The clapping was deafening. Men in sharp suits rose from their velvet seats and applauded the figure in the middle of the room.

A mask of gold and silver with a moon for the right eye and sun for the left, no mouth, glitter adorning the sides where it met deep purple. Two horns that flopped around when the figure moved dripped backwards from the top of their head. Robed in royal colors and symbols that covered their whole figure in a specter of ancestors. The marble floor, which held a large smiling sun, was covered in blood. A lamb, torn to pieces, littered the mural, obstructing it from the spectators. The figure raised both of its hands in the air. Gold and black gloves jeered the crowd for more applause and adoration.

Then, in a moment of pure darkness that came instantly — like reality blinking — the figure was gone.

The applause reached higher, crazier, desperate for acknowledgment of the miracles.

It lasted an hour.

“God damn, that was crazy. I still can’t get it out of my head.”

Seth smoothed back his hair and gave himself a smile in the mirror.

“I don’t think God had anything to do with that.”

“Ha, yeah, not that God for sure. The way it ripped that lamb into pieces with its bare hands. Fuck. The sounds, the spectacle of it all. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. You see something like that before?”

Phil let out a heavy sigh and peered out the window of their high-rise apartment.

“No.”

“Well, Jesus, that was intense. I’m a bit nervous about what else could happen. What do you think it was? Human? Why the mask and everything? Do monsters really exist? We have that meeting tonight. What do you think it’s about?”

“Seth.”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up for one minute, will you? I don’t know what it’s about. I joined only a month before you did. I’ve had one meeting before the whole spectacle the other night.”

Seth finished putting on his suit and checked himself in the mirror one more time. “Fuck. I hope it tops whatever that was.”

Phil stood up and ushered Seth towards the door. “Come on.”

Downtown, in the pouring rain, sat a bar under an old derelict warehouse on the east side. It was old, condemned, but the city never brought it down. A neon sign rose out of the rubble on the north side of the building.

The Golden Goblet.

It was hidden for a reason and hard to get to. Invite only, exclusive members, but no one ever knew who they were. All the surrounding buildings had been torn down and it now sat as a dark, isolated building with a single lamppost and the neon sign glowing in the darkness.

Seth and Phil moved into the opening. They wore white masks that covered their faces — made out of an odd silicone that the organization had given them. They seemed to melt into their face and become extremely comfortable. Like a second skin. By the neon sign, a stairwell led under the building to a large wooden door with a slit in it.

As soon as they hit the bottom platform, the slit opened with a screech. Two eyes shone out at them.

Then the door opened.

Lamp lights burned on every wall, and large paintings of mystic figures in palaces and gardens, holding relics, scaled the walls into the high ceilings. A large man, taller than both of them, led them down a small hallway into the main antechamber where the other members had gathered. It looked more like a private lounge than anything. Couches and private sitting areas were everywhere. There was no one central location for anything. Fountains with lush plant life sat on each wall by the paintings, creating a tropical feeling in the air and atmosphere.

As they looked around, Seth elbowed Phil so hard that he thought his rib might snap.

“Dude, look. There it is.”

Phil moved to position himself so he could see. Up a small platform in a small covered area that was surrounded by more large plants sat the figure from the other night. The golden specter.

It was motionless, staring out at all the members. Slowly it would move its whole head, tracking someone it seemed, then would return to looking straight into the room.

“Let’s get something to drink.”

Phil moved towards the bar, but kept his awareness on the figure.

Its head followed him.

Seth grabbed a Manhattan from the bar. “Do you think it remembers us?” Then took a large swig of it.

Phil sipped the top of his martini and pulled it slowly from his lips.

“How would it remember us? It doesn’t even know us.”

A man wearing a blue suit overheard them. “Boys, haven’t seen you before.”

“Yeah, we are new members. Just joined.”

Seth was already feeling the alcohol, talking too much again. Way too much.

Phil glanced over to where the figure was.

It was gone. He turned as Seth started a full-blown conversation. Where did it go?

A jingle came from behind the man they were talking to. He snapped back.

“Oh my god.”

Seth set down his drink on the bar. The figure was much taller than they realized. Standing almost seven feet, it towered behind the man in blue, looking down at them.

The man stopped blubbering and turned. “Ah, yes, yes. Um, I didn’t mean to disturb.”

He shuffled away at great speed. The figure stepped forward, its dressing swaying with the motion.

Seth wiped his hands on his suit and stuck out his right hand. “Hey, great show you put on the other night. I have never, and I mean never in my life, seen anything like that. When I joined, I just thought it was like a sex thing, you know, but damn. I was so entranced. The power, the spirit. Pleasure to meet you.”

Phil stared, wide-eyed, and took a step back.

The figure raised its gloved hand and engulfed Seth’s with it.

A firm handshake.

Then it turned to Phil.

It stepped closer, closing the gap between them in an instant. Its whole head blocked Phil’s vision. He was frozen. He tried to run, but a primal fear kept him in place. Like it didn’t matter.

The figure kneeled so that its head was level with his. He peered into the holes where eyes should be.

Nothing stared back at him. A void of emptiness. But he could feel it. Something in that mask was looking at him. Weighing him, sizing him up.

For what? He couldn’t tell.

With a fluid movement, it stepped to the side and circled him. The bells from its horns jingling.

The whole room had gone quiet and stared at the spectacle that he had become part of.

Seth stood, mouth open, following the figure and nodding at Phil in some sort of “bro, you’re doing great” way.

Then, just like the other night — another blink.

It was gone.

Phil collapsed. The other members surrounded him and pulled him to his feet, grabbing and patting him on the shoulders, explaining how blessed he was and that it was a great sign. Seth fought his way to his side.

“Dude, what did you say to it? It was all over you. That was awesome. What do you think it means?”

Phil, covered in sweat, yelled into the crowd. “What does it mean?”

They clapped and congratulated him more. “What does it mean!”

He screamed at them, but none answered or even acknowledged his question.

He broke from the crowd, leaving Seth behind. He burst forth into the cold dark night. Rain still pouring from the sky. He ripped off his mask and wiped it vigorously with rain.

A bell rang in the darkness. He shot up, scanning the edges of his vision.

He could feel it watching him. Feel it hunting him.

Then he saw it. Just behind his pale vision, in the darkness just beyond the light. Its mask looked at him. Its size now realized, it frightened him even more.

He took a step forward. “What does it mean?”

Then he heard it — not from the vibrations in the air, but from the vibrations in his head.

“Ascension.”

A hand clasped his right shoulder and Phil jumped. “Yo, you okay? I tried to follow you, but those dudes in there were going crazy. You should see them.”

“The Golden Paradise. I just wanted some more knowledge, you know. See some secrets, esoteric ideas, like-minded people. A cool club. Maybe get some good connections.”

Phil started to cry. “Seth, man, we fucked up.”

“What no, you did great in there, whatever you did. We’re okay.”

“I just wanted to know.”

Phil repeated it over and over again.

The rain began to pour even harder.

The Golden Paradise had gained a new God.

I have been into esoteric orders for a while. They have good intentions, usually based on secret knowledge and ideas that have been passed on from one to another. They need a person to decipher and teach the ways that are hidden from the rest.

What happens if you actually get what you are looking for?

Many join these things to get more knowledge and ascend through secret knowledge. But what does that really mean? It would be up to the individual. Unless you follow someone else’s magical system and rituals. Then it’s no longer up to you — it’s up to them. Even they don’t know the power that they are wielding. The true nature of it and what the gods intend for them.

Careful when practicing what others have made. It’s not made for you. It was made for them.

The box came in the morning. Inside she was surprised to find a small platform. It was sleek, metal, with a simple line running through the middle of it. The only instructions were that it needed to be laid out on the floor with clearance of about seven feet and to turned on. She set it up in her living room, right in the center.

Her heart beat against her chest as she pressed the on switch and let the machine do its thing. It would take all night, it was mostly silent, but a low humming noise came from the middle of the platform where the slit was.

She sat for a long time watching it, but nothing seemed to happen. It just sat, glowing an other worldly blue and humming to its own tune.

She got bored and went to bed.

Maybe this had been all a mistake.

“Julia” a voice called and she sat straight up in bed.

There he sat on the edge of her bed. It had worked.

“Oh my god, Pete, is it really you?” She grasped his face and ran her fingers over his slender cheeks. They were warm. It worked.

“Oh course it’s me silly” he had already gotten dressed “Why, where would I be? I just got back form the work trip, but that was a few days ago”

A connection that wasn’t real. She choked on her breathe. They told me it would be like this. He never made it back from his work trip. A wave of regret hit her. Tears fell down her face. She stood and hugged him with all her might.

“I’m so glad you’re back, I was so stupid. I made a horrible mistake” she pressed her face into his chest.

His hand went to the back of her head, she could feel him stroke her “We will work everything out. Don’t worry”

The device was gone in the living room. Pete explained that he had never seen anything. It must be part of the design she thought. Pete turned on the stove and started making breakfast.

She sat watching him. What a miracle. She smiled rubbing her forehead.

A week went by just like it used to. It was like he had never left. Their old problems came back, but she didn’t care, she would work through them differently this time.

She went to her mother’s place and came back on the Friday.

“Pete, where are you?” She entered the front door and looked in the living room. Her heart froze, the platform was sitting in the middle of the floor. She peered into the kitchen. Pete sat in a chair, pulled away from the table looking directly into the living room at the platform.

She approached and stopped when she saw what as in his hands.

“Julia, Julia Julia. A defect in the design, I wasn’t supposed to remember was I?” He leaned back in the chair. “My business trip, I never made it back, did I?”

Tears started to stream down Julia’s face as she shook her head

“No, I didn’t. How many times did you hit me in the head? Four times at least. The first time, I couldn’t even see after it, just stars. Then pain, blow after blow after blow. Then “he stood causing the chair to fall back onto the floor with a sharp bang. She shot back away from him “How did you get me in the car? Going that fast, in to the medium. Alcohol? When did you get so crafty?”

He moved slowly towards her.

“I was so angry. It was a mistake. I knew it, I brought you back. I printed you back to life” she pleaded.

“You should have read the fine print. If person died a violent death, give at least sixty days after their death to print them. Memory fragments can still be present”

“Please, Pete, please, I’m sorry.”

His eyes dead, and dull looked right through her. “I’m am too. Don’t worry, I’ll wait sixty days”

3D printing is one of those thing that I think will be pretty impactful in the future. Right now it’s a bit niche, but maybe it could become something like it is in the game Pragmata (great game btw). This was originally going to be a more love/intimate story, but some how It took a dark direction.

Always read the fine print. Cheers~

They sat at the corner table near the front window. The diner was classic American style. Retro bar that wrapped around one wall with the red button stools, booths lined the other wall and the large windows in the front. Checkerboard floors, ornate hanging light fixtures and the obligatory vintage posters on the walls. Originals.

Shaun, Clyde and Dr.Montros sat looking over a notebook that held complex equations and sketches of a device.

“Look, this needs to be divided, this raised, It’s not going to even turn on if we don’t fix this part.” Clyde stared intensely at the formula.

“What makes you think that? We tested it in the lab already. It turned on. Redo it in your head.” Dr.Montros tapped the table which shook their coffee cups.

Shaun leaned back into the circle booth looking out over the large bar. The bell rang and he glanced over at the new patrons.

“Holy shit” he sat up and waved his hands in front of the notebook to their dismay.

“Shaun, this isn’t the time to be messing around “ Dr.Montros said.

“Look who just walked in”

“Who cares , where’s the toast?” Clyde looked up and froze “Oh my god”

“Boys, focus” Dr.Montros turned to look and then jumped up nearly taking the table with him.

A women, dressed in a sleek black dress ,a white shawl with brownish blonde hair turned to meet Dr.Montros.

“Ada Noether, what in the name of science are you doing here?”

She smiled and it lit up the whole room. Shuan had to pick his jaw up off the table. The rumors were true.

“I have some business in the the fields. Oh, let me introduce you to my husband Isaac” the man next to her looked like the regular scientist type. His medium brown hair swept back with a pair of thin rimmed circle glasses. He was in shape, but nothing to ride home about. He dressed causal compared to her. He reached out his hand and Dr.Montros took it vigorously, shaking Isaacs whole body.

Clyde leaned towards Shaun “That’s Issac, he was exploring dimensional space when she found him. He’s actually a leader in his field, despite what he looks like. He doesn’t really like to boast.”

The amount of brainpower between the three could implode a nation. Ada was so well known that even a leader in their respective field seemed like nothing but a side show when she was present.

“Well, you want to sit? We can discuss somethings, it’s been a while hasn’t it. Back in college? How time flies.”

Ada peaked over at the table and narrowed her eyes. It was like she had groked the whole idea that they were working on, figured it out and was implementing it in her mind. Clyde closed the notebook. “We are are stopping in for a quick bite, but I would love to meet your allies over here.” She stepped past Dr.Montros and approached the table. Shaun looked over at Clyde. He had never seen him so nervous before.

“Ada Noether, you are?” She extended her hand to Clyde. It took a moment, but he shook her hand.

“Clyde, uh , Clyde Tessin” he stuttered, not blinking once.

“Pleasure, and you?” She brushed a hair behind her ear and extended her hand to Shaun. He stared at her green eyes. What the hell was this lady.

“Shaun Merkel” he shook it firmly. He felt off, weird, strange, like he had just been sized up and pressed between glass.

“Dr.Montros is taking care of you boys, right? Not putting you in harms way, the minds of the future are important.” Ada rejoined Isaacs side, roping her her arm around his. “To all of us”

Dr.Montros let out his booming laugh and smacked the side of Isaacs arm which almost took him off his feet. “Of course, these two bright minds are even giving me a run for my money. You would lose your mind if you knew what we had achieved”

The smile that spread across Adas face made Shauns blood run cold. It was only flash.

“Well I look forward to your contribution to the world then. Can’t wait to see it. Till next time Dr.Montros, it was great seeing you again.” She Peaked around him at them “And it was fantastic meeting you two as well. Keep the doctor on his best behavior for me, will you?” She teased, pulling Isaac to a booth on the other side of the diner.

Dr.Montros sat down, or more like slammed down into the booth. Clyde burst, letting out his breathe and taking in as much oxygen he could.

“You gotta breathe Clyde” Shaun rubbed his eyes.

There was silence between them all for a moment.

“The fields” Dr.Montros spoke up. “Boys, we have a lot of work to do. Come on” he grabbed the notebook off the table and left in a flash. Clyde and Shuan could barely get their coats on as the bell rang. As they left Shaun peered towards the booth at the end. Isaac spotted him and gave a big wave and smile. He stared at the back of her head.

He knew that he would cross paths with her eventually. He almost wished that it had been kept in his head. The real thing was more terrifying than he could have even imagined. She was a complete unknown, a fantasy that was a benchmark to strive for. A hero on the wall.

But now.

He was in the arena.

The battle between science supremacy and the future of the world.

There was Ada Noether. Alone. Even among her own allies.

And then there was everyone else.

I want all the characters to meet Ada in different respects. She is a bit of the main force driving the story until Plastic Yarn. And even then after, she is in the background doing a lot of things. She is a force of nature, even in person, people can feel something is different about her. Isaac on her side is a contrast to her dominance. I picture him looking a bit like Otacon from metal gear solid, but more classic science guy look. Like you could see him being in a valve game.

Shaun and Clyde are entering this war that has been waging before they were born. I think it would be an interesting perspective to get. You have these giants fighting and you just getting thrown into the middle of it.

Diners are always fun places. Cheers~

“We are winning this science competition this year. I’m not letting Figberg High win again. We only have two years left” Thomas wrenched hard on the large machine. It stood seven feet in the air, light bubs, satellite dishes and tubes protruded from the side in all directions. A couple of Tesla coils lined the side.

“We barely lost last year, we got it, there is no way they come close to what we have. I mean look at it, its glorious, its fantastic, it it -“

“Even work?” A girl emerged from the shrubs and entered the backyard where the machine was being assembled “You have been building it for weeks, but you haven’t turned it on, once”

“Sadie, trust us, it works” Sam nodded “Right Thomas?”

Thomas wiped the sweat with his sleeve leaving a smear of black grease on his forehead.

“Yeah, it works.” He stepped back and nodded to himself “I think. Where’s Carl, he was supposed to be bring the power unit that we needed”

Right on cue a boy on his bike barreled past them and around the machine. His brown shaggy hair curling above his large glasses which he pushed up the bridge of his nose as he parked.

“Some one call on me?” He smiled and gave Thomas a high five followed by Sam. He looked at Sadie, she rolled her eyes but gave him a high five as well. Carl threw off his backpack and pulled out a small metal box.

“Okay, we got the mother of all energy sources in here.” They crept forward all looking down at the small metal box which now rested on the ground in their circle, Carls hands holding the lid. “Ready?”

His hands flipped up the lid of the box.

In the middle sat two AA battery.

“What the hell is this” Sam yelled breaking the circle. He stomped over to the large device “There is no way, our Tesla circle navigation device is going to be powered by two AA batteries, I thought you said you had the perfect thing for it?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, plutonium or something”

Carl smiled and pulled the batteries from the box, slowly and gently. He then grabbed a module from his backpack and made his way to the back of the device right under a Tesla coil. He fumbled a minute and attached the module to it and then inserted the batteries.

“First, they might look like normal AA batteries, but I assure you, they are not. Second, here we go!” With that he flipped the switch and hit the large green button next to the module.

“Wait” Thomas and Sam yelled in unison, but it was too late. The machine whirled to life, lights flashing, Tesla coils spitting lightning and the satellite searching.

Thomas circled around the devices, his eyes searching up and down “Carl, you idiot, there isn’t an off switch. Dammit”

The machine then stopped making noise and became quiet. The satellite had locked onto something and the coils of lightning remained steady. The laptop that sat on the outside table, made a dinging noise.

“That was extremely dangerous” Carl gave Thomas a concerned look.

“We haven’t configured it at all, we don’t even know the calibration, capabilities, we haven’t even done a single test… Oh shit” Thomas stood in front of his laptop looking at the dashboard.

The others moved and crowded around him.

The screen held a bunch numbers and readings, most which only Thomas and Sam could read, but one stood out. In bright red letters, “Locked On” flashed at them from the top right corner.

“What does that mean?” Carl backd away and looked up into the sky.

Sam went to work on the keyboard, flipping through screens and nearly pressing his face into the glass.

“It’s clearly tracking something” Sadie stepped next to Carl and joined him observing the sky.

“Yeah, something. I don’t know what it is, the signature is odd, a meteor or rock? But I think we hooked it on accident.”

Thomas turned to Sam who stopped typing.

“That’s not good” Thomas said “But, you know what that means?”

“It works!” Thomas and Sam high fived and jumped. “Take that Figberg, you think your going to beat us this year? Bring anything you want, your stupid nuclear generater in the size of a backpack, that dumb rain machine, we’ve hooked an object from space”

“Does hooked mean, its coming for us?” Carl pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose as he tore himself form the sky.

There was silence among them for a moment.

“I mean the object isn’t even that big, it would burn up in the atmosphere. We have to turn this off, hand me those gloves. I’m going to rip out the batteries” Sam threw Thomas some thick hide gloves. He stepped up to the electrical module and sprang it open. “Here it goes” Collectively they all took a deep breath, he gripped one of the AA batteries and with a small mechanical ping, it sprang out of the machine. The coils fizzled out immediately. The satellite at the top spun to its default position and froze.

The machine had ceased.

They all deflated.

“Shouldn’t we do some more tests?” Sadie said.

“Yeah, I will get an official off switch built in it tomorrow and we can run tests this week until the competition. Really dial it in.” Thomas turned to Sam “You staying the night? Midnight oil is waiting to burned”

Sam bit is lower lip and ran his hand through his black hair. “Can’t tonight. My Dad needs some help with his computers and I’ve missed homeroom to many times, Mrs.Tailor is threatening to let my parents know if I miss one more. After school, I’m locked in.”

Thomas smiled and knocked on Sam shoulder “You got it”

Sam and Thomas had been best friends their whole lives. A fateful meeting in the sandbox where they planned and built a whole town to spec. Both of their minds whirling with ideas. As they grew, Thomas leaned into the mechanical, while Sam into the digital, but both understood each other’s disciplines well. The perfect combination. Sadie and Carl had somehow found themselves linked into their planing when they had attempted to build a solar paneled motorbike. Carl was obsessed with power, literally. And Sadie had an eye for design, efficiency and making sense out of all the chaos. They were a small rag tag team of builders exploring the outer reaches in their summer neighborhood.

“Sounds good” Carl picked up his bike “We can make sure that is has sustained power from those batteries, should be fine.” he nodded to him self, his neck craned to the machine as he walked the other way “Should be, see you tomorrow”

Sam waved and cycled away as well.

“You’ve done a great job Thomas” Sadie said pressing her hand against the warmed steel.

“Thanks”

“I’ll make her look pretty, I know you have some schematics somewhere too, you always do. I’ll make sense of them.”

Thomas stared at her. The pipes and steel, coils dwarfing her, but it was one of the prettiest scenes he had ever seen. He averted his eyes.

“I will bring them to school tomorrow, I know you will make it look more presentable then this. Only half way there.”

“Half way, but almost there to kicking Figbergs ass. See you tomorrow” her face lit up as she passed him, grabbing her bike and waving good bye like the others.

Thomas looked at the machine. He was tired, but his well seemed to never dry up. Something was driving him this time, more then the others.

There won’t me many more High School science fairs.

One more after this one.

What happens after that?

He packed up his tools and pulled the rip cords that drew up a large canvas around the machine to protect it form the elements. He would figure it out later. One more week. Focus.

Thomas finished up his dinner and entered his backyard. As soon as he stepped outside wind whipped him and the temperature shocked him.

“Thomas, come back inside before the storm gets here” his mom called out to him.

“I didn’t know there was a storm coming tonight” he took off his shoes.

“Freak thing, seemed to catch everyone off guard. ha that weather man, whats his name, James? He’s really jazzed up about it right now.” his Dad chimed in from the living room. Thomas looked out at the machine. A flash of lighting lit up the sky and casted it’s shadow on him. It had survived past storms. It would survive this one.

Or at least he thought.

A crash woke him from a dead sleep. Rain pelted his window with just veracity that he thought it might be hail. Thomas peeked out his window that over looked the back yard. Torrents of rain slammed in multiple directions as the wind howled and tried to blow their house down. The machine some how stood weathering it all. He would thank Sam tomorrow of the idea of rigging in the protective rope under the ground instead of scaffolding. Lighting flashed across the sky and for just a moment he thought he caught something fall through the clouds, not in blinding speed, but smooth, un-bothered motion. The thunder erupted and the whole houses shook. He squinted trying to catch anything else, but the rain grew heavier and created a sheet of white. He gazed at his machine one more time, then returned to bed. The rain died down and the storm passed.

I was listening to Aldrch - Wait and I saw this trailer for a movie to that song. I often imagine in scenes or more like movies. It would be a coming of age, horror. A suburban neighborhood caught up in an accident brought by naivety and exploration. I pictured it taking place in the mid 90’s, Internet isn’t out there completely yet and technology is gaining new ground. It’s funny how ideas take hold in my mind and will never ever let go.

Our rag tag team will have to figure it out and survive.

Cheers

Far along in the stars there is a planet ruled by the waters. Their lush plant life dips into the crystal clear mirrors and drip with liquid weight in the eternal breeze. All around beaches of white and gold sand sparkle softly in the blazing sun which seems to just kiss the skin instead of burn it. Clouds mix into a thick wall of mosaics reflecting the rays, the stars and planets that spin in and out of view as the world turn in the twilight of its nebulas. Large islands covered in exotic plants of miraculous colors, from the deep purples to the bursting oranges, dot the waters. Some islands have volcanoes that light up the night every so often, others majestic waterfalls that seemed to tower into the clouds and rain down into the ocean. Wild life of all shapes and sizes frolic among vegetation and waves. Sea creatures that splash the glimmering water into rainbows of color and sound, play in the coves and pools that collect. It seems that some how in the this place, all is in harmony. Death a distance dream, pain a memory and sorrow, an emotion that was never born.

Curious though, as no people remain there are remnants of them. On one side of the planet a large island filled with massive tubes run through the islands structure. A vast megalithic system that allows the creatures to have their own highway through the dry land. They almost seemed to use the tubes as pillars to hold their structures up, even the ceilings were filled with water that shone to the skies and cascaded the sun through the brilliant miasma of motion. Light pastel colors were used in any solid construction to mimic the colors of the sea and at night, small lights blended pink and deep aqua against the tubes to bring the visitor to an underwater paradise. Who ever built them had an appreciation of the ocean world and its inhabitants. Leaving behind pristine examples of their worship of the creatures and an everlasting labyrinth for them to experience the dry land from a different angle then they had before.

As the sun danced on the horizon in the morning and night, the clouds would burn with intense colors, a water color vista that skimmed the watery horizon. A fluffy city painted upon the sky in a vibrant display until the stars and the cosmos peaked behind it and fully bloomed in a mesmerizing light show for the night.

An ocean paradise lay out there, spinning among the infinite. Its’ oceans and endless beaches welcome the traveler that can reach them, but only if they open their heart to the oceans, and the oceans embrace them.

I have a fascination with the 2000’s digital oceans from my youth. From video games that were trying to show off the newest graphics with oceans and beaches that seemed so tropical and otherworldly that I wished to visit them every chance I could. When I saw this picture, the whole color palette was what I was looking for. That teal aquatic blue from the frutiger aero. An untainted colors that seems like it would be pure joy and warmth. Not a speck of cold could penetrate that color or water. I would like to experience these ocean in real life, somewhere out there, the oceans call to me.

His hands ached and bled from raking through stones to find the bodies. Around him everything burned to cinders, smoke rose form the ashes of the town. Deep trenches cut through the ground from the firepower of the empire. It ripped through the town in one burst, annihilating everything in its path. Then came the guard. Soldiers standing ten feet tall, embossed in golden armor that emitted a sound of trumpets and hymns. Their wings of blue and white spread as they descended. Their blade of fire striking out, vaporizing anyone left that could even resist. Even those that laid begging were wiped clean. They held no emotion of it, just pure systematic destruction. Then they ascended back into the sky to the floating city.

The city blocked out the sun as he was fishing in the dead lake. He didn’t notice it, no one did, until it was too late. He bolted, but he could hear the beams ripping into his town, the flames and shockwave cascading miles. He dove, hid, and as he got closer he saw the wings, the fire. Heard the screaming the begging and pleading, then silence.

Just the flames whipping in the wind of a memory.

He laid frozen all night watching the flames burn out and fall to cinder. The next day he made it to his house and he dug.

Mother.

Father.

Sister?

His bleeding hands found them all. Crushed and charred.

He sat at the edge of what used to be his town. Exhausted emotionally and physically. His hands raw and split. In his right hand he held a golden necklace that still shined bright in the sun. He clutched it hard, dead eyes staring into the depths of his own soul.

Fresh blood rained down the golden chain and dripped to the ground.

A small flame ignited deep within him. What was left, but revenge?

Fate had struck a new path for the world. His survival. Destruction to the City of Angelics.

I have this world where a floating angelic city rules over the land. I think I have made story where there is an assassination that happens on it, but I will have to look through and find it. This concept was born from thinking about the old anime landscapes where you had large areas and would see the shadow of something colossal black out the sun. This city rules the lands with its technology and the surface must gather its strength to fight and over throw them (maybe?).

Till next time.

He took a sip of his martini and turned up his cards. Jack, queen.

He tossed them into the center of the table

“I’m out” he picked up his credits card from the table, which read 40 million on a holographic hovering above the plastic.

“Come on Logan, It’s getting good, we were on a hot one” an old man dressed in a burgundy suit motioned at him with a cigarette between his fingers and a rocks glass filled with brown liquor in the other.

“Next time” Logan picked up the martini and waved to the tables groans.

He walked through the multiplex of lights and sounds. Every corner of the building illuminated with cards, casino chips, pinball rackets and odd references to events wrapped in a gambling aesthetic. It was over stimulating, but at the same time, immensely satisfying to be around. The energy, the commotion, the money. One could make their dreams come true here, a whole city built for the gambler. The place could be seen from space at how bright it was. Towers penetrating the clouds with their yellow and reds cascading like a giant pin ball machines through out the day and night. Giant roulette wheels spun on the side of buildings while men sat inside betting on the results. Everything oozed a bright loud light.

Logan stepped out on to the balcony to over look rows of builds on each side that covered his view of anything surrounding him. He took a sip of his martini and pulled a cigarette from his coat and lit it. A women entered the balcony behind him. Her red dress billowed and flowed with a heaviness of expansive fabric. Her hair was up in an elaborate bun and her heels added a half a foot to her. She leaned her arms against the railing and looked out over the spinning lights. She noticed him and immediately walk over to where he was standing, as she got closer she pulled out a metal case and unclasped it pulling a cigarette from it.

“You have a light?” she said putting the cigarette between her lips and brushing a strand of hair behind her right ear. Logan pulled out his lighter and ignited it, holding it in font of her. She slowly leaned forward, taking her time and held the front in the flame, her eyes flicked to his, stared, then back at the flame. She pulled back inhaling deeply then blowing a large cloud out into the city.

“I’ve seen you around here before, afraid of the big boys?” she pointed towards one of the large towers piecing the clouds.

“Funny, I don’t recall seeing you” Logan took a sip of martini “I’m not afraid, just no point. I have enough for what ever I want, why would I need more.”

She leaned against the railing staring out into the lights “What about the thrill? The excitement of winning? Life or death? That’s what they play for, an eternal game with no ceiling. Endless riches could await you. If you don’t want that, then get out of here. Whats the point of staying?”

Logan sighed “I ask my self that question everyday.”

“You lose on purpose, you never cross into that territory, really, what are you doing here?”

Logan pulled out the card from his coat and flipped it through his fingers. It was true, if we won to much, he would throw it back down to under 100 million. He thought he was being slick, acting like a man trying to reach the stars, but failing at the last rung of the ladder.

“Logan” she snapped him out of his thoughts “We know why you don’t leave. It’s not going to work, you know that. What luck do you have left?”

“You really think you know me? You think they know me?” He pointed into the clouds “Well, let’s see if your masters know what they think they know.”

Logan flicked his cigarette into the city and walked back inside. He downed his martini and set the glass on the bar as he passed. He strode through the place like he owned it, he could feel her following him, but he didn’t care. His eyes sharp glided over the tables, roulettes and strange machines.

“Logan!” he heard her just above the racket of sound the multiplex.

An elevator door opened revealing its glass and he stepped in, pressed the lobby button and stared out at her as she tried to move through the crowd at him. As the doors closed, he smiled and she called out to him one last time.

He pulled out his card and looked at it from his coat pocket.

The gig was up huh?

He pulled another card out.

An infinity symbol circled itself on it.

The elevator opened to the lobby, inside of the floor was a pinball machine whirling from some one playing a floor above looking over it. Lights shimmied up the walls and the whole room would light up reacting. He exited from the Spin De Lore, the hotel casino he had resided at.

He stared out over the golden streets, the different casinos themed. Castles from different countries, ancient cultures twisted into a circus of colors and sounds, worldly monuments spilling gold coins, architecture stamped with neon and flashing lights. The building was next door. He kept an eye on it at all times. He moved across the gleaming street to the tallest building in the city.

Animae Magnificae.

It looked ethereal compared to other buildings, the colors of yellow, red and gold were muted in here. Replaced was etho roman columns, marble of all different colors that refracted dim lighting making it feel like you were in a dream. Money, did not build this. Entering the door a small desk awaited him. A stunning women in a flowy white dress smiled at him.

“Balance, let’s see if the gods allow you entry”

Logan flashed the card through the scanner. The lights dimmed and he heard the front door lock.

“Logan Alexander, Licet intrare”

He said nothing in return and moved past her into the elevator that seemed to materialize from thin air. He closed his eyes as the elevator rose. It only took a second. One second to breach the clouds and stare out across an ocean of flashing lights, a whole city pulsating with dreams and ambitions.

The doors faded away. Above were clouds of soft gray that slowly rolled across what ceiling there could be. Water fell from the sky, gently, into a pool of water which shimmered with otherwordly color. Beneath his feet, smokey glass with marble beams running through showed the city below. To the right with the backdrop of the black sky was a bar, intricate bottles of liqueur stacked to the clouds. In front of him the room stepped down into a sunken platform where several tables of men playing cards sat with the city pulsating under their feet. Past the tables was a gigantic door. Made out of marble, embossed with gold and silver, two roman columns that rose with no tops framed it. A garden and pond sat on each side and a bridge went over into it. He put his hands on the large doors and they glided slowly open just enough for him to step through. It opened to a garden. As far as the eye could see, lush garden of grassy knolls, flowers dripped from stone and marble structures, water gently poured through features of beautiful men and women statues that were three times the size as normal. The sky was an ethereal haze of purple and green. There was sense of pure calm, pure bliss that overcame him. He shook them off immediately. Over a small bridge in the middle of a pond that sat in the garden was as large platform and table with four men sitting around it. As Logan stepped over the bridge they all turned to him.

Directly across the table from him was an older gentlemen with a large bushy beard, his eyes sparked with lightening and his hair waved down his back. He was dressed in a black and white suit, gold buttons gleaming in the otherworldly light. He started clapping as Logan approached.

“Haha the man returns. Once thought dead and buried, risen, like the lord. What to seek revenge?” He stood his face growing red “A man thinking he can sit on the sidelines, watching from his little hotel room. Defy Destiny, mock fate, thinks he can change his own cards” the man extended his arms in both directions “All look at this fool Logan Alexander. A god who believes he has anything beyond what he has been given, as if he has the purpose to enact his own will outside the boundaries that we have created for him. To go against this own creators, his own masters, his own fathers, to pull himself up from the mountain top, to the heavens and beyond. Here stands a folly of a man” he spat that last word “ A man who thought we couldn’t take it all away. You think birth gives you any rite? Makes you special?”

Logan stood,his eyes locked.

“You done?” He said pulling a chair away from the table and sitting down. He leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs.

The old man laughed, it boomed and just for a moment the serenity of the garden shook.

“Deal, you know what I play for and what I am willing to risk”

The three other men caught each others gaze and slowly slipped from the table and stood off to the side. The older man leaned over the table, cards gliding through his hands with hypnotic pace.

The cards themselves sparkled with lightening as he shuffled them. They were an ethereal purple, see through from one side. The old man smiled, his eyes sharpening.

“A demon returns to the nest as a devil. Fallen, wings crippled, eyes drooping. What more does he have to offer? Just to take everything away, the pitiful sight of defeat, to an endless double eternity.” His hands flicked three cards across the table, fog emitting form underneath them as they spun and slid to be perfectly infront of him.

He put his hand on them. Immediately he knew what they were. The game was different. Instead of trying to get to 21, they were trying to get to 666. You would lose if you went over, unless, you got 777. The game was played in bouts. To win the full war, you had to win 2 out of 3 bouts.

Five, six, seven.

He could re-arrange them in any order. Once. What ever cards that were exchanged came back and were set in order of deal. If you were dealt one and a four. Then the one had to come before the four.

He slid the five and threw it back. The man stared deep, spun another card in his direction.

Six.

The mans eyes narrowed. He didn’t exchange any of his cards.

“I call it” He flipped over his cards. Six, Six , Five “Read em”

Logan flipped over his cards. Immediately they shook and were sucked back into the deck of cards.

“One to zero. Next round” the old man said, teeth flashing ghostly white. He laughed and the the waters stirred slightly. Logan shifted in his seat and rolled his shoulders.

The cards landed infront of him and he looked up.

Four, four and four. He tossed them all back. It was risky, but he was full tilt since he walked in the door.

The new set.

Six, five, five. He steeled himself. He could gamble one of the fives. He thought of a moment. The older gentlemen threw two of his cards to the middle of the table, they immediately returned to the deck and he drew two more.

He threw one of the fives back. He grit his teeth when the card returned to him. It was a three.

“I’m calling it, exchange one last time if you must” Logan straighten up and stared deep across the table.

The old man studied him for a bit. Then leaned back in his chair. His cards flipped. Five, three, six.

His cards turned - Six, five , three.

Logan didn’t smile.

“Fools can get lucky as well it seems.” The cards reshuffled them selves in the deck and the man dealt another hand. “But all luck ends sometimes. Yours has been running out for a long time Logan. Wings cut, cast out, chased through hell and back. What luck do you have left?”

Logan licked his lips. One, one, one.

“Exchange if you want, I’m calling your luck in Logan. Rest for eternity as shell of what you were”

He tossed all three cards to the middle of the table.

Three came back.

“Read and reap Logan.” The mans cards turned over. Six, Six, Six. He stood spreading his arm “It was nice knowing you, sort of”

Logan stood, his hands gently went below the cards and he flipped them himself.

Seven, Seven, Seven.

The old mans eyes went wide lighting whipping from his corneas, he slammed against the table leaning over to witness the hand.

“Impossible” he looked up at Logan, whose face shone of stone confidence.

“I abandoned God, but God never abandoned me. The wager.” The gardens stirred. The men that witness the matched fled as fast as specters through the door which reappeared across the bridge. The older gentleman seethed with rage. Lightning crashed around him and leapt from his skin.

“One day Logan, you will slip up again, and when you do. I will be right there to finally put that blade through your unholy chest. Mark my words”

Lightning crashed into the statues, the marble cracked and trees caught fire as the wind picked up and spun around them. In a torrent of flame and lightning a great crash came and all was still.

Logan stood in the middle of the platform, table broken into pieces, the water steaming around him.The tranquil garden had been struck by a storm, but it had survived. It was finally time to put it back together.

He took off his jacked and set it aside. Blood erupted from his shoulder blades and wings burst forth in a sharp motion and then spread. The blood rolled off the feathers and they emitted a pure vibrational light of pure love and forgiveness. Logan looked up towards the sky. He had taken back the garden, barely.

“Always playing games, huh?” He spoke softly to the heavens. “I’ll see you soon Father.”

Boy! Did this take me a long time to write. I started it as this weird gambler story set in sort of casino zone from Sonic, but then some where along it turned into a story about The Devil taking back the Garden of Eden from (if you guessed it) Zeus. The game I made on the fly, had to tailor some of the rules, it’s simple, but I think gods like to play simple games. I sat on this a long time, once when Logan is being talk to about hi past and the other when he entered the card game. I couldn’t decide on what direction to go with it, but then finally, it came to me. I would still like to write a story purely in the casino zone from sonic. Ive had dreams about it and I love the whole vibe of it. That nightlight metropolis filled with flashing lights and sounds, everything vibrating with kinetic energy.

Till next time!

The year has gone by quicker then imagined. We had some fun stories come about, some expansion of others and some new faces come into into the conscious collective.

Here are a few that I would like to highlight for this year.

The Catting Hour

A special time of night when pets visit from the ether. I always imagine pets sticking around or visiting sometimes after they have passed. This is a story with a deep subject, but light feeling.

Terms of Service

I imagined this so clearly with the up coming age of augmented reality and AI, that I couldn’t help but write it. I enjoyed the characters and setting up this almost start of invasion series. I still need to explore and see what is next.

The Purple Door

I had this going into a different route when I first started it, but as it ran on, it started to connect to another one of my stories. I decided to tie it in and I think it worked. The main event is sorta weird and setting is a bit all over the place, but the vibe is fun and I think it could make an interesting survival piece.

TrainYard

I dreamt this in a the early mornings while trying to get to sleep. When I was a kid I was fascinated by the old trains, the mechanics and grease. To think of some odd mystery happening in a train yard and then setting off on some crazy adventure is a childhood dream. Maybe a less scary one that in this story, but it would work out in the end. I hope.

Liminal Haze and Coffee Break

I expanded on my Plastic Yarn/Liminal series with a new character. In the game (I plan to make one day) the main character starts off in Dr.Cryus’s chamber. Overworked, overtired, and lacking caffeine, he sends you to experimental zone on accident. I had a really good time writing about him and even having him meet Ada. These characters really grow on me.

I wonder what will come out of 2026, only time will tell, what ghostly tales the ravens will bring in to our guests. I hope you enjoyed the trip and stay so far. As always, it is only beginning.

Cheers and safe travels among the planes,

The Conductor.

Cyrus leaned back into the plastic chair at the round break room table. The location was a bit farther away from his work quarters. He liked it because it had a window that overlooked the small park that was next to the facility. It also removed the chances of running into anyone and them stealing his coffee. He closed his eyes and took in the aroma from his cup.

Finally.

Heels clicked and he squeezed his eyes harder hoping they would move along. The chair in front of his slid across the linoleum floor.

Damn.

He opened his eyes. As soon as he saw her and registered who she was, he gasped, eyes wide and mouth open.

Ada Noether, the genius of their era and one of the most brilliant minds the world had produced, had sat down in front of him. He had never seen her in person before, but had heard the rumors.

“What is your name again?”

“Doctor Cyrus” he closed his mouth and gulped “I am working on the Mental Mapping and emotional dissemination protocol” he straightened up in his chair.

Ada leaned closer over the table at him. Her eyes hazy but focused. She observed, took him all in. He could feel her aura envelope him. He had heard the stories of her carefree, but deadly serious nature. A contrast of bubbly fun with adventure caught in the throws of a new world. She didn’t switch on a dime, but slowly descended into one or the other. People resented her because of her brilliance, her beauty and her self expression. She had it all and used it all to her advantage.

“How is it going?” She locked eyes with him.

“Oh, uh well, it’s going as you expected. We are gaining traction. Some real breakthroughs here and there.” Cyrus stuttered. He was top of his field, the forefront of this expedition he was on, but for some reason he felt small in her presence. A smile came to her lips, and she leaned back in her chair, her eyes searching up into her mind, then back at him.

“Your protocol, I’ve read your work, Doctor Cyrus. It’s good, and I think you are on the right track. I wish I could help you out, but my own trials are taking my time. I keep having to go through all unnecessary red tape to get anything done now. All the money I could ask for, and a snail’s pace to use it. Fear, Doctor, they fear the future. And for me, I-I” Ada batted at her coffee cup. “I don’t know what I feel. Maybe I should step into your chamber.” She laughed, and Cyrus almost passed out from even the thought of her brilliant mind being subjected to his experiments.

“Do you know what I am working on?” Her eyes lit up “No, right?” Cyrus shook his head. She was the top research lead for the company. While his experiments were driving parts of the public division and gathering much data, the military funding that he knew of, went some where else. They went to her. Ada knocked on the table. “There is a place somewhere else, a wild unbearable maddening place, It doesn’t make sense, doesn’t understand, but it exists. The material we have made, somehow, opens doors to it. The material, it has incredible properties too.” She hushed herself “It’s so unstable right now. I want to keep people safe, but this frontier, it’s full of monsters” she was beaming like a child now. “What do you think is in the Gaitic Pyramid that powers your experiments?”

Cyrus’s eyes widened and Ada put a finger up to her lips.

He took a sip of his coffee and racked over his mind what it implied.

“Mmhm. They need to make money as fast as possible, prove some worth, but you know these things take time if you don’t jump all in. They want to rush for profit, but slow of progress, makes no sense. If they could all just get out of my way” Ada pouted setting her chin on her wrist. “What about you Doctor Cyrus, anything impeding you at the moment?”

If he could get Philman from stealing his coffee and ..”Just more subjects” he sighed before even thinking.

“Your wish is my command, Doctor,” Ada’s hypnotic voice gently rolled over to him. She peered at him from the side with a sharp smile. Her mind was already whirling away.

“Oh, I was just -“

Ada stood up and stretched her arms in the air letting out a groan.

“Doctor, please, your company was needed more then you know.” She brushed her hair back behind her right ear. “Thank you, and good luck with your research. I am expecting big things from you” Her eyes flashed at him.

Then heels clicked down the hallway and as soon as they were out of his hearing he collapsed over the table.

What in the world just happened. He stared out the window taking in the sunshine.

Maybe the other break room wasn’t so bad.

Stories set in the same universe -
Liminal Haze
Playing Around The Ground
Syncing The Hemisphere
Get Well Soon
Plastic Yarn

Doctor Cyrus is a fun character. He is brilliant in his own way, but at his wits end with work. He gets a bit absent minded sometimes, especially working long hours. In my game that I would like to make one day, his error is what sends you into the liminal zone haha

He is not the best under pressure or long hours.

Which is completely the opposite of Ada. She thrives in all situations. Long hours, late nights and days, massive pressure. She handles it all. She is ruthless in her endeavors.

This encounter takes places before Plastic Yarn, before any material is moved into the public space. We explore more as we go along.

Also if you have not join the Post to get the Midnight Tales directly to your mailbox - Click to to Sign your Adress

Cheers!~

Victor put on his shades and turned to look out over the cascading water. Miles of ocean sprawled out into the horizon with large white clouds drifting in the background.

“Mr.Den we will be there in about an hour. We may encounter some rough sea coming into port, but nothing to be worried about. It should be smooth, may I get you another drink sir?” A man said. He dressed in a velvet blue suit, white tie and shiny black shoes. He was older, but clean shaven and hair slicked back. He was a professional.

“Yes, another sunrise please. And thank you for letting me know” Victor looked at his watch. It was a mix of gold and black, the background to the dials was an eternal shallow ocean with sun reflecting golden ribbons of light on his face each time he looked at it. The dials were black with small black arrows on the end, and the ticks for each hour and minute shimmered from black to gold as he turned it. He was always on time, no matter when he arrived. He leaned back into the large leather chair and put his feet up. The interior of the space was luxury beyond comprehension. Palm trees lined the sides of the cabin with a large chairs and space for each person. They had their own space to lean fully back and put their feet up. On the wall ran a brown accent that doubled as a table that sat below the large semi circular windows. The roof curved ever so slightly and rounded into the ceiling which casted a warm hue of light into the space which was natural and calming. The floor was lush carpet, but it never felt like you were sinking into it or getting caught. Running down the middle of the room was a strip of sea through glass that lit up the cabin with the glitter of sun reflecting, like Victors watch. In the very back was a large bar with some stools where people could go or they could wait to be served at their seats.

The craft that they were skimming the ocean on was a six cabin photon train. Made from the newest materials the Wave Corp had produced. The interior was dreamt up from a famous designer from the edge of Sinclair X which was only an hour away from the current planet they were on. Each blue orb in this solar system was a lush tropical paradise. Endless seas with large islands filled with cascading waterfalls, tropical plants and white sandy beaches for miles. The water filled with marine life and coral reefs that colored the bottom of the sea a carnival. Wave corp had discovered and set up the new cities on one of the islands near the equator of the planet. It was massive, the city rose into the blue and white sky. It was the best, the newest and the most advance. No expense had been spared.

The waiter returned with the sunrise. Its orange and yellow mix floated in a crystal rocks glass.

Victor nodded and took a sip. The flavors mixed perfectly. The sweetness swirled and caught every part of his tongue. He licked his lips and nodded to himself. Sitting to his left was his briefcase. A solid block of ethereal leather which would patina and change its shine from day to day, never getting scrapped or scratched. He pulled it onto his lap and opened it. Inside was a couple of documents, but from the top of the container a small holographic beamed out in front of him. The plans for the newest residential buildings on the north side of the island. There was a small ball on the side of the brief case which he spun and clicked on to move the buildings 3d model infront of him in different configurations. He would move into rooms, through hallways, in and out looking at different angles of the lobby and many of the restaurants. To the right was a full breakdown of all the materials and their real time costs in a list that updated as he spun through the building. He pulled a paper from the brief case which held the building contract. It was a single piece of paper, but he swiped it with his fingers and the text melted and reformed to the next page. He scanned them quickly looking for the bits of information about the builders and time line. He noticed the clouds turning dark outside among the water and closed his brief case and put it to the side.

The craft entered rough waters, waves rose and the sky became mix of dark gray and torrents of white as rain started to pang the windows. Victor took another drink. He loved the tropical storms. The chaos, the movement, the stillness that it enacted on people. They commanded that you pay attention to them. They shadowed the daylight and drenched the heat away. In the distance he would stare for hours while drafting documents, just watching the storms drift by at sea. Hoping that one would come inland and drive everyone inside. He would close his brief case, sit outside and let the warm torrents of rain wash away his troubles while he sipped his drinks. It was the best feeling he had ever had. Nothing compared.

He rose his glass to the storm clouds out the large window.

“Cheers” he took a swig and smiled.

Inside there not a single hint of a storm. The cabin never felt a thing.

I am a big fan of vaporwave and that whole 80s/90s corporate aesthetic. Even though vaporwave is a critique, some sounds and genres emerge from it. Here we have Corporatewave, the celebration of that whole era and aesthetic. American Psycho style. Loving the high life of unbound riches and profit lines as green and high as one can imagine. Nothing is too expensive, too extraordinary or excessive.

So check out Bon Chic - Corporate Dreams IV : Q4 Dividend. This background inspired this story and the music hits hard. Also check out the story