[Chat Window]
McGee: Test. Test. Anybody there?
McGee: Hello? Does this thing work?
McGee: Brooks, Ramirez, Galligan, respond.
McGee: Don't leave me hanging like this.
- Luna Galligan is attempting to connect -
=
"Answer the question, soldier."
McGee tightened his fists. It had been hours... He refused to answer any more questions until he knew the status of his teammates.
"Team Leader Cooter 'Scoots' McGee. It's in your best interests to answer me."
"Where is my team?"
"I want to know why Team Leader Kowalski betrayed his men."
"..."
"As an enlisted officer of the United States Army, you must do your duty-"
"Hah! Duty."
A vessel popped on the interrogator's forehead. McGee didn't want to resort to repeating his service number. He wouldn't go that far since they were all technically on the same side. Even this chucklefuck.
However, ever since that thing appeared in the barracks, Cooter's worldview had drastically changed. Right now, standing out against his bruised knuckles was a navy-blue tattoo that he didn't remember getting.
Growing up, he'd gotten several intricate tattoos, including a full-arm sleeve that he spent thousands of dollars on. On the back of his hand, right where the Army Ranger insignia was supposed to be, there was a subtly glowing sphere instead. There was no logical explanation for how it got there, much less the "Status" screen sitting in front of him.
Just then, the door slammed open and an officer, correction, a Lt. General waltz in.
"General!"
The interviewer rocketed to his feet. Muscle memory told McGee to do the same, but his cuffs tied him to the metal table. General Kensey jerked his head over his shoulder without breaking eye contact.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Skedaddle."
The interviewer fled so quickly that his shoes nearly caught fire.
General Kensey took his place in the chair across from McGee, crossing his legs and looking through the clipboard the interviewer had left behind. He spoke without looking up.
"You're excused for the moment due to the nature of your condition; however, I expect you to cooperate."
"General-"
"Shut up."
McGee bit his cheek. His hands became clammy and all the information on his status screen melted away.
"Team Leader Kowalski is MIA, assumed to be Summoned, and I've received word your Squad Leader just died on the table."
Sebastian is dead?
"That means you need to step up. Stop stalling and tell me everything from the top. I want to hear it straight from the source and not from this chicken-scratch."
The clipboard clacked against the metal table, the sound wrenching McGee back in time.
=
"Allister! Tomeron! Wake up, it's about to-"
It wasn't just Allister and Tomeron, everyone in the squad rocketing up from bed ready for action when the flash of light blinded them.
When their vision cleared, Kowalski was gone. In his place was the most badass-looking motherfucker he'd ever seen, kitted out some creepy sci-fi shit. The intruder seemed equally stunned at the sudden situation, but shit hit the fan immediately.
Allister was full of holes by the time McGee could reach the knife in his boot. Tomeron dropped down from his bunk onto the creature, trying to stab him to death with a switchblade he kept under his pillow.
The creature ran Tomeron through with his fucking rifle! Even when Squad Leader Sebastian and Galligan flanked him, it fought them off like a berserker, scoring gorey wounds. That was when McGee noticed the exosuit had a breathing unit. With the help of the others, they piled onto the bastard and managed to wrench away that freaky weapon. Just as it unsheathed what McGee could only identify as a fucking lightsaber, he managed to unscrew the breathing apparatus.
The alien panicked as they began to beat the ever-living shit out of it.
By the time the adrenaline finally faded and everyone pulled back, two of them were dead and the rest were nursing grievous injuries.
About five seconds before reinforcements arrived, a subtle light imprinted itself onto the survivor's hands.
=
"...That was when you all stormed the room."
McGee's southern hick accent reared its head. It always came out when he was stressed. This qualified.
Lt. General Kensey had his arms crossed the whole time as he listened without interrupting.
"What does your Status show you?"
McGee didn't bother asking how the General knew. Instead, his eyes unfocused as he read the information in front of him.
[ Character Sheet (Limited) ]
[ Name: Cooter (Scoots) McGee ]
[ Skills: Identify, Communication ]
[ Destination: Auria ]
[ Time Remaining: 164:43:50 ]
"It says I've got about a week."
The Communication Skill referred to the Chat Window he managed to open up. However, there was no one else inside. The message he received about Galligan trying to enter the chat room probably meant that she had a similar ability. The Identify skill likely explained why everyone had a name floating above their head. What was this, goddamn Runescape?
"Sounds like your luck isn't entirely dogshit. What about Skills? You can't breathe fire, can you?"
"Fuckin A', I hope not."
General Kensey grinned and gestured for his guards to uncuff McGee. They were rough when yanking off the cuffs.
"Galligan is still in surgery. Meanwhile, you're going to use that Identify skill and tell me what I'm dealing with."
"How did you know?"
"Magic."
McGee rubbed his wrists and followed behind Kensey, separated by several guards with automatic weapons.
*Ding*
- Luna Galligan is connecting -