Kix refused to give up. He pumped his hands on Dagger's ribcage, "Once more Corric."
"Kix," the medic said gently, "I don't know if that is going to help."
Kix looked at him with desperation in his eyes, "Once more."
Corric nodded and pressed the defibrillator paddles into her chest one last time. Her back arched off the table and slammed back down.
Kix listened closely to EKG, he was listening so hard he jumped when it finally beeped. His eyes went wide, there was another pulse. Slowly and steadily the beats grow stronger.
He set to work to get a blood transfusion started. She had lost a lot of blood, her heart would need more if it was going to keep working properly. The blood slowly started to flow into the vein in her arm.
As soon as the transfusion was done and her wound sewn completely closed Kix ordered the bacta tank to be readied. Corric helped him put her into the harness and attach the breathing tube.
Then they lifted her and placed her in the bacta tank. Kix was hopeful that she would be healed up soon. It had been hours since they had gotten into the medbay, he checked his crono and realized that it would be morning soon on the planet below.
The bacta tank Dagger floated in was moved to the back room. A med droid was tasked with watching her condition and to alert Kix immediately if anything was wrong.
By the looks of the injured streaming in through the doors, the battle was over. There would be a lot of wounded soldiers to deal with.
Kix drew the curtain to keep Dagger's bacta tank out of view and analyzed the room. Most of the injured were sitting up, that was always a good sign. Everyone who was laying down and unconscious was already being attended to.
He spotted Echo sitting on a bed in the corner. The newest medic, Cobalt was standing in front of him. It would seem he was giving Echo a lecture.
Kix strode up and placed a hand on the medic's shoulder, stopping him mid sentence, "Thank you Cobalt, I will take it from here."
He huffed but walked away. Kix pulled out some antiseptic wipes and started cleaning out the shallow cuts on Echo's face as the man started to take off his armor, stacking it neatly on the bed next to him.
"You are probably wondering how Dagger is doing," Kix asked.
Echo nodded, eyes pleading for good news. Kix was eager to tell him, "She is in the bacta now. It was really unsteady for a while. Dagger flatlined during surgery, but we managed to bring her back."
Echo shuddered, he had been so close to losing Dagger. So close to losing his best friend. If not for Kix and the other medics he would have lost her for sure. He looked up at Kix, "She is going to be ok though, right?"
"I can't make any promises, but as long as I have anything to say about it she will."
~B~
Rex was convinced that someone had tied bricks to his boots, he even checked to make sure. Post battle routine was always so hard for him to get through. It was the worst part of his job.
He made his way through the hangar of the Resolute after giving the General his preliminary briefing. He spotted something next to the hangar door that led into the main terminal of the ship. It was a backpack. One of his troopers must have left it in their hurry to get somewhere.
Rex decided to pick it up and bring it back to the barracks with him. As he hoisted the strap over his shoulder the pack made a strange rattling sound. His brow scrunched together and he looked at the CT number printed on the label. It was Echo's pack.
Curious, Rex flipped open the pack to see what had made the noise. The sight of a busted helmet almost sent him to his knees. Dagger's helmet stared up at him. A gaping hole in the face plate as if it had been blasted apart.
The hole was shattered and jagged, sharp pieces of duraplast that were covered in blood. Dagger's blood. Like the helmet, Rex's heart shattered. A choked gasp escaped his throat.
Shoving the helmet back into the pack he wondered once again how this could have happened. How could this world be so cold and cruel? Dagger never would have let that helmet be taken from his head willingly. If the helmet was not with Dagger then surely he was dead. Echo had been right, no matter how much Fives had tried to convince him that Echo was mistaken.
He had many things that he had to attend to. Rex had no time to be thinking about this. Of course that was not true, but it was what he told himself to get his mind off his grief. First of all he needed to shower and change.
The stench of dirt, blood, and blaster fire hung heavy around him. Most of the time he waited in line for the showers. He could easily use his rank to never wait, but it never felt right for him to do so.
After a battle or mission was the only time he would skip the line. However this time there was next to no one in the barracks yet. Only one of the showers was occupied so Rex was quick to wash up.
Rex watched as dirt formed rivers of mud down his legs, the water and soap mixing to wash it away. He liked to imagine that it was taking away all of the bad things. That being clean would make everything be better. It didn't, but it was a nice thought.
He dried off and dressed quickly. Sitting on his bunk he let out a deep sigh. This was the worst part. Packing the things of fallen brothers.
Regulations demanded that uniform items of soldiers who were killed be sent back to Kamino for inspection and then redistribution. The personal items that were bought by troopers were either discarded or repurposed by the sergeants of the company.
Sorting and packing the belongings was the duty of the Torrent Company sergeants. Appo was technically in charge of this job. However, no sergeant had ever performed said job in the entire time that Rex had been the Captain of Torrent.
Appo had tried, when he was newly promoted, but quickly learned that Rex preferred to do it himself. Not because he wanted to do it, but because he knew it was the worst job anyone could be assigned. Rex could never ask anyone to pack the belongings of their own brothers who would never return from the battlefield. He would never order one of his men to do something he was not willing to do himself.
So, Rex packed everything himself. He tried to get everything done before his brothers had a chance to get back to the barracks. Maybe if they didn't have to see the belongings of their brothers they would be spared at least a fraction of the heartbreak he was feeling now.
He scanned the preliminary list of names and corresponding CT numbers. He frowned at how long the list was. He hated this, and he knew that today would be worse than usual.
Dagger had died in this battle and he would be forced to pack his things. The thought tugged on his heartstrings and he had to take a deep breath to steady his emotions. Rex refused to look beyond one name at a time.
His movements were mechanical as he pulled items of clothing out of drawers. He logged every item and put it in the trunk. One by one he went down the list, only one name at a time. Every time he finished a bunk he prayed to the universe that it was the last one. That had not been the case for the last six bunks.
There was a small voice in the back of his head that told him that he should be grateful that none of the names had been Dagger so far. The voice told him that Dagger might still be alive. Maybe the broken helmet didn't mean anything.
All it would take would be a call to Kix and ask. He couldn't bring himself to pick up the comm. He didn't want to give himself hope. Dagger was dead and there was nothing he could do about it. He didn't think that he would be able to take the heartbreak he was feeling again if he allowed himself to have hope.
The stack of trunks by the door grew steadily as troopers started to return. They greeted him softly as they made their way to the showers. Everyone knew how hard it was for Rex to be doing this, they were grateful that it didn't have to be them. His brothers were always so gentle with him on these days. Rex didn't know if that was better or worse.
He was startled when a hand landed on his shoulder. He straightened up from where he was leaning over Flicker's bunk and saw Appo standing in front of him.
The sergeant gave him a sad smile, "Kix wanted to see you, Captain."
"Thank you Appo, I'll go once I'm done here," he answered, unwilling to leave the task unfinished. It didn't feel right.
"Rex, none of this stuff is going anywhere. You forcing yourself to do it all at once is only hurting you more. Go see Kix, everything will still be here when you return," Appo was very convincing with his words.
Rex took one last mournful look around the room and nodded, "Thank you Appo. I'll be back soon to finish up. You don't need to do anything, just keep an eye on everyone for me."
"Copy that Captain," Appo replied.
Rex walked out the barracks, dropping his datapad on his bunk as he left. He looked up at Dagger's bunk. His heart wishing he saw the clone sleeping on it post battle. Striped helmet face down into the pillow sleeping like a plank. He frowned when that wasn't the case. He berated himself mentally for even checking.
As the durasteel doors slid closed behind Rex Appo stepped forward. He gently took the datapad from Rex's bunk. He got to work on everything that the Captain left unfinished. He knew that the Captain would scold him later, but it would be worth it.
Rex always did everything he could to protect his men, it hurt him just that much more when they died under his command. Appo would do anything that he could to help his Captain.
~B~
Rex entered the medbay. He looked around at all of his men in various states on all of the beds. Medics and droids moved with purpose between them. Kix was busy attending to Cricket at the moment. The man had taken a blaster shot to the shoulder. Kix would be busy for a minute.
So, Rex made his way to where he saw Fives sitting next to a cot. Echo was asleep on said cot, his breathing soft and steady.
"How is he doing," Rex asked.
"He's good. Concussion and minor scrapes and cuts. He told me about an explosion before the drugs kicked in. He said that one of our own fighters crashed into the village Charlie Squad was clearing. The fuel tank exploded on impact and destroyed everything in the open," Fives was speaking to Rex, but his eyes never left Echo's body. He was afraid if he were to stop watching his friend he would cease to exist.
"Stars," Rex whispered, "How did Echo even survive?"
"He was still inside at the time, I think he was the only one to see it coming. If he would have known he would have done everything to save his men. I know he would have. This isn't his fault Captain."
Rex put his hand on Fives' shoulder in reassurance, "I know Fives. No one is to blame. I'm glad Echo is going to be ok."
"Captain," Kix called, finally realizing that he was here. Rex gave a nod to Fives before going over to meet the medic in front of an empty cot.
"Kix, I was busy. What did you call me down here for?"
"I called you down to check you over. I know how you work Rex, you have to be ordered down here practically every time," Rex started to protest Kix's words, but he was cut off by the medic, "And I will give you the rundown of all the troops while you let me make sure you aren't injured."
Kix made a motion with his hands and Rex hopped up on the cot to sit reluctantly. He knew better than to argue with Kix in this situation. The medic had actually sedated him last time he had tried to walk out of medbay without getting treatment for an injury. Rex had been pissed for a week, Kix had been smug for two.
"So? Start at the worst and get better as we go?" Kix asked.
Rex nodded, it was the best way to do things. Kix checked his data pad briefly before putting it down next to Rex and starting his examination.
"We got two in the bacta tanks. Hardcase took a shot to the leg, just muscle damage but we stuck him in there to keep him from walking on it. He would probably end up making the injury worse anyway. Dagger needed surgery for his injuries though. Flatlined for about ten minutes, we were able to get him back and stable before putting him in the bacta. I'm worried about him, but Dagger is a fighter, I think he'll pull through."
Rex's heart raced so fast he thought it was going to jump out of his chest. Kix kept on talking as if he hadn't just given Rex the best news he ever had been given. He was shocked into silence at the knowledge that Dagger was still alive.
Dagger was alive. How? Rex couldn't believe it. Alive. Safe on the Resolute. Kix placed a stethoscope to his chest and looked at the Captain as he heard his racing heart.
"Captain? What's wrong?"
"Dagger?" Rex asked, eyes watering, "Dagger is alive?"
"Of course Dagger is alive. Were... Were you told differently?"
Rex nodded, a tear broke free and streaked down his face, "He's alive Kix. Kix! Dagger is alive. I get to see him again!"
Rex moved to jump off the bed to try and find Dagger immediately. Kix was faster, he planted his hands on the cot on either side of Rex's hips effectively caging him to the confines of the cot, "Whoa, whoa. You aren't going anywhere. First of all I haven't finished checking you over. Second Dagger is in the bacta tank, you aren't allowed to see him."
"The hell I can't Kix. I'm allowed to oversee the treatment of all my men," he didn't understand why Kix wouldn't let him see Dagger.
"Dagger's helmet was destroyed in the blast. It wouldn't be fair for me to let you see him without it while he is unconscious. That is a choice he has to make on his own," Kix said. He did not mention the other repercussions there could be if Rex found out her secret like this.
Rex looked down, realizing his mistake, "Oh, yeah. That's ok Kix, you're right. I understand. It's enough just to know that he is alive and safe."
"While you wait, I'm sure Dagger would appreciate it if you were to find him a new helmet from supply. What do you think Cap?"
Rex smiled and nodded. It looked like everything might turn out ok. Dagger was alive, he still had a chance to tell him how he felt. Once Dagger was healed he would do just that. All he had to do was figure out how to tell the man.
(A/N: Hello Everyone! I'm sorry for all the cliffhangers. Things will start to get a bit better from here. I have been trying to post regularly for the past month or however long this story has been going. However now I'm back at Uni and need to focus on school work. I won't be giving up on this story I promise, but please do not expect updates as often as they have been in the past. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and would consider leaving a review telling me what you thought of it.)