Changes perception 5

Moonlight shone through the windows onto a dead navigating officer, splattered blood painting the aged dashboard. The General loomed above the dead man, his menacing profile clad in darkness, a smoking gun in his hand.

"So you’ve stumbled upon me, eh, Palma? Mighty stupid mistake. Mighty stupid."

Dr. Palma was too surprised to fully process the scene, only shouting, "Hold on, don’t shoot!"

"Oh, this?" The General observed his pistol for a moment, then put it in its holster. “I’ll only need this if we come to a…disagreement.” His eyes flashed with that final word. "And you will agree with your general, won’t you?"

Dr. Palma kept shaking his head in confusion. "I don’t know-I don’t understand, what are you-"

"I think you’ll be smart enough to come around to my side. Just watch me."

At that moment the bridge door slammed open again, with the timid, gangly figure of Junior Researcher Santos appearing in front of it. He was breathing heavily, rapidly mumbling prayers with each exhale.

"That sick, godless thing is free! It’s out there! It’s on the deck!" His eyes were wild and frantic as sweat fell from his brow.

The General, as calm as a still tide, addressed his subordinate. "Santos?"

"Yes?"

"As your superior, I am ordering you to turn around." His words were slow and delicate. It was so uncharacteristic that Dr. Palma could only watch as he tried to understand.

"But-"

"Please, for your general. Turn around."

Junior Researcher Santos slowly turned back around and peered through the open metal door. Dr. Palma didn’t have to look to know that the black orb was still out there, still waiting. Santos’ eyes widened as his pupils dilated at the sight.

"See? There’s nothing bad here. We’ve decided to let you go home." The General’s words were uncomfortably kind. "We brought your home all the way here. Isn’t that nice?" By the end of the sentence he was enunciating with almost pointed care.

Junior Researcher Santos nodded slowly. "My…home." He began to smile warmly, like a child.

"Yes, now, before you can go home I have one small task for you."

"Yes, General?"

"Junior Researcher Torres is still on this ship somewhere, and I bet you know where. We brought her home here too. Could you please show her to her home? Then you can go home."

"Yes."

And with that, Santos lumbered off into the night. Dr. Palma saw as the General turned back to him.

"Do you get it now? I’m just…taking everyone here home." His voice had switched back to the low, gruff tone it had always taken before. "Now look out the door and help me. That is an order."

Dr. Palma saw the glazed look in the General’s eyes, looking right past him, and the awkward way he was standing, almost too straight, and knew that this wasn’t the General. He was gone, and only a shell remained. A shell filled with the wishes of that black tumor. The General’s dead skin continued to stare at Dr. Palma with a cold malice seeping out from behind his eyes.

Dr. Palma sprinted to the door, running as fast as he could to escape the General-Husk that was so close to him. It lunged at him as he ran, grabbing a leg as Palma tried to shake him loose.

"Look! Look! Look at it!" He was screaming, his voice strained beyond any human’s ability. His fingers tightened and his nails dug into Dr. Palma’s ankle.

Dr. Palma kicked at The General with his other foot, finally stomping down on his wrist. A cracking sound came with impact, and the hand finally let go. Dr. Palma kept running, keeping his head low to avoid looking at the large creature that was surely chasing him now.