Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 24: Shell Shocked

The scream of bombs pounded his ears, shells and warheads pierced the gunmetal clouds, bombarding the rain soaked earth. Flames and explosions danced across the crying clouds as dark ships flew in for attacks, firing a storm of vermilion plasma bolts amid chartreuse resistance. It was hell once more.

"Sergeant!"

Prill exited the ruins of a building, grabbing Jerrok's dog tags and rank. He made a brief goodbye prayer, promising one day he would return. This was no time for a proper funeral. This was war. This was hell.

The building blasted apart as their tank fled the burnt village, brick and mortar demolishing adjacent ruins as another bomb flew in. Prill shuddered. His comrades would be buried a few meters from the enemy, with traitors. It wasn't honorable, but he had no choice. Perhaps the townsfolk were forced, manipulated into killing their own. Whatever the cause, the gods would look down upon them with shame.

The soldiers entered a thick canopy; the trees and vines covered the beaten road. They were safe, for now.

"Prill, are you feeling okay? Prill?"

His eyes turned to Captain Drevwood, breaking his blank stare. Her eyes were brushed with slight concern. "What is it?"

"Memories, Captain. Flashbacks."

"Care to talk? I'm off this night shift."

"It is the war, Captain. I do not think you will relate, despite being military yourself. Sympathize, maybe, but not truly understand."

"That's true, but I'll listen. Talking helps."

He sighed. "If you do not know what war is like, you will soon."

"What do you mean?"

"Beyond the nebula, past the neutral zone, is no man's space, former Nevran colonies, all abandoned and in ruins now. Every day we get closer. There is no way to avoid it. The front lines span for light years. Go through that, and we might not survive. Our only choice is to head directly into Nevran space. I can guarantee safe passage, but I will likely drag your kind and your crew into the war."

"Then we can fight our way through."

"With what? Your ship has no weapons, no fighters, no defense. You could be overwhelmed and boarded."

"Maybe not. We've shut down everything and went adrift. It's worked before and it can work again."

"Do not be naïve. It will not fool everyone, not the P'Shari."

"Then we'll join your side, arm up, and train the crew."

"Very well. That is up to you, but keep in mind that your colonial ship is not a war vessel. . . it will take everyone time to adjust."

"As long as we're prepared."

"Preparation is not everything."

Prill stood up, his eyes scanning the dim mess hall. "Goodnight, Captain."

"You're not leaving, are you?"

"I would rather not talk about the war. I did things I regret, things I thought I could never do, things that will haunt me forever. The war brought forth the darkness within. It warped me, it stripped me, it turned me into a machine of death. It made me a monster. . . I am no Valorian. I cannot share my demons. I cannot show you my vices and moral turpitude. I can only hold in the pain, accept my darkness, and accept my burdens. You can sympathize all you want, but you, as of now, cannot truly understand. Thus, it is pointless to say anymore."

Prill left the room, silent and straight, as if dressed in uniform once more. Zarra didn't bother noticing; her mind elsewhere, her eyes reaching into the stars. Out there was home, but also hell, light years of death and destruction. She resented it as much as he did. The time would come again as she once feared. They would have to take up arms and fight as they did in the past before they lost so many, but she doubted her crew was ready to handle another. They were ill-equipped before, but now, with so little left, they had enough weapons to make a standing army should they be boarded. She stood up, stretching. Now was no time to think such thoughts. She had children to protect, a crew, and a ship. They weren't true space force soldiers. They weren't threatened. Yet.