Ground Zero: Prequel to Numbered Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

watery smile. But she was clearly
being dismissed. She was still only a Trainee, and Marnee's care was going to
go to real Med Workers now. Once again, the doctor took pity on her.
    “Listen, go grab some coffee from the staff room, tend
to your patients, and I'll come find you as soon as we know anything at all,
alright?”
    She nodded, grateful. He didn't have to tell her
anything. In fact, given that she wasn't family he wasn't supposed to tell her
anything. He squeezed her shoulder again, then went
back into the room. Aurelia watched the door close, and only then did she let
the tears come.

 
    It was her Trainer that came to tell her in the end.
There was nothing that could be done. Marnee was asking to see her. Aurelia was
offered a sedative patch, but refused. She wanted to be clear headed. She
wanted to feel this, although all she felt right now was empty. Opening the
door, she saw Marnee propped up on pillows. She'd obviously been given a pain
shot, because she looked comfortable. And suddenly, Aurelia didn't know what to
say. She had no words. She went to the bed, and took Marnee's hand.
    “I want you to do it.”
    Marnee's voice was weak, but her words were clear.
Both knew what she was talking about.
    “Marnee...”
    The young girl shook her head.
    “I'm a Med Worker. You taught me well, Aurelia. I know
what's going on. And I need you. I need it to be you. Please.”
    Aurelia bit her lip and closed her eyes. She couldn't
do this. How could she inject her best friend? How could she take the life of
someone she loved? Stroking Marnee's hair, she saw that the girl's eyes were
beginning to close. Her sedative was taking effect.
    “Just promise me that you'll think about it?” Marnee said, her voice fading as she began to drift into a drugged
sleep.
    “I promise,” said Aurelia. It was the least she could
do.

 
    ***

 
    The auditorium was packed with people. Even the
parents who distanced themselves from their offspring were there. This was the
final event. After this, all children would be officially Workers. Parents
would no longer have any authority, and nor would they have any special
treatment or rations. But, of course, they would no longer have any
responsibility either. The echoing chamber was filled with chatter, and Aurelia
threaded through the crowd, her mother and father in tow, looking for some
place where they could all sit together.
    “Here!” shouted her father.
    He'd found three seats, all in a row, and was
carefully guarding them. Aurelia smiled at him, as she and her mother joined
him. It wouldn't be long now. The lights were already starting to dim, they
were right on time. Settling into her seat, she found that both her mother and
her father reached for her hand. Laughing quietly, she took a hand of each of
them, and squeezed tight as the Director of the Medical Institute walked across
the stage to begin the ceremony.

 
    ***

 
    She had the night to think about it. That, her Trainer
had explained, was the best that they could do. And it was only being done
because Marnee was a Med Worker Trainee. For anyone else, the job would already
have been done.
    As always, Aurelia's father was working when she got
home, a halo of gold light from his desk lamp surrounding him. She dissolved as
soon as she saw him, the sobs wrenching and hiccuping so that she could barely explain what had happened. It was a long time before
she could speak. And then she felt that she had been drained completely of
emotion.
    “And what will you do?” he asked.
    Aurelia shook her head. “I don't know. I don't think I
can do this.”
    Her father nodded. “I understand.” He shifted on the
couch, so that he was facing her. “But I cannot begin to understand how you
must be feeling. I know you love her. And this last request is a terrible and
beautiful thing.”
    “Dad... I...” She paused to regain control. “I know it
will happen anyway. I know I can't prevent it. I can't prevent her from going.
But I