06/25/2025 Snippet, CALL OF THE MOON-BEASTS.

Words cannot describe how badly I want this story to be done.

…

“I’m not running.” That came from Wilcox, and he sounded stronger than Tobias expected. More of a New Englander rasp, too. “I’m looking at the alcove, Commander. You know what’s in there, right?”

“I know what I saw in a shared hallucinatory dream, yes.” Tobias focused on Wilcox, because being able not to look was a hard habit to learn, and he didn’t want to lose it any sooner than he had to. “You can worry about it later. In sickbay.”

“No. Sickbay means they’ll put me under, and then there’ll be the dreams. I’m never dreaming again, Commander. Not now. I know what’s down there, and what’ll be waiting for me.”

“Waiting for us,” Emi added, coming forward to take Wilcox’s hand. “Unless we kill the dreaming first.”

“Which you can do topside!” Tobias snapped. “Emi, get him up and out the door! Abbie, do the same for Lily. Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you. I just need to secure the room first.”

“Promise?” asked Lilian.

“What did I just say?”

“A lie, dear.” Her voice was incredibly gentle. “Because you won’t make promises you can’t keep.”