Respite - Part 7

“But nothing happened!” protested Carter Colfax.

“Then what's with this guilt all over your face?”

The empty cargo bay was far away from everyone's earshot. Colfax had caught up with Private Nick Nelson and they ended up there having their first argument.

“What look?”


“Oh you can't even hide it, so just drop it will you?” Nick raised his voice and it echoed through the bay.

“I think you're blowing this way outta proportion Nick.”

“Blow what? I don't even know what happened. Oh this is pointless, I need to head back to the barracks.”

“Wait!” Colfax grabbed Nelson by the arm, a little firmly than he would have liked to, but the in the heat of the moment he didn't notice his grip.

“Do I need to remind you how good a soldier I am? I can break this arm in two places, bust both your kneecaps and fracture that pretty nose of yours faster than you can say “torpedoes away”.

Colfax let go.

“Nick, honestly, honestly, nothing happened. We kissed...we were making out but I pulled away, and then kinda, sorta ran out of there in a hysterical sorta way. I went back to apologize and that's when you came in.”

Nelson said nothing. He turned but didn't open the door. “I would have like to see that,” he said finally.

“See what?”

“You running hysterically.”

…

Lieutenant John Harrow sat up in his tent. For a moment he didn't know where he was. The metallic interiors of the giant tent reflected the illumination from the lantern next to him creating a dazzling light play. Harrow rubbed his face clearing away any doubt that he was actually awake. Everything that had happened in the last few hours came back to him. He and Marcus Landrey were alone on the planet waiting for the landing party to return. Landrey was given a mild sedative and he must have fallen asleep as well. Then it occurred to him. Where was Sergeant Landrey?

He picked himself up, grabbed his riffle, snapped on his helmet and got out of the tent. He tapped his scarab. “Landrey, where are you? Respond.”

He got only static.

Harrow tapped on the tent door and waited for the airlock to release. It seemed to take forever. He walked around the campsite and was about to widen his search parameter when he saw Landrey standing on a rock and looking at the desert sunset. The young trooper was completely naked and when Harrow got closer, he noticed something different about him.

Landrey turned when he heard Harrow climbing up behind him and smiled. “Hey, can you believe how beautiful ...” he started but stopped noticing the horrified look on Harrow's face. “What? What is it?”

Harrow didn't know what to say.

“What?” asked Landrey again.

Harrow tapped on the settings on his onyx, pointed it at Landrey and took a picture.

“I think you should see this,” said Harrow and projected a holoscreen from his wrist device.

“Oh my g...” Landrey instinctively felt his face and touched his head. “What the hell is happening to me?”


...