Chapter 3 - Red and Blue
"Are you all right? Jaal!"
Ryder's voice was muffled and far away. A moan escaped from his lips as pain radiated from his leg. "Fuck! Jaal, stay with me."
Ryder glanced back at the spot where she noticed the sniper. Damn! Of course, the sniper didn't stick around. "SAM," Ryder shouted, her voice higher than usual with fear and panic colouring it. "Let Lexi know that Jaal has been shot."
"Understood Pathfinder," SAM replied.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! I really should have wore the hard shell. At least I'll have some medigel on me. Her hands worked quick as she searched Jaal for medigel. "Jaal, look at me. No sleeping," she said as she tried to stem the blood flow that's already pooling on the ground.
The bullet must have nicked an artery. He could just bleed out here. She tore open the only pack of medigel with her teeth and poured it over the bleeding wound. She removed her belt and tied it around his thigh. Jaal groaned as the sting of the gel hit but his clenched fists relaxed somewhat. "Sara, darling one, I don't feel so good," Jaal whispered, his voice quivering with blood loss.
No. No. No! How much can blood an angara possibly lose? Damnit, I have no idea. "Come on, Jaal. On your feet, you've got to help me. I can't carry you by myself. It's not safe to be out in the open like this," Ryder urged.
Her stomach knotted tighter. She wasn't sure if was out of fear or if they weren't out of the woods just yet. Pulling Jaal's arm over her shoulder, she grunted as she pick him up. "Yes, walk. Back to the Tempest," Jaal mumbled.
Her heart clenched to see the pain that he was in. Ryder deployed a gentle biotic pull on Jaal to help ease his weight as they made their way as quickly as she could manage. Sweat beaded her forehead as her biotic amp at the base of her skull grew warm. A quick burst of biotic energy Ryder could pull it off, no problems but a sustained effort wasn't something she was trained for. Her heart pounded hard and quick in her chest as a crowd forming around them. Her eyes flicked from one person to the next, hoping there weren't any more assassins lurking around. Her muscles on her arms corded as she hefted Jaal higher to keep him from slipping. I wish I could just blast them all out of the way. She knew this wasn't the time to entertain idle murderous intent as enjoyable it might be.
Her stomach clenched tighter than it had before. Ryder turned as she heard a scuff of quick steps behind her. She reacted instinctively as she pushed Jaal clear of the assailant's extended omni blade. The blade buzzed as it sliced through the air Jaal was a moment before. It abruptly halted its forward motion before slashing side ways towards her unprotected side. Off balance, Ryder fell backwards to the ground. The blade scored her flesh and she screamed. Her concentration too frayed by the pain to summon any biotics. The arm that held the blade retracted before it plunged forward again. Ryder rolled hoping to get to her feet before the blade came down again. Pain lanced through her abdomen as the blade sank into her flesh. Fuck! Too slow! Use the pain. Use it! She felt the blade twisted in her guts as she Throw the assailant with everything she had.
The human flew and only halted when he slammed into a pre-fab wall. The wall dented with the weight of the Throw. It wasn't a pretty sight. Red, white and grey decorated the wall where the assailant slammed onto. His head had basically exploded on impact. Brain matter and blood splattered onto those unlucky enough to be standing nearby. It didn't take long for the screams to start and the crowd to disperse. "Pathfinder, your heart rate is accelerating at a dangerous rate. You should seek medical aid," SAM informed.
"No shit, SAM," said Ryder, sitting up with a pained gasp. "Where did you think I was going in the first place?"
SAM didn't answer immediately. Oh shit, I think I've stumped my AI. "I'm sorry, Pathfinder. I didn't mean to imply that you're…" SAM said.
If it wasn't painful Ryder would have laughed. "SAM, now is not the time to distract me," she interrupted, breathlessly.
Hold it together. Jaal needs help. The utter stupidity of not wearing her armour crossed her mind for the umpteenth time that day. The angara was totally limp and unconscious. She grimaced and shifted her grip of Jaal. The entire market was now void of life other than for two stumbling figures leaving a trail of blue mixing with red heading towards the docks. Well, that's one way of emptying the place, not what I'd recommend though.
Lexi got Jaal to the med bay right away while Ryder stumbled in behind her. Her hands left smudges of red and blue over the cabinets as she fumbled for a couple packs of medigel for her own wounds. Lexi didn't have time to spare a glance for the Pathfinder. "Ryder are you all right?" she asked as her hands worked on extracting the bullet from Jaal's leg.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Nothing some medigel and a shower wouldn't fix," she gasped, catching her breath.
Ryder didn't trust herself enough to hang out in the med bay. Lexi probably didn't need the distraction of her hovering. "I think I'll go have a nap in my room, while you…"
Lexi nodded. "Jaal will be fine. It's good you applied the medigel and tourniquet as quickly as you did."
"That's good to know I didn't just killed him on a date," Ryder laughed as she pulled herself to the door.
"Erm… sorry about the mess." Ryder gestured at the bloody prints she left around the med bay.
Ryder barely made it to her own quarters. It doesn't usually take this long to get back to my bed. She pressed her palm against the door lock and left another bloody hand print. Hmmm, more red than blue. Her bed beckoned and Ryder complied by falling face first into it.
Lexi sighed with relief as she stitched Jaal's wound close. All she needed to do was just apply a layer of medigel to seal it before dressing the wound. She expected Ryder must have wore a groove outisde with her usual anxious pacing whenever one of the crew was hurt. Lexi turned and looked for a fresh pack of medigel. She stiffened for a moment. There was a blood smeared trail around her pristine office. Blue mixing with red. How bad was Ryder hurt? Fear seized her heart. "SAM," Lexi called out. "Where is Ryder?"
"The Pathfinder has been in her quarters for the last 27 minutes," SAM responded.
Lexi tapped her omni tool. "Peebee, can you check on Ryder?"
Peebee stood outside Ryder's room. "SAM, unlock the door."
The door hissed open promptly. Ryder was lying on her stomach on the bed. "Ryder?" Peebee called tentatively.
She looks fine, just sleeping. Peebee frowned slightly because she knew Lexi wouldn't be sending her here just on a whim. I ought to check.
She placed her hand on Ryder's arm attempting to shake the Pathfinder awake. She is clammy. Ryder groaned. Looking groggily at Peebee without moving her head. "Ryder, are you all right?"
Peebee sat on the bed and turned Ryder onto her back. Her eyes widened when she saw the pool of blood soaking through the sheets. "I don't feel so good," Ryder confessed. How much blood did she lose?
The asari clamped down on her outward panic though her thoughts were screaming their heads off. She pressed her hands down on the wound on Ryder's abdomen, eliciting a pained moan from Ryder. With one hand on the bleeding wound and the other lifting the human up, Peebee moved as swiftly as she could towards the med bay.
Lexi turned as the door opened. Peebee entered with Ryder draped over her. There was a trail of blood dripping from the Pathfinder's soaked shirt. "Get her on the table now!"
She was just done attending to Jaal. There was nothing more she could do for the angara. He had to rest and get topped up on blood via the transfusion she already had got going. "Ryder, where were are your wounds?" Lexi asked as her scissors made quick work of Ryder's clothes. As her hand pulled the shirt away, Ryder's clammy hand stopped her. She is going into shock. "Is Jaal all right?"
"Ryder, he is fine. You are not," Lexi said. "You got stabbed and you didn't think to tell me?"
"Nothing medigel won't fix…" Ryder said weakly.
"Yeah, maybe. Under normal circumstances. Not when you are taking blood thinners!" Lexi almost yelled, exasperated. "Peebee, I need you to keep pressure on the wound. Don't let up no matter what."
Ryder's nerves felt like they were on fire as Peebee's cool hands pressed against her abdomen. "Sorry, Ryder," she apologised as Ryder moaned.
The heart rate monitor screeched as it registered Ryder's elevated heart rate. Lexi fitted the oxygen mask over Ryder's nose and mouth before looking at the two angry red wounds, one larger the other smaller. Both oozing blood. How long ago did Ryder took the blood thinners? Her attention was pulled away when the monitor screamed again. Her eyes glanced at the monitor. She knew she didn't have much time. She had to stop the bleeding before she could address Ryder's tachycardia. Installation of the implant is going to hurt. Lexi took several packs of medigel and got the contents into large gauge blunt tipped syringes. She glanced at Peebee. "Hold her down."
Ryder watched the two asari exchanged a look. She didn't like it much. It only meant one thing - pain. Peebee moved her hands from her wound to her shoulders. Lexi plunged the syringe into her wound and depressed the plunger. The medigel was cold and it stung but it also took the edge off the burning sensation on her abdomen. She didn't have to scream, the heart rate monitor did the work for her. Before she could gather herself, Lexi injected another 2 more syringe's worth of medigel into the wound.
Ryder's world became a haze of pain. Her vision darken around the edges threatening to overwhelm her. No, no… Not the dark again. She couldn't quite register what was happened around her. Her body jerked in response to the things Lexi was doing while Peebee was held her down. Her world narrowed into the ceiling of the med bay, the screams of the monitor and Peebee's endless litany of apologies.
Lexi packed Ryder's wound with medigel and gauze before bandaging it up. It just has to hold for now. It wasn't the perfect solution but till the blood thinners were out of Ryder's system, it's the best she could do. Medigel work miracles but up to a point. "Hey Ryder," Lexi called.
Ryder turned her head towards Lexi, her abdomen throbbed and buzzed in a bass line counter to the screech of the heart rate monitor in an awful symphony. "Remember the pacemaker I told you about?"
Ryder nodded numbly. "I don't think you should delay any longer. We should get it installed once the blood thinners are out of your system."
"How long?" Ryder asked.
"At least 24 hours."
"Ok, do it."
"I don't it's safe to put you under to do it given the blood loss and shock you had endured. I'll have to do it while you are conscious."
Ryder closed her eyes. "Don't worry about it, Lexi," she spoke through the pain. "Do what you must."
Peebee's hands shook as she washed them. Her hands were red, the soap red, the water red, everything just stained red with Ryder's blood. She took a shuddering breath. She had never expected this was how the Heleus adventure would go. She had expected exploration, discovery and all around fun but it had been constant danger and dire consequences. How does Ryder do it? How does she put herself through all this and still smile at the end of the day?
A hand landed on her shoulder and she jumped. "Hey, sorry," Cora said. "I heard what happened. You did good."
Peebee nodded mutedly. Cora frowned. This wasn't like Peebee at all to not have a joke or quip ready for every occasion. She shook her head and squeezed Peebee's shoulder. Peebee's brain felt numb and her emotions fried. "Any updates on Ryder?" she asked, her voice small and drained.
"She is sleeping now. Lexi says to let her recover her strength. The implant surgery is not going to be easy on her."
"Jaal?"
"He will be fine but he will be off his feet for a while. It was a near thing. If Ryder hadn't been quick…" Cora looked away, anger surging up her gut.
As a soldier she knew the dangers of combat but they were here in Heleus to start a new life, not drag all the old shit here. "Fucking Vidal!" Cora slammed her fist on the counter. "I will end him."
"Hey, hey," Peebee said as she wrapped her arms Cora, leeching the anger from Cora's shoulders. "I know but now is not the time. We have an Archon to defeat."
"Yeah I know," Cora hugged Peebee back. "Suvi has figured out a way to track Meridian. Ryder will probably wants to go for it once she is up on her feet."
"Knowing Ryder, a couple of stab wounds will not keep her down. We all need this to end."
"Don't I know it."
Drack peered into the med bay through the open door. Jaal in one bed while Ryder was in the other. Drack couldn't help but growled low in his throat. No way am I going to let this slide. Nobody attempts murder my people and gets away with it. He took an step gingerly towards Ryder's bed. Her eyes were closed but her brow were knitted together. Her sleep obviously not restful if pain could trouble her. Drack dragged his eyes to the white bandages wrapped around Ryder's body. He could see red seeping through and mingling among the white. Damn it, kid. Squishy humans should leave scar collecting to the krogans. Another low growl rumbled deep in his throat.
Drack felt a slap smacking down on his side. He whirled around quickly ready to smash his elbow into the head of the offender. "Oh Lexi, it's you," he grumbled, dropping his arm to his side.
Lexi's eyes flashed. She put a finger to her lips, a human gesture for silence and pointed at the two in the med bay. Then, she beckoned him to follow. They walked towards the cargo bay. "Are you trying to wake them up? What are you doing there?" Lexi hissed.
"I…I just wanted to see how they were doing," Drack said sheepishly. "I was quiet."
"You were as quiet as a small earthquake," Lexi said. "And I am not talking about your foot steps."
"Sorry."
Lexi sighed and leaned forward over the railing looking as Liam and Gil trying to distract themselves with busy work in the cargo bay. She glanced at her omni tool where Ryder's and Jaal's vital signs were linked to. Drack joined her. "Are you all right?"
Lexi looked at the old krogan. "Just tired," she confessed.
"Ryder has came me very busy since I joined the Pathfinder team," she laughed ruefully.
Drack snorted.
Ryder opened her eyes. Dried tears made it hard to open them. The dreadful screech of the heart rate monitor was mercifully mute now. Her abdomen ached but nothing intolerable. Her mouth dry but she didn't care at the moment. Jaal. She turned her head and saw him on the other bed. What a pair we make. She watched Jaal, his chest rising and falling, a white bandage around his left thigh.
A tremor swept through her body as she remembered the bullet hitting flesh, Jaal's body. Anger built in her chest as she clenched her left hand, her dominant hand, the hand that would pull the trigger. If only I had shot Vidal in the back then. She didn't know it was possible to regret being merciful, to live and let live. Heleus is hell bent on curing me of naivety. Before Ryder could entertain thoughts of revenge, the door to the med bay opened. Lexi entered. Ryder turned and their eyes met. "It's time."
Ryder nodded. Lexi pulled a bouffant cap over Ryder's head and hair before donning one herself. With a tap on Lexi's omni tool, a privacy field surrounded around her bed, cutting out Jaal from her field of vision. Then, she started laying out her tools on a side table. Scalpels, clamps, gauze, the implant, a set of restrains and many other things that Ryder had no idea what they were for but the last one, Ryder winced inwardly as Lexi placed it on the table. It was a medical drill. She swallowed and clenched her fists to still their shaking. Lexi turned back to her and secured a surgical mask over her nose and mouth. "I'll have to intubate you."
Ryder wasn't a stranger to hospital or surgeries. After her mother got sick, she spent a lot of time in the hospital. Listening to doctors spew their medical jargons at both Scott and her, forced Ryder to research and learn more than she ever wanted to know. Intubation was something she was familiar with.
For all the help that the doctors were able to do for her mother, her mother faded and died. Ryder trusted Lexi. More importantly, she had a job to do, a mission to complete.
Lexi removed the oxygen mask from Ryder's nose and mouth. "Open your mouth," Lexi instructed and a suction tube was introduced to her mouth before replacing it with a pad. Her already dry mouth got desert dry.
Lexi removed the pad and sprayed a topical anaesthetic deep in Ryder's throat. Numbness slowly spread in her mouth. It didn't take long before the endotracheal tube was being pushed in down her mouth. Ryder gagged a little as the tube passed through her throat. It wasn't painful but Ryder had to admit it was far from comfortable. "Are you all right?" Lexi asked as she secured the tube with tape. "Don't try to talk, just nod or shake your head."
Ryder rolled her eyes and nodded. "These restrains are just in case, all right?"
Ryder took a deep breath or rather the ventilator took a deep breath for her. Gently, Lexi secured her hands to the bed frame. Ryder's stomach knotted not in pain but in a wave of panic. Being helpless and tied down wasn't her idea of a fun time at least not when she was about to be cut open. Lexi sterilised her chest with liberal amount of steriliser right where her heart was thumping wildly away. Then, with a swift motion, a sharp prick pierced her chest as Lexi injected a strong local anaesthetic into the deep tissue of her chest. Lexi attached a clear shield over her face. Ryder's eyes followed Lexi's hand as she picked up the medical drill. Their eyes met. "Ryder, I'll advise you to keep your eyes close."
Best idea ever. Her world turned to darkness but her ears were filled the hiss of the ventilator and the whine of the medical drill powering up. Ryder steeled herself.
