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(Author's Note)

Radio Contact

"Speech"

-Computer Writing/ On Screen Text-

{Inner voice}

|| * * * | | | * * * || = End Chapter

* * * = Scene Change

// // = Major Scene/Time Change

Rebirth:

The bright lights faded in and out.

Why did they do that?

I mean, sure, they were pretty and all that, but they never lasted long enough for me to find my path. It was all I could do to find where to place my paw next. Through the darkness I wandered, searching for any light.

I saw a dim light in the distance. I no longer cared about tripping, I had to get out of the damnable darkness. It slowly grew until, finally, the light overtook me.

* * *

"Doctor! He's coming to!"

Why did these damnable angles have to shout so loudly?

"What? How?" I felt something prodding my forehead, teasing my eyes to open. I reluctantly allowed them to open, seeing nothing but a white blur. I squinted against it, trying to blot out the light.

Wait. No. I refuse to head back into that infernal darkness!

With all my will, I forced myself to keep my eyes opened. "Amazing, his pupil reaction's are extraordinary."

Why in hell's name would angles care about a physical reaction like that?

Only one answer to that question.

This wasn't heaven.

I groaned, trying to bury my head in the pillow.

Despite all my desire, feeling came back to me. I could feel the soft pillow resting under my head, the space-blanket that kept my body at the perfect temperature, the hospital clothing that I wore. The force holding my eyes opened let go, and I forced them to slowly close rather than snap shut.

"Remarkable. He has regained control of his voluntary movements already!" Now I knew that this wasn't heaven, I knew that this the next step down. A hospital ship. My brows furrowed slightly in thought, and I could hear another exclamation from the doctor. There was only one hospital ship in the system.

Then the memories flooded back, and a quiet sob escaped me. The memories of the attack were unrelenting, and did not leave me. They refused to allow me peace. I could see the bodies, the blood, the ruins.

The pistol held to my head.

My eyes shot open, my forehead objecting painfully to the sudden exposure to light. I tried to sit up, a gasp escaping me, but two sets of hands pinned my arms down. I struggled for a moment before I remembered where I was. The doctor did not even have time to order a sedative or try and talk me down before I went limp in his grasp.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat was drier than a desert skull caught in the full blast of the Sahara sun. Nothing but a soft croak left me, but they got they general gist of it. The nurse left me, pouring a glass of water. When she returned, I shakily took it, spilling only a little as I brought it to my mouth.

The doctor, a white-wolf-anthro, dressed in a long lab coat and had a pair of glasses sitting on his nose, looked on in shock. "Nurse, get the data-pads. This is amazing!" I could feel him watching me. I don't know why he was, but it was starting to get weird.

I finished the water, and picked my head up to look at him. The look of wonder on his face wasn't hidden at all. "What's so damned interesting?" It was hardly a whisper, but I could've sworn that the doctor had a pleasure overload when I said that.

"Impossible!" He stood back, a look of wonder and bewilderment in his eyes. "You shouldn't be alive. Much less capable of any sort of higher reasoning!" The nurse came in at that moment, and the doctor grasped her by the shoulders. "Susan, he just spoke."

"What? It isn't enough that he's sitting by himself, but he's capable of speech?" She gave him a dismissive laugh, "Don't be absurd." She set the data-pad in the doctor's paws before walking over to me.

"He isn't lying," I managed to whisper. I silently laughed at her look of shock, and did break out a little when she started muttering inconstant thoughts. "Can I have some more water?" I held the cup up to them.

The doctor laughed as he poured me another glass of water. I downed it, now having more control of my muscle memory and voluntary movements. They both were staring at me.

It was rather annoying, really. "Why are you two still staring at me?" My voice was coming back some, and it was no longer as hoarse as it was before.

Than it hit me. I looked up at them, "Where am I?"

The doctor and nurse glanced at each other, a silent conversation going on between the two. The doctor looked at me, giving a small swallow and dampening his lips with his canine tongue. "Starbase Silver. Currently the headquarters to the Earth Federation Fleet, under the command of Admiral Richard." I looked at them questioningly, and he took the hint, "The flagship of the armada is the E.F.S. Enterprise. One of the greatest examples of military might in all the Federation."

I leaned back in the bed, processing this information. A sudden urge to sleep came over me, and I could do nothing to fight it. I fell back into the bed, passing out before the doctor or nurse had time to react.

// //

Reality passed in and out for me the next few times I woke up. I remember seeing a light as the doctor stood over me, seeming like he was yelling at someone.

"You can't take him! He is still recuperating!" He sounded frantic.

I wonder why?

Another voice, from somewhere I couldn't see spoke over the doctor. "Doctor Hadarn, I know that you think highly of all your patients, but falsifying medical documents to show that he is even alive is a new step. Even for you."

"Damn you and your bureaucratic ways!" The doctor took a step, and I could no longer see him. "I saw him with my own eyes. Look at the brain scans!" I saw his arm come back into vision, "Is that the sign of someone who's brain dead?"

Another voice, a woman this time spoke. "It's easy to read that as a false positive, doctor." She gave a small laugh, "I'm surprised that you didn't go mad earlier, in all honesty."

The doctor came back into my vision, his eyes wide. "Look here!" He shone a light into my eyes, "How is that for voluntary reaction's?" He was right, I had to blink, show them I wasn't brain dead.

The first voice spoke again, "Doctor," he spoke in a cold tone, "we are taking him." I heard him take a breath, "Think of it this way, if he lives, the credit is yours. He dies, your reputation remains intact."

The doctor only sputtered a bit, before giving a defeated sigh. "very well," he spoke in a small voice.

No, wait! I tried to open my mouth to speak, but my body was rebelling.

"He'll go into shock if you don't get him out of here soon." The doctor no longer seemed to care, as I watched him leave me in the hands of these people.

I tried to call out to him, but the darkness was coming again.

Damn you! Don't let me go back into that damned void!

But nothing worked, and the void claimed me again.

// //

I came to again. I don't know how much time had passed, but it felt like more than a couple of days.

I looked around the room as much as I could. There were computers, machines, needles, and other medical equipment. My gaze focused on one machine in particular.

Why was there an advanced cybernetic interface port here?

How do I know what that is just by looking at it?

Where the hell am I?!

{Shhhh} I heard a voice in my mind. Feminine, soft, comforting, peaceful.

Soothing.

Where am I? What the hell is going on?

{Go back to sleep. You need as much rest as you can get after what happened today.} The voice was soothing, as if this was the best choice, I just didn't know it. Who the hell are you? How in God's name are you reading my mind? {Sleep,} the voice softly commanded. I tried to fight the urge, but something told me to trust this voice. Slowly, I allowed my eyes to close.

I expected the cold black to hit me. Instead I felt a soothing warmth as the voice sang a soft melody. I'd always loved that song, but I couldn't remember why. To that quiet melody, I passed into sleep.

// //

When I awoke again, it was not with the start as it had been these last few times. It was a slow, gradual awakening. I slowly sat up in my narrow bed, looking around at what could only be described as a barracks.

I reached a hand up to my temple, rubbing it slightly. I slowly swung my legs over the side of the bed. A deep sigh left me as I rubbed the last vestiges of sleep from my eyes.

Than I hear someone call out. "Hey, he's awake." I slowly looked up, trying to find who it was that was speaking. A red fox-anthro stood there, towel around his shoulders and a pair of grey boxers on. It was obvious that he'd just taken a shower. "We were wondering if you'd survived." He walked over to one of the other beds, throwing his towel on it.

I dropped my head into my hands, elbows resting on my knees. I finally managed to work up the will to speak. "Where," I gave a small groan, "where am I?"

The fox stood up, looking over at me, having thrown on a pair of pants, but still shirtless. He gave a small chuckle before answering. "Damned if I know." He walked over to me, holding out a hand. "Name's Eclipse." I looked at him wondering where he'd gotten such a name, but I took his hand. "Birth name, parents said I was born on an eclipse, and badda-boom, I have a name." He gave me a cheesy grin.

I kinda liked this fox. He had that endearing quality to him.

"So, what's your name?" I looked at him blankly.

I couldn't remember.

He saw my confusion, and gave me a sad smile. "Ah, that happens to a large number of people. Well," he pulled a chair over, turning it around so the back was facing me and sat down on it. He leaned over it, arms crossed, "what's the last thing you remember?"

I struggle to remember the discordant thoughts. I shake my head slowly as I answer him, "A hospital ship, I think." My head drops down again, "I don't know. It's all mashed together."

"Hey," I look up at him, and gives me a comforting smile, "it happened to all of us. First week is the worst."

"Wait, what happened to me?" I'm starting to grow nervous at what might have happened while I was out, "And what do you mean by 'all of us'?"

The fox smiles at me again, and reaches a red paw over to pat me on the shoulder. "Said to much already. Come on, get up," he stood up suddenly, and picked me up by the shoulders. I gave a small yell at the sudden feeling of dizziness that came over me, but the fox just laughed at me. "Come on."

He pushed-slash-carried me over to where he had come out of. "I'll show you how to work the shower." All protests I had died in my throat at the thought of a warm shower. He gave another laugh at the look I had on my face as he opened the door.

The shower was a simple metal-clad room. It was strangely warm though, and I didn't mind the fact that I had nothing on my feet. Eclipse pointed towards the far side of the bathroom. There were three stalls, separated from the general washroom by simple curtains, but shoulder high walls separating each shower from the other.

I noticed a door past the stalls, and saw that the entry we had used was the same way. The fox followed my gaze and gave another laugh, slapping me on my back. "That's the girl's dorm. They'll rip you to she-reds if you go in there."

I swallowed nervously, turning my gaze from the doorway. Eclipse had opened one of the showers, and was waiting for me to turn to him. He gave a nod, and handed me a towel. "Shower is self explanatory. Red is hot, blue is cold, move 'em until you get the temp you want." I stepped into the stall, and he gave a nod. "Take as long as you need, change of cloths over there."

I gave a small nod, and closed the curtain. Hitting the buttons, I changed the temperature until a luke-warm flow was washing over me.

Surprising how little showers have changed over the last century-and-a-half.

I finished up the shower, the automatic shower stopping the flow of water when I opened the curtain. I wrapped my towel around my waist, and headed over towards the cabinet that had the clothes.

I found a simple pair of long grey pants and an equally simple long-sleeved grey shirt. Slipping them both on, I took a look into the mirror that sat above the sinks.

What I see looking back at me is not the same one that I last saw. I took three shaky steps towards the mirror, my hands reaching out to touch the reflective surface. My grey wolf-anthro fur is marred by scars. Cybernetic implants show through the surface of my skin, their metallic-gray contrasting ever so slightly against the fur.

My hands reach up to touch my face, my head shaking in denial. When I feel the metal, I let out a gasp, and stumbled back from the mirror. I took several deep breaths, trying to figure out what in hell's name had happened.

Allright, so this procedure would explain why I can't remember anything. But this is only allowed if the person is near imminent death, or have given express permission. Even if they do give permission, which I know I didn't, the cost of it was astronomical.

Then my eyes rolled to the back of my head. Falling, my head smacks against the tile floor.

The last thing I see before the void claims me again is my blood running out of my nose, and a shadowy figure knelling over me.

// //

I woke up again, sometime later. The first thing I felt was a burning sensation running over my face, making me cry out as my hands shot up. Rolling over on my bed, I felt someone grab me so I didn't fall off.

That would have freaking hurt.

The hands rolled me onto my back again, and I slowly regained control of my senses. Looking up at the figure, I see a brown wolf-anthro standing over me, a pleasant smile on her muzzle. "Good morning," she was entirely to cheerful about the whole thing, and I just groaned in response. "Oh, is someone being grumpy."

She lightly pat my chest, hitting a particularly ticklish spot. I couldn't help but give a small laugh, despite the pain. When she saw the smile I was trying to hide, she gave a pleased growl. "Now that's what I want to see. You weren't supposed to wake up for another two hours." She stood up and walked around my bed, my gaze following her but trying not to fix on her swaying tail.

She came back around, looking at a couple of monitors, and nodded at something she saw. "Well, it doesn't look like the fall hurt anything," she pressed the touch-panel, "and the early awaking seems to have pushed everything forward a couple of hours." She looked at me, giving another grin. "Looks like you'll be an excellent example of the DG program."

That made me sit up quickly. In a disbelieving tone, "The DG program? I thought that was just a myth."

She gave a cheery shake of her head. "Nope, it's real." She pressed the screen a few more times, and looked at me. "And you are going to be one of the best if your prelim tests are anything to go by." She looked down at the data-pad she had in her hands, flicking through the 'pages,' "and your record is exemplary. I'm sure the Colonel will be more than glad to have you as a member of his squad."

"Now," she reached over and picked up a small needle, "you are supposed to asleep for the next two hours, and I don't want miss high-and-mighty ridding my ass about keeping you guys up." With that she pressed it into my arm, and it gave a small hiss as it released the sedative into my blood. I hardly had time to protest before I slumped back into the bed.

Damn it, why can't I be allowed to stay awake for any length of time? That was my last thought before I once again was taken by the darkness.

* * *

I awoke with a groan, a splitting headache making me squeeze my eyes shut. I heard a couple of voices talking in hushed tones, so much so that I couldn't understand them. They must of heard my groan though, cause the talking stopped.

"Hey, you awake?" Great, that same doctor that'd knocked me out.

"yeah," I whispered, my throat parched.

"Here, this might help." All of the sudden, I felt a sharp jab on my arm, making me give a small yelp.

But the pain went away. Now I could open my eyes, although I did so cautiously. There in front of me was, without a doubt, the same brown wolf doctor. She still had that overenthusiastic smile on her face as she bounced lightly on her heels.

There was someone standing next to her though. Something that could only be described as a deer stood there, his antlers shaved down in a military fashion. The rank on his shoulder indicated that he was a Colonel. He had his hands folded behind his back as he stood there, observing me.

Instinct took over, and I did my best to salute him from my laying position. "Sir!"

He gave an amused snort. "At ease," I let my hand fall, but I still tried to stand up. I managed to swing my legs over the edge of the bed. He gave a nod to himself, before he started speaking. "I am Colonel John Mason, and you are now a member of the DG program. You were selected for this, because of your actions during the invasion of the Solair System." He pulled out a data-pad from a pouch on his waist, "Out of a dozen men in your unit, you were the only survivor. You temporarily came under the command of a Captain Ter, under whom's command you killed over a dozen Cri'gail." He flicked to the next screen on the data-pad. "It wasn't until a shot to the head that you were put out of action." He paused, reading the information on the screen, "Despite all odds, which said that you should be not only brain dead, but actually dead, you came back to life on Starbase Silver." He flicked to another screen, "You were than transferred here, and given advanced cybernetic implants. All of which your body has fully accepted."

He stopped, looking down at me. "Now, I'm sure you have some questions for me." His hands slipped behind him, and he stood before me.

My mind reeled with the information he had given me. I took several shaky breaths as I thought of what to ask him. "Where am I?" Lame question, but the only one that came to mind at that moment.

"Classified," he stood there, hands still clasped behind his back, "only the two pilots and myself know the planet. Although," he gave a small sigh, "the system is not classified." At my look, he gave a small chuckle, "Soustra quadrant, Dugar system."

I nodded. I knew the system. Highly dangerous, what with its binary stars and large astroid belt.

Taking another breath, "What did you mean by 'advanced cybernetic implants.' That suggests I already had something in me."

I saw a tiny twitch in his left eye. Guess he hadn't expected that question. He inhaled through his nose before he answered, "Classified." He held up a hand to stop me, "Even to me. Once I get more information, you'll be amongst the first to know."

"Allright, let's find something that's not classified." The colonel gave a wry grin at that. "Why can't I remember anything before....that invasion?"

That made the colonel start. "What? Nothing?" At my negative shake, his brows furrowed deeply. "Short term amnesia is expected, but....." he trailed off. "Blight."

"Yo," the brown-wolf doctor said, looking up from her monitor. "What 'ch ya need?"

The deer-anthro colonel turned to her. "What are the effects of the procedure?"

She shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her. "Which one?"

The colonel sighed, "Which ones would cause long-term amnesia?"

"hmm," the doctor, Blight, breathed out leaning back in her chair.

I wonder where she got such a name?

My attention drew back to her when she spoke, "He is a first for two separate procedures, plus he took a shot to the head." She crossed her arms behind her head, still leaning back, and looked at the ceiling. "Than he died twice on the way here. We almost lost him that second time."

"Two?" The colonel seemed surprised. "I thought he only had the regular implants?"

"You sure 'bout that?" At the colonel's nod, she gave a sharp "huh." She looked back at the screen in front of her, typing something into the holo-keyboard in front of her. "Nope, look here." She turned the monitor so the colonel could see. "Says here it was authorized," she shrugged her shoulders, "thought it was 'cause he was basically dead."

The deer pointed to the screen. "What's this?"

The wolf looked at it casually. Than she took a second look, "What the hell?" She clacked away at the keyboard furiously. "Who the hell would...." her eyes went wide, "there's no fucking way!" She suddenly gave a furious laugh. "Whoever this son-of-a-bitch is, he has some sweet implants. Look at this," she pointed to something.

Screw it. I'm going over there. {The hell you are} What the he..? {Shut up and stay sitting.} I couldn't move my legs, though I still had control of my arms. Let me go damn you! {Oh shut it!} Deciding it was best to obey the voice, I sat still and listened to the doctor and colonel talking.

"Where did he get that?" The colonel seemed shocked. "And why didn't we see it before?"

The wolf shook her head, a broad smile on her muzzle. "Not a damn clue where he got it, but it had a mini-cloak on it. Hid it from scans by using his own bio-electrical energy. That's freaking brilliant!" She sure sounded impressed.

The colonel didn't seem so enthused. "Is it a problem? And could there be more?"

"No and no." The wolf was only half-listening to the deer though. "If anything..." her eyes flicked over the monitor, "they seem to be enhancing ours." her eyes paused, and she pressed the monitor to bring up a particular point. "This one though, I'm not so sure about. 'least not without opening his head up again."

The colonel looked back at me, and gave a small huff. "Looks like you're more important than I knew." He walked over to me, holding out a hand. "Welcome to the Draken-Guard program."

I looked at it, my eyes flirting over him. "Thank you sir," and I took his hand. "Although you still didn't answer my question."

he chuckled at me. "No doubt we'll find out soon enough. Now," he turned around, making his way to the door. "Blight here'll give you a finial check-up, than find me in the armory."

I heard Blight chuckle. "Eager to test out those new implants, eh?" The deer chuckled, walking out the sliding double doors that led to the med-bay. "Don't worry, he'll be right behind you."

Amazing how a simple handshake could change somebody's demeanor so much. {His kind value respect. Respect him, and he'll respect you.} Great. I didn't mind the voice, she sounded soft and caring, but it was damned annoying that she could hear my every thought. {How do you think I feel} I could just see a girl sticking her tongue out at me when she said that. {Boys} Now I could see her roll her eyes.

"Now," my attention was brought back to the doctor. "Say 'ahh'." I did so, and she flashed a light inside of my muzzle. "'kay, now anything hurt? Feel out of place? Unusual?"

Should I tell her? {No reason to at the moment.} Of course you'd say that. {If you're crazy, others will notice soon enough.}

All I did was shake my head. "Nope, everything feels great." I tried an enthusiastic smile.

She laughed, clapping me on the back. Damn, she managed to jar my teeth a little there. "Well that's good." She leaned up, typing some notes into her data-pad. Turning around, giving me a good view of her tail, she sashayed back to her desk. Pointing to the door, "Armory's down to the left, than just follow the signs."

I managed to stand up off the bed. Taking a deep breath, I started towards the door. As they quietly hissed open, I looked over my shoulder. "Thanks," and I gave a two-finger salute. She laughed and waved her hands at me, telling me to get going.

I turned back to the hallway, and took some of my first steps as a member of the DG program.

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Yeah, yeah. I know. It was slow. This was here, mostly, to set the stage for later chapters.

So, yeah. Thanks for reading, and leave a comment and vote.

This stroy line is mine. Soley. If you want to use this galaxy, pop a PM my way.