Empyrean Iris Story Collection

Anthem of the Broken

I know something about humans no one else does.

I know a secret that they hide behind their smiling faces.

I know something that haunts them in their darkness, in the quiet when they know no one else is listening. I know the secrets they keep in their dreams where no one can pry. When they chase death to play, I know why they really do it.....

You want to be friends with death when something far greater stalks you in your nightmares.

The humans had named the planet BOB. Some said it was because the scientists were lazy, some because it was an acronym for something ACTUALLY scientific. But general consensus had become that it was named BOB as a stand in for Big Ol' Boy. That's how humans work, they have trouble taking anything seriously.

To be honest, Krill was just happy to find that the climate of this planet was relatively mild and specifically NOT death world material. Somehow, some of the humans complained about this labeling the planet as BORING, but Krill disagreed. It was nice to be doing something safe for once, at least, as safe as you could be surrounded by a pack of humans.

A great opportunity to experience more of their culture, and what better way to do that than to participate in one of their celebrations. This one, June 16 from the earth solar calendar dubbed Enterprise Day, when the first human interstellar ship was launched from its docking station on the moon and out into the stars.

Something to celebrate.

The rest of the humans seemed to agree, sitting outside on the grass in their camp chairs in various stages of drunken delight laughing uproariously and talking with increased vigor. Captain Vir sat at their center, the life of the party, as usual. He had a drink in one hand in one of those red liquid vessels dubbed, solo cup. He had traded his usual work clothes for a T-shirt and shorts, which showed off his new bionic leg to some effect, all silver and chrome. It was supposed to have matching somatosensors implanted in the outer face so he'd be able to feel the limb again.

Krill wasn't sure how he felt about these human celebrations. He couldn't eat the human food or drink the human drinks, and the more drunken the humans got the dumber they seemed to become, but the weather was nice, the fresh air was good, and the sun was doing wonders for him as it traced its way across the sky and down towards the horizon.

It began to fade away late into the evening behind the horizon.

Captain Vir took to his feet placing his red cup in the grass.

"Where are you going captain, the fireworks are about to start."

The man gave a shrug, "To take a leak, if that's allowed."

The others laughed and let him pass. He made his way past Krill movement smooth and unhindered on the new leg, which hissed and ticked softly with his movement as he passed. Just as he was beginning to fade into the crowd, Krill remembered something he had forgotten to ask, and jumped up to follow after.

Behind him, the sun tucked itself slowly below the horizon casting a blanket of night over the colony.

Krill had made it far enough to see the captain as he passed by the recreation building heading in the general direction of the bathrooms.

A sudden flare of red light illuminated the landscape around them, and then an immense explosion. Krill yelped and fell forward nearly braining himself on a cooler. Around him the humans cheered and hollered, delighted with the colored explosions.

Krill lifted his head just in time to see the captain stumbling around the corner of the building. A trash can had been knocked over behind him, and he appeared to have been stumbling.