Rogue Adventures - A Tale from Neverbeen Universe

6

The faintest tremor rung out through the darkness. Like the chinking sound of broken glass or a droplet dripping into a puddle of water. But it was not an actual sound, more like a light sensation, a tingling at the back of one's mind. And yet it had greater impact than a nuclear bomb.

It disrupted the peaceful quietness. Dreamland faded slowly into nothingness and revealed the utter darkness which encompassed her. The sleepy mind tried to hold onto the long, long dream a little longer, but it was already vanishing into the void whence it came. But it mattered not. Soon it would become something greater than a mere dream, something real.

She had been waiting for this day for more than five billion years, but she sensed the time was finally nigh. Just a little longer she had to be patient, but patience was one of her fortes.

Contented she stretched and stirred while she listened into the darkness, which hummed in silent approval. Here in her secret hideout she felt comfortable and safe; protected by darkness and shrouded in its obscure veil none would ever detect her until she chose to reveal herself. She would wait for the right moment to do so.

Until then she listened to the darkness as it told her stories of old, stories of greatness, that once upon a time used to be true, but would one day emerge from the darkest of fantasies and become real again. At least, that was what she hoped would happen.

She vaguely remembered those times, longed for them in her dreams. She had been so young then, had recently come into existence, plucked from the chaotic shadows of a greater entity and created into the being she was. Nothing more than a fledgling, small and clumsy and without any understanding of the universe around her. But she had learnt fast, sucked up information like a dry sponge does water. She had been full of admiration, mirth and wonder... and gratefulness for the mere chance at just existing. She knew her creation had been a choice of deliberateness, a careful decision made to invest in the future that was still to come five billion years later.

The world had changed so much between that time and now, she knew this, even though she had slept so long without stirring, without waking once. And it was almost time it would change again. She would witness it this time, she would be ready and be there when it happened. This was what she had been waiting for.

She sighed, a soundless noise in the darkness and sensed for any sign that her wait was over. Soon, murmured the darkness, soothed her and stroked her hair to calm her, to reassure her like a small, impatient child waiting on being allowed to open their birthday presents. She smiled to herself and huddled deeper into the protective veil of her lair, her cocoon of darkness and mysteries.

The signal to come forward and reveal herself would arrive in due time, she would aid the right cause and make sure the future she had been dreaming of would come true. But for now she needed to stay hidden, safe and protected from her enemies. She could never be seen. Not before it was time. The promise she had given five billion years ago hinged on the right timing. If they caught and destroyed her before she could be of use to fulfill her dream that would be it. There would be no second chance.

Her existence was as fragile as glass; it could shatter just as easily, but its shards would be just as sharp. She would not go down without a fight, though she would avoid to fight at all if she could. She was good at hiding and stealthing, making sure the dream was kept alive, and she excelled at enhancing her allies. Which was what she was supposed to do; she was merely a catalyst, a vessel for power to be channeled through her. And she would be there when she was needed. But to be ready for that moment she had preserved her powers and slept for five billion years, undetected, unscathed, untouched by the greedy fingers of time — the darkness of her hideout had made sure of it.

But now darkness had called upon her, woke her from her peaceful slumber and stole her from her dreams. Soon, it whispered in her ears. Soon. And she listened and waited.