A Note of Concern

Posted on Wed Nov 22nd, 2023 @ 9:03pm by Hale Stratton

795 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Bangor or Bust
Location: Outside of Bangor, Maine (Before the Wynn Compound)
Timeline: 29 August 2010 - 05:00 a.m.

Victoire had waited until there was a modicum of safety to approach the thing that had been scratching at the back of her mind for a day or two now; but it was an oddity indeed and one that she needed to discuss with her compatriot and fellow leader and so she went to seek him out.

She found him where she expected to, apart from the group and keeping a silent vigil for the walking dead that roamed the streets of Bangor.

The group was 'taking a break' which was to be expected when civilians were involved; while they sat and talked amongst themselves, Hale sat in a spot where he had a good view of the approaches, keeping watch. He looked up as Vic approached and cocked his head slightly to one side. "Things okay," he asked quietly. She had taken on the role of medic, overseeing the group's physical health, on the trip back to Bangor and her approach brought with it the thought of returning the teens in less than perfect condition.

Vic kept her voice similarly low as she stepped up to his side "Ordinarily; I would say yes... under current circumstances..." She paused, inhaling and holding her breath for a moment before letting it out in a quiet sigh. "...I'm not sure Captain." They had grown familiar enough that she rarely addressed him using his rank and the sound was likely slightly shocking in the moment.

"I have been doing a weekly blood draw, single vial, nothing more than to ensure I can get a protein count and keep an eye on overall health on everyone, including you and myself. The last two weeks I noticed that there was extra proteins that don't belong in the blood."

"What do you think it is," Hale asked as he turned toward momentarily. "These extra proteins?"

She thought for a long moment and then shook her head. "It is hard to say without the ability to run proper tests; I don't want to jump to conjecture as there hasn't been anybody showing signs of illness but I fear that it may bode toward ill fortune..." she glanced back to the civilians before continuing. "especially as we have been as lucky as we have been so far, considering."

Hale turned his attention back to the approaches as he thought about it. "With how things are, there will be a military presence in Bangor," he said. "If they pull you into the hospital, you being a medic and all, that would give you the chance to take a better look, eh?"

She scanned the horizon for a moment before nodding quietly. "That is true; perhaps it would give me a chance to restock my kit as well." she gave a soft chuckle. "I have to say Captain, I am glad that you were in Millinocket as well, our odds are definitely better with both of us than just one."

"Agreed," Hale said quietly. Sighing he added, "I just don't see this getting better any time soon."

“I have had similar thoughts… it is beginning to seem as though this may be our new reality.” She gave a grim half-hearted chuckle. “I don’t even know if our command is in tact, let alone if they have managed to maintain cohesion.”

"You know, I was thinking there are over three hundred million people in the U.S.," Hale said as he ran a hand through his hair, "and less than two million of us and that's if you put all of our military forces together ... If the numbers get too big ..."

“The odds are bad…. Though our training should at least give us a slight edge over what is seemingly a mindless horde.”

Hale nodded. Anyway he looked at it, the odds were bad and while he didn't say it out loud, he was already working contingencies. What to do if the worst happened.

“Captain…. What are your plans once we get back to Bangor and deliver the civilians? My family is gone and all I have left is Jasper and the military so…. For me it’s simple.”

Hale shrugged. "Hard to say, really. My family is all in Alaska. Do what I can for as long as I can, I guess, though, at some point, I'd like to go back to homesteading. Build a cabin. Grow some vegetables. Maybe raise a few very quiet chickens." He turned toward Vic with a sly grin on his face. "Maybe a cow that only whispers 'moo' occasionally."

She smiled and chuckled slightly “that doesn’t sound like too bad of a situation… something like that seems like it is going to be absolutely necessary with the world as it is.”

"Yeah," Hale said quietly. "There's that."

 

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