Confrontation

Posted on 21 Aug 2024 @ 3:00pm by Lieutenant Commander Dresden Cage

Mission: M4 - Falling Out
Location: Big Bear, California, Just Outside the San Bernadino Forest
Timeline: Seven Days Prior to Arrival Onboard Obsidian Command
859 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Dresden and Cortes locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. The room seemed to shrink around them as Dresden spoke first, his voice edged with suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

Cortes didn't flinch, his tone cold and calculated. "I could ask you the same, Cage. But we both know the answer."

Before Dresden could fully grasp the implications of Cortes's presence, his gaze shifted to the king size bed behind him. There, Lieutenant Ansol lay on the bed with a smile. The conspiracy ran deeper than he had imagined—his own colleagues were involved right under his nose.

As the weight of the situation settled on him, another figure emerged at the top of the stairs. Commander Lake stepped into the hallway, her expression unreadable, but her mere presence sent a clear message. Dresden was trapped—cornered between Lake and Cortes with no clear way out.

"Commander," Dresden said, his voice tight with anger. "Looks like you've been busy. Unusual for someone on vacation.”

Lake's eyes narrowed, but she wasted no time on pleasantries. "You're not supposed to be here, Cage.” In one hand, she held a blade, its edge gleaming ominously, and in the other, a medical device.

Cortes drew his sidearm, the threat clear and immediate. Dresden didn’t need to look at Cortes or the weapon to feel the danger.

"What’s that for?" Dresden asked Lake, his eyes flicked to the medical device in her hand.

"It’s a tranquilizer," Lake replied, her voice cold and matter-of-fact. "It paralyzes the target before..." She lifted the blade slightly, letting its purpose speak for itself.

"So, you are the murderer and you all must be in some sort of cult.” Dresden said.

"Call it whatever you like," Lake said, her voice hardening. "We’re beyond caring about your labels."

Dresden’s mind raced as he tried to formulate a plan. Lake and Cortes were poised to strike. He was outnumbered and outgunned, but his eyes caught the bathroom door just a few feet away. The small window above the toilet—it was a slim chance, but it might be his only escape.

Without warning, Dresden bolted toward the bathroom. Lake and Cortes reacted instantly, but Dresden had a split-second advantage. He slammed the door shut behind him, locking it as a pulse shot from Cortes's weapon blasted through the door. One shot shattered the window glass above the toilet; the others tore through the shower itself.

Dresden didn't hesitate. He forced the window open and began to haul himself through, the rain storm outside howling as if in protest. The door behind him buckled under the force of another shot, the lock and handle disintegrated as the door was kicked open.

Rain lashed against Dresden’s face as he pulled himself out onto the roof, the wind nearly knocked him off balance. He scrambled across the roof, each step a treacherous underfoot. Cortes appeared at the window, his weapon trying to find Dresden, but the darkness and storm provided just enough cover for Dresden to slip over the edge of the roof.

He hit the ground hard, the pain was present through his body, but he was OK as he rolled with the impact and forced himself to his feet.
Dresden made it to the dense tree line and disappeared into it.

Lake and Ansol exited the property but quickly stopped the pursuit as Dresden was already swallowed by the darkness of the rainstorm and thick forest. Lake scanned the tree line for any signs of him but nothing.

"Are we going after him?" Ansol asked, her voice tight with tension.

"No," Lake replied, her tone clipped and resolute. "It’s too late. We have to initiate our plans now. We might only have a few hours at best. Get to camp and prepare the crew to attack the marine base."

"Yes, Commander," Ansol said, retreating into the house to carry out her orders.

Lake remained for a moment longer, her gaze fixed on the darkened forest as if she could will Dresden back into view. The rain poured down, a relentless torrent that masked any movement within the trees.

Unseen, Dresden watched Lake from the cover of the trees, his sidearm gripped tightly in his hand ready to fire. He had overheard her small talk with Ansol—Lake’s plans were clear. He had to warn Captain Burns before it was too late.

Lake finally turned and headed back into the house, leaving Dresden alone in the storm. He waited a moment longer, then turned and sprinted deeper into the forest, pulling out his communicator as he ran.

"Dresden to Captain Burns," he said, urgency sharpening his voice.

The response crackled through the storm. "Cage, what’s going on?"

"No time to explain," Dresden replied. "I need an emergency transport to the base, now."

"On it," Burns responded, his tone serious.

Dresden’s body shimmered against the rain. The transporter overtaken his movement. His Atoms and molecules twisted and turned. He was now gone as he left the forest to its natural state, the rain fell undisturbed, and the wilderness once again serene and untouched.