Ellie's Immunity

Joel and Ellie were escorted through the dark, dilapidated corridors of the abandoned hospital by a group of armed Firefly soldiers. Their hands were bound, and their backpacks had been confiscated.

"I can't believe we got caught," Joel muttered under his breath.

"Shut up," one of the soldiers snapped, giving Joel a rough shove.

They were brought into a small room with a rusted metal table at its center. A woman in her early thirties stood beside it, wearing scrubs splattered with dried blood. She was tall and thin, with wild hair and weary eyes.

"Sit," one of the soldiers ordered, pushing Joel and Ellie toward the table.

Ellie stumbled slightly as she sat down, wincing at the pain in her side from where she had been shot during their escape attempt.

The woman turned to face them, her gaze flickering between Joel and Ellie. "You're lucky I found you when I did," she said. "That bullet wound could have gotten infected."

Joel glared at her. "Who are you?"

The woman ignored his question and began rummaging through a nearby cart filled with medical supplies. She pulled out a roll of bandages and some antiseptic ointment.

"Take your shirt off," she said to Ellie.

Ellie hesitated for a moment before complying, peeling off her blood-soaked shirt to reveal the makeshift bandage that covered her wound.

The woman carefully removed the bandage and examined the bullet hole. "It's not too deep," she said. "I'll clean it out for you."

She poured some antiseptic onto a piece of gauze and began gently dabbing at the wound. Ellie winced in pain but didn't make a sound.

Joel watched silently as the woman worked, his expression unreadable. He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something about this woman didn't sit right with him.

Once the wound was cleaned and re-bandaged, the woman turned her attention to Joel. She gestured for him to come closer, and he reluctantly obliged.

She examined his face, tracing her fingers over the bruise that was beginning to form on his cheek. "You took quite a beating," she said.

Joel shrugged. "I've had worse."

The woman smiled slightly. "I'm sure you have."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small key, tossing it to one of the soldiers. "Unlock them," she ordered.

The soldier hesitated for a moment before doing as he was told, removing the handcuffs from Joel and Ellie's wrists.

"Thank you," Ellie said quietly, rubbing her sore wrists.

The woman nodded in acknowledgment before turning back to the cart of medical supplies. She picked up a syringe filled with a clear liquid and held it up for Joel and Ellie to see.

"This is your ticket out of here," she said. "It's a sedative that will put you both to sleep."

Joel narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "And why would we want that?"

The woman sighed wearily. "Because if you don't let me help you, they're going to kill you."

Joel glanced at Ellie, his expression conflicted. He knew the woman was probably right, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her story than she was letting on.

"Who are you?" he asked again, his voice tinged with frustration.

The woman hesitated for a moment before answering. "My name is Dr. Evelyn Montgomery," she said. "And I'm trying to save your lives."