Chapter Two:
Lieutenant Noah Wilkerson was floating a few meters away from New Stockholm enjoying the silence. He was off duty and frequently went on an EVA to clear his mind and thoughts, not to mention the thoughts of others. Although most psions of any appreciable skill require the eighth Higginson-Meiers elements to focus their abilities, telepaths were found to still be able to hear the passing thoughts of those nearby. Without these “psi-stones,” telepaths could not fully listen in on these thoughts in passing, but could catch glimpses into what the nearby people were thinking. This was only true in one-on-one conversations, but being on a station filled with people in close proximity, Noah was constantly bombarded with a low murmur and white noise.
These were his only moments of pure peace, no one around to listen in on, no stray thoughts that entered his conscious mind, no low grade headache to pester him; just sweet, blissful silence. He closed his eyes, enjoying it, but swiftly opened them upon hearing “The Song.” He didn’t know which song it was, and he looked extensively, but it was always there just at the limits of his hearing. For as long as he could remember, he always heard The Song and thought it was normal for telepaths to experience it. It wasn’t until he had begun psion training in Drammen and spoke with his friend, Lena Mayer, about it.
She didn’t take his statement very well, nearly called the administration to have him removed, tested, and possibly cut off from his talents, but relaxed after some quick talking on Noah’s part. He knew she was only looking out for his best interests, they had both been taught from an early age to watch for any signs of mental degradation in other psions, especially telepaths. Although rarer today than it had been in the past, psions would eventually descend into madness with most having to be cut off by the age of 50 and barely lasting ten more years past that point. Telepaths rarely saw their 30th birthday. At the first sign of trouble, they would have to be reported, or dire consequences could occur as the psions lost all control over their abilities.
Although he was able to convince her that he was alright, they drifted apart as she was constantly on the lookout for more signs. He heard that she was married now and expecting her first child any day now, just in time for the launch of the Vanguard fleets. His mind turned to thoughts of what would have happened to them if he hadn’t spoke of The Song. He would have to remember to send her a letter congratulating her and wishing her the best. They were distant, but still friendly to each other and he knew she was only worried about him. He wondered if she thought about what may have been as well.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts (an odd thing for a telepath to try), he closed his eyes again and listened to The Song. At times it was comforting, at others annoying, at still others a constant reminder. The same song looped on repeat, from his earliest memories to the present day. Always there when he closed his eyes or drifted off to sleep. He was used to it, but wondered why he was the only one who heard it, and that thought extended to other telepaths that had scanned him in the past. They never caught the song, even when he could hear it and when asked if there was anything abnormal about his thoughts or dreams, he would deny it and the administrator would just nod as if they were unaware of the deception. The consequences of them finding out made Noah shudder and made him glad that he had not shared “The Dream” with Lena as well.
Extremely vivid, he was walking through a dark corridor carefully, the light of his flashlight bouncing off metals he had no name for. He was aware of other figures, but was unable to put a name to any of the other individuals with him. They walked slowly through this vessel looking for…something. He heard the song better now, although when he awoke he could not remember the exact sound, and he used it to lead the group to its destination. He knew that at long last he would finally get answers, finally get the closure he had been searching for all his life. A search he never knew he was a part of.
The dream would occasionally have him go through different passages, the vessel they were on was a maze of corridors, an unknown configuration, purpose, or sense of design, but he always arrived at the same door by the end. He recognized the markings, if not the meaning, on the door every time. He placed a hand on it, while one of the other figures tried to open the door. He rested his gloved hand on the door and could feel it vibrate through the suit. After a few moments, the other figure gave up trying to open the door and Noah would sigh. There would be a pause as Noah considered what to do next, wondered if this time he would be able to see beyond the door this time. Raising his head, closing his eyes, he sent out a single word into the void around him using his mind.
The door would open with a hiss, a small blast of atmosphere would erupt from the opening spewing whatever was left within out into the vacuum of the ship, and Noah would awaken. Every time, he tried to keep his eyes open from the sudden gust and see inside the room, to get some hint of what it contained, and every time he would awaken before his vision cleared. He would always awaken with the certainty that this eventuality would occur in his life, he would see beyond the door, but he had no explanation for why that was. He would awaken in a cold sweat, disappointed and angered, but hopeful and comforted by whatever was in that room.
“Lieutenant,” Noah snapped back to the present and jumped in his EVA suit. He was never really surprised when he was in the station and around people because the murmur would warn him when someone sought to address him. In the silence and with his thoughts he was completely unprepared for someone addressing him.
“Yes command?”
“Your presence has been requested at dispatch,” the woman said, with a slightly bemused tone to it, “Looks like your marching orders have come in.”
“What about you Karen? Are you leaving for greener pastures?”
Karen laughed, “No, they’re keeping me here until the lights go out…which will be never. Guess I’m just too valuable where I am, relaying messages to people floating outside the station.”
Noah smiled, “Thanks Karen. I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too Noah. Any ideas on where you’re headed?”
Noah turned himself to face the airlock to start heading inside. Pushing a button on his suit, the psi stone contained within came in contact with his skin and he felt the familiar focus whenever he touched one. With a though he slowly moved himself towards the station.
“I’m not sure, but I have a pretty good idea.”
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