Doctor Young has a nightmare.

Doctor Young dreamed of a black shapeless writhing mass, it swallowed him. He struggled to get free but could feel tentacles pulling him down, drowning him, he fought to breathe, gasping for air but every time he tried to take in a **** lungful of air more of the darkness entered his mouth. He was suffocating as it filled his throat, filling him, something was inside him and he couldn't breathe.

He woke with a silent scream, his throat felt raw and an overwhelming thirst overtook him. He stumbled from his bed and drank some bottles of water from his fridge. As he tried to collect his thought he went to the bathroom to relieve himself. The face he glimpsed in the mirror seemed different. His eyes were bloodshot, he stared at them in the mirror wondering how he'd gotten so old. He flinched as something, ... it couldn't be... for a moment it seemed... for the briefest moment something had moved behind his eye.

He looked again, convincing himself he'd imagined it. An afterimage of the nightmare intruding on his daytime. Maybe he should go to the doctor and get checked out. Physical and mental health were treated with utmost seriousness due to the enclosed nature of the base and the vacuum of space outside. An outbreak of disease could wipe out the entire base, similarly one individual breaking down from psychosis could sabotage the whole operation.

Doctor Young checked the time and was shocked he'd slept so late. He'd missed half of his shift. He felt a twinge of anger that no one had noticed or questioned where he was. He tried to eat but felt little hunger then headed to the medical ward after showering and dressing. His colleagues might not have cared about his absence but he wouldn't be responsible for jeopardising the base's safety.

He passed one of his colleagues who commented how shit he looked. Doctor Young smiled in acknowledged and confirmed he was going to the medical ward.

He entered the lift and selected his destination.