First Reply LOST SIGNAL - Warning from the Static

[The Man Between the Static]

Location - Wild Space, Undefined Star Cluster
Now Playing - Lab Practicum

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In the current universe we live in, signals, transmissions and sounds are constantly being emitted throughout the galaxy. With history's incredible achievements in innovation, we have collectively filled the gaps in space. With a universe so full of the sound of war and general civilization, there's no room for silence.

But in the lesser-known regions of space, something stirs in the shadow of sapient society. It breaks through the constant veil of screams created by the living and delivers a message.

A voice. A voice so desperate to be heard, it spread its message through the creases of reality. It infected dreams, it carved messages in stone - dating from undetermined periods in the past.

"Something's coming."

With a message so vague, smuggler ships and wandering exploration vessels simply neglected the strange transmission screaming white noise through their intercoms.

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The Man Between the Static suffered in silence on a desolate world within an unmapped Star Cluster. The small planet he resided on was devoid of any color or life - it was a repeating wasteland of grey rocks and mountains.

The Man could only humor his own delusions brought on by madness. He believed he was consuming food - a delicious well-cooked cut of meat, while sitting in a nice hotel. In reality, he gnawed at the air idly, and any spectators would only witness the vague shape of a man laying down on the ground, stirring uncomfortably.

His mind had concocted a desperate lie to dull the pain of intense hunger The Man felt every day.

He wasn't staying on this planet for long - some explorer types would probably arrive on this planet for his force signature to latch on to. It was only a matter of when.

He had all the time in the universe.

 

[The Nobody]

[SIGNAL COORDINATES LOCATED] [SCANNING FORCE SIGNATURE...] [ -- INVALID - FORCE SIGNATURE UNRECOGNIZED] [PROCEEDING WITH PRELIMINARY SCOUT DEPLOYMENT] [ -- DEPLOYING - OVERSEER 0-130]​ ADDENDUM -- EDIT BY - DR. [NULL] - "Why are we sending the overseer to a potentially dangerous location? This is insanity..." ADDENDUM 2 -- REQUEST FOR DEPLOYMENT REVIEW [DENIED]​

In a veil of twisted light, The Nobody manifested on the disgraced wasteland of the unidentified planet. He dusted his boots off by kicking at his own heels, and he began idly wandering the landscape in search of the target anomaly.

It wasn't long before he came across The Man's prone body, struggling around in the dirt, playing into his fantasies. The Nobody cautiously and quietly approached The Man, just in case he reacted in an unforeseen way. This anomaly was undocumented - and The Nobody would study it thoroughly.

The Nobody's body made no sound as he took each step. Not even the crunch of rocks between the sole of his boot, or the crumpling and creasing of clothing in the wind.

 

[The Man Between the Static]

The Man Between the Static began to stir from his delusion. Occasionally, his senses would return to him, and he'd use his moment of sanity to find a way off the planet he was left on.

That was, until his eyes slowly opened - beaming hues of bright white noise, and he witnessed The Nobody slowly prowling towards him.

He was frightened by the pale, doll-like face of The Nobody. It was uncanny - creepier than himself, The Man figured.

Regardless, his first instinct was diplomacy after his knowledge of language returned to him.

"Hey... You... You hear me, yeah? Can you see me?"

 

[The Nobody]

The Nobody paused his silent gait and stared into the eyes of The Man. His expression was empty, and his words were almost as hollow.
[X]"Talks? Thinks. Alright."

His hand quickly unsheathed a strange weapon from his waistbelt. The design was familiar to a DE-10 blaster pistol - minus the scope, and with a black steel frame to boot.

The barrel was also unnaturally big. Did it shoot plasma? It featured a large bulging chamber in the center of the gun, so it was possibly kinetic.

[X]"Do you feel pain?"

 

[The Man Between the Static]

"Your bullets are wasted on me. Can we just talk?"

There was a hint of desperation in The Man's voice. He finally had clarity after a long period of lunacy, and the first thing he sees is the open end of a gun barrel.

He slowly pulled himself off the ground - the projection of white noise distorting on his skin as he moved his body.
He evaluated The Nobody's appearance. The Man was... A good bit taller than him. Was he a child? The Nobody's face looked young, but the eyes showed age. No, he was older, and his force signature was non-existent. What was going on?

 

[The Nobody]

[X]"Okay."
[X]"..."
[X]"Are you available for an interview?"

The Nobody extended the proposition without the caution he exerted previously. He had silently deduced the entity was friendly, for the most part.

The interview was an opportunity for The Nobody to write a detailed report on The Man Between the Static. He didn't have a chair to pull up, but he slowly sat down on the rocky ground and crossed his legs. He pulled out a small notebook and pen from a satchel and readied it in his hands.

 

[The Man Between the Static]

"Sure, I've got nothing better to do."
[PROCEED TO ANOMALY REPORT #135]

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[LOST SIGNAL - End]​