Tremulant Presents

INNERVOICE

Starring Tomato, Dandara, Joe Bellingham
and the rest of the Tremulant crew...

We find our crew aboard the good ship Tremulant on their way back from another successful mission.
“...and so I says to him, you know where you can put that piece of space junk is right up your-“ Zeebo’s tirade is interrupted by a blast of static on the bridge’s PA system. The crew are all at once disabled by the gut wrenching noise. The cacophony of deafening feedback loops grows louder in intensity as the crew collectively begins to reach the threshold of pain. The sound finally peaks with a final crescendo of dissonance as it begins to subside into silence. It takes several minutes for the crew to come back to their senses and return to their stations.
“What in SAM HELL was that?!?!?!” Capt. Tremulant lets out with a gasp. “Is everyone alright? Zeebo, do a systems check. Parham, take us to full stop and check the sensor logs. Find out where the hell that noise came from and how it was able to broadcast without our comms being activated! Get the rest of the crew on the view screen.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” Parham responded, followed by Zeebo. “The transmission was broadcast on every receiver aboard the ship, Captain! Looking like 75% of our speakers are blown and the rest are on the edge.”
On the main view screen, a video window pops up with Monotropa in his spacecraft Uniflora and Pelehon on board Meow Bus, Tremulant’s scout ship.
“Hey guys, what the heck is going on over there? Is the Captain using the Minitaur without a limiter again?” Monotropa said with a smirk on his face.
”Yeah, Captain. Don’t wanna crack the hull again-”
The Captain quickly interrupts Pelehon.
”Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very funny, you two. You know as much as I do how juicy that bass can get. We got a real problem over here.” The captain is suddenly cut off by another transmission.
”Hey um bum bum bay... hey um bum... bum bay...” A calming female voice chants over the PA system. Just as the pain overtook the crew all at once a rush of overwhelming love, joy and harmony is felt among the crew of starship Tremulant. Tears begin to roll down the Captain’s face as he says,
“I know I don’t say this often enough, but I love y’all so much!” The captain turns into a puddle of lush love, and then embraces the deck crew with a huge double bear hug. With Parham tightly nestled in one arm and Zeebo in the other he looks to the main view screen and says, “Dock with us quick and get in this! There’s room for two more, my lovelies!”

“My voice is a curse,” Tomato thought to herself as she looked over the cliff’s edge beyond a spectra of iron and rock. Overhead, the sky was black with sparkling white dots as far as the eyes could see. Slow moving asteroids soared across the horizon. Standing atop of the crag, she was briefly reminded of her home back on Mars. The rocky terrain of Psyche was much more forgiving than that of Mars she thought. She recalled the feeling of the thick red dust constantly invading every crevice of her body then began to remember what she had lost and the journey that still remained before her. She began to push buttons on her arm band computer, programming it to send a distress message with hope that someone would hear her call.
“Hello, this is Tomato broadcasting from Rain Fade on the asteroid Psyche, I need assistance! Is anyone out there?” The computer lets off a few tones as she becomes frustrated, “Ugh, it’s no use. The signal isn’t strong enough.” She closed her eyes and felt as if the wind was gently lifting her spirit into the air. The feeling calmed her into a sense of wellbeing and she began to record another distress call.
“Since I was but a young dreamer, I wished for the universe to hear my true voice. I lived a life of study and solitude on my home planet. My voice intimidated everyone who heard it. No decision was my own. My father controlled me like he controlled his mining operations in the Mariner Valley. He was to have me marry a wretched man, god only knows why. Stranded on the precipice of a miserable life, I felt an Innervoice speaking and lifting my soul up. I left my home to brave the harsh vacuum of the great unknown and set out to find the meaning of this Innervoice. Was this the path to true love that I was so desperately seeking? I felt the voice calling to me and guiding me along a path I could not see before me but felt deep within every crevice of my soul. It led me to The Asteroid Belt where I found this metal-rich rock. I felt as if I had finally found a real home. Deep within the crater of this iron giant I began to meditate, to focus on the Innervoice. As my construction drones began to smooth the surface of the crater and build my new home, I remained deep in a meditative state. I waited. For something. For any sign that what I was feeling was true. ‘I am Brave!’ I told myself. I dared to venture deeper into the trance of the Innervoice.”
“Hey Um Bum Bum Bay. Hey Um Bum Bum Bay.”
I heard the words aloud, but when I opened my eyes I could see no one. I closed my eyes repeating the chant over and over again until I heard a reply. Then felt a presence. I could not see this mysterious being, but I could feel their smooth skin. Their voice was soft and their manner was gentle. I asked them who they were and they only replied that they could never tell me their name and if I believed in this feeling I would not need to know.
The visions of this being continued and I fell deeply in love. I learned things of the universe that are nearly indescribable. The feeling of a wealth of knowledge. The history and progress of the ever expanding universe at my fingertips. I basked in the thought of living in this eternal state of joy forever. But alas, I opened my eyes and saw something I wasn’t to see and was torn away from my love as they said it could never be. All at once, their feeling left me. Lost to their powerful connection, I set out by any means necessary to reclaim their love. To use my knowledge of communications to reconnect to their mighty presence and knowledge...to find true love again.
I was left in despair until I once again heard an unseen voice that told me that it was indeed possible to fall in love as equals. So I set out to build a transmitter using the huge crater as a platform to broadcast my signal of love, joy and harmony to the universe. In the hope for happiness and that my true love will hear my call, my chant! I was able to stabilize my signal for just a few verses before suddenly out of nowhere, a strange interference disrupted my transmission and caused a total systems failure. My voice is now silent. Hear my call. Who can HELP?”

Back aboard Tremulant, the captain is in his ready room recording a journal entry.
“Captain’s log, After the shock and pure joy of our encounter with the mysterious transmission. The broadcast brought on a wealth of feelings, emotion and ideas. I could hear instrumentation playing along with the chant in my head. I must meet the person behind the voice. I have spent days mixing down the sample recording I collected and produced a new song while the crew works tirelessly to track down the source of the transmission. The voice has some supernatural power behind it. It gives the listener an overwhelming feeling of joy and love. I have become obsessed with finding the origin of this broadcast as I yearn for more recordings of the soothing voice. It’s the strangest thing, I feel as if some unknown force is guiding me through the production. The signal that we intercepted was the only key to finding the voice behind the chant. Only then can we uncover the mystery presented before us!”
Parham enters the captain's ready room to alert him of the crew’s progress.
“Cap, we traced the trajectory of the transmission to the giant metal asteroid-”
“PSYCHE!”
Finishing Parham’s sentence, Dandara aboard his spacecraft Levantar el Alma was also in the midst of a journal entry, “The location of this harsh dissonance and enchanting vocal rhythms is there! Set coordinates to Psyche! There I can find the origin of this broadcast and meet the voice behind the chant!” With that, his spacecraft warps towards the iron giant.

With a flash of light the good ship Tremulant blasts out of sub-light speed then begins to fly towards the ancient core.
“Captain, we’re in a steady orbit around Psyche and our sensors are detecting a structure built into the largest crater on the surface.” Parham continues, “It seems they have constructed a huge satellite transmitter, but I’m not detecting any transmissions. It appears the station is inactive and not operating. Captain! I’m picking up a low band transmission that I’m putting through right now-“ A voice begins to speak over the PA system-
“Tremulant! Have you heard my call? You have arrived at the most dire time. Just when I had given up all hope. I need your help! Can you hear my voice?? Do you read? Can you hear my voice?? This is Tomato transmitting from Rain Fade Outpost to Tremulant. Do you copy?” Tomato repeated over the PA.
“Put her through!” the captain rang out with joy as he immediately recognized the voice in the broadcast. “This is the good ship Tremulant. We hear you! What is your situation?”
“Tremulant! I have experienced a massive power failure and I need your assistance to reconnect my communication network! I must continue my work to spread love to the universe.” At that moment another voice appears in the transmission
“This is the Levantar el Alma, I am reading you loud and clear!” Dandara continues, “I too heard the mystery Chant! It puzzled me with supreme mystery. I listened. My path became clear during a deep meditation where the journey was shown before me. The words guided me and have brought me on this journey. I see music as a form of communication where I can express my feelings best. Your words have inspired me to produce this audio recording of your transmission. And now that I hear of your situation. I must help you on your quest! Let us all meet together at Rain Fade and brainstorm a path to harmony together.”

The crew of Tremulant and Dandara join Tomato in the command module of the satellite outpost, Rain Fade, to begin work to repair her systems. Dandara brought along a shiny spherical robot and takes stock of the damage as he says,
“Allow me to share my knowledge of modular electronics. My trusty robot, Omnisphere, can help to sort through and replace the fried cables of your transmitter.”
“Thank you Dandara, I appreciate it! If we are to complete the process of rebuilding, Tomato explained, “we must acquire materials that I discovered here on Psyche that enchanted the signal. To the east, I found a gold deposit that I used to create the fine mesh fleece. We’ll need more to reline the dish to perfect the signature of the radar reflectivity. To the west, you’ll find the black ice needed to stabilize the frequency interpolation formula. Finally to the south, lies a cavern that leads deep towards the asteroid core where I extracted a source similar to sulfur. This is essential to the battery's electrolyte solution and critical to stabilize the uplink power control. If we all work together we can collect the items in no time!” Pelehon exploded with excitement and pounced out of her seat.
“YEAH! Monotropa and I will take care of the fleece and help make the metal mesh you need!”
“Not a problem, Captain! We got this!” Monotropa added followed by Parham,
“Captain, You can count on Zeebo and I to locate the black ice!”
Tomato’s gaze turns toward Captain Tremulant as she asks, “Will you join me to the far side of the asteroid and journey to the depths of this iron giant?”
“Mission Accepted! If it means hearing more of your singing...I’m super down for this!”
While Team Tremulant and Dandara help to complete the seemingly impossible task of rebuilding the transmitter to reconnect the signal of joy and harmony to the great beyond, Capt. Tremulant and Tomato make their way to the depths of the asteroid.

“Hand me the hydro-spammer!” Tomato yells over to the captain as she adjusts the controls on her armband computer console. The pair are precariously positioned on the edge of a subterranean cavern, working to extract the sulfur like substance. “Then start pumping the superheated water into the vain.” She continues.
“How far would I fall if I slipped over?” The captain asks while he looks over the edge. Tomato stopped inputting data on her armband and replies,
“Forever.” The captain takes a huge gulp then slowly edges along the wall of the cavern to retrieve the toolbox. “No worries, Capt. We’re almost done here. Just about filled this container.”
“No stress! I’m getting some solid field recordings! The echo down here is quite something! The resonance in this space is going to make some seriously cool impulse responses!” Captain Tremulant continues to explain convolution reverb to Tomato when a powerful rumble is felt. Warning tones begin to activate screaming of danger. “What the heck is that??”
“FIREDAMP!” Tomato screams. At that moment, sparks begin to flicker all around the two as they quickly make their way towards the exit. Bright explosions begin to surround them. “Captain!“ The blasts overtakes them and sends them both flying through the air. Then darkness.

“Jeeeezzzzzzz.” The captain says as he pulls himself to his feet and shakes his head with confusion. “Duh heck was...Oh no!” He says as he charges over to find Tomato in a dire situation. Her space suit was compromised from the explosion and the sound of air escaping can be heard. “Tomato, are you OK? Your suit is damaged. You’re losing oxygen!
“I am so tired, Capt. I’m just gonna rest for a few-” Tomato whispers then turn incoherent as she begins to lose consciousness.
“Permission not granted! Stay with me! I’m going to connect my tank to your suit but you gotta get up and get moving!” Desperately trying to get Tomato moving he is overwhelmed by his own injuries. “I need your help here!”
It was at this moment that something began to happen. The captain’s pain began to subside, and the cavern was filled with a bright powerful light that dimmed and focused into a mysterious being. He felt an amazing amount of energy surging through his body closing his eyes he felt a soft warm embrace was all around him. The pure joy and ecstasy that he felt earlier returns as he looks down to Tomato, There is some crazy shit going down!”
The captain notices something approaching that resembles a silhouette, it floats down towards Tomato then disappears into her space suit as she suddenly awakens taking in huge deep breaths. Slowly, she begins to breathe normally. Tears run down her cheek as she whispers,
“My LOVE, you have returned!”
“I was a fool!” The Innervoice said, “Your fearlessness in the face of the unknown has proven that you are more than my equal. I love you and I wish to join with you. Together we can spread Love to every being in the universe!”

The crew and Dandara celebrate the completion of their tasks in the command module of Rain Fade while Zeebo has ideas of his own. He set out to construct a giant steel drum into the neighboring cavity with the help of Omnisphere. He was intent on smoothing out and tuning the crater to make some otherworldly sounds of his own. Pelehon begins to worry if the Captain and Tomato are in danger.
“He’s still not picking up his communicator?” Monotropa asks.
“Something is definitely wrong,” Pelehon replied.
“This is the Captain we’re talking about here.” Parham interrupts, “No need to stress out. I’m sure he’s just found something cool to record.”
“You bet your ass I did!” The captain bursts in the door and takes a victory lap, high fiving everyone he passes. “You guys are never going to believe this!”
Tomato enters and interrupts the captain. “I just want to express my gratitude to Dandara and the Tremulant crew for helping me in my quest. Especially you, Captain Tremulant, I would have been toast if it wasn’t for your handy work.” Tomato stares at the captain for reassurance.
He picks up on her inference and replies, “The pleasure is all mine. Say now, Dandara? How about we shred some samples! I got some recordings, and you won’t believe where they came from!”
Putting an arm around Danara’s shoulder he leads the crew back to the shuttle bay to return home to the good ship Tremulant.