A/N: We backtrack a little bit. Hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think! Thanks for the continued support!
Taking Down a Fortress
"We're losing him," Genna yelled, as a flat tone filled the room.
"I got to go," I told Jace getting ready to cut the connection, "Get here Jace."
'I'll be on the next ship out of here," Jace said, eyes glued on the grave situation behind me. "Save my son Jayd," he ordered me.
"I'll do my best," I agreed. Glancing back at the Supreme Commander, and added, "It's bad, just get here Jace," just cut the connection...
Chapter 11
Nico's POV
For a split second, as Jace's image faded from view, everything in the trauma room seemed to slow and stop. No movement…no sound. The only thing heard was the flat tone coming from Theron's heart monitor, echoing through the medical bay.
"He's flat lined!"
That seemed to break the trance. Without warming the room erupted in controlled chaos as the medical team worked to save Theron's life. Everyone seemed to go in different directions. Someone was rattling off his vitals. A pair of hands slapped a hypo-spray to Theron's neck, injecting medication and another set placed white probes on his bare chest. In the eye of the hurricane, Jayd seemed to direct the chaos, working hard to save his friend's life.
Our small group watched from just outside the room. The little Twi'lke medic had pushed us out of the room but no one left, not even the Chiss soldier. We were all caught up in the drama inside. And I was worried for the life of a friend's son.
"Charging, charging," a mechanical voice announced, "Stand clear."
"Back!" Jayd ordered his team.
"Shocking in 3…2…1…."
We watched with bated breath as Theron's body stiffened and jerked off the table as the electrical charge coursed through his body, attempting to restart his heart. All motion once again stopped as we waited to see if the shock would be successful.
When the dreaded tone continued, Jayd jumped back into action, cursing his patient, "Damn it, Theron! Don't do this." Grabbing another hypo-spray he slapped it to the kid's neck.
The voice started again, "Charging, charging…stand clear," it ordered.
The medical team made sure no one was touching Theron's body as the voice finished, "Shocking in 3…2…1…"
The kid's body seemed to jump as the shock was administered again. The tension in the room was almost palatable as we waited.
"Come on Theron," Koth whispered next to me.
"Kriff," the doctor said, grabbing two hypo-sprays, "Don't give up, you hear me! Don't!" He slapped them to Theron's neck and injected the medication.
"Charging, charging, stand clear," the cycle began again. "Shocking in 3…2…1."
The electrical charge coursing through him, Theron's body stiffened on the table. When he when slack, and laid deathly still on the table, we were all forced again to wait…and see. One moment stretched into two and then three. We were about to give up hope when…
"Beep….beep…beep…beep," the heart monitor slowly settled into a regular beat and the alarm stopped.
"Thank the gods," Jayd said, moving again. "Let's get him stabilized and into the operating room stat!"
The medical team got to work. They prepped, bandaged and inserted lines into him. Things happened quickly and only moments later, they had him ready to move. Pushing the doors open, Ashe stepped out and moved the crowd aside, "Out of the way! Let them through!"
"Move!" Jayd ordered, pushing the gurney out of the trauma room. Taking off at a fast jog, they hurried toward the operating room. As they disappeared around the corner, the doctor looked back at us and said, "I'll send word in a few hours."
Sighing, the group spread out, finding places to sit down and wait. Seemed no one was leaving yet.
"Ashe?"
"Yes doctor?" she answered, from near the trauma room.
"Want to scrub in?" he asked.
"Yes sir!"
"Come on," he motioned for her to join him and they left, headed for the operating room.
Silence and uncertainty dominated the room…it was broken by the sound of something falling heavily against the wall behind me.
"Commander!"
"Outlander!"
"Zane!"
Turning and looking over my shoulder, I saw the Major leaning tiredly against a wall, looking the worse for wear. The only thing he was wearing were a pair of sleep pants, hanging low on his hips. His right arm was in a sling secured tightly against his body, a bandage covered part of his right side, bruises in various stages of healing littered his body, and blood was dripping on the floor from his left arm.
"The'on?" he slurred, looking around but not really seeing anyone, Where's he?"
"What?" someone behind me questioned.
"The'ron," Zane asked, "Where….is…..he?" he said, deliberately taking his time with each word.
You could have a pin drop in the room. No one knew how to answer him. How did we tell him that Theron was in the operating room undergoing emergency surgery?
"Commander…" Lana started.
"Zane!" I shouted. I close enough to see his eyes roll back in his head as lost his tenuous grip on consciousness. Reaching out, I caught him just as fell to the floor. "Frack! He's heavy," I groaned.
"Let me help," the Chiss soldier pushed through the group, carefully taking hold of the Commander and shouldering most of his weight.
"Thanks," I nodded at her, still holding on to him.
She acknowledged me with a nod of her own.
"Commander!" a nurse shouted, rounding the corner. She was obviously looking for her wayward patient.
"Over here," I called to her, he eyes widening when she glanced my way, "Get a stretcher."
"Yes sir," she answered automatically, turning to get a stretcher and some help.
"How did he know?" Lana asked.
"Know what?" Koth questioned, glancing at the Sith.
"That Theron wasn't there," she explained in her Imperial accent, "He hasn't been out of the kolto tank long."
At that moment the nurse returned with a gurney and additional staff. They were careful not to jostle his injured shoulder as they loaded him on the wheeled bed and prepped him for his short journey back to his room.
Watching the crew work, I answered Lana, "Zane's subconscious recognized that Theron wasn't there and his brain knew that his mate would be there if he could, so…."
"Something had to be wrong," Koth finished for me.
"Yup," I said, helping the medical staff raise the gurney with the big man on it.
"So he woke to protect Theron," Senya finished the train of thought.
"Exactly," I agreed, as I started down the hall, just behind the stretcher.
I trailed the staff into a private room, the rest of our group just behind me. We watched as they shifted Zane from the gurney back to his bed. A med tech placed an oxygen cannula back under his nose, as a nurse bandaged his bleeding arm and replaced his IV line. "Get some restraints," she ordered the other tech.
"Ma'am," the tech questioned the young nurse.
"Until he's more aware we need to restrain him." It was obvious that she was irritated at her wayward charge.
"No," Koth, the Chiss soldier, and I said in unison.
"If he can't be trusted to stay in bed, we have to ensure his safety," she huffed.
"That's a bad idea," Koth said, shaking his head.
"Why?" the nurse asked, crossing her arms across her chest,
Like most who have seen battle or anybody that's been cuffed against their will, I hated being forcibly restrained. I'd imagine a man who'd spent five years in carbonite would feel the same way. "How long have you been a military nurse?"
"Just since my arrival on Odessen," she answered, arms uncrossing, "I wanted to help."
"Which is admirable," Senya said to her, in her motherly voice. "But the Commander has spent an extended amount of time in carbonite; he may not react well to being tied down."
"We don't want him to have a panic attack when he wakes," Lana agreed.
"So what do you suggest?" the nurse asked.
"Someone can stay with him," Koth said, "Reassure him when he wakes up and make sure he doesn't get up."
"We should've done that earlier," Senya added, "But with the commotion, it slipped our minds."
"Ok," the nurse agreed, "Who will sit with him?"
"I'll stay," I offered, just as my holo-commicator went off in my pocket.
"Beep…boop."
"Beep…boop."
Pulling it out, I looked at the number. "Damn," I cursed, "Have to take this one. Can someone else stay with him?"
"I would," Koth started, "But…," motioning to his blood stained clothes.
"I could," Lana offered.
"No," a number of voices said together.
"Beep…boop."
We needed to get this settled. "Not a good idea," I told the Sith.
"Why not?" she asked, voice laced with indignation.
"Really?" Koth said, a shocked look on his face. When the Sith opened her mouth to argue with him, Koth cut her off, "I'll explain outside." He grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the room.
"I'll stay," Senya offered calmly, sitting down in a chair next to the commander's bed. She gently picked up his big hand and wrapped her smaller hands around it.
"I have to check on my other patients," the nurse said, stepping towards the door, "I'll be back to check on him in a while."
"Thank you," Senya acknowledged her with a small bow of her head. She swept a stray lock of hair off his forehead with the fingertips of one hand and began to sing softly to him.
"Now I must insist that everyone else leave," the nurse added, "the commander needs his rest."
"I'll be back," I said, as I stepped out the door. "Thanks for the help," I said to the Chiss soldier, as she started to leave, "Hit me up later for a drink."
"Will do," she smiled, before leaving the med bay.
"Beep…boop," my holo went off again.
"Is there someplace I can take this?" I asked a passing med tech.
"Two doors down on the right," he pointed, "should be an empty office."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," he answered without breaking pace.
Walking down the hall, I opened the indicated door and stepped inside, shutting it behind me. An empty desk and chair were the only things inside. Reaching into my coat pocket, I pulled out my holo-communicator and keyed it on.
"I was waiting for your call," I said, to the shimmering image.
"Nico," he greeted me.
"Jace," I replied, "saw the doc call you."
Jace Malcom. We'd met years ago on a space station above Korriban, when I was detained for suspicion of smuggling artifacts. The Sith returned that day, attacking the station. We were able to get to my ship and I pulled their asses out of the fire, literally. Jace and I have kept in contact through the years and been acquaintances, possibly even friends. It's an arrangement that has been mutually beneficial to both of us through the years. I have contacts in the underworld he could never reach, and he has contacts in the establishment that I sometimes need to make use of.
Desperate for answered, he asked, "How bad is it?"
"You alone?"
"Hold on," he said, getting up. He disappeared from the image for a few seconds. Returning, he sat down and added, "I'm good on my end. How's my son?"
I took off my hat and ran a hand through my hair. Taking a deep breath, I slowly released it before answering, "I don't know Jace but your boy is hurt bad. He lost a lot of blood before Doc took down for surgery.
"What happened?"
"Not sure exactly," I shrugged, "A fight in the mess hall but I got there late."
"Theron was in a fight?"
"Maybe or caught in the crossfire—not really sure," I said. Knowing he was concerned for his kid, I added, "I'll try and get some details for you."
"Thanks," he scrubbed his face with both hands, before leaning back in the chair, "That boy gives me grey hairs, always finding trouble.
I smirked at him, "And you can't afford more of those."
"Definitely not."
We were quiet for a few long moments before I asked, "Now, why did you really call?"
"I need a ride."
"Plenty of ships on Coruscant at your disposal, Supreme Commander." He'd definitely climbed the ranks through the years.
"None that can get me there as fast as your ship," Jace argued, "Untraced and untracked."
"True," I acknowledged.
"Don't want anyone following me there," he said, "Definitely none of Saresh's cronies." When I seemed to hesitate for a second he added, "I'll owe you big Nico."
"Might not be a good idea," I smiled at him, "Owing me."
"If it gets me to Theron quicker it will be worth it," he said, "Cost doesn't matter where my family is concerned."
"Your dime," I said.
"I know."
"Long trip all the way to Coruscant," I said, "Can you meet me somewhere? Save some time."
Jace turned and keyed up look like a map on a nearby computer. He pondered it for a minute before saying, "Hoth, looks to be nearly halfway. Can you meet me there?"
"Yeah," I said, figuring distances and flight times in my head. "Just need to take on some fuel and supplies. Should be in the air in a couple of hours."
"Alright then, see you there," Jace answered, "And Nico?"
"Hmmmm?"
"Thanks man."
"You're welcome," I smirked at him, "Just remember you owe me...and someday I'll collect." Jace didn't need to know I'd have made the trip for free. I had an image to uphold after all.
"I know," Jace said, "And I'll make good." He turned off the holo-communicator and his image disappeared.
Pocketing the device, I walked back into the hall, shutting the door behind me. Striding down the hall, I left the med bay and headed for the hanger. I needed to ready the ship for flight, take on fuel and supplies, and I needed to speak to privately to Hylo. I wanted to let her know I was leaving Odsessen and that I'd be back in a couple of days. With all the ears about, I couldn't tell her exactly what I was doing. She only needed to I had an urgent pick up of a highly sensitive nature.
The sooner I was off planet, the better…
TBC
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