The Dark Somnium - "It's been nearly 50 years since we last went to the moon, Do you want to know why?" Creepypasta

Episode Date: July 20, 2021

This creepypasta scary story is from the nosleep subreddit, written by T.j Lea--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darksomnium/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...ivacy for more information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:01 I'll say it plain. The acquisition of Nazi party member Werner von Braun was not the most heinous action NASA committed, not by a long shot. By the time I'm done here, you will not look up at the sky in the same way. I want to start off by offering an olive branch of trust. I'm not a former NASA employee, an astronaut, or some high-ranking government official on the loose. Those people don't have the time to share their findings or the where-weigh
Starting point is 00:00:31 all to do so. No, I'm a whistleblower, sharing this in plain sight where it can go unnoticed. A needle in a needle pit, if you will. By December of next year, it will officially be half a century since humanity has attempted to land more of our people on the surface of our lunar body. Between 1968 and 1972, we manned six missions, and a dozen amazing people have passed 250,000 miles. Since then, the highest we've gone is barely 400 miles, staying in a proverbial pocket. Do you ever wonder why that's the case? I started looking into this when a large amount of conversations during the lead-up to the half-century anniversary of our lunar landing were met with evasive and awkward answers. Yes, we know NASA had received less than stellar
Starting point is 00:01:25 funding over the years, but there's obviously more to it than that. Every time I'd get an interview with a cosmonaut, a roadblock would be put in my way. Mr. I can't see you right now. He's got a hip surgery planned and needs to focus on his recovery. Roadblock after roadblock. Nobody wanted to talk to me. And every form was littered with idiots, weirdos, and conspiracy theory nuts who were convinced of superfluous tall tales about the moon. These idiots never got a degree, did any proper unbiased research, or went out of their mother's tinfoil-laden basement. They had no clue. But I was objective. I'd paid my dues reporting on scientific achievements and had always prided myself on being able to focus on the
Starting point is 00:02:10 truth, not the circumstantial. Anyone with half a brain could sense something is wrong when they look up at that lunar body, the pale, faceless orb gazing down at us night after night. It gets worse when you remember it's never really gone during the day, that the pale blue sky can only hold it back for so long before it rips through the thin veneer of safety and looms overhead. Good thing it can't watch me where I am in the safe house. Sometimes I hear groaning outside, pleading perhaps. They still want to communicate, to make me look. I digress.
Starting point is 00:02:51 I was persistent and called in some favors to get. access to archived and classified documents, highlighting the space race, expeditions to the moon, and lost cosmonauts. For anyone not familiar with the original term, it was used as a way to catalog astronauts sent into space by the Soviets, but their existence was never acknowledged by the Russian government in any way. It details many things, horrible things, but key among them is one word that stood out when referring to the lost cosmonauts.
Starting point is 00:03:24 A transponder developed by the Soviets somehow still worked in the hours following a critical air that would leave a cosmonaut in peril. And, luckily for all of you, I still have the audio intact. 28th of May, 1967. Project Overseer Dr. Vitale Cosmonaut. Colonel Ellen. Colonel Ellen, do you copy?
Starting point is 00:03:50 Can you hear me? No response. Dr. Vitale repeats the question three more times. before a response is brought back. Yes. Doctor, I confirm I hear you. I was unsure if it was you. The voices, I can sometimes lie.
Starting point is 00:04:05 Clarify. A short response. This time suspected hesitance on Ellen's part due to slight stammer. It is this darkness. It lies to you. It makes all voices seem like they are putting on an act, trying to gain trust before hurting you,
Starting point is 00:04:22 hurting you badly. It tells me to pull back the curtain, but I refuse. I do not understand. How can there be voices where you are? I do not want anyone from home to understand. You are still in the fog. It is to be expected. I am here to protect that sanctity. It is my job as a cosmonaut.
Starting point is 00:04:45 For all of you. For the motherland? No. For all of you. Let's review from earlier. Your mission to Luna was successful. You landed and were due for takeoff. Said you needed fixing of the controls on Morosa 4 before a navigational issue caused a complete failure of power. Yes. And you have reported no way of returning home. Yes.
Starting point is 00:05:10 Comrade, forgive the bluntness, but you do not seem to be concerned about this. Are you not worried of death? You have been up there for 40 hours. We estimate you will be dead in another day, maybe slightly more. We cannot reach you in time. There is a longer than usual pause. A small scratching sound can be heard. Doctor, you are a far more intelligent man than I, and I have things I wish to know before.
Starting point is 00:05:37 Well, you know. So I wish to ask you three questions before our time is up. I will pervade any information you require in return. Of course. What do you see around you? Anything of note? Nothing. Darkness.
Starting point is 00:05:51 Pure welcoming darkness. Doctor, do you believe in God? I know there is much talk of one. Whether they exist, I do not know. How are you feeling? Is there anything you can tell us? I feel fulfilled. I am protecting.
Starting point is 00:06:13 The voices keep trying to make me pull back the curtain. But I am strong. I cannot tell you anything you do not have The rest, I could not if I tried. Doctor, do you believe in people? I, of course, Ellen. We are strongest together. Greatness comes from perseverance and from our collective vision.
Starting point is 00:06:39 Why? Fervent laughter ripples through the transmitter. It does not match the vocal patterns of Colonel Ellen. Comrade, what was that? Are you well? That was one of the voices. They found your answer amusing. Vitaly, do you want to see what's behind the curtain?
Starting point is 00:07:04 Is your desire to make the motherland strongest worth losing your soul? There is a long pause, heated discussion between Dr. Vitale and his superiors. They argue as whispering can be heard from Ellen's side. What kind of question is that, Ellen? You have limited time and resources. yet you waste it with such strange questions. I'm sorry, Doctor. The time up here, the silence, the darkness,
Starting point is 00:07:31 it is not meant for mortal men. My wife, my son, please pass any message. It may be the most important message I'll ever send. Of course. What is it? Another long pause. This time, soft weeping can be heard from Ellen's microphone as a low humming grows louder in the background. His voice drops to a whisper.
Starting point is 00:07:59 Kumar of Daits screaming and burning, but at least he was embraced by the earth. I will not get the chance. Tell Masha. Tell my boy, Isaac, don't look up at the moon. Transmission concluded. Further attempts to reach Colonel Ellen were unsuccessful. and he was presumed dead on May 30th, 1967. This, on its own, is disturbing.
Starting point is 00:08:32 It's been posited before that insanity can come in prolonged darkness and silences. Imagine looking all around you, a desolate rock with darkness stretching in every direction. The only piece of hope is a colorful orb that you will never get to see again. But it doesn't end there. This is simply the prelude to what they found. Something is calling to me from outside of the bunker, but it's a clear night tonight. I know better. Nothing more to do right now than carry on, right?
Starting point is 00:09:05 The Soviets would launch a final expedition on August 12th, 1971. A reconnaissance job involving three astronauts would scope out Ellen's final location and see what they could find. The space race now long over and interest dwindling, it was hoped that a definitive find would help boost funding and establish Soviet dominance. As for the audio, I'll pick things up from the first hour following a successful landing and beginning their search. August 13, 1971.
Starting point is 00:09:38 Project overseer Dr. Vitale. Cosmonauts. Commander Abramovic, pilot Vatic and science pilot Seminov. Commander Abramovich checking in, making our way to Colonel Ellen's last known coordinate. ETA three hours. Seminov says he sees something and wants to check it out first. Understood. Keep your wits about you, Ilya.
Starting point is 00:10:00 It is unknown territory once you reach his spot. There is a short discussion, and Abramovic comes back confused. Doctor, you said Colonel Ellen's ship malfunctioned with no way to return, yes? That's correct, Commander. Is there an issue? Yes. Seminov has looked at the ship. The damage done to it was man-made. was man-made. There are several large dents on the outside and the panel was forcibly ripped. Muffled murmuring from Vatali's side continues for a couple of minutes, Abramovic clearly concerned.
Starting point is 00:10:35 Doctor? It has been noted. Perhaps more answers lay with his corpse. Collect what samples you need and head to his last known coordinates. Out. Three hours, 18 minutes passed before correspondence begins again. We have arrived at the Lens' last known location. No sign of him. We can see the Terminator. They line between the light and the dark side of the moon about the kilometer from our position. Vatic wants to scoop it out.
Starting point is 00:11:01 Head for the Terminator, but be wary. Oh my God. Dr. Simonov says he can see a cave entrance right by the Terminator. I'm moving in for a closer look. If this is true, this could be the greatest find in human history, comrade. But keep sight for Ellen's body. That is still priority. There is a long pause, and when Abramovic speaks, his voice is shaking.
Starting point is 00:11:26 We found him. Requesting permission to evacuate immediately. Denied, why would you leave without exploring his cave? What is going on, Commander? Report. Seminov can be heard trying to calm down Vatic, who is having a panic attack. Cardinal Ellen is in a small hole that was made by extreme force. His body has been crushed.
Starting point is 00:11:47 Hands are mangled and his visor has been destroyed. His face, pieces of it are missing. Something chewed off his cheeks and lips. Requesting permission to evacuate immediately, doctor. You were not seriously suggesting there is something up there, are you, commander? Listen to yourself. You're experiencing the same sickness as Ellen. The sight of a corpse is simply making you delirious.
Starting point is 00:12:16 Doctor, all three of us are seeing this. thing. Enough. Leave him where he lays. We will discuss this soon. Explore the cave. This is too important to find to back out now. The last of our funding went into this project and we will not leave empty-handed. Do you hear me? Vatali smacks the desk and the mic booms. There is a short pause. Confirmed. Moving to explore. There is silence for five minutes as the group maneuvers the cave opening. The cave itself appears natural, but the incline goes down and there seems to be some stronger gravity. There's some rudimentary steps, man-made, or some kind of creature maybe. It goes down for a decent degree. We'll update when we see the bottom. I want photos of everything,
Starting point is 00:13:03 Abramovic. Make sure that Vadik picks himself up and helps Seminov. Heavy breathing comes through seven minutes later, and when Abramovic speaks, he is exacerbated. We found the central room. Several basic archways leading further on. But we're in a makeshift command room from my best guess. Vatic thinks that through the route we took, we've gone under the Terminator dividing the light and the dark. Now we're firmly underneath the dark side of the moon. He thinks...
Starting point is 00:13:33 Doctor, he thinks we're in front of shutters. There's a button in front of us. Seminov is begging us to go back. I think we should listen. Push it. But, sir... You will not dishonor our motherland with your hesitancy. We are on the cusp of greatness. Push it.
Starting point is 00:13:51 Abramovic pushes the button and the sound of the shutters rising fills the audio. Within 60 seconds, screaming follows. A heavy thud and the sound of glass breaking cut through the static before Bromovic can be heard panting. Oh my god. It's a viewing port. Where are pilots Vatic and Seminov? What is going on? It's a viewing port. It looks out on... No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Starting point is 00:14:18 Abramovic is still panting, assumedly going back up the stairs and on the verge of tears, a mixture of crying and manic laughter. Vitaly is undeterred, but clear stress in his tone. Commander, I need a report. Pull yourself together. When we looked out, Simonov started yelping, scratching at his visor. When that didn't work, he volleed his head into Vatix until the visor cracked. He continued while I got away.
Starting point is 00:14:45 I didn't look for as long as I'd have them did, but I saw enough. It looked out that... Oh my God, my fucking God in heaven, what are we? Where are we? Is this a zoo? Doctor, what did you not tell us? I do not understand. What are you saying, Commander?
Starting point is 00:15:03 You buying fucking pig, you fat sack of shit. You knew there was something here. You sent us out into die just like Ellen, didn't you? You old fuck sending the young to do a dickless man like you could never do! The Bromovic's tirade continues for several minutes. words and behavior he had never exhibited in his psych evaluation coming out. Fatali sounds genuinely unsettled by some of the things he's saying. Commander, we only had an idea of what was there.
Starting point is 00:15:30 We did not know for sure. We still do not know. You haven't told us. Please, for the motherland, for those we've lost, tell me what you saw. The angry shouting stops and a low rumble permeates through the transmission. Abramovic laughs and cries. It is hard to distinguish which is dominant. What is waiting for us?
Starting point is 00:15:50 What are they watching for? There's a guardian here. It was asleep until Ellen woke it up and getting too close. It wants to make sure we never found out the truth. Oh God. I'll never see my family again. My home. The rumble begins to cause crackling in the audio, and for a moment another voice comes through.
Starting point is 00:16:16 It's Colonel Ellen's. The darkness is good. Good. Comforting. We do not need to see what is behind the curtain. Behind the fog. Do not look at the moon. For the first time, Battali is emotionally distraught. He is shaking and his lit quivers as he manages to utter one word. Why? It's a terrarium and something is watching us. Transmission ended. Several days after this, Vitale was found dead in his home from a self-induced gunshot wound. A telescope still propped up by his window, a simple note by his bedside said,
Starting point is 00:17:04 It blinked, and in that moment, I glimpsed madden. In January, 1975, an event would occur that would encourage all involved parties to unilaterally agree that the moon should never be visited again. Various excuses of lack of funding, interest, and resources, and so forth have been put forward. All have validity in them, but they hide the truth. The reason I'm telling you all now. The reason I'm in my bunker and will stay here until the danger passes. I don't even know how long it's been. Much like the cosmonauts, I'm in my own void.
Starting point is 00:17:43 Disconnected from light and other contact. The voices I create are the only company I have. Maybe that's how Ellen felt when he realized what secrets were kept here, and how important it was that he never took them back home. Perhaps anyone who stares at it for too long on unguarded nights is vulnerable. It brings with it an ugly glow. Its secrets laid a little too bare for normal minds to grapple with, encouraging them silently to behave unusually like an experiment, which is apt when you consider the words of a bronchew.
Starting point is 00:18:19 Bromovic and Ellen together, the statement and the question. It's a terrarium and something is watching us. Do you want to see what's behind the curtain? We looked behind the curtain. I don't know exactly what they saw, but with every super moon, it gets a little bit closer. And now it knows we're aware of it. There isn't meant to be a super moon out tonight, but something is looming overhead. Speaking to people, please don't look at it.
Starting point is 00:18:53 You don't want to know what's looking back.

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