Aaaand just like that, I can log in again! I don't know why, but who cares?! I'm back in business! :D As I failed to make clear last chapter, I also post this story on DeviantArt under the pseudonym, WackyJax. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused. ^^;

Ch. 35

Dr. Caplan regarded Hunks from across her desk with cool amusement.

"Are you sure, Captain?" she asked, her tone mocking innocence.

Hunks glared at her and repressed a shudder. He hated owing favors, but there was nothing else to be done.

"Please, Doctor," he said quietly. "I need your help."

"Hmm," she replied. "How interesting you should want to prolong his suffering."

Hunks bristled at that. "You know that's not it at all!" He puffed on his pipe, restraining Mercury at the same time. Mercury whined, sensing his current master's sudden discomfort.

Caplan's smile was almost kind. What she said next was with a touch of pride. "I only meant that a veteran of his caliber, with all the horrors of battle, literally carved upon his countenance…would you really want to bring him back? You said he went mad, didn't you? What if I, in my curing only aggravate his condition?"

Hunks raised an eyebrow and puffed again before replying.

"How interesting," he said, "that a scientist of your caliber, who knows more about the building blocks of life than I do, values humanity so little."

Caplan frowned as Hunks went on. "Still, I know you well enough to know you are proud of your handiwork, such as it is. You won't let him go on this way. You won't let one of your inventions stay broken. It wouldn't do for your reputation, now would it? And while I am not responsible for what he was, Doctor, I am responsible for him now. We have found him! He's alive, but was confused and ill. Now his life is in jeopardy, probably because of you, and whatever you did to make him what he is!"

Dr. Caplan shot out of her seat but Hunks held up his hands in surrender.

"I don't care what it takes," he said, sighing in defeat. "Just…save him…please."

Dr. Caplan watched him carefully.

"Very well," she said. "I will do what I can, but you will owe me for this, Captain. And I expect full recompense!"

Hunks stared right back. "I'll get you over the border myself."

While Stecchin and Martis gathered info to triangulate where the main signal was coming from, Oreldo took Hannah aside into one of the many pavilions.

"I'm glad you're safe," he said, cupping her face with one hand.

"Please, Mr. Oreldo," Hannah said with a shaky voice, "now is not the time!"

He looked her over in frustration. "This is ridiculous!" he said. "There's got to be a straightforward answer! These suits are supposed to survive free-fall! You can move and run around in them, right? The doc is dead; he can't do anything…so why would holding you put your life in danger?"

They looked at each other in realization.

"Do…" Hannah whispered, "Do you suppose we can risk it? What if…what if it's as simple as an on/off switch? What if all there is to it is to arm and disarm?"

"It might even be simpler than that," Oreldo replied. "Maybe Martis doesn't have to do anything! Maybe, if you all were really careful and pulled the suits off slowly, you won't set them off."

See her resolve, Oreldo quickly added, "But we have to find a volunteer! Someone who isn't afraid to die."

Hannah lifted her chin. "I'm not afraid to die, Mr. Oreldo."

"No, Hannah! It's too dangerous!"

"I know that! That's why-"

"No! I'm going to ask that Bryce guy!"

"But Mr. Oreldo-"

"I can't lose you again!" Oreldo shouted. Realizing what he said, he bowed his head and looked away. He heard Hannah sigh.

"Mr. Oreldo," she said quietly. "You never had me. My feelings haven't changed since that day."

He looked up at her with pained eyes.

"I am sorry," she said. "I did somewhat take advantage the other night. But then it was the first night in ages where I could be unafraid. It wasn't because I thought you could protect me. I knew they wouldn't touch you. I just knew that I wouldn't have to check the locks or the windows or look over my shoulder. You're always being watched in Rodelia, and that's why I stopped writing."

"Hannah," Oreldo mumbled, knowing it was futile but needing to ask anyway, "why won't you let him go? Will there never be anyone else for you?"

Hannah's smile was sad but sincere. "I truly don't know the answer to that," she said. "I just know that as of right now, it isn't you. And if I die today, knowing that I may see him still makes me very happy."

Oreldo sighed, then gave a rueful nod.

"Well, we're not getting any closer to an answer chattering like this!" he said. "Are you going to do this or not?"

"Not with you standing here, you silly lech! Get one of your female officers in here!"

Oreldo couldn't help but grin. "Had to try it," he said with a shrug, then paused, suddenly serious again.

"Wait," he said. "The only female officer left is Lily…oh no. I can't let her do that. She'd be traumatized for life! The LT's gone, so…"

"But maybe you're right, and nothing will happen!"

Yeah, but if I'm wrong, she won't be able to handle it!"

"Handle what?" they heard Stecchin say behind them.

Oreldo winced, but Stecchin missed it. Before he could stop her, Hannah told the Sergeant-Major everything. When she finished, Stecchin was visibly shaken. She then frowned and squared her shoulders.

"All right," she said, rolling up her sleeves. "I understand the risks. Let's do it!"

Shocked, Oreldo protested. "Lily, no! I can't ask you to do this!"

"It's Sergeant-Major Stecchin, Sir!" she declared. "And I am the only one qualified to do this! Lady Kavi is busy helping Sub-Lieutenant Martis, and using one of the other women in the 906 suits will put more life at risk than necessary! We must keep collateral damage at a minimum, no matter what! Isn't that right, Sir?"

Oreldo was confounded. He'd never heard Lily sound so…mature. Sure there were little flashes of brilliance here and there over the years, but…

"Are you sure, Sergeant-Major?" he asked softly. She nodded, and he sighed.

"I should've insisted you stay home," he muttered. At Stecchin's look of confusion, he added, "I just…I've got some of my favorite people right here, and now I could lose both of you!"

Stecchin's eyes widened slowly. "Y-you mean…you mean it? I'm one of your favorite people? I thought…"

"You thought wrong, Lily," Oreldo said. "And I didn't get a chance to say it before, but I'm really sorry about Alan. I'm sorry I interfered before. I just didn't want you to get hurt, that's all."

"Really?"

"Of course! If anything happened to you, Hunks would have me for lunch! Besides, then we'd have no sunshine in the office, you know? But yeah, I was wrong…I mean, I'm really proud of you. And I know you have to make up your own mind on stuff like guys."

Oreldo flushed at the last part, looking away. Stecchin was flummoxed. All these years she was certain Oreldo's teasing and bossy attitude was a sure-fire sign of his intense dislike for her. Now it seemed that the exact opposite was true.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" she asked.

Oreldo smiled. "I don't know," he said sadly. "I was just having a little fun, but I guess I was also waiting for you to "get it."

"Get what?"

"Speaking of getting," Hannah interjected, "I hate to have to barge in, but can we do something about getting this thing off now?"

Hours later…

"I'm glad you're here, Sir," Alice said.

She and Captain Hunks kept their vigil in the hospital chapel. Mercury was at Hunks' feet, out like a light. They were both exhausted, but knew neither one would sleep. Hunks knew if he asked, Alice would still refuse to leave. He managed to persuade her to stay out of the O.R. at least. The surgery was going to take at least 6 hours or more, and no one, not even Caplan herself, knew what the outcome would be. Would he be all right? Would he die? Or worst of all, become a vegetable?

It was going to be a very long night.