The Nonstop Bloodshed IX - Round 1: Titan Mart

Junior Clerk Free-Range Eggs clutched tight the holy thermos flask and hurried to the sacred Soft Furnishings Department. He was running late, but it wasn't his fault. Some of the younger children had tried to follow him to see the sleepers and so he'd had to delay his daily pilgrimage until they were all safely returned home. By the time he arrived at the Shrine of Rest he was out of breath and sweating quite heavily. He was met by the irate glare of his superior; Store Manager Recliner.

"Do you have any idea how close you cut it?" She demanded.

"I'm sorry-" Eggs went to explain the situation but was cut off.

"There's no time for excuses." Recliner snapped. She snatched the holy thermos from his hands, nimbly unscrewed the cap and poured the contents (the unpleasant pulped remains of a selection of fruits, vegetables, meats, and chocolates) into the ceremonial bowl. As she was doing this the clock began to chime. Recliner shot Eggs a look that clearly indicated that all was not forgiven or forgotten but that for the next five minutes they had a job to do and he should damn well do it if he didn't want to be in any more trouble than he already was. She had quite an expressive face, Recliner. With a hesitant nod, Junior Clerk Eggs lifted the tray that held the bowl and the ceremonial implements and followed Recliner to the sleepers.

The Titan-Mart Soft Furnishings Department had once had the widest range of seating solutions this side of Earth. They still did technically, but now every seat was occupied. In every seat there was a corpse; each one in identical condition. They had no flesh, no muscle, no organs; all that remained was the skeleton. Each skeleton had been dressed; some in t-shirts with unfunny slogans on them, others in brightly coloured and totally mismatched outfits, yet more in coats and scarves, gloves and hats. There was no prevailing theme and seemingly no rhyme nor reason at all.

The legends of the Titans (the species to which both Eggs and Recliner belonged), held that long before their race gained sentience this world had been ruled by the sleepers. Their time was a time of miracles, for they were the architects of the world's greatest wonders, most of which stand even to this day. The Titans believe that the Titan-Mart is the most wondrous creation of the sleepers and the proof that they were benevolent. For when the Titans were cold the Titan-Mart had gave them shelter from the harsh elements, when they were hungry the Titan-Mart had given them sustenance, when they were ignorant the Titan-Mart had given them knowledge and when they were lost the Titan-Mart had given them purpose.

Though it cannot be said with any certainty when, why or what happened to the sleepers. Some heretics have made claim that the sleepers are all dead, but the most devout Titans believe that the life cycle of the sleepers is not unlike their own and they have simply entered an extended metamorphosis. This belief was reinforced over the years as they observed as the sleepers shed their fleshy outer shells and revealed the cocoons within. Junior Clerk Free-Range Eggs and Store Manager Leather Recliner were just the latest in a long line of Titans who committed their lives to the tended of the sleepers. The legends have it that one day the sleepers metamorphosis will be complete, they will awaken as gods and when they do they will reward their loyal servants.

Eggs and Recliner moved in reverent silence through the macabre scene; their actions a well practiced routine. Eggs' task was simply to hold the tray. It was a job that could have been performed equally well by a table but he had no problems with it. He simply stood and watched Recliner, knowing that one day he would be the Store Manager and it would be his duty, and hoping that he wouldn't make too much of a mess of it. Recliner applied the nutrient paste to the sleeping cocoons as she had done for years. She liked to think she had made something of an art of it.

Recliner was scooping some more nutrient gel when Eggs let out a shriek. As quick as she could she clamped her free hand over his mouth. For centuries the Titans had maintained a strict code of silence in front of the sleepers and she wasn't going to stand for some little twerp like Eggs to break it. She gave him a look that pretty much told him that he was never going to see the Soft Furnishings Department again after this night's work was through, but he wasn't even looking at her. She turned around and almost shrieked herself. It was true, it was all true.

Standing amongst the sleepers there was a group of them, replete with skin and hair and everything. They looked almost exactly like the drawings done by the most ancient Titans. And seated at their head was a female with a shiny silver outer shell, copper hair and a strange tail in place of legs; clearly a transcendent; a goddess. Recliner fell to her knees, and then after a second she grabbed Eggs' arm and pulled him down to his knees. "Don't you dare ruin this." she hissed between her teeth. She didn't feel too bad for being the first Titan to break the silence; the no-longer-sleepers were all talking to and over one another.

"Good morning most holy ones. We are deeply honoured to be the Titans to bear witness to the completion of your metamorphosis. We have tended to your bodies for many years in anticipation of this very day." Recliner tried to put some weight behind her voice to match this most momentous occasion, but it ended up coming out just as weak and nervous as she felt and was consequently lost in the unexpected hubbub. She didn't think the awakened sleepers had even noticed them yet.

"Good morning most holy ones." She tried again, but hit the same problem.

"Hey listen up!" Eggs bellowed. "The Store Manager has something to say." Recliner shot him a look that clearly said she was going to murder him at the first opportunity she got, but it had had the desired effect. The sleepers were all looking in their direction now, their conversations having trailed off they stood in an uneasy silence.

"G-Good morning most holy ones." Recliner said. "W-we've been waiting for you for a very long time. It's such an honour to have you here today."

The Infanta was momentarily taken aback. "You know who I am?" she asked.

"Of course I know who you are." Recliner said. "You are a transcendent. You are a goddess. You are what we've been waiting and hoping for for longer than any of us can remember."

The Infanta had been called a goddess before but not in the literal sense and never with such awestruck reverence. She really liked the way it sounded. It never occurred to her that there might have been some kind of misunderstanding, if never corrected it probably never would. "Take me to meet your people." she said.