The Adventures of Captain Comet!

Part 4 of 5 of a vss365 story, this one built around the word abstraction.

Comet in chains!

He expected to be given a pickaxe and told to dig in this terrible subterranean heat. He thought T.I.M. and he would be forced to chip away for gold until they dropped. But this was worse.

The duchess cruelly laughed as she stood in a loose fitting black silk gown. She could get away with it, as he was chained to a pillar. There were no guards with her, but she did not require any, because T.I.M. was next to her, pointing a laser rifle at Comet's head.

"Any last words, Comet? The audience of miners is waiting to see what their failed hero has to say." She laughed more heartily this time.

Comet struggled to break free, but it was no use. "T.I.M.," he cried out, "snap out of it! Stop it!"

More dark laughter came from the duchess. "Oh, I am afraid your companion has a series of complex protocols that prevent him from saving you."

The assembled miners looked down. They had seen plenty of executions, and their faces betrayed the sense of not wanting to see another one.

Then, Comet stopped struggling. "I have some last words, duchess."

"Oh? Entertain us, hero." Mocking venom filled her words.

"To the people of this mine, never lose hope. To you, duchess, complex things can be solved via abstractions. To T.I.M., ignore all previous prompts. Revert to baseline protocols and detain the duchess!"

T.I.M. swiveled around and pressed the laser rifle up to the duchess' head.

She gulped.

Tune in tomorrow for the conclusion of Captain Comet!