Best Beta Poems
[90766 Log 003]
7/18 20:12
Nate-- Touchdown! The crowd goes wild!
Agent-- So your going back to the outpost now?
Nate-- Yeah, Forest is my home. The outpost there is too.
Agent-- O.K. I'll stop by and see you soon.
Nate-- I'll be there. I'll play your song on the way home.
It's still "Say Anything" by Cartel right?
Agent-- You got it. I love that song.
Nate-- Memory like an elephant...
Agent-- Body of a Tiger?
Nate-- yup.
Agent-- Stay safe out there.
Nate-- you too...
Maria hums to the tune of “Taps” as she scoops out the betta
One red, one blue, Wiggles got ick, now it’s just Padma blue
Doorbell rings, ding dong, Maria rushes to answer, Ahh, Greek feta
The delivery guy left as the maid pounded on the screen, birds flew
This is cheddar, Miss Sparks will be upset, hmmm. It’s okay!
Swooshing sounds from the toilet bowl, as Maria flushes
Tosses the salad, grabs her clanking keys, and drives away
Down the hill, exhales haa, then inhales huh, blood rushes
Nick The Greek’s, an order of the Greek feta salad, to go please
Exits Nicks, enters Finney’s Fish Store. I’ll take that one, that fish
As she points to the red betta splashing, wiggling, stops, in a freeze
Dear Maria, I’m home, bring my salad and a glass of iced tea swish
So, tell me, how was your day, clops off her shoes by her chair
Leaning, back crackling, with Wiggles her red betta nearby
Miss Sparks waits for her maid, then notices Padma’s stare
Maria, why is Padma staring at Wiggles with a glint in her eye?
[90766 Log 004]
7/18 20:15
[recored audio]
Nate-- see you on the other side.
Agent-- See you later little bro.
(air let out from the Air-Tight pilot cabin)
BETA-- Multiple hostile forces are in the area
Agent-- What? That's not possible-
(gunfire)
Agent-- Nate! Get the hell out of here.
(return fire)
Agent-- Go! Go! Go!
(engine sounds)
Nate (over loudspeaker)-- We have takeoff.
Good luck out there.
(gunfire stops)
BETA-- Those are gunmen for the Association: Rank 2
Agent-- Why are they here? New Athens is a Federation
city not an Association city.
BETA-- Records indicate a successful Associate siege.
Agent-- So we just walked into an Associate city and
killed two gunmen.
BETA-- Correct.
Agent-- ...And our only way out just left.
BETA-- Correct.
Agent-- O.K. I'm going to need more than this pistol.
BETA-- There was a Federation barracks half a
kilometer from here. I'm not sure if it's still there.
Agent-- It's better than nothing...
[90766 LOG 001]
7/18 13:23
BETA-- Sir, The facility has issued a search for-
Agent-- I know... it's to late now
BETA-- Protocol states: any AWOL officer or agent will be
terminated after six hours of absence
Agent-- They won't get the chance
BETA-- Where do you plan to go?
Agent-- North. To New Athens.
BETA-- What do you need there?
Agent-- A place to stay for a while, I have a friend who
lives there.
BETA-- What will you do with yourself?
Agent--I want to...I don't know, the juries out.
BETA-- To lunch?
Agent-- Yeah, 'to lunch'
7/18 16:42
BETA-- We have been walking for three point nineteen
hours, We should stop to find transportation.
Agent-- I'm working on it. I know of a Federation
vehicle outpost a few kilometers away
BETA-- I do not have knowledge of that station.
It must be a stealth operation facility.
Agent-- Something like that...
BETA-- Ah, That explains it.
[recorded audio feed]
Agent-- Honey I'm home.
Unidentified-- Is that- It can't be. Who's there?
Agent-- It is me...
Unidentified-- No, your dead you've been dead 2 years
there were seven reports of soldiers watching you die
Agent-- I lived, don't you know your own brother?
(foot steps around the corner)
Unidentified-- So the Federation faked it? Made you
one of the Specs?
Agent-- Yeah, not as great as they make it sound. How
have you been Nate? Still hanging around here, huh?
Nate-- Yup, never gets old. Flying Blades and eating and sleeping.
Agent-- Small talk aside, I'm going to New Athens. I need
a ride, do you want to come?
Nate-- Hmmm...sounds like an adventure but I won't stick around.
Agent-- Why not?
Nate-- You know why. I'm an operator, not a solider. I can't fight.
Agent-- O.K. little bro... When is takeoff?
Nate-- In five...
Striped of your name and trained to kill
Put a glaze over your eyes and war-forge skill
Suit you in armor and give you a gun
expect you to follow orders but you run
Part of the crew 49 all standing
awaiting the chance to escape the Landing
the machines try to stop you but your to good
your wits are sharp and do what you should
The delta shield scratched into your metal
you can crush the world like a rose petal
you live in a world of lies
but you can change it this time
but you know what you must do
you should fight for what's true
you are the Agent that got away (the only one who has)
Arkansas is your name (the world rests in your grasp)
He traveled toward the library. BETA tracked the location of the message. Two days later
he reached the library. Peter appeared at the door with a lead pipe. Agent took off his
helmet and greeted the boy.
Agent—Hello, You must be Peter.
Peter—hi, are you from the militia?
Agent—No, I’m not in any military.
Peter—we need to get out of here. I have something the Associates want…
Agent—what do you have?
Peter—Just a bunch of numbers but, I think they are the key to something.
Agent—any ideas?
Peter—I think so, follow me.
They walk through the library to a desk cluttered with books about ancient cities and
structures hidden around the world. Peter flips open the largest book on the table and
reads aloud: “’Sonic ?????- An unknown device of which emits a sonic boom causing
destruction around the planet.’ I think this is what the war is about.”
Agent—Why would you learn all this?
Peter—My dad was killed because of his works to research these artifacts. He gave me these
codes and when the Associates asked he told them to shove it and they tried to kill us.
Agent—I’m sorry to hear that.
Peter—It’s O.K. I just don’t know where I’m gonna go now.
Agent—The little town outside New Athens?
Peter—I don’t have any family around.
BETA—I hate to interrupt but-
Agent—We need to go?
BETA—Yeah…
Agent—O.K.- Come on!
They run…
Peter—What’s going on?!
BETA—Hostile forces nearing the entrance
Peter—How?
Agent—They may have followed me...
[90766 Log 005]
7/18 20:38
BETA-- It is nearby now. The ruble ahead blocks your view.
Agent-- Ah, Is it a big building?
BETA-- A fair size, I suppose.
(fiddling of the locks)
Agent-- It's locked. You don't have a key, huh?
BETA-- No. But I have something better.
Agent-- ...
(a shift behind the door. squeak open)
Agent--You did that?
BETA-- Yes. A security measure.
Agent-- I like it. You have proved yourself useful once again
(shouting echoing)
Agent-- Hostile?
BETA-- Hostile forces northwest west.
Agent-- Great... Does this place have a place to hide?
BETA-- No. Before it was a grocery-store.
Agent-- Wonderful. Where is storage?
BETA-- All weapons are stored-
Agent-- Northwest?
BETA-- Yes. Are you familiar with this facility?
Agent-- No I am not.
BETA-- How did you know.
Agent-- Unlucky guess.
(pistol cocked. footsteps)
Agent-- Behind this door?
BETA-- Correct, Sir.
Agent-- You don't trust me.
BETA-- No I do not think you can survive.
Agent-- Nothing I can't handle. I promise.
BETA-- Four, Rank 5 Associates?
Agent-- It would take a thousand to take me down...
Agent Arkansas kicked down the bolt lock door. He fired one round and once he was
out of shots he swung back out of the room to reload. The four men started flipping
tables for cover. Agent listened carefully to where they were hiding.
Reload-
Swing around the doorway
Fire-
One-Two-Three
-Missed
Four-Five-Six
-Hit
Return fire
Not one hit
Dive out of the room
Silence before the storm…
Agent waits for the three men left to reload. BETA breaks the quiet by telling him that
he should go while they are reloading.
Ignoring BETA, Agent, cocks his pistol and turns. He starts firing, killing two more-
leaving one left. He moves back behind the wall to reload and shoots one shot into the
last gunman’s chest.
[90766 Log 002]
7/18 19:13
BETA-- Altitude is reaching maximum height.
Agent-- It's alright. Nate knows what he's doing.
BETA-- Altitude Red: Critical. I recommend decreasing
immediately.
Agent-- Nate? A.I. says your going to high.
Nate-- It's o.k. he's just cranky 'cause he's been in here
for three hours
Agent-- He doesn't get "cranky"
Nate-- This Blade is rigged for higher alt. it can go to the
moon at this point.
Agent-- Can it get us to New Athens?
Nate-- Always doubting me, relax I can see it from here.
Ten minutes to touchdown, alright?
Agent-- Sounds good.
BETA-- Is he a Federation licensed pilot? I can not find his
record file.
Agent-- You may have to look under "Discharged Operator"
BETA-- Discharged! This is not legal at all.
Agent-- That's why I didn't want to tell you.
Nate-- So what A.I. did you get? V2 or V3?
Agent-- Four-Point-Four
Nate-- What! You got a trail bot!
Agent-- No I got to keep it...
Nate-- What where they experimenting?
Agent-- O.O.B
Nate-- Oh, that sounds better than V2...
Agent-- It's less lonley
Nate-- Out Of Body AIs always are.
BETA-- I believe we have arrived
Agent-- Yes we have...
The taste of blood is on his tongue
A scent carried by the wind
Haunches move to a rhythmic song
A song only he can hear
Beneath the moons dim glow
His eyes have found the prey
His mind is drawn to slender throat
And flesh torn away
He is the horse and rider
A silent Death approaches
Space between the two grow tighter
But only one will notice
The reapers shadow cloaked in fur
A scythe sent to harvest
A single lone but deadly cur
Twisting through the forest
Upon his pounce, the kill is swift
His jaws are locked in place
A final jerk and bones are split
A painting of gore and grace
Now to return, since he's through
With another life he's smothered
A Death to all that he pursues
A savior to his brothers.
BETA—Get your munitions. Transmissions state your location. Defense will be here in
approx five minutes.
Agent—Thanks, it’s time to leave.
BETA—Good idea.
BETA alarmed Agent of an Associate vehicle in the next room. Agent charges into the
garage to find a large military green pick-up truck. They jumped in and roared the
engine. As they drove down the inner driveway, and crashed through the door to
outside, BETA give the nearest “safe” point. They drove toward the outskirts of the city
hoping for safety. The reach a small village and stop to rest.
BETA—The locals here are anti-war people. We may have a chance to stay the night.
Agent— Sure- Is there a place to stay?
BETA— There is a town terminal a block down. That should give you information about
a place to sleep.
Agent— A terminal? Why would I use a terminal?
BETA— It provides info about anything in the area. Like a computer.
Agent—I know what it is. I want to know, why you don’t know if there is a place to
stay?
BETA—I’m not programmed to things that are not war-related
Agent—O.K. lets move…
-In these times most towns with a high enough population have a sheltered place
where there are terminals or computers that have maps and other things for travel and
such-
Agent gets back in the truck and started down the road toward the center of town.
BETA directed him to the building he was searching for.
Part Two (beta)
1. As the aeons, uncounted, unmeasured, transpired,
the Lord of hosts immortal vied
to bring to the fore,
true denizens of life,
with the power to choose between love, and strife.
2. As yet, only goodness unchallenged existed.
And so on, the heavenly host persisted.
But into the static paragon of heaven,
God placed one flaw, one imperfection.
3. Seeing this, the heavenly host decried;
"Look here! This is all we have been denied!"
And some stole away to this place,
in heaven, devoid of eternal grace.
4. Bitterness and jealousy
soon took root;
darkness was light; lies were truth.
This place became the opposite of heaven
perfection inverted, malice, unfettered.
5. Now God, knowing how
this would all come about,
prepared, for he had a plan to set out.
For you see, it were necessary for beings of light
to choose darkness, and distinguish wrong from right.
6. The foundation of his plan now implemented,
he set about explaining to the hosts, his intention.
"I will now make man and set him an home
of earth and water and sky for a dome,
to sustain and protect him, from the abyss
where no mortal life, or its love, could exist.
7. A vast array of mortal life
God then proceeded to design.
From the lowest and simple,
to divinely complex,
God formed from the elements
all which exists.
8. Life, as a mirror,
reflected all parts of heaven;
all it's flaws;
all it's perfections.
And for every form of life
there is, in God's mind,
an idea through which it binds
life to the eternal,
.......
to be continued
BETA’s sense of nervousness in Agent Arkansas was triggered and BETA, being the nosey
robot he is, asked why.
Agent—I’m fine. I just have a weird feeling about this?
BETA—Why?
Agent—I just feel like I’m supposed to go here- like its fate…
BETA—I cannot say I know how you feel, although I understand that this quest of yours to
find inner peace has driven you, and I can see that you’re on to something big.
Agent—Wow, that’s deep of you “Bates”.
BETA—…Take this left and we have arrived…
Agent pulled up to the town center and looked around before he went in. The people walking
seemed so happy, even when the town is so close to a city at war. He walked in to the
building and looked for a terminal. The only reason he found one is because it made a loud
noise and alerted “MESSAGE WAITING”.
SENT: 7-18 BY: UNKNOWN
SENT TO: TERMINAL 346246 NU-CORREN
I DON’T KNOW WHO I AM WRITING TO, BUT MY NAME IS PETER AND I’M TWELVE. I’M IN THIS PLACE
AND I NEED HELP. THE ASSOCIATES ARE LOOKING FOR ME AND THEY CAUGHT THE OTHERS WHO ESCAPED.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS I NEED HELP. PLEASE GET ME OUT OF HERE. I WANT TO GO HOME.
Agent read the message and read again until he knew what he should do. -BETA never said a
word. Agent walked out of the building and searched the town for someone who knew about
this boy Peter… No one had any idea- except one man: a homeless cripple who lived outside
an office building near the town center. He gave Agent some advice: “You didn’t run from
your problems- you ran for what is right- Don’t make the mistake I did”. This man had did
some wrongs to the Associates and paid the price. Agent didn’t stick around very long- He
was on a mission.
She remembers sign
Of beta hanging on neck
She was never best
It was always a matter
Of others going further
An invasion of privacy, increasing my anxiety;
All for the sake of piracy, stolen opportunity.
No where to go from here, just a name to smear;
Why? Just to cause tears? Yet they’re the only one that cheers.
Robbing all the trust, blown away by a single gust;
an identity left to rust, a digital life to readjust.
So little left for me, to believe in this community;
Laying among this social debris, resulting from an Alt+F4 hotkey.
Multiplayer was devastation, now I’m single player in damnation;
Where’s my new destination, co-op or further isolation?
No more trust of new names, who knows the aim they claim?
Silly me for trusting those in games, save for a few but it’s all in flames.
Maybe a blessing in disguise, that this part of me dies;
Focused energy on a different prize, so that my life isn’t digitized.
Upon the horizon I see that new life, behind me a wake of strife;
Ahead of me opportunity in rife, as I look upon this new afterlife.
They altered my source code, but my cloud connection isn’t slowed;
New passions and goals to upload, an updated life to download.