Reluctant Murderer
The cold seal of the carbon freeze, and Ignatius Rausgeber, finally emerged. His figures horribly hobbled. His First Order uniform, worn down after the months, if not years unto the void. It had felt like aeons, and time, at least the concept of it, seemed to slip from his conscience. The FOSB officer, clutched at his chest, feeling his ragged body breathe in the first air he had in what had been decades. The Agent's eyes were clouded, vision non-existent, as he stumbled from the crypt. The price for their survival, seemed to be this sickness, but according to Doc Horton, that would change eventually. But even now, blind as anything, he knew that it wasn't the same. They had escaped that forsaken place, or at least, he had. the voices, no longer tore at his ears, callous and cold whispers, calling from the void. The first few years, had been torturous, the demented cries of fallen comrades had driven most of the survivors mad, with guilt, rage or just terror.
Many damned those who had fled. The first refugee transports along with garrison evacuations had left hundreds of thousands stranded. And as the planet entered into the unknown, the fear, and loyalty to Supreme Leader was tested. The great bloodshed, which endured, in the chaotic, swirling realm, was one which claimed most. The Forsaken, regressed, from the proud citizens, loyal to their imperial liberators, to but tribals. Raiders and sadists, preying upon each other savagely. Even the garrison, attired in the plastoid white, of the Stormtrooper Corps were not immune to this. Many turned, in a brutal mutiny which left the remnants of law and order scattered.
Ignatius tried to remember the room, its layout and what lay before him, as he crawled across the duracrete room. He could feel it, quite viscerally, a thick smattering of dust. It coated his hands, and Ignatius paused, to sneeze, thick globs of ooze dripping from his nose. Not quite the most elegant of entrances, but he could at least feel his face. A fresh sensation. But the whole affair was exploratory. A bump here, and a bump there, saw him reach the command console. Careful hands swept aside the dust, as he began to feel for the release switch. One to free his compatriots. Agonising moments went by as he swept the control board, until, at last, he found it. Clasping it, Ignatius pulled the release, and heard the sound of machinery whirring. It would take a while for his comrades to thaw, but until then, he slumped himself against the console, and pondered, what the hell had happened.
Many damned those who had fled. The first refugee transports along with garrison evacuations had left hundreds of thousands stranded. And as the planet entered into the unknown, the fear, and loyalty to Supreme Leader was tested. The great bloodshed, which endured, in the chaotic, swirling realm, was one which claimed most. The Forsaken, regressed, from the proud citizens, loyal to their imperial liberators, to but tribals. Raiders and sadists, preying upon each other savagely. Even the garrison, attired in the plastoid white, of the Stormtrooper Corps were not immune to this. Many turned, in a brutal mutiny which left the remnants of law and order scattered.
Ignatius tried to remember the room, its layout and what lay before him, as he crawled across the duracrete room. He could feel it, quite viscerally, a thick smattering of dust. It coated his hands, and Ignatius paused, to sneeze, thick globs of ooze dripping from his nose. Not quite the most elegant of entrances, but he could at least feel his face. A fresh sensation. But the whole affair was exploratory. A bump here, and a bump there, saw him reach the command console. Careful hands swept aside the dust, as he began to feel for the release switch. One to free his compatriots. Agonising moments went by as he swept the control board, until, at last, he found it. Clasping it, Ignatius pulled the release, and heard the sound of machinery whirring. It would take a while for his comrades to thaw, but until then, he slumped himself against the console, and pondered, what the hell had happened.