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     Lieutenant Major Shar |
Shar had taken a couple of motion sickness pills and was happy to find that it helped settle his stomach a little. Time also helped. His sense of direction and equilibrium where way out of their normal range in the Fourth Chamber but the longer he stayed there the easier it got. Most of the other marines and security forces had left the fourth chamber as soon as they were given permision too but Shar felt the need to stay put. He had set up a small tent and was preparing to retire for the evening. Why had he stayed? He didn't know. But he had a feeling that staying put was the right thing to do. Like he was being counted on when no one else could do it. He wasn't so sure if that was the reason or if there was another reason for it. He lay down in his tent and closed his eyes. He slowly drifted off to sleep. Only minutes went by when he suddenly awoke. Or did he, perhaps he was only dreaming but he honestly couldn't tell. Sitting up he looked around the small tent and saw something in the corner that rather surprised him. It appeared to be a square of light. He looked closer and saw letters appearing in the square of light but they where mirrored. He looked closer and saw what was beyond the mirrored letters, it appeared to be a man sitting in front of a computer terminal, typing words. Crawling out of his blankets Shar moved closer to the square of light and tried to read was being written. As he slowly figured it out he was stunned to learn that what was being written was exactly what he was doing at that second. Surprised that his world possibly wasn't what it seemed he sat back for a moment and then decided to try something. He leaned over and tapped on the square of light. The man on the other end stopped typing for a moment. Then restarted. Shar tapped again. Then he hit the square of light hard enough to break it. The man on the other end stared as Shar's face suddenly filled the monitor. "Who are you?" asked Shar "And how did you get in my tent?" The man stared some more, he was a rather large man but not in a healthy way. He wore glasses and had reddish brown colored hair. "Uh... I'm Dan. How did you get in my monitor?" It was a dumb thing to say but Dan couldn't think of anything else at that particular moment. "Dan? I'm Lieutenant Major Shar. I'm a mari..." began Shar before he was interuppted. "I know who you are. I created you. You're a sim character. One of many I've created over the past decade. But how is it you are talking to me? You're not real." Dan babbled on as he tended to do. "No one created me. I'm flesh and blood. Now stop lying to me and tell me who you really are? Are you some sort of agent for the Fourth Chamber?" asked Shar with a hint of anger in his voice. Dan smiled and rubbed his eyes. The stress of his daily troubles at work must be finally getting to him. "Believe me Shar you're a figment of my imagination just as the Fourth Chamber and most other aspects of your "ship" are figments of Ross, Ryan, Fraser, Chris, Christian and many, many other people." "I don't know who any of these people are. If I could get through this opening I would get the answers from you by force." snarled Shar, clearly agitated. Dan laughed. "The only way that is going to happen Shar is if I type it, so keep dreaming." Shar was stunned into silence. "So are you typing this as we speak.?" Dan nodded. "Yes I am." Shar looked puzzled. "But why?" Dan frowned a moment. "I'm not really sure. I write as an outlet. I used writing to help me finally move on from the death of my grandfather. Perhaps I need to figure something else out in my life?" Shar just nodded thoughtfully then asked "What do you think that could be?" "I've been struggling at work. I've been at this company for nearly as long as I've been simming. Ten long years." Shar looked resigned to talking this through with the man on the other side of the square. "What sort of struggle?" "Well, I kinda feel that maybe my time to move on has come. I don't really get along with one of the partners, I've been accused of over reacting to a few things this past week, I get paid fairly well but not on par with someeone doing a similiar job elsewhere, not to mention I have to wait for our clients to pay before I get part of it. I have no control over when the clients pay so I wonder why I have to wait. No one else does. I don't feel I get treated with the same level of respect from some people as I try to show them. I look out for my employees but don't have anyone looking out for me." Dan paused thoughtfully for a moment then continued on. "The past year or so all the things I still enjoy about my job have slowly been handed off to other people because mmy boss wants me in the office more often." Shar nodded. "There's more ins't there?" Dan smiled slightly. "Yeah. I guess I'm just afraid. Afraid of change. Afraid of not finding a job that will pay me well enough. Afraid of what my boss will say and do if I tell him that I think it's time to go." Shar snorted. "Afraid? You've stayed put in a job that you really haven't enjoyed doing recently because you're afraid? And you insist that you created me?" Dan nodded and then shook his head sheepishly. "I guess it does seem a little silly doesn't it?" "You better believe it's silly. I bet your parents and friends would stand by you no matter what Dan. If you make a decision, you'll have to live with it but don't let possibly making the wrong decision hold you up from living your life. If you're not happy then it's time to go. Sounds to me like you should have donee it a year ago." Shar offered. Dan nodded. "Yeah. I guess you're right." "Guess? GUESS?? No you don't guess. Stop being, what's that term..... Wishy washy. Make a decision and follow through on it. What's the worst that can happen? You won't die from it. You may even find it'll help in other aspects of your life." Dan smiled. "You know what? You're right. I going to seriously think on it, and talk things over with my friends and family. See what they think." "That's probably a good idea, but just remember, they can't make the decision for you. You have to want to make the decision to make a change. I don't envy you." said Shar. "Thank you Shar. Who'd a thunk that an imaginary marine that I made up could be so helpful." "You're welcome. Now, I'm very tired. Can you write me back to sleep please?" asked Shar. "Sure thing. But I need you to do a couple of things. When you run into Doctor Reed ask him if he know's how his inner Ryan is doing." Shar blinked in surprise. "Ok. When I see him. The second thing?" Dan cleared his throut. "I need you to send a message to Captain Bentall on Blackrazor and tell him that his creator is working on a new ship for him to command but he needs to ask Ross a few things first." Shar nodded then asked "Who is this Ross fellow?" "Oh. Uh. That's the man behind Admiral LoraKor." Shar just blinked and then watched as the square faded out. Laying back down Shar was soon asleep again. Shar bolted upright and immediately struck camp. "Even my dreams are weird here. I have got to get back to the ship." Shar began packing the tent. Anyone walking by at the instant could hear him muttering... "Big fat red headed guys, wearing glasses, telling me that I'm a figment.... Bah...." ((OOC: Yeah, Ok... I know that was kinda lame but hey, it helps.  )) |