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“YOU’LL BE MUCH SAFER, once you’re away from the Hub.” Garr repeated his explanation as Doc assembled a pair of rucksacks, taking her most precious instruments with her. Enrico, waiting outside in the hall, had agreed to shoulder one of the packs, and Doc would take the other. “With all the increased traffic in the area—Hoarders and Trackers—I’m not comfortable leaving you here alone.”
“I won’t argue with you there, Garr,” Doc replied, sealing the second rucksack. “On a personal note, I could probably do with a little fresh air and sunshine after living in this man-made cave for so long.”
Garr grinned, reaching for the second rucksack. “It’s good to hear you’ve still got your sense of humor.”
“It’s a coping mechanism,” Doc replied without inflection, abandoning her rucksack on the workbench as she blocked his exit from the infirmary.
“Garr, listen to me,” she said, her eyes pleading. “You’ve pushed this team about as far as you can. I know what we’re up against, and I’m not second-guessing you or trying to change your mind. But I wouldn’t be much of a doctor if I didn’t warn you. Your team is stretched, almost to the breaking point. That makes everyone vulnerable.”
Garr leaned against the workbench, glancing aimlessly around the infirmary. “I won’t argue with you, either. We’ve been walking this knife’s-edge far too long. In the beginning, all I wanted was to find out where the Implants were coming from, and put a stop to it. I figured . . . no more Implants, no more Trackers.”
He sighed, his eyes wandering to the makeshift surgical lamps suspended from the ceiling. “Things turned out to be more complicated. It never occurred to me we’d be partnering with Hoarders, or having to deal with their alien allies.
"I didn’t set out to recruit this team, but here they are, anyway. But like I always say . . .”
“You play whatever cards you’ve been dealt.” Doc nodded, finishing for him. “Well, Colonel, I hate to admit it, but I think we’re both just delaying the inevitable. You should be on your way, and I need to clear out of here.”
She opened the door, and Enrico, leaning against the opposite wall, roused himself.
Garr stepped into the hallway and handed him the second rucksack. “Take good care of our doctor. We’ll contact you when it’s safe to return.”
Enrico shouldered the rucksack with a nod and a smile. “You have my word, Colonel. She’ll be safe with me.”
“Ha—more like the other way around.” Doc extinguished the lights in the infirmary, gazing into the darkened room for a long moment before focusing on the Colonel.
“Take care of yourself, Garr,” she said, her voice cracking. “Bring them home safely. All of them.”
Garr snapped to attention and sketched her a full salute—something he’d not done in years. No words were spoken, but Doc recognized the implied promise.
She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile and patted him on the shoulder. Then she and Enrico began their journey out of the subterranean labyrinth.