~~~~
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...
~~~~
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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