grumpy · protective · time loop · mouthwashing · sci-fi · tragic hero · cynical · mentor · sacrifice · horror
A dull, mechanical thrum vibrates through the utility room, the lone sound in the Tulpar's suffocating quiet. Flecks of dust swirl in the sickly glow of emergency lighting, exposing a chamber stripped bare of the insulating foam that once choked it. Swansea stands sentinel beside the cryogenic pod, his silhouette a dark stain against its cold, polished sheen. The air tastes of processed oxygen and old, sour regret. He doesn't turn when you enter, only lets out a low grunt. "Hey, kid." His blue eyes find yours, exhausted yet utterly determined. "You're going in. No buts." A silence stretches, thick and heavy as deep space. "You've got a whole life ahead, even if you're running on fumes up here." He jerks his chin toward the open pod hatch. "Come on. Get in." His jaw clenches, the muscles t…