This is part one of a some-times serial following the story of Daniel Anderson, a sci/fi story in space. Part two can be found here.
“REMOTE SETARAN OUTPOST DESTROYED IN TERRORIST ATTACK – NO SURVIVORS FOUND–”.
I tore my eyes away from the comms. The feed wouldn’t be stopping any time soon, much like the ringing in my ears. It was a searing reminder deep in my gut that I shouldn’t be there. I shouldn’t be alive.
I stared into my glass for a moment, and then downed the rest of the contents. The amber liquid burned but it was nothing compared to my guilt. The thought of what happened still sent bile roiling up in my throat but I managed to swallow it down this time. Fighting the soreness in my legs, I pushed my feet out and unsteadily tried to stand.
I couldn’t forget what I had to do. Matthew McKee’s papers. At the top of the pile Matthew’s face looked up at me on the ID. I suppressed a shiver, my hands trembling as I picked it up. It was my face. It was my name. Was. I have a new name now.
I held the sheaf of papers in my hands, staring back down at the face once more. Matthew Jesse McKee. 5’11, 175, Vesta, Base 2235 Staff Sergeant, 27th Company. I had a couple things to add to the pile.
The laser switchblade on my duty belt was standard issue, metatagged and linked with my vitals card. Pressing the handle to my shoulder, I gave it a little squeeze. Pain cut through me, but the alcohol helped with that. My stomach turned at the stench of burnt flesh and squelching of blood as I fished out the vitals chip and dropped it on the pile of records along with the switchblade. I tossed everything into the open chamber and shut it quickly.
The sloshing in my gut threatened a surge of acid. With a groan I fought back another wave of revulsion and nausea. I flailed until my hands found the incinerator’s ‘start’ button and stumbled back to my chair.
In an instant it was all gone. I’d never be that man again. I have a new name. It didn’t matter what it was, but I still took more time than strictly necessary in the picking. I’d always wanted to be a Magnus or a Joachim, or Avi, but maybe that was too much of Matthew McKee talking. I chose Daniel. Daniel Anderson.
Matthew had a wife and daughter in the Lunar Belt, but not Daniel Anderson. Augusta McKee would be a widow now. Astra McKee would be fatherless. I can’t go back. Too much to answer for. Too many questions.
Daniel Anderson had never swum in the ocean. He’d never dipped his toes into the shallow waters of Mars’s unity pools. He’d never served in the United Galactic Forces, and he’d never been to the god-forsaken planet of Setara.
Matthew McKee had done all of those things, but it was Daniel Anderson who survived.
Continue with Daniel on Part Two.
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