The Darkness Outside Us

By Elliot Schrefer

(Hover over the cutouts)


Kodiak Celius, spacefarer from the country of Dímokratia. Closed off, taught to hide his emotions by his harsh training and masculinity-focused culture. Underneath that shell you may find someone fiercely dedicated and more sensitive than you would think.

Ambrose Cusk, heir to the corporation "running" the country of Féderation, trained spacefarer. As our narrator, we learn the most about his inner world: He's a violin player, and something of a former queer playboy. Having had to fight for his mom's affection among his many siblings, he has a deep desire to be loved.

The Mission

Minerva Cusk, the protagonist's elder sister, has been assumed dead on the space station on Saturn's moon, Titan: However, a distress signal has been sent not long ago! A rescue mission has been planned in order to get her back to earth safely: A spaceship called the Endeavour was launched. On it, his brother Ambrose has just woken up injured and disoriented: apparently, an incident had occured during launch, immeditately landing him in the ship's medbay.

He quickly learns that he's far from alone on the ship: him and his copilot Kodiak will have to work together to get the Coordinated Endeavour to its destination among the stars, armed with a shady Operation System, a thousand tasks, and their ever strengtening bond.

But that's not it, is it?

"You love Kodiak. That is the hidden miracle of all of this: you might be loving each other deeper than any humans have ever loved, have ever needed to love, have ever had the occasion to love. Well, maybe Adam and Eve did, but you and I both know we don't think they ever existed. "