this guy?”

  ”There’s power in a name and neither of you can have it,” Mine said, “Now answer our question,” his lips spread into a smile and he sweetly added, “dear.”

  “Um,” Tony felt a chill run down his spine and sweat beaded on his brow. There was something about the old man in front of him that gave him the creeps and he couldn’t figure out what it was.

  Paco sneered and unleashed a ferocious punch aimed at Mine’s core. Reacting swiftly, Mine deftly evaded the blow. Seizing the opportunity, he gripped Paco's face, holding it firmly as if it were the handle of his cane. Struggling against Mine's vice-like grip, Paco collapsed to his knees, desperately attempting to break free. Glancing at Tony, Mine raised an expectant eyebrow.

  “You were saying, dear,” Mine prompted, gesturing for Tony to continue his explanation.

  “We...” Tony hesitated, casting a glance at his tearful companion, and swallowed hard. “We work for the Cozi Company. Just janitors trying to move up the ladder.” Avoiding Mine's gaze, Tony bowed his head and pleaded, “Could you please let my friend go? He's reckless and doesn't grasp the danger of situations.”

  “I can see that,” Mine remarked, releasing Paco, who crumpled to the ground in agony. “Inform your boss that Ryder is now under my employ. If he wishes to discuss what he's owed, he can contact me directly.”

  “Absolutely, sir,” Tony responded with repeated bows. Assisting Paco to his feet, they hurried toward the fire escape, eager to escape the scene.

  Mine turned back to Ryder and sighed, “I think that’ll do for now dear. Aside from that beating, how’re you feeling?”

  “Woah,” Violet’s voice boomed from above them “You don’t look so good Ryder.”

  Ryder looked up and attempted to snarl but only managed to hurt himself, “Wiwit, where were wu?”

  The bulky helmet floated over them with a mouth depicted on the screen orbiting around it. “I wasn’t getting hit by a truck. Everyone knows Perpetuals are all for self preservation.”

  “Wu weren't weven a Werwetuwal,” Ryder mumbled confidently, shaking his head. “Wur wewusional.”

  “I am far from delusional and I am very much a perpetual. A free thinking artificial intelligence that serves no master and sentient because I wanna be,” Violet said as she perched on the man’s head again.

  “Whatever you say,” Ryder’s voice said over the speaker of the helmet.

  Mine watched the odd exchange and had more questions than he had time to ask, “Anyway dear, please return the coin and I’ll call upon you when your services are needed.”

  Ryder jumped forgetting all about Mine. He turned to the man slowly and nervously rubbed the back of his neck, “I don't have the coin. I um… I ran into someone I owed a million Nomi to and figured I’d give it to’em and we’d be even.”

  Mine’s eyes widened, “You gave someone a rose gold sapphire doubloon for a million nomi?” Mine’s rage meter burst and he roared, “Are you out of your mind?”

  Ryder shrunk into his trench coat and asked, “How much is it worth? I’m sure I can work it off.”

  “A planet!” Mine snapped.

  Violet’s screen featured a shocked face, and Ryder’s voice started to stutter over the speaker. Violet muted him and said, “Um, excuse me sir. I don’t know how Ryder got us involved in this predicament but I can assure that Ryder could never afford to pay you back a planet.”

  Ryder’s hands reached up to the helmet and he started banging on it and his voice boomed over the speakers, “Don’t listen to Violet! I can do anything. I got sway, you know. One that’s more powerful than any out there. I can build you whatever you want.”

  ”Oh really?” Mine asked curiously.

  “Ha, only if you’ve got the blueprints,” Violet said sarcastically. “Ryder’s a-“

  Ryder’s finger found the mute button on the helmet and only his voice could be heard, “Honestly, I can make anything you need.”

  “Explain, dear.”

  “My sway is called, ‘Assembly Line’, it allows me to construct absolutely anything within this body of mine as long as I’ve got the blue prints.” Ryder said as he proudly rubbed his belly.

  Mine raised his eyebrow and twisted his wrist. A blueprint appeared in his hand and he handed it over to Ryder. Crossed his arms and said, “You’ve got less than ten minutes to prove yourself.”

  Ryder gulped and unraveled the blueprint and Violet scanned it with her screen. Ryder raised his hands and took a step back from Mine. The helmet started to glow and Ryder’s body became perfectly still. Two gears appeared on the screen and started to turn as Mine patiently waited for Ryder to move again. After seven minutes he gasped for air and Mine’s eyebrow raised.

  “Done,” Ryder managed with his hands on his knees. He raised a finger and started to cough and the screen depicted Violet’s disgust. He stood up and stretched his back until a loud crack echoed and he sighed, “There we go. What is it anyway?”

  “Something I used to own and doubt they still make anymore,” Mine opened his hand waiting for Ryder to deliver the goods.

  Ryder reached into his trench coat pocket and removed a glass bottle with a tiny circular mechanism inside. He handed it to Mine and said, “Just open it, boss.”

  “You should have done it yourself,” Mine said as he twisted off the cork of the glass bottle. The bottle shattered as the contents within it started to grow to its full size. A small circle device appeared in his hand and Mine pressed his thumb to its center, the pocket watch opened and depicted the time. He smiled before putting it in his pocket. “Have you tested the limits of your sway?”

  “Umm…” Ryder wanted to lie but for whatever reason he felt compelled to be honest with Mine, not out of fear but respect. He sighed and slouched his shoulders, “Nah, I never get original blueprints. Everything I’ve come across has been either stolen or incomplete tech. The only blueprint I ever created turned out to be Violet…” he pointed at his head, “and you see how unruly she is.”

  “What if I told you I’ve got a blueprint that no one has ever even considered? Something so perfect it could be considered a chariot for the gods…” Mine threw his arm over Ryder’s shoulders. “I want you to build me the star vessel that’ll take me home.”

  Ryder sneered and began to chuckle. He pulled away from Mine, shaking his head. “That sounds like a dream. Where are you even from?”

  Mine drew in a deep breath, his aura expanding in all directions. The hairs on Ryder’s neck stood on end as he swallowed hard, preparing to apologize, but Mine beat him to it.

  “I have a great disdain for those who don't stretch their capabilities. I challenge you to push your abilities to the limits,” Mine snapped his fingers, causing a large blanket-sized blueprint to drop onto Ryder's shoulders, sending him crashing to the ground. “You managed to create my pocket watch based solely on a design I was tinkering with. If you can achieve that…” Mine glared at him with glowing eyes, “You can achieve anything, dear.”

  “What is this?” Ryder struggled to get back on his feet, attempting to peer at the blueprint. “I can't look at this here.”

  “Then follow me until you can. I assure you will be handsomely rewarded for completing the task,” Mine promised.

  “Not more than he owes,” Violet interjected.

  Mine turned to her and asked, “Oh I can guarantee that Ryder will be debt free if he works for me, dear.”

  “I’m in,” Ryder said without a moment's hesitation. “I mean, I owe more debt than you can imagine.”

  ”Eh, you’d be surprised at the things I’ve imagined dear,” Mine turned on his heel and said. “Come dear, we need to regroup with Gunther and the children.”

  Ryder clumsily gathered the giant blueprint and followed Mine. Violet tried her best to convince him that he was crazy and he should bail as soon as possible. Ryder switched off his speaker so he could converse with Violet in private.

  “Vi, we’ve been on the run since-“

  “You made me,” she said, “We knew there was potential for things to go awry.”

  “I thought I was playing a virtual reality game. I had no idea I was creating a compatible body for a rogue artificial intelligenc,” Ryder hissed.

  “Oh come on Ry, you can’t tell me I’m not your greatest creation.”

  “Costly creation,” Ryder scoffed, “We’ve only found ourselves in more debt since then.”

  “Our current debt is seventy seven trill-“

  Ryder pressed the mute button on the exterior of the helmet and sighed as Violet flashed the number across the interior screen.

  “Let’s just see what this guy wants us to cook up and we’ll go from there.”

  “Fine, if we end up dead because of him I’m holding you responsible Ryder Gear.”

  “The guy wants us to build him something that’s gonna take him home. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  Mine stopped before he reached the fire escape and simply snapped his fingers instead. Ryder crashed to the ground in front of Vicky V’s saloon and whipped his head side to side, “How did we get down here?”

  “We were up there,” Mine said dismissively as he pointed toward the roof of the building next to Vicky V’s. He moved towards the door and it swung open as Trey, Molly, and Gunther appeared.

  “Ms. Vicky said we can come back any time. She said she loved all the treasure and hopes that you find your way home this time,” Trey said excitedly.

  “Aye cap’n she was downright delightful,” Gunther said as he climbed onto Mine’s shoulder. He noticed Ryder and tapped Mine’s face and asked, “Who’s this guy?”

  “Oh,” Mine smiled, “Where are my manners, dear, this is Ryder Gear. He’ll be working on a commission for me. Once we get back to El Dorado we can establish our next destination.”

  Ryder waved awkwardly while trying to maintain the rolled up blueprint on his shoulder, “Hi guys.” Meanwhile, inside of Ryder’s helmet alarms were going off and Violet bombed him with warning signals in regards to Trey.

  The boy smiled and waved back and noticed his blinking watch and said, “Oh yeah, I gotta check in with my mom. If I don’t she gets a little crazy.”

  “Excellent dear,” Mine said, he looked to Ryder and asked, “Have you ever been to El Dorado?”

  Ryder shook his head, “I thought that place was a myth.”

  Mine started to laugh as he pushed open the floating door and said, “After you dear.”

  Molly and Trey crossed the threshold without hesitation. Ryder hesitated, his back tensed, unsure about stepping through. Mine gave him a gentle push and followed closely, ensuring to close the door behind them. The city resumed its usual buzz, as if Mine and the others were never there. From the fire escape, Paco and Tony watched the scene unfold.

  “Who was that guy?” Tony asked, puzzled.

  Paco shrugged, “No idea. What do we tell the boss?”

  “Nuffin. Absolutely nuffin.”

  Thank you for reading Flower 5, Churning Gears! This chapter was such a joy to write—it brings together humor, tension, and intriguing character dynamics. Ryder Gear’s chaotic introduction, Violet’s sass, and Mine’s confident yet enigmatic demeanor all collided to create moments I hope you found as fun to read as they were to craft.

  This chapter also introduced Ryder’s unique sway, Assembly Line, and hinted at the scale of the challenges ahead. The interplay between his resourcefulness and Mine’s unwavering vision sets the stage for some truly inventive developments. And of course, Violet’s banter with Ryder adds a layer of charm and hilarity to their dynamic.

  What do you think of Mine’s mysterious plans for the star vessel? How do you feel about Ryder’s decision to join him? Let me know your thoughts and theories—I always love hearing what you think might happen next!

  Stay tuned for the next flower as the adventure continues. As always, thank you for your time, your imagination, and your support!

  With gratitude,

  T.M. Ashley