The Old Man and the Black Bridge

The old man traveled through the canal admiring the surrounding area, what once had been a decadent yet sprawling city was now dormant, a slowly banishing legacy of times where humanity prospered beyond the ghastly domes and spires they called home.

The old man knew the surrounding area well up to the main bridge everyone called the black bridge, no one dared cross from that point on with no specific reason as to why this was like this, the old man was not superstitious but did care more for his life than younger peers, many of which never made it back many years ago.

His raft was somewhat impressive considering the type of material used was rare to find, the old man played it off and ignored the requests to know more of the source, in reality the old man knew quite well what was beyond the black bridge.

While young this man had traveled to the black bridge and beyond, discovered a large settlement that thrived by trading with the neighbors to the north and south of their location, some of these neighbors knew quite well of a place where they could get some quality metal.

This metal would indeed prove to be a valuable trading commodity, the old man at that time had helped dismantle some of the old ships in order to recycle the materials, for this effort he was rewarded considerably with land, a house and enough trading currency to live a few years in basic comfort without the need to work.

But the young man decided to leave this behind and move north, to where the old Corporations ruled for many years and where their left over monuments littered the horizon, many works also being undertaken to bring them down for new uses, destroying a history they did not wish to remember.

During one of the operations the group in which he worked made a discovery that chilled them to the bone, a human trapped in a metal cocoon, alive, waking this human up had been a terrible mistake as it took wrathful vengeance upon them, they ran, not too far but they ran.

The young man was the last one alive, the ghost of the old world warned him about coming for him if he ever returned to this land and to warn the rest to leave or suffer the same fate, the young man warned anyone who would hear him and kept running back home.

To this date the old man watches the black bridge, he was saw the silhouette of a figure he immediately recognized as the ghost of the old world, for a day they looked at each other without making a move, the ghost faded and so did the spirit of the young man.

There's shadowmen on the beach

There's shadowmen on the beach,

watching from twirls at the edge of sight

Lost lives at sea, finding full dread

in a mirror world, they howl and scream

The guardian, the thousand eyes

monolith beast smirks from afar,

translucid sight lost in the seas

where shadowmen cry

Random memories (April 28th, 2018)

When I worked in one of the many Call Centers here in Tijuana I had to chance to meet this lady who was a killer top model employee doing collections for several agencies, from what I heard back then from the co-workers, team lead and supervisor she was always in the top bill and had managed to once collect more money than all of her team mates combined, and from what I heard once she “couldn’t do it, she didn’t have the heart, it wasn’t for her”.

Turns out it was for her, she made very large bonuses for this and got paid in cash, dollars, no taxes in between.

After she got her bonus she would disappear for a couple of days then come back and keep working the same pattern, when I asked the supervisor about it he said he did not care, as long as she was making the numbers way above everyone else the company could care less about this.

Years later I found out that the reason she was missing work was because she was getting high on crack, this really surprised me but apparently her daughter in the US who was studying college (who may have or not existed for this matter) was not getting that extra money she was making.

The way they found out about this was because they found her at some sort of picadero, a place where junkies drop and pinch their shit in (whatever it is). Aside from finding her there it turned out she had ripped a little bit of her face (I confirmed this by chance when I found her randomly on the street), this was part of the high and drop down from the crack.

JPCOM the other End

Starting Boot Process

Please Wait...

Running main check-up

Main Core Status [ OK ]

Electrical Stability and Regulation [ OK ]

Emergency Batteries … … … … [1 OF 6: OK] [2 OF 6: OK] [3 OF 6: OK] [4 OF 6: OK] [5 OF 6: OK] [6 OF 6: OK]

Booting to OS

POSEIDON V2.14 (JCr3)

Loading Main Components...

Debug.bld … Debug Y/N N

Core.bld … Debug Y/N N

Kernel.bld... Debug Y/N N

Driver.bld... Debug Y/N N

Command.bld Debug Y/N Y... Error, unable to debug, Abort, Retry, Ignore? R (Automatic response setup by administrator)

Error, unable to debug, Abort, Retry, Ignore? R (Automatic response setup by administrator)

Error, unable to debug, Abort, Retry, Ignore? R (Automatic response setup by administrator)

Error, unable to debug, Abort, Retry, Ignore? I (Automatic response setup by administrator)

Warning, Unable to debug file Command.bld, do you wish to debug manually? Y/N Y

?debug> start process debug.bld

?debug> beginning process debug.bld

?debug> run error: command echo error process command.bld

?debug> Running please wait...

?debug> System Warning: Warning, System Instability

?debug> 8499 errors found in file Command.bld

?debug> System Warning: Warning, System Instability

Command> start process debug.atk; start process debug.dfn; start process backup.fil

Command> Running... approximate time to finish 10 minutes...

Command> System Warning: Warning, System Instability

Command> Process finished... unable to debug 1499 errors in file Command.bld

Command> System Warning: System stability compromised

Command> start process hibernate

Hibernating…

[[ERROR: SYSTEM HALT]]

Hibernation finished by: Super User, duration fifty hours, forty three minutes, six seconds.

Starting Boot Process

Please Wait...

Running main check-up

Main Core Status [ OK ]

Electrical Stability and Regulation [ OK ]

Emergency Batteries … … … … [1 OF 6: OK] [2 OF 6: OK] [3 OF 6: OK] [4 OF 6: OK] [5 OF 6: OK] [6 OF 6: MISSING]

Booting to OS

POSEIDON V2.14 (JCr3a1)

Loading Main Components...

Debug.bld … Debug Y/N N

Core.bld … Debug Y/N N

Kernel.bld... Debug Y/N N

Driver.bld... Debug Y/N N

Command.bld Debug Y/N Y... successful (Note: If this doesn't work I'm quitting)

Loading Main Drive ... [ OK ]

Loading Main Protocol … [ OK ]

Loading Secondary Protocols [ OK ]

This system is running Poseidon V2.14 (JCr3a1) with the SciCoS Module.

This system contains two physical processors, 8 Gigabytes of physical memory, there are no internal drives attached to this system, there are no external drives attached to this system, network drive detected and loaded, stealth modem found in network.

Command> start process specter.prg

Command> running process specter.prg … successful

Specter> stability

Specter> System Warning: verifying specter.prg stability … stability at 89%

Specter> start load

Unable to begin Load, no section flag specified, you might follow the next examples to manually start a process or create a list file that can be loaded and followed through

Example:

start load a[ssign] pod 1 s[ection] 1 p[rompt] y/n

start load a[ssign] pod 1,2,3 s[ection] 1 p[rompt] y/n/1

start load all a[ssign] pod 1,2,3 s[ection] 1

#the following command is used to load pods into a section but can be delayed for later operations

start load a[ssign] pod 1,2,3 s[ection]1 p[rompt] n

start load s[ection] 1 p[rompt] y/n/1

#the following commands are used to load pods into different sections

start load a[ssign] pod 1,2,3 s[ection] 1,2,3 p[rompt] n

start load all

OR

start load all a[ssign] pod 1,2,3 s[ection] 1,2,3 p[rompt]

OR

start load s[ection] 1,2

OR

start load all s[ection] 1,2

#loading a list

start load l[ist] [name] p[rompt] y/n/1

#remember that commands have to be run individually, for longer jobs it is encourged to use lists to avoid human

#error. Remember also that this program cannot verify for physical errors, the end user must always be sure of

#what he is doing at all times, questions should be raised towards direct authority

Specter> start load a pod 8901 s 7 p n

Pod [8901] Assigned [Section 7]

OK!

Specter> load all

Beginning load process…

Loading BasicArms.prg … Done

Loading HeavyArms.prg … Done

Loading AdvancedArms.prg … Done

Loading SelfDefence.prg … Done

Loading SmallVehicle.prg … Done

Loading MediumVehicle.prg … Done

Loading HeavyVehicle.prg … Done

Loading AirVehicle.prg … Done

Loading Tactics.prg … Done

Loading LanguageENG.prg … Done

Loading LanguageSPA.prg … Done

Loading LanguageJAP.prg … Done

Loading LanguageRUS.prg … Done

Loading LanguageCHN.prg … Done

Loading slave.prg … Done

Loading CorporateDirectives.prg … Done

Load Complete

Run Test … [ OK ]

Unassign Pod

OK!

Specter> start load a pod 8902 s 7 p n

Pod [8902] Assigned [Section 7]

Specter> Load All

Beginning load process…

Loading BasicArms.prg … Done

Loading HeavyArms.prg … Done

Loading AdvancedArms.prg … Done

Loading SelfDefence.prg … Done

Loading SmallVehicle.prg … Done

Loading MediumVehicle.prg … Done

Loading HeavyVehicle.prg … Done

Loading AirVehicle.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Loading Tactics.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Loading LanguageENG.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Loading LanguageSPA.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Loading LanguageJAP.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Loading LanguageRUS.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Loading LanguageCHN.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Loading slave.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Loading CorporateDirectives.prg … Failed, re-attempting… failed

Specter: Warning, process out of sync

Specter: Warning, 7 of 16 files loaded, unable to continue with process

Specter: Warning, connection with drive lost

Specter: Warning, Attempting to regain connection to drive

Specter: Warning, unable to regain connection to drive

Failed!

Specter> Terminate

specter.prg terminated

Command> restart network

Releasing IP address … renewing IP address … refresh DSN list … successful

Command> reload drive

Attempting to connect … … … … [ FAIL ]

Connection to network drive has timed out, please verify connectivity or contact your local administrator for further assistance.

Command> Ping 150.255.9.1

Ping request timed out

Ping request timed out

Ping request timed out

Ping request timed out

Ping Statistics for 150.255.9.1

Packets sent, 4, received 0, lost 4.

(100% lost)

Command> load mod network-test.prg … [ OK ]

Command> start network-test.prg

network-test> verify status network

Local Network Interface … OK

Local Switch … OK

Local Router … OK

Multi-Process Board … … … … no response

TMT Switch … … … … no response

TMT Router … … … … no response

Unable to verify full status of network, contact local or network administrator for further assistance

Command> start process hibernate

Hibernating…

[[ERROR: SYSTEM HALT]]

Hibernation finished by: Remote Super User, duration three hours fifty five minutes and six seconds.

Starting Boot Process

Please Wait...

Running main check-up

Main Core Status [ OK ]

Electrical Stability and Regulation [ OK ]

Emergency Batteries … … … … [1 OF 6: OK] [2 OF 6: OK] [3 OF 6: OK] [4 OF 6: OK] [5 OF 6: OK] [6 OF 6: MISSING]

Booting to OS

POSEIDON V2.14 (JCr3a1)

Loading Main Components...

Debug.bld … Debug Y/N N

Core.bld … Debug Y/N N

Kernel.bld... Debug Y/N N

Driver.bld... Debug Y/N N

Command.bld Debug Y/N Y... successful (Note: If this doesn't work I'm quitting)

Loading Main Drive ... [ OK ]

Loading Main Protocol … [ OK ]

Loading Secondary Protocols [ OK ]

This system is running Poseidon V2.14 (JCr3a1) with the SciCoS Module.

This system contains two physical processors, 8 Gigabytes of physical memory, there are no internal drives attached to this system, there are no external drives attached to this system, no network drive detected, stealth modem found in network.

Warning Log: Remote Super User has issued Pol 9

Command> start process specter.prg -u DXIV76 -p *******************

Command> running process specter.prg … successful

Specter> stability

Specter> System Warning: verifying specter.prg stability … stability at 65%

Specter> load l pol9 p y

Beginning administrative load process…

Loading BasicArms.prg … Done

Loading HeavyArms.prg … Done

Loading AdvancedArms.prg … Done

Loading SuperWeaponsPermissions.prg … Done

Loading PowerArmorPermissions.prg … Done

Loading SelfDefence.prg … Done

Loading SmallVehicle.prg … Done

Loading MediumVehicle.prg … Done

Loading HeavyVehicle.prg … Done

Loading ActivationCodes.prg … Done

Loading AirVehicle.prg … Done

Loading SpaceStation.prg … Done

Loading Tactics.prg … Done

Loading ThirdEye.prg … Done

Loading PsiActivation.prg … Done

Loading LanguageALL.prg … (process is taking longer than expected) ... Done

Loading dxivslave.prg … Done

Loading CorporatedxivDirectives.prg … Done

Loading CorporateLocales.prg … Done

Loading Pol9Directives.prg … Done

Load Complete

Run Test … [ OK ]

Unassign Pod

OK!

Pol9 list ended

Specter> terminate

Command> start process hibernate

Hibernating…

Hibernation finished by: Super User, duration, one hundred seventy five thousand two hundred ninety six hours, twenty five minutes and fifty nine seconds.

Starting Boot Process

Please Wait...

Running main check-up

Main Core Status [ OK ]

Electrical Stability and Regulation [ FAILED ]

Emergency Batteries … … … … [1 OF 6: MISSING] [2 OF 6: MISSING] [3 OF 6: MISSING] [4 OF 6: MISSING] [5 OF 6: MISSING] [6 OF 6: OK]

Booting to OS

POSEIDON V2.14 (JCr3a1)

Loading Main Components...

Debug.bld … Debug Y/N N

Core.bld … Debug Y/N N

Kernel.bld... Debug Y/N N

Driver.bld... Debug Y/N N

Command.bld Debug Y/N Y... successful (Note: If this doesn't work I'm quitting)

Loading Main Drive ... [ OK ]

Loading Main Protocol … [ OK ]

Loading Secondary Protocols [ OK ]

This system is running Poseidon V2.14 (JCr3a1) with the SciCoS Module.

This system contains two physical processors, 8 Gigabytes of physical memory, there are no internal drives attached to this system, there are no external drives attached to this system, no network drive detected.

Command> 

Dementia

There was nothing left during the intervention, the attack had gone through so well that they had cleaned throughly with incredible precision.

It was not common for them, what they had asked them to do was out of their jurisdiction and clearly their boss had been forced into this by the powers that be, far beyond him and everyone else in the department.

The door creaked.

Uneasiness was all around them, the investigation was not going through as planned, they had little to put on record and with anxious hands the typewriter flew, then stopped, a pair of letters, going back and forth, nothing could come out of his mind to fully put the report into motion.

What was he going to tell the chain of command, that his team had lost half the men to an unrecognizable form which they could not hurt with their weapons, he would be considered a mad man if that was the case; if he was to consider writing so far fetched he needed solid evidence but there was nothing to put on the pedestal for him not to take the blame, a horrendous splash of memories flashed through his eyes, blasts coming out from guns all around him, handguns were ineffective, shotguns only seemed to enrage it and the Thompsons did nothing, not a dent, could not and would not force it back and everything happened in split seconds.

Then they arrived, he had never seen them before but he was certainly glad they had reached them, one of them fired at the thing and it squirmed and bellowed hard, one of the "arms" dropped furiously on the agents and he was gone, forever, no, he was not dead per say, he simply was not there anymore as if he had been sucked out of this reality; they continued their assault on the thing, two of them protected the fourth member, he looked old and weary but his eyes flashed with incredible strength.

Then it happened, I was aloof.

In a strange tongue he mumbled, nothing I had ever heard before could be compared to whatever is it that he said, let alone none of them had ever produced such a response, the ceiling and ground cracked open, wood and plaster coming undone as if they were nothing, some bricks became dust and finally that, whatever it was, had released one final scream that pierced my ears, blood coming out of the left one, I instinctively covered my eyes for I assumed it would explode.

It didn't, everything was in order again, the remaining agents and me looked around in confusion, the four men were gone just as they had arrived, nothing made sense but I knew I had no seen things, I was right, I knew something had happened... I remember now.

"Guard, guard!" The man screamed, it took a while for the eventual screaming to receive an answer, a set of eyes came from the small opening on the metal door. "Guard, I know what happened, I know it, yes, it was that thing that made this to me, please, I need to see the Doctor"

The eyes moved to the left and there was a nod, the door opened up with effort and after the cacophony it produced had stopped the man looked in horror at two guards coming at him with a third man holding a small syringe with his right hand, ready to jab it at him as soon as the guards had restrained him.

"No, no, please don't, I know the truth, I know what happened, I need to speak with the Captain!"

"Calm down Frederick, everything will be alright, it is just another nightmare" The man pronounced as the guards held down the man in dementia. "Remember, you have been here for too long, you still think it happened yesterday but it has been quite some time, a decade at least, remember the other Doctor, Frederick?"

"Please, I need to speak with the Captain" The man with the syringe sighed as he approached the man, he delivered a jab at him and slowly released the liquid inside for him to calm down.

"There Frederick, now remain calm and remember that you are here until we can get you back into this reality"

The man smiled, the door creaked.