TRAVERSE - Snippet #01

A new literature snippet series called Traverse, based in the new Print Universe.

2051-04-26

“V…Vyriss…” Her eyes widened as her loyal best friend raised his bloodied hand toward her, blood gushing from the wound in his chest. She wanted to scream, but nothing could be heard. She tried to move but felt as if her arms and legs had turned to lead. All Vyriss could do was watch as Agner fell to his knees, slumping to one side as life left his eyes.


Still in disbelief, Vyriss’ hands trembled as she turned to face the person who shot him. Then, her chest tightened, forcing a gasp from her as she saw their commanding officer holding the shotgun, the barrel still smoking as he turned it on her.


“I’m sorry, Lieutenant Steele,” the Captain apologized before Vyriss instinctively shut her eyes, the resounding blast ringing in her ears as she embraced the void.


“Lieutenant? Lieutenant! Wake up, we have a situation out here.”


Vyriss awoke with a start from the insistent pounding on her bedroom door. The vague afterimages of nightmares blinked out, and she lay for a moment until she heard Revanya’s snarky remark through the heavy door.


“Alright, but if you find everyone else dead, don’t come crying to me about it.”


Groaning, Vyriss finally swung her pale legs over the edge of the bed. Standing, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror that stood across from her bed. Despite her short silvery-blue hair experiencing a fair bit of bedhead and missing armor, she still saw the petite soldier portrayed there. Her black eyes narrowed, thin lips forming a grimace as she pulled her gaze away from the reflection.


As she moved to open the door, she hesitated with her hand hovering over the button, preoccupied with the image of Agner’s bloodied hand reaching for her. After taking a deep, calming breath, she pushes the switch, the door sliding to the side. Revanya, a muscular, average-height young woman with chin-length hair the color of desert sand and muddy brown eyes, was waiting there with her arms crossed, tapping her foot.


“Hope you slept better than I did,” she remarked, uncrossing her arms and placing her hands on her hips, brows raised.


“Not likely,” Vyriss muttered, running a hand through her hair to try and smooth it out, but the stubborn locks refused to settle. “Now, what’s this about everyone dying?”


“Follow me,” Revanya told her curtly. Fighting back a surge of annoyance, Vyriss simply grunts and follows Revanya outside. The two walk alongside the wall for a short while before turning a corner and entering the main complex. Shouting could be heard as they stepped through the hallway, yet Revanya remained calm and moved at a leisurely pace.


When they reached the rec room, Vyriss braced herself as Revanya pushed open the wide double doors, but nothing could have prepared her for this. “What…what is going on here?”


The large white bunny whipped around to face her, revealing Ezriic, one of their dark-haired companions.


“Oh, good, the lieutenant is here! Maybe you can make sense of things for me,” he huffed. Their other three companions, the wild redhead Cassy, the stoic Arcus, and bemused Marken, were sitting on the sofa.


“Why are you wearing a rabbit costume?” Vyriss questioned, glancing between the now giggling Revanya and the very unamused Ezriic.


“That’s what I would like to know!” Ezriic shouted, his voice becoming more shrill.


“Supposedly, he woke up like that,” Arcus spoke, his voice monotone as he lit a cigar. “I think he was sleepwalking.”


“Even if I was, which in itself is a preposterous notion—” Ezriic muttered exasperatedly, stepping up to Arcus and yanking his cigar from him, smashing it underfoot. “Where would I have gotten this ridiculous bunny suit?!”


“This is most amusing,” Marken pipes up then, leaning forward to examine Ezriic. “This will be a wonderful addition to my latest memoir.”


“Hold on,” Cassy growls, turning in her seat to face Marken, who sat on the other side of Arcus. “What are you talking about? Are you writing about us?!”


Marken blinks. “Well, of course. As I catalogue what happens here, I also write down the intricate quirks of my peers. It really is fascinating. I’m thinking of calling it, “Omnipod Oddities: Living with Weirdos”…”


“You AI asshole!” Cassy spat, lunging across Arcus to try and reach Marken. “I’ll show you what happens when you make fun of me!”


“That’s enough,” Vyriss called out. Marken sprang from his seat and attempted to run, but was suddenly caught in Cassy’s psionic latch.


“I said, that’s enough!” Vyriss tried again, her tone sterner, but it made little difference.


“They aren’t going to listen,” Revanya commented in a matter-of-fact tone. “Not yet, anyway. You have to make them listen.”


Vyriss lets out a heavy sigh. This is not how she wanted to start the morning. As Marken struggled in Cassy’s psionic grip and Ezriic continued shouting at an uncaring Arcus, Vyriss frowned, knowing she had to do something. After all, how were they supposed to work together if they can’t even live together?


Inhaling sharply, Vyriss tapped into the forceful authority that had been drilled into her through years of training.


“Attention!” she barked, her voice cutting through the chaos like a whip. The room froze. Cassy faltered, releasing Marken from her psionic hold, where he stumbled to the floor and remained wisely still. Arcus raised his hands in mock surrender, a wry smirk creeping across his lips. Ezriic turned slowly, ears twitching with indignation.


“Now that I have your attention,” Vyriss continued, her tone steady but edged with frustration. “Let’s resolve this before it gets out of hand…”


Cassy crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as they flickered with static. “You gonna let him write that crap about us?”


Vyriss held up a hand to silence her before settling her gaze on Marken. “I’m not saying you can’t write what you want, but maybe consider the impact on the group? We’re supposed to be a team.”


Marken blinked from his spot on the floor, then nodded in understanding. “Perhaps I was…insensitive. I apologize.”


“You think?” Cassy muttered, but sat back down, pacified for the moment.


“As for you,” Vyriss turned to Ezriic, who was attempting to tug at the zipper on his back. “I need you to focus.”


“I can’t focus looking like this!” he snapped, but relinquished his grip on the zipper momentarily. Listening to her gut, she then turned to the large stoic man, Arcus.


“Did you have anything to do with this?” she questioned, the glint in her eyes peering into his soul, as if daring him to lie. After a moment of silence, he sighs, putting his hands up defensively.


“Alright, so it was me. I did it,” he admitted finally.


“I knew it!” Ezriic shrieked, but then Vyriss placed her hand on his mouth to quiet him.


“I have to punish you for this. You know that, right?” she said calmly to Arcus, who scoffed.


“And who made you our Mommy in the Woods? We’re far away from civilization right now. What makes you think you can do anything to me?” he challenges her, his violet eyes darkening. Vyriss raised an eyebrow, removing her hand from Ezriic’s mouth and placing it on the back of Arcus’ neck, pinching his skin as she leaned forward.


“You may not like it, but you’re here because it was either that or perma-death.” She then pulls him in close so she can whisper in his ear. “We both hate the fuckers in charge, but we can’t do anything about it dead…”


Releasing her hold and straightening, Vyriss crosses her arms as her frown deepens. “So, are you going to keep making life difficult, or are you going to cooperate?”


Arcus hesitated, his eyes looking her up and down as he considered his options, before his grimace turned into a half-smile. “Fine. I’ll be good.”


Nodding, the lieutenant was satisfied and stepped back to address everyone. “We have a mission. It’s important we remember that.” Then she paused, her eyes lingering on each of them in turn. “We can’t afford to lose focus.”


Vyriss walked back to Revanya, who shrugged but gave a reassuring smile. “At least the rabbits live for another day.”


Finally managing to wriggle himself free, Ezriic tossed the rabbit costume at Arcus before stomping away. Marken stood uneasily and brushed himself off before reclaiming his spot on the sofa. With the tension ebbing away, Vyriss exhaled slowly, allowing some of the pressure to lift from her shoulders.


They were a strange lot — chaotic and undisciplined — but she could see a glimpse of hope of them bonding over time. Glancing up at the skylight to see the bright blue sky overhead, she couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last before something, or someone, broke.

v. #PSI565