Fiction:ShortStory: Steel Within

It began with dreams. Not dreams of anything in particular. It was more the feeling of a dream, the confusion and lack of understanding. Like something was scratching at the edge of your mind, trying to get in. But that feeling didn't stop when you awoke. There was something in the air of that planet, that place they called Landfall, that gave it a dreamlike quality. In the day, it was a whisper, but at night it was a scream.

Uldorak looked at the letter. "I'm beginning to think coming here was a bad idea," the Ulelae said. His sergeant Ulnik laughed and stuck a stinking spiceweed cigar between his wide teeth. "You know that's all Glikskurcrap, right? I mean, these were-" he made air quotes with his fingers, "-paleoxenoarchaeologists. What the hell is that even supposed to mean anyways?" Uldorak gave an unconvincing and too-wide grin. "Right. Those crazy paleoxenowhatsits. Just an old wives' tale." Hopefully, he thought to himself. "Prepare for planetary deployment in twenty kliks. All squads report to hangar. Repeat, all squads report to hangar."

"This is the most boring planet I have ever had the bad luck to get stuck on," another of Uldorak's squad mates whispered to him as the dropship cruised lazily through the lint-colored clouds. The world beneath was little more than irradiated rocks, each the exact same color of leather. Uldorak placed his face in his palm, saying, "What have I gotten myself into?" "An adventure!" Sergeant Ulnik cackled. "Sarge," a young, fresh-faced Ulelae named Ulshin bellowed, "We're being stuck on a boring-ass planet where everything's the same damn color with a bunch of paleo- aw hell, what are they anyways? How is this an adventure?!      Ulnik responed only with, "Watch your language, son."

TO BE CONTINUED. AFTER SLEEP. AND MEMEBASE.