Stand Alone 7

Black Sapphire gasped for a few moments and then drifted back into slumber, where once again her dreams were invaded by The Knowledge and the final story of Arien the Immortal.

Stand Alone 7 - The Bank job

” I walk a lonely road, the only one I have ever known.”

“Don’t know where it goes. “

“But its home to me and I walk alone.”

“I walk this empty street, on this boulevard of broken dreams.”

“When the city sleeps, and I’m the only one and I walk alone.”

                                                                                    - Billy Joe

Once upon a time I was part of the royal family, one of the High Blood Caste, I was called Arien and I acted as an advisor to the Queen’s two sons and served at her behest to the best of my abilities.  This lasted for centuries until one fate filled day I arrived in another universe.  I was taken by the government and experimented on for many years.

I eventually escaped from my captors and made my way to the corner of Eden and Prairie where I will take the last step in my journey and push forward the unsuspecting destinies of eleven people.

As I stepped through the glass doors and looked at the small crowd there I took in each individual. A young man and his girlfriend giving each other small kisses as they waited in line near an aging security guard standing near the entrance who was picking at his teeth with a pen cap.  The manager watching as the two female tellers handled the late evening customers.  A middle aged mother trying to keep her young son from causing a ruckus with the other customers.  A young Asian woman mumbling to herself, an angry look on her face and her checkbook in her hand being crushed.  A young Jesuit priest, his bald head perfectly shaven clean.  His clothing hiding several tattoos on his neck and arms and finally a young woman brushing her hip with her right hand each pass showing a badge clipped to her belt that read COLUMN.

I go into the arms of our gods with a smile on my face and destiny in my hands.  They began to scream and react as my coat dropped to the ground and they saw the explosives.  The woman officer and security guard began to draw their weapons and cry out as I detonated the device strapped to myself.

He imploded into a fine red mist that circulated the room and was breathed in by all in the enclosed space.  The curse that had bound him to the universe was released and he drifted into oblivion.

“One of these days the ground will drop out from beneath your feet.”
“One of these days your heart will stop and play its final beat.”
“One of these days the clocks will stop and time won't mean a thing.”
“One of these days their bombs will drop and silence everything.”

-        David Grohl

“We are on scene at the Show of Force bank and trust.  A failed terrorist attack was just performed by an unknown individual that resulted in a failure to kill anyone or destroy any property; however it managed to claim the life of the bomber himself.”

“They are being called The Force Eleven.  Eleven survivors of the attempted suicide bombing that only claimed the life of the bomber.  Information on his motivations is unknown at this time.  What is known is that no one was hurt and all eleven are being taken to Saint Angel of the Prophet to be more thoroughly examined by the professionals.”

Christopher Kolumns, Bank Manager

Abdul Manual, Security Guard

Cathleen Richards, Bank Teller

Charisma Portman, Bank Teller

Todd Nichols, Customer

Lilac Stevens, Customer

Peaches Yakazachi, Customer

Marla Washington and her son James, Customers

Jasper Fact a priest, Customer

Jezebel an officer with the Column, Customer

Elsewhere…

“Gaddamn lying brother of mine.  I followed him see, followed him to this here bank and I’ll get that money he owes me.”  An explosion sounded from within and he looked up to the source of the sound as a reddish mist puffed from a vent and he inhaled.  “What?” He managed before collapsing into a heap amongst the garbage of the alleyway.

Willie Nichols, homeless Person

* Lyrics from Green Day and Foo Fighters used without permission.

TBC in Astrobiology 107