Page 2 of Resolution
Oh yes, Jeff and Melly had a lot of questions. She hoped they could find enough answers in a short time frame and escape with their lives.
Following their escort, Jeff drove the truck into a small area bounded by force fences. A surge of infected followed the vehicles into the area, although the barrier slammed into place behind them so others were cut off. Soldiers from inside the camp rushed out and killed the infected in a short battle while Melly, Jeff and Tamsyn sat in their old truck and waited. A few of the infected stubbornly tried to penetrate the truck and get at the trio but were eventually dispatched by the guards. Melly held Jeff’s hand, more to support him than to quell her own fear. She knew how hard it must be for him to sit and allow others to defend them.
The com came to life again. “You may exit the vehicle now. You won’t be returning to it so bring anything you wish to keep. Walk straight to the door at the back where you’ll be tested for infection.”
Jeff got out and came around to open Melly’s door. He took her hand to help her descend from the truck. Next Tamsyn handed him the three scruffy backpacks they’d brought with a change of clothing and a few supplies in each to support their story of being refugees on the run. Jeff had an older model blaster in a holster at his hip, which the soldiers promptly confiscated. Tamsyn had a knife in a sheath at her belt, which she also had to give up, although they missed the backup blade in her boot. Melly had only her medkit, which she clung to.
At the doorway they were separated and thoroughly scanned before being allowed into the next room. Their names and places of origin were recorded. Melly and Jeff listed the capital city since that was their point of origin on the planet. Tamsyn claimed Rosewater. The clerk handed them each a small green card with a code on it. “This is your camp ID,” she said. “You’ll need it to get food or any other services so don’t lose it. The code is cross referenced to your arrival date, health clearance and place of origin. Once you have your work assignments, the information will also be in the database, as far as other entitlements. You can move on to the next station.”
“Impressive organization,” Jeff said in a tone of admiration.
The clerk shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. It’s all procedure. Haven’t seen many new people at all lately.” She glanced over her shoulder and leaned closer. “How is it out there? Any better?”
“Infected roaming around, towns either deserted or barricaded, like you’ve done here,” Melly said.
“Some people trying to survive on their own,” Tamsyn added. “Hey, I had friends who headed this way not too long ago in a school bus. Any chance you can help me locate any of them?”
“I wasn’t on duty here that day but I remember the bus. Big group.” The clerk straightened and fussed with her handheld. “Sorry, can’t help you. I’m not authorized to search the database. But if they’re here you’ll run into them. Glastine is like a small town. You’d better get going onto the next room.”
In the face of her dismissal, the three of them rose and walked to the adjoining room as ordered.
A medtech in white waited for them, seating at a table, with empty containers in a huge rack beside her elbow. She barely glanced up from the book she was reading. “Blood sample,” she said, setting the book aside and picking up her med device. “I have to scan your cards first..”
“What are the samples for?” Melly asked, rolling up her sleeve. “I mean we obviously tested negative for the virus or the soldiers wouldn’t have passed us through the first station.”
“Standard procedure here,” the clerk said as if she’d answered this question a thousand times. “Let me take a sample or you don’t get inside the camp. The guards take your card and put you out the front gate” She shivered. “No one survives so I don’t advise changing your minds now. Go along to get along here at Glastine.”
“Sorry, I should have introduced myself,” Melly said, holding out her hand. “I’m Dr. Melly Jericho. We’ll be working together, I’m sure.”
“Nice,” said the clerk as she shook hands. “Dr. Sharpton can use the help. Welcome aboard.”
Once the samples were taken, the clerk indicated they should exit the building and follow the yellow arrows painted on the sidewalk outside.
“So far I’m impressed,” Melly said as they strolled under the eyes of watchful guards. “Although the blood tests are a bit weird.”
“Seems like too much overwatch going on, to me,” Jeff said. His sharp gaze missed nothing of the defenses around them or the heavy guard presence, she was sure.
“And knowing there are literally thousands of infected pressed against the fences gives me the chills,” Tamsyn added. “You can hear them, waiting out there.”
“You’ll give me nightmares.” Melly rubbed her arm where goose bumps had appeared. “I’m trying to forget that aspect of being in here. I’m telling myself the sound is like the ocean.”
“Whatever works, doc.” Tamsyn laughed with little amusement in the sound. “I can’t wait to get out of here.”
Jeff moved ahead to open the old-fashioned door. “Patience, my friend. We’ve barely arrived.”
The arrows led them to an office where a man with captain’s insignia waited at a big desk. He took their cards and scanned each with a flick of the wrist, as if he’d done this many times. Handing them back, he said, “I’m Captain Briskinn, the official intake authority on duty today. I’ll need to know what your background and skills are so I can assign you to work details. Everyone works here with one day a week off. You want to stay, you work.” Now he slid three pieces of paper across the battered desktop. “Read this at your leisure later. The main landmarks of the camp are indicated on the map on the reverse side and each residence has an officer in charge if you have questions.”
He gave them no time to absorb the information on the sheet. Pointing his stylus at Jeff, he said, “Occupation?”
“Captain Jeff Pearson, Sectors Special Forces retired,” Jeff said crisply, sticking to the truth as they’d agreed to do before entering the camp. “I came to Randal Four to claim my veterans’ acres and start a ranch.”
Briskinn gave a chuckle. “Bad timing on your part. You’re not retired any longer, captain.” Opening a drawer, he grabbed a purple bracelet and handed it to Jeff. “Upgrade for military personnel. Entitles you to a private room, for one thing and extra rations and supplies at Stores.”
Pointing at the odd black bracelet Briskinn wore on his left arm, Jeff asked, “Happy to join the unit. Will I be getting one of those as well?”
Briskinn rolled the bracelet around his wrist. Melly blinked as gold and red flares came and went inside the opaque material. “Possibly at some point but these are normally only issued to the original team working directly for General Quantike. We uh we have special status as the original unit.”
“And I’m the Fucking New Guy, I get it.” Jeff’s smile was easy and he put the thin purple bracelet on. “How many experienced military personnel do you have here, captain?”
