Finish the Fiction Story Contest - Week #29 - @bananafish

Note: This week’s post will be entered in two contests. However, they will not be the same entry. Rather a Part 1 and a Part 2.

Part 1 Dying - will be included on this post.

Part 2 Reborn - will be featured in @calluna’s Tell Me a Story contest.

The Finish the Story Prompt:
Metallic Kisses
by @f3nix

With the passage of time, the omnipresent buzz of the generators - and God knows what else in the bowels of that cathedral of circuits - had become like a second skin. Funny how the white noise coming from the racks was indifferent to him and could, at the same time, launch its messages in the most modulated and subtle of languages, in a perfect symbiosis. After months, Ethan was instantly aware when something in the monotonous chanting cracked, foretelling one of the increasingly frequent system errors. He was developing a third ear in place of a third eye.

He just smiled at the thought, his gaze fixed on the secondary pylons n. 6 and 11, the last still working in the experimental orbital station DDG-31/DD-936 Decatur, renamed "The Decaf".

Silence was a mute vowel screaming inside him. Always. React to the atrophic thinking. Dodge the anguish, sharp like the debris of that day. The slashed modules were like scenic elements for a cheap movie. All the modules except his one. Follow procedures, rituals, checklists. All this to not raise his gaze and stare, right in front of him, the hangover of so much pain.

Castaway. At some point, he had renamed the pylons Romeo & Juliet. For each orbital period, about 90 minutes, the two arms were almost touching each other. A fleeting kiss and again far away. From the beginning of the mission, he had liked to play the game of renaming equipment and modules with funny nicknames. He allowed himself a slow sigh.

The inclination of the station displayed the earth down there. He had promised never to look in that direction again but the mauve colour, so iridescent, so alive, so omnipresent, took him by surprise once again. He thought for a moment that it was.. beautiful.. and the remorse for that thought flooded him soon after. Ethan hid his face between his hands as the tears surfaced and many names knocked on his heart's door once again. Inside him, a spark of curiosity wondered if it was possible to locate one of the 19 towers between the mauve nanoparticles' clouds.

“Ethan, I suggest that you sleep in 30 minutes. I detect slightly high levels of cortisol, are…”

“Thank you. I was going right now, old scrap”. He replied to the metallic yet familiar voice through the speakers.

He suddenly suffocated all those idle musings, it was time to rest. According to Querquobad, tomorrow was going to be the day.

My Entry:

Part 1 Dying – Ethan awoke comfortably. Sleep, his one luxury on this space station. He always drifted to sleep, and only got up when he felt ready to go. No alarm clocks. If an emergency happened that would be a different story.

He turned on the lights to the white hull. Everything looked the same as it had for years. Since the experiment had left him as the last human in this space time continuum.

When the pylons he renamed Romeo and Juliet first kissed, the space station had been at full power, with help from the International Space Federation on Earth.

The surge of energy created the rift that opened the paradox, or wormhole? Scientists weren’t exactly sure what would happen.

That’s why Ethan remained onboard the space station. He had volunteered as a lab rat knowing it could mean death. Yet he had survived on the other side of the portal for years conducting all kinds of experiments and recharging the space station’s batteries with solar power.

Today, the space station had achieved maximum power once again. Today, he would attempt to leave this lonely orbit around a barren Earth (if it were Earth?) and take a chance to return home.

“Good morning Ethan. All systems are good. We’re ready for a return trip.” Said Querquobad.

“All we need is a kiss between Romeo and Juliet. The spark of their true love will free us from this lake of tears that we’ve swam my old friend. Let’s return this silver ship to the land of Amarganth!”

“Well said Ethan. I’ll initiate the sequence of onboard computers.”

Ethan made his way to the captain’s chair of “The Decaf”.

As Ethan buckled his seat belt, looking down at the lifeless wind swept rock that occupied the space where Earth once spun around this star (or another star?), he could see that all systems were green lighted and ready to go.

“Ethan, we’re ready to make the journey back home.”

“Thanks Querquobad! On my signal. And three, two, one, activating.” Ethan pushed the yellow button. He watched as Romeo and Juliet finally kissed again. A spark of an electrical current could be seen, a silver blue flash, and it kept growing.

“Ethan, something’s wrong with the cabin pressure. I’m afraid there’s going to be an explosion.”

“What?” Ethan asked after they had crossed the point of no return.

“There’s going to be an explosion. You’re going to die Ethan.”

Ethan looked at the controls. Everything still lit with a green light. Then he saw the cabin pressure light blinking red. Then it happened, the space station exploded . . .

Bonus Feature:

The Diminished film preparations continued this weekend as I missed my Steemit routine Friday post.

Two major house projects got tackled that will make it easier for me to store things, and move things, in order to stage my house for the movie set.

First, installation from the basement got removed. Now there are open wood beams in what could become a bedroom for one of the main characters.

Before:

After:

Second, the stairs to my attic got replaced. The old wooden stairs on their last leg have now been replaced with an aluminum stairway with a higher weight rating.

Before:

After:

I’ve also purchased Halloween decorations for the front yard and there will be more to follow as we get closer to making this feature length horror film.

Thank you,
Cyrus Emerson

Red Roses the audiobook for your consideration at the Voice Arts Awards (NYC), and the Grammys (LA).
https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Red-Roses-Audiobook/B07F2LWHPN

Red Roses narrated by Kira Omans
www.kiraomans.com

Red Roses music by Rike Luxx
www.rikeluxxbeats.com

Red Roses sound by Pond5
www.pond5.com

Also, available from The Author:

Fear and Loathing in the State of Jefferson - ebook
https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B079R5KLPN&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_GsURAbAVDYNEM

Lost Angel – Introduction with Ray Manzarek of The Doors
https://www.downpour.com/lost-angel?sp=249812