Stranger Found

The night has been quiet so far, thankfully. That is until I hear a loud and rapid knocking on the door to the infirmary. Being a night person has its advantages. This is not one of them.

“We found her out during patrol.”, The scout says as I open the door for her, “Not sure if she’s a raider or just a scavenger.” She carries the unconscious young woman to an open bed.

“Either way I gotta treat her.”, I respond as I begin to look the patient over, “Did you need to do any basic first aid before moving her?”

“Checked her pulse to make sure she ain’t dead but that’s about it.”, The scout responds as I rush over to a medical cabinet to grab disinfectant. I begin to disinfect the patient’s facial wounds as the scout continues, “Also, we found her pinned to a tree by her own weapon. A makeshift spear, stuck a combat knife in the hole of a long metal pipe and wrapped it tight so it stayed put. Pretty clever I’d say so probably a scavenger, not a raider.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”, I say to at least make it seem like I paid attention to the older woman’s words as I begin to examine the patient’s arms for any fractures or just strains. After a few moments of silence between us I add, “If there’s nothing else you can go.” The scout gives me a quick salute as she leaves the infirmary.

I have no idea how much time I spent but I finish examining the, probably, scavenger. I sit in the chair next to the patient as I sigh in relief, “Well I did what I could.”, I continue speaking to the unconscious gal, “You’ll make a full recovery, so that’s good.”

-- -- --

I jump awake as a hand touches my shoulder. I wearily turn my head towards the source of the touch and groggily open my eyes to the sight of Doctor Giovanni Conti.

“Good morning Kelly.”, Conti says with a gentle smile and tone. He looks at the patient as he continues, “Good thing nothing happened to her while you were asleep.” I look at the patient as well as I open my eyes wide with fear, that most certainly would be a threat if something did happen to her.

“I-I’m sorry doctor.”, I say trying to hide my fear. “I normally stay awake you know that.”, I quickly say hoping to have a lessened punishment if I even get one.

“It’s alright.”, Conti says reassuringly to me, it seems I could not hide my fear well enough. “It’s not often you get a patient so late. You probably just did more work than you’re used to so you got a little tired.”, He adds. He walks over to the patient and begins to examine my work more closely. After a few moments of silence between us he finally speaks, “Nothing appears to be wrong.” He looks over at the monitor attached to the unconscious woman as he speaks, “She’s stable as well.”. He takes a step away and puts a hand on my shoulder as he continues, “Well done. Next time you’ll have to be more careful though.”

“Yes doctor.”, I meekly respond with a bowed head. Conti begins to laugh as he heads into the main room of the infirmary. “What’s so funny!?”, I yell in annoyance at him as I stand up. I follow him into the main room but before I can continue he turns around with a finger over his mouth. I put a hand over my mouth before speaking, “Sorry doctor.”

He chuckles quietly before speaking again, “You should head home. Your shift’s over after all.” I give a slight bow to him before I head out of the infirmary.

I take a step out into the bright blinding sun, I squint at the brightness and hiss in annoyance. After my eyes adjust, I walk past a security officer and attempt to make a smile. He returns a smile and walks past me.

“Excuse me miss.”, He says as he walks up beside me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “You are Kelly Lawson, correct?”, The security officer inquires as he steps in front of me. I nod my head in acknowledgment. “I’m going to need you to come with me miss.”, He states as he puts out a hand to me. I look at his hand for a moment before he adds, “I can’t force you but we will need to ask you a few things eventually.”

“I understand. I’ll come with you.”, I utter as I grab his hand.

“Good.”, The security officer declares as he shakes my hand. He quickly lets go and turns around as he continues, “Off to the base we go.”

-- -- --

I sit at the small table across from the security officer who escorted me here. He takes his helmet off and gives me a smile, probably trying to calm me down. “You’re not in trouble, probably.”, He tells me as he crosses his legs seemingly entering a relaxed stance.

“Probably?”, I question him with a raised brow.

“We’ll find out once you answer my questions. I’m assuming you’re just a regular citizen.”, The officer’s body tenses as he sighs. My questioning gaze merely intensifies, unsure what this could be about. “Late in the night one of our squads found an unconscious young woman. She was taken to the infirmary.”, He states. “You took care of this individual correct?”, He inquires as he begins to look over a piece of paper he took out of his pocket.

“I did my duty as a medic, yes.”, I state plainly.

“Alright.”, The officer looks down at his paper once again before he continues with another question, “Did anything seem off about this individual?”

“She had many lacerations across her body, a few bruised ribs, and-” I begin to rattle off the injuries the patient had sustained but before I can finish the officer puts up a hand to stop me.

“Aside from the injuries.”, The officer groans in annoyance as he lowers his hand.

“What exactly is supposed to be off or strange then?”, I inquire in annoyance at the oddly vague question.

“You know, raider strange.”, The officer says as he waves his arms around as if that would actually help get his point across.

“Ahhhhhhhhhh.”, I mutter and nod in understanding before I think for a moment. “She didn’t look anything like a raider around here that I’ve seen at least.”, I answer as I lean back in the chair and cross my arms hopefully making my annoyance obvious.

“Like a raider around here that you’ve seen at least.”, The officer repeats. “So you could have seen a raider from somewhere else.”, He states as if he found some kind of secret answer.

“What!?”, I respond taken aback by his apparent stupidity, “I’ve lived here my whole life. Aaaaaaand I’m a medic not a scout! I’ve rarely been outside of the walls.” He looks at me for a moment, maybe dumbfounded by the fact he was an idiot but probably not.

“So then nothing too strange.”, I barely hear the officer mutter to himself as he stands up. “You’re free to go now. Thank you for the information and have a good rest of your day.”, He says rather stoically as he opens the door.

“You too.”, I say as I stand up and leave.

-- -- --

I finally reach my small home far later then I would like with the sun hanging even higher in the sky.

“What a pain in the ass.”, I mutter to myself as I open the door to my abode. I walk in and close the door behind me. I trudge over to my bed and lie down as I cheer, “I missed you!” I bury my face into my pillow as I hug it and sigh, “You’re so comfy and soft. I love you bed.”

-- -- --

I hear a knocking at my door. I open my eyes in surprise and look at the small clock near by bed.

“Shit!”, I exclaim as I get out of bed, “I overslept for my shift!” I run to my door and open it to see the Chief of Security. “He-hello sir!”, I stammer out as I open the door, move out of the way, and invite him in, “Please come inside.”

“No need.”, The Chief raises a hand as he stoically speaks, “You are Medic Kelly Lawson, correct?”

“Yes sir.”, I answer with wide eyes, “What brings you here today?”

He gives me a smile, that sends a chill down my spine, as he speaks, “I’m glad you haven’t headed off to the infirmary yet today.” His chilling smile fades as he continues, “Because I’ll be heading that way as well.”

“Any particular reason you are headed to the infirmary sir?”, I ask nervously as I constantly keep looking at the Chief as we walk to the infirmary side by side.

“We both know why I’m headed there.”, He flatly answers without looking at me.