In Utter Darkness: Prologue: Nothing Ventured
#1 of New Beginnings
Sometimes it isn't wise to expose yourself to the universe...it might just come calling.
In Utter Darkness: Prologue: Nothing Ventured
Paul Jackson sighed as he leaned back in his chair at SETI Institute. "Just another day," he thought to himself, "sitting here just waiting to go home while all these nutcases jabber on all day about the joys of finding extraterrestrials." Frankly he thought they were just as nutty as his dad who would wax rhapsodic for hours about how and when they would find other intelligent life. Of course he took after his mother in rolling his eyes at the prospect and then would quickly change the subject to something, anything else. This was his third semester working for SETI and although it wasn't the worst job in the world, it was never fun having to write reports after some crazy scientist got all excited about the "alien communications" only to find out it was an employee heating up his lunch in the microwave.
He rubbed his eyes and glanced at his monitor noticing a small spike in an unusual type of energy that the brainiacs always went nuts over. Something about how that type of energy could be the potential energy source of starship engines provided someone could ever make the stuff...or even build a ship. Paul stood up and shouted, "Is anyone eating a burrito or something? I am picking up that weird energy signal Dr. Bernard was so excited about." "Just log it and send a report to him," replied Joel, "I frankly don't give a damn about it. It is not like the world will end will it?" Paul chuckled to himself as he watched Joel go on his daily smoke break. He glanced at his screen noted the time, duration, and energy reading that they were picking up and was slightly surprised to notice that it was still continuing. Normally they only picked up trace amounts every few weeks or so but they never lasted this long. Sighing he figured he would give the report to Dr. Benard in person.
Just like his Paul's father, Dr. Brenard was always nutty about technology; he could never figure out how to work the simplest of things and always assumed the machines were just deliberately being malicious towards him. As he waddled up there three flights of stairs he once again lamented. Both that he was working in this dump and that he hadn't gone to the gym last semester at school and, despite his best efforts, was still 250 lbs at only 5'6". Nearly tripping at the last step he pushed open the door only to walk into the object of his pursuit. "Dr. Brenard, I am glad I ran into you, he said gasping, "I have a report you might be interesting in seeing." Brenard's eyebrows rose at this and further retreated into his brow once he started examining the paper Paul had given him. "Remarkable, my boy I think you have earned the night off for this, just come in slightly early tomorrow to help me examine any further developments. I will try to make contact with it." Paul groaned internally, "Great, I have to come in early tomorrow to help this crazy bat with his research." Well he figured, at least he had the night off so he might as well get something done at home for once. "Good night Dr. Brenard," he said heading back down the torturous stairs, "don't stay up to late talking to the "aliens." Dr. Brenard just chuckled and walked back to his office to examine the new phenomenon and to open up a channel to relay the standard messages that had been prepared so long ago in case of actual alien contact.
Paul for his part went home and after another "fascinating" chat with his dad about the joys of finding extraterrestrials, he decided that he had been exposed to enough alien garbage today and ambled his way to his room to check his e-mail. Later that night he wondered about the energy spike and whether or not alien contact would be such a fantastic thing. He could never talk about it with his dad but he reasoned to himself that anything with the ability to navigate large reaches of space was probably more coordinated, more advanced and was probably not interested in "sharing technology" like all of his coworkers believed. The only thing they would be interested in, he thought to himself with a shudder, is either resources or labor...definitely not good for us.
Dr. Brenard for his part made good on his word and sent the signals as they had countless times before. He had never received a response but still, was always hopeful. He was just about the finish cataloguing everything for the night when he noticed something that set his heart pounding. The energy reading was slowly getting stronger. Either this was due to the fact that whatever was causing it was getting stronger or, he thought with a hint of trepidation, it was coming closer. He pressed his face closer to the screen as if that would tell him more when suddenly the energy reading vanished, leaving a puzzled Dr. Brenard to try and determine what it all meant.
Paul made his way back to SETI and walked in early as requested and was surprised to see a tired looking Brenard poring over dozens of paper spread out on the floor. "Jesus, did you get any sleep last night?" "No," retorted Brenard, "I was working on research all night." Paul noticed that Dr. Brenard looked worried but decided not to press the subject and went and got his boss some coffee. Maybe he would be told later what was eating and the good doctor, if not he supposed he really didn't care anyways.
"Well this is new...who the hell is messing with us now," said Joel as he pulled up his console and noted odd microwave readings from last night. Dr. Brenard immediately rushed over to Joel's console and started speaking excitedly. Paul, for his part, just tuned it out and went back and forth from staring at his console and playing flash games on his computer. He did perk up when he heard "should we inform the government" issue from Joel's worried looking face before hearing Dr. Brenard reply that "nonsense, everything is under control" with an odd tone to his voice. To Paul is almost seemed like he was both exhilarated and terrified all at once.
Brenard was acting like a friend, was the consensus among the employees at SETI, he had them glued to their monitors for hours and snapped if anyone so much as attempted to go home. He made hurried promises of overtime and they supposed that while he must be off his rocker at least they were getting paid well to suffer his madness. Around 1 A.M. they were all startled to see a incredible spike of all types of radiation, waves, energy, etc, that lasted for several minutes before halting. Seconds later they felt a faint thump through their feet as if a missile test had been conducted by the relatively nearby air base. "What the fuck was that," shouted one of the female interns, "what are you playing at Brenard?" He just laughed and responded, "It is what all of us have been looking for."
Paul was stunned at Brenard's words, he just couldn't believe it. Was his boss really so insane that he though aliens had landed? A nervous chuckle was released from a few staff and as they started to pack to head home they heard something odd. Joel for his part was commenting on how he was going to complain to the Brenard's boss about his erratic behavior when they heard a noise that sounded like something fairly large lumbering towards the SETI building. Several pulled out cell phones to phone the authorities if anything happened as they were relatively far away from civilization and the last thing they wanted was to be isolated is something was indeed out there. Several of the female staff looked concerned and one started crying, Paul wasn't doing to great himself. He grabbed a hold puncher to defend himself and crouched underneath his desk. Brenard was just sitting there looking maniacal and out of his gourd and Paul couldn't help wondering if this was somehow his fault.
Staplers, printers, and a nasty looking letter opener were they weapons that the staff of SETI were wielding when the noise finally ceased. They looked at each other nervously when all of a sudden the door and part of the wall was completely destroyed by a high power weapon. Paul whimpered as four things encased in an odd type of armor that was almost crystalline, darted in and opened fire. Screams erupted as the staff was mowed down by the attackers and Paul stared openmouthed, too frightened to run or even scream. He saw the aliens use some type of energy weapons that were capable of massive burn damage when they hit as Joel fell right in front of his desk with his arm being completely burned off by a glancing shot. As one of the attackers walked around the desk to finish the job it caught sight of Paul crouched there on the ground. Paul was amazed it was at least 9 feet tall and looked almost avian, it had birdlike darting eyes and had the physique that could easily tear him in two. He could hear Dr. Brenard laughing that ended in a gurgle and knew that he was probably next. The alien looked down at him and released an odd chortling sound that sent shivers through Paul's spine. As another alien wandered over Paul watched as a 2 foot long blade slowly extended from the armor of the first one. It walked stiltedly over to him before poking his fat rolls. The second alien who seemed to be the commander vocalized something else and then Paul felt a sharp pain through his chest. Paul knew what it was, but didn't have the willpower to see what had stabbed him, as he fell to the ground he managed to ask "why?" The creature looked at him and then the last thing he saw was the bright flash of an energy weapon firing.
After the destruction of the SETI building that was claimed by the government to have been an act of domestic terrorism, a signal was sent from the true culprit of the attack. Many governments and research stations picked it up but none could translate it or even make sense of what it came from. Later, it would be unanimously acknowledged that the general gist of the message was such.
"Come, Terra has been refound and we rejoice, our ascension is nigh."
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And so...it ends, the first day of Armageddon .
Well that was interesting, if there is any general interest to a sequel I have a full story planned out in my head if anyone has any questions. This is my first time ever writing a story so any feedback is appreciated. Thank you.