Sickbay

The first thing he was aware of was an unnatural beeping. Slowly he opened his eyes.

The bright light almost made him close them again, but he forced them to remain open. Two flesh coloured blurs hovered above him.

He blinked, and the blurs sharpen to reveal two people.

One was the blonde haired, blue eyed Captain Blue. The other was an Asian woman who he didn't recognise.

Blue's face was visible relieved.

"He's coming out of it."

"I'll get Marigold." The woman's face swam out of view. He blinked again, and the room slid into focus. He was lying on a bed in Skybase medical centre, the silver ceiling reflecting the lights. The beeping was from the monitors that sat in solitary splendour. He began to try and sit up, but Blue's hand was across his chest.

"Hey. Hey." He said the tension in his voice evident. "Just lie still O.K? You gave us quite scare."

The whoosh sound announced the opening of the doors, as a vaguely familiar face swept in. Dr Marigold was Dr Gold's second in command, in charge of the treatment of minor aliments that inevitable affected an organisation as large as Spectrum. He had a vague memory that she had some speciality in the psychological effects of disease and injuries.

"Hey doc." He said, his voice sounding almost completely normal. To his surprise her smile broadened.

"Excellent. Mouth motor controls normal."
"Was there ever any doubt?" the Asian woman asked, as Captain Blue got to his feet. Dr Marigold shook her head, keeping her attention on her patient.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"Confused." He admitted. He had no idea how he'd got here, and when he tried to think about what had happened, it made his head hurt.

"Any pain?" Marigold asked, her hawk like eyes never leaving him.

"Headache." He admitted.

She smiled softly.

"That's not surprising. Now" she continued, sinking down on to the bed. "Can you tell me who you are?"
"Captain Scarlet. Paul Metcalfe."
Dr Marigold nodded.

"Can you tell me where we are?"
"Skybase Medical centre." He took a look around and made a guess. "Bay 2."
"Good. Can you tell who he is?" she pointed at Captain Blue.

"Captain Blue, Adam Svenson. Look what's going on?" Scarlet asked, confusion rising along with another emotion. Fear.

"Just humor me o.k.? do you know who this is?" she asked, indicating the Asian woman, who leant in closer.

Scarlet gazed up into her face, into the green eyes surrounded by light brown skin, the hair hidden under a black headscarf and the long straight nose for something he recognized. There was nothing.

He shook his head, the fear growing in his stomach.
"No. sorry."

The woman visible flinched, and Adam looked like someone had died.

"It's alright." Marigold said, gently taking his arm. "It's not important. Can you tell me who I am?"
"Dr. Marigold. Julia Bedon. You're Dr. Gold's second in Command."

If he hadn't already known something was wrong, their reactions would have convinced him. Adam stepped back as though he'd been punched in the gut. The Asian woman visibly paled, and began digging in her uniform, as though searching for something. Dr Marigold's face was extremely concerned.

"o.k." she said, slowly, turning to face Adam and the Asian woman. "Can you wait in my office please?"

Adam nodded, and marched towards the door, only pausing when he realized the Asian woman wasn't behind him.

She was moving more slowly across the room, her head shaking as though she was trying to force a thought out of it. He noticed that she seemed to favor her right side. She lifted her head, noticed Adam waiting forward and ran to join him. They both stepped through the grey doors.

Dr Marigold turned back to face Scarlet, a professional smile plastered on her face.

"Right." She said grinning. "Now can you make a fist for me?"

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"It's bad isn't it?" Simone Giraudoux, in her former life known as Destiny Angel asked, as Captain Blue and Lieutenant Almond stepped into Dr Marigold's office.

Aside from a few personal effects, the room had changed little since it had been Dr Gold's office, and she was aware of a horrible sense of déjà vu as Adam started pacing.

Miriam Ad Bin yanked herself up to perch on the edge of the desk, using her good arm. She withdrew from her almond body amour a string of turquoise beads and began to fiddle with them before she answered.

"He's fully conscious," she said, with more than a hint of determination. "His fever is gone, and his vital signs are strong. He was able to talk to the doctor."

Simone waved these facts away as of secondary importance.

"His memory?" she demanded. "What about that?"

Adam winced visibly in the middle of his pacing. Miriam regarded the top bead of string which had a tiny compass in it. It was useless on Skybase, but still she fiddled desperately with it.

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"Yes, I can feel that!" Scarlet all but snapped at Dr Marigold as she pressed on his chest. "Now will you please tell me what's happened?!"

"Just one more question." Dr Marigold said her face grave. "What's the last thing you remember before waking up here?"

Scarlet's face creased as he thought back.

"I was on assignment." He said firmly, trying to ignore the expression on the doctor's face. "Captain Black was claiming he was free from Mysteron Control. We were on Mars to…to try and end the war." He closed his eyes, trying to force his brain to remember. "We were in the heart of the city. There was an explosion." He shook his head. "Then nothing."

Dr Marigold nodded her face with the controlled expression of one who must give her patient bad news, though she forced herself to smile.

"Well, I think I can give you some good news." She said. "The mission succeeded. The Mysterons sued for peace. Agreed to release you and Captain Black from their control."
She sought comfort in the expression of joy upon his face, before he realized what she had not explained.

"How did I end up here?" he asked. "Was I injured in the explosion?" another frightening thought crossed his mind.

"Black, did he…?"

"Conrad is fine." Dr Marigold said, gently holding up her hand to calm her patient.

Drawing a deep breath and Fighting with every part of her body to remain professional, she said,

"Scarlet, that was five years ago."

Tbc