Provence would spend several more weeks on the landship before she left on her next catastrophe reconnaissance.

We often shared time on different occasions, getting to know each other better and even partaking in some missions together on the same teams. In those missions I could attest her impeccable skill with her crossbow as well as her incredible agility and endurance even for a lupo.

But then she had to have all those. She had to be resourceful when she was all alone in the wasteland on her reconnaissance as a catastrophe messenger.

It was during this time that I was announced by Kal'tsit of the final results of her research. They had failed. They couldn't produce a cure from my immunity. After that rumours about my immunity and my race would spread like wildfire. As that little part of my file now required only a high level security clearance instead of being off limits to everyone as it previously was. And more word of it trickled through not so tight-lipped mouths. With the research concluded I was now detached as part of the new Doctor's retinue of operators.

I rose quite fast in his trust with my to-the-point attitude. But also with the fact that I actually finished all my missions with success, even those that were on the brink of disaster. I was soon appointed as his personal assistant for a good time until he put me in charge as squad leader, replacing Texas. Later on even taking Doctor's place for a time. Pretending to be him for his grand plan of finding the traitor among us and taking down the Reunion leader known as Retributioner.

At this point I had my life too often close to the knives edge with death, and I was starting to think I wasn't being paid enough for this shit. I was walking with the Doctor on the outer layer of the landship one particular day. It was sunny and partly cloudy but pleasant, with the gentlest of winds brushing at us. We were quite a known pair by now with our walks. And I always brought the good Doctor to the most quiet and deserted places to enjoy a good refreshment and a talk just between ourselves. The listening devices in his room notwithstanding.

-''It's quite a journey with you guys.'' I began.

-I presume you're referring to Rhodes Island.

-Yes.

-It is indeed. I hope you will continue your journey with us for some time Tacet.

-We'll see my good Doctor.

-What would you say keeps you here the most?

-My VIP living space and the quality bed. Salary is decent too.

-Of course there would be more than that.

-It's convenient to be here Doctor. Isn't that enough?

-Perhaps, though I hope it is a place of comfort as well as one of healing for you my friend. By the way, I will have a mission for you soon.

-Lay the basics on me Doc. Just please stop trying to throw me into the most suicidal ones expecting me to pull it all through.

-You know I am not doing it on purpose. These are the perils of the time and any mission could go wrong. But we always pulled through with the skill and dedication of operators like you.

-Nice way to butter up my biscuits. Anyway, tell me about my next assignment.

-You will be attached to a messenger and proceed to a scouting mission. Catastrophe scouting and exploration of some ruins.

-I see.

-Do you wish to know the operator you'll be paired with?

-I guess I would.

-You will be forming a team with operator Provence.

-Ah...

-Is there something wrong Tacet?

How did I become so relaxed in Doctor's presence that I let slip that slight mention of surprise? This was unlike me, or did the mention of her name excite me that much? It had been some time since I've seen her.

-I wasn't aware she was back on the landship.

-She is, but I don't think that revelation is what peaked your reaction.

-Hahah. My good Doctor. What makes you so damn confiable I wonder? Some would consider it a very suspicious trait.

-You have your own charms and special abilities my friend. No one is wronging you for them or for not being able to share it.

-Oh Doctor. I wished Kal'tsit could have found the cure from me. I truly do.

-Your sorrow shows, you really care about someone.

-''Indeed, my good Doctor.'' I responded somewhat dejected.

-Forgive me. I didn't intend to bring you down.

-''It is alright Doctor.'' I said as I gave a weak smile.

-You can confide your thoughts with me, you know that. Whatever it may be. And if there's anything in my power to help you with then I would.

-I know the limits of what Rhodes Island can offer, but I thank you nevertheless.

The Doctor grabbed my shoulder, squeezing it lightly in reassurance. I looked at him and wondered. What truly made him so damn confiable? I sighed.

-I guess I might as well make this my turn to confide in you my good Doctor.

-I feel for someone, greatly.

-Who is it that you feel for my friend?

-... Provence.

-Did your heart skip saying her name?

-''Yes.'' I said honestly and without a stutter.

-So you two are together then?

-No, we are not.

-Oh? I don't see you having problems interacting with others.

-All my life I was more of a lone wolf Doctor.

-I understand. Maybe you should confess to her?

I didn't answer. I just... couldn't find an answer. Either for him or for myself.

-Tacet, I sense there is a lot pent-up in you though you hide it well.

-But you cannot let whatever was in the past hold you back. Perhaps she is what you need.

-And perhaps you are right Doctor.

-Do you want to be replaced for the mission?

-No, it will not impede me, rest assured my good Doctor.

-I am sorry Rhodes Island can't do more for her condition.

-It's not your fault. Just as it's not mine that I cannot share my gift with the one I love.

-''Perhaps one day we will find the cure in time.'' Said the Doctor.

-That may be a lifetime ahead Doctor. It is irrelevant talking about things that could be or not, that are out of our power.

-But enough of this. It is almost twelve. Let me treat you with lunch. It is the least I can do for taking your time with me.

-You didn't take my time rest assured, but I will gladly take you up on it.

On our way to the cafeteria we chanced to stumble upon doctor Kal'tsit and Provence. The lupa beamed up her smile as she saw us.

-''Hello Tacet, Doctor! I bet we're all going to the cafeteria.'' Said Provence.

-''Good to see you Provence, Kal'tsit.'' Greeted the Doctor for the both of us.

-''You've left your work early Doctor, I have left another stack of papers on your desk.'' Said Kal'tsit coldly.

-Doctor Kal'tsit, can you walk with me for a bit? I'd like to discuss some things before we resume our shift.

Kal'tsit raised an eyebrow at Doctor's approach, yet she relented.

-''Very well Doctor.'' Said Kal'tsit.

-''Tacet, Provence, you can go on ahead of us.'' Suggested the Doctor.

-''Shall we go~?'' Beckoned Provence.

We enjoyed a meal together, and I could say something felt off. Provence seemed as cheerful as ever, maybe even a bit more so. But there was something else underneath it. A problem? A dilemma?

Something was on her mind and she was diverting heavy thought on it though she denied any such thing. But I could see. I could well read people and surmise many things. I only wondered what it could be. But she made it clear she didn't want to reveal or talk about it since she denied it. And I wasn't going to prod further.

-The Doctor informed me that we will be having a joint mission soon.

-Yes, I was apprised of it earlier this morning, we should be departing tomorrow.

-Any info on the timetable and distance?

-Several days at the least if not a week or two, and pretty far off.

-We're basically scouting ahead the forward paths for the landship to surmise the local danger and catastrophe potential in the area.

-I see.

-I believe this is your first mission along a catastrophe messenger?

-It is.

-You know, you would be good at this kind of job. You'd never have to worry about getting infected.

-It is a potential, I won't deny it.

Thus, it was that the day went and a new one came. I was driving an SUV specially modified for long distances and packed full of supplies. It was the go-to type of car for catastrophe messengers and couriers. Provence was besides me reviewing some of the inventory lists.

-''So technically we shouldn't encounter any current settlements on our way?'' I asked.

-Exactly. A catastrophe landed in the vicinity of our target area some time ago already. All the residents of the settlement there should have evacuated and moved on long ago.

-So we only have to be cautious of any possible Reunion presence.

-Yes, there have been reports of their movements in that area for some reason.

-''Maybe they found some interest in the ruins not far from that former settlement on the map.'' I suggested.

-Maybe, but for what reason I couldn't say. There is not much to be found in far weathered derelict ruins.

She said that, but I awoke in a ruin myself. A ruin that should still be filled with technological wonders. An armoury full of weapons. Monsters and possible eldritch abominations around an accursed gate. So personally I wasn't counting anything out of the possibility.

However, I hoped that it would be a fools chase and that Reunion had left a long time ago. It would have made my life easier and less bothersome. Of course, fate would disabuse me of that notion rather traumatically yet again. On our fourth day we had arrived at the outskirts of what should have been an abandoned village.

-''This settlement looks pretty settled to me.'' I pointed out.

-It shouldn't be! Even after a catastrophe ends the local area should still be too contaminated with originum for some time before they can come and resettle it again.

-''It is possible they never left in the first place. Either way something kept them here.'' I said.

My senses were tingling, and my paranoia was warning me of something unseen.

-''They might be dangerous. So let's be more cautious than we usually would be with them.'' I advised.

She didn't like that remark, yet she couldn't deny the logic behind it. We went into the village and to our astonishment all the residents we saw showed heavy signs of infection with oripathy. They were all dead men walking with a very short time left one way or another.

-They are all infected Provence. Heavily too.

-I can see. But I still can't understand their reasoning. None of them were willing to talk to me.

-They are either scared or they are hiding something.

-Perhaps. Let's see if we can find the leader of this community.

We eventually found the local doctor for these people. He, like the others, was visibly infected.

-I am afraid the leader of this village is no longer with us. Unless you want to search for his ashes in the nearby caves.

I instantly disliked him. Even though he was more forthcoming than the rest of the villagers, telling us many things. They apparently were caught off guard by the catastrophe that Provence mentioned happening some time ago in the past. The catastrophe messenger that was present then, for one reason or another failed to do his only job and everyone suffered for it.

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They knew that they wouldn't be welcomed anywhere in the world now as infected as they were. So they decided to stay put and try to continue living as they did before. Trying to keep a semblance of normality. But their attempt was very poor. The soil was blemished and produced little edibles anymore. The nearby river was their only lifeline as it brought fish from other regions.

As for the Reunion movement the village doctor actually confirmed that they came by a week ago, giving supplies in exchange for directions and information of the local area. Apparently they never heard of their organisation or what they represented.

From that little info I could surmise that they were welcomed with open arms. Many other nations or groups would have just gunned the villagers down to the last or took them as slaves.

Provence introduced us, and before we left she gave him information on how to contact Rhodes Island and the possibility of getting free medical treatment for their oripathy. The village doctor seamed to accept all these offers with a dimmed down eagerness. As we left the settlement I couldn't help that I was feeling watched, and not just by the nosy grandmas of the village. We were leaving that miserable place and going to the SUV that we parked away in a hidden spot.

-''What do you think?'' I asked first.

-It's sad that they have been through all that they did. We can perhaps help them still once we establish a better relation.

-You didn't think they were a bit hostile? Like they barely held on to their civility?

-Yes. But considering they are all infected and the fact that they were let down by a messenger it could be understood.

-I believe it may be more than that.

-''What do you believe?'' Asked Provence.

-Those are a lot of finely made graves over there. Suspicious for people that have to be taken in caves to avoid originum explosions of the body.

-I doesn't exactly prove much. If their body does not reach critical originum density then they could still be buried.

-Yeah, but those neat graves remind me of a group that greatly respected their dead by such careful burials.

-Who?

-Reunion.

-''Well they passed through here.'' Noted Provence.

-And the locals just picked up the custom instead of doing the correct procedure like before?

-I admit it is negligent, and pollutes the earth further. Rhodes Island will have to educate them on the right procedures again.

-Provence, imagine. A settlement was let down or betrayed by their messenger. They all lost someone they knew or loved. Now that they are all infected no one is interested in them but with their death, especially the two closest nations. They have no allies and know very well how infected are treated.

-And then suddenly a strange new group comes by that not only tolerates them but actually give them supplies and are accepting of the infected.

-''You suspect they formed ties with them. It is... possible.'' Provence declared uneasily.

-No, I believe they outright joined them.

-That is a big stretch for a conclusion Tacet.

-I could read on them their hate for us. Even after you told them about Rhodes Island they were still reticent about us. They had decided on their ties and loyalty already.

-That is a grim judgement. But the whole village? I gave treats to the little ones, I didn't see hate in them.

-What you saw was desire of sweets getting the better of them, they just tolerated you to get it.

At that Provence got indisposed.

-You would judge children like that? They can't possibly be all bad.

-I have judged every one that you interacted with, they all had the same stare in their eyes.

Provence seemed about to get angry at this point but said nothing more. Leaving ahead to reach the SUV. We hopped in and surveyed the map.

-The ruin over here seems to be some sort of ancient antenna tower. I doubt there is much functionality in this structure from the descriptions we've got and the sight I've seen through the binoculars. But the underground may yet yield some bunker of a more or less semi-intact state.

-Though even considering the possible use of this structure there shouldn't be anything much of worth for Reunion or us.

-You talk as if you knew these things as an everyday landship.

-''I just know a few things, anyway.'' I said changing the subject before it deviated to my past.

-We should approach it by the most difficult direction, here. Though if Reunion is there they will likely guard all routes of approach but at least we will have more cover.

-And we can leave the SUV at the margin of the forest here, on this spot with a lot of foliage for cover.

-''Sounds good so far. We should take it slow and observe constantly through our scopes for any movements.'' Cautioned Provence.

Said and done. As we were approaching the ancient antenna tower I wondered If It could still be possible to make contact with... no, it would be of no use. And nothing good would probably come for the races now inhabiting the world. Little as I may have cared there was still my comfort to consider and... the one I genuinely felt for.

I viewed though my sniper's scope, finding no movement even with my eagle sight. We were advancing and seeing no movement, but my sense of paranoia was feeling palpable at the back of my head. And I knew better to listen to it as it saved my life more than I could count. We were being awaited I was certain. The villagers I was sure, tipped Reunion off of our arrival if they were still here.

Outwardly there were no signs of movement, of life, of litter or of any marks left. Except one, the few dirt roads leading to it. It's not that they had tracks or footprints, they were free of them. However, they still looked too lean, too normal. Why was there no grass or any kind of vegetation growing on it if it wasn't used at all?

-''The dirt roads have no kind of vegetation on them. They are still used, they just cover their tracks.'' I told Provence.

-You're... you're right! So they must still be here.

-Most likely.

The compound around the tower also looked in a neat kind of disarray. We followed the thick tree line that hugged all around the compound and slipped in. We covered each other as each of us took point and went forward in turns.

-''Everything is clear so far.'' Said Provence.

-I wouldn't trust the front entrance.

-''You think if we can find another entry that won't be guarded?'' She asked.

-Let's see what options we have and then decide.

As much as we suspected Reunion to be around we couldn't have gone back to the landship without any kind of confirmation. We have scouted all around the tower and found two more possible entry points. A side metal door that looked busted and a trap door that looked beyond rusted. There were no other ways in. And they were all surely being guarded if Reunion was still present.

I scrutinized the main entrance again. It was a large double door, sturdy, of metal but looking in good shape to still be usable. I couldn't think of any way to have infiltrated the building unnoticed if there were observers around. We didn't have that kind of time to linger around either. In the end I decided myself on a course of action.

-Provence, remain hidden and cover me, I am going to try the front entrance.

-You sure about that?

-It's not like Rhodes Island will accept that we left this place without a confirmation. But nor do I want to die in an obvious ambush. Just be ready at a moment's notice to either cover me or retreat.

-Alright, I'll scan the tower as you approach.

I then casually strolled up to the entrance and tried the door. Locked. I knocked on the door loudly. And then again. Nothing. Very well then, I had a problem solver on me that I wanted to try anyway. I pulled out a powerful brick of plastic explosive and stitched it nicely on the middle line between the two doors. I set it to forty-five seconds and started casually walking away as if leaving, nearly reaching the exit of the compound.

-Eaaaaagh!

Suddenly I heard a yell before the anticipated explosion. A man in a Reunion cloak smashed onto the ground with an arrow planted in him! Soon the explosion boomed, blasting the doors out of their hinges and making a terrible mess of the entrance. I ducked and jumped into cover as several shots hit the ground where I stood just a moment before.

-''Snipers all around! I'm already on them!'' Provence radioed in.

-''Don't bother. We are leaving, not getting into a shooting contest! They might as well have an army inside. Stick to cover on your way out!'' I radioed back as I gripped my own sniper rifle.

Then a stream of Reunion fighters were rushing out of the doors that I blasted open.

-''You stirred the bee's hive Tacet!'' Said Provence.

-Good thing I stirred it while we were still outside then!

We both quickly left the compound and arrived in the relative safety of the forest cover, yet this wouldn't be the end of it. Far from it as Reunion members were scattering in the forest and were approaching us from every angle, finding us even in the thick tree line. Provence shot arrow after pinpoint arrow. One to the skull, on to the heart. Another in a caster's gut just as she unleashed a potent ball of fire. Only it passed safely by us and landed into another spot of the forest where it engulfed two other Reunioners.

-Nice shot.

-''Maybe we should have a contest on it one of these days.'' She proposed leisurely in the heat of battle.

-I will take you up on it.

-''But what should the prize be for the winner?'' She asked as she released another bolt into a charging enemy's throat at the same time that I snipped the leader of a group of them approaching, intimidating the ones left.

-''That's a very good question. But another thing I had in mind is how will the loser be punished?'' I asked jokingly but still with a serious tone in the middle of our wild turkey shoot-out at Reunion.

-''You monster! What do you plan to do with me!?'' She jested, amused.

-Let's have that contest, and you'll find out.

We were shooting down enemy after enemy, yet their numbers seamed endless. Soon I had to ditch my own sniper rifle and pull out my sword as their numbers were closing in on us. I cut them down while Provence continued to plant arrow after arrow into them.

-Tacet! They are coming from behind! Wait, those are the villagers!

-''Don't get your hopes up, I believe they come to their aid, not ours!'' I warned as I desperately cut down a sword fighter that was giving me problems just in time to parry another sword coming at my neck from another.

And indeed they were aiming for us. A seizable and assorted group of about forty villagers, men women and even children. All carrying pitchforks, knives, stakes and clubs. It was a mob, and it was aiming to lynch us good. We were between a rock and a hard place now between the Reunion that were still coming at us and this rag tag mob of deluded villagers. As I cut down the Reunioner in front of me I quickly unsheathed my spare knife, throwing it into the village woman that was rushing towards Provence with a stake.

-''They are attacking us! Fight back!'' I yelled at Provence, and she needed no more incentive as she now planted her bolts into the oncoming mob.

Yet they were still so many. I was hard-pressed to keep them at bay from Provence as she was providing covering fire. But as I looked at her for a moment I could see the hesitation she had towards children. The same children that she gave candy to this same day, and that hesitation would kill her I realised. They were nearing her with their knives. I lifted my boot and planted it in the head of the first that was about to swing his knife at my lupa, crashing his skull.

But I couldn't fight like this and keep everyone at bay. As I cut down another villager I pulled my pistol, unloading its twelve shots into the twelve peasants left. Men, women and mostly the group of children, all mortal wounds to the head that spared them of much suffering.

I didn't see her reaction, nor did I really have the time. I was utterly in trance to hold everyone at bay from us. I was starting to suffer wounds. The villagers distracted our attention and held us enough in place for another wave of Reunion members to find us in the forest. My sword sang as it bit flesh in an innumerable sea of enemies.

I was now facing a ten-man team of experienced veterans. Despite my skill and my over sharpened agility, my muscles could only be pushed so much. It was taking all I had to keep them at bay and not receive a deadly blow myself. They had surrounded us to the point that even Provence had lashed out with her knife as she reloaded.

My sword flew fast in intricate patterns to exploit the few openings in the enemy's defences. My body was flushed with adrenaline, yet my muscles felt like straining to the breaking point trying to keep up my barrage least we die! And I couldn't fail! Not here! And even more importantly I could not let them take the life of the lupa I loved! I endured the straining in my muscles even as they felt as if tearing up and my sword continued to sing its deadly song. One after another they fell at my feet.

-Guh!

Provence gave a pained groan and I instinctively lashed my sword behind me onto the Reunioner that was upon her. I didn't see him but I sensed him. I knew our layout and that of the enemy and all my senses were calculating everything it picked at an incredible speed. I knew the enemy right behind me was upon Provence and as my blade swung behind me, it fell into his skull!

I turned, noticing the enemy swordsman that I had just killed and a battered and cut Provence still holding on. She was reloading another arrow, and she was seemingly aiming right at me. I remained still, and she took the shot, her arrow passing too close by yet continuing behind me into a beast of a man carrying a huge hammer! She then quickly smashed her crossbow hard onto the face of a young and daring looking Reunion girl that charged at her. I continued to swing my blade and spill blood. I was grazed on my shoulder and too near my neck with a spear before I killed the insolent man. I could hear the growl of the lupa behind me as she smashed her crossbow into the head of another Reunioner.

She was getting worn out I could tell while I held off most of the elites. Yet these elites I had to admit were good, too good. One was fine to manage, but all of them at once took all that I had not to be cut down myself. My sword swung and touched deep into the leg of one as he screamed in pain at losing his limb. But my swing didn't stop! It continued and hit into the armpit of another elite that thought he could get the jump on me! Instead, he got his arm cut off from his torso, and she screeched in pain and horror of her mutilation!

I heard Provence falling to the ground and that sound out of all gave me instant cold chills. I did a pirouette and my gloved fist slammed into the mask of the attacker that was upon her. Smashing through it's mask and destroying its face and skull with my rage filled strength.

That move seamed to have given just the smallest pause to my attackers. Enough to exploit it with my newfound strength against these animals in front of me. I butchered them. I cut them to bloody chunks and I endured every hit that they made on me as I protected the lupa at my feet! In the end there were only corpses left. Leaving the last few stragglers to leave in terror.

-Provence!

I kneeled down by her as my distress for her was overtaking me. She didn't look good, she didn't look good at all. She gazed at me, barely conscious. She gave a semblance that she wanted to utter words, but she could not speak. Then, she started to pass out. I took out several bandages from my little first aid pouch and quickly stopped largest wounds from bleeding. Then, after picking up her crossbow and hooking it on my back I took her up in my arms, rushing like a man chased by demons to the location where my SUV was.

I knew the danger of what could happen if I picked her up, yet I didn't hesitate. I would endure anything to save her! The lupo I so loved secretly. I willed my heart beats to remain steady as hellishly painful as it was.

But then they beat true and steady now that I was admitting what I felt in the face of death, hers and mines. I rushed through the forest with large strides, my adrenaline still pumping hot in my veins. Not a second could be lost. Fortunately the SUV was untouched and there were no footsteps in sight nor any signs of tampering. I laid her down and opened the trunk, grabbing the trauma bag and laying it besides me.

Now I had to stop and think. I needed to stop my rush and control my breathing. I had to apply the medical skills I had with precision and a clear mind.

I slowly cut off parts of her attire to expose the wounds better. Disinfecting each, treating and bandaging them. It was slow, meticulous work and I couldn't have rushed beyond a certain point no matter how much I wanted. It was her life at stake and I needed to be judicious about what I was doing.

I extracted a broken tip of a blade from her, but mercifully it was not in a vital spot though she bled profusely. Her pained but weak moans coming out even as she was unconscious.

The work took a big chunk of the bandages we had with us, but I did manage to stop the bleeding. She was looking pale, and I knew she had lost too much blood. She wouldn't be able to survive such a loss as I could. I picked her up carefully and put her in the back of the SUV which was basically a flat board. I had laid a sleeping bag first before and on it, I laid her in comfort for the road ahead.

I quickly applied to her an intravenous isotonic sodium chloride solution. It was all I could do to mitigate her blood loss and hopefully last until I reached the landship. I cleared the space around her, so nothing would fall while we were on the move. As much as I wanted to jump in the driver's seat I couldn't yet. I would be useless if I passed out from my own wounds at the wheel.

Thus, I took my time, though somewhat more hurriedly in my case to patch up my own wounds. Soon I was prepared. I stopped to look one more time at Provence. She looked awful. She was soaked in blood. Ever her pale face was partially bloodied from a wound on her head.

-''Provence.'' I tried to get her attention. She wouldn't respond, though she was still breathing.

-''Please hold on.'' I pleaded as I brushed her cheek.

Lastly I hooked her up to an apparatus that monitored her heart beats audibly. If she was dying I would know. I could stop the car and apply resuscitations methods on her. Finally, I closed the trunk and rushed to the driver's seat. I switched the motor to life and made it roar as it sped through the forest.

-Rhodes Island. This is Reckon team one, respond.

Static.

-Rhodes Island. This is Reckon team one, respond!

Nothing but static. Figures. I was still too far away and even the radio we had on board could only signal so far, especially when between valleys and hills. It would be after a few hours of mad driving skills that I would get a connection while I was driving atop a hill. Only this time I called a certain number instead.

-''Report.'' A cold and calculated voice was heard through the speaker.

-I need the ITET to rendezvous with me asap! Calculate my trajectory and send it my way. I am about to lose the signal again.

-Confirmed.

The call ended. This certain service was more reserved for cases involving a deadly red lupo. Yet I had worked my way up in Rhodes Island to have it available to me as well. This trauma team unlike any other was formed of core medical specialists who were equipped to reach their target in the least amount of time possible. It was THE trauma team of Rhodes Island if you wanted someone saved.

Another three hours would pass before I could see something in the distance. A VTOL twin motor aircraft reminiscent of the Ospreys I knew was approaching fast. I knew it belonged to Rhodes Island and true it came fast in front of my path, landing.

Quickly a team of five medical personnel came out. Two medical guards carrying sub-machine guns for protection, two others carrying a stretcher and the fifth was Warfarin herself leading the ITET. Rhodes Island's Immediate Trauma Emergency Team. I exited and went fast to the back of the trunk, opening it as the team arrived besides me.

-''Status?'' Asked Warfarin.

-Barely stable. I'll fill you in as we go!

-''Take her boys!'' Barked Warfarin.

I closed the car and left it on locked mode. Somebody would come back for it later, but I wouldn't be staying with it now out of all times. I jumped in the aircraft as I continued to fill in Warfarin's questions. She was quickly figuring out a medical plan just as they were tending to her and applying a bag of blood in her iv.

I kept watch upon my lupa, and she looked so deathly pale. I was gripped with a fear that I haven't felt for a long time. No, it was a fear that I never experienced before. The fear of losing someone I held dear more than anything or anyone else. I wished desperately not to lose her for I felt that if I did then everything else including this life would be forfeit. In vain to live on any longer. I tried to alternate looking outside the window and looking at the team doing their job as not to give away my true feelings, and it was difficult.

-''We are taking care of her.'' Warfarin spoke without being prompted, as if knowing the truth of my distress.

-I know, I don't doubt you.

-''You look as if you are about to lose your soul mate.'' She said without etching any smile in this dire situation.

I didn't answer. Fifteen minutes had passed that the team finished doing what they could to stabilize Provence.

-''You look like Hell yourself Tacet, let me take care of you.'' Offered Warfarin with a genuine care in her voice.

I nodded, giving her permission. I took off my jacket and she herself tended to me. Cutting off soaked bandages, disinfecting wounds, reapplying fresh bandages, judging the amount of damage I had before applying a few injections.

-You should be in a coma yourself.

-I didn't have time to be in a coma.

-''Pass me another blood bag. Universal group!'' She barked another order to one of her underlings.

-It's a good thing you're stronger built than most. Hold still, I'm gonna apply this blood bag to you. You lost a lot yourself, and you look nearly as white as a sheet.

She was all professional when the job demanded. I had to give her that. And I appreciated it greatly.

-I was surprised when we were ordered on the airship. I didn't know what it could be until Kal'tsit filled me in.

-We are rarely called upon for anything else than cases involving Red or VIP's. You must be a special exception.

-''Fortunately for her.'' I said, giving another glance at Provence.

We had arrived back at Rhodes Island an hour later and Provence was quickly taken on a medical gurney to the intensive care unit. I on the other hand was to be taken to a separate ward for treatment as much as I disliked the idea of letting Provence out of my sight.

Once I was clean and patched up again with fresh bandages I was given a bed. As much as my mind was still running my body now demanded its rest for the last twenty-four hours that I was awake. My muscles were aching greatly, my wounds pulsed with pain still, my head was throbbing, and my vision was getting blurry at this point with fatigue.

-''Rest.'' Demanded Warfarin gently, having joined me at some point.

-There is no use worrying now that she's at home base. Everything that can be done will be done.

-''Shouldn't you be with her instead of me?'' I asked.

-Doctor Kal'tsit herself took over her case. She is being given the best Rhodes Island can offer.

I was surprised. And soon my vision was getting too blurry and tiresome to maintain. I closed my eyes. A wave of fatigue enveloped me and I sank in the comfort of the medical bed.

As much as my body and mind were pained it all washed away as I fell into a deepest sleep.