Afterimage

[Chrysalis]

A beeping filled his ears. He jerked to consciousness. His head was heavy, his mouth dry and foul tasting. And his eyes, owing to his habit of sleeping with them wide open, were bloodshot and sore. He squinted and groaned as he rotated his head slowly, trying to identify where he was and when he was. Through the haze he made out the slightly unkempt, dark interior, with delicate electronics, discarded items and pulsating lights. He was seated reclined in a leather seat, and gazing upwards, forcing his eyes open through agonizing dryness he made out an engraved brass plaque above the cockpit window - "Agent J. A. Cox, Poltergeist".

The dreadful beeping that woke him intensified, ringing in his ears and picking at his skull like a ravenous vulture. He jumped up, but was pulled right back with an onset of vertigo. He forced himself up, this time slowly, swaying left and right and running his hands over the control panel, trying desperately to shut it off. He managed to turn off the cockpit blinds, start the air conditioning and jettison some rations before he finally landed his finger on the alarm control switch. He slumped back towards his chair, and dropped beside it. He scowled as he rubbed his eyes and ran his hand through his messy hair and beard, retching from the foul alcoholic aftertaste; Courtesy of the night before. His eyes slowly returned to focus, and he set them towards the ship's window.

The removed blinders revealed a swarm of asteroids buzzing by, and the glare of a sun filtering through them. The ship was on autopilot. To where and why, he couldn't recall. He sat on the floor, resting his head on the side of his seat.

"Computer. Current location and destination." He spoke with a coarse voice.

"We are currently travelling the Kiribati Asteroid Field. Plotted course: Omicron Minor, Planet Toledo." Jason winced as the female-voiced computer replied. "Redirect?" The computer added shortly after.

"Yes..." He cleared his throat and propped himself back into the seat. "Set course for Freeport Eleven."