Random One Shots, Drabbles, And Ficlets

"This is a bad idea... this is such a bad idea."

"This is a bad idea... this is such a bad idea." I mutter as I step into the dark tunnel. Holding out my flickering flashlight steadily, I skim my hand slowly across the concrete walls, letting it drag along. The tunnel was a short walk, it was damp, dark, and slightly slippery. I think back to what Matteo had said; "If you see or hear anything weird, report to me immediately. You should have me on speed-dial just in case."

Making my way through the dimly-lit tunnel, my hands stop touching concrete. Great. An intersection. I turn to the right-hand turn and continue walking. Soon the narrow tunnel stops and widens into a hallway. On each side there are prison cells, but nothing in them. A small sound sounds off behind me. I stop, my hand flinching up to my communicator on instinct. I turn it on.

"Hey Allion, you okay so far?" Matteo's slightly raspy voice comes through the speaker of the communicator.

"Yeah, just nervous. I just wanted to hear you, this place is far too familiar for my liking."

"Don't worry, okay? You should be fine. Leave any time you need to." His voice softens. It's... reassuring.

"Okay, thanks Matteo. I'll keep the voice chat online." I continue to walk, treading lightly as to not make much noise. Shining the light into the cells, the hallway starts to come to a close.

As I'm turning to head back down the hall, something moves out of the corner of my eye. My breath hitches, apparently audibly noticeable by the reply of "Are you okay? What's happening?" from the receiver.

"Not sure, I was just about to leave, but I saw something out of the corner of my eye."

"Can you turn on visuals?"

"Pfft, yes sir." I quietly chuckled, reaching to the holopad on my helmet.

I felt the temperature in the room shift. It seemed to be getting warmer according to my equipment's built-in thermometer. "It's getting warmer."

"Well then be careful in there! You know that you aren't good in heat. Remember, you come from an actual Tundra planet."

"Thanks for reminding me of the place I lived for 30 sun-rotations." I muttered dryly. "Get a ship ready to pick me up. I'm leaving in 5."

"Roger that."

I pick up the pace, walking back through the hall quickly. "Don't walk too fast, looks slippery." Matteo says worriedly. "Wow, thanks." "You're welcome."

I skim my free hand back across the wall, trying to remember the way I came in. Okay, go left, straight for a while and then right, no wait was it right, left then straight? Ughhhh--

"Left turn, then walk straight until you see faint light." Wait what.

"I could tell you are worrying about directions."

"Thanks, dad."

"You're welcome, son."

I huff a quiet laugh and walk for a while until I see the ship and sprint to the ship. Getting inside, I see a smaller figure waiting for me.