Star Wars: The Bad Batch

In Secret

by Gabrielle Lawson

Chapter Sixteen

Tech tried very hard not to let Crosshair's help with dressing get him down. It was finally time to see if the treatment would work. Three months of being unable to move half his body had overwhelmed his ability to be simply pragmatic or logical. He'd been frustrated and quite possibly depressed. Frustration wasn't a foreign feeling but depression was something very new.

Tech sat in his lev chair until they were ready to board the Marauder. Omega hugged each of them goodbye and Hunter wished them well, then Wrecker lifted him then. It had been decided that Wrecker and Crosshair would join him on the voyage. Emerie and Echo came along as well. Senator Chuchi required Tech and Crosshair to have Imperial Security Clearance. Wrecker and Echo would stay behind with Rex while Tech and Crosshair went on an official senatorial transport to Pantora. He didn't know if Emerie would be going with him or staying with Rex as Crosshair and Echo were.

It felt good to sit in the pilot's seat again. Well, the back of the seat. Tech couldn't feel the rest of it. Echo took the right seat. Emerie went aft to stow her equipment. She'd taken most of the acute emergency gear from the shuttle. The shuttle was staying as the island's new clinic primarily. Tech lifted off smoothly and headed away from the island. He angled it upward and out into space. Then he set the navicomputer to Coruscant and pushed on the helm to turn his chair around. He pulled out his datapad and Wrecker plugged it into the ship's computer.

"Didn't know you've added forgery to your skillset," Crosshair said. "Well, outside of the base."

"Yes," Tech agreed. "I'd forged Imperial clearances and chain codes long before I forged Hemlock's access. It's really quite easy."

Echo chuckled. "For you."

Crosshair went aft and found the older crate with his gear. "You kept this all this time?"

"We missed you," Wrecker told him. "Although we gave Omega your comms."

"And it was destroyed by a bounty hunter on Boro Vio," Tech added.

"I'm sure Captain Rex can provide new comms," Crosshair replied, going through the crate. "Are we still using Havoc?"

Wrecker rubbed his head. "Yeah, but you'll have to be Havoc Six."

"Omega?" Crosshair asked.

"No, me," Echo said. "I'm Four, Omega's Five."

"I wish Hunter was coming." Crosshair sat down again. "It would feel more like old times."

Old times didn't really matter to Tech now that all his brothers were safe. "We are in quite new and uncertain times. The Empire is spreading and concentrating their power. And with the warrant, it's best that we only take the people we need to take for any given mission."

Hunter found Omega down by the wharf. She was sitting on the wall with her legs dangling over the water below. She wiped her eyes when she saw him coming. "They'll be back," Hunter told her.

"Tech and Wrecker will," Omega said. "But Echo's staying with Rex, and now Crosshair is, too. We just got him back."

"Echo wants to help his brothers, the regs. Rex was a close friend of his even before Skako Minor." He sat down beside her. "And Crosshair is angry. He's not ready to settle down. He wants to fight. But this time, he's on the right side of things. This is still home. They'll come back from time to time."

Omega kicked her heals against the rocks, looking down into the water. "What if Tech still can't walk? He wasn't happy."

"I noticed," Hunter told her. "He seemed more upbeat today. I have high hopes. You should, too."

"I'm not sure he was happy here," she insisted. "He thought he was useless."

That was news. Apparently, he'd been confiding in Omega. "What exactly happened with you two in that mine?"

"I fell," Omega said. "You saw it. I couldn't see what was below until I hit the water. Then Tech hit the water right after me. He had to have jumped. We met up in the water but then it just pushed us apart and sucked us down. After the waterfall spat us out, I asked him why he didn't act like he cared about Echo leaving. And he told me."

That sounded like Tech. Some might take that question as accusatory and respond defensively. Tech would have taken it literally. "If you ever want a perfectly honest answer, ask Tech. What did he say?"

She looked over at him. "He said he processes moments and thoughts differently, but he still feels the same feelings."

Hunter nodded. "He always has. His mind is at least two or three steps faster than ours. I think he didn't have much to put his mind to here, so he got stuck in his feelings. He usually doesn't have time."

Omega was quiet a minute. "When Hemlock took us to see him, I was both happy and sad. Happy he was alive and sad he was where we were and hurt. But the next day, he contacted me on my datapad. I knew we were going to be okay then. It actually started being kind of fun."

They'd all gone over Tech's record of what all he'd done at Hemlock's base and the parts Nala Se, Omega, and Crosshair had played. "He didn't have a plan right away. It wasn't until Hemlock put Crosshair to work."

"He needed to practice and gather data," she said in Tech's defense. "All he had was his mind, until he could use us."

Hunter looked down at her. "That's why he's Havoc Two. I make the plans, set the strategy, but if it goes sideways and we're stuck, Tech can always find the one way out. Just like he did on Bracca. Even with Crosshair on our heels, knowing our playbook, Tech still found a way again and again. And if we're in a firefight. . . . Any of us can pilot the Marauder, but none of us can maneuver like Tech. He can the read the situation and react faster than any of us can. And that means he can react faster than the ships pursuing us can. Crosshair used to think his specialty was less than ours because it's not a fighting skill. But Tech can fight and cover everything else so we can fight better. We were lost without him." He leaned into her. "And without you."

"You asked me if I wanted to stay here for good," Omega said. "I like it here. I like having friends like Lyana and Phee, but I don't want to stay here all the time."

Hunter sighed. "The Empire has put out a kill-on-sight warrant for us. It's too much of a risk."

She turned her body to face him. "But there are other people at risk. Other people in trouble. We can help them, like we helped Benni and the other kids."

Hunter regretted not settling down sooner, like Cut had said. Omega had had a taste of adventure, and it was in her blood. "Well, we'd need a way to find them."

"Maybe Phee can find them. She travels all over in search of ancient wonders."

Well, he had had more than a taste of it, and it had been baked into in his blood. "Maybe on a part-time basis."

Omega hugged him then stood up. "I'll need a new bow."

Tech landed the ship at the garage then let Wrecker carry him out with the others. Rex and Senator Chuchi met them and led them inside. There were about thirty clones behind the garage's big doors. All of them snapped to attention and saluted when Wrecker stepped inside.

"These men were Hemlock's prisoners," Rex told him. "They wanted to thank you."

Tech saluted as best he could from Wrecker's arms. Several of them then came forward to shake his hand, until the senator diplomatically reminded them that they were on a schedule. "The office, please," she told the five of them.

They followed Rex and Chuchi into the office and found the Pantoran doctor and several of Chuchi's guards.

"We have planned a bit of subterfuge," Chuchi said. "Crosshair, you'll need to borrow Karin's uniform." She indicated one of the guards. Tech also saw a med bed in the room. "Tech, you'll only need a helmet. You will be a wounded guard. We'll be taking you back to Pantora for treatment."

Karin readily removed his uniform and put on civilian clothes that were waiting on the desk. "I will insist that you protect the Senator at all costs," he told Crosshair.

"Won't be a problem," Crosshair assured him. "I'll protect him, too."

"Oh, I want to go," Wrecker whined. "I've been there before."

"You're quite a bit larger than any of my guards," Chuchi told him, with a hand on his arm. "We'll take good care of him, I promise. Please place Tech on the bed."

"You can help me carry my things," Emerie offered him.

Tech was once again on his back on medical bed. It wasn't ideal but if it led to getting his lower body back, he'd endure it. "Your goggles won't fit," the other guard said as he removed his helmet.

Tech removed them and handed them to Wrecker. "I can't see well without them."

The guard placed the helmet over Tech's head. The doctor took the goggles and put them into a case he was carrying. "We'll take them with us." He draped a blanket over Tech and pulled it up to his neck. "The helmet doesn't cover your whole face and, frankly, you're not blue. So we will need to use a breather to cover the rest."

Tech sighed and nodded. Emerie put the breather on and smiled lightly. "Don't fight the breather." At least it was just a field breather. No tubes.

"What about my face?" Crosshair asked.

"A little paint," the doctor replied. "Don't worry, it's not permanent. Chin up, mouth closed." Tech couldn't watch because they were behind his head, but he heard a sprayer.

"And now we just need to get back to my official transport," Chuchi said. "We should return within two rotations."

Tech couldn't tell the third guard from Crosshair but figured it was the former since he led the way out of the office and through the gathered clones. The doctor walked on one side of him and the senator the other. She put a hand on his arm. "You're in good hands," she told him. "Just lie back and rest."

Before long, he was put on the back of a speeder and they whisked away though the alleys and streets of Coruscant. Tech wished he could see it clearly. He'd never seen the upper levels or senatorial chambers.

Captain Rex approached Emerie. "I wasn't expecting to see you back here."

"Tech no longer needs me," she told him. "But I can be of use to you. Surely your men need medical care from time to time."

"That we do," Rex told her. "We'll be glad for the help. You good in the field?"

"We'll I haven't had any field experience," she replied truthfully. She was likely considered dead by the Empire. She could quite literally go anywhere. "But I've played it safe for too long. I'm up for something new."

"You can set up and sleep in here," he offered. He pointed out one side of the room. "Sorry it's rough, but it's all we got at the moment. We do have a second secure site. We might get you out there in a few days."

"I can manage." She turned to Wrecker. "Can you bring my things?" Then she turned back to Rex. "I'll likely need more supplies."

He nodded. "We'll keep an eye out. See what we can get you. You good to start right away?"

She nodded and he and Echo stepped back into the larger area.

Wrecker returned with her cases and set them over in the corner where Rex had indicated. "You sure you're going to be okay here?"

"I'm sure. I tried to help the clones on Mount Tantis. Now I can keep helping them."

Karin and the other guard offered to help set up. Between her and the two Pantorans, she had most of the emergency equipment set up in a quarter of an hour. Soon after, a clone holding his arm stepped in. She approached him. She smiled and beckoned him over. "What's your name, soldier?"

Tech got to remove the breather once they were on the ship. The doctor raised the head of the bed so he could at least recline. Tech removed the helmet and the doctor passed him his goggles.

Even this one room in this ship was fancier than any ship he'd ever been in. The room he was in was colored in reds, pinks, and even greens . One of the guards entered and removed his helmet. Crosshair looked rather odd with a half-blue face. "Is everyone on Pantora so elaborately dressed?"

The doctor certainly was. "Not all residents of Pantora are native. But we do like to be colorful. Still, only those in an official capacity wear such formality." He picked up a datapad and handed it to Tech. "This is a representation of the device. The procedure should take approximately three hours."

It was a small device in two pieces, which vaguely resembling a vertebra. He manipulated the image to see its inner workings. Between the two sections there were two clamps and a thin circuit board in between. The discs were blue in color and would act as batteries. The gel within them would move as the discs were compressed, generating energy. "When will know if it works?"

"Perhaps the next rotation," the doctor replied. "We will, of course, be giving pain management after the surgery. We'll have to numb the area, so you wouldn't be able to feel anything anyway. But as we taper that off, we can test the bottom of your feet for a reaction. If there is one, it will mean the procedure was successful."

"Will I be conscious for the surgery?" Tech manipulated the image some more. "I think I might like to watch."

The doctor seemed surprised. "You're the first to ask that."

"He's full of surprises," Crosshair commented.

"I'm sure we can accommodate something," the doctor replied.

The trip to Pantora only took half a day. Tech and Crosshair were given a meal. But as they landed, Crosshair and Tech replaced their helmets, and the doctor replaced the breather to cover Tech's lower face. Crosshair followed as the group exited the ship. The landing field was on top of a building, which turned out to be a hospital. Several nurses and doctors met them and guided them inside.

"I want the best possible treatment for this man," Senator Chuchi told the hospital personal. "He was injured while on duty. My personal doctor will be in charge."

"This man is a candidate for post-paralysis surgery," the doctor stated. "I would like Doctor Safu to assist. I will prepare the patient for surgery. Please notify Safu and set up an appropriate surgical suite."

"Yes, doctor." Several of the nurses left to do those things. The doctors who were left led the doctor—Crosshair wasn't aware of his name—to a preparatory unit. "I'm sorry, Senator, but you and your men will have to wait in the waiting area."

"I understand," Chuchi stated. She placed a hand on Tech's covered arm, and then turned away. Crosshair followed her on her left, while the other guard did on her right. There were a few other people in the waiting area, but the guard indicated that they should move to the other side of the room. They followed his orders. Chuchi sat down. The guard posted himself in front of her, facing outward. Crosshair did the same.

He would rather have been in or just outside the surgical suite. But he had a part to play, and he would play it.

Tech was partially sedated but still conscious, as he'd requested. The level of sedation allowed him to not really care about the tube that was placed into his mouth. It didn't extend down his throat at least. The doctor also apologized as a paralytic would be required to keep him perfectly still during the procedure. His clothing was removed and he was covered again.

Doctor Safu arrived with several nurses, and Chuchi's doctor conferred with them. Then sensors were placed on his chest and arms to monitor his vitals. And finally, he was moved into the surgical suite. He was lifted from the med bed he'd been on and placed face down on the surgical bed. There was a hole to allow his face through the bed, and he found screen approximately ten centimeters below.

"I do not think it advisable to view the incision and removal of the vertebra," the doctor said. "But we'll activate that screen as we insert the device."

To their credit he felt nothing. He listened to the sounds in the suite. They were familiar from Critical Care back in Hemlock's base, but the sounds were more musical, with varying notes. He heard the doctors speaking, but they spoke in Pantoran, and he had no way of translating it. Finally, the screen activated and he was looking at a very close-up image of his own spinal cord through a square cut-out of a cloth covering him. He could see the two pieces of the cord as they lay near each other but didn't align properly.

"The first section of the device sits in the posterior position," Doctor Sifu stated. He moved the upper portion of the cord out of the way and slip the piece behind the lower piece. He threaded the lower cord through the gel pad until it was snug against the next vertebra. The device itself looked like a metal vertebra that had been split vertically. Sifu kept up the commentary. Next, he slipped another gel pad over the top portion of the cord. They then worked to reconnect blood vessels that ran down his spine. After that, a small clip with two clamps connected the two parts of the cord with the circuit board between them. The anterior piece came next. It was screwed together and adhered to the upper and lower gel pads. Doctor Safu pressed a small button with a tool and the several small lights on the device came on. Finally, a cover was added and his skin sealed around it.

"All finished," Chuchi's doctor reported. The screen went black. "While the process may not have looked traumatic, your body has sustained trauma nonetheless. You'll be fully sedated for a few hours. You will sleep after that. When you wake up, the paralytic will be gone. Then we will provide localized pain relief and test the reflexes of your lower body. For now, sleep well."

Tech wanted to correct that unconsciousness was not the same as sleep, but his vision became fuzzy and everything went black.

He was not aware of slipping from unconsciousness to dreaming but he did dream. When he woke up, he was lying on his left side in what appeared to be a private room. The only other people inside were a Pantoran nurse and Crosshair with his half-blue face. Just to be sure the paralytic was gone, Tech moved his right arm. It obliged, though it moved clumsily.

"Welcome back," Crosshair said.

"Are you comfortable?" the nurse asked him.

Tech took stock. He still felt a bit fuzzy but otherwise well. There was a light ache on his back, but he couldn't tell if that was below or above the split in his spinal cord. The area was also quite cold even though he was covered by a blanket. He realized he was lying on a fixed bed with plenty of cushion below him and a soft pillow. "Yes," he said and found his voice was as halting as his arm had been.

"You'll feel stronger momentarily," the nurse told him. She tucked the blanket around him. "The doctor will return soon." She left the room.

"How long was I out?" Tech asked.

"Quite a few hours," Crosshair replied. "I've already had lunch. Feel anything different?"

"Hard to say." Tech adjusted himself by rolling slightly so that his left arm was released. He couldn't roll over all the way, and he was hesitant to try. The site would still be painful. He didn't want to lay on his back until the pain was permanently gone.

Crosshair handed him his goggles and Tech strapped them on. He could now see the room clearly. Crosshair was seated in a cushioned chair. There was a small counter with two Pantoran guard helmets and a cubicle with his clothes in it. It wasn't a large room, but it was larger than Critical Care had been. There were no IVs, no tubes, nothing connecting him to any machine. He reached behind his back and felt there was something cold under the blanket pressed against his back. Localized pain relief, as the doctor had said.

The door opened again and Chuchi's doctor and the senator herself entered. "Good afternoon, Tech, Crosshair. Tech, how are you feeling? Does the site hurt?" the doctor asked.

"Just a light ache," he told the doctor. "It's cold. But I can't be sure I feel anything below the wound."

"It can take some time for the brain to learn to interpret the signals from the device and your lower body," the doctor explained. "Likewise, your lower body will have to learn to interpret the signals from your brain as they are passed by the device. Again, your paralysis was only four months and not years. So if the procedure was successful, I believe the process of interpretation will be relatively quick. But let's give it a test, shall we?"

Tech watched as he pulled back the blanket from his feet. He used a small rod and stroked it across the bottom of his right foot. And his foot jerked. His leg jerked. And it had hurt. Tech finally began to believe that this had actually worked.

The doctor smiled. "That wouldn't have happened yesterday." He recovered his feet. "Your prognosis is very good."

Senator Chuchi smiled. "That is wonderful! I'm very happy for you!"

"We'll keep you here overnight," the doctor told him. "You will only be tended by people we know we can trust. Please just relax and enjoy being pampered. We'll bring you a light meal. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll continue the subterfuge in reverse and return you both to Captain Rex."

The two of them left and Crosshair got up and pushed his chair closer before sitting down again. "I have no doubt you'll be moving your legs week and walking a cycle. Your brain can interpret just about anything."