Kyle Katarn: The Rise & Fall

Book 1: Rise of a Hero

Chapter 20: Return from Anteevy

A/N: The mission to destroy the Anteevy base was successful, but Kyle has been critically wounded after encountering both a Phase 1 and Phase 2 Dark Troopers. And because our hero keeps getting his butt kicked, I've decided to introduce a new character to help him out. Come and see!

Twenty-Nine hours later

Rebel Command Ship New Hope

Mon Mothma found Jan in the hangar, working on the Moldy Crow. The ships' near constant need for maintenance had been compounded by exposure to Anteevy's freezing temperatures.

With her attention focused on replacing a burnt-out shield augmenter, Jan didn't hear her approach.

"Jan."

Her head came up so fast; Jan managed to strike it on the open access panel. Swearing, she smacked the panel shut and turned to face Mon Mothma, one hand delicately rubbing the top of her head.

Mon Mothma shook her head in response to Jan's silent question. "Kyle is still in surgery."

"I see."

"There hasn't been time for a proper debriefing," Mon Mothma said, "so why don't you accompany me to the mess hall for a cup of tea and something to eat?"

She started to protest, but Mon Mothma cut her off. "That's an order."

Reluctantly, Jan dropped the tools she held on the Crow's port wing and jumped down.

Mon Mothma led the way as the two women left the hangar bay and headed to the mess hall. Entering, the odor of all kinds of food assaulted their senses. Despite her concern for Kyle's condition, Jan felt her stomach rumble.

After getting some food, Jan followed Mon Mothma to a table and accepted a cup of steaming tea.

"Now," the older woman said when they were seated and Jan had begun to eat, "tell me what happened."

In between bites, she told Mon Mothma about their arrival on Anteevy and Kyle's near fall into the chasm, carefully avoiding details of their time together in the survival tent. They both laughed at Jan's description of the hapless stormtrooper that had attempted to capture Kyle.

"But what about Kyle?" Mon Mothma pressed, "What happened to him?"

Jan shook her head, and then shrugged. "Well, we know the Empire had deployed Dark Troopers at the Anteevy base. Kyle must've encountered one of them, maybe more than one."

"I see," Mon Mothma, "and given the extent of his injuries, the Dark Troopers must be quite formidable."

Jan nodded.

Their comlinks went off at the same time. The women stared at each other for a moment, and then Jan pulled hers out.

"Jan here."

"This is Dr. Berth, would you please join me in sickbay? Oh, and if you see Mon Mothma, I'd like her to come too."

"Is Kyle…?"

"You'll see when you get here. Berth out."

Without a word, the two women got up and headed for the exit. They were almost to sickbay when Mon Mothma's comlink sounded again.

After a moment, she said, "You go ahead, Jan. I have to attend to something first."

Jan nodded and continued to sickbay. The twin doors parted as she approached. Stepping inside, the antiseptic smell of the room filled her nostrils. Curtains were drawn around one of the beds and there stood Berth.

"Mon Mothma's on her way," she said, "How's Kyle?"

The doctor's brow knitted in concern.

"I won't lie to you, Jan. The burns to his hands were fairly severe. Fortunately, the extreme cold on Anteevy helped reduce the loss of blood and kept the skin from deteriorating further. I've had to do some cosmetic reconstruction.

Jan said nothing, her mind absorbing the doctor's words.

"In addition, something cut him up, badly. I found multiple lacerations from head to toe. It's amazing he didn't bleed to death. That coupled with damage from a number of blaster burns, contusions and fractures. Well, he's lucky to be alive."

Jan felt as if her skin had turned to ice. She had feared this and worse upon seeing Kyle.

Just then, the sickbay doors parted and Mon Mothma stepped in.

Berth related to her what he had told Jan.

A muscle flinched in Mon Mothma's cheek, and her mouth became a thin, almost bloodless line.

Jan tried to speak and found that her mouth was dry.

"We'd like to see him," Mon Mothma said.

"Of course," Berth said, nodding, "he's still unconscious and I'd like to keep him so for another few hours. His body will need time to heal."

The two women nodded and, as Berth pulled back a section of the curtain, stepped inside.

Kyle lay on the bed, eyes closed. IV's snaked out of both arms, bags containing liquids of various colors attached to stands. Bandages covered large sections of his face, arms and chest. A breathing tube was coiled nearby. Jan turned to Berth, eyebrows lifting in a silent question.

"Had it ready just in case. But he's been breathing on his own the whole time."

Jan nodded, turning her gaze back towards Kyle. No one said anything for a while.

Suddenly, Berth snapped his fingers.

"I almost forgot to mention the odd thing I found. Jan, do you know if Kyle had access to a medpack or emergency supplies?"

"Aside from what I had in the ship, no," Jan replied.

The doctor's brow furrowed in confusion. "Now that is puzzling."

"What is?" Mon Mothma asked.

In response, Berth reached down and gently pulled on a section of bandage covering part of Kyle's left arm.

"Look," he said.

The women complied, seeing a shallow furrow in the skin. But instead of an angry-looking cut or bruise, the furrow contained a section of pinkish skin.

"What are we supposed to be seeing?" Jan asked.

Pointing at the skin, Berth said, "The cut here is nearly healed. When Kyle came in here, this cut was nearly a inch deep and still bleeding."

The two women looked at each other, then at the doctor, not understanding.

" I concentrated on healing the worst of Kyle's injuries, particularly the burns on his hands. Beyond bandaging this cut, I did nothing else to it and yet now, not three hours later, it's almost completely healed."

"What are you saying, doctor?" Mon Mothma asked.

"I'm not really sure," Berth admitted, "I can't explain what's happening to him. It's almost as if most of his injuries are healing themselves."

"It's not just this one cut?" Jan asked.

Berth shook his head, partially removing other bandages. Like the first, deep, long cuts in the skin were nearly healed. Bruises on Kyle's chest had faded to almost nothing.

"Is whatever is happening dangerous?" Mon Mothma asked.

"Not that I can see," Berth said.

"Keep him under observation, doctor," Mon Mothma said, turning to leave.

"Just a minute, please. The older woman waited as Jan walked to the side of the bed. She looked down into his face, muttering something Mon Mothma couldn't hear. Jan reached out a hand, hesitated, then brushed a lock of hair off of Kyle's forehead. With a last glance at him, she followed the others as they stepped outside the curtains.

"I'm going back to the hangar bay," she said to Mon Mothma.

"Before you do," the other woman replied, "I've received some information concerning Kyle that I need to discuss with you.

"What kind of information?" Jan asked, concern on her face.

"Not here," Mon Mothma said, heading for the sickbay doors.

Perplexed, Jan followed.

The Dark Trooper had him cornered. Kyle frantically searched his belt for something to use against it. But his weapons were gone. Frantically, he keyed the comlink again.

"Katarn to Moldy Crow."

No answer.

"Jan, this is Kyle. Please come in."

The Dark Trooper was advancing. It would be on him soon.

With the crackle of static, Jan's voice came through the comlink. "Kyle, what's your status?"

"Well, considering that I have no weapons and Dark Trooper coming at me, I'd say I'm in trouble."

The sound of laser fire and an explosion came over the tiny speaker.

"I've still got three TIE fighters on me, shields are failing. I don't think…"

There was another explosion, much louder. He heard Jan cry out, then the transmission dissolved into static.

"Jan! Come in, Jan!"

No answer.

"JAN!"

The clank of metal on metal sounded right in front of him. A flash of metal and the Dark Trooper struck out at him. Kyle threw up his hands in a futile attempt to ward it off.

Republic Command Ship New Hope

Sickbay

Twenty-four hours later

"Kyle!"

His eyes opened to reveal Dr. Berth's face hovering above him. The doctor's face was strained, his hands on Kyle's arms, trying to hold them down.

"Doc?"

"Kyle," Berth grunted, "I need you to relax. You're here in sickbay."

"Sickbay?"

"Kyle, trust me, you're safe. Now, stop fighting me!"

The words penetrated his sleep-fogged brain and Kyle forced himself to stop moving. With palpable relief on his face, the doctor relaxed his grip, placing Kyle's arms back on the bed. "That's better," Berth said, checking to make Kyle hadn't pulled any of his IV's out. That done, he looked back down at the younger man.

"How do you feel?"

"Okay, I guess." Kyle said, taking a self-inventory. With the last vestiges of sleep draining away, he became aware that he was lying in a bed, several IV's twisting out of his arms. "But, considering what I went through on Anteevy, maybe I should be asking you how I feel."

"Given the shape you were in when you arrived, good. In fact, very good."

"But doc," Kyle said, confused, "I remember my hands getting burnt and being cut up by shrapnel. How can I be all right?"

The doctor shrugged. "Take a look for yourself."

Carefully, he pulled a section of bandaged off of Kyle's left arm. The skin beneath was practically unmarred, only a faint red mark visible.

"When you arrived," Berth said, "there was a two-inch gash there."

"But how…?" Kyle said, incredulous. Berth raised his arms in a gesture of confusion.

"I have no idea. I hadn't had time to administer to any of your cuts, but they appear to be healing themselves. But, we can discuss that later. Mon Mothma asked to be informed as soon as you awoke."

Moving to a panel behind the bed, he pressed a switch. "This is Sickbay to Mon Mothma."

A moment passed. "This is Mon Mothma."

"Kyle is awake."

"And his condition?"

"Quite good, considering."

"I'm on my way."

In her office, Mon Mothma stood up. Despite the news she had for him, she was glad Kyle was going to be all right. She had a feeling about this young man.

As she passed through the office door, Mon Mothma pulled a comlink from the depths of her robes.

"Mon Mothma to Jan Ors."

"To her surprise, there was no response. "Jan, are you there?"

There was still no answer. Switching channels, she called again.

"This is hangar control."

"Have you seen Jan Ors?"

"She was here a moment ago, Mon Mothma. She left to retrieve some parts for the Crow."

"I see. As soon as she returns, please inform to meet me in Sickbay as soon as possible."

"Yes, ma'am."

Clicking off, she headed there herself.

Passing through the twin doors, Mon Mothma stepped over to Kyle's bed. To her surprise, he was sitting up in bed, all but one IV removed. His hands were still bandaged, but he was managing to hold a drinking goblet from which he was sipping. Seeing her enter, Kyle took a last sip, then allowed the doctor to take the drink from him.

"Good to see you awake, Kyle. How are you feeling?"

"Given what the doc has told me of my injuries, I should feel horrible. But I feel okay."

She looked to Berth, who nodded. "His vitals all look good, and the healing has continued. Take a look."

Mon Mothma looked to where Berth pointed. Where earlier she had seen a furrow in the skin, it was now unblemished.

"What about the rest of his injuries?"

"I was just about to start removing the bandages," Berth replied.

With a nod from Mon Mothma, he began. Section after section of healthy, unmarred skin became visible. There were a few areas of redness here and there, but Kyle's face appeared to be unmarked whatsoever.

"It's amazing," she said.

"What?" Kyle said.

Doctor Berth passed him a mirror, and Kyle spent several minutes examining his face. "Doc," he said, "I know I got cut here several times. What's going on?"

"I don't know." Berth said, "It's as if your body is healing itself. But I've never seen healing at this speed or completeness.

"What about my hands?" Kyle said, holding them up.

"Let's find out," said the doctor and began to remove the bandages.

Underneath the gauze and tape, Kyle's hands were slightly pale. The flesh on his palms and fingers was red and scars were visible on the back of his hands. But the flesh was whole, intact.

"Doc," Kyle said, "Did you do this?

"I did some cosmetic restoration," Berth admitted, "but even my work isn't this good. Can you move them?" Kyle wiggled his fingers experimentally, then attempted to make fists. But his hands wouldn't close all the way

"They're stiff," Kyle said.

"Try again," Berth said, "slower." This time, Kyle was able to touch his fingers to the surface of his palm.

"Keep moving them," the doctor advised, "if I'm right, that stiffness should wear off soon."

"But how…" Mon Mothma began. Behind her, the sickbay doors opened and a moment, the curtains around the bed parted to reveal a panting Jan Ors.

"I got your message," she said to Mon Mothma, in between breaths.

"Hi Jan," Kyle said.

He wasn't sure what to expect from her, but the glare Jan turned on him said it all. She wasn't happy, not happy at all.

"So," she said matter-of-factly, "you're awake."

"Yes, I…"

"You promised you weren't going to do this to me anymore, Katarn," she interrupted.

Kyle gave her a confused look.

"Nearly get yourself killed again."

"Well," Kyle said, trying to lighten the mood, "I don't remember exactly promising. Besides, it's not like I planned this."

"Oh, I see." Jan answered sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, that changes everything."

Strike one, Katarn, he thought.

"Umm…. I'm sorry?"

"Better, Katarn. And trust me, you are going to sorry, very sorry."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not fixing the ship this time!"

"Doc?" he said, turning to Berth, "any chance you could knock me out again?"

"Oh no, Katarn." Jan said, a quick smile flashing across her face. "I'm going to see to it that you make a full recovery."

Berth was the first to start laughing. Mon Mothma tried to maintain her composure, but joined him a moment later.

"Kyle," she finally managed to say, "Are you up to telling us what happened?"

"Let's see," he said, "debrief or fix the ship. I'll take the debrief."

Jan raised an eyebrow at him, but said nothing.

Kyle started talking, relating his entrance into the base, setting the charges and the subsequent Dark Trooper attacks. Jan eyes went wide a few times as he described battling and finally beating the first Trooper.

"The Empire must be improving the programming on these things," he said, "the second one knew just where to strike. It sliced the missile launcher and then my blaster in just the right spot to make them both overload. If it hadn't been for the ice outside, I wouldn't be here."

"And of course, I can't forgot this one stormtrooper who…"

Trying to keep herself from laughing out loud, Mon Mothma held up a hand to stop him. "Jan has already briefed me on that, Kyle. And I don't think I could stand to hear it again."

"Well the main thing is," he concluded, "we destroyed the Anteevy base."

"True," Mon Mothma said, "but I'm afraid there's been some fallout from the attack."

"What do you mean?" Kyle asked.

Looking to Jan briefly, she continued. "A little over an hour ago, I received a transmission from one of our spies on Coruscant. The Empire has learned about your role in the attacks on Danuta, Fest and Orinackra as well as your defection to the Rebellion."

"Okay," Kyle began, "but…"

Again, she put up a hand to stop him. "There's more," Mon Mothma said, "the Empire has placed a bounty on you of 100,000 credits, dead or alive."

Kyle whistled softly. That much meant every bounty hunter from the Core to the Outer Rim would be on the lookout for him.

"No disintegrations, I'd guess."

Mon Mothma nodded. "And this development makes it all the more difficult my decision of whether to assign to the next mission."

"Mon Mothma," Jan said, "I want to reiterate my objection to assigning Kyle to this mission. With this bounty on his head, he's become a liability. Having him along reduces the chance of successfully completing the mission."

"So I'm a liability now?" Kyle said, glaring at her.

A look of genuine regret crossed Jan's face. But an instant, she was all business. "Look, Katarn. I'm trying to protect you here. You get into enough trouble on missions without having to add bounty hunters to the mix."

"You make a valid point, Jan," Mon Mothma said.

"There's even a rumor Boba Fett has expressed interest in finding you, Kyle." Jan added.

That gave him pause. Boba Fett was the most notorious bounty hunter in the galaxy. His ability to track and capture fugitives was legendary. And it was also rumored he had never lost a bounty, ever.

"Look, Jan," Kyle said, "I appreciate the additional danger and…"

"No Katarn," she said, "I don't think you do. You almost died this time out. Who's to say next time won't be it."

Kyle searched for an answer and found one.

"I do."

"You see what I was saying, Mon Mothma," Jan said, gesturing at him, "he won't listen."

This time, the older woman put up both her hands to still the conversation. "Jan, I understand your concerns about Kyle and the additional risk, but he has demonstrated the ability to complete mission despite the danger and physical damage. I'm not simply going to shelve an asset like him because of this."

Kyle gave Jan a smirk.

"And Kyle," Mon Mothma said, "Jan's right. You don't appreciate fully the additional risk and danger this bounty on your head implies. I'm not willing to concede that you've become a liability. But it is clear that unless things change, the next mission could be your last.

It was Jan's turn to smirk back at him.

"And that is why I've decided to add an additional operative to your team."

"Another operative?" Kyle said.

"Who?" Jan asked.

"You'll see in a moment," Mon Mothma replied, pulling her comlink out. She turned round and spoke so Kyle and Jan couldn't hear.

Leaning close to him, Jan whispered, "Look Kyle, I'm sorry, but you've got to admit this bounty does put in more danger."

"My life's been in jeopardy ever since I decided to defect, Jan." he replied. Then, with a smile, he added, "Besides with you around, how could you let anything happen to me?"

She punched him in the shoulder

"Ow!"

"You always know the wrong thing to say, Katarn."

"Good," Mon Mothma said out loud, "we'll be waiting."

She turned back around, closing down the comlink just as the sickbay doors opened.

"Could you join us over here, please?" Mon Mothma called.

Footsteps could be heard approaching and with a swish of curtains, the operative was visible.

Kyle's mouth dropped open at the sight of her and Jan's eyes went wide

"Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors, meet Blaze Redlopt."