Part 9- Emergency! Lives on the Line!
-- Okay, this chapter might be shorter than I'm hoping, but after the last one, I think my poor hands have earned a rest, don't you? – The Cap'n --
Echo: Dyin'!? No! He can't be! Photon, ye can't quit on me now! Ye've a dream to fulfill! Ye promised! Ye can't go back on a promise!!
Medic: Captain, please, calm yourself. I will see what can be done.
(Medic starts the healing glow in his hands, but the golden light fades almost immediately. Medic presses an ear to Photon's chest, then pulls back, going pale.)
Medic: Captain…I am sorry…but…it appears he is already gone…
Echo: Shotman!?
Shotman: I…I cannot see his mind…It is as if it suddenly went blank…
Echo: No… It can't be!
(Echo suddenly raises his right hand and shouts out something in another tongue.)
Echo: Aperio!
(There is a flash, then a glowing red symbol appears on Echo's right palm; a circle surrounding a fancily scripted capitol "N". At the same instant, there is another flash, and a matching symbol appears on Photon's right palm. Echo gives a bark of laughter that is filled with relief.)
Echo: Hah! I knew it! Look at this! There's yer proof! He's still alive! Medic, check again!
(Medic double checks, placing a hand to Photon's neck, then glances up.)
Medic: Yes… It is faint, but there is a definite pulse. How did you know…?
Echo: This symbol is a bond between us! As long as neither of us dies, or breaks our promise to each other, this mark will never fade!
Robin: Then why can't Shotman see his mind?
Echo: I shoulda' remembered… Photon has a defensive spell on himself that prevents anythin' supernatural from touchin' him after he uses his Intention Combat spell. That includes Medic's healin' or Shotman's Inner Eye. That barrier will last 'til he wakes up.
Medic: So there is a chance to save him, but I shall have to resort to ordinary medicine.
Raven: Why doesn't he heal himself with his own magic?
Echo: He can't, lass… He doesn't know how. Delitesco!
(The symbol fades from both palms. Echo can evidently banish and summon the mark at will.)
Echo: Wonder which thought was the basis fer his Intention Combat this time…
Shotman: That I can see; it is looking into the past, not his mind. Hmmm…he was thinking "protect"…
Terra: Protect? Protect what?
Robin: Never mind! Time is a major factor… Raven, can you bring everyone down here to the surface?
Raven: I'll try… Azarath Metrion Zinthos!!
(The room is filled with shadows which extend out of the room and proceed to cover everything in the entire length of the underground base. On the surface, the ground is covered with shadows for a second, then everyone appears on the desert planes, heroes and villains alike. Raven drops to her knees, breathing heavily. Medic puts a hand on her shoulder, but Raven waves him off.)
Raven: I'm fine. Just let me catch my breath.
Robin: Okay then, here's what we should do. Bumblebee, you, Raven, Beast Boy, and Terra take Medic and those of us in need of medical care back to our Tower. Echo, you and everyone else help me get these guys locked up.
(As the others air-lift Medic, Starfire, Photon, and Cyborg back to the West Tower, Robin, Echo, Speedy, Aqualad, Mas, Menos, Déjà Vu, Shotman, and Gemini round up the still-unconscious criminals and bring them to the police station, from where they are all immediately transferred to the prison and placed in cells specially suited to contain each of them, no matter what powers they might have. Jinx, however, is immediately taken to the hospital to recover from the severe thrashing that Photon gave her.)
Robin: Hey, what did he do to her anyway?
Shotman: A spell he has been practicing. He got the idea from our old friend, the Black Reflection. The spell removes the target's special powers for a full twenty-four hours. But… after a blast of that magnitude, she will be lucky if her powers come back in the next six months!
(This settled, they head back to the park to pick up Silkie, the East team's airship, and the T-Car. Thankfully, Silkie has not eaten up the whole playground as Cyborg predicted; just the jungle gym and two swings. Back at the Tower, in the hospital wing, Medic is working frantically to save both Photon and Starfire at the same time while Bumblebee helps Cyborg recharge his power-cell.)
Cyborg: Thanks, but I can handle this myself…
Bumblebee: Aw, shut up, Sparky. Just be glad I offered to help.
Medic: This is no good…
Beast Boy: What's the problem?
Medic: I just do not know what to do for Starfire… Her physiology is slightly different, and I cannot give a blood transfusion to someone who is not human! I just cannot figure-
(At that moment, a rapid beeping sound cuts into the conversation. Medic turns around to Photon's bed. The sorcerer is hooked up to a heart monitor, a brainwave monitor, and an oxygen mask, and the heart monitor's wave patterns have suddenly started moving at an alarmingly fast rate. Seconds after, the brainwave readout begins racing just as fast.)
Beast Boy: What-!?
Cyborg: He's havin' a nightmare!
Medic: No! I just got him stabilized! Beast Boy, quick, hand me that bottle there!
(Beast Boy produces a bottle of clear liquid. Medic quickly sticks a syringe into the lid, and injects the liquid into Photon's wrist. A second later, the heart rate starts speeding faster.)
Medic: What!? How-?
(He glances at the bottle in his hand and smacks his forehead.)
Medic: This is a stimulant! I need the tranquilizer!
(Medic finds the right bottle and quickly pumps a large dose into Photon. His heart rate slows to a normal pace, and his brainwaves relax.)
Medic: Phew… Okay, now what to do for Starfire…
Terra: Here.
(Terra clicks on the computer and pulls up a file on Tameranean physiology.)
Cyborg: Hey, how'd you know to-?
Terra: What? I used to live here, remember?
(Medic studies the readout, then slaps his fist into his palm, apparently coming to a solution.)
Medic: Okay! Let me just find what I need…
(Medic pulls out a large black bag that is filled with chemicals and begins mixing several things together. The mixture turns pale yellow, then flashes brightly, becoming bubble-gum pink, then darkens to black, and finally settles on a deep, serene green. Medic pours his concoction into an IV bag and hooks it up to Starfire.)
Medic: Okay. That should do it. This mixture will work to replenish her blood more quickly. But she will still be weak, so she will need a lot of rest.
Robin: If that's what it takes to save her.
(Everyone jumps as Robin steps out of the shadows and into the room.)
Cyborg: Don't do that! When did you get back?
Robin: Not too long ago. The others are waiting downstairs. Déjà's throwing something together, if anyone's hungry…
(Nobody feels much like eating, but Medic insists that they leave and give the others their rest. Before Terra can leave however, he calls her back.)
Medic: I believe the time is right. Beast Boy, you may want to stay and hear this.
Beast Boy: What is it?
Medic: What I promised earlier…a way out of that suit that is bonded to you.
Terra: You mean it!?
Medic: Yes, but… to do it, I shall have to perform a rather risky procedure. I will anesthetize you first, then I shall remove the suit, one small piece at a time. After each piece, I shall have to immediately heal you up, as removing the suit will pull away the first layer of your skin.
(Terra cringes a little.)
Terra: Okay…what's the risk?
Medic: If I make the smallest mistake, the healing might not be done fast enough; the slightest error and you could bleed to death.
(Terra gulps and glances at the ground. Then, she looks up with a carefree smile.)
Terra: Well, you'd better not screw up then!
(Medic is surprised.)
Medic: Then… I have your permission to perform the procedure, despite the risk?
Terra: This suit ties me to a dark past… I'm not the girl I was then, and I won't have any reminders of it. One way or another, this thing's coming off!
Medic: Very well. Beast Boy, do you also…?
Beast Boy: Whatever it takes, dude. I trust you.
Medic: Alright. Terra, lie down here if you would.
(Terra lies down on a spare bed, and Medic places a plastic mask over her mouth and nose. Seconds after, there is a hissing noise, and Terra's eyes flutter shut.)
Medic: Beast Boy, kindly ask Gemini to come up here. I am going to need her assistance.
(Beast Boy heads down to meet the request. Gemini enters shortly after. Medic ties a green mask over his nose and mouth, then hands one to Gemini.)
Medic: Put this on, then kindly produce three of yourself.
(Gemini complies, then she and Medic each put on latex gloves before she splits into three. One Gemini stands at the ready to hand the young doctor the tools he will need, another to dispose of the suit as it is cut away, and the third to keep the sweat out of his eyes during the operation.)
-- Identical nurses. Hilarious. – The Cap'n --
Medic: Alright. Beginning the procedure now. Scalpel.
(Gemini hands him the tool. He digs the tiny blade under the first part of the suit, starting at Terra's collar bone. He cuts under it, then slides the blade along the underneath of the armor. As the blood begins to gush out from cut, Medic puts forth one gloved fingertip that is radiating a golden light, sliding this along Terra's skin as he pulls the metal away. The first piece finally detaches, and Medic tosses it into a metal pan.)
Medic: Gauze.
(Gemini hands him a swab of the cotton material and he uses this to wipe away the residual blood. One of the Gemini's turns green at the sight. She brings a hand to her mouth.)
Medic: Do not. I need you to keep it together, my friend. This operation will take some time.
Gemini: (fighting her nausea) I'll try.
(Medic proceeds onto the next piece. From the way he is working, he is clearly going to remove all of the armor from the front first, then turn Terra onto her stomach to remove it from the back. This operation is evidently not going to be shown in its entirety, however, as the scene dissolves to the goings on downstairs.)
-- Sorry to dash your hopes, you letches! – The Cap'n --
(Beast Boy is pacing back and forth, waiting with minimal patience for word from upstairs. Robin is looking terrible, cursing himself mentally for allowing Starfire to be hurt. Shotman is leaning against a wall, looking as if something is weighing heavily on his mind. Speedy, Aqualad, Mas, and Menos are all sitting on the sofa with their arms folded. Cyborg is leaning over the kitchen counter, Déjà is cleaning up the remains of his cooking, (some type of hors d'oeuvre platter by the look of it) and Bumblebee is sitting at the kitchen table, staring at the tabletop. Nobody seems to be in the mood for conversation. Echo is off in one of the corner armchairs, staring at the ground. Nobody, save for Robin, seems to be able to match his low spirits at the moment. His usual roguish grin is replaced by a frightened grimace, and his uncovered right eye lacks its usual carefree spark. In its place is a gaunt, haunted look. He is oblivious to everything around him, lost in his own thoughts. The scene flickers to the clock on the wall, showing the time to be around 6:15. The hands fade for a second, then reappear in the position that reads 7:45. Outside, the sun is halfway through setting. Back inside, Medic and Gemini finally descend the stairs. Beast Boy sprints over and knocks Medic's glasses askew in his rush for answers.)
Beast Boy: How-is-she-is-she-okay-what's-going-on-did-you-get-the-suit-off-what's-happening-what-what-what!?
(Medic readjusts his glasses, then places his hands on his green friend's shoulders to hold him still.)
Medic: Fine. She is just fine. The suit has been successfully removed; she is free.
(Scattered applause and cheering follow this pronouncement.)
Cyborg: Alright, Medic!
Bumblebee: You the man!
Medic: I would prefer not to have to do that procedure again, however. It is dangerous to the patient, for one thing. For another…
(He turns slightly red and clams up. Gemini sighs and elaborates.)
Gemini: He got…a little embarrassed at some points. To get around it, he had me remove his glasses and multiply his ability to tell what he's doing without the need for sight.
Beast Boy: Can I see her?
Medic: No. I am sorry my friend, but she will need sleep to recover from the small amount of blood she lost, as well as the rest of the anesthesia. Please wait at least an hour.
Beast Boy: Oh… Okay.
Robin: What about-?
Medic: Sleeping comfortably. Starfire should be back to her usual energetic self in a few short hours, Robin.
(Robin cheers up slightly. Echo raises his head at last.)
Echo: An'…what of Photon? Has he recovered as well?
(Medic's small smile immediately fades and he lowers his gaze.)
Medic: Photon is…suffering. I managed to stabilize his heart rate and breathing pattern, and I even slowed down his cellular destruction, but… I was unable to stop it completely. His life is ebbing away with every breath. If he does not wake up soon so that I may heal him…he will not last more than twelve more hours.
(Captain Echo is sitting in shock, not wanting to believe what he has just heard. Judging from the expressions on the others' faces, while Photon may not be their favorite person, none of them would ever wish him dead. Not even Speedy. Robin glances at Echo's face, then turns Medic to face him.)
Robin: Medic, is there anything we can do to help him recover? Anything at all?
Medic: Unfortunately, it seems that this job falls to me alone. I will sit by him all night if I have to, and the second he awakens, I shall heal him. Actually, I am only a copy. The real me is upstairs keeping watch. Gemini made it possible for me to keep in touch with my other self; we share a mind after all. When I am done talking, she will get rid of this copy, and my full attention will be upstairs. This may turn out to be a long night, but as I am the only one with healing abilities…
Raven: That's where you're wrong. I can help.
Medic: You are a healer as well? You possess the same abilities that I do!?
Raven: Nowhere near that powerful. But I think my healing aura could be enough. We can take it in shifts; I'll give you the next two hours, then I'll come up and relieve you.
Medic: ………Very well. Captain, do not worry. I have never lost a patient, and I do not intend to start.
(Gemini waves a hand and the Medic copy vanishes. Echo is still staring off into space.)
Gemini: Aidan? Come on, you heard him. Everything is going to be fine.
(The teenaged captain is quiet a moment more, then he looks up at everybody.)
Echo: I…I never told all of ye…how Photon an' I first met up an' became friends, did I?
(Everyone stays quiet and lets him continue.)
Echo: It was five years ago this comin' August, quite a fair sail from here, actually…
-- Oooooh...Mysterious origins revealed! But not til next week! Hee hee hee! I love torturing all of you! In fact, maybe I should hold that chapter until I get some reviews! It ain't hard, swabbies! Just click the button that says "Review", and give me your honest opinions! - The Cap'n --