The wiper blades struggled to keep pace with the heavy rain pounding the windshield. Aaron adjusted the fog gauge. Looking up from the dashboard in time, his quick maneuver narrowly avoided a limb in the street. The slick road was not accommodating. He needed to pay close attention and reduce his speed. The package he was delivering depended upon his arriving safely.
Rain still beating down on the hood, he managed to spot a safe location on the side of the road. Stopping, he messaged his neck, not from the near accident, but more from tension, then continued on a few feet before turning onto another dirt road.
Aaron spotted the clearing ahead.
The dense woods on each side of the road felt haunting. They wouldn't talk this night. He cruised down the path with dense woods on each side.
Coming to an abrupt stop, he turned off the engine and waited.
He looked and thought about his life that led him to that moment. He'd visited that quiet look-out spot many times while young and dating. The view overlooking the city was stunning. But tonight, he couldn't see the beauty of his beloved city.
He bumped his head hard on the steering wheel several times as if to harden his resolve. He brought the flask up to his lips and took a small sip of the liquid. He wasn't a drinker. It was more for comfort and courage he'd need to go through with the plan.
If only he'd chosen the second position that came open and posted on the employee bulletin board. He could be at home this very instant having dinner with his wife and playing with his two children afterward.
His life would be normal.
Instead, he chose to become a Petrologist. Fascinated with rocks from a young age, his collection grew over the years. He knew he wanted to work in the field. He learned about the valuable minerals and natural resources that could help the world in its technological advances by understanding the formation of it.
Employed for five years by The Phoenix Cloverleaf Institute, an innovative research consortium, its novel approach to conducting experiments dealing with geo-materials was unique.
After a year in the department, he discovered the true nature of the company's research objectives.
He'd always considered himself a leader. Never one to back down from a challenge, he figured he'd learn an entirely different profession in the company.
His chest heaved several times as he looked out over the lights illuminating the city. From the distance, he could see the 54th floor offices where he earned his family's living.
A beautiful sight indeed. Innocent in its portrayal. A facade nonetheless.
Only a few blinds were open per the city's mandate, but he knew workers holding secrets to another life form busily paced back and forth attempting to convince others to suppress the knowledge.
The heavy burden knowing that what lay underneath could destroy life on Earth. If the world as we know it is in danger, then appropriate authorities must be alerted.
Why me? Why was this responsibility placed on my shoulders. These questions swirled in Aaron's mind numerous times over the past two weeks.
It wasn't just luck. It was bad luck.
So heavy the burden of this weight wore him down. He prayed more the past two weeks than he'd done the past two years that he cared to admit.
He couldn't reach out or confide in anyone. Putting his ow life in danger, he didn't want to be responsible for endangering someone else by sharing his secret.
His thoughts returned to his present.
Although a cool spring night, heat rose up from the car seat. His back was wet as sweat up and clung to his shirt. Underarms perspired profusely as he thought of his future.
He'd placed his job and family in jeopardy to extricate the information from the private lab.
Aaron looked over his shoulder furtively. He couldn't afford to take any chances. His hands shook, knowing he'd pulled off the unthinkable deed.
He wasn't a spy. He wasn't good at espionage. However, here he sat ready to hand over vital company secrets.
He pulled out the plain manila folder. Inside was nothing but plain. PROYITIUM was the code name for the research.
But these rocks were not from the ground anywhere located on the planet. Of that, he was certain.
One by one, the images seeped from the rock substances until they ballooned into hideous shapes. Resembling human bodies, but deformed from a human's viewpoint, each protruded from an opening at the top of the rock.
Apparently, the authorities weren't interested in the alien forms they produced. Only the rocks formations were highlighted.
Each of the four rocks appeared different in shape and composition. Colors varied.
However, Aaron found the human-like forms created from the rock formations the most exciting discovery of his profession.
He needed to take a quick peek once more before parting with them.
The first image was terrifying. Hauntingly ethereal in its dark gray, full life-like state, it resembled a human male that had emerged from the core of the rock. While the rock glowed, Aaron noticed a head, one arm, and a full leg, the scales on its back sent chills down Aaron's spine. Part of the alien's body was smooth. The other part resembled some type of animal. He'd seen nothing like this in his lifetime.
The second image was fascinating. A smaller alien figure, its head was oval in shape. Pulsating shapes that looked like an image of the universe crawled through the head. Its body was condensed as though looking at a child. Aaron could tell the form was aged. The figure emerged from the double set of rocks.
The third image was the most interesting. It appeared as a true alien form. Aaron couldn't distinguish the number of legs or arms it possessed. Its face was bashed in. Eyes shut, the rest of its body looked as if it hadn't yet completed it transformation. But it was the rock that was fascinating. The porous material resembled a mass of tissue with veins running throughout as though forming the body of a being inside its core.
The final image was the scariest. It actually resembled the reproduction of a human make. Hair fell around its face as arms struggled to emerge. The rock formation itself contained strange markings that looked amphibious.
Aaron kept one hand on the steering wheel. A cautionary move in case he'd been entrapped and needed to speed off in a hurry.
He thought about the two copies of the folder.
One placed in a safe deposit box with the key sent to his wife. The other, placed in a separate secure location with instructions for his attorney in case he didn't return to work.
A crashing sound interrupted Aaron's train of thought. Stunned, he trembled as he glanced backward through the window. A car was speeding toward his. Tires screeched, then stopped short of his driver side.
A tall man, well dressed man stepped outside the passenger side of the black vehicle. Aaron couldn't see past the dark tinted windows. He walked briskly toward Aaron's car.
Silently, he stood at the window. He neither knocked on the door or pulled on its handle as though waiting for further instructions.
Aaron kept his eyes glued to the man's movements.
Finally, he held out his hand.
Aaron rolled down the window and pushed the folder toward him.
No words were exchanged.
Aaron knew what his next move would be. He called his wife. He needed her to be ready.
They would leave as soon as he returned.
He'd completed this duty as a citizen. He was no longer responsible for the unauthorized experiments. The burden of deception and weight accompanied by guilt was no longer his to bear.
He breathed a sign of relief as he backed up, turned around, and headed down the long stretch of road off the highway and into his new undetected life away from The Phoenix Cloverleaf Institute.
My theme was the burden of undue weight. Pressure caused by responsibilities can lead one to undertake actions that may harm him. A lowly intern discovers a secret experiment dealing with rocks formations and unlocking their mysteries that goes contrary to the company's stated objectives and mission. Once he stumbles upon the secret, he has a decision to make. Go along or become a whistleblower. Aaron chose the latter.
In preparing this fractal and generative art project, I wanted to portray alien beings that look as if they are emerging from strange rocks. I believe I achieved these images with the descriptions I used in the stable diffusion program, StarryAI.
For all four diffusion images, the following steps were used:
StarryAI Text input:
Giant man sitting on rock thinking of the galaxy with hands on his knee"
Anna Dittmannhyper detailed
Method: Art
Style: Argo
Runtime: 50
Seed: 1672088232
StarryAI Results:
Also, I paired the diffusion images with my pure fractals I created in Apophysis 7X, an advance version of the fractal rendering program.
I feel that my pure fractals blended with the stable diffusion images worked well.
The two fractals I included in the third rock image adds depth to the alien.
Thanks for taking the time to view my post. I hope you like my fractal art and stable diffusion project.
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
Oh wow, what a job he had! Could only imagine. Huge sci-fi nerd brain over here, and even believe beyond the norm. Great art too sweets.
!PIMP
!hiqvote
Aw man @enginewitty, you are out of PIMP to slap people.
Go Stake some more and increase your PIMP power.
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I'll forever love my favorite FBI Agent Mulder. I was so upset that Skully never got to see them rise up and fly off.
Thanks for your visit and support. Pleased you liked my story and fractal art project.
Have a good weekend. Take care.
!ALIVE
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3 hours ago
This post was shared and voted inside the discord by the curators team of discovery.
felt Aaron's inner turmoil and the decisions he made. I was captivated from the beginning of the story because I love a mix of suspense and science fiction elements in a story. Also the themes of responsibility and sacrifice was thought-provoking. Very nice your post and very quality full
Hello @soneyatoma. Yes, Aaron felt a heavy burden. His character shines through as he felt he did the right thing. It seemed as though he knew he couldn't approach the company as his efforts would be thwarted.
Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your kind compliment for my story and fractal art project.
Take care and have a good weekend.
!ALIVE
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Aaron's turmoil could be felt. Such a decision isn't easy to make but he did choose the latter to save mankind.
Yes, I feel he chose the right path. It wasn't an easy decision for him. I'm pleased you found my story interesting and could feel the emotion. Thanks for your visit.
Take care.
!ALIVE
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You are welcome. Thanks for sharing such an amazing story, !luv
@justclickindiva, @balikis95(1/3) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community |
HiveWiki | 
NFT | <>< daily
This is next level artistic ❤️
Wow @sublimethoughts. Thanks for such a lovely compliment for my fractal art project. I appreciate it and am pleased you found it interesting. I love creating fractals, then pairing them with other type art.
Take care.
!ALIVE
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Sounds wonderful. Have a blissful day ahead
I felt Aaron's inner turmoil and the decisions he made. I was captivated from the beginning of the story because I love a mix of suspense and science fiction elements in a story. Also the themes of responsibility and sacrifice was thought-provoking. I love all the arts and I will try your prompt on my Starryai and see what it will give me. Awesome! 😊
!discovery 40
Hello @esther-emmanuel. So good to see you visit. Yes, I believe Aaron was under a tremendous burden carrying with knowledge of his company's wrong-doing. I feel he took the correct action. He must have felt that he could not approach the company with his concerns.
I appreciate your engagement and support. Take care.
!ALIVE
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Such a beautiful peace of art
Hello. Thank you for your lovely comment. I appreciate you stopping by. I'm pleased you like my project.
Take care.
!Alive
Okay I will
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Thanks so much @discovery-it for deciding to support my fractal art project shared by your curator team in Discord. I appreciate their efforts and am pleased they found my content interesting.
I currently delegate to your program.
Yay! 🤗
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