Net finished smearing the salve on the man's arm and wrapped it with some of the gauze from the quickly diminishing pile of dressings at his side. Beside him Emilie was doing the same to the leg of a woman, and they all sat on a large drape cloth spread over the permacrete.
The smell of the explosion still hung in the air and wisps of smoke seeped from the char-painted crater in the side of the building and lingered, pocketing beneath the low-resting clouds of the sky. A temporary barrier of medical stations had been set up around the hospital, forming a lattice of tents and tables and blankets that ringed the damaged building. There was a slow but steady stream of patients spilling from the Medical facility's doors, walking of their own accord or being helped, and in some cases, carried by others.
Net could make out the glints of white that were his brothers among the kaleidoscope of citizens, slipping between them in the motions of assisting, conducting and channeling the throng. No longer just his squad, but others from the main complex, as many as could be spared.
He cast a quick glance at Emilie, who gave him a small look of comraderie before sending the woman she had patched up hobbling away and beckoning to the next person needing treatment. There were still bits of plaster and chips of paint in her hair, smoke streaks on her cheeks, but she worked with a dedication and efficiency that bespoke of years of experience, and passion for it. She nodded in appreciation at Net's orderliness and skill. They kept a steady pace between them.
Fetcher came up from behind and dropped off another bin of supplies before hurrying off again, slipping among the tents to make another round.
Net didn't like the way the rookie 's breath rattled in his chest or the way it came gritty and rough from his lips, but there was little he could do at the moment except make him sit down and reapply the breathing mask when he came back.
He knew the younger trooper would fight him about that. The urge to be mobile and to be doing something was a trait that sang strong within him and his brothers, and he wondered if it was something everyone felt so intensely or if it had been bred into their genes to exception.
The medic cast another side-glance at the young woman to his left and chuckled. Maybe he'd ask Emilie to demand it of the rookie. Fetcher seemed to do what she asked without protest.
"There you are! "
Both of them turned to see Dr. Sane approaching and Emilie lit up at his approach, flushing a little as the older man wrapped her in an exuberant hug.
"I'm glad you're safe!"
The doctor pulled away from her after a moment to look at Net, who had watched the interaction between the two and noted with interest that the young woman's cheeks were aflame as she returned to her patient.
Net was no expert on women, but he'd seen enough on the holo-net to catch the evidence of the feelings in her face.
Her reaction seemed lost on Dr. Sane however, who appeared oblivious as he turned to Net.
"You too, my boy." He placed a hand on Net's shoulder and raised an eyebrow at the supplies laying around him and the patient he was treating.
"You really are a medic. I thought you were only joking yesterday. "
"No, sir." Net pressed a roll of gauze into the outstretched hand of the doctor. The older man took it, folding back his sleeves and stepping between the two to gesture for the next person waiting on treatment.
...
That evening decent progress had been made in clearing the building, patients ordered and treated and housed as best as the conditions allowed outside, and structural teams had begun tinkering within. Transfers had been made for the most severely injured, and those left behind were receiving care from civilian and military medical personnel alike.
Net sat with Emilie and Fetcher off to the side of the commotion, eating some sandwiches and soup donated by one of the local shops.
He could see the woman with the long dark hair who had approached them with Surge earlier, making passes through the gathering, handing out food and drinks alongside an older woman. After speaking with them briefly, Surge had taken up station at one of the triage areas and was doling out his share of supplies and care alongside several other medics.
"That's it. You're off duty after this."
Emilie ran a hand over Fetcher's back as he coughed on some of the soup he was trying to swallow. "You shouldn't have been running around in the first place. You need rest."
He started to shake his head but the look she have him was so quelling he settled on staring at the bowl in his hands.
Net chuckled softly to himself and let his eyes roam some more as he ate. He could see Lt. Shard off to one side, discussing something with a CSF officer, a scrap of alloy passing between them, heads shaking and hands waving about. Another man joined them after a short time and Shard held up the scrap to be photographed before it was placed in a case and taken away.
Net wondered at the significance of it and turned to see Emilie was watching the exchange as well, a strange expression playing across her face as she took a bite of her sandwich.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
She narrowed her eyes and finished chewing before looking at him with puzzlement.
"The symbol on that piece. It was Mandalorian. A clan mark."
Net blinked at her in surprise.
"How can you tell? "
She shook her head and took a small bite, speaking more to the bread in her hands than him. "I was born there. Spent most of my childhood on Mandalore. My father is Mandalorian."
Net caught Shard's attention and motioned him over.
The Lieutenant approached and stopped beside them, arms crossed and looking down at the trio.
"Something wrong? " He asked, glancing between them.
"Miss Emilie recognized the symbol on that piece you were passing about."
Shard looked at Emilie with interest. "You know it?"
She shook her head. "Not specifically, just that it was a Mandalorian clan mark. I'm not sure which one, though. "
Shard nodded. "The Inspector thinks it's some kind of revenge move." He paused to survey the people milling around them. "Most of the injured are just collateral from structural damage resulting from the blast. From the looks of it the target area was limited to one patient's room and the adjoining hallway."
"Whose room? "
"No idea. I just know that it was one of the original persons rescued from the building that caught fire."
Emilie paled a little. "They came to finish the job."
Shard looked at her, frowning. "Looks like it. First thing that popped into my head after the explosion hit, and we were still alive. If the hospital itself was the target, we'd be dead."
She nodded and returned to her sandwich, chewing thoughtfully.
Fetcher grabbed a sandwich from the pile beside them and held it up for the lieutenant to take, but he just shook his head, his gaze panning the building once more. After a minute he gave them a curt nod and walked off.
Net crumbled up his wrapper and placed it to the side, grinning at Emilie.
"So you're Mandalorian? Our dad was too," he joked. Fetcher rolled his eyes.
Emilie looked at him, her eyes scanning his for something he couldn't quite determine. "My father was. My mom never really grew partial to being one." She frowned a bit, fingers playing with the hem of her uniform. "Neither did I. We left years ago."
Fetcher patted her knee. "It's ok. We still think you're cool." His voice was a rasp of a whisper but he wiggled his eyebrows as he said it and they all laughed.
...
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Cozzizzie and TGP212th: You guys have been reviewing so faithfully. Thank you :) I'm glad you guys have liked it so far!
I really struggle with dialogue. It's always been my weakest point when writing-folding it in, making it flow, and having it make sense. I've been kind of fighting to work it in as much as possible the last few chapters and finding myself not really liking how it's been coming out, although I'm having a great time in the trying. This story, as well as being fun, is such a learning process for me! I'm dedicated now, though. I want to get better. I read so many wonderful stories on here and I'm like "That! That's what I want to write like some day!" Thanks for bearing with me. ^_~
Also, I apologize. I was deceptive. I implied so much more with that cliffhanger, didn't I? ;)
I promise there's more to come on this storyline. I have a brief interlude (another Surge chapter) planned next, and then plans to pick up with a Trust and Hatch chapter which continues this storyline and brings the characters from it to cross paths with them.