Chapter 20: Aiding Those Who Call

            UNSC Medical Ship Tybalt, Near Syphon, Reach Debris Field, Epsilon Eridani System

"Hey Fred, how are you doing?" Linda asked quietly as she walked into Fred's room. She closed the door softly and walked up to him. Linda took a quick glance at the Mark VI MJOLNIR armor that was lying on a table next to Fred's bed. She spied the right leg piece and saw the bullet hole in it.

"I'm okay, feel a little light headed but that's it," he replied, his voice full of strength. He sat up in his bed and tried to move his right leg but he couldn't. Linda quickly reached out and held it in place.

"Don't, it could still tear. You're going to be out of action for a while," she said. Linda removed her helmet and set it down on a small table. Her shoulder length hair fell down and glinted with sweat. Fred tried to move his right leg again but she quickly stopped it again.

"I told you, don't try that again. You know you almost died on the table? It sure got my heart racing." Fred looked away in shame before replying.

"I know, but I still couldn't stop him."

"Don't beat yourself up over it. He was-no, he is the best. We'll get him back, you wait, those Covenant can't resist using him against us." Fred looked back at her. Linda looked into his eyes but they were shallow, something was missing from them but she didn't know what. A smile crept across her face and she looked away.

"What's so funny?" Fred asked innocently. He looked around the room; his gaze slowed when he looked over his armor and he caught sight of the hole in it but didn't dwell on it.

"Sorry, I'm just glad you're alive." She walked over to Fred and gave him a small peck on the forehead before grabbing her helmet and walking out.

            As Linda put her helmet on and sealed it tears streamed down her cheeks. She wasn't sure why but it was either because Fred laying there helpless on the building getting shot or the fact that a person she cared for, more than the normal bond between Spartans, had been trying to kill one of the last people she could turn to. The echoes of the gunshot kept replaying through her mind. But she was stopped when the ship's COM channel turned on.

"All Spartans are to go to hangar bay eight for immediate transfer to the Trilon, over and out." Linda quickly brought up a map and arrived at hangar bay eight. She entered and found it empty except for one Pelican that was docked and the pilot standing outside of it.

"Hello, I think I'm your chauffer for today. We're just waiting for the other Spartan before we're going to the Trilon." Linda nodded in agreement and could sense an uneasiness in the pilot's, otherwise happy, attitude. He walked over to one of the engines and checked it before coming back to his original position, which was to the left of the main passenger compartment. There was a thump and Linda turned around to see a Heavy Recon soldier pushing Fred with a robotic dolly lagging behind under the heavy burden of his armor. The group quickly got onto the Pelican and took off towards the Trilon. Immediately after arriving they were swarmed with personnel rushing them off the Pelican and out of the hangar bay. The hallways were dark except for the red warning lights that bathed everybody in a red glow.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Linda asked trying to stay calm.

"Earth's been attacked and we've been summoned to go help. This might get pretty ugly from the reports that are coming in. It seems the Trafalgar 2 and a large group of the Terra defense fleet were engaged and destroyed. It seems there also some new Covenant ships attacking, one of them destroyed Moon Alpha base in one shot."

"I've gotta get in there, I can't sit in a bed and just watch on a view screen. I'm fine, let me get out now," Fred said.

"Shut-up, you're wounded," Linda replied blatantly. The tech that was helping push Fred had a stunned look on his face but didn't say anything.

"So what are we going to go and do?" Linda asked.

"I don't know, I'm just along for the ride." The small group arrived into a private room and they closed the door.

"I'm going to give you some more blood," the tech said immediately. He pulled out an IV and started to give Fred blood. Linda guessed it was hers seeing as she was the only one who had given blood to him. There was a slight jerk and the Trilon entered slipspace with a direct course to Earth.

"I'm going to fight, I don't care if they have to give me a bio-limb, and I'm going to fight Linda." The Tech acted as if he hadn't heard her real name.

"No, I don't want you to go out there and get hurt again. I'm not going to risk it," she stopped and reconsidered. They'd need all the help they could get, especially from a Spartan.

"I'll go ask a doctor and see what they can do," Linda continued. She walked out of the room and tried to find a doctor. All she could find were nurses and other medical bay personnel. After five minutes of walking around she finally located someone who could help her.

"I need your opinion on someone…special. Could you follow me?" The doctor craned his neck then nodded up and down.

"What is it that you need?" he asked as they walked back to Fred's room.

"Well, a Spartan was wounded in combat and had a torn Femoral. He's got a brace that's holding it in place but he can't move his right leg. But we need him, badly." The doctor didn't say anything for a little bit then answered.

"He's probably just got swelling from the surgery and sutures. It should go down within two days without medication. I can give him something that'll help but unfortunately it cause drowsiness but it'll lower the swelling by about three-quarters. After that he should be in good condition."

"Okay, do it, we need him," Linda replied quickly. They reached Fred's room and walked in. The doctor walked up to his leg and started to look at it. Fred glanced at Linda and had a confused look on his face.

"Yeah, it's swelling. I'm going to go get the medication and be right back." Once the doctor was out of earshot Fred spoke.

"What do I need medication for?"

"Your leg, it's just swelling from the surgery and everything they had to do to it," she replied easily.

"So is it going to get my going again?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes and no. It'll lower the swelling incredibly fast, like in a few hours, but you'll be super tired during that time. So pretty much your going to be knocked out for a few hours then you'll be good to go." She could already see Fred was comforted by the fact that he wasn't going to be left alone while everybody got to fight. The doctor walked back in with two needles full of a clear liquid and instantly came up to Fred and injected the fluid into his arm.

"Hmmm, this stuff…is…pretty…fast…" his voice trailed off and his head slumped to the side. The doctor walked up to Linda and spoke in a whisper.

"I gave him an extra dose because of his size and the need to have his leg in good condition. He should be awake by 1700 hours and alert and active by 1800 hours. But just keep him off his legs till tomorrow. He needs to let the sutures seal the skin more." Linda nodded and walked off.