Hey everyone,
This is it. The final part of the Unbound: The Awakening preview. I apologize that it is a little late. I was on my honeymoon and wasn't able to get to a computer (doesn't work to well from a phone).
As with the previous two posts, what I am sharing has not been edited yet. Grammatical errors, typos and other formatting errors may be found in the preview. the content is subject to change prior to the release of the final version. Feel free to read, comment and share the post. However, no part of this document may be copied, altered or reproduced in whole or in part, digitally or in print, without my written permission.
Finally, as a thank you for sticking with me, I am giving away the first issue for the comic version of Unbound: The Awakening for free. Find the link to the issue at the end of the post.
Enjoy!
- Kyle
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Chapter Three
<10… 9… 8…7…> said the computer methodically.
Liam watched the pressure gauges. Soon the drill will touch down and begin its descent. People had begun form a crowd to watch the event. They were all huddled behind the debris shields. Some employees brought their children to partake in the launch. Gaia Corp held these so called family events whenever they were going to break a record. It was used as a way to gain favor and support, a practice that only worked on the children.
<6…5…4...> The robotic voice continued.
The drill was hovering mere inches away from the ground, only being held up by the security restraints and guiding cables. The sheer power of the drill caused dust and debris to kick up. They moved at such speeds that if it were to hit someone; there was a good chance they wouldn’t survive. The spectators from behind the barrier didn’t realize how close to danger they really were.
< 3… 2…1…>
The vibrations were getting stronger as the drill's engines spun into their rhythm. Anything that wasn't secured down was heading towards the floor. The vibrations weren't just felt inside the cockpit. The people who gathered to watch the launch were grabbing their belongings to make sure they weren't lost. Tool in nearby docks were falling from shelves, adding to the noise. Inside the drill Liam couldn't hear the deafening noise outside. The cheers of onlookers, clanging of tools and the whine of the drill formed a sort of chorus of sorts.
<Launch> Announced the computer through the cockpits speakers, and aloud outside.
I got this
Liam felt as the clamps holding the drill lowered the whole rig down. Without warning there was a screeching, grinding noise as the drill head touched the ground. Huge chunks of the earth were thrown in all directions. The dust alone concealed the drill from onlookers. They could only see the green glow from the backing lights. A moment later and the ventilation system activated and started to clear the room. The children watching cheered as the adults observed silently. They knew what this voyage meant. They knew what could happen if it failed.
The drill was almost half way into the earth when the violent shaking calmed. That happened because the ground now had a firm grip on the massive machine which helped stabilize it. Liam knew this ride all too well. Since becoming a miner, Liam had done dozens, if not hundreds of these expeditions. He was used to the feel of the pilot’s seat, the hum of the warmed engines. After his first few trips, he even enjoyed the shaking and bouncing as the earth was moved. This one though, this one was special. Not just to Gaia and the people of Olympia. It also meant to more to Liam than just going farther than any human prior to him. This mission was his first back since losing his son. Since that day he was first put on a prolonged bereavement leave. It was then that he found his love of whiskey. He fell almost as deep into the bottle as he was going today. It took him, and Avery, months to pull him to some form of sobriety. He now only drank to sleep, not to exist. It was progress.
“Just twenty five more miles to go” sighed Liam. “Yup, this is going to be fun.”
***
Avery sat back in her chair. The launch had gone off without any errors. That was a rarity, usually something would happen – the drill wouldn’t start, there was a leak or a fire, a clamp failed. Countdowns had been delayed hours, with the pilots being stuck in the drill just as long. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, something Avery was very thankful for. Liam didn’t know it yet, but he was heading towards something big. Something Avery knew would change his life, and hers, forever.
There wasn’t much for her to do now but monitor the drill and its heading. Normally she would set everything to auto and head to the mess hall to get something to eat. She would be notified if something were to happen. She was light on her feet and it only took her thirty seconds to be back in her chair. This time, this mission, those thirty seconds would be long.
***
Five hours had passed since launch and Liam was really starting to get tired. He may have slept, but he didn’t sleep well. His eyes were feeling heavy and he was struggling to stay awake.
<We are nearing the ten mile mark.>
“Awesome.” Said Liam, wearily. “Ave, you there?”
“I’m here. What’s up?”
“I am approaching the ten mile mark. I am going to set the drill on autopilot and catch a nap.”
“You are approved for max of two hours of A.P. use. You hit your final depth mark in just over six hours.” Avery replied.
“Sounds good. I’ll check in when I wake up. Call me if you need anything.” Liam said as he reached to activate the autopilot switch.
<Autopilot engaged. Two hours remaining.> The computer stated.
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
Liam reached into his coat and pulled out a small silver flask. He unscrewed the cap and swallowed the fiery liquid held inside, some running down into his beard. Wiping away the spill, Liam kicked his feet onto an open section of the controls and leaned back. He took another mouthful and then turned the flask over. Taped to the back was a worn and faded picture of Liam and his family. The edges were bent from the repeated taking out of, and putting back into, his pocket. Liam stared for a long minute at the smiling family, his family. After taking the last swig, and starting to feel warm, he put the container on his chest. Not a minute had passed and he out.
The dream was so vivid, so real. Liam could feel the tears on his cheeks, the hand on his shoulder. He was back in the hospital. His son lay in bed, hooked up to machines, looking frail. Most of the room blurred and faded out. Heaviness hung in the air, weighing on him; making it hard to breath. The doctor said the same thing over and over again.
“I’m sorry, Liam.”
“Not again…” he finally replied, his voice but a whisper. In that moment, it was quiet. The room was still. Liam could only hear himself breathing and the steady pounding of his heart.
Suddenly everything started to violently move and shake. Liam jumped from his chair to protect his son. Before he could reach him a high pitched screech pierced the air. The bed was shaking so violently that it fell on its side and knocked Liam to the floor. Scrambling to help his boy, he lifted the overturned bed and moved the blankets. His son was gone. There was nothing there but sheets, blankets and a pillow. Liam turned and the doctor had also vanished. He hadn’t seen him leave, or heard him go. It then hit him; he hadn’t felt the man’s hand on him once the shaking started.
What is happening?
The ear piercing nose was now becoming a constant, pulsing sound; it was rhythmic. Liam raced to the door; he needed to find someone, anyone, to help him. The walls around him were starting to crack. Plaster and paint chips were flying, dust was clouding the room. Liam covered his face with his shirt and pushed forward. The moment his hand came in contact with the door handle, everything again fell silent. The only thing to be heard was a distant alarm. It sounded as though it was getting closer. Every few repetitions it grew louder. The handle wouldn’t turn. Liam used all his strength to try and made the door give. Liam couldn’t get any traction or leverage. The fine powder produced from the crumbling room caused he boots to slide back. It was also extremely hard to focus with that sound pulsing in his ears. He would collect his thoughts and then be assaulted again; shattering his concentration. Suddenly, all at once the room started to vibrate again. It wasn’t as rough as before, but it was growing in strength and power.
BOOM
Liam was torn from his dream. Flashing lights burned his eyes. The dream was still fresh on his mind, but not in the forefront. He sat up, realizing the alarm and shaking wasn’t solely in his head. His display was flashing, in huge red letters, “Warning, Unstable Terrain”. All the emergency lights were pulsing, adding to the red hue of the room.
“Avery!” Liam yelled. “Do you copy? Something has happened. Mayday, mayday.”
The only replies to his calls were static. He tried again and again, but still he only received the familiar hissing noise. How far down was he, how much time had passed since he fell asleep? These questions were rising in his mind along with a million others. Then the computer spoke up and Liam froze.
<Emergency drill shutdown activated.>
“Just my luck. What more could go wrong?” Liam said as he dropped back into his chair.
The sigh of the engines winding down was coupled with the violent shaking finally subsiding. Once the whir of engines was gone, the cockpit was hauntingly silent. The only thing Liam could hear was the sound of his own breath and the blood pumping to his ears. The drill may have calmed, but he hadn’t; adrenaline still flowing. Liam dismissed the warning on the display and started taking a damage report. The drill head had split apart and there gaping holes where the outer plating was sheared off. Whatever it had hit was a hard as diamond. Fuel lines had come loose in the shaking. The cockpit was a mess. It was only built to withstand normal wear and movement. This was something else, like a massive earthquake.
<Emergency shutdown complete.>
Sitting back in his chair, Liam found his flask was wedged in the crease along the back. It must have fallen when he was sleeping. He needed something to calm his nerves, help him think. He unscrewed the cap and drained the last bit of liquid found inside. He focused on the warmth as it traveled down. His heartbeat finally started to slow down. Breathing deep, he tried the coms again. He wasn’t surprised when he was met again with static. That is when Liam noticed that some of the debris was sliding to the opposite wall. It was subtle at first, but now it was noticeable. The whole machine was shifting. He could hear the metal outside creak, quietly at first. There was a low rumble and then the drill moved. Whatever earth that was holding up the machine finally gave in to enormous weight. Liam felt his stomach in his throat the drill slipped downward. Something was scraping along the plating outside. They came to rest a few seconds later but the calm didn’t last.
There was a huge cracking sound as the rock around the drill shifted again. This time, Liam was in a free fall. He was torn from his chair and hit the ceiling of the room. There was a whistling noise and Liam realized there was a hole in the side of the entryway. He could barely make out a blue-green glow shining through the tear. It felt as if he was falling for years. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but the drill should have hit something by now. His thought couldn’t have worse timing as the drill clipped the side of something and began to tumble. Liam now found himself being thrown against every wall. A piece of metal that had broken free during the initial accident flew up and caught him in the face. It felt like it was liquid fire as it tore through the skin across his nose and cheek. He didn’t have time to feel how bad it was before hitting the backside of his chair. The wind was ripped from his lungs and they instantly burned. The lack of air mixed with the loss of blood and searing pain caused Liam to slip into unconsciousness.
When Liam finally woke up, the drill had come to rest on its side. He was buried under wires, scattered paper and various broken items. He was lying on the back wall, his chair was dangling by only a few screws above his head. Slowly, Liam tested he body. His fingers and toes moved, he didn’t feel as though anything was broken. It just felt like he fell from the edge of a canyon and hit the ground full force. Fully opening his eyes, they were drawn to the light that was still shining through the now larger hole in the door. Coaxing his body to move wasn’t easy, but he couldn’t just lay there. Finally standing, he felt something warm dripping off his chin. He touched his face and his hand came back an awkward hue of muddy red due to the light. Liam had seen blood before, just not his own, not like this. The sight made him woozier than he already was. He took a shaky step forward and tripped over his own feet. Hitting the door with his entire weight caused the already compromised hinges to give.
Liam was again falling, bouncing off the rubble under the drill. He landed, miraculously on his hands and knees. Opening his eyes, he first saw the drops of blood on the ground – which slowly came into focus. This wasn’t some dark, now ruined, cave. The floor beneath him was glowing a cool blue-green. It reminded him of an opal he once found on a mission years ago. Except this wasn't some stone you put in jewelry. The entire floor shimmered with this look. Rocking back onto his knees, Liam took in the world around him.
“Oh my god…” Liam said, his voice echoing.
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