Life-After (17 page)

I did not know Jonathan had been assigned to Naxum when I first arrived. Seeing him there made the transition an easier process. He had served his country with honor and distinction in the war not only training Alpha Factor members, but taking command on the final push into the heart of Federation territory.

That was the past. After the meteors fell Jonathan was put in charge of Delta Resistance. After losing Clara and finding most of the people who survived from Naxum killed, finding Jonathan alive and in charge of my new unit allowed me to focus on my mission, my revenge. He gave me a lot of leeway during my time with D.R. There were many instances where I should have been reprimanded or worse but he understood my drive and allowed me to peruse my goals.

What I could not help but wonder was why he was at Alpha Medical. The D.R. base was relocated over one hundred miles from Alpha Medical. While it was possible he just wanted to see his wife or was aware of what happened to me, Jonathan was never the kind of person to leave his post for one man, any man.

“
I need to get back out there.” I said. “I’m fine. Just get me on the next transport.”

“
You need to rest.” Lola said. “You have been unconscious for thirty-six hours.”

Her words surprised me. It had felt as if I had only been out for a few hours max. There was a look of concern in her eyes, much more than just for my medical health. Jonathan too had an expression, but it caused me concern.

“
Look, the truth is we can’t let you leave just yet.” Jonathan said. “You were patrolling a sector that had already been attacked by the Ashers. There was no intelligence on any activity there and then a few hours later the place becomes Asher City.”

“
Ashers” I asked.

My question was not the one that first popped into my head. According to Jonathan everything that happened to me up until the blast occurred within a few hours. I had to accept that their timeline was correct and if so that would definitely mean that everything I had experienced with Clara and the other world was nothing more than a dream. I thought that, but I had not accepted it.

“
Where have you been?” Jonathan said. “It’s what we called those alien bastards.”

“
It was derived by the substance they leave behind when killed.” Lola interjected. “We have found the residue or ash contains bio matter, but it is strange, nothing like what we have ever known.”

My eyes glanced over to the soldier who stood silently as our conversation commenced. I still wanted to know why I was under guard and why I was in a private room when there are wounded and dying in the hallways. I had to be careful with my words and actions. If they were to suspect something was wrong with me physically or mentally they would pull me from duty. After what I had experienced and still feeling the loss of Clara I could not afford that.

“
Don’t sweat the guard.” Jonathan said realizing my concern. “There have been reports of Asher activity nearby and the floor you are on contains not only special equipment and information but personal as well. I’m sure you don’t need it but command gave the order to place a guard in each room.”

“
And why exactly am I on a special floor?” I questioned. “I am not a special personal.”

Jonathan was always the kind of man to give it to you straight. When it was clear I would not be able to reach Clara it was him who did not try to sugar coat the reality of the situation. Perhaps the others thought they were helping or being nice. The truth is, many of them were hoping their loved ones would be there waiting for them and to tell me to keep up my hopes was done so to comfort themselves more than me.

When Jonathan could not tell me something he would make it clear, either through expression or direct words that it was because he was forced too. What I saw in his eyes when I asked him why I was on a special level within Alpha Medical and under guard was that he had an answer. He was not under a specific order not to tell me. He just did not want too.

“
You know the losses we have taken, David.” Jonathan answered. “As you can see this room really isn’t for treating people it’s for test subjects. We brought you here because you are the only person left alive who was in that sector. There are questions to be answered and we hope you can help us with that.”

“
First and foremost your health is the most important factor.” Lola said. “You suffered a concussion and were exposed to the radiation caused by the Asher’s energy beam. We have already completed preliminary tests and you do not have radiation poisoning, but considering you existing injuries which you should have let healed. You will need to stay under our care, at least a few days.”

I did not know why I felt so mistrusting. Lola and Jonathan both had been nothing but upfront with me in the past. I believed it had to have been the dream. Nothing I could do to push it aside and accept that none of it was real was working. I believed the world I was in was real, but my dream had left an imprint upon me. There was rage still inside me that wanted nothing more than to kill Richard for what he had done.

Trust did not come easily with me. It took time for someone to earn it, but once it was given it was unwavering. Even though I was sure Jonathan was holding something back I had no real reason to mistrust him. Lola as always was transparent in her words. She may not have specifically expressed what she felt in her speech, but if you knew her then you would know by what she said exactly what she meant.

Regardless there were questions to be answered outside my dreams. All resistance soldiers carry a tracking beacon that only top commanders can access. While it was not unknown for a team to be sent after a solider there was no reason to send a helicopter after me. If there was activity in the area I would have been contacted via the radio. Also, the men in the chopper trained their guns on me even though I was clearly in uniform and ordered me to remain still.

“
I’ll tell you whatever you want, but there isn’t much to tell.” I began. “I was in sector seven and had almost cleared the area. There was no activity and I was about to move on. I spotted something near the Union building and made my way there. Someone must have attacked me, knocked me out. I came to and saw the chopper. It was hit from above by an energy weapon and then I blacked out and woke up here.”

I did not want to lie to them, but there was more than one reason not to tell the truth. I had allowed myself to be drawn towards the girl that was my first mistake. I allowed my emotions to drop my guard. That little girl died because of me and I should have been dead. It stood over me and fired its weapon. How could I explain that to anyone? Nevertheless, tell them about my dream and everything else.

“
I see.” Jonathan responded. “Well if there is more to discuss you will need to be debriefed.”

“
That will happen after he has rested.” Lola said. “Being unconscious is not the same as sleeping. You will need to remain here and don’t even think of removing the monitoring devices on you unless you want to be strapped down. I know you, David. We need to monitor your vital signs and make sure you are okay. Tomorrow we will conduct some final tests and then you can accompany Jonathan to resistance command.”

I honestly could not tell if Jonathan bought my story or not. Lola on the other hand seemed generally concerned for me. As they left the room Jonathan motioned for the guard to follow him. His gesture did put me at ease that the guard being there was nothing more than an order as he had said. Still, the slight ease I felt did nothing to the overall anxiety. I hated feeling that way. After years fighting and doing what needed to be done to survive a long dream was slowly unraveling me.

For the next five hours I lied in that hospital bed staring at the blinking light of the security camera pointed at me. I fought against myself. Part of me wanted to fall asleep to see what dreams may come. The other part of me was frightened that I might have dreamed of her again and it was something I just could not let happen again. I had to rest and in the end I did close my eyes. As I drifted off to sleep I promised myself that no matter what I would wake up in the same world and find my answers.

An explosion rocked the building forcing me awake. I glanced around the room confirming the world I was in. The clock showed I had only been asleep two hours. As I slid out of bed another explosion shook the building even worse. I lost my balance falling to the floor; the wires connected to me were pulled off. The sirens from both my equipment and the building began to wail loudly.

I pulled myself to my feet and searched for my uniform to put on but it had been removed. I walked over to the door and peeked through the small glass window. I could see the security forces scrambling, doctors and nurses rushing from room to room. I thought about what Jonathan said about enemy activity nearby. Even with the shield generator a few direct blasts from their ship based weapons would destroy the building.

Unarmed and in a hospital gown there was nothing I could do, but I refused to remain in the room. Luckily the door was not locked. I made my way into the hallway trying to get my bearing. It had been years since I visited Alpha Medical and I had never been on that floor. I wanted to find my uniform and a weapon and join the others defending the building.

“
David, what are you doing?” Jonathan shouted from behind me.

I turned around to see him running towards me holding his side arm. Another explosion tore a hole in the side of the building not far behind Jonathan. Debris and dust flooded the hallway; the impact knocked me to the floor. I could not see the smoke and dust was so thick I could hardly breathe. I crawled along the floor and reached Jonathan who was laying motionless face down on the floor. As I reached over to him he opened his eyes and quickly retrieved his side arm and pointed it towards me.

“
Jonathan, wait! It’s me!” I yelled out.

Jonathan’s eyes blinked. He shook his head and began to stand. I stood as well helping him to his feet. I could see he was clearly shaken up by the blast. He put his arm over my shoulder and we began to make our way towards the stairwell. The sound of weapons fire and screaming was emanating from all around him. Whoever was attacking was close.

“
Jonathan, is there a command post set up?” I asked. “I need my gear and a weapon.”

“
No.” Jonathan responded. “We need to get to the bunker downstairs.”

Jonathan removed his arm from my shoulder and headed towards the stairwell. I did not know Alpha Medical had a bunker and I wondered why Jonathan would want to head there when we were under attack. I did not want to question him, as a friend or a commanding officer, but his decision did concern me.

“
What about the Ashers?” I questioned. “Shouldn’t we help defend the building?”

“
There’s nothing to defend, David.” Jonathan said. “A few moments ago we detected an Asher’s base ship in orbit moving over our position. It is the same one that destroyed the helicopter sent to retrieve you. They will be able to fire upon us in less than ten minutes. These explosions are from their ground units. We have to make it to the bunker before they fire.”

As we continued down the stairs the sounds of combat and men and women dying made me feel like a coward for fleeing. I could understand Jonathan needing to get to the bunker, he was a vice commander, but I was nothing but a grunt. My rank of sergeant was given to me because of service but as far as I was concerned I was just a weapon to be used for revenge. I wanted to be out there even if it was to be a death sentence.

“
Is Lola safe?” I asked.

Jonathan looked at me, almost as if shocked that I asked him that question. I was not trying to imply that he was going to her. I knew he would gladly give his life in battle, he was an honorable man. I sincerely wanted to know. Lola was important to me as well. She had helped deal with the loss of Clara and signed off when I would have been medically removed from active duty.

“
She’s fine.” Jonathan answered. “She was with me when we detected the ship. She is waiting for us in the bunker.”

“
Why am I going with you?” I asked. “I should be out there with the others.”

Jonathan did not answer. We continued down to the basement and made our way down a long corridor to a metal door with a keypad. Jonathan entered the code on the key pad and unlocked the door. Another long series of steps went even further down. It was clear the area below was built to withstand a nuclear blast.

“
I know you rather be out there, but that isn’t possible.” Jonathan responded. “We still need any information you can give us. I promise after we are secure and you are debriefed you can get back to the front lines.”

I nodded in acknowledgement. Jonathan was just doing his duty as a soldier and commander and I respected him for that. We continued down several more flights of stairs to another metal door locked by an electronic keypad. As Jonathan entered the code I could feel the vibrations from the explosions above. I refused to block them out. If I could not be out there fighting alongside them then I would at least acknowledge their presence and their sacrifice.

“
I understand, Jonathan.” I said. “But I don’t know what I can tell you that I haven’t already.”

We reached a set of massive blast doors leading to the bunker. They were partially open just enough to allow personal through. As we passed through each door it closed behind us. There would be no one else that would make it inside. That fact did not sit easy with me. There were many we passed in the hallway and stairwell that would be killed when the blast hit. I wanted to ask why they could not be saved, but as I knew far too well, not everyone can make it out alive.