Blackness.

Nothing.

No there’s pain.

Yes, pain.

“He’s coming around.” A voice.

“Put him back under let him sleep” Another voice. I know that one. I think.

“Yes, doctor.”

A nip of pain in my arm.

Warmth.

Blackness.

## ## ## ## ##

Blackness.

All around.

Empty. Silent.

No!

Something out there.

Not Alone.

Give in

A Voice? A feeling? A thought?

Give in

No!

You will in time

Blackness.

## ## ## ## ##

I wake up. Everting hurts. Different levels of pain are announced from different parts of my body. My mind is foggy and heavy. Breathing hard and painful. I also feel exhausted. Can’t move.

My eyes are still closed and are heavy. I see light through them seems natural. My mind begins to clear. The memories of what happened during my last mission flooded forth.

Strange Dreams?

Well, I am alive it seems. Also, in a bed of some sort. From the limited sounds around me a medical bed, I think. I can feel devices attached to me and what I think to be an IV drip in my right arm. I used to donate blood before my present occupation and recognise the feeling.

I lay there for some amount of time. I can’t tell how long but I force myself to open my eyes.

Late afternoon sunlight is flooding into my room and yes, my original thoughts were correct I was in a hospital room. More than that I realised that this was the main medical facility used by the M.o.D. for Zone Operatives. I spent enough time with the Government approved decor to recognise it anywhere. I was attached to several monitoring devices.

I look down under the blanket that I was under. Just this simple movement was a source of new pains from many different places. I was forced to use my right hand as my left arm was bandaged up a lot more than my right.

I was wearing a standard-issue NHS gown covering my torso and modesty. My left leg was heavily bandaged around the upper thigh part ending at my knee. The rest was bruised but intact. Looks like nothing was lost. Relief flooded through me As I realised that I was mauled but still all here.

A male nurse entered my room from the door that lead to the corridor. He quickly became aware that I was awake. He moved over and began checking my vitals and the monitors around me.

“Mr Harrington, how are you feeling?” He asked.

My Croak was all I could reply with. It was when I try to talk that I realised that my throat was extremely dry. He nodded at this.

“I will get you a drink and the Doctor.” With that, he left.

A few minutes later he returned with a plastic cup and straw. He lent me a forward to drink the water. The cold water is bliss travelling down my throat. I even don’t care about the slight chemical aftertaste. Dr Helena arrived when I was halfway down the cup. The nurse placed the cup on a tray next to me and then left.

Dr Helena went around and checked my vitals and all the monitors again.

“Well John, you gave us a scare there for a few minutes you picked up a nasty infection but you are responding better now.” She began.

I nod still not ready to try to talk again she accepts this and continues.

“Well let’s break down your injuries.” She pulls a pad from her doctor’s coat pocket and calls up some information.

“Let’s start at the top. You have had a nasty concussion that is healing nicely. Your scans show the signs of pronounced Zone effects that are slowly clearing. Your shoulders are extensively bruised. Your right arm is heavily bruised. Your left has several lacerations that have been stitched and are healing well. Your back also has several lacerations that have been stitched and are healing but you will have several scars. Four ribs on your left side have been broken but thankfully did not threaten to puncher your lung and are healing. Your right leg is bruised but nothing more. Your left thigh suffered several nasty lacerations that almost hit your femoral artery it was also the source of the infection you have been suffering from. They are going to leave scars.” She listed off calmly to me.

This might seem cold or odd to be told as the patient but is at my request as I like to know the score if I ever got badly injured. I don’t believe in wasting time trying to protect my “feelings”. You need the facts to get on in this life.

“So still alive Doc.” I asked.

“Yes, but you are going to be out of action for some time.” She replied.

“You have been asleep for twelve days as we have been fighting the infection you picked up.”

“Shit that’s not good my mother not going to be happy!”

“She is here at the base.”

“Bollocks!”

## ## ## ## ##

Dr Helena left the room. John’s mother had arrived and had begun to nag him over his job and the fact he got injured. As she walked down the hallway away from his room, she could still hear her complaints.

As she walked, she reviewed the pad in her hand that displayed John’s medical records. She did not tell him everything about his injuries. She couldn’t forget the image of him being pulled into the medical tent along with the other wounded from the support team. He was a mess.

She continued through the building and into a walkway linking the medical building to the administration centre. The door had a military guard and a swipe card lock on the door. She pulls out her ID card and swiped it against the scanner. The light on the scanner went from red to green and the door buzzed as it popped open. She pushed the door forward and nodded to the guard as she entered.

The room was the side entrance to the administration building’s main lobby. The room was a typical civil service layout and colour. The room had a large reception desk next to a set of access barriers that lead to six-passenger lift doors. The room was a blend of greys and chrome. With several couches for waiting visitors and a number of potted plants.

Elan walks towards the barriers. The room had a man and woman behind the desk and two military police guards at either side of the barriers. The barriers open as they scan her ID. She turns to the man behind the reception desk who is closet

“Please let them know I am on the way”

“Of course, Doctor” He replies as he picks up a phone.

She continues to the nearest lift and presses the call button ignoring everything still studying the pad in her hand. The lift arrives and she gets in pressing for the 6th floor.

When the lift arrives on the floor the doors open, she heads down the corridor to the last set of doors that are there. She opens them and goes in.

## ## ## ## ##

The room is like a board room with a large table with a wooden veneer giving the impression that it was oak. There were eight padded leather chairs in the room and a large monitor on the wall. Three of the chairs were occupied.

Alexander stood as she entered the room from one of them.

“Elan excellent. I know you have meet Brigadier General Holsan.” He indicated the man in a military uniform to his right.

“Doctor, pleased to see you again thanks for the assistance in treating the wounded in the recent operation.” His voice gave away his Scottish heritage with his accent. Not a strong one but noticeable. The man himself was in his mid-fifties and physically fit standing about 5’9. With heavily greying brown hair and deep brown almost black eyes.

“It’s what I am here for General. To assist with injuries as needed.” He rose and shook her hand. Then return to his seat.

“This is Mr Roger Hamilton up from Whitehall.” Alexander indicated the man to his left. The man was in his mid-sixties and a bit overweight. He was mostly bald and had a deeply lined face. His eyes were green and very sharp. He rose and shook Elan’s hand.

“Thank you for coming.” His voice had what would be referred to as a Toff accent. This was odd as Alexander’s boss was not present and this Mr Hamilton was in her place.

They all sat at the table with Elan on one side and the others on the other.

“Doctor Helena as you have notified us of Operative Harrington’s return to awareness after his recent injuries will be the final operation debriefs.” Alexander began. Elan was no novice and knew the official tone he was using meant that they were being recorded.

She placed her pad on the table before her and smiled at the others.

“Of course, what would you like to know.” She asked.

“We have all read the first stage medical examinations of Operative Harrington and the injuries he sustained. As well as the support team that went in to support him. Do you have anything to add?”

“Actually, yes I do.” All three men became more focused on this.

“Operative Harrington has had the “Ghoul” Virus in his blood that was acquired from the injuries sustained in the last deployment as you are all aware. This virus was the source of this fever that placed him into a coma for the last twelve days. We all know what would have happened if he succumbed to it.” They nod at this. The virus would turn him into a ghoul. They had a special responder ready to set in and terminate him if that happened.

“Well, the latest blood work is back and it clearly shows that the virus has been all but purged from his body by his immune system.” The men perk up at this.

“Doctor two of my men injured in that suffered from that virus and began changing the type three threat “Ghouls”. We had to terminate them. Can you explain what happened?” General Holsan asked.

“As you all know we still have no clear idea of how the breaches affect the biological and physics of areas around them. Even after six years of research.” Elan began.

“This virus has been recorded however with other sightings of the carrier from other countries. Portland is the biggest and first reported.”

“I however believe that with Operative Harrington’s body producing anti-bodies that have fought off the virus can produce a counter agent or even a vaccine to protect our personnel.”

This makes all three men perk up further. This was a good sign.

“When do you think such a medication will become available?” Hamilton asked.

“We do not know if it ever will, but the research department is optimistic.”

The three men shared several glances at this but asked no more.

“As to the second issue of the signs of drift recorded in Operative Harrington’s mental activity, I am glad to say the last scans show he is returning to close to his baseline. We will need to monitor him but we do not expect any issues.” She continued.

“Almost?” Alexander asked.

“Yes, as you are all aware exposure to the breach zones affects all those who enter. Operative Harrington has proven to be one of the most resistant to this effect out of all the Operatives. But, in time the exposure will affect even him.”

“So, he can return to operations when he is healed with no issues at this time?” General Holsan asked.

“Yes.” That was all she said.

The three men took a few moments to digest that information.

“Anything else to add Doctor?” Alexander asked.

“When I left Operative Harrington’s, mother was with him. She is concerned about his safety and is actively trying to have him end his service.”

The men were not happy with this but were not surprised.

“Operative Harrington is aware of his terms of service so when know there will be no problem on that front.” Alexander stated.

Alexander looked to his left and right seeking any other questions. None were offered.

“Thank you, Doctor Helena. We will be looking forward to your full report.” Elan knew a dismissal she heard on and got up and left the room.