LANCE

"Its been some time Lance, hope you didn't forget me."

I woke up shivering to the noise of the aircon, still not used to this unnecessary cool I thought, It had been a decent amount of time of which i had spent here, but there was always a feeling, feeling of something holding me back from having my guard down, call it ptsd stress or what have you but there always felt like something, in the shadows, silent calm and patient, perhaps behind that door-,

"Acting Captain Zeigler, you've been called to the Reach Zone, emergency assingment in Numbani."

Odd I thought what the teleprompter said, I had my bags packed already and looked for places to lay low in, maybe I could have been pardoned.. ah what was I hoping for, I hit a man implying accusation without evidence the worst that would happen is they take my time machine away, no..that would be the en-

"Lance where are you?! Wake up and get to the Launch Bay now!"

Ignoring my scattered thoughts I went ahead and got my new gun along with mom's old scaf I found tucked in the ship. I made my way out of the room into the Reach to the far right side of which was the entryway to the Launch bay. As i had expected all eyes were on me but what i didn't expect was tears in those eyes. Something is very wrong, something..in the shadows somethi no I cannot be distracted anymore. Hurrying my pace I got to the area where everyone seemed to gather around and I mean everyone.

"Reporting Commander.."

"Sir."

"Doctor Zeigler?" I stare at Mom, was this how I was gonna be treated from now on, but instead I saw her eyes, previously filled with anger, instead filled with terror, perhaps shock and a mixture of confusion. I followed her gaze to the television in front and what I saw, the very embodiment of the nightmare I so desperately wanted to leave behind, something so similar..how.

"Thats..oh my god thats commander Baswood, and Collinhole..not Sehral..what is happening we have to go there!!" Tracer pleaded

"what are you guying gawking at!! We have to load up the ships an-"

"Is this thing still working?"

And then there was utter silence, all for the sound of a few footsteps crunching through the diamond-like glass, then there was a hand that lifted up the display,

"I sure hope I might have done too much. While I cannot get too far from this crater I hope you can come to it Lancel. Its time to stop the games, meet me here in an hour, you know what happens if you don't."

I have to complete the story. Thanks for your time.