Page 10 of Designation: Null

“I don’t know. It acted very quickly.”

“Here is a map of where you were dropped off. Can you mark the area where you were when the attack came?”

Robert takes the pen and marks the area. “It wasn’t more than half a mile from our drop point,” he says. Which raises the possibility that their arrival was anticipated. But that would mean they had a traitor in their midst or that their technology had been compromised. Both are dangerous possibilities.

He’s asked a few more questions he doesn’t have the answers to and then he’s left alone for another hour before the discharge nurse comes in.

Robert is discharged and driven back to his apartment by a private he doesn’t know, and he has to keep blinking away tears of shock and happiness during the ride. He’s alive. He’s home. He really didn’t think he’d make it home again.

How many times can a man be lucky? He survived cancer as well as being rescued? He’s dropped off out front and is relieved that everything is as he left it. All of his plants are alive and the porch light is even on. Although he was gone for months, his parents didn’t give up hope that one day he’d be home.

However, it is very, very dusty inside since no one has been in his home for a few months. The military changed the lock and told his family to stay out in case it was a crime scene. Which makes no sense to Robert, but so many things the military does (when it comes to designation in particular) don’t make sense that he doesn’t spend too long thinking about it.

He calls his family. There is much crying and squealing of relief, which brings more tears to his eyes and a lump to his throat.

Robert showers and gets dressed, aware that it’s only going to be minutes before his parents arrive.

There is a knock on his door but instead of his parents, it’s his friend Sam. Sam grabs him and hauls him into a gigantic hug, so emotional and happy to see Robert that his smile wobbles.

“You’re back. You’re alive! I’d heard they found you and I couldn’t believe it, man. The whole base is talking about it. I think there will be a party. I’m serious, by the way. My boy wants to plan one.”

Robert manages a smile and even a rough chuckle. It’s nice that people are happy he’s back, but the idea of a crowd of people is enough to make his heart pound out of his chest. “Yeah, I’m back. I’m okay. Bit of a limp, but that should go away.”

“How… well, how was it? Is that an okay thing to ask? You don’t have to answer.”

“It won’t be getting a five-star review on TripAdvisor, that’s for sure. I would strongly recommend that anyone getting kidnapped do it elsewhere. Maybe the Caribbean. Or Fiji.” Robert takes a deep breath. God, he might throw up. Can he ask Sam to leave? “There are people who had it worse. My whole fucking team—”

He stops talking.

“Hey. Sorry. Of course. I shouldn’t have brought it up. You know it isn’t your fault, Robert. We all know what we signed up for.”

Robert nods because he’s supposed to. And Sam is right. But his crew didn’t make it back, and it’s pretty difficult to believe that he isn’t responsible for that. Even though he logically knows there wasn’t anything he could do as he was unconscious and taken by surprise just like everybody else was, the reality is six men went on the mission and he is the only one who came out.

He uses the awkward pause in the conversation to get them both something to drink. “Sorry. I don’t even have cream for coffee.”

“Robert, it’s fine. I’m not actually here for your beverages, I just wanted to see you.”

The silence stretches between them. “Do you know Logan Burrows?” Robert asks. He didn’t mean to ask, but he is curious.

“I do. Course I do. He’s designation’s great hope. And he was on your mission, right? That led the rescue for you?”

“Yes. He was. Carried me out himself. What do you mean? That he’s designation’s great hope?”

“Well, he’s neither submissive nor Dominant. He’s what happens when you get the very best of the best in genetic manipulation.”

Sam must see the confusion on his face. Hopefully, his doubt is better hidden.

“His daddy is high up in the military. So many medals on his chest that he clinks when he walks. And I mean his literal father.”

“Right.”

“The scuttlebutt is Colonel Burrows has twin sons, and both of them did their duty by joining up. Corporal Logan Burrows is the future.”

“Because he’s… null?”

“Right.”

“What about his brother? Is he null, too?”

---