Tech knew what he had done on Eriadu would result in his death. He had come to accept that. That was Plan 99, after all, sacrifice. A cable knocked off his goggles which also knocked him out. At least when he hits the ground, he won't feel it.
So when Tech awoke on a soft bed with every part of his body aching and a bacta patch on the side of his nose, he was astonished. What was going on? Is this where everyone goes after they die?
Tech couldn't tell what time it was or even what planet he was on, so he didn't know what season it was. It was comfortable, though. And he could roughly tell he was in a bed. He looked over to a bedside table and saw some goggles, which he put on. The room blurred but was now visible, and he recognised a medical bay. Lights from the ceiling lit the room up, and Tech could hear the distant hum of an engine. He must be on a ship. He can smell and taste the sterile room, ship metal and the materials making up the bed he was lying in. The bed is reasonably soft and supportive.
"Where am I?" Tech asked. He looked around and saw Plo Koon sitting next to him.
"Is this where everyone goes when they die?" Tech asked. To his shock, Plo Koon shook his head.
"No. You're alive. So am I. You've been unconscious for the past week," Plo Koon replied, looking at Tech concerned, "However, you would be dead if I wasn't there to separate you from the gondola you were attached to and then you didn't slam into the ground thanks to me," Plo Koon replied.
"Thanks," Tech eventually replied after his brain stopped jamming.
"No problem. But I have a question," Plo Koon replied.
"What is it?" Tech asked.
"Do you have any regrets?" Plo Koon asked. Thinking momentarily, Tech sighed and nodded, though he didn't tell Plo Koon why.
His last conversation with Phee went badly. He had been distracted by ensuring everything was ready for their mission to Eriadu. In the process, he upset Phee.
"Get some rest, Tech. Irala will remove the bacta patch in a couple of days," Plo Koon got up and started heading out, leaving Tech to his thoughts.
Over the next couple of days, his room would remain comfortable. Twice a day, Irala would come in to change the bed sheets. Tech would busy himself by surfing his holopad. However, he got bored sometimes. And when he got bored, he looked out of his door to see who else was there. He saw several familiar faces, including Fives, Kix, and Shaak Ti. The most intriguing to him, though, was that Irala turned out to be an age-accelerated version of Omega, which surprised him. He wanted to know more about her, but this age accelerated Omega was too busy to stay to chat. Other times, Tech's thoughts would wander to Phee. He needed to talk to her. But he would have to wait until the other squad members came to rescue him. Tech didn't mind waiting. He could scan the galactic internet forever and be OK. However, his thoughts kept drifting to Phee. What could he do to make things up to her?
Two days after he woke up, the age-accelerated Omega entered and removed the bacta patch on his nose. When he looked in a mirror, he saw no mark from the wound on his face.
"Thanks for your help, Irala," Tech replied. Irala nodded, but at that moment, the alarms went off.
"What's going on?" Tech asked, surprised at the sudden alarm.
"All hands on deck, we need help moving a bacta tank," came a voice through the PA system.
"We need half a dozen people to move a bacta pod. Unfortunately, with your goggles not working too well, I'm afraid you can't help," Irana replied as she left Tech's room.
Soon, a dozen people moved a bacta pod past Tech's room. And if Tech was astonished he was alive, it was nothing compared to his astonishment at who was in the bacta pod.
Phee Genoa being in a bacta pod was not how Tech wanted to reunite with her.
Tech then did something out of character for him. He ignored the fact he couldn't see well and tried to leave his room to follow.
"What is Phee Genoa doing here?" Tech asked once he exited his room.
"Tech, please go back to your room. I know you want to help, but with your goggles not working properly, we can't take the risk," Kix called.
"But I need to talk to her. I need to make things up with her," Tech replied.
"Phee is currently not in a condition to interact with anyone," Kix retorted.
"As a medic of Clone Force 99, alongside Echo, I can help," Tech said.
"Not unless you've fixed your goggles. Now, back down, Tech. I've given you your path to help. But if you can barely see, you are more of a danger than a help," Kix glared. After a few moments, Tech sighed and then returned to his quarters.
Irala saw this and asked, "Kix, can I go talk to Tech?"
"Go ahead. Find out what about Phee has made him act like that," Kix replied.
"Alright," Irala replied as she entered Tech's room, and Kix departed for the treatment room.
Tech was brooding on his bed when Irala entered.
"What's up?" Irala asked.
"I need to talk to Phee. I think I offended her or something with our last interaction. I want to make things right with her," Tech replied.
Irala understood this feeling. There was a lot Irala wanted to say to her supervisor Kaminoan before the Empire rose that she never got the chance to tell.
"Well, Kix did say that if you sorted out the goggles, you might be able to help him out. And I know where you can work on them," Irala replied.
"Get me there. I need to ensure Phee is OK, and I can talk to her," Tech said.
"Follow me then," Irala nodded and left the room. Momentarily pausing, Tech followed.
When Tech and Irala enter the room, Tech sees the room is a mix of an optometrist and a glass forge. It was hotter in this room than the rest of the ship. Seasons aren't a thing in space. A lamp and the forge provide light to the room. Tech can hear the forge humming and can smell and taste the glass and plastic from the glasses frame. The ground is solid on his boots.
"Now, Tech, can you please take a seat? We'll sort out upgrading your goggles," Irala said, pointing to a seat that Tech then sat on.
"My goggles got knocked off my head on Eriadu. These are improvised goggles," Tech reminded Irala.
"Right, that's why you had the patch," Irala replied as she placed the optometry device on Tech's head.
Tech only realised the purpose of the optometry device when Irala inserted a set of lenses, and Tech saw his vision clear significantly. Tech was able to read the fourth line.
"Good start. Now, one or two?" Irala asked.
'Two," Tech replied. The process continued a dozen times until they found ideal optical lenses.
"Your eyesight is terrible," Irala admitted as she noted the specs.
"You don't need to remind me of that," Tech replied as Irala removed the optometry device from his head.
"Sorry. It's just I heard your eyesight was poor. I didn't think it was that poor," Irala turned back to Tech, "Now I'll get the forge going, and you should have your upgraded goggles ready in about an hour,"
"Thank you," Tech replied before he grabbed his Data Pad from the nearby table and started looking through it, holding it against his face.
"Now that is near-sighted," Irala thought as she watched this.
An hour later, the lenses for Tech's goggles were ready, by which time the room had noticeably cooled. Irala struggled momentarily with the lenses for Tech's goggles before finally getting them in. Or so she thought, as when Tech put them on, Irala realised she'd put them in backwards. No problem. Irala switched them quickly, and Tech put the goggles on just as Kix entered.
"We've been able to stabilise Phee for now. She'll probably briefly awaken soon, so if you need to talk to her, Tech, do it soon," Kix said to Tech before turning to Irala.
"Have you got his goggles sorted?" Kix asked.
"Yes," Irala replied.
"Good. Tech, follow me," Kix said, and he exited. After a moment, Tech followed.
When Tech entered the treatment room, the room assaulted his senses. Tech saw the lights, the bacta, and the chemicals. Everything in the room necessitated a moment for Tech to adjust. The roof and walls were off-white, while the room's floor was dull silver. There was medical equipment everywhere, including several bacta tanks and pods. Half a dozen beds occupy one side of the room, with five used by Clones or Phee Genoa. Tech immediately went to Phee's bed and sat with her.
From what Tech could see, Phee was a mess. Phee only wore a medical robe and had bandages over most of her head. IVs stick out of several places in her left arm, her right arm fully bandaged, with more dressings likely covering a considerable portion of her body. Tech deduces Phee suffered severe burns.
Phee's eyes flutter open, and she croaked, "Brown Eyes, you're alive,"
"Surprised?" Tech asked.
"Kinda," Phee admitted, "From what the Wrecker said, you fell several hundred meters at least,"
"You can thank Plo Koon for saving me," Tech replied.
"I'll thank him when I get a chance. I'm just glad you're alive," Phee smiled, which Tech slightly returned before he thought of something.
"How did you wind up here? What happened?" Tech asked.
Phee was hesitant. The events were still raw in her mind, and it hurt to recall everything.
Tech gently took her good hand in his, then said, "Please, talk to me,"
Phee explained how Cid had, unknown to the squad, defected to the Empire and sold them out after they returned to Ord Mantell to save Omega's life. Phee continued with how Dr Hemlock had captured Omega, and then the Empire had returned to occupy Ord Mantell. Phee concluded with how she had learned about his death, how she had gone to Ord Mantell to confront Cid, and finally, how she wound up here when someone firebombed the Parlour. Tech felt a surge of anger as Phee explained everything.
"And that is how I wound up here, staring at your handsome face," Phee teased, causing Tech to blush slightly.
"T-thank you," Tech stammered, pushing down his newfound anger.
Kix then appeared with them, "We've got to continue treatment, Tech. You're keeping us too long,"
"Oh, sorry," Tech stated as he stepped aside to allow Irala and Kix to wheel Phee into the operating theatre. Tech went to follow and got a look into the operating theatre. The floor, walls and ceiling were the same shades as the recovery ward. Medical equipment and Bacta Tanks dominated the back wall. A bed was in the middle of the theatre, lit by lights overhead. Medical equipment and life sign monitors dominated two entire walls.
"What can I do to help?" Tech asked as Kix put Phee under anaesthesia.
"What you can do is go and get the medication I'll need to treat Septic Shock," Kix growled. Tech recoiled in horror. Septic Shock. How had he not seen that Phee was slipping into it?
"Alright," Tech said after his brain stopped jamming, and he finally registered what Kix told him.
"I'll get the medication you need," Tech stated, adjusting his goggles as he spoke before heading back towards the recovery room, his stomach and intestines knotting painfully with guilt and confusion as he did so.
Once Tech reaches the cupboard, he tries to grab the medication but quickly realises he's having a panic attack. His breathing is short and sharp, and his chest is constricting. Realising this, he puts a hand on the cupboard and takes several deep breaths to calm down. As he does, he remembers Pabu and why he's here. He reassures himself that Phee will be OK if he gets the medication. After a few moments, Tech's heart rate calms down, and his chest, stomach and intestines loosen.
Finally, he can focus again. He briefly searches through the cupboard and finds the medicine required.
Tech returned to the operating theatre and found Irala and Kix arguing.
"We need to treat the sepsis before we can put her in the bacta tank," Kix stated.
"We do that, and Phee loses her arm at best. Her burns are bad enough that she needs to be in a bacta tank to treat it, or the Sepsis won't go away," Irala replied.
Tech was confused by this argument. He gave Kix the medication, then remembered something Omega had mentioned during one of the times he'd treated her injuries.
Flashback:
Omega and Tech were in the Havoc Marauder. The back room was warm and lit by a light in the ceiling. The scents of bacta and blood mixed as Tech strapped Omega's slashed forearm. The bacta bandage was smooth but slippery on his glove. Tech can hear his teammates discussing things in the other room and shallow breathing from Omega. Tech could sense Omega was in the early stages of shock. Sighing, he turned to her.
"This bandage is the best we can do at the moment. You need a Bacta Tank to heal properly," Tech said.
"You've done your best, Tech. And if you guys are OK with it, please stay with me while I'm in the tank, alright?" Omega asked.
"Alright. But how are we going to check the progression of your healing?" Tech replied.
"Well, Nala Se would put monitors on me while she tested on me or while I was in a Bacta Tank recovering," Omega replied. Once again, Tech felt that stab of anger course through him again at the Demagolka's name.
"Eyeing your vital signs?" Tech asked.
"Yes," Omega replied.
"Alright. The nurses will want to keep an eye on your vital signs. Also, we won't help you change for obvious reasons," Tech said.
"Privacy, I know. Don't worry, I'll handle that myself with the doctors," Omega replied.
End Flashback:
"Can I interrupt for a moment?" Tech asked. It was enough for Irala and Kix to stop arguing and look at him.
"Why not both? You can monitor Phee's vital signs while she's in the Bacta Tank," Tech suggested.
They looked to Tech in astonishment.
"How do you know that?" Irala asked.
"Nala Se did that to Omega, your non-age accelerated counterpart," Tech replied, looking at Irala, who nodded.
"Irala, get other workers. Tech, help me transfer Phee to this board, and then we'll bind her so she doesn't slide off. Alright?" Kix demanded.
"Alright," Tech replied, and as Irala departed to find others, Tech assisted Kix in moving Phee to a special yellow board and binding her to it.
Soon, Irala returns with three other doctors, and the sextet carefully transfers Phee to a Bacta Tank. Carefully, Tech, Kix and Irala lower Phee into the tank. The other three doctors carefully bind the board to the back of the tank to secure Phee's position. Afterwards, Tech and Kix attach IVs and monitors to Phee to ensure proper treatment.
"Well done, Tech. Good work," Kix said, clapping Tech on the shoulder.
"I'm just glad she's going to be OK," Tech replied.
"You can stay around here or return to your room. I'll tell you when the treatment is complete," Irala said.
"I think I'll stay in the recovery room," Tech replied, "You probably need this room anyway,"
"Well, we never know when we'll need it, so that's for the best," Kix replied. Tech returns to the recovery room while Irala and Kix watch Phee.
Twelve hours later, Kix and Irala remove Phee from the Bacta Tank and move her into a bed, the bacta having treated the Sepsis and burns. It was another eight hours, however, before Phee awoke. Tech, who had been scrolling on his datapad while sitting next to Phee. Immediately, he put his datapad away and turned to face her.
"How are you feeling?" Tech asked.
"Sore, but OK otherwise," Phee replied, her voice raspy from disuse.
"Listen, Phee. I'm sorry I offended you in our last conversation before we left for Eriadu. I was distracted, ensuring everything was ready for the mission. Can you forgive me?" Tech said, sighing as a guilty shadow crossed his features.
Phee gently caressed Tech's face and replied, "I forgive you, Brown Eyes. There's something I'd like to know,"
"What is it?" Tech asked, gently removing her hand from his face and taking it in his own.
"Tell me how your brain works. I can tell it works differently from your brothers, alright?" Phee replied, smiling gently.
"I will. We'll have plenty of time before my brothers rescue us," Tech replied.
"I hope they know you're alive and we're here," Phee said.
"If they don't know now, they'll find out. They'll find out you're missing, at least. Hopefully, they know I'm alive too," Tech replied.