InsaneJournal

Have to Move
In the lower bunk with the curtains drawn, Jilleen laid under her covers asleep. She stirred a bit as she dreamt.


---- She felt a gentle spring breeze through her light blouse and the warm sun on her face.  Her hand held Bridget‘s hand as they walked on the sidewalk along the canal that cut across the city park. “I really miss being here,” said Jilleen admiring the scenery of the landscape, and the familiar architecture of Casperon, the place she was raised.

“Then stay,” said Bridget who was wearing the most gorgeous outfit. Her face was exactly as Jilleen remembered along with the friendly smile.

“I wish, but I’m behind in my rent. I haven’t paid in many months, my Dad would be so unhappy. The apartment must look a wreck.” She felt embarrassed and had to explained. “I’ve sent them checks. I’ve called and no one answers. So I live on that dreadful Battlestar, I’m so sick of it.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Major!” a marine in combat uniform called out.

“Corporal are you frakking with me?” she asked irritated by his interruption., which was followed by a muffled boom of demolition.

“Sir, we got to go.”

She felt the weight of her anti-ballistics vest over her torso and heard bits of debris fall around her. She turned to where she had expected to find Bridget by her side. Her friend had vanished. “Bridget.”

 She looked back at the marine. “Where did she go?”  He pointed with his assault rifle in the direction of  a large group of refugees.  A bullet whizzed past her and the marine collapsed where he stood. Jilleen froze for a beat to comprehend what had just happened to the decease marine.

Jilleen spun round to see if she could find her best friend, upon first sight she could not see her in the crowd. So she ran into the watchful crowd of refugees. “Bridget Reese!” she shouted using her friend’s maiden name. There was no answer, and she called out again. “Bridget Reese, Mackenzie, Bridget Mackenzie!” She began looking for her friend’s face among those in her reach, and pushed those aside to get in deeper into the disheveled crowd. The faces she peered at had lifeless eyes and discolored faces.

“Major!” called out a marine.

She ignored the marine that called out for her from outside the crowd. Jilleen was greatly determined to find her best friend. Desperately she looked among those in the crowd, till after a long moment she finally did. Bridget’s once gorgeous outfit was in tatters, and covered in dust and her hair was in disarray. Her friend’s smile was gone from her pale face. 

“Hang on,”  Jilleen grabbed hold of her friend’s hand and pulled her to follow as she worked her way out the mass of refugees.

“Major!” Jilleen heard the marine call out to her, and used the voice to guide her out of the crowd. She pushed her way out finally with her hand gripping Bridget’s. There was tug, the moment she stepped away from the refugees, she lost hold of Bridget. Jilleen looked back at her friend who had stopped in her tracks at the edge of the group.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. 

“I’m not on the list.” explained Bridget.

“Of course you are,”  An plume of dark smoke rose after an explosion deep inside the crowd of refugees.

“Take a look at your list,” said Bridget with a calm voice.

Jilleen looked at the clip board in her hand and scan the list on the front page, then the second, and so on till she came to the last page. Her friend name was no where to be found on the list.

“Major we got to go!” Shouted the marine over gun fire.

“Wait, I can add you name.” With her pen she started to write on the list, but the pen ran out of ink after the first letter of her friend's name. She roll the pen head back and forth trying to get the ink to run with no luck. She turned to her desk that happen to be next to her and grabbed another pen from a holder, again no ink. She tried a pencil next, its tip broke. There was a sound of shattered glass mashing against the ground then followed by a series of rumbles and booms.

“Jill, I‘m afraid.” said Bridget with her eyes looking back at Jill in terror, and then she became obscured by smoke and dust.

“Major!” The marine grabbed Jilleen’s shoulder from behind.

“Grab my hand.” Jilleen stretched out her hand toward her friend.

“Major, they’re coming” Raiders flew overhead, low to the ground, their engine roaring.

“Bridget, take my hand!” Jilleen desperately struggled to reach out. She squirmed against the hold that restrained her effort. The Marine was assisted by others  who pulled her away from the crowd. “Bridget, Bridget! Take my hand!!”

“Sheba, you have to leave now, do you copy,” said a voice over a wireless.

“Copy,I can‘t do it,” replied Jilleen. Her body coiled when a blast close by erupted the air with debris. Again she tried to reach her friend.

“Major we must leave.” Jilleen fought them, and almost broke free. “Major!” Jilleen could see Bridget, her hair blowing with the wind. Embers began to come down around her.

“Bridget.You're not trying. Why aren’t you coming?” Jilleen begged  an answer from her friend.

“Sheba, she's not going to make it” said the voice over the wireless.

“I’m not on your list” replied Bridget.

“Major, we have to move now.” the marine commanded.

“No! I won’t leave her.” said Jilleen resisting as much as she could as she was being dragged away.  Raptors were lifting off, and disappearing into FTL flashes  above them.

“Sheba, return to base, do you copy?  Return to your ship.” ordered the voice over the wireless.

“Jill, I can‘t come with you..” said Bridget who now looked like as she did in the park that spring day as if nothing had happen.

“Grab my hand, please, Bridget, grab my hand!”  she begged of her friend. "Bridget!"

“Major!” An alarm was sounding. 

“Sheba, she’s too far. Let her go..” said the voice over the wireless.

Jilleen lost site of her friend. “NO”---


Her eyes open as she awoke to her clock’s alarm. Safe in her bunk aboard the Battlestar Avalon. Jilleen switched off alarm and then settled back into her pillow and let out a trembling sigh.