The Extra Passenger - The Offer

by Howie Amourscow

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The figure spoke to Hoven, though no words passed his frozen smile. He had come for Hoven, yes, yes: there was a higher purpose for Hoven. He was not an incidental figure in history, but a special man.

And The Messenger came to Earth for him, rode with the Black Goat With A Thousand Young, a tiny mite riding a tick stuck to a dog’s ear; Hoven understood this, yes.

Hoven could be fulfilled if he did but two minor things, yes. The first concerning the negro boy with the tattooed man. A simple task, yes. And could he give the Messenger a token of loyalty? Yes, even that: he knew the Messenger would see to it (ha!) that he could still complete his task.

Dr. Hoven dug his thumbs in behind his eyes and popped them out, then used his fingernails to sever the nerves. It hurt, but he could see better than he ever had before.

Nyarlathotep, The Crawling Chaos, slipped off the mask of the Smiling King, and howled at the stars through a hundred slavering mouths. After a moment’s thought, Dr. Hoven joined in.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Howie Amourscow's Buddy Icon Howie Amourscow

    Posted 7 months ago

    Hoven, given a role of destiny. Alec, finished off. Simon, in worse trouble than he might know. Hope this adds wrinkles without ruining anything for anyone.
    As a side note: supposedly (I’ve never confirmed), the movie Alien was originally released in France with the translated title, “The Extra Passenger.” It’s just too rich not to borrow it for this piece.
    Hope you enjoyed! Now I can’t wait to see what Nick and CMTKOM do next….

  2. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Nick's Buddy Icon Nick

    Posted 7 months ago

    I believe the Alien alternative title you reference is for the Dutch release, “De Achste Passagier.” And it existed, I’ve seen posters for it.

    I always liked the German version better: “Das Unheimliche Wesen aus Einer Fremden Welt.” Those nutty, nutty Krauts.

  3. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Nick's Buddy Icon Nick

    Posted 7 months ago

    And, of course, another great entry, Howie. I’m sitting out for a bit to give Tarzan (or _any_one else) some room to play.

  4. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Fyora Cartagan's Buddy Icon Fyora Cartagan

    Posted 7 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    What does the German version mean, Nick?

  5. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Crown Me Tarzan, King of Mars' Buddy Icon Crown Me Tarzan, King of Mars

    Posted 7 months ago

    Alec, finished off.
    ~
    You know, I never intended the shotgun blast to the head to be the end of Alec. If you check the last entry I wrote, you’ll notice that Alec has the last word. Literally. I guess everyone assumed that was a typo.

  6. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Nick's Buddy Icon Nick

    Posted 7 months ago

    The German title for Alien roughly translates to: “The Uncanny Creature from Another World.” It was a deeply meaningful (and lengthy) title. :)

    I didn’t actually get the impression Alec was finished, but then Howie mentioned it and I thought it was my mistake…

  7. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Howie Amourscow's Buddy Icon Howie Amourscow

    Posted 7 months ago

    I have to confess I didn’t read closely enough, I’m afraid.
    On the other hand, I also couldn’t see Winters or Angela walking away from him while he reforms his head, and the idea of N. traveling into this plane with S.N. and then recycling Alec’s body to manifest was appealing, somehow. I hope it also drives the plot along: there have been hints that Simon may have special significance, and now we have N. possibly playing his own game around that issue.
    Hope it works, is all I can really say.

  8. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Howie Amourscow's Buddy Icon Howie Amourscow

    Posted 7 months ago

    Oh, and thanks, Nick for the info!

  9. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Nick's Buddy Icon Nick

    Posted 7 months ago

    You’re welcome for the info, Howie. As always, a pleasure to serve.

    And… never worry about if it works or not. We’re just happy you play along.

  10. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    artistsrunwild's Buddy Icon artistsrunwild

    Posted 7 months ago

    Actually – that German title means
    “The Weird Creature from a Strange World”

    but Nick was pretty close
    i had NO idea what was going on in this ficlet – but it sounds cool and i know all will be revealed shortly!

  11. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Nick's Buddy Icon Nick

    Posted 7 months ago

    Thanks, artistsrunwild. I haven’t studied German in over ten years, so I’m fairly rusty at it.

  12. The Extra Passenger - The Offer

    Alexa ♥'s Buddy Icon Alexa ♥

    Posted 4 months ago

    I’m lost with artistsrunwild, but of course, not so much that I’d desert the series.

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