The Soldier

Recuperation

I woke up feeling like shit and with a weird sensation in my arm.

I hear muffled voices and smell a scented candle nearby. I heard the moans and groans of pain next to me. Everything was white and there was a faint beeping noise near where I was laying.

"...Where..?" I started but was quickly interrupted.

"Mister Joshua. I'm happy to see that you're awake." She said. She held a metal clipboard and tapped on her pen when she was done writing.

"Am I..?" I start

"You're back at base. After your first scout mission you took a lot in so little time. Very unlucky of this to happen to one of the new recruits." She interrupted....again...

"I appreciate the honesty doctor." I pull up my left arm and feel a sharp sting in my shoulder and when I touched my faces I felt metal.

"Owww!! What the hell?!?" I look at my arm and see a robotic replacement. I look down at my legs and see bandages and blood soaked sheets on the floor in the corner.

"WHAT IN THE FUCK!!!!" I panic

"Mister you need to calm down. You don't want any stress or tension on you or your limbs yet." She held my only normal arm down.

"What...what day is it?" I am slowly breathing and feeling my heart go down into my feet.

"...It's been four days since your deployment when you first got here..."

"Can...can you explain to me...what the hell happened?"

She looks at the blood soaked sheets in the corner and then back at me.

"You were recovered by squad 12, they called in to get you back here as fast as they could. When you were on your way here...you were in very bad shape. You had shrapnel wounds to your legs and body, your left arm was...in peices there was no way of saving it. Your helmet protected your face and neck so there is no damage there."

"So I came in pieces and you put me back together is that it?" I was scared and nervous I don't know how to handle all of this.

"We put in a plug at the base of your spine so you can walk again and we replaced your arm with the best and strongest material the military could provide." She wrote something on her clipboard and then look at the monitors.

I looked over to my new appendage and tried to move my fingers. I felt a slight tug in my shoulder and then a slight snap before it moved the way I wanted it to.

"There's the connection to your shoulder and we basically hooked it up like your old arm. We have yet to make it look like an arm but it works all the same."

It felt odd at first but the more I moved it the more it felt like an arm. They definitely have a nice setup here with all of this while the rest of the world is left in ruin.

"When will I be able to receive orders?" I ask

"We want to make absolutely sure that you are prepared in the state you're in. Today we're gonna see if your walking is normal and cognitive functions normal. We'll do reflex tests and see if you're able to get back into the field. It'll take some time." She said

"...Thank you doctor.."

"We'll see how well you can walk later on this evening. First you need to rest up. If you need anything just let any of the doctors here know ok?"

"Yes I will."

"Alright. Take care big guy!" She left the room and as she was leaving a man scooted by her and into the room.

"Rough first day eh rookie?" He sat down in the chair next to me

"Yeah...kinnda was. Who might you be?" I ask. He was older and I already knew he was in a way higher rank. He walked in with authority and a bit of conviction.

"I was the commanding officer that assigned you to that mission."

He laughs.

"You're a very lucky man!" He shakes my right hand

"Why's that sir?" I ask

"Because you came in here bloody and broken and even then you were fighting for life. Even when your heart stopped."

I felt my face go cold.

"M-my heart stopped!?!!" I panic again

"They didn't tell you? Hm well at least you're here with us now. Usually most people would never survive what you went through soldier."

"What about the rest of the team?"

"Brian recovered two days ago and is still being monitored. Ellis got that Marcus fella back to his settlement and is standing by for further orders. Zoe went missing yesterday but we recovered her just today she is in the sleeping pods."

"What about my friend Nathan?" I ask

"Ah yes he was asking about your condition yesterday over a video log. Before he was assigned to the space station he was in here with you for a couple of days." He said as he took off his hat.

I rub my face and follow the bridge of my nose and parts of my forehead. This is a lot to handle all at one point.

"Whats your name son?" He asked

"Joshua but most just call me Josh." I outstretched my normal hand for him to shake. He took it and shook.

"Senior officer Henning. Well I'll let you rest up for tonight." He patted my hand and went out the door.

When he opened the door I heard phones ringing and the pained sounds of dying men and women...yeah totally gonna sleep in this place.

Later on that evening

Brian came in with Ellis to see how I was. In my own time I was getting to know my new arm better.

A few doctors came in a few hours ago and put some sorta adhesive that looked and felt like human skin. They gave me my arm back!

"Josh! You think you can walk yet?" Ellis asks

"We'll have to find out soon enough. I cant do anything right now unless the doctors recommend it."

"Well everyone here is glad you're ok." Brian smiled

"What happened with Zoe? I heard she disappeared." I ask

"After those militia guys got you outta the picture it was up to Zoe and I. She jumped out and got a hold of a gun and fought back. They retreated and squad 12 came along and called you in. Zoe kinnda lost herself in what happened and just ran off. I really have no idea why but she's been in the sleeping pods all day yesterday and now all day today." Ellis told. She seemed very touchy about the subject

"We survived our first mission! How about that!" Brian said excitedly

Then a doctor came in with his clipboard and pen.

"Mister Joshua are you ready to walk?" He asked

"No promises." I say

I grab onto the bed railing for support and get up straight. I move my toes to get feeling back into my legs. I push up from the bed and with weak legs I stand up as straight as I can.

"I see you're not collapsing so thats a start. Can you walk towards me?" He takes a few steps back

I start with my right foot and once there was weight on it I stumbled.

"He'll need physical activity and therapy for that for a few days he has been out for four days now. Its a good start for now."

Brian helps me get back up and sits me down at the end of the bed.

"You two better be good and help him out." He clicks his pen and writes something down

"We will doc." Brian said

I pulled myself into bed and relaxed and took a sigh of relief. Then soon after I fell asleep.