A loud banging was coming from the door to the deck along with a familiar voice that put everyone at ease, knowing they had reached home safely.

“You boys all right in there!?” Harbor Master Kain was calling out for them, as they tried to regain their composure.

“YES WE ARE GOOD” Tobias shouted. “Just gathering our things and we’ll be out!”

All of the systems had begun to reboot after the power went off and Helix had to wait a few moments before opening the lock. Most of their bags had been packed and ready to go late last night, dispersing as they went to gather their belongings while they waited for the reboot.

Tobias, Maxwell and Grant shuffled down the hall to their rooms for the last time this year. Taking the black suitcase at the head of the bed, the lights began to flicker, just briefly, as the ship did the last part of its reset. Luminosity was restored and stayed steady, no flickering or exploding. They were all set to finally leave. Huddling up near the door, everyone was anxious to get off as Helix opened the door. As soon as it slid open, a whiff of death blew past their faces into the cabin.

“Damn what died out here! That’s almost strong enough to knock someone out!” Grant said, covering his mouth.

“You’re telling me.”

Kain shrugged and pointed to the deck. There was a huge dead squid lying on top of the deck. Black ink had been leaked, or sprayed out. It painted the snapper in crude black. Oddly enough there were remnants of seagulls littered around it, their wings and beaks missing.

“I get it, guys. Wanted to show off a big catch huh? Next time leave it tied to the fore, so it can leave a mess in the water not flayed out on deck.” Kain said.

After what had just transpired down in the cabin, no one had any words.

They all simply said, “Yes sir.”

It was already night when they had arrived at the docks at ten pm.The harbor master’s watch showing the time from the light of the moon.. A nice bright metal watch, with a pike for the background. Its tail and fins pointing at the hour marks. Dragging their feet across concrete towards the harbor exit. A welcome site, to finally be back on land and see home again.

“You boys looked like ya had a ruff night, I’m going to go up and check on the catch you got us. I’ll send each of you your share in the morning, thanks guys”.

Kain stretched out his old hand for a hand shake. They all said their thanks and shook hands and headed out towards the street.

“Don’t you think we should tell him about that squid, it’s sure as hell not a catch. Same with what just happened, just like the incident three years ago” Lydon exclaimed.

“No it will be fine.” Tobias spoke completely worn out from the trip. “The squid will either be disposed of in the morning. Or just left there as a soaking mess. There is ink everywhere and no one is going to just eat the skin. That smell also, it's been dead for longer than a day, it'll just be tossed. For as what we saw…no, may as well not bring it up. We’ll have to come back and scrub, or repaint soon unless Kain does it.”

Helix agreed. “There is no way to describe what happened to us there. Not even a trace of that thing was left. If we do tell anyone, we will likely find ourselves having our brains picked at to see if we have any kind of cancer or dementia. Just keep this between us for now”.

That eye, the way it came out of the ceiling, no one would believe us. Would get us a ticket straight to a grayland facility. As Helix mentioned. Leaving would be near impossible if we all clung to the belief of what we saw.

He gave a nod to Helix. Solace could not speak at all. The others in the same state of dumbfoundedness.

With no disagreement they started heading toward the city. Rusty train tracks lay just over the street before entering the harbor. There was a time where trains used to chug past, after dropping off supplies for the docks, but now with robotics being advanced now, it brings them in. Captain-less planes will fly over during the day; there is a landing zone on the other side of the harbor that takes equipment drop offs. Once they land, the huge hull doors open and huge metal cables slowly drop off for delivery. Missiles will be dropped, ship parts, cars, cargo containers just about anything now can be delivered hands free. A smart robotic interface simply called R.I. Just like how the boats, trains, airplanes and cars work. A receiver and a controller. Most times a controller is not needed, as boats, trains and all the other big metal structures can operate by themselves as no human interaction is needed. The receivers on those are huge smart systems that have everything built into them. They go from point A to B. No questions asked. For some, like the boat we were just on, it needed multiple destination points far away from a signal and a return time, so a controller was required, Helix’s device.

Tobias stuck his hands in his coat pockets and looked up at a plane going across the night sky. A calm breeze took flight. The smell of the cooling world around him calmed his nerves after the annual fishing trip. The clouds were slowly floating across the dark and the fog was starting to roll in. Dirt was being kicked up and floated along with the mist as the group passed up and over a small hill down towards an old gas station. Its old rusted sign hung off, with all of the letters faded except the first two S and H.

This way towards the city was a much older one, a newer road was built on the east side of town. The fancy east side road had more traffic due to coming in and out of the docks. Brightly lit streets and stops and even a new station to recharge at. Over here on the south side it was all dark, save for what little light the moon offered. Not much was down here except the gas station just having passed it. Empty chairs sat in the dark at closed restaurants. Closed signs accompanying small shops on the foggy glass windows. The road on the west side led up to an old light house around four hundred years old. Lots of the structure had fallen apart that faced seaward. Tons of stone had landed into the sea.

To Tobias, it almost looked like something had taken a bite out of it. Something that Tobias believed could happen after everything that has taken place the past five years. It started to brighten up as they passed onto a gravel road and shortly afterwards, about a half mile down onto a paved road. Just ahead after a small hill was home.

“Finally,” sighed Maxwell.

“Can’t wait to crash and stretch out at home. I’m sure I will be swarmed with cases back at base.” said Helix.

“Same. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed again,” said Tobias.

Everyone else let another sigh of relief out. They walked on. In the distance there were some cars flying about this time of night. Their lights just bright enough to pierce through the evening mist. Stepping into the parking lot where they had all left their cars it had gotten a little brighter. There was one light in the middle of the parking lot. A tall thin pole with its light atop bright enough to illuminate the whole lot. Only their cars had been left in the lot. They were the last workers to come back from the docks and everyone else had gone. During summer time the lot is always open for those who prefer to walk towards the south entrance of the harbor. As soon as summer is over the lot is left abandoned till the next.

“Everyone wanna hang out till this light goes out?” Tobias asked. “Then we can all go our separate ways for a bit.”

The lone parking lot lamps would automatically go out at a certain time.

All had agreed except for Solace, who didn’t say anything. He had this look upon his short self, his head still hung down with his glasses barely hanging from his head.

“You alright Sol?” asked Tobias.

Solace’s head shot up, he looked like a deer in the headlights, poor guy. He adjusted his glasses

“Yeah, I’m good. Just zoned out thinking about what happened in the cabin”.

Tobias rolled his eyes.

“Man, stop thinking. If you keep thinking you are gonna jinx us every time we go out there, just like tonight, stop attracting the bad vibes to us out there. It could have gone a lot worse if it had done something to the ship or injured, or even killed someone but it did nothing. It could have been from Archveil for all we know, since the colors it had were the same dripping from that beast three years ago. But nothing remained after it exploded.”

“That’s right,” Maxwell joined in. Like I said before with no proof of it, there is no one to talk to about this besides ourselves. Keep it between us, save you want to look and sound like a lunatic”.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Solace simply said “Ok”, being shaken up pretty good after tonight. Grant said. Attempting to lighten the mood.

“Hey now, at least our first year wasn’t so bad. Those Kurth were pretty cool people,” Grant said, recalling their first fishing job.

“Speaking of, too bad we haven't seen them since. They were indeed really cool. Teaching us how to properly throw and cast a line, store the fish so they would last the whole trip. Cant forget the sauced up eel they offered either, man that thing was disgusting to look at, but it sure tastes good”.

Solace regained himself. Putting his glasses back on properly. He took a few steps into the light and followed up Grant's thought:up at the conversation.

“I can’t believe you guys ate them! Sure they were small, but with their mouth still open and beady eyes staring at you, pass”.

Solace’s stomach churned at the thought.

“Well if ya can’t stand looking at them, Sol, maybe back at the factory we can make ya a pair of eel skinned clothes, how's that?” Grant said.

Solace covered his mouth, trying not to throw up.

Maxwell couldn’t help but snicker.

Helix spoke up. “How about year two then, that was a sight to see, but tonight's blew it away for sure. Down by StrangleLight, the Last Light islands. Shores were littered with all those metal corpses”.

“That was interesting and strange indeed,” Maxwell chimed in. “Neither I nor my contacts have any information on what could have happened there. It’s a pile of scrap and flesh. My bet is a failed augmentation of the human consciousness into a new metal body. The two likely didn’t mesh, it's not for everyone. If your consciousness, or spirit, whichever you choose to call it, gets lost or loses sight of its goal during surgery , you’re a goner”.

“You should show us a video of that procedure, I don’t fully trust those machines messing with your brain,” Helix said.

“I’d rather be sawed in half by those blades than have my head messed with,” Lydon said. “Everyone to the east of us and whoever else chooses to be transformed is a nutcase. It’s all free too, that's not right something must be up. That’s why I don’t fully trust the Temple of Light and those stuck up Empyeral’s. Highest and brightest point in humanity, yeah right. I don’t either.”

Maxwell shook his head. “I haven’t been allowed entry into the temple and I don’t think I ever will. We will just have to see if they slip up somewhere along the line.”

“Even though you do work for the planetary council sometimes?” Tobias said.

“Yes. Their reach and influence can only go so far when it comes to those things.” Maxwell said. Looking up into the night sky.

“Last but not least, year four,” Tobias said. “Anyone got any idea what was up with those whales trying to capsize us? They were smashing the Snapper up pretty good before they finally gave up”.

Everyone shook their heads.

“Those squid and octopi too, what the hell man. They just wrapped themselves around the figurehead, the sides of the whole freaking boat. To top it all off, the freak water spouts around us, with a clear sky. Tobias buried a palm into his face.

“Weird shit.”

“The way they just hung out seemed to watch us was the worst,” Maxwell said. “Maybe they don't like us fishing their kind up, who knows. No one else had had to deal with this kind of nonsense. The frozen, Deeptide, Starlight and The Boiling Sea have had no problems with Aquatic animals going rogue, trying to destroy a fishing vessel.”

“We are going to die next time aren’t we,” Helix laughed nervously.

“If we make it back tonight, the Tulere Piscis might make landfall out of the mist and devour us,” joked Maxwell.

“Thanks, just what we all need after tonight more monster legend fuel, to ignite your nightmares,” sighed Lydon.

The lone lamp slowly started to begin its natural dimming cycle as the coastal fog began to invade its way farther up into the lot and into the city streets.

“Alright guys, lets go ahead and get out of here, will catch up with all of you later,” Tobias said.

Fist bumps and high-fives were given out and everyone got into their fancy new age vehicles, with no steering wheel. It was all automated with voice commands. A green light popped on in the center of the windshield showing a full charge and faded out as the car started up. Its engine quietly starting up in the night, the car began to hover just a bit. The comfort system kicked in, keeping the inside nice and cozy. Tobias leaned back in seat the muscle relaxer also kicking in. The back of the seat was lit up with bright touchable menus.

“Where to?” asked a voice from within the car.

“Hey Pilgrim. Home, groundmode,” said Tobias. Pilgrim, the AI Tobias had named.

This model of AI was given to him as a gift from the rest of the guys when he finished Clausum ranger school. They were reluctant to give it to him because it had gone astray. It could have been nesting a virus, or even spying on them to gather information. Instead of doing its duties in Grayland, it set out on its own journey.

It settled here after soaring over the world for days straight. It was found unresponsive on the east side of Clausum and taken to the forge. It did speak to Grant as he was not as eager to tear it down for scrap. It told him of sweltering hot days, cool days. How the sun, moon, light and dark, strangely made it feel. Something about Pilgrim was different. A nuclear core embedded in its system. Most models did not come with a core. They were often coreless or powered from energy crystals harvested in Ovoroth. With those feelings it was not normal. Luckily Grant saved it for him, green was his favorite color after all. He did often worry as Pilgrim just followed commands and did not speak much. No harm ever came to them, while inside.

“Ground mode, would you like some music tonight Tobias?

“No thank you, I’m going to close my eyes for a bit.’ Tobias said, closing his eyes and resting back.

“Ok heading for home.”

The light green cars' thrusters started up and started making its way west towards home.

The thrusters hardly made a sound as Tobias fell asleep. Pilgrim quietly navigated the city streets, turning corners passing by shops shut down for the night. A few restaurants were open, with robotic chefs cooking up meals and serving late night orders. Apartment windows were mostly drawn shut, besides the few who smoked tobacco in this day and age. The smoke whiffed from the ends of cigarette puts and joined seamlessly with the mist. An idle police car hovered in a parking space. Inside a bored late shift officer browses through the I.C.H.N. In this town there is very little crime. The whole country is rather, since Insmourn is up north divided by long stretches of mountain ranges and forest. Technology may have come along and made life easier for people outside of Insmourn, but the people here still have common sense, mostly. A video feed appears on the officers monitor of someone trying to vandalize, or attempting to, as a home was on the other side of an electric fence. As soon as the person began climbing, their body shook violently from the shock. Falling back to the ground, their body twitched and they did not move.

“Lights,” she sighed, as the police vehicle went to the crime zone.

Passing by more business land and homes, Pilgrim hovered up a hill and took a left turn. Next to a fast asleep Tobias, a small countdown appears on the window. One hour till home arrival. His breath made the numbers foggy as it hit fifty nine minutes. Drifting over bridges with large crevices below, waterfalls pour out into the ocean kicking up more mist. After the ocean's gateway bridge, was a long stretch of woods.

All the night critters squirming about in the night, owls hoot, deer stare into the headlights as they stand alongside the road. A raccoon sat idle in the middle of the road, just short enough to not get hit by the hovering car. Its black eyes widened at the thrusters and held a soda can. Trying to scratch it open.

Miles up the road, the last long stretch till Tobias reached home was in view. Passing through a stretch of mountains, moose are going about their lives looking for food. Their antlers dripping wet from a recent rain shower. Heading straight to another fork in the road, 30 minutes read the timer. Mountain’s breath, his hometown, lay just head. The town is all but covered in mist. No one was out and about. The dense fog is something to be wary of, a legend passed down for generations. Told a story of a giant fish that ate wanderers in the mist. They called it: The Tuelere Piscus. Getting up one more stretch of hill, Tobias house sat Lights pierced the mist as they approached. The fog licked at the light, almost as if the fog wanted to conceal the light completely.

“Arrived at home, Tobias,” Pilgrim said in a tone just loud enough to wake him up. Opening one eye, he slowly looked around the vehicle and stared into the fog.

“Thanks, Pilgrim. Talk to you later.”

The car door opened up automatically and he stumbled out of the car half asleep.“Have a good night,” Pilgrim replied, shutting the doors and lowering to the ground then going silent..

The cool night air and breeze was refreshing. With a light breath, he took in the air. Up the wooden stairs to the door he could hear frantic scratching.

“I bet he will surely be happy to see me. The real flesh and bone and not a master shapeshifter covered in steel.”. Sensors turned on the front lights as Tobias got up the steps and put his finger on the middle of the censored door. There was a small beep confirming his biometrics. Onyx his black husky jumped on him, nearly knocking him over. Licking hisface and barking Tobias laughed.

“Easy boy one second let me at least get in the door”. Wagging his tail, Onyx got down and inside the house, giving Tobias a little breathing room. As he rolled inside, he was met with more barking. He tossed his bag on the floor, and Onyx quickly jumped back up licking his face again. Tobias rubbed his head and patted his sides.

“I’m going to get some sleep, today was insane. You would have lost your mind if you came with us”.

Onyx just stared at him, tongue hanging out and tail still wagging about.

“Tomorrow we can catch up on your canine routine,” Tobias said, while yawning.

Onyx barked and charged up the stairs.

“Yea that's not happening right now.”

Running his hands through his still salty hair. Tobias climbed to his room.

The night was restless. A pillow fell to the floor, followed by a blanket trying to follow its lead. It hung off the side of the bed, as he rolled on the other half. The scene on the ship played out again. This time no harpoon was in his hand. A pulse of light washed over his vision, from his hands he saw an outline of the haunting silhouette. Brown eyes stared into a gaping void in front of him. With the creature right in front, adrenaline rushed through his veins. He planted one foot back and threw a punch with his right arm.

His arm felt weightless, and the blow clearly did nothing, as once again it did not react. Next was pain. The arm felt like it was being pushed back out at a strange angle. Pressure built up in the elbow, then it popped and went limp. He screamed but no words filled the space. The whites of his eyes met the mouth of the amalgamation, and the arm sagged to his side. A black iris focused on him. Tobias passed out from pain and shock. He was too tired and there was no fight in him. This nightmare would just have to consume him.

Onyx was next to him the whole time, worried. Clearly in pain as he clenched the shoulder with the other hand. Nose to nose Onyx watched Tobias for about fifteen minutes, before the night settled down and calmly fell asleep.