Posted by Gamemaster OZ (Gamemaster) in Main Sim - Harris’s quarters - 0200
…suddenly Belle was slipping out of CaI’s hands falling backward and over the railing toward the sparkling waters below. Cal leaned over reaching out for her, her eyes never leaving his, as she slowly fell down, down, down. A panicked expression on her otherwise beautiful face, she screamed, “Cal! Save me! Come and SAVE ME! CAL!!!”

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The dream had started out lovely enough. Cal had been reliving a particular beautiful date with a woman he had loved many years ago. But the date ended quite differently in his nightmare from what had actually happened.

Cal woke with a start his pulse and respiration racing.

Nearby, his monitor beeped with an incoming communication.

-OZ

Cal sat bolt upright in bed, panting and covered in sweat. The Marine was confused… conflicted… as to the nature of the dream. Why, after all these years… after he had already committed himself to a lifetime with Molly… that Belle was calling out to him, haunting him from across the void. The second of three women Cal had ever truly loved, struck down and taken from him just like the first… her death had been a shadow over Cal’s life and the future he had hoped to build with Molly. He had spent the last few years falling more deeply in love than he ever had and yet, terrified every day that she too would be taken from him.

Harris looked around the dark room, though smaller and less familiar compared to the larger CO’s Quarters on Deck 2, the Marine Detachment Commander’s quarters down in Marine Country was comfortable and he was happy that the Corps had returned him to the Dresden as the ship’s Marine CO. He always knew the novelty of a Marine in charge of a Federation vessel would be come to an end and honestly, he was happy to only be responsible for his little corner of the ship once more.

Having caught his breath, Cal said flatly “Computer… lights at 25%” As the room grew to a soft morning glow, Harris noticed the monitor rise from his desk. Pulling on a grey SFMC t-shirt, the Marine walked over to the screen and tapped the receive button as he settled in the chair. Rubbing his eyes, the face on the other side of the screen would hear a gruff. “This is Harris… do you have any idea what time it is?”

Harris, Marine CO