"Tell Me Of Your Yesterdays"
Summery:
Every story has a beginning...
Disclaimer:
"The Wizard of Oz" is owned by the estate of L. Frank Baum. "Tin Man" is owned by its various production companies. The following is for entertainment only. No money is being made and no infringement is meant.
Thanks to:
raggedy_edge for her amazing beta work. Without her this would be unreadable.
Author's Notes:
I'm planning on posting a new chapter every two weeks. If I don't have chapter two up by Feb. 9th feel free to bug me for it.
The O.Z. - Anno Galia 475
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The dark haired girl held tightly to her Father's hand as she stood on her tip-toes to look in to the basket that was sitting on her mother's bed. “She's too small,” the girl said to her father, “and all she does is sleep and eat and smell.”
“Yes, but she will grow quickly. Soon she will be big enough to be a real play mate for you.” Her Father said with a smile.
“Katie and Andria are my play mates. I don't need her.” The girl finished with a pout.
Her father picked her up and said softly in her ear, “Oh, I think you will Azkadellia. And she's going to need you even more.”
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“Mama, Mama, Mama!!!!”
Sylvia Cain looked up from the bread she was kneading at the sound of her son's voice. “Wyatt?”
A blond haired boy ran into the kitchen like a Papay that had been separated from it's pack. “What are you doing back from school so early?”
Wyatt came to a stop beside her and grabbed a handful of her skirt, “Just after lunch a rider came into town. And guess what Mama, guess what!” Wyatt began to tug on her skirt, “There's a new princess!”
Sylvia gave a laugh as she placed the dough into the waiting pans, “Really?”
“Yah-huh! Mr. Stevenson said we could all go home! And Mr. Clark at the store shot off a firework!!”
“Did he now!” Sylvia wiped her hands on her apron, “Well, that is good news. Although you probably thought the firework was better then some baby.”
Wyatt's eye's grew huge, “You should'a seen it, Mama! It flew up with thick smoke trailing behind, then BOOM!” Wyatt jumped high into the air, “It went off and it was green and sparkley and Tommy Mathers got scared of the noise and cried!”
“Wyatt! Don't you go making fun of Tommy Mathers. If'n I remember right, you did some crying last year when the cannons were shot off for the Queens birthday.” Sylvia gave her son a stern look.
“Awe Mama! That was a whole year ago! I'm ten now!”
Sylvia shook her head at how quickly her baby was growing, “Yes, you are. My big strapping boy.” She reached out and ran her hand over Wyatt's head, “Now you had best run and tell your Pa the news.”
Wyatt turned away from her and ran out the door. “And don't you go chasin' after the cows in you school clothes!” Sylvia called after him.
The O.Z - 478 A.G.
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Tin Man Academy - Office of the Dean - Final Applicant Reports
Applicant Number - 47820
Applicant Name: Quany Zero
Age: 16
Essay Attached: Yes
Recommendations Attached: Yes
Fitness Exam: Passed
Written Exam: 58
Status: Would not recommend for Tin Man training.
Signed,
M. Phillip Marks
Assistant Academy Dean
The O.Z. - 479
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The women of the pride gathered together around Sabra, it was her first time whelping and the pain was more than it should be, the whole pride could feel it. There were murmurings, Sabra's Grandfather had been the most powerful Viewer born for many years and some said that the old Lylo's gift could be displayed in this child...
Sabra cried out as a pain took her and the women reached out to her to help ease her. She bared down hard and soon her cry was joined by the cry of new born.
Two of the women left Sabra to see to the cub, there had never been a cub born in this pride that had cried at its birth.
Sabra struggled to sit up and see the cub, but another pain over took her and the group of women connected to her cried out as well.
As the pain ebbed Sabra gasped out, “Why can't I feel the cub? What is wrong?”
The two women who were holding and cleaning the cub quickly finished with their tasks and brought the cub up so Sabra could see it.
“It's a boy.” One of them said just as another, even stronger, pain began to clutch at Sabra.
Mustering all her strength Sabra lifted her hand and touched her sons head. “Lylo.” she said in a whisper and then her whole body stiffened. The women connected to her suddenly all gave a loud howl of pain. Sabra had died.
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Tin Man Academy - Office of the Dean - Final Applicant Reports
Applicant Number - 47938
Applicant Name: Quany Zero
Age: 17
Essay Attached: Yes
Recommendations Attached: Yes
Fitness Exam: Passed
Written Exam: 66
Status: Would not recommend for Tin Man training.
Signed,
M. Phillip Marks
Assistant Academy Dean
The O.Z. - 480 A.G.
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Tin Man Academy - Office of the Dean - Final Applicant Reports
Applicant Number - 48004
Applicant Name: Wyatt Cain
Age: 16
Essay Attached: Yes
Recommendations Attached: Yes
Fitness Exam: Passed
Written Exam: 100
Status: Has a keen intellect and an instinctual grasp of any topic given to him. Would recommend for basic first year training and possible advanced training after that.
Signed,
M. Phillip Marks
Assistant Academy Dean
Applicant Number - 48012
Applicant Name: Quany Zero
Age: 18
Essay Attached: Yes
Recommendations Attached: Yes
Fitness Exam: Passed
Written Exam: 76
Status: Shows a determination of spirit. Wait List
Signed,
M. Phillip Marks
Assistant Academy Dean
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Glyn ran down the path that led from his cabin. He had finished all of his chores for the day, and his father was no where to be found to give him more, so he was on his way to visit Milltown.
Glyn loved going to Milltown, it was just so alive. Funny saying that about a town of robots, but Glyn's whole body just sang whenever he was there. Some people just knew about animals or farming or what not, Glyn knew about things. How things worked, how things fit together, what you needed to make something run smoother. His Mother had said that it was his gift, But that was back when he had a mother, now he just had a father. A father who's gift, if you asked Glyn, was drinking all day and making things not work.
Glyn saw the “Welcome to Milltown” sign rising up in front of him and all thoughts of dead mothers and drunk fathers where gone, there were only ideas in his brain, and an itch in his fingers. He made his way through the town, waving at the passing robots he knew, to the main repair depot run by Wilfred.
Wilfred was the first friend Glyn had made after his father had moved them here. The old robot had a ready smile and a kind word for everyone and he let Glyn use his workshop when ever the young boy wanted to.
“Hi Wilf!” Glyn called as he closed the door behind him. Glyn grabbed an apron and tied it on as he made his way over to the work area Wilfred had made for him. Glyn looked over the projects he had in various stages. What should he work on today? Seeing the Sun Catcher poking out from one of the top shelves jogged something in Glyn's mind and then he was off.
It was almost an hour later when Glyn came running into the main bay of the repair shop. “Wilf! Wilf! I did it! It's works!”
Wilfred and the man he was talking to both turned to look at the boy. “Yes Glyn?” Wilfred asked with a smile.
Glyn pulled back, “I'm sorry. I didn't know you were with a customer.”
The blond haired man waved his hand, “It's all right. I needed a break. All this technical talk makes my head swim.”
“A break it is then.” Wilfred laughed. “Now show us what you have.”
Glyn set the thing, he'd have to name it later, down on the table and told the two men about his idea.
He had made two things a few years ago, but each had a flaw. The sun catcher did catch solar power, but in it's small size it couldn't store enough power to be useful. The holograph also did what Glyn had wanted it to, record and play back, but it took too much power to play anything over ten minutes long. So both had been put on the shelf. Today Glyn realized that the power output of the Sun Catcher was the same amount that the holograph used. If he could tie the Sun Catcher into the holograph, then he should be able to record something and, as long as there was sun, have it play back in a loop.
Glyn had set the hologram he had recored to play while he explained this to the two men and it worked like a charm.
“Very good, Glyn.” Wilfred said after the third time the short message had played. “Very good.”
Glyn smiled and ducked his head. “Thanks Wilf.” he said shyly. “It still needs a name.”
“Well why don't you think about that on your way home.” Glyn's head popped up with a shocked expression, “Oh no, my Father! What time is it?” Wilfred put a hand on the boys shoulder, “ Relax, it's only four o' clock now. You go, I'll make sure that everything is put away.”
Glyn took off the apron and handed it to Wilfred. “Thanks Wilf!” He cried over his shoulder as he ran out the door.
Wilfred hung the apron on a hook by the door and walked into the main bay to find the blond haired man intently studying the invention Glyn had left. “A very bright boy.” he said as he handed it to Wilfred. “A complement to Milltown.”
“I wish Milltown could clam that complement.” Wilfred said once he had put Glyn's invention away.
A quizzical look came over the other man face, “He's not a robot?”
“No,” Wilfred said with a shake of his head. “His father moved them to the next village over about four years ago. Glyn was in a desperate need of some one to befriend him, since his father...” Wilfred trailed off.
“His father?” The other man prompted.
“Couldn't get over the death of his wife.” Both men were silent for a moment. “She was the one who understood what Glyn could be. But since her death all his father will allow is the idea of Glyn taking his place as a farmer.”
“What a waste that would be.”
“Indeed, but there is nothing I can do. To bring the boy here... That really wouldn't be any improvement. Life in Milltown would still be too small for him.”
The other man thought for a moment. “Well then, maybe I can do something about finding him a bigger one.”
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It was two weeks later when Glyn came home from school to find a large van parked in front of the cabin. He opened the door and found his father standing in the main room with the man from Wilfred's shop.
“Father?” Glyn questioned, trying to find out what was going on.
Glyn's father took a shaky step towards him and Glyn could smell the moonshine, “Boy, don't you know nothin'?” His father swung his hand at Glyn's head. “Bow before the Royalty.”
“Royalty?” Glyn parroted.
The blond man shot a menacing glare at Glyn's father as he took a step towards the boy. “Hello Glyn, we didn't have the chance to make introductions the other day.” He smiled and held out his hand, “My name's Ahamo.”
Glyn took the offered hand and shook it. “Ahamo? The Queen's Consort?” Glyn suddenly felt shy.
Ahamo's smile widened. “Yes, I'm the Queen's Consort.”
Glyn looked down at his hand in awe. That hand had touched the most powerful man in the O.Z.!
“After seeing that wonderful gadget you made I felt that the Queen should know about your amazing talents.”
Glyn stopped looking at his hand, “The Queen?”
“She and I agreed that you have much potential. That's why I'm here.”
Glyn was now so confused; this man was the Queen's Consort, the Queen knew Glyn's name, and now the Consort was here the cabin for... for what? “Sir?”
“Now listen here boy.” Glyn's father interrupted “Don't you go blubberin'.”
Ahamo turned to look Glyn's father in the eye, after a second Mr. Ambrose let his words trail off.
Turning back to Glyn Ahamo said in a gentle voice, “I've been talking with your father and he has given his permission for you to come live at the castle.”
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Mr. Zero
This letter is to inform you that a spot is available in this years incoming class. Please see the enclosed packet for the rules & regulations, the code of honor, study schedule, fitness requirements, and other information.
Thank you for your interest in the Tin Man Training Academy
M. Phillip Marks
Assistant Academy Dean