Rebel Heart

"I'm sending the coords for the nearest facility. I'll tell them you're coming," she said. "They'll need to verify who you are. When you arrive, pass them your micro. I'm uploading information to confirm the order for assistance."

Brady motioned for his men to ready themselves as he listened. His eyes took in their surroundings as more flares went up, this time only a street away in each direction.

"Before I go, you doing all right?" he asked, tucking the computer away and pulling free his weapons. He loosened the knives at his hip and thighs before drawing on the protective gloves and tugging the protective hood and face combo over his head.

"Just tired," she replied. "You're at the border of a restricted area, by the way. Keep to the eastern part of the city to reach the hospital."

"Thanks," he said. "Remember. We're in this together. Call if you need me, but not for the next hour, because I've got to make it to the hospital."

"Thank you," she said, a smile in her voice.

"Guardian out."

The medic and another man placed the injured soldier on a portable litter and rose, ready. The others drew weapons and lowered their hoods, looking around with the same unease he felt. Brady started forward, and the others followed, falling into two teams.

A long hour later, the team waited at gunpoint in front of a mega-secured facility. The first gate consisted of a few dozen men better armed than his team atop a thick steel wall with an iron core. Two well-armed guards stood outside the gate, flanking the slender fed in a blue medical uniform.

Sweating and impatient after the slim escape from the ambush, Brady restrained his urge to thump the fed slowly checking Brady's micro.

He peered past the first gate. The biohazard elimination field was marked by pristine white fencing. Past the fencing was a sandy stretch where the landmines awaited those foolish enough to cross. Beyond the fencing was a second massive gate, where more guards awaited.

He admired the security measures, noting that it was impossible for anyone to reach the landmines, unless the biohazard elimination field was down. The nasty field that dissolved any type of biological entity was one of the government's latest controversial creations. Brady glanced over his shoulder at his team, whose chests heaved and guns were still at the ready. The medic was kneeling beside the injured man.

"You're permitted access. The injured may proceed immediately to the emergency station," the fed said. He looked them over with a raised eyebrow. "We'll proceed directly to the bio-decontam chamber."