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[Continues from Like Moths to a Flame http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/7/17442 ]
Sitting in his office in the TGFT head quarters. Ecka was researching old asteroid maps. TGFT was in the process of converting the collection into a new computerized database but it still required double-checking and verification of the original notes taken by the miner. The ancient miner reached into his pocket and pulled out an antique pair of reading glasses and pushed them onto his nose. He found that they did help and wasn’t one to bother with new fangled technology when the old still worked fine. In a way it was his form of protest, his way of showing that just because one may be ancient it didn’t mean they were obsolete.
He heard her footsteps enter and the soft whoosh of the door closing behind her.
“Greetings Lass” he called to her without looking up.
“Ecka, I need you for a second.”
He sat back in the worn leather chair and acknowledged her “Sure, I have some time free”
Obsidian stood in front of his desk and turned her back to him. The old miner chuckled as she slipped off her shirt. “Can you take a look at my shoulder? That wound of mine is itching me mighty and I think there’s something peculiar with it.”
“Obsidian, I’m happy that you feel comfortable with me, um, us but we have got to discuss the need for a bit more modesty within the TGFT compound. Someone might get the wrong idea.”
“What? Oh…come on, we’re alone and I’m sure you’ve seen it all before. I don’t think I have anything that would shock an old coot like you. I just wanted a second opinion. What do you see?”
“Obsidian…” he began and decided that arguing with her would only prolong the time they spent in this compromising position. He’d figure something out later.
He stepped closer to her and peered over the top of the half-moon specs to study the raised scars on her back. He blinked his eyes, he had to be seeing things, they were just scars from that shard of metal that had punctured Obsidian’s shoulder a few weeks ago. It was impossible that the scars were anything but random. Yet if he tilted his head there was one that looked like a circle with two vertical lines crossing it. It was the character for FIGHT. Further down her back another group of marks seemed to form another character, two short lines formed a 90 degree angle on the left side while a thin vertical line lay on the right, it was the character for POWERFUL. Ecka wondered what this meant.
Obsidian sensed the change in her friend, and was worried by his silence. “Ecka? Tell me what you see.”
“Put your shirt back on and then we’ll talk.” He replied.
Sitting in his office in the TGFT head quarters. Ecka was researching old asteroid maps. TGFT was in the process of converting the collection into a new computerized database but it still required double-checking and verification of the original notes taken by the miner. The ancient miner reached into his pocket and pulled out an antique pair of reading glasses and pushed them onto his nose. He found that they did help and wasn’t one to bother with new fangled technology when the old still worked fine. In a way it was his form of protest, his way of showing that just because one may be ancient it didn’t mean they were obsolete.
He heard her footsteps enter and the soft whoosh of the door closing behind her.
“Greetings Lass” he called to her without looking up.
“Ecka, I need you for a second.”
He sat back in the worn leather chair and acknowledged her “Sure, I have some time free”
Obsidian stood in front of his desk and turned her back to him. The old miner chuckled as she slipped off her shirt. “Can you take a look at my shoulder? That wound of mine is itching me mighty and I think there’s something peculiar with it.”
“Obsidian, I’m happy that you feel comfortable with me, um, us but we have got to discuss the need for a bit more modesty within the TGFT compound. Someone might get the wrong idea.”
“What? Oh…come on, we’re alone and I’m sure you’ve seen it all before. I don’t think I have anything that would shock an old coot like you. I just wanted a second opinion. What do you see?”
“Obsidian…” he began and decided that arguing with her would only prolong the time they spent in this compromising position. He’d figure something out later.
He stepped closer to her and peered over the top of the half-moon specs to study the raised scars on her back. He blinked his eyes, he had to be seeing things, they were just scars from that shard of metal that had punctured Obsidian’s shoulder a few weeks ago. It was impossible that the scars were anything but random. Yet if he tilted his head there was one that looked like a circle with two vertical lines crossing it. It was the character for FIGHT. Further down her back another group of marks seemed to form another character, two short lines formed a 90 degree angle on the left side while a thin vertical line lay on the right, it was the character for POWERFUL. Ecka wondered what this meant.
Obsidian sensed the change in her friend, and was worried by his silence. “Ecka? Tell me what you see.”
“Put your shirt back on and then we’ll talk.” He replied.
Obsidian felt the tingling sensation on her skin and she knew that the marks had not been there before. The series of entwined marks were not random; they were placed in a specific sequence and were intended to send a message. Something had made an impression on her body and soul. Obsidian wished she had paid more attention to languages in school but she hadn't. However she could go to Ecka. He was wise and trustworthy; he’d know what to do. She knew that there was something going on and once she had made up her mind to see Ecka she wasn’t going to stop.
She pleaded “ Please, Ecka, tell me what you see.”
Ecka began, “Obsidian, I’m worried about you. I’m afraid that you’ll get yourself killed. You’ve already had more injuries in one month than you had all last year. You don’t seem like yourself.”
“My shoulder Ecka, what does it mean?” she tried to get the old man to tell her what she desired to know.
Calmly Ecka told her “It looks like you have two symbols, powerful and fight scarred on your shoulder.”
Obsidian traced her fingertips over the marks and pondered ‘Powerful Fight’. “I know that I haven’t been the same old Obsidian, I know that I’m different, shifting. When I get into Grey Space I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I need to fight. I have tried to ignore it but it spreads throughout my body like a fog is enveloping me. It is a blood lust, an adrenaline rush, and a heady discharge of aggression. I don’t remember what I have done while in the fog but I am left with a sense of bliss. ”
Ecka sighed, “But you never used to be like this…”
She continued “ You don’t think that I have tried to resist it, to struggle with it, to deny its hold over my body and being? You think I’m weak? That I’m a soft little girl who has to fret until her knight in shining armor shows up to save the day?… I’m Obsidian, I’m the strong one, the clever one, the level-headed one, the composed one, I’m supposed to be the GUIDE. I’m not supposed to be uneven, unbalanced, or unsure.”
Softly she added, “I’m lost. I can’t wait for someone to come to me because they never stay…. Oh how I miss them Ecka, I wish I hadn’t driven them away. There is so much emptiness left behind. I long to reconnect with so many... I miss Broma, I miss Gaird, I miss Leber, I miss spellcast, I miss viciousnanite, I miss shape, I miss screwball.... Why must I be left behind, why must I be the rock, the unchanging one? I can see that I am adrift. But who is left to be a guide for me? I have to do whatever it takes to find myself”
Obsidian held her breath, even now unsure of how he would respond. The conflict was still warring within; the fear of being hurt, but even more, fears of hurting others. The idea made her want to cry in anger. She only hoped - prayed - that her way of dealing with the situation will reassure him enough. That he’d be willing to take the chance.
When he still didn’t move or speak, she threw up her hands. “My god, Ecka, don’t you think I’m afraid too? I’m afraid of my past, and my future… of everything that might be. But I’m not running from it!”
She forced herself to take a deep breath, clenching and unclenching her hands as she fought to regain the control she so easily lost. When she met Ecka’s gaze again, her eyes were clear and her mind was focused. She stepped forward lightly and retook his hand in her own.
“I’m going to embrace it,” she said softly. “I can’t predict the future, I don’t know what will happen… but I’m going to live my life the way I see fit.”
She stood again in the light. The question was, would he allow her?
“It won’t be easy,” he said uncertainly.
Obsidian smiled. “I’m more of a fighter than I look.”
“Oh, I’ve discovered that,” Ecka teased, matching her smile with a small one of his own. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Are you?”
She pleaded “ Please, Ecka, tell me what you see.”
Ecka began, “Obsidian, I’m worried about you. I’m afraid that you’ll get yourself killed. You’ve already had more injuries in one month than you had all last year. You don’t seem like yourself.”
“My shoulder Ecka, what does it mean?” she tried to get the old man to tell her what she desired to know.
Calmly Ecka told her “It looks like you have two symbols, powerful and fight scarred on your shoulder.”
Obsidian traced her fingertips over the marks and pondered ‘Powerful Fight’. “I know that I haven’t been the same old Obsidian, I know that I’m different, shifting. When I get into Grey Space I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I need to fight. I have tried to ignore it but it spreads throughout my body like a fog is enveloping me. It is a blood lust, an adrenaline rush, and a heady discharge of aggression. I don’t remember what I have done while in the fog but I am left with a sense of bliss. ”
Ecka sighed, “But you never used to be like this…”
She continued “ You don’t think that I have tried to resist it, to struggle with it, to deny its hold over my body and being? You think I’m weak? That I’m a soft little girl who has to fret until her knight in shining armor shows up to save the day?… I’m Obsidian, I’m the strong one, the clever one, the level-headed one, the composed one, I’m supposed to be the GUIDE. I’m not supposed to be uneven, unbalanced, or unsure.”
Softly she added, “I’m lost. I can’t wait for someone to come to me because they never stay…. Oh how I miss them Ecka, I wish I hadn’t driven them away. There is so much emptiness left behind. I long to reconnect with so many... I miss Broma, I miss Gaird, I miss Leber, I miss spellcast, I miss viciousnanite, I miss shape, I miss screwball.... Why must I be left behind, why must I be the rock, the unchanging one? I can see that I am adrift. But who is left to be a guide for me? I have to do whatever it takes to find myself”
Obsidian held her breath, even now unsure of how he would respond. The conflict was still warring within; the fear of being hurt, but even more, fears of hurting others. The idea made her want to cry in anger. She only hoped - prayed - that her way of dealing with the situation will reassure him enough. That he’d be willing to take the chance.
When he still didn’t move or speak, she threw up her hands. “My god, Ecka, don’t you think I’m afraid too? I’m afraid of my past, and my future… of everything that might be. But I’m not running from it!”
She forced herself to take a deep breath, clenching and unclenching her hands as she fought to regain the control she so easily lost. When she met Ecka’s gaze again, her eyes were clear and her mind was focused. She stepped forward lightly and retook his hand in her own.
“I’m going to embrace it,” she said softly. “I can’t predict the future, I don’t know what will happen… but I’m going to live my life the way I see fit.”
She stood again in the light. The question was, would he allow her?
“It won’t be easy,” he said uncertainly.
Obsidian smiled. “I’m more of a fighter than I look.”
“Oh, I’ve discovered that,” Ecka teased, matching her smile with a small one of his own. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Are you?”
The ancient miner leans back in his chair with a glass of whisky , and ponders.......
I read! And they are good to the max!
There was a hive of activity in the TGFT hanger and Obsidian saw John Eldrich’s ship dock in the bay nearest hers. She wrinkled her nose as John walked by. He looked at her and with an accusatory tone he said “what? I don’t see the need to use up good water washing when you’re out in space alone. No one’s gonna mind.”
That man, what a slob, she thought to herself. John Eldritch was well, filthy and his smell made Obsidian nauseous at times. She was glad that he slept in the other side of the station. Actually she thought that Ecka had moved his bunk to the far side because most of the guild agreed that John stunk. Obsidian hadn’t meant to get too close to John that day but she was looking for a book and thought he might have borrowed it. She went to his bunk, found the door open and without much further thought she went inside. There on a pile of dirty clothes was a softly snoring John Eldrich. She had never looked at John when he was asleep. He seemed younger and scared. Maybe he was using the layers of dirt as armor because, well, it does keep people from getting too close. Could be that John had a warped sense of what it meant to be intimidating and was just wearing a disguise to make himself seem ruthless and hostile. Obsidian began to wonder what was really underneath the layers of dust and grit.
Obsidian had spent the better part of the day detailing her taur. It was finally clean and she took pride in the shine. Staring down at the bucket of gray water at her feet she suddenly had an idea.
A few days later she had it all set up and was ready for action. Obsidian waited until John was alone and called him over “John I need your help” When he came around the corner, John found her with her bare leg up on a chair adjusting a knife strapped to her calf. His eyes widened to the size of saucers and followed her leg up her body. Obsidian knew how distracted he got around her and used that to her advantage. Suddenly it dawned on John that she had a blaster pointed at him.
Gesturing with the gun Obsidian told him “get into the tub now!”
“HELP ME! Someone Help me!’ John’s screams filled the air.
Ecka, Waldoze and Surbius came running ready for action. As they rounded the corner they saw John flopping around in a tub of soapy water. Obsidian was scrubbing away at him, clothes and all.
”God damn it woman watch where you’re putting that sponge, you’re getting water in ma ear!” John growled.
“Well if you would bathe once in a while I wouldn’t have to rub so hard to get off the grime. Look at where I’ve washed, you’re three shades lighter. I never realized that you were so pale.” Obsidian chuckled as she slapped him with the sponge.
“Get away from me!” John continued to protest.
“I’d be grateful that you still have your clothes on” Ecka laughed.
“Yeah, she’s doing me a favor, I have to sleep in the same room as ya.” chirped Waldoze.
"Hush Wladoze or you'll be next, you aren't exactly Mr. Clean you know." Obsidian warned.
John tried to squirm out of the tub but Obsidian put both hands on his shoulders and pushed him back into the water. "Fighting it only makes it worse. If you keep on splashing around I'll strip you down to your skivvies and we'll see if you're partial to boxers or briefs...."
With a raised brow Ecka looked at Obsidian and asked “Is this what you meant when you said you’re ready to embrace the future?”
Struggling with the wet man in the tub she replied “I’m just getting started at facing fears."
That man, what a slob, she thought to herself. John Eldritch was well, filthy and his smell made Obsidian nauseous at times. She was glad that he slept in the other side of the station. Actually she thought that Ecka had moved his bunk to the far side because most of the guild agreed that John stunk. Obsidian hadn’t meant to get too close to John that day but she was looking for a book and thought he might have borrowed it. She went to his bunk, found the door open and without much further thought she went inside. There on a pile of dirty clothes was a softly snoring John Eldrich. She had never looked at John when he was asleep. He seemed younger and scared. Maybe he was using the layers of dirt as armor because, well, it does keep people from getting too close. Could be that John had a warped sense of what it meant to be intimidating and was just wearing a disguise to make himself seem ruthless and hostile. Obsidian began to wonder what was really underneath the layers of dust and grit.
Obsidian had spent the better part of the day detailing her taur. It was finally clean and she took pride in the shine. Staring down at the bucket of gray water at her feet she suddenly had an idea.
A few days later she had it all set up and was ready for action. Obsidian waited until John was alone and called him over “John I need your help” When he came around the corner, John found her with her bare leg up on a chair adjusting a knife strapped to her calf. His eyes widened to the size of saucers and followed her leg up her body. Obsidian knew how distracted he got around her and used that to her advantage. Suddenly it dawned on John that she had a blaster pointed at him.
Gesturing with the gun Obsidian told him “get into the tub now!”
“HELP ME! Someone Help me!’ John’s screams filled the air.
Ecka, Waldoze and Surbius came running ready for action. As they rounded the corner they saw John flopping around in a tub of soapy water. Obsidian was scrubbing away at him, clothes and all.
”God damn it woman watch where you’re putting that sponge, you’re getting water in ma ear!” John growled.
“Well if you would bathe once in a while I wouldn’t have to rub so hard to get off the grime. Look at where I’ve washed, you’re three shades lighter. I never realized that you were so pale.” Obsidian chuckled as she slapped him with the sponge.
“Get away from me!” John continued to protest.
“I’d be grateful that you still have your clothes on” Ecka laughed.
“Yeah, she’s doing me a favor, I have to sleep in the same room as ya.” chirped Waldoze.
"Hush Wladoze or you'll be next, you aren't exactly Mr. Clean you know." Obsidian warned.
John tried to squirm out of the tub but Obsidian put both hands on his shoulders and pushed him back into the water. "Fighting it only makes it worse. If you keep on splashing around I'll strip you down to your skivvies and we'll see if you're partial to boxers or briefs...."
With a raised brow Ecka looked at Obsidian and asked “Is this what you meant when you said you’re ready to embrace the future?”
Struggling with the wet man in the tub she replied “I’m just getting started at facing fears."
Surbius laughs uncontrollably at John while he gets his monthly bath by Obs.
"Hahaha! Oh, you two have a good time now.", spouts Surbius.
Surbius wonders back to his office where the paperwork still sits as it was yesterday wondering if it will ever end and how much more interesting it can get around the station.
"Probation, check. Full-Member, check. MIA, check.", mumbles Surbius while hearing the faint cries and laughter down the halls.
"Hahaha! Oh, you two have a good time now.", spouts Surbius.
Surbius wonders back to his office where the paperwork still sits as it was yesterday wondering if it will ever end and how much more interesting it can get around the station.
"Probation, check. Full-Member, check. MIA, check.", mumbles Surbius while hearing the faint cries and laughter down the halls.
Nice, but... "Suddenly it dawned on him that he had a blaster pointed at him." John took himself hostage? Or has Obsidian been keeping a secret this whole time?
guess I dropped an s somewhere. Right mittens?
However finding my typos does mean that you're really reading the story. :P
However finding my typos does mean that you're really reading the story. :P
She was determined to get her fear under control.
Obsidian thought she had finally blocked out the voice. “Ooooooobs” it called in the depths of space. She believed she wasn’t going crazy anymore, she was regaining her control and her reality was solidifying. If she tried hard enough maybe she could shut it up completely. “Ooooooobs” it spoke from the corners of her bunk. Yet as hard as she fought for control, it was wasted for the voice hadn’t left her. “Ooooooobs” it whispered in her dreams. For only a few weeks it had been pushed away, and it had lulled her into thinking that she had overcome her fears and was ready to return to the world.
And yet she hadn’t known what fear was.
“Accept” it called.
Fear was hearing voices that she could not ignore without knowing the source.
“Become whole” it cried.
Fear was half-moon slices in her palms as her nails dug in, blood trickling down as fiends played at the edges of her senses.
“Accept” it whispered.
Fear was an uncontrollable pain in the lower stomach, crawling across her belly, frozen and slippery at the same time.
“Become whole” it promised.
Fear was sweat coating her hands as she gripped the throttle, the chill of air-conditioning hardening it to a crust.
“Accept and you become whole” it vowed.
Fear was waking up screaming before realizing that you’d never gone to sleep.
Obsidian had thought that she’d known fear.
She’d been wrong.
As her eyes fluttered open, curled up in the pilot’s chair, she remembered having retreated to the bridge after her dealings with the voice. The cockpit was a safe haven, a place of comfort. Sometimes she felt more in tune with the black, with its vastness and isolation.
As much as the voice scared her it also excited her. She thought “I love the sound of it; its deep timber, the deadly malice that it contains, I could listen to it forever. Too bad it doesn’t say much.”
"Accept and you become whole”
She'd tried, at first, to tell people. Something's wrong with me. Her friends had looked suspiciously at her when she'd attempted to describe the sensations, back when she first really noticed them. It was crawling through her again, black fire that gnawed at her nerves. The others never felt it she knew that. Every time it had assaulted her, she'd checked to see if they were feeling anything like it... but they always were silent. Now it moved along her body again and she writhed against it. She wanted to tear out her veins, drive it from her, whatever it was, this invader that lived beneath her skin
She grimaced as she felt the pain wrapped around her arm.
Muttering curses under her breath, Obsidian opened her shirt to check her healing shoulder wound. It had somehow reopened and was bleeding. Looking around for something to use as a bandage, she shrugged off her jacket and tore the bottom of her shirt in a long strip to bind the wound. She gingerly wrapped the fabric around her shoulder, tying it off tightly and tucking in the ends. At the sound of the voice, her eyes flashed.
"Accept and you become whole, once whole, the world is as your home.”
Obsidian thought she had finally blocked out the voice. “Ooooooobs” it called in the depths of space. She believed she wasn’t going crazy anymore, she was regaining her control and her reality was solidifying. If she tried hard enough maybe she could shut it up completely. “Ooooooobs” it spoke from the corners of her bunk. Yet as hard as she fought for control, it was wasted for the voice hadn’t left her. “Ooooooobs” it whispered in her dreams. For only a few weeks it had been pushed away, and it had lulled her into thinking that she had overcome her fears and was ready to return to the world.
And yet she hadn’t known what fear was.
“Accept” it called.
Fear was hearing voices that she could not ignore without knowing the source.
“Become whole” it cried.
Fear was half-moon slices in her palms as her nails dug in, blood trickling down as fiends played at the edges of her senses.
“Accept” it whispered.
Fear was an uncontrollable pain in the lower stomach, crawling across her belly, frozen and slippery at the same time.
“Become whole” it promised.
Fear was sweat coating her hands as she gripped the throttle, the chill of air-conditioning hardening it to a crust.
“Accept and you become whole” it vowed.
Fear was waking up screaming before realizing that you’d never gone to sleep.
Obsidian had thought that she’d known fear.
She’d been wrong.
As her eyes fluttered open, curled up in the pilot’s chair, she remembered having retreated to the bridge after her dealings with the voice. The cockpit was a safe haven, a place of comfort. Sometimes she felt more in tune with the black, with its vastness and isolation.
As much as the voice scared her it also excited her. She thought “I love the sound of it; its deep timber, the deadly malice that it contains, I could listen to it forever. Too bad it doesn’t say much.”
"Accept and you become whole”
She'd tried, at first, to tell people. Something's wrong with me. Her friends had looked suspiciously at her when she'd attempted to describe the sensations, back when she first really noticed them. It was crawling through her again, black fire that gnawed at her nerves. The others never felt it she knew that. Every time it had assaulted her, she'd checked to see if they were feeling anything like it... but they always were silent. Now it moved along her body again and she writhed against it. She wanted to tear out her veins, drive it from her, whatever it was, this invader that lived beneath her skin
She grimaced as she felt the pain wrapped around her arm.
Muttering curses under her breath, Obsidian opened her shirt to check her healing shoulder wound. It had somehow reopened and was bleeding. Looking around for something to use as a bandage, she shrugged off her jacket and tore the bottom of her shirt in a long strip to bind the wound. She gingerly wrapped the fabric around her shoulder, tying it off tightly and tucking in the ends. At the sound of the voice, her eyes flashed.
"Accept and you become whole, once whole, the world is as your home.”
Fear was waiting not being sure when the next installment would come!
But,
"Looking around for something to use as a bandage, she shrugged off her jacket and tore the bottom of her shirt in a long strip to bind the wound. She gingerly wound the fabric around her shoulder"
The double use of "wound" with different meanings/sounds is kinda confusing. The voice in my head saw the second "wound" and said it "wooned" like the first one, instead of "wowned." This may just be happening cause I'm an idiot, but perhaps another word could replace one of those?
But,
"Looking around for something to use as a bandage, she shrugged off her jacket and tore the bottom of her shirt in a long strip to bind the wound. She gingerly wound the fabric around her shoulder"
The double use of "wound" with different meanings/sounds is kinda confusing. The voice in my head saw the second "wound" and said it "wooned" like the first one, instead of "wowned." This may just be happening cause I'm an idiot, but perhaps another word could replace one of those?
meh.
start writing stuff smittens.
start writing stuff smittens.
It's okay. As long as he's courteous there isn't a problem.
I don't mind a few edits here and there. I don't have to listen if I disagree, in this case they were minor edits and I'm fine making some changes to make my story better.
I don't mind a few edits here and there. I don't have to listen if I disagree, in this case they were minor edits and I'm fine making some changes to make my story better.
Psshhh.. its not "Accept"
its "SUBMIT!"
its "SUBMIT!"
Obsidian would never submit. She's not that type of person.
I like this story... if you wrote the entire thing out you could probably get it published. im one of those people who reads and plays video games for a living... and thats a damn good peice of writing there. finish it and get it published.
Ecka had been persistent and finally Obsidian agreed to find some outlets for her built up energy. She tried stamp collecting, even needlepoint but settled on long workouts with the punching bag in the gym. While Ecka was happy to spend time with Obsidian in the gym he wasn’t up to being her sparring partner day in and day out. However, few hours each day helped her push the voice away.
Ecka was still concerned about her isolation and tried to find someone she could connect with. He skimmed the TGFT roster and mentally checked off the candidates or eliminated them for various reasons. He struggled but he knew he had to find someone. Maybe someone from a different shift, someone she didn’t know very well would give her the opportunity for a fresh start. Yes, he knew who he could ask, now if he could get Obsidian to agree to the match…
Obsidian had resisted for over a week but had decided that having a formal sparring partner would not be such a horrible idea. Ecka had promised that he would find someone appropriate and she knew the old miner had her best interests at heart. “Oh, alright. I’ll meet this guy if you insist…”
Ecka smiled “good to hear, I’ll arrange for you to meet after the next general meeting.”
The meeting hall was crowed and the din of the people was putting Obsidian on edge. She wanted to flee to the serenity of her bunk or the shelter of her ship but she had promised Ecka that she would stick around to meet this chap. Frustrated with waiting she went to Ecka asking him if he wanted to join her in the gym. “I’m tired but I’ll do it next time” he replied.
Unfazed, Obsidian decided to head towards the exercise room. As she left the meeting hall she noticed a man hanging about in the shadows near the doors. “I wonder if this is the guy Ecka was talking about” she thought and nodded a greeting. “I’m going to go workout now, would you be my new sparring partner?”
He looked around and shrugged. “Oh” she said and went on walking down the hall but soon noticed that he was silently following her. Obsidian thought, “I must have been wrong” She tried to size him up without staring and wondered why Ecka had arranged for her to work with him. They wordlessly entered the fitness center and moved to the center mats. Obsidian looked at him and decided to test how much this guy knew. She dropped into her stance and waited for him to do the same. They spent the next hour, punching, jabbing and kicking until they were both covered with a sweaty sheen. Thanking her partner she asked him if he wanted to take walk with her to cool down.
The lower decks were cool and the light was kept at lower power levels. Obsidian had learned that at this time of night she could expect these levels to be empty and found them a good place to wander when she couldn’t sleep. He followed her and they walked listening to the night sounds of the stations until they reached the observation room.
Obsidian plopped down on the floor in the center of the room and lay back on the floor so she could stare out the portals in the ceiling She motioned for him to join her; he hesitated a bit and then relented. He slid down into the cool deck next to her.
Obsidian smiled and said “I find doing this helps me to reconnect when I see the stars; I wish I could count them all.”
The two continued to sit wordlessly looking at the black for almost an hour. The only sounds were their breathing and the whoosh of the oxygen recyclers.
Obsidian rolled onto her side and smiled sweetly as she gazed over at the body beside her until she realized what she was doing. She spoke nervously and got up “I, uh, think we better start heading back”
They walked back to the living decks in silence. Amazing, she thought, they had spent over three hours together and he had not said a single word. There was something about him that intrigued her and made her want to be around him.
She did try to seek him out for a few days but it seemed like the entire station was working against her. They were never alone together or in a situation where they could talk. The final blow came when the UIT Work Corps announced they had some urgent business so she had to leave right away.
Obsidian walked into her bunk, dragging her body with forced mobility. She was exhausted; more exhausted than she ever imagined she could be. The past six days in the black were torturous. She hurt in places she didn’t think imaginable, she had dirt in crevices she didn’t know existed and her eyelids weighed with a heaviness she didn’t know was humanly possible.
“Never, ever, ever accept work that involves teenagers” she moaned. Some birdbrain in the UIT headquarters thought that they should promote a “Women in Space” week. Obsidian was subjected to working with large groups of moody teens supposedly to teach them about mining. Most of the kids didn’t want to do the work and she had to deal with an overwhelming number of “allergic to dust” complaints and “space sickness” threats. She thought that they really should have said “allergic to hard work” and “sick of having to actually follow directions”.
Through the darkness, Obsidian dropped her gear on the bunk, not even caring that the grime that covered her equipment was flaking dust onto her bedding. She’d worry about that after she slept for a few days, which was entirely possible after the way she felt.
Obsidian unbuttoned her shirt and grabbed a clean change of clothing. She was tired for sure, but she didn’t dream of passing out in her bunk with the amount of muck that covered her body. It wasn’t civilized. Not only that, there was no way she was going to face the rebuke she would receive from Ecka for doing so. Cleanliness was next to Godliness, which was next to Ecka and the TGFT Station.
As careful as she was with a simple task of cleaning up, Obsidian hurried through her bath. It was too late at night to spend much time however purifying the job might be. Feeling at least a little refreshed, clean and a little more human than before she returned to her bunk.
The next morning Obsidian she relaxed on the cool floor in the docking bay. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply smelling the earthy grease, sweet ore dust and the sharp fuel. She snickered softly as she thought “I must be a miner if I find the smell of grease and fuel intoxicating. I wonder if I’d be able to ever pick out a proper perfume?” The thought of buying ‘eau de heliocene’ in a fancy boutique was too much and she laughed loudly.
‘I like it when you laugh.”
The voice pulled Obsidian out of her musing and back into the world and the docking bay. The voice was familiar yet she could not place it. She turned to look in the direction of the voice and was startled to find it had come from her sparring partner.
Something in her heart caught and she found herself suddenly unable to breathe. His bight eyes looked at her, a small smirk came to his lips and then he turned. As he walked away he commented, “Obsidian, you are filled with so much spirit for such a young body.” Her eyes followed the retreating form. There was more to this guy than she had anticipated.
Ecka was still concerned about her isolation and tried to find someone she could connect with. He skimmed the TGFT roster and mentally checked off the candidates or eliminated them for various reasons. He struggled but he knew he had to find someone. Maybe someone from a different shift, someone she didn’t know very well would give her the opportunity for a fresh start. Yes, he knew who he could ask, now if he could get Obsidian to agree to the match…
Obsidian had resisted for over a week but had decided that having a formal sparring partner would not be such a horrible idea. Ecka had promised that he would find someone appropriate and she knew the old miner had her best interests at heart. “Oh, alright. I’ll meet this guy if you insist…”
Ecka smiled “good to hear, I’ll arrange for you to meet after the next general meeting.”
The meeting hall was crowed and the din of the people was putting Obsidian on edge. She wanted to flee to the serenity of her bunk or the shelter of her ship but she had promised Ecka that she would stick around to meet this chap. Frustrated with waiting she went to Ecka asking him if he wanted to join her in the gym. “I’m tired but I’ll do it next time” he replied.
Unfazed, Obsidian decided to head towards the exercise room. As she left the meeting hall she noticed a man hanging about in the shadows near the doors. “I wonder if this is the guy Ecka was talking about” she thought and nodded a greeting. “I’m going to go workout now, would you be my new sparring partner?”
He looked around and shrugged. “Oh” she said and went on walking down the hall but soon noticed that he was silently following her. Obsidian thought, “I must have been wrong” She tried to size him up without staring and wondered why Ecka had arranged for her to work with him. They wordlessly entered the fitness center and moved to the center mats. Obsidian looked at him and decided to test how much this guy knew. She dropped into her stance and waited for him to do the same. They spent the next hour, punching, jabbing and kicking until they were both covered with a sweaty sheen. Thanking her partner she asked him if he wanted to take walk with her to cool down.
The lower decks were cool and the light was kept at lower power levels. Obsidian had learned that at this time of night she could expect these levels to be empty and found them a good place to wander when she couldn’t sleep. He followed her and they walked listening to the night sounds of the stations until they reached the observation room.
Obsidian plopped down on the floor in the center of the room and lay back on the floor so she could stare out the portals in the ceiling She motioned for him to join her; he hesitated a bit and then relented. He slid down into the cool deck next to her.
Obsidian smiled and said “I find doing this helps me to reconnect when I see the stars; I wish I could count them all.”
The two continued to sit wordlessly looking at the black for almost an hour. The only sounds were their breathing and the whoosh of the oxygen recyclers.
Obsidian rolled onto her side and smiled sweetly as she gazed over at the body beside her until she realized what she was doing. She spoke nervously and got up “I, uh, think we better start heading back”
They walked back to the living decks in silence. Amazing, she thought, they had spent over three hours together and he had not said a single word. There was something about him that intrigued her and made her want to be around him.
She did try to seek him out for a few days but it seemed like the entire station was working against her. They were never alone together or in a situation where they could talk. The final blow came when the UIT Work Corps announced they had some urgent business so she had to leave right away.
Obsidian walked into her bunk, dragging her body with forced mobility. She was exhausted; more exhausted than she ever imagined she could be. The past six days in the black were torturous. She hurt in places she didn’t think imaginable, she had dirt in crevices she didn’t know existed and her eyelids weighed with a heaviness she didn’t know was humanly possible.
“Never, ever, ever accept work that involves teenagers” she moaned. Some birdbrain in the UIT headquarters thought that they should promote a “Women in Space” week. Obsidian was subjected to working with large groups of moody teens supposedly to teach them about mining. Most of the kids didn’t want to do the work and she had to deal with an overwhelming number of “allergic to dust” complaints and “space sickness” threats. She thought that they really should have said “allergic to hard work” and “sick of having to actually follow directions”.
Through the darkness, Obsidian dropped her gear on the bunk, not even caring that the grime that covered her equipment was flaking dust onto her bedding. She’d worry about that after she slept for a few days, which was entirely possible after the way she felt.
Obsidian unbuttoned her shirt and grabbed a clean change of clothing. She was tired for sure, but she didn’t dream of passing out in her bunk with the amount of muck that covered her body. It wasn’t civilized. Not only that, there was no way she was going to face the rebuke she would receive from Ecka for doing so. Cleanliness was next to Godliness, which was next to Ecka and the TGFT Station.
As careful as she was with a simple task of cleaning up, Obsidian hurried through her bath. It was too late at night to spend much time however purifying the job might be. Feeling at least a little refreshed, clean and a little more human than before she returned to her bunk.
The next morning Obsidian she relaxed on the cool floor in the docking bay. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply smelling the earthy grease, sweet ore dust and the sharp fuel. She snickered softly as she thought “I must be a miner if I find the smell of grease and fuel intoxicating. I wonder if I’d be able to ever pick out a proper perfume?” The thought of buying ‘eau de heliocene’ in a fancy boutique was too much and she laughed loudly.
‘I like it when you laugh.”
The voice pulled Obsidian out of her musing and back into the world and the docking bay. The voice was familiar yet she could not place it. She turned to look in the direction of the voice and was startled to find it had come from her sparring partner.
Something in her heart caught and she found herself suddenly unable to breathe. His bight eyes looked at her, a small smirk came to his lips and then he turned. As he walked away he commented, “Obsidian, you are filled with so much spirit for such a young body.” Her eyes followed the retreating form. There was more to this guy than she had anticipated.
Nice. Who is this guy?
Also, grammar error? “I finding is helps me to reconnect"
Also, grammar error? “I finding is helps me to reconnect"
A few days later Obsidian found herself awake and unable to fall asleep, she thought about going back to her bunk but instead decided to take advantage of the quiet night. She went to the docking bay to do some upgrades on her ship. The engine was acting wonky and she wanted to clean out or possibly upgrade the injector valves. She started taking apart the engine. After about half an hour of work she had a number of bolts and engine parts strewn about the deck around her. She was struggling with the last injector but it would not budge, “I said move it you stupid piece of junk” she shouted as she smashed the wrench onto the offending piece with all her might. It shattered under the force and bits fell to the floor. Muttering about low quality Tunguska replacement parts she bent down to gather up the pieces.
“Can’t sleep?” came from the upper catwalks. Obsidian froze trying to focus all her senses on where the sound had come from. He stepped forward to the edge so she could see him “I heard something in the bay and I was just checking it out.”
Obsidian swallowed and tried to smile back at him.
“I imagine Ecka wouldn’t like to find me tinkering around here alone at night. He’s worried that I’ll do something stupid, get hurt badly and he’ll awake to find me laying here in a pool of blood. Since you’re up would you mind keeping me company?”
He looked at her, blinked a few times and slipped back into the shadows. Obsidian shook her head and returned to vent her frustrations on her engine. She noticed the sounds of footsteps on the grates and grinned. After waiting for what seemed like forever he was standing next to her.
Her sparring partner leaned in to take a closer look at the bits of broken fuel injector and looked back at Obsidian “Remind me to not frustrate you too much, I can see how you treat things that don’t cooperate.”
Obsidian laughed.
“I like it when you laugh.”
Obsidian blushed, he had told her that before. “Why?” she asked him.
“It makes your eyes sparkle and I can see your soul soaring.”
Obsidian looked at him and noticed that he was looking back at her, taking her entire body in. It was thrilling yet it suddenly made Obsidian feel very tired. Something about this guy’s manner had removed all the tension from her body allowing it to drift towards sleep.
Yawning Obsidian picked up the scattered tools and started returning them to the toolbox. ”I better get back to bed before anyone one notices I’m gone. Ecka’s been kind of touchy lately about my whereabouts.” Together they put away the materials and headed out of the docking bay. They walked to the part of the station where the main living quarters were and said good night to each other.
She felt suddenly cold and along with her exhaustion it made her sluggish. It seemed like she was moving though molasses and her body went into automatic pilot. Finally she got to the door and opened it, it was so cold that the heater seemed to be in a futile struggle to share its warmth. Obsidian’s fingers felt stiff and in a half-asleep stumble she moved towards the bed. She slipped underneath the covers and soaked in the warmth. Safe in the cocoon of blankets she drifted off to sleep.
Before she could open her eyes she felt she was being watched. Someone cleared his throat and Obsidian was awakened.
“Could you explain why you’re playing goldilocks and the three bears?” Obsidian started to swat away the voice with her hand but was blocked. Obsidian then realized that she was not in her bunk and she was not alone. She thought about the accent, and then it dawned on her she was in Ecka’s Bunk! He continued, “Let me guess, your bed was too hard but this one was just right?” In her exhaustion she must have fallen asleep in the first place she found.
Groaning she pulled the covers tighter over her head wishing it would all go away. Finally she could not bear it anymore and pulled down the covers to glare at him. Her eyes widened as she saw that he had invited most of the council to see. Without saying a word she untangled herself from the blankets and left the bunk leaving the sounds of snickering behind her. Ecka had decided to not wake the sleepwalking girl last night and let her sleep peacefully in his bunk while he made do with the armchair. However he could not pass up the chance to get a bit of revenge for the shirt incident.
Obsidian walked swiftly to the gym and lunged for the punching bag. As her hands began to move in the familiar rhythm her thoughts went back to last night. She remembered bits and pieces and was unsure what was a dream and what was real. She remembered struggling to get the replacement valve to fit on the engine and how he was there to help her. She recalled feeling cold, tired, almost numb. She also had a sensation of being completely at ease when he was around. He had held her close and placed faint butterfly kisses on her forehead. She blushed, was that just in her dreams? Had that really happened?
Obsidian stopped hitting the bag and stared at it swaying back and forth. It was hypnotic as she followed the movement with her eyes.
“Am I interrupting??” her partner spoke from behind her.
Obsidian stiffened slightly, he was right here, and there was no place to hide.
“I can come back later if you want,” he continued.
Obsidian stood very still not sure what to do. Closing the gap he put his hands on her shoulders. His touch sent tingles down her arms and into her toes. Obsidian reached up and took his hands in her own. With her back to him she leaned into his chest, the warmth she felt did not disappoint Obsidian. “I enjoy having you next to me too” he whispered into her ear. She treasured the sound of his voice. His right hand lowered to her hip and Obsidian could not surpass the giggle as his fingers trailed down her side. She wanted more and held her breath.
As quickly as it started, it stopped. Obsidian was taken aback by his sudden departure. With tears in her eyes she watched him disappear out the gym doors. Hearing the sounds of the morning fitness center users arriving and not in the mood to be social Obsidian quickly wiped her face and headed to the showers.
He paced in the office like a caged animal. “Where is that old miner?” he growled.
When Ecka has asked him to take on this task he had not anticipated the feelings overwhelming him. He could sense what was tracking through her veins. She had the same blackness inside and the closer her got the more his pain intensified. He longed to tell her that she was not alone, that she wasn’t crazy, that the crawling she felt under her skin was not imagined, that this was real.
“Why did Ecka have to ask me to help her out? Why was I stupid enough to accept?” He clenched his fists and tightened his arms. His eyes were cold and hard as steel. What choice did he have?
He shook his head, he had to push her away, Ecka had told him that he was to be nothing more than a good friend. He wasn’t worth that kind of attachment; she deserved someone better than him. Yet he was drawn to her, she was absolute to him and made him feel whole. He felt her emotions bubbling under the surface and her internal struggles to keep them in check. He had to leave before he lost control and destroyed what they had. It was with all his soul that he hoped Obsidian would understand and not hate him for what he had to do.
“Can’t sleep?” came from the upper catwalks. Obsidian froze trying to focus all her senses on where the sound had come from. He stepped forward to the edge so she could see him “I heard something in the bay and I was just checking it out.”
Obsidian swallowed and tried to smile back at him.
“I imagine Ecka wouldn’t like to find me tinkering around here alone at night. He’s worried that I’ll do something stupid, get hurt badly and he’ll awake to find me laying here in a pool of blood. Since you’re up would you mind keeping me company?”
He looked at her, blinked a few times and slipped back into the shadows. Obsidian shook her head and returned to vent her frustrations on her engine. She noticed the sounds of footsteps on the grates and grinned. After waiting for what seemed like forever he was standing next to her.
Her sparring partner leaned in to take a closer look at the bits of broken fuel injector and looked back at Obsidian “Remind me to not frustrate you too much, I can see how you treat things that don’t cooperate.”
Obsidian laughed.
“I like it when you laugh.”
Obsidian blushed, he had told her that before. “Why?” she asked him.
“It makes your eyes sparkle and I can see your soul soaring.”
Obsidian looked at him and noticed that he was looking back at her, taking her entire body in. It was thrilling yet it suddenly made Obsidian feel very tired. Something about this guy’s manner had removed all the tension from her body allowing it to drift towards sleep.
Yawning Obsidian picked up the scattered tools and started returning them to the toolbox. ”I better get back to bed before anyone one notices I’m gone. Ecka’s been kind of touchy lately about my whereabouts.” Together they put away the materials and headed out of the docking bay. They walked to the part of the station where the main living quarters were and said good night to each other.
She felt suddenly cold and along with her exhaustion it made her sluggish. It seemed like she was moving though molasses and her body went into automatic pilot. Finally she got to the door and opened it, it was so cold that the heater seemed to be in a futile struggle to share its warmth. Obsidian’s fingers felt stiff and in a half-asleep stumble she moved towards the bed. She slipped underneath the covers and soaked in the warmth. Safe in the cocoon of blankets she drifted off to sleep.
Before she could open her eyes she felt she was being watched. Someone cleared his throat and Obsidian was awakened.
“Could you explain why you’re playing goldilocks and the three bears?” Obsidian started to swat away the voice with her hand but was blocked. Obsidian then realized that she was not in her bunk and she was not alone. She thought about the accent, and then it dawned on her she was in Ecka’s Bunk! He continued, “Let me guess, your bed was too hard but this one was just right?” In her exhaustion she must have fallen asleep in the first place she found.
Groaning she pulled the covers tighter over her head wishing it would all go away. Finally she could not bear it anymore and pulled down the covers to glare at him. Her eyes widened as she saw that he had invited most of the council to see. Without saying a word she untangled herself from the blankets and left the bunk leaving the sounds of snickering behind her. Ecka had decided to not wake the sleepwalking girl last night and let her sleep peacefully in his bunk while he made do with the armchair. However he could not pass up the chance to get a bit of revenge for the shirt incident.
Obsidian walked swiftly to the gym and lunged for the punching bag. As her hands began to move in the familiar rhythm her thoughts went back to last night. She remembered bits and pieces and was unsure what was a dream and what was real. She remembered struggling to get the replacement valve to fit on the engine and how he was there to help her. She recalled feeling cold, tired, almost numb. She also had a sensation of being completely at ease when he was around. He had held her close and placed faint butterfly kisses on her forehead. She blushed, was that just in her dreams? Had that really happened?
Obsidian stopped hitting the bag and stared at it swaying back and forth. It was hypnotic as she followed the movement with her eyes.
“Am I interrupting??” her partner spoke from behind her.
Obsidian stiffened slightly, he was right here, and there was no place to hide.
“I can come back later if you want,” he continued.
Obsidian stood very still not sure what to do. Closing the gap he put his hands on her shoulders. His touch sent tingles down her arms and into her toes. Obsidian reached up and took his hands in her own. With her back to him she leaned into his chest, the warmth she felt did not disappoint Obsidian. “I enjoy having you next to me too” he whispered into her ear. She treasured the sound of his voice. His right hand lowered to her hip and Obsidian could not surpass the giggle as his fingers trailed down her side. She wanted more and held her breath.
As quickly as it started, it stopped. Obsidian was taken aback by his sudden departure. With tears in her eyes she watched him disappear out the gym doors. Hearing the sounds of the morning fitness center users arriving and not in the mood to be social Obsidian quickly wiped her face and headed to the showers.
He paced in the office like a caged animal. “Where is that old miner?” he growled.
When Ecka has asked him to take on this task he had not anticipated the feelings overwhelming him. He could sense what was tracking through her veins. She had the same blackness inside and the closer her got the more his pain intensified. He longed to tell her that she was not alone, that she wasn’t crazy, that the crawling she felt under her skin was not imagined, that this was real.
“Why did Ecka have to ask me to help her out? Why was I stupid enough to accept?” He clenched his fists and tightened his arms. His eyes were cold and hard as steel. What choice did he have?
He shook his head, he had to push her away, Ecka had told him that he was to be nothing more than a good friend. He wasn’t worth that kind of attachment; she deserved someone better than him. Yet he was drawn to her, she was absolute to him and made him feel whole. He felt her emotions bubbling under the surface and her internal struggles to keep them in check. He had to leave before he lost control and destroyed what they had. It was with all his soul that he hoped Obsidian would understand and not hate him for what he had to do.
This is good.
[Obsidian edit, parts deleted]- No one likes someone who talks too much during the movies.
[Obsidian edit, parts deleted]- No one likes someone who talks too much during the movies.
made some edits to the latest chapter. I think it helps.