Summary: Never-ending new dreams and nightmares for Commander Jynn.

June 2 2035

125lbs / 5'11" / Restrictions Lessened / 30 min. jog around the ship

We're planning on heading to North America soon, the west coast region, but still have a few things to tie up here. Volk's people got wind of some high-up ADVENT scientist who wants to defect from City 22, aka Sha'n'dao, to the resistance, but there's a bit of a problem. They're heavily guarded, and it's going to take one hell of a diversion to get their guards away from them. Volk says the biggest issue is the head of the guards.

Durga, or the "Painted Lady", is what people call her. The way she dresses betrays one's senses. She looks like an escort, all dressed up in that kimono of hers, but she's dangerous. From what intel we've gathered, she's a skilled combatant, has a fine mastery with the blade that rivals the Assassin, and will not hesitate to kill instead of subdue. There are even reports of her killing those she's assigned to guard if they're being kidnapped. Pyrrhic Victory. She'll definitely be a top priority to get away from the VIP.

Discussions and planning for the operation shall be fun in a few days. Thinking about it is already giving me a headache. Hopefully, Volk is willing to lend us a few of his Reapers, specifically to provide a distraction and possible covering fire if the squad's cover gets blown. Probably will ask for something in return, which is reasonable. And need to ask how the search for Marrow is going. If he's still alive. I believe he is as Kon-Ris likes to send the occasional broadcast about it.

Speaking of headaches. The Elders' calls are growing more frequent and annoying, again. Gave me a break after I had my heart-to-heart with John some nights ago, huh? The bastards.

Have to try to catch myself, don't want more people pointing out to me that I'm zoning off again. Thankfully, it hasn't happened during something important, but it's getting distracting. Usually, I barely hear Them when I'm around others, but that seems to be changing.

Probably should bring this up to Tygan and Marin… If John doesn't hog tie me and drag me to them first. I've got to give him more details before he starts pressing for answers if I zone out again sometime soon. I'll give him credit, he is being extremely patient with me.

Ugh, time to sleep. Hopefully, I won't have another weird dream or nightmare.

The tides ebbed so gently across the great expanse. The starlight danced across the blue waters, twinkling like diamonds as the waters pushed and pulled on the ashen shores. Warm waters caressed Jynn's face. The breeze enveloped it with tart and salty air. But none of this felt right.

"Wa..ter?" She felt it all around her. Enveloping her very being. Her eyes groggily opened. "Wh–what?" Nothing made sense.

Above her was the great expanse of space. That great void was decorated by mere bejeweled grains of sand. Before her eyes, behind an ethereal nebula, was a multitude of stars, twinkling like the finest gems. It was a mesmerizing sight.

Can you see beyond the Gap? A deep voice echoed in her head.

"What?" Where did that voice come from?

Can you peer beyond the Veil?

She looked around. No one was around. But her surroundings made no sense to her. She was in an ocean. Laying. Floating. There was land not too far off. Then she noticed. She was naked.

"What the!?' Panicked quickly set in. She splashed about almost drunkenly as she tried to right herself. She managed to find footing and got herself upright. The ocean wasn't that deep. She did her best to cover herself.

"Where the hell am I?"

Her eyes frantically searched her surroundings. Nothing but ocean for miles minus a small island not too far off. She made her way to it.

"Nothing makes sense. Ocean? Why? What kind of dream is this?"

She continued to look around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. But it was futile. Nothing made sense. Then she noticed.

"Is that island further away?"

She could have sworn she had been wading a good ten minutes, and the shore wasn't any closer. She stopped moving and closed her eyes.

Can you see beyond the Gap, young one? That voice returned.

"Nothing makes sense." The voice didn't sit well with her. She did he best to ignore it.j

"Help me." A faint voice cried out.

A chill went up her spine. Her eyes flew open, and she quickly looked around. Nothing. No one was there.

"Help me."

"Please help."

More cries. Still, no one was in sight.

"H-hello?" She cautiously asked. She froze, feeling something, something grab her leg. Something muddy and bony. Something told her not to look down, but she did. Her eyes widened. Her breathing quickened. If only she had some hair, as it would stand on its ends.

Underneath the crystal blue was a face staring at her. A leathery, desiccated human corpse. Hollowed out holes where eyes should have and mouth was gaping wide opened. It reminded her of some bodies at the Blacksite. "Help me." It spoke unobstructed by the water. She quickly pulled away, flailing madly. Somehow, she kept herself upright.

"What the hell!?"

More hands sprung forth from the depths, and quickly grabbed her, pulling on her. She looked around. More corpses. Human and… alien. Twisted. Desiccated. Mutilated.

"Help me."

"Help us."

"Please."

"Please help us."

A chorus of them moaned and cried out. Soon it became a defining wail. More hands grabbed her. She couldn't break free from their grasp.

"Let go! Let go!" She cried out as she struggled. Their grasp was powerful. She couldn't tell if they were pulling themselves up or pulling her down. The waterline seemed to rise. Her heart raced even more. It felt like it was ready to burst out of her chest.

"Save us."

"Please."

"Help us. Save us."

Their cries only increased.

She could feel the water was up to her neck, inching slowly towards her face. She took a quick breath. Water came over her. She had to act fast. But what to do? She closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts. Counting the seconds until she would feel her lungs burn. Another icy chill shot up her spine like a bolt of electricity. She didn't know why; she looked towards the sky.

So you can see beyond the Gap, young one. That deep voice echoed. It sounded curious. "Your mind has been touched by the ethereal ones."

Space, the impressive expanse of stars. Yet, it looked to be growing dimmer. Before her eyes, darkness swept across the void, snuffing out star after star until all was black. To her horror, the growing darkness descended, consuming the waters. The cries and wailing grew as the shroud came crawling towards her. She felt as though her head was going to cave in; her ears were about to burst. She struggled more. She had to break free. She gasped for air, but her lungs only found water. It felt like a hot iron searing her flesh. Her limbs grew heavy.

But which ones? The humble? Or the vain? A grim chuckle came from it. In truth, it does not matter. All will return to the abyss. All will be consumed. As it is to be.

As her vision grew murky, and the darkness encroached, she felt a pain building in her chest. A sharp, blistering pain worked its way up her throat. Her eyes rolled over as she started to convulse. A moment later, a black crystal erupted from her mouth and throat. A faint glisten of red shined through it. And then… darkness. The cries and screaming stopped.

"All will be silent. All will be calm. Hushed and empty is the womb of the sky."

"GAAH!" Jynn woke up in a panic.

Panting and heaving, trying her best to hold back the urge to vomit. It took a few moments for her heartbeat to settle down, and for her to notice her surroundings. She was in her quarters, not naked, nor drowning in some ocean with some corpses. Her hand drifted up to her throat. It was sore, but definitely, no crystal was going through it and out her mouth. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, that's new." What an understatement.

She took a moment to stretch and take in a few deep breaths before getting up.

"Something new for my journal later." She shook her head. It was a strange nightmare. Very different from all the others. She couldn't shake an eerie feeling off. "Something to think about later."

She looked at the nightstand. 11:42. "Meeting is within two hours. Better get ready." She headed to the shower.

"Just what was is this 'Gap'?" Something about that word bothered her. Like she knew the answer, but nothing came to her mind. Something else to gnaw away at her mind.