In the year 2147, the sprawling metropolis known as planet Earth was a labyrinth of steel and glass that stretched endlessly toward the horizon. Wild nature was a distant memory buried beneath layers of concrete and neon lights. Yet pockets of woodland still clung to existence, rare sanctuaries of soporific green amidst the relentless march of concrete and steel. It was here, in one of these forgotten groves, that a group of retro robot ravers gathered to celebrate the arrival of spring.

The air was thick with the scent of the blooming wildflowers that carpeted the woodland floor, their vibrant colours a stark contrast to the typical dull greys of the city. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the foliage below, where the retro robo-ravers set up their makeshift dance floor. They were a motley assembly of vintage robots, each adorned with colourful LED lights and retro designs reminiscent of a bygone era. Their metallic bodies gleamed in the sunlight, reflecting the kaleidoscope of colours that pulsed from the massive speakers that accompanied them. The massive speakers were twitching with excited anticipation.

As the first beats of their music reverberated through the trees, the woodland came alive. The robots danced with an exuberance that defied their mechanical nature, their joints whirring and clicking in perfect synchrony. Wheels spinning and lights flashing, the grove was illuminated in a riot of colour and blasted with a thunderous sound. The synthesised melodies and thumping bass echoed from tree to tree, a siren call that shattered the serene sleepy silence of the forest.

Deep within the shadows of the denser foliage, a slumbering giant stirred in his secluded den. This awakening behemoth was not at all amused by this disturbance. He rose from his slumber, his massive frame a grotesque fusion of organic and mechanical, with matted fur stained from years of survival in this constrained environment. Cybernetic implants glinted ominously in the dim light, and a pair of glowing eyes, rapidly losing their sleepiness, narrowed in irritation as the raucous noise penetrated his dreams. He was a mutant cyborg bear who had been hibernating, hidden from the prying eyes of the urban world. He was deeply unhappy about being prematurely disturbed from his winter hibernation.

With a low growl that reverberated through the ground, the bear exited his den and rose to his feet, towering over the smaller trees like a living mountain. He stretched his powerful limbs and flexed his claws before grabbing the monstrously large weapon, crafted from salvaged technology, that hung heavily at his side. It was a relic of a forgotten war,  an outrageously massive gun capable of unleashing devastation with a single pull of the trigger.

The bear’s fury was palpable. He was a primal force awakened from its slumber and he lumbered toward the source of the noise, each step shaking the earth beneath him. His ears twitched and his eyes, one red, the other blue, glowed with acute menace. He was The Hibernator and he was hellbent on revenge.

The ravers, lost in their euphoric dance, remained blissfully unaware of the impending doom lumbering inexorably towards them. They twirled and spun, their electronic laughter mingling with the music, until their sensors noticed the ground was trembling beneath them. Suddenly, the trees parted, and the cyborg bear emerged, a hulking figure framed by the fading evening light. The music screeched to a halt, and a deep silence once again fell over the forest. The retro robot ravers turned as one to face the monstrous creature that had emerged.

The bear roared a roar that unambiguously meant, “Who dares disturb my slumber?” The deep roaring rumble sent shivers down the robots’ metallic nerves. The ravers stood frozen, their circuits buzzing with fear as they beheld the wrath of the awakened beast.

The bear raised his gun, the barrel glinting menacingly in the fading light, and he bellowed in fury. The bellow-blasted robot ravers were stunned and before any of them could react, the bear’s massive weapon unleashed a torrent of firepower. The air crackled with energy as the gun roared to life, sending a barrage of explosive rounds hurtling toward the unsuspecting ravers. The gun, the explosions and the bellowing unified into a ferocious wall of sound.

Chaos erupted in the once-peaceful grove. The retro robots, only moments before filled with joy and laughter, now scattered in a frenzy, their colourful lights flickering erratically as they attempted to escape the onslaught. The bear’s bellowing, a deep and guttural sound, changed as the robots exploded into metallic wreckage. the Hibernator revelled in the mayhem, his fury transforming the celebration into a scene of utter destruction.

And then it stopped. The giant cyborg bear let his weapon fall quiet once more at his side. As the last echoes of the explosions faded into the night, the grove lay in ruins, a testament to the savage violence of the encounter. The mutant cyborg bear, triumphant and still seething with rage and lingering annoyance, surveyed the carnage he had wrought, his eyes glinting enigmatically. The party was over, but the story was just beginning.

In the distance, the city continued to pulse with life, oblivious to the bizarre events unfolding in the woodland. But for the bear, the night was far from over, and the ravers had unwittingly awakened something far more dangerous than just his fury.

Thus ends the first chapter of The Hibernator. This absurd adventure is only just beginning to unfold, but the next chapter promises to be even more ridiculous 🙂

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