After Felucia I

The retreat from Felucia had scattered the troopers and they had gone to whichever gunship or transport – 212th or 501st – was closest to them, it didn't matter. All that mattered was getting out. Chopper, to his shame, had lost track of Commander Tano though he was looking for cinnamon skin and striped montrals among the white armor of his brothers as he slowly made his way to where the gunships were landing and taking off dangerously close to each other.

Adrenaline had kept him moving but he knew from experience it wouldn't last much longer and he took another look at the battlefield as he moved toward the gunship. He could see General Kenobi holding back droids, moving faster and more gracefully than anyone Chopper had ever seen; Jedi-fast and Jedi-graceful. Skywalker lacked Kenobi's definition and expertise, Ahsoka lacked his presence and strength. There were a few troopers, Kenobi's most experienced and trusted men, firing into the droids to cover the ordered retreat, but there was only so much room and as they lost room, troopers from the ends would quickly empty their ammo into the mass of droids and peel off to retreat.

"She's already gone, Chopper," said a well-known voice and Chopper turned his head to Captain Rex. "Skimmed by blaster fire and Kenobi ordered her out." The captain had one arm curled protectively around his chest, the other holding him somewhat vertical against the metal of the gunship being hastily loaded with troopers. "No need to wait any longer."

"No sir." Chopper staggered into the hold of the gunship, slipping to the end of the bench with a pained cry as he brushed his wounded leg against… something, another trooper. He slipped his helmeted head back against the wall with a dull thunk and closed his eyes.

"Easy," said an unfamiliar voice that he'd heard before. So familiar. "Turn to the side, trooper. Put your wound to the wall side. It's getting crowded."

Chopper nodded and started to turn when he suddenly remembered that voice. His eyes shot open. Commander Cody had his hand on Chopper's shoulder, ready to offer assistance. "I've got it, commander," he answered gruffly, unsure if Cody recognized him or not. "Help others." Chopper turned carefully to the side and tried to make more room on the bench for another wounded man. There was human silence; plenty of noises from the battle, from blasters and munitions, from the gunships and the natural sounds of wind sweeping through the canyon, but nothing from the men. No talking or laughter; no moans or cries or weeping. Simply the silence of troopers who had all closed the vocals of their helmets. Most wouldn't even be close channel to their brothers in their wounded weakness.

Commander Cody turned to help two brothers with an unconscious man and the gunship lifted off amid the flares and flak of enemy fire. Chopper leaned his head against the bulkhead of the LAAT and wept quiet tears of pain, knowing he wasn't the only one.

"Kix is coming this way, Chopper," Kev murmured tiredly, sitting next to where Chopper lay. His back was to the wall where he'd leaned then slid down after half-carrying Chopper from the LAAT. He'd been in the hangar deck; Chopper thought he'd been helping unload the wounded but that hadn't been the case. Kev had his own wound and had been looking for the men of his squad: Sergeant Zeer, Kru and Marker. After a moment he stood. "I'll get us some water, Chopper. Check for my squad again."

Chopper grunted with a nod. He'd told Kev he'd seen Zeer go down early and grabbed by two other troopers, but didn't know about Marker or Kru or the new guy. "They weren't on my gunship, Kev. I didn't see them coming in from Kenobi's stand."

Kev nodded morosely and limped away. The armor of his lower leg was blackened by blaster fire.

Kix, his armor battle-scored, dirt-caked and blood-smeared, vambraces and rerebraces removed, the arm of his body glove raggedly cut off, had blaster wounds covered by a quick application of bacta that gleamed from his burn-twisted fingers to just below his blistered jaw. He knelt to inspect Chopper. Chopper preferred Coric and glanced around but didn't see him. He suddenly realized he didn't see any other medic making rounds through the deck or triaging the wounded.

"Need help?" Chopper reached out his two good hands to take the weight of the diagnostic scanner held clumsily under Kix's wounded arm. "Not just with this. Later?" He paused and licked his lower lip. "Two good hands and I've been through medic training more than anyone else." He grunted as he unfastened his belt as Kix inspected his leg. "Usually as the exhibit, Kix, but I'm sure I've picked up something useful."

"Thanks, Chopper," Kix gave him an absent smile with tired eyes. "I'll take you up on the offer when we're in the medical bay." He gave a shake of his head as he read the scanner and pressed a hypo to Chopper's hip. "Coric told me you do better on xyallopene?" He glanced at Chopper for confirmation then injected the painkiller. "You've got blaster burn, Chopper, cracked femur. All that blood is from shrapnel but the femur isn't broken and the femoral artery untouched. You know the protocol. You'll be on a waiting list for a bactatank." He looked over the men; wounded, dejected, defeated, as they quietly moved as Kix had directed them. It seemed the other medics had all ended up on Kenobi's ship, the Resiliant. "Maybe two or three days."

Chopper nodded as he fastened the scanner to his belt then adjusted it over Kix's shoulder and across his chest, slipping a strap under Kix's belt so the scanner wouldn't swing. Then he looked around at the men; the wounded being unloaded from gunships, brothers helping their brothers, armored marked blue or gold; everyone far quieter than usual, quieter than a victory. He saw Commander Cody, armor streaked with blood, speaking with Captain Rex as he was pulling off Rex's upper armor.

"You're the only medic?" He asked to confirm his observation.

Kix had nodded as he wearily stood, then gave a shrug. "The only one conscious."

"I'll let Commander Cody know." Chopper took a deep breath; already the pain was receding.

Thanks, Chopper." Kix motioned for two less wounded troopers to move Chopper to the medical unit as he moved on to another wounded man.

Eight-eight and Rill each grabbed an arm and pulled Chopper up to their shoulders, Rill grabbing his helmet as well.

"I need to speak with Commander Cody first," Chopper said and made a gesture toward the commander with his hand over Eight-eight's shoulder.

Normally Chopper would have waited until the commander or the captain noticed him, but Rex was leaning back against the wall with his eyes closed in pain and Commander Cody was daubing bacta around Rex's torso.

"Commander Cody, Captain Rex, Chopper reporting." He paused. Cody had frowned slightly at the interruption.

He's frowning at you, Chopper. You should have been dead long ago. Slick whispered and Chopper merely sighed at Slick's voice. He should have expected him; Slick'd had nothing to say on the battlefield.

"Go ahead, Chopper." The captain's voice was a whisper and Chopper knew it was because too much breathing hurt when you had blaster burn over your chest.

"Kix is the only medic available and he's wounded, sir. General Skywalker and Commander Tano are not here either." He gave a nod to Commander Cody. "It appears Commander Cody is in charge of the troopers."

Rex opened his eyes slightly and gave a slight nod. He turned his eyes towards Commander Cody. "All yours, Cody." Then he shut his eyes again.

"Recommendations, trooper?" The commander's tone was brusque.

No, Commander Cody hadn't forgotten who Chopper was.

"We're on the Resolute and most of these troopers are 501st. You need a second from the 501st for this. I'd recommend Sergeant Jesse." Chopper gestured with his head. "Over there, with the bendu on his helmet." Jesse had a scanner in his hand and was double-checking dead men, making sure there was no error. "May I suggest, commander?" Chopper chewed his inner cheek. Some men didn't like suggestions. Slick hadn't.

"Go ahead." Commander Cody was listening even as his attention was on Rex.

"Kix has blaster burn over his right arm and can't use it. I'd suggest assigning a few troopers with mechanical training to assist him with getting severely wounded in stasis. When he starts putting men in the tanks, I'd suggest you order him to take a quarter turn in bacta for himself. I'll be his hands in medical. The medical droids should be sufficient after a quarter-day."

Commander Cody nodded his understanding. "It will need to be an order, won't it?"

"Yes, sir." Chopper replied. "Kix is a medic. A good one."

This chapter refers to the first battle of Felucia.