《The Keeper Chronicles: Origins》


 Origins: Scene 1

    Issue 1: Origins


    This takes place in the year 2029 in a small town in rural Montana. The Presleys are in a grocery store.


    Cory: Annelise, are you sure you want to do this?


    Annelise(picking up a green pepper): I¡¯m sure.


    Cory: You know what our neighbors think about us, right?


    Annelise: Yes, I know they think we¡¯re a bit strange.


    Cory: No, they don¡¯t think that we¡¯re strange. They have said that you¡¯re strange.


    Annelise(sighs): I am strange. These people have never heard of therapy before. Still, I¡¯ve invited them over for dinner tonight. I wouldn¡¯t want to cancel last minute.


    Cory: Alright. But don¡¯t say that I didn¡¯t warn you.


    Later that night¡­


    Neighbor One: This food¡¯s really good!


    Cory: Thank you. My wife made it. I keep telling her that she should go on a cooking show, but she always refuses.


    Neighbor One: *stares at Annelise who is gathering the plates* She made this? Why didn¡¯t she tell us?


    Cory: That¡¯s just the way Annelise is. Right, Annelise?


    Annelise:*smiles and nods*


    Neighbor Two: So, what¡¯s therapy?


    Annelise: Well, it¡¯s a job where I help people become the best versions of themselves that they can be. I help them put their pasts behind them.


    Neighbor Three: Back in my day, we had institutions for that!


    Neighbors all burst out laughing.


    Annelise: Well, institutions aren¡¯t the most¡­humane option for someone struggling with long-term mental health issues. It¡¯s better that they learn to live with their condition in a healthy way than be sedated their entire lives.


    The Neighbors stare at her in disgust.


    Neighbor One: You ain¡¯t one of them New Age gurus, are you?


    Annelise: No, my practice is backed by real science.


    Neighbor One: Alright¡­Well, it¡¯s getting late. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve got stuff to do. Bye.


    After all of the neighbors leave, Annelise and Cory head to bed.


    In the middle of the night, Annelise wakes up. She looks out the window and sees an explosion in the sky. It looks as if the sky is fabric and now has a rip in it.


    Annelise: Cory! Cory, wake up!A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Cory*groans*: What is it?


    Annelise: There¡¯s something in the sky!


    Cory: You mean a helicopter or something? Don¡¯t worry about it, we live near an army base.


    Annelise: No, it wasn¡¯t like anything I¡¯ve ever seen! Come look!


    Cory*comes up to the window*: Oh, wow! That¡­is a weird-looking cloud. It makes it look like the sky¡¯s torn.


    Annelise*nods*: There was an explosion, too. I don¡¯t think that it¡¯s a cloud.


    Cory: Maybe¡­a comet. That weird line could be the remainder of its tail.


    Annelise: Yes, maybe.


    In the morning¡­


    Annelise is having an online therapy meeting with one of her patients.


    Annelise: So, how did you feel when your parents hit you as a child? Did they ever apologize for it?


    Patient*on computer screen*: I felt¡­empty, hopeless like there was nothing left to live for. And, no, my parents never apologized.


    Suddenly, in the window, there is a strange man of maybe 20 years of age, limping through the Presley yard. He seems to be in much agony. Annelise spots him and is alarmed.


    Annelise: I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to end our appointment early. There¡¯s an injured man in the yard¡­and we live in rural Montana.


    Patient: Go help him! I¡¯ll end the chat! Bye!


    Patient ends the chat.


    Annelise runs outside to help the man.


    Annelise: Oh my heavens! What happened to you?! Here, come inside we have a first aid kit!


    Commander: Wait, I don¡¯t need medical help!


    Annelise: Yes, you do! The nearest hospital is over two hours away! You¡¯re losing a lot of blood!


    The Commander submits and is helped inside by Annelise. Cory runs over to them.


    Cory: Annelise, who is this?


    Annelise: He¡¯s injured! Look at his leg!


    Cory sees that the Commander¡¯s leg is bleeding out.


    Cory: I¡¯ll get the first aid kit!


    2 hours later, Annelise has thoroughly bandaged the Commander¡¯s leg.


    Annelise: So, what¡¯s your name?


    Commander: Your people know me as Beyond.


    Annelise: You¡¯re the man who saved those schoolgirls from a bombing incident! I saw that on the news!


    Commander*smiling*: Yes, I am. And you are Annelise Presley.


    Annelise: That¡¯s right. How did you know that?


    Commander: I know much more than you think.


    Cory: Annelise, may I have a word with you?


    Annelise: Sure.


    They walk into the other room.


    Cory: I don¡¯t trust this guy.


    Annelise: Why not?


    Cory: Well, for one thing, he has silver eyes. Not blue, not gray, silver. Like my aluminum sculptures. That¡¯s not normal.


    Annelise: Why does that matter? He was going to die if we didn¡¯t help him. I only spent a few months in nursing school, but I know that he won¡¯t be able to walk for at least a week.


    They see the Commander walking into the hallway.


    Cory*under his breath*: What the heck is going on here?!


    Annelise: *rushes toward the Commander* You can¡¯t walk on that leg! You¡¯ll injure yourself further!


    The bandages fall off his leg, revealing a small scar in place of what was once a gaping wound.


    Annelise: How?


    Commander: My laws are much different than yours. *He begins walking toward their front door to leave*


    Annelise: Wait!


    Commander: No, I don¡¯t have anywhere to go.


    Annelise: *ponders what the heck just happened for a second* Do you have any parents or relatives?


    Commander: *shakes his head*


    Cory*sighs*: I guess if you don¡¯t do any more weird stuff, you can stay with us for a while. I could use some help smithing and making sculptures.


    Annelise:*smiles*


    Commander: I cannot promise that I will not do any more of the actions that you call ¡°weird¡±, but I am thankful for you inviting me in. It would be nice to have a roof over my head. I will stay for a while.

 Origins: Scene 2

    2034


    The Commander has become much more human-looking and has learned much about humanity. He has even allowed himself to age in the past four years. Still, there are many things that he doesn¡¯t know about humans. In this scene, Annelise is crying in her room after finding out that her mother, her last living parent, succumbed to her cancer. The Commander enters and tries to comfort Annelise.


    Commander: What has made you upset, Annelise?


    Annelise looks up at him and is afraid.


    Annelise: You shouldn¡¯t become too human, Beyond. There are many things that you would have to endure.


    Commander: What is an example?


    Annelise: Illness, injury, death¡­


    Commander: What is death?


    Annelise:*pauses* Death is when your bodily functions cease. You¡¯re only a shell of yourself.


    Commander: Can humans recover from death?


    Annelise: No, they never come back. It¡¯s permanent.


    The Commander is stricken from hearing this.


    Annelise: Death is why you shouldn¡¯t become so human, as you have been for the past three years. I worry¡­What if you become so human that you inherit death?


    Commander*pauses*: How does death feel?


    Annelise: I don¡¯t know. It depends on how you die. Getting a fatal gunshot wound would be quicker than death from old age, but it could be more painful. I think that it feels horrible no matter how you die. And your family members are pierced with grief at the idea that they will never see you again. They¡¯ll never see your smile, your eyes, hear your laugh¡­It¡¯s all gone.


    The Commander nods gravely in understanding.


    Commander: A gunshot wound? Why would someone die from a gunshot wound?


    Annelise: Sometimes¡­humans choose evil. Many people die from mass shootings. They use guns to kill people that they don¡¯t like. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    A tear rolls down the Commander¡¯s face as he realizes what humans are capable of.


    The Commander struggles emotionally for the rest of the evening. The next scene takes place in the Commander¡¯s dream. He is standing in an office-like room. Annelise is lying on the floor, wearing strange, somewhat regal clothes, still, her eyes wide in horror.


    Commander: Annelise¡­


    He gets onto the floor and tries to shake her awake.


    He then feels intense anger and sees that Annelise is in much agony before collapsing onto the floor, dead. Cory rushes to Annelise¡¯s side, crying ¡°What have you done?!!!¡± The Commander knows that his intense, complicated anger, overwhelmed Annelise¡¯s human body, causing her death. He feels intense grief and turmoil.


    He stays by Annelise¡¯s side, holding her body against his chest in a hug. Tears flow out of his eyes and onto Annelise¡¯s clothes.


    Suddenly, the dream stops. Annelise has shaken him awake.


    Annelise: C¡¯mon, Beyond. Wake up. The funeral¡¯s this morning. It¡¯s how we honor the dead.


    The Commander gets out of bed immediately and hugs Annelise tightly.


    Commander: I love you, Annelise. I understand love, but I don¡¯t fully understand the type of love that I feel. It¡¯s different than the love between you and Cory. It¡¯s also different from the love shared between your friends.


    Annelise*hugging him back*: It¡¯s called familial love. Because you are a part of our family.


    A tear rolls down the Commander¡¯s face.


    Commander: Your mother just died. Did you love her with that same type of love?


    Annelise*tearing up*: Yes, I did.


    (The three arrive at the funeral home and a service is held for Annelise¡¯s mom. The Commander debates whether he should tell Annelise about his dream later or not. He decides to. As they leave the graveyard, the Commander tells Annelise and Cory about his dream)


    Commander: I have had a vision in my sleep for the first time.


    Cory: You mean a dream?


    Commander:*nods*


    Cory: What did you dream about?


    The Commander describes the dream in vivid detail. Cory is taken aback by it, but Annelise is concerned.


    Annelise: Are your dreams¡­different from ours?


    Commander: Yes, they show real events that could happen in the future.


    Annelise: Did you kill me intentionally with your anger? Did you murder me?


    Cory steps in front of Annelise defensively, though he knows in his heart that the Commander is a good person. Many tears roll down the Commander¡¯s face.


    Commander: No, I didn¡¯t take my anger out on you! I cannot imagine doing that! It may be hard for you to understand, but in the future, you can feel what I feel. That is what killed you. Now, I know how to change that.


    Cory: It can be changed?


    Commander:*nods* It can be changed and it will be.

 Origins: Scene 3

    Later in the day, Cory is washing dishes after lunch. The Commander approaches him.


    Cory:*looks up* Are you alright?


    Commander: No, I am not. I worry about how I make you feel, Cory.


    Cory: How do you think you make me feel?


    Commander: It¡¯s clear that you don¡¯t trust me.


    Cory: Why wouldn¡¯t I trust you?


    Commander: I know why you may not trust me. But I think that your fears are a bit extreme. I may have much more power than you, but I have never used them to hurt anyone unjustly.


    Cory: But you have to potential to¡­


    Commander: In theory, yes. But I choose not to.


    Cory: You know, Annelise has been feeling much more pain now that you came along. Was it just of you to cause her pain? She used to be so happy and content.


    Commander: I did not cause Annelise¡¯s pain. Annelise¡¯s pain is a part of the world that you live in.


    Cory: Well, you could have at least stopped it!


    Commander: I could have, yes. But it would have been a poor decision.


    Cory: How could stopping my wife¡¯s suffering have been a bad choice?!


    Commander*smiles*: Do you know how special Annelise actually is? She is truly, as you often say, one in a million.


    Cory: Of course I know that!


    Commander: Well, I can see beyond outward appearances. I know that you have an organ near your brain stem that likely you likely weren¡¯t born with.


    Cory*touches the back of his neck*: Really?


    Commander*nods*: Annelise, however, does not have this organ. Her body has killed it, as implied by its remains.


    Cory: What is this organ?


    Commander: The organ is likely malevolent. The chemicals it sends to your brain are mostly benign but may be potent when activated. It could make you lose control of your own mind. What worries me is that it was likely introduced by an outside force, which Annelise was immune to, but the rest of the population was not.


    Cory is struck with fear.


    Annelise walks into the room.


    Annelise: Is everything alright?


    Cory: Everything¡¯s fine, honey.


    Annelise is skeptical. She turns to the Commander.


    Annelise: What¡¯s really going on?


    The Commander explains everything to Annelise.


    Annelise: What does this mean?


    Commander: It means that you have an advantage, Annelise. It means that you are unique among your species. Many of the things that are yet to come will prepare you.


    Annelise: Prepare me for what?Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Commander: That is something that the future holds.


    Annelise*sighs*: Cory, may I speak with you?


    Cory and Annelise head into another room.


    Annelise: Cory, why don¡¯t you trust Beyond?


    Cory: Well, we don¡¯t know what he¡¯s capable of. His dream solidified my distrust. Beyond could injure you, Annelise, and he could injure you very badly.


    Annelise: What reasons has he given us not to trust him?


    Cory: The dream!


    Annelise: He said that he could change that!


    Cory: What about the ¡®stuff that¡¯s coming¡¯ or whatever? What kind of stuff? Painful stuff, obviously! What the heck could he be preparing you for that involves this much pain?!


    Annelise: Pain can be used for good purposes.


    The Commander steps into the room.


    Cory: Have you been listening to our entire conversation?


    Commander*nods*: I apologize. I simply could not refrain from hearing you. My abilities do not allow it.


    Cory:*puts his face in his hands*


    Annelise: Cory¡­


    Cory: Honey, I need a break for a minute, okay?


    Cory speed-walks out of the room and takes a walk outside. The Commander and Annelise sit on the sofa together in the living room.


    Annelise: Don¡¯t worry about Cory. He¡¯ll be alright.


    Commander: I cannot help worrying about Cory.


    Annelise puts her hand on the Commander¡¯s shoulder. The Commander looks at the television for a second.


    Commander: What is the purpose of the television?


    Annelise: Mostly entertainment, but you can also use it for information.


    Commander: Information?


    Annelise:*nods* I¡¯ll turn on the news.


    Annelise grabs the remote and turns on the National News. The Commander watches intently.


    News Anchor(on TV): Good evening. I¡¯m Danielle Strauss here in Washington, D.C. Yesterday, video was sent to us from a witness¡¯s Iphone of the explosion of around sixty cars right here in Washington.


    The video appears on the screen of the television. It shows a seemingly ordinary woman walking through the crosswalk. The Commander sits up quickly.


    Annelise: What is it?


    The woman abruptly turns around. Immediately afterward, the cars on both sides of the street explode in a fiery cloud.


    News Anchor: This video has sparked much controversy, but the government has verified that it is real and unedited. The woman in the video appears to be Janis Daun, an imprisoned biologist, but an eye scan could not identify her with any of the criminals on the government watchlist, including Daun.


    The Commander is shaken with fear.


    News Anchor: In an investigation, the FBI found security footage of an experiment in Project Persephone, a classified project funded by the government to make contact with extraterrestrials.


    The video shows a metal circle, labeled Paradox, sparking and emitting visible electrical charges. Suddenly, the power in the room goes out. Then, the machine explodes and shatters. When the power comes back on, what looks like green algae-like slime is all over the room. Janis Daun and Abram Hues enter the experiment area. The slime forms itself into a crowd of human-like, living figures. Janis Daun reaches out to touch one of them. Right after she does, the humanoid figure shifts form until it looks exactly like her. The rest of them follow suit, taking many different human forms.


    News Anchor: The leader of the strange creatures has been named the Evil Alien Empress, or E.A.E., by scientists and mathmeticians.


    Annelise*scared but a bit amused by the name*: Why do they always let scientists and mathmeticians name stuff?


    Commander:*stands up from the sofa* She is not an alien!


    Annelise: Then, what is she?


    Commander: She is an interdimensional.


    Annelise: Is that what you are?


    Commander: No. I am of a different kind than she is. Her species cannot travel outside of the multiverse. I can. Her species also has less abilities than I do. But, they are much more powerful than humans.


    The Commander continues solemnly.


    Commander: I have traveled through every universe that exists. They were all desolate wastelands, devoid of any life. But I could tell that these worlds once contained life in abundance. Many even had intelligent life at another point in time. Your universe is the only one that I have traveled to that still contains life within it.


    Annelise: What happened to those other worlds?


    Commander:*signals to the TV* She destroyed them. Her goal was to rule every universe, but her reign destroyed every one of them that she conquered. They would now be described, as I have read from books, as a living hell. Now, she only has one universe left to conquer.


    Annelise*is stricken with fear*: Then, how can we stop her?


    The Commander ponders Annelise¡¯s question for a minute. Then he has a vision. In this vision, he feels intense pain, is physically drained, and many other feelings that he has never felt before, but feelings that he recognizes as human feelings.


    Commander: I will have to defeat her. I am the only one who can.

 Origins: Scene 4

    (During the night, the Commander undergoes a major change in his form)


    Annelise has just finished making pancakes and sausage for Cory when the Commander walks into the kitchen. Both Annelise and Cory notice something different about him. He looks joyful, though.


    Annelise: Is there something you need? You don¡¯t usually wake up this early unless you¡¯re helping me with something.


    Commander:*nods* Yes, some food would be nice.


    Annelise: Why? You haven¡¯t eaten anything since you got here four years ago. You told me that you didn¡¯t need to.


    Commander: Well, now, I must say that I am famished. I need sustenance.


    Annelise gets the Commander a plate of food. Cory watches. He is concerned for the Commander and feels guilty for his distrust.


    Commander: Annelise, I feel such vigor. I have never felt this before. I feel the air rushing through my lungs. My heart beats.


    Annelise: What happened to you? Why have you done this to yourself?


    Commander: I will show you and Cory why I have changed later.


    Cory: Why can¡¯t you just show us right now?


    Commander: Because I have to eat.


    Annelise sighs.


    Later, the Commander calls Annelise and Cory into the living room.


    Commander: I can show you why I have changed form, but I cannot allow you to feel the emotions associated with the reason.


    Before Annelise and Cory can ask what the Commander means, a vision comes over them. They see the Evil Alien Empress sitting in the president¡¯s chair in the Oval Office with a wicked grin spread across her face. They see flashes of a countdown clock on many screens outside. There are only three minutes left. Time seems to move quickly. They see the Commander being forcefully pulled to the Empress by a crying woman with medical instruments. They see the Commander being hooked up to the Empress. He screams in agony as the Empress drains the blood from his body.


    Cory: Stop!


    The vision stops. Annelise and Cory are back in their house again. Annelise is in tears.


    Annelise: You¡¯ve inherited death!


    Commander:*nods*


    Cory has his face in his hands: No, no! There has to be¡­something else we can do!


    Commander: I am afraid that this is the way it must be done.


    Cory: I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry that I didn¡¯t trust you! But I can¡¯t let you do this! What about us?! Me and Annelise?!


    Commander: Your kindness is what convinced me that your kind is worth saving. *He turns to Annelise* Annelise, you welcomed me even though you had never met me. You have taught me about the feelings and emotions of humans. You¡¯ve taught me to laugh and cry. Because of you, I know what the warmth and affection of a hug feels like.*He turns to Cory* You have taught me about the concepts of art, chores, and working. You have taught me about the need to protect loved ones from harm. Now, I know how to create art, use a handsaw, and use a blowtorch to fuse metals. I am greatly indebted to both of you and you will always hold a special place in my heart. You have truly made me feel like family, like a son.


    Annelise hugs the Commander: That¡¯s because you are.


    Cory hugs the Commander: Some bonds in life go beyond blood.


    Commander: I will have to head to Washington, D.C. in two days if the plan is to be carried out on time.


    Annelise: Two days?!


    Commander:*nods*


    Cory: What can we do to help?


    Commander: I¡¯m afraid that there is not much aid that you can provide.


    Annelise: Then we¡¯ll go with you!


    Commander: You cannot accompany me to the Whitehouse. It would be far too dangerous. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Annelise: Can we at least go to the city with you? We can stay in a hotel nearby. We just want to be close by.


    Commander:*thinks* I suppose that would be alright, but we would have to part ways once we arrive at the airport. It would do more harm than good if I came to the hotel with you.


    A tear runs down Annelise¡¯s face, but she nods in agreement.


    Cory: Then, it¡¯s settled we¡¯ll fly to D.C. the day after tomorrow.


    Later, Annelise is sobbing in her bedroom as she tries to pack her suitcase. The Commander tries to comfort her.


    Commander: Annelise, the emotion that you feel¡­what is it? It seems much stronger and greater than sadness. Much more draining.


    Annelise keeps sobbing into her hands. The Commander wraps her in a hug.


    Annelise: I¡¯m sorry! I should be the one comforting you!


    Commander: No, don¡¯t apologize.


    After Annelise can compose herself, she explains what she¡¯s feeling.


    Annelise: What I¡¯m feeling is called grief, specifically anticipatory grief. It¡¯s a type of grief often felt by parents of children with deadly illnesses. They know that their children haven¡¯t died yet,...


    Commander: ¡­But they will die within a time that is soon or seems soon to them.


    Annelise nods: I learned that in psychology. I never thought that I would feel it myself, but I guess no one does.


    Commander: How does one cope with grief?


    Annelise: You cry for days and days, but you spend the time that you have left with the person as richly as you possibly can. Then, time passes and you eventually come to peace with the fact that you have lost someone that you love.


    Commander: Do you need to cry for a long time to be able to overcome this pain later on?


    Annelise:*nods*


    Annelise cries and sobs while the Commander holds her close. This is the first time that Annelise has hugged the Commander and heard a heartbeat. Eventually, Annelise stops crying. She looks at the Commander¡¯s face.


    Annelise: Beyond, your eyes¡­They¡¯re not silver anymore.


    The Commander nods: They¡¯re hazel, like yours.


    Annelise: You didn¡¯t have to do that! You¡¯re beautiful just the way you are!


    Commander: You¡¯re right. I did not have to change my eyes. I chose to.


    Annelise*smiles sadly*: I love you, Beyond.


    Commander: I love you, too, Annelise.


    Annelise kisses the top of the Commander¡¯s head.


    Annelise: Do you need anything? Food? I can make lunch if you want.


    Commander: No, you need to rest. I¡¯ll make lunch.


    Annelise: But you don¡¯t know how to cook.


    The Commander smiles: I will figure it out.


    (The next day goes by, and Cory, the Commander, and Annelise head to the airport and board a plane headed for Washington, D.C. in the morning. The Commander has an uneasy feeling about the flight)


    The flight attendants are going over the instructions for life vests and oxygen masks.


    Cory: What¡¯s wrong?


    Commander: There is something that is going to happen on this plane that I am nervous about.


    Cory: What is it?


    Commander:*thinks for a second* I¡­I cannot see it. This must be one of the prices of my changed form.


    Cory: Then how were you able to show us the vision a couple days ago?


    Commander: I experience the vision before I changed form. I haven¡¯t been experiencing visions since.


    Cory*picks up his book and puts on his reading glasses*: Welcome to Club Homo Sapien: Where you see everything except the stuff you need to see.


    Annelise*laughs*: Cory!


    The fasten seatbelts light comes on as the plane begins to roll onto the runway. Then, the plane¡¯s speed increases and it takes off.


    Annelise shows the Commander how to use the miniature television on the seats and how to see how much longer the flight will take. It¡¯s clear from his quick ability to use it, however, that he already knew.


    The Commander looks around at the people on the plane. Everyone from every walk and stage of life is sitting in the cabin. From two young college students on the cusp of love, to a woman five months pregnant, her husband resting his hand lovingly on her swollen belly, to a family of five sitting in separate rows, but still talking to each other. The Commander smiles and lets himself fall asleep contently.


    When the Commander wakes up, he looks at the miniature TV and sees that there is only thirty minutes left of his flight. Thirty minutes left of his time with Annelise and Cory in this stage of his life. Annelise¡¯s head is rested against Cory¡¯s shoulder and both of them are asleep. Their hands are still intertwined. The Commander holds their joined hands. A tear rolls down his face. Then, he hears a voice.


    Woman: Rachel, we don¡¯t grab things!


    The Commander turns around to see that a toddler and her mother are standing in the aisle beside him. The toddler had grabbed a man¡¯s journal. The woman hands the journal back to the man.


    Woman: I¡¯m so sorry. Rachel¡¯s a grabber. *she picks up the toddler*


    Tyler: No, it¡¯s alright. I work in pediatrics. We get grabbers, biters, and everyone in between. *he smiles*


    Woman: Thanks for your patience.


    Tyler nods: Anytime.


    The map on the miniature television screen shows that the plane has entered Maryland airspace. The Commander suddenly feels a burst of anxiety. Every passenger looks out the window as two black fighter jets emerge beside the plane. The Commander hears the discussion of the pilots of the commercial airliner and the pilots of the fighter jets.


    Fighter jet pilot: The U.S. government has declared a state of national emergency. Air Force One was struck down about fifteen minutes ago, but we weren¡¯t able to locate the enemy jet, if there even was one. Both the President and Vice President have been killed.


    Commercial pilot: *Gasps* Oh my gosh! (To herself) Okay, Delilah, breathe. You¡¯ve been trained for this. (To the fighter jet pilot) Alright, what¡¯s the plan?


    The Commander hears incessant whispering coming from the fighter jet pilot¡¯s mind which gets louder and louder.

 Origins: Scene 5

    Fighter jet pilot: You¡¯ll have to do an emergency landing. There¡¯s a field nearby.


    Wyverna(to fighter pilot): They have an enemy onboard. Shoot them down once they reach an optimal altitude over the field.


    Commercial pilot: Roger that. (Over intercom): The fasten seatbelt light is on. Unfortunately, we will have to do an emergency landing in a wide field. There¡¯s going to be some turbulence. And, for heaven¡¯s sake, I hope you listened to the safety demonstration!


    Commander(telepathically to Wyverna): If you think that I cannot hear you, you are sorely mistaken.


    Wyverna*startled*: Who are you?! How did you get into my head?!


    Commander: I am called Beyond by the inhabitants of Earth.


    Wyverna tries to search the Commander¡¯s head and fails miserably. It gives her an intense headache.


    Wyverna: If you are thinking about interrupting my plans, be warned! I have never failed before!


    Commander: We both know that is a lie.


    The Commander searches through Wyverna¡¯s head and Wyverna can¡¯t stop him.


    Wyverna: Stop it! Aaagh! Why do you want to save a plane full of humans anyway? Humans are putrid creatures! They have been and always will be!


    Commander: Have you ever even met a human that you haven¡¯t killed?


    Wyverna: I have, actually. She works for me. Her name is Emily Dante. Say hello, Dante.


    The Commander is stricken with anger and sadness when he senses a human woman beside Wyverna. She weakly says hello to him.


    Wyverna: I know the passenger manifest. That little seven-year-old boy, Danny Valentine, he looks innocent, right? Well, from the way that his family and social life spirals down into a pit of insanity, I would guess a ninety-eight percent chance that he becomes a school shooter who murders innocent young humans that did nothing to him. Many of the other children on this plane and around the world, that you strangely put faith in as the future of humanity, end up just like Danny Valentine. They become killers when they grow older. Now, you wouldn¡¯t want to bet millions of lives on a two-percent chance, would you? But, if you and I formed an alliance, we could make this world a paradise. No more school shootings, no more terrorism, no more violence, no more manipulation, injury, illness. (Whispers) No more death. Imagine it. You could own an entire universe and make it into whatever you wanted it to be.


    The Commander sees into Wyverna¡¯s mind. The universe that she is imagining seems like a paradise. Everything grows and grows, more and more beautiful. Animals leap and bound in nature. The stars and planets across the universe line up perfectly and have the same, beautiful ecosystems. Except, there is one problem. In the midst of all this beauty, ruins from civilizations are everywhere. There are no more human or alien civilizations of any kind, anywhere in the universe. They are all gone. The Commander peels back the picture of paradise like a paper screen. Inside, there is destruction, chaos. Fire blazes everywhere and humans are all but charred corpses. Every other civilization in the universe is the same way.


    Wyverna: Just join me and¡­


    Commander*smirks*: I will have to interrupt you. You and I are nothing alike. You cannot possibly think that I will submit to the will of someone like yourself. After all, you have just assassinated both the President and Vice President of the United States. Your plan is to solve murder and illness with more murder and illness.


    Wyverna stands amazed that the Commander resisted her. Then she smiles: Unfortunately, everyone on this plane has the Abramian Organ. I can simply paralyze the pilot and copilot and the jet will crash.


    Commander: Your plan will not work. I temporarily paralyzed the organ in everyone on this plane three minutes ago, while you were giving your little oration as a precaution.


    Wyverna*shouts in anger and throws stuff*: I guess we¡¯ll have to do things the hard way, then!


    The Commander shakes Annelise and Cory awake.


    Annelise: What¡¯s the matter?


    Commander: The one that your people call the Evil Alien Empress plans to attack the plane. I cannot see the details of her plans, but I suspect that someone inside the aircraft may be working for her.


    Annelise: What do you need me to do?


    Commander: There is a U.S. Air Marshal on board four rows ahead of where we are sitting. Alert him of this.


    Annelise: But what if he doesn¡¯t believe me?


    Commander: Do not worry, Annelise. He will.


    Annelise walks over to the Air Marshal.


    Annelise: Sir¡­


    Marshal: This had better be something important!


    Annelise: Sir, a family member of mine thinks that one of the E.A.E.¡¯s allies is onboard.


    The Air Marshal¡¯s brow furrows: Are you sure?This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Annelise: I¡¯m very sure.


    Marshal: I¡¯ll have a quick check. (He stands up quickly) I need everyone to raise their heads above their heads immediately!


    The passangers groan.


    Marshal: This is just a quick safety inspection. I promise it won¡¯t take long.


    The U.S. Air Marshal checks the passengers row after row. When he reaches the back row, everyone seems to be clean. That is, until he checks a woman in the back row who hasn¡¯t raised her hands.


    Marshal: Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m going to need to you to lift your hands above your head.


    Miss Direction*smirks*: If you say so!


    Miss Direction raises her hands above her head. Suddenly, an electrical current springs from the ground and shocks the Air Marshal, rendering him unconscious. Every passenger turns around and is terrified.


    Wyverna to Miss Direction(telepathically):Kill the pilots.


    Miss Direction seems to immediately disappear. Then, she reappears in the cockpit and takes out both the pilot and the copilot by strangling them telekinetically. Miss Direction then reappears in the cabin, though she now looks exhausted. At this point, the passengers are panicking and screaming ¡°We¡¯re all gonna die!¡± The plane begins to tip forward. The Commander begins to realize what¡¯s happening.


    Commander: Cory! You were a pilot for two years! You will need to fly the plane!


    Cory: Me?!


    Commander: Go! I will handle the Empress¡¯s ally!


    Cory runs into the cockpit, pushes the bodies out of the way, and grabs the yoke to bring the nose of the plane back up. He then puts on the pilot¡¯s headset.


    Fighter jet pilot: We¡¯re nearing the field. If you don¡¯t lower the plane soon, we¡¯ll have no choice but to shoot you down.


    Cory: Sir, this is Cory Presley. The pilot and copilot have been compromised and there is an active hijacking of the plane! One of the E.A.E.¡¯s allies is aboard!


    Fighter jet pilot: But they haven¡¯t overtaken the cockpit?


    Cory: What?! No! I¡¯m flying the plane! Or trying to! Oh, dang! We¡¯ve passed the field! Please don¡¯t shoot us down!!! There¡¯s hundreds of people onboard! I¡¯ve got a wife with me and a¡­a son¡­please¡­!


    Fighter jet pilot: We¡¯re still waiting for the Speaker of the House to give further instructions.


    Cory: Thank heavens for government delays! Oh, sorry! That sounded bad! I promise I¡¯m not a threat! I¡¯ve been saying the Pledge of Allegiance since I was a kid! I talk too much when I¡¯m scared!


    Fighter jet pilot:...I honestly don¡¯t know what to say to that, but try to stay calm. You¡¯ll have to land at Dulles International Airport. I¡¯ll inform air traffic control of the circumstances.


    Back in the cabin, the Commander has pinned Miss Direction to the wall. Miss Direction grins and grabs a passenger¡¯s phone from their hands with her mind. The invisible connection of wifi strengthens her. She pushes the Commander onto the ground. The Commander is shaken and in pain from his head crashing against the floor. Miss Direction uses this opportunity to lift him up and throw him against the wall of the cabin. A window breaks and the oxygen masks are deployed. Annelise and everyone else in the cabin quickly put on the oxygen masks. The Commander quickly gets back up, though he is bleeding and in pain, and grabs Miss Direction by the neck. He then runs and gets her far away from any phones before opening the emergency exit hatch.


    Commander: I know that you will survive the fall, but that¡¯s not important right now.


    He throws Miss Direction out of the plane''s window. The Commander suddenly feels drowsy and nauseous, and his hands have a sickly blue tinge. Annelise calls out to him in a muffled voice and points to the oxygen masks. The Commander stumbles over to the nearest mask and puts it on. He immediately feels relief. Cory speaks over the intercom through his oxygen mask.


    Cory: Alright, folks. They¡¯re not going to shoot us down. We¡¯re almost to Dulles, but the landing might be a bit rough. I haven¡¯t flown a plane in a while, so bear with me.


    The plane keeps flying steadily, and for a while, everything seems to be going well. Suddenly, the AoA sensor light begins to flash. The nose of the jet begins to dip.


    Cory: What the heck?! The nose was fine, why¡­Dang it! It¡¯s a Boeing! Why¡¯d those engineers have to slack now?! (Over intercom) Annelise, you need to help me land the plane!


    Annelise slips off her oxygen mask and runs into the cockpit. The Commander watches her intently to make sure that she makes it to the flight deck and puts on the oxygen mask. After putting on the copilot oxygen mask, Annelise looks at the control panel in front of her.


    Annelise: Cory, I¡¯ve never flown a plane before!


    Cory: It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll teach you. Here, just grab the yoke and pull up slowly. We don¡¯t want the nose too high.


    Annelise obeys Cory¡¯s instructions.


    Cory smiles: See, you¡¯re a natural!


    Back in the cabin, the Commander watches as the other passengers tighten their seatbelts and grip the arms of the chairs, anticipating the rough landing. A father holds his five-year-old son close to his chest. The pregnant woman and her husband kiss through oxygen masks, tears falling down their faces. The Commander smiles. Suddenly, many alarms sound on the plane.


    Cory slaps the control panel in frustration: No, not the altitude indicator, too! I¡¯ve failed everyone on this stupid plane!!!


    Annelise puts her hand on Cory¡¯s shoulder: This isn¡¯t your fault. I can see the runway. We can still land safely.


    Cory: I said I¡¯d keep you safe! I promised your parents I¡¯d do anything to protect you! Now we¡¯re all gonna die!


    Annelise: And you¡¯ve kept that promise. You¡¯ve helped everyone on this plane by taking over control when the pilot died.


    Cory sighs: I guess we¡¯ll have to eyeball the runway.


    The alarms keep sounding. Time seems to move slowly.


    Cory: Annelise, do you remember when we met in Yellowstone?


    Annelise: Of course I remember. You guided my group on a tour of Old Faithful.


    Cory: I knew that there was something special about you. Some gleam in your eye or something.


    Annelise smiles: You know, when we were teenagers, being called special wasn¡¯t a good thing. It was a way of calling someone slow.


    Cory: But before that, it was a positive term.


    The plane drops closer and closer to the runway.


    Cory: Do you see that button that says ¡°Landing Gear¡±?


    Annelise: Yes, I do. Should I press it?


    Cory nods. Annelise presses the button.


    Cory instructs the passengers over the intercom: Everyone hold on to something! This is gonna be rough!


    The plane¡¯s wheels skid across the runway, sending sparks flying. The passengers all lean forward as the plane screeches to a halt after nearly crashing into the terminal.


    Cory and Annelise both sigh in relief and take off their oxygen masks.


    Cory: You can now remove your oxygen masks. Thank you for flying Jet Blue on a Boeing 747, who I may or may not be suing after this incident. Have a nice time in Washington, D.C.!


    The passengers clap and cheer for Cory. Ambulances and other emergency vehicles arrive to survey the scene. A paramedic asks Annelise and Cory if they are alright, to which they reply that they are. Annelise then turns around and searches for the Commander. She and Cory find him on the other side of the plane.

 Origins: Scene 6

    Commander: This is where I will have to leave you.


    Annelise looks solemn but nods in understanding.


    Commander: Annelise, you are a powerful, kind, compassionate, and unique woman. You will be a beacon of hope for humans everywhere, even in dark times. (He hugs her and kisses her cheek) Cory, take extra care of Annelise during this time. She will need you. Protect this special woman for me, like you promised her parents. (He hugs Cory and kisses his cheek). I love you both with all of my heart.


    Before Cory and Annelise can return the phrase, the Commander heads in a different direction and they part ways. Annelise and Cory take a taxi to the nearest hotel and book a room. Meanwhile, the Commander begins his trek toward the White House. He touches his forehead and his fingers come back red. He feels sharp pain all over his body, but he keeps walking. Eventually, he feels weak and dizzy and sits down on a bench. The Commander sits on the bench for a while, pondering this new, human sensation called pain, when a woman approaches him.


    Susanna: Hi! You were on the plane, right? Montana to D.C.?


    The Commander nods: I was.


    Susanna: What you did was really brave. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen any of the military officials on television fight an E.A.E. ally head-on.


    Commander: Well, I do not think that the U.S. soldiers are able to compete with them. Susanna, how do you treat wounds like this? (He points to his forehead)


    Susanna: How did you¡­Oh, right! You must¡¯ve watched The Bachelor! I¡¯ll never get over it! Sorry, um¡­I¡¯d say you probably need stitches. But I think that disinfecting the wounds would be a good first step.


    Commander: Thank you.


    Susanna: Sure. Have a nice vacation.


    Susanna walks away. The Commander walks over to a Walgreens and buys some hydrogen peroxide. When he applies it to his wounds, he grimaces in pain. Even the products that are supposed to heal hurt him.


    The Commander then realizes that he is hungry. He heads over to a fast-food joint and buys a sandwich to eat. The Commander travels to a park, but it¡¯s getting late and he feels very tired, another human sensation that he has never felt before. He finds a spot in the grass and struggles to fall asleep. The next day, the Commander is woken up by two preteen boys who are pitching a baseball to each other in the park.


    Joe: You okay, bruh?


    The Commander rubs his eyes: I am not at my best, but I believe I will be alright.


    Will: Are you homeless?


    Joe: Will! You can¡¯t just go up to a dude and be like ¡®Hey, are you homeless?¡¯


    Will: Well, he was sleeping in the grass in the park.


    Commander: I am not homeless. I have a home, but it is far away from here.


    Joe: Like West Virginia?


    The Commander smiles: No, farther abroad than West Virginia. One of my homes is in Montana.


    Joe: Oh, I gotcha. Why¡¯re you sleeping in the middle of the park then?


    Commander: I am on a very important mission.


    Joe: So you¡¯re a C.I.A. agent?


    Will: Give the guy a break, wouldja?! Look at his head! He probably got in a fight with someone!


    Commander: So, what are you two boys doing in the park?


    Joe(annoyedly): Well, my mom told us we had to play real baseball instead of V.R. baseball. It¡¯s the same thing!


    Commander: You should listen to your mother. The real experience is often better than a simulation.


    Then, Joe¡¯s phone rings. He answers.


    Joe(on the phone): Hello? Oh¡­you said fifteen minutes. Okay, I¡¯ll be home in a few. Yes, I mean it. Bye. (Joe hangs up and turns to the Commander) Mom says we have to go home. She¡¯s been really strict ever since¡­the incident yesterday. I guess I¡¯ll see you around. Bye¡­


    The Commander smiles: Beyond. My name is Beyond.


    Joe and Will: Bye, Beyond. Cool name, by the way.


    The two boys hurry onto the sidewalk and head home. The Commander¡¯s head aches even more as he thinks about his plan to defeat Wyverna. Wyverna sucking all of the blood from his body will be very painful and he will die. He doesn¡¯t know what death is like, but it does not sound particularly appealing. But if he doesn¡¯t go through with it, all intelligent life on earth, including the two boys, will be destroyed. There will be no more humans. No more laughing, hugs, art, inventions. No more love shared between friends, romantic partners, parents, and their children. No, he couldn¡¯t let that happen. The Commander looks at the clock on the screen on the side of a building. It¡¯s almost time.


    Meanwhile, at a hotel, Annelise and Cory are trying to cope with their emotions.


    Cory: Annelise, is there anything that I can do to make this less painful for you?


    Annelise shakes her head. Cory sighs, sits down beside Annelise, and hugs her.


    Cory: I love you. It hurts me to see you like this.


    Annelise: I loved him like my own child.


    Cory nods: Me too. I don¡¯t know why I didn¡¯t trust him.


    Annelise: You wanted to take care of me, and you have taken care of me.


    Cory: You know, when we first started dating, I noticed how magical your smile was. Your smile had something about it. Something beautiful. Something pure and true. Now, I worry that I will never see you smile again.


    A tear rolls down Annelise¡¯s face: I have that same worry, but I worry about something much greater. I worry about the Commander¡¯s death. I know people who have died from less grief than me. If the Commander succeeds in his plans, which I pray that he will, what will become of me? What if I get sick from heartache and die?


    Cory: Annie, don¡¯t talk like that! You¡¯re not thinking correctly! What about the people in your life that love you?!This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Annelise: I¡¯m not saying that I¡¯ll harm myself. I¡¯m saying that the pain of grief might kill me. I¡¯ve had it happen to many patients of mine recently. Some chemical misfires in their brains.


    Cory: Well, I¡¯ll make sure that doesn¡¯t happen.


    Annelise: How?


    Cory: I¡­don¡¯t know.


    Cory pulls Annelise closer to him.


    Annelise: You haven¡¯t called me ¡°Annie¡± in years.


    Cory: I know. I should start calling you that more often.


    Suddenly, the television flickers on. Wyverna¡¯s face appears on the screen. Every screen on every non-mobile device in the city is this way.


    Wyverna: Hello, citizens of Earth. Oh, what¡¯s the point of formalities?! In exactly seventy-two hours, I am going to personally wipe each one of you off of the face of the earth! Then, a new era will begin! Earth will be mine! Then, the solar system! Then, the Milky Way Galaxy! Then, the universe! EVERYTHING WILL BE DONE IN THE WAY I DESIRE!!! THE PERFECT WAY! Don¡¯t you see?! Filthy humans! I am not your rival! I am not your enemy! I am your successor! I AM THE NEXT STEP IN THE EVOLUTIONARY JOURNEY!!! YOU WERE TOO PRIMITIVE!!! SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR PLANET, YOU DIMWITTED RACE!!! (She then bursts out in a triumphant laugh)


    The screens then change from Wyverna¡¯s face to a red timer counting down seventy-two hours.


    Cory: Annelise, is your phone still working?


    Annelise checks the screen on her smartphone: Yes, it¡¯s normal. Why?


    Cory: I wanted to check the news. See if other stuff is going on. Maybe that would distract me.


    Annelise: Go ahead.


    Cory: Hmmm¡­ ¡°Unethical Scientist¡¯s Life Sentence Changed To Death Sentence¡±(Cory reads the article) After the recent deaths of President Harold Swinton and Vice President Amanda Olivera, the American people have overthrown the judges and demanded that Janis Daun, one of the scientists at Project Persephone who released the E.A.E. into the world, be executed by chemical injection within two days. This historic violation of the Sixth Amendment demonstrates just how chaotic the United States and the world have become in this last week.


    Annelise perks up: Where is Janis Daun?


    Cory: Wow! Daun¡¯s being held at a high-security prison nearby!


    Annelise: I want to go see her.


    Cory:...You¡¯re kidding, right?


    Annelise shakes her head: I¡­I don¡¯t know how to explain it. I know that I should go see her. I¡­feel this connection to her.


    Cory: Why? You¡¯ve never met her, you two are nothing alike, and now we¡¯re all going to die because of her.


    Annelise: I don¡¯t know.


    Cory sighs: Well, I¡¯m not going to let you go by yourself right now, so I¡¯m coming with you.


    Annelise: Thank you, Cory.


    The two head to the high-security prison. The usually busy streets of Washington D.C. are silent. Everyone is hiding inside. Once they arrive, however, there are two men in front of the prison with machine guns. Not guards or wardens, just angry citizens.


    Cory clears his throat: My wife would like to speak to Ms. Daun.


    Citizen: You can¡¯t come inside. She¡¯ll be executed in two hours.


    Cory: So, she¡¯s still alive? Then why can¡¯t we talk to her? Also, where are all the people who actually run this place?


    Citizen: We killed them. They were too weak to give Janis Daun what she deserved.


    Cory(sarcastically): Well that¡¯s just lovely! Now can we please go in before you murder a person who was given a life sentence by the Supreme Court?!


    Citizen: No.


    Cory: Well, they¡¯re not going to let us in. We might as well go.


    Annelise: Wait! Maybe they¡¯ll let me go in there if I go alone.


    Cory: Go into a maximum security prison?! Alone?!


    Annelise: I promise I¡¯ll be careful, but this must be done.


    Cory sighs: Alright. Just¡­please be careful.


    Annelise nods and turns to the armed citizen: Would it be alright if I went to see Ms. Daun alone?


    Citizen: I¡­guess that would be alright. Come on, I¡¯ll lead you in.


    Annelise looks back at Cory who is watching her walk into the prison. The inside of the building has white walls and a concrete floor. There are surprisingly few prisoners in the cells.


    Citizen: She should be inside this cell.


    Annelise: Thank you so much.


    The Citizen walks away.


    Daun: Are you here to kill me?


    Annelise: No, I¡¯m not here to kill you. I want to talk to you. I want to know about the events that are happening.


    Daun: Of course you do.


    Annelise: I want to help you as best I can.


    Daun: Why would you want to help me?


    Annelise: I¡¯ve felt a sort of pull towards you recently. I don¡¯t know what it is.


    Daun: Wait¡­What¡¯s your name?


    Annelise: Annelise Presley.


    Daun: Did your parents call you¡­


    Both: Annie.


    Daun: So they weren¡¯t just dreams.


    Annelise: What are you talking about?


    Daun: Ever since I was thrown in prison, I¡¯ve had dreams about a girl named Annie Tira. She was around fifteen years old when I first began dreaming about her. Then, as time drew on, she began to get older and older. She had blonde hair and freckles, just like you.


    Annelise: My maiden name is Tira.


    Daun sucks in a breath: How? Who are you? Why are you in my dreams?


    Annelise: I don¡¯t know any more than you do.


    The two pause to let this new information set in.


    Annelise: So, can you tell me about what happened with the Project Persephone incident?


    Daun: Well, I was actually kind of roped into it. No, that¡¯s a lie. I wanted to be a part of Project Persephone, but I didn¡¯t see the goal of communicating with extraterrestrials as realistic. I was still quite interested, though. I thought I¡¯d check it out. I¡¯m a biologist, not a physicist, so I was surprised when the government let me look into the project.


    Annelise: I¡¯m guessing that the real trouble started when you visited the area of the project.


    Daun smiles mournfully: Yes, that¡¯s right. I was led through a tour of the classified area of Project Persephone by Dr. Abram Hues, the leading nuclear physicist. I even got to see their supposed extraterrestrial communication device, the Paradox. I remember it clear as day: A mounted silver ring, about six feet in diameter. When activated, it performed a sequence of small-scale nuclear reactions that allowed the computer¡¯s communication interface to connect with another universe. At first, I scoffed when Dr. Hues said that his team had discovered about sixteen parallel and perpendicular universes¡­


    Annelise: What¡¯s a perpendicular universe?


    Daun: It¡¯s a universe that is in many ways the exact opposite of our own, unlike a parallel universe which is the same as our universe in many ways. At least, that¡¯s the way Dr. Hues explained it to me. Anyway, I got to see the first test of the Paradox. I wasn¡¯t expecting to see anything exciting. The machine fired up for around five minutes before Dr. Hues began typing into the eighties-level computer that was supposed to speak with people from parallel universes. He asked what I wanted to ask the parallel universe people and I burst out laughing. But I told him that I wanted to ask them if they were real. So he did. He typed ¡®Are you real?¡¯ into the computer. I was¡­I don¡¯t know how I felt. Shocked, excited, and fearful, because we got a response. We got a real-life response from a person from a parallel universe. It said ¡®Yes, we are real. Who are you?¡¯ We could have stopped there and celebrated, had a pizza party or something. We should have stopped. But we didn¡¯t.


    Annelise: Why not?


    Janis Daun shrugs: Science, I guess. We wanted to know everything that we could. We wanted to know the secrets of the universe. Dr. Hues typed in another question, some metaphysical something or another. But only seconds after he hit send, the machine began to malfunction. Electrical currents began being sucked into its core. Alarms! Alarms sounded everywhere! The electricity went out and we couldn¡¯t see anything. Then, the backup generator kicked on and the lights came back on. The whole experiment area was covered in this green slime, like a fungus or algae. Dr. Hues and I stepped into the area against our better judgement. *Daun shivers as she remembers what happened next* The slime, algae, whatever, began to form into these shapes. They were much like human forms, but so¡­eerily different at the same time. I reached out my hand to touch one of these beings. They were so unlike anything that I had ever seen in my career. Beings that survived outside of Earth. Then, I blacked out. I can¡¯t remember anything after that except waking up in a hospital two years later. Yet, no one seemed to know that it was two years later. Somehow, everyone thought that today was been April 5, 2014, even though I remembered that it was April 5, 2012, before I blacked out. I asked the hospital staff what day I had fallen into a coma, but they all said that I had just fainted and that I had only been out for a couple of hours. I asked them what the year was that I had fainted, and they looked confused. Everyone said that I had fainted that day in 2014.

 Origins: Scene 7

    Annelise: What do you think happened?


    Daun: I¡¯m getting to that. I tried to brush off what happened as a weird, ¡®glitch in the matrix¡¯ thing. Until I got a new job as an anatomist. Then, I started seeing a strange, new organ in multiple cadavers. It was small, about the size of a peanut, but it was the same, strange green as the slime-beings from years ago. I talked with some of my doctor friends and they said that they had been saying that they were seeing a similar organ during MRIs. And this wasn¡¯t just some of their patients. This organ was in every single one of their patients. I took out one of the organs from a cadaver and began experimenting on it. It seemed to secrete a chemical that none of my colleagues could identify. Then, we got a bit experiment-happy. I met with Dr. Hues and we surgically attached this organ to the brainstem of a living chimpanzee. It didn¡¯t seem to affect the chimp. Then, when we activated the chemicals using a microchip, the creature froze in place. I told it to pick up the ball. It almost robotically obeyed. We gave it a series of other commands, in different forms, and it responded the same way each time.


    Annelise sits in tense silence for a beat: What happened then?


    Daun: I found out everything when the Feds detained me for breached ethics. They told me what really happened¡­What I assume you saw on the news recently. I was never to tell anyone about the interdimensionals, Project Persephone, or the Abramian organ, as it had come to be called. The government wanted to keep this information from spreading, so as not to alarm the public. Ha! You can only keep the presence of interdimensionals on Earth a secret for so long! Why did they even try?! *She begins to sob* Those miserable, wretched creatures! Why must they have taken everything from me?! That one! She even took my face!


    Janis Daun raises her face from her hands to reveal what appears to be an older version of Wyverna¡¯s(the E.A.E.¡¯s) face. Annelise is stricken with grief at seeing what Wyverna has done to Daun.


    Daun: I know it was my fault!!! I was a fool! An absolute idiot! If I could fix it, I would! But I can¡¯t! I can¡¯t!


    Janis Daun begins sobbing heavily. Annelise reaches through the bars of the prison cell and holds Janis Daun¡¯s hand.


    Annelise: I believe you, Janis.


    Daun: What?


    Annelise: You¡¯ve been carrying this guilt with you for many years. You¡¯ve apologized multiple times, but no one has forgiven you.


    Daun: How did you know?


    Annelise*shrugs*: I¡¯m a therapist. I¡¯ve had patients in similar situations. Not to the extent of yours, but¡­


    Daun: No, I get it. I guess they have a right to hate me. If I hadn¡¯t told Dr. Hues what to write, maybe¡­


    Annelise nods: Maybe things could have been different. But you can¡¯t change the past. You can¡¯t change what you did. People can choose whether they will forgive you or not. They may blame you and ridicule you.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Daun: Do you think that about me?


    Annelise: I can¡¯t deny the role that you played in the recent disasters, but I don¡¯t think that you¡¯re being treated justly.


    Daun: Thank you.


    Annelise: Of course. Don¡¯t give up, Daun. Even if no one else in the world forgives you, I will.*She pauses for a moment* If you don¡¯t mind, though, there¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about.


    Daun: What¡¯s that?


    Annelise: When the Abramian organ is activated, do people¡­freeze?


    Daun: Yes, they do. I was frozen in place with everyone else once, but I saw us freeze when I looked at the security footage. How did you know about that?


    Annelise replies with tears rolling down her face: I remember when I was a teenager, watching my Mom and Dad dance as they cooked dinner, and then they just¡­stopped moving. I tried everything to make them snap out of it, but I couldn¡¯t. Eventually, they went back to normal. I told them what happened and they said that I¡¯d imagined it.


    Daun stares in awe at Annelise: That¡¯s it! That¡¯s why you¡¯ve been in my dreams! You¡¯re an anomaly!


    Daun hugs Annelise through the cell bars, crying. Annelise hugs her back, even though she doesn¡¯t fully understand what¡¯s happening.


    Daun: I don¡¯t know how! How did this happen?!


    Annelise smiles weakly: Maybe our past faults have a way of being fixed later on.


    Just then, two armed citizens rush towards the cell. There are syringes in their belts.


    Citizen One: DAUN!


    The citizens shove Annelise out of the way before busting open the door to Janis Daun¡¯s cell. They then forcefully grab Daun¡¯s arm and drag her out of her prison cell screaming. Annelise tries to run after them, but another armed citizen grabs her from behind and prevents her. Annelise watches Janis Daun be pulled away to her death.


    Daun: Thank you, Annelise. Maybe we¡¯ve still got a chance.


    Janis Daun gets pulled into a room down the hallway.


    Annelise*in a broken whisper*: No¡­please¡­


    The door closes.


    The armed citizens drag Annelise out of the prison and back to Cory.


    Cory to the citizens: What did you do to my wife?!


    Annelise*crying*: Cory, she¡¯s dead.


    Cory: What?


    Annelise: Janis Daun¡¯s dead. I tried to go after her and¡­


    Cory puts his face in his hands and sighs: Really?


    Annelise nods: I saw them take her away. They had syringes.


    Annelise tries to stand up but fails.


    Cory: Annie¡­Here let me help you.


    Cory helps Annelise to her feet.


    Annelise: It¡¯s gone.


    Cory: What¡¯s gone?


    Annelise: My connection to Daun. We were linked somehow. It just¡­disappeared. I could feel it being pulled from me.


    Cory kisses Annelise¡¯s forehead: Come on. Let¡¯s get you back to the hotel.


    Annelise: Do you believe me?


    Cory: I believe you. This is just¡­a lot.


    Annelise nods.


    Cory: Let¡¯s go back. You need some rest.


    Annelise and Cory head back to the hotel and Annelise lies down on the bed to rest.

 Origins: Scene 8

    As the couple processes their situation, the Commander limps into a coffee shop and sits down at one of the tables. Unsurprisingly, there are very few people at the coffee shop. There are only three other customers and one lonesome barista. They must have stayed in the shop when the countdown began. Every television in the cafe has the red countdown clock on it. The Commander allows himself a few moments to mourn, then he scans the room. The three customers and barista are all doomscrolling on their smartphones, the only electronics that seem to work.


    Barista: Whoa!


    Customer One perks up: What is it?


    The barista smiles with glee: People are heading to N.A.S.A.! They¡¯ve got rockets to take us to the moon!


    Customer One: How are we going to live on the moon, though?


    Barista: Let me see. *She keeps scrolling*


    The Commander sighs. Humans could never outrun Wyverna, even if they escaped Earth. Suddenly, three strange people rush into the coffee shop. Two enter through the door, but one seems to have materialized from a customer¡¯s phone.


    Webmaster: EVERYONE AGAINST THE WALL!


    Everyone, including the Commander, sprints over to the back wall and stands against it. Webmaster, Refraction, and Second Law stand in front of them.


    Webmaster: Ugh! There¡¯s only five of you! Well, then¡­I will have to take one of you. We need a living human for something very*grins wickedly* important. Who will it be? Hmmm¡­


    Webmaster surveys the quivering people. Just as she is about to grab one of them randomly, one of the customers pushes the Commander forward.


    Customer One: Take him! He looks homeless anyway! Just leave us alone!


    Webmaster: I guess we have our man!


    Webmaster and Second Law forcefully grab the Commander by his arms and pull him out of the coffee shop. Webmaster then releases the Commander from her grip and seems to disappear. Refraction darkens and then vanishes. Second Law then begins to run, still holding the Commander¡¯s arm. Then, she accelerates rapidly. The whole world begins to blur around them. Suddenly, Second Law stops. The Commander leans forward as she ceases moving. The two have arrived at the White House. A camera scans Second Law.


    Camera*whirs*: Access de¡­.ni¡­deni¡­d¡­granted.


    A green light flashes and the doors of the White House open. The inside of the White House is crawling with Wyverna¡¯s interdimensional allies. Many paralyzed staff members lay on the floor. Wyverna walks down the steps toward the Commander.


    Wyverna to Second Law: I see you¡¯ve brought a specimen. Your timing was efficient, but it could have been much quicker. We¡¯ve lost fifteen minutes already!


    Second Law: Fifteen minutes?! That is but seconds in other universes!


    Wyverna: But it is not that way here! *Wyverna walks up to Second Law and the Commander* He¡¯s certainly not in peak condition. *Wyverna flicks the Commander¡¯s wounds on his head and he grimaces* You could have found a more worthy specimen. Perhaps the strongest human on Earth would produce better blood.


    Second Law: All you said was ¡®Find a human within twenty to thirty years of age!¡¯ How was I supposed to know that you wanted the strongest man on earth?!


    Wyverna: Enough! This human is the one I¡¯ll have to work with! Since you wasted precious time, I will have to get Dante to set up the experimental area within the next twelve hours. *Whispering to Second Law* The penalty for countering me is the Blank Room. Do not push my mercy.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Wyverna grabs the Commander and drags him into what seems to have been a reception office.


    Wyverna*sarcastically*: This is where you¡¯ll be staying for the next sixty hours. I hope it¡¯s to your liking. If you need anything, there will be two of my colleagues outside your door. Have a good night!


    Wyverna slams the door and two guards are positioned outside the door. The Commander notices a skinny, frail woman sitting in the corner of the room.


    Emily: Who are you?


    Commander: I am the one that Wyverna plans to use.


    Emily puts her head against her knees and begins to cry. The Commander crawls over to Emily and tries to comfort her.


    Emily: It¡¯s me! I¡¯m gonna kill you! She¡¯s making me!!!


    Commander: You have a choice. You don¡¯t have to obey the the Empress.


    Emily: You don¡¯t understand! She¡¯ll kill my family if I don¡¯t! She¡¯ll kill me! I have to! I have to!


    The Commander sighs as he watches Emily sob into her hands.


    Commander: She hasn¡¯t been feeding you, has she?


    Emily: No, she¡­she says that food is a privilege that I lost when I disobeyed her.


    A tear falls on the Commander¡¯s face. The two of them sit in silence for a long time.


    Back at the hotel, Annelise is struggling to fall asleep. She stares at the spinning ceiling fan until morning. The hotel is silent. Cory wakes up to Annelise watching the fan.


    Cory: Did you get any sleep last night?


    Annelise shakes her head: I can¡¯t sleep. Not with everything that¡¯s going on.


    Cory nods in understanding. He gets out of bed and makes a cup of coffee. Annelise forces herself to get out of bed and gets dressed.


    Cory: You need to rest, Annie. You¡¯ve been through a lot these past couple days.


    Annelise: I will rest, but staying in bed all day won¡¯t help anything. I¡¯ve told my patients that over and over again.


    Cory sighs: We don¡¯t have any food except for a few coffee pods. How are we going to eat?


    Just then, someone knocks on the door of their hotel room. Cory unplugs a lamp and carries it with him to the door to use as a weapon. He slowly opens the door. A woman with a fake tan stands in the doorway.


    Cory: Who are you?


    Susanna: Wait? You¡¯re serious? *She smiles with relief* I¡¯m Susanna Beatrice. I was staying in a room a floor down from here, but everyone just¡­left. Including the staff. This huge crowd ran outside and headed for their cars. I¡¯m pretty sure we¡¯re the only ones left in the hotel.


    Cory checks his phone: It looks like habitable rockets are being set up all over the world. They¡¯re heading to the moon. Maybe the others were going to try to board the rockets.


    Susanna: So¡­they¡¯re trying to escape.


    Cory: I think so. If you hurry, maybe you can grab a spot on one before it¡¯s too late.


    Susanna: Why haven¡¯t you gone, then?


    Cory: There¡¯s someone we¡¯re staying for. Family.


    Susanna nods and pauses for a moment: I think I¡¯ll stay, too.


    Cory: Don¡¯t stay because of me. We¡¯re complete strangers.


    Susanna: I¡¯m not staying because of you. I always imagined myself dying at home. Even though I can¡¯t get to my house in time¡­I¡¯ll at least be on Earth, in the United States.


    Cory sighs: Well, good luck, Susanna.


    Susanna nods: Thanks. Also, I checked most of the floors. There are a couple of other people who stayed, if you need someone to talk to. Levi¡¯s on the third floor in room 445A, and Tyler¡¯s on the fifth floor in room in room 873B.


    Cory: Thank you.


    Susanna nods and walks away.


    Annelise: Who was that?


    Cory: Some woman named Susanna. She says that everyone except us and a few other people rushed out of the hotel to get on rockets off Earth.


    Annelise: Rockets?


    Cory nods: I guess everyone¡¯s gonna try to escape.


    Annelise sighs: You can¡¯t run away from your problems, especially if your problem is the Evil Alien Empress.


    Cory: I agree, but I¡¯m guessing that their goal is just to buy some time for humanity.


    Cory pauses for a moment.


    Cory: Do you really think this will work?


    Annelise: Do I think what will work?


    Cory: Beyond¡¯s plan.


    Annelise: I know it will. I¡¯m sure of it. I just don¡¯t know why it has to be done¡­in this manner.


    Cory smiles weakly: I don¡¯t understand half the things that Beyond says. But maybe one day, it will make more sense. Maybe, then, we¡¯ll know why he said what he said.

 Origins: Scene 9

    As Cory and Annelise ponder the future, the Commander struggles in agonizing pain in his prison at the White House. He¡¯s beginning to understand what hunger feels like when it isn¡¯t satiated for a long period of time. Emily has left the room for the night, but is thrown back in once morning arrives. She¡¯s quite shaken.


    Emily: Have they given you anything to eat?


    The Commander shakes his head.


    Emily: It¡¯s as if they know nothing about biology! If they¡¯re going to¡­draw your blood, you need to be healthy.


    Commander: I do not suspect that my health is a priority for them. All they want is blood.


    Emily sighs. The Commander begins to feel lethargic and tired along with the pains in his stomach.


    Commander: What¡¯s happening to me?


    Emily: You¡¯re starving. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get used to it. If you¡¯re lucky, these things holding us here might give you a moldy piece of bread or something they find in the trash. They gave one to me once. It tastes terrible, but it¡¯s food.


    Commander: Why are you still serving the Empress, then? She only takes from you.


    Emily: I told you. I want to keep my family alive. I want to live.


    Commander: Your family is likely already on the rockets taking people to the moon.


    Emily: How did you know about the rockets?


    The Commander smiles: Right before I was captured, someone looked on their phone and saw the news. I think you know that your family is on one of the rockets.


    Emily suddenly seems hysterical: No! NO! They¡¯re not! They¡¯re here! They¡¯re at home! And if I don¡¯t do what she says she¡¯ll kill them! She¡¯ll murder my husband and twins¡­


    Commander*interupting*: You¡¯re only doing this to save yourself. Your life is the one in danger, not your family¡¯s.


    Emily ignores him and starts yelling: They killed my sister! They killed her! She¡¯s dead! DEAD!


    Commander: Your sister?


    Emily: Janis Daun! MY SISTER IS JANIS DAUN! She didn¡¯t mean to doom the world! SHE DIDN¡¯T! The people¡­they killed her!


    The Commander then remembers the appearence of Janis Daun. Wyverna has taken a form that looks almost exactly like Daun, save Wyverna¡¯s long hair. The Commander then realizes the extent to which Wyverna has emotionally manipulated Emily Dante. The Commander glances at the clock on the wall. It reads 6:12 p.m. Thirty-six hours have passed since the countdown began. Half of the time has gone away. Only thirty-six hours until humanity¡¯s fate is determined.


    Meanwhile, Annelise and Cory are trying to stay collected. Annelise looks at the countdown timer on the television. It reads that there are only thirty-four hours until Wyverna¡¯s plan is executed.


    Annelise: There are so many things that I wish I could have taught Beyond.


    Cory: Like what?


    Annelise: Like my favorite song.


    Cory: You mean Bonfires by The Lotus Field Band?


    Annelise: Yes, that¡¯s it.


    Cory: Honey, Beyond would¡¯ve probably known the song before you could have sung it to him. You know how he is.


    Annelise: I know, but I suspect that he would¡¯ve let me teach it to him anyway.


    Cory: I¡¯ll play it on my phone. I don¡¯t know. Maybe Beyond will hear it from wherever he is.


    Cory turns on the song and puts his arm around Annelise¡¯s shoulder.


    Annelise: This reminds me of him.


    Cory: Oh! Do you want me to turn it off?


    Annelise smiles: No, leave it on.


    Cory: Alright.


    Annelise: I know he¡¯s only been living with us for four years, but¡­I just can¡¯t imagine life without him.


    Cory nods. Annelise leans against the arm of the sofa.


    Cory: How did this happen to us? I mean, we were so¡­normal.


    Annelise: I don¡¯t know. But¡­I¡¯m glad it happened.


    Cory: Me, too. Annelise?


    Annelise: Yes?


    Cory: I love you so much.


    Annelise smiles: I love you, too.


    Cory checks his watch: It¡¯s getting late. We should try to get some sleep.


    Annelise nods. The two of them then head to bed and fall asleep. Cory wakes up in the middle of the night to the sound of weeping. He turns around and sees Annelise crying. Cory rests his hand on her shoulder. He then realizes that Annelise is still sleeping. She¡¯s crying in her sleep.


    Annelise: No! NO! Please! Stop! NO! *she wakes up abruptly, though she is still in the mental state of the dream* Why?! Why are you hurting him?! Stop! NO!


    Cory shakes Annelise out of her dream.


    Cory: Annelise!


    Annelise: I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m¡­


    Cory: You¡¯re with me. We¡¯re safe. It¡¯s alright.


    Annelise sighs: Was I dreaming?


    Cory nods: You¡¯re scaring me. What¡¯s happened to you?


    Annelise: I don¡¯t know. Grief, I guess. I¡¯ve never felt this much grief before.


    Cory: I know you¡¯ve had grief before, but never to this extent.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Annelise: I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m scaring you. I don¡¯t mean to.


    Cory: How bad is it really?


    Annelise: What?


    Cory: You¡¯ve always been good at dealing with pain, but how much pain are you actually in?


    Annelise: I don¡¯t know how to describe it. It¡­It feels as if my heart is burning and pumping hot lead into my body instead of blood.


    Cory hugs Annelise: Will you be okay?


    Annelise: I¡¯m not sure.


    Cory puts his face in his hands.


    Cory: You really need to rest then. I can¡¯t have you pushing yourself too hard.


    Annelise: I don¡¯t push myself too hard.


    Cory: Well, from what it sounds like you¡¯re feeling, I think that any pushing needs to be avoided.


    The two of them fall back asleep. In the late morning, at the invaded White House, the Commander struggles to remain conscious. He has not eaten or drank anything for over two days. He also suspects that the wound in his head have become infected. Suddenly, the Commander hears someone open the door to the reception room. He looks across the room and sees that Emily is still asleep on the floor.


    Wyverna: Dante! Wake up!


    Emily wakes with a start: What is it?


    Wyverna: The specimen needs to be fed!


    Emily: With what?


    Wyverna: I don¡¯t care! Find something!


    Emily rushes out the door.


    Wyverna walks up to the Commander: What is your name, human?


    Commander: Why does my name matter to you if my health does not?


    Wyverna:...Well, you look pitiful. Even Dante didn¡¯t deteriorate as quickly as you have. Why might that be?


    Commander: Why would it matter if my health declined faster than Dante¡¯s? All you want is destruction.


    Wyverna: You keep answering my questions with questions! Ugh! Your kind is so infuriating! I¡¯ll be quite pleased with your extinction!


    The Commander tries to stay awake, but falls asleep. Wyverna slaps his cheek and he wakes up.


    Wyverna: You must be the weakling of humanity! Well, it¡¯s better that I have a weakling man than no man at all.


    Commander: Why are you doing this?


    Wyverna: Well, let¡¯s see¡­I can. I have the option to. I can execute my plans and there is no one preventing me from doing so. I can do everything in whatever way I please. The way that it¡¯s supposed to be done. I¡¯m not certain that will make sense to your feeble mind. No matter!


    Commander: I understand quite clearly.


    Wyverna: I highly doubt that! It looks like your time is running out. With your entire blood supply running through my veins, perhaps I¡¯ll be like a god. *She laughs* Very fitting, is it not, that the weakest of my kind already view me in that way? You¡¯re of humankind, even weaker than the most frail of my people. *She forcefully grabs the Commander¡¯s chin and pulls his face towards hers* Maybe you should see me as the highest of gods.


    Wyverna then lets go of the Commander and heads out the door. Emily comes back in with a sandwich that she found in a trash can outside a restaurant.


    Emily: I brought you some food. It¡¯s really fresh compared to a lot of the stuff I¡¯ve been given. I¡¯d say its only a day and a half old. Here.


    Emily hands the Commander the sandwich, but he pushes it away.


    Emily: Aren¡¯t you starving? Eat it!


    Commander: No, Emily. You need to eat more than I do. You have been deprived of food for much longer than I have.


    Emily hesitates for a second, but then begins consuming the sandwich ravenously.


    Emily: *with her mouth full* Thank you.


    The Commander nods. In the hotel, Cory realizes that there¡¯s a vending machine on the first floor. After scolding himself for not thinking of it sooner, he takes the elevator to the first floor and buys five granola bars out of the vending machine. Then, Cory returns to the hotel room. Annelise is laying on the sofa. As soon as she hears Cory come in, she perks up.


    Cory: Good news! I found us some breakfast.


    Annelise: Thank you so much, Cory.


    Cory: No problem.


    Cory gives Annelise one of the granola bars, which she quickly opens and begins to eat rapidly and messily.


    Cory: Whoa! Easy, easy! Don¡¯t make yourself sicker than you already are!


    Annelise puts the food down: I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know what came over me.


    Cory: You¡¯ve only drank coffee and water for two days. You¡¯re probably just hungry.


    Annelise: I guess I am.


    Cory: Just don¡¯t eat too fast, alright?


    Annelise nods and finishes her granola bar slowly. Cory opens one for himself.


    Cory: These should tide us over for a bit.


    There¡¯s a knock at the door. Cory rushes to the door and opens it. Susanna and three unfamiliar men stand in the hall. Two are in their mid-twenties, but one is Cory¡¯s age.


    Susanna: Sorry to bother you, but Ethan Young just rushed into the hotel. We¡¯ve been gathering everyone¡­


    Cory: As in the Speaker of the House?


    Ethan shakes his head: Unfortunately not. I didn¡¯t win the recent election.


    Cory: Oh. Well, I guess I¡¯m not up-to-date on politics. I was sure that you were going to win, but¡­um¡­why are you here?


    Ethan: If you look at the ominous red countdown clock on all the screens, there¡¯s only about five hours left until the end of the world. There¡¯s a saferoom under the capital that¡¯s meant to withstand nuclear bombs. Of course, I don¡¯t know if what we¡¯re dealing with will be anything like a nuclear blast, but it¡¯ll be much safer in there than an above-ground hotel. There¡¯s a two-year supply of food for about ten people, too.


    Cory nods: I¡¯ll get Annelise.


    Cory runs toward the sofa. Annelise is lying on the sofa, clutching her stomach.


    Cory: We¡¯ve gotta go, Annie. There¡¯s a safehouse that should protect us. We¡¯ll be fine for a while.


    Annelise: I¡¯m coming.


    She gets off of the couch, grimacing and groaning. Cory helps her to the door.


    Ethan: Is she okay?


    Cory shakes his head: She¡¯s sick, but I don¡¯t know with what. We thought it was grief at first, but she just keeps getting worse and worse.


    Ethan sighs: We only have limited medical supplies in the safehouse, but I¡¯ll see what I can do.


    Cory(to Annelise): Do you think you can make it there?


    Annelise nods. The five of them then head to the safehouse. Once they are inside, Ethan closes and locks the door. Annelise spots the stash of food in the corner and eyes it for a few minutes before Cory snaps her out of it.


    Cory: What are you staring at?


    Annelise begins to cry: I¡­I was staring at the food.


    Cory: You just had a granola bar. How are you still hungry?


    Annelise: I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m more hungry than I¡¯ve ever felt. I¡¯m so sorry!


    Cory: Here. I¡¯ll get you something.


    Annelise: No! Don¡¯t!


    Cory: Annelise, there¡¯s clearly something wrong with you! You need to eat!


    Annelise: I don¡¯t think anything will fill me. The granola bar didn¡¯t satisfy my hunger, but it should have. This isn¡¯t normal.


    Tyler: Maybe I can help. I¡¯m a doctor. I think I saw you two on the plane.


    Cory: What do you think is wrong with her?


    Tyler: Hmmm¡­She doesn¡¯t have the usual physical symptoms of starvation or malnourishment, but I¡¯d have to do a blood test to rule it out completely. I¡¯m honestly not sure. It could be psychosomatic.


    Cory: Mr. Young, are there materials for a blood test in the safehouse?


    Ethan: I¡¯m afraid not. Just call me Ethan, it¡¯s the end of the world.


    Cory nods and sits next to Annelise. He pulls her towards him. Annelise¡¯s stomach growls violently. She sucks in a breath.


    Annelise: Whatever happens, just remember that I love you, okay?


    Cory: Don¡¯t talk like that! You¡¯ll be okay! You have to be okay!


    Susanna: Is she gonna eat us when we run out of food?


    Everyone except Annelise turns and glares at Susanna.


    Susanna: What? Don¡¯t tell me you weren¡¯t thinking the same thing!


    Annelise: I would never do anything like that. If I did, I could never forgive myself.


    Levi: I honestly just don¡¯t see Annelise as the kind of person to resort to cannibalism. She¡¯d probably rather die.


    Susanna: True.


    Ethan: Can we stop acting like this is something trivial?! No one is going to eat anybody!


    Cory:(to Annelise) I¡¯m sorry all of this happened to you. I wish there was something I could do.


    Annelise: Don¡¯t be sorry. You can help by keeping me grounded. Making sure that I stay stable. Don¡¯t let me*She grimaces in pain*...Don¡¯t let me lose myself.


    Cory: I¡¯m not worried about that, honey. I¡¯m worried¡­


    Annelise: That I won¡¯t make it?


    Cory nods. A tear rolls down his face.

 Origins: Scene 10

    Meanwhile, the Commander struggles with pain that increases by the minute. Just then, Wyverna bursts into the room with a wide grin on her face.


    Wyverna: DANTE!


    Emily: What¡­what is it, Lady?


    Wyverna: It¡¯s time!


    Emily: No! NO! We¡¯ve still got a couple hours!


    Wyverna: Did I just hear you say ¡®no¡¯?!


    Emily shakes her head: I¡¯ll prepare¡­the specimen.


    Emily grabs the Commander by the arm.


    Wyverna: Oh, I simply can¡¯t trust you to bring him to experimental area and apply the needed tools yourself! I¡¯ll have to go with you, and my servants will have to bring him there.


    Second Law and Delirium step into the room and forcefully drag the Commander through the White House. They eventually arrive in what was the Oval Office, but is now a sterile, covered environment with strange, advanced medical devices everywhere. The Commander is then strapped to a chair. Emily trembles in the background.


    Wyverna:(to the Commander) This isn¡¯t the worst part. (To Emily) Why are you just standing there?! Come and prepare the human!


    Emily*with tears in her eyes*: Yes, Lady.


    The Commander braces himself. Emily picks up a medical instrument with a long needle.


    Wyverna: Don¡¯t bother explaining, Dante. I¡¯ll do it myself. You see, pest-creature, this instrument of our technology will stab into your bone marrow through your bone in order to obtain your blood. But you won¡¯t die yet.


    Emily bites her lip as she sticks four of the long needles into the Commander¡¯s limbs. He shouts in agony. Then, Emily turns on the drill function to drill deeper and deeper into the Commander¡¯s bones. He cries out in pain. Once Emily finishes, Wyverna continues.


    Wyverna: There¡¯s another tool that will enter your heart.


    Emily grabs another medical instrument.


    Wyverna: I¡¯m afraid that you won¡¯t have the option of anesthesia for any of these operations.


    Emily stabs the Commander in the chest. He yells.


    Wyverna: Our technology is superior to yours. We won¡¯t even have to cut your chest open. The machine will simply drill its way directly into your heart. But you won¡¯t die yet.


    Emily turns the directional function on the drill. The Commander shouts continuously as the instrument finds its way into his heart.


    Wyverna: You¡¯ll have to remain in this state until the transfusion. Only then will you die and be rid of the pain.


    Emily cries. Wyverna scolds her and slaps her across the face.


    Wyverna: Are you, too, a weakling?! Get up! There are only three hours until the transfusion! Until I become a god!


    Commander*through his teeth*: You cannot become a god!


    Wyverna: You know nothing!


    Commander*through his teeth*: And even if you could, you would never be allowed to!


    Wyverna: IS THAT DISRESPECT I HEAR?! From a human?! Well, then, I¡¯ll have to demonstrate just how wrong you are!!! Set the clock forward two hours!


    Composer sets the red countdown clock forward by two hours. Now, there are only forty-five minutes left until humanity¡¯s destruction.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Back in the safehouse, Annelise is hanging on by a thread. Cory keeps trying to comfort her. Annelise can hardly speak. Cory is weeping beside her.


    Annelise: Don¡¯t¡­cry.


    Cory: Why shouldn¡¯t I?! I¡¯ve almost lost you!


    Annelise: But¡­I¡­haven¡¯t¡­lost*she cuts herself off by crying out in pain*


    Cory: Annie! Stop! Please! Stay with me!


    Annelise begins to have a ravenous look in her eyes, but it fades quickly.


    Annelise: I won¡¯t! You¡¯ll never¡­make me!!! You can¡¯t!


    Ethan: Who¡¯s she yelling at?


    Cory: I don¡¯t know.


    Annelise: She¡­CAN¡¯T!!!


    Levi: I have a theory.


    Ethan: Shoot.


    Levi: She may be talking to the Evil Alien Empress.


    Cory: How?


    Levi: I don¡¯t know. The scientific journals I write for don¡¯t usually involve aliens or psychic abilities or anything else that¡¯s been happening.


    Susanna: That¡¯s fair.


    Annelise suddenly comes back, panting.


    Cory: What¡¯s happening to you?


    Annelise: Nothing. She¡¯s¡­gone.


    Cory: Is your pain gone?


    Annelise shakes her head. Cory sighs.


    Levi: Alright, so the Evil Alien Empress caused Annelise¡¯s recent episode, but isn¡¯t causing the majority of her pain. But that begs the question¡­What is causing most of the pain?


    Susanna: And¡­if that were to happen to one of us¡­would we be able to fight off the Empress like Annelise did?


    Levi nods: That is a valid question.


    Ethan: I have a confession to make.


    Everyone turns toward him: What¡¯s that?


    Ethan: I¡¯m the true Speaker of the House and the standing president.


    Susanna: *gasps* What?! Really?!


    Ethan nods: A few weeks ago, during the elections, Congress was notified about the Evil Alien Empress and her threat. I didn¡¯t want to have to deal with that, so I skewed the election results. Just thought I¡¯d get that off my chest before the world ended.


    Susanna: Well, dang! A president still on Earth might have given the American people¡­hope? Resilience? A fighting chance?


    Ethan: I know. I¡­I really wish I hadn¡¯t done it. But there¡¯s no going back now.


    Annelise: Ethan¡­


    Ethan: What is it?


    Annelise smiles weakly: Don¡¯t¡­worry. You¡¯ll¡­be¡­okay.


    Ethan: Thanks for the sentiment, but I doubt any of us are gonna be alright.


    Levi checks his watch: We only have about two hours left.


    Cory grabs one of meals from the stash in the corner.


    Cory: Annelise, you have to eat something.


    Annelise: It¡­it¡­won¡¯t¡­help¡­me.


    Annelise bites her lip as her stomach growls. Cory holds her close.


    Cory: Then, what can I do?


    Annelise: Stay¡­with¡­me.


    Cory: I¡¯m right here. I¡¯ll be there until¡­


    Annelise nods. As the group waits for the end of the world, which they think is in two hours, the Commander is having the machines in his body hooked up to Wyverna¡¯s veins. Emily sobs as she turns on the machines.


    Emily: I¡¯m so sorry!


    The Commander nods: I¡­forgive you.


    Wyverna: Don¡¯t bother. You¡¯ll be dead and the dead cannot forgive. Begin!


    Emily flips a switch on the machines and the Commander cries out in pain. Pink color begins to rush into Wyverna¡¯s skin.


    Wyverna: It¡¯s working. I feel so¡­so strong! So alive!


    The veins in Wyverna¡¯s skin begin to glow orange.


    Wyverna looks down at the Commander, who has stopped yelling in pain and is now breathing shallowly, hanging limp at the end of the machine.


    Wyverna¡¯s voice has grown deeper and louder: And you said that I could not become a goddess!


    Emily trembles in fear in the corner. Wyverna¡¯s eyes begin to glow, along with her whole body.


    Wyverna: WHO WILL DARE TO STAND AGAINST ME NOW?!! FINALLY!!!


    Second Law and Composer stand against the wall, quivering.


    Emily: I¡­I don¡¯t think the specimen has any more blood left to give¡­


    Wyverna: SILENCE!!! I COMMAND FIRST THAT ALL WHO LOOK UPON ME SHALL PERISH! I¡¯LL BE A HARBINGER OF DEATH! FOR WHAT IS THE FORCE OF LIFE COMPARED TO THAT OF DEATH?!


    Emily immediately closes her eyes. Second Law and Composer begin to scream in agony as ugly green veins overtake their faces.


    Second Law: Mistress, you¡¯re hurting us!


    Wyverna ignores them: I WILL NOT HAVE TO CONQUER THE UNIVERSE! IT NOW BELONGS TO ME BY RIGHT!


    Suddenly, Wyverna¡¯s glow begins to fade. She begins to seize and her eyes roll back into her head. Wyverna screams in agony.


    Wyverna: What¡¯s happening to me?!

 Origins: Scene 11

    Back in the safehouse, Annelise¡¯s condition has taken a turn for the worse. She struggles to remain conscious.


    Cory: Stay with me! Come on!


    Annelise nods. Just then, her breathing speeds up. She screams in agony. A loud noise is heard and there¡¯s a flash of red light. Then, everything is still.


    Susanna*rubbing her eyes*: What was that?


    Ethan: I think that might¡¯ve been¡­it.


    Levi: But you said that we still have two hours!


    Ethan: We should have had two hours.


    Annelise stands up from her seated position.


    Cory: Honey, stop! You¡¯re gonna hurt yourself!


    Annelise shakes her head: No, I¡¯m not. The hunger, the pain¡­it¡¯s gone.


    Cory gasps: How?


    Annelise: I¡¯m not sure.


    Ethan: I¡¯m gonna go check outside. All of you, stay in the safehouse.


    Ethan leaves the safehouse. Then, he returns.


    Ethan: It looks safe. Well, the sky¡¯s red, but it¡¯s safe to go outside.


    Annelise runs out the door and Cory runs after her. Susanna and Levi follow them.


    Cory: Annelise! Slow down! Where are you going?!


    Annelise: The White House.


    Cory: Are you kidding me?! The Empress is in there!


    Annelise: I know, but Beyond might be in there, too!


    Cory: Do you think this because of the vision he shared with us?


    Annelise nods.


    Cory sighs: Alright, let¡¯s go.


    The four of them head to the White House. At the White House, many interdimensionals are running out of the building, trying to escape.


    Cory: It looks like they¡¯ve abandoned ship.


    Annelise nods: I¡¯m not sure what to think about it.


    They head inside.


    Susanna: Oh my gosh!


    They take in the scene before them. Annelise immediately heads toward the Oval Office. Cory, Susanna, and Levi hear her scream. They rush into the Oval Office, where a terrifying scene lays before them. Wyverna is unconscious and twitching periodically. The Commander lies still on the floor. His skin is void of any color. Annelise runs up and kneels down beside him, sobbing violently. Cory rushes to Annelise¡¯s side. A machine on the wall keeps repeating ¡°Assessing Damage¡±. Annelise kisses the Commander¡¯s forehead and lays her head on his chest, weeping.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Susanna: Is he¡­


    Levi nods: I think so.


    The two join Cory and Annelise and try to console them.


    Annelise: I can¡¯t hear his heart.


    Cory: Well, he didn¡¯t have a heartbeat before he changed form completely. Maybe¡­


    Annelise shakes her head: No, no. It¡¯s different this time. I think he¡¯s¡­really gone!


    She begins sobbing again. Cory rests his hand on her shoulder. A tear rolls down his face.


    Cory:(to the Commander) I¡¯m sorry.


    Emily emerges from the shadows.


    Emily: HE CAN¡¯T HEAR YOU! HE¡¯S DEAD!


    Susanna: Who are you?


    Emily: I KILLED HIM!!! IT WAS ME!!!


    Cory stands up abruptly: You?! I thought the Empress killed him!


    Emily:*sobbing*IT WAS HER PLAN! BUT I KILLED HIM! SHE WAS MY MISTRESS!


    Cory speed-walks over to Emily.


    Annelise: Cory, stop!


    Cory continues walking toward Emily: She killed Beyond! I can¡¯t just sit here and do nothing!


    Annelise: Please!


    Cory turns toward Annelise: Do you not want justice, Annie?!


    Annelise: I want it more than anything, but this isn¡¯t just!


    Cory: How is it not just that this woman should be punished?!


    Annelise: You can¡¯t solve injury with injury.


    Cory sighs and lowers his hand.


    Susanna looks over at Wyverna: Is she dead?


    Levi: No, I don¡¯t think so. These screens say that her ¡®vivacity¡¯ is still intact.


    The machines suddenly begin whirring.


    Machine: Assessment Complete. Critical damage to core. Major damage to eighty-eight percent of sectors. Estimated Recovery Time: Thirty-two years and seven days.


    Annelise ignores the machine and keeps sobbing.


    Emily: Wait a second¡­


    She steps over to Wyverna and pushes her hair away from her neck to reveal a deep, green bruise on her collarbone.


    Emily: I noticed the bruise right before I synced his veins with Wyverna¡¯s. *she gestures to the Commander*


    Cory: Did Beyond hurt the Empress?


    Emily: Well, as we can plainly see, yes he did. Beyond didn¡¯t give her this bruise, though.


    Cory: Then, who did?


    He turns to Annelise, who is now silent. She closes the Commander¡¯s eyes and kisses his cheek.


    Cory: Do you know anything about this?


    Annelise nods. Cory is in shock.


    Cory: How?


    Annelise: Do you remember my recent episode?


    Cory: Of course, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever forget. Why?


    Annelise: Well, I think that the Empress was trying to control me through means other than the Abramian organ. She went straight for my brain instead. That was her mistake. She was trying to use my hunger to make me turn on you guys.


    Cory: But she couldn¡¯t.


    Annelise: No, she couldn¡¯t. I was able to resist her and I kept fighting back. I don¡¯t quite remember what happened next, but I knew that the Empress had lost. There was a green flash of light, and she seemed to be in pain. Then, the episode stopped. She let me go.


    Cory: I¡­I don¡¯t know what to say.


    Annelise: You don¡¯t need to say anything. It¡¯s over now.


    Cory kneels beside Annelise. Tears fall down Annelise¡¯s face.


    Cory: I¡¯m so proud of you.


    Annelise nods, but remains silent. She lays her head against the Commander¡¯s chest. Immediately, she springs back up.


    Cory: What is it?


    Annelise: I¡­I think I heard a heartbeat!

 Origins: Scene 12

    Cory: No way!


    He listens for a heartbeat and sits back up, astounded.


    Cory*under his breath*: How?!


    Susanna: Wait, what?!


    Annelise: Beyond¡¯s alive!


    Levi: You¡¯re serious?!


    Annelise nods. The four of them sit in silence for a few moments, waiting. After a couple of minutes, color returns to the Commander¡¯s skin. A few minutes after that, his eyes blink open. He sees four people staring at him.


    Cory: Do you think he¡¯ll remember us?


    Annelise¡¯s smile fades: I¡­don¡¯t know.


    After the Commander¡¯s vision clarifies, he sits up and looks around the room.


    Susanna: Hey! Welcome back to the land of the living!


    The Commander smiles: Susanna.


    Susanna: Yes! He remembered me!...Wait, how did you remember me?!


    Commander: You gave me advice on how to treat my injuries, remember?


    The Commander reaches to touch the wounds on his head, but they have disappeared.


    Susanna: Oh, yeah! That¡¯s right!


    The Commander turns to Annelise and Cory. Annelise wraps him in a hug and he hugs her back. Cory joins in.


    The Commander smiles and tears of joy fall on his face: Cory, Annelise.


    Annelise: Is this really happening?


    The Commander nods: Yes, it is.


    Levi: Hi¡­uum¡­You¡¯ve probably never met me.


    Commander: You are Levi Forbe and you were in the safehouse with Annelise, Cory, Susanna, Tyler, and Ethan.


    Levi: Alright, I¡¯m quitting science journals!


    Annelise:(To the Commander) Wait¡­have you gone back to your original¡­whatever you were before all this?


    Commander: No, I have not. I have regained all of my former abilities, but the part of me that was much more¡­conventional, is still very much a part of who I am. The form inspired by you and Cory will be as true a form as my original.


    Suddenly, Ethan and Tyler burst into the room.


    Ethan: Is everyone alright?


    Cory nods: We¡¯re fine.


    Ethan looks over at Wyverna, who is still paralyzed.


    Tyler walks up to the Commander.


    Tyler: You¡¯ve got some pretty hefty needles in your limbs. Here, let me take them out. Then, we¡¯re gonna have to get to a place with more medical supplies.


    Tyler pulls the needles out of the Commander¡¯s arms. He does not even flinch. The wounds left by the needles heal into white patches of skin.


    Tyler looks up in awe at the Commander. Susanna looks around.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Susanna: Where¡¯s the girl who killed you?


    Commander: Emily? I am afraid that she has run off.


    Susanna: Well, why aren¡¯t you going after her?


    Commander: She has a family that she needs to go back to. A life left to live. But, she will be back.


    The seven of them head outside, where it¡¯s raining heavily, but a bit of sun shines through the clouds of early morning.


    Annelise: Beyond, there¡¯s something I need to tell you.


    Commander: What is it that you need to tell me?


    Annelise: Starting yesterday morning, I was really hungry. Hungrier than I ever thought I could feel. It was painful and couldn¡¯t be satiated by normal means. Do you know where this came from?


    The Commander nods: I gave you a connection to me so that you could feel what I perceived that I was feeling in that moment.


    Annelise: Why?


    Commander: I gave the connection to you so that I could prepare you. You are going to be critical in the universe¡¯s protection.


    Annelise pauses for a few moments: What do you need me to do? Whatever it takes to protect this world, I¡¯ll gladly do it.


    The Commander smiles: Then it will be done.


    Annelise: What will be done?


    Commander: You will find out in a matter of months.


    Annelise nods. Cory and the others catch up to them.


    Cory: So, is Wyverna harmless now?


    The Commander shakes his head: No, she still has power, but the universe will be safe. Earth will be safe.


    Cory: How?


    Commander: You will see soon enough.


    Susanna: So, how did you defeat the Empress?


    Commander: Well, she did not know what I truly am. Her arrogance clouded her judgement, as it often does. My blood was toxic to her.


    Levi: What would¡¯ve happened if she had regular blood transfused into her?


    Commander: She would have become very powerful, indeed. Yet, still not powerful enough to be unstoppable.


    Levi: I promise this is the last question.


    The Commander smiles: What would you like to ask?


    Levi: How exactly is your blood toxic to the Evil Alien Empress¡¯s kind?


    Commander: My blood, if I was in my original form, would have still been toxic to them, but not quite as severely damaging. Yet, in this instance, I had been channeling all of the emotions that I had been experiencing from the days past into my blood. My emotions for people like Emily Dante, Aaron Wells,...


    Tyler: Wait a second! Who¡¯s Aaron Wells?


    Commander: He, as your kind would say, volun-told me to be captured by the Empress¡¯s allies. But, I also placed the emotions that I felt for Annelise and Cory, and all of you, into my bloodstream. I must say that having all of these potencies coursing through my veins was quite draining. Everything that I felt was immediately directed there. But, it was worth the pain to see this world in one piece.


    Ethan: Will people come back to Earth?


    The Commander nods: They will return in a few days.


    The seven of them head back to the safehouse.


    Commander: I noticed a bruise on the Empress¡¯s chest before the transfusion. I also saw her flinch right before it appeared.


    Annelise nods: Did you know that I hurt her?


    Commander: Yes, I did.


    Annelise: I don¡¯t know what to think about what I was capable of doing to the Empress. What does it mean?


    Commander: It means that you are very powerful, Annelise. The absence of your Abramian organ means that you can fight off the Empress more easily than others of your kind.


    Annelise: Powerful?


    She looks downward.


    Commander: You are afraid of your powers?


    Annelise: Yes. If I can make a bruise on someone like the Empress, how much harm could I cause regular people? *she smiles* But, I suppose that it¡¯s my choice as to how I use this¡­thing.


    The Commander laughs: You are correct.


    Cory sits down beside Annelise and the Commander.


    Cory: Do you think things will go back to normal after this?


    Commander: Many things will have changed, yet much will be the same.


    Cory nods: Alright, we¡¯ll prepare for it.


    The group waits in the safehouse until a couple of days later. Everyone is eating one of the meals from the food stash.


    Cory: Annie?


    Annelise: Yes?


    Cory rests his hand on hers: I¡¯ll always love you. Don¡¯t forget that, okay?


    Annelise: Cory, I could never forget you. I¡¯m still the Annelise that you met on that tour of Yellowstone. The Annelise that you fell in love with and married. Nothing will ever change that.


    There¡¯s suddenly a knock at the safehouse door. Ethan puts down his food and creeps toward the door. To his surprise, when he opens it, a policeman stands in the doorway.


    Policeman: Is everyone okay? Is anyone hurt?