Ground Zero: Prequel to Numbered Series Read Online Free PDF

determined that this patient would have the best care she could
possibly provide. It was a scream that caught Aurelia's attention, a horrific,
stomach churning yell that resounded down the corridors of the hospital wing.
Running as fast as she could, feet slapping on the smooth floors of the
hallway, Aurelia was there seconds after the event.
    It was all so simple, so stupid, so awful. A wet floor. A Med A Worker who had taken a second to call a Hospitality Worker from the com at the
end of the hall to come and clean up. A rushing Trainee, tired from night duty,
sleepy eyes unobservant. And a slip. As simple as that. Aurelia saw immediately what had
happened, and almost didn't get close enough to find out any more. The Trainee
would be fine, there were others there, it was only a
slip. But something prodded her, and she approached the small circle of people.
    Marnee lay, twisted, her face white. There was no
blood, which somehow made everything seem okay. Aurelia pushed a Med Worker
aside, and crouched next to Marnee. Quickly she took a pulse, pulled down
Marnee's eyelids. The girl was out of it. Shaking her head Aurelia looked up to
see the Med Worker she'd pushed.
    “She must have hit her head when she fell,” she said.
No big deal. It happened. “Let's get her to a bed, we can scan her there.”
    The Med Worker nodded, and called for two Trainees to
stretcher the patient. Aurelia got up, her knees aching from squatting. Only Marnee. She could be so clumsy sometimes. And they had
their final patients to attend to. Aurelia hoped that this bang on the head
wasn't going to put Marnee out of action for too long. Probably
not though. A scan, some pain meds, a night of observed sleep and she'd
be fine. But something was sitting uncomfortably with Aurelia, something
nagging her. She shook the feeling off, and followed Marnee's stretcher into
one of the private rooms.
    Laid on the bed, Marnee looked small. She was
delicate, always had been. The Med Worker went off to arrange the scans, and
Aurelia keyed in her ID number to grab a revival shot from a cupboard. The shot
worked straight away, and Marnee's eyes blinked open to see a grinning Aurelia.
    “Idiot,” Aurelia said, fondly. “You really need to
watch where you're going.”
    Marnee tried to smile, but grimaced in pain instead.
    “Yeah, it's gonna hurt,” said Aurelia. “But you're
gonna be fine. Vitals look good.”
    Marnee moved her head a little in what was probably a
nod.
    “We're gonna do a scan, a couple more tests and you'll
be good to go. Okay?”
    “Mm-hmm,” said Marnee.
    Aurelia checked her pupils again, which seemed equal,
responsive to light and generally perfectly healthy.
    “Move your fingers for me,” she ordered.
    Marnee wriggled her fingers on the sheet, and Aurelia
nodded.
    “And toes.”
    Nothing. Aurelia sighed.
    “Come on Marn , wiggle your
toes.”
    “I am,” Marnee said, her
voice cracked and hoarse.
    Aurelia swallowed. Marnee's feet were perfectly still.
There was no movement at all. Quickly she decided to say nothing.
    “Very good,” she said, as though Marnee had done
exactly as she was ordered. “Now tell me the date today.”
    When the Med Worker came back, Aurelia grinned at
Marnee, grabbed the Worker and pulled him outside, sliding the door closed
behind them so they wouldn't be heard.
    “She can't move her toes. I've done pressure tests,
without telling her, there seems to be no sensation at all below the waist.”
    She was almost panicking, but knew that as a doctor
she couldn't. The Med Worker nodded, but read her concern.
    “It's probably nothing,” he assured her. “Could be any number of things. Let me run the scans
through, and we'll see what's what. I'll get an orthoped down to check her too.” He laid a hand on Aurelia's shoulder. “Don't worry, I can see she's your friend. But she's one of our own, she'll get the best care in the world here and be back
treating patients before you know it.”
    Aurelia gave him a