Sightseeing

Aurora gazed out at the landscape, presently drifting over the wilds of Africa. The windows of the causeways always amazed her. Presenting a viewpoint hundreds to thousands of feet in the air over the planet, they were a good way to become rapidly acquainted with a world's features, climate, and habitation. Yet with all the worlds she had seen, she still came back to spy on primitive, little Earth. She would never forget the day she saw the Pyramids from so far above.

Wait. What was that? She started, then realized it was only the whispers gathering. Clenching her teeth, she prepared for the ensuing wave. There was no noise quite like the Watchers out in the ways. They were loud, but there was also more texture to them. Like if she listened a little bit closer, she might make out individual voices.

Of course, Tass said that it was all nonsense. That the “Watchers” were just a natural phenomenon. There were no more voices than there were in the waves of the ocean or the rays of the sun. Raeth, as well as many others, believed differently. Aurora didn't always know which she preferred, but when she was out alone on the ways she strongly gravitated toward Tass's state of mind. The idea of them being some sort of creature or sentience made her feel naked out here.

Augh, what the hell? The whispers were spiking up. Her ears went from ringing to hurting. She could barely hear herself think. They had never been this loud out here. That only happened when someone was seriously abusing the source. Doing that on the ways was suicide! Why the hell was she drawing so much attention?

Aurora closed her eyes and tried to focus through the sanity-rending shrieks in her head. She had to make herself small, unseen. Let them pass on their way, whatever they were. Just let them pass and...

A sudden shove from behind sent her toppling off-balance. A moment later, she was lifted up and flying through the air. Straight into the window.

Straight into the raw source.