*
Personal notes-Richard Farrell
"Doc, I gotta tell you, I had a helluva dream," Brett said. His eyes were closed-he didn't realize he could see if he opened them.
"What was the dream?" I asked, sitting on the chair beside his bed.
"I dreamed I was running," he said. I watched a smile pass across his face. "Chasing rabbits. It was fun."
"Open your eyes, Captain," I said. "From here on, you can make that dream a reality if you want."
* * *
Jennifer Troutman, 1st Lt, US Army
The last thing I recalled was watching the armored vehicle in front of mine explode. Afterward, things get extremely hazy.
Until now.
My eyes were open; I stared at an unfamiliar ceiling over my head. Glancing to the side, I saw the familiar rails of a hospital bed. I'd been injured. Now I was in a hospital, somewhere-probably Germany. I couldn't say why I thought that, but it was the most sensible thing-the worst cases often ended up on a base in that country.
I didn't speak a word of German, although several words in that language bubbled to the surface of my brain.
"You're awake."
A scrub-wearing nurse smiled down at me and spoke in English. "Dr. Farrell will be happy to hear you're still with us."
"Am I-uh-whole?"
"As whole as I am," she smiled. "My name is Kathy. When Dr. Farrell says it's all right, I'll bring food and you can sit up to eat."
"Is she awake?" A hopeful voice sounded in the doorway.
"She is. Lieutenant, this is Dr. Farrell."
He was beside my bed quickly and taking my hand. I blinked at him in confusion. Part of me wanted to say I knew him. Another part of me knew that was impossible. "Hello, Dr. Farrell," I said.
I was stunned when he wiped tears away.
* * *
Captain Brett Walker
I felt some weakness, but Dr. Farrell said it would pass. He'd told me the drug was experimental and that I'd been chosen, since I was at death's door when it was administered.
I didn't know whether to laugh or consider that I really was dreaming.
"A change in your appearance is expected," Dr. Farrell said. I stared at my image in the mirror.
Before, my hair had been nearly red. Now it was dark, as were my eyes, which were blue, before.
I didn't mind the change and the Doctor was correct-I would run again. I was whole in the most miraculous, unexplainable way possible. At least I didn't have to worry about contacting family members-my mom was dead and my dad disappeared when I was little.
Nobody left, and contacting former friends or family was forbidden anyway, because of the secrecy surrounding the drug.
I didn't care-I was going to run again.
* * *
Notes-Colonel Hunter
According to Cori and Valegar, Rafe's blood was now neutralized. He could donate blood and it would be just as normal as anyone else's. We were discussing the tracking of other survivors when the call from Richard Farrell interrupted.
"Check your e-mail," Richard said before I could get an entire hello out of my mouth.
I tapped my keyboard and brought up the e-mail in question. Two photographs were included, without any text. I froze.
"Madam President gave permission," Richard quavered. "Colonel Hunter, it's wonderful, isn't it?"
"Holy fuck," I sighed. Maye and Nick's faces stared back at me from the e-mail. Across the room, I heard Corinne's muffled holy shit .
* * *
Corinne
Rafe drove the van; Auggie sat in the front with him. Matt and Opal took up the second set of seats; Val and I had to make ourselves even smaller to fit in the back. Our destination was the ugly building in Arlington, but on the inside, I'd made changes the last time I was there.
Richard Farrell, without informing Auggie, had gone over his head to get Maye back. I wasn't sure that doing this for personal reasons was the proper thing to do, but it was moot, now. It was done. At least the participants were military.
As of now, the Program was up and running again.
"I've forgotten how inelegant travel by Earth vehicle is," Val remarked as we bounced across a pothole in the ugly