Read In A Universe Without Stars 1: Skyeater for Free Online

Premier, just the process of elimination, we must eliminate all
possibilities, external and internal.”
    York
whispers in the president’s ear. “Sir, computer systems of every first world
country have been hacked. Our intel shows that Russia and China have been
hacked as well.” The president just nods. York’s watch beeps.
    “It’s
time,” he says. He turns on a projector that displays on the wall. The screen
simply says “Welcome.”
    “The
unidentified threat sent a message saying that they will only relay their
statement to the world when all the major world leaders have come together, or
we risk total annihilation. I got the order from the vice president, sir, since
you were unavailable,” York says. “This is the best we can do in the time they
gave us.”
    The
screen starts to count down like an old movie reel. “Welcome to your execution.”
shows up on the screen next.
    “Welcome
to your execution humans,” a voice emits from the speakers.
    Everyone
freezes and stares at the screen. The voice is deep and well-articulated, they
have no problem speaking our language. The message projects out of every
monitor in the White House. Somebody tries to unplug the speakers in the
conference room.
    But
the voice continues. “The struggle for your planet will begin soon. You have
twelve hours to prepare. The rest of the world will not be as lucky.”
    The
president looks to his secretary of defense. “Who and what are they and how do
we know the threat is real?”
     “This
is very real, just now you are doubting us, others didn’t heed our warning. Which didn’t make this little game of ours…last as
long as we would have liked.” There are audible gasps in the room, everybody is
taken aback.
    “Did
they just— “ the president mumbles. It isn’t a two-way
link, his reply should’ve been impossible.
    “So
we will leave you with a little present while you prepare.” A map shows up on
the screen, it zooms in on a theme park.
    “Washington,
D.C., that will be the battlefield, we will give you two hours to move the
Earth’s forces there. After that… the rest of the world is on its own.” The
sound cuts out and the message ends. No one moves, they’re too stunned to
react.
    They
are going to war.
    “We
are now at war, we don’t know the enemy nor do we know their capabilities. But
we will be ready and we do know that they are prepared to wipe us out and we must
do the same,” the president says. He turns to the secretary of defense. “Move
us to Defcon 1.”
    York
whispers to a few people and they run out of the room. A countdown appears over
the map on it, it counts down from twelve hours.
     
    …
     
    It
is night at Six Flags Under Texas. Noata stands in a
balloon darts stand. Noata is a 17 year-old shy-looking kid, he looks like he
can be a J-pop star, if not for his tacky neon yellow and brown uniform.
    It’s
a slow night, people trickle past his game stand, trying to get in one last
ride before close.
    His
gaze breaks through park goers as he stares at a beautiful girl across the
walkway. He doesn’t even know how he got a girl like her, a shy guy like him,
but he was lucky. It happened only one year ago today.
    She
walks up to him and they kiss.
    “When
do you get off?” She asks.
    “In
two hours.”
    “Aww
you’re going to miss my birthday.”
    “Don’t
worry Lane.”
    His
present to her last year was himself. Who would’ve thought that would work ?
Noata’s supervisor walks up. “Hey Matt! Can I go to the restroom?”
    Matt
nods. Noata jumps out of the game stand as Matt takes his place.
    “Wait
here, Lane,” Noata tells her.
     
    In
the restroom, Noata holds a small rectangular black box and opens it. There’s a
necklace in it. He hopes she will like it as he spent all summer saving up for
it, it’s not the best, and perhaps he has spent too long working for it.
    Maybe
he’s going too fast. Maybe she won’t like it. Maybe this maybe that.
Butterflies swirl in his