15. Too soon for goodbye
It was the clattering that caught Dell's attention. The male engineer had been sleeping in his bunk downstairs, but had decided to do some last minute checks on the teleporter. You can never be too careful the day before a big event, but as he approached the medibay he heard clanking, clattering noises like there was a scuffle going on inside. There were barely any lights on, the only source of illumination was the filtered blue light coming from inside the medibay.
" What the hell's that?" A voice piped behind him, he jumped.
" Saanvi?" He said, turning to try and distinguish the silhouette he assumed was the female medic. "Why are you here?"
" I left my log in the medibay. You?"
" Last minute diagnostics. Couldn't sleep. God, what time is it?"
" Like two a.m"
Suddenly, a figure came bursting down the hall at top speed. It barrelled into them before they had time to make out any features, and tore down the hall.
" Hey, stop!" Dell called, but the figure rounded corner without slowing down.
"The teleporter!" Cried Saanvi, and the two of them dashed inside the medibay doors.
The teleporter was fine. It looked exactly as they had last seen it, resting on a mid table ready to be used. The teleporter was indeed perfect, but… the medic was not. He was collapsed in a sitting position in front of the table, clutching his side with a blood covered hand. He saw them, and smiled while weakly lifting a finger in the direction of the teleporter.
" I safed it." He choked out before crumpling to the ground.
Oh no, oh no, god no. Dell slid two his knees where the medic lay and gathered him in his arms. The medic's hand had slipped from his side, revealing an enormous, ragged gash in his side that bled profusely. The coppery scent soon flooded the room.
" Holy shit, holy shit, okay Dell you're going to need to keep pressure on that-" A gesture from the medic hushed Saanvi's babbling.
" It vill not vork." He said, a chuckle bursting forth. " Ze cut is too deep und too wide. I suppose I vill die momentarily."
How could he be so calm? Dell felt his hands shaking as the medic's blood seeped into his arm. He'd seen the man die a thousand times, but never in here, never for real. Ragged breathing shook the medic's torso, his head lolled to the side and as he coughed blood trickled over his chin.
" Who did this?" Dell growled. No answer. " WHO DID THIS?" He roared, shaking his comrade by the shirtfront.
" L-lucy." The medic said as he fought for breath. " She came in here… crazy she vas… she tried to break ze teleportah." He retched and a mixture of blood and bile escaped his throat. " I stopped her, but…" He attempted to shrug, but it came across as more of a painful arm spasm. Dell clutched onto him, trying to do anything… to hold him, to keep him here.
The lights were fading behind the medic's eyes, but with a last burt of strength he seized onto Saanvi's lab coat.
" Take care uf Archimedes for me." He gasped. Saanvi nodded, as his hand slipped from her coat, leaving bloody streaks down the front. A contented smile split the medic's face, revealing his teeth stained red.
" I nevah told you how much I luffed your eyes." He wheezed to Dell, trying to laugh but instead there was nothing but a racking cough. Dell felt his shirt sleeves soaking up more blood than he believed possible.
" Don't go." He said, half choking on the words, but it was no use. The smile on the medic's face was lifeless, his eyes had turned to glassy marbles. There was no more breath, no more voice. The medic was gone.
Two people, and one corpse, knelt in the growing pool of blood on the medibay floor. A void was burgeoning inside Dell. His friend, his colleague, he was just gone. Snuffed out with one last chuckle.
A scream of rage tore from his lips, and he hugged the medics torso to himself. He felt the last of his warmth seeping out with his blood. He screamed, he screamed as he felt tears sting the corners of his eyes. He screamed the tireless roar of those who have lost, and when he was done screaming… he could barely even whisper. But he had enough in him to whisper four words.
" I'm gonna kill her."