How'd We Get Here?!
“Shakespeare put in his play about Julius Caesar ‘Beware the Ides of March.’ March? Hmph. Out here on the bayou, it’s the Ides of May you gotta be lookin’ out for.” -- Last known quote of Jeffrum Landry before disappearing around May 15, 1894. Last seen racing away from La Lune Parish on a stolen horse, dressed in only swamp mud.
May the Fourth had come and gone. The Parish celebrated the greatness that is Star Wars with a week of festivities. Costume parties were all the rave, while Kings Church hosted movie nights featuring the original movie trilogy. As all such events, these too wound down and La Lune began to settle back into its general routine. Work was to be continued on the clean up and repairs following Hurricane Flying Monkeys. Another week passed as they always do, and the Parish residents fell back into their standard habits. This included that of Lune Witch Luna SmolderNova.
It was a calm Friday evening on the bayou. Waxing crescent moon above a mostly clear sky. The sort of night some might find suitable for a late evening stroll through the park. Local business owners Matt Cauthon and Emi Tender were doing just that after a nice dinner. It was good to get some fresh air, clear the head a bit of concerns over sales trends, upcoming plans, and why the expected crew of smugglers had not arrived at the docks as of yet. They passed along the riverwalk pier of Decanter Street and noticed the shadowed figures of philanthropist Drea Janus and judge Martinho Larrson out on their front porch enjoying the evening in their own way. A kind wave from Emi, an awkward nod from Matt, and they continued on to MelPomeme Street to stop at Papa Legba’s garage. Vaun Perez had his head under Rylee Raines’s car. Checking the oil and radiator levels while she filled the gas tank. After inquiring about having the windows to their home repaired from the storm damage, Matt headed into the shop to purchase a couple of soft drinks. Off in the distance, the large home of Kevin and Luna SmolderNova gave off the usual vibe of odd energy, chaos, and not so infrequent raised voices of the couple. Perhaps it was not so farfetched that Kevin’s newly reacquired position of Parish sheriff was taking a stressful toll. Then again, it could be evidence of amorous activities best left in the confines of their chosen privacy.
The young couple paused at the parkside pier to gaze out over the Gulf of Mexico and up to the brilliant stars above them. Oh how the scene could bring about romantic inspiration! Even for a human robot such as Matt. The voices grew louder from the old house. The passion invoked caused Emi’s cheeks to flush in an embarrassed blush. Through an open window, possibly of the busted sort, cries, growls, grunts, could be heard… and that was just the gruffled sheriff pushing the witch for more and more. Amused with the situation, Matt turned away to begin their trek back home at a slow, casual pace. Despite reaching the walled border of the park, the impassioned voices had only grown louder, stronger. Pausing at the entrance, Matt half-turned back to the old house listening to the odd litany underneath it all. It was Luna’s voice, but richly different. The rhythm of the unknown language felt in direct time with the music of the trees with a newly risen breeze off the water. That breeze intensified into a strong wind. The chorus of trees grew louder and louder, until finally the amorous couple was drowned out. Clouds began to gather, heat lightning began to roll, and the first sense of familiar, oppressive Louisiana humidity that spring ran over the park like an old freight train coming down a mountain. Matt and Emi had grown accustomed to sudden storms over the past year, but nothing like this. It was time to get home, and at a much quicker pace than they’d begun minutes prior.
Approaching the farmer’s market, Emi remarked that the storm seemed to be pursuing them. Matt let on about the rhythmic chanting he thought he’d heard. The girl playfully slapped his shoulder, dismissing her mate’s suggestion of some strange force being at work. It was all just a wild coincidence. Lightning flashed heavily with an alarming frequency. All around them, white-blue streaks of electricity snaked, hissed, and bent. The sky directly above was an angry black cloud roiling with voltaic barbs of energy. Yet, just a few feet beyond the sky was perfectly clear and serene. They rushed under the cover of the market’s canopy hoping to avoid being struck by the wild charges, A blast targeted the top of the structure. A sheen of sizzling, electrified heat surrounded them. Luna’s voice emanated from the walls of static, louder and louder in that very same enchantment. A sharp white flash…
Emi woke first in a strange new environment. Memories of that night still fresh in her mind, but stacked with new memories of years and events gone by that she was certain had not been lived. She found Matt several feet away sprawled out on a rusted metallic floor. Breathing was difficult, as if there was a lack of air and oxygen. An odd silence was broken only by a low mechanical hum and her movements. Matt woke with a sudden jump and barking shout. Confusion set in as he noticed their surroundings. So many questions. He had those same new memories as well. As he was about to speak, a doorway opened at the far end of a corridor. Blinding light flashed over them.
“There you two are. We was startin’ to wonder if you joined us for this new cluster fuck.” It was Kevin’s voice. “Been here a couple of days now. Some kind of space station, but almost nothing works. Found some others yesterday, but there could be more.” The sheriff helped the young couple to their feet, before continuing on. “Seems that witch of mine got us into some deep shit this time. Don’t know where or really how, but here we are. Either of ya’ll know anything about crops or, well, advanced computers? Welcome to Lune Station, at least that’s what we’re calling it.”