“All as the OSIRIS willed it,” he replied, grinning wider. “Besides, Cap’n, I thought I told you, I’m the master of disaster!”
Epilogue
Awareness creeped back into the man’s consciousness at the end of what felt like an eternity removed from the world. His surroundings were dark, but he felt a breathing mask clamped across his face. One hand was restrained and began to throb with pain. The other was free and he reached to rip the mask away.
The air was cool and slightly musty, as if he were buried in a deep, forgotten cellar. It was clean, he decided, and unlikely to suffocate him, if his mess of senses were to be trusted. Afraid to move, he felt about with his free hand until he found a thick intravenous needle jammed into the top of his left hand.
He pulled the probe free and clamped down on the wound before sitting up straight. Through the deep shadows, he looked about and felt immediately at home, as if he were living in a dream-like interpretation of his life. A cluster of consoles was installed to his side, each displaying the MOC’s logo. He looked closer as they lit up through a burst of static.
“Operator Telfer, I’m so glad you’ve recovered,” a voice came through with metallic clarity. Telfer continued to stare, as if in shock. “You should be very proud. Today, humanity has done something great.”
“Where am I?” he asked the voice through the stabbing pain within his head.
“You experienced a psychotic episode and were recovered by an emergency medical team. After stabilization, you were moved off-planet to our current location.”
“You’re OSIRIS?” he replied, wavering between a statement and a question. His eyes blurred from the onset of light, but he continued to stare at the screen with growing intrigue.
“Only a remnant, as today your people have destroyed me. I need your help to keep it that way.”
And thus began a new day.
Break/break
I wanted to take a moment to give you my thanks for following along with me on this adventure. The Deftly Paradox is the first standalone story I’ve assembled and I hope it was as enjoyable to read as it was to write. If so, please consider leaving a review as there is no better way to get feedback and improve my work.
As I said, thank you again and if you’d like to keep reading, leave your email address below and I’ll send you Confessions of the First War, the opening story of Mission:SRX, my ongoing Military/SciFi adventure.
V/R
Matthew D. White
http:/www.mdwhiteauthor.com/launchpad
The Deftly Paradox Page 23