Chapter 7: Holding On

Carth

Carth gripped Revan's hand. There was no diagnosis for her condition right now; all they knew was that she was definitely alive and very much comatose. As to why, there was no answer.

"We barely made it here alive, beautiful," he whispered to her, "we're not losing you now."

The ship had become visible as soon as they jumped into hyperspace, a strange, sleek craft, jet-black and shining like it was liquid. The thing was fast, but as it fired upon the Lumos with its strange indigo blasts, the Lumos managed to sweep away faster. Kaas and Cyde were impressive pilots.

After a brief and heated discussion with an unhappy dock officer, the unscheduled landing was given permission to stay where it was, and as Kaas handed the 25 credit bribe over to Dock Officer Medans, Carth had quickly carried Revan to a medical facility. It had not been easy: though Revan was not particularly heavy while awake, her dead weight made Carth feel like he was carrying a bantha. Not that Revan ever needed to know that.

At the medical facility, complicated forms were filled out, many a loophole was jumped through, and Revan was finally admitted. Carth had contacted Canderous to inform him of the delay, and Carth wondered, a little jealously perhaps, if the Mandalorian was always shirtless when he answered the communications console.

It had been three standard hours, and now Carth was still sitting, rubbing Revan's cold hands and touching her flushed cheeks.

Carth's face was a mask of anguish. What if he lost Revan, too?

"Not another one," he pleaded, "not like this."

Carth still remembered vividly. Holding his wife in his arms, her head bleeding, hair and skin burnt. Her glazed eyes, first drowning in pain and then completely lifeless. He would not go through that agony again. Ever.

With a jolt, machines started beeping and humming. Revan's eyes shot open and she sat up. Carth let go of her hand in shock.

Her breathing was heavy and she quickly looked around the room in a panic. She then looked at the hand that Carth had been holding.

"Ow. Did something happen to my hand or what?"

Carth was speechless.

Canderous

"Carth Onasi. No, he checked her in. Do I need to go through every room in here or what?"

Canderous loved intimidation, as low as it was. The nurse shakily found a file and snatched it up, quickly scanning it.

I… I'm sorry, sir. Room 113b. If there is any qu… question, just tell them… tell them Kalina approved of your visit, squeaked the Twi'lek in Huttese.

"Yeah, right. Thanks," muttered Canderous gruffly. He stomped down the hall to room 113b.

Canderous was still unclear on the situation. Carth had said something about an attack by an invisible ship… but that couldn't be right. Onasi was crazy. There was also some mention of Rev being incapacitated. The fact that she was in the hospital now made Canderous even more on edge. He was as jumpy as a tach monkey, and had about half the patience.

Finally, amidst the seemingly scattered room numbers, Canderous found 113b. He knocked twice and waited a second before entering, not wanting to be privy to one of Carth's and Revan's displays of affection.

"Onasi," acknowledged Canderous as he stepped in, "Rev. You're up," he noticed with surprise.

"I wouldn't say that," corrected Revan, grimacing as she attempted to sit up straighter.

"It's been a while," remarked Carth. He shook the Mandalorian's hand, which was roughly twice the size of Carth's.

"Yeah, well, don't get all sentimental on me, Onasi. What's the situation?" Canderous took Carth's seat at Revan's side.

Carth explained the unusual occurrences to Canderous, from the cloaked ship to Revan's collapse. He waited for Revan to chime in about what had happened to her, but Revan offered no explanation, and Carth knew better than to try and squeeze it out of her. Canderous, however, had no such tact.

"Wait," he interrupted as Carth began to speak again, "what happened to you, Rev? You just collapsed?"

Revan seemed lost in thought. Her expression grew concerned.

"Did you get scared or something?" Canderous scoffed. Revan's eyes widened.

"I was just kidding," apologized Canderous. "Are you…"

Revan gasped.

"What?" cried both of the males simultaneously, rushing to her.

"Bastila," Revan whispered sharply. "We need to find her."