Rebel Heart

Brady's world was one of cold and darkness. He was wet, that much he could determine. The ground beneath was rocky. He thought he heard voices from somewhere. They faded as he fell into his unconsciousness. He felt nothing as he floated in the dark of his mind, until sudden, hot pain tore through him.

His body bucked, and his eyes flew open. Lights blinded him and there were several blurry faces hanging over his. The world grew loud, with voices jumbling with the sound of equipment and possibly the thump of a helicopter. He couldn't focus and strained against whatever held him in place. He made out one familiar voice.

"Be still, Brady. You're okay!" Dan shouted.

Brady relaxed, unable to clear his head or move his body. He fell back into the dark quiet of his mind. When he awoke again, it was to the feeling of a warm breeze across his face. He didn't recognize the hospital room. Its colors were pale purple and the bed beneath him more comfortable than any he'd lain in.

It had to be a fed hospital. Army-types and rebels would never have access to such a place. The appearance of a nurse in a fed's uniform in his doorway confirmed his assumption.

"How are you feeling?" she asked as he stretched and sat up.

"A little rough," he admitted. His voice was gravelly from lack of use, and his arms and legs felt heavy as he tested them. "Where am I?"

"Billings Federal Medical Facility. Stay in bed. You were a mess when they brought you in."

"Billings?" Brady asked. "As in … I'm in Montana?"

"Good. We were worried you'd have some brain damage," the woman replied cheerfully. "You remember your name?"

"Brady."

"Rank."

"Major."

"Where did your accident happen?"

"I wouldn't call falling out of the sky an accident," he grunted. "We were shot down somewhere in Tennessee." His mind began to clear. "Where is she?"

"Where is who?"

"Lana. She was with me in the helo."

"You were the only survivor."

Her words fell as hard as he had from the sky. The nurse smiled again and studied the micro in her hand, which monitored his vitals. Brady sat in silence for a long moment, thinking hard. He recalled the horror of falling from the sky and getting caught in the bridge. The terror on Lana's face was fresh in his thoughts, and he heard her scream again as he was flung from the helo, before it hit the water.