It's ridiculously short. It's practically unedited. It'll probably be a major disappointment. Can you guess what it is? If you said this week's chapter, you are sadly correct. Sorry guys. Once again, I have been really distracted this week. I'm hoping next week's chapter will be better. I have plans for it. We'll see how it turns out. Anyway, try your best to enjoy this one for now.
Wash watches the events in the infirmary for as long as he can handle. Rhodi wheels in machines he can't begin to guess the name or purpose of. Readings appear on the screen above Silver's bed that may as well be written in an alien language as far as Wash is concerned. When Dr. Han pulls out a needle longer than his arm and begins gesturing around Silver's head he finally decides to leave. He can't stand to watch this.
Instead he ventures to the same hall Dr. Han had been held in less than an hour before. He walks to the room next to hers. He knows Gold is there. They had to restrain him, Wash remembers. The younger man had tried to strangle Yttrium when she first tried to examine his chip. It was only through Nick and Simmons' help that she'd been able to get away. Now no one's allowed to open the door without at least two people armed with stunners and in full armor with accompanying them.
Wash sighs and walks back down the hall again. He won't get any good conversation out of that prisoner until Yttri's done her work with him. He's been told Gold's actually a good person. Most of the Imbalancers have said he was as popular as Silver, and just as friendly. Wash hopes this proves to be true. He doesn't want any more problems after Silver's better.
Nick glares at the silver-haired woman as she walks to her ship. Most would think Dr. Han's expression is impassive, even a little bored, but he knows better. She's pleased with herself. Once again, she's found a way out of a problem. He has no doubt she plans to rise up stronger than ever after this setback.
"We'll catch her again," Tinu says with conviction as the ship's hatch closes behind their creator.
"I know," Nick nods. "Doesn't mean I like seeing her leave any more."
They watch as the ship's engines flare up and it takes off, passing through the shield without effort before blasting into the distance. Wash is standing on the other side of the hangar. He stares after the ship for a long time before walking to the hangar's far door. Nick knows without needing to ask that he's going to the infirmary. Silver should wake up within the next twenty-four hours. He knows Wash will be by her side when she does.
"Come on," Nick says, looping his arm through Tinu's like he's seen in old movies. "Let's go watch Yttri work on Gold."
Tinu's eyes brighten in excitement at the suggestion. "He should wake up right away, right?"
"Yep," Nick says, smiling. "Once the chip's inactive, Yttri can remove it. It should only be a few minutes before the sedative wears off, and then we'll have our brother back again."
"I can't wait," Tinu says. On anyone else the expression would be an exaggeration, but Nick knows it's very close to real for Platinum. She's always been notoriously impatient, and they all have wanted Gold back for so long. He's aware of how truly hard it is for his sister to wait. It's difficult for him as well.
"It won't be long now," Nick promises. "Yttri said the procedure is quick. He might even be done by the time we arrive."
"I hope so," Tinu says, resting her head on the deceptively older looking man's shoulder as they walk. "Things aren't the same without him."
Nick sighs and nods. "I know what you mean." Gold was their team leader ever since they had first learned to walk. The world just doesn't feel right without him around, constantly checking up on them. Silver's a good leader for their family, certainly, but she can't replace what they're used to. It'll be good to have Gold around again.
"Let's hurry, then," Nick says, letting go of her arm and sprinting ahead. "Race you there!" he calls back to his sister.
Tinu grins and chases after him, determined to prove she's still the faster of the pair.
They reach the room just in time to see Yttri leaving, face set in her usual tense glare. All thoughts of their race flee as the pair approaches her.
"Did it work?" Tinu asks instantly, barely pausing to breathe before she asks another question. "Is Gold okay? Can we see him?"
Yttri holds up her hands as if to ward off the rapid-fire queries. "He's fine, I got the chip out, and he's still unconscious," she answered wearily.
Nick eyes her with concern, noting the heavy shadows under her eyes. "I thought you said it was a simple procedure. Did something go wrong?"
"Mom made a few adjustments, it would see," she says, running a hand through her hair in a tired gesture. "I had to make sure removing the chip wouldn't harm Gold. It wasn't easy."
"But he's going to be okay," Tinu insists, wringing her hands in worry.
"He's fine," the mechanic repeats. "I got the chip out. All that's left is the AI port. I'll make a new assessment tomorrow and decide if that has to be removed as well. For now, just to avoid any complications or little surprises mom may have left behind, I left him restrained."
Nick nods unhappily. He doesn't like leaving Gold like this, tied down and very obviously un-trusted, but he understands the necessity of it. They can't trust that Dr. Han wouldn't leave some sort of secondary control mechanism.
"So," Tinu says after a moment, clearly trying to change the subject to something more positive. "Where's Simmons? I thought you and the 'cyborge' were practically inseparable." There's a teasing lilt to her voice as she says Yttri's nickname for the man, and it only serves to deepen the other woman's scowl.
"Please, Tinu, keep your inane assumptions and theories to yourself," she says in mild irritation. Nick gets the impression that they've discussed this before.
"You two do spend a lot of time together," he comments, only to raise his hands in defensive surrender when the scowl turns his way. "It's a good thing," he insists, taking a step back. "Simmons seems like a good guy."
"Yeah, he is," Yttri says thoughtfully. "And he's smart, too. He knows what he's doing when he offers help. I'm lucky to have him as my assistant."
"Really?" Tinu asks incredulously. Her voice pitches higher in distress at the thought of their romance being nonexistent. "He's just your assistant, nothing more?"
Yttri sighs, the gesture morphing into a yawn partway through. "I don't have time for anything more," she says simply.
"But you will," Tinu says. "Once all of this is over, you'll be able to do whatever you want."
"Do you really think any of this will ever be over?" Yttri asks. She looks up at her optimistic, impossible-to-understand sister. "The universe knows our faces. Everyone knows who we are. Even if we convince the people in charge that we aren't responsible for what we did, we'll never be able to convince everyone. There will always be someone who thinks we did it on purpose. We won't get to live normal lives like Silver wants. No matter where we go, everyone will always know who we are. We don't get to be normal."
Tinu's face falls at the suggestion, reality once again destroying her fantastic imagined picture for their future. "But… we can try, right?" she asks in a desperate whisper.
Nick puts an arm around her shoulders in a gentle hug. "Sure we can," he says reassuringly. "And it won't be all bad. We'll still always have each other. That will never change. Even if all we accomplish is getting rid of the constant threat of the Covenant and UNSC, I'll be happy with it."
"I'm not saying it's the end of the world or anything," Yttri shrugs. "I just don't think normal is going to happen for us. Personally, I'm okay with that. I think normal is overrated."
"You're right," Tinu says, smile returning to her face. "We shouldn't be normal, we'll be spectacular!"
"Well, I wouldn't put it like that, either," Yttri mutters. "Anyway, I need to get back to my lab. There's still a lot of work that needs to be done."
Tinu and Nick watch her go before looking back to the door. "I want to wait for him to wake up," Tinu says. "He deserves to see a friendly face after everything that's happened."
"We should get out armor then," Nick says.
Tinu looks like she'll argue before nodding reluctantly. "I hate that we need it," she says, eyes trained on the floor.
"It won't be for long," Nick promises. "We're almost back to normal, see? Everything's going to be fine."
Tinu nods, face bright once again. As usual, she takes her partner's words as fact. He's never failed her before.