First Blood - Book One of the Decter Documents

by Mathew N. Honnajan

Original story and characters set in Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files. Takes place between White Night and Small Favor. No prior exposure to series necessary. Follow the story of one minor spellcaster who is more than he seems as he is pulled into a conflict that pits his mind, body, and soul against foes far more powerful than himself. He's a small fish navigating a deadly pond.

23. Chapter 23

Chapter 23

I awoke to the sound of rumbling and the feeling of the ground shaking underneath me. I didn't open my eyes, opting to stay comfortable. Maybe Nikolai would let me sleep for a few more minutes if I pretended to sleep. Then the realization hit, and my eyes opened. Nikolai wasn't here. He was gone.

Although my head faced the wall of the van, I noticed a small light overhead, and once again felt the shifting of the van underneath me. I continued to lay as my head began pounding and I felt my muscles tighten where I'd been shot in the chest and the back. Through the pain memories of the mission came back, infiltrating the building, finding Ms. Parker, the vampires.

My mind flashed to shooting. I rewatched the man's skull shatter from gunfire, his eyes of defiance turn to glazed marble. His snarl of anger reduced to slackened shock. I shivered. I'd made mistakes. I'd taken sides. I'd made stands at times when it would have been better to walk away, but this…this was different. Someone I was supposed to protect died, and I could barely save myself. If I continued doing this, I'd make more mistakes, and more people would die, until one of those people was me. I recalled the intense hatred and hunger from the small army of vampires, I shivered again. I couldn't stop them. I wasn't strong enough.

I felt very small…and very alone.

The sound of a shifting leg near my head brought me back to the present, "You're awake," I heard a voice say. I lifted my head and saw Jessica. I sensed her relief at the sight of my awakening. She still wore her hood, but the goggles were off, and a portion of her mask pulled down to reveal a concerned pair of eyes coupled with a frown.

Small maybe, but not so alone.

Across sat Erica, the hood of her suit pulled off along with her goggles. She kept her eyes closed but wore a smirk. She sat with her arms crossed next to Ms. Parker who was strapped down to the bench seat and secured in a make-shift bed. The government official rested without moving with wrap of cloth covered her eyes. Her pale leg laid bare where the pant was ripped off, showcasing several wrappings of bandages where she had been shot.

"Yeah," I muttered as I shifted to a sitting position, "and so are you. How do you feel?"

Jessica shrugged, her voice soft, but light, "Head and back are sore, but I suppose I'm lucky that's all I'm feeling right now. Honestly I don't remember what happened."

"You got tossed around like a ragdoll." I informed her.

"Thanks," she said annoyed, "I figured as much."

The small amount of emotion made me nauseous. I'd been around a lot of pain, fear, anger, and bloodlust lately. My brain started to feel overload from continually sensing all these negative emotions.

I looked down and saw my left hand shaking. I quieted the sounds and sensations as much as possible and clenched my hand to still it.

I kept my problems from my voice, "Anytime," I assured her. I used my right hand to rub my forehead, "How long have I been out?"

"About thirty minutes," Erica supplied, not moving from her position.

Jessica's head swiveled between us, "Yes, let's talk about that," she suggested.

"Ugh," I sighed, now using my hand to just hold my head.

"I'm serious Caleb-" She stopped herself, looking towards Ms. Parker with a held breath.

"Don't worry. She's asleep." Erica confirmed.

Jessica let go of the breath, "Whew. Anyways," Her attention locked back onto me, "I've never heard of anyone passing out from magic use before."

I opened my mouth to argue but closed it when I realized the futility. Truth be told I knew it was possible, at least in theory, but I never thought I'd be in a position where that would ever happen. It was sort of like someone banging their head against a wall until knocking yourself unconscious. Technically possible, but anyone who did it would (and probably should) be considered insane.

After a few seconds of ignoring the question I lifted my head and asked Erica, "So, how is she doing?"

Erica shrugged, glancing at Ms. Parker, "Not bad considering her life just got ruined," she acknowledged bluntly. "Not to mention she'll need to learn to write left-handed."

"What happened?" I asked flatly, leaning my head back against the van.

"Richard Stone happened," Erica supplied. She then pointed lazily towards Ms. Parker's right arm which I noticed was heavily bandaged. "He broke it clean off," Erica explained, "well," she corrected herself, "maybe not clean, but you get the idea."

As tired as I felt, I couldn't help but feel like we were missing something. I racked my brain, "Why?" I wondered aloud.

"Why not?" Erica asked back.

Jessica scowled at her before regarding me, "What do you mean Caleb?"

For whatever reason my head felt extremely itchy. I removed my goggles and hood then scratched my skull commenting, "Well I mean, why didn't he just take Ms. Parker and be done with it?"

"He tried," Erica reminded, "but I had a knife, and I don't think he wanted to take any chances given how closely he resembled vampire pulp."

Jessica nodded in agreement.

"But that's just it," I said earnestly, "If she's so important, why would he stop before he had her?"

"He's a coward," Erica provided.

"Then why risk his life going after her in the first place?" I shot back, "No offense, but I don't think one small girl with a knife would make a Red Court vampire hesitate, even a wounded one."

Erica's face scrunched up annoyed, but when she opened her mouth to speak, she closed it, her smirk replaced with a frown. She then unbuckled herself and shot up. Jessica and I watched as Erica crouched over Ms. Parker's body and rummaged through her pockets.

"What are you doing?" Jessica inquired, confusion evident in her voice.

Erica stood up, nostrils flared, "It's not on her," she said with cool frustration before taking a step back from Ms. Parker. "The drive isn't on her."

"W-what?" Jessica spluttered, "When could she have lost it?"

"Oh I don't know," Erica began sarcastically, "maybe when a vampire tackled her to the ground."

"And you didn't see it?" Jessica asked.

I felt the fringes of Erica's anger spike, "Oh, I'm sorry princess," she apologized with feigned sweetness. "At least I wasn't spending that time unconscious while the vampires tried to rip us apart."

Jessica's eyes narrowed, "Look, you-"

I raised my voice over her, "Hey, c'mon guys," I said exasperated. "This isn't the time nor the place for this."

Erica and Jessica traded glares, but neither spoke.

I took a deep breath and tried not to let Erica's or Jessica's emotions influence my own. I finally sighed, leaned forward, and rubbed my forehead again, "Ok, so Degrada has all three keys, but how would they be able to access-" I sat up straight, "Aww crap."

The car decelerated and we came to a quick stop. Erica braced herself using one of the overhead straps. "Caleb," Jessica began annoyed, "would you be so kind as to spit it out?"

Erica straightened as well when she arrived at the same conclusion, "They have everything they need," she muttered.

As she spoke the rear doors opened to reveal David in his suit sans the hood and goggles. Edward stood next to him, wearing a similar pair of khakis as before. The cuffs of a collard paid shirt poked out underneath his brown sweater. Edwards slid a stretcher into the van that looked little more than a stiff sheet of fabric wrapped around two long wooden poles.

David jumped into the vehicle. "Place Ms. Parker on the stretcher," Edwards commanded sternly.

Erica was already unbuckling Ms. Parker. I stood up to help. I guess I stood up too quickly because my vision tunneled and I leaned on the side of the van to support myself. "Caleb, are you alright?" Jessica asked concerned.

"Most likely not," Edwards answered for me, "but a more question is, are you capable of helping carry Ms. Parker?"

My vision cleared, and I stood up straight, "Yeah, I'm fine," I answered. I gave Jessica half smile to let her know I was ok.

She wasn't convinced, but I went over and helped Erica with the last of the buckles before placing the unconscious woman on the stretcher. Then David and I picked up the stretcher and shuffled our way out of the van.

As we got out, I noticed the van was parked in something like a large storage unit, but rather than filled with miscellaneous boxes of junk, this unit had a similar setup to what Edwards had back at the base. Four army style cots were set up, each in their own ring fashioned out of what I believed to be silver. Tables with large dispensers of water and other various liquids labeled too small to read from here lined the room. The dispensers sat next to wraps of bandages, fridges, and containers with labeled drawers, all varying shapes and sizes. More cases and cardboard boxes were stacked underneath the tables. Other various objects could be found throughout the room in an organizational pattern lost on me, but I'm sure in a fashion in which Edwards knew the exact position of everything there.

Garrison stood next to one of the cots, his eyes lingered on Ms. Parker. I could sense his calculations at the odds of her survival. I locked my jaw and renewed my efforts to dampen my psychosenses even as David and I followed Edwards's guidance towards the cot.

"C'mon, quickly now gentlemen," Edwards urged. "Over to this closest healing station here." He kept his eyes on Ms. Parker as we moved, "Ms. Numera, I need you to retrieve a unit of blood from the small refrigerator with the neon green tape on the front."

Erica gave a short nod before rushing across the room.

"Her blood type is A negative" Edwards called. "Ms. Chalser, go and retrieve that stand and an IV," he instructed. "The tubing is in the second drawer to the left of the stand."

As David and I came close to a cot, Edwards waved his hand. "Garrison, we will need to move Ms. Parker quickly from the stretcher and onto the cot in one smooth motion."

We stopped and Edwards counted to three before he and Garrison briefly picked up Ms. Parker's unconscious body before placing her onto the cot. "Now stand outside the circle and give me some room," Edwards ordered.

We did so and watched Edwards unwrap Ms. Parker's bandaged arm and laid it so it sprawled over the side of the cot. He did the same with the leg. I felt a wave of nausea from looking at the two bloodied and jagged bones jutting out from the torn flesh of her arm. I kept watching with a sickened curiosity. Blood slowly oozed out of her and accumulated in drops that splattered dark red onto the concrete floor. Edwards stepped outside the silver circle, and I heard an audible snap as he closed the magic circle.

Edwards took a shoulder wide stance. As re raised his arms he began muttering in a foreign language. Erica and Jessica hurriedly approached holding the items Edwards requested.

Jessica looked as if she meant to call out to Edwards, but Garrison put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. We all stood and watched as Edwards's muttering grew louder, and I saw Ms. Parker's bloodied stump of an arm and the gun shot leg emit a faint white glow. As Edwards's voice grew in volume, so did the intensity of light, until Edwards began shouting and I had to turn my head away.

Edwards reached a crescendo before ending his spell. I turned back to see him take a staggered step away while the light faded from Ms. Parker's appendages until it became visible again.

I stared in amazement. The blood on her arm hadn't even dried yet, but skin reformed over the previously exposed bones to form a rounded end of smooth, pale, and borderline translucent skin. Her leg carried a similar discoloration in spots where a bullet entered. Otherwise it looked functional.

After a few moments of silence, Edwards began swaying precariously. "Get him a chair!" Garrison barked.

Jessica rolled an office chair behind Edwards to which he immediately slumped into. "If one of you would fetch me some water, it would be greatly appreciated," he managed between exhales. "I appear to be exhibiting symptoms of dehydration."

David brought him a bottle which Edwards proceeded to open and chug several large gulps. He blinked a few times, "Now then," he exhaled before standing back up. Both David and Jessica placed a hand on opposite shoulders of Edwards as he swayed. He shooed them off, "I don't need any more assistance thank you."

Jessica and David retreated warily, but Edwards seemed to know his limits. He hung a bag of blood on the stand and attached some tubing linking the bag to Ms. Parker's newly healed arm.

He checked to ensure it was flowing properly while Garrison turned to us, "You all did well tonight," he congratulated. Although he wore a small grin, I sensed his uncertainty about Ms. Parker's survival. He continued, "Ms. Parker would've been in the hands of the vampires, where they could've killed, broken, or converted her into one of them."

"She may be dead anyway," Erica muttered.

"She has a better shot here because of you," Garrison cut through. He addressed Edwards, "Right doctor?"

"Mr. Garrison, as you well know, Ms. Parker has gone through some serious trauma," Edwards responded, not taking his eyes off his patient, "But after the fluids in her system are replenished and some rest, I believe a recovery is not too far-fetched."

Garrison gave a nod of approval, "Thank you doctor."

"Yeah well I wouldn't be so quick to celebrate," I told him, "because I think Degrada got what he needed."

Garrison's grin vanished as he looked back grimly at Ms. Parker and nodded. We all noted his utter lack of surprise. "You already knew," Erica stated flatly.

Garrison nodded again, "I had my suspicions." He regarded me carefully, "Mr. Smith was missing a hand when you found him, wasn't he?"

I nodded.

He sighed, "Damn. Then we're out of time." He called out to the doctor, "Edwards, are you able to wake up Ms. Parker for a short conversation?"

Edwards scoffed, not taking his eyes of his work, "As I said the last time you asked, of course I can, but the lethality of such a procedure depends on Ms. Parker's condition. Doing so now would be extremely inadvisable."

"Well I need some information that only she can provide on a short notice."

Edwards shook his head, "If I were to wake her now, she may not even be able to verbalize a coherent response. The already significant strain placed on her body by such a spell would be magnified by her severe loss of blood and the shock of losing an appendage."

Garrison let out a breath of frustration, "What would it take to have be able to answer some questions?"

Edwards took a step back from his work, "Ideally several days of rest until she woke up on her own," he answered practically. He signed, "But the minimum I suppose would be replenishing at least a partial amount of the blood lost as well as providing additional nutrient and vitamin supplements."

"How long will that take?"

"I estimate about twenty-five minutes to replenish the lost blood. Then I would attach an IV containing aforementioned nutrients and vitamins, followed by a few hours of rest."

Edwards's time-table didn't seem to match up with Garrison's, but Garrison didn't argue. In stead he spoke, "Alright, if you say so doctor. In the meantime, would you please see to the wounds of these four?" He asked as he gestured towards Jessica, Erica, David, and me.

David lifted his hands and shook his head, "I'm fine. Not a scratch on me. Look after the others first."

Edwards scanned each one of us before nodding. "That is acceptable. I expect you are capable of replacing Ms. Parker's blood transfusion when the bag has emptied?"

David nodded solemnly, "Yes. I am capable."

"Good," Edwards said dismissively. "Now the three of you, lay down on a cot inside a healing station."

We each did as the doctor ordered. After situating ourselves onto a cot, Edwards stood between the three circles and closed them in three distinct snaps of energy before closing his eyes and muttering a spell under his breath.

I again had the strange sensation of Edwards's magic working itself over my body. It felt pleasant in a rather painful way. Like getting a deep tissue massage, but without feeling fingers or a well-intentioned elbow in your back. Instead I felt gentle waves pressure on the formed knots of my back which slowly fell away.

A small groan escaped my lips. Pressure causing a headache I didn't even know I had dissipated, and I couldn't help but feel drowsy. My eyes flickered closed before the unexpected snap of the circle pierced my ear. My ear rang and I quickly sat up, "I'm awake!" I blurted. I turned and saw both Erica and Jessica turn their heads towards me as they stood up. "Well, I am," I said defensively.

They then ignored me, muttering to one another. During my rest, I suppose I turned up my psychosenses, because I sensed both their concern and curiosity directed towards Ms. Parker. Jessica felt more concern, Erica more curiosity.

I swung my legs over my cot and rubbed my face. When I looked up I watched Garrison talk with Edwards privately across the room. I sensed a strong sense of urgency within Garrison, even if he didn't visually express it, while Edwards kept cool and calculating as always. David had claimed one of the unoccupied tables and checked his weapons. Even as he worked, he too occasionally glanced up towards our guest.

I looked over at the government official herself. Her mind exuded a faint mental buzz signaling she still breathed. A different bag hung from the stand and led into her arm through a small plastic tube. This one held a clear translucent liquid.

"Psst, Caleb!" Jessica whispered to me. I turned and saw her beckoning me towards her and Erica. I couldn't help but glimpse at what she they wanted and sighed before walking over.

"Yeah?" I asked upon arriving.

"Well, we were wondering," Jessica began innocently, "what you thought of the situation?"

"Edwards could start a massage therapy business," I noted, popping my neck. I felt Jessica's annoyance and shrugged, "Not much. Degrada is about to make a move to start a war between nations, and since that typically doesn't end well for either side, we need to plan our next move to stop it."

This caused her to draw out a long, "Ok, but what do you think Garrison and Edwards are talking about?"

I gave her a knowing look, "You mean 'what can I sense they're talking about?'" I sighed, and before she could respond I continued, "You know, believe it or not, I try not to make a point to go around reading people's thoughts."

Jessica became flustered, "Oh come-" she nearly shouted before glancing around, "Fine!" she spat, "I'm curious about what they think of the crippled government lady. Happy?"

"A little," I answered before turning expectantly to Erica.

"I'm just nosey," she said with a small, amused smile.

"Thought so," I grunted. Just the thought of extending my senses sent a small wave of nausea through me, "Problem is I think I about used up my mind gazing limit for the night."

Erica's smile faded as she regarded me carefully. Jessica's voice now sounded worried, "Caleb?" she asked, "What's wrong?"

The question caught me by surprise, "What? Nothing. Nothing's wrong," I spluttered. "I mean, besides the lady with an appendage ripped off and vampires with the means to conduct drone strikes."

"Mmhm," Jessica said unconvinced, sucking her bottom lip.

They continued staring at me. I felt my chest tighten and my left hand started to shake, "I need some air," I muttered before brushing past them towards a door leading outside. I sensed Jessica's urge to follow, but she hesitated and stayed back. I swung open the door and let it close behind me.

The summer night air whipped past my face. I put my hands in my pockets and inhaled deeply, trying to clear my thoughts despite the muggy air. I gave up when I exhaled, instead looking over the blandly constructed scenery. Various sized storage units built on concrete ground stretched around me illuminated by a few buzzing light poles and a crescent moon. Off in the distance I observed the lights of the city, still awake despite the hour

After a few more breaths the tightness in my chest began to lessen, but when I drew my left hand out of my pocket I could see it still shaking.

"Keep it together Decter," I muttered aloud as I stuffed my fist back into a pocket. Of course, talking aloud to myself probably wasn't making the best case for my sanity.

I heard the door behind me open and sensed the mind as they came through. "Come to check up on my as well?" I asked tiredly, not taking my eyes off the horizon.

There was a hesitation before I heard an answer, "I figured you could use some company," came David's deep calm voice as he walked and stood beside me.

I looked over at him and lifted an eyebrow, "And here I thought I was the one who couldn't read social cues."

David's chuckle showed the contrast between his white teeth and dark skin, "I never said you'd want company, only that you could use it."

"Again. Bad at reading social cues." My eyes found the city lights once more.

David shrugged, and we stood there gazing outward for a few minutes. David broke the silence, "Well if you're not going to talk, I suppose I'll take the initiative," he spoke.

I didn't respond.

"I was introduced to blood and violence at a young age," he began. "My infant years were spent growing up in a village in Somalia. We lived in a small house along with my seven brothers and sisters." He smiled at the memory, "I still remember the lullabies my sisters would sing to me as I fell asleep." His expression sobered, "But it was a violent place. Our government was unstable. My childhood was spent inside a civil war." His eyes narrowed and his voice darkened as unpleasant memories flashed through his mind. "Often times a group of men would come to our village as 'representatives' of a rebel faction, taking our food, medicine, and even children for their 'cause'. My two older brothers were forced to join under threats of violence."

"Does this heartfelt story have a point?" I asked skeptically.

David's words came out smooth and cold, "It will if you just listen."

There was a force behind his words, and I clammed up.

"One of the first memories I have, I remember with great clarity. I was around four years old when some men approached our village with weapons. I had been playing outside when my mother screamed my name before grabbing my hand and pulling me beside her. It was strange to see her so scared. As the men yelled order, my mother continued pulling me along as my small legs couldn't keep up with her pace. She told me to stay close and stay silent. People were being lined up with rifles pointed at their heads." He paused, glancing down. I knew he was telling the truth about remembering the experience with clarity, because I watched it unfold in his mind's eye. "The men searched the houses, tearing them apart," David continued. "They weren't satisfied with what was given the last time, and they weren't satisfied with the little that was found. They sought to scare us by making an example. Their leader spat at us, cursed us, then laughed at us and our helplessness. My mother had to lay her hand on my head to quiet me."

He took another breath, "Then I noticed the old woman standing beside us. She stood hunched over a long, gnarled walking stick She wore clothing more faded and worn than the others, and her long grey hair was braided in an intricate design. When the leader walked past us, he paused. Amongst the cowering stood a hunched lady who looked to be sleeping peacefully even as she stood through the encounter. When he yelled and threatened her she, stood unshaken. I remember the fire and defiance in her eyes when they opened." He gave a sad laugh, "When he asked her why she wasn't scared, she said she was too old to be scared. When he leveled his gun at her head and threatened her with death, she shrugged and said death must not be so bad. At least then she might talk to someone worth a damn." David flashed a smile, "Then she looked him straight in the eye, and spat a gob of snot onto his face." He swallowed. "He killed her."

David opened his eyes, "I thank my stars I never had to join myself."

A pause stretched between us, and I refused to prompt him, annoyed I couldn't be by myself and that I had to watch his memories.

"Boys would be recruited around nine, but in the following years my parents scraped enough money together to afford a ticket on a boat for my sisters and myself before I ever came of age. My family found itself in the United States, where my parents struggled to build a new life. My brothers were already swept up and preferred their lives as militants instead of joining us."

I piped up, "Question."

He sighed, "Yes?"

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, "What does this have to do with anything?"

David shrugged, his eyes still closed, "Maybe nothing, or maybe it has something to do with our current situation."

I scoffed.

"Any other questions?"

I rolled my eyes, "Sure. What's with the accent?"

This caused his eyes to open, "Excuse me?"

"The accent," I repeated. "Why do you have it? You said you came here as a kid, right? Why do you still have an accent?"

David blinked before chuckling, "You're the first person to ask me that Caleb," his teeth disappeared as he considered, "I suppose it is partly due to my moving back to Somalia."

That caused me to raise some eyebrows, "Wait what? Why?" I then swore at myself for prompting him.

David ignored my swearing, "When I turned eighteen, I joined the United States army and was sent to Iraq. During my second tour I found myself wondering about the violence back in my home village. If I fought against adversaries for my adoptive country, I should at least investigate the village I was born in."

His voice grew an edge, "Nothing changed since I left. Maybe the names, but little else." He paused, "It's one thing to grow up where such things take place, it's another to come back knowing how things could be different. Seeing it all again brought so much anger, so I did was I was trained to do. I fought." His mind flashed to memories of shouting and gunfire. Buildings and bodies burned, and I sensed trickles of sadness and remorse.

I didn't know what he was expecting, but I wasn't feeling much of anything for him or his story.

"It's funny in a rather sadistic way," David commented, "how a man's crusade can show them just how terrible the world truly is…" his mind flashed again to another memory. David stood roughly ten feet from a man amongst several bodies, David held the rifle aimed at the other man's head, while his opponent did the same with a pistol. Both men looked deep into each other's eyes. I felt David's pain and familiarity as he recalled the memory, and with a sense of intuition I realized the man was David's brother. "…and how many lines a man will cross for the sake of their crusade." He remembered the sound of a gunshot before pulling back from the memory.

I shivered. I guess I wasn't completely numb yet

David finally turned to me, "Not everyone is prepared to do what is necessary to fight a war," he said gently.

I narrowed my eyes up at him as another gust of wind blew, "You mean killing," I said icily.

David's mind and demeanor remained calm, "I am, and it would appear you already have a stance on the issue."

"Darn right I do."

David nodded, "And may I ask why?"

I gave a brief laugh, "You really need to ask?"

David looked at me thoughtfully, "I imagine it's either a religious belief, a mixture of optimism and naivete, or the apprehension of playing executioner." He shrugged and turned his gaze back to the city, "Maybe it's a combination of all three."

I looked forward but didn't focus on anything, "Your stance on the issue is also quite clear," I noted.

David raised an eyebrow, "And?"

I let out a breath before stating, "Either you justify killing by convincing yourself you're just following orders, the ends justify the means, or my personal favorite, 'it's for the greater good.'" Our eyes locked again, "But the whole time your just angry you've lost someone or something, and you use that pain to console yourself every time you pull the trigger."

We stared at each other for a few intense moments. Finally, David let out a bark of laughter, "You know, you may be on to something Caleb." He appeared largely unphased by my comment, but I sensed a subtle reaction when I mentioned he lost someone. A quiet anger quickly smothered before it bubbled to the surface. "But that doesn't mean I'm wrong," David noted.

I gave my own laugh, "Doesn't mean you're right."

"Touché," David acknowledged. We both turned our views back to the horizon. He kept silent as he thought of what to say next, "Do you believe in the responsibility of inaction?" He asked.

"What?"

He hesitated, "Do you believe we are just as responsible for the choices we don't make as for the choices we do?"

I thought about it, "Well yeah I suppose to an extent."

David nodded, "Ok. How about a theoretical example-"

"Sheesh, what is this, philosophy class?" I asked exasperated.

"More of a debate I hope," David answered.

"Geeze. This is what I get for trying to be alone," I muttered.

David continued, his tone unaffected by my interruption, "Imagine a train heading towards ten people bound helplessly to the tracks. If the train continues on its current path, all ten will die."

"Rough," I said uncaringly.

"But nearby is a lever you can pull that will divert the train from its current course to another where only one person is strapped to the tracks,"" David continued. "What do you do?"

"I wonder why we're back in the Wild West," I commented.

"So you'd let the ten workers die?"

"I guess not, unless they were complete jerks," I admitted, "so I guess I'd pull the emergency brakes on the train."

David chuckled, "Can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because that ruins the point of the debate," he said.

"Fine. Then I pull the ten people from the tracks."

"Can't do that either."

"You're right, I suppose it would be faster to pull the lever and only have to pull one person off the tracks."

"I think you're missing the point," David sighed, rubbing his face with one hand. I could sense this conversation was not going how he wanted it to go.

"I don't think so, this is supposed to be a debate right?" I asked, "So then we should be arguing over the best answer. I happen to approve of the one where no one dies."

"It's not that simple," David spoke while he removed his hand from his face. "You can't always save everyone, but sometimes you can make the choice of who will be saved." I opened my mouth to speak but he caught me off, "Many people have a problem pulling the lever because they're not comfortable with one person dying due to their actions, even if it means ten others will die." He then shifted his weight, "But that reasoning is faulty, because in doing so, they're choosing to do nothing and let ten people die to save one person's life. I for one value the preservation of the greatest amount of life over the delusions of a clean conscience." He took in another breath, "So, Caleb, I'll ask again. What would you do?"

"This is bull crap," I muttered.

We stood in silence for several seconds. "I understand it's a difficult idea to process," David said gently, "but it's necessary for what we're going to have to do."

He waited for a response while I continued to scowl. "How about one that is more applicable to our situation?" he suggested.

I continued to glower, my patience continuing to rub away.

David continued despite me, "A man with a gun is holding ten people hostage. After a certain amount of time, the armed man will start executing each hostage until there's no one left except himself. You have a gun and the armed man within your sights. Do you shoot and kill him or let him kill the hostages?"

I whirled on him and got in close, "Why are you here?" I asked. "What's your point?"

He looked down at me over his broad chest, and I couldn't help but be reminded of his superior physique. He spoke low and calm, "My point, Caleb, is that I'm skeptical that you have what it takes to be a part of this team."

"Oh, is that all?" I asked incredulously.

David nodded, "Yes."

I shook my head and spun around, taking a few steps away from him and rubbing my mouth with one hand. Finally, I put my hands on my hips and closed my eyes in an attempt to calm myself, "Unbelievable."

"Tell me Caleb," David called after me, "of all the enemies we've faced so far, how many have you put down that won't just stand back up and continue killing?"

I raised my hands and interlaced my fingers behind my head, the being the only thing breaking the silence.

David's voice came nearer as he closed the distance between us, "And what of your reaction to Mr. Stone?"

I turned back to him and crossed my arms. I strained hard to keep my voice from rising, "What about him? I blew off his hand."

"I know, I saw," David acknowledged. "I want to know why you blew off his hand when you could have blown out his heart."

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

David narrowed his eyes and nodded, "Just as I suspected. You couldn't do it," he said softly. I sensed some of that anger bubble back up in him, "Do you know what you risked from your act of 'mercy'?"

I didn't answer.

David's words gained a new edge, "Not only did you risk the lives of everyone on this team, including yourself, but those of Ms. Parker, and every person in this country and others that would be affected should the vampires succeed in their goals."

I continued to stand without refutation.

I felt a large hand on my shoulder. "You have to understand," David spoke sadly, "you must be ready to do what is necessary."

"I won't kill," I choked out.

"Then I hope your morals don't doom us all," David sighed, resigned.

The door behind us swung open, and Erica poked her head out, "They're waking up the government lady," she informed us.

I gave a short nod in her direction as David removed his hand, "We'll be right in," David told her.

She looked between the both of us trying to read the situation before going back inside.

"Well, I suppose it's finally time for some answers," David said lightly, flashing me a small smile before walking towards the door and entering the storage unit.

I lingered for a moment, my eyes turning back to the horizon. Then I sighed and followed behind.