Today started like any other day that i have had. Wake up to my alarm, get ready for work and then take off.
The news on the radio was rather loud as i hopped in my truck to take off.
" Service broadcast follows updates of the first mission to leave earth. The man named mires frost making history today as the launch was a huge success. Follwed by a message from the man himself. Please stay tuned as Lvlone broadcast brings to you his message."
A short static played as the tone grew heavy a man spoke clearing his throat with a hearty cough.
" Ahem, please let us solve this matter as the end of this year reins onto us new firsts that even i have been keeping dormancy for these words mark a new era. one of the universes most harshest underlying trips a stretch across the abyss the first of its kind. Let me be the first to say to the astronauts and their families who have given so much of not only time but precious moments of even higher quality their own souls. No. Respectively we of the azure sky company should say they have given us not only hope of a brighter future but hope of an expansion in our lives one that allows all souls to touch the reaches, the stars and that great void of space. Being the first humans to take on an even greater mission than we first expected. These five brave souls have come and gone for history nay, for the future of earth. They may be gone a brief few years to them but it will be ten long for the return of theirs will bring about not only triumph but impacts that will allow us of the azure sky foundation to reach even further thus allowing our great nations."
He went quiet as i was pulling into my job site my mind went into a brief thought.
" Well are you going to finish the fucking build up!"
I glared at the radio which now floated above it a screen showing him. A man with grey hair and blue eyes. Sternly stood at a podium looking to the sky. He looked down at the camera his eyes piercing yet hollow seeing through anyone he looked at.
He sucked in a breath as his mind filled with resolution.
" let me ask of you the billions who watch this what do you expect us to find?"
No one spoke as silence filled the air.
My heart thumped in wonder as if yelling at me to answer. He spoke once more breaking that silence.
" Freedom, higher beings, that is what i look to find out there. Where i do not know but somehow i think about half of us expect others and the other half just want to see if we are truly alone. But what ever the answer is those few people who chose to get those answers are not asking that..."
His eyes once again pierced the sky as his resolution let forth the words.
" we are not alone in this universe I am sure of it, but the question those men and women asked me before they left was. Can we truly make a future based on the knowledge we have?"
He looked at the camera with a fire in those blue eyes.
" that answer comes with even more questions than what i can give but i asured them that we of the azure sky foundation are not the ones to give up. And with the knowledge we have now the sky is not just a place we cannot fathom but we offer it. I Mire frost have decided that our knowledge is not lacking in resolve. We will reach the abyss and make it a step using every resource we can. That is why i founder of this little step have come to you the bright and powerful human race,. changes with lifestyle, changes with knowledge! I introduce to you a new hope a beacon of the abyss. B.D. the first of its kind."
A Small robot stepped out from behind him shocking the world.
" Our first ever Artificial intelligence. The maker of peace and longevity. With him we will bring glory to all humans. But this is not the only gift i have for the human race for our planet."
The robot opened his chest and a silver ring thrumed with energy in his chest where a heart would be.
" Our first ever clean, uneneding power. Infinity core is what we call it. Along with one more thing. We of the azure sky foundation are now accepting applicants for those who want to see the abyss will have the abyss see them back. With the new beacon Defense project not only will there be one issued to all but those applicants will be given the first ever mission to leave earth and create a colorful new world. It will be done before our brave souls return as when they bring good news more good news will be given to them. Please we ask that all of any vocation apply for even a janitor can be given the reach to the sky and beyond. May we of the earth reach to the abyss. Thank you for listening to the rambles of an old man whom can only see the world evolve from the tiny speck we are to the greatest expansion of life we can become. "
His words ended as he slunped over and on live in the eyes of billions passed away. His bright blue eyes went dull as he took his last breath on that very stage.
People gasped an began to cry. I just blinked as my mind came back me.
" Damn he just dropped bombshells and then left without a care. What good is all this and what is going to happen to the azure sky."
As i was swirling in thought a man knocked on my window shocking me to life he held up an arm as his words through my window were loud.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
" did you see this?"
I opened my door.
" yeah pete i saw it but i still can't find the words..."
" Welp looks like i am going to be applying but damn to just die like that..."
Petes mouth turned into a toothie grin as his brown eyes filled with glee.
" you are going to also right Raven?"
I looked at him as my mouth turned to a grin he got that wild look in his eyes as he spoke.
" we started this shit on earth whats to say we can't stretch it to the stars brother?"
" lets see how high we can reach then aye cousin?"
That was how my day started with a proclamation from a man who died in front of the world. Not much like every other day this day was different, it was the beginning of a new era.
2 years later.
I tapped my pen to the desk as i looked at the man beside me with a tanned face.
" What do you think?"
" i think we be more honest here than we have ever been bro, i mean question one on an aptitude test is 'what is your idea of space!' What do i think seems irrelevant..."
" Actually question one is "what is your name" just sayin...."
Looking at the screen in front of me i chuckled as i totally skipped the first line seeing that as a general statement. instead of a question.
" Well then question one. i am Silver Raven Rico. Now for question two!"
I grinned at him as he chuckled and began in earnest.
" My name is Peter Benten Dover, now onto question two."
His eyes filled with glee, as he read through each one. I did the same marveling at my best friend and cousin who drug me here. I am kind of glad that he actually did...
I read through each one answering as honestly as i could. I got to the end of the page and saw the last question.
" how old am i? Shouldn't they know all this though seems kind of redundant... i am 28 this year how time flys."
He snickered at me as i saw his screen. Flash green while mine flashed yellow. I looked around the room seeing red, yellow and green screens. Worry flashed in my eyes as i had no idea what the colors meant did i fail?
" Please stand and get in line in front of the two screens according to those colors and all who flashed red may leave we will contact you at later dates should yhe need arise."
A small lady with large pale blue eyes spoke as she left the room.
I watched as everyone shuffled around and pete smacked my arm.
" well it seems we may have passed!"
We fist bumped before lining up i look at the wall as a door opened we all filed out leading to the left as i looked behind me i saw a large glass wall as pete went right we waved as we were herded like cattle down a large white hallway.
It was a few hours as we all got set into separate rooms, nothing but a white room with a bed and a desk looking more like a prison cell.
" Occupant please lay upon bed."
I followed instructions as i sat down then layed down.
A mechanical sound was made as all my thoughts swirled what did the yellow mean why did pete get green.
What was the criteria, knowing pete he probably put down close to the same answers as i did. mine may have probably less snarky things than his but close to it. So what did i put down that was the factor for me receiving a different color than him.
I was pondering things when i saw the wall open small vent shot out purple gas as the room filled faster than i had liked. I couldn't react fast enough as my head went blank laying myself right back down. I was aware but unable to actually react Feeling people touch my body moving me was a blur but it had definitely happened as when i awoke i was in a larger white room with nothing but a bed and light which blinded me. I felt a prick in my neck as a hiss sound made me lose consciousness once again.
I heard words as my mind echoed with fear.
" keep as many yellows in stasis as you can we will work through project green first. Then we will move on to project yellow. By then project red will be less of a reach. I must finish what mire asked of me before the deadline."
My mind slipped into darkness as nothing but memories played in my head ones of me and pete growing up. Girls i dated and other things swirled in my dreams nothing i had control over it felt like minutes but i knew. In my heart i knew...
I awoke with light shining in my eyes unable to speak. i tried to move my hand covering them so the light would not burn as such. But all i got was a clank looking down at my hand it was shackled to the bed. I am unsure of the reason as i sat and pondered i heard the feet as they shuffled in while i was unable to see them i heard the voice break the silence. " you are able to hear me i assume."
I tried once more to speak and hurdles of groans was all that was able to escape. I heard melodic chuckles as a sweet laugh followed quickly behind the sounds of two people walking around me. A man stepped in front of the light blocking it from view as i caught his face. horror obviously strewn across my face i tried and m twisted my gut and i looked down at what i thought was my body but it was shambles and pieces. Looking at the visage of myself being nothing but a mix and mass of huma and beast i let out another groan this one though was much more to the like of what i was seeing.
" Pain..."
" You shouldn't feel anything with the amount of medication you currently have in those new veins of yours. Don't panic subject two, i will not let you be a failure like your eldest brother. Having come this far i surmise you will far exceed many of my guesses."
The womans voice created peace in my mind as the thoughts whittled on my consciousness.
" yes sleep for now and in a few days you will be given the entirety of my gifts..."
I let my mind slip into peace and that was the end of my thoughts as black took me deep into the abyss.
" I think this ones personality would be a perfect match don't you professor? I will begin the presentation and you can finish the rest of the work."
" Myra before you go send in the other two, i wish to not be alone with this one... lest he awakes i do not want another like the last issue to occur. But i believe he will match fine as the vessel's mind although we can never be to lax on the caution..."
3 years later.
" please let me go!!!"
" calm down subject yellow 2. We understand the concern but we are closer to the finish than you think. It will only be a few days before project red launches and all will be revealed. To you and to all the others."
He looked down at the ground as his statement carried heavy on my mind i looked down at my body feeling at the changes that now made me.
I had my normal body but it was something different? I marveled at all the scars worst looking ones on my stomach, one on my left side, and the last one i could feel on my arm. What i had seen when i woke up those few times. Pieces of me missing or not connected. Yet here i stood in this room with myself fully intact. My skin its normal color of bronze as i had native indian blood in my veins, although when i looked at the mirror the only special change i truly had were my eyes which now had a silver color. My normal black hair seemed darker than normal but the same.
I layed down unconnected to reality as i knew not a thing about what was now happening in the world since they have kept us isolated i didn't even know what year it was or how old i now was. Let alone the single fact of why this was happening...
I layed back closing my eyes as i saw a flicker in my view while my eye were indeed shut i had a hud in my view that stated two simple things.
[ Title: Pilot]
[ Subject 2: Silver Raven Rico]
Below that the light in my mind blinked but it meant nothing to me as i relaxed drifting off to lala land. My dream came in hard as the man screamed his heart out who he was i had no idea but the connection i felt was louder than him he was panicking and i could feel that also.
I put it to the back of my consciousness as i ignored all the primal emotions that welled in my heart and mind.