Noah Anderson slept through his alarm, its persistent beeping unheard as he tossed and turned in his sweat-soaked sheets. The faint glow of morning light barely penetrated his closed eyelids, casting a soft haze over the room. A faint breeze stirred the curtains, carrying with it the dry, earthy scent of the Australian outback.
In his dreams, echoes of his childhood whispered faintly. Calls for his mother and father mingled with the acrid smell of smoke, wrapping around him like tendrils of a haunting memory. Gasping for breath, Noah jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest.
With a deep, shaky breath, he sat up, his gaze sweeping over the small, sparsely furnished room. The solitude pressed in on him, a constant companion in his secluded home nestled deep within the run-down town on the edge of the Australian outback. Rubbing the phantom ache on his right arm—the lingering sensation of a burn from his dream—he reached for the alarm clock, silencing its insistent beeping.
Calming his frayed nerves, Noah swung his legs out of bed and headed for the shower, the warm water washing away the lingering unease. His house, a modest single-story dwelling weathered by years of harsh outback conditions, creaked softly as he moved through it. The peeling paint and worn furniture spoke of a town once thriving, now faded and forgotten by the world beyond.
After dressing in practical work clothes—a worn-out pair of jeans and a faded flannel shirt—Noah quickly poured himself some orange juice and ate a slice of raisin toast, readying himself for the day ahead.
Driving through the quiet roads, Noah noted the signs of decay. The road hadn't seen a hint of new asphalt in years, and he noticed the boarded-up shops, some buildings either broken into or falling apart. One building had completely collapsed overnight. Faded advertisements, peeling off walls, littered the ground, their remains stuck on the bricks by old, dried glue.
There was a general air of neglect that seemed to permeate every corner of the town. The sun rose slowly over the horizon, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement and rusted street lamps. Their glow almost flickered to their end as they turned off for the night.
Noah turned on the radio, tuning into the only station that could be heard out here in such a remote place. "Good morning, Coolabah Springs! It's 7:00 AM on this beautiful Tuesday morning, and you're tuned in to Outback FM, your local source for news, weather, and all things Coolabah. I'm your host, Jack Thompson, bringing you the latest updates to start your day. Let's dive right into the news." The radio announcer's voice was a cheerful one, bright and energetic.
The soft background music faded in and then out as Noah listened to the weather report. "First up, the weather. Today, we can expect clear skies and plenty of sunshine as usual, unlike our friends in good old Qld who are enjoying the rain they're getting lately. But back to us now, expect a high of 32 degrees Celsius. It looks like we're in for a typical warm and dry day here in the outback. Remember, folks, stay hydrated and slap on some sunscreen if you're heading outdoors."
Turning off the radio as some rock song came on, Noah arrived at the garage, pulling into one of the worker parking spots. He sighed at the sight of several cars already lined up for repair. Getting out of his car, Noah looked at them; he recognized a few of the cars and a few he didn’t. He guessed they were here for the meteor shower tonight. But among the cars was one car he dreaded the most. "Karen," he whispered, a hint of fear echoing inside his soul. She was a regular customer whose car seemed to attract trouble like a magnet, From sounds that ‘disappear’ when she came by to bumps caused by potholes on this road or that.
Looking away, Noah turned towards the shop. The shop itself was a sturdy but weathered building with a flickering neon sign that had seen better days. It proclaimed the name of the shop, "Anderson's Auto Repair," standing as a beacon of reliability amidst the town's decline.
Entering the building, Noah saw his boss and the receptionist already busy with paperwork and discussions in their cells about delayed deliveries. The ongoing frustration over suppliers' delays was palpable. Grabbing one of the sheets, Noah saw this time they had gone to the wrong store. But Noah focused on the task at hand—clocking in, he placed his lunch box away in the fridge. His job was the steady rhythm of diagnostics and repairs that formed the backbone of his existence.
As Noah grabbed his tools and walked back to pick up a pile of folders in his to-do bin, he noticed his boss flagged him down urgently. Walking over to his boss, Matt Anderson, who quickly put his hand over the phone as he turned to Noah, said, "Noah, sorry, but we've got a massive backlog building up. Most of them are people here for that meteor shower tonight. Can you start with the diagnostics on the cars already here? And you probably already know that Karen's car needs your attention yet again."
Noah nodded, "All good, I'll get started." He headed toward the closest car, a Ford Ranger, which was one of the newer cars on the market. Opening the yellow file, he saw the key inside and checked what it was in for a service.
Opening up the hood, Noah plugged in his diagnostic tool and waited for it to do its thing. After a few minutes, it came back clean, and he marked the file fine for the next job.
As he worked methodically through the lineup of cars, he finally approached Karen's vehicle, mentally preparing for the challenge it would present. He approached it with a mix of resignation as he flipped through to the newest page in the long, long line of papers already listed for her car. Looking down to the issue part, it was written: engine sounds. Sighing again, he unlocked and popped open the hood and began his diagnostic routine.
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Finding nothing diagnostically wrong with the engine, Noah marked the paper and then closed the hood, locking the doors as he entered back into the shop's interior. The shop was cluttered with spare parts, tools, and the smell of grease, offering a familiar comfort amidst the uncertainty of the town outside.
Throughout the day, Noah worked methodically, the rhythmic clinks of tools providing a reassuring backdrop. Despite the setbacks and Karen's demanding inquiries, he found solace in the structured chaos of the garage. Each car presented its puzzle to solve, its own set of challenges to overcome—a stark contrast to the unpredictability of life outside the shop's walls.
The sound of the radio echoed as Noah stopped and listened for a moment, taking a well-needed rest as he cracked open a soft drink. "Welcome back, hope you enjoyed that old golden classic. Now to local news: the Coolabah Springs community is gearing up for the annual Outback Fair next weekend. The fair will feature stalls with homemade crafts, fresh produce, and, of course, our famous bush tucker hot pot meals. There will also be live music, games for the kids, and a sheep-shearing contest, so anyone wanting to partake in that contest please phone me at the end of this update. It's always a great day out for the family, so make sure to come along and support our local community."
The sound of paper shuffling was heard over the radio again. "In other news, residents are reminded that there's a town meeting at the community hall this Thursday at 6:30 PM. The main topic of discussion will be the proposed upgrades to the water supply system. Given that our region and others have had recent dry spells as well, this is a crucial issue for the community, so your attendance and input would be greatly appreciated."
Noah nodded, waiting for a moment in case anything else was added. "And lastly, for those interested in astronomy, don't forget that tonight's the night for the much-anticipated meteor shower. The skies are expected to be clear, providing a perfect view of this spectacular celestial event. Head out to the edge of town for the best vantage point and enjoy the show."
The sound of more paper shuffling about came through. "That's all for the news this afternoon, folks. Stay tuned to Outback FM for more updates throughout the day. Up next, we've got some classic Aussie rock to get you moving. This is Jack Thompson signing off for now."
By late afternoon, Noah had made progress on Karen's car, but the lack of essential parts posed a persistent hurdle. He communicated this to his boss, who shared his frustration but encouraged him to do what he could with the resources available.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the shop, Noah wrapped up his tasks. He watched warily as Karen arrived to pick up her car, their interaction brief but tinged with mutual exasperation. The town outside grew quieter as night descended, the few remaining residents retreating into their homes, leaving the streets to the whispers of the wind and the occasional distant sound of wildlife.
After bidding his colleagues farewell, Noah drove home through the quiet evening, the sky promising a meteor shower later that night. Despite the challenges of the day, he found comfort in the routine and the anticipation of the celestial display. The dusty roads stretched out before him, lined by sparse vegetation and the occasional silhouette of abandoned buildings and houses.
Arriving home, Noah felt a sense of relief wash over him. His house, with its peeling paint and creaking floorboards, offered a refuge from the harsh realities of the outside world. As he prepared for bed, he reflected on the day's events—the frustrations at work, the familiar routines, and the impending meteor shower that offered a rare moment of awe during daily struggles.
Later that night, while watching the night sky, seeing the Milky Way in full view was always the best. There was little to no light pollution to block the glow of the night sky. Noah’s mind drifted; he was hoping his little sister was doing alright. He hadn’t heard much from her nowadays. He sighed, drinking a cold beer and watching the night sky.
“I wonder how Mum is as well,” he thought. The last he heard, she was still in a coma. The house fire all those years ago consumed much of their small family. He was only five years old, and his sister was two years old at the time. He looked at his right arm, the scar a constant reminder.
The tranquillity of the night enveloped him, a stark contrast to the chaos of the day. He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing it to embrace him in peacefulness.
The rumbling of distant thunder shook him awake, washing away the haze of tiredness that threatened to lull him to sleep. Startled, Noah sat up in his chair, his heart racing. He looked towards the sky. The sight that met his eyes was surreal—the sky illuminated with a rainbow of colours, swirling and dancing in vibrant hues.
There were hues of reds and greens, pinks and purples, whites and oranges. The sky was a rainbow of colours in an endless sea. The rumbling grew louder, shaking the walls of his small house. Noah could feel the ground vibrate beneath his feet, a sensation that sent a chill down his spine. Fear and curiosity mingled in his mind as he stared transfixed at the spectacle unfolding above him.
Noah watched as, in the distance, small streaks of white crashed into the ground, causing the ground to shake like an earthquake. The colours that painted the sky cast an eerie glow over the landscape. The once-familiar town, now bathed in surreal light, seemed to come alive with unearthly energy.
The rumbling intensified, accompanied by distant booms and cracks of the earth. Noah stood transfixed, staring at the sky, watching as meteors streaked through the atmosphere, their trails blazing as they burned up upon entry. Each fiery streak painted the sky in fleeting bursts of otherworldly light.
Noah hoped the meteors hitting the ground stayed away from him and those watching it as well. But then, as if by a sick twist of fate, like a nightmare brought to life by his thoughts alone, Noah saw it—a meteor hurtling directly towards him and his house. Fear gripped his soul as he watched, paralysed by the blazing fiery light that painted the sky in a spectrum of colours behind the trail of the meteor. He knew there was nowhere to run, no escape from the impending impact.
In the next heartbeat, the meteor struck with devastating force. It threw Noah into his house, half of which started to burn or break from the missing structure. Noah heard the throb softly, slowly fading away as he grew cold.
Darkness enveloped him. His breathing was laboured. Glancing down, he saw that he didn’t have legs; most of his torso was gone as well. He was dying. The smell of smoke reached his nose as the memory of the house fire all those years ago threatened to come back, to torment him before his death.
Just as he prepared for his final breath and to accept his fate, a surreal and unexpected sensation washed over him—a warmth, a sensation of weightlessness and serenity.
Looking around, Noah expected to be dead by now, but he saw that the fire was paused like a video. In the middle of his vision, three dots blinked a greenish-white. Noah looked in shock, wondering what was going on. Then, it acted on his thoughts, disappearing before a new window opened up before him.
"Welcome, Noah, to the World Seed Interface."