Drifting, falling, floating, weightless... Intro

This is the second story I wrote for my Creative Writing class, but it came from an idea for a story I've had for a while. The original story is called '30', and it's about a guy living in a society where people don't celebrate birthdays by single years, but instead every 10 years. So he's 20 turning 30 and reflecting on what he's done and what he has to do now.

As I was writing it however, I realized that a premise like that required more than a few pages to really flesh out. I decided to keep the turning 30 aspect, and made a simple love story instead. Since the birthday would no longer be the focus of the story, I changed the title to 'Drifting, falling, floating, weightless...' which is taken from the chorus of the song 'Major Tom (Coming Home)' by Peter Schilling. I personally got it from the cover by Shiny Toy Guns, which I was listening to over and over as I wrote it. The title also follows the progress of the story, which was a nice little bonus as it was changed after I finished the story.

So, enjoy Drifting, falling, floating, weightless

Drifting, falling, floating, weightless... Pt 1

____Michael walked down a deserted street, ignored the mumbling, oddly familiar shapes, and tried his best to follow a very familiar shape that was very effectively eluding him. The looming, non-descript buildings that lined the street wouldn’t stay still. They leaned over as he walked past, as if to examine the only solid thing to have walked past in however long the street, the shapes or they had existed. Something started to speak in abrupt, shallow, prodding waves.

____Michael knew the very familiar shape was close. He just needed to focus on it; he needed to stop and grab hold of it. The waves of sound called clearer, and ripped Michael’s gaze away from the very familiar shape that had finally started to clarify. Instead he now saw the white matte finish of his ceiling, and could clearly hear his alarm clock and its sharp wail.

____“Happy birthday.” Michael sighed. He reached over the edge of his bed and turned the alarm off. He could now hear the cooling air that was spilling out of the vent above his head. Without even getting up to look out the window he knew it was cloudy outside. The light that streamed in through his window would slowly dim before returning to its unfiltered radiance. The nearly clear and very familiar shape from his dream suddenly came back to him. It was a dream he’d been having more frequently since his birthday came within the “Have you thought about what you’d like for your birthday” question asking distance.

____In the dream, the very familiar shape had yet to be fully revealed, but he already knew the very familiar shape. Even though he knew the very familiar shape, it was still irritating to have the dream interrupted before it had a chance to finish. It never finished.

Drifting, falling, floating, weightless... Pt 2

____Michael was now 30, and just as he knew it wouldn’t, the world around him hadn’t changed in the slightest. The spines of his books, magazines, CD’s and graphic novels sitting on his shelves might get a small fraction more sun bleached than they had been the day before, but they had always done that. Everything sitting in his room had always done what had been expected of them, and that would continue all throughout his birthday today, and beyond. It was comforting, but also restricting.

____Michael reached behind his head and flipped his pillow to the cooler side and stared back up at the ceiling. Down on the real street, a car drove by and Michael watched as the reflected light glided across his ceiling. His room was again silent, save for the unbroken whirr of the vent above his head.

____“Why did I even set my alarm? It’s not like I have work today-” His conversation with himself and his room was interrupted by the ring of his cell phone. He waited to see if it continued to ring, as single one was just a text message, and practically lunged for the phone on the far end of his window sill when it continued to ring. He worked to unplug the charger cord so he could see who it was, but he managed to open the phone in the process. The line was open.

Drifting, falling, floating, weightless... Final

____“Hello?”
____“Happy birthday! Did I wake you up?” The voice that came through was unusually happy for eight in the morning. A gear, dislodged by sleep, slipped back into place and the caller was no longer a mystery.
____“Hey Vanessa.” From out of nowhere, and almost unnoticed, a smile grew on Michael’s face as his birthday got better. “Sorry, no, I accidentally set my alarm last night.”
____“You did that on purpose.” Vanessa smiled as well, and Michael could hear that smile in her voice. It was better than any alarm he’d had before.
____“I did no such thing. I don’t wanna be rudely woken up by a piece of screaming plastic for no reason.” He laughed as he spoke, forgetting the cars driving by on the street below.
____“Would you say the same thing about your cell phone? Hmm?” She said coyly.
____“Not if it’s somebody important calling I wouldn’t. Besides, that’s totally different. Ring tone easily trumps annoying alarm sound.” He could still feel the air from the vent, but the whirr was gone.
____“I agree. But,” she paused, and let out a light, happy sigh. “Am I somebody you would call important?”
____“I don’t even see why I should have to answer that. You already know the answer.” The memory of an interrupting alarm clock dissolved.
____“Say it.” Mock seriousness punctuated the two powerful syllables.
____“Not if I’m going to be coerced into saying-” He could no longer see the ceiling, or his sun bleached belongings
____“Say it, buttface.” She had to control her laughter in order to get this out, but the control was lost when Michael laughed into the phone. The looming, non-descript buildings lost interest, and reverted back to their still selves.
____“Yes, Vanessa. You are an important person. I almost died even getting the phone. I’m still in bed and it’s all the way over there.” Michael pointed to where his phone had been sitting, as if Vanessa had been right there. She laughed, either delighted that Michael would risk his life to talk to her, or that he would put his phone somewhere so dangerous. He wanted nothing more than for there to be no need for a phone for this conversation he was having. The mumbling, oddly familiar shapes had left now too. There wasn’t even an empty street; only what he had always focused on. “Vanessa Fluer Stahl, you are very important to me, and I love you.”
____“I know, Michael. I love you too.”

The End

Decommission - Part One

____A tepid May wind brushed against the weed spotted hill, creating an audible whir in the night air signaling the coming of summer. A man was at the top of the hill, surveying an isolated, stately manor that housed one of the most reviled dictators in the world. Behind the man was a specially selected cadre of rebel soldiers, making final preparations to storm the ‘Presidential Estate’, and remove President Holland from power. Charlie Brand continued to survey the security detail around the building, and shivered in spite of the warming breeze.

____“There are only three teams of two stationed around the perimeter. They’re all smoking and talking to each other.” Charlie lowered his binoculars and looked back at the small group of armed rebels huddled together. “It’s as if they don’t even care about who they’re there to protect.”
____“They don’t. They know the current regime is on its last legs, so why bother with loyalty? It just makes our job tonight that much easier.” Lien Walgren spoke with an agitated tone, anxious to get the mission underway.

____Lien held a high position in the rebellion, and was the first, and only, choice for mission leader. He had long been prepared for tonight, but it was all so unreal now that it was falling so quickly into place. He’d heard the rumors that Holland had become so suspicious of those around him that he kept his all of his advisors and security forces at arm’s length, but was sure it was only spreading propaganda. The barebones security detail should have been proof enough, but it all seemed too easy.

____“Alright. Charlie, come over here.” Charlie put away his binoculars and retreated back to the group.
____“This isn’t what we expected. Should we go over the plan again?” Scott Gibson said hesitantly, and backpedaled, “Y’know, just to be safe.”
____“No, our plan still works with what they’ve got down there. Just remember, non-lethal force is what we’re aiming for. We’re better than Holland and this is our way to prove it to the population.” Lien met the eyes of his squad mates as he said this, wanting to make his intentions plain.
____“The population is out for blood Lien. They’ll only view us as weak if we don’t spill it.”
“They’re the ones responsible for putting Holland in power. They need to see change is possible without a massacre. We get in and out with minimal casualties.”
____“Minimal, huh?” Charlie cracked a smile at Lien, “Well I’m glad you’re being realistic. Is Holland what you would call minimal then?” The squad shared a subdued laugh at this.

____Lien looked at the faces of his comrades in arms, all eager and ready to free the country they loved. His heart swelled with pride, and pushed away his hesitation and mild paranoia. They had all suffered under Holland’s tyranny for years, and this was the opportunity they had all been dreaming of. Lien wasn’t about to squander a chance to galvanize his troops.
____“Yes. Holland is what I would consider ‘minimal’ Charlie.” This was met with enthusiasm, and Lien knew they were ready for anything. “Now, after we neutralize the guards at the gate, Hinckley and Stolitz will split off and take out the others.”
____“Right.” Hinckley and Stolitz spoke in abrupt unison, while Scott wondered why they were going over the plan again.
____“Berkey will stay at the gate while the rest of us enter the manor. Once inside, we’ll split up into the designated teams and lock down every room. I’ll go straight for Holland. Sources put him on the third floor of the east wing. He’s been isolating himself, so I should get to him no problem. Communicators on?” Lien quickly looked at his friends in turn once more, as they all nodded in confirmation.

____They were going to succeed. He could feel it. “Okay. Go.”

Decommission - Part Two

____Silently, the rebel squad of 12 soldiers cascaded down the hill, shrouded in darkness and unnoticed by the two guards at the gate. Too late to react, one of the guards saw them breach the hazy dome of light, and was brought down with a bean bag to his upper chest. Before the other could react, he too was neutralized with a well placed, non-lethal shot. As previously instructed, Hinckley and Stolitz broke left to deal with the rest of the guards. The gate was easily pried open and Berkey stayed behind to stand guard as the remaining nine members entered the manor. Once inside, Lien signaled all members to stop and gather around him.

____“Okay, proceed with caution. It should be a last resort, but if you have to, lethal is an option.” Lien was surprised to find his breathing even, and the words he was speaking to come out so clearly. He thought his body might know something he didn’t. “Charlie, we clear on that?”
____“No doubt there m’friend. I doubt we’ll need it.” Charlie gave that same smile.
____“This place does seem pretty deserted. Like we’re in an abandoned housing development or something.” Mary Urquhart scanned the foyer, mindful as ever. Lien was always glad to have her on missions; she was never off guard. A wide staircase stood prominently in the foyer, along with a few hallways that led off to the rest of the main floor. Three on the main, four on the second, and two on the third.
____“Right. Break off and search the place. Radio to a minimum, unless a case of FUBAR breaks. Go.”

____They all nodded in unison and scattered to their assigned parts of the manor. Lien took up the stairs after Mary, Scott, Charlie and two others; Wilson and Morris. Mary, Scott, Wilson and Morris went to the right as the staircase emptied onto the second floor. Charlie and Lien made their way to the second floor stairs in the east wing and went up halfway, before slowing to a crawl, and then stopping just as their heads could peek into a spacious third floor hallway.

____“Charlie, you go-“
____“I know where to go Lien. You just find that bastard Holland, and take him out.”
____“I love your enthusiasm Charles. Don’t worry. I’ll do what I have to. Now, go.” Charlie smiled again and went off to inspect his part of the manor, and Lien made his way to where Holland was rumored to be holed up.

____In the source reports, which had so far been incredibly accurate and a boon to the rebellion, most of the west wing on the third floor was nothing more than a burnt out husk. A failed assassination attempt on Holland with a defective firebomb months ago was the cause. Holland blamed his security forces for what he saw as willful ignorance, and banished them from his presidential manor. Holland may have been crazy to do it, but paranoia ruled him with an iron fist. For this Lien was thankful. He was starting to get reports of empty rooms from the team members. So far, so good.

____Lien carefully stalked the hallways, stopping at doors to listen for activity and occasionally looking in to verify their non-occupancy. He wanted to be sure his area was neutralized before going after Holland, and after one last room check, he was sure. This was a relief to be sure, but that nagging doubt he’d had before the mission began was starting to bubble up. It’s just nerves. Sometimes things really do go your way. Lien righted himself and made for Holland. It was going to be simple; a show of force, and the demand to come quietly. Holland was paranoid, but not stupid. Don’t let him be stupid.

Decommission - Part Three

____Lien turned the corner and felt his tongue get sucked down his throat as he gasped in surprise. A door was ajar, and it sent a blade of light into the hallway. Lien rounded the corner as quietly as possible and came to the door. He heard two voices inside; one harsh and abusive, the other stern but pleading.

____“It is time for you to depart, Holland. To step down and flee this country that you have driven into the ground. Your time is coming, and death will take you if-“
____“Not even death dares to face me now. It is tired of failure. It has moved on, Desmond.”
____“It has laid that job onto the people! They dare to face you. They will and have!”
____“Fool. They never have. It was the one’s I trusted my life to. They are the ones who thought me to be weak.”
____“And so you have displaced and angered them! In this, you have fulfilled your own prophecy!”
____“You will not speak to your President in such a way! You are only an advisor, Desmond. That can only protect you so much.” Lien’s pulse raced. Desmond Altiers was indeed an advisor, and viewed as second only to Holland in his atrocities committed. If he could get both of them…
____“I have never seen you as President, and I no longer see you as competent.” Lien heard a sharp gasp from Holland, and the click of a gun being cocked. His body was frozen to the wall, he worked viciously to break free and stop what was about to happen.
____“Desmond! Stop! I demand you-“
____“Good bye, Holland.” A gunshot pierced whatever silence was left in the room, and freed Lien from the other side of the wall. He kicked in the door and aimed his gun straight at the mass murderer, who apparently worked on a smaller scale as well.
____“Freeze Altiers! Drop your weapon, and put your hands on your head!” Lien heard Charlie ask if he was okay, but ignored it. “I mean it Altiers! I will send you right alongside him!” Desmond looked at Lien with disinterest, and held a loose grip on his gun.
____“See? This is exactly what I was talking about. Death hands out many contracts. He’s a very busy man after all.”
____“You’d be the person to ask about that, wouldn’t you, Desmond.” Lien felt hatred flare up inside of him. His hands prickling on the gun, his finger burning with the desire to squeeze the trigger. Charlie swore in his ear, furious that he couldn’t find him and that he wouldn’t answer. ____“I’ll say it one more time. Drop the damn gun.”
____“I’ll do you one better, soldier.” Desmond raised the gun to his head. “I’ll make you a hero.”
____“STOP!” Lien shouted, but the report of the second lethal gunshot of the night drowned him out.

____The body of Desmond Altiers crumpled to the floor, and Lien was alone. Charlie screamed in his ear again, but the voice was distant. The hatred in his chest had turned cold, and spread through his body leaving a numb shell. The voice of his friend became clearer, and got closer. When Charlie came through the door he took a few seconds to adjust to the scene. It was nothing like what he was expecting, but he understood quickly.

____“You’re alright? Lien?” Charlie wanted to be absolutely sure of what he was seeing. Lien could feel the warmth return, but the rest was slow coming.
____“Yeah. I’m fine.” He was about to explain what had happened when Charlie spoke.
____“You got both of them. The Devil and the Details.” It was a commonly known moniker for the two evil men who now lied dead on the floor. Lien was about to explain what happened, but he couldn’t.
____“I did.” His senses were returning, but the truth wouldn’t come out. “They didn’t give me any choice, and Altiers had a gun. It was them or me, so I chose me.”
____“Damn right you did.” Charlie patted him on the shoulder, and gave that same winning smile he always had when things were going as he thought they should. “Come on. We should call HQ. They’ll want to know about what you did. They’ll probably claim this place too. Maybe even burn it down. That’d be a shame, but it’s probably… Lien? Are you sure you’re okay?” Charlie hadn’t even noticed that Lien was rooted to the same spot.
____“Yeah. I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.” The words came out recited and flat, despite his efforts to sound natural. He continued on before Charlie could ask again. “You’re right. Contact HQ. They’ll want this place for their own. I’ll be out in a minute.”
____“Alright. Just remember, you’re a hero Lien.” Charlie stood up straight, jokingly saluted Lien, and left the room. Lien was once again left in the room with two very evil men who had successfully destroyed each other.

____“A hero, huh? Might as well be me.”
____But you didn’t do anything. You stood and watched.
____“I’m the hero. I did what I had to do.”
____But you didn’t do anything.
____“That’s not how they’re going to see it. And that’s what matters.” The voice didn’t have a rebuttal for that one. Lien was worried it might never have a rebuttal again.

The End