It took Mira a solid minute to process everything what was happening. [i]What in the flying fuck is going on…[/i] This was impossible. That was the only word to describe what had just transpired - “[i]impossible[/i]”. No disease could cause this, any of what had just happened. Shrugging off multiple gunshots? Staying alive and flailing around when half of your entrails had been [i]torn[/i] out? This was just inhuman. [i]Inhuman…[/i]

[i]”Carl just called us. Apparently, there’s 10-34’s at Lambour General. Says he needs back-up. Do you think we should respond or get the perp back to the station?”[/i]

Mira appeared to be snapped fresh from a trance as she looked at Omar, eyes glossy and face frozen in an expression of dumbfound, mouth half open. “Uh… ten thirty-fours?” Mira blinked as she registered what that meant, her whole brain feeling empty, her throat tightening and heart racing from the bizarre shock of what had just transpired. “I… we should get the suspect we have in custody back to the… uhm, station. We need to call in… EMT’s for the bodies.”

Mira shook her head, trying to dispel the fog of dread and disbelief that was clouding her mind. Her hands felt cold and numb and her toes writhed involuntarily in her boots from the angst that was overwhelming the deputy. [i]Come on, focus. They’re both dead now. It must be from this outbreak. The attacks near the hospital, what just happened here, there is a medical explanation![/i]

“Mister Francocci,” Mira blurted out, “shut yourself in your office. Lock the door but keep your eyes open, we’ll… call for EMT’s in the car. Omar and I may have to swing back by for our report in a few hours. Will you… still be here?”
The paunchy store owner nodded quickly, obviously shaken himself at what had just happened, his distress furthered by the visible unsettlement of the two law enforcement officers before him. Mira nodded in understanding, sucking in a deep inhale as she brushed some loose strands of hair back from her forehead.

“Okay, Omar, let’s get this guy back to the station. I want you to call for an ambulance to swing by here. Try and follow this order, huh?” Mira ended with a sharply raised eyebrow as she brushed past Francocci and headed for the door. Mira stopped to grab the shotgun from the counter, still contained in its evidence bag. She shook her head in disappointment in herself for just leaving it laying there earlier, not looking back she headed for the door. Mira and Omar needed to hurry to get the man in their custody to the station and then barrel ass on towards the hospital. It may have been cowardly to think so but the idea of trying to contain a whole crazed, frothing at the mouth mob of people like she and Omar had just killed was enough to make Mira hope someone else would handle it. [i]Put on your big girl undies, that’s all part of it - having to do shit you would rather not so other people wouldn’t have to.[/i] Maybe the illness had nothing to do with it. Maybe these two were strung out on some new dope. Or maybe they just had some bizarre mutated strain of the virus that had hit the town. Mira was entertaining possibilities all the way into the car as she backed it out into the street, her partner and the seething prisoner behind them her solemn company.