He huddled in the corner, shock setting in. Numbness, the blessed surcease from pain that meant his nerve endings were shutting down, spread up his badly burned legs. His breathing rapid and shallow, Leo leaned his head against the wall of the ship. Oh gods, please let him stay conscious. He couldn't afford to black out. They might come back. If they came back and found him, he was as good as dead.

The numbness spread. So cold. He shivered as the world faded to gray, then black.

"Adult oculocutaneous albino human male. Age estimated to be late twenties. Height five feet seven inches, weight one hundred eighteen pounds. Retinal scan yeilded no identification, though severe astigmatism detected. Corrective brown-tinted contact lenses removed from eyes. Hair blond, skin pale, eyes purple after removal of lenses. Lower legs received third degree burns, appear to be healing without nerve damage, though this is untestable until brain function returns to normal."

The voice was dry, female, and utterly detached. It continued from somewhere in Leo's vicinity, "Found on Space Shuttle B-574 in the storage area, patient was treated for cardiac arrest, other symptoms of advanced shock, and aforementioned third degree burns. Patient was transported here for further testing, as appears to be sole survivor of Mvraidan attack."

A male voice took over, crisp and carefully enunciated. "Station B-574 had sustained damage to both shielding abilities and the hull before boarding. Electrical fire were found and maintained. Areas affected by fire were the bridge and observation deck. After boarding, it appears that viruses affecting the brain through the optic nerve were deployed. All aboard Station B-574, personel and passenger alike were found with no life signs and heavily degenerated brains. Sole to appear unaffected by the virus is the patient."