Enigmatic Fantasies #22 - A Regular "Wizard" [#73]

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            It was a rainy, miserable day as I pulled into the gas station. My car was on the fritz again, and this place had an adjacent auto-shop. The guy who worked there was supposedly a regular "wizard" with cars. I parked my car, hopped out and made a beeline for the auto-shop. By the time I got inside I was soaked with rain, so my mood soured quickly. I turned to see the man at the front desk, he wore a robe, a pointy hat and sported a magnificent grey beard.

            "Hey, are you the gas station wizard, I've heard so much about?" I asked him.

            "I could not imagine it being anyone else," he exclaimed. "For I, the great Fantismo The Wise, am the greatest wizard in four counties!"

            "Okay," I nodded, "then can you help me with my car?"

            "Certainly," he peered out the rain covered window, "is it that little one over there?"

            "Yeah," I confirmed, "you see I-" Fantismo held up his fingers and shushed me.

            "There is no need for words," he stated as he wiggled his finger in my general direction. I don't know why, but I felt very uncomfortable for a brief moment before he stopped. "Ah, I see, the engine has been chugging, and your brakes are a little slippery," Fantismo declared.

            "Wait did you just read my mind?" I blurted out.

            "Of course, it is the most basic skill for a wizard in customer service," he nodded. "Do not fret for I, the great Fantismo The Wise, shall repair your mount with ease, I just require your keys." Fantismo took my keys, then he disappeared in a puff of smoke and reappeared next to my car outside. I saw him chant and dance out in the rain, while he zapped my car with lightning and other strange energy. My poor vehicle rocked back and forth violently, I was afraid it would explode. Thankfully it didn't, and within 5 minutes Fantismo popped back into the room with another puff of smoke. "It is finished," he stated.

            "That's it?" I stared at him gobsmacked.

            "That is it," he shrugged, "have you never got service from a wizard before?"

            "Well no," I admitted, "so it's running fine now?"

            "Better than fine," he scoffed. In another puff of smoke, he appeared inside of my car and drove a quick loop around the gas station. He was right, the engine didn't chug, and the break didn't slip. He parked the car, then teleported in front of me again and tossed me my keys. "See, I told you so."

            "Wow, I should get my car fixed up her more often," I exclaimed.

            "Excellent, now here's the bill," a receipt magically appeared in his hands which he handed to me.

            "Oh right," I accepted the bill, but as I finally read the total I screamed, "Oh my God!" This is what I get for going to a gas station wizard.

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I wrote a story about a Gas Station Wizard in the middle of last year [link] and I thought it was about time I wrote another story in that same vein. I had planned to write this as a spiritual follow-up to that story, but I ended up taking the story in a different direction. They still shared the same idea though, take something as fantastic as a wizard and drag them into the mundane. That's all I have to say for now though.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy

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Strange Sci-fi Tales #8 - Alone At Last [#72]

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            After all this time I'm alone at last. It cost me a fortune to buy my own private space station and a private asteroid for it to orbit, but it was worth it. I'm liberated from the need to ever interact with people against my will again. No more trips to the grocery store, no more obnoxious coworkers or clueless bosses. No more overbearing or well-meaning family members to consume my every waking hour. I'm free and can live the rest of my days as I see fit.

            I wasted no time relocating myself to the space station. I quit my old job immediately and cut all contact with my old coworkers. I sold my old home and most of my miscellaneous possessions. Finally, I piled everything else I owned into my ship and flew out towards the station. I had not a single care for what I left behind.

            As I settled into my new abode, I took a moment to appreciate the pure silence. I couldn't understate just how far away I was from other people now. It was almost two days of space travel to the nearest patch of civilization. However, it was only a small community space station and rest stop. The nearest major space station or planet was at least a week's travel away. No one, and I mean no one, will bother me out here. Not even the most desperate door to door salesman or pirate will come out here. There's literally nothing her but this asteroid and me.

            I leaned back into my comfy chair, I was still surrounded by moving boxes, but I could get to those later. It's not like there's anyone here to yell at me for it. I want to appreciate my new found freedom a little more first; I could worry about getting settled later. Until then, I think a mid-morning nap was in order.

~--~

            It's been about a month since I moved to my private space station, and I couldn't be happier. I've slept and eaten whenever I felt like it, unbound from any schedule or obligations. I haven't even left the station once, I grow my own food and generate my own power. Entertainment has been the only problem. I brought my own collection of books, movies, and games, but I knew these couldn't last me forever. So, I began to download new books and the like through "alternative means." It'll only be a problem if I get caught, and out here I most certainly won't be.

            I've certainly never been less stressed before, my muscles haven't been this loose in years. I don't want to get too complacent though, I need to set some solid goals for myself. Otherwise, I'll spend the rest of my life adrift in space doing nothing, and I can't live with that. What's the point of pure solitude if I can't do anything?

~--~

            Six months in and I was finally forced to fly out to the community space station to get some supplies. I wasn't in desperate need or anything, but it would make my life easier in the long run. It was a subtle miscalculation on how much food I'd need, so I went out instead of risking having no food for a few days. Thankfully, I didn't have to interact with anyone for long. Thank goodness for automated kiosks.

            I need a new hobby though. I've burned through almost all of my books, movies and games, even the new ones I've downloaded. I already completed all of my goals too, I wrote a book and learned a new language. I even taught myself how to build simple machines. In hindsight, the language was pointless because I never plan to interact with anyone again.

            If I get bored enough I might be so desperate as to go out and interact with people for fun, the horror. Actually, that gives me an idea. Maybe, talking to people won't be so bad, as long as it's not in person. I think I'm on to something here, I'll need to give this some serious thought.

~--~

            Almost a year of solitude now, but that doesn't mean I haven't talked to anyone. I built a receiver so I could listen in on old broadcast signals. I mostly get intergalactic police chatter and the occasional alien radio station. But, sometimes I have a chance to talk to other like-minded people. It's not often, but it's nice to talk with people who understand the appeal of solitude. Even introverts enjoy a little socializing now and then, so I appreciate my talks with these people.

            I wonder what else I can pick up with this receiver. Maybe some sports coverage from a nearby planet? Perhaps some merchants discussing trade secrets? Or most likely, a bunch of garbled radio waves. I'll be optimistic and hope it isn't that last one.

~--~

            A whole year of listening in on broadcasts and I'm finally onto something. It was just yesterday and while I was trying to filter through all the garbled nonsense. I found a certain signal I couldn't clear up, after about an hour of fiddling with it I realized it wasn't garbled. It was too consistent, it almost had a rhythm. I don't know what I stumbled onto, it doesn't sound like anything else I've listened in on the past two years.

            At first, I theorized it was another of those alien music stations, I've caught more than my fair share of those. However, that got less and less likely with each passing hour. The signal never changed its tone, speed or pace, nor did it resemble any of the alien music I've listened to before.

            After that, I thought it might have been a coded message, which still might be true. However, there was no way to be certain, and my cursory research on the subject bore no fruit. I was stuck at an impasse.

            Finally, I concluded that maybe, just maybe, I was onto something incredible. This might be first contact with an unknown entity, or I'm the lucky fool who stumbled upon a signal that leads to a great secret or treasure. Perhaps a little farfetched, but I can always dream. I'm curious about what will happen if I sent a message back, would I get a response?

~--~

            I think I've made a mistake. My message was apparently received, and I got a reply. At first, it went quiet, at that point, I thought maybe the signal was expecting a specific response. Possibly something like a password, and it had locked up when I sent my message. However, it was only a few hours later when the signal restarted. It was similar to before, but the tone and speed had changed. Scarier still, a little of my message was mixed in.

            I have this painful sensation in my gut that I've invited something into my home without realizing it. I might have ruined everything for myself with my sudden action. Does this mysterious entity on the other side of this broadcast expect another response? I certainly hope not, because I'm not replying this time.

~--~

            The signal changed again, it's much more high-pitched and erratic, almost as though it is upset. I'm even more afraid to reply now. A reply might calm it down, but I don't know that for a fact. Besides, I communicate with others through this receiver as a hobby. If I'm forced to keep it up to appease this entity, it will quickly become an obligation. That's the absolute last thing I want now.

            Worse yet, the signal is getting stronger with each passing day. It either knows where I am or at least has a decent idea of my location. I might not have a choice in the matter. I'm going to go silent for a few days, maybe then it'll lose track of me.

~--~

            I can feel it, it's coming, it knows where I am, and I can't hide. I don't know what to do, I don't know where I should go, but I can't leave. If I leave now then I might never be able to come back, then I'll have nowhere to go. I have to avoid it, I have to protect myself...

~--~

            It's here, I know it. I can't see it, but I can feel it just outside. It wants me, I can tell. I can hear it too if the receiver was still on it'd probably be screaming right now. I'm ready though, I'm armed and willing to protect myself...

            Oh no, it's coming in, I lied I'm not ready. I can take this, I just wanted to be alone, is that so much to ask? Please just go away, please just go away, I can't take this. I can hear it still; I can practically smell it now. It's awful, it's everywhere, it'll just consume everything in the station. Oh god, I can see it now, please dear god no, just go away... I just wanted to be alone, to live my days as I see fit...

~--~

            I just wanted to be alone, to live my days as I see fit...I just wanted to be alone, to live my days as I see fit...I just wanted to be alone...I just wanted to be alone...I wanted to be alone...I wanted to be alone...alone...alone...alone...

~--~

            ...Alone at last...

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Well this one was a doozy, I never intended it to be this long, but it just ended up that way. As for the story, well there are many people who desire solitude, who only want to interact with others on their own terms. Sometimes there forced to interact, which can either be a good thing or a bad thing, it depends on the situation. In this case, well I'm sure you can figure it out on your own.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy

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Support me on Patreon: [link]

Enigmatic Fantasies #21 - D.O.D.I. [#71]

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            She watched the scene on her monitor with great interest, it showed a man as he walked down a city sidewalk. Another monitor on her desk displayed construction workers on a high rise building as they worked to move a large pane of glass. Her eyes constantly switched between both monitors as she silently counted to herself. Finally, a scene unfolded on the second monitor. The construction workers fumbled with the glass pane and it fell from the building. Her eyes immediately snapped to the first monitor as her hands moved to a keyboard on her desk. With a single press of a key, a coin materialized on the street the monitored man walked upon. After another keystroke, the coin glinted in the sunlight and caught the man's attention.

            "Oh, it's my lucky day," he said as he bent over to pick up the coin. As he stopped to admire his find a large pane of glass crashed only a few feet in front of him. The man stood paralyzed in shock at the scene before him. Had he not taken a moment to pick up the coin he would have been crushed to death. He thanked his lucky stars that he was spared such a fate.

            "Your welcome," the woman chuckled to herself as she filled in some paperwork on her desk. "Subject #105,257,189,460, intervention successful. Moving onto the next one," the woman announced as her large pair of wings flapped joyfully.

            "Alright," a man with similar wings at the other end of the room nodded, "Oh yeah, the four guys upstairs sent down a memo." He pulled out a piece of paper, "Subject #106,485,569,293 is supposed to make the winning shot of a basketball game in about 5 minutes. Classic underdog story, you got it?"

            "Understood, thanks," the woman acknowledged as the man left the room. She fiddled with her keyboard until the countless monitors in front of her lit up with the image of a college basketball game. One of the monitors in front of her displayed the aforementioned subject. The second monitor displayed the basketball hoop. The third monitor to her side displayed a comprehensive set of information about the situation. "Oh wow it is an underdog story," the woman noted, "rookie team vs former champs...trying to impress his distant father...the other team is lead by an egotistical jock..."

            As the woman looked over the information the game continued before her. The former champs dominated it for the most part, while the rookies struggled to keep up. The woman realized this and went to work, after a few taps of her keyboard the tides began to turn. The champs started to make stupid mistakes, mostly flashy moves that ended in failure. At the same time, the rookie team started to perform better, mostly from a few "lucky" shots, until it all came down to the end.

            The score was tied with less than a minute on the clock, the champs had the ball and were ready to make their final pass. "I don't think so," the woman chuckled as she pressed a button on her keyboard. Right on cue the ball, which was being passed to the champ's team captain, flew right into Subject #106,485,569,293's hands. "And for the finale," the woman clicked one final key. Suddenly, the subject was filled with adrenaline and courage. He took a risky shot and scored the winning point for his team as the clock hit zero. The crowd burst into a cheer for the rookie team.

            "Easy as can be," the winged woman congratulated herself. "Subject #106,485,569,293, intervention successful. Moving onto the next one. Now, where was I?" The woman poured through her own files until she found where she had stopped previously. "Here we are, Subject #105,722,871,004 needs to find a cure for a rare disease by accident. This one might take a bit of thought." She pondered the difficulty of the scenario as she switched over her monitors to a science lab. It may be a trickier situation than the last two, but she knew she had the power to solve it. Just another day at the Department of Divine Intervention.

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I came up with this one a while back when I was thinking about stories that turned heaven (and similar realms) into a bureaucracy, or at least an office space. I don't know why but the idea of turning something as grand and indescribable as heaven and turning it into an average office space just tickles me. Thus came the idea of the Department of Divine Intervention. Have you ever narrowly avoided death because you took a step to the left without thinking about it? Well it's because of them. I think this could be a full, elaborate novel length story on its own, but for now I'll leave it at this.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy

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Strange Sci-fi Tales #7 - Climbing Up The Cosmic Wall [#70]

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            I was alone now, but I didn't care. I was nearly there, I was atop the Cosmic Wall. Soon I would travel beyond the edge of space. I don't know what's out there, it could be unknown worlds, treasures, horrors, God or just an infinite void. I didn't care, I was content in the fact that I had made it this far at all. I have seen so much and conquered numerous trials. Even the infinite vastness of space began to appear small. Now here I was, atop this endless curtain of stars at the far end of the universe, one step away from God knows what. I looked behind myself, one last glance at the space I had conquered. Thoughts and memories flooded my mind as every step of my journey played back through my mind's eye.

            It was so simple at first, I was but a child with a dream. I was told there was no end to the universe, but I also heard whispers that stated the exact opposite. There was an end, this Cosmic Wall, that no one had crossed before. At least, none that lived to tell the tale. What laid beyond was a matter of speculation, debate, and heresy. However, most believed there to be a reward of some kind. A prize for those with the will to surpass the very boundaries of space itself.

            The reward itself was equally shrouded in mystery and rumor. Some said it was a paradise, a land of the divine and boundless indulgence. Others believed there to be a treasure, either in wealth, knowledge or power. A few claimed it was God, whether it was a chance to meet or simply a chance to see them. To me, the reward was the achievement. The right to be the one individual in all of creation to complete this task.

            Unfortunately, no matter how much one desires the reward, it is impossible to make it this far alone. You need allies, companions and others who will follow your cause. I knew that from the start, and I made it the first step of my goal. Combatants, navigators, engineers, doctors, scholars, pilots and artists. Dozens of these peoples flocked to my side, we would be the first, we would be the crew who conquered the universe.

            The journey was long and difficult, fraught with danger and death around each corner. The next step was perhaps the hardest, in order to gain something, something else must be lost. On the path to the top of the Cosmic Wall, people would die, my followers and companions were no different. However, that was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

            The combatants would die more often than not, thankfully we had many. There were numerous scoundrels and monsters that stood in our path. A combatant lost to a battle with either was a small sacrifice in order to continue. Even after the loss of so many over the course of the journey, I still had enough combatants even to the very end.

            The artists and scholars would be the ones to fall next. Each had dreams to catalog our adventures. To be the first to paint an image of the other side. To be there to record history as it happened. To describe what was beyond the Cosmic Wall in scientific detail. Unfortunately, few of these artists and scholars had the strength or will to reach the end. They were not equipped to handle the trials we'd face, but in truth none of us were. They slowly began to crumble in the face of adversity, only a scant few made it to the very end.

            The engineers and doctors followed in suite. Both groups had a similar purpose, one to keep our transport healthy and the others to keep the rest of us healthy. Sadly, such jobs always put them closer to danger than one might expect. When our transport began to fail the engineers were right at the center of the problem to fix it. When it finally did fail, they were the first to suffer for it. The doctors are equally invested in the treatment of the sick and wounded. Yet, even they cannot protect themselves from disease forever. I had lost all my doctors before the end, and only a couple of engineers were left.

            Finally, there were the pilots and navigators, the least likely to fall. The two rolls had a simple relationship, one would direct, and the other would steer. Without either you'll not make it very far. Thankfully, they managed to avoid the brunt of the dangers that cost so many others their lives. I had nearly the same pilots and navigators all the way to the bitter end.

            The end, however, that was a different story for all involved. The final stretch, the true climb up the Cosmic Wall is where fates were decided. My companions and followers did not have the will to survive this final stretch, so they were sacrificed. One after another, as my vessel neared the end, the last of my allies fell like flies. It was a heavy loss, but one I was long since prepared to take.

            It was worth it, I was here at the top of the Cosmic Wall. My vessel was on its last legs, my companions were gone, I was alone, but I didn't care. The final step would ironically be the easiest to make. I looked straight ahead, to my destiny, to my dream. I made one final breath and took the last step.

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The Cosmic Wall was an idea I had for a sci-fi setting some time back. It was a standard set-up, there was a federation, some rebels a hive-mind of robots, etc. However, what made it special was that it was "at the top" of the universe, and if you flew further up you could theoretically reach an analogue to heaven. I say theoretically because such a feat should be virtually impossible, but that wouldn't stop people from trying. I thought it would make an interesting place to set a novel or tabletop RPG campaign, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. Thus, I wrote this story to touch on the idea, it was fun to say the least.

Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy

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