Nocturnal Shine
Chapter 1 of the Nocturnal Shine series.
*Quick note: So, due to formatting limitations on Substack, this looks a little different than how I originally wrote it. The "voices in his head" are represented with "-text-" and italicized and bold style. I initially separated them by individual fonts.*
Chapter 1
-Wake up-, said the voice in his head.
“No.”
-Get the fuck up!- shouted the other voice in his head.
“Shut up.”
-You’re going to be late.-
“Five more minutes.”
-Boy, you don’t have five minutes.-
-We both know your over aggressive approach doesn’t work, he’s delicate.-
“Go to hell.”
Rolling out of bed, Viper checks his bedside holo to see if they were being honest about the time. Sometimes their perception of things may be a bit off. Nope, they were spot on. When did he hit the snooze button four times on his alarm? “You know, you assholes could have tried to wake me the first time my alarm went off?”
-You know that isn’t how this works. Quit being mean.-
Not how he wanted to start his morning and definitely not how he wanted to start his first day with this new organization. Yep, he was going to be late. Rushing around his room, Viper started to gather all his belongings.
-It fell behind the dresser, idiot.-
While sliding on his multi-pocketed pants, he spotted Null behind the dresser in her perfectly fitted sheathe and attached it to his belt, horizontally behind him so he has quick access to her with his right hand if need be. Pulling Null out of her sheathe, he felt the weight and balance of the diamond-black 8” half-serrated knife adjust herself to a perfect fit just for him. He smiled as he thought back to the time that he won her in a bet against the local pirate gang.
-That’s right, always be prepared.-
-That’s right, listen to your mother.-
-You know, it takes more effort to be an ass than it does to be nice?-
-It also takes the same amount of effort to tolerate your cozy, cuddly personality.-
-Wasn’t so cuddly when I broke that orc’s orbital socket with his own hammer?-
“Will you two shut up? I don’t need a migraine on top of this shitty start.”
-Make sure to grab breakfast.-
Shrugging on his long sleeve shirt and shoulder holster, Viper walks over to his footlocker to arm up. Six shot .357 Magnum? Check. Four quick-reload spare ammo inserts? Check. Throwing knife pouches? Check.
Satisfied with his set up, he finalizes his ensemble with his plate-lined leather jacket with zip-up hoodie insert. Stepping into his quick-latch boots, Viper looks at himself in the mirror before heading out. 5’9” with a 200-pound athletic frame, mocha complexion with chin length black hair and partially oriental facial features, Viper gave off a very unassuming appearance, which he preferred. Nothing out of the ordinary except for his offset eyes. Left eye is a bright hazel color while his right eye is a steel gray. All black clothes and bland features for the most part, Viper is able to pass through rooms without so much as drawing the attention of a fly on a wall.
-Good, because you are ugly anyways.-
Yep, it is going to be a day.
Locking his room up behind him, Viper proceeds downstairs where, looking the same as she did when he first met her eleven years ago, stands Deema behind the bar tending to the usual breakfast patrons. Slightly smiling at her, Viper has always seen Deema as an enigma wrapped up in a mystery. Although short in height, Deema carries herself with the stature of someone who looks down upon humanity and frowns in contempt. Having a face and waist-length hair that would win any beauty pageant in the world, she definitely didn’t look like she should be running a bar in the shabbier and shadier part of the city. Viper initially thought the same thing until he saw her punch a hole through her brick wall to get the attention of some rowdy customers. She then proceeded to drag out a disrespectful Ragnite. This large, reptilian species with rock-hard scales was four times her size, but she seized him by his ankles after rendering him unconscious with a well-placed jumping roundhouse kick.
Deema saw him and immediately placed a plate on the bar with eggs, bacon and potatoes. “Eat,” Deema said.
“I’m already running late D,” Viper replied.
“Well, you better eat fast then,” Deema retorts with the face she always makes when conversation is over and imminent danger was near if you didn’t do as she said.
-Ha! Knew she’d back me on this!-
Realizing that his health was at risk, Viper sat down and ate his food with expedience. Food consumed, he rushed behind the bar and gave Deema a quick one-armed side hug, which she returned lifting him slightly off the ground, and he was out the front door.
Taking a quick second to breathe in the muggy morning air of Nolinia, Viper takes a moment to allow his eyes to adjust to the dark light that is normal. Even during “daytime”, the atmosphere over this portion of land is shaded enough that the light from the sun comes through as if looking through a tinted window. Viper quickly considers his best way to make it to his destination. The streets were packed with all manner of transportation. Large, creature-drawn buggies, hover carts, wheeled and hover bikes, and automobiles of all variety of design filled the streets, yelling and honking at each other to move out of the way. A normal, busy morning commute otherwise. Looking down the alley and up the ladder leading to the roof of the bar, Viper sighs and proceeds towards the alley. Once on the roof, he takes a sec to align himself in the direction he needs to go. Black marble door with a black knife inlay at the back of Bright Shadow Alley is what she said. Getting himself oriented, he takes a deep breath and waits for the feeling to take place.
-I hate when he does this, feels so weird.-
-But it’s the only cool thing about this guy.-
“Shut up please. Trying to focus.”
And then the tunnel closed in….