[USS Charon] SD:241002.06 || Backlog || ASEC Lieutenant Acel'a - Genesis, Pt I

[Earth, circa 2010] A soft fog rolled in across the open landscape as the wind swept  across the desolate brush, that hid the tracks from view. A lone figure huddled against the squat gray shed, facing the tracks, his eyes glowing a soft green. The figure seemed to be focused on a spot, off in the distance, to his left. The light slowly fading into twilight. He waited, time slowly ticking away, the wind softly moaning, as though mourning the end of the day. Just then, twin pinpricks of light appeared from around the bend, just above the tracks, making their way seemingly at a snail's pace. The horn sounded, piercing the semi-darkness, intermittently, as the Amtrak's newly opened Capitol Acela Express, #311 lumbered along. The figure's eyes glowed brighter, watching the passing train, then vanished, in a brilliant emerald flash.    A 58 year old woman, Liz Rand, boarded the train in Washington, DC and was seated in the first coach car, behind the forward powercar. She had reclined the back of her seat and began to doze off, for the overnight portion of the journey. She had no inkling of what lie ahead for her, as she drifted off to slumber. The rest of the trip back to Chicago, Illinois, was uneventful and before the train eased out of Union Station, the mysterious figure, that has mysteriously appeared on the platform, partially obscured by one of the support beams, between two tracks, disappeared into the coach, she was on.    At 2:45am, the train continued down the track, soon reaching speeds of 150 MPH. Liz, looked out the window, at the scenery shooting past, marveling at the smoothness of the ride. Soon she became absorbed in a crossword puzzle she was working on and did not notice the figure enter the car.    Suddenly, there was a "blink" and everything "froze", except Liz Rand and the mysterious figure, his eyes' glow softening. He walked up to Liz's seat and dropped the cloak, revealing his shimmering robe. Liz was startled by the sudden suspension of time and the appearance of the man, whose skin was pale blue and hair was a deep, midnight blue. His eyes still glowed somewhat, but dimly as he spoke.    "Do not be frightened. I am here to accomplish my 'mission'," said the figure. "My name is Zo'lan of Thala and you have been chosen for the 'infusion.'."    "Infusion? Of what?" Liz cried out, still frightened.    Zo'lan produced a glowing sphere and raised it toward the car's ceiling. The sphere immediately began to glow a brilliant blue. High above the trainset a massive maelstrom formed in the once cloudless sky. Instantaneously an immense bolt of energy streaked downward and struck the raised pantograph of the lead powercar, then coursed its way to the car where Liz sat and entered the car, striking Liz on top of her head. The bolt formed a small vortex, which remained for a moment then retreated back into the bolt and the bolt, in turn, retreated back up, eventually returning to its point of origin. The maelstrom then carefully vanished.    Liz was unaware, that the retreating bolt of energy, left something behind, on her head. Atop Liz's head was a miniature red, folded pantograph, just like one of the ones atop the trainset's powercar!  Zo'lan then spoke once more, returning the now-dark sphere to his robe.    "It is complete. I must return to my vessel, but I will return to explain what transpired, this evening," Zo'lan stated, calmly. He then vanished and time "resumed". Liz thought about the mysterious blue-skinned man, unaware of the stares of the passenger seated across the aisle. Liz, then resumed doing her puzzle, thinking perhaps she may have even dozed off and had a most unusual dream! A minute later, Liz glanced to her left and noticed the male passenger just staring at her, puzzled, Liz turned and spoke.    "What are you staring at?" asked the confused woman.    "You mean you don't know?" the man said, half-asking.    "Er…no, I don't. I have no clue!" Liz shot back, starting to get mildly annoyed. Just then Liz rose.    "Excuse me," she said, then made her way to the restroom located at the rear of the car. Liz stepped in and as soon as she saw her image in the small mirror, she was stunned. It was then Liz realized what that man was staring at. In the exact center of the top of her head was a folded pantograph…a miniature version of one of the ones she saw atop the trainset's power car! It was red too. Apparently that "visitation" was no dream. Fortunately Liz remembered she had her hoodie sweat jacket in one of her bags. Several minutes later, Liz returned to her seat, pulled out the hoodie and put it on. She then pulled the hood over the folded pantograph, in an effort to conceal it and thus stop the stares. For the rest of the journey, all Liz could think about was that device now on her head, making trips to the bathroom, seeing if it still remained. It did and Liz wondered what prompted that being to "choose" her, from the over six billion people on Earth! Right now, Liz did her best to keep the pantograph hidden, until this return visit occurred, at least. Hours later, the high speed trainset eased into Union Station in Chicago and soon, Ms Rand stepped out of the car and made her way to the station area and eventually to street level. There, she walked to where she could catch the bus she needed to catch, to get back to her apartment, in the Hyde Park/Kenwood section of town. Liz made sure the hood stayed put, covering as much of the pantograph as possible. She knew people would not understand how it got to be on her head and why. =End Log= Lieutenant Acel'a Assistant Security Officer USS Charon