The Strange

[Karmotrine Dream]

« I-Islay! It's Douglas, r-returning from patrol! Let me in! »
« Understood Grian. Make your way over to bay seven, it'll be cleared shortly. Everything alright? »
« Yes! Y-Yes, everything's alright! Now please let me in already! »

The Panther launched itself through the docking bay and slammed the manoeuvring thrusters array only seconds before reaching her landing zone, breaking the vessel's considerable momentum and forcing the upper jets to push her down onto the pad; the noise of metal slamming into metal and creaking filled the cockpit, and soon after the entire bay, as the gravity suspender slowly kicked in and floated the bomber back in place.
A hasty and uncharacteristically reckless act, under normal circumstances - but right about now, all she wanted to do is put as much distance, armour and rock between her and the Interdictor.

« Douglas! What the hell's going on?! »

The gruff voice of the XO called out to her as she was climbing, or rather almost falling, down from her craft; marching down the hallway to her pad, wearing his worn military overalls and a stern look in his eyes, he had the kind of urgency in his step that demanded immediate and clear answers to whatever the situation was, and that he was certain he wasn't going to get that.
She shot him a terrified, wild-eyed look in response.

« T-the Vice Admiral! It's the Vice A-Admiral! It's, he thought, I heard-- »
« Stars above, Douglas, you're not making any sense! », he growled as he grabbed her shoulders, as if he wanted to physically stop her fretting. « What IS it? »
"H-HE'S ONE OF THEM!", she cried out, pressured and frightened beyond herself, feeling her eyes welling up.
"What?"

She nodded forcefully and let her head down, shaking, trying to hold back the tears.
Sean relented his grip somewhat. The girl just isn't in a state to give him any real answer, he thought; maybe she herself doesn't know much of anything, maybe she's just scared witless.

« Look, Douglas, it's clear you had a pretty rough one out there. Go get some shut-eye. You're not injured, are you? »
« I-I am FINE! I am NOT making this up, he- »
« No you're not. Come on, listen to yourself - you're shaking like a leaf, you can't even talk straight! »

Amy opened her mouth to protest, to insist she really is fine and that she is absolutely certain that the man really did speak to her like the monster in Roussillon did - but gave up, seeing her superior's disbelief and dimly realising she must be sounding like a madwoman, and breathed out a deep sigh.

« But I... »
« You'll explain later, once you've had some rest and calmed down. Okay? Let's get you to the sickbay in the meantime, see if you're all right. »
« But, the captain... I should tell the captain... »
« I'll tell her, don't worry. Now let's go. »

He patted her on the shoulder, reassuringly, and started walking back into the station.
She trailed behind, not looking particularly comforted, and stared up at him.

« You don't believe me, do you...? »
« Of course I do », he lied, « but you're too shaken right now, see? The captain will want to hear whatever happened, but she'll want to hear it loud and clear. »
« Ugh... »
« Listen, while you're lying down, I'll go ahead and check the comms, okay? The rest comes later. Now, the sickbay. »

The girl sighed again and nodded, defeated.
She would've had to wait, no matter what. Stars knew if she'd still remember it later - or if she'd ever manage to forget, she glumly wondered as she settled inside and waited for her mandatory check-up.

(Maybe Sean's right... maybe I am just really tired and not thinking straight, maybe I got spooked for nothing... imagined it... or something.
Yeah. If only...)