For you are immortal

[Rommie]

I stand in my room once more, bleeding thoughts on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The last training session drained me completely. But they're so many, and all of them lack skill, determination. Stubborn yet, very much like I was a long time ago. And many just as young...


...
Why do humans dream?
...
What's with the question, all of the sudden?
Well I felt you needed someone to talk to.
I smile and turn around I don't know...
Would you like me to tell you?
...
Because they all have something to look forward to. Good, or bad ...
What if they already have everything they could ask for?
Babies don't need anything else but their parents' protection.
...
Yet they dream as well.
...
What do you look forward too?
I turn back to the ceiling I've forgotten it a long time ago.
Willingly?
...




The next day.


I head for the debriefing room. My head hurts. I see the Major refused to remain in bed as well. He sees I look at him as I pass, and we nod at each other, and he follows me into the debriefing room.
I walk up the podium and look search the room. They're all here. Should I be happy?

-Good Morning.
the pilots salute
-Today we're going to split into two teams. Major, if you will.


I step down and let the Major take the podium. I take a seat next to Josh. He seems nervous now that I'm sitting next to him.


-Michael, Daniel, Alice, Josh, and Mike, you'll be patrolling sectors DE67 with me today. We'll be on the look for smugglers. Be on the hangar deck in 5, move out.


They leave the room, followed by the Major. I stand up and head back to the podium. The Commander enters the room. The pilots stand up and salute, as he salutes back and steps beside me.


-The mission we'll be performing today is as dangerous as is it classified. Whoever believes he didn't join the military to die as a result of a training accident may leave the room now, and join the Major's patrol.


I step back and look at Jake and Brian as they leave the room. The Commander steps before me after they had left the room. He looks at those who remained and nods slowly.


-The CIS has forwarded me a report 24 hours ago based on information gathered on Barrier Gate. Multiple rumors suggest that a jump gate of non-human build has been sighted somewhere in the south-western sectors of Coronado. The Colonel will be leading you there today. You will scout sectors AB78. If the jump gate is found, record its location, and return to base. Hostile forces, if found, are to be eliminated on sight. Activation of the jump gate is obviously prohibited. Doing so will get you eliminated on the spot by the Colonel himself. You will depart in 10 minutes. Good luck to all of you.


He steps down from the podium and leaves the room. I walk a few steps forward and look at the ones that remained again. Three men and one woman. Practically the same faces I've seen at the last covert operation offered to me. They stand up and move to the restricted section of the hangar, reserved for these operations. I follow them.

---

In space, nobody knows I'm a panda