Commandadmin: Created page with "{{TplDistantRealityChapter|title=Chapter 15|chapter text=Jealously is a combination of several emotions: Fear, Love, and Shame. Fear, because our self-interest in the thing that we desire is in danger of being taken. Love, because we have a very strong physical and emotional attachment to our desire. And Shame, because we are embarrassed that our object of jealously has that much control over us. Jealousy is thus a very inefficient and wasteful emotion, unless one..."

2025-01-27T07:04:03Z

Created page with "{{TplDistantRealityChapter|title=Chapter 15|chapter text=Jealously is a combination of several emotions: Fear, Love, and Shame. Fear, because our self-interest in the thing that we desire is in danger of being taken. Love, because we have a very strong physical and emotional attachment to our desire. And Shame, because we are embarrassed that our object of jealously has that much control over us. Jealousy is thus a very inefficient and wasteful emotion, unless one..."

New page
{{TplDistantRealityChapter|title=Chapter 15|chapter text=Jealously is a combination of several emotions: Fear, Love, and Shame. Fear, because our self-interest in the thing that we desire is in danger of being taken. Love, because we have a very strong physical and emotional attachment to our desire. And Shame, because we are embarrassed that our object of jealously has that much control over us. Jealousy is thus a very inefficient and wasteful emotion, unless one does not care. 
 
Chapter 15 
 
Randals watched as the shuttlecraft landed gently on the north-landing pad. It was the only pad close to the new chamber site. He figured Loggar would like to see it first. She had traveled a long distance and he figured she would like to see anything new immediately. Trying to make everything run smoothly almost taxed his capabilities. But he got through fairly well and he hoped she would realize that, maybe even appreciate it. He had only gotten word of her arrival about an hour ago. Damn that Herb for delaying the message. He acted like it had slipped his mind. The fat fool should be fired. That is if it were up to Randals, Herb would be bounced off Necron. But Loggar liked Herb, thus Herb was tolerated. 
Sean piloted the shuttlecraft down to the surface. He piloted a craft every chance he got, even if it was just a regular milk run from supply station to ship. It gave him a chance to show off a bit he supposed. Robin couldn’t fly a shuttlecraft if her life depended on it – she made her way through the ranks by way of administration and security. He started as security and moved over to pilot school. He was damn good too. Rated top point zero, zero, zero one percent in all of GRID. Nine other pilots rated better than he. 
 
Just before release Sean asked if anyone got motion sickness. Robin sat in the co-pilot seat, as worthless as she would have been and Loggar sat behind her on the wall bench seat. Both said no. Sean checked to see that his passengers had their seat belts on and said ‘good.’ He switched off the gravity compensator and let the shuttlecraft free fall to the planet. It was one hell of a ride and Sean enjoyed every second, including the screams from both Robin and Kathy – especially the scream from Robin. He had the vid recorder on the whole time. The crew had started a pool on the landing. They knew the Commander would drop the compensator and give his passengers one hell of a joy ride. The vid recorded who screamed the loudest and longest and at what microsecond it would begin and end. 
The shuttlecraft cycled through the landing procedures. The landing light flashed green. Randals approached it as the side door opened. Loggar stepped out first. A young woman with GRID military insignia followed her. A man followed behind her, he also had GRID military insignia. Randals stared at the man for a moment. The man looked familiar, but Randals knew he never met this person before in his life. Then it dawned on him. Loggar had retrieved him for the statue. He was going to perform the rites. That revelation alone made Randals dislike and hate Sean. Loggar caught Randals approaching them. “Ted, glad you can meet us.” 
Randals nodded. He was staring at Sean. 
“Ted.” Loggar said, “This is Commander Sean Blakemore. 
Sean reached a hand out. “Hello.” 
Randals continued to stare. After several seconds ticked by, Randals extended his hand as well. “Nice to meet you, Commander.” Randals said slowly. 
Sean shook his hand, but felt uneasy. If Sean trusted his instincts and gut feeling he would swear that this Randals didn’t like him. Sean always believed that if someone didn’t like you from first impression screw them. They got it wrong and wasn’t worth the effort to change their minds. 
Robin stepped up. 
Loggar said, “And this is Captain Spaarin.” 
Randals tore his stare away from Sean. Robin shone with a light he had never before seen in a woman, save for Loggar. 
“Pleased to meet you, Captain.” Then slowly turning to Loggar, but damn was the Captain beautiful, “We found another chamber. This one is the greatest find of all.” 
Loggar raised an eyebrow. 
Randals asked quite pointedly, “Are they cleared?” 
Loggar nodded, “With everything, Ted. Do you understand? Do not hold anything back from either of them.” 
Randals slowly, reluctantly nodded. “Well, several records pointed us to this area. The dig team broke through only a few days ago.” 
The group started walking to the main building. 
Loggar nodded impatiently for Randals to finish. 
“The chamber is larger than the first.” 
Loggar asked, “Larger than the chamber with the statue?” 
Randals’ eyes flicked to Robin then to Sean. “Yes, much bigger.” 
“Well?” Loggar asked. 
“The chamber has twelve more statues like the first.” 
Loggar stopped, “What?” 
Randals continued, “Yes, totally like the first, in every aspect.” 
“Machine?” 
Randals nodded. “Yes.” 
“Good Goddess, man. Show me now, please.” 
Sean listened to the exchange. He thought how funny one man could sense the jealousy of another. Did women have this same sense? Sean asked himself. They must. As they walked toward a large tented area Sean would catch Randals looking at him. 
The thing Sean would have liked to say to Randals was not be mad. Loggar liked him and he liked her. It wasn’t his fault she had no intimate feelings for Randals. Sean stopped in mid-thought; maybe she did have feelings for Randals. Maybe she was even sweet to him now and then. Oh well, too bad I’m getting it now, and I don’t want to share. 
The chamber was large, about 100 meters in diameter. Sean noted a podium of sorts in the center of the chamber. It was empty, raised about two feet off the floor. Along the wall in twelve niches were twelve statues. All of which looked like bronze. The chamber was lit by arc lamps angled toward the ceiling. The light from the lamps gave the chamber an eerie orange glow. 
Loggar stepped in first and muttered, “Fantastic. Robin, you first, step through the doorway. Sean you stay there for a bit.” 
Robin nodded and stepped through. The chamber seemed to briefly come alive. Robin sensed, if not felt, a flash of energy. The chamber brightened to a green color then faded to the orange glow from the arc lamps. 
Robin frowned, “What the?” 
“Ted, you next, hurry.” Loggar said. 
Randals stepped in. Nothing happened. He was disappointed. 
He thought that Loggar felt disappointed as well. 
Loggar looked at Sean. 
“I suppose it’s my turn?” 
Loggar nodded. Her glaze was glassy and unfocused. She had the look of a frightened little girl mixed with the look of a determined woman. 
Sean stepped into the chamber . . . 
There was a deep rumbling sound from some unknown place in the chamber. The orange glow was replaced by a dull, yellow glow. The walls seemed to pulsate and radiate with a sound and color unheard or unseen by humans. Robin felt it, Loggar felt it, Randals felt it, and above all, Sean felt it. 
“Holy shit!” Sean muttered. 
Loggar clasped her hands together and danced a little dance like a small girl, “I knew it. I knew it. Thank the Goddess I knew it.” She spread her hands out wide trying to absorb the energy emanating from the walls and within the chamber. 
Randals thought he heard a deep moan from one of the statues. He froze and nearly soiled his pants. He heard several more statues moan, or at least he thought he did. “Can we leave now?” His voice raised two octaves higher at his near panic. 
Loggar opened her eyes and smiled. Sean was the one. Robin was the one also. She nodded and promptly walked out. The rest nearly stumbled over each other trying to walk out but not looking as if they were in a hurry. The yellow glow subsided to the orange glow from the arc lamps. 
Loggar smiled. “Tomorrow Ted, we’ll assemble the group at the office. We have much to plan.” She started walking toward the main building. Sean and Robin followed. 
Sean stepped up next to Loggar. “Umm, what the hell was that?” 
Randals held up his hands parallel to the floor. He watched them shake visibly. He was scared. He looked over to Sean who had just stepped up next to Loggar. Randals decided that Sean was the enemy. He took the last hope of him being with Kathy. He shattered his illusion. Randals’ hands still shook. Things were going to get fuckin’ spooky from this point forward. 
Loggar smiled, “Let me think on it Sean and I’ll tell you later. I gotta think through this. Okay?” 
He slowly nodded once and said, “Okay.” 
Agegi watched in earnest as the one in charge had returned. This time she had others with her, a female and a male. A ray of hope shone on his plans as he saw the female had given the room a spark. ‘She is a distant relation to an Elder.’ He thought, ‘Fascinating.’ It was only when Sean had stepped through the doorway did Agegi’s excitement peak. This is the one. The one-in-charge had gone to get this one!’ Agegi set upon his task to “help” the little ones “awaken” him. This was the third time he wished he could laugh. 

 
}}

Distant Reality Chapter Fifteen - Revision history