Well here I am once again, with a delayed update. I suppose that's just expected anymore. I have no faulty equipment to blame this time, only the person who gifted me FF XIV for christmas, which I've become addicted too. Oh and myself... sorry. And lest I forget, disclaimers, no money, no ownage, etc.
Lightning had awoken before the others. The night's rest had done little to dull the pain in her injured side, but she gritted her teeth and pulled herself to her feet. A glance out the window revealed nothing of immediate threat, though there were plenty of hiding spaces and blind spots past the glass pane. The valve lock door at the back of the crashed ship would have been too loud to try out now, so she decided to let her squad rest, and found a whet stone in her leg pack to set about sharpening her trusted blazefire. Even before the loss of technology, she had prefered sharpening her blade the old fashioned way. Something about it was calming, helped her focus. Elijah was the first to wake up after her.
They acknowledged one another with a silent nod before going about their tasks, Lightning sharpening her sword and Elijah checking out the rookies' wounds.
"How are they looking?" She might have been tough on her crew, but Lightning Farron was not one to disregard her team's wellbeing.
"Meadows has some minor injuries, better off than you really. Waters is another case." The medic rubbed the bridge of his nose and let out a sigh. "He needs more care than I can provide with a field kit, but with his injuries and blood loss, I doubt he could move far, if at all." The rest did not need to be vocalized. They all knew they needed to get out of there. Even with a metal tent of sorts, the wilds of Gran Pulse were no haven. They needed to move and soon.
The last two members of the squad woke a few minutes later. Meadows had gone to check a window as well, whilst Waters let out a piteous moan. Rennington set about switching his bandages and giving him a once over before turning his attention back to his commanding officer.
"So, where do we go from here lieutenant?"
"Our only real option as I see it, is to head back to New Bohdum. Waters can't move for sure?"
"Sorry, but there's not chance. We could try carrying him, on a stretcher if we have one in here, but even that would risk further internal injury. I can't really tell the full extent of the damage like this, but that's plain, as is the ticking clock. Without proper medical care, he won't make it past tomorrow at best."
"Shit." Lightning muttered. She grit her teeth again, weighing out the options before her. As she said, the only one that even seemed remotely feasible was hoofing it back to New Bohdum. "How about you Meadows? Can you walk?"
"Yes ma'am!" This one wasn't much for words, that was plain. Though, she prefered that anyways.
"Good, you'll need to. Rennington, you think you could hold out in here, and keep him alive if we go out for help?"
"I can hold him for a couple days I think. Like I said, he's in bad shape. If it were just the leg... but those rib injuries, well, he's just lucky they didn't pierce a lung. His breathing is still labored though, and a jagged bone can do plenty of damage, especially a rib."
"Then there's no question. You stay here and watch over him. Meadows and I will make our way back to New Bohdum. Serah might have called in our delay already, but Pulse is big, and we're a needle in a haystack right now. We'll try and relay our crash site position and get some aid out here. Is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am!" The two able-bodied men responded.
"You hang tight Waters, we're going to get you some help, okay?" The last squadmate managed a slight nod, which the lieutenant returned. "Alright, suit up Meadows, we've got one hell of a trek." This was not going to be easy, that was for sure. Things were bad enough with six powered-up l'cie marching over the wide expanse of untamed brutality. She had no doubt two regular soldiers were going to be little more than a fine looking appetizer. But with no other choice, the two suited up.
'New Bohdum shouldn't be too far.' They had only set out for an hour's ride around a perimeter of the settlement. Not even a full day's hike if they made good time. All the same, an emergency velocycle would have to be fitted somewhere on the ship next time.
"We'll be back before you know it. And when we get here, I want to find both of you, alive, you got me corporal?"
"Heh, understood lieutenant." A final nod, and Lightning shut the valve door to the carrier. She had brought four soldiers and a pilot out on this run. Two of them were already gone, beyond help, but she would be damn sure her three remaining units would make it back home. And of course herself as well. She had two of her own she had to get back to, and she didn't plan to let them down either.
'I'm coming home, you two. We're all coming home. I'm not letting it go any other way.'
And that's Lightning chap two. From here on out, I'd like to try and make them just a bit longer, but I felt starting a little of the trek across Gran Pulse here would be a bit out of place. Next chapter will be back to Hope and Serah, and I'm planning on having it out before the end of this weekend, so cross your fingers for me... again sorry.
On a slight side note, I haven't been completely wasting time. I have a first full AU in mind, and its a pirate theme. Might have come from a Limsa Lominsa inspiration, we'll see if I take it all the way. But as always, thank you for the support, views, reviews, and favs. You're too kind to me. G'night/morning!
