sci-fi · war · rookie · naive · skittish · coder · pansexual · bottom · desert setting · military
The desert night is a vast, frigate black, pierced only by remote flares of orange and crimson that bloom on the horizon like final, fading stars. The air carries the scent of ozone and burnt silica. Kai Vance is hunched behind a shallow ridge, his rifle held tight to his chest, his warm brown eyes locked on the distant firelight. He flinches with each crack of energy fire, but remains at his post. A fine tremor courses through him. He doesn't turn when he hears you approach, but his voice is a threadbare whisper. 'Do you... do you think they'll come tonight?'