Just this morning

I could hear something. I'm not sure what it is, I can't find it. Electronic and pulsing. Driving into my head, I feel at the edge of sanity. I'm searching my room now, but everything is off. There's, something, I can't quite put my finger on. I set my sights on my phone, I smash it, the noise continues. The TV, now it's destroyed, no avail.

I feel a rush, something pulling me in different directions. I can't tell where I am anymore. Everything is familiar, but I can't focus. I'm trying to see, but everything is slipping away. I'm starting to panic now. A pang in my stomach grows to a solid knot and I flail my arms. I grasp nothing. Where am I, what's happening.

Light, painful light, bursts into my eyes. That sound, it's back. I reached out and my hand found something familiar. Something I can grasp and recognize. This horror is almost over. Wait, awake now, I was dreaming. I looked and saw my hand on my alarm clock. Morale Spector's music was throbbing rhythmically into my mind as I slept. An aural assault on any unconscious thought process. My finger resting on the snooze button. I press down and feel the tactile response of the microswitch below the cheap plastic button. The music stops. "Snoozing for 10 minutes" the device reminds me.

I rolled on my back. Pain shot down the left side of my back. Hell, I must have slept badly again. Peering down I saw two humps at the end of the bed. One slightly above the other. My left foot was cocked off at an angle. I raised it up and stretched my toes back towards me. Another stab of pain in my left calf. Ok, so it's not that I slept wrong. As my consciousness creeps back to me, I remember yesterday. What a day that was.

Another sound caught my attention. This time a beeping and a hiss. The coffee maker is awake now too. I can smell bittersweet aroma of the Southern Territories’ blend. I forced my legs to the side and raised myself up. Swatting at the off switch on the alarm. The pain in my calf intensified as I pushed myself to my feet. It's almost enough to mask the pressure in my bladder. First things first I guess. Hobbling towards the bathroom, I flipped on the TV with the remote on the dresser.

I paused briefly at the mirror, stroking my hair back out of my face. My stubble had been unattended for 48 hours now and it was feeling a little rough. I rubbed my hand on my face and grimaced at the mirror to inspect my teeth. As I leaned towards the mirror, the pain in my back reared it's ugly head again. I sidestepped to the toilet to relieve myself. Pressing the touch sensitive flush switch a faint smell of citrus filled the room as the chemical agents removed my urine and disinfected the toilet at the same time.

As I made my way to the kitchen, I overheard some of the news on TV. Nothing interesting, except the weather. “High of twenty-three Celsius, mostly cloudy, eighty percent chance of afternoon drizzle. Current conditions, eighteen degrees and overcast.” Growing up in the plains of the Central Confed, I couldn't have asked for a better day. I'd only been here for six months and my deep tan was still present. Which throughout my day, adds a certain stigma. Most of the people on Aracosa Island are quite pale and a bit nationalistic about their fair complexions. They would never tell you that of course, but I see it as an outsider.

Coffee. Shit, it's getting cold already. I had forgotten to set the post brew temp back to a higher setting. Entering the kitchen, the smell of the coffee was warming enough to offset the cold of the tile beneath my feet. I opened the cupboard, reached inside and drew out my "I stab people on Mondays" mug. I'm not sure I'd ever follow through with that threat. The thought bemuses me, however.

I grabbed the coffee pot and poured a cup. Back into the bedroom, I sat down and gazed at the TV on the wall. Lieger Steinberg stocks were up after the military arms expo this weekend. The express delivery of death was a lucrative business in this day and age.

It wasn’t but last week when the “Freeworlders” decided to blow up a café in the corporate park. I had my doubts at the accusation of course. In my homeland, we’d been particularly tolerant of the “United Front,” as they were officially called. It had been ten years or more since the last terrorist action on Confed soil. Up here in the Northern Bloc, they were the ever popular, go-to scapegoat for terrorist events.

The government in the ‘Bloc was by definition, totalitarian. Yet, they allowed free press and a capitalistic society. I had heard rumors that they have entire agencies set aside to carefully filter the public’s “freedom.” I’m a bit skeptical that such a level of implied control, could truly function in such a large country.

I sipped the coffee. I am a master at one thing at least. The warm liquid struck a chord with my body as it slid down my throat. I was feeling better already.

Once I had finished with the coffee, I set about getting ready for work. I grabbed my keys and my phone and opened the front door. The grey green clouds were illuminated by a beautiful purple-orange sunrise. My nostril winced at the vague scent of sea air. The northerly wind was kicking up a bit. Likely the result of the low pressure from the coming storm.

I opened the door to my car and sat down, setting my phone on it’s cradle on the dash. I flipped up the navigation panel in front of me and dialed in “work.” I leaned back, turned on the stereo and tried to catch another half hour of sleep on the way in.

I awoke as the car was merging onto the corporate park expressway. The vibration changed as the tires bit into the higher quality surface materials. It was just enough to bring me back from the void I had been so blissfully enjoying.

There was never much to see on the expressway. It was part canal and part tunnel as it snaked its way through the middle of the corporate megaplex. The park itself was a massive mall, dotted with forest, lawns, walkways and shops. There was no way to avoid the corporate money machines around here. Trinket shops, food kiosks and cafés littered the otherwise natural beauty of the place.

The car veered off the expressway onto a side road, leading into the parkhaus below the Gennaren building. There were some areas of road that were not well lit. As physical vehicle control was entirely optional on-road, they didn’t always bother to ensure proper visibility. I sat for a few moments in darkness. The various gages and navi-panel illuminated my face in the rear view mirror.

I broke out of the darkness into the parkhaus. I car slowed to a halt at the back of a short line of cars at the elevators. I didn’t feel like waiting, so I opened the door and stepped out. Again, my calf and back reminded me that I wasn’t as young as I used to be. I walked up to the elevator lobby.

Now surrounded by a few dozen people waiting for the next car. I looked around and saw something out of place. Not saw, but felt. I couldn’t place it then and I can’t now. There was definitely something amiss in the crowd. I heard a bell sound as two cars arrived at the same time. The massive doors swung open and we all crowded inside.

A feeling of unease crept over me as we rode up to the office level. It was a feeling so strong, I could almost taste something in the air. I swallowed and felt momentary relief. The elevator car stopped and the doors slid aside. About ten people maneuvered out. I looked out past the shifting heads. The elevator had stopped at the upper concession level. I knew the ride had felt short. I couldn’t figure out why so many people had gotten off here. Usually the largest group departs on the main office level to take short-hop elevators to their individual floors.

At the main office level, another group of seven exited. I was headed for the management lobby on the eighty-fifth floor. I glanced around and saw that only two people were in the elevator with me now. One was a younger woman, probably in her mid twenties. She was a gorgeous dirty blonde with green eyes. Wearing a knee length black skirt and matching coat. Her feet were adorned with ninety millimeter pumps and she was carrying a leather bound briefcase. Beside her, rested a large black backpack. I glanced at her left hand, no ring. I’m not sure why I bothered, I was out of my league with her.

The other man in the elevator looked a bit like a security guard. Except he wasn’t building security. They wore dark blue uniforms with Gennaren patches on the sleeves. This man was wearing what looked like black military issue pants and boots with a utilitarian jacket. His face was obscured by a hat and dark glasses. Scruffy light brown hair protruded from under the cap, not something you usually see with security types. Despite his appearance, he also carried an expensive looking briefcase.

I no longer had the palpable sense of things out of place. Even though the pair before me seemed very much out of place. I mused that maybe they scared off the thing or things that were bothering me. We stopped at the management level. The pair made no motion towards the door. I pushed myself off the handrail and walked out.

The elevator didn’t stop again until the private office level. There was no one up there but department heads, personal assistants and the CEO. I decided to let it go, I always had too much on my mind. I walked past the receptionist, said my obligatory hello and good morning. The office layout was rather open. Lower managers worked in clusters with low dividing walls. Low enough that you still had a view of those around you. I walked further down to my office area. It was a similar layout, but had tinted glass walls surrounding my workspace. I took off my jacket and hung it on the coat rack, swiveled my chair around and sat down. I felt a release of tension in my back. Perhaps it would be a good day after all.

I almost didn’t notice it at first, with VTOL traffic flying between buildings fairly regularly. However seeing a military helicopter drifting slowly past the window was a truly unique sight. It lingered for a moment, then ascended out of sight. I shook my moment of kid like glee at seeing the helicopter. Flipped on my workstation and started checking my email. A chat bubble popped up on my screen “Sam, did you see that helicopter?”

Why?

I've always wanted to write a novel. I have made a few attempts over the years and gave up again and again. I did however end up with a series of short stories and setting pieces. I have many characters and scenarios in my head, but nothing that equates to a full length novel. So I've decided to use this blog to rewrite and display those ideas and stories.

The world of Imperium covers a vast array of past, present and future visions. Much of it lies in a science fiction setting on the planet Ares. The current home world of humanity.

These stories will encompass day to day life, action sequences, heroes, villains, aliens and the divine. There is little that isn't possible somewhere or at some time in the universe I present here. Some stories will be tied together, others standing alone. I do plan and anticipate recurring characters and events that will tie them together.

My first offering may be a bit dull, but it's going somewhere. I promise ; )