Chapter 1:
Beep-beep, beep-beep~!
Came the same routine alarm that signaled the start of the rotation shift. Close by tot eh counter was a bed. From underneath the cover. Letting out a groan a figure tucked away underneath a sheet twisted and turned. Before finally, a hand reached and slammed down upon the alarm clock on the counter just by the bedside. The hands rough and filled with multiple minor scars and lacerations, indicating years of hard laborious work.
Before retreating underneath the covers. The fingers formed a fist. Knuckles cracking, the arm stiffened. A loud yawn came from the bed. Before then the thick blanket came flying off the bed. Revealing a figure of a man. In his late twenties or early thirties. His hair and bread were unkept, giving the man an unhealthy look.
[Rotation crew seven prepare for shift change in twenty minutes.]
The voice boomed through the comms speaker. Any sleep that still lingered within the man was banished away from the booming voice. The man groaned under his breath. Yet he still lifted himself off the bed frame that he laid upon. Thus began another day in constat miserable life. He strode over to the nearby washing station, before then performing the near daily ritual of proper hygiene. Once completed, he strode over to the only other furniture within his quarters. A rather small cabinet, in the corner of his living space.
Opening it revealing the interior contents within. An equally unkept dirty uniform lazily sprawled about within. Being only in his undergarment, the man begins the routine process of donning the outfit. All the while under his breath. A single phrase was said like a broken radio.
"I love my job. I love my job." The man muttered softly to him. Repeatedly like a prayer mantra. As he went through the motions.
"This was life. This is my shitty life. This is life, Fú Huān Mochou. (Luck Happiness Free of Sadness') This is your life now. This is my fucking life now."
Such were the things he spat out venomously. As he continued to pull the uniform over his body. Life for Fú Huān Mochou now had become so monotone, wake up, do his shift, lunch, fulfil his quota, then sleep. Then back at it all over again. This was how he strode through life for the past five years. He strode out of his sleeping chambers with heavy footfalls. Feeling the cool, yet stale recycled air from the ducts.
Others were also cycling out of the multiple door frames within a long corridor. Many souls greeting one another. Conversing slightly as they all walked down the hall. All of whom were heading towards the same destination. Towards the end of the hallway. Passed through the portal and several more along the way. Final passing through a final portal
When did it all go wrong? Was it the time when he came home early that one morning and found his wife of nearly twenty years fucking her boss in their bed. In a fit of rage like any young male. He attacked the man, whom he had assumed was assaulting his wife. The rest of the event was but a blur; he could remember spewing curses. The sickening clash of flesh hitting flesh. Then the blaring sounds of multiple voices. Lights flashes and more cacophony of voices overwhelmed his senses.
Before long he realized he had already been moved into an isolated ward within the local police precent. When the testimony was present his own wife testified against him at the hearing. Presenting a myriad of photos, texts and even telling the police heinous lies about his character. The betrayal had caught him with his pants down. He never expected his own beloved wife to be capable of such deception and devilry. His downfall was already set in stone. There was no escape from it. The rope was tightening around his neck, and Fú Huān Mochou was none the wiser in not noticing it tightening. Till it was too late. What originally had been regard as the perfect life a man could have was broken.
No, his life didn't fall apart, it never existed. It was the lie that covered his eyes, that was what fell apart. Finally allowing him to see clearly for the first time in years. Even the illusion of a legacy, the one hope, that was his motivation in his life. Was ripped from his grasp. He didn't believe it at first, no he simply didn't want to believe it. He refused with all his heart, even when the results of the children weren't his was place right in front of him. That was the final straw that broke the camel's back. He was forced to see the truth of his reality that day.
He was but a humble man, living a modest life. Living happily with his wife and children. They weren't rich or poor, just living well enough within their means. Their house was no castle or mansion, but it was theirs. Or rather it was theirs he wasn't included but he certainly funded it. Unwillingly as it may be. Thus, there was no place in that family for him. Once the guise up, she didn't have any use for him anymore. His wife wasted no time to gutting him. Tearing down not just his spirit but his image, reputation everything. During the whole trial that was all she had done.
The faces of the benches, those that were considered his friends, all solemn with the look of those that had already decided his fate. He had been so absent from just affairs that he never realized the attitude of those around him had changed so subtly. So, focus he was at his craft, that he didn't pay any heed to the changes. Not even a whiff, played along by those intended to conceal the deceit.
The sentence was swift but painful. There were no words that could be said that would have salvaged anything from his predicament. The atmosphere changed the moment he was led away in chuffs. He could still see the joyful and elated expressions in his dreams. Seeing the love of his life giggling and squealing with delight. While embracing the new man in her life. The children whom he loved joining in their huddle. The various other faces that he knew lost their amenity as though it never existed. Replaced with expressions congratulating smiles. Each one giving their blessing to the new couple.
Those looks of admiration and envy that he once held. Now only scorn and disinterest filled his sight and his mind. Even those within the walls and bars of the prison were any different for there were no sense of kinship that could be found anywhere.
Yet despite the isolation. Even the bars of prison didn't offer any sense of protection. For his ex-wife's new lover had connections. Utilizing those connections, life in prison was anything but calm. The next few years after that was all but a blur for him. He didn't have any recollection of those years. Truthfully, he simply didn't want to recall any of those memories. The times he spent in prison, the pain, the harassment, the betrayal. The pain still tangible upon his body even after so much time had passed. Rectally was the most potent of it all. Everything hurt. It hurts to even live, so much he dreamed of letting it all end.
Yet even that path was denied to him. He would be denied all other avenues of avoidance. All but one realistically. So, he ran away. At that very moment he had the chance to. He took it. Disappearing from all walks of life that he once knew. Traveling beyond the borders of what he once called home and into the unknown. For there was no other path for him.
Thus, ending upon Workstation Base 42 codename: Enterprise. Deep within the newly discovered Lau System, a few million light years away from the Sol System. Unlike the first few systems discovered before, this one had more life planets, suitable for humanity to settle in. However, there was still the need resources in order to even begin. The process of transporting materials was too expensive. As well as taxing to even hull such large quantities.
Thus, several workstations were formed in various locations in the system. All with the purpose to harvest such resources for the colonization. From the nearby sources available in system. Bringing along only the key necessary materials and the technological means to harvest the said materials. While slowly expanding their reach and capabilities within perfecting planned phases of expansion.
With each expansion fleet containing, not only more key personnel with technological and maintenance skills. But more technology and equipment for said task for colonization. Fú Huān Mochou fell in upon the program just before the application process had ceased. There was no concern for his record catching up to him. For the shortage of hands and able bodies was enough for the application to go through. Then once he was officially accepted, he was shipped away to the Lau System. During the third phase of the operation. Much the working foundation having around been set up before his arrival.
Now humanity was in the process of, expanding the facilities. Now deep within the bowls of the Workstation Enterprise. Station upon the stealer moon body. of the third planet system. Far away from the sol system within the Lau System. He had stayed there for the past five years. Hoping it could ease and erase the memories of pain and misery.
Workstation Enterprise Tunnel System Charle Block. Connected to a sizeable asteroid via massive extension cables, almost equal in size, and the same width as the station.
Deep within the semi constructed tunnels digging into the depths of the staller body.
So came another day. Grinding away at this new frontier. The hours were long, the work (), but it keeps him fed and housed. That was more than adequate for him. But most importantly it keeps his mind from thinking of the pain. Hefting heavy machinery deep within the mine shafts. Cariving away at the stone Working day after day. Nursing his pain and aches in the solace of his chamber. Today was just another repetition of the last.
At least somewhat. As Fú Huān Mochou was walking from the section he was working at. Being directed to a different section. Passing through the main work hub. The crowds of hundreds of workers toiled around him. A melding pot of various frequencies rang out through the simple, yet also highly complex station. Numbing all senses, such was its intensity of the surrounding noise. Yet one sudden cut through all with frantic panic.
"Hey look out~! Up above incoming~!" A panicked voice bellowed out from above. From the upper levels. Many instantly halted their work. Staring up, in less than a second doing so, people scrambled away like roaches.
"Move-move~!"
"Get out of the way move~!"
Came the multitude cries from other voices. Everyone scattered into the wind in all directions they can to avoid the incoming promise of death.
Fú Huān Mochou heard the panicked voice like everyone else. Looking up towards the falling broken crane. Seeing the massive block of steel falling rapidly towards where he stood. Within that slip second, his mind trailed off. Claimed by the darkness within his soul. Even after seeing the incoming metal that most certainly would kill him. Yet he welcomed it. An exit to all his pain. So, he didn't bother to move. Even as the distance shortened by the second. Waiting for death's embrace. When suddenly.
"Hey Fú Huān Mochou pay attention man! You trying to get yourself killed?!" An equally filthy stained looking man shouted. Rushing over before pulling at Fú Huān Mochou. Tearing him away from the collusion point. The falling debris crashed into the ground. With a resound clash of metal against metal. Resounded in the air. Deafening those closest to the impact zone.
The man had pulled Fú Huān Mochou close behind himself. Shielding the unresponsive man from the scattering dust cloud. Hiding the smaller fragment debris caused from the collision. Once it was deemed safe enough. The man pulled himself and Fú Huān Mochou up to their feet's.
"Hey, what's up with you?! Why were you just standing there?!" the man turned to Fú Huān Mochou. Their eyes meet and in those eyes. Fú Huān Mochou could see the vibrate fury within those eyes. Yet reflected in those eyes he could also see his own. Cold, lifeless, no different from that deceased corpse.
"What? You didn't sleep last night or something? Come on you need to pay attention here!" the man shouted. Pulling Fú Huān Mochou
"Yeah-yeah, sorry my bad." Fú Huān Mochou replied nonchanthly. Simply striding back to where he was needed. The man seeing the uncaring attitude, spew out a curse under his breath. Then walked away frustrated not bothering to try to get a reaction from Fú Huān Mochou.
With no other disruptions, everyone scattered back to their work. Leaving Fú Huān Mochou alone to contemplate his thoughts. No one to further pay him any attention. He stood in that spot, further dwelling in his thoughts second longer. Before he shrugs and went away his way. There was still much work that needed to be done.
Sometime later in the day.
Gong~! Sometime later, much further down the day, a signal chimed throughout the facility. The ear-piercing sound rebounded off the sealed off tight confined space of the tunnel. Signaling the end of the workday. As another sound echoed reinforcing that fact.
[Shift Change~! Shift Change. Second team to replace team three. -]
Onwards the message rang out. Relaying out the work order, over the chatter of the retreating forms of the workers rushing to relieve themselves from the strenuous labor. Many after doffing their equipment yet still in their fatigues, congregated within the mess hall. The clattered of numerous boots and voiced bouncing off one another filled the halls. The clattering of utensils and shifting chairs. All mixing and blending into one impossible note.
Fú Huān Mochou was among the tide of face mingling about the chow hall. After receiving his share of rations, he strode about looking for a place to sit. Yet despite his search many if not all table were occupied fully with hungry souls wolfing down their rations. Or chatting away with fellow coworkers.
Finally, he found a table not fully sited with others at the far corner of the area. He situated himself at the far corner with no souls present. Once he sited he began to quickly wolf down the rations. Aking to that of mad wolf that hasn't eaten in many moons. It didn't matter to him if it seems like bad table manners. He just wanted to finish his food quickly and return to his room.
"Hey Fú Huān Mochou come on stop being such a killjoy come drink with the rest of us!"
Voice came from his back. Along with a painful resounding slap. The slight sting on his back broke him out of his empty thoughts. He turned, facing an older gentleman, with a clear flush on the man's face. His breath carried the heavy scent of alcohol and seasoned steak.
Fú Huān Mochou's face still gave no hint of emotion. His hands still gripping tightly to his fork. Thankfully, he retained his balance, not spilling over his meal. He let out a sigh before speaking.
"I'll pass." Putting down his canister upon his dish tray. He hefted himself up in attempt to leave the situation. The man's hand clasped onto his shoulder halting him in his step.
"Wait-wait come on we're all stuck here together anyway. No need to be a loner that would be too depressing, especially in this place.
"I said I'm fine, I just want to eat then go back and sleep." Fú Huān Mochou said simply.
Yet the man didn't relent.
"Come on that what you do all the time you need to live a little. I never see you in any gathering or anything aside from on-the-job sites. What do you even do with the rest of your time? For everyone else here we're all essentially family here no need to be so alien toward each other here."
The drunk man insisted to Fú Huān Mochou but he shrugged him off. Sitting back down, picking up his utensil. He processed to wolf down the food yet again.
"I just want to eat my food and head back to sleep I'm tired." Was the muffled reply he gave back to the drunk man. Mouth stuffed with food.
The man let out a sign, yet before he could retort another voice interjected itself between the two.
"Ok Dean let me talk to him, you go back and enjoy the rest of the night." A soft bell chime voice sweeping through the air. Despite the softness and the raging tide of noise around them. The words were heard with clarity.
"Lisa." Fú Huān Mochou acknowledge the newcomer. This caused a slit change in his demeanor. Seeing the feminine features of the individual addressing him. Bright crimson hair, pair with small emerald eyes. Upon an oval face, lightly freckled cheeks. Her uniform half undone, exposing her sports bar and her unbleached skin. The top half hung loosely below her waist. It sent a shiver down his cold spine. Like a jolt, his body was awake and alert now. The tiredness he felt from the days labor was gone. The tired aches were banished away with the surge of adrenaline.
"Hello~." She said softly in a soft high pitch voice. A welcoming tone that would have softened and enticed any male that heard it. Yet for Fú Huān Mochou he heard only the warning signs of danger. His body instinctually stiffened.
"Here, I thought I would want one of these not so easy getting one these days." In her outstretch hand held a can, a beverage to be specific. Fú Huān Mochou recognized it as the trending drink that has everyone in a frenzy to acquire one.
"Thank you." He forced out the words from his lips. Accepting he offered beverage. Yet instead of drinking it, he simply placed in ontop of his tray.
Lisa then sat beside him. Seeping at the other can that she held in her palm. Her eyes fisted on Fú Huān Mochou's form.
"So, I happened to noticed that you didn't work in sector two today. Did you get shifted to another sector today?"
"Mhm." Fú Huān Mochou grunted through a mouthful of food.
For much of the conversation he didn't really pay too much attention. Though it lasted less than a minute it felt like a lifetime had passed. She would say something, he then would respond in simply answers. This continued on for about two minutes before the 'talk' finally died down. Then a silence fell upon the duo. Within the raging storm of sound around them.
"Say." Lisa began to say. Breaking the silence between them. "What do you say we continue this chat in my room, or we can go to your room per say?" she began itching closer to him slightly, her eyes carried a desire within them. That look in her eyes set off alarms within his soul, sensing it.
"No thank you." He shifted away from her. Jerking away the moment she had attempted to touch him. Causing her hand to swiftly jerk away in response due to the rapid motion. Though the surprise only lasted so briefly. Replaced with the hint of annoyance and anger. Though this flashes only slightly upon her features.
"Ok then you do you then. Perhaps we might see each other on the site tomorrow." That was all she said as she then turned on her heel. Without another word disappearing into the crowd.
Fú Huān Mochou watched her go with an avian stare. Only when he truly could see her did he relaesd a breath of air. Suddenly the weariness came back like a flood. Overwhelming his senses. The kick of adrenaline fading away. Looking down at the drink he had barely touched. Yet he didn't have any sense of hunger left in him. He took his tray to the return bin, then left the noisy cafeteria hall behind paying it no further mind.
Walking through the corridors. Alone he strode forward. Though of course he wasn't truly alone for there were others walking about. Each heading towards their own destination. This went on for a few minutes. For the corridor of their private chambers was a bit of a distance away still. As he passed through a corridor something caught his attention.
A sound, voices though soft was there he could hear it. One that he recognized. There at the intersection of the corridor. Nearly hidden in the corner section of the hall. Shrouded by darkness. A pair of souls were intertwined together, their forms barely illuminated by the light. That fails to reach that pocket of space. Yet the signs of their activity were evident by the slight simmer of trinkling sweat upon their skin in the light.
"Ha-haa❤ [squelch- squelch (sound effects) thwop-thwop~!]..nn❤…nn❤…ahn❤~."
The female though originally trying to silence her moans. Slowly but surely as the pleasure and the rhythm of the sex overtook them. Their senses of perseveration diluted from the overwhelming pleasure.
"Nnn❤ Too-too rough~❤ Haaaa❤" The woman gasped out in between moans. In rhythm of the wet Fwop-fwop noise of their intertwined bodies.
"Try to keep your voice down you wouldn't want to keep caught by people here now do you? The man whispered yet not so quietly to the woman pinned underneath him.
"Mmh❤ you're not the one whose getting ah~❤, pounded here."
"You were the one who wanted to do it here of all place don't blame me. The man hissed yet his hips never ceased in their motion. Thwop-thwop fwop-fwop. Onwards their hips continued colliding, echoing in the air.
Fú Huān Mochou honestly wasn't surprised. This wasn't the first time he had seen these activities within the station. It realistically wasn't impossible for such things to happen in such an environment like this. Isolated, far away from the comforts of modern civilization. Stuck with the same faces that are seen daily. Tensions would begin building up between the sexes within an isolated place. Soon it leads to them mingling, releasing themselves with their primal animalistic instincts of sexual needs.
The sounds of moaning and grunting mixed in with the slick Splosh-splosh! Of their connected genitals overtook all other noise in the room. The originally quiet space was now filled with the repeated slapping of their waist connecting. As if provoked by the words spoken by the woman or simple stimulation. The man fiercely moved and shortened his strokes; His movement became akin to a jack hammer. Slamming his waist into hers, *basun! basun!* echoed off as their waist slapped with each other, and sexual fluids dripped from their intercourse.
He continued on with his fast pace before slowly down. Changing his posture, or rather her position flipping her onto her back facing him. While still thrusting his hip, he started leaning forward. Grabbing at the swaying breasts, pulling the woman's body to his own. Giving himself more leverage allowing himself to penetrate deeper.
The sounds of moaning and grunting mixed in with the slick Splosh-splosh! Of their connected genitals overtook all other noise in the room. The originally quiet space was now filled with the repeated slapping of their connecting waist Kwlop-kwlop!
Fú Huān Mochou snorted at those voices. 'At least pick a spot where people wouldn't have to see you people.' He tore his eyes away from the sight continuing his stride to his one and only sanctuary. Reaching his doorway minutes later. Keying his access card in
He closed the door behind with a thud. More forceful than he had intended yet he didn't have the energy to even care at this point. He felt so exhausted today, even more so than any other day. He didn't think that would even be possible, yet he was. He slowly doffed his musky uniform, tossing it lazily upon the ground. Now solely in his undergarment, he strode towards the one piece of furniture that he looked forward to all day.
He fell headfirst into the starchy, rough bed sheets. Feeling bouncy frame of the bed, he shifted himself around. Trying to situate himself more
"I'm so tired~." He mumbled to himself. Still tossing and turning in bed waiting for the darkness to take him. Then finally, after sometime later he fell into comforting embrace of sleep.
Several days later.
Another day at work this time at a new station. Fú Huān Mochou was now in a skintight yet somewhat still bulky space suit. The darkness of the void surrounds him at every turn at all turns. Aside from the hint of artificial light of the portable light rods. Impaled upon the ground within a fifty-meter distance in between to light the path. along with the light emitting from the massive celestial body thousands of star years away. Yet seemingly so close, so touch yet out of reach. Just like the bright lights of his past. This too was nothing more than a painful reminder of the past, and he hated it. Turning such a majestic sight into a
The only saving grace to the situation. It was the voidness that surrounds him. Stepping around in the zero gravity, barely feeling the weight of anything on him. It was soothing, he enjoyed this sensation. Not bound to anything, so freeing, weightlessness. Honestly, he felt like a child again. In the vacuum of space. It was the only comfort that seemed to tickle something deep within him. Bringing out the life locked away in his core. If only slightly. Not many enjoyed the work conducted in the void.
Thus, whenever there was a job offer outside the station. He would jump at those opportunities. Today was one of those days. He was tasked to install key instruments components upon an installation pod outside the workstation. Having just fixed the appropriate wiring within the probe. He then began welding the seams shut with the plasma torch, the sparks and super-heated metal shone brightly in the void. Offering its short but vibrant brilliancies in the shrouding darkness around him.
Then suddenly something draws him away from his work. It was a new sensation all together. Not something erratic, but something within his core. A calling of sort or warning. It was coming from behind him. Spinning his head around away from the bright light of the planet. Back to the vast darkness of space.
Yet there was nothing but the vast sea of black. The desolate lifeless grounds of the rock underneath his boot. The glowing orb of life before him. Complemented by the far distant stars beyond in the background. Yet neither of these is what unnerved him. This he knew. His eyes swam across the surroundings yet again. Nothing, nothing was visible. Nothing significant of a change.
Yet the foreboding sensation didn't subside. In fact, it was rising further within his core. He had the sickening urge to run, to flee till there was no tomorrow. Yet there was nothing that he could visibly identify via his own optics. Thus, he remained stationary in place. Despite what his primal instincts were telling him. The feeling was beginning to overwhelm him. Causing the pits of his stomach to turn. He felt the rising pit of his stomach contents threatening to spill forth. Sweat poured through his skin coating the innards of his suit. His head bobbed and weaved. The tools held tightly in his gloved hand, gripped tightly unconsciously.
Others nearby noticed his sudden change. Contacting him over the coms. The closest ones slowly wobbled their way to him.
[Hey Fú Huān Mochou you okay there man? You've suddenly stopped moving, just looking out into the void. Something the matter. Your heart rates spiking through the roof.]
[Do you guys feel that as well?] Fú Huān Mochou answered eyes fixated beyond the void.
[Feel what, what's going on? Theres nothing out here but moon dust and us. Are you high or something? Had a little too much to drink last night?]
One of the turned from their work their visors now facing the same general direction that Fú Huān Mochou was looking towards.
[Dude there's nothing there, or anywhere really, it's just us out here.] One of the figures moved closer to Fú Huān Mochou. Each footfall was more akin to a hop as they skimmed over to him. Their hand grasping Fú Huān Mochou's arm. Pulling at him.
[Come on man, many you just need a break. Take a breather, no need to overexert yourself.]
The fellow concerned worker pulled at Fú Huān Mochou. Attempting to pull him towards the route to the airlock, a few meters away from their position. Yet at Fú Huān Mochou stayed rooted to his spot. His visor still facing away from everything else around. Then finally he sees it, what his dormant animal instinct had caught on before anything else.
There it was, vague, barely even noticeable. Slowly but surely the thing or whatever it was, he didn't have a word for it started to grow. He slowly raised one single digit towards the growing anomaly. Guiding the others to where he was fixated upon.
"What is that~?"