Chapter Thirty-Seven
Ella sighed and wiped the sweat from her forehead. There were so many wounded. So many were injured and hurting. Vutyc, Wander, and Winter were all stretched so thinly. Chopper had taken a blast to the shoulder, and though it hadn't incapacitated him, it had made it difficult for him to fight, so he'd returned to give aid where he could medically, which did help. There were just so many.
"Get him in here, Ella!" Kix screamed hoarsely.
Ella pushed the biobed into the OR, placing a gentle kiss on the tense lines of Rogue's forehead.
"I swear, Rogue. You better quit it with this whole getting injured in every possible way bucket list, or I'm gonna kick your shebs, got it?" she murmured affectionately.
He squeezed her hand, sucking in a breath through his bared teeth, "I doubt there's much more I can do at this point, Ella. I don't wanna see if I'm wrong."
She sighed, "I know. Now be a good boy and hyperventilate into this mask for me, okay?"
He cracked a grimacing smile at her attempt at levity, inhaling deeply as the sadly familiar sedation mask was settled over his face. He was out cold in seconds.
"I've got him now, Ella," Kix assured. "Help Chopper with the minor injuries and the guys waking up. There's only two more critical, and Vutyc and Winter can help watch over them and operate if necessary."
"You sure?" she asked hesitantly.
He nodded. "Beat it, kid. You look dead on your feet and I will stick you if you don't take it easy."
She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out before trudging away. He was right. She was exhausted.
She caught sight of a familiar single-shouldered pauldron as she soothed one of the newer recruits into a comforting sleep. Chopper sent her an affirming nod and she washed up quickly before chasing down her elusive friend.
She found him in the portable box barracks he was assigned to, sitting on his bunk, staring at something cradled in his hands.
"You okay?" she murmured, hoping not to give him a scare.
He flinched slightly anyway, the sound of her voice surprising him. But then smiled, some tension leaving his shoulders. "Just reminiscing."
She leant on the bedpost, peering over his shoulder. A wobbly smile rose upon her lips.
"He was so proud of that armor," she murmured, caressing the image of her husband, a barely-there smile on his face with Fives at his side. "He'd been so excited to get a little chance to try it out, even if it was only for fitting."
Rex nodded, "He was. But he was even more excited to see you that day. First thing he asked about was you when he saw me. 'Is Ella okay? Is she safe?'" He chuckled. "Like we were gonna let you get yourself hurt or killed. No siree."
She giggled. "I remember. I also remember how you had to chase him down to get him to reveal where he'd hidden the phase 2 pieces so you could return them. And even then it took some... interrogation."
"Yes." He sighed. "I miss him too, you know. I miss all of them."
Ella hugged him, kissing his cheek. "Of course you do. I never doubted that for a minute." She took a breath again and blew it out, watching as a few stray hairs were lifted. She brushed them out of her face. "You sure you're okay?"
He nodded. "Mmhmm. I'm going on a mission in a few minutes. Whenever Cody comes to get me. He went to find Boil and Woolley, make sure they were behaving themselves."
"Oh. I didn't realize you'd be leaving so soon," she whispered.
He nodded. "Me neither. We're just taking a scouting force behind enemy lines. Espionage. Sorta."
"Sorta?"
He sighed sadly, "We're going to retrieve an algorithm they're using to defeat us."
She nodded. "Oh. Well, be careful."
Rex smiled and leaned back to rest his head on her shoulder, "We will be."
"How long do you have before you have to leave?"
He shrugged, "Dunno. Ten, twenty minutes? We're waiting on the scout force. To come in. I've never met them. Apparently, Cody's worked with 'em before. If he says they're good, they're good so… yeah."
Ella sighed and stood slowly. "I'll pack you some food. Maybe you won't have to resort to rations then."
He smiled. "Thanks." A somber look fell upon his face as he once again studied the image cradled in his hands.
Ella was just turning to go when he jerked his head up.
"Ella!"
She stopped, turning. "Everything okay?"
He hesitated, as if he wanted to tell her something but didn't know if it was wise. In the end he shook his head. "Nothing. Just take care. And pack enough for a lot of us. I'm taking Jesse and Kix with me, Cody's coming along, and There's another squad. Is there enough?"
She smiled, trying not to feel concerned at the struggle that had just been battled in his mind. "I just made several batches. There's plenty. I'll go get them ready now."
She passed Cody as she made her way across the airfield, and paused to watch him enter the barracks she'd just left. She'd have to hurry if she was to get enough baked goods together for the group before they took off.
Even as she counted muffins and soufflés, she couldn't push the uneasy feeling that Rex was hiding something from her away. Something big and important.
Rex didn't do that though.
Maybe it was the stress of being stuck here on Anaxes for this long. Months had gone by.
Months.
Every day they lost someone new. They'd just been lucky that it wasn't someone in their tightly-knit group. Not yet. And hopefully not ever.
Piano lessons had been regular though. Rex was brilliant. He was already playing rather complex pieces that it had taken her years to learn.
He's only been playing for four months at most. At this rate he'll be a maestro in a year!
When she'd told him this, he'd only blushed and stuttered that she was just a great teacher.
As she lugged the pack of treats towards Rex, Cody, Jesse, Kix, and Galene, a ship came hurtling towards them. Ella froze, praying that she wasn't about to witness a tragedy. They were coming in much too recklessly to land safely.
Miraculously, the ship landed with a long-suffering groan. The on-ramp opened and out stepped four troopers, all varying in size and appearance. Greatly.
Are they clones? I thought clones looked more or less the same.
But Cody didn't seem fazed by them and greeted the leader, who was just an inch or two taller, clasping his arm in a brotherly fashion. She was too far away to make out the words, but it was clear whatever was spoken was laced with camaraderie.
The largest one, towering over them all by a good foot or two, and possessing the physique of a pro boxer, laughed raucously and drew a swordlike-knife from a sheath on the side of his leg, smiling as he showed it off to the 501st boys.
Another wearing goggles and slightly shorter than the rest came forward. She could barely hear him inform them about some sort of delicacy made from a stinger. Interesting custom, wherever it came from.
Oh well. Sometimes you have to try it to see if it's good.
The last man stood silently in the back, chewing on… was that a toothpick? Where did it even come from?
"... Crosshair's ya man. So commander," the leader asked, "what kind of suicide mission do you have for us this time?"
"Let's get going," Cody replied as a transport snuck up beside them. "We'll brief you on the way."
"See you later, mesh'la," Kix whispered, kissing his wife chastely.
"Stay safe," she replied.
"I will. Don't worry."
"You and I know that's impossible," Galene sighed, reluctantly letting him go.
"Rex!" Ella called, rushing over.
He paused and smiled, "You made it! I was worried that rations were back on the menu!"
She wrinkled her nose and shook her head, "I hope not! I have a good bit packed, and if no one pigs out on it all at once there'll be enough to last a few days at most."
He took the pack and handed it to Jesse, who readily accepted it, a giant grin on his face.
"Ella, this is Bad Batch," Rex introduced. "Tall fellow's Wrecker, genius is Tech, quiet one is Crosshair, and this is Hunter, the leader."
She smiled. "It's nice to meet all of you!"
"Are you his girl?" Tech asked, glancing back and forth between them.
Rex shook his head. "Nope! Just great friends. Ella's like a sister to all of us. And she's a very talented chef who packed us food for the journey."
"Yeah! I like her already!" Wrecker guffawed.
She blushed. "I wish I could chat longer and get to know all of you, but I'd be holding up your mission, and a new transport just came in."
Kix's brow furrowed, "How many wounded?"
She shook her head, "I don't know. Don't worry. Wander, Vutyc, Winter, and I will take care of them."
The medic sighed. "Alright. I left some special instructions for the criticals. Make sure Rogue stays in a horizontal position till we get back or he'll tear stitches. Keep an eye on Elek and Cipher."
"I will. Be careful guys!" she called, then stepped back and waved as they flew off.
Galene sighed beside her. "It scares me, watching him go."
"I know what you mean," her friend sympathized. "I think the best we can do is pray for their safety and love them completely when they come home."
"I'm sorry—"
"—Allee," Ella interrupted, "it's ok. I don't mind talking about him. It helps actually. Especially being able to help you. I know it's difficult to watch them leave without knowing what will happen. You don't need to feel alone in your worries."
Galene hugged her and sighed. "You're a good friend, you know that?"
Ella giggled, "I sure hope so! And thank you. How about you go get something to eat and watch a show? I have to go help my med boys."
Galene nodded and walked away briskly, clearly trying to shake off her nerves.
•~§~•
The medbay was a whirlwind of voices and rapid movement when she ran inside, going immediately to the injured boys laying on cots. Most of them were shinies - or were just a few months before this hellish campaign.
Someone grabbed the back of her shirt and tugged weakly, hands fisted in the fabric. She spun around and gasped when she met jewel green eyes.
"Emery?"
The boy nodded tautly. "'S me, Ellla." He shut his eyes and moaned, unable to say more.
She examined his wounds and winced when she saw the blaster burns on his abdomen and shoulder. "Let me take care of you, sweetheart. Gosh, you grew up fast!"
He chuckled painfully, "The long necks… good at that."
She sighed. "Ok. Here, I'm gonna give you a painkiller."
"N-No," he stopped her. "M-Medic jus' said we're low. Jus'… criticals and surgeries."
Ella shut her eyes tightly against stinging tears. "Oh, Emery…"
"I'll be 'kay. 'S fine. Hey," he mumbled. "M' 'kay, really. Don' worry."
"Okay. Let me patch you up, then. I've got some bacta and bandages. Can you be still for me?" she asked softly.
He nodded. "Yes. Still."
She carefully saw to his wounds, flinching whenever he made a sound or accidentally squirmed. He always apologized but she shook her head and petted his short blond hair, telling him it was alright.
Finally it was over and she reached into her pocket and pulled out a bottle of pills.
Emery furrowed his brow. "Wassat?"
"Mainstream painkillers. Usually it works for things like after surgery soreness, back pain, the like. It's not like a stim but it might take the edge off until supplies come in," Ella explained.
"How do I take it?" he asked.
"Ever swallowed a pill?"
He nodded. "Canteen… behind me."
She helped prop him up and gave him enough pills to safely dull some of the pain, then eased him back down and tucked the covers in around him.
"Th-Thank you!" he stammered.
"You're welcome. I hope that helps," she replied, writing the information on his chart. "I'll come and visit with you soon, but I have to leave now. I'm sorry."
He shook his head and waved her off, "You're a medic. Go on. Help the others."
She squeezed his hand and kissed his forehead, then hurried off to where Vutyc was trying to restrain an unfortunate victim of being too close to a bomb exploding, which resulted in the poor trooper's back being heavily embedded with shrapnel.
"Ella! Please get a stim! I can't do both at once and if I leave he's gonna fall off the table!" the medic begged, having a hard time keeping him still.
She ran to the table and grabbed the hypo he'd been forced to abandon, grimacing when she got a good look at the wounds.
The moment the needle pierced his skin, a shrill scream cut the air like a hot knife through butter, spelling silence upon the entire medward. The patient shivered and sobbed for breath, his struggles weakening.
Ella dispensed the heady drug quickly and lay the syringe aside, sliding a pillow under his head and easing him down on it slowly. Bloodshot eyes cried out to her, and she placed a kiss on his tear stained cheek.
"Shhh. It's gonna be alright now. Don't be scared. We're going to take good care of you. Are you feeling better?"
He nodded mutely, his eyes fluttering shut. The rigid muscles of his shoulders were gradually relaxing as she brushed her fingers through thick locks of sweaty hair.
"That's it, sweetheart. Just breathe and let us do the work. Good."
It didn't take long for the boy to slip into unconsciousness, and it was clear he did nothing to fight it.
Ella stood up and sighed. "You okay, Vutyc?"
The medic nodded and let out a weary sigh. "Yeah. I… I'm fine. Thanks, Ella. I think I got him now."
"How many more injured?" she asked worriedly.
His shoulders slumped, "A lot, but they're mostly just deep cuts and surface blaster wounds. Not too messy. Can you help Winter with them? Chopper's pitching in with the minor stuff and Wander and I are taking the more complex surgeries. Maker, I really hope the supply ship arrives soon." He rubbed his eyes. His hands shook a little with anxious exhaustion.
Ella looked around, then stepped forward and hugged him, rubbing his back soothingly.
"Huh? Wha?"
"Shhh," she quieted. "Just breathe a minute. Take a moment to refocus and calm down a bit. Feel my heart beating and try to match my breathing pattern. Think of something nice. Do you remember Naboo? How we played on the beach under the sunshine? And how nice and cool the water was?"
He sighed, tension draining. "Yeah. It was beautiful there. And peaceful. It would be nice to live there. You think after the war… maybe I'll live there? Or somewhere even nicer?"
She hummed and pulled back, "Yes. I think you could if that's what you wanted."
Vutyc took a deep breath, then stood up with a determined look in his eyes. "I'm good now. Thank you. That helped."
She smiled, "I'm glad. Now go do what you're so good at and get that boy's back straightened out, okay? I'll meet you later and maybe we can have something to eat?"
"That sounds great," he agreed.
Ella turned and hurried over to a trooper who was leaning against a wall, one foot gingerly held up from touching the ground.
"Hey! Can I help you with that?" she asked, then took a double take. "Sterling? Is that you?"
He beamed, "I didn't think you'd recognize me. It's been a while!"
Ella hugged him carefully, "Why is it that every time though, you're injured!"
He blushed, laughing nervously, "I've been told I am good at getting into scrapes. That's where the name comes from, actually. My sterling injury record."
She sighed, "Okay, arm over my shoulder, no weight on that leg until I get a good look at the situation. You hear? No macho stuff. I know y'all are tough. No need to go to stupid lengths to prove it. Let me do my job."
He just chuckled, "I've already been warned off of trying anything like that with you. Don't worry. I'll be good."
"You might just earn yourself a lollipop, buddy."
"Lollipop?"
"Remind me to get you one. Sit down here and scootch up to the pillow. Can you tell me what happened?"
"Uneven ground. I think I either sprained or rolled my ankle, then I was trying to run on it and got his in my hip. Couldn't get up without help," he explained meekly.
She ruffled his hair, then booped his nose, "Thank you. I appreciate the info. Now grab onto those bars there while I get your shoe off. It'll probably hurt."
Fortunately, the shoe came off quickly, and Sterling just squeezed the bars tight when she removed the rest of the armor on his injured leg.
The blast wound wasn't too serious, and Ella handled it with practiced gentleness.
Only a few minutes later, the patient's foot was elevated and iced and he was sipping on electrolytes between tentative licks at a green sucker that Ella had managed to find.
"It's interesting. Sweet… but… tangy?" he remarked.
"I'll let you rest for a little while," she murmured.
"Going to eat something?"
She nodded. "Get some sleep if you can. If I'm not back before 2100, can you change the bacta patches?"
"You trust me enough to do that on my own?" Sterling asked, surprised.
She nodded, "You are a rare and very good patient. Unlike the captain or some of the others, you do not cause me to worry that you'll book it out of the medbay at the first opportunity."
"I'll prove you right," he vowed solemnly, slightly compromised by the stick of candy sticking out the side of his mouth like a harmless cigarette.
She smiled and winked, then hurried off to the mess hall. Was it really that late in the day already? Hadn't it just been morning a few minutes ago?
Gosh. I need some tea.
•~§~•
"Ella!" came a panicked voice.
She squealed and nearly dropped her cup of tea. The book she'd been reading Sterling and Emery fell to the floor.
"What! What!" Ella yelped, turning on Wander who was panting heavily, as if he'd just run through the whole base to get to her.
"Cody… crash!" he got out.
If Sterling hadn't caught her mug, it would've shattered as her hands went slack from shocked horror.
"They… are they alright? Cody... what happened to him?" she asked, her voice eerily calm though her pulse threatened to break loose of her neck and rip her heart out of her windpipe.
He took a few steadying breaths, then answered, "He's injured. Internal damage, Kix says. He's waiting on us to come pick them up. Jesse and Rex are continuing on with the Bad Batch."
She nodded and stood quickly, "I'm sorry guys. I have to go."
They just nodded and waved her off.
As soon as she'd made it through the medbay doors, she sprinted to the transport waiting for them, catching Wander by surprise and beating him there.
"Everyone in?" Axe's voice called over the radio.
"Go on! We're here!" she called, clutching the handlebars in a white-knuckled grip.
The flight to the crash site was tense and silent as the grave. If a speck of dirt had been dropped, it would've rung through the air as if it were a cannon ball crashing atop church bells.
Kix waved them down from the thick cover of crimson foliage. The transport landed a few feet in front of him on the edge of the treeline.
Ella leapt out and stumbled into her friend's arms, hugging him tightly. "Oh Maker, Kix are you okay? Don't hide from me, please. Are you hurt? Are you–"
"–I'm just fine. Just bruises and scratches at worst. I swear!" he breathed.
She sighed raggedly. "Where's Cody?"
He stepped aside, revealing the commander. Poor Cody was curled into the fetal position, shaking and sweating with his arms wrapped around his middle.
Ella sunk to the forest floor and carefully lifted his head into her lap, taking one of his hands in hers. "Hey Cody," she murmured softly. "It's Ella. It's me. You're okay. We're gonna take you home. You're okay."
Strained brown eyes squinted up at her as Cody recognized her voice. He couldn't find the strength to speak, but turned his head into her touch.
"Wander and I are gonna help Kix get you on a stretcher, now," she said steadily. "We'll be quick and then you won't need to move anymore. Okay?"
He gave her a minute nod, then tensed up as his brothers quickly maneuvered him onto the stretcher, his grip on Ella's hand turning into a vice as his injuries were jostled.
"Do we have any stims?" she questioned.
"No. Nothing. We're completely out," Wander sighed.
"What if we gave him something to make him think he's had a painkiller? Sometimes that does the trick," she suggested.
"Do you have anything?" Kix whispered.
She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a pack of Smarties. "Maybe these?"
They sighed.
"It's worth a try," Wander hissed as she selected four tablets.
"Hey, Cody," Ella called. "Can you take these for me to help you with the–"
Before she could even finish her sentence, he snatched the 'medicine' from her open palm and threw them to the back of his throat, downing them in one gulp. She helped him chug water then lay him back down.
Miraculously, the plan worked. He seemed to calm a little as the minutes dragged on and by the time they reached the base, he was asleep.
"Ella!" Winter exclaimed as they pushed the injured commander into the medbay. "The supplies arrived! We have more than enough for a few weeks if we're here that long."
She sighed in relief and threw her arms around him. "Oh thank the Maker!"
"Is Cody gonna be okay?" he asked, looking behind her where his fellow medics were stripping his armor and blacks off to dip him in bacta.
She nodded, "It's internal damage. He was in a lot of pain before he passed out, but he'll be just fine after a rotation in the tank."
He sighed in relief. "Good. Cody's a good man, and I know General Kenobi would miss him greatly. He's lost enough people already."
Ella hummed, remembering the horrible day when Obi-Wan returned from Mandalore, bearing the news that Satine Kryze had been murdered by Maul. Anakin took him aside and stayed with him for several days at the temple, listening to him talk about the tragic events. Ella came to visit a few days, and he'd opened up more - according to his padawan - than he'd done in that entire time he'd been there.
"She died in my arms," he'd whispered at one point. "I should've just listened to the Council and stayed here. If I had, Maul wouldn't have killed her. It was me he was after. It was all for vengeance."
Ella had taken his hand and rested her head on his shoulder. "It is illogical and pointless to blame yourself for something so completely beyond your control. Maul is the one who killed her, not you. You went to protect her - an admirable and noble thing to do. Satine would never want you to blame yourself for loving her and coming to save her. So don't."
He'd flinched at the use of 'love,' and had started to refute it, then sighed, shoulders slumping as he buried his weary face in his hands. "You're right. I did love her. I still do. I wish, because of the Code, that I could say otherwise, but I can't. And… I miss her so much."
Obi-Wan had indeed lost in this war. He'd lost friends, family, the woman he'd loved enough to leave the Order for if she'd only ask. Losing Cody would add to the weight of sorrow that dogged his steps.
"Well, he's going to be just fine. We aren't losing him. Not on our watch, right?" she chirped positively.
He nodded, "Not on our watch."
•~§~•
Rex was strangely quiet when he returned from the mission. His eyes were unfocused, as if he was struggling to accept something shocking and strange. It took him three repeats to hear Ella's voice, and jumped in alarm when she nudged him.
"What? Huh? What is it?" he gasped, glancing about wildly.
"I just asked if you were okay and you didn't respond three times," Ella said gently. "Rex, did something happen?"
He froze, looked her straight in the eyes for a few seconds, then dropped his gaze to his hands.
"Yes. But I… I can't tell you yet."
"Something bad?"
He shrugged, "Potentially, but I hope not. Ella… if I'm right, and what I hope for turns out to be true… I think you'll be very happy."
"Huh?" she asked quite intelligently. "Rex, you're not making any sense!"
"I know," he sighed. "I wish I could explain it to you, but I don't think it would be wise, nor would it be loving if I'm wrong. I don't want you to hope in vain. Especially about something like this."
She bit her lip, "Okay. When will I know?"
"I'm going with General Skywalker and the Bad Batch to Skako Minor tomorrow morning. Hopefully, we'll return within the next day or so, and I'll be able to explain. Or maybe, I won't have to."
She hesitated, curiosity begging her to pry more information from her friend. But she trusted him implicitly. If he said it wasn't a good idea, it wasn't a good idea.
For that trust, she could wait.
But stang, did she want to throw caution and patience to the wind and just know what the kriff he was hiding.
Why the mystery?
Why did he see the need to protect her from whatever it was he knew?
And why was he acting like he'd just had the surprise of his life?
Hey my peoples!
Sorry for the angst for this chapter. But fortunately some fluff is coming... then some more angst? It'll be worth it, I promise. I don't like tormenting my characters; I'm just a sucker for accuracy and if it's all happy all the time in the middle of a brutal war, that's not all that accurate. Ya gimme?
I promise that happy times are going to re-emerge. Im excited about this next phase! We're more than half way through now! Yay!
Looking forward to your feedback and diving into the mystery Rex is cleverly concealing from Ella!
Love, Peace, and
LittleBitOfGrace
