Echoes of the Dead Nebula - Dream

"King Snake... don't bully Little Snake and Flower... we're all friends..."

Eve was mumbling in her sleep, clutching her pillow tightly. Her twintails were a mess, and a bit of drool pooled at the corner of her mouth.

"Eve. What the hell are you dreaming about?"

I pulled the blanket over her with an exasperated chuckle. She'd treated the massive xenoform on Nox-4 like a puppy, played with the arthropods like toys—and now it looked like she was hanging out with them in her dreams too.

Guess that's what comes with being a queen. Even her dreams are on another scale.

Lydia, standing beside me, covered her mouth and giggled.

"Oh my, she's adorable. So feisty during the day, but asleep she's the picture of a baby angel. I just want to pinch her cheek."

Nahibi grumbled from near Eve's face. I casually reached over and squished the soft slime against Eve's cheek.

"Kal? What's up? Eve's sleeping."

"Oh, just reflex. Meant to do it once and overdid it."

I played it cool as I mashed Nahibi flat. It wriggled free from my grip and spent the next minute hurling curses at me.

"I get it—this defenseless cuteness is irresistible. Ugh, I can't hold back either!"

Lydia reached out with mischief in her eyes. Her finger poked Eve's chubby cheek.

Squish.

"Mmm..."

Eve frowned in her sleep and turned her head.

Lydia was the one who'd pinched Eve's cheek, but I was the one catching hell. Where was I supposed to appeal this injustice?

No, this is overkill protection. It's just 'cause she's cute.

I grumbled inwardly. Then—

"Mm..."

Eve's hand twitched unconsciously. An instinctive grab for whatever annoying thing had touched her cheek.

Seeing that sent a chill down my spine. Anyone who'd been caught by Eve's hand—like me, with my purple souvenir—

Thwack!

My body moved before my brain could catch up.

Just before Eve's hand made contact, I snatched Lydia's hand and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yanked it back.

"Ah!"

Lydia stumbled into my arms, losing her balance. She looked up at me with wide, startled rabbit eyes.

"Kal?"

We were close enough to feel each other's breath. Lydia's purple eyes wavered with confusion.

"Uh. That is, well..."

I let go of her wrist in a panic.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you."

Lydia blinked blankly for a moment, then curved her eyes into crescents with a sly smile.

"My, so forceful."

She rubbed her wrist, staring right at me.

"I don't mind aggressive guys... but doing it right in front of Eve? Your tastes are a bit off, no? Bad for the kid's education."

"No, really! It's not like that!"

I waved my hands frantically. My face burned.

"Eve can't control her strength when she's asleep. Last time I tucked her in, she grabbed me and wouldn't let go till my fingers turned purple. Just trying to spare your hand the same."

"Sure~ Sure~. I'll believe you."

She clearly didn't. Her expression screamed, This guy's sneakily smooth, huh?

I had no idea how to defuse this awkward vibe and broke out in a cold sweat.

Then Nahibi landed the finishing blow.

It's not!!

I screamed internally.

After putting Eve to bed, we gathered in the lounge. Bani was brewing coffee while Lydia and I sat across from each other at the table. The air felt awkwardly thick.

"Hmm. Something happen between you two? Why the faces?"

Bani handed over the mugs and asked.

"Hmph. Nothing."

"Nothing happened."

Lydia and I answered in unison.

Lydia whipped her head to stare out the window. She was definitely sulking.

I felt wronged. I'd thought I'd been maximally polite, minimizing contact to avoid misunderstandings. No clue why she was pissed.

"Heh, that reaction tells me there is something."

Bani grinned mischievously and brushed it off. As I opened my mouth to protest, he held up a hand.

"More importantly—we're about to enter the Echoes of the Dead nebula."

His voice dropped low. Lydia finally turned back, intrigued.

"I always thought the name was weird. What's the story? Sounds way too grim."

"Eh, old tale, not much to do with now."

Bani sipped his coffee, gazing into the distant stars.

"This sector has strange wavelengths. Old logs are full of sailors hearing screams from all sides, even seeing ghosts of the dead."

"Ghosts of the dead? Come on, no such thing."

"Yep. Some saw lost family, others the vengeful spirits of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enemies they'd killed."

Lydia shivered, rubbing her arms.

"That's... pretty creepy."

"Explorers back then tied themselves together at night. Folks hallucinated, opened airlocks, and spacewalked right out. Weak-minded got weeded out naturally. Like an 'entry exam'."

"And now?"

"Now? Legend. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Scientists couldn't pin it down, then the phenomena vanished like the dead themselves. Forgotten. These days, it's just spotty comms."

"Phew. Or should I tie you all up snug? My webs are tough."

"Haha, good one."

Lydia shot me a playful smile that hid a real threat—I swear my spine tingled.

"Joking, right?"

I asked cautiously. Instead of answering, she grinned and stood.

"See you all tomorrow."

"Good night, everyone."

"Tomorrow~ Scream if you meet ghosts in your dreams!"

We exchanged goodnights and headed to our rooms. I showered and hit the sack.

Body exhausted, mind wide awake. Bani's tale stuck in my head.

Ghosts of the dead...

Maybe my senses sharpened since becoming a constellation. Space outside felt deeper, darker than usual. Pitch black without a single star. Like something in there was watching me with malicious eyes.

No way. Bani said it's just old stories.

I closed my eyes. Fatigue hit. Consciousness sank into darkness.

"...Private Kal!!! Snap out of it!!!"

Smack!

Something slapped my cheek mercilessly. My head snapped sideways, mouth filling with the coppery taste of blood.

"Ugh..."

Blurry vision cleared. A face loomed—smeared with dirt and blood, but so familiar, so missed.

Name escaped me, so I instinctively checked the ally ID on my tactical goggles.

"Corporal... Beniel?"

My voice shook.

"You with us, you idiot!! Rookie already checking out."

Beniel grabbed my collar and shook me.

"Hang on a bit. Medic's coming soon. Don't lose it—hold tight!"

He bellowed roughly but slapped my cheek again with a grin.

"Gotta live to get home, man. You promised first paycheck buys the drinks!"

That snapped me alert. Sounds crashed in—explosions tearing at my eardrums.

BOOM! KRAAANG! Rat-tat-tat!

Artillery thunder, laser rifle fire, screams.

Sky blazed red, ground charred black.

Grotesque shrieks from all sides.

"Kieeeek!!"

Xenoforms.

Thousands, tens of thousands of assault forms surged like a black wave toward the trench.

A dream this vivid... first time.

I stared blankly at my hands. Young, gripping an old-model laser rifle.

Back then, fresh enlistee full of dreams and hope. Idolized TV soldiers, endured hellish training imagining glory and medals. First real combat drop.

And got utterly wrecked.

"Reload lenses! They're overrunning!"

Beniel yelled while firing.

And then...

"!"

I remembered. This battlefield, this moment.

The start that upended my life.

"Corporal Beniel!!"

I rasped, reaching out. He glanced back, bemused.

"What? You back? Looking ready to punch me! That's the spirit, rookie!!"

"Get down!!"

"Huh?"

Then—

KABOOM-!!

Massive blast, dirt erupting.

Trench wall crumbled.

From the dust cloud, an assault xenoform leaped with a massive scythe.

Time froze. The scythe sliced across Beniel's waist.

Schwick. Eerie sound.

Beniel's face hardened. He looked down at his lower half.

No legs.

"Wha...?"

He collapsed limply.

Severed torso flew near me, spraying hot blood like a fountain across my face.

Warm. Sickeningly warm.

"Corporal!!!"

I tried crawling to him, but my body wouldn't move—like invisible bonds held me.

Beniel's vacant eyes stared at me. The xenoform's eyes turned my way. It grinned, ripping its maw wide. Screams of countless people echoed from its throat. Unreal horror.

But that unreality snapped me awake.

"Hoo... Right. Nightmare. A real vicious one."