elanya

And here is an excerpt from a Dan story from Nu... I may post more if I find trher good bits that I can cut out. this was written about 4 or 5 years ago now (?), so keep that in mind please. Also, I should note that one of the things that people complained about for Dan (the few who complained, anyway) was that the stories were too descriptive... You've been warned ^-^



I'm sitting inside, indian style. Everything outside is distorted, so
I can't see it right, no matter how I look. In front of me is a girl,
in a yellow jumper. She's also kneeling, laughing, not looking at me.
She is drifting, farther away, through the glass. Now I'm crouching,
hands pressed against the barrier, watching a smear of bright colour
against a background of grey moving things, monsters. They are
dangerous; she's in danger. I see this, I know it is real, outside.

"Anna."

My voice is strong, the word echoes, and everything moves. I'm dizzy,
falling.

She's inside again, and so am I. I'm still watching, from a distance.
I have a rake in my hand, I'm wearing jeans covered with earth, and a
sweater. I just came in from doing yard work, but it started to rain.
She's lying on the couch in front of the t.v., half asleep, but she
rolls over and smiles at me when I enter. She says "Take off you shoes,
silly, I just cleaned the house." I smile back at her and say "Just my
shoes?" She smiles more, and I can see where she's cleaned, because
everything is so shiny, like glass...

I will know what this place, this trap, this prison is. I have a
computer set up, and top of the line sensor equipment. I'm just waiting
for the data to be processed so I can load it into a modelling program.
I've used this for something before, to see it, but I don't remember
what. I lean back in my chair for a moment and press 'enter', and
someone is behind me, their hands on my shoulders.

"You work too hard, " she says, cuddling up beside me, closing the
space between us and reaching for my hand where it rests on her thigh.

"Anna, you don't even-" I start, but she interrupts. I'm very tired.

"I know, but I just worry..." We lie together, I'm falling asleep,
relaxed, but she isn't. I start to move away, so she can be more
comfortable, but she stops me. She burrows in closer, pressing up her
satin camisole against my naked chest, and we stay that way a while.
I'm still tired, but not sleeping. I listen to her breathe, smell her
hair. Her feet are cold, the rest is warm. We lie together. I start
to fall asleep again. I'm so tired, but I don't remember why...

"Daniel?" She asks, quietly. I mumble something, half asleep. "What if
we ever have kids? What then?"

I'm back inside the glass. It's hard to breathe, but I'm resigned to
this. It's hot in here, like under the sun. Suffocating, like the
mouse. I can't think anything that I am not allowed. My mind is
suffocating. I'm sleeping, and I'm alone.

My mind hurts, my lungs hurt, my skin burns, my mouth is dry, my eyes
are itchy, and I am trapped...



A ship running a black flag has been spotted off the stern, and
apparently that has the same connotations here as it once held on
earth: pirates. We're apparently going to outrace them, but this
could prove a perfect opportunity for me if properly timed. All that
is needed is to get past the crew, some of whom are panicking and
running around, while others are unfurling the sails in an attempt to
escape. If I can get off this ship with a chance of being safely
stowed on the pirate vessel, I can set off the explosions with few
worries. There are again too many ifs, but perhaps some can be
eliminated by going above decks to better assess the situation.

The main trap door for the hold is located in too central a
location to make it a good point of entry or exit, but fortunately there
is an auxiliary door near the stern that serves just as well. There is
no ladder leading up to it, but it is located underneath one of the
large mechanical monstrosities and can be reached with relative ease
by climbing up and standing on the mech's shoulders. I do this, less
careful than in previous excursions not to leave footprints or scuff
marks on the metal. Tonight there is a weight on top of the panel.
Occasionally, barrels to catch rainwater or heavy coils of rope are
placed carelessly over it, but no one usually notices if they are
carefully moved over to one side. Sometimes they even do it
themselves, after being berated by the quartermaster.

I turn on the motion sensor in my watch to see if there is anyone
above me, but all it gives me is static. Procedures do not work
consistently; every machine, including the mind, breaks down once in
a while. For now, I listen closely at the panel, and hearing nothing,
give it a quick heave upwards. I hear something fall, and slide up
quickly through the opening.

In front of me crouches a dazed and somewhat panicked sailor:
presumably the weight, as there are no other objects in sight that it
could have been. The sailor is a small man, which belies his mass.
Across the deck is a long brass spy glass, through which he was
apparently watching the flight of the pirates when the floor was
pushed up from underneath him.

I reach for my gun as he draws the sword strapped to his side. He
charges, calling out to his shipmates about a spy. My hand closes on
the gun, but the sailor swings - can't fire. He misses - step back.
Take aim, but he swings again, misses. We fire.

Falling. The sailor stands over the railing, screaming down at
the-

Water, cold water. Can't breathe, can't lose the gun. Struggle to
surface, pushed down by the wake of the ship. It moves too fast,
speeding away from the pirates...

*Calm down*

Right.