Ep. Five-"The Enemy Within" (The Doctors)

[Ryan Alexander]

2028
Infirmary
Meropis

Ryan listened as the Captain was speaking to the Lance Corporal before she turned her attention to the Ryan and his Marines. "I want to make sure that this entire level is sec--"
He was about to have the remainder of his team follow him when he heard the sound of one of those “things” in the distance. He didn’t need to be told what it was, it wasn’t the first time his men and him had faced the “things.” But this one sounded a bit bigger than the rest.

"You wanted my orders? Well, here they are. Hold the line... and don't miss."

Ryan nodded and helped the Captain create a firing line. Internally Ryan wished they had had some time to set up proper barricades. “Oh well.” He thought to himself as he popped in a fresh magazine into his M4.

The creatures would show themselves a few heartbeats later. Almost in unison the firing line opened fire.

One of creatures lunged for Ryan who had been standing on the Captains right. He unloaded the rest of his magazine into the creature as it brought him to the ground. He could feel the impacts of small caliber rounds impact the creature as Ryan fought to free himself. He was fairly certain that the creature was dead before it had impacted him, but he was glad that the Captain was making sure.

He heard her call out, "Hold firm!" As he struggled to regain his footing, covered with the viscera and what was probably blood of the “thing.” He quickly reloaded, and continued to pour calm, calculated, and accurate fire down the corridor as another creature fell to the Marine firing line. “Ma’am, we are close to running dry.” Ryan said, almost conversationally about his Marines and himself. He didn't know where they could have resupplied before they got to the infirmary, but there hadn't been time. It had been his Marines or ammo, and you never left a Marine behind. Had he had the time to think about it, he would have been surprised at how calm he was acting in the face of such terror.

<Tag: Plot Twist , Tom Chambers , Dr. Caiden West , Dr. Roger Harrison , Quinn Monaghan

[Tom Chambers]

2028
Infirmary
Meropis

They'd begun to get some sense of order going but it was hardly anything that meaningful, tom spent the time they were discussing their options reloading the Canadian's rifle he now would have to call his, the other one might have been salvageable, but not right now he was certain the armorers were busy or otherwise unable to fix it right now, and the private no longer needed the rifle. “Sorry Doc, we haven’t heard anything from the command team. We were patrolling not too far from here when the ‘things’ attacked us. They did not like the sound of our weapons going off, they can be brought down with weapon fire.” The American sergeant explained to Harrison, but quickly enough Monaghan took control of it all.


"I'm well aware of that, Mr. Chambers, However, we have wounded here, and we need to make sure that this location is secure before we do anything." He nodded as he slid the fresh magazine into the M4, before pulling the charging handle back and it snapped forward readying the weapon. He looked up "Yes Ma'am"  there was a brief moment before she went on. "You're all with me." They moved, the captain looked to both of them and then Tom made eye contact with the Sergeant. 

They were outside, and the guards out there were on edge, everyone was, Tom was not going to Enjoy the next session with Harrison, the Canadian private went out of his mind with new sounds and the next set of orders from Captain Monaghan. "I want to make sure that this entire level is sec--" Tom flicked open one of the vest pockets containing a full magazine and aimed down the hallway like the others, he flicked the fire selector to fully automatic, he wasn't going to hold it down, but if they got close, it might make the difference. "You wanted my orders? Well, here they are. Hold the line... and don't miss." He wasn't going to bother to answer, everyone in the hallway was getting ready, two marines had kneeled down in front of the captain but Chambers was standing up to her left.

A slightly darker patch similar in shape to the creatures from before, he now regretted leaving his sidearm with the doctors. Thew first creates rounded the corner and was dropped by a burst of P90 fire from Monaghan, everyone else opened fire as the back rounded the corner, Tom fire the rifle with everyone else the gunfire and growl of the creates mixing into a sound only describable as chaos. They were all hitting each target enough to send it down, but the ammo was going to run out very quickly, quicker for him than the Captain.as one of the creatures crashed into the Sergeant, Tom quickly reloaded, once the weapon was ready, probably the fastest he'd ever reloaded he held down the trigger for longer than a burst and dragged the barrel across two near creatures, the dropped, but he'd expended a significant amount of ammo, he aimed again at the still on coming pack, there was a human voice sound but he couldn't pick the words from the rest of the noise, he continued firing at the pack as it kept coming like the rest of the ad-hoc security team.

<TAG: Quinn Monaghan, Ryan Alexander, Dr. Roger Harrison, Dr. Caiden West, Plot Twist>

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

2028
Infirmary
Meropis

The Marines trooped out to go make more bodies...of course, Roger knew that that is what they DID, but he was glad to be at the other end of it. Not that he'd not HEAR about it soon enough, just that he preferred to be saving lives, not taking them. He didn't envy these young men and women any of it, really.

He was coming to the end of what he might be able to do in the outer corridors-there were still bodies, but he needed to focus on the living-and close to it-and there was a Chaplain someplace for the rest. Roger wasn't a religious man by nature-sure, he'd been raised Catholic as any proper Scot-turned-Englishman was, but he didn't practice it as an adult...logic won out. But from the deep recess of his brain, the Lord's Prayer came to him. He shut his eyes momentarily, and then got to work.

Sorry Doc, we haven’t heard anything from the command team. We were patrolling not too far from here when the ‘things’ attacked us. They did not like the sound of our weapons going off, they can be brought down with weapon fire. Roger nodded; this didn't mean an exceptional lot to him, other than loud banging noises scared them. That was good to know; Roger was unarmed, but he DID know and have a permit to shoot, if needed.

He finished triaging the man in front of him, and then heard Chambers' start in, being cut off by the female CO. Chambers scrambled off, leaving his weapon. Roger tried to stop him.

Tom?! But they were gone. Roger sighed. Oh, well, at least he had a few rounds, just in case. He moved the wounded Marine into the exam room, and began the tedious task of finding and removing the bullet (if possible), cleaning the wound, and closing it up. All of this executed by the dim shine of some flashlights and whole hell of a lot of prayer. It was on days like today that he wished he was like his brother-drowning himself in the bottle. He just shook his head, washed his hands, and got to work.

Tonight was going to be a long night.

Tag:Tom Chambers, Ryan Alexander, Quinn Monaghan, Dr. Caiden West, Plot Twist, you magnificant bastard.

[Ryan Alexander]

2029
Infirmary
Meropis

Ryan fired another series of shots into the body of one of those, things. The entire ad-hoc security team had been holding the line for what seemed like hours, but it had really only been a few moments. Ryan’s bolt slide all the way to the rear, indicating that he was out of ammo; with practiced swiftness Ryan pressed the magazine release and slide his last full mag into the magazine well. He pressed the bolt catch release, sending the bolt forward and a inserting round in the chamber with an audible clack. “Last Mag!” Ryan said loudly enough to be heard over the staccato of gun fire. “My last Magazine Sergeant.” “Me too.” “I am out.” His three marines returned. The 6 man team couldn’t hold this line much longer. “Ma’am we need to pull back to the Medical bay. We are on our last mags.” Ryan said to the Captain.

She glanced towards Ryan, then back to the infirmary, before returning to her sights in the corridor. “Leap frog to the door, Chambers and I will cover you.” Ryan nodded, understanding what she wanted them to do. “Alright Marines, you heard her, MOVE!” Ryan ordered, as his 3 Marines booked it towards the infirmary. The PFC who was out of ammo, took cover within the infirmary, setting up the mechanism to seal the door. “Sergeant I am ready.” The PFC said. “Alright Ma’am you and Chambers are up!” He called to them as he raised his M4, sighting the nearest creature and firing the last of his rounds. HE just couldn't believe how many creatures there were. They just seemed to keep on coming.

<Tag: Tag:Tom Chambers, Ryan Alexander, Quinn Monaghan, Dr. Caiden West, Plot Twist Dr. Roger Harrison

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

2030
Infirmary
Meropis

Roger yelled, the full force of his British-come-Scottish accent ringing out.

I need a triage pack! And someone cover the bodies! He sighed. They needed a lot more, as well. They needed lights, and power, and an IV of scotch would be dandy, as well, but he needed to keep his mind on the game.

Outside, in the hallway, he could hear gunshots, and some of them were out of bullets. He looked at the man in front of him-he was going to be fine. Roger finished administering the IV antibiotic, and then grabbed Tom's weapon, and headed to the hallway. He spoke.

Take this, He said, handing it off to Alexander before simply turning and heading back into the clinic. YEP. A very long day.

Tag:Ryan Alexander, Tom Chambers, Quinn Monaghan, Dr. Caiden West, Plot Twist, and whomever else!

[Michael Black]

2055
Infirmary
Meropis

By now the power had come back on city-wide and things were beginning to stabilize, at least everywhere but the infirmary they were. The stream of wounded had begun to slow but many patrols remained unaccounted for still. Things were kicking off in the 'gate room and the city comms channels were hectic but it sounded like people now had eyes on where Dorane might be. Doctor Glavish's plan had worked and the remaining crazed Koan had been shepherded out of the city and into the night. What nobody had seen though would have left the whole base speechless, as the Koan of the forest had been watching and were waiting to receive their tortured brethren. The creature that was now throwing itself around the halls outside the infirmary had just come in rather than ran out.

"HELP! SOMEBODY!" came the scream from further down the corridor. Fiona Maccafferty and Aear Charter were desperately running behind an out of control Doctor Michael Black. The man, if he could still be called that, looked 75% Koan and only 25% Human by now. He threw his body against the wall opposite the infirmary doors and scaled claws clutched at this head in agony. Since the power had come back on, nobody had been able to get through to him. When he'd seen the dead Koan being dragged out of the way, he only seemed to get worse and let out an ungodly howl that science would have said his vocal cords weren't capable of.

To Michael, the world had turned upside down. Somebody had flicked a switch and the deeper the trio had gotten into the base, the more the city sung to him. He could hear every device, ever conduit, even other's with the gene made a distinct sound. It had all built up to the point where he was being bombarded by noise, to him it felt like he was trapped in a tiny ball covered in speakers pointed inwards - except all those speakers were on full volume an they were all playing a different tune. It was enough to make him forget the open, weeping wound on his leg the other Koan had caused over an hour ago. Although it could have been weeks ago, Michael's sense of time had vanished when this all began. His vision swam and his fever had shot back up, he couldn't even balance anymore as he stumbled and fell against the wall. Was he there yet? Had he made it to the infirmary? HE WOULD KILL THEM ALL!!
"No, control it... must..." Michael then let out another scream.

He looked up to see guns pointed at him, it seemed the guards on the door recognized something of Michael, enough not to kill him yet. He remembered all the dead Koan on the way here, and he remembered how he looked in the smooth surfaces they had passed in the blinding light. Michael had lost control completely now, an instinct of sorts made him leap forward with un-natural speed toward the soldiers who barely had enough time to move out of the way. He turned, claws out at his sides and foam at the corners of his mouth. Then, he crumpled to the floor. Somebody had sedated him somehow. Michael Black was unconscious again.

<tag Fiona Maccafferty Aear Charter Dr. Caiden West Dr. Roger Harrison Ryan Alexander Tom Chambers Quinn Monaghan and anybody else I forgot!>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

Continued from HERE [/url]

2055
Infirmary
Meropis

They had managed to make it to the base and to the clinic, either through sheer righteous indignation (on her part), a promise of something great (on Black's part), and sheer will to live (for Aear), and Fee went ahead slightly. She pushed one of the medics out of the way, with an order to move.

I got a live one, move, I need a sedative! She rifled through the bag, vaguely aware of Dr. Harrison's presence. She ignored the man as she injected the vial into Michael's left arm. In a moment, he was out again, and she sighed in relief. She looked up at Dr. Harrison.

He was injected with something...I don't know what, but he's turning into one of those CREATURES. And Aear here's got himself on the Pat and Mick; he used his magic even though I told him not to. She watched as two Marines lifted Black onto a stretcher. Aear was able to walk, and she helped him to sit down, and made sure he was all right. Her fears about her friend assuaged, she tried to return to Black, but Harrison told her to go, that he would contact her if something happened. She nodded, and, a little numb, she headed for the piers. The lights were back, she might as well see if Elly was OK and...ok, probably Glavish, too.

Tag:@me, @caiden, @michaelblack, Aear Charter[/a]Aear Charter, Plot Twist.

[Ryan Alexander]

2030
Infirmary
Meropis

Ryan cursed as his bolt on his M4 locked to the rear. He had fired the last of his rounds covering Tom and Quinn’s retreat. “Take this.” Ryan had heard. He turned his head seeing a M9 being offered, Ryan gingerly took it. “Thank you.” He said as he pulled back the slide, making sure there was a round in the chamber, and returned providing covering fire for the retreating duo.

“GET THAT DOOR SEALED!” Ryan bellowed to his Marines as Quinn and Tom made it back to the relative safety of the Infirmary. The door slammed shut, moments before the creatures could breach through. The increasingly crowded Infirmary could hear the creatures scrambling just outside, scrapping at the door trying to get in. Ryan let out a sigh of relief. He had hatted having to seal the door and knew that the debrief was not going to be pleasant. “But first we need to make it out of this. The rest can be dealt with later.” Ryan thought. “Ma’am, my Marines have started to consolidate ammo, any extra 5.56 rounds would be appreciated.” Ryan informed the Captain, hoping that he might be able to at least get some extra rounds. His entire team was down to 20 rounds between 4 men. ”Not very combat effective.” He thought again. Hopefully they would get some reinforcements soon, or at least a resupply.

2050
Infirmary
Meropis

For nearly 20 minutes the creatures had scrapped and clawed at the door. On more than one occasion the group thought that the creatures were going to breach the doors, but they held. “I wonder if they will ever stop and give up?” One of Ryans marine asked, a Lance Corporal who had been with Force Recon before being transferred to Meropis. Almost as if by magic the regular lighting flickered on, followed by loud screeches outside and the secession of the creatures. For several heart beats they waited, waiting to hear if the creatures were to resume there assault of the door. “Sergeant, take your Marines and see about securing the hall way.” Captain Monaghan ordered. Ryan nodded, glad that his wounded marines were doing alright and that they had had a few extra magazines on them. Ryan nodded to the PFC standing by the door, and the door swooshed open. Ryan and his team fanned out. “Sergeant, contact front, friendly.” One his Lance Corporals said, causing Ryan to turn. He saw a civilian stumbling and then dash forward. Ryan barely managed to make it out of the way, and nearly pulled the trigger, when the man collapsed onto the floor. Ryan motioned for one of his Marines to help the man before a short redheaded women and the Alien known as Aear pasted by, quickly getting things together to control the individual. He was injected with something...I don't know what, but he's turning into one of those CREATURES. And Aear here's got himself on the Pat and Mick; he used his magic even though I told him not to. Ryan was a little out of his element, but his team stood by the doors waiting in case the creatures tried to return. Ryan moved closer to Fee and Aear, just in case he was needed to help restrain the individual or to provide an escort. He had no idea what was going on, but it wasn’t really important that he know what was going on. He had people to protect and that was what he was going to do.

Tag:Fiona Maccafferty, Dr. Caiden West, Michael Black, Aear CharterAear Charter, Plot Twist Quinn Monaghan Tom Chambers.

[Tom Chambers]

2028-2030
Infirmary
Meropis

The creatures just kept coming, it wasn't long before he was going to need to reload again. The bolt slammed to the rear and he quickly reloaded again, now he had an idea o what was in the minds of the Kapooka drill instructors giving them bayonets in modern warfare at some point you might be left with nothing else to fight with. He quickly reloaded the magazine sliding in quickly he then pulled charging handle, preparing the weapon he hoped the forward assist of the M4 wasn't going to be needed this time, if it did this wasn't going to end so well for them.

He pulled the trigger and luckily enough the weapon fired at the quickly closing creatures. The marines were out or nearly out of Ammo and as much as he'd been carrying a lot, it was hard to toss magazines around in the middle of a firefight like this. As he kept firing he cursed to himself about leaving the doctors his side arm. 

“Last Mag!” Called the Sergeant. Of the other marines two were on last magazines and one was out, this was going to end very, very poorly.

Though the sergeant had an idea that might by them some time, time enough to get everyone a magazine or two. Chambers reloaded again, he only had three or four left now and even then he new it wasn't going to be close.

“Ma’am we need to pull back to the Medical bay. We are on our last mags.”That was clear and as much as he hated giving up the hallway, a doorway was smaller and strong enough to by them some time they might even be able to get them stuck in the threshold of the door.

Captain Monaghan had agree'd with the other mans assessment. “Leap frog to the door, Chambers and I will cover you.” Tom couldn't respond, he had to keep firing as they went back inside. The combat engineer couldn't be sure how many round sh had left, be he was hoping they were going to be enough. 

“Alright Ma’am you and Chambers are up!” Captain Monaghan glanced over at tom, he instantly started walking backwards firing as he went, he was a step from the door when his weapon went dry, the Captain was already falling back, Tom turned and without regard for his centre of balance propelled himself forward, he went past the marines but he was already on his way to a collision with the floor plating.

The Captain made it inside and the door of the infirmary closed just in time for Tom to hit the ground with a thud and to not let any of the creatures in.

Chambers lay on the floor of the infirmary for a second or too, he was breathing hard, landing on your vest was a great way to get winded. He pushed himself up slowly some of the Marines were looking at him. "Tactical exit?" He half wheezed as he took in big breaths.

He looked over at Sergeant Alexander as he took in some breaths. “Ma’am, my Marines have started to consolidate ammo, any extra 5.56 rounds would be appreciated.”Tom gulped and stood up reaching into two of the four remaining full vest magazine pockets. He produced two full magazines as tossed one to the Sergeant the other to one of his other men. "No good me hogging all the ammo." Tom them took the chance to reload his weapon, he had one full magazine besides the one he was just loading into his rifle.

"I think I understand why we still have bayonet training now days, its not to inspire its a last resort kind of thing, that's the nightmare of Kapooka instructors." He while pointing at the door. He noticed Alexander has his Browning. "Ha, that bloody doctor, could I have my browning back Sergeant?" He held his hand out for his sidearm.

---

2050
Infirmary
Meropis

The creatures didn't give up, at all not until the lights came back. the Marine Lance Corporal voiced what they were all thinking, Tom was still waiting for them to burst through the door. "I wonder if they will ever stop and give up?”
Tom had wanted to say something to the effect of when there dead, but he wasn't sure how these yanks would take it. The creatures scream and scrabbling increased for a few seconds before their noises got quieter, further away.

"Sergeant, take your Marines and see about securing the hall way.” Tom aimed at the door, because if there were any on the other side when they opened it he wasn't going to be cricket about it. The door opened and none was immediately there, he lowered his weapon but kept it at the ready. Tom moved closer to the door and then through it with the other, providing another person to help, in case of another angry pack of man tearing creatures came their way.

“Sergeant, contact front, friendly.”  That didn't look friendly... not at first once it go closer and he had more time to see it, he recognized something, humanish, and similar to the Doctor Black he had been with in the labs. The doctor black looking semi creatures almost knocked Alexander out of the way, everyone raised there rifles. As quickly as he had appeared he was out on the floor the redhead, from also from the lab was here and she injected him with something. "I got a live one, move, I need a sedative!
" she had said before running along and injecting him.

One of the marines stepped towards Creature-Black as did tom, he felt something for this man if it was indeed him, this was perhaps worse than being killed by them. the other Marine and he lifted Black onto a stretcher as one came out into the corridor. It was then Doctor Harrison reappeared and the redhead explained.

"He was injected with something...I don't know what, but he's turning into one of those CREATURES. And Aear here's got himself on the Pat and Mick; he used his magic even though I told him not to." The other Marine and the Lance Corporal deposited Black, as best they could onto the stretcher, he was far larger than what he remembered, and more alien. as he was carried inside he looked at Alexander. "I'm not sure you... we shouldn't have shot him... if that doesn't do a 180, I imagine it's far worse than death..." He half though aloud half mumbled as he walked along, if Black gave the medico's some problems it might take one of them an arm or leg to keep him from hurting anyone else.

<TAG:Fiona Maccafferty, Dr. Caiden West, Michael Black, Aear Charter, Quinn Monaghan, Plot Twist>

[Michael Black]

0630
Infirmary
Meropis

Michael finally opened his eyes. He'd been in surgery all through the night. The battle was won now but not without cost. Dorane had been killed and McManus had fled, and the crazed Koan had now all left the city and been met by their pack in the forest, but the casualties were still quite severe. The medical team had been working flat out, with a lot of the enlisted helping out under SM-2's direction as well. Dr. Black, at least he hoped he still was that, looked down at his hands and felt an enormous sigh of relief. Human again.

They'd managed to remove all the spines that had grown up and through his hair, the medics had then treated the wounds on his arm and leg and treated the worst of his scaley burns that had manifested as part of the change. They'd also put him on a drip, a cocktail of sedatives and pain killers to get him through the worst of it. From now it was just up to his body and immune system to fight off the foreign invaders and get him back to normal. If his mind would heal though, was a different story completely.

He was aware of a few faces standing around him, the bright lights above him hurt so he squinted. His vision blurred and unfocused he struggled to pick out who was talking to him. Slowly, Michael came to his senses.

tag: anybody left in the infirmary at 0630 the following day

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

Quick note: Double thread for Fee and Rog because it's late and because reasons.
0630
Infirmary
Meropis

Roger hadn't slept. Though he didn't much these anyway. He was STILL working; the lives that could be saved had been-now was the actual keeping those people alive part. Triage was one thing, long term medicine was another entirely. All three doctors, the Corpsman, nurses and medics were up to their arms in casualities. By now, most had been bagged and tagged, and reported to the proper personnel to alert the families-Roger was among that personnel. As the staff psychologist, it was going to be his job to make this make sense. But it didn't quite, did it?!

After morning rounds, he was going to rest, and eat, and then start the tedious task of alerting families, teammates, and opening his office to whomever might need it. He hoped that he'd see people; most especially, he hoped he see the ones who thought they were going to be fine. They never were, properly, were they?!

He checked on Peterson; the man's gun had misfired and blew his face half off. He was going to be fine, physically, but...disfigured and likely would get a medical discharge as soon as he healed enough to return to Earth. After, he checked in on the minors-a few had scratches, and bruises and various bite marks. Finally, he passed Black's little alcove. He smiled to himself-Fiona had been there the past few hours, and while Roger had suspected a budding romance for several weeks, her actions had only served to confirm his suspicions. He wasn't totally sure about Michael Black's intentions, and while Roger fought it hard, he sort of viewed Fiona in a daughter's role, and if the young man had other intentions, Roger would protect Fiona first. She'd been hurt enough.

He smiled and peeked around.

How is he? Roger removed the stethescope from his pocket and checked the man's vitals. He would prove to be fine, of that, Roger felt sure. Fiona seemed tense, but that was to be expected if he WERE correct, and he turned to her, and looked at her, kindly.

Fiona, you must get some rest. Don't make me ask the General...he'll be OK; I have both Dr. West and Petty Officer Steven's monitoring him. How is Aear? Roger moved his gaze to the next door. The catman was currently in his cat form, and asleep on Roger's couch. Roger had used the healing device, and Aear was fine.

------------------------
Fiona had been standing watch, taking turns between Aear and Michael. She didn't quite understand what was going on with her head. All she knew was that when faced with the idea that Michael would be forever a rodent-like creature, she'd considered asking him to bite her or something. And when Aear was finished, she worried about losing her best friend. SHE was ok, but neither man was. Not yet. She had things she needed to say, to BOTH of them, but she didn't know HOW. Or WHEN. She looked up at Dr. Harrison. 

How is he?...Fiona, you must get some rest. Don't make me ask the General...he'll be OK; I have both Dr. West and Petty Officer Steven's monitoring him. How is Aear? Fee smiled a little. 

He's still asleep. Michael here is...still out... She stood with Dr. H as he took his vitals, and then she smiled when she saw Black open his eyes. Thank Goodness. You're alive! And you're...you! Thank Goodness. Look, you're really sick, but you're going to be OK. Things have happened, but we can talk later. Rest now. She sighed, and wondered if it would be too forward if she touched his face. 

Tag: Aear Charter, Michael Black, @anyone else?!