Star Wars: The Bad Batch

In Secret

by Gabrielle Lawson

Chapter Seventeen

Crosshair had tried to sleep through the night, but the chair wasn't comfortable and someone kept entering the room. Usually, it was nurses who came in to check Tech's vitals. That woke Tech up every time. But there was one time the door opened and two guards carried a large crate in. They did this quietly and Tech remained asleep. After they left, Crosshair opened the crate but it was empty. He thought it very strange then went back to the chair and tried a different position.

He woke up next when the sun warmed his face. The paint was starting to feel very dry on his face. He was looking forward to getting back to Coruscant and washing it off. He stood and stretched. Then he picked up the tablet and put in an order for breakfast for him and Tech. It took hours before the kitchen actually sent something up. Tech would be awake by then.

He sat down again and pulled up the local news just to have something to do. It wasn't fun reading. He could see now that the Empire's claims of bring peace and order were just slogans. And the Empire wouldn't allow a free press, so everything he read was just propaganda, with a few local feel-good stories sprinkled in. There was an article mentioning the senator as being here, though. He read that one carefully. It mentioned a wounded guard and post-paralysis surgery. One of the hospital's doctors or nurses must have talked to a reporter.

The door opened and Chuchi's doctor entered with a Pantoran man in a hospital gown, much like Tech was wearing. The doctor looked stressed. Crosshair put the tablet back on the table and stood.

"You must return to the senator," the doctor stated. "The helmet, put it on." He opened the crate. "Then help me get your brother in this crate."

"What's happened?" Crosshair asked him.

"I am awake," Tech said, blinking the sleep from his eyes. "What about putting me in a crate?"

"The Imperial governor has sent a lieutenant to investigate the senator's claims of a wounded guard," the doctor explained. "We don't have time to paint Tech and there's no reason he'd wear a helmet in his current state. This is one of my previous patients. He's going to be the wounded guard. Tech, we need to get you to the ship unnoticed."

Tech pushed up on his elbows. "The crate."

It was a large crate. The other man moved haltingly, like he was new to walking. He put Tech's clothes in the crate. "We must hurry," the doctor stated again.

Crosshair reached under Tech's shoulders and the doctor took his legs. They placed him in the open crate, but his legs spilled over. "On your side," the doctor said. Tech turned and the doctor helped him get his pelvis turned and his legs bent.

Another guard entered. "Change of plans. The lieutenant is in the waiting room. The senator is secure." He looked to Crosshair. "You, put that helmet on. We'll take the crate."

The doctor handed Tech his goggles and a breather. "This contains an hour of air, plenty of time."

Crosshair put on the helmet and checked the room for any other traces of Tech. The other patient had already climbed awkwardly into the bed.

"There's a cart in the hall," the guard said. "I'll take this end. Lift on three."

Crosshair took the other end and waited for the guard's count. On three, they lifted. Tech wasn't heavy per se but putting all his weight on two handles felt like a lot. They walked the crate to the hall and put it on the cart. The guard then took up a position in front. "Follow me."

Crosshair was glad he had a weapon. If this guard wasn't who he said he was, he was going to have to hurt some people. But they went into a lift and up to the highest floor. They moved into the corridor and then toward the doors that led to the ship. He pushed the cart behind the guard.

There were troopers standing in front of the ship's ramp. "Stay calm," the guard said. He kept walking toward the ship.

One of the troopers advanced, holding up a hand. "Halt."

The guard stopped and Crosshair stopped the cart.

The trooper pounded the crate. "What do you have in there?"

The guard handed him a datapad. "Medical supplies."

The trooper took the pad and read it over. Crosshair watched him very carefully. The trooper held his plaster in his other hand, but it was hanging loosely. He sighed and handed the pad back. "Proceed."

The guard and Crosshair moved again toward the ramp. The troopers allowed them to pass. The guard led them further into the ship, then motioned for Tech's crate to be put into a storeroom. Then he motioned that they should check the rest of the ship.

Crosshair nodded. He went forward while the guard went aft. He checked the helm, the galley, half of the rooms. The senator's room was particularly posh. He met the guard again in the middle. "I thought I saw a tracker on the landing gear as we approached," he whispered. "It won't matter. We're returning to Coruscant. You will take the helm. Once the senator is on board, we can take off."

"Why don't you take the helm," Crosshair suggested, "while I stand guard outside that storeroom."

The guard nodded and they crossed paths. Crosshair went to the storeroom then faced into the corridor and stood at attention.

Senator Chuchi stood just behind and between two of her guards. The doctor soon joined her. "He's safe?" she whispered.

"They both are," the doctor replied back.

The lieutenant approached, flanked by eight troopers. "Good morning, Senator. We were disappointed that you did not let us know you were returning." The troopers stood at attention.

"I was more concerned with the health of my guard."

"A guard?" the lieutenant, a blond human woman. "They are meant to protect you. You have several others."

Chuchi seethed but hid it. "I care about each of them. Sadly, I lost two quite recently to an assassin on Coruscant."

"An assassin, you say?" the woman queried, with fake shock. "We are gratified you are safe. But why not have your guard treated on Coruscant? There are thousands of hospitals there."

"His spinal cord had been severed," Doctor Humi stated. "We've been pioneering a post-paralysis treatment here on Pantora. It was his best chance of walking again."

"I would like to see this treatment," the woman decided. "Please, let's go visit him."

Chuchi smiled. "I would like to visit him as well. Please, Dr. Humi, lead the way."

The doctor turned and Chuchi followed. The lieutenant moved up beside her. Her guards stepped right behind her, putting themselves between her and the lieutenant's troopers.

The doctor opened the door. "Good morning, Mora. How you are feeling?"

The young Pantoran man in the bed seemed groggy from sleep. "Pretty good." He smiled. "I think I wiggled my toes!"

"Really?" Chuchi remarked as she pushed past the lieutenant to enter the room. "That's astounding! Wonderful!"

"I would very much like to see this treatment," the lieutenant said, stepping toward the bed. "Please show me."

Chuchi nodded slightly. The young man grabbed the side of the bed to flip himself over with the doctor's assistance. The doctor lifted the blanket and the side of the gown. There was a rectangle of metal directly on his spinal column. The doctor used a scanner to show the inner workers of the device. "This device replaced the vertebrae over the severed cord. We use technology to bridge the two pieces and pass neural messages between them. It's early yet," he cautioned. "Mora will have to learn how his body and mind respond to those signals before he'll be fully able to walk and use his lower half."

"Impressive," the lieutenant stated. She looked around the room. There was a folded uniform in the cupboard and a helmet on the table.

"Watch my toes!" Mora suggested as he turned back over. The doctor dutifully uncovered his feet. And there was just the slightest jiggle of the big toe on his left foot. Chuchi knew this man had walked into this room less than an hour ago. His performance was stellar.

"I am so happy for you," Chuchi told him. "This treatment doesn't always work," she told the lieutenant. "Mora, here, is one of the lucky ones."

"Indeed," the lieutenant agreed. She turned for the door. "Will you be staying long?"

"Oh no," Chuchi told her. "There are some very important votes coming up in the Senate. We planned to return this morning. I feel much better doing so knowing Mora's procedure was successful."

"I'm sorry I cannot come with you, Senator," Mora said. "I will work hard to regain my place in your service."

Chuchi took his hand. "I'm sure you will. And a place will be waiting for you. But rest up and visit your family. Take this time to be well."

"Have a safe journey," the lieutenant offered and she marched out of the room. As soon as she passed them, her eight troopers followed her down the corridor.

Mora wiggled all his toes more exaggeratedly. Chuchi squeezed his hand. "Thank you so much."

"My pleasure, Senator."

"Doctor Safu will discharge you later today," Humi told him. "In the meantime, enjoy your breakfast and relax."

"Yes, doctor."

Chuchi smiled then took her leave. The doctor led them to the lift and from there they returned to the ship. There were two troopers standing at the ramp. "Thank you for keeping my ship secure," Chuchi called out to them. "We'll be leaving now."

"Safe journeys, Senator," the trooper on the right stated. They stepped aside and Chuchi, Humi, and the two guards stepped aboard. The troopers moved clear of the ship, and the ramp was lifted into place. Chuchi went right to the helm and told Crosshair to take off, while the doctor went in search of Tech to get him out of the crate.

"I'm not Crosshair, ma'am," the guard at the helm stated. "He's guarding the patient."

Of course, he was. "Thank you, and good work."

Between Crosshair, the doctor, and two guards, Tech was lifted from the crate and taken to a room with a soft bed. Senator Chuchi entered after he was settled. "Sorry for your mode of transport. But our deception appears to have worked. We are on our way back Coruscant. Are you hungry? It seems Mr. Mora will be enjoying the breakfast you ordered."

"I ordered," Crosshair replied. "And I'm definitely hungry."

Chuchi chuckled. "I'll have something brought in for both of you."

The doctor handed him a datapad. "Some instructions for your rehabilitation. Don't overexert yourself. Give yourself time to acclimate to the device then build your strength slowly and steadily."

Tech nodded. He looked over the pad. There were instructions for building his strength and ability to use his legs. But there were also tapering prescriptions for pain medication.

The doctor and Chuchi left, and Crosshair found a seat near the bed. He pulled out a commlink. "Havoc Six to Havoc Five."

"Havoc Five, here," Omega's voice returned.

"It was a success," he told her. "We're heading back for Havoc Three."

"Understood. Havoc Five out."

"They could be listening in," Tech pointed out.

"Echo set up an encrypted channel," Crosshair told him. "He's been using it with Rex for cycles now."

One of the guards brought in a tray of food and set it on a table. Crosshair lifted the head of the bed and fixed him a plate.

Tech was curious. "Why Omega and not Hunter or Echo?"

"She'll tell the others," Crosshair said. "By the time you get back, everyone on the island will know."

That was likely true. While Omega could keep a secret when it was important, she was not one to hold good news in. While Tech ate, he tried moving his feet even just a little. But the truth was he still didn't even feel the bed beneath his feet. He still had a long way to go.

Omega was in her room with Phee when the call came. "Understood. Havoc Five out." She put the commlink away and hugged Phee. "It worked!"

"That is great news!" Phee said. "So, Hunter told me about your idea to find people who need help. I do meet a lot of people in my wanderings. But we'll have to smart about it. Cid worked with too many people with bad reputations."

"You work with crooks like Crowder," Omega commented.

"For artifacts," Phee replied. "But we'll have to vet the people who try to hire us for help. We don't want to be hood-winked by the Empire."

Omega nodded. "Right."

"Now get some sleep," Phee told her. "They could be back tomorrow."

It was much harder getting dressed without the bar over his bed, Tech decided. But Crosshair had not complained about helping. And Tech thought maybe he'd felt Crosshair's arms beneath his knees ever so slightly. He was again given a helmet and a breather to leave the ship. He was carried from the ship on a stretcher that was placed on a speeder. That speeder met another speeder that met Wrecker, who lifted him from stretcher and carried him into the garage and back to the office.

"Welcome back," Emerie said. She lifted the back of Tech's shirt. "Does it hurt?"

"A little," he handed her the datapad. "I could use a dose."

"Right." She went back to her corner and produced an injector. "This should get you back 'home' comfortably. AZI can manage it from there." She handed him back the pad and injected the medicine. Tech's pain started to ease right away.

Crosshair had handed him his goggles then disappeared as soon as they got to the garage, but he now joined them in the office without a blue face. "That paint was starting to itch," he complained.

"Aw," Wrecker said. "We're gonna miss you again."

"And I you," he replied. "But I have some unfinished business with the Empire."

"And we've got another sniper," Rex reported as he entered. "Last one was a clone with no registration number. He bit on a shocker before he could tell us anything. This one's taken out two clones I was trying to reach. They had ties to Cody."

"Where's my armor?" Crosshair asked.

"Oh not your armor," Rex told him. "We have the other guy's armor. All black. Hard to spot."

Tech held out a hand to Crosshair and he took it. "Go get him," Tech told him.

"You got this," Wrecker added.

Crosshair squeezed his hand. "You got a rifle?" he asked Rex.

Rex pulled out a crate and opened it up. Tech could see the black armor in it and a very black sniper rifle. He tossed the rifle to Crosshair, who looked it over. "I'll need to make some modifications."

"Wrecker," Tech said. "Let's go home."

Wrecker sniffed but turned him toward the door and the garage beyond. The clones there stood and nodded to him again, and Wrecker carried Tech up the ramp. They found Echo inside. "Ship's all set. Refueled, too. How's that droid part working out?"

"Early days," Tech told him as Wrecker put him in the pilot's seat. "But it works."

"Good to hear." Echo pointed out a new crate. "Your armor's here. Looks good as new. Next time I see you, I hope you're wearing it."

"I hope it won't be that long," Tech told him. "I still have to learn to interpret the signals from the device and build my strength back. It's not a quick fix."

Wrecker grabbed Echo in a hug. "You take care of Crosshair," he told him.

"We'll take care of each other," Echo promised.

Wrecker released him. "Don't forget where home is."

Echo nodded then ducked out and down the ramp. Wrecker closed it. "Just us now."

Tech set the coordinates and lifted off. "Just until we get home." They cleared Coruscant and Tech entered hyperspace. Wrecker sat in the right chair but was soon asleep. Now that he wasn't eating and didn't have much to do, Tech concentrated on his legs. He wanted to get control over that device in his back. It was sending signals up to his brain and down to his lower body. He still felt rather numb below his waist. But that could be due to the medicine as well. He thought maybe he did feel his own weight sitting in the seat. So that was something. He reached down and squeezed his right leg hard just above the knee with both hands. He thought maybe he felt the pressure of it. But then he could be getting that from his hands and not his leg. He took out the datapad and pressed it into his thigh. He closed his eyes and did it again, harder and sharper.

And he felt it.