Hospital

“Another is on the way. Get her help.”

I take her hand. “Come with me, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“I can’t hear her….I can’t hear her.”

I get her to the car and drive. The hospital is close. I park and walk her into the emergency room. A short, slightly overweight, woman works the desk.

“Nature of the injury.”

“I can’t hear her. I can’t hear her.”

“That’s all she’s said since I found her.”

“Waiting room two. Someone will be with you shortly.”

I lead her to the waiting room and she sits, her mantra on a continual loop. After ten long minutes a dark skinned man in a white coat slips through the curtain.

“Hello, I’m Doctor Patesh. What seems to be the problem?”

“I can’t hear her…I can’t hear her.”

“Oh, that is rather odd. Are you family?”

“No, I’m Blue. She’s a witness.”

“Oh, any idea what she might have been exposed to?”

“She was found in a **** lab. No idea what they were making there. The place was trashed.”

“Let’s do a scan of her brain.”

He pulls out a handheld spectroscopic scanner and runs it along her skull.

“That is most interesting!”

“What is?”

“Her biomech implant.”

“What connects her to her Master?”

“Yes. They are implanted at birth and should outlast their host by a long time. Her’s is dying. Whatever she took is killing the tissue attaching it.”

“You mean she’s a rogue? There hasn’t been a rogue since the time of War. That was five hundred years ago!”

“I’m quite aware of that Ms. Pearson. Although, she won’t be rogue for long.”

“What?”

“Whatever she took is also attacking her brain stem, where autonomic functions are regulated. She’ll be dead in minutes.”

“Shit! Is there anything you can do?”

“Not without a sample of whatever she took. It seems to be designed to avoid detection and isolation.”

“But, she looks fine.”

As soon as the words slip out, she begins to cough and spasm. Dr. Patesh rushes to her side.

“Code Blue!” Dr. Patesh yells.

A gurney zips in and they lay the girl on it. A nurse pushes her at breakneck speed. We follow. She pushes her into an operating room. Dr. Patesh takes her pulse.

“Too late. She’s dead. Time of ****…” He looks at his data watch. “Four seventeen.”

“Shit! Thank you for trying to save her, doctor.”

“It’s my job. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

“Can I ask you who you follow?”

“Enigma is my Master.”

“I pictured you as a Cybex.”

“My second choice.”

“Thank you for your help doctor.”

I depart.