In The Fullness of Time - Part One

This is a short story I wrote using my solo RPG, Spooky Action at a Distance. This was generated using an earlier version of the game, so the results of the rolls might not line up to the version available now. However I still think this is a neat example of the kinds of stories that can be told with this game.

Session 0

First Contact

Roll result: 2 - The alien appeared seemingly from nowhere

A wide swath of colour appeared one day starting on the east coast of North America and going east across Europe and North Africa. At first we thought it was a solar flare, some kind of novel phenomenon. Then people started disappearing. They vanished from London and reappeared in Maine, asking strange questions, and spouting intimate details about the phenomenon. That’s when we realized this wasn’t just a solar phenomenon.

The Envoy

Dr. Ashley Burgess, an astrophysicist. They taught at a university before their project was sent up to space, a sort of telescope that observed the sun and gave us new insight into how it worked. They were brought on to the project when we still thought that the mysterious ribbon had something to do with the sun. When we realized it was more than that, Dr. Burgess was still involved but her involvement became limited.

Dr. Burgess is academically interested in the phenomenon and thought it was of paramount importance. This passion hasn’t subsisted, though she doubts if she’s the best fit for this particular role. She was selected to be the envoy because she’s a teacher, knows about phenomenon similar to the ribbon, and the higher ups on the project didn’t think anyone else was up to the task.

The Base Camp

Roll result: 2 - A remote place

A military vessel in the Atlantic ocean. This endeavour is backed by the United Nations, and includes representatives and experts from across the planet. There are several other vessels, some for supplies, some to take measurements, some for defense. These military vessels are positioned further away from the ribbon than the others. There is some worry about whether their crew will disappear or be turned against humanity. 

Method of Interaction

Roll result: 4 - Proxy, the alien interacts through a representative of human or alien origin

Occasionally someone beneath the ribbon will disappear. Once the base camp was positioned below the ribbon and began taking measurements, those people appeared here. Base personnel set up an interview room where the envoy and proxies could communicate. The room is partitioned by transparent glass. The proxies sit on one side, and the observers and envoy sit on the other and communicate through microphones. The proxies talk about what they know, or what they have recently perceived. Then they are debriefed and eventually brought back to where they came from. There is no known relationship between them so far.