Hyper Nocturnal
Episode 5
By Charles Davis
INTRO/COMMERCIAL
Scene: Volcanic verse
(Sound fades in of the volcano in the background and wind. Sound of Humbaba breathing heavily. Sound of them walking up. They stop walking.)
Tanya: He looks injured.
Matti: He is. There are wounds all over him. There’s light pouring out of them.
Wolfgang: What is the light?
Humbaba: It is my spirit essence escaping. Soon I will succumb to nothingness.
Daytras: Someone stand closer to him, I cannot hear what is being said.
Matti: I will. (starts to walk forward).
Tanya: Wait, (Matti stops walking) is this safe? This guys tried to possesses us. Like… tried really hard to possesses us.
Matti: …I don’t think he’s in any position to possess us now. (Sound of him continuing to walk. He stops walking and kneels down near Humbaba.)
Daytras: Yes, I can hear him breathing.
Humbaba: You… You are the one I almost claimed.
Matti: Yes. But you failed.
Humbaba: Indeed. Failed in more than a single perspective. The challenger has claimed the ship. And now my essence quickly drains from me.
Tanya: He must be talking about Monroe.
Matti: Yes. Humbaba, who is Monroe? His name, what is his true name?
Humbaba: (takes 2 deeps breaths) …Marchosias.
Matti: (Hissing his name) Marchosias! Of course.
Wolfgang: Who is that?
Matti: (rattled) He… uh… he’s a powerful marquis in hell. Or at least what we thought was hell. The wolf we saw on the ship. That’s what threw me. He was recorded as normally appearing as an Ox. But yes… now that I think back, I suppose there were records of him also appearing as a Wolf too. …But Humbaba, Monroe…er… Marchosias. He has told lies to us. Marchosias is recorded as always telling the truth to questions.
Humbaba: Your world’s understanding of our kind is filled with inaccuracies. Marchosias does not possess the ability to lie to other demon kind. However, he thrives on lying to all others. He likely lied to the person from your world who originally stated that he always answered truthfully.
Matti: (talking to himself) I see… Marchosias… And he controls the ship now….
Tanya: Hey! Matti! Now’s not the time to get contemplative!
Matti: Oh… uh… right, sorry.
Daytras: Why does Marchosias want the ship? What will happen when he crashes it into Earth?
Humbaba: (takes a few breaths) …Though the time left on my existence is brief… and my hatred for your world great… my hatred for Marchosias is now greater. I will give you the answers you seek. However… You must agree to assist me.
Matti: Assist you? How?
Humbaba: When my spirit essence fully drains from my wounds, I will be dispersed into non-existence, like a statue of sand being blown apart by wind.
Daytras: Fascinating. It would seem that if the energy that is keeping the quote “spirit” intact is damaged enough, the entity will break apart. The energy may not perish per say, but the consciousness will evaporate.
Humbaba: Yes, however, this can be avoided. The Black Curtain. You have seen it, just beyond the ledge. Drag my broken body to it. Once I am absorbed into its great singularity, my individuality and free will will cease to be. However, I will still exist. My memories and person will be trapped and mixed amongst the other memories and consciousnesses within… but it will still be intact. I have been contemplating this decision since I was struck down by Marchosias. I have decided that it is better to be preserved within the Black Curtain than to not exist.
Wolfgang: I don’t understand. What is the Black Curtain?
Humbaba: It is the great singularity. It is nothingness and it is oneness together at the same time. It is all things that are outside of the Great Beast.
Wolfgang: What is the Great Beast?
Humbaba: It is everything you have seen and are. All points you stand on, all wonders that glitter above your head. You stand on the Great Beast now and you saw it’s body above and below you within the central verse. You saw and touched its tendrils.
Daytras: My god… the universe. He’s talking about the universe. All the universes. They’re alive. He’s saying that everything we know, everything we see, all of the different dimensions that exist and that you have passed through… they are all a part of a giant creature. A living beast the size of all existence.
Tanya: Wait, your saying that the black and brown bubbling sky we saw in that central dimensions, with the red ropes hanging down and the oily scaley ground… that WAS alive?
Humbaba: Yes. All perceived existence dances on the Great Beasts belly. Everything beyond the Great Beast is the Black Curtain. In turn, the Great Beast rules over the Black Curtain. It decides where it’s edges are. It decides where existence stretches out into.
Wolfgang: So how does this work then? We drop you off the ledge and you fall into the Black Curtain and poof you are absorbed into it?
Humbaba: When the Black Curtain is touched by a spirit it will attempt to assimilate it into its singularity. A spirit can fight back, however very few who come into contact with the Black Curtain do not become assimilated. The intimidation that is felt when the pull begins is not easily overcome. When I come in contact with it, I have no plans to fight back. Now in my current state, I will gladly accept its grasping arms.
Matti: If we help you, how do we know you will tell us the truth?
Humbaba: How do I know that if I tell you the truth you will actually help me?
Matti: …Alright… we’ll help you.
Humbaba: (Lets out a low growl) …Marchosias plans on dragging the Great Beast back into the Black Curtain, of which he will then rule over.
Wolfgang: What do you mean by “drag back?” Are you saying that the Great Beast used to be a part of the Black Curtain?
Humbaba: The Great Beast was birthed from within the Black Curtain. A sudden burst outwards, separating existence between it and the curtain.
Tanya: How would crashing the ship into Earth drag everything into the Black Curtain?
Humbaba: Marchosias has successfully corrupted your method of propulsion so that all verses have begun to merge on the ship. However, as your verse is beyond our normal grasp, it is not yet fully effected by the merging. He will need to crash the ship into the heart of your world in order to fully absorb it. When this occurs, all verses will be merged at a single point and a new singularity will occur. It will absorb the Great Beast into it, which in turn will then allow the Black Curtain to easily absorb the new point of singularity into itself, due to its smaller and weaker state.
However, Marchosias will escape the absorption due to his having possession over the ship when the crash occurs. As he will be in control of the ship which will be the point of the collapsing verses, he will in essence be in control of the new singularity and will be able to physically position himself on the outside, so that he will not be absorbed by it or the Black Curtain. When this occurs, existence will then consist of only the Black Curtain and Marchosias. He will be the new Great Beast. The lord of the Black Curtain. The meaning of all things.
(silence for a moment)
Daytras: Holy crap.
Tanya: I’ll say.
Wolfgang: But why do they need to crash into Earth? If they just need to absorb our dimension, couldn’t they just crash anywhere?
Matti: He said that the ship needs to crash into the heart of our dimension. I guess Earth is an important place after all. But Humbaba, if the Great Beast is being threatened, why doesn’t it do something? Why isn’t it trying to stop Marchosias.
Humbaba: The motivations and understanding of the Great Beast are beyond even Demon kinds knowledge. Perhaps the Great Beast is unaware of what is occurring. Perhaps it is aware and just does not care. I do not know.
Tanya: But why now? Why did you guys wait until now to try to do this?
Humbaba: Both Marchosias and I have long desired for the opportunity to become the new lord of the Black Curtain. However, the catalyst needed to cause the reaction was not available to us. But then we heard your propulsion. It vibrated throughout the verses. Marchosias heard a voice call out to him. He became aware of how your engines worked and sent you the Evocation of the Fallen Seventh Throne in order to summon him. One of my minions alerted me to what had occurred. I rushed forth in an attempt to claim the ship from him. I failed. And now I lay destroyed. My empire crumbled before me.
Tanya: It was the Hyper Nocturnal drive. They must have heard it. God, there are a ton of Hyper Nocturnal ships that drive through that area. It was probably just blind luck that something like this hasn’t already happened.
Wolfgang: How do we get to Marchosias? We have to stop him, so where is the path? How do we get back through the ship?
Humbaba: (breathes heavily for a moment) Continue forward in this direction. You will eventually come to a door made of bones at the base of the Volcano. The verse beyond that door is a labyrinth. You must traverse its dangers. At the end of the labyrinth there will be a another door made of stone. Beyond it there will be a final great challenge you must walk through. When you have walked far enough through the challenge you will come to a door made of steel. Pass through that door and you will be back on the ship… and alive once more.
Tanya: Alive?! You’re saying we can stop being dead?! There is a way for us to come back to life after all?!
Humbaba: Yes… at least as you previously knew it. But be forewarned. The final challenge is great, and very few spirits pass through. …Now… My time grows short. I have answered your questions. Drag my broken body to the ledge.
Matti: …Alright… Come, help me push him.
Tanya: …Alright…
Wolfgang: …Yeah…
(Sound of them walking over and starting to drag Humbaba. They grunt as they push.)
Humbaba: (As he is being dragged) The sense of irony for my current state is not lost on me. To think, I, Humbaba the Terrible, lord of intestines, would come to such a simplistic end. I have been conscious for over 12 billion years. I have terrorized entities that others run in fear at the mere scent of. I have ruled over a thousand different verses. And now, here, at the hands of my enemies enemies, I am cast back into singularity. It will be as though I never existed. All I have been will melt into the mass like a glacier in salt.
(Sound of them stopping dragging.)
Matti: Alright, we made it to the ledge.
Humbaba: A fitting end? …I think not. Now, THROW MY TATTERED REMAINS OVER THE EDGE!
Matti: Push him.
(Sound of them push him over the edge and Humbaba falling.)
Humbaba: (as he falls) Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Matti: He’s gone.
Tanya: Ugh, backing away from the edge… Sorry, I have a hard time looking at that.
(sound of her walking away.)
Wolfgang: Ok, so, now we know where we have to go to get back to the ship. But how do stop him once we are there?
Matti: Well… We know that we need to play the song that Daytras is calculating. However, we’ll need to get to the bridge to do that, and that place is swarming with danger.
Tanya: Yeah…
Matti: …We were able to greatly weaken Humbaba by destroying his aura. I imagine that Marchosias will have an aura that can be destroyed too. Perhaps doing that will weaken him and the legions he controls enough to be able to get to the keyboard on the ship. He will probably keep it close to him or in someplace safe. Since he now has control of the ship, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is keeping it there. That would probably be both the closest and safest place for it now. The questions are, what will his aura be? What will it look like? How is it destroyed? Where specifically will it be located on the ship?
Tanya: …Yeah… oh… crap… we probably should have asked Humbaba all of that before we threw him over the ledge huh?
Daytras: That would likely have been a good idea Tanya.
(silence for a moment)
Wolfgang: …Oops…
Tanya: Well… there’s not much we can do about it now. But Daytras, I’m still confused by something. He said that the Hyper Nocturnal drive was responsible for causing all of this. How can that be true? Have you been able to come to any more thoughts on how they are using the drive to manifest themselves or collapse the dimensions? (Daytras is silent for a moment). Daytras? Hello? Did you hear me?
Daytras: Yes… I heard you… I do not doubt his claim. There are many things about the Hyper Nocturnal drive that are unknown to the scientific community. Frankly, this gives us a giant missing piece to a puzzle we have been trying to put together for years.
Tanya: …A missing piece to what puzzle?
Daytras: Why and how the Hyper Nocturnal drive works.
Tanya: Wait… What? You’re saying even you scientists don’t know how the Hyper Nocturnal drive works?
Daytras: Correct.
Tanya: Are you kidding? I mean… look I don’t know exactly how it works, but I’m just a pilot. It’s not my job to understand how or why it works. It’s just my job to know how to make it run. But you… how could you and your scientist buddies build something that you don’t even understand?
Daytras: Your perceptions on what science is are mislead. Just because something was built… was brought into existence… does not mean that the creator understands all aspects of it. In science we create based on experimentation and the effect that happens from that experimentation. Absolute truth and knowledge is not needed in order for science to function within its own laws.
The Hyper Nocturnal drive was created when a new element called “Jocorchi” was discovered inside the heart of Jupiter. By mere accident, it was found that this element generated high speed propulsion when music was played to it. Based on this discovery a spaceship engine was created using Jocorchi at its core. That is all. That essentially is all that is known about Hyper Nocturnal. Through experimentation we have been able to discover that certain songs affect propulsion in different ways. We have also discovered that through routing the energy given off by the Jocorchi core, the Hyper Nocturnal drive can also be used to control the basic functions of a spaceship as well. There has never been very much understanding as to why the drive works.
Tanya: But… There are safety features and stuff that were put up. You must have had some understanding as to what was going on in order to put those in place.
Daytras: The effect of the safety features has been fairly exaggerated I am afraid. The safety features are mostly in place for the energy flow reroutes. They are really just there to make sure that the lights don’t accidentally turn off and on when the propulsion drive is engaged. They actually don’t do anything in relation to stopping or controlling the propulsion or functions of the Jocorchi element.
Tanya: (Pause while she absorbs this information. Angry once she realizes what he is saying.) Jesus christ Daytras! Jesus christ!
Daytras: …I know…
Tanya: I’ve been flying Hyper Nocturnal drives for 10 years! You’re telling me I’ve basically been buckling myself up to a ticking bomb this whole time! Jesus christ! You guys had no idea! You had no idea what could happen! For all you know, one bad note, one misplaced octave at the wrong timing and the entire ship would have exploded! And you still let us fly them! You let us fly them like it was no problem! How could you?!
Daytras: After the Hyper Nocturnal drive was created, it was agreed upon by the scientific community that our species need for efficient deep space travel outweighed the potential risks. The thought was that we would deal with …accidents… as they happened.
Tanya: You son of a bitch! You sick son of a bitch! We were just guinea pigs for you guys! The entirety of the human race, moving back and forth through space on Hyper Nocturnal drives while you bastards sit in your white tower waiting for something to explode!
Daytras: Before you are so quick to criticize our choices, I would like to remind you that the human race would still be stuck within a single solar system if it were not for Hyper Nocturnal. We would still be fighting over small scrapes of land and the pitiful supply of resources available on them. Hyper Nocturnal has allowed us to thrive in ways thought impossible.
Tanya: Yeah, well we’ll all see how great the human race in thriving when everything gets dragged back into the dark! You god damn idiots!
Daytras: …Indeed.
Wolfgang: But, ok, so the Jocorchi reacts when you play music to it. But… it just moves things forward right? How would it be able to cause all of this?
Daytras: …I have been considering this… My current theory is that it has to do with this “Great Beast” that Humbaba spoke of. Based on the information we now know, I believe the Hyper Nocturnal drive acts on a multi-dimensional level. The movement that occurs may not be regular propulsion as we know it. It may in fact be the effect of riding a wave. When the music is played the Jocorchi could potentially cause a ripple that travels throughout the multiple dimensions and then comes back pushing the ship forward. As if the Hyper Nocturnal drive was moving forward by surfing on a wave of rippling dark matter.
Wolfgang: Dark Matter? What does Dark Matter have to do with it?
Matti: What is Dark Matter?
Daytras: Dark Matter is a feature of the universe that has also been a mystery to the scientific community. Within physics, there is a large amount of gaps that exist. In order for most known laws of physics to work, there needs to be a certain type of matter that exists. However, we have been unable to really see, or understand what this type of matter is. We call it Dark Matter, which is really just a dramatic way of saying “we don’t know what it is.” However, given what we now know and have now experienced, I would hypothesis that Dark Matter is in fact a part of this “Great Beast.”
Humbaba has stated that the Great Beast is all things within the dimensions you have traveled through. I don’t see a reason why it wouldn’t be the same in our own dimension. Based on your experiences, different parts of the Great Beast are either visible or not visible depending on what dimension you are in. The parts that are not visible within our dimension may be presenting themselves as Dark Matter.
Wolfgang: Ok… I understand… But still, why would shooting music through the Great Beast cause a ripple?
Daytras: Have you ever heard a song that really moved you to the point that you felt like you got goosebumps and a ripple ran throughout your body?
Wolfgang: Yes.
Daytras: There you go.
Wolfgang: (laughing) So what? Hyper Nocturnal works by making the universe cry to a sad song?
Matti: It would make sense as to why only a person with, quote, “Humanity” as Humbaba called it, can operate the keyboard successfully.
Daytras: I believe it goes beyond propulsion though. Hyper Nocturnal must be able to effect the Great Beast in ways that do more than just propel things forward. It apparently can also cause it to manifest things, or warp things, within the physics of the different dimensions. The human race has likely not discovered compositions that cause these types of reactions yet. It is how Marchosias was summoned. It is how he has been able to possess the ship. And now it is how he will bring about the destruction of the multiverse.
(Silence for a moment)
Tanya: …Well son of a bitch… (pause) …Come on… We need to find that door.
Wolfgang: …Yeah…
(Sound of them walking off. Sound fades out.)
End Scene
COMMERCIAL
Scene: On the ship, in the cargo hold, in the hallways and in one of the bedrooms.
(Sound fades in. Background of the ship and the cargo bay. Sound of Daytras unplugging from the wall computer.)
Daytras: I believe I have discovered everything I can from the computer at this point. I have unplugged and I’m going to attempt to calculate the song we need to play to banish Marchosias from my chair. Hopefully this will keep the computer from discovering what we are trying to do.
Wolfgang: (echoing in) Ok.
(Sound Daytras wheeling a little bit then stopping. Sound of him working his computer as he calculates. Sudden sound of the door to the cargo hold open. Daytras stops typing and wheels off quickly. He stops wheeling. Silence for a moment. Sound of a few footsteps in. The footsteps stop and the door closes behind.)
Daytras: (Whispering through computer) Do not speak to me through the body parts. Marchosias just entered the room. I don’t think he has seen me yet though.
(Sound of Monroe taking a few steps in. He starts to move about the room knocking things over and fishing around.)
Monroe: (As he walks around) I sensed you broken man. I know you’re in here. (Sound of him continuing to walk around knocking things over). You can’t hide very long. Humbaba is now one with the Black Curtain. I felt it when it happened. So that means I inherited some things from him. (continuing to walk) And… one… of those things… is… YOU. (sound of Monroe clapping his hands)
Daytras: (Sound of sudden throbbing and Daytras begins to breath heavy. In pain, out-loud, not through the computer.) Gnaaah, Gaaah!
Monroe: I hear your throbs of pain! There are you are! (Sound of him starting to run towards Daytras. The throbbing stops. Sound of Daytras taking off and wheeling away.)
Daytras: (as they move) I have been found! Trying to escape!
Monroe: (as they move) You won’t escape me!
Wolfgang: (echoing in) Run Daytras! Run!
(Sound of Daytras stopping at the door and grabbing it.)
Daytras: The door won’t open. Attempting to pry it open.
(Sound of the door being pulled apart)
Monroe: (Running up) I am on you!
Daytras: (Sound of him taking off) Door is open, I am through!
Monroe: (Lunging and missing) Gah! Just missed you human! Hahahaha! I like a game of cat and mouse! (continuing to run).
Daytras: (Wheeling fast down the hallway) Continuing to run!
Wolfgang: (echoing) Go! Don’t stop!
Monroe: Legions! Stop him!
(Loud scream is heard and sound of two monsters running out and giving chase is heard).
Daytras: Two more beings came out of the wall! They almost got me! They are chasing me now as well!
Wolfgang: (echoing) Don’t worry about it! Just keep going forward! Get to another room! Block the door!
Monroe: (running) You have no time broken man!
Daytras: Heading towards one of the bedrooms. (Sound of him wheeling up and stopping.) Attempting to get the door open.
Monroe: (running) No! Don’t let him go in there!
Daytras: (sound of the door opening) The door… it opened on its own like normal… I didn’t have to pry it.
Monroe: (running) Stop him!
Daytras: Moving through!
(Sound of Daytras wheeling through and the door and it shutting behind him. Sound of Monroe and the monsters slamming into the door.)
Monroe: (through the door) No! (Sound of them moving around the outside of the door for a moment.)
Wolfgang: Daytras, are you alright?
Daytras: Yes… at least for the moment. They haven’t entered the room. I don’t know why. The door opened up without me needing to pry it open. It just opened like normal. (Sound of him wheeling around the room.) This is strange. This room… it is untouched by the corruption. It is completely normal.
Tanya: (Echoing) Where are you?
Daytras: One of the bedrooms.
Monroe: (Through the door) I can still hear you through the door broken man.
Daytras: …What do you want Marchosias?
Monroe: (Through the door) ….So you’ve discovered my name… I want you human. I want your brain. The power of your mind would be a great asset to me when I am lord of all existence.
Daytras: You can’t have me.
Monroe: (Through the door) Perhaps not at the moment. But soon.
Daytras: Why can’t you enter this room?
Monroe: (Through the door) …Wouldn’t you like to know. …Now… let me tell you something about the rules here. When one demon kind strikes down another demon kind, as I have done to Humbaba, he inherits all of his dominion. This includes his controlled verses, his controlled legions and… (claps his hands)
Daytras: (Throbbing starts. In pain, not talking through computer) Gnaaah! Gaaaah!
Monroe: (Throbbing stops) …His possessions. I want you to take a look at your leg and think about that for a while. I’ll be back when you’re in a more agreeable mood.
(Sound of Monroe walking away through the door. Sound of Daytras starting to breath heavy for a moment.)
Wolfgang: (echoing) Daytras, are you alright?
Daytras: (pause)
(Sound fades out. Musical interlude.)
End Scene
Scene: In the volcano verse.
(Sound fades in. They are walking on gravel. The sound of the volcano can be heard in the background.)
Tanya: (as they walk) We are getting close. I think I can see the door from here.
Wolfgang: (as they walk) Yeah, we just gotta keep moving.
(sound of them continuing to walk.)
Tanya: (as they walk) Ah jeez.
Wolfgang: (as they walk) What?
Tanya: (as they walk) We just based by one of those bluffs. Look. There’s another ledge and the Black Curtain beyond it.
Wolfgang: (as they walk) You really don’t like that thing do you?
Tanya: (as they walk) I don’t lie.
(Sound of music starts playing far out in the background.)
Matti: (stops walking) Wait… (other 2 stop walking) …Do you hear that?
Tanya: What?
Matti: (silence for a moment as the music plays) Music… It’s music…
Wolfgang: Yeah… I hear it.
Tanya: Me too. I think it’s coming from over there.
Matti: I’m going to check it out. (Sound of him walk off).
Tanya: Matti! Come on! You can’t really believe that’s a good idea! (sound of them walking after him).
Matti: (as they walk) It’s over here somewhere. I can hear it.
Daytras: Matti, it is likely a trap.
Matti: (as they walk) I know… I accept that… but, we need information on what and where Marchosias’ aura is. If this leads us to another demon, they may be able to tell us.
Tanya: (as they walk) They also may be able to eat us.
Matti: (as they walk) Psh! …Come on, it’s getting louder over here.
(Sound of them walking quickly. Sudden vocals can start to be heard on the song.)
Song: (Sung in Finnish) Welcome, welcome to a new world of wonders. We will tell you the beauty of your life. We will sing the song of all your glory. And we will expose you to the truth you love to keep inside of you so much.
Matti: (Stops walking as the song plays. The other stop walking behind him.) It’s in Finnish! I can hear it! They’re singing in Finnish!
Tanya: What is it saying?
Matti: (take a few steps forward to listen) Uh…
Song: (Sung in Finnish) Please sit still, and welcome my song into your heart. You will love what you hear. You will know it is sincere. My song is honest and true to what is inside of you.
Matti: It’s singing about uh… singing a song. It’s saying that I should listen to it’s song because it will tell me the truth or something like that.
Wolfgang: Wait… I think I hear singing too… I’m hearing it over here, closer to the ledge. (Sound of him walking).
Tanya: Be careful, don’t get too close to the edge!
Wolfgang: (as he walks) I’m fine Tanya. (Suddenly starts hearing the singing in German) Wait! I hear it clearly now! (stops walking).
Song: (sung in German) We have seen you travel throughout the worlds. We have seen your life in our eyes and we know the lyrics to your song. Please stay and listen to us as we tell you of your story. You’re beautiful story which has moved us to artistic expression.
Wolfgang: (as they sing) Yeah, they’re singing about the same stuff over here… But they’re singing in German, not Finnish. Or at least they’re singing in German to me.
Tanya: Wait, I’m hearing something over here now. But in this direction. (Sound of her walking and stopping walking).
Song: (sung in English) Hello there sweet girl, we have seen your body in the stars. We know of your life and we know of your tale. We love the way your life smells, so we’ll sing your song. A song just for you to hear. For your ears, and yours alone.
Tanya: Yeah… they’re singing about the same stuff to me, but they’re singing it in English. Daytras, do you know what’s going on?
Daytras: I do not. I am not able to hear the music you are hearing. However, my assumption would be that it is not safe wherever you are.
Matti: We have to find out what Marchosias aura is! I have a feeling that whoever is doing this knows! (lyrics start singing again) Wait! They’re singing to me again!
Song: (Sung in Finnish) You laid down your candles and caressed his gentle hair. His spirit had long since left his world, but you didn’t mind his cold state. (Matti gasps)
Tanya: What? What is it?
Song: (Sung in Finnish) Having taking his future in your hand before, you carried him to the altar. Everything was ready, and you were eager to finish the cycle.
Matti: (Backing away. Shocked and upset). No! No! How… how do you know?! Who is this?! Who is there?! HOW DO YOU KNOW?!
Tanya: Matti! What the hell is going?!
Matti: They’re… singing to me… about… something…. I did… but… no one knew….I….no…
Wolfgang: Wait, the lyrics are starting up for me now too!
Song: (in German) You were only a young one, but I wasn’t alone. You cared for me so, but I never even felt you. Better things on my mind and better things with my time. Too bad you never realized how little I cared about how much you cared.
Wolfgang: (gasp. Starts breathing heavy.) ….Vater?…. Vater?…. Nein…
Tanya: What Wolfgang? What?
Song: (in German) You chased me with your legs, but they were too small to catch up to my ego. I walked away into the dark and left you nothing but a swollen face. Just who did you think you were to consider yourself so important in the first place?
Wolfgang: (Starting to cry) Nein…nein…Ich leiss sie hinter…
Tanya: (Running up to him) Don’t listen to it Wolfgang! Don’t listen to it! (Sound of her stopping running and grabbing him.) Get away from it! Get away!
Wolfgang: (crying) …Nein…Vater….Nein…
Tanya: (Continuing to pull on him) I said get away from it Wolfgang! Come on! (Song suddenly switches over from German to English. Tanya stops pulling on him and listens) What? Huh? It’s singing to me now…
Song: (sung in german) No matter how much you pounded, no matter how much you moved forward, I was always there not caring. (Suddenly switches to English) Dear girl, I know you’re there. I know you can hear my song. I had always been watching you from afar and you didn’t know. And when I tried to talk, you scorned my presence with your eyes. Your tongue let me know my worth, I accepted it for I loved you.
Tanya: No… No, no, no, no. I didn’t do that! It wasn’t on me!
Song: (Sung in English) With no options left for my id, I did what you had always wanted to me to. I took what you said to heart. You were so much smarter than me and everything I wanted to be.
Tanya: Shut up! Shut up!
Song: (Sung in English) So I stood on the ledge and performed my swan song for you before I dropped into the wide open rocky water. I just wanted you to know I was thinking of you the whole time.
Tanya: (Crying) No! No! It’s not fair! It wasn’t my fault! I didn’t mean to be so mean to you! It was your choice to do it! I’m not to blame! Please don’t blame me!
Daytras: You three, listen to me! You must escape! Stop listening and get out of there!
Song: (Sung in Finnish) You slowly knelt down and cut your fingers. (Matti let’s out a rising moan) And placed the blood on his feet. (Matti let’s out a rising moan). You removed his clothes and laid down beside him. Your hand had ended his life. (Matti let’s out a rising moan) The ritual completed and you were now a part of the fold.
Matti: (Screaming) YES! YES! I ADMIT IT! I DID IT! I DID IT! AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME FEEL SORRY! I’M NOT SORRY FOR IT! I WOULD DO IT AGAIN! I WOULD DO IT AGAIN!
Tanya: (crying) We… have…. to get out of here… we have to leave… we have to get to the door.
Wolfgang: (crying) Gnaah…. yes… we have to get out.
Daytras: Yes! Get out of there! Get out!
(Sound of them starting to walk away. Song starts again.)
Matti: (They stop walking) …No… it’s starting again…
Song: (Sung in English) But I can give you a chance for redemption. I am waiting here for you. I am just by the ledge. Come to me, come to me now. You can pour out your heart and lay your apologies at my feet. I will accept all you have to say and forgive you.
Tanya: No! I won’t! I don’t believe you you bastard! This isn’t real! None of this is real!
Song: (Sung in German) But now you should know, I have seen the error of my ways. When my life ended all those years ago I saw a new way of life. I want to see you now. I want to beg for your forgiveness.
Wolfgang: You… You’re here?
Tanya: Wolfgang, don’t listen to it! It’s lies. It’s the Black Curtain! It’s trying to lure us into it.
Song: (Sung in German) It has been such a long time since we have truly seen each other. Now we are both gone from the world and have all the time of the universe to touch each other. Come to me at the ledge and let us be reunited.
Wolfgang: (Whispering in hope) …Vater…
Daytras: Don’t listen to what it is saying, just move!
Song: (Sung in Finnish) But there is time yet to take back what you did. You would not have to forsake the order. I can give you the peace and the innocence you have deep down wished you still had. Just come to me by the ledge and I will make everything better.
Matti: (Breathing heavy) …I am no fool demon! I know your kind! I know your tricks! Matti Ineninen is no fool! Come on, let’s go!
Tanya: Right! (Sound of them starting to run away. They stop running.) …Wolfgang! Come on! We need to leave!
Wolfgang: He’s here… I can feel it… He’s really here.
Song: (Sung in German) Come to me. Come to me at the ledge.
Tanya: No! He’s not!
Wolfgang: No! Tanya… My father… he died, years ago. He can be here. He’s a spirit. A spirit like I am now. He can be here. …and he wants to see me!
Daytras: Wolfgang, no! It’s a trick!
Song: (Sung in German) Come to me. Come to me.
Wolfgang: Ya! Ya Vater! Ich komme weider zu euch! (Sound of him starting to run towards the ledge).
Tanya: Wolfgang no! (Sound of her running after him).
Matti: Tanya! Don’t go after him! It will get you to!
Song: (Sung in German) Come to me. Come to me Wolfgang. You are almost there.
Wolfgang: (as he’s running) Ya! Ich komme vater! Ich komme!
Tanya: No Wolfgang! No! You’re almost over the ledge!
(Sound of something bursting out of the ground and screaming. The music suddenly stops).
Wolfgang: Aaaaaah!
(Sound of it grabbing him and dragging him. Sound of the Black Curtain yelling and making noises during this whole sequence).
Tanya: (Running) Tentacles burst out of the ground and wrapped around his legs! It’s dragging him over the ledge!
Wolfgang: (Getting dragged) Help! Help me!
Tanya: (Sound of her running) I’m coming! I’m coming! (Sound of her stopping running and grabbing him) I’m here! I got you!
Wolfgang: (getting dragged) I can feel it! I can feel the Black Curtain! It’s pulling on me!
Tanya: (pulling) Gah! I’m not strong enough! Matti! Help!
Matti: No! Tanya! You have to let him go! He’s too close! It’s going to pull you in too!
Tanya: (pulling him) I’m not letting him go!
Wolfgang: (getting dragged) Help me! Help me!
Tanya: (Horrified as she’s pulling.) Aaaah, gaahh… Oh god, the Black Curtain.. It’s right there… It’s right there in front of me. It’s so big! oh god!
Wolfgang: (getting dragged) Don’t let me go!
Tanya: (Horrified, pulling.) I’m not letting you go! Gah! Gnaah! Oh god! I can feel it starting to pull on me! Oh God!
Wolfgang: (getting dragged) Help me Tanya! Help me!
Tanya: (Horrified, pulling.) I’m trying to! I’m trying! Oh …. oh god! It’s so big! I… Wolfgang… I can’t hold on! You’re coming out of my hands! I’m getting to close! It’s going to pull me in too!
Wolfgang: (getting dragged) No! Don’t let me go!
Tanya: (sound of Wolfgang coming out of her hands) No! You slipped out of my hands!
Wolfgang: (Getting dragged fast) No! No! Help! Help me!
Tanya: (Crying) Wolfgang! Wolfgang! I can’t move! I can’t move any closer! It’s too big! It’s trying to pull me into it!
Wolfgang: (Getting dragged over the edge and falling) Tanya, Help! Help! Nooooo! (falling and fading out) Aaaaaaaah!
Tanya: (Scream crying) Noooooo! (She sits and cries breathing heavy).
Matti: Tanya he’s gone! Get out of there! It’s going to get you too!
Tanya: (crying to herself) He’s gone… he’s gone… I lost him… I lost him…
Daytras: Tanya, you must leave or you’ll be next! (Sound of Tanya continuing to breath heavy).
Matti: Tanya! (Sound of monsters bursting out of the ground around Tanya. The monsters let out a scream). Tanya! Watch out! Bodies just burst out of the ground! They’re all around you!
Tanya: (crying to herself) He’s gone…. he’s gone….
(Sound of the Monsters starting to walk towards Tanya).
Matti: Tanya get up! They’re walking towards you! They’re going to drag you over the ledge too!
Tanya: (crying) It doesn’t matter… nothing matters…
Matti: Tanya, I’m not helping you! I’m not going in there and getting dragged in myself! (Sound of the monsters continuing to close in) Fine! Be that way! I’m leaving! I’m leaving without you! (Sound of Matti running away)
Tanya: (as the monsters close in) I let him fall… I let him fall down. (monster hisses).
Daytras: Tanya, I know, but you need to get up.
Tanya: (not crying, but depressed and breathing heavy) It doesn’t matter Daytras. Nothing matters. Who cares if I’m pulled over. Who cares if everything dies. I’m already dead. I might as well not exist. And the rest of the world might as well not exist either.
Daytras: If you are not able to get up for yourself, than think of other people. Do you not have anyone back home that you care about? That cares about you?
Tanya: (breathes deep) ….I do….
Daytras: Then do you think for one second that Wolfgang would want them to suffer his fate too?
Tanya: (sighs) ….Ok…. I’ll get up… (sound of her getting up and taking a couple step.) They’re all around me… I have no where to run…
Daytras: A woman like you always has a place to run. If there is no path forward, than make one!
Tanya: Fine! (Sound of her running and crashing into one of the bodies. It hisses and grabs her) Ah! They’ve got ahold of me!
Daytras: Fight Tanya! Fight! Don’t let them take control of you! Don’t let them push you over the edge!
Tanya: (Struggling) Gah! Gnaaah! (Sound of her pushing and hitting them. Sound of one of tripping and falling over). I knocked one over! I have a way through!
Daytras: Go! Go!
Tanya: (Pushing more aside) Gah! (Sound of her running) I’m out! I’m running! I’m running!
(Sound of Tanya running away. Sound fades out.)
End Scene
COMMERCIAL
Scene: On the ship in the bedroom with Daytras.
(Sound fades in.)
Daytras: Tanya, are you safe?
Tanya: (Echoing. Worn out.) Yeah… I’m safe. I’m heading towards the base of the volcano. Matti ran off in that direction too. I’m hoping to catch up to him.
Daytras: You are?
Tanya: (Echoing.) Yeah… don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything rash when I catch up to him. I still need him at this point as he knows more about this ghost stuff than me.
Daytras: And after this is all over? What will you do then?
Tanya: (Echoing.) ….I don’t know… I don’t know… Don’t ask me to think too far ahead right now.
Daytras: …Understood. (Silence for a moment)
Tanya: (Echoing) …How are things on the ship?
Daytras: …Fine for the moment. Same as before. I’m still in the bedroom. I’m currently working on calculating on how we will need to manipulate the Hyper Nocturnal drive in order to defeat Marchosias. The information we received from Humbaba has shed some light on a new direction for me. If we can do enough damage to his spirit he will break apart. The threat will extinguished. I believe this is the approach we now need to take instead of merely banishing him. Due to the amount that the dimensions have collapsed on the ship, I don’t think that banishing him to another dimension would really do anything productive. We need to full out destroy him… or push him into the Black Curtain.
Tanya: (Echoing.) (Let’s out a sigh/cry).
Daytras: …Sorry… Too soon…
Tanya: (Echoing) …Yeah…
Daytras: Well… Either way, I think destroying him is the best option at this point anyway. Unfortunately, he is very powerful right now. Without a doubt, we will need to identify his aura and destroy it. However, based on what happened with Humbaba, we know that destroying the aura will not destroy Marchosias within itself. Additionally, based on the fight I saw between the two of them, Marchosias will still be considerably powerful when his aura is destroyed… at least in spirit form. However, if we were able to get him to become physical… alive like I am… it may be easier. We could lure him into an air lock and shoot him out into space, or suffocate him.
We wouldn’t be able to do that in his spirit form. If I can devise a way so that a great deal of compression would happen on his energy based state, it could make it so that his energy… his spirit… becomes solid and alive like a normal humans. However, I would have to do it in such a way so that he becomes alive without having the soft energy core of his being intact. If that were to happen, then killing him while he was solid would just put him back into spirit form. But if his entire spirit becomes solid, straight through to the center… then I believe that killing him in that state will destroy him much in the same way that doing a large amount of damage to his spirit would. It will break apart his consciousness.
Tanya: (Echoing)…Got it…
Daytras: …Keep moving Tanya. I’m going to work on the calculations here. If I can do this correctly, we can use the Hyper Nocturnal drive to both put Marchosias in a solid state and tell us where his aura is. It will be a complicated song that is for sure ….Unless there was another way….
Tanya: (Echoing) What do you mean another way? Is there another way to effect the Hyper Nocturnal drive?
Daytras: …I don’t know… merely a theory right now. I’ll have to think more about it. But in the meantime I will concentrate on the song.
Tanya: (Echoing) …Ok…
(Sound of Daytras doing calculations. Sudden sound of a scream and something clawing at the door.)
Daytras: They are still trying to get into the room. (Sound of the scratching continues). …Why can’t they? What is so special about this room? (Sound of him starting to wheel around). I don’t see anything. (Sound of him stopping wheeling and opening up a drawer.) What’s this… an ID badge. Wait… This is Matti’s bedroom. (Silence for a moment while the thing claws at the door). …What was he doing in here? (Sound of wheeling. He stops wheeling). There is salt on the floor… And there are symbols on the wall next to the door on both sides. (sound of more wheeling. Stops wheeling. Sound of him trying to open the wardrobe locker.) The wardrobe locker is locked. …What is he hiding? (Sound of him grabbing the wardrobe locker and tearing it open). …Oh dear…
(Sound fades out)
End of Scene.
Scene: In the Volcano verse.
(Sound fades in. Matti walking. Sound of Tanya running up behind him.)
Tanya: (running up and stopping next to him) Matti.
Matti: (stops walking) ….You’re alive…
Tanya: …Wolfgang got dragged in. I almost got dragged in. And you just stood there and then ran away.
Matti: …I’m sorry… I was scared… I didn’t want to get dragged in too.
(silence for a moment).
Tanya: Come on… We have to keep moving. (sound of her starting to walk).
Matti: Yeah… (sound of him walking).
Tanya: The door is nearby… I can see it from…
Daytras: Tanya! Get away from Matti!
(Sound of them stopping walking.)
Matti: What?
Tanya: (backing away slowly) Why? What’s going on?
Daytras: I found what was in your wardrobe locker Matti.
Matti: (shocked) Oh… oh no.. no… no… it’s not what you think.
Daytras: Then what is it Matti? What the hell else could it possibly be?
Matti: I… uh… I…. I can explain.
Tanya: What? What is it? What did you find?
Daytras: I found an altar Tanya. I found an altar covered in blood and with a piece of meat on it. There is salt all over the floor and there are symbols on the wall.
Tanya: (surprised) What?….(sound of her taking a few steps forward). Matti… You said you were religious. You kept saying that you used to practice a religion very devoutly. You said you were very concerned with the demon threat to the human world. You talked about it over and over again. …But you never actually said what the religion was did you? (she stops walking. silence for a moment) …Well?! What was it?!
Matti: (weakly) …It…it didn’t …really have a proper name…
Tanya: What was it?! Tell me what it was?!
Matti: (sighs) …Some …refer to it as satan worship…
Tanya: (Takes a few stops back. Angry.) Oh jesus christ! Jesus christ! You’re a god damn satan worshiper! This whole god damn time?! A satan worshiper! That’s how you knew so much about all of these demons and crap! That how you knew what was going on!
Matti: I… I didn’t think I needed to tell you…I didn’t think it effected anything.
Tanya: You didn’t think you needed to tell me?! You’re the enemy aren’t you?! This whole time you’ve been leading us into these traps we keep getting in!
Matti: No! No! I swear! I’m not on their side! They’re after me just as much as they’re after you!
Daytras: The altar… the ritual you performed in here. It protected the room from them didn’t it? That’s why no-one can enter here.
Matti: …Yes… It is normal to put protections on the space you are performing rituals on. But… I wasn’t doing anything malicious, you have to believe me!
Tanya: Why should I believe you?! Why should I believe one god damn word?! You didn’t even try to come and help when Wolfgang was grabbed!
Matti: I’m sorry… I was… I was scared. I told you, I was scared.
Tanya: Convenient Matti! Really friggin convenient! (Sound of her stomping her feet pacing back and forth for a moment. She stops pacing.) …(under her breath) God damn it… Well?! Explain yourself!
Matti: (blows out air) …. Yes…. I am a satan worshipper. Or at least I was. I mean… I guess I never officially stopped being one… I just sort of fell out of practice for a while. It was something that was a big part of my life since I was a young man. There was a group, in Helsinki, that I joined up with…. I did a lot to join up with them…. and it was just something that I did for a while.
Tanya: Psh, just something you did…
Matti: Yeah, It was… It was something I agreed with… The ideas that were a part of it. All the talk about… power… and taking control. It’s something I always longed for. I always felt that the world was weak… was full of those lesser than me…. lesser than other greater people. Yet, they were the ones who the world paid attention to and took pity on. Satan Worship spoke out against that… so I latched on to it.
Tanya: Not helping your cause Matti!
Matti: Well… I don’t know what to say… look, we didn’t do good things. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that we were innocent and happy misunderstood people. We weren’t. We longed for the day the demon world would take over the human world. When the devil himself would rule over the weak and give prize to the strong. We would lie, cheat, steal and… kill… in order to help bring the demonic into our world.
Tanya: Well jesus christ, if you can’t trust a satanist, who can you trust?
Matti: Not a Satanist… a Satan Worshiper. It’s different. Satanists don’t actually believe in satan and demons. They’re actually atheists. More concerned with personal individuality than anything else. No… I was an actual Satan Worshiper. We did believe in the demon world… believed in it very much.
Tanya: Again! Not helping your case Matti!
Matti: I know… I know… I’m not a good person… I’m not a good person at all. And I never have been. But I swear I did not cause this. I have been practicing satan worship for many many years. When I started to become famous, with the cooking, it took over my time. I found I didn’t need the Satan Worship anymore to feel powerful. I had that feeling everyday when I cooked. I was in control of everything. Who needs Demons to make you feel powerful when you have fans and a wait staff, ha! (Silence) …Ok, maybe that wasn’t funny… But again, I haven’t done any Satan Worship in years. The worst thing I’ve been guilty of since becoming a chef is cheating on my taxes!
Daytras: Then what about the altar I have found?
Matti: Oh…. Uh… well.. that’s just…uh…
Tanya: Just spit it out already!
Matti: I… Look… I’ve been stressed out lately on the ship. I’ve just been feeling really crappy about everything and about myself. You saw me blow up at you. I needed something to relax me. So, I figured I would do a quick ritual and make an altar to a few of my preferred demons. I wasn’t asking them to be summoned or anything. I was just asking to relax. It’s normally a harmless ritual. I certainly never expected any of this.
Tanya: God, that’s how they found us isn’t it?! It wasn’t just random that our ship got possessed after all. They must have heard the ritual you were doing as we were passing by and sent us the sheet music!
Matti: Possibly. I don’t know.
Tanya: Well… so what am I supposed to do then? I have to get to the damn ship! I have to save the day here! But you! You were supposed to be my buddy! My backup! Now you are telling me you’ve killed people and have been worshipping these demons?
Matti: Well… I don’t feel that way anymore. About worshipping them and wanting them to take over the the human world.
Tanya: What changed then?!
Matti: Well… I hadn’t really felt that way for a long time. Again… I had my restaurant and my fame. If the demons came and took it over that would go away. I don’t want that to go away. As long as Earth exists as is, then so does the memory of my glory. Also…I died. I actually saw what it was like on this side. And it’s different. It’s completely different from what I thought. These demons and spirits… they don’t care about the strong. They don’t care about me. They flat out just don’t care. Strong or weak… it doesn’t matter. There is no glory here. There is no real power either… unless you are the Great Beast that is. There’s nothing. There are so many verses and everything is so big. It doesn’t matter. It just… nothing matters. Your personal power doesn’t matter. Your past glory doesn’t matter. Your future potential doesn’t matter. No…. No there is nothing for me here. After seeing what this place has to offer… I don’t want them taking over Earth. I don’t want them ruling the one place where personal power DOES matter. Being here has made me see that Earth is special. And I want to save it too.
Tanya: (to herself) …Jesus Christ…
Matti: Look, I’ve helped out so far right? If I was working for the demons, why would I have done all of the things we have done? Why was I yelling at you while you were sitting there and the bodies were closing in? I’m here to help Tanya. You have to believe me. Besides, you don’t have anyone else who knows more about the demon world than me right now.
Tanya: (Silence for a moment. Under her breath). …Crap… (sighs). Walk ahead of me. I want to keep my eye on you.
Matti: …Ok…
(Sound of Matti and Tanya walking off.)
Tanya: (as they are walking) Daytras, we are heading towards the door at the base of the volcano again.
Daytras: …Be careful Tanya…
Tanya: …Yeah…
(Sound fades out. Musical interlude. Sound fades in, they are still walking.)
Matti: (after walking for a minute) That volcano sure is big isn’t it? Biggest one I’ve certainly ever seen.
Tanya: (walking) Just shut up and keep moving.
Matti: (walking) Ok.
(Walking for a moment.)
Tanya: Oh… look… (They stop walking).
Daytras: What is it.
Tanya: We just turned a corner. We can see the door again. We are up close now. It’s giant. Its built into the side of the volcano into the rock. It must stretch up 30 feet high by 10 feet long. It’s made completely out of human bones. (sound of her taking a few steps forward) There are skulls, femurs, arm bones, ribs… everything. Even bones and skulls from some things that I don’ think are actually human. They are all like, intertwined together to shape the door. The whole thing is fused into the rock wall.
Matti: Well, this is definitely what Humbaba was talking about.
Tanya: Yeah… I’m going to see if I can find a way to get it open.
Matti: Ok
(Sound of Tanya walking off).
Monroe: (through body part) I am here Matti.
Matti: (whispering) What? Who said that?
Monroe: (through body part) It’s me Matti. It’s Marchosias. I am speaking through that hand that hangs around your neck. Don’t worry, I’ve made it so that the others can’t hear us speak. But don’t let the woman get to close to you. If the head comes too close to the hand, everyone will be able to hear us.
Matti: (whispering) How are you able to speak to me?
Monroe: (through body part) The bodies Matti. You only took one of the bodies from the bridge. The rest of them are up here with me. I’m able to talk to you through them. I’ve been able to listen to you through them this whole time too.
Matti: (whispering) What do you want?
Monroe: (through body part. Laughs a little.) Well… originally I was perfectly happy guiding you to your doom. And it seemed to be working nicely.
Matti: (whispering) The rhythm we heard in that dimension… that was you wasn’t it?! you purposely lead us to this dimension! You knew the song that we heard occurred here. You thought we wouldn’t be strong enough to resist it. You were trying to get us all trapped in the Black Curtain.
Monroe: (through body part.) Yes… and I was 1/3 correct. However, my opinion has just changed on what my tactics against you should be. I heard your little tale. I never knew you were so familiar with my kind Matti. You should have told me in the beginning. Things would have flowed much differently if I had. But now… now things are different. Now… I want you. I want you Matti. I want you to help me.
Matti: (whispering. Intrigued.) Why… should I help you?
Tanya: (yelling back to Matti) Matti! Come here! I think I found out how to get the door open!
Matti: (yelling out to her) Uh… Ok! Coming!
Monroe: (through the body part) When you are in the labyrinth verse, find a moment to get away from her. When you are alone, we can talk further about my proposition. Do not say anything to her or the one on the ship.
Matti: (whispering) …Ok…
Monroe: (through the body part) Good boy.
Tanya: (yelling back to Matti) Matti!
Matti: Uh… Coming! (sound of him walking up to her. He stops walking.)
Tanya: Alright, there are these two handle things. Help me push.
Matti: Ok.
(Sound of them grabbing the handles and pushing. Sound of them grunting and the door pushing open.)
Tanya: Ok… it’s open. Come on. (sound of them walking in. They suddenly start walking on wood. They stop walking). Weird.
Daytras: What do you see?
Tanya: As soon as we entered the doors, the entrance quickly slopped down and narrowed. We are now in a narrow hallway, made out of wood. Like we are inside of a wooden house. It’s dimly lit in here. There are lit candles at various points along the walls. There is also dirt everywhere. And some points of the wall look like they have dried blood on them. The hallway takes a sharp 90 degree turn to the left further up ahead.
(Sound the door closing behind them).
Matti: The door just closed behind us.
Tanya: Alright… well, it looks like we have to move through. Ready?
Matti: Yes Tanya, I’m ready. I’m right here behind you.
(Sound fades out)
End Scene
CREDITS/COMMERCIAL/OUTRO