A New Old Friend (Rollcall)

Posted on Fri Jan 10th, 2025 @ 1:58pm by Josef Forstinger

Mission: Season 6: Episode 5: A church beyond heaven
Location: Josef's Quarters
Timeline: Late Afternoon
Tags: Rollcall,
1008 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Finally back at his Quarters. Forstinger disliked big crowds-at least ever since the war. Something made him feel uneasy in them. Most of the ship was big crowds though. So he had to sometimes choose to confine himself to his quarters or take the risk and go out.

However, something was different this time as he went down the empty hallway towards his quarters. This sense of unease....of being on edge, it didn't go away like normal. The sense of impending dread grew. Why? Damn it. He just had to lie down for a bit, maybe rest-

That's when he entered his quarters. This time, the door didn't gently slide back into place with a swoosh. No, for some reason - perhaps a mechanical error, it slammed shut with excessive force, resulting in a loud bang.

Josef's eyes widened as if Instinct took over, turning on a dime and almost punching the door. His heart suddenly picked up even more speed as he could feel his right hand and fingers twitch, out of his control entirely as he took hold of it with his other hand by the wrist, which did nothing to calm the twitch, especially that of his trigger finger. The Usual Ambient Hum of his quarters suddenly fell silent. The Hum of the Warp Engine and Nacelles were replaced by the sound of his heartbeat, ever-quickening like a wardrum. He felt a drop of cold sweat run down his forehead. What was happening ?! He had never felt like this, well, he had, but that was so long ago-

And that's when he heard a voice, one that seemed both familiar and foreign at the same time. He felt the voice pound into his brain like it was both spoken aloud and projected into his brain.

Ah, there you are. We meet once again.

Once again turning on a dime, Josef was suddenly face to face with a figure that was not there before. It certainly couldn't have hidden in his quarters-and the door had not opened since he had entered. However, this was not at all on his mind, as the dark hooded figure had extended a finger....a finger devoid of flesh nor muscle. A skeletal finger pointing directly towards his chest. Said finger prodding outward to touch his sternum.

Josef feels the hard bone through his clothes and takes a step back, his eyes widening further.

"It can't be-no-this is another nightmare."

Oh, I can assure you, you are very much awake.

The Figure responds, lowering its hand as Josef takes a step back in his dark quarters. The Figure's face is shrouded by the darkness of both the room and its cloak, which covers most of its body, except for the hands, which are both revealed to be nothing but bleached bone. An uneasy Aura falls over Josef, as he feels cold sweat starting to form on his forearms and back.

"You're not real, you can't be..."

Am I not? Then why do I stand before you, perhaps you have things mixed up. Perhaps this ship isn't real. I mean really Josef, a Spaceship? Energy Weapons, Replicators, Aliens, talking Horses- and yet me you shun ? Then tell me, when was the last time you checked the corners inside your head ?

As the figure goes on, Reality warps around Josef for but a second, replacing the dimly lit quarters with a brightly lit padded cell, something which makes him breathe even more uneasily. Yet as quickly as his surroundings changed, they were once again back to his quarters.

"Fuck you. I am not insane." is his brisk response, anger growing inside him. An Anger he couldn't quite place, was it at this figure, or himself?

Insane ? No no no, I am not calling you insane, but you sure are something. Tell me, how many people have you killed since cheating me? Don't pretend you haven't kept count, of all those souls in the Arena-what would the people on this vessel think of you if they ever find out the truth?

The figure's tone was almost teasing in nature now, something which didn't help the growing anger inside the man.

"Shut it..." he murmured threateningly to the figure if he wasn't sure what he COULD do.

They already distrust you. That neutered energy weapon, confiscating your old weapons. The way they look at you when you pass them in the hallway. Some pity you like a lost child. Others distrust you, they think you're dangerous, a caveman from the past, a brute who will try and destroy anything or anyone that's alien to him. I gave you a chance you know, to die with them, to be buried by your loved ones. Yet selfishly you went on. And see where that has landed you now. A Fossil in the future, isolating itself, afraid of all the blinking lights and new things like a Caveman afraid of fire.

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP !"

Josef finally roars, having reached his breaking point, going to wind up and punch the figure for it to disappear in the blink of an eye, causing him to hit the metal wall behind it. The resulting bang echoed through the room and sent a jolt of pain through Josef's right hand. His knuckles had busted open against the wall, smearing red blood onto the bulkhead and his fingers. The momentary pain was so bad he had to curl up for but a second

Your survival is merely tragedy not yet given time.

Was the last he heard of the figure's voice before the lights flickered on, his punch setting off the manual light switch. The Pain soon faded, but the slight smell of blood remained as he could hear the humming noise of the engine once again.

And after the Anger, came sadness. For in his mind, he knew the figure's words were true. All of it.

How long could he keep going like this?