Echoes In The Shadows

Cosmos

Silence.

The universe was silent…..then beep!

A tiny silver round object, tiny than a child’s palm drifted aimlessly, it’s surface all scarred with ancient symbols that pulsed slowly, as if it were breathing, but it was broken…dying.

Until it wasn’t.

[Robotic sequence initiated….5…..4……3…..2…..]

[System initializing….beep….beep]

A bright crack of blue light split suddenly across its surface and the object trembled, as it pulses faster with a whirring sound.

[Warning…Core systems at 12% functionality.]

The blue glow intensified as it spread all around the little object like veins of lightning with sparks. The symbols flared to life, one after the other, with their glow shining so intensely that it brightened up the cosmos.

[Emergency detected.]

It was running out of time….

[Host search protocol activated]

The whirring object swirled faster with its light now blinding. The system stretched out with maps of energy lashing through dimensions and alternate universe, shifting through countless bodies, searching….searching….until—

[Targets identified]

The voice that spoke next was mechanical no longer, for it was now alive, desperate…

“Micheal Robinson.”

The second, spoken like a command.

“Noah Longheart.”

The third—final. The inevitable.

“Jessica William.”

[Binding sequence commencing in 5….4….3….2…]

The system quaked and convulsed with its lights flaring weakly like a dying star and somewhere, in the world unknown, three souls shuddered suddenly as if being hit by an electric current.

And then—

Silence.

The empty void swallowed the object once more.

But the message had already been sent and it has begun.

***************************

Modern Day City….the city of Luxembourg.

“Congratulations man!”

Mike’s friends Simeon and Richard hailed him as they all gathered in his plush office, with its wide glass windows overlooking the busy street from the top most floors of the building skyscraper.

“Oh please come off it guys” he replied lazily as he downed the contents of his glass cup in one gulp and stood up with his hands in his suit packet as he approached the windows. “I haven’t been appointed yet, don’t you think it’s too early to celebrate?” He asked with a smug smile on his face.

Upon hearing that, Simeon laughed aloud and replied, “Stop being modest man, you know that this Lockwood contract, you have just acquired is huge, besides, the position has already being willed to you by your father, to be handed to you on your twenty sixth birthday…and guess what?”

“What?” Mike asked with a small smile on his lips.

“You are freaking turning twenty six tomorrow man!” Simeon blurted out excitedly “….and Mr Stewart is organizing a celebratory dinner for the company tomorrow, which can also pass for your birthday dinner.”

“Yeah…tomorrow is for you buddy.” Richard chips in with a wide smile on his face.

“Ok…ok…that’s enough of the ass licking guys” Mike said as he doubles back in laughter, but they weren’t done..

“But it’s true!” Simeon said, feigning surprise, “Oh you know we ain’t lying…majority of the company successes is all due to you and your father.”

And that was true, for Jason Robinson was a very brilliant man who founded the company—Bio technologies with his best friend and associate, Mr Stewart. A multi billion dollar company which has its tentacles and influence in the country’s economy and also in most parts of the world. Shortly after the company reaches its peak, Mr and Mrs Robinson lost their lives tragically in a ghastly car accident, leaving their four years old son in the hands of Mr Stewart, his best friend, who then raised him with his only daughter, Lillian who was two at that time and they grew up fond of each other and had fallen in love.

Mike grew up to be a very brilliant young man with an amazing skill for Buisness and negotiation, coupled with his good looks and amazing body, he and Lillian were regarded as a power couple. Even though his father willed his position as partner of the Bio tech group to him, he never lacked in his job, always punctual, very brilliant and hardworking, thereby earning his seat at the table by merits and not by nepotism.

Now, it’s time….finally….to take his rightful place at the table beside Mr Stewart.

Tomorrow it will be announced. He will be given congratulatory remarks for the huge contract he had just acquired, he will be wished a happy birthday and also….

He will take the leap of faith tomorrow….finally, he will propose to his long term girlfriend…the love of his life…

He could almost see the excited expression on her beautiful face. So dainty.

Oh tomorrow will be a beautiful day!

*********************************

The next day evening, Mike pulled his Mercedes to a stop at the entrance of the company hall and looked out the window to see everyone beatifically clad in their most expensive outfits and jewelry, looking all gay and happy, including the reporters who were brandishing their equipment under people’s noses.

He took a deep breath and muttered silently, “it’s time,” and came down from the car. Immediately there was a stampede as the reporters huddled together at the entrance of the hall sighted him and rushed over with their equipments waving over their head, all trying to be the first to ask him a question as he pushes through to get to the entrance.

“Mr Robinson…how were you able to get the huge deal?”

“Mr Robinson…what is your take on the Lockwood deal?”

“Mr Robinson…what will be your next line of action?”

The company hall shimmered with colorful bright light as Mike entered, looking elegant with his hair permed backwards, looking all stylish in his expensive tailored black suits, with his right hand in his suit pants pockets and the atmosphere shimmered with expensive cologne as everyone looked so expensively dressed and all put together.

Mike looked ahead and saw his friend Simeon, who was engrossed in a hearty handshake with the Chinese ambassador, and as Simeon didn’t notice him, he went over to say his greetings, but was intercepted on the way by a boisterous beautifully clad looking woman, who he recognized immediately as one of the top investors at the company.

“Hello Mrs Witcher, it’s a pleasure to see you” he greeted her with a huge smile on his face.

“My boy! Congratulations in acquiring the Lockwood contract” she said excitedly as she shook his hand, “that’s a huge one child.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs Witcher” he replied courteously, “besides, I didn’t do anything, it’s all pure luck.”

“Then I like this luck, boy” she purred and winked at him jokingly and soon later, they were both lost in a fit of laughter. Then something caught Mike’s vision…more like someone…

His girlfriend, Lily, looking so beautiful as usual in a blue shimmering dress, with her hands roped in her father’s arm, talking to the minister, and then he turned back to face the smiling woman and say politely with a bow;

“If you will please excuse me, Mrs Witcher.”

“Ofcourse my boy” she replied and focused her attention on the middle age man that had been trying to get her attention for quite a while.

Then Mike turned towards his girlfriend and watched with admiration as she extended her hand for an handshake and his sharp eyes caught something big and expensive, lying heavily on her index finger, something round and it looks suspiciously like a ring.

An engagement ring.