Episode LVIII

Luke's ears woke up before the rest of him. As he lay there subconsciously, he heard a quiet whirring that he couldn't quite place. it sounds familiar; where have I heard that before?

As he became more conscious, he began to analyze the sound, noticing that it would drop in pitch quickly for a short period of time, then return to its original pitch.

Next he tried to recall where he was. His mind distractedly searched his clouded memory: the hospital... The man with the mustache, he had drugged me... Kidnapped me! Luke tried to shout, to scream for help, but his lips refused to move, still under the power of the anesthetic.

Luke calmed himself. What next... what happened next... the vehicle... the struggle... the vast deserted wasteland... What did they call it...? The sand pit... what did that mean?

He felt a tingling in his leg as he heard the whirring drop in pitch again. Good, I'm starting to get sensation back, means I should be able to...

Luke froze as he began to recognize the sound: A drill! It sounded like a giant dentist's drill! What the...? The teen struggled in confusion and disgust. Struggling against the drugs, he forced open his eyes only to wish he hadn't. There before him was the mustached man, wearing a white lab coat which was now splattered with red. Luke gurgled in horror as he realized the sound was not a drill, but a small saw: the red on the coat... that's blood! That's... my...

Luke tried to scream with all his might, but all he heard was a small gurgle, which was barely recognizable as coming from his own throat. The doctor's masked face looked up in shock as he realized his patient was now awake. He reached for a syringe, but the teen was unconscious before the drugs hit his system.

Luke awoke gradually to flashing lights, smoke, and alarms. What's going on?? As he regained motor control, Luke turned his head about, searching for some clue, some sign that would magically inform him of where he was and what was happening: a post-op room, filled with several pieces of large equipment some of which were attached to smaller medical tools, and none of which he recognized... a fire alarm, flashing... a fire?!

Luke sat up completely, feeling the last bit of anesthetic retreat before a wave of adrenaline. Preparing to jump out of the bed, Luke yanked the blanket off of his legs, uncovering a very unexpected sight: his legs, the broken and unbroken were in large cast-like braces from the hip down, with a single joint for his knees: "What the...?" Even though he'd regained feeling to every other part of his body several minutes ago, his legs were still basically sensationless, except for a numb pain in front along the shins, and in back along the calf.

Luke gingerly swung his legs until they toppled off the edge of the bed, reluctantly responding to his commands. Gradually, he lowered himself off the bed, holding onto it carefully for balance and support. Well, I can stand, that's a comfort at least. He glanced down at the casts on his legs no wonder, my legs could be jello and I'd still be able to stand, with as big as these things are.

Luke tried to take a step forward, but, forgetting that his weak legs had to lift the weight of the cast as well as himself, he stumbled forward, tripping over his weighty foot. The teen fell to his knees, feeling a surprising shock of pain shoot up from his legs on the impact: Well, at least I know they're still there...

Pulling on the bed, Luke forcefully lifted himself to his feet, and was about to try again when he saw a figure in the doorway a few feet away. Not again, I'm getting sick of being drugged! Luke reached for a sharp instrument lying nearby, still unsure of what it was he was grabbing, but determined to defend himself. But before he could even touch his sole defense, his hand was clasped in a grip that made his fingers go limp with pain. He trembled with absolute dread, waiting for the familiar needle, but was surprised instead to hear a quiet voice behind him: "You won't be needing that..." It was a woman's voice, no, a girl's voice.

Luke twisted his torso and glanced over his shoulder to look into the face of a teenage girl, not much younger than himself, but with an expression that was far more mature than himself. Luke breathed in relief as she released his hand and smiled, this time clasping his hand in a handshake.

"The name's Sarah!"

"Luke..." he stumbled.

Suddenly the smile disappeared from her face, and was again replaced by that look of painful knowledge. "We gotta go, no telling how long before they get up here..."

She turned and began to walk out, as if she assumed Luke was right behind her. Luke hobbled around to face the door, "Wait!"

Sarah spun, staring at him in disbelief, "What is it?!"

Luke stammered, surprised at the impatient tone, "I uh, I..." gesturing to his legs, "I can't really walk all that well..."

The girl nodded her head knowingly and returned to his side. Though she was probably younger than him, he noticed that she was at least a half an inch taller than him. Reaching under his arms she began to stabilize him, reminding him of those war films where wounded soldiers were aided off the battlefield. "Now walk!" Though firm, the command seemed reassuring and empowering.

Luke took a step forward, again tripping over his bulky cast. This time, however, the girl kept him from falling, catching his weight so completely he wondered at how she could do it. Luke took another step, this time much slower, balancing his weight toward the girl as he lifted his heavy boot... "Bend the knee!" Luke bent his knee and found it much easier to get his leg off the ground, not at all like he would expect with a normal cast. Stepping forward his successfully placed his foot, and transferred his weight to begin again.

They continued slowly like this, slightly increasing their pace as Luke began to get the hang of it, and as Sarah's impatience began to show through. Luke glanced at her: this was not a normal impatience as she tried to convey... this was a fearful impatience, like a person seeing their only chance for survival slip away... Or more of, limp away...

Luke stumbled again, this time Sarah lifted his frame and kicked his foot into position, "Pay attention!"

As they worked their way into the hall, Luke wanted to look around, but instead committed himself to his feet. Sarah guided him down the hall, oblivious of the smoke and noise, obviously intent upon her goal. Suddenly she stopped him. "What is it?" He shouted, trying to be heard above the din of the alarms.

"Quiet!" She hissed, glancing about in frustration. Suddenly she swung him sideways, setting him harshly against the wall.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"I said quiet!" Looking down at him she reached into her ill-fitting jumpsuit and pulled out two small pistols. This was the first time he noticed what she was wearing: a blue-black jumpsuit that looked about two sizes two big, with a yellow 'GL' embroidered on the right shoulder.

Realizing that he himself was wearing only a hospital gown, Luke quickly positioned himself into as modest a seating position as possible, given his bulky casts.

"Here!" Luke looked up just in time to see one of the small pistols land in his lap. Luke quickly grabbed the gun in wonder, realizing that it was not a pistol as he expected, but rather a tranquilizer gun. "Where'd you get this," he hissed in wonder.

"The same place I got the jumpsuit..." Luke looked up just in time to see her disappear into the mist, pulling something else out of her costume.


That's funny... Luke took a deep breath to confirm his suspicion: this isn't smoke... it's steam of some sort, like a smoke machine would make!

Suddenly, Luke heard the ding of an elevator, and strained to see what he hoped was his escape route. So that's where she was go... Luke heard shouts of confusion accompanied by the sound of bodies striking the ground and the blue flick of a taser.

Luke glanced around, looking for something he could use to lift himself off the ground. That was when he noticed it: tucked into the side of his left cast was a small syringe. Grabbing the container, he noticed that it was filled with a green liquid, something that was in no way biological, and likely not even medicinal. Luke thought back to when he first awoke: I don't remember seeing it when I looked at my casts...; the failed walking attempt... the figure in the door... the painful grip on the wrist...

There... that must be it... she must have slipped it into my cast when I was distracted about my hand...

Luke examined the gun: five shots, should be enough... for what?... for them?... for her?...