Here it is! Today's chapter and current (short) Arc was requested by Slim 'Tech' Sherman! :D Hope it was worth the wait and that ya'll enjoy it! (just me? Or is it weird at the timing of this thing while I was studying viruses in Biology and my sister wasn't feeling well? ',:l Huh, weird XD)
Anyway! Enjoy today's chapter! There's an announcement at the end too so don't forget that! :D
Poor, poor Hunter...isn't he? One just has to start feeling bad for the guy by now; he tries to get a break and something happens. Think about it...Vacation (a forced one, mind you, but a vacation none the less) is supposed to be the time for relaxing...However, so far, any hopes of 'peace and quiet' had gone down a black hole never to be seen again. So, as was typical by now, this morning was the beginning of yet another...*ahem* eventful day...
See, when Hunter woke, the first thing he heard was a muffled sneeze most likely coming from the bottom bunk on the other end of the crews quarters. But when the sneeze was followed by blocked-up, harsh breathing, he opened his eyes.
Over on the other side, Tech lay curled up on his side, his eyes puffy and his lips pulled into a pained frown. His face was pale and drawn, green veins now slightly visible around his eyes and temples. Snowflake whined softly, nudging him.
Oh no. Please, please...no.
''Teeech?'' Hunter asked cautiously, rolling off his bunk.
The only response was a groan.
No, no no nonononono, it's too early for this. No not now, please I begging, not - no...
Crosshair sat up, leaning over the edge of his bunk as Hunter pressed his hand to Tech's forehead. It was too warm and sweat was beginning to bead on his skin.
''Tech, Tech, wake up.''
''Noooooo,'' he moaned, turning his head a little before wincing, his expression once again bleaching.
''Wake up, numbskull, we're trying to help,'' CH added, practically hanging over the edge to glare at his batchmate.
''Im-I'm fine...'' he wheezed, eyes half-lidded. ''Jus ti-rrred.
Yeah, right, Hunter thought.
''CH, go get med kit real quick. He's sick.''
Turning back to Tech, he added, ''Now, how you feeling?''
''Hunnteeeeer,'' Tech groaned, tossing on his side as he slammed the pillow over his head, voice muffled, ''Go awaaaaaaay.''
''Come on, we need to know how bad it is so we can help.''
''I don't want your help.''
Hunter blinked. Wow, that was blunt. Usually he'd say something more extravagant like: I do not require your assistance at this particular moment; however I shall beckon you if I find your medical utility is profitable.
Was this guy sick or what? So sick, his brain wasn't working properly...though, if Hunter really thought about it...had it ever? Well, okay, possibly...maybe too well was its problem.
Just then, Crosshair reentered, tossing the med kit to the sergeant before hauling himself back into his bed, covering his head with his blanket. He figured what ever was going to happen with Tech could happen while he snatched another few minutes of sleep.
By the time everyone had woken up (well, everyone except the 'patient'), it was determined that Tech had truly caught a fever - most likely from the day before. For that, Hunter allowed him to stay in bed for most of the day if he felt like it, since it wasn't often they did get sick and it was during a not-mission. Unfortunately for Snowflake, that meant that she wasn't allowed to be in the barracks while Tech was in there so she wouldn't wake him up, but Hunter thought it would probably be for the best.
Still, he wasn't too happy about the development himself. The day before, while he had been working everyone to the ground, he'd been planning out what they'd do for the rest of the time they had to spend stuck there. Now that Tech was sick though...he could kiss all those carefully made plans goodbye as they drained into a black hole, never to be seen again.
Still, for the better of his squad, he would endure it all.
When the sun had risen enough, Hunter tapped Crosshair and Wrecker on the shoulders before jerking his head towards the kitchen area, motioning for them to go ahead while he got Tech.
He may have been sick but that didn't mean he was getting any free-pass to ignore them all by a breakfast in bed. That just wasn't how this squad operated (also, no one an board would be caught dead playing hospital nurse when Tech - while not at his best - was fully capable of getting his own meal. And if that was the case, then he was full and well enough to join them at the table...whether he felt dignified enough to 'grace' them with his presence or not).
It took him a while (apparently - though he was miserable - after that sleeping medicine had been administered, he had been sleeping rather well and was caught in the middle of a lovely dream before Hunter had - in Tech's refined words - rudely woken him up), the head pilot shot him a look.
'Fine.'
With endless groaning, Tech finally threw off the covers and rooooooooollllllllllllllled out of bed. His movements were slow and choppy, he sniffled and coughed every-so-often, but he was still awake...Though, no matter how hard he tried, Hunter just could not get him to leave the blanket on the bed. Instead, Tech threw it around his shoulders and clamped it there, glowering at the sergeant to dare tell him otherwise.
Oh yeah, he's fine. He'll live. If he's this sassy now, I should have sent him to complete a mission like this all by himself. Give me a battalion of sick Techs and I could take over the galaxy within a couple of hours. There is no wave that can staunch a stubborn man.
Hunter thought about that...then grinned, mentally broadcasting, And there you have it, folks. Your daily words of wisdom directed and produced by yours truly. Join us next time for what Commander Cody has to say when a plan of his backfires and his men end up a wee on the indignant side. Coming to you live in one week.
Yes...one week. It had been one week today that the Bad Batch had been first grounded on this eternal snow-planet. One week down, one week to go. He was getting rather antsy, counting down the days until they left. The more he looked, the slower it seemed to come.
Sighing to himself, he herded Tech (who had insisted on grabbing his pillow too) to the kitchen area. It was in that short walk between the crews quarters and the kitchen that Hunter asked himself a rather important question:
So, what's today's micro-disaster going to be? (other then Tech being sick?)
To be honest, he didn't really want to know...but with the past couple of days, he couldn't help but wonder...
Breakfast was quite. No arguments over what they were getting, no quips made towards disgusted expressions, no beginnings of brawls because someone 'accidentally' kicked so-and-so under the table, none of that. Just hushed munching (and Snowflake budding her nose onto the guys laps as she tried to see what they were eating before Wrecker started slipping her some of the dried meat)...it was making everyone uncomfortable. They could deal with silence (rather, enjoyed it) but when one of their own was...indisposed, it seemed rather awkward to have anything pleasant to talk about. Sickness was its own little raincloud.
The first one to attempt to strike up the conversation was Wrecker. He cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing at Tech.
''So...uh, how are you feeling?''
''Miserable.'' was the blunt reply.
''Oh...'' Wrecker paused, unsure of how to respond...He hadn't thought that far ahead in the conversation. So he said: ''That's nice.''
If looks could kill, Wrecker would have been dead before his body hit the floor. He meant well, but there were just some things one doesn't say when someone is sick.
''No,'' Tech retorted, ''it's not 'nice.' Not when you have hundreds of millions of tiny viruses living in your guts trying to mutate you so you die.''
''Uh, guys?'' Hunter said, glancing up worriedly between Tech and Wrecker.
''Why would they do that?'' Wrecker looked disgusted.
''Because that's what they're designed to to. First, the invading pathogens find a stable location for them to nest-''
Hunter broke in again, ''Guys, can we change the subject?''
''-and if the leukocytes haven't already been notified, then they will find an unwary blood molecule-''
''Hey, hey, guys, I'm try'n to eat.''
As usual, Tech went on - without hesitation and in complete detail - about how many variants of pathogens and different ways it could change a person, never noticing how Hunter's complexion paled just a little when he mentioned what caused throwing up.
Being the bundle of joy he was, Crosshair just smirked over at him, completely undisturbed by his batchmates explanation...and to prove it (and shove it Hunter's face) he took a carefree bite of the yellowish grits.
Hunter's face sallowed a little, making the skull tattoo stand out more then usual. Once more, if looks could kill, Crosshair's head wouldn't have fallen back on his chair rest before his soul would have started to the spirit realm.
But they couldn't and it didn't (though who was the luckier for it, was left unnoticed).
Completely oblivious to the controversy his lecture was causing, Tech went right on in describing every detail that went into human anatomy when it came to viruses. Hunter tried (and failed) a few more times to get him to stop talking about it (later he wondered if Crosshair had been goading Tech under the table to keep him going, but there was no proof so Hunter let it drop; when that didn't work (would it ever?) he excused himself for a 'moment', calling Snowflake to follow him (for some unknown reason), before saying, ''I'll be back.''
Crosshair only smiled, completing the sentiment with his snide remark. ''Take your time.''
For a moment, they were blessed with near complete silence.
Hunter came back when he was certain the conversation had stopped. He'd always hated the anatomy part of Biology.
Suddenly, Tech sneezed.
Shaking his head, Crosshair tutted...though his expression was far too passive (was that amusement too that Hunter thought he saw?).
''Tech, you should have covered that. Do you know what you could have just given us by sneezing? Shame. We don't need the rest of us getting sick. Poor Wrecker here has a rather delicate digestive system.''
Gaping, Wrecker stared at Tech, ''Sneezing makes other people sick!?"
''Occasionally.'' Tech responded evenly, not looking up. ''It helps spread it.''
''And you didn't think to be careful since you're sick?''
Tech paused, thought about a second...then shrugged. ''No.''
''Why?''
There was something in his voice that made everyone stop, glancing over at him. Tech's eyes flicked up...then rested his hands on the edge of the table...Wrecker leaned forward just a little, glaring back at him...
''I forgot?''
There was a moment of stillness...then it broke into chaos. Tech darted from his chair (surprisingly nimble now) before Wrecker leaped from his and charged after him.
While Wrecker and Tech chased each other throughout the ship, Snowflake chasing happily after them, Hunter shook his head, still merely sitting there drinking his caff as if nothing were wrong. Angry and panicked shouts coming from their respective persons, the sounds of feet pounding on the floor, and plinks and crashes as they ran into stuff played lightly in the background. After a moment of personal silence, Hunter looked up.
''Do you know what we need?''
Crosshair shook his head.
''A life,'' Hunter sighed. '' I want one.''
The sniper nodded, smirking a little.
They had just finished their caff when the other two dashed by, chasing each other out the door. A minute later, they were compiling the breakfast wrappers, merely going about their day...
Then outside, Wrecker screamed.
Jumping up, they dashed out the door and into the snow just as he shrieked in a panic, "He touched me!''
They paused, then watched in silence as Tech put his hands on his hips and blew raspberries at his squadmate.
''I'm infected!''
''Serves you right.'' Tech snipped. ''And now there are hundreds of tiny microbes climbing up your body to infest you and feed on your flesh.''
Wrecker shrieked louder, running over to the nearest snow dune and jumping in it, rolling around in his attempts to dislodge the tiny organisms that he couldn't see. Turning around, Tech smiled innocently.
''I find it amazing that the tallest people that can be afraid of the tinniest things.''
''Oh fo sho.'' Crosshair said dryly, annoyed.
In the back ground, Wrecker's desperate snow-cleansing was getting him now where fast so far as he could tell and resulted to running around the Marauder, awaiting his fate.
At that moment, something happened to Hunter: He lost all character of a responsible and mature adult.
This was all so ridiculous; a big, lopsided grin grew on his face. He slumped to the snow, and just sat there. Once again, the process of forgoing all mature and adult consciousness was taking place. Then it started to grow. It started deep in his stomach, then rose to his chest, then his throat. Then, rolling on his back, he burst out laughing, hugging his sides hysterically as Wrecker's screams still permeating the air.
''If that's the worst thing that's happening,'' he managed through fits, ''We're doing gooooooooooood!"
Still on the Marauder's steps, Crosshair rolled his eyes. ''You lot are insane.''
Turning on his heel, he retreated into the crews quarters, closing the door. Then he pulled out the foldable desk, disconnected his headphones from the inside of his helmet, grabbed his sketch book, and started drawing. Even as he drew the first curved line of what would eventually be an intricate dragon knot, he allowed the music to shift his pencil on the flimsi, completely ignoring the outside world.
After all, it was weird.
So he lost himself in his own little, more private world that only he could see and pretended that the real one didn't even exist.
When lunch rolled around, everyone who had been apart from each other reunited in the break room, each silently avoiding each other...Snowflake was whining that no one was paying any attention to her and trotted from person to person, scratching at their ankles to get them to notice her.
Finally, (as apparently the only solution around here was) Hunter took her outside to play in the snowdunes.
They had only been out there a few minutes when Wrecker woddled out to meet them.
''Hey, hey, Hunter? I'm gonna go lie down...I'm sleepy.''
Sighing like a parent who wearily explains to their child that they were not allowed to have the cookie until after dinner, Hunter shook his head, ''No, Wrecker, you can't go into the barracks. Because Tech's sick, we don't want you catching whatever he has either.''
''But I don't feel so good.''
''Then go sit in the cockpit, I'm sure it will - ''
He paused...then slowly turned on his heel to peer at Wrecker, who swayed a little on his feet, usually cheerful expression pulled into a grumpy frown.
''Wreeeecker? How 'not feeling so good'?''
''Really bad.''
''How 'really bad'?''
His voice was getting desperate...
No, it couldn't be happening, not again! Not so soon!
WreeeEEEcker, noooOOOoooo...
Wrecker gave small shrug, yawning.
''Baddest.''
Where was a good tree to bang your head against when you needed it? Here, no where in sight...or a few parsecs away too. So, in other words, no stress relief...Kark. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Hunter waved him away.
''Okay, Wrecker, go to sleep. But,'' he held up a stern finger, ''you two are not allowed to fight when you're both in there.''
''Okay,'' his voice was sleepy. ''What will you be doing while I'm sleeping?''
''Quarantining ourselves off from you so we don't get the same thing you do,'' Hunter muttered, ''After Tech you gave you this, I don't know - ''
''Wait, Tech is the reason I'm sick?''
''Well I'd assume so. He's the first one so maybe he spread it to you.''
''That wasn't nice.''
The sergeant had his back turned and he couldn't see the others expression. But was that...indignation? In his voice? Only then did Hunter even consider what he might have just released.
Oh no, no, no nonooooo, Wrecker, Wrecker, I know what you're thinking. I know what you're thinking, don't you dare!...
''AAAAHHHHHHHHH, TEEEEEEEECH!''
''Wrecker, WAIT!''
Too late. Before Hunter knew what to do, Wrecker was charging into the Marauder, bellowing for Tech to come out. When the sergeant caught up with him, Crosshair confused and at his side, they saw Wrecker pounding on the door to the barracks.
''Tech, get out here!''
There was silence from the other end.
''Tech, open the door!''
''...''
''Can you even hear me? WAKE UP!''
''I heard you; I heard you.''
''Then get out!''
''No.''
''Do I have to break down the door?!''
''You already did; no need to do it again. Fine.''
The door cracked open and Tech - blanket clutched around his shoulders and eyes squinted nearly shut as he glared at Wrecker - crossed his arms over his chest.
''What do you want? Your shouting is hurting my head.''
''You made me sick!''
''Oh did I?''
How to describe the next scene was a little difficult for Hunter to say. It wasn't violent, no, sophisticated almost. But uh...it...wasn't usual. In short, Wrecker demanded that Tech go outside (for whatever reason) and Tech refused. Wrecker asked again. Tech refused. This went back and forth for the next few minutes with Wrecker getting more angry and Tech getting more annoyed...because he said he was thirsty and the other was blocking his path?
Because then the situation turned from Tech not wanting to get out to Wrecker not letting him even though he now wanted to get out.
Eyes rolling to the ceiling, Hunter stared up at it, palms up.
Take me now, he begged. Either that or at least explain why me?...no? Fine.
He didn't notice how it the argument ended. All he knew was that one moment, everyone was standing there, Snowflake hiding behind Crosshair. Then next moment, there was a rush of air and he staggered back as Tech darted passed Wrecker and made a break for the cockpit, Wrecker chasing after him.
As Hunter attempted to regain his balance, he couldn't help marveling at how fast those two had recovered before sprinting after them; That never ceased to amaze him.
He had just darted to the stairs when he heard Tech let out a squeak, followed by Snowflake squeaking in response. Wrecker had caught him, accidentally dropped him in a snowdune, then made another grab...
He managed to pin Tech's arms to his side...but as he did, Tech made the weirdest sound. It was somewhere between a giggle and a yell. Too loud to be a giggle...but too giggly to be a yell. So...a yiggle? Yes. Tech was yiggling. And that seemed to get Wrecker an idea because then he started tickling the youngest squad member, ignoring how he squirmed to get free while laughing almost hysterically until tears were streaming down his cheeks.
Sighing, Hunter shook his head.
Why were they outside again? That would only get them more sick. If he were a betting man, he would have bet that when they got back inside to actually sleep, they would feel more miserable then they (supposedly) already did. Of course, with how hyper they were now (Oh just wait, pal. This ain't nothing yet), it was hard to tell that such was the case. He knew he didn't know much about what to do when people get sick, but he did know that one of the best ways to fight it was to sleep it off.
Also, Hunter didn't think that Wrecker had really planned on what he would do once he actually got a hold of Tech. So when he found an opening, he broke them up, ordering them both to bed.
Then, a miracle! They obeyed!
Why do they only do that when something is wrong?
Well, he would take it where he could (unfortunately he couldn't get used to it; but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy it while it lasted). So after they actually listened to him, he sat in the cockpit, relaxing in the pilots seat. Weird day (since this had started, when had it not been though?) but he figured the next day probably wouldn't be so bad. After all, the two loudest Bad Batchers were sick and therefor would want to stay in bed all day.
He could live with that.
But he wasn't exactly prepared for the next day when it came. Cause when it did, it came hard...
Okay, people, here's the thing...we are almost done with this story! :O :D So, in my bio, I uploaded a poll to see how you guys would like to see the story end! I already have the basics (no, no spoilers), but I was wondering on whether or not I should end it going into another story plot I have...or two...or both (where Hunter get's his revenge on Cody...?)
So yeah, other then that, the usual: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! :D If this one was kind of 'eh', hopefully it should pick up more in the next chapter. :D
Special thanks to everyone who has reviewed! Revee, Cuthalion97, Slim 'Tech' Sherman, and KarajeJinsta! :D