24. Carter

TWENTY-FOUR

CARTER

Chapter 24

I sat in a sterile interrogation room, my fingers drumming an impatient rhythm on the metal table. The harsh fluorescent lights made my eyes ache, a stark contrast to the warm, natural light I'd grown accustomed to on Masari. A uniformed Alliance officer entered, his face a mask of professional detachment.

"Mr. Reed, I'm Agent Keller. We need to discuss your... experience."

I leaned back, crossing my arms. "You mean the life I lived? The family I had? The people I led and protected?"

Keller's eyebrow twitched. "According to our records, you were unconscious for far less than that"

"Time worked differently there," I insisted, frustration bubbling up. "I lived decades, dammit. I want to talk to Dowron. He'll understand."

"General Dowron is unavailable," Keller said, his tone clipped. "We need to ensure you haven't been compromised by whatever affected you on that station."

I slammed my hand on the table. "Compromised? I'm telling you the truth!"

"Mr. Reed, please calm down," Keller said, his hand hovering near what I assumed was a concealed weapon. "We're just trying to understand."

"You can't understand," I growled. "You weren't there. You didn't feel the sun on your scales, didn't hold your children, didn't..." My voice broke, and I looked away, blinking back tears.

Keller's expression softened slightly. "Look, Carter, I get that this feels real to you. But we need to make sure you're not a danger to yourself or others."

I laughed bitterly. "A danger? I led an entire civilization to peace. I united tribes. I..." I trailed off, realizing how insane I must sound.

"Tell me about this civilization," Keller prompted, leaning forward.

So I did. I told him about the Masari, about their customs, their struggles, their triumphs. I described Araela's eyes, the sound of my children's laughter, the weight of responsibility as a leader. With each word, I felt the memories slipping away, like trying to hold onto a vivid dream upon waking.

Keller listened, his face unreadable. When I finished, he stood up. "Thank you, Mr. Reed. We'll need to run some more tests, but I appreciate your cooperation."

As he reached for the door, I called out, "Wait! When can I speak to Dowron?"

Keller paused. "That's not up to me. For now, just focus on resting and recovering."

The door closed behind him, leaving me alone with my fading memories and the gnawing fear that I might never get back to the life I'd come to love.