*Beep Beep*

  *Beep Beep*

  I tried to open my eyes, but they remain stuck shut. The sound of a heart monitor bleeps rhythmically. I’m… in a hospital?

  “Urgh, how long have I been sleeping…” My voice comes out hoarse and dry. The pounding in my head beats down on me like a drum.

  “You’re alive! Oh, my queen! I was so worried.”

  “I said how long?”

  “Erm, well, it’s been… several months, I’m afraid.”

  MONTHS?! My eyes shot open, busting through weeks of crust to glare angrily at the meek, sounding man, but I was not greeted by the man. I was greeted by a green dialogue prompt.

  I thought of revenge. Who would I want to get revenge on? I thought yes and the dialogue box changed.

  Refuse to die? That sounds… familiar… but I can barely think straight right now. Yes.

  A new window popped up.

  Suddenly, seeing her name reminded her of who she was. Tamara smiled for the first time in months.

  Nanite Regeneration is a bitch and a half. Like zombies, you have to remember that there are only two ways to even hope to kill these days: Destroy the brain or remove the head. The fact is that you better hit hard and fast, or you will have no chance of breaking past their regeneration. If it becomes a drawn out fight, well, you better hope you had a bigger breakfast than they did.

  — Excerpt from "No Brainer: Defense and Offense for the New Age" published A.C. 215 by Chad Thadwick, Self Proclaimed Founder Slayer