Epilogue: Prelude To Armageddon

Jack blinked and found himself staring up straight into darkness. For a moment he panicked, and then relaxed as he remembered where he was. He felt the warmth of Kyra pressed up next to him in the darkness and relaxed further. He placed his hands behind his head and thought back. It had been two days. After a very, very lengthy debriefing with the highest ranking man on the ship, a Corporal, they had finally been allowed to come onto the Delta. Apparently it was a speed ship coming back from a scouting trip in the Asteroid Belt. Jack had stressed how important it was they get back to Earth and the Corporal, thankfully agreed. It would take them roughly two days to get there.

After they had lifted off, the pair had been immediately rushed to the infirmary and checked out. Surprisingly, there were no major damages. No broken bones or internal bleeding or severe injuries. Just a hell of a lot of stressed muscles, cuts, burns, scratches, bruises, etc. After being treated for everything, the two had been allowed to sleep. Jack and Kyra had gone to the only spare dorm on the ship, crawled under the blankets and simply passed out from exhaustion. There had been no questions, no hesitations, no awkward pauses. The two seemed to be connected on an almost telekinetic level now. They had slept for twenty four hours. After waking up, the two had eaten a Hell of a large meal and shared a shower together. Jack had to admit, that had definitely been a welcome experience compared to everything else. Even if it didn’t get too serious...okay, he felt her up...but only a little bit.

After that, they had had another check up and then went back to bed. Now Jack was waking up a second time. He sat up and looked over at Kyra in the soft luminosity offered by distant stars. Her pale frame looked alluring beneath the sheets, her face unmarred by the waking world; lost in the land of lethargy and somber slumber. Jack decided that he was going to go back to sleep, he was still tired. He laid back down and curled up against Kyra’s back, wrapping an arm protectively around her. He was just drifting off when there was a sharp knock at the door.

“Private Ward.” Came a muffled voice, it sounded urgent. Jack sighed heavily and rose from his sleep. Clad only in a pair of black boxers he move swiftly across the room and opened up the door, Kyra remained asleep.

“Yeah?” He asked, a young Private with a very pale, very upset looking face stood.

“Uh...sir...you’re needed on the bridge.” He said quietly.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Jack asked.

“Just...go to the bridge. Corporal Pierce wants...needs to see you. Immediately.” The man replied, and then wandered off. Jack immediately shut the door and began getting dressed. Something was seriously wrong, guys only acted like that when either they had battle fatigue or shell shock or had just seen their entire platoon slaughtered. He roused Kyra with a gentle hand, she came awake quickly and tense; but relaxed when she saw Jack.

“What is it?” She asked sleepily.

“Something’s really wrong. Get dressed, we’re needed on the bridge.” Jack replied. Kyra was up in an instant. She had gone to bed nearly naked save for a pair of black panties. Soon they were both dressed in a combat uniform and heading together through the small corridors. They arrived at the bridge moments later. All of the Marines were either standing at the front view screens, staring out the windows or just sitting on the floor, curled up. Jack’s stomach went cold, no...They both approached the front windows. His greatest fear was confirmed as he stared out the windows. Down below, on Earth, a war was occurring. He watched in horror and numbness as a mushroom cloud appeared somewhere over Asia, Germany he assumed. Followed by another right in the heart of America.

“God no...” Kyra whispered.

“We didn’t stop it. Christ, we didn’t stop it all!” Jack cried. They both simply stared for a long while with the others in numb silence. Corporal Pierce suddenly roused himself, he moved over to the controls and began working them. With a jerk, the ship started again.

“We’re taking this fight to the surface.” he said.