0340 Zulu Time - ICVN Arcturus Medical Bay
Lt. Col. Abernathy waited inside the large double doors to the Medical Bay watching as the wounded were brought in to the Triage area. White coated medical personnel scrambled frantically among the Marines laying on the beds. As they were tagged orderlies moved their beds. The XO watched a doctor shine a light into an underwear clad brunette man's eyes. The blood caked in his hair and on his face and next to him another med tech moved a bed carrying a slim woman through the set of double doors. Recognizing them as the rescued pilots she heaved an internal sigh of relief. At least their sacrifice was not in vain.
The sound of the bay doors opening behind her caught her attention and the XO watched as Aubrey was brought in on one of the hover gurneys and whisked into an alcove. A few moments later Stacie and Benji walked in, holding up a woozy Chloe between them. Her battle armor had been removed leaving her torn t-shirt and blackened skin visible. Stacie was being careful not to jostle the redhead any more than necessary. One of the medical personnel saw them and helped load Chloe onto a bed next to the one Aubrey was in. Benji and Stacie stood awkwardly in the middle of the intake area watching the chaos around them. The XO cleared her throat behind them.
"Angel, Wizard, report." Stacie and Benji straightened automatically as they turned to face their superior. Only short range comms were active during the mission so the XO was eager to hear details on the mission and why her Captains were injured.
Stacie spoke first, "Ma'am we recovered four of the pilots from the installation. Be-" Stacie caught herself using Beca's first name and continued, "Lt Mitchell, Lt Swanson, Captain Daniels and Captain Grey." Stacie paused a moment frowning.
"The rest were dead, Ma'am." Benji's soft voice added. The XO's face fell at the loss of life.
"What about Posen and Beale?"
Benji took up the conversation glancing quickly at Stacie, "Captain Posen took some shrapnel in the side and Captain Beale was hit by enemy fire."
The XO listened intently and held back on asking the questions at the tip of her tongue. Instead she fixed both of her Lieutenants with a fond gaze. "Good work Marines. Make sure Intel gets your vids logged. Go get cleaned up, we will debrief at 0630." Stacie looked like she was about to protest but Benji grabbed her elbow and dragged her out of the room with him.
Lt. Col. Abernathy looked on as Benji dragged Stacie out of the double doors. She waited a moment and then turned to walk over to where her injured Captains were. The outer triage area had quieted somewhat; most of the serious cases taken into the surgery area. A few nurses moved through the remaining beds updating clipboards and charts.
Aubrey was lying on her back unconscious with wisps of blonde hair that had broken free of her braid framing her face. A blood soaked bandage was haphazardly applied to her hip. The XO took solace in the steady rise and fall of her Captain's chest. On the bed next to Aubrey, Chloe was resting on her side, injured shoulder propped on a pillow and facing her best friend. Chloe was gazing sleepily at Aubrey when the XO entered her field of view. The redhead gave a little jump and the XO put a gentle hand on Chloe's leg to keep her from trying to sit up.
The XO winced in sympathy at the damage to Chloe's shoulder. The redhead's black t-shirt was torn away from her injury leaving only the collar intact. The skin on her shoulder was blackened and burnt leaving red streaks where blood had leaked from the blisters.
"How are you?"
"Uh, I-I'm okay. Stings a little." Chloe's voice cracked a bit with the effort to speak.
The XO squeezed Chloe's leg where her hand rested in reassurance before turning to look at Aubrey. Noticing the XO's concerned look at her friend Chloe spoke up.
"She's okay. They gave her some pain meds that knocked her out."
The XO looked back at Chloe, "What about you?"
Chloe grimaced, "They said the meds don't do well with energy weapon injuries or something."
Deciding to help take Chloe's mind off of the pain the XO changed topics. "I need to get ready for the debriefing. Angel and Wizard told me we saved some of your friends. Anything you want to talk about before I go?"
Chloe's brows drew together and she looked away from the XO's gaze, suddenly skittish about making eye contact. Noting Chloe's hesitation she moved closer gently squeezing the young woman's hand.
"What is it?"
Chloe shifted her gaze back to the XO searching her face and frowning slightly before reaching some internal decision. "It was too easy."
Now it was the XO's turn to frown and she deliberately looked at the carnage around them and Chloe's wound before meeting the pilot's worried gaze.
Finally the XO asked, "Too easy?" repeating the redhead's words back to her.
Chloe shrugged, wincing at the pain that radiated down her arm from the movement. "Something was off. I don't – I don't know how to explain it." Chloe paused huffing out a frustrated breath before continuing, "It just didn't feel right."
Then warming up to her line of thought she gathered a bit more energy for the discussion. "I mean, we have lost almost every engagement and now all of a sudden we walk into a base and come back out with survivors?"
Lt Col Abernathy nodded slowly, "Well you've been right before." She paused then carried on, "The CO and I will review the vids."
At the mention of the vids Chloe struggled to get her arm to obey, moving jerkily towards her pocket and breathing out a grunt at the effort. The XO patted her leg. "Which pocket?"
Chloe all but groaned, "Cargo pocket. I grabbed mine and Aubrey's before they took our gear." Gail reached into the younger woman's cargo pocket drawing out two small plastic squares.
The XO smiled, "I'll get these logged. You get some rest okay?" At the mention of rest Chloe felt the events of the day wash over her bringing with it a new wave of fatigue and pain. The pilot tried to blink back the lethargy that was settling in but it was a losing battle. Chloe watched through half open eyes as the XO gave a final squeeze to her hand and then bent down whispering something into Aubrey's ear.
Chloe was asleep before the XO cleared the bay doors.
0717 Zulu Time ICVN Arcturus Medical Bay
Aubrey woke to a blinding light being shined in her eye. Flailing a little she grabbed the arm holding the light pushing a dour faced Korean woman away from her.
"Captain Posen," the woman huffed in annoyance, "please lie still." The doctor leaned in again raising the light. Ignoring the doctor, Aubrey pushed herself up in the bed, trying to shake off the remaining lethargy from whatever painkillers they had dosed her with and pushed the doctor away again. The pilot felt a slight twinge in her side and pulled back the gown that someone had replaced her uniform with looking at the mended skin where her wound had been.
The doctor let out another annoyed breath and marked something on the chart in her hand with angry movements. Waiting for Aubrey to look at her again she pointed her pen at a long sliver of dark metal that was at least six inches in length was sitting inside a quarantine bag on a tray next to the bed.
"That was pulled out of your side. Lucky for you we were able to repair the damage to your kidney." The doctor paused silently assessing Aubrey. "I'll have one of your Squadron come escort you back to your quarters. Drink plenty of liquids."
Aubrey reached out stopping the doctor from leaving, "Kimmy-jin where's Chloe? Is she alright?" Aubrey looked around realizing she was no longer in the main bay but back in the surgery wing with a curtain preventing her from seeing who else was in the room. "What about Beca?"
Something flickered across Kimmy-jin's guarded features. She waved a hand dismissing Aubrey. "Your hard-headed friend is fine. She is resting." Kimmy-jin pulled back the curtain separating Aubrey's section with the one next to it revealing a sleeping Chloe. Her shoulder was covered in a clear gel and already showed signs of healing. The redhead twitched slightly in her sleep.
Aubrey breathed a sigh of relief at seeing Chloe.
"We are going to keep her for observation. We need to run more tests to see what we can learn about their weapons and the effects on the central nervous system." Kimmy-jin's unusual excitement showed in her speech and it was Aubrey's turn to be annoyed.
"We aren't lab rats!"
Unfazed by Aubrey's outburst Kimmy-jin immediately responded in her monotone, "Then stop getting injured by alien technology."
"What? Just… never mind." Aubrey dropped her head back on the pillow only to shoot back up when a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the bay. Adrenaline rushed through her system at the primal scream and the blonde pushed upright sliding off of the hospital bed. Her knees immediately buckled, body desperately trying to compensate for the disorientation from the anesthetic. Kimmy-jin made an aborted gesture to help Aubrey stand, but thought better of it at the last second pulling back. Clenching her jaw the blonde Marine willed her body to obey, pushing down the roiling nausea that threatened to erupt and threw back the green hospital curtain.
Aubrey took off towards the sounds of a struggle and burst through the doors of a surgery suite and halted in surprise at what she saw. A large black haired man wearing non-descript blue coveralls and a lab coated woman that Aubrey recognized as Dr. Braun were attempting to strap down a furiously struggling Beca. Another doctor lay against the wall clutching his face, blood dripping through his fingers. Yet another large man wearing coveralls was grappling with Sophia.
Aubrey hesitated in the doorway, rigid training screaming at her not to interfere. Sophia broke free from her assailant and rushed towards the man holding Beca.
"Hey! Stop!" Sophia yelled while grabbing the larger black haired by his collar and sending him sprawling away from Beca. The other man caught up to Sophia throwing a punch that she ducked and drove a lowered shoulder into his midsection taking them both to the floor. Beca's legs were now free leaving only the slim Dr. Braun to try and hold down the panicked woman. Beca broke free slamming a fist into Dr. Braun dropping the doctor like a sack of potatoes. The slim woman hurled herself off of the bed and curled into the corner clutching her knees to her chest.
The man Sophia had sent sprawling returned to his feet sparing a glance at a frozen Aubrey before going to his buddy's aid. He grabbed Sophia from behind putting her in a choke hold and pulling her roughly off her feet and against his chest.
Aubrey shook off her momentary paralysis. Something about the men in coveralls did not sit well with her.
"EVERYBODY STOP!" The blonde yelled while upending a tray of surgical instruments for effect. Her commanding voice combined with the loud crash of implements had the desired effect and everyone froze. When one of the men looked like he was about to object Aubrey fixed him with her best glare mildly pleased when it worked.
A little more calmly but still with steel lacing her tone she continued, "Just stop." Looking at the man still holding Sophia she bit out, "Let her go." Not waiting to see if he obeyed she approached Beca slowly.
"Beca, its Aubrey." When the slim brunette didn't meet her eyes and continued to crouch in the corner Aubrey crouched down keeping herself between Beca and the men. Behind her she heard Sophia huff and then cough having been released from the choke hold.
"Beca." Aubrey frowned, Beca was staring into the wall, not giving any indication that she even heard what she was saying. Tentatively the Captain reached out placing a hand lightly on Beca's elbow where it was wrapped around her knee. Beca flinched but didn't pull away completely. She was mumbling to herself with her eyes closed. "Beca, it's me, Aubrey." After saying this the blonde frowned to herself thinking that she was the last person Beca wanted to see.
Pressure. Pain. The never ending blackness. Beca was drifting in that blackness struggling to stay under. This blackness was safe, no questions here, no sharp searing pain. Sometimes she saw visions in the darkness, her mother singing but that would always end in the vision morphing into yelling and the face of her father. But then she would be there, blue eyes so bright Beca knew they couldn't be real. Blue eyes and a flash of red hair and always that smile that would beckon her back from the edge of the oblivion she craved. There was always her voice that told her to fight, that fought with the one who wanted her secrets.
Beca felt rough hands pulling and pushing her, she wanted to die just like all of the other times. But if she was going to die, she would do so on her terms. Fear and adrenaline fed her a strength she thought she no longer possessed and she lashed out, hearing a crack through the roar of blood rushing in her ears and felt the soft crunch under her fist. This time she welcomed the pain that radiated from her hand. She drifted again. But where had only been darkness, now the light was seeping in. And a voice. A familiar voice. Blinding sterile light replaced the darkness and she opened her eyes to Aubrey?
The blonde Marine knelt, keeping still as she watched Beca's eyes clear and the recognition flare through them. The brunette still looked as if she would bolt at any moment and flicked a glance down to where Aubrey's hand rested on her knee before rapidly looking around at the chaos in the room.
One of the men behind her said angrily, "This is bullshit. Who do you think…hrkk." Sophia turned the tables and had him in a chokehold. Beca shrank back into the corner.
"W-what's going on? Where am I? Who are these people?" she stammered out.
Aubrey turned to Sophia and the man behind her. "Stop it! You are scaring her!"
Beca immediately snarked back. "I'm not scared." Aubrey turned back to Beca fixing her with an amused glance, even now the brunette had an innate need to argue with her and despite everything she could not help her amusement.
Beca almost smiled but then shrank back, afraid to trust this was real. Aubrey sensed her shift in mood. Talking in a low soothing voice she answered the brunette's questions.
"Beca, you are on the ICVN Arcturus. We were sent in to rescue your squadron."
Beca frowned, "The Arcturus? But that's…where are we?"
Aubrey replied gently squeezing the hand on Beca's knee gently. "We are near the Capella system, heading back to the Pollux system I believe."
"But that's clear on the other side of…how long were we gone? Where are the others?" Beca was becoming agitated again and she looked past Aubrey to where Sophia was standing.
The black haired man pushed forward. "Enough!" he barked out. "Further contact is prohibited. They need to be debriefed properly."
Sophia pulled away from the man at her side, "No way we are going anywhere with you guys."
Aubrey stood up placing herself between Beca and the others. "Debriefed? Under whose authority?"
The other man in coveralls sneered, "You don't have clearance to know who we are. If you value your career you will stand down, Captain." He used her rank like a swear word. Aubrey blanched, the threat striking a nerve with the Marine.
Sophia suddenly looked unsure, "No. I don't like this."
The brown haired man next to her turned and said, "This is protocol Captain. You will come with us."
Another voice rang out, "Where are your authorization papers?"
Aubrey turned a surprised gaze to the redhead standing in the doorway of the suite. She heard Beca breathe out quietly behind her, "Chloe."
Kimmy-jin was standing next to Chloe clutching her clipboard and frowning so hard Aubrey thought her face had to hurt.
"Papers? What the fuck do you think this is a democracy?" The black haired man was clearly angry and at the end of his patience. He turned to Kimmy-jin, "Dr. Kwon, I suggest you get your patients under control." Kimmy-jin only glared in return.
Sophia advances on him, "We are ISF Marines. We don't answer to civilians. Show us your authorization papers or get lost." The black haired man just shook his head.
"Fine, the hard way it is." He pulled out a stunner and leveled it at Sophia. The small weapon letting out a high pitched whine as it charged. Sophia lunged at him desperately hoping to get to him before he could charge it fully, but he fired dropping the woman on the ground with a flash. Chloe shouted a warning to Aubrey. The other man had pulled his weapon and aimed it at the blonde firing before she could move. The blonde was unconscious before she hit the floor. The last thing she saw was Beca's horrified expression.