Last Holiday on Terra

2

My day had felt particularly longer than normal. It wasn't, but it felt like it. I was exhausted and hungry and the only things I wanted was food and sleep. When I arrived home from work, I sat in my car and stared out of the wind shield into the darkness. Then, for some odd reason, I closed my eyes.

There was a tapping on the window and I opened my eyes to find a shadowy figure tapping on the driver side door. No way was I going to open it. I quickly reached for the key and turned the ignition fully expecting the engine to engage, but nothing happened. I looked to my passenger seat and saw my grandfather sitting in the seat.

I was dreaming.

"Open it. It's okay," he said.

Having learned lucid dreaming as a child, my confidence grew exponentially. I looked into his long-dead eyes and nodded, then opened the door.

"Good evening," the shadowy figure pointed at me and continued. "Are you wearing that?"

I was still in my work clothes.

The shadowy figure lowered his head. "The Council has reconvened. You should change into your dress robes."

"Oh, how silly of me," I replied  sarcastically. "Welp, I reckon my dress robes are in my other dream."

A woman appeared suddenly urging me to get out of the car. "Commander please...they're waiting."

I nodded. "Mmhmm. Can they start without me?"

"Negative Commander."

"Then fuck em. They can wait. Who are you two? And while you're telling me who you are, how 'bout let's see who you are while we're at it, huh?"

The male figure groaned and then growled from obvious frustration as he turned to face the female. "Have you learned who's blocking the transmission yet, Luitenant?"

She shook her head.

"Tell ya what," I said, "how about I wake up and continue this dream from the comfort of my own bed, hmm?"

"Well, you can certainly try Commander. You're a strong dreamer. But you're likely going to awaken your husband. At the very least, your cats will announce your entry...and well, there's your dog..."

"Let's not wake up and say we did." The man turned to face me.

"How about I just go inside..."

The shadowy figure blocked my path, and pointed upward. "Look...there are fifteen ships in orbit right now..,"

"And all to see lil ol me? How sweet."

He reached across his hip and withdrew what was clearly a weapon and the female gasped.

"Umm, you realize that I can be a super ninja in my dreams if I want, right?"

"I do, yes. But this isn't a dream. Now let's go!"

"My dream, my rules."

"Why are you being so aggressive tonight?"

The female moved a little closer. "Sir, this isn't a dream. Not really. I mean, it won't be. Please cooperate?"