Transmissions came from the planet. From the vast and unforgiving gulf, we watched, we learned. The journey was long. We watched for a long time.

Dull colors, as if they had been discarded and left in the sun.  Colors so majestic, rendered so drearily. In strange patterns or in fat peddled flowers.

Dreams drifted by in a drug haze. Spirits like a second lifeblood. Spirits of all kinds, of all strengths. And other substances. Even the children imbibed.

Singing. Happy jingles. Promises of good times at a good price. Cheap thrills as the slime was viewed from a safe distance. Voices spoke with happiness, but with force.

Joyful music. Music that wandered, journeying between instruments. Dark music that twisted and howled.

A tall man in a grey suit with a white shirt and a necktie that was a subtle shade of pink stood behind a pulpit. Greenery flanked him, a simple banner, which bore a cross, hung on the wall behind him. His hair was weird, the fine locks painstakingly styled. His status as middle-aged showed in his pudginess, his slackening face.

“Satan’s followers are everywhere,” he stated, “They are in our courthouses, our military, our schools; and yes, even our churches. Could it be any worse? Yes. Because believe it or not, something even more dangerous has fallen into their hand. What could be more of a threat then courts and churches? The entertainment industry. The shows that you watch, that your children watch, are made by devil worshipers. The Lord’s message today is clear. Be careful what you take into your soul.”

And we saw those beings of which he spoke in other programs. The Satanist’s terror campaigns and wanton behavior were presented in tantalizing whispers. Their evil god’s presence was seen here and there. Sometimes he stood in the background. other times he marched across the front of the stage, his message jubilant but obligatory. There is another deity that they should fear and love.

Stern men roamed endless deserts, surreal, dead landscapes. Guns were drawn lightning fast. In other wastes, promises of dark futures. Rust, crude costumes, animal urges unleashed, and always a lone wanderer.

Rising fear. Smiling optimism. And always violence. Fake violence, and yet, it has such intense brutality to it, like it is more real than real.

A local news report from somewhere in the United States. The program’s smiling hosts were a man and a woman. Two beautiful young people, their voices clear, clean, calming.

“Well, Halloween is starting to get close again,” the woman said.

“Already? Time is moving too fast!” the man declared.

The two of them shared a laugh, we were unable to tell if it was genuine or fake.

“Well, Don, there’s nothing that you can do to stop time from moving forward. But one thing that you can do is make sure that this year’s Halloween is safe,” this was followed by a list of safety tips for trick or treaters, as well as party goers.  

The man kept on smiling, “You know, last year that Star Wars movie came out and all three of my kids wanted to go as characters from the film!”

“Yes, that movie really took the world by storm,” her friendly face took on a mischievous appearance, “But I decided to go as a vampire.”

“A sexy vampire?”

“Don!” she exclaimed, “I can’t believe that you would say that. I mean, it is true, but I can’t believe that you would say it!” she finished with a sinful smile straight into the camera.

“What will you go as this year?” Don asked excitedly.

“You will just have to wait and see. And in other news-”

A warning message interrupted the transmissions from Earth. Something was wrong with our ship.