Chapter 1

"Arrival"

July 31st, 1977

Before the helicopter touched down on the soft grass in front of the Spencer Estate, Jay had opened the sliding door and hopped out of the aircraft. Brian followed his friend and was also standing next to Jay by the time the helicopter's landing skids had settled onto the soft earth.

A man dressed in a white lab coat over a business suit was waiting for them as the pilot killed the magnetos and the helicopter's engine changed pitch and whined as it powered down.

As the man got close, Brian could see that this guy was all work.

"Gentlemen, follow me," was all he said.

Jay leaned over and jokingly whispered to Brian, "God, I wish that guy would shut up."

Brian laughed as they followed the man towards the mansion through the knee-high grass, which was being blown about as though it was an ocean from the helicopter's rotors even as they slowed to a stop.

It took almost thirty minutes to get to the labs. They had to change elevators several times and do quite a bit of walking. The other scientists and soldiers had to go to other parts of the facility, but Brian and Jay were headed for the upper parts of the complex. The ones that took the highest security to enter.

When they saw "her", Brian's jaw tightened and he let out a hiss through his teeth.

Jay was only able to mutter, "God almighty."

She was bound to a pipe bed, a blank look on her face. Jay knew nothing of her, but she was the reason Brian was there.

The man in the white suit was saying something, but Brian wasn't listening. He walked over to where she was, pulled a pen light from his pocket, and flashed it in each of her eyes. Jay watched as Brian held the pen light in his fist and moved it from right to left in font of the woman's eyes, and was surprised when she followed the light by moving her head.

The man in the white lab coat handed Jay a clipboard; "She's what you've been assigned to guard."

Jay lifted a page on the clip-board and took a long look at it, "Name: Unknown, Age: 24, Date Of Birth: 1953."

Brian glanced at Jay as he kept reading, "Test subject for T-Virus research. Received her first injection at age 14. Has been injected with various experimental viruses since her first injection on November 10th, 1967."

The man in the suit turned to Jay, "Now I don't know why they'd assign an armed guard to watch over a vegetable, I don't really care. Your jobs will to be sure that no-one tries to harm or kidnap her. You will also have to feed and clean her. If you need anything, just ask."

Jay favored him with a glance, a polite smile, and the assurance that he would be fine.

The man nodded, turned on the balls of his feet, and headed for another part of the laboratory.

Brian checked her pulse and was dismayed that when he pulled his hand away, there was a large white spot on her arm where he had rubbed the dirt and grime from her skin. Suddenly ridden with guilt, Brian pulled a handkerchief from one of his pockets, "Jay, hand me your canteen."

Jay reached back and pulled one of his two canteens from his pistol belt and handed it to him.

Brian unscrewed the cap, put his handkerchief over the neck of the canteen and poured a little water onto the cloth before putting the water container on a nearby table. Jay exited the small room while reading the papers on the clipboard, both typed and hand-written notes as Brian gently wiped the damp cloth over her cheek, removing the dirt from her face.

Slowly but surly, the grime was removed from her face and almost ghost-white skin appeared. Skin that hadn't seen the sun in over a decade. She made a raspy sound and Brian promptly put the handkerchief away.

The woman looked at Brian and she saw he was looking into her eyes as he gently lifted her head with one hand, and held Jay's canteen to her lips with the other. When water touched her lips, the woman parted them enough so the cool liquid could flow into her mouth and finally down her dry throat.

Brian gently placed her head back on her pillow and smoothed her hair, "Its okay. I'm here now."

The woman turned her gaze to Brian once again.

"You remember me, don't you?" Brian asked her, knowing full well she could not answer him.

"We'll talk later," Brian said, then got up, and went to start his work, leaving her with his friend.