Chapter 32: Ch. 32 Aftershock
Mars
Six hours later.
General Zephyros sat in the command center of the Defiance, his expression a mix of frustration and confusion. The mission to Mars had taken an unexpected turn, and the information he received was both puzzling and disconcerting. He activated the communication system, pressing a few buttons on the holographic display connecting him to the med bay and a cloaked Alorian woman.
"Doctor,"
He spoke in a measured tone,
"We need to discuss the discrepancies in the mission records. According to my knowledge and the crew's, there's no crew member named Drake, and Falken never had a brother."
The cloaked woman, her features hidden in the shadows of her hood, responded calmly,
"General, anomalies like this are highly unusual but not unheard of. I've been cross-referencing the ship's records, and there's a room labeled for Drake. Our computer systems have undeniable data on his existence, but the crew seems to have no recollection."
Zephyros rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of the situation.
"How is that even possible? Are we dealing with some kind of memory alteration tech?"
The Doctor paused for a moment before replying,
"It's plausible, but I'd need to examine and speak to Falkan again when he's awake. Memory manipulation of this scale is beyond anything that I know of."
Zephyros leaned back in his chair, a deep frown creasing his forehead.
"Get to the bottom of this, Doctor. We can't afford uncertainties, especially when they involve the lives of our people. Find out what happened to this "Drake" person and why the crew's memories seem to be compromised."
The cloaked woman nodded, her silhouette disappearing as the display closed the call. Zephyros couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that the Mars mission held secrets far more dangerous than he initially thought.
General Zephyros leaned forward in his command chair, talon-like hands steepling as he pondered the perplexing situation. Falken's injuries, the mysterious disappearance of this "Drake" person from the crew's memory, and the abrupt cut in the video feed all contributed to a puzzle with too many missing pieces.
From what little that was given from Falken before he fainted, the complex on Mars held secrets that seemed to defy the laws of reality, and seemingly, some kind of entity was the cause.
A faint smile crossed the General's face as he contemplated the possibilities. Despite the uncertainty and the potential danger lurking in the unknown, there was a familiar thrill that resonated within him.
Zephyros, a seasoned leader with a penchant for facing the enigmatic, recognized the signs of another hunt. The prospect of uncovering the truth, of delving into the mysteries that eluded simple explanation, ignited a spark of excitement in him.
"Another hunt," he murmured to himself, the thrill of the unknown unfolding before him.
Falken stirred, the tendrils of nightmares and dark visions slowly releasing their grasp on his consciousness. As he emerged from the depths of unconsciousness, the harsh brightness of the med bay on the Defiance greeted him. The sterile environment, adorned with medical equipment and blinking consoles, stood in stark contrast to the haunting shadows of his dreams.
The memories of the mission on Mars flooded back, the faceless creature, the monstrous figure with writhing faces, and the agonizing loss of his brother, Drake. The weight of those experiences lingered in his mind, but the transition from the dreamworld to reality left Falken disoriented.
Blinking against the harsh lights, Falken took in the surroundings, realizing he was in the med bay of the Defiance. The steady hum of the ship's systems and the occasional beep of monitoring equipment provided a backdrop to his awakening. As the fog of sleep lifted, he became aware of the dull ache in his injured arm, a constant reminder of the mission's grim reality.
Falken took a deep breath, grounding himself in the present. The nightmares might linger, but the bright med bay offered a sanctuary from the shadows of Mars. He shifted, his eyes down to his right arm. It was missing; all that remained was a bandaged stump that ended right above where his elbow began.
Another loss in his mind, another thing that the mission took from him. His breathing quickened, and his heart beat faster as his mental state started to spiral. Until a voice caught his attention.
Soonie watched Falken as he woke, his eyes registering the absence of his right arm. She could see the initial shock and the storm of emotions that followed. It was never easy to wake up to a significant loss, especially one that altered your very sense of self.
"Hey, Kid, you awake?"
Soonie's voice cut through the silence, offering a lifeline back to the present. Falken's gaze shifted to her, and she could see the struggle in his eyes.
"If it isn't my guardian angel,"
He attempted a casual tone, but the words came out strained and dry.
Soonie pulled a nearby stool and sat down, offering a sympathetic smile.
"Yup, that's me."
She handed him a pouch of water, a small gesture of comfort.
"The docs said the surgery went well. They managed to keep much more of your arm than they had originally thought."
Falken eagerly took the water pouch, gulping it down to soothe his dry throat. Soonie observed him, understanding the weight of the situation. Loss, recovery, adaptation—it was a cycle all too familiar in their line of work.
"You'll get used to the new arm," Soonie said, her tone gentle.
"It's state-of-the-art stuff. Better than what I got when I was injured"
Soonie said as she tapped on her metallic right leg.
"Seems like the General is taking personal responsibility for the mission." with a shake of her head, she continued, "I knew we shouldn't have sent you in alone; it was just plain dumb."
Falken stopped drinking long enough to speak.
"I wasn't alone, I told you. You brought me and Drake in together."
"Oh right, sorry, it's just....well yeah, you know, something weird is going on."
Falken nodded, a mix of emotions playing on his face. Gratitude, grief, resilience—all intertwined in that moment.
Soonie leaned back, giving him the space to process, and asked, "How are you feeling, kid? Physically and, well, everything else."
"Ill...Ill be fine." Falken said quietly.
Soonie with a worried look on her face spoke up again.
"Are you feeling up to some questions? The Doc said she had some questions for you about the mission if you want to."
Falken Emptied the rest of the pouch into his mouth and spoke.
"Yeah...I can give a more organized account, just uhh..get me another pouch of water, please."
Soonie gives him a soft smile, nods, and stands up.
Sylvanor
"Listen, Mr. Ralios,"
Knight Harper spoke softly, cautious not to agitate the mold creature.
"We need to head back to the Galahad. It's well past dusk, you're injured, and whatever you just destroyed may have friends."
Knight Harper took deliberate steps, slowly approaching Ralios, his eyes never leaving the peculiar mold creature. The air was thick with an uneasy tension, and every movement needed to be calculated to avoid provoking the odd creature.
The mold creature's hackles started to rise as Knight Harper got a few steps away from Ralios. However, to Knight Harper's astonishment, Ralios simply looked at the creature, and some kind of unspoken understanding seemed to be reached. The creature visibly calmed down.
Knight Harper extended his hand to Ralios, and the oil-covered Alorian took it.
"Let's get you checked out; that was one hell of a scrap."
Knight Harper said, trying to ease Ralios.
"Yeah.....that was.....yeah,"
Ralios replied uncommittedly.
Together, they walked back to the Galahad, accompanied by the peculiar mold creature, which now followed, staying faithfully at Ralios's side.
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