The Dream

[SJonus 0]

Drifting, no floating was more like it…no…falling; slowly at first, then moving more quickly…FLASH!  

What was that, a light from below?  Where is the surface…where are the people?Falling faster now…ground coming up quickly…

The sky…where is the sky?

Heat and flames…burning…pain…FLASH!  Soldiers…a ship entering orbit.

Why am I burning?

 

    Jonus woke with a start and a feeling as if his lungs had decided to stop working.  His breathing was labored and difficult.

    “Computer, lights!”  

There was nothing here, no people, no soldiers, no flames.  It was a dream, nothing more; yet why did he feel like he had been there; of course it would be nice to know where “there” was.  

    He looked down at his hands, half expecting them to be seared to the bone, but they were just fine.  He moved to the replicator, “Computer, water, cold.”  The machine emitted a soft light as it produced the drink that was requested.  Jonus took a long drink, almost finishing the entire contents of the glass, and set it back upon the surface of the machine.  He felt a little better, now that he knew it was just a strange dream.

    He moved to the lavatory and stood in front of the sink and splashed water on his face.  The coolness of the liquid running over his skin was soothing and the images seemed to be fading faster and faster.  He dried his hand and glanced into the mirror…to an image that wasn’t his own!  

    Staring back at him in the mirror was a Romulan face, not his own.  It’s an interesting feeling, finding yourself in a panicked state: it doesn’t happen to quickly, the realization that is (at least not for an El-Aurian).  The sight, the impression all seemed to move in slow motion.  Jonus actually had to time to study the image for a bit, notice his features: a small scar on his left cheek.  After only a brief second, to any normal Terran, the sense of time advanced on and then came the scream.

    “Security, intruder alert, section….”  The image was his own face now, nothing more than that.  He paused in his request and a sense of dread and foreboding began to move in to his thoughts.

    Jonus stood there for a while and even reached out to touch the mirror, then touch his own face, as a juvenile would when seeing something in disbelief.

    The com quickly responded, “Report!  Intruder in what section?”

    “Belay that security, my apologies.  Everything is fine, Jonus out.”

    He moved back to his bed and sat beside the computer terminal that was emitting a soft light upon his face, “Computer, begin personal log…

    I have had the strangest experience…I was Romulan and I recognized him, I mean…myself…I mean…  Computer, delete log.”

    What the hell is wrong with me; I have to focus, I have to ….brief!  The mission brief; Romulans, Proxima Centuri.

    As Jonus sat there and pondered the current mission, he knew he would no longer be able to sleep.  He began to get dressed, making sure his uniform looked as immaculate as possible, and then proceeded to his station to do some research on his own.