Blackness.

The dreams come again.

Blackness.

All around.

Empty. Silent.

No something out there. As before.

Not alone

Give In

Not alone come

Anger in me comes fast and hot.

No!

You will in time

It draws near

Blackness.

## ## ## ## ##

I wake up. My fight or flight instincts blaring. Like from a nightmare. I try to move but I can’t.

Everting hurts even more from trying. 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.

Déjà vu! I realise.

I lay in what I guess is a medical bed. I try to relax and focus on my surroundings. My eyes are too heavy to open. The memories of the events in Herzeele flood back. The machines around me register my changing emotional state by my body’s response.

I hear someone enter the room. I force my eyes open and everything slowly comes into view. I recognise the room and the nurse attending to my monitoring equipment. I am back at Zone Command in the UK.

She notices that I am awake and begins to check my reactions.

“Mr Harrington, how are you feeling?” She 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. I should have remembered from last time. She nodded at this and supplies me with a drink. At least this one was faster than last time.

“It’s quite early at the moment but I will get the on-call doctor.” She tells me before leaving. Sure, it’s not like I am going anywhere!

I try looking down to inspect the damage but my neck is immobilised as well as both arms. I can still feel my legs and arms so that’s a good sign. I think. IVs were attached to both arms.

The nurse returns with a male doctor I do not know. I am subjected to a series of questions and response tests. Also, thankfully more pain meds.

“Dr Helena has been informed of your awakening and is on the way. As per your request, she will give you the full breakdown of your injuries.” The doctor informed me.

“Thanks” Was all I could say. He nodded and they both left after the nurse left a call button in my hand.

I was now left with my thoughts. I could tell the beating I had been given was in many ways worse than the first time around. The Alpha Ghoul had bounced me off those cars with great gusto.

Flashbacks echo through my mind. The entry to the zone, finding the civilians and then the fighting. Like most sane people I dislike zones but that was changing. It dawns on me that I am coming to truly hate going into zones.

Was I injured enough now to be medically disqualified from active service? If it was not too bad my mother would be happy that I am not being sent into danger anymore.

Thinking about her I was in line for another unpleasant “conversation” as soon as she arrives. God, I don’t what that. Maybe it’s time to push to stop being an Operative now? Is it time to change?

I lay there not depressed but just tired of the way my life is right now. Thinking of maybes until Dr Helena arrives.

Dr Helena walks into my room sometime later with a lot more sunlight around.

“Good morning, John.”

“Morning” I reply.

She goes over my charts on her pad and checks me over again. When finished she looks at me and starts.

“Beginning at the top as usual. You suffered a skull fracture and concussion. Your neck sustained damage but both are healing nicely. Your collar bone was broken and your right shoulder was badly dislocated. You suffered a lot of tendon and muscle damage. Surgery was required to fix a lot of the damage. Your left arm has a fracture. You suffered several broken ribs and one punctured your right lung causing it to collapse. You have four more scars on your chest to add to your collection. Your back sustained injury but is also healing nicely.” Looking at me after finishing the injury list.

“You were stabilised onsite and then sent back to the UK via medivac.” She continued.

“We expect a full recovery and a lot of physical therapy to get there.” She finished.

“I would nod but I am a bit stuck at the moment.” I quip.

She just shakes her head and studies the pad in her hands more.

“I will tell Command that you will be able to be debriefed in a few days. As you imagine they are eager to know what happened. But knowing them to expect them later today to try.” We both knew that medical advice was not always followed outside of emergencies.

“Ok.” That was all I could say. Not looking forward to that as normal.

“Alright, I will leave you with the monitor on.” She said walking over to it and switching it on. The news feed came on.

I thought about asking about my mother but I would enjoy the quiet. But no, I knew I had to ask.

“My mother has been harassing the staff again.” I ask. She turns to me.

“No, she was informed of your injuries but has decided not to come to the base. She has been kept up to date at her request.”

Ok. That was unexpected. Part of me was a little upset that she was not there. But the greater part was glad to avoid the impending fight. Emotionally I am not one to normal wallow dealing with them now instead. Emotions are not something I understand really. Only my anger was the one I understood as it was with me more and more these days.

She left me at this.

## ## ## ## ##

Dr Helena walked through the medical building. She was engrossed in the data that was there and being updated. Again, his battered body was wheeled into the emergency ward and the tests were concerning.

She continued through the building and into a walkway linking the medical building to the administration centre. Not paying attention. 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 as normal. 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. This was a journey she had done too many times but was nervous about today.

She entered the lobby and one of the receptionists spoke up.

“Dr Helena you are cleared to go straight up.”

She nodded and carried on to the lifts through the barriers. She continues to the nearest lift and presses the call button ignoring everything still studying the pad in her hand. Yes, today was going to be an important day. The lift arrives and she gets in pressing for the 6th floor.

She went to the doors that led to the meeting. Stopping outside she took a moment to collect herself and entered.

Inside were four men. She recognised Alexander, General Holsan and Mr Hamilton. The last was not someone she knew.

“Elan thank you for getting here so promptly.” Alexander said.

“Of course.” She answered. Sitting in the place, they expected her to.

Once seated Alexander began the meeting or more likely continued it.

“You know us three. This is Dr Holland from the research division.” He indicated a non-descript man in his mid-fifties. His entire look and demeanour screamed lifelong lab scientist. Right down to the thick rim glasses and tweed suit.

“A pleasure.” He spoke.

“Likewise.” She responded.

Nodding to himself that the introductions were done Alexander called up Johns’s medical records on a large monitor. Elan noticed she was linked with the monitor and could interact with the data.

“We are eager to talk with John but we have noticed a medical hold for a few days.” Alexander said.

“I understand his medical needs but we must get the information while it is still fresh in his mind.” Holman interjected.

“Understandable gentlemen but you can all see the extent of his injuries. Medically I cannot allow you access unless he agrees.” This was all she could do to stop them from battering away to his room.

They all shared looks except for Holland who was reading the information on the monitor.

“All right doctor please give us the breakdown of Operative Harringtons’ condition.” Hamilton said. Everyone became interested in what Elan was going to say.

“As you have been already informed of the extent of Operative Harrington’s injuries.” She began. “I can confirm no sign of cognitive damage from his head injuries on the first tests.”

“He was in a medical endured coma due to those injuries. His blood work showed limited exposure to the “Ghoul” Virus which has been purged from his system. We expect that he will make a full recovery after extensive physical therapy.”

“That’s excellent news.” Alexander interjected. The others nodded.

“Therein lies the problem we have discovered” The men were all confused.

“His injuries were extremely severe. To demonstrate his right shoulder.” She brought up the corresponding scans. “Even if he had extensive reconstruction surgery at best, he would be left with 60% mobility with it.”

“You said he would make a full recovery Elan.” Alexander said.

“Yes, he will and this is why.” She brought up a blood analysis.

The men looked at the information lost but it was Holland who saw it and spoke.

“Stem cells?” He asked excitedly.

“Yes, his body is producing a small quantity every day with many other chemicals found in the early foetus stage of human development. To be blunt gentleman his body is slowly regenerating, healing all the damage that would normally be beyond it.”

All but Holland were shocked at this information. As for Holland he had pulled out a pad and was furiously typing on it.

“Do we know how?” Hamilton asked.

“As I said before exposure to the zones causes unknown side effects. We are seeing one of the most unusual with Operative Harrington. This is not the usual mutations we were expecting.” Elan replied.

The room was quiet apart from Dr Hollands’ fingers interacting with his pad.

“Can we replicate this?” Came from Hamilton again.

“At the moment we don’t even know how his body is doing this so no.” Elan replied.

The potential of what was happening was not lost on any in the room. Stem cell research had plateaued at the moment. Zone research had overtaken it as the world’s biggest project. If they could figure out how John was doing it the implications were huge.

“I do have some good news.” Holland said breaking the silence. All turned to look at him.

“My colleagues in the Bioresearch lab have created a version of the anti-bodies that Operatives Harrington’s body is producing to fight the ZCG-01A “Ghoul” Virus. The medication created will not give immunity but will dramatically increase a body’s ability to resist the virus. Final tests are proceeding well and if successful production can begin in 6 months on a trial version.” He continued.

“That’s excellent news.” Alexander said. Elan nodded she was aware of this from the recent updates she had seen.

“What of Operative Harrington’s mental status?” Holsan inquired.

“We are still running tests now that he is awake, we can do a full workup.” That was all she could say.

The room left that as it was knowing that a lot would ride on that assessment.

“Okay, Dr Helens we are thankful for you updating us.” The dismissal was from Hamilton.

“Of course, gentlemen I have a lot of work to get back to.”

“I need to leave as well this data can change a lot of things.” Holland added. He stood with Elan from the table.

“Of course, doctor.” Alexander said.

The two left the room and the other three occupants to their discussion.