When Every Second Counts

Chapter 6
Command

Running without a place to go was pretty useless. It could save a person at times, but not here. Hell, the city was probably the safer place when compared to the wastelands. At least here there was a chance to see what was stalking you.

Not that it was much comfort.

Jane stopped at the entrance of the hospital to get her bearings. She knew vaguely where she was, but she could not think of where she could go. She wanted to block out the sounds that echoed throughout the city. She wanted to so badly, but she knew she needed to hear the phantoms to avoid them. That was if they could be heard over the human voices.

Someone called to her. A not unfamiliar voice. One of the soldiers had followed her. No, more than one. Turning to face them, she beheld three.

"What?" she growled.

"Ma'am, we'd, um.." the soldier began, suddenly very unsure of the request.

"We want to go with you," a second volunteered, "We got the feeling you know what you're doing better than the lieutenant."

Before Jane could answer, the woman doctor appeared from behind the troops. Fearful and almost in a state of shock, she stumbled towards them.

A swell of pity engulfed Jane. This should not have happened. It should not have been happening. The Barriers were supposed to be the symbol of protection, how could they have failed?

"All right," the corporal said, "Let's go. Take her with us."

One of the soldiers reached out to steady the doctor and moved nearer to Jane. The second soldier followed without any hesitation. The third never had a chance as he fell, lifeless, down the steps of the hospital. The second soldier turned swiftly and fired upon the Phantom half-buried in the wall. The Phantom disintegrated, and the part of the wall shattered.

Jane cursed and retrieved the fallen man's nocturne rifle. She wondered briefly what Gray would have her do. It did not occur to her that he might be dead in the city somewhere. She still did not know where to run. No place was safe. No where under the sun was safe from Phantoms, only under the Barriers could a person be safe.

"Let's move people," she ordered, trying for the world to bring her voice to the level of command that Gray was so good at.

As the four ran, a memory flashed in Jane's mind. Neil, talking about something. A new model of a vehicle of some sort, something she had no real interest in. Suddenly she realized why the image must have been remembered.

"And get this," the tech had said one boring and dreary morning in the transport, "the thing has its own personal barrier. Pretty cool huh?"