Archeia's Atheneum (The First Shift)

Episode One: The Shed

I hear trumpets.

It's a song, I think, but not one for my ears. It's low--antagonistic, slow and predatory, yet irresistible in a way. It's also high--like the song of the hero who's accomplished their first feat.

I see clouds.

I see what shapes they take on. I feel a shift; like when you suddenly find the grey is black more than it is white. The wispy shape feels tangible now; a murky object gliding above. Like a hulking whale that breaches the water, the pointed hull of some inhuman vessel moves through the clouds into sight. And it blocks out the sun.

Something ejects from it.

It moves with a perfection of purpose. Like a crystal after its forming. This purpose can be felt, like the object's aura is as tough as diamond.

***

73 AA3

Diamond coated, the package read. Kent turned it twice in hand, studying the blades within. He couldn't tell. He thought perhaps that the dark turquoise substance lining the edge of the blade might be the coating, but to him, it merely resembled some fancy tape. The hardware was expensive enough to be diamond coated, but that (he thought to himself) was probably why he didn't need it; money was short these days. Besides, the project was hopefully finished for the most part; luck permitting he wouldn't need copious amounts of saw blades anymore. He fixed the diamond coated ones back on its peg. Nickle back played on the hardware store's speakers while he walked further down the aisle. It was that song about being a hero or flying on the wings of eagles or something. Kent mumbled to the music as though he knew the words, grabbing another package of blades whilst he did. This brand was the kind he'd been using all through the project, and as he placed his item in the shopping basket he carried, he wondered why the saw blades weren't locked away behind glass. Kent assumed they were a high theft commodity.

"Kent?" a voice called from behind him. "Kent Coburry? No way, how's it goin buddy?" Kent turned around to see Douglas Friday, a tall pale balding man, walking down the aisle to him.

"Mr. Friday," said Kent smiling weakly, "How long has it been?" Douglas held his hand out--Kent shook it.

"Ah, call me Douglas--you don't need to be formal. It has been a while, hasn't it?" he said grinning.

"Yes."

"Mmm. You left the division, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Oh...that's a shame. I remember seeing you at orientation way back when and thinking, 'Man, this guy's going to go somewhere.'"

Kent nodded his head, "Thank you." The two men stood there quiet for a moment or two, both slightly nodding and smiling awkwardly.

"Hey," Douglas pointed, one eyebrow raised, "Are you free for lunch?"

"Oh, um...I'm pretty busy this week...I-"

"Wh-How'bout right now?" Friday's eyes were suddenly wide. Innocent but piercing.

Kent looked side-to-side, he looked behind him, then back at Douglas. Friday's stare followed Kent all the while. "Right now? Well...I just-"