Sick
A Bad Batch One-shot
My very first Fan Fiction publishing! I'm so excited! Please feel free to comment! I would love to hear your thoughts. This is just something I made up off a random thought. Sick stories are always so heartwarming for some reason. [the alien race is pronounced gah-glin]
"That had to be the most unsanitary dock in the entire galaxy."
Hunter smirked across at Tech in the pilot's seat. It sounded funny that the logic minded genius would make such a wide comparison. "Well, it's not a secret that the Gohglins aren't known for their cleanliness."
Tech adjusted his goggles. "That would be a great understatement. That entire port must not have been properly cleaned in over three years."
"Yeah, even I was a little grossed out!" Wrecker rumbled.
Echo's nose wrinkled slightly. "I don't know how they can stand their own smell."
A roaring laugh sounded from Wrecker. "Well, not like we smell much better after a good week-long mission!" Echo winced slightly as his brother's large hand smacked his back.
Omega stepped up near the co-pilot seat, but surprisingly stayed a good distance from Hunter. "Well, at least they were pretty nice despite that."
"They should be. Considering all the black-market ship parts we just delivered them," Echo said. "But still. I could hardly keep from keeling over whenever they came close."
"That would have been a grave mistake," Tech analyzed in his usual way. "As I explained before our landing, the Gohglins are quite easily offended. A rude comment or gesture – whether it be intentional or not – can easily result in an abruptly violent conflict."
"I'm just glad I wasn't the one who had to go inside to collect our pay," Omega said, making a face. "I could hardly stand being near the doors when Hunter went inside." She faked a gag.
"Yeah. Poor Hunter. I can still smell it on him!" Wrecker patted his oldest brother's shoulder. "Can't imagine how bad that must've been!"
"You don't want to know," Hunter muttered. The stench of old dirt, dust, mud, and sweat had been bad enough just walking outside the clean recirculated air of the Marauder. Heat hadn't helped any, and they had happened to arrive during the hottest part of the day. But when he had entered the tiny office of the head Gohglin, oily unwashed skin and grease along with the dirt and sweat had choked the dank air. Intensified tenfold within the confined steel walls, it had nearly overloaded his senses and churned his stomach to the brink of nausea. Hunter didn't think he had ever held his breath so long before. Thankfully, transactions had been short and even musty dust air had been welcome. But some of the stench had clung to his armor and long hair. He was pretty sure it had probably even managed to penetrate through to his blacks, a reminder that he would have to shower. Only then did he figure Omega wouldn't dare come closer than she was now. That being the reason for her distance. Hunter laughed inside when he saw the way she kept her nose slightly wrinkled with an expression of light disgust.
"Back to Ord Mentle?"
Tech's voice brought his gaze to the pilot. "Yes."
Tech punched in the co-ordinances and the Marauder shot out of the atmosphere and into the swirling blue hues of hyperspace. As always, Omega watched with sparkling wide eyes. She never tired of the scene and it never failed to hypnotize the child each time. Talk between the men veered toward their cut of the profit.
"I hope it's better than last time's pay." Echo folded his arms, a bit awkwardly considering one was a prosthetic. "It wasn't easy sneaking these parts out. Besides we could use some supplies."
Hunter swiveled the chair so he could see the others. "Got a list of what we'll need?"
"Of course I do," Tech replied, almost an indignant hint present.
Of course he would, Hunter smirked to himself.
"I keep close check of all our provisions. Our food supply is running rather low and there are quite a few other small but essential effects such as restocking the med-kit, some personal items for Omega, soap and cleaning essentials for us, two new blankets to replace the ones Wrecker ripped, and some cleaning oil for our blasters."
A humorous grin tugged at Echo's mouth. "Better get a double order on the soap, Tech. Because there's not going to be any left when Hunter get done taking the shower that he's leaving to take right now." He stared at their older brother hard. Wrecker broke into a fit of boisterous laughter and Omega snickered.
Hunter rolled his eyes. "Oh come on. It can't be all that bad."
"Yes it can," Omega pinched her nose, making her voice nasally. "You really do stink."
"I'll second that!" Wrecker put in.
"Want me to make that three? Or are you going to wait until Tech makes it four?" Echo teased.
Hunter put his hands up. "Alright, alright. I'm going." He stood up and made his way out, the others giving him a wide berth. After stripping of his armor and getting a fresh set of blacks, he disappeared into the ship's small fresher in back. When he came back out a while later, rubbing the dampness out of his hair with a towel, the others were sitting around the main hold. Tech was busy near the comms station, nose buried in his ever present datapad with fingers tapping away, Wrecker and Omega where playing a game that resembled dominos on top of Gonky while Echo watched.
She placed a piece down. "I win!"
Wrecker groaned. "Ahhh! How'd ya' do that?! I never beat you." He crossed his arms with a small pout.
Omega saw Hunter and smiled widely.
He returned it, spreading his arms slightly, towel dangling from one hand. "Better?"
"Must be," Wrecker added snuffling loudly. "Before I could've smelled you all the way from here!"
Omega got up and, stepping near Hunter, sniffed cautiously. A second before satisfaction crossed her face. "Yes. Much better. It doesn't smell like a dead womp rat in here anymore."
Wrecker hooted and a snort came from Echo. Hunter's eyes rolled. Without warning, his arm reached out and snatched Omega around her waist. She squealed in mock fear as she felt her feet leave the plating.
"Well, I'm so glad you approve," Hunter flashed an impish grin. His other hand ruffled the short blond hair, generating a bubbling laugh from the young clone. The sweet sound warmed him. He loved it when she laughed like that and seeing the radiant smile that always accompanied it. After an affectionate moment, with ease, he swung her back on her feet.
With a wink Hunter made his way to his bunk – actually a storage shelve. There he sat himself down to the task of giving his armor a light cleaning as Omega went back to the game. Wrecker finally dropped out saying he was no match for her and Echo agreed to take his spot request, he joined in on the game of dominoes while Tech watched from the comms station. Periodically glancing up from his datapad to observe. They played several rounds, Omega taking most of the wins. As he watched, Hunter noticed the steady decline in Omega's bright disposition. Her chatter lulled and the sparkle that had been there before had dulled in her eyes. It wasn't long after that the little clone announced she was done playing games, her smile now completely vanished, and went straight up to her little makeshift room in the gunner's mount saying she was going to read. Usually the curtain hung across the opening was about a quarter open, inviting anyone to "stop in" as she called it while still keeping some privacy which her brothers respectively gave. But Hunter noticed that this time it had been drawn all the way shut behind her. A line of concern crossed his face. Sometimes Omega was moderately hard to read; especially when it came to physical or mental discomfort. She would often grow quiet and withdrawn; but similar signs showed when she was very tired or simply deep in thought about something, so there were a few possibilities here. Omega wasn't one to take a nap in the middle of the afternoon, but then again they had been busy lately. Maybe she just needed a short break or wanted to think about something.
His enhanced hearing picked out the swish of cloth brushing against the sleeping mat she used. But not wanting to pry, Hunter blocked it from his mind, deciding to wait for now. If something was really bothering her, she would more than likely approach him about it later. If she didn't before the day was over, he would try to discretely ask her about it tonight – though subtly wasn't exactly a strongpoint of his; but he was improving. Echo had said so.
Nearly an hour passed as Hunter continued scrubbing the armor pieces. Wrecker began using Gonky as a weight lift while Echo half-listened to Tech's complex info dumps that he would suddenly plunge into every so often when something said sparked it.
Though focused, Hunter's ever alert senses picked up the soft rubbing of cloth and the scratching whispers of hooks sliding against metal. The curtain had opened. Then a tapping descending the ladder and soft patter of shoes. A light smile curved his lips. The short stride and softness told him Omega was approaching.
A tiny voice slurred, "Hunter."
The smile fled as Hunter swung around at the pitiful sound. Worry gripped him in a vice when his eyes met the sight before him. Omega stood slightly hunched, shoulders drawn into herself, her face unnaturally pale – goodness, nearly green! – and pinched in pain. Both hands were clutched over her middle.
"Omega!" He nearly leapt from his seat to kneel before her in one swift motion. He gently took her shoulders, immediately feeling the tense muscles of the small girl trembling beneath his fingers and palms; shaking her down to the core. An unnatural heat radiated from her skin right through her clothes along with the stench of sweat that dampened her brow and neck. "What's wrong?"
"I don't feel good," whimpered back.
Hunter only broke his gaze away long enough to shout over his shoulder. "Tech! Get in here, now!"
Tech wasn't the only one who came rushing. At their leader's stressed call, Echo and Wrecker had also dropped what they were doing to come rushing with worry creased faces. Those creased deepened when they saw.
Tech whipped out his medscanner from his belt and began hovering it over Omega. Wrecker and Echo stood around, not really able to do anything but give their support by being there showing their concern.
Wrecker looked closely at her. "Wow! She's green! That can't be good!"
Even since when Hunter had first seen her like this, the green tint had grown stronger. He caressed an arm loosely around the small shoulders, holding her against him but gently as not wanting to cause her more discomfort. "Where does it hurt?" he asked softly.
"My stomach."
"When did it start?"
"While Echo and I were playing our game."
Hunter felt his chest constrict with sympathy. "Ad'ika, that was over an hour ago! Why didn't you say something?" He brushed a few strands of the blond hair away from the girl's clammy forehead.
The tears of misery were trying to break out. "I … I thought it would go away. But it only got worse." She nearly swayed and leaned into Hunter's chest. A small moan escaped.
Oh sweetheart, Hunter moaned inwardly, holding her closer. It pained him so to see her in agony. "Does it hurt anywhere else?"
"No," answered weakly. "I'm just hot and cold … and my stomach's all swimmy … and my head…" another whimper.
Tech looked up from the medscanner. "She has a low-grade fever and her readings are definitely off. I'll have to do some more checking though to get to the cause of this."
Echo noticed Omega's hands clamped to her middle. "Looks like some kind of stomach bug to me."
"Hmm. If it is, it would have to have been caused by something consumed where it could have been contaminated. Omega, did you consume any kind of food or liquid while we were with the Gohglins?" Tech asked.
Omega's glassy eyes fell in guilt. "Yes," the tiny voice replied.
Echo didn't hid the surprise. "How could you want to eat anything there? And when did you?"
"While you were unloading the crates." Omega had to stop for breath after every few words. The swimming pain in the pit of her stomach seemed to squeeze every breath of air out of her. "I was talking to a few of the Gohglin kids there and one offered me some kind of soupy stuff in a cup. He said it was a customary drink of theirs."
"That would explain it," Tech nodded, tapping away at the scanner.
Hunter's face frowned. "Omega you know you're never supposed eat anything on a strange planet unless Tech scans it first. Especially in a place like that," he scolded.
"He wasn't there and I didn't want to be rude," her voice quivered. Omega's eyes rolled up apologetically to look at him. "Tech had said that they could get offended easily. I just didn't want to cause a problem. It was only a little bit so I didn't think…" Another wave of chills hit.
"Never mind," Hunter stopped her with a sigh, his thumb rubbing her shoulder. It wasn't like she had been trying to be disobedient, she had only been thinking about them. A pang of guilt for the harsh rebuke cut at his heart. "What's done is done. Now we just have to find something to make you feel better."
Tech adjusted his goggles as he read over the scanner. "I don't believe this is anything more than a very mild case of food poisoning. We have a medicine in our med-pack that should help."
Wrecker scowled at his smaller brother. "Well hurry and get it! The kid's in pain here!"
Tech frowned at the loud demand but said nothing as he hurried to the storage cabinet.
Omega suddenly moaned again as her queasy insides twisted. She slumped even harder against Hunter.
"Just breathe slowly, Omega. Breathe," he steadily said, trying to keep her calm. Excitement would only make it worse.
Omega tried, but the feeling continued to worsen. She closed her eyes as her head swam, nausea hitting her in a wave. She turned even paler. "Uhgg … I feel … I … umph …" She suddenly hunched. A hand flew to her mouth.
"Uh oh!" Wrecker yelped, knowing what was coming.
In one move, Hunter swept Omega up and dashed for the fresher. They just barely made it in time as Omega heaved up everything from that day's breakfast and lunch – and the unknown beverage. Hunter stayed at her side until she had finished and let her lean against him while she gasped to catch her shaky breath. He stayed quiet, gently rubbing small circles on her back and steadying her when the lightheadedness made her dizzy and the spasms of chills racked her small body. Two more waves of nausea passed before her stomach had finally emptied itself. When Hunter came out from the fresher a while later carrying Omega in his arms, the poor girl looked a miserable wreck. Her face was pale though not as green, light chills still shook her body and moister glowed on her face and neck in the lighting of the ship. Hunter gently placed her on his own bunk and sat beside her as Echo wrapped her in a blanket. Wrecker came up with Lula.
"She always makes me feel better when I'm not feeling good." He gently placed it under Omega's arm, who instantly pulled it in and buried her face in the stuffed animal's soft worn material.
Tech came from where he had the med-pack opened with a small glass in hand, a quarter filled with a white liquid. "Here. This should help calm the symptoms and dull some of the pain."
Hunter took it and supported Omega's shoulders. "Here, Omega. Drink this."
She didn't even open her eyes when the rim touched her lips. Her nose did wrinkle slightly at the medicinal smell and as the chalkiness ran across her tongue, but she didn't fight it. She was too tired and weak and drank all down to the last drop.
"Good girl," Hunter softly praised and passed the emptied glass back to Tech. Hunter started to get up so she could lay down, but as his presence began to leave Omega moaned loudly, small fists refusing to let go of the material of his blacks. Feverish brown eyes peeked open for only a second.
"No." Only Hunter's hearing had been able to distinguish the slurred word.
"I believe the recovery process would be sped up considerably if you stayed," Tech analyzed.
Wrecker nodded sympathetically. "Yeah. It's miserable being sick alone."
"Why don't you sit in the corner and then Omega can lay against you," Echo suggested.
Being sure not to jostle the girl too much, Hunter shifted to the corner of the bunk, his back against the hull plates as Omega curled up beside him with a whimper, blond head laying on his lower chest, his arm wrapped behind her back. Echo spread a second blanket with Tech's help over the two to keep Omega extra warm and tucked it lovingly around them.
"Is there anything else we can do for her?" Hunter asked quietly.
Tech adjusted his goggles. "Nothing for now. The bacteria will simply work its way naturally out of her system now. Being a milder case it shouldn't take too long, a day at the most and she should be back to normal. The only thing she needs now is rest. The best thing you can do is simply let her know you're there. That will help calm her."
"We're lucky it wasn't any worse," Echo pondered solemnly.
Hunter only nodded. The image of his little girl going through any worse suffering then she already had drove a needle through his heart. The very thought made him tuck his arm more securely, protectively, around her. A moment later the shadows vanish from over them and he heard three sets of feet tiptoe off to the cockpit, but not before Tech had lowered the lighting slightly to make it easier for Omega to rest.
Hunter looked down at the bundle of blanket tucked beside him, and the delicate pale face laying against him. She looked so frail and venerable at the moment, cheeks flushed a rosy pink. So small and innocent. So in contrast to the customary radiance of smiling vigor and adventurous spark that should have been there. It seemed cruel that such sweetness should have to suffer. Small arms clutched Lula tighter as she whimpered again.
"Shhhh, ad'ika. It's alright," Hunter soothed in a low tone reserved only for her, tenderly brushing some loose hair from her face, before stoking the blond locks in a comforting way. "It's okay. I'm here."
Omega snuggled deeper against his warmth, still trembling, but the small tired sigh that muffled into Lula telling she felt safe and secure. Hunter laid his head back against the cool durasteel, muscles relaxed knowing his little girl was right there, safe with him. Through the blankets he can feel her living warmth pressed against his side; feel the soft rhythm of ther beating heart. Smell her fevered scent. Hear her small shallow breaths mixed with the low tones of his brothers drifting out from the cockpit. It all naturally soothed his senses that had been nearly in hyperdrive. He closed his eyes.
Hunter wasn't sure exactly how much time passed as he dozed in and out of full consciousness. Omega's shivering slowly lessened and her hard, pained breathing had steadied down to even breaths of the deep sleep that had finally descended as the body repaired itself. Hunter was on the verge of drifting off again when a slight sound awakened all his senses. His eyes started opened. It had barely been anything, only the light brush of fingers over the stuffed animal's surface. He figured it must be the middle of the night now as the lights had been dimmed to only a faint glow and a rumbling of snores were coming from the shelf bunk across the hold where Wrecker lay curled up in dark shadows. Echo lay silent on his bunk below which meant Tech must be in the cockpit on watch.
Hunter glanced down into the flushed face. The eyelids fluttered slightly and he knew she was waking. A moment later, Omega's eyes cracked opened sleepily and rolled up toward him.
"Feel any better?" he asked in a hush.
"Mmm," mumbled back. That must have been a half yes as one side of her mouth drew back in a weak attempt at a smile. She squirmed slightly. "My stomach still feels weird."
"I know." Hunter's sympathy spoke through the gentle touch of his hand that lightly stroked the blond hair. The gesture always seemed to calm her. He gave her a soft smile. "Just rest, ad'ika. Sleep will help it go away. And I'll stay right here as long as you need."
A soft moan of contentment and Omega burrowed further into the warm shoulder. Tired glassy eyes barely stayed open seconds longer, before they drooped shut again.
Hunter listened to the soft breaths level out until the steady rhythm told that sleep had fallen again. A cool relief swept through him. He knew his little girl was going to be alright now and that's all that mattered. The hum of the ship's engines plus the breathing of his slumbering family, the warmth under the soft blanket, the small body pressed against his side, the near darkness; all came together in a tranquilizing harmony. A kind of peace draped over him and Hunter's tired eyes shut.
When Tech came out to check on his patient a while later, he found the both of them fast asleep. Their faces content and peaceful in each other's presence; Hunter's cheek laying against the soft blond locks. Not disturbing them, Tech tiptoed back to the cockpit, careful not to wake his other brothers as well, a light smile on his lips. Their little sister was going to be just fine.
The End