Free Subject Nightingale 1: Birth and Death by Tim Cody

Phellman's nanobots in me! Am I gonna turn into a monster like him!?”
    “ No, child!” Michaela immediately answered, and hugged her close again. She cradled Nightingale's head to her chest and continued to stroke her hair in slow, soothing motions. “No, child... You will not become a monster, I promise you...”
    “ I hate to break this up,” Jonny said, picking his rifle up from behind the recently flipped desk and cocking it, “but we can't spend any more time in here.”
    Michaela nodded and looked down at Nightingale. “Are you okay?” she asked, smiling that reassuring smile.
    Nightingale looked up at her and nodded. She sniffled and wiped her eyes, and Michaela helped her stand. “I'm sorry that Theo died, Jonny,” she said once she was on her feet, and she sniffled one last time. She felt responsible. “If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have ever come here. He'd still be alive.”
    “ Oh, no...” Michaela said sympathetically, and touched the girl's shoulder.
    “ It's not your fault,” Jonny responded. “Don't ever think that it is. None of what happened to you here—none of what happens because of what happened to you here—is your fault. Theo wouldn't blame you, so don't blame yourself. Understand?”
    Nightingale nodded slowly, her eyes dropping to the floor. She stared at her feet and tried to accept Jonny's explanation. She had trouble, though.
    “Roger...” she eventually muttered.
    “ Now come on, let's go... Our best bet now is to just book it for the lobby.”
    As usual, Jonny took point. Michaela grabbed her rifle from the floor as she passed it, and cocked its hammer back. She glanced back at Nightingale and waved her forward with her head. “Stay in front of me from now on, child. You are not properly equipped to cover our flank.”
    Nightingale nodded and did as instructed. She felt a little less safe since she couldn't see Michaela, but she knew she was right behind her.

Chapter 7
Not Too Soon
 
    “ So you were a doctor at a school?” Nightingale asked Michaela quietly as they followed Jonny.
    He was leading them to the north stairwell, on the completely opposite end of floor 12. He didn't have any idea what the rotation for ECHO squads would be like on that side of the building, but he at least had an idea of what they were like on the west side. They were almost guaranteed to run into another squad if they stuck with their original plan, so he decided to roll the dice and check out the north.
    “That is a good guess,” Michaela answered, “but no... I worked at an orphanage.”
    “ Why'd you leave? You looked happy, and it seemed like the kids really liked you.”
    Michaela regarded the girl curiously at that statement, but ultimately wrote it off as just a peculiarity. “Everyone who joins ECHO has their reasons, child... Someday, I would like to return to the orphanage. There are still so many children in this place who do not have homes, or families, or anyone to look after them.”
    “Thank you,” Nightingale said. “Thank you for looking after me, Michaela.”
    “ You are welcome, little one.” She smiled and patted Nightingale's head.
    “ What about me?” Jonny chimed in. They had entered a long corridor, the door to the north stairwell at the other end. “What am I, chopped liver?”
    “ Chopped liver?” Nightingale asked, eyebrows pulling together in confusion. She glanced over her shoulder at Michaela in question.
    “ It means he feels left out. He is fishing for a compliment.” Michaela snickered.
    Nightingale smiled and looked up at Jonny. “I appreciate your help, too. Thank you. But...” she frowned and looked away, “I never got to thank Theo...”
    “Theo was never in it for the recognition,” Jonny said, his tone suddenly a bit sullen. “He's just always had a soft spot for kids...”
    “ Was he a father?” Nightingale asked, afraid that the answer might be yes .
    “ No, but he had a lot of people who looked up to him...”
    “