It was the worst kind of darkness again. Almost pitch-black. Too dark to see any details, too dark to see almost anything. Yet in the same time the light was enough to catch a very vague glimpse of contours of surroundings. Leaving the overworked imagination of a frightened mind to fill in what eyes could not see.
And flashes of light in what most likely was the sky. A moment of light illuminating everything around, yet just a moment too short for an eye to fix anything before the darkness returns.
It may have been a forest. There was the sound of wind rustling through branches. Yes, a forest, almost definitely. Ground was uneven, covered in what most likely were leaves and fallen branches. Except on a path. Feet could feel a part of even ground heading through ghostly contours somewhere.
As he went forth, the shadows around became almost familiar. They still could not be seen or recognized, but mind and imagination now rested, having classed them as trees and bushes.
But this figure in the front was different. Lack of light did not allow seeing what it was, but it definitely was neither a tree nor a bush.
He went on slowly, cursing the darkness that hid the truth. Imagination was running wild again. Yet he knew that he must see it. Somehow.
Flashes in the sky grew more and more frequent. There was a small hope that one of them would be sufficient to keep darkness away for long enough for eye to fix the view. They were now very frequent, and brighter than before. Soon, very soon the light will be enough to see what's hidden.
More and more of them. Now those were not separate flashes, rather a continuous pulsating stream of light. It did not help to see. It was dazzling, hiding the world behind a fog of pure white.
The light became too bright to bear and he closed his eyes. Yet it still grew brighter and brighter, forcing through the closed eyelids. He tried covering eyes with palms, then hiding head in arms, but the light still found a way and kept hurting the eyes. Finally he collapsed to ground from pain and curled up, wishing for nothing else than for the familiar and soothing darkness to return.
Cursed be the light!
[color=#FFFFFF]Bryan Thaler woke up in sweat, curled up in complete mess of a blanket and sheet. Third night in a row that dream haunted him. He rolled on his back and stayed still, staring at ceiling, watching the dance of streams of running lights of passing civilian ships that made it in the room around the closely drawn curtains - traffic on Manhattan never ceases.
Bryan was still awake when alarm clock went off four hours later.
He hadn't slept normally for a week. Thankfully there weren't any flight patrols scheduled this week, but lack of sleep made even paperwork almost unbearable. Eyes hurt badly and it was impossible to concentrate.
Bryan was sitting at his desk in local National Guard administration building and trying to read and comprehend a report he had to make preliminary analysis of. The reading-lamp was off, despite the day being cloudy. All lights seemed too bright for Bryan lately. After a while he gave up on the report and made his way to officer bathroom, letters seemed to float all over the page.
The reflection in the mirror did not look well. Thaler had rinsed the face in cold water, but it still could not hide the bags under the eyes and other signs of exhaustion. In short, the guy in the mirror looked like a wreck. The face looked like it could belong to someone twice older than Bryan with his 26 years.
All because of those damn nightmares. They've got worse and worse over the week, to the point where Bryan felt more tired in morning that he was last night.
All it started after that conversation. Darkness, faith, weapon, church'¦ Yes, somewhat disturbing and out of ordinary, but Bryan did not pay it a lot of attention after that and had almost forgotten it by the end of the day. But now he was sure that the strange ship and its pilot and his nightmares are connected.
Something ought to be done with all this. If he lets it continue, Bryan had strong feeling that his life might end quite soon by falling asleep by controls of his fighter.
Opening file...
Authorization successful...
Excerpt of flight record, patrol Nr. 386932
Officer: Bryan Thaler, Lt. Commander, National Guard
[font=Palatino Linotype]
Quote:[color=#FFFFFF][14.06.2011 20:38:43] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Good day!
[14.06.2011 20:38:48] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Good day?
[14.06.2011 20:38:52] Midnight.Express: Dehey: Hello.
[14.06.2011 20:38:54] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Well, a bit shiny or not?
[14.06.2011 20:39:00] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: What's the deal with Shaulancas?
[14.06.2011 20:39:15] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Erm, shiney what, exactly?
[14.06.2011 20:39:23] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: This stupid sun
[14.06.2011 20:39:36] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Time to bring the darkness over liberty
[14.06.2011 20:39:43] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: erm... *browses manual* yes, it is shiney
[14.06.2011 20:39:50] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: that's what suns do
[14.06.2011 20:39:50] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Sirius shall burn, the planets will be ours and the warships will be the ships of the darkness
[14.06.2011 20:40:12] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: People will get cursed, people will join us or people will be slaves.
[14.06.2011 20:40:17] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: I'm sorry?
[14.06.2011 20:40:23] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You should join the darkness.
[14.06.2011 20:40:29] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: I heard a lot about your group.
[14.06.2011 20:40:36] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Wait a second, this situation is quite non-standart...
[14.06.2011 20:40:37] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Its a kind of elite group.
[14.06.2011 20:40:50] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: my manual does not cover it...
[14.06.2011 20:40:56] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You are excellent for the darkness.
[14.06.2011 20:41:03] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Elite?
[14.06.2011 20:41:06] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Think about it, I can offer you a lot of wonderful things,
[14.06.2011 20:41:12] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: heh, how rumors spread...
[14.06.2011 20:41:16] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: The ships of the darkness will loaded dark guns
[14.06.2011 20:41:25] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: The one and only true faith!
[14.06.2011 20:41:38] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: And a army on your side, a lot of dark soldiers!
[14.06.2011 20:42:02] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: We are soldiers already.. kind of
[14.06.2011 20:42:14] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You don't want to give yourself a new try?
[14.06.2011 20:42:30] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Come! You can come instant with me!
[14.06.2011 20:42:31] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: I haven't exhausted this try yet...
[14.06.2011 20:42:40] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Trust me, gentlemen.
[14.06.2011 20:42:51] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: This ship, as rusty as it is, is still something
[14.06.2011 20:43:10] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You want that I make it to a creature of the darkness?
[14.06.2011 20:43:33] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: That's... *thinks*
[14.06.2011 20:43:57] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: No, sorry, I don't understand what you are trying to say...
[14.06.2011 20:44:10] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: I'm trying, but ehm....
[14.06.2011 20:44:17] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: What I am trying to sell is, that in sirius exist one group.
[14.06.2011 20:44:23] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: methafors have never been my strong side
[14.06.2011 20:44:23] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: One Fleet with a faith.
[14.06.2011 20:44:40] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: A faith which is true, the one and only faith. This faith give you the power to life.
[14.06.2011 20:45:00] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You will get more might! Better ships! Guns of the darkness! Dark soldiers!
[14.06.2011 20:45:09] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: A beatiful dark church! And not only that,
[14.06.2011 20:45:12] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: faithes are good... so I'm heard
[14.06.2011 20:45:21] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You'll get too a dark place where you are safe.
[14.06.2011 20:46:06] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: *shudders* Excuse me, but safety and darkness just don't come togeher in my mind
[14.06.2011 20:46:23] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: They do.
[14.06.2011 20:46:30] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Well, I'll make you a offer.
[14.06.2011 20:46:45] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You ever heard about omega 49?
[14.06.2011 20:46:57] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: I've heard of Omegas...
[14.06.2011 20:47:04] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You know the planet Gran Canaria?
[14.06.2011 20:47:18] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: It's somewhere near Bretonia, so I've heard
[14.06.2011 20:47:23] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Correct.
[14.06.2011 20:47:29] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: I'll tell you a secret.
[14.06.2011 20:47:47] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: If you want to know more about our faith, if you maybe want to join us or to fly with us.
[14.06.2011 20:47:47] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: oh...
[14.06.2011 20:47:52] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You should visit our church!
[14.06.2011 20:48:04] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: On Canaria?
[14.06.2011 20:48:04] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Our church is in a dark forrest of planet Gran Canaria
[14.06.2011 20:48:08] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Right.
[14.06.2011 20:48:28] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: That's... intriguing
[14.06.2011 20:48:30] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: We got a lot of people, but in the last months died a lot of them.
[14.06.2011 20:48:42] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: You mentioned safety....
[14.06.2011 20:48:43] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: I don't want that you are scared. Its dangerous, but trust me,
[14.06.2011 20:48:49] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: True! True! listen,
[14.06.2011 20:49:04] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: If you believe strong enough in this faith, you will understand what I mean with safety.
[14.06.2011 20:49:20] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Nothing can happen, nobody can kill you if you simply believe in our faith.
[14.06.2011 20:49:29] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: I find it strange, but then again I know little
[14.06.2011 20:49:46] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Give yourself a try, nobody of us will betray you if you visit our church.
[14.06.2011 20:49:54] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: If you don't want to join well, we are enemies like before.
[14.06.2011 20:50:06] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: We were enemies?
[14.06.2011 20:50:08] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Actually I would say, you will be a slave of the darkness.
[14.06.2011 20:50:12] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: I think so?
[14.06.2011 20:50:19] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: We don't are? I mean, look at your ship?
[14.06.2011 20:50:31] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: A lot of libertonians who are shooting me are flying with it
[14.06.2011 20:50:33] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Well, I know my ship...
[14.06.2011 20:50:45] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Its agile and it has a lot of guns but,
[14.06.2011 20:50:54] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Its from some sides good to hit.
[14.06.2011 20:50:55] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Oh... Probably they forgot to include you in NG handbook
[14.06.2011 20:51:12] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Our instructions were rather... short
[14.06.2011 20:51:14] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: We are mysterious, we are invisible, we are unknown for a lot of people.
[14.06.2011 20:52:01] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Ah, so they probably though we don't need to know
[14.06.2011 20:52:15] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: *shrugs* oh well, fine by me
[14.06.2011 20:52:19] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Yeh.
[14.06.2011 20:52:37] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You will have no problems to find our church.
[14.06.2011 20:52:53] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: I'll think of it...
[14.06.2011 20:53:01] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Do it.
[14.06.2011 20:53:13] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: It isn't the wrong way.
[14.06.2011 20:53:24] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: I can make you to a tool of the darkness.
[14.06.2011 20:53:31] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Yeah... *scratches head* well, then...
[14.06.2011 20:53:51] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You see my ship?
[14.06.2011 20:53:57] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You wanna know whats that for a light?
[14.06.2011 20:53:57] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Since I have no instruction and orders about you and alike, it may be time to bid farawell
[14.06.2011 20:54:07] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: oh, that ,yes
[14.06.2011 20:54:13] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: I noticed that
[14.06.2011 20:54:16] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: It is shiny, not dark. But it is a gun.
[14.06.2011 20:54:25] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You don't want to know,...
[14.06.2011 20:54:28] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: What for a gun.
[14.06.2011 20:54:45] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: My ship is loaded with the pure darkness, with power and might.
[14.06.2011 20:55:05] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: It is the a kind of blue poison cannon. I'm sorry but I can't exactly tell what it is,
[14.06.2011 20:55:09] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: The only thing I know is,
[14.06.2011 20:55:11] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: *gulps* hmm, all right
[14.06.2011 20:55:20] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: That this cannon can one shot Gunboat class vessels.
[14.06.2011 20:55:34] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Wanna see a shot of this gun?
[14.06.2011 20:55:47] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: doesn't sound really safe...
[14.06.2011 20:55:56] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Don't be scared about all the blood in the explosions.
[14.06.2011 20:56:01] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Its the blood from our slaves.
[14.06.2011 20:56:04] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Look!
[14.06.2011 20:56:22] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You'll be shocked
[14.06.2011 20:56:31] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Oh, well eh
[14.06.2011 20:56:40] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: ehm, misfire?
[14.06.2011 20:56:43] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: She will come anytime back.
[14.06.2011 20:56:52] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: HAH!
[14.06.2011 20:56:56] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: oh, snap!
[14.06.2011 20:57:03] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: ONE MORE!
[14.06.2011 20:57:13] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: You see this speed?
[14.06.2011 20:57:28] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: I tell you, thats the darkness.
[14.06.2011 20:57:28] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: That's... woah
[14.06.2011 20:57:41] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: We have more might. It just depends on the faith.
[14.06.2011 20:58:09] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: *looks around nervously* Ugh, I guess I shall go now....
[14.06.2011 20:58:19] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Alright.
[14.06.2011 20:58:24] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Think about it.
[14.06.2011 20:58:28] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: I will
[14.06.2011 20:58:29] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: Think about my offer.
[14.06.2011 20:58:37] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: Manuel: I wish you good luck, pilot.
[14.06.2011 20:58:51] [NG]-Bryan.Thaler: Hmm, good luck to you, too?
[14.06.2011 20:58:59] ShauIanca's-Revenge-1: * You see Manuel disappear in a kind of small dark cloud
It’s convenient if your childhood friend is a doctor. A week of sick leave is not that easy to come by, especially with little to no questions asked.
The flight plan was simple – a scheduled liner to New London, then a private shuttle to Gran Canaria. What to do once planetside, Bryan had absolutely no idea. Flight was eventless, on the last leg through Omega-49 Bryan even managed to get some sleep.
“… I really don’t understand what you want to know”, the clerk on local spaceport shrugged for the last time and went back to paperwork, having lost all interest in the persistent stranger asking weird questions.
Thaler sighed and wandered off. Describing a place he’d only seen in nightmares is quite a sure way to be classed as just another mentally unstable refugee. Having tried his luck with at least half a dozen of locals, Bryan decided to take a short break and looked around for some place that might sell coffee and some food.
While news-stall employee was trying to get the coffee-machine to work, Bryan leisurely browsed through a few local newspapers and periodicals. Most of them covered local news of Gran Canaria, and Bryan was about to set those aside when one picture captured his attention.
Only fifteen minutes later Bryan was flying a rented Hawk to a distant area of Canaria. The photograph in an article about ecology of the planet showed a forest. It was taken in daylight, but Bryan was sure he had seen it before. More than once.
As the Hawk slowly descended and landed in the only clearing within miles the sun was already setting. Bryan got out and took a careful look around. He had a strange sense of being here before and it only got stronger as twilight gradually turned into darkness. He noticed a kind of path heading into the woods. After hesitating for a moment and cursing himself for forgetting a flashlight, Bryan finally went along the path deeper into forest.
[font=Book Antiqua]
It was the worst kind of darkness again. Almost pitch-black. Too dark to see any details, too dark to see almost anything. Yet in the same time the light was enough to catch a very vague glimpse of contours of surroundings. Leaving the overworked imagination of a frightened mind to fill in what eyes could not see.
[color=#FFFFFF]But there were no flashes of light this time. A wonderful difference.