It was a long drive to New Jersey, where Decima technologies was located. Thye had set up shop in various places in New York City but those were destroyed or abandoned when Samaritian went offline. Finch was driving, Root was in the passenger seat and I was seated next to Reese.
When we arrived at the large, deserted warehouse there was a famliar white van parked behind the building. Reese used his military training to ambush vigilance. I took the front, Lionel took the left side, Root the right side and Reese would take the back. We entered on his count of three, guns raised ready to shoot. But what we found was something entirely unexpected.
It was a makeshift hospital for the wounded members of viliglance. There were no masks or guns that we could see. Collier was on a bed, hooked up to multiple IV's moaning in pain. A dark haired lady was across from him. She was hooked up to only three IV's and was awake.
"Who are you people?" She was very hoarse, probably a little dehydrated.
"I'm a doctor" I lied. Even though I made it to residency, I never actually got my license. "I'm here to help you guys out." I'm guessing the machine doesn't want us to kill them or unless we can afterwards.
"How did you know we needed help?"
"Inside source." Root beckoned me over. "Be right back." I went over to a corner where there was only her and Reese.
"The machine keeps telling me that vigilance is no longer a threat and we have to move them out of here otherwise some Decima agents will come and kill them as revenge for Greer's death."
"Where can we move them too, Root? It's not like we have a great transport vehicle."
"We can use thier van. Shaw you can drive them to St. Peter's hospital and admit them. John and I will round up the rest and move them out of the city." Root produced two yellow envelopes from a bag. "Here are thier identites. Make up a good cover story or patch them up and then send them into the hospital."
I went back over to the little makeshift hospital. For the first time, I looked over at Collier. He seemed to be in worse condition than the lady whose name I was going to have to get soon. He was in a deep sleep or maybe a coma. His blood pressure was somewhat low and his pulse rate was in the high fifties. I worried transporting him would make it worse. I turned my focus back to the dark haired lady, who had fallen asleep. A member walked by. I grabbed his arm, startling him.
"What's her name?" I demanded.
"Kelly" he said.
"What happened to her and Collier?"
"Both were shot. Collier almost died from his inital chest shot and Kelly was hit in the back." I released him from my grip and went to look at Kelly's vitals. She was doing better than Collier despite a back shot. I had to make a good cover story so the hospital wouldn't get suspicious or question anyone. I decided I could do it on the way there or call Root if I had trouble. I was confident the machine would help me out. I grabbed another member and got the keys from him. I also enlisted his help in moving Kelly and Collier to the van. It was a tough job and it got tougher when you had to do it yourself.
As soon as they were loaded into the back of the van, I went back inside to alert Root that I was leaving.
"Root" I called. "I'm leaving for the hospital. Anything else I should know?" Root spun around to face me.
"No you're good, Sameen. Have a safe trip." She smiled with that last sentence. I rolled my eyes at her. Walking back out of the van, something didn't feel right. I looked over to the car Harold was sitting in. There was a lot of blood. I rushed over only to find a lifeless Finch, killed execution style. I rushed over to the van and found both Kelly and Collier dead as well. Decima was here and they got to them and Finch. I called Root to alert her. Reese and her came rushing out of the buidling. They both took one look around before dumping the bodies of Collier and Kelly out. Reese went over to a patch of earth to dig a grave for Harold.
As he dug it, Root and I pulled him out of the car and carried Finch to his final resting place. We stood there silently for about five minutes then filled the makeshift grave. Reese marked it with some grass and off we went. There was some rustling in the bushes.
"Get down!" Reese shouted.
I hit the ground just like they taught me to do in the Marines but Root was hit with many bullets. Her lifeless body plunged to the ground ungracefully. The guilty Decima agents fled back through the woods. I looked over at Reese, he was bleeding from his one arm badly.
"You're hit" I said, pointing at it. It was news to Reese. He tore off a part of his suit jacket and I wrapped it around the wound to stop the bleeding.
"I'm going to go bury Root, you just get to the van without dying." I was pretty sure that the bullet opened up his old wound from Simmons right before Joss died. I skimped on the digging in order to get back to Reese. All of the grave making reminded me of my father's funeral.
"You were a big asset to the team" I said quietly. "Goodbye. Root." With celerity, filled the grave up with dirt and ran back to the van. Reese was sitting in the passenger side, groaning in pain.
"Don't move, that'll make the bleeding worse. I'll take you back ot my place and patch you up."
"Sounds good" Reese murmured before closing his eyes.
