Free Subject Nightingale 1: Birth and Death by Tim Cody Page B

corner, keeping one eye on the other squad once the bullet stream subsided. “Thinking about someone else, that is.”
    Tommy was silent for a moment, and then said, “Saving this girl isn't going to make up for the ones you couldn't save.”
    “Like I said—too smart for your own good.”
    Jonny and Michaela pivoted around the corner again, but Nightingale gasped and grabbed Michaela to get her attention.
    “Michaela!” she shouted when they were approached from behind, suddenly staring down the barrel of an automatic rifle.
    Tommy had bought time for a sixth squad member to flank them.
    Michaela immediately pivoted back, putting herself between the man and Nightingale, and pulled her rifle's trigger at their attacker.
    Click!
    She immediately drew her sidearm, and two simultaneous gunshots rang through the corridor.
    Their attacker dropped, bleeding from a small bullet hole in his forehead.
    Nightingale breathed a sigh of relief, but then Michaela slumped to the floor in front of her. The single bullet had pierced just above her body armor, and she was bleeding badly from her throat.
    “ Michaela!” Nightingale shouted, her eyes suddenly wide as saucers and wrapped in tears.
    “ Uh-oh!” Tommy shouted when he heard Nightingale calling out. “It sounds like someone fell for my clever little trap!”
    “ God dammit, Tommy!” Jonny shouted, pivoting back around the corner and opening fire. He emptied what little was left in his magazine, but didn't hit Tommy or the other squad members. After that he returned to cover, dropped his rifle and drew his sidearm, cocked the hammer back, and struggled to control his breathing. It was increasing as rapidly as his anger was rising.
    “ Michaela, what do I do!?” Nightingale shouted as she reached across Michaela's body to grab her medical kit. “Tell me how to fix you!”
    Michaela gurgled blood and spit it onto the floor. “No, child...” she muttered out, her voice weak. “No, child, it is my time... There is nothing you can do to fix me, I am hurt too badly.”
    “No, I can! I can, just tell me how!” She opened up the kit, but didn't know what to use. There were gauze bandages, scissors, a suture kit, but she didn't know what would stop the bleeding. She was becoming frantic as she rifled through the supplies.
    “ No, no, little one, be calm...” Michaela lifted her hand toward Nightingale's face and caressed her cheek. She tucked some hair behind her ear, and smiled that calming and comforting smile.
    “ But, I... I can't...” Nightingale dropped the kit and grabbed Michaela's hand, and began to weep.
    “ You are going to be just fine. You are strong, and you are far braver than you even know, Nightingale.”
    Nightingale gasped slightly when Michaela called her by that name. She sniffled and wiped her eyes, and nodded at her words.
    “Jonny will protect you from here.” She struggled to lift her head, but doing so increased the flow of blood. It was pooling on the floor beneath her. “Jonny,” she choked out, her voice becoming weaker by the word, “see her out of this building securely. Theo and I will be saving you a seat in the afterlife.” She managed a quiet chuckle. “We hope to not see you too soon, however...”
    The bird on Nightingale's shoulder began to chirp sadly as she began to cry harder. Michaela's eyes slipped shut, and her hand went limp in Nightingale's grasp. Her head tilted against the floor, and she died.
    “No, please...” Nightingale choked out through her increasing sobs.
    “ You're out of options, California,” Tommy called out.
    Jonny's nostrils flared and his lips twitched in an uncontrollable snarl. His eyes were wide and he stared at the gun he held in front of his face. He was losing the battle with his temper.
    “Just give it up!” Tommy taunted. “You guys really are just a bunch of glitches! Your squad is dead , so if I may polish off an old chestnut: come out with your hands up!”
    Jonny spun around the