“Come on, damn it!” Christopher shouted. “S.T.A.R.S. never leave each other behind!”
Felicia shook her head as she clutched her shoulder wound. “I’m a danger to you all, to the mission.”
Christopher sighed. “Only if we’re unlucky.” He tapped the communications button on his helmet, opening the channel. “Barry, come in. This is Christopher.”
<<Barry here. What the Sam Hill’s going on with you two?>>
“We were ambushed, sir. Weretigers. We’ve got two dead, one wounded and retreating.”
Silence for a second. <<And what about you two?>>
“I’m banged up but uninjured, sir. Felicia…Felicia was bitten. She’s most likely infected, sir.”
<<Damn. How’s she look?>>
Christopher paused to look back at his comrade before answering. Felicia tended to her firearm, every so often idly picking at the bandage around her wound. “So far, she seems okay. She wanted me to leave her behind.”
<<And will you?>>
Christopher’s expression turned stern. “If I do that, I’m not worthy to be called a S.T.A.R.S. officer. Sir.”
<<Good man. We’re at the rendezvous. You two try to catch up. Hopefully, they’ll have a cure for this somewhere inside. If not, and she turns…don’t be afraid to do what you have to, Christopher. We’ll understand.>>
Christopher gulped. “Understood, sir.”
A second crackle assaulted the earpiece. <<This is Michelle. Tell her not to think about it too much. It seems to make the virus easier to fight off.>>
“You don’t have to,” Felicia said, startling Christopher right out of his boots. “I could hear everything. Tell her I said thanks.” She started off toward the facility. “And for the record, I do understand.”
Christopher shrugged, and cut off his comlink. He followed Felicia’s lead, wondering how much longer they’d be fighting on the same side.