Chapter 36: Shock and Awe
There was a ringing in his ears and his skin tingled with residual energy as his uniform's repulsor field struggled to calibrate, sending swirls of yellow energy dancing across the shocktog. Avocato took a step back from Korg's lifeless form, which was even uglier in death even than life, lowering his arms very gingerly as he moved. His forearms and hands were mostly numb, having received the brunt of the laser assault, and he only hoped the damage wasn't permanent. His vision was filled with after-images after looking directly into the laser fire, and his head ached like the time he had lightfolded his ship into Tryvuul's atmosphere. Strength seemed to drain out of him, taking his focus and drive along with it, leaving him confused and listless.
"Hey." Gary approached him carefully, his hazel eyes full of anxiety and . . . was that admiration? "Avocato. Cato. It's done. You won, pal. We're okay."
He sounded far away even though he stood right next to Avocato. He wondered why Gary felt the need to state things in such simple terms even as his mind struggled to process the words. With concern he looked at the damage to Gary's arm and coat, but his husband waved the injury aside. Instead, Gary caught Avocato's reaching hand and held it firmly, keeping him balanced.
"I'm fine. You're the one I'm wor-"
"Dad!"
Little Cato stopped an arm's length away, clearly anxious and excited and alive and free and so beautiful that Avocato felt his eyes sting with tears. He swallowed, trying to form a response, not wanting to compound his son's stress, but his throat was too tight from smoke and fighting to work properly. Instead, he reached for Little Cato, pulling him in close and tight to plant a kiss atop his ginger forehead before holding him by the shoulders and just looking at him, making sure he wasn't hurt physically and the mental strain of being locked in a cell again hadn't taken a toll. Reassured by what he saw, even if a delayed reaction was inevitable, Avocato closed his eyes as he bent over and embraced his only child, his heart racing with relief that Little Cato would walk away from this place. Slim arms squeezed him tight in return as Little Cato found a spot that wasn't bloodstained to rest his head against his sire's chest.
Then another pair of arms held them both and a blond head pressed close to Avocato's as Gary joined the hug. He was a welcome addition, strong and steady despite his ofttimes silly outlook. Avocato recognized Gary's flip attitude as the defensive tactic that it was, and he saw the genuine kindness beneath the human's surface. Barely able to stand, Avocato leaned heavily against Gary, closing his eyes and letting his husband support him for a moment. He knew if he didn't keep moving, he'd fall asleep where he stood.
Gary laughed as Mooncake zoomed up for a face hug and a snuggle with his favorite person. Then the little planet killer hovered in the air before Avocato, happily chattering and wiggling his feet in greeting. Avocato listened politely to the sing-song jibberish and nodded, even managing a faint smile, before Mooncake moved on to Little Cato.
Avocato became aware of the other crew members of the Crimson Light gathered close by. Ash was gushing over so much death, so many spleens for the taking, wondering aloud if Avocato could give her lessons. Nightfall was telling Gary that they had tracked Avocato's signal, but it was the fire and their final battle cries that had pinpointed their location.
"And speaking of fires," said Nightfall with a significant glance at the adjoining room, "we still need to get out. I heard alarms out there, so the spaceport authorities will be here soon." She looked at Avocato squarely. "They can't find you here."
He nodded, reluctantly releasing his son. Little Cato, still energized somehow, called for Fox to help him retrieve the Regru blade embedded in the fletcher. Avocato frowned, not wanting to waste time, but Little Cato cast him a wide grin and shut down all arguments as he pointed and said,
"Trust me, Dad, this sword is gonna hang in your office for years. Your generals are going to think you collect them, so they're all going to start giving you cool swords when they need to give you a gift."
"That doesn't sound so bad," admitted Gary, amused. Avocato had to agree, even though he said nothing. He'd never turn down the offer of a weapon, and he loved a good sword.
"There's got to be a way out this way," announced Nightfall, leading the way through the door to the adjoining docking bay. "Everyone stick close."
"Spider Cat, glue yourself to Fox and Ash," instructed Gary as the teens came running back with their prize. "No wandering off. If he tries it, Fox, I want you to sit on him or carry him. And don't wave that thing around!" He waited until they headed off before he turned and studied Avocato, softly asking, "How badly are you hurt?"
Hurt? Was he hurt? He frowned and puzzled over the question. But for a few scratches he wasn't bleeding. Could he be injured and not know it? It occurred to him that he wasn't with it, and his self-assessment was not to be trusted. So much feedback from the repulsor field - an outpouring of energy just short of having been electrocuted - left him stunned and muddled. How badly was he hurt? Very. He just couldn't form the words.
Instead of speaking, he just shook his head. With a worried look, Gary transferred his stolen gun to his mechanical hand and put his free arm around Avocato's waist, whispering, "Come on. I got you, Cato."
He needed the assistance and the support. Gary guided him into the hangar bay where a worn out, old cargo ship just a step away from being salvage was parked. Beyond the Degune was another set of bay doors which opened onto a landing pad. Nightfall hurried forward and activated the controls to let in a rush of cool air that smelled of rain and desert. Avocato closed his eyes for a moment. Instantly he knew it was a mistake as he let this night of fear and fury catch up with him, and he knew he had reached his limit. A long sigh escaped him, and he felt Gary's hand tighten reflexively right before his legs buckled and he crashed to his knees.
"Ga-Gary," he managed in a hoarse whisper, not sure what he wanted to say before darkness and quiet pulled him under, and he gave in to the night.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Crap! Crap! Cato!"
Gary let himself be pulled down, trying to cushion Avocato's fall with his own body. He was taller than Avocato, but the Ventrxian was broader and made of solid muscle. Mooncake came zooming back, catching Avocato's sleeve in his mouth and helping to ease the general to the floor. Little Cato gave a shout of alarm and came racing back.
"Dad! Dad, what happened?"
Gary shook his head, feeling at Avocato's neck for a pulse as he fought the urge to panic. "He just passed out. I think he's more fragged up than he realized."
Nightfall knelt, examining the still form. "He's out cold. Gary, we need to get him straight back to the ship. He needs a recovery pod."
"You and Ash take Chuckie," ordered Gary without hesitation, knowing there was no easy answer to getting them all back to the Crimson Light. "We'll start walking back."
She plainly hated that solution, but didn't have a better one. She unslung her rifle and handed it to him. "Fox, help me get him on Chuckie."
It took a bit of maneuvering. Finally Ash sat in front with Nightfall behind her and Avocato wedged between them in Nightfall's arms. Ash was fully prepared to take over flying if Chuckie couldn't make it.
"Gary, on my right." Nightfall summoned him with a jerk of her head. "My belt pouch. There's money in there. Get that child of yours a hoodie of some sort. Get one for yourself, too. Take my comm unit, too, and keep the channel open. We'll try to come get you as soon as we can."
Gary took the money and slid the comm unit from her wrist. He strapped it to his own arm as he stepped back. "Be careful."
"We'll see you soon. C'mon, Chuckie. Home, boy."
They watched as Chuckie let out a final, useless 'bork!' and rose into the air, moving a little slower than normal due to the extra weight on his back. In the distance, they could hear alarms approaching, and lights were coming on in the other hangars attached to the landing pad as the disturbance of a slave uprising spread.
"Time to beat feet, men," said Gary. He pointed. "Let's cut across there and figure out the best way back."
"Can we stop for street meat?" begged Little Cato. "I'm starving."
Gary grinned, exhausted and hungry and so onboard with the suggestion. "Hell, yeah."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
The first thing he was aware of was warmth. Warmth and softness and security. He was in a berth, sandwiched between two forms and covered in a tangle of blankets, a family snuggled together in true Ventrexian fashion. There was an arm around his waist and breath against the back of his neck. He knew the touch. Gary, sharing a pillow again. With effort, Avocato opened his eyes and found his vision filled with familiar orange and blue fur. Lifting his hand, he gently stroked that stiff crest of hair running across the top of Little Cato's head. So like his mother . . .
Pale eyes opened and blinked at him, and Little Cato broke into a slow smile to see his sire awake. "Hey, Dad. How are you feeling?"
"Much better with you back here," he whispered.
"You were pretty out to lunch, as Gary would say, though you were in the recovery pod just a day. All that energy really did a number on your nervous system, though all you need now is to rest. Your uniform is pretty fried. The tools work, but the self-repair and the plasma and repulsor fields are toast. I don't think there's any salvaging it."
He shook his head, unconcerned. The shocktog had done exactly what it was supposed to do: it saved his life. "I can get more uniforms."
"Gary told me what happened while we were walking back, how you guys sorta figured out what happened to me. I knew you'd come find me."
"Well . . . Gary found you, then I found Gary."
"You can tell us the whole story over dinner. Fox and Nightfall are out getting food now. I told those guys you were soooo coming to get me back and they were going to sorry up off the charts. They didn't want to believe me. Not that I blame them," he added with unmistakable pride. "I wouldn't want to have you coming after me that way, either."
"It pays to have a reputation," Avocato laughed quietly, and his son giggled at having amused him so. He rested his hand against Little Cat's cheek, awed anew that this was his child. "Have I told you how much I love you, Little Cato?"
Suddenly serious, Little Cato covered that warm paw with his own, pressing into the touch. He swallowed, tears welling into his eyes and his voice cracking as he sniffed, "Yes. You do. You have. Every single day."
With a tender and understanding smile, close to crying himself, Avocato wrapped himself around his son and held him tight, wiping those tears with a gentle hand. Avocato made no effort to stem the flow of emotion pouring out from Little Cato, but just held and comforted him. Eventually, Little Cato drifted off to sleep again, and Avocato was happy to watch over him. It was only then that the arm around him tightened, and a kiss was pressed to the back of his neck as Gary nestled closer in appreciation of a promise kept.
