Frozen

The next time I woke I looked everywhere for the girl, but she wasn’t there. No one was there, the machines were gone… I was surrounded by nothingness. Cold, dark emptiness. Was this what death was like?

I shivered violently and felt hard iron bands around my wrists and ankles. After a few moments of mental effort, memory trickled back. Forty… Captain Beta… the Box.

Oh… right.

I had no clue how long I’d been in this frigid hell. Frankly, it didn’t matter. I doubted it had been all that long and I knew I wouldn’t survive much longer.

I filtered the strange dream through my head. Grandfather… my grandfather meant something to me. He and I had been through something terrible together. I got the feeling he was waiting for me, but I wasn’t sure why. It still felt like I had something to do… somewhere I was supposed to go.

Janice.

The name came unbidden to the forefront of my mind. I needed to find her, to take care of something, but I just couldn’t remember what. My mind felt like it was wading through thick sludge. What the hell had happened to me? It wasn’t just the cold, was it?

As hard as I fought, the cold was too much and I passed out again. I drifted in and out of consciousness until I heard a flurry of voices and felt hands on me again. They released the bands and caught me as I fell, laying me out on something that moved. It was like in my dream… and I had the sinking feeling that it was for a similar reason. I was dying.

“... ordered that he be monitored! This was supposed to be a punishment, not a death sentence!”

“Sorry, sir, I wasn’t notified… get him… infirmary… away.”

“You’d better. When I find out… there… hell to pay!”

Whoever spoke was someone that was used to being obeyed without question. General… General Case? Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s who was behind the angry voice, and I’d never heard him use that tone before. Why was he so interested in keeping a lowly newbie alive?

It wasn’t because I was particularly useful or talented, aside from my ability to kill people by breaking their neck. That moment still gave me the shivers. I had a lot to learn compared to other Betas. There was only one reason I could think of, and that reason was because I knew something important. I had information that he wanted… and I had the even stronger feeling that I shouldn’t give it to him. Not if I wanted to live. Not if… I wanted to finish… whatever it was I was supposed to do?

It was so close, just out of reach of my mental fingertips. I squinted as I was carried into a room with a lot of lights. I heard beeping and felt hands on me again. More wires and tubes… damn, I hated being stuck in a hospital bed!

I still shivered violently and I felt a thick blanket laid over me. It was so warm I thought it might burn my skin, but I was too weak to protest.

“... he okay? Is he still alive?”

I knew that voice and it struck me as strange that it was here. Even stranger… it sounded worried.

“He’s on the edge, Forty, but I think he’ll be all right.”

I felt a hand slip under the blanket to clasp mine. “Forty-Two… are you in there? Can you hear me?”

I could, but it wasn’t like I could do anything to show it. I tried to squeeze her hand, and I suppose I was successful since she responded.

“He’s awake! I guess… Forty-Two, you’re either the damn strongest guy I’ve ever met or the luckiest. I’ve never known anyone to survive level four for a full day.”

A full day. I’d actually survived my entire punishment?

“His core temperature is still too low… the heating blanket isn’t enough. I need a hot water bottle, and the best one would be another person.”

“I’ll do it.”

That was Forty’s voice. I was even more surprised.

“Well, you’re on medical leave, so I suppose you’re a good candidate. Aren’t you his squad lead?”

“Yeah… he saved my life. I kinda owe him.”

“Oh, this is that guy… wait, if he saved you, how the hell did he end up in the Box?”

“Search me. I think something is up with Captain Beta, but I don’t think I should ask.”

“I’ll ask General Case. Until then, strip to your undies and stick to him like glue. I need your core close to his core to get his temperature up.”

“Got it.”

Forty sounded unusually eager. Was she just repaying a debt, or was there more to it?

Why did I care?

After a moment, I felt someone climb onto my bed, under the blanket, wrapping their warm body around me. I was still shivering and the warmth felt so good, I decided I didn’t care who it was. It could have been the captain himself and I’d have tolerated it just to make the shaking stop.

“Good, just stick close. This will take a few hours. I’ll notify your team that you’re staying a bit longer.”

“Thank you… I want to make sure he’s all right. He’s a good guy and I don’t want to see him dead.”

“I don’t blame you, but you’re not just using him as an excuse to get out of work, are you? I heard some kind of big raid is in the works.”

“I don’t make excuses, Doc.”

“Right… I forgot who I was talking to. Snuggle close; I’ve got a few other things to check on. I’ll be back in a few.”

Forty followed orders, wrapping so tightly against me, I thought she might suffocate me. I put up with it.

“Hey… are you still awake?”

I figured she must be talking to me. Her hand slipped into mine again… I squeezed it.

“Thought so. Listen, I’m sorry I was such an ass. I was just… I was sick of being a Delta. Sick of always being someone everyone else kicks around. I know I could have been nicer to the squad, but I didn’t want a rep for being too soft. You know?”

I didn’t, but I squeezed her hand anyway.

“I owe you one, and yes, I know that you getting thrown in the Box was probably my fault. Because you lied for me. Right?”

I didn’t want to admit it, but I figured she’d hear it eventually. I squeezed her hand again.

“Figured. Cap is such a jerk. Well, depending on how this raid goes, either we won’t have to worry about him, or he won’t have to worry about us. Not exactly sure which option I’m more in favor of.”

Neither was I… and what was up with all this “we” and “us” stuff? Did she mean the squad… or was she referring to the two of us?

“I should shut up now so you can sleep. Just… there’s one more thing. Something I should tell you, but not here. When they let you out, if I’m not here, come and find me, okay? It’s important.”

I squeezed her hand again. What else could I do? She was my squad leader, I had to obey.

“Now try to sleep. The sooner you’re back on your feet, the better… though I kinda like being with you like this.”

I hated to admit it, but I kinda liked it too. She was so soft and warm… if I hadn’t been so thoroughly humiliated by Lieutenant Beta, I might have enjoyed it more.

“Get some rest.” I felt her shift and felt a soft kiss on my cheek. “I’ll see you when you wake up.”

My head spun. There was no way… did she seriously just kiss me? It was more of a peck than a kiss, but still…

The astonishment was apparently too much because my head spun faster. I finally let it go and fell asleep.