Metal Memorial

By Actofwolf

In another universe, in another timeline, in another world, in the future or maybe an old forgotten past, drifting across the stars and around, old metal scrapyards full of treasure and dangers gravitate. Inside, many, many things, ranging from old projects forgotten with time, industrial scrap metal that has become unusable, very old spaceships and even sometimes, alien technology. Some systems active, some not. Automatic targeting system that should be disfunctionnal might still be working... A very dangerous cemetary, traces of old wars and times past, all of it flying round and round and a very messy and dangerous balllet. This is where the story takes place.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Actofwolf
• Release date: Jul 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005119850

Actofwolf

While striving for a fleeting sense of purpose I write...No. I'm kidding really I'm not that edgy. Though I do find some purpose in writing things. I'm a big tabletop RPG fan and I enjoy the satisfaction of seeing people choose amongst the things I designed however I also like a more structured approach to adventures and events and this is where writing comes in.I am not a GREAT writer, I'm just a writer. All I know is my father is my biggest fan and I appreciate him for that. I wouldn't mind comment about my work however, if you liked it or didn't, or if you think something could be improved please go ahead and leave reviews and comments. If you feel like saying mean things, by all means go ahead. I do need to reinforce my weak heart with some good old rought around the edges insults and comments!Jokes aside, I can't garantee I'll get better or keep writing, but if you want the next part of something let it be known. I might write it.

Book preview

Metal Memorial

by ActOfWolf

Metal Memorial

by Actofwolf

In the cold silence of space you can often see metal clusters of space debris. Relics of a past time, slingshotted by gravity across the ever expanding universe. With time they often get enough mass to bring more and more debris, several clusters merging into a giant one. This is the place where it begins. A giant metal cluster. People call them memorials, proof, ugly truth of a once decadent past.

In these hulking masses of metal, a small noise can be heard, in this vast space, some structures sometimes stay airtight, resisting the pressure of the void and this time, protecting life. In a cold room, where no light can be seen but a few red buttons flickering, something stayed active. A strange laboratory with big column like tubes with humanoid figures inside. Suddenly one of the tubes lights up. A very pretty, spotless white skin that never saw the light of a sun, nearly no body hair, a childlike body, without defining structures yet, no belly button either. A masculine sexual apparatus. A mention on a screen, near the tube says, READY.

A lot of time passed, but no one came. Maybe months, maybe years, the childlike figure did not grow nor shift, until someday, two metal clusters merged after attracting each other. everything collided, chaos ensued, stability was broken for a few hours. Nothing out of the ordinary but, the laboratory shook violently, enough to damage the ceiling plating at least. Probably more. One of the ceiling's plates swung violently in the weightless environment, bounced and then came back directly into the lit tube. The glass cracked, and the bio-liquid maintaining the body began leaking. The screen turned red, indicating an anomaly and the childlike figure opened its eyes.

The first reaction it had was calm, like a newborn, that saw for the first time and was simply amazed while looking at the world around it. Then fear struck. It could not breathe, it needed air, it was trapped, the supply seemingly broken with the tube. It moved unaware of its body yet simply following its instinct. It hit the glass, flailing hopelessly until the structure finally collapsed. In the meantime, the alert coming from the tube triggered something in the ship's system slowly reactivating its subroutines, with what was left in the batteries. Gravity pulled back, and most of the small debris in the room fell on the floor. The sudden pull finished breaking the tube, freeing the drowning captive.

Coughing on the floor, unable to move and curled up, the figure found itself in the dark but it could breath after emptying its lungs of the strange liquid. Slowly but surely, connections were building in its brain. Pre-inserted knowledge was slowly resurfacing while the figure was trying to feel and understand its body. In no time, it stood up, its muscles were well made and partially trained already. It felt it. But something was wrong, it was shivering. Links were beginning to appear in its mind: shivering – cold – heat – fire – wood – burn, it needed to burn something to create heat. The ship was cold, very cold, too cold.

First, very wobbly steps, a few falls, but always getting up and trying harder. Understanding balance. Then, increasing its speed, slowly heating up while moving and reaching the door of the lab, ignoring the tube and simply following what little light there was. Trying to open the door, no handle, no button. It was not locked and partially open on one side, seemingly broken. The figure decided to pry it open and surely it worked without using much force. The light of a nearby star suddenly illuminated the room. A very white environment appeared right before its eyes, revealing the design of the lab, and illuminating the other figures in the tubes next to the now open one.

Behind the door, reinforced windows were letting light in. Illuminating the corridor and the lab alike. Seeing this light deeply confused the figure and it had to partially filter the light with a hand as it appeared and disappeared behind other big debris floating in nothingness. But it had no time to waste, it needed heat. Following the corridor it found a few doors, some warped and immovable, others simply half open but with enough space in between so it could simply squeeze through. Luckily, the first door led directly to a storage room of sort with white robes, plastic gloves and strange magnifying tools. It needed to find a way to burn them. It would be fine for a while as plant matter burns as well as wood. After looking around, it found a locker room nearby as well, a few rooms away from the storage. Most of the locking mechanisms were not working anymore and throwing the content on the ground and using the natural light of the nearby star to discern every object was enough to find what could only qualify as an old school electric lighter that used a small electric arc to start fires. The figure then ran back to the storage room and threw a pile of cloth in the middle of the corridor and set it on fire.

A small fire started and heat began to permeate its body. Slowly calming the urge to survive that was monopolizing its ability to think and finally letting its brain rest and think. That is when it finally realized that it could have worn some of these white robes. The comfort provided by the fire being enough for now, the figure started to actually look at everything surrounding it. Including this strange reflection on a wall, there was a dancing light. That was the fire. But something else was moving as well. That was the moment it became him. He realized that it was his reflection. He was... human. The pre-existing knowledge in his brain linked him to humans. A simple human, made of flesh and bones. He was an individual without individuality, without a name. A name is often given by something or someone else, a parent. He was sure