Mission Cure

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE - M:FAC/1 - Dreary

DREARY

It took quite a while for General Rhodes to come to terms with the truth. Even longer for Clare to forgive Doctor Cohen. But eventually, everything returned to normal. Or as normal as possible under the circumstances.

Each Void on the ship had their turn getting cured. Most of them couldn't even remember the things they'd done. And once they got through the stages of denial at learning about the Mission – they went back to their lives.

Except for the ones still taking up beds in medic. The kids had mostly superficial wounds, but some of the adults would never walk properly again, even after their broken bones were healed. Their rampaging had done permanent damage that no amount of hydrogen peroxide therapy could cure. And Jim was still scheduled for surgery to repair the internal injuries inflicted by his very attritional wife.

To this day, Marcia denied any involvement in harming her poor husband - but she stays at his side night and day to make sure he has everything he needs.

General Clive McBeth confirmed everything Cohen had told them, Doctor Moore conceded to thirty percent of the credit, and Richard set up a Field Trip for the kids on Ship Four while the rest of the crew cleaned up all the blood.

Dreary straightened her dress over a pair of black leggings. She dried and curled her hair. Pinned a few ringlets out of her face. Then she sprayed on her favorite perfume and thought about her mother.

Was she down there somewhere, five years later? Beth had always been a survivor. Nothing would stop her from getting what she wanted. Even as a Void, she was probably hiding somewhere with a store of food.

Cohen told them she was quarantined at the hospital after getting scratched. So, maybe she wasn't even infected!

A knock at the door drew Dreary from her hiding place. She exited to find Charlie and Jace wearing matching black and white suits. Her heart skipped at the sight of Jace all dressed up.

He tilted his head and smiled, telling her how nice she looked.

Charlie gave him a weird expression. "You guys ready?"

"Yes," Jace answered after clearing his throat and making an effort to look at anything other than Dreary.

This new facet of their relationship was starting to feel exciting – and weird and scary. Something to look forward to and be afraid of, something to talk about in a dark room where Jace wouldn't be able to see Dreary blushing. She couldn't even think of it now without turning a little pink.

Charlie took a seat on their new sofa and slipped into his only pair of nice shoes. The twins came out of their room whining about how they hated shirts with buttons.

"Why do we have to wear this?" Oren asked.

"Why can't we just wear our normal clothes?" added Oliver.

Charlie stood and ruffled the boys' hair. "We want to look nice. It's respectful."

"Our other clothes aren't re-spec-ful?" Oren asked.

"It's just for today," Dreary assured her brothers. "When we get home, you can put on your jammies and I'll let you eat cereal in bed."

Charlie's eyebrows went up. "Are you sure about that?"

They left the apartment and joined the others walking toward Ship Four. The Fleet had stayed permanently linked since the incident. No reason to separate. All the doors were left open, and the kids were loving the freedom of running back and forth. So many more hiding places! And they could go to the park anytime.