Chapter 15: Protection
Selt'ox entered the medical bay looking for his friend. Entering the lab portion he clicked "She seems alright now. I've heard from Azira'ah that she visited her for fabrics" Storing the rest of the samples he was working on, Mir'en moved to the Elders side "Have you found out anything about it? Why she refused to see anyone?" on their way to her quarters he answered "No. I have yet to speak to her. Ke'varde and Ek'tan will say nothing on the subject. But I sense something happened between them, I just don't know what precisely." Nodding the healer clicked "Leave it for now. If she wishes she will approach you in her time"
Opening her door they were surprised to see Ek'tan coming out of her sleeping quarters. Mir'en asked curiously "What are you doing here young one? Where is Cat?" Hoping he wasn't in trouble the hunter moved to stand in front of them "She is in the Green Hall. She wanted to be alone for the moment. I delivered her goods to her quarters."
Giving him a slight nod the Elder clicked "We will fetch her, you may go train young one, send Ke'varde to replace you here in an hour" Bowing in respect Ek'tan nodded "As you wish Elder" Following his seniors out he left for the training areas.
Nearing the Green hall Mir'en turned to Selt'ox tilting his head "Did you hear anything?" Frowning the Elder tilted his own head focusing and listening intently "No, th…" stopping mid sentence his eyes widened "It's her!" Both of them breaking into a run they entered the Green Hall searching for any sign of her, glancing up to the bridge Mir'en grabbed the Elders attention pointing up "There! Get her!" Seeing Cat hanging by a part of the railing the Elder ran up the bridge.
"Voices! Thank god!" Cat was relieved someone found her. Watching the Elder run up to her she tightened her failing grip, yelling "Hurry! I can't hang on!" Reaching her position he dove to the edge extending his hand "Come on Catherine! REACH" watching his hand she let go with one of hers swiping for his, missing she shrieked when she slid grabbing the rail with both hands "I can't! You're too far!" hearing the rail groan she frantically searched for a solution, glancing down she saw Mir'en below herself talking to his comm. "too late for reinforcements" The Yautja were strong but she didn't think he could catch her safely from more then 60ft up. Glancing to her right she saw the edge of the pool and a tree beside it. "please" Hearing another deafening creak she yelled "Swing me!" Confused Selt'ex growled "Where?" Turning her head she nodded to the tree "When it brakes, grab it and swing me!" Shaking his head he growled "It's too dangerous!" Before she could say anything more the railing broke off. Grabbing its end before it could fall out of his reach the Elder roared swinging it with all his might. Releasing the rail she screamed, hoping the arc would be enough.
The two Yautja watched with bated breath as she reached the branches, braking through them, her descent slowing a fraction as she fell through, clawing and trying to get a grip. Seeing her slam into the trunk and roll into the pool, they didn't move for a second, which seemed like an eternity, watching red spread through the water around her motionless body. Both moved at the same time, Mir'en jumped into the pool holding her head up and checking her vitals, the Elder joined him a few seconds later clicking frantically "Is she alive? Mir'en, tell me!" not even sparing him a glance the healer clicked back quietly "Yes but she's hurt badly. I need to get her to the medical bay." he didn't want to move her in case her spine was crushed, but he didn't have any choice, there was much blood lost already. Noticing footsteps pound behind them, he knew his medical team ran in. Picking her up carefully, he moved to the stretcher placing her down gently, brushing her hair back. Straightening he growled orders "Move quickly and carefully. I want complete pressure on even the slightest cut. Give her fluids with immune-boosters and have the surgical bay ready, with pain relievers." Following them out he almost stopped in his tracks when he heard the pained howling roar behind him, glaring in determination he kept moving "I couldn't save her, but I will save Cat"
Watching Ke'varde spar with an unblood, Ek'tan snickered each time the pup missed an obvious opening or didn't protect his vulnerable spots. Seeing Ke'varde swipe his legs with a training spear he shook his head as the pup went down. Moving off the training podium Ke'varde stepped in front of him pushing his shoulder, thrilling with laughter Ek'tan pushed him back, both moving to the podium and each taking a training spear.
In their fighting stances they circled each other. Ek'tan made the first move swinging his staff in an arc above his head aiming for Ke'vrdes sides bellow the ribs. Blocking, the staffs made a clang as they hit repeatedly in different moves. Feigning to the right Ke'vrde leaned to the left taking the opportunity when the young one left his side open for a moment, jabbing him with the staff, taunting "You are as bad as the unbloods" thrilling Ek'tan didn't give him time to move back, he charged directly planting the staff between his legs and dove with it to the side. Thrown to the grown Ke'vrde jumped up quickly turning as the other hunter rolled to his feet. They were about to both charge at the same time when Tix'ver ran in, clicking hurriedly "Honored Warriors the ooman is in the medical bay. The Elder orders your presence there at once!"
Jumping down the platform, both hunters raced to the medical bay as fast as they could. Reaching the doors they stopped for a worried second and then walked in, faced with the Elder covered in red blood. Growling and nervous Ke'varde stepped forward "What happened? Where is she?" turning to him the Elder clicked quietly "Mir'en is personally taking care of her. As for how it happened; it wasn't an accident, the railing was cut beside her with a heat knife." Pacing Ek'tan clicked "I looked around before leaving her there, there was no one!" roaring Ke'varde grabbed the young one by the neck hoisting him up "If she dies pup, I will have your scull on my spear!" Ek'tan didn't even fight him, he was feeling guilty enough as it is.
The Elder was about to stop them when the doors in front of them opened and Mi'ren came out, clicking tiredly but with joy "She will be fine. It wasn't as bad as I feared. She has many lacerations and bruises as expected and thankfully her spine is intact, but she did break her right leg and re-broke her healed ribs. You can go see her if you wish"
Dropping Ek'tan, Ke'varde wanted to rush in, instead he waited impatiently for the Elder to go first, followed by the healer. Seeing her in the same position as she was when he first saw her made Selt'ox realize how much he'd grown fond of the little trouble maker, taking her small hand into his much larger one he clicked "I want the one who did this found and brought to me." All three hunters nodded gravely. Noticing Mir'en leave the Elder did the same, giving him the signal that they needed to speak privately.
The hunters who stayed, barely looked at anything else but her, paying attention to every twitch or shift. Moving over to her Ke'varde started purring, stroking her hair lightly with his claws "You will be fine my little one" seeing her relax more, Ek'tan joined in, clicking in between "I would never have left her if I had known" sighing Ke'varde nodded whispering "I know young one"
Hearing buzzing in her head, she groaned whispering "Get the door" focusing on it she could identify the sound after a few minutes as purring, giving another groan she mumbled "Feed the cats" Confused Ke'varde watched her wake up questioning "Why does she want to eat the door?" wide eyed Ek'tan clicked "Perhaps she broke her head in the impact as well" When the purring intensified and the pain started to invade her consciousness she kept mumbling "morphine, vicodin, hell I'd settle for aspirin… vodka even" her memory starting to return about the domed room, she seriously considered doing something dramatic, like jumping up in shock, instead she snorted "yeah right, only in horror flicks"
Blinking her eyes open she focused on two pairs of eyes and mandibles, trying for a smile "Hey guys" thrilling happily Ek'tan grabbed her fingers "How are you feeling?" frowning she winced "Like I've just been assimilated by the Borg and ejected from the rear end of the cube" confused both hunters questioned "Who? Are you sure you are alright?" chuckling she shook her head and regretted the action immediately "Never mind. I take it you didn't find the one who did this to me yet?"
Getting serious Ek'tan moved away, leaving to stand in front of her door. Watching him go Cat questioned "What's up with him?" grunting Ke'varde took her hand into his "He is feeling guilty and angry" rolling her eyes, she asked sweetly "Could you please bring him back in and stay out there for a few minutes" giving her a suspicious nod he did as she asked.
Watching the younger hunter enter she noticed he was avoiding her eyes "Why won't you look at me?" not getting any response she curled her index finger at him "Come here" Moving to step beside her medical table, he couldn't look her in the eyes "What do you want Cat?" hiding her smile she motioned with her finger again "Closer" leaning over her he gave her a quizzical look. Smiling she whispered again "A little bit more" when he obliged she hooked her index finger over a tusk and yanked his face down to hers, with the other hand grabbing a dread. Surprised he tried moving away "What the pauk are..!" cutting him off she hissed "Listen carefully Brownie" now that she got his attention, she took a lighter more sympathetic tone "I know you feel responsible for what happened, but you're not" narrowing her eyes when he tried pulling away again she gave his dread a very hard tug. "Focus puppy! Since you won't listen to nice words I'll make it simple. Stop it or I will!" giving him another tug for effect. "Now tell me the answer to what I asked before" Feeling her let him go, he straightened rubbing his mandible and dreads, clicking "Nothing was found except that the railing was cut with a heat knife"
Frowning, she asked "Does everyone have one?" shaking his head he replied "No, mostly they are issued to the metal workers, but you can trade for one" Thinking for a moment "That's really interesting…" and getting that glint in her green eyes she smiled mischievously "Brownie dear, I need a favor" Hearing that tone and seeing that smile he started moving backwards to the door. "NO! No ooman!" making a puppy face with the big round eyes and trembling lip she whined "Pleaseee! Please Ek'tan" he knew it was wrong, he knew he would regret it later "I should have learned by now" sighing in defeat he clicked "What do you need?"
Grinning she whispered "Do you always have your camouflage on?" when he gave a slight nod she continued "First we need to get rid of Ke'varde…I'll send him to hang the strips of cloth around my rooms and to bring me some food later… that should occupy him for a few hours. You ask one of the pups to distract the Elder, trust me a vent will do the trick" she winked at the last part. Crinkling her brow she hesitated "As for Mir'en…do you know anyone who could fake an emergency?" thinking for a moment he finally nodded with much reluctance. "What is this all for?"
Tilting her head to the side she whispered "You and I both know none of those three will let me go anywhere for a week, but I need to see the dome room as soon as possible" Confused he clicked "Why?" distractedly she whispered "I'm not sure, but there's something…"
"Who do you think attacked her Selt'ox?" Mir'en clicked offering him a drink in his quarters. Accepting the glass of C'ntlip the Elder answered "I don't know and I don't like it. It reminds me too much of the past Mir'en" Startled the healer cklicked "What are the odds of history repeating itself?"
Taking another sip The Elder remained thoughtful for a moment, "Too many it seems" The healer continued "There are whispers starting, about you and the ooman, questioning your role in her life." Chuckling, Selt'ox chided "Since when do you pay heed to gossip old friend" Huffing the old healer clicked "I do not. But I have to say I am curios myself. What role does she keep in your life?" glaring at him Selt'ox growled "Don't be difficult, she is my daughter as much as she is yours" bowing his head the healer clicked "Forgive me. Do you think we should tell her about our ties?" tilting his head to the side the Elder whispered "Perhaps…"
Hearing a beep he turned on his comm. "What is it?" the warrior on the other side clicked "Elder there is a disturbance in the air circulator on level 5, sector 9" Surprised, Selt'ox disconnected and summoned Ek'tan "Where is the ooman?" he was relieved when he heard "In the medical bay. I am with her currently Elder" growling "Good. Stay with her" Confused he summoned the other warrior "I will be up shortly, start assembling a search team" he was turning to say something to his friend, when Mir'en received his own beep. "Chief Healer there is an emergency on level 14, sector 1, you are needed" clicking the healer asked "I'm on my way, what is the emergency?" the voice on the other side clicked "It seems a pup swallowed a piece of metal" shaking his head the healer followed out his leader who clicked "Do you think there's anything odd about this Mir'en?" chuckling the healer thrilled "I always find it odd when someone eats metal" joining him in his mirth the Elder shrugged "It's probably nothing"