Tales of the Courier – Part Two– Double Down Drop
Stopped cold, in the dark, and not alone. The feeling of disorientation is grappling with fear of the unknown. He calms his breathing, and wills his focus on the sound that stopped him in his tracks. The darkness is absolute and the noise was just to his left, his immediate left.
Carefully he eases along the cold stone wall, away from the mysterious sound in the dark. Continuing towards the sound of the voices that were talking loudly a few moments ago. He still has no memory of arriving here, the last thing he remembers is gazing up at those sapphire moons. Moving, hands reaching in the darkness, the sound in the dark is following him now.
Science Fiction
Once, this sort of thing was science fiction. Keys that jump across space, other worlds inhabited by other beings, a vast universe, universes, with an infinite number more, unexplored. It was all only speculation and fantasy, once upon a time. Something closely following him, in a darkness he is unfamiliar with, has taken center stage in his mind.
He is curiously relieved to discover the random visions and emotions that were once overtaking his mind, have gone entirely. Grateful for the extra mind space, he begins to contemplate whether his follower is friend or foe. Deciding to dispel the unknown, he turns toward the follower and moves purposefully in that direction. There is a muffled thump as the unknown object retreats, striking the stone wall.
Light comes into being as he is moving, and the sudden brightness leaves him momentarily unable to see anything. The effect only lasts seconds. There is a feeling of confusion when his eyes adjust. The large stone chamber is empty, except for himself. Knowing things aren’t always as they appear to be, he decides to shelf the experience until he knows where he has landed.
Voices
He looks around the chamber, taking notice of the corridor that is on the wall adjacent to where he is standing. He moves in that direction, hastily. While he is moving a voice echos across the chamber.
“Welcome 1courier, leaving so soon?” The voice isn’t AI, he’s not sure how he knows this, but he does. It’s also not malevolent. In fact, this place has no feel of any kind of negative energy. It hadn’t been something that was easily noticeable at first. A sense of calm and ease washes over him as he listens.
“You have done well 1courier, the key is extremely valuable cargo. You were chosen to ensure it’s arrival. There are stipulations on the return delivery, the cargo is already loaded and you are free to return. Failure to complete the return will result in the termination of the entire contract. Do you accept the conditions?”
New Job
It didn’t sound like much of a choice, he wonders what the consequence of saying no, would look like. Yet the cargo was already loaded, and that meant it was time to go, and this makes for an easy decision. He replies as he scans the large, barren chamber for the source of that knowing voice.
“I accept”
Things happen fast from that point. There is a pause in sound and the voice issues once more:
“The return cargo is of the utmost importance, and is extremely fragile. It must remain with you throughout the duration of your return. Failure to comply will result in immediate termination. You will deliver the cargo to Timblerain. The cargo will guide you to the delivery destination once you have arrived on Timblerain.”
The Return
He knows he has been dismissed and makes for the corridor on the opposite side of the chamber. He also knows there will be a ride waiting outside. The move to the outside goes quickly and he sees the ride waiting just outside the entrance. It is one of HQ’s special numbers, with all the bells and whistles. Nice. He decides to ignore the curiosity of the ride’s arrival, for now.
A Journey back to Timblerain is well with him, he didn’t like leaving cheeky behind. Something was off about that encounter and it wasn’t good. It’s a relief to have the oddly shaped and slightly heavy package delivered. This place, wherever it is, isn’t on any map, and getting to Timberain is a problem he is just beginning to unravel. Plus the return cargo, whatever that is, is already loaded and he has no idea where in the ride it is loaded.
Thinking hard on the situation as it is unfolding, has his thoughts far away. The m-com link is still down, so he is out of any range of any known universe. The road is solid and runs under the wheels at speed. He is trying to think of how he will leave a universe that isn’t a part of the discovered network of universes. With no idea of where ‘here’ is, the situation looks grim.
From the seat beside him, in the completely empty ride, a voice speaks five simple words.
” We will have to jump.”
