The New Team

After checking on the patient with muscle atrophy, Priscilla then looked through the diagnosis she was given and wrote down notes and left it for Donald to review.

She found that the patient with atrophy was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and also Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. This affected her nerve cells and made control over voluntary muscle movement near impossible. She discovered on running a series of MRI, CT, nerve biopsy and EMG tests that she didn't just have normal muscle atrophy but she also showed signs of dementia and seizures which pointed to cerebral atrophy. Due to this, a complication had cropped up in her case given that there was a delay in bringing her to the hospital. This combined conditions made her legs to become smaller due to disuse and she would recommend exercise but then again she had to tackle the cerebral atrophy which was eating away her motor functions by the day.

She filed her report and suggestions and left it for Donald. She would've loved to stay behind and see this patient through but she had to report for duty and it was almost 1p.m.

She took off her lab coat and disposed of the latex gloves before using a disinfectant to wash her hands and then she left. She took a cab since she had left her car back at her house when she fled. She hoped that those shitheads haven't turned her house inside out or taken anything away.

She closed her eyes and massaged her temple. It was only forty minutes later that she arrived at her destination.

….

Richard had arrived at the army headquarters in the morning and was escorted by a soldier to meet the General.

He stepped into the office and the man lifted his head with a smile on his face. Richard saluted. "General Gordon, I'm here to assume duty."

"I was expecting you Colonel Brad," the General, with slightly grey hair, stood up and shook hands with Richard. "Welcome back to the army."

Richard nodded but his face showed no emotions. He felt like he was doing this all over again. The first time he was enlisted into the army, it was just like this.

"Before I introduce you to the squad, you need to do some few things while we assess your performance." The general said and led him to the training hall.

He had to undergo a series of training and tests so as to certify the extent of his recovery after all, he had been in a coma for three months without training or anything and when he finally woke up, he had been made to go through trial to ascertain the real cause of the ambush they suffered at Crotan Forest. These tests were very necessary as it would help to assess whether Richard was still fit for field work or should only be retained as a normal military staff, with his rank of Colonel of course.

Richard nodded his head and proceeded to take the tests. The tests included some shooting practice to check his reflexes and agility in handling the weapons, weight lifting to check his current fitness, regular exercises, hand to hand combat, and others. The exercise lasted for almost three hours and by the time Richard was done, he was drenched in sweat. Even in the battle field, one wouldn't fight for complete three hours nonstop! He took heavy breathes to help calm his breathing.

"Well done," General Gordon clapped when he finished the tests. "You've not lost your touch and I'm glad. You scored a total of 92 points out of 100 in the test, just a little below mine when I last took the test which was last week."

Richard rolled his eyes inwardly as he screamed in his head, 'show-off son of a bitch!'

General Gordon was the kind of General who wouldn't let the opportunity to praise himself pass by and the most annoying thing was that his boastings weren't baseless. He has achieved great feats in his military career and was still as strong like when he was in his twenties.

Richard nodded. "So what was your score?" he figured that inflating the man's ego would go a long way in gaining some favours.

He smiled. "I wasn't going to boast but since you asked. I scored 98."

"That's almost perfect, General." Richard commented. He was actually impressed that even at his age he was able to do that.

"No one's perfect, Colonel." He shook his head and gestured for him to follow him. "Now, let me introduce you to the new squad you'll be leading." They took a left turn and came to a large hall where several officers of different ranks were assembled. He did a quick head count and found thirty soldiers.

"At ease people," General Gordon said in a calm voice. "This is your new team and your new team leader, Colonel Brad."

They all saluted him dutifully and he returned the salute. He was about to go ahead and ask them a few questions when the General cut in, "We're missing the last member… oh, here she is.

"Colonel Brad, meet Dr Priscilla Harris, a member of your team."

Richard looked over and was met with that same smiling face which froze when her eyes met his. Wasn't she the lady who just left his house this morning? She was working with the military? That wasn't possible since he had never heard of her name before.

After a period of shock, she smiled and saluted. "Hello Colonel, sorry I'm late. I had to run a few errands."