Issue 1: Origins

This takes place in the year 2029 in a small town in rural Montana. The Presleys are in a grocery store.

Cory: Annelise, are you sure you want to do this?

Annelise(picking up a green pepper): I’m sure.

Cory: You know what our neighbors think about us, right?

Annelise: Yes, I know they think we’re a bit strange. 

Cory: No, they don’t think that we’re strange. They have said that you’re strange.

Annelise(sighs): I am strange. These people have never heard of therapy before. Still, I’ve invited them over for dinner tonight. I wouldn’t want to cancel last minute.

Cory: Alright. But don’t say that I didn’t warn you.

Later that night…

Neighbor One: This food’s really good! 

Cory: Thank you. My wife made it. I keep telling her that she should go on a cooking show, but she always refuses.

Neighbor One: *stares at Annelise who is gathering the plates* She made this? Why didn’t she tell us?

Cory: That’s just the way Annelise is. Right, Annelise? 

Annelise:*smiles and nods*

Neighbor Two: So, what’s therapy?

Annelise: Well, it’s a job where I help people become the best versions of themselves that they can be. I help them put their pasts behind them.

Neighbor Three: Back in my day, we had institutions for that!

Neighbors all burst out laughing.

Annelise: Well, institutions aren’t the most…humane option for someone struggling with long-term mental health issues. It’s better that they learn to live with their condition in a healthy way than be sedated their entire lives.

The Neighbors stare at her in disgust.

Neighbor One: You ain’t one of them New Age gurus, are you?

Annelise: No, my practice is backed by real science.

Neighbor One: Alright…Well, it’s getting late. I’m sure you’ve got stuff to do. Bye.

After all of the neighbors leave, Annelise and Cory head to bed. 

In the middle of the night, Annelise wakes up. She looks out the window and sees an explosion in the sky. It looks as if the sky is fabric and now has a rip in it.

Annelise: Cory! Cory, wake up!

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Cory*groans*: What is it?

Annelise: There’s something in the sky!

Cory: You mean a helicopter or something? Don’t worry about it, we live near an army base.

Annelise: No, it wasn’t like anything I’ve ever seen! Come look!

Cory*comes up to the window*: Oh, wow! That…is a weird-looking cloud. It makes it look like the sky’s torn.

Annelise*nods*: There was an explosion, too. I don’t think that it’s a cloud.

Cory: Maybe…a comet. That weird line could be the remainder of its tail.

Annelise: Yes, maybe.

In the morning…

Annelise is having an online therapy meeting with one of her patients.

Annelise: So, how did you feel when your parents hit you as a child? Did they ever apologize for it?

Patient*on computer screen*: I felt…empty, hopeless like there was nothing left to live for. And, no, my parents never apologized.

Suddenly, in the window, there is a strange man of maybe 20 years of age, limping through the Presley yard. He seems to be in much agony. Annelise spots him and is alarmed. 

Annelise: I’m afraid I’ll have to end our appointment early. There’s an injured man in the yard…and we live in rural Montana. 

Patient: Go help him! I’ll end the chat! Bye!

Patient ends the chat.

Annelise runs outside to help the man.

Annelise: Oh my heavens! What happened to you?! Here, come inside we have a first aid kit!

Commander: Wait, I don’t need medical help!

Annelise: Yes, you do! The nearest hospital is over two hours away! You’re losing a lot of blood!

The Commander submits and is helped inside by Annelise. Cory runs over to them. 

Cory: Annelise, who is this?

Annelise: He’s injured! Look at his leg!

Cory sees that the Commander’s leg is bleeding out.

Cory: I’ll get the first aid kit!

2 hours later, Annelise has thoroughly bandaged the Commander’s leg.

Annelise: So, what’s your name?

Commander: Your people know me as Beyond.

Annelise: You’re the man who saved those schoolgirls from a bombing incident! I saw that on the news!

Commander*smiling*: Yes, I am. And you are Annelise Presley. 

Annelise: That’s right. How did you know that?

Commander: I know much more than you think.

Cory: Annelise, may I have a word with you?

Annelise: Sure.

They walk into the other room.

Cory: I don’t trust this guy.

Annelise: Why not?

Cory: Well, for one thing, he has silver eyes. Not blue, not gray, silver. Like my aluminum sculptures. That’s not normal.

Annelise: Why does that matter? He was going to die if we didn’t help him. I only spent a few months in nursing school, but I know that he won’t be able to walk for at least a week. 

They see the Commander walking into the hallway.

Cory*under his breath*: What the heck is going on here?!

Annelise: *rushes toward the Commander* You can’t walk on that leg! You’ll injure yourself further!

The bandages fall off his leg, revealing a small scar in place of what was once a gaping wound. 

Annelise: How?

Commander: My laws are much different than yours. *He begins walking toward their front door to leave*

Annelise: Wait!

Commander: No, I don’t have anywhere to go.

Annelise: *ponders what the heck just happened for a second* Do you have any parents or relatives? 

Commander: *shakes his head*

Cory*sighs*: I guess if you don’t do any more weird stuff, you can stay with us for a while. I could use some help smithing and making sculptures.

Annelise:*smiles*

Commander: I cannot promise that I will not do any more of the actions that you call “weird”, but I am thankful for you inviting me in. It would be nice to have a roof over my head. I will stay for a while.