Nightmare:
Shortie by Lone Wolf

	He sat up with half a breathless scream. Cold sweat ran down his face, 
running to the tip of the young lion's muzzle before dripping off. His 
breathing was staggered, like he had been punched in the stomach repeatedly. 
As a matter of fact, the pain that was usually associated with that was 
there too. He groaned as he held his belly. "What...what time is it?" he 
whispered.
	"It's one in the morning," the computer beeped in the softer tone it 
used for middle of the night requests.
	"What the fuck?" He looked at the old alarm clock that sat next to his 
bed. "One o'clock? That's the third time this week."
	The computer hummed a bit as it's artificial intelligence program came 
online. "I know," it said, it's voice taking a more female tone. "Are you 
okay?"
	He hugged his knees to his chest, taking the sheets up with him. "I 
don't know anymore."

	"Kamal!" The head technician nudged the lion awake. "Kamal, wake up!" 
He bopped him on the head with a two foot long plastic pipe he was using to 
repair the coolant systems of the ship's engine.
	"Ow!" Kamal said with a yawn.
	The hawk stopped, leaning on the pole. "What's wrong?"
	"Hmm? Oh nothing. Didn't get much sleep last night."
	"Ah." He remained silent as Kamal stirred back to work. "You been 
having those dreams again?"
	The lion slammed his fists on the control panel. "Damn it! Does 
everybody know?"
	"Only those who are supposed to." He placed the pipe up against the 
wall and took a seat next to him. "Like your commanding officer."
	Kamal sighed. "Look, Kirtar, I'm sorry. It's nothing to be concerned 
about."
	"It's affecting your work. Of course it's something to be concerned 
about. Now, what's wrong?" The lion shook his head, trying his best to 
concentrate on the flashing lights on the control panel. Kitar frowned and 
grabbed his wrist. "Kamal! What's the dream?"
	Kamal hesitated.
	"Kamal!"
	"I don't know exactly!" Kamal growled. "Jesus Christ, how many times 
do I have to say it?!"
	"Well then, just describe it."
	He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "I'm on some sort of 
mountainous planet. The wreckage of this ship is behind me, and ahead of me 
is a huge lava field. But it's not lava, since it's giving off cold instead 
of heat. The rest of the crew is there, but very frail, and very tired, save 
a few." He took another deep breath. "Then, there's a flash, and we're in 
another realm. Some of us are more powerful than we used to be - ya know, 
higher up in rank, almost - and those who are more powerful are weaker. 
We're drafted into some sort of medieval army." He shut his eyes. "I usually 
end up sitting up in bed in a cold sweat after that."
	Kirtar nodded. "I see." He stood up. "Take the day off, Kamal. That's 
an order."
	"But..." He motioned to the control panels.
	"I'll find someone else to monitor them for you."
	"No...I really should -" He shut his eyes and clutched a fist.
	"Kamal? Kamal, you okay?"
	The lion's hand suddenly shot out, slamming into the solid metal 
blukhead. He slowly pulled his fist away, revealing the three inch deep dent 
he had created.
	"Shit." Kirtar fumbled through his uniform pocket. "Go back to your 
quarters. Try to relax." He pulled out a small, blue-ish token and handed it 
to him. "Get a tranquilizer. It'll help you to calm down."
	"Oh...oh no, I can't." He handed it back. "I know how hard it is for 
you to get-"
	"Kamal!" He put the token back in the lion's hand and folded the 
fingers over it. "You need this more than I do right now."
	He nodded. "Thank you."
	"No need to apologize. Now go."
	"Yessir."

	Kamal jumped as the door shut behind him. He held his chest for a few 
moments before moving over towards the supply chute. "You're back early," 
the computer's AI said. "As a matter of fact, you've spent ten minutes total 
on your shift." He didn't respond, slipping the faded token into the slot. 
"A tranquilizer?" The small pill case slid out of one of the smaller chutes 
and into Kamal's hand. "Is it getting that bad?"
	"Kirtar's order," he said softly. "He wants me to try to relax." He 
snorted. "Like that'll ever happen." He popped the case open.
	"Kamal, what was your dream about?"
	He looked up at the little camera lense the computer's AI used to 
watch over him. "Read the old scripture," he said as he popped the pill into 
his mouth. "You'll understand after you do." He swallowed the pill and 
swaggered his way over to his bed. He collapsed onto it, kicked off his 
shoes, and let the pill take it's effect.

	"This oughta do it," Kirtar said, tugging the copper wire tightly 
around the pipe. He clipped the excess with his sharp beak and pushed 
himself out of the hole in the access panel. "There, the cooling systems are 
fixed."
	"Not bad," Kamal's voice responded.
	Kirtar spun around. "Kamal?"
	"Yeah?"
	"It's been only three hours. You're not one to be able to relax in 
that amount of time, even with a tranquilizer. You DID take one like I told 
you, right?"
	"I did."
	"And?"
	He growled. "The fuckin' dream knocked me out of it's effects 
completely. I'm more wired than the mouse down in security that has the 
extra large cup of coffee every morning."
	Kirtar chuckled a bit, unable to hold the laughter.
	"Well, it's true!"
	He stopped. "I'm sorry. That one was good, though. I'll have to 
remember it. But this is getting serious. You talk to the doctor yet?"
	"No."
	"I'll walk you there myself." He put a hand on Kamal's shoulder. "This 
might be something more than just a dream, you dig?"
	He sighed. "Yeah."

	Kirtar escorted him back to his quarters after the doctor had finished 
up the examination. Kamal said nothing, sitting on the bed and hanging his 
head a bit. Kirtar, concerned as he was, sat down next to him. "Kamal, you 
okay?"
	Kamal shook his head.
	"What's wrong?"
	He shrugged.
	"Kamal," the computer interrupted.
	"What is it?" Kirtar responded in place of his friend.
	"I have finished looking through some old scriptures that Kamal asked 
me to. I didn't find anything of importance that might explain his dreams."
	"So you're looking into it to, eh?" He chuckled. "What did you find?"
	"Nothing important. Some long defunct ceremonies, a couple of old 
stories, and something about the army one might get drafted into when he 
dies."
	He blinked. "What about this army?"
	"It appears that, according to the old scripture, the good souls may 
get drafted into a medieval army to fight the forces of evil. Evil souls-"
	"Holy shit." Kirtar looked at Kamal. "Is that the dream?"
	Kamal nodded slowly.
	"That explains alot."
	"It does," the computer said. "Shall I report this to the medical 
offices?"
	"No!" both Kamal and Kirtar responded.
	"If you tell the boys down in medical, they'll think I'm a fuckin' 
lunatic," Kamal said.
	"He's right," Kirtar added. "We'll keep it a secret amongst the three 
of us."
	"All right," the computer beeped.
	Kamal yawned. "So tired..."
	Kirtar chuckled and got up. "Get some sleep. You have work in the 
morning." Kamal smirked and nodded. He kicked his shoes off and layed down. 
He sprawled out and shut his eyes. Kirtar moved to the door and smirked. 
"Sleep well, dreamer."

	And, for the first time in a week, Kamal did.

END
This material is © Lone Wolf and <([ Lone Wolf Studios ])>