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Taking Down the Fortress

Chapter 8

Koth's POV

"Koth!"

I was standing in the war room, speaking to Senya and some military advisors about a future mission to my home planet of Zakkul, when I heard a female voice calling my name.

"Koth!"

Turning, I saw Tora coming toward me, "What's wrong?" I asked her.

Stopping in front of me, she gasped, trying to catch her breath before answering, "Fight in the mess hall."

"Some troops not getting along?" I questioned her. Sometimes tensions between the Republic and Imperial troops would flare up into fights.

"Nah," she said, shaking her head urgently, "The kid that went with you to the Star Fortress and his friends jumped the Commander's boy toy, Shan."

"Frack!" I cursed, "Tora grab the crew and head for the mess hall."

Nodding, she ran out, heading for the cantina.

"Coming," I asked Senya, not waiting for answer and heading for the exit.

"Yes," she said, following me out of the room.

"Out of the way!" I shouted pushing loiterers out of the way as I ran.

This couldn't be good. The kid was naive, arrogant, and stupid. He was directly responsible for Zane's injury but refused to take responsibility for his actions. On the flight back to Odessen he was baiting a short tempered Theron, with inappropriate comments and innuendos about their relationship. If they were fighting, I'm sure Samgir hadn't smartened up and said something about Zane.

Reaching the elevator, I pushed the button and waited impatiently for the car to arrive. "Come on, come on," I said, immediately stepping on when it arrived.

"The scene could be chaotic," Senya said, pushing the button.

"I've been in a fight Senya," I replied exasperatedly, shaking my head.

"I realize that," she answered, "But this time you shall be enforcing order, not contributing to the chaos."

"You maybe right," I admitted with a grin.

"We must maintain control," she added.

I nodded my agreement as we arrived. She had a point.

After the door opened, I stepped out and not wasting another moment, we took off at a run. Rounding the last corner, I could hear shouting, things being thrown around and what sounded like chairs hitting the walls. Just as we reached the door, my crew, along with Nico, came running from the other direction.

"Let's do this," I said, heading into the room, trusting my crew would have my back.

"Lead the way," Nico said, motioning with his head.

"Theron!" I shouted, pushing through the crowd. I saw two soldiers holding the spy up and Samgir punching him. reaching the inner circle of watchers, "Let him go!"

Glaring at me, the young soldier retorted, "This isn't your business Vortena."

"You made it my fight when you ganged up on my friend, three against one."

"Your funeral," Samgir growled, "Get him!"

And the fight was on...I charged Samgir, wrapping him up and driving him through the table behind him, breaking two legs and up ending it. The room erupted into an all out brawl, Imperial, Republic, and Zakkulans. With the exception of my crew, no one seemed to be taking sides, instead taking swings indiscriminately.

Rolling away from each other, Samgir and I got to our feet. I quickly closed the distance again, punching the kid in the face, breaking his nose. I followed up with a couple of heavy blows to Samgir's body, driving the air from his lungs and nearly taking him back to his knees.

"You'll pay for that," he groaned through the blood streaming down his face.

"Don't think so," I said at the same moment I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Samgir's goon released Theron and started towards me.

The three of them quickly closed in on me. I managed to duck the first blow one of the goons aimed at my head and I blocked the second one but Samgir managed to land a heavy hit to my ribs as his friends distracted me. Grabbing a chair, I threw it at the goons, kicked the young soldier in the stomach, and slipped out of their circle.

Just as I got ready to trade more punches with the trio, I heard a voice shout, "That is enough!"

The next moment I was hit and knocked around by an impossibly strong force wave. People and furnishings were tossed around indiscriminately. Combatants were thrown apart and knocked from their feet, ending the melee. For a few stunned moments everything was silent, until the crowd slowly began to recover, moaning in pain as they got to their feet.

Getting to my feet, I dusted myself off and looked around for the cause of the wave, finding Lana near the door. "What the frack?" I asked.

"Koth," a voice whispered behind me, before she could answer.

"Theron?" I questioned, looking behind me.

"Here," he said, weakly from the floor.

"Gods! Theron!" I said, dropping to my knees beside him, in a pool of his blood. A broken metal table leg was protruding from his stomach.

Reaching out, I pressed my hand against Theron's, trying to stem the flow of his blood from the horrendous wound to his stomach and failing miserably. Watching the red liquid adripping between my fingers, I was terrified my friend would bleed out before I could get him help.

"What happened?" I asked, continuing to apply pressure.

"Thrown," he choked out breathlessly, struggling to breath. Blood tinting his lips, "Thrown...back...landed...chair," taking panting little breaths.

"Theron!" Lana said, behind me.

The spy's hands were shaking, his skin was cold and clammy but he was sweating profusely. He was quickly slipping into shock and I was afraid he'd die here on the floor in front of me.

"Koth," he whispered, shakily, blood dribbling down his chin and lips turning blue.

"Just hold on Theron," I said, panic tinting my voice. "Someone get help now!"

"Koth."

"What is it?" I asked, leaning in to hear his weak voice.

"Tell Zane," he started but was forced to stop, unable to draw a breath.

"You can tell yourself later," I said, not liking the pasty cast of Theron's skin. "Just hold on," I encouraged him.

Shaking his head, he said, "Tell him," lips turning blue, "I love him." Finally losing the battle, Theron's eyes drifted closed and he slipped into unconsciousness.

"Theron! Theron!" I shouted at him, "Gods Hold on Theron! Don't do this!"

This wasn't happening! How did this escalate from a brawl in the mess hall to Theron dying on the floor in front of me? How could I explain to Zane? Gods! Zane! "Frack!"

Reaching out with an unsteady hand, I pressed my fingers to Theron's neck searching for a pulse. "Please, please, please," I begged, not finding a pulse. Praying for a beat, I found a different spot on his neck and checked again. "Gods," I whispered, closing my eyes, head hanging.

"Is he?" Lana whispered but unable to finish the question.

Peeking over my shoulder, Tora asked, "If he's dead, can I have his jacket?"

Looking up sharply, I said, "What the hells Tora?"

"He won't need it," she shrugged.

Shaking my head, "Well, he's not dead," blowing out a breath, "But he will be if we don't get this chair leg out of gut and get him medical help."

"No!" a voice said.

Looking up, I saw the medic, Ashe'dani, pushing her way through the bystanders. Dropping to her knees, she knelt in the blood beside me. "If you take it out, he'll bleed to death."

"He's already bleeding out," I said, "We need to get him to the medical bay."

"Yes," she said patiently, pulling a hypo spray out of a bag and injecting the contents into Theron's neck. "But the chair leg is currently stopping any internal bleeding, remove it and he'll bleed faster."

"What do we do?" I asked, pressing the bandage she handed me against the wound.

Pulling out a medical scanner, she ran it over the spy, frowning. Reloading the hypo spray, she injected him again. "We leave it in, cut the leg from the table, and get him to Dr. Jeffre as quickly and safely as possible."

"How do we cut the metal?" Tora asked for me.

"I can do it," Lana said, pulling out her lightsaber and stepping closer to us.

I was surprised when a semi-conscious Theron stirred, moaning and trying to move away from her. Though he was thrashing in pain, the spy kept moving away from the advancing Sith.

"Stop," I told her, when the bleeding worsened. "Stay back. For some reason your scaring him."

"He's unconscious," Lana countered, taking another step, making Theron try and move away from her.

"He may be," Senya said, "But his sub conscious is aware your near."

"And he's afraid of me?" she asked.

"Well, he's hurt and it was your force wave," Senya explained, almost exasperated.

"You did it?" I asked surprised.

"Yes," she admitted, "It seemed the quickest way to stop the fight at the time."

"And now Theron's hurt," I said, angry with her. She took the easy route and now someone else was paying for it...again. It seemed to be a bad recurring theme."I can't deal with you right now."

Turning to Senya, I asked, "Can you use your lightsaber to free Theron?"

"Yes," she answered, pulling it from her waist.

I was encouraged when the injured man didn't respond. It wasn't the lightsaber that bothered him, just Lana.

Standing, the other Zakkulan moved behind Theron and ignited the weapon. "Where shall I make the cut?"

Moving to the side, Ashe gestured to the chair leg, "Right here, fairly close to Theron's back but not so close that you run the risk of hurting him."

Senya nodded her understanding.

"And be careful," the medic added, "We want to jostle as little as possible."

"I understand," Senya reassured the young Twi'lek.

Placing the lightsaber against the metal, Senya slowly and steadily cut through the metal. She took care to cause as little movement as possible, while she completed the task. "Koth, hold him, so he doesn't fall when I cut through."

Nodding, I adjusted my hold on Theron, cautiously wrapping my arms around his torso, so he'd sag sidewise against me. At that moment, the saber burned through the last of the metal. I could feel the injured man's weight slump against me with a moan of pain.

"Good," Ashe said, running the medical scanner over the spy again, as I supported him. "There's not much I can do for him here. We need to get him down to the medical bay and Dr. Jeffre."

"Tora, we need a stretcher," I started to order her.

Shaking her head, making her lekku move, Ash said, "There isn't enough time. He needs to be there now."

"I can carry him," a voice offered.

Glancing around, I looked for the source and was surprised to find a Chiss in a Imperial uniform, stepping through the surrounding onlookers. "I can do it."

"I'm not sure," I started, "he's heavier than he looks."

The blue skinned female smiled. "I'm sure it won't be an issue."

Before I could argue further, Lana agreed with the woman, "Chiss are much stronger than we are. I am sure she can carry Theron without issue."

Sighing, I reluctantly agreed. "It would be appreciated."

Stepping around everyone, the female knelt down beside me. "I'm Tierra," she introduced herself.

"Koth," I said, in return.

The newcomer wrapped an arm around Theron and we carefully transferred the injured man's weight to her until he was fully leaning against her, his head resting on her shoulder. With her free arm, she slipped an arm under Theron's knees and picked him up. Taking a moment, Tierra adjusted his weight before standing up.

When the Chiss made it to her feet, Ash moved closer and ran the scanner over Theron again. "We need to go now!" a look of worry marring her young features.

"Tora," I said, getting to my feet.

"Yeah boss," she replied without taking her eyes off the woman carrying our friend.

"Run down to the med bay and let Doc Jeffre know we're coming," I instructed her, "Tell him about Theron's injury.

"Will do," she said, preparing to move through the crowd.

"Here," Ashe said, shoving the scanner at Tora, "Give this to Doctor Jayd, so he can prepare.

Nodding, the blue haired woman took the scanner and ran for the door. "Get out of my way!" disappearing down the corridor.

"Ready?" I asked Ashe and Tierra.

"Yes," the pair answered.

"As quickly and safely, as possible," Ashe added, concern for Theron evident in her expression. "We don't want to worsen his injuries."

"Understood," Tierra said, clutching Theron, as gently and tightly as possible. "I won't let anything happen to him."

"Let's go," I told the pair. Looking at Tierra, "If you need anything, speak up."

"I will," she reassured me, as we started for the mess hall door, "but he isn't heavy."

Shaking my head, I walked in front of her and ordered the crowd, "Make a hole," clearing a path for the Chiss.

"Your leaving with them Ashe?" I heard Samgir ask, "After what they did to me?"

"Did to you?" Ashe spit out, turning to look at the soldier sitting on the floor. "You brought this on yourself!"

"How?" Samgir asked. Motioning to Theron, "He started the fight."

"After you got the Commander hurt, saving your sorry ass. You followed that up on the ship by insulting both of them." Pointing at him, she continued, "Finally, you came in here to supposedly apologize. Instead you insult him again and pick a fight." Glaring at him, Ashe finished, "We're done!"

"Ashe," Samgir pleaded.

"No," she answered, turning back to us, "Let's go."

"Senya?" I asked. "Can you take care of him?"

"Yes," the dark haired lady answered, "I'll make sure he's placed in the brig."

"What!" Samgir shouted but everyone ignored him.

"Lana, will you help her?" I asked.

"I was going to go with you," she answered, seemingly surprised by the request.

"No, I can't right now," I shook my head, anger with the Sith still boiling, "You upset Theron, just stay and help Senya."

Recognizing a losing argument, Lana acquiesced, moving to stand next to Lana. "Will be down as quickly as possible."

"Thank you," appreciating Lana's cooperation, even if I was angry with her. Turning back to Tierra and Ashe, "Let's go."

Just as we started to move, a blonde male in a Republic uniform said, "Here take this," and handed Ashe another medical scanner, "Take care of him."

"Thank you," Ashe said, taking the item and immediately starting to run it over Theron's injuries. "Ready," she said, as we moved out...again...taking Theron to the medical bay and Dr. Jeffre...

TBC

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