Part 383: The Visitor

November 11, 2008

Dupree drove out to the long access of the land. It had been a while since he had to visit the Lighthouse but he was under contract from the town to issue maintenance and repairs. He signed on to be a fireman, not a lighthouse keeper. All he knew about the Tatoosh Island Lighthouse was that it was a historical landmark. As a result, they had to keep it up and running; despite the fact that the lighthouse when automated in 1994.

The young man parked his car outside the lighthouse. It was the colder seasons, so no tourists were here. The museum was still locked as he jolted the door to be sure. He looked up to the lighthouse. Reports from local fishermen was that there was a “blot” on the giant light. By blot, Dupree could only assume something was blocking it. How they could tell from that distance at night or in the fog was beyond him.

The fireman made his way up the stairs inside the lighthouse. He was trained to climb stairs to fight fires. Climbing up 99 stairs was no problem for him. He calmly reached the top and looked toward the light. It was turned off as it’s automated system went but then he looked toward his left and saw the problem. Their were clothes hanging off the railings. Old black and green clothes were flowing the morning wind. He gently touched the pants and saw that they had tried salt residue on them. Dupree was confused; someone was swimming in the cold water in all this clothing and came up here to dry them off? “Excuse me?” someone said behind him.

Dupree turned and expected to find a bum or a lost camper. He never expected to see a well built man in his underwear and several wires sticking out of his body. The mysterious man’s eyes were glowing a soft blue. “Please don’t throw my clothes away,” the man said, “They should be dry by now.”

Dupree was panicking at the sight before him. Like something out of a horror movie. He started to back up. “HEY!” the man called, “WATCH THE-“

The young fireman screamed as he collapsed against the railing and fell over. Dupree screamed as he plummeted toward the ground. He stared to wail at the thought of dieing from a broken back. Then he grunted as someone caught him. He then squeaked and gasped as the man he saw above managed to catch him on the ground below. The mysterious man’s eyes flashed blue again as he looked at Dupree, like a father scolding a child. “I SAID . . . .watch the railing,” the man sighed.

“How . . .how did you . . .you were up there and now . . .How did you catch me?” the fireman squeaked.

“I ran down the stairs,” he answered honestly.

Dupree’s mind felt like exploding. The man just told him he had ran down the stairs to catch him but in the middle of that fall, he was saying it only two him four seconds to run down the stairs. The stranger then set down the fireman on his feet, holding him as easily as a puppy. “I didn’t mean to frighten you,” the wired man said, “I just wanted to dry off my clothes. Once that is done, I’ll be on my way. In the meantime, can you tell me where I am?”

“Uh . . .planet Earth?” Dupree whispered.

The man took a deep sigh, and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know what planet I am on, thank you,” he coughed, “What I meant was, what state is this? Is this California?”

“Cali . . .No, no . . .this is Washington. Cape Flattery.”

“Washington . . .STATE?” the man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, “Man, I am way off course. I can’t believe I managed to skip Hawaii all together.”

“Off course?” Dupree raised an eyebrow.

“It’s not my fault. I’ve been swimming for months. I thought I had a decent sense of direction but I can only do so much.”

“Swimming . . .for MONTHS?” the fireman was on the verse of a nervous breakdown, “Wait, where did you come from? WHO ARE YOU?”

The man looked at him and sighed. He started to turn around toward the lighthouse. He paused and looked back to him. “I come from an Island in the South Pacific,” he smirked, “And you can call me Raven.”

Dupree watched as the man called Raven faded into the doorway of the lighthouse and then immediately after that; a flash of blue echoed above. The stranger was already up at the top picking his clothes off the railing. The fireman didn’t know what to make of everything that he was seeing.

Nor why he hadn’t fainted yet.


Inside the museum, Raven rustled through the T-Shirts for Cape Flattery. He finally found one in his size and put it on. He hoped it wouldn’t make him stand out but it was great to feel the touch of fresh clothes; one thing he truly missed. He then walked back as Dupree was setting some things out on the counter for the souvenir shop. “I don’t have much, Raven,” he said, as he placed the items on the counter, “Here is some energy bars from the back, and two bottles of water. Here is a Zippo, incase you need it. Plus, here is a fresh overcoat. No offense but your old one stinks.”

“Four months out at sea, it should.” Raven chuckled.

“I can’t believe half of what you are telling me. I mean, all those wires and stuff, Raven. Why . . .did these Dharma people make you into this . . .Jaeger Unit, you said?”

“Yes, Jaeger Unit, yes,” Raven said, putting the overcoat on, “ They did it because they were ordered to.”

“But, why did you let them do that to you?” Dupree asked.

Raven put the Zippo in his pocket and then the energy bars. He calmly took a deep breath. “I let them do it . . . .because I volunteered for the procedure.” He whispered.

Dupree stared at them. “Oh, wait, I get it now,” he coughed, “This is like one of those government conspiracy things. You were a soldier once?”

Raven tied the over coat together and flipped up the collar. He sighed as he reached for his mask. “I don’t remember what I was.” He whispered.

Dupree could see the sadness in his face. He knew that Raven’s abilities and unique features were not of his own doing. The fireman then gently stopped him from putting on the mask. “I know you want to hide your features, Raven,” he told him, “But a mask would draw too much attention from the cops. I got a better idea.”

He handed him a roll of gauge bandages. Raven took them and stared at them briefly. “You can tell people you were the victim of a fire or something.” Dupree smiled, “It might even work.”

“Thank you, my friend,” he proceeded to wrap his face in the bandages.

Raven admitted that this would indeed draw attention to himself, if he did wear a mask. This way, they could think he was a vagrant or something. After Raven was done, he put on the black baseball cap and secured his disguise. Dupree chuckled slightly. “Man, you look like a poor man’s Darkman.” He laughed.

“Who?” he inquired.

“Never mind,” the fireman wiped his mouth, “Can I give you a life to the edge of town, Raven?”

“I would very much appreciate that.” He smiled, under the bandages.


The two men drove through the foggy, rain soaked town. Raven looked at the people he saw in the streets and how strangely they dressed. He looked at the McDonalds, noticing the change in it’s sign. But he had to admit, he had never heard of a Jack In The Box, though. The vehicles all looked fantastic; like space age. “What vehicle is this?” he asked.

“Pontiac Aztec,” Dupree smiled, “Compact SUV.”

“Fascinating.” He whispered, “There is so much that has changed.”

“You left America in the 50’s, right?”

“Yes, and I beginning to wonder if I should have come back. I don’t know . . .if I belong in this New World.”

“Well, if you are having second thoughts, why come back at all, Raven?” Dupree asked him.

“A young girl,” he smiled under his bandages, “She touched my life in a way I can’t describe. As the years have gone by, I began to miss her. Some . . .friends of mine convinced me to go and see her again. I only hope . . .she remembers me.”

“Hey, if she touched your life, the way you said she did, I am sure she remembers you too.”

“I can only hope, Dupree,” Raven confessed.

They finally reached the bridge that led off the peninsula and back onto the main land. The vehicle calmly pulled the side and stopped. Raven removed his seat beat and got ready to leave. Then he noticed Dupree’s hand near him, holding a wad of a money. “It’s not much,” he smiled, “But it’ll get you some food and maybe a road map so you know where you are going.”

Raven sighed and looked at the money. He then gently took it and placed it in his overcoat. “I only hope everybody I meet is as nice as you, Dupree.” He grinned.

“Thanks for coming into my life, Raven. And reminding me that the world still offers some wonder.”

The two friends shook hands and then Raven left the vehicle. Dupree watched the mysterious stranger proceeded over toward the bridge and disappeared in the morning fog. The fireman would never know any more about Raven other than what he told him. However, he was honest about what he told Raven. He was glad that he came into his life. After living for 27 years in this backwater town, he was so happy that at last; something exciting had happened.



Raven continued to walk along the highway. He wasn’t sure how far he had been walking but he did know it had been all day. The sun had set three, maybe four hours ago. Car after car had past him. He thought about hitch-hiking but realized it might be better to stay on his own for the moment. He wasn’t tired; nor did he require much sleep. However, his human half still needed rest and food; even though his mechanical half got all the energy it needed from the solar panel built in what was left of his shoulder blades.

Raven then saw a group of lights up ahead. On the other side of the road, he could see the remnants of a large truck stop and diner. Several semi-trucks were stopped for the evening. The Jaeger Unit tucked his hands in his overcoat and scooted across the street. Several cars drove past as he jogged into the parking lot. The new vehicles still fascinated him. He calmly walked past two Hispanics who gazed at him with a curious glance but then dismissed him as an afterthought; as Raven hoped.

The tall man walked into the shop that was connected to the diner. Inside was various items; oil canisters, cheap souvenirs, floor mats, DVDs, CD and various other junk they sold to justify being open. Raven walked toward the area where the road maps where. He picked up one for Washington, then Oregon and then finally California. He calmly walked up the counter to pay for them. After that, he tucked them in his overcoat and then walked into the diner area.

There wasn’t that many in the area late at a night. There was three truck drivers in various booths around the diner. There was a cook in the back and a waitress working the front counter. Raven slowly sat down at a stool and took a look at the menu/placemat. The food looked so inviting; food he had not had in fifty years. “Can I help you, suga?” the waitress said, politely.

“Uh . . yes, may I please have a . . . hamburger steak with hash browns and . . .oh, my god . . .a Vanilla Coke, please.” Raven asked.

“Coming right up.”

The truck drivers stared at Raven; not sure what to make of him. Most of them continued eating their late night meals. The bandaged man calmly took off his baseball cap and rubbed his hair that did come through the stop. He smirked as he realized he’ll need a haircut soon. The waitress, who’s name tag read Carrie, dropped off the Vanilla Coke. Raven reached for it with trembling hands and picked it up to his lips; sipping the sweet taste. He remembered drinking a vanilla coke when he was younger but he didn’t remember how or why or where. All he could remember was that it was a treat in his younger years.

Within minutes, Carrie brought the food to him, and the check. He proceeded to use the utensils and stared to eat. Meat and Potatoes were almost a memory to him; now he was remembering the splendor of their taste. Perhaps coming back to the real world was worth it after all. After he ate his dinner, he enjoyed sipping on the vanilla coke which Carrie didn’t seem to mind refilling it for him. Then the changing of the bell above the door rang out and a large trucker came in. The moment he entered the diner, Raven could smell how fell how fowl he was. “Hey, Carrie,” the large man laughed.

“Hey, Hoss,” she sighed, “The usual?”

“You bet, sweet pie. Don’t forget to give me some fries with that shake.” He cackled.

“Never get tired of that one.” She groaned to herself as she placed the order.

Hoss sat down at the part, two seats down from Raven. The large man removed his white cowboy hat and then did a double take when he saw the stranger down at the other end wearing an overcoat and white bandages across his face. “Land O’Goshen, boy, what is wrong with you?” he asked.

“Hoss,” Carrie mentioned.

“Why does that boy have bandages on his face? We already past Halloween.”

“Hoss, do you mind?” the waitress grunted, “Can you see the poor boy is a burn victim?”

Raven sipped on his vanilla coke; amused by what the woman said. He didn’t know what he liked better; the fact that the woman was defending him or the fact that his burn victim disguise worked. “He looks like a Mummy,” Hoss glared at him, “You a mummy, boy?”

“No,” Raven whispered.

“Of course you ain’t a mummy. You ain’t walking around with a limp.”

“Here is your beer, Hoss, now shut the hell up.” Carrie said.

Hoss took his beer and chugged it. He then looked back toward Raven and then laughed. ”Wait, wait, wait,” he chuckled, “ The golden mask! Ain’t you supposed to have a golden mask?”

Raven slowly sipped his coke. “Shouldn’t you have a hand up your ass?” the man whispered.

Hoss stopped drinking after he heard the question. Carrie tried to stifle her laugh but she couldn’t help it. All the other nearby truckers who knew Hoss’s bad attitude laughed as well. The fat man turned and looked at Raven. “What did you just say?” he asked.

“I asked if you had a hand up your ass.” The Jaeger Unit stated.

“Da hell does that mean?” the fat trucker demanded.

Raven shrugged his shoulders. “I was under the impression Miss Piggy had a hand up her ass.” He admitted.

Carrie and the two truckers behind Hoss then laughed out loud. For the first time in a long time, someone had told off Hoss and the fat man wasn’t use to it. He then grabbed his beer bottle and scooted off his stool. He had to save face and then only way he could think of to do it was to slam the bottle over Raven’s head. Carrie then screamed at the trucker, wondering what he was doing. By the time he tried to bring the bottle down on Raven, the stranger caught him at the wrist. Hoss then gulped at the incredible strength that he displayed. Raven slowly stood up, forcing the man’s arm down. “Listen, you inbred lunatic, “ the masked man grunted, “You . . .don’t want TO DANCE . . .with me.”

Raven then shoved him back, making him fall on his butt. Hoss looked up at him; wondering how a man not even near his size could throw him like he was nothing. Raven straightened his coat and put on his cap. He calmly pulled out enough money for the food, tipped his hat to Carrie and calmly left. The waitress watched him leave; hoping she might see him again. Hoss slowly climbed up to the stool and tried to regain himself. However, it was too late. The truckers were mocking him by dancing behind him.


Raven checked the map one more time and continued on. He was concerned that he had only cross two towns in the span of a day. If he was going to get to California and Los Angeles within any decent time, he may have to start hitch-hiking. He calmly placed the map back in his overcoat and continued walking. Cars would still pass him but on the desolate highway, it was one maybe ever hour. He didn’t might; he enjoyed the peace. A wild rabbit scurried near him and dove away. An owl could be heard in the great expanse to his left. Raven smiled at the sounds; sound he new had existed but hadn’t heard in fifty years.

Then the sound of a screeching 18-wheeler caught his attention. He turned around and saw the lights of a big rig truck swerving on the road and heading straight toward him. Raven then used his special focus on his bionic eyes to see the driver.

It was the mad face of Hoss.

“You got to be kidding me.” The Jaeger Unit whispered in amazement.

Hoss swerved his rig onto the side of the road and barreled toward Raven. He wanted revenge for making him look like a fool. The big truck got on the side of the dirt road, kicking up the debris. Raven then ran toward the giant vehicle. When the truck got toward him, he quickly jumped on the bumper and then flew up onto the hood with the grace of the bird of his nickname. Hoss’s eyes jumped open; not expecting to see his target on the hood. “You miss me, Hoss?” Raven laughed with a superior glee.

Hoss then tried to swerve back and forth to shake him off. Raven then jolted to the side of the driver’s side door and smashed in the window. He then grabbed the steering wheel and pulled it toward him. He did it with such abruption; the truck began to jackknife. The tires screeched incredibly and the weight of the vehicle began to bulk. Raven then ribbed the door off the hinges like paper. He then grabbed Hoss by the shirt and pulled him out of the truck. Raven then made the impossible jump from the truck and flew through the air, carrying a screaming Hoss with him.

By the time they landed on the ground across the road, the truck had blown up. Raven looked at the mixture of fire and metal as it engulfed the highway. Hoss wasn’t looking over the fact that his livelihood was destroyed. He was still staring at Raven. “WHAT ARE YOU?” he screamed.

Raven turned and gazed at the trembling trucker. “I would have thought that obvious by now, Hoss,” he sneered like a mad man, “I am an advance scout.”

“Scout?” he gasped.

“For my alien race. I was sent to remove the hostile element from Earth so we can easily take over and make this the peaceful planet it once was. As per my mission, you . .MUST NOW DIE!”

Raven then flashed his blue light from his eyes, making Hoss faint. The fat trucker slumped back, letting his cowboy hat bend outward. The moment the bandaged man realized that he was past out, he proceeded to laugh. He admitted he had fun scaring the man and wondered what he would tell the cops. Raven caught his breath and wiped his tears from his laughter. He then looked at the unconscious form of Hoss and then leaned down. He reached toward his back pocket and began to pat him down. “You tried to kill me, Hoss,” Raven smirked, “The price for your transgression is . . ..600 hundred dollars.”

Raven took the wad of money from the trucker’s wallet and dropped the leather garment on his giant belly. The masked man then tucked the money in his side pocket and then proceeded to walk away. Then he picked up his feet, jogging toward the large fire. When he got up toward the right moment, he took a flying leaped and flipped over the 12 foot tall blaze. He landed perfectly on the ground; causing minor dents in the asphalt. Raven tucked his overcoat; looking at the fire. Whatever Hoss tells the cops, they won’t believe him. As most, Raven will become a myth; a boogey man. He tilted his hat up and proceeded to walk down the long stretch of highway.

“I think I am going to like it here.” He smiled.