Post Number: 211 What is reality?
Posted on Tue Feb 18th, 2025 @ 3:23pm by Lieutenant Jude Haines
619 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission: Secrets
Jude stood in a vast, desolate expanse, the ground a charred black that stretched endlessly before him. Scattered throughout the landscape were the skeletal remains of trees, their once vibrant forms reduced to mere shadows of their former selves. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the crunch of ash and char beneath his boots, a sound he found unsettling. He felt an overwhelming sense of isolation, wondering how he had arrived in this bleak place, and more importantly, where everyone else had gone. Questions raced through his mind: What had become of Starbase Obsidian? What had happened to the crew? Most hauntingly, how had he ended up in this nightmarish realm?
With each step he took, Jude's unease deepened. The emptiness of the landscape gnawed at him, leading him to contemplate the unthinkable: perhaps he was dead, trapped in a hell of his own making. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had somehow failed, that he hadn’t earned his place among the living, while others had managed to escape whatever fate had befallen them.
As he trudged forward, something caught his eye in the distance—a figure approaching. The figure was floating, ethereal, resembling a ghost more than a person. A chill swept through him as recognition dawned; it was his father, Josiah. Yet, something was profoundly wrong. Josiah’s skin was devoid of color, his once warm eyes now cold and lifeless.
“Why Jude?” Josiah’s voice was a guttural growl, filled with accusation. “Why would you desert us? We needed you, and you failed us!”
“I didn’t!” Jude protested, desperation lacing his words. “I don’t even know what happened!”
Before Jude could gather his thoughts, Captain Pontmercy appeared alongside his father, his expression equally devoid of life. The captain's presence sent another wave of dread through Jude.
“That is what you did!” Marius’s voice echoed with fury. “Nothing! I gave you an order. Instead of sending security, you stood by and watched as we all perished at their hands! Just like you deserted the crew of the Ortega.”
The memories flooded back, overwhelming him. Jude had served aboard the USS Ortega, a vessel that had faced the first brutal strike from the Synthulians, leading to the annihilation of his comrades. Survivor’s guilt clutched at him, tightening its grip around his heart.
“You will pay for your crimes,” Jordan suddenly loomed into view, his presence sinister. Beside him stood the marine commander, Charlotte Thrace, both brandishing swords with malicious intent.
“We will give you a head start,” Charlotte snarled, her eyes burning with fury. “Run, coward, run and hide, but we will find you!”
“And you will suffer!” Jordan’s laughter was chilling, echoing in the stillness of the landscape.
“Nooo,” Jude gasped, terror flooding his veins. He turned to flee, the oppressive weight of despair pushing him onward. The sound of the charred ground beneath him was unbearable, amplified by the mocking laughter of his pursuers. As they closed in, pain unlike anything he had ever known surged through him.
Suddenly, Jude shot up in bed, gasping for air, his heart racing. He blinked rapidly, disoriented, as he surveyed his familiar quarters aboard Starbase Obsidian. Gradually, reality returned, and he realized the haunting experience had been nothing more than a nightmare. Shaking off the remnants of fear, he sat on the edge of his bed, allowing himself a moment to breathe and collect his thoughts. The vivid dream would linger in his mind, but he knew he had to shake it off. Rising slowly, he headed for the shower, determined to wash away the remnants of the night’s terror and return to the control center.
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