How long had it been?….for the concept of time had seemed to vanish from all knowledge, days were but a distant memory as the passing minutes faded forever. Pale blue gems stared blank and weary up at the ceiling over his head, having lost with luster and sparkle they contained like an oyster stripped of it's precious pearl. A dull pain in his head was the only thing keeping him from slipping back into the peaceful dark and void of deep slumber as the molten heat of fever still grasped him by the throat like a tiger ravaging it's freshly caught prey. Rolling onto his side Gantu stared into the empty white container that had been left by his bedside by his long gone partner, for the past hour he had been sick as he tried to calm his hunger enraged guts with some small bits of food but in the end only caused him to vomit till he was hoarse. As golden rays of passing sunlight heralded the end of yet another empty and uncaring day, twilight would be soon upon him and dusk would fall like the waters that crashed down from the cliff behind his wounded space ship.
Distant winds and the calls of earthen water fowl could be heard coming from outside as they intermingled with the sounds of crashing waves, but the sweet songs of nature did little to penetrate the black wall off misery that cocooned Gantu's mind. After much shifting and rolling about the deep caresses of sleep claimed him once more and he closed his weary eyes as the outside world of reality faded to black and the realm of dreams and nightmares took over.
Like the great rush of dusty wind that swirled around him Gantu found himself standing before the broken remains of a once great city, the gray broken building stood like ghostly skeletons against the gray storm ravaged skies.
"Where am I?" the captain wondered as he walked around the ruins, the earth beneath his heavy feet so dry that small clouds of dust billowed up with each step he took.
Weathered trees stood up like great knarled hands who's claws were outstretched skyward as if trying to tear it all down, the smell and taste of the air was like a metallic fume that made Gantu's mouth and lungs sore from it's parched flavor. The buildings seeming to moan in sorrow for their lost owners as his eyes scanned the terrain around him and then like a speeding war damaged battle cruiser it hit him, Gantu was standing in the heart of what was once Turo city.
His blue gems widened in horror and disbelief as he faced down the remains of this post apocalyptic casualty, what was once a bustling metropolis filled with life and activity was now a barren dead ghost town. Rags and tags of banners and other lifeless bits of flotsam fluttered in the musty air as the gray alien searched the main streets, waning shadows shifted and slid across doorways as the empty structure moaned with each gust and creaking of their worn and weakened walls.
"I'm alone.'' Gantu's deep voice finally breaking the long silence, the only one heard for what looked like centuries in this long forgotten place.
"……you have no idea….'' a cold dark voice spoke up deep in the far redicesses of his own mind and made the captain's spine shiver.
"……you have no idea….'' it repeated as a flash of white lightning lit up the area, snarling as the brightness made his eyes ache Gantu raised his broad forearm to shield his eyes.
The brilliance and heat faded as fast as it has arisen as Gantu found himself in a new place of desolation and bleakness, where lush forests and grasses grew was left scorched cinders and smoky mist lay in the wake that only fire could send. Trees broken like used matchsticks poked up like nails from the blackened soil, the skies over head were as gray and as devoid of emotion as the pit of his soul as black clouds like those of an approaching hurricane drifted like great beasts in the heavens.
Turning Gantu ran down the once tree lined pathway that lead to the crash site of his space cruiser, his breath coming fast now in ragged gasps as a crushing sight met his gaze. The once proud star ship was no longer his home but lay in rust and decay as a tomb in a flowerless grave, the terror that now griped his heart was beyond description as he ran back out onto a small hill top. Kawai was a dead as Turo…dead and unpopulated as a cold icy sweat created sparkling beads on Gantu's brow, locked in a time frame in which everything familiar to him was all but lost to the endless confolds of the passage of it's merciless cycle. Gantu now grappled and was forced to come face to face with what he had been running from his whole life, an unseen demon, a nearly forgotten terror in which he could not bear to face. His ultimate fear.
A soft scuttle crunch snapped him out of this quiet trance as he cast his eyes downward to what his great gray elephant like foot had unknowingly stepped on, moving his leg slightly to one side he spotted a tiny withered flower an ;orchid in fact, yet still as delicate and beautiful as it must have been in life. It lay a top a small mound of soil with a dusty gray head stone to mark the grave, on unsteady legs Gantu knelt before it and reached out a shaky finger to wipe away the soot and ash that covered the faint writing that would tell him to owner of this final resting place. Lower lip twitching as his eyes were glossy with tears from the pungent smell of decay and burnt wood the salty fluids started streaming down his dusty cheeks creating dirty streaks, his throat tightened as he read the uncovered inscription on the gravestone so much so that his sorrow strangled voice made him barely auditable as he choked out the words.
"….Here lies….625...sandwich marker extrodinare..and best frien--" he couldn't finish as he buried his face in his hands and sobbed bitterly, crying as his eyes burned with hot tears as he felt like his heart was ripping in half.
"…that's it….cry…weep and mourn…" the same deep monotone voice spoke up as it returned out of hiding not seeming to care the kind of mental agony Gantu was in. "..show all the world how deeply you suffer for your loss…''
He dug his nail-less fingers into his face as he sobbed as the voice droned on and on, his chest muscles contracted and heaved with every breath he now drew.
"…yes Gantu…your tears go un noticed…your cries go unheard, despite all your power, your rank and all that makes you who you are…you're nothing more than a scared little boy who reality stripped of his innocence…who gave a cold hard slap in the face and reminded you of where you were…and what you have now become…''
Gantu claw his fingers down over his ears as he tried to drown out the invisible speaker but t'was no avail because the one who spoke from the dark corridors of his mind and soul…was himself.
"…you fear it…through power and aggression you try in vain to hide yourself from it…death lies all around you as you are destined to walk this world forever…immortality is to be alone…you are alone Gantu…all alone…so very alone."
"I am scared," Gantu whimpered as he kept his eyes tightly shut not wanting to look upon the desolation all around him and the grave of his only companion. "…I am so scared…I don't want to be alone…''
For all his many years Gantu had created a wall of iron and emotionless power around his own heart, for the fear of being hurt again after so much pain and suffering he had endured in his younger time was more than he could bare, but it had come at a terrible price for the demon that now stalked his every waking moment was created that day it's dripping fangs longing to sink themselves into his throat. He only had one weapon now against this creature but would he dare to open up his defenses and let the outside forces in through it's front gates? He didn't know…he was scared and confused as he threw back his head and screamed out in utter anguish.
"I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE!!!"
It was then that he started to hear something as soft sounds of distant voice over his head began speaking his name as if the heavens were opening up showing his tortured soul and ounce of mercy, a ray of golden sunlight flowed down around his body like water as a warm peace and tranquility filled him. The air now smelled fresh and pure as comfort and a blanket of joy the kind he had never felt ever in his whole life welled up in his heart and wrapped it's self around him and he felt him self being lifted off the ground, his tears were dry now as a smile crossed his lips. The speaking became songs sweet songs of life and light as he floated up the shaft just as the sun came glaring into view, the clouds around were as white and shining as new fallen snow as just before him Gantu could see 625's round smiling face grinning a square toothed grin at him. Reaching out his pudgy paw 625 extended his hand towards his partner, his deep black eyes reflecting the deep pools of sunlight that glowed around them.
"Come on G, let's go home.'' he said in a gentle tone just as Gantu nodded smiling a happy smile reached up towards him and grasped his hand.
Distant winds and the calls of earthen water fowl could be heard coming from outside as they intermingled with the sounds of crashing waves, but the sweet songs of nature did little to penetrate the black wall off misery that cocooned Gantu's mind. After much shifting and rolling about the deep caresses of sleep claimed him once more and he closed his weary eyes as the outside world of reality faded to black and the realm of dreams and nightmares took over.
Like the great rush of dusty wind that swirled around him Gantu found himself standing before the broken remains of a once great city, the gray broken building stood like ghostly skeletons against the gray storm ravaged skies.
"Where am I?" the captain wondered as he walked around the ruins, the earth beneath his heavy feet so dry that small clouds of dust billowed up with each step he took.
Weathered trees stood up like great knarled hands who's claws were outstretched skyward as if trying to tear it all down, the smell and taste of the air was like a metallic fume that made Gantu's mouth and lungs sore from it's parched flavor. The buildings seeming to moan in sorrow for their lost owners as his eyes scanned the terrain around him and then like a speeding war damaged battle cruiser it hit him, Gantu was standing in the heart of what was once Turo city.
His blue gems widened in horror and disbelief as he faced down the remains of this post apocalyptic casualty, what was once a bustling metropolis filled with life and activity was now a barren dead ghost town. Rags and tags of banners and other lifeless bits of flotsam fluttered in the musty air as the gray alien searched the main streets, waning shadows shifted and slid across doorways as the empty structure moaned with each gust and creaking of their worn and weakened walls.
"I'm alone.'' Gantu's deep voice finally breaking the long silence, the only one heard for what looked like centuries in this long forgotten place.
"……you have no idea….'' a cold dark voice spoke up deep in the far redicesses of his own mind and made the captain's spine shiver.
"……you have no idea….'' it repeated as a flash of white lightning lit up the area, snarling as the brightness made his eyes ache Gantu raised his broad forearm to shield his eyes.
The brilliance and heat faded as fast as it has arisen as Gantu found himself in a new place of desolation and bleakness, where lush forests and grasses grew was left scorched cinders and smoky mist lay in the wake that only fire could send. Trees broken like used matchsticks poked up like nails from the blackened soil, the skies over head were as gray and as devoid of emotion as the pit of his soul as black clouds like those of an approaching hurricane drifted like great beasts in the heavens.
Turning Gantu ran down the once tree lined pathway that lead to the crash site of his space cruiser, his breath coming fast now in ragged gasps as a crushing sight met his gaze. The once proud star ship was no longer his home but lay in rust and decay as a tomb in a flowerless grave, the terror that now griped his heart was beyond description as he ran back out onto a small hill top. Kawai was a dead as Turo…dead and unpopulated as a cold icy sweat created sparkling beads on Gantu's brow, locked in a time frame in which everything familiar to him was all but lost to the endless confolds of the passage of it's merciless cycle. Gantu now grappled and was forced to come face to face with what he had been running from his whole life, an unseen demon, a nearly forgotten terror in which he could not bear to face. His ultimate fear.
A soft scuttle crunch snapped him out of this quiet trance as he cast his eyes downward to what his great gray elephant like foot had unknowingly stepped on, moving his leg slightly to one side he spotted a tiny withered flower an ;orchid in fact, yet still as delicate and beautiful as it must have been in life. It lay a top a small mound of soil with a dusty gray head stone to mark the grave, on unsteady legs Gantu knelt before it and reached out a shaky finger to wipe away the soot and ash that covered the faint writing that would tell him to owner of this final resting place. Lower lip twitching as his eyes were glossy with tears from the pungent smell of decay and burnt wood the salty fluids started streaming down his dusty cheeks creating dirty streaks, his throat tightened as he read the uncovered inscription on the gravestone so much so that his sorrow strangled voice made him barely auditable as he choked out the words.
"….Here lies….625...sandwich marker extrodinare..and best frien--" he couldn't finish as he buried his face in his hands and sobbed bitterly, crying as his eyes burned with hot tears as he felt like his heart was ripping in half.
"…that's it….cry…weep and mourn…" the same deep monotone voice spoke up as it returned out of hiding not seeming to care the kind of mental agony Gantu was in. "..show all the world how deeply you suffer for your loss…''
He dug his nail-less fingers into his face as he sobbed as the voice droned on and on, his chest muscles contracted and heaved with every breath he now drew.
"…yes Gantu…your tears go un noticed…your cries go unheard, despite all your power, your rank and all that makes you who you are…you're nothing more than a scared little boy who reality stripped of his innocence…who gave a cold hard slap in the face and reminded you of where you were…and what you have now become…''
Gantu claw his fingers down over his ears as he tried to drown out the invisible speaker but t'was no avail because the one who spoke from the dark corridors of his mind and soul…was himself.
"…you fear it…through power and aggression you try in vain to hide yourself from it…death lies all around you as you are destined to walk this world forever…immortality is to be alone…you are alone Gantu…all alone…so very alone."
"I am scared," Gantu whimpered as he kept his eyes tightly shut not wanting to look upon the desolation all around him and the grave of his only companion. "…I am so scared…I don't want to be alone…''
For all his many years Gantu had created a wall of iron and emotionless power around his own heart, for the fear of being hurt again after so much pain and suffering he had endured in his younger time was more than he could bare, but it had come at a terrible price for the demon that now stalked his every waking moment was created that day it's dripping fangs longing to sink themselves into his throat. He only had one weapon now against this creature but would he dare to open up his defenses and let the outside forces in through it's front gates? He didn't know…he was scared and confused as he threw back his head and screamed out in utter anguish.
"I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE!!!"
It was then that he started to hear something as soft sounds of distant voice over his head began speaking his name as if the heavens were opening up showing his tortured soul and ounce of mercy, a ray of golden sunlight flowed down around his body like water as a warm peace and tranquility filled him. The air now smelled fresh and pure as comfort and a blanket of joy the kind he had never felt ever in his whole life welled up in his heart and wrapped it's self around him and he felt him self being lifted off the ground, his tears were dry now as a smile crossed his lips. The speaking became songs sweet songs of life and light as he floated up the shaft just as the sun came glaring into view, the clouds around were as white and shining as new fallen snow as just before him Gantu could see 625's round smiling face grinning a square toothed grin at him. Reaching out his pudgy paw 625 extended his hand towards his partner, his deep black eyes reflecting the deep pools of sunlight that glowed around them.
"Come on G, let's go home.'' he said in a gentle tone just as Gantu nodded smiling a happy smile reached up towards him and grasped his hand.