Fallen Comrades

Jiro monitored the quarantine zone perimeter anxiously as Lieutenant Zuri’s bio-rhythms spiked erratically again on nearby display panels.

....The rest of his weary team rested fitfully after brutal skirmishes securing this abandoned suburban neighbourhood against encroaching Ravager swarms.

Doctor Trevell finished administrating accelerant doses to Zuri’s ravaged body desperately trying to reverse the gruesome mutative effects of a surprise Spiker ambush that ended with

Zuri taking a poisoned barb meant for another squad member.

Jiro swallowed rage and frustration seeing the kindly officer who served by his side for countless battles now twisting in agony against Protean’s parasitic invasion.

The field triage tent isolation could buy a handful more hours at best before liquifying internal structures turned Zuri into another mindless minion slave.

Jiro blinked back tears observing the decorated veteran who followed him since boot camp now reduced to a tragic victim of wars they seemed destined to lose no matter the sacrifices endured.

He swore vengeance against the unholy plague claiming so many good souls.

Emergency transmission summons crackled from Jiro’s wrist console - Captain Venkman was rotating in fresh Omega Squads distributing replacement personnel while pulling endangered crews off this infested grid.

Levins would assume temporary field command on-site once Jiro’s team departed to Venus Beach for immediate R&R.

Jiro dispatched evacuation confirmations and then waved over Doctor Trevell.

.....Communicating sympathetically, Jiro promised they would make Zuri’s transfer back to base as comfortable as possible though ugly fates likely awaited given few treatments reversed Spiker neuro-toxins once anchored.

....Stoically professional,

Trevell concurred nothing clinically on hand here could cleanse the parasitic infestation rapidly rewriting Zuri’s genetic codes.

Morphine to ease the transition was the lone mercy left.

Gently squeezing Zuri’s hand in grim farewell, Jiro simply said

“I’ll be back for you soon old friend...”

The outbound transports were eerily silent as each member battled private demons from horrors witnessed daily.

Minutes stretched like hours on the short hop back behind fortified perimeter walls surrounding humanity’s last sanctuaries near Clarke County.

.....Jiro wondered bleakly during which hopeless siege or storm-tossed patrol would fate’s icy scythe harvest his soul into the abyss.

....Perhaps Zuri already passed into whatever dreams may come when living nightmares like Protean finished gorging on flesh and fear.

Touching down at Beach Command confirmed survivors carried lifetimes etched on their haggard faces.

.....Children once filled these makeshift barrack camps when the refugee crisis swelled after initial struggles containing outbreak zones failed city by city.

......Now grey-haired legionnaires or grim-faced recruits too young to remember a pre-war world manned watchtowers guarding mankind’s last stand redoubts.

.....Jiro sighed resigning himself to cursory biological scans before his next brief respite commenced - unlikely to ever know untroubled shores again amidst death's rising tides.

Clearing intake processing, Jiro was surprised to get summoned to Captain Venkman’s strategic office alongside Major Barrek.

....Perhaps complications arose getting Zuri transferred safely back behind fortified veil protections in time.

Saluting wearily, Jiro inhaled sharply noticing the dozen occupied stasis capsules lining office walls with distinctive biohazard warnings and cryostasis frost sinuously drifting across reinforced observation glass.

......Dread clutched his stomach realizing each held contagion casualties claimed from his frontline roster or other battalions.

The frozen faces of changing comrades accused Jiro silently from behind leaking ice prisons.

Barrek approached almost apologetically confirming Jiro’s fears

- Zuri died en route back to Beach safe zones.

However given the unprecedented Spiker neuro-parasite involved, BAR-DOC specialists insisted her remains get interred immediately into Onyx Program cryo-vaults for further study, joining other deceased Protean casualty specimens.

Barrek tried softening revelations admitting he approved personally fast-tracking Zuri’s case.

Jiro shuddered remembering swarm shootouts driving enemies towards waiting for Onyx traps outfitted with organic material harvesters and cryo-safes to secure bulking infection resources.

for R&D extermination breakthroughs, no matter the cost for individual pawns on this chessboard battlefield stretching towards infinity.

Venkman cleared her throat drawing their solemn focus.

..With empathy tempering usual taciturn commands, Venkman addressed Jiro “We cannot alter what freedoms harsh fates remove Corporal.

..But how the living honor such losses defines humanity’s last war worth winning”.

...Gesturing to a viewport overlooking makeshift church grounds and tired armed parishioners clinging to their various faiths against the end of days,

Venkman concluded “Say your goodbyes for now if needed soldier...then we must continue working miracles in Zuri’s memory defeating the irredeemable”.

Jiro walked slowly towards the humble sanctuary carrying survivor burdens to lay at whatever altars proved willing.

Glancing back beyond barricaded borders where nightmares raged on, Jiro sighed wishing gods and devils heed grieving cries from this orphaned army losing household hopes to history’s tragedies.

Feeling Zuri’s gentle spirit alongside unjust fates stealing tomorrow's owed, Jiro let tears flow at last mourning dreams falling comrade by a comrade.