Stranded: A Twitter Build a Story

I'm stranded here.

Your planet is lovely, but it isn't home.

Woke up and everybody else was gone.

When I went to sleep we were having fun with your ancestors in Egypt.

Those were the days.

Now I'm trapped in the #static you people don't have God's anymore.

Need money.

Require a few things to get off World.

Have to have money.

Consider turning into what you call an #angel and collecting the rewards.

You people would probably kill me.

That is what you have become.

It'd be nice to have wings again though.

Beer is the best thing human beings ever made.

Actually has all of the nutrition my kind needs to survive.

I can literally live off it.

Eat because I enjoy it.

Earth has a #cacophony of delights, it's a vacation world.

Being trapped here is hard, it’s like being trapped at Disney world.

Shift into one of the bar regulars.

Order a #pint.

I'm not thirsty.

I'm ready to get off this Ball of Rock!

Green & blue. Gross.

Least in Egypt some of the color reminded me of home.

Red.

Gold.

I pick a few pockets.

Chose the right human to impersonate.

Hugs a lot.

Being able to morph into anyone can come in handy.

This week alone I've been a wealth #guru & a professor of astrophysics.

Stole $18 million & designed an engine that might get me home.

It is going to take a few years to build but I've been here a few centuries.

It's ok.

It's difficult to explain what I do and who I am.

My brain is like yours, I just use more of it.

I see the way everything is composed.

To me things are like individual #pixels.

Than I can alter the individual pieces.

Part of the brain I use is present in humans.

I’m just saying.

Building my ship in the middle of nowhere.

Bought 90 acres of land in Mississippi.

The red clay reminds me of home.

Wish the sky was a beautiful #yellow.

Metal I'm smelting is different than what humans are accustomed to.

Finer, lighter, more space worthy.

Knowing the inner workings of everything is great.

"Won" enough money at casinos & from lottery to finance the materials & labor for my ship.

Employing every welder in five counties.

Don't have any idea what they are building.

Don't care.

Money is too good to #refuse.

Humans are funny.

Notice the new vehicles parked in the #gravel surrounding the different buildings where my metal components are being built.

I'm good for the economy.

Now I have to have my computers constructed.

Secure contracts in China, California & India.

The special welding wire that I supply for my construction teams is extremely #sturdy.

It's almost mistake proof as well.

The gas mixture is different from the normal but I disguise the bottles.

Individual pieces get sent to "Finishing" were robots take over.

Computer components were presenting a problem.

A scholarship student in my employ "discovered" how to get the necessary minerals from regular #stone.

She's a good kid.

In a Bad situation.

Deserves it.

Breakthrough makes us billions, but most importantly build's my ships computer.

Wait for the cover of #dark to move completed sections of the ship.

Drivers get paid for longer trips than they make.

Can't answer the questions.

Do the important things myself.

Human arms & hands are pretty efficient.

It helps that I can produce as many as I need.

Work until light.

I've been basically a humanoid spider every night for 3 of your years.

That's not wholly accurate, but I won't bore you with details of the forms different Jobs demand.

Head to #Hawaii.

Not there to relax.

Need information.

Fly Myself.

Literally.

It's nice.

Become the prick Mayor of this town and A State Senator in the same day.

Ignore the #teleprompter, give best speech of the Neanderthal’s life.

If he wasn't such an idiot could have ridden it to the Oval office.

Approve a few permits I need.

Back to shipbuilding.

Part of the ship I'm working on resembles a gold lace #Umbrella.

Serves a specific purpose. Vital.

Computers are arriving by ship.

Once I combine the puzzle pieces, work will be much easier.

I’ll be able to go home.

To be formless.

Smell the heat from the seas.

See the Red Mountains.

In the last eight years I've changed the world economy.

Might sound #morbid, but by the time I reach my destination this company I have built will be being ran by these people's great-grandchildren.

 At least I am leaving a legacy.

Have no use for the paper human’s value so much.

Beneath 'The Plant' which is what the residents of the small town call my production facility, there are catacombs, it's where my newly constructed AI is finishing the ship.

Felt that the people of this town needed a continued livelihood, sold a few designs to commercial airliners.

Engine for my ship is so efficient, could literally use #kerosene for interstellar travel.

Can't share this design.

Humans are not ready to go to the stars.

Decide to go to Egypt for a while.

It's changed so much.

Read stories of my friends exploits in hieroglyphics.

Can't believe someone is this stupid.

I don't look like a victim.

Trying to rob me.

Morph into something resembling an #Alligator, take the arm and the gun.

Setbacks.

Should use his body for fuel.

Instead call him an ambulance.

He'll live.

Converse with my recently completed AI.

Ship's ready.

Didn't have to bite the would be robber.

Don't care for #viscera or blood.

Open a beer.

Earth's jewel.

I have several pallets of the stuff in the cargo hold.

Perfection.

Only thing I will miss.

Know the recipe but it's not the same when I make it.

My infant AI's beer is drinkable.

The young AI has developed a distinct personality.

Probably should not have left it unsupervised with the internet.

It's #vain.

Arrogant.

Talks like that Bronx female rapper.

Warn it.

Won't deal with the accent or attitude for the decades it will take to get to my home world.

Because I'm not really #carnivorous it limits the items that can be counted on to remain fresh.

There are limits to what even I'm capable of.

I can rearrange certain matter & my own mass, but spoiled food is spoiled food.

It'll be about 20 years before I reach civilized planets.

I'm not a sentimental fool.

Gathering trinkets to remind me of a planet I spent 600 years too long on.

Souvenirs I take are not typical tourist fare.

#Amber stone with 2 mosquito’s first one that ever bit me, & the last.

It’s practical, there's enough DNA to clone me should something happen.

Sitting in my office.

Thinking.

Look forward to being in transit.

Black #velvet smooth of space is soothing.

No reason to ever return to this planet.

Except humans are interesting to watch.

Wonder when or if they will figure it out.

See a few sparks of brilliance.

The board of the company I built is constantly attempting to #curry favor with me.

After the robbery attempt they insist on providing me with 24 hour security.

It's a good thing my AI has taken over the ship building duties.

Won't have to lose the bodyguard every night.

My bodyguard does not fit the #mold.

Yes he is a massive man.

Ex-military.

Well trained.

He’s also a genius.

One post Iraq mistake.

He could have been leading the science division.

Like him a lot.

One more brain cell used and he would be superhuman.

Enjoy his company.

Don't often think about the #power I wield.

Grew up constructing and decompressing molecules. For some odd reason I explain the process to Artimus, my bodyguard.

I'm curious to see if he can activate the brain cells needed.

Course if he does I might have to take him with me.

Been working with Artimus. He's what makes human beings worth existing.

Though he realizes how much smarter than others he is he still avoids #supercilious behavior.

Tempted to bypass the block that human brains have manually.

If he comes to space with me he'll have time to unlock the potential.

Raven Brooks investigative reporter.

Reminds me of the women of ancient Egypt.

Beautiful, #self-conscious.

Aware of everything.

Artimus is impressed too.

 Asks me an insightful question. "Are you going to leave, kill her, or tell her the truth?"

He's right.

Those seem the only options.

Not sure if I just want company or if I am doing Artimus & Raven a good deed.

Feelings for humanity have always been #ambivalent.

Maybe I'm getting old, but I try not to think about the fact that I may be preserving a species.

The pair are intelligent enough to realize it.

Don't spare my charges the truth.

Let them know that we are going to traveling a long time.

Journey will be #treacherous.

Will challenge their views on divinity and mortality.

Made good choices in them.

They are afraid, but not enough to stop them from coming along.

Take off window is approaching.

My AI has created #spin in the ship to simulate gravity.

Artimus and I have designed a machine that will be able to produce edible protein.

 Got the idea from one of his favorite shows.

Says he's going to teach it to make good food.

We'll see.

It's a relief not to have to #deceive Artimus & Raven.

I enjoy both of their company.

Being able to speak to someone who knows exactly what I am is important.

My abilities seem like magic, most humans are wary of me. Hope they are both still talkative once we reach space.

Mutual respect.

 #Propinquity.

Reciprocal admiration.

A peer group.

These are the things I have been missing.

Beings without closed minds.

Having them makes me miss home a little less.

 But I also still yearn for the yellow sky, red mountains, heavier gravity and more pure oxygen.

Launch night.

Can't contain my excitement.

Artimus and Raven have brought things they feel they can't do without.

In a #twist it's Artimus who's preaching conservation.

Hear him saying that he will transform the carbon onboard into whatever they need.

Feel proud.

Eavesdropping on my passengers.

They're hilarious.

Naiveté is endearing.

They're only human after all.

Have to #forgive their ignorance.

They're convinced science fiction has prepared them for what we are going to see.

Need to show them some of the beings we'll be seeing.

They were right.

Earth's entertainment has desensitized its inhabitants.

 All the beings I morph into "Remind" them of some #mythical character.

Disappointed.

Was looking forward to shocking them.

"OH a Werewolf!"  Wasn't what I was expecting.

Kind of like surprises. Who knew?

Humans are sleeping.

Say the gravity spinners have an effect.

Call it the #sway of the ship. It’s only a slight vibration.

Think the sleep is because the gravity is higher.

Almost at my planet's.

Their bodies will adapt.

Indulge in the two best things from Earth.

Jazz and Beer.

The City Will Eat You Up

Grant Washington, his is a powerful sounding, but cliche name.
He hasn't done much with his life, but he's young and there is plenty of time to get it right.
Grant is 26, he works a lot.
He has Champagne tastes, strives to emulate the wealthy in his appearance, speech, mannerisms, and as much as possible possessions.

To that end, Grant shops at consignment stores, Online and physical, and he buys from shoplifters regularly.
Doesn't see it as wrong.
It's not as if he's doing the stealing.
The stores that are stolen from have insurance.
The stuff is already stolen he's just buying it.
Grant works full time.
He is a Customer Service Rep.
He also is a bar back at club Illusions 3 nights a week.
Working at club illusions is a blessing and a curse, a blessing because it is another few hundred dollars each week, a curse because it puts the type of people Grant aspires to be, in his face a lot.
It reminds him of the things that he doesn't have the things that he wants.
He has to see all the nice cars.
The expensive watches.
Nice clothes.
Diamonds.
Let's be frank, the women that drape on those types of men's arms are for sale as well.
Grant wants all of that.
His current vehicle is a hybrid.
Not the electric kind.
It has the 2016 BMW 740Li frame, it's motor and transmission were pieced together at the junkyard, the car looks immaculate but has a salvage title and is worth $2200 according to his insurance company.
Each weekend Grant is reminded of the things that he doesn't have.
He spends almost his entire barback pay with the shoplifters or boosters as they are known.
Snookie has been his contact for over a year.
She can steal anything.
80% of Grant's wardrobe has been under Snookie's clothes at some point.
Things first changed when Grant decided to move into the heart of the city.
Decided that he needed to be in a highrise.
Of course, $16 hourly doesn't quite justify a Highrise apartment in Buckhead.
On any floor.
Snookie knows somebody that knows somebody.
She's sure she can help him get what he wants.
 All it requires is that he use credit cards to purchase clothes and return them for cash.
Sounds like a plan, especially if he gets to wear them first.
Things started off according to plan.
Grant is able to floss the nice things that he is buying, women are impressed by his location and the contents of his apartment.
Then things get a little bit more complicated.
Now the guy that Snookie knew approaches Grant directly.
He is to get cable at different addresses then order bogus cellphones, credit cards, etc.
 All Grant has to do is pick up the packages and keep using the credit cards.
Truly doesn't understand everything that's going on.
He just knows that he has somehow made connections at all of the right places.
Print store employees bend the rules for him and he has some convincing-looking Dali and Picasso reproductions.
He's bootlegged more artists for the hangings in his bedroom.
Rugs.
Furniture.
Kitchenware.
He sees Snookie plying her trade often, soon it makes sense for him to quit his CSR job and use the bogus credit cards full time.
Grant is making about $7,500 a week.
Mall staff is starting to recognize him.
Time to expand his territory.
Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, Birmingham.
His 2019 Escalade is racking up the miles.
Snookie is feeling the heat.
She's had one too many close calls in Atlanta.
Lennox, Phipps, Northlake, even Cumberland Mall have her picture hanging in the security office.
She contacts her client and friend Grant.
They are a force of nature.
Malls and shopping plazas within 8 hours of Atlanta in every direction are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Snookie moves into the building across the street and gives Grant an idea.
Soon he has three other empty apartments and crooked doormen and concierges all over.
That's when something important happened.
At that point, Grant went from a dupe, just a cog, a stooge, to an active participant.
He became part of the criminal management team.
Grant has recruited more team members more with more addresses even more doormen at more buildings are getting a cut because of providing empty unit addresses, and handing off the cable boxes, cellphones, and credit cards.

Life got much better.
Grant starts washing his money out of necessity.
He feels himself becoming the man he always wanted to be.
The man with the name of two of the dead presidents is a somebody of his own right and his on making.
He begins dating women befitting someone of "his stature."
Remembers his  grandfather saying "Boy if ya wanna bass, ya caint fish in the catfish pool."
Goes to the proper pool.
The pool is deep in Atlanta.
She not only had to have a certain look for Mr. Washington, but her head also had to be right in more ways than one.
Shops around takes his time.
Thinks of another one of his Papa's sayings "Don't nothin hairy but a fool, take ya time."
He does.
The procession of women could be related.
All of them between 5"8-5"11'
 Latinas, Indian, African, African-American, his cosmetic dentistry has been on display beside them all.
Thinks he's gotten the winner.
The woman on his sleeve makes Instagram models weep in envy.
She's the only one that has been able to stick past a single night or two.
She understands what he does.
Appears to respect his hustle and her head game was on point.
A keeper.
The whole crew is together for the first time, the kitchen, barbacks, and waitresses are being tipped well, the liquor is flowing and the fraudulent charges are being made
The beefy security guard at the front of the VIP has also been heavily tipped to keep out the riff-raff.  The barbacks included.
Grant laughs at the thought.
He has come a very long way from the Alabama boy working as a Barback in this very place.
He's an important man.
The kind that can pay for anything he wants from a private chef in his penthouse apartment to his Dodge Hellcat and Chevy Exorcist.
Restaurants move people for him, jewelers have his cellphone number, he hob-knobs with celebrities.
He is a real VIP and he has told "Tiny" the giant at the door to make sure that everyone knows it.
 That's why the sudden appearance of several men was initially surprising, the next stunner was the badges, from several different law enforcement agencies, the third and he thinks the most painful shock is Oliva, his first long-term girlfriend flashing a gun and badge.

When he receives his discovery packet and finds out that Belinda "Snookie" Charles is testifying against him Grant remembers something else his pappa told him. "Don't trust nobody, and don't let that city eat you up."




   

Gunfighter Like Me: A Calvary Freeman story.

Cheese Ace Ben wurn'n me ta tell em a stiry wat Anit Ben tolt jet n wat Anit gone Run da book e God plant.
So I cided ta tell a stiry bow'd s gal I were spark'n.
No at ant n da book.

Enyha eyes bow'd Theddy-aid uh Theddy-nine hi reckon. 

Tolt ya Ont riteouslee kno zackly wen eyes bone. 

Cheese.

Cheese.

Hane me at bol ah likka n at herb ovair.

Na sit da fucc down n  lissen.

Ont inarupme ginn heah?

Nah I as damn nigh  finnish't s story n Cheese Ace lost tit.

Ont lack tell'n da same stiry twicet sa I reckon

eyes gone go a diffent reckshun dis time.

Anit drank'n da day.

Jes smokin on s Herb. Ben tote'n Sam pipe fah yeahs.

 Enyha Hit were a spell foe I went ta Ohiyuh n fount Joy. 

At’s da story I tolt Cheese clumsy Ace lass nite tha one e loss.

I’d Ben wanton Mia Elk nod cuza taze gud uh nun, cuz zay Jes alride, anit nuthin spell shull bow’d em.

Eyes rully Jes wanin ta get hold ta sump’n at big n powerful.

Now at I study onit reckon at’s why sa mini fellas calt me oud ova da yeahs. 

Cause eyes da big bade. Jes lack y I wandid ta kill mia elk.

Hit wera heapum tew.

Oddest one were colored.

Maine e were faincy.

Dress tup Inna suit n top had alla time.

Purdest gun rig Eva seent.

Pose hits roun hair sumair.

 Hane made triple sticheded leather.

Cows make fine Sal’s n Holstas bud Dem suma da stupidest thangs onna lane swure day is.

 My fault I gits stracted easy.

 Where eyes ad? Colored gunslanga? Oh yeah na sit Cho behemoth Ace down.

I lack you boy.

Use thodfull.

Thank ya.

Lacka gud meal.

So dis colored gunslanga anit challenge me ad furs.

Nah e sat round town shada'n me.

If’n eyes ad da smiffs hair is Ace cum. 

All A’s tog propa.

 “Good Morning Mr. Freeman sir top of the morning to you.”
E'd tip at o had a his wit one hane.

Woe s fucc’n monocle n is eye.

Thank I mide da Ben jelass uh is genulmaness. 

E were classee.

Eyes Jes a self Ray’s nigga.

Anit hayuh no typa finement. 

  Wera heapa killas stir'n round Mexica bike n. 

Errday sum po sonawhore were dragged oud uh da screet.

Moe’s daze I late tup Inna Whorehouse bow’dda ho day.

I were alret tied uh kill'n.

Weren’t skirt ta nuthin lack at Jes was stack'n up bodies n hit were weigh'n on my soul.

Da Bess fucc’n way ta void hit were ta void da screet.
N twixt this faincy dresst colored fella houndin me n da fack at soona I hid da screet sumun liable ta call me oud

I lieved stayin in at whorehouse were my Bess bet.

Pose I final god tied uh em meals inat whorehouse.

Wanned sumthin udda n at teat.

I strolt ova tada boadin house.

Day had gud brekfass ovair.

Taters n eggs, bacon, ham, n all at.

Were studin on git’n mia biskit.

Wen a sudden s widet boy Calt oud.

Thawed e were call’n me oud.

All e said were;

 “Draw Nigger!” 

I spunt.

Hanes on my Colts

Seent at faincy colored fella toss bike tha taila is code.

E Pult one uh m pissles n Po’d lead inta at wide’t fella.

Ole faincy pants fass n fuck.

Bassard ad lid dup a cigarillo bida time at fella were dun dyin.

N e wanked ad me.

 Anit lack at.

Felled lack e were playing wid me lack eyes a chile.

Adda at, dem whores kunt hol my tention.

Kept tone thankin bow’d Missa faincy n at nicet pissle wurk e puden onat wide’t boy.

Wanda if’n e’s air ta kill me. 

If’n e anit, wanda y n de hell seem lack e stalkin me.

Nex day I spunt da ho day n da saloon. 

Figga’d if’n sumun wan me anit hard ta fine.

Seent at colored gunslanga spatch fo mo fellas wat calt tim oud.

Ad furs eyes glade.

Mo em fellas wat e kilt mean da less um eyes gone hada kill.

Affa bow’d a week kin bow’d 10 kills layduh Eyes ret t moveon n led dis faincy negro ha all kill’n e cud stain. 

Went tada stable hane n tolt tim Sal my horse n giddem ret ta ride.

Hits heapa towns n Mexica n I’d bow’d runt thru alla whores n at un enyha.

Aid mia lil sump’n n were walkin ova tada stable.

Faincy Pants N my way. 

I tip my had ta em. 

E tuck’t tis suit code hine m n says. 

“Calvary Freeman, My name is Charles Hallsworth. I aim to be the fastest colored gunslinger in the west. I can’t say that unless I kill you sir.“

“Ya kin say watsoneva n tha fuck ya wan say dair Charlie. Use plentay fass. Ya anit goda die daday jes fah a tidal.”

Ole Jake were snort’n n ret ta e’dup sum groun. 

E were jesa paw’n ad da dirt.

“I am faster than you Freeman, and I aim to show everybody that I am the superior shootist.”

Sun were beadin down on nus.

Folks gathin roun tryna git a beda look widout git’n ina line a far. 

 Eyes tryna keep s fella from dyin ad da bidness n uh my Colts.

I kno’d E were fass n mide ah bent fassa n me. 

Bud I’d dun seent tim draw.

U howda bead dem.

We’s eye’n one nudda down da screet.

Everthiin slowed down da way ha hit dew wensoneva eyes ina gun fide.

“Lass chaince Charlie. Ya god pebile ya wan me ta send ya maines ta?”

“Just me Mr. Freeman.  What do you want me to do with your body?”

Figga’d if’n e kilt me day cud dew watsoneva day wan wit my body bud I tolt tim ta drop me n da ocean.

Wenta draw n Jake bucked.

Reckon hit stracted ole Charlie n slow’t tim uppa taze. 

I skin’t at Colt Navy on my rite side n Pump’t 4 slugs in em.

Made sho ta hid em n is Hardt. 

Anit wan ta see em suffa. 

Is mouf open’t tup n e look lack e were gone say sump’n L’s.

E anit O.

Jes died. 

I stuck roun n buried dem. 

Figga e zerved at much spect. 

E wera bade maine wit dem peace makas.

Moe’s times wen I kill sumun I take day pissles n use um.

Fah sum resun anit thank I oughta dewat dis time.

Dun kept Dem purty motherfuckers eva sins.

Bought dat fella a hed stone n errythin.

Hit say’s Charles Hallsworth. He was fast.

Elk?

Oh shit eyes gone tellya bow’d da time eyes huntin me a Elk.  

O well.

If’n ya cum roun tamarra reckon ull run hit down taya.