Chapter Four
Colonel White read through Charity Angel's report carefully, then Doctor Fawn's, then Rhapsody's, then those of the people involved in the clean-up operation, and Secretary Plato's. Finally, he looked up.
"This all seems to be in order, Charity, but there's just thing that's bothering me."
"What is that, sir?" Charity was dressed in civilian clothes, and her arm was hidden in a cast that had already been doodled on by several members of Spectrum, himself among them.
"It's this part about seeing your plane crash into a car on the road. Rhapsody mentions it too; apparently, you panicked about it when you came to." Charity nodded. "However, the clean-up operation says nothing about the wreckage of a turquoise car."
"I know, sir. When I came to, there was no sign of the car having ever been there. I suppose I saw it on the road and my imagination got the better of me," she shrugged. "I'd just had a nasty accident, I guess."
The Colonel wasn't entirely convinced, and he made a mental note to send someone to check out the crash site. To Charity however, he said, "I suppose that was the case." He pulled out Doctor Fawn's report. "Doctor Fawn says you're not fit to fly just yet." He was amused to see the girl grimace.
"I feel fine, honestly. Just the odd twinge in my arm."
"He recommends keeping you off duty for at least a month." Charity was obviously displeased about this, but she had the sense to keep her mouth shut. The Colonel felt sympathetic towards her, but hid it under his professional manner. "Secretary Plato suggested that you join him in the records room during that time, to keep you from being completely bored." He saw Charity's eyes light up, and guessed that met with approval. "I'll arrange it immediately," he promised. "You'll start tomorrow."
"Thankyou, sir," smiled Charity, and stood up to go. She'd taken about five steps towards the door when she suddenly keeled over.
Colonel White was up and beside her in a heartbeat, Lieutenant Green right beside him. They immediately checked her pulse and breathing.
"She seems to be ok, just passed out," said Green. "What could have made her faint like that, though?"
"I have no idea," said the Colonel worriedly. "She was fine just a moment ago." A groan drew his attention back to the woman on the floor.
"Wh… what?" She raised herself onto her good elbow. "What happened?"
"You passed out," replied Lieutenant Green.
"Passed out?"
"Do you feel alright?" asked Green, checking her eyes.
"I'm fine," she replied, pushing him away and standing up. "Honest."
The Colonel had to admit she looked all right. "Go see Doctor Fawn, then get some rest for the remainder of the day. We'll see how you are in the morning."
"Yes, sir." Charity left the control room, leaving her concerned superior to ponder over what had just happened.
CS
"You're sure you're alright?"
Sandra rolled her eyes and folded her arms. Paul held his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"Okay, okay, I was just checking. It's just that the idea of you fainting isn't really a nice one, especially since your accident-"
"Will people just stop going on about the bloody accident?" Sandra just about screamed this at him, and flopped face down onto the bed, ignoring the jolt of pain through her arm as she did so. A moment later, she felt part of the mattress sink as Paul sat down on it, and then his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he murmured quietly. "I'm just worried about you, that's all. I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you, and apparently I can't even do that."
Sandra rolled over and sat up, leaning on him. "It wasn't your fault," she whispered. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have screamed at you. It's just, everyone goes on and on about this, and I'm sick of it; it reminds me that I've screwed up on my first ever mission."
Paul opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the lights on his epaulettes flashing. The mike on his hat fell down in front of his mouth.
"Colonel White?"
"Captain Scarlet, I want you to report to the control room at once."
"Right away, sir." The mike flew back up to its original position, and he sighed.
"I'll talk to you later, ok?"
"Sure."
Sandra watched him leave, then went into the small bathroom and began to get undressed, running the bath. Normally she'd have had a shower, but with her cast, a bath was a better idea. She stood, wrapped in a towel, gazing at her reflection critically, watching the steam blur her image.
Now her vision was blurring, and she started to get worried. A wave of dizziness swept over her, and everything went black.
