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Summer Storms (5) : There have been plenty of thunderstorms this summer, and everyone is blaming the weather for the strangeness of their electronics--or, bored kids out of school. It’s not uncommon to get phone calls from impossible numbers--strings of letters and numbers, and a blank caller ID. It’s hard to make out any sounds; it sounds like static, and a broken up voice in a language you can’t make out. There is no way to call the number back; it says the line is disconnected. Sometimes, text messages come through, in foreign symbols. The messages always disappear within a few seconds, and there’s no way to reply. People have even had video chats, but the image is always staticky and it’s impossible to make out any details except for a silhouette, and the same strange, foreign language. The city is hoping to have this issue fixed soon, but in the meantime they are asking for patience.
Lapis Lazuli watched the rain pour down from under the canopy of one of the trees in the forest. His civilian cell phone began ringing which made him think about his family, about his parents. He wasn't close to either of them. His father was an abusive jerk, Lapis had never been man enough for him, his lack of romantic interest in women was always a sticking point between father and son not mention the unreasonably high expectations that his father put on him. Lapis had to be the best, the greatest swordsman, first in academics, completely loyal and obedient. If he ever fell short of his father's expectations he knew a beating would soon follow. His mother, while she wasn't abusive like his father she was complicate. She was a perfect yamato nadeshiko, completely subserviently to her husband's demands. In a way Lapis felt sorry for her. He had to imagine that this was not the life she imagined when she was young, married to a blowhard with a distant son. But his father was wealthy and his mothers family had married her off in an attempt to broker power and wealth. At least his father never hurt his mother, at least not that Lapis was aware of. Whenever he was being hurt she would turn away and leave the room. But even with all of that Lapis Lazuli didn't think he hated them, not really. He didn't want to be anywhere near them especially his hateful father, but he couldn't bring himself to feel hate. More than anything he pitied them, living such unhappy lives and they had been pulling Lapis down with them however if he purified that would set him free. It would grant him a second chance at life that they didn't have.
Lapis was brought out of his thoughts by the incessant ringing. He looked at the caller ID and not only did he not recognize it but to his knowledge the number that was calling him was impossible. Lapis Lazuli stared at the strange string of numbers and letters that was impossibly long. The young lieutenant answered the phone however instead of a voice the only thing that greeted him on the other end of the call was the soft sound of static. Lapis Lazuli listened closely and was able to make out the very faint sound of what thought was a voice however he couldn't figure out what the voice was saying aside from it being so quiet and over powered by the static the voice seemed to be speaking in some foreign language that Lapis did not recognize. Soon the call disconnected. Lapis tried to immediately call the number back to try and get to the bottom of the mysterious call however when he redialed the number he got a recording saying the line was disconnected. It was disconcerting to say the least. He was fairly certain that it was magical in nature given the impossible nature of the seeming prank call. However that begged the question what magical faction would benefit from mysterious phone calls.
