Here we are, chapter eight, people! Finally, a shorter chapter, right? Well, it is finally a shorter chapter, but there are a lot of scene breaks so be prepared.
(Apologies in advance for any mistakes. It was near somewhere between ten and midnight when I posted so my editing would not have been the best)
Their footsteps echoed in the close confines of the dimly lit walls. Skittering to a halt, Wrecker peered down a connecting passage...and nodded, waving Joan forward.
All clear.
Joan took point, blaster raised and ready. In this leap-frogging pattern, they had made their way down the maze, with every so often, Wrecker peering carefully at Joan, noting that she still didn't seem terribly comfortable in a body...weird as it felt to think of it like that. It had been fifteen minutes since they split up with Crosshair and Tech as they made their way to Hunter while Joan and Wrecker made a bee-line for the rotting heart of the lab.
They hadn't spoken much, but Joan was beginning to see why someone would send a verbal jab at someone every now and then just to get the conversation going. It was getting kinda boring.
''Hey,'' she said, ''you think the others have already found Bandana boy? Comms have been mighty quiet.''
Wrecker didn't get a chance to reply. Before he could start, a shrill, infected GiaAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! shrieked behind them! Wrecker's first bolts hit the creature point blank and staggered it back a step, but didn't stop it. Unsure exactly of what to do, Joan fired as well. Screaming as the fresh burst of fire rained on it, the creature lunged for her. Grabbing the sword from her back, Joan swung down as it came at her, cleaving the mass in two.
...It didn't move, blood seeping into a crack in the ground. Looking over at her, Wrecker patted Joan's shoulder.
''I guess they found us,'' he shrugged.
''I guess they did.'' she grunted.
Five minutes later, and there was still no sign of another thing chasing them.
''Did they miss the memo?'' Joan asked, twirling her commando blade boredly, ''or did we just get ridiculously lucky?''
When Wrecker didn't answer, she glanced over at him and he stopped, ''What? I don't know!''
Joan pouted (or, tried to) and snipped, ''But I thought that was your job.''
''Okay, maybe that one was alone?''
''But they have the Hivelink, so it could connect with the others.''
''Then the others are just waiting for us.''
''Noooo, that wouldn't work. Besides, we haven't seen anything on our screens.''
''Crosshair couldn't see them on his screens either and they were right in front of him.''
''Okay, then they're waiting to ambush us.''
''But their not smart enough for that.''
''Aren't they though?''
Wrecker paused, confused. Wait, what had they been arguing for and against? And who had been for what? He glanced at the AI, who was beginning to make a wheezing attempt at a small whistle, watched her pause...then keep going.
''What?''
''Nothing,'' she said distractedly. ''Just thought I heard something. Sounded like a scream echoing through the halls. But maybe I'm just hearing things.''
Wrecker wasn't so sure.
''How much farther?''
''Not far. Come on. Let's get this over with.''
By the time they were finished with the fight, the former control room was a mess and blood and mucus soaked their armor. Joan let out a small squeal of disgust, unsuccessfully trying to shake the stuff off of her arms and legs.
''So gross. So gross. So gross,'' she whined.
Kicking over dead corpse, Wrecker glanced over at her and grinned, trying (and failing) not to chuckle. In all of his days, he never thought he'd ever see a commando droid dancing around, complaining about how gross blood was.
Such a sissy, he thought with laugh.
''Don't laugh!'' Joan shrieked, making her way over to him, tiptoeing carefully over the numerous bodies and...parts of bodies that she herself had made.
''You're making it hard not to. Come on, it's not that bad.''
'' 'NOT THAT BAD'?!'' she gushed, staring at him incredulously. ''This is disgusting! I am covered in human and alien tissue that has been infected with a kriffing Hivemind virus!''
''You can't even feel it.'' Wrecker protested, idly swiping aside a spare hand from the console screen.
Joan whimpered. ''Don't remind me. It's better that I can't. Otherwise I'd hurl...I still would if I could.'' she went back to muttering, ''so gross, so gross, so so so gross!''
Painstakingly slow, she shuffled next to him, peering at the console herself.
''So, now what? You're the expert.''
Under his helmet, Wrecker frowned thoughtfully, bringing up the schematics of the lab. The actual extent of it was far larger than they had all first anticipated, and the more he saw of it, the more it dawned that their plan might not work out the way they wanted it to. For one thing, it was too large. For another, from what the info section on it said, it was mostly built out of metal and concrete except for some of the older portions which were mostly just the beginning of it. And on top of both of those and because of them, Wrecker was pretty sure they didn't have what it took to take it all down.
''Joan, how much do we have left?''
She slipped off her backpack, humming, having basically completely forgotten the fact that she was still covered in what she had claimed was the grossest thing in the galaxy.
''Lets see...hMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm...Well...''
The demolitions expert sighed.
''Not enough then.''
''I didn't say that.''
Shrugging, Wrecker swiped the screen and started for the doorway.
''Didn't have to. There's an armory nearby. Lets see if we can find what we need there.''
''Uh...okay. That's weird,'' Joan commented, looking for the lights. ''These didn't turn on. Huh.''
This armory was not much different from the one that Crosshair had fallen into earlier - aside from some slight design variation. The lights came on and they fanned out in the small room, searching the shelves for something they could use.
''Look for something that says 'warning,' '' Wrecker advised. ''Those are typically worth looking at.''
Joan nodded absently, heading for the other side of the room.
''Okay. Easy enough. So, say, why do you think a laboratory needs all this stuff? What are scientists going to do with weapons?...and why do they need so many of them?'' she added, craning her neck up to to peer at the top shelf.
''Maybe in case something went wrong?''
''But that happened. And all of this is still here...''
She paused, staring at an empty gun rack. That entire selection: gone. Ammo was too.
''Well...most of it.'' she amended.
''Found some,'' Wrecker called, ''Small ones though. Hand grenades. See if you can find anything bigger. I'll go ahead and take these back.''
''Sure that's a good idea, big guy?''
There was no response except for the sound of feet leaving.
''Okay then. Guess that's my answer,'' she muttered.
Stubborn men.
Still going, she hadn't found much when Wrecker had come back.
''Anything?'' he asked.
''Nope,'' she shook her head. ''I'm seeing plenty of fuel and switches. All the stuff to ignite the place, but not what we're looking for.''
''Okay, that's going to be a problem.''
''Yeah, no kidding. So what do we do?''
He didn't respond at first.
''We'll have to tell the others, see if they can make it over here. This could be a while and I don't think they'll want to risk sprinting for it and leaving this place up. Not with those things.''
''Okay, patching them in...now.''
There was a faint burst of static...when then evened out into heavy breathing, Tech chattering incomprehensively...and by the sound of his voice, he was arguing.
''- There is no way to fix this! Crosshair, until I know what was in the virus compound, I can not act further without knowing if it could harm him in a way that is irreversible.''
''He'll wake up soon!''
''We can't- ''
''Guys, what's going on?'' Wrecker broke in.
''Wrecker! Where are you?''
''In an armory not far from the main control room. What's wrong with Hunter?''
...Silence...Then Tech's clipped, just-barely-shaking-voice said.
''Wrecker, he was bitten.''
Joan gasped and Wrecker was already starting for the exit.
Over the comm, Crosshair hissed. ''There's nothing we can do except try to slow the infection. Wrecker, stay where you are for now. Why did you call?''
''There's a problem. We don't have the proper materials to make this place blow. I'll have to improvise and that might take a while.''
''Kriff it, Wrecker, we don't have 'a while.' Hunter doesn't have 'a while.' ''
''But it's leave now and leave this place standing, or wait as long as we can and see if Wrecker and Joan can solve the dilemma. If so, then there is no risk for further contamination elsewhere and we will not be chased while attempting to take Hunter back to the Marauder.'' Tech reasoned.
''He might not have time for that, Tech. Don't forget how long it took us to get here. If we leave now, we might make it in time before he turns into whatever those things are.''
There was a tense buzz in the air, weighing on them all as Crosshair and Tech both refused to give in. Then finally, Joan asked softly, ''Tech, how is he?''
''I...I don't know,'' he admitted, suddenly sounding tired, ''We're having to carry him for now, which is leaving us very vulnerable. His leg is ripped up at the thigh. Luckily, the rest of his armor kept the worst away, but he's bleeding badly. I've done what I can to wipe away most of the mucus in an attempt to minimize contamination, but I don't know for certain if it worked.''
Wrecker asked, ''Where are you taking him?''
''There was a medical station we passed on the way over to him. Just up the flight of stairs we took. We're taking him there to see...to see if there is anything we can do.''
''How long could getting him fixed up take?''
''I am uncertain. It will depend on what we can find there.''
Glancing at each other, Wrecker and Joan peered up at where they were, gazing over everything in the armory.
''We'll have to make do, then,'' he said finally, tapping Joan's shoulder and motioning for her to start grabbing the fuel. ''You take care of Hunter, and we'll see what we can do in that time. Crosshair? Will that work?''
''...That will do,'' the sniper agreed.
''It will have to,'' Joan shrugged. ''It's all we can.''
''We shall keep you updated on his condition,'' Tech said. ''Until then, good luck.''
''Good luck,'' they both echoed, before switching the comm off and getting to work.
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
The comm cut, and Crosshair moved forward, not saying a word. Tech followed as best he could, hefting his half of Hunter's weight in his arms.
''Crosshair?'' he asked.
The sniper refused to speak.
''Crosshair, we don't have much choice. If this laboratory remains, any remnant of those creatures might escape and infect this whole planet. Would Hunter really want us to save him over an entire world?''
Finally, the other sighed softly, glancing back over his shoulder at him.
''Don't preach to me, Tech. We'll do what we have to.''
Tension resolved, they kept going in silence; but as Crosshair faced forward again, Tech thought he heard a soft, ''I just don't want to loose my brother.''
Hunter first stirred when they set him down just outside the medbay doors...or, what used to be. Now, debris covered the way in and they couldn't carry him in, much as they would have liked to.
He shifted, and both Crosshair and Tech froze, watching him carefully. His breathing was getting heavier and he coughed. Sweat was forming on his brow and his head was jerking slightly, his hands stiff.
''Teeech?'' Crosshair growled, kneeling next to him, ''Get what we need.''
''Stims, antiseptics, sedatives, bacta- ''
''No bacta.'' the sniper snapped, ''We don't want that wound healing with that stuff still in there.''
''Right. No bacta. Proper bandages. Probably some sort of tourniquet if it comes to that...possibly a UV lamp if there is one available...should I see if there are any samples of the injection?''
''If you can. Maybe you can find out how to reverse it.''
''Of course...Anything else?''
''Not that I can think of.''
With a nod, Tech scurried over and nimbly slipped between the barriers while Crosshair turned his attention back to the sergeant.
Inside the medbay, Tech slipped one blaster out of its holster and gingerly flicked on his headlamps, sweeping the light back and forth before searching for the light switch and flicking on the overhead lights. As with the rest of the facility, the medical bay had already lost most of its integrity. Part of the ceiling was caved in on one end and several supplies were broken and scattered save for the handful of shelves that appeared mostly untouched by catastrophe. The air was considerably cooler as well, like that one earlier research wing of the lab.
Briefly wondering why, he checked the logs and saw that several of the labs and medical bays had been shut down and chilled. Unfortunately, it did not specify why. Still, he kept searching, never noticing the fatal creaking of metal above him. Still after another minute of searching (as that one minute was all he was willing to risk not searching for supplies), he remained empty handed and turned to continue with his most immediate objective.
He should have payed more attention.
Tech didn't have time to scramble out of the way before the rest of the ceiling gave way, a mound of rock and metal crashing down with a thunderous bellow. He was only just saved by having walked next to a fallen shelf, which now held up most of the weight that might have otherwise crushed him instantly. Still, he was stuck. Both legs, torso, and left arm were pinned and he couldn't wriggle free.
Coughing in the dust clouds, he choked, ''Crosshair? Crosshair! Help!''
Hunter's eyes flicked open and he gasped, a dull stab of pain shooting up his leg. His head felt heavy and fogged...same with his limbs. Above him, he could feel Crosshair kneeling next to him, worried eyes flicking from him to something behind him. There was...a voice...calling for him.
''Crosshair! Crosshair, help, please!''
Crosshair put his hand on Hunter's shoulder and commanded sternly, ''Stay here.'' before dashing for the door.
He couldn't do anything and his tongue felt swollen, mind muddled and drowsy.
C-..Cross-h-air. SssstAy. C-come Ba-ah..ck...
The voice kept calling...Tech...The voice was...Tech. Crosshair was helping Tech. But wait, no. There was another one. Another voice calling.
His eyes glazed, briefly losing focus.
Wha-?
The blood thudded in his ears, matched by the beating of his heart.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud...
Where...am..I..?
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud...
Hunteeer...
His head lulled to the side, too heavy to keep up. The pain in his leg dimmed and all he could hear was the rasping sound of his own breathing.
Hunteeer...Come...
His fingers...twitched. Then his right leg...then his left. With a low, fleeting surge of energy, he pushed himself off the wall, using one hand to keep himself upright.
Huuunteeer...the voice called softly, laughing. Coooome...You know where we arrrrre...
His eyes refocused and he watched himself push to his feet, struggling to stay upright. He caught himself on the wall...and staggered towards the light of the open hallway...
''Tech? You kriffing idiot, why'd you let yourself get trapped?''
''It wasn't by choice,'' he retorted, holding out his free hand for Crosshair to grasp. ''It just...happened.''
''And you didn't happen to notice until after you nearly got yourself crushed?''
''I doubt you might have done much better.''
''I would have kept an eye on the ceiling.''
''So you say. Now get me out of here.''
''As you wish, your majesty.''
The sniper managed to extract him after a little while and scolded him the whole time.
''Whatever,'' was Tech's only reply, ''Let's grab what we need and get back to Hunter. We don't want him alone too long and we need to see how he's doing.''
Except, once they got outside with the supplies stuffed safely into their backpacks...he wasn't there...
As usual, thank you for reading! :D I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know in the comments what you think so far because, sad to say it, but we are almost done with Getting Out Alive.
Special thanks to my inkling who helps me with mostly everything when it comes to getting back into it ;D