It is for Me to See

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. I can feel the air ripping out of my lungs, but I can’t hear any sound. I am falling backward, and before my mind can wrap around what is happening, I can feel my body turn into soup and then explode. I am disappearing into the backdrop of stars and space. Am I dead? Just as I am losing all of myself, losing any thought of a memory, I can feel an electric charge, like a lightning bolt, that suddenly pulls me back together. With an explosion and a click,,,, I am standing naked in the dark. The floor feels smooth and cold against my bare feet. The cold air is still, but a static vibration pulls the hair on my body.

“Where am I?” I whisper into the darkness. I don’t want to move, afraid that I am going to fall into some unknown abyss. My teeth are now chattering in the cold, the only reminder that I am a physical being, standing here is a place. I don’t know how much time is passing as I stand in the nothing, only feeling the cold against my skin, with only the sound of my chattering teeth.

I don’t remember him arriving. The only light is the shimmer from his cloak as he stands next to me. He’s not next to me but just behind my peripheral vision. His hand is on my sholder. I assume he meant as a comforting gesture, but his three long fingers feel more like a clamp, and we know what they say about A.S.S.U.M.E..

We stand silently in the stillness. From the glow, I can see that we are standing in a cavernous space. I can hear the echo of something dripping in the distance. As I ask, “Where are we?” a low, soft humming starts, and the lights slowly glow up as it rises in volume. They are spotlights, hundreds of spotlights in every direction splayed out in front of us and as far as I can see to the right and the left. In each spotlight is a person squatting; hands, and feet on the floor, almost in a fetal position, looking down, every muscle tense and ready to pounce. They each have a carefully folded stack of clothes in front of them. Some of them are military uniforms, sports uniforms, suits, and robes. As I focus on the people, I know them. These are the people that I have met in my life on earth. I ask my silent companion, "Are they in a trance?"

The floor starts to shiver, and the far wall starts to rise. The only thing to see is billions of stars in black velvet space. It is so clear and still. I can see galaxies and stars, and planets. All the people stand up in unison and, as they reach a standing position, are all dressed—so many people from all walks of life with different responsibilities and jobs. Then, in lockstep, they start walking towards the gap where the black wall was and pass through a shimming veil out into space.

I try to step forward, but the hand on my sholder pins me in place. I try to twist free from my companion's grasp. “I want to go with them.” After a slight pause, his voice silvery and clear – “No, it is for you to see, not for you to lead.” I feel it is no use to argue, so I watch as line after line walks out, clearing the cavernous hanger. Somewhere deep in my knowing stirs the thought that these are warriors being sent into battle. I catch my breath and breathe to fill my body and pull the worry that start to warm itself in my mind. I exhale, coming back into my body, back into my heart. I am feeling surprisingly calm as I ask, “What is for me to see?”

My silver companion starts to speak: “We are in a time of war, and the warriors will go and gather what and who they can. It is a salvage mission, and they will need what you see.” I can feel his third finger that is laying across my back. pressing onto my shoulder blade as he starts to propel me into motion, turning me to the right; a silver doorway opens, and we step through.

Let it begin.