Whether the shot was intentionally well aimed or simply lucky Dipper didn't care, it did the job. The Ripper's head disappeared in a flash of sizzling white light, and as the body staggered and slumped to its knees, Dipper followed it with the laser pistol. Finally when it fell into the mud and slowly oozed out its contents, Dipper allowed himself to relax and lower the weapon. His fast shallow breathing slowed and deepened, his own body slumped over and his arms dropped into the mud: 'Was it over?' Surprise, relief, and confusion began to swim through his mind and pain coursed through his body; his knees ached from the rocks he was kneeling on while his vision blurred from the heavy rain on his face.
With care and in pain he stood up, holstered the pistol and scanned the area for Ford's body; his 'grunkle' had taken a shot directly to the chest and Dipper doubted if he was still alive. The heavy rain and mist obscured the surroundings and all he saw were random shapes emerging as he walked in circles looking for the body. Then he heard it, at first the sound was barely audible above the hammering rain, but it was there in the background and getting stronger. A low moan interspersed with fits of coughing.
"Ford! Where are you?" Dipper struggled to raise his weakened voice above the din of the downpour, hoping that Ford would hear him and answer. But no answer came or at least none that he could hear. Another cough but this time louder, Dipper hurried in the direction of the sound, carelessly stumbling over rocks and slipping in the mud. Ford was alive and out there maybe even bleeding to death; he needed to get to him fast, every second counted if he wanted to save his life. Then he was on the ground, tripping over something protruding from the mud.
"Argh!?" The voice was rough and punctuated with soft gurgling sounds.
"Ford?" Dipper called out and immediately spun round on his knees. "Ford, are you...?" Only to be confronted with a pistol pointed at his head. "Don't shoot, it's me Dipper!"
"Ha, I've heard... that one before..." Ford's left hand was propped up on a rock, it held the pistol shakily but already charged and ready to fire. "I won't... fall for that one... again." His voice coming in fits and punctuated by blood bubbling out of his mouth.
"I swear it's me! Ask the question, confirm it!" Dipper stared at the end of the barrel as the charge built to a white hot point. If Ford didn't discharge it soon, it would melt the containment shield and then they would both be dead.
"Who... who is... the love of your life?"
"What?!"
"Who!?" Stunned, Dipper hesitated to answer, the question was not one they chose, but then Ford would know the answer from reading his file. Yet saying it would in itself be a confirmation of his rebellion against the TC, making him unfit for a commission.
"Pacifica." Screw it; let them brand him a rebel.
The white discharge blinded him for a second and its heat seared the rain around them, the beam of pure light shot past his head and vanished into the mist. Dipper didn't know if Ford missed because of his injuries or on purpose, but was glad to be alive. The pistol slipped out of Ford's hand and landed in a puddle that evaporated with a sizzle. Ford's face was ashen, rain slicked with blood slowly oozing out the corner of his mouth; the old man was dying.
"You missed..."
"Because... she would miss you more..." Ford managed a smile and a coughing fit took hold of him.
Dipper leaned over Ford and examined the injuries, multiple holes oozed blood into the mud while the rain kept washing it away. He tried to stop the bleeding, place his hands over the worst of it, but there was just too much.
"This is Dipper. I need immediate medical e-vac!" Dipper screamed into the communicator on his left forearm. "Do you hear me?"
"We have you located, prepare for transport." A calm disembodied voice informed him.
"Ford, you with me? They're bringing us in. Hang on, just... hang on... please." He squeezed Ford's arm and the two of them locked eyes just as a ball of dazzling white light engulfed them and the world vanished.
When it reappeared again, a multitude of med-techs and medical equipment descended upon them from the edges of a pure white room. Ford was lifted into the air and surrounded by thousands of tentacle-like metallic feelers that poked and prodded his injures. He squirmed with pain but soon injections took that away and he slipped into a medical coma. The med-techs gently pushed his floating equipment covered body out an opening that appeared in the far wall.
Now that Ford was gone, Dipper tried to get up but was immediately pushed back down by one of the med-techs. "Please remain seated Mr. Pines." The med-tech informed him as a metallic tentacle wrapped itself around his left arm; it squeezed gently and pulsed softly and injections of a painkiller entered Dipper's bloodstream. The last thing he saw before oblivion was the white and red blood-stained floor of the transport room.