Birthright: After Earth by Peter David Page B

from the Skrel and the Ursa and whatever other dangers crop up around us. It was a miracle that no one else was hurt by it, just as you said. And because Janus stepped on it, he saved the life of … well, who knows who else? A family out for a picnic. An augur off on meditation. The Savant out searching for inspiration that would lead him to some discovery that will improve the lives of millions.”
    “Lieutenant—”
    “Any host of people who would, almost by definition, be much more important than Jan. It’s a fair trade.”
    “Mallory, listen to me. Take off all the time you want …”
    Without warning, Mallory pulled aside the bedsheet to study her injured leg. She was naked save for the simple hospital gown she was wearing, and that had ridden up to around her hips. Immediately Green looked away, his cheeks flushing slightly. Mallory was oblivious. Instead she was studying her leg with clinical detachment. The thin line that marked where she’d been wounded was bright red, but the intensity of it was already fading. She touched it gently. “It’s amazing what medical science can do, isn’t it. You know, once upon a time they stitched people together like clothing. No sealants. Nothing like what we have now. It’s almost miraculous. Not as miraculous as a bomb waiting years for Janus to step on it, but it’s right up there.”
    “Mallory, for God’s sake—”
    She lifted the leg, extended it, coiled it so that her knee was almost up to her chin, and then stretched it out once more. “Wasn’t an artery, then?”
    “No,” said Green. “It looked a lot worse than it was; the bone caught most of it. You may have a slight limp for a bit, but nothing permanent. You got off lucky.”
    She smiled mirthlessly. “My husband’s dead, sir. I don’t get to feel lucky.”
    “Mallory—”
    “You’re right, though. Feels fine. I won’t need any time off.”
    Green stood up, took the sheet firmly, and draped it back over her to cover her. She looked up at him, blinking owlishly, clearly having no idea why he’d done that. “Mallory, this isn’t a request. You
will
take time off.”
    “So I can do what? Lie around? Think about …” Her voice caught ever so slightly, but she managed to pull herself together at the last moment. “Think about what happened? Think about Jan dying, not in battle facing a foe like any Ranger would want,but because of some stupid booby trap planted in the sand? The hell with that and, with all respect, Colonel, the hell with you. I should be out doing my job. And once the docs here sign off on my leg being one hundred percent—which they will, because they did too good a job to say otherwise—I want to go back out in the field.”
    “You need some time to—”
    “I need. To do. My job.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “Sir … inaction is not an option. If you relieve me of my duties, I’ll simply go out on patrol by myself.”
    “We’ll take your cutlass away.” The cutlass was the Ranger weapon of choice. A five-foot staff that could morph its shape into a variety of cutting weapons, designed for close-quarters combat … and particularly effective against Ursa at close range.
    “Then I’ll get my hands on a pulser. And if you take that from me, I’ll get a kitchen knife. I will go out, Colonel, and I will do my job, even if I don’t have it anymore. Because if I just sit around and dwell on Jan, I will go out of my mind.”
    “I’m not entirely sure you’re not out of your mind already, Mallory.”
    “Is there anything I’ve said, anything I’ve done, that would indicate a break with reality?”
    “Well, I’m not entirely sure you’re in touch with your emotions right now.”
    “I don’t need emotions; I need my work. And I’m going to go out and do it. The only question is whether I’m going to do it on my own or in the company of my fellow Rangers.”
    Green looked at her steadily. No words passed between them for some time.
    “A