It was the oddest sight he had ever seen.
A Dread Youth girl crumpled in the sand. In the literal middle of nowhere.
What the hell…?
"Scout, what is it?
He shook his head, belatedly realizing that he'd keyed his comm and spoken his last thought aloud.
"Possibly the strangest sight I've ever seen, Captain."
"Care to describe it for us?"
"It looks like a Dread Youth girl…an older one… just lying there in the middle of nowhere. Almost like someone just… dropped her there…." No, that wasn't quite right… "Hang on, I can see what could be her footprints… if she was walking from that direction… the closest settlement she could be coming from would be Hardscrabble…and that's almost 10 klicks from here. Even farther to any other human habitation in any other direction… not to mention any Dread outpost…"
"That's not just strange… that's downright bizarre, " Hawk offered his two cents worth. "Are you sure you haven't been out in the sun too long?"
"I haven't, but she definitely has. I can see the sunburn on her from here."
"And you're sure she's Dread Youth?" the Captain asked.
"No mistaking that uniform – even from this distance."
"What do you think, Hawk? Some kind of trap?"
"Already thought of that," Scout answered before Hawk could. "No dunes or hills that anyone could be hiding behind, and my scanner's not showing signs of anyone or anything hiding underground."
"Curiouser and curiouser…" the Captain mused.
"Feels like something we can't ignore…" Hawk was equally intrigued.
"I'm going to set the bike down as close as I think I can without disturbing her… assuming she's still alive. And I'll keep this link keyed so you'll be able to hear right away if it is the strangest trap Dread's ever set for us."
"Copy that. Watch yourself," the Captain answered.
Moments later, he was off the Skybike and carefully edging up to what he hoped was neither corpse nor booby trap – or worst of all, both.
"Definitely a Dread Youth girl – one of the older ones. I'd guess around sixteen, seventeen. And she's alive…" he half-whispered an instant later. "But I don't like the look or sound of her breathing. Fast and shallow…"
The rest of her general appearance didn't bode much better. She was lying more or less on her side, but her head was tipped back so that her entire face was covered in the same angry sunburn. The girl hadn't even brought her arm up to try to shield her closed eyes from the harsh sun. And was that dried blood on her nose and mouth?
What the hell happened to you – and how long have you been stranded out here?
Easy now… don't want to scare her to death… even if she's halfway there already…
He reached out and gently grasped her shoulder. Was that a flicker of movement under his hand, or had he just imagined it?
"Hey…" he gave that shoulder the lightest shake. "Hey, can you hear me? Can you talk to me?" He shook a little harder.
There was definitely movement under his hand that time. And he sure as hell hadn't imagined the pain-filled whimper that accompanied it, either.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here to help you."
She jerked away at that – or at least tried to move both her shoulder and head that time. The latter barely moved an inch off the ground before dropping back down.
Weak as the proverbial newborn kitten… "Take it easy. I'm not going to hurt you…" But you're not going to like what I need to do next…Gingerly, he dropped his free hand to her necktie and started to loosen it. That uniform is killing you in more ways than one right now…
Her eyes flew open, and there was another weak jerk of protest accompanied by a louder whimper. The poor girl had probably meant to shriek even louder than his baby sister ever had. Not that he could blame her for what she almost certainly feared was coming next.
"Easy." That instruction was for himself as much as it was for her, as he gently squeezed her shoulder. "I'm just loosening your necktie and your collar to help you cool off and breathe a little easier – that's all. I promise…"
She didn't relax one bit at that, but she didn't jerk away, either. Progress.
Can't believe you didn't at least try to do that yourself. The Dread Youth dress code must be even stricter than we thought…
Never mind that. He needed to properly assess whether this was severe heat exhaustion or early-stage heat stroke. He thought he could see a few beads of sweat at her hairline, giving him a little hope for the former.
Hard to tell if all that redness is from heatstroke or sunburn… He checked her pulse. Rapid – like her breathing. How much of that was agitation from his presence and how much was from the heat? Tough to tell.
Either way, he needed to try getting some fluids into her. Good thing he always packed a canteen on days like this – even for short hops.
Her eyes had slipped closed and her head lolled back again. But some instinct told him that she could still hear him.
"Here – I've got water for you-" He'd expected her eyes to open again at that, and they did. He wasn't prepared for what followed.
Those blue eyes widened in absolute terror as she let out the loudest whimper yet.
What the hell? Did she think he was trying to poison her?
Or maybe it was that she'd just taken her first good look at him – and that she couldn't see his face through the helmet. He should have powered down before he'd touched her – he would have looked like less of a threat.
Bit late for that now. But there was another way he could address both possible fears. And she clearly wasn't going anywhere, so he could let go of her for a few crucial seconds.
Careful to keep as much eye contact as he could with her, he took off his helmet.
"Hey. Look at me."
Her eyes were still open, but now they looked oddly unfocused. He could see the effort it took for her to barely move her head again.
Okay. I'll meet you where you are… He cupped her head and gently lifted it. When he could see her eyes focus on him again, he took an exaggerated swig from the canteen.
Her eyes brightened just a bit at that, but she froze again when he brought the canteen to her lips. Another whimper, this one barely audible.
"Small sips. Stop and tell me if it makes you feel nauseated."
She gave a barely perceptible nod, followed by the tiniest of swallows. Another. And another.
That should have made him feel relieved. But something else didn't feel right about her…
"Talk to us, Scout." The Captain's voice was low, but it was full of concern. It was a damned good thing he'd kept that comm keyed open, so he could have both hands free to hold this girl's head and help her drink.
But hearing what had transpired for communication between him and the girl so far wasn't telling the Captain and Hawk nearly enough of the situation he had in his hands here.
"Sorry, Captain. I've got my hands full with this one. It's definitely heatstroke. There's nothing I can do for any shelter or shade, and no way I can get her on the bike in the shape she's in. We need the Jumpship here ASAP – plus a cooling blanket and as many cold packs as you can carry."
"Hawk's already on his way to MedBay to grab all of that. We'll be in the air in a couple of minutes. Just keep this link open until we get to you."
"Will do. Thanks, Captain."
"Captain…?" He hadn't realized the swallowing had stopped until he heard the barely audible question.
"What… Captain?"
She would almost certainly be more terrified by the answer than she had been by everything else he'd done so far. But it would be wrong to pretend he didn't hear her, or to lie to her. And it could be worse still if he didn't tell her until the moment the Captain arrived at her side.
Still, he hesitated for a long moment before telling her, "Captain Power."
He steeled himself for the inevitable whimper/shriek. He almost wasn't sure what shocked him more – the cry that never came – or the thrashing around that did. For a second, he thought she was having a seizure from the heatstroke setting in.
No, that wasn't it. Those eyes weren't the unfocused ones of someone suffering a seizure. This was the same terrified look she'd had when he'd first offered her the canteen – only more so.
This was the panicked movement of someone who desperately wanted to run but couldn't. Someone in mortal terror whose body wouldn't do what her mind screamed at it. And he had to do everything he could to calm both that mind and body before this girl literally frightened herself to death.
"Easy – EASY!" He let the canteen drop and clamped both hands around her shoulders. "I know what you've been taught to think of that name, and it's a damned lie. Captain Power is not going to hurt you. None of my friends are going to hurt you. I'm not going to let anyone else hurt you, either. You have my word on that. You hear me?"
The weak thrashing stopped, and for a moment, there was only the sound of her breathing.
"Okay, then." He picked up the canteen – fortunately none of the precious water had spilled – and brought it back to her mouth. "You haven't had nearly enough of this. Sip some more."
A moment's hesitation before those tiny swallows started again. Two, three – and she pulled back.
"Nausea?"
A little head shake – and those blue eyes met his again.
"Why…?" It was barely above a whisper.
"Because the Captain – my friends and I don't believe that anyone deserves to die of heatstroke all alone out in the middle of nowhere – no matter what uniform she's wearing."
She didn't even try for a verbal response to that, but he could see the disbelief in her eyes.
"But you've got to let me help you. So, keep sipping that water, okay?"
Another moment's hesitation before the tiny swallows started again.
"There you go… keep that up… and you'll get your voice back, so you can ask me more questions…"
Her eyes widened just a bit at that, but she didn't pull away. Did she think he had misspoken? Was she expecting some sort of interrogation after she'd had her fill?
Those eyes closed again, and he felt her head resting a bit heavier in his hand, but those little swallows kept coming. Maybe she was starting to trust him – just a little?
He let his eyes sweep over the rest of her uniform. Some small drops of blood here and there… he could see more blood on her hands… he guessed that was related to what he'd seen around her nose and mouth. There were other stains here and there – and a knot of revulsion twisted in his stomach as he realized they were dried spittle.
Who did this to you? He couldn't help murmuring the thought aloud, not expecting the girl to hear him, let alone answer.
She stopped and pulled away again. "They… they all wanted me… dead…" Her voice was stronger, but still hoarse – and full of pain.
Why couldn't he have kept his mouth shut? He shouldn't be getting her agitated like this again.
He tried to get her to drink again, but she turned her head away… "Everyone … out here… hates the uniform… hates me… wants me to die out here."
He had to calm her down – get her back to drinking again. "I don't know who they are, but they're not here right now. I am, and I don't want you to die. So, please…" He pressed the canteen to her mouth and was relieved to see her start swallowing again.
But there was something more he had to say. "And not everyone out here hates you. I don't hate you."
A shudder ran through her, and she jerked her head back – coughing. She must have swallowed the wrong way. He hoped that was all it was.
One strangled word came through before he could ask. "Why?" It carried even more anguish and disbelief than the first time she'd said it.
"Because my mother taught me that I shouldn't hate anyone," It came out almost as a reflex. Even though he'd failed at that instruction more times than he could count. He hated Dread with every fiber of his being. But he didn't - couldn't – hate this kid.
"I guess your mother never taught you that, huh?"
"Never had… a mother…" the girl gasped – and he scoffed before he could stop himself.
"Of course you had a mother – and a father, too. Every human being does – even if they never knew them. And you're a human being like me – and like your parents before you."
"Liar…" she spat out.
"I have not told you one lie this whole time. I could have lied to you about my Captain's name so you wouldn't panic, but I didn't. Why would I lie to you about anything else?"
She had no answer for that. He offered her the canteen again, and she went after it.
"I've told you nothing but the absolute truth. I don't hate you. The Captain and the rest of my friends don't hate you either. We only want to help you. Help you see all the truth – not just the little glimpse I've given you…."
Some words long buried in his memory – along with their source- sprang to the front of his mind.
" 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' That's something else my mother taught me."
Her only reaction to that was a hesitation that barely lasted a second. But then she started taking those tiny little pulls from the canteen again.
She heard you. Only time will tell how well she listened, but she heard you… It was almost as if he could hear his mother's voice in his ear.
Her head was resting heavier in his hand again – but now those sips were becoming weaker and farther apart. And those eyes had closed again.
She was slipping away from him – and he couldn't have that. Not after all he had done to get her this far – and he still didn't know anything more about what had happened to her or who she was.
"Hey-" He dropped the canteen, took that hand to her shoulder and started gently shaking. "I need you to talk to me again-"
She made a little murmur of protest.
"Come on – I need to keep you awake until my friends get here. You still haven't told me who did this to you – how you ended up here – I don't even know your name-"
A silent sort of prayer flared up in his mind – to the God he wasn't sure he believed in anymore.
I can't lose another one like this. I can't have someone else die like this on me and not even know her name-
"Talk to me-" he pleaded. "Just tell me one of those things, and then you can ask me any question you want, okay?"
Another murmur, and then words… "can't go back…" soft and slurred.
"Why? Why can't you go back?"
"Can't go back…" It was as if she hadn't even heard him.
"You don't have to go back - you never have to go back, I promise…" He glanced up, searching the skies for the Jumpship. What was taking them so long?
Was it that little speck that was starting to come into view – just over the horizon? It had to be—
And he had to find another use for that water if he couldn't get her to drink any more. Had to do something more to cool her down.
Pulse points. He should have thought of that sooner.
He wet his fingers and touched the droplets to her skin. Wrists. Temples. Neck. Let his fingers rest at the last one to keep track of that rapid, weak pulse.
"Stay with me – keep talking to me – my friends are almost here-"
"Can't go back… can't go back…" she was stuck in a loop now – and he had to find a way to break through.
"You don't have to go – just stay with me – tell me something – anything- else – " Hs voice was starting to break. "Just give me your name-" Why hadn't he asked for that sooner? He'd never forgive himself if they had to bury this girl without even a name.
Her breath caught – and for a moment he thought he'd lost her. But then she winced and let out a weak
little cry of pain. "Head… hurts…" she gasped out.
At least the loop had broken. But this wasn't much better. Altered mental state and severe headache. This kid needed a lot more than water and she needed it fast.
He could hear the Jumpship now – looked up to see it coming down near the Skybike.
"Hold on – my friends are here- just hold on a little longer-" Damn it to hell, she had him almost crying now.
He looked up to see Hawk and the Captain sprinting toward them. Suits powered down – arms full of cold packs.
"Your comm broke up on us just as we landed," Hawk informed him as he dropped to his knees. "Got a name for our patient?"
"Sorry, Hawk. I've been trying – maybe you'll have better luck- " He slid over to let Hawk work – closing his eyes against the tears that threatened again. Please…
"Let's try some cold here-" Scout forced his eyes back open to watch Hawk slide the first cold pack under one of the girl's arms. She inhaled sharply at that – offering him a ray of hope.
Hawk kept one hand on the pack and gently grasped the girl's shoulder with the other. "Right, then. He's Scout, I'm Hawk – and you are…?"
Her eyes opened for just a moment - closed again as the breath came out of her in rapid, shallow gasps.
"Youth Leader…Chase…"
That got one of Hawk's gentle half-laughs out of him as he gave her shoulder a little squeeze.
"Got a first name, kid?"
Her lips started moving again – but no sound came out – and Scout couldn't even guess what she was trying to mouth. And then Hawk moved over to make room for the Captain.
"It's all right…" Scout had a feeling that those words were being directed at him as well, even though the Captain's gaze was fixed firmly on the girl – slipping another cold pack under her other arm.
"You're going to be all right. We're going to take you someplace safe." Jon gently placed a third cold pack on her throat, then slid that hand over to grasp her shoulder – just like Scout and Hawk had done before him. "Now, can you try just one more time to tell us your name? Your first name."
A couple more painful gasps. Her eyes fluttered open and closed again.
"Jennifer…" Not much above a whisper, but still clear as the proverbial bell.
Jennifer. At least they had the name. Whatever happened next, at least they had her name.
Thank you, Scout silently breathed. To God and whoever else might have heard him.
"Jennifer, I'm Jon, and I'm going to do everything I can to help you heal in every way. So are the rest of my friends," the Captain looked up and nodded at Hawk, who had already repositioned himself behind the girl – Jennifer - with cooling band in hand. "But first, you're going to have to trust us."
Of course they had thought of that. Even if she had been completely unconscious, they couldn't risk transporting her without a blindfold – for her own safety and security as well as theirs.
At least the cooling band would give her an additional layer of comfort for the journey – maybe even some relief for that headache she was surely still feeling.
It must have, because Jennifer didn't offer any form of protest as the Captain lifted her head and Hawk tied the band around her eyes. Then again, she might have used the last bit of strength she had left to offer up her name to them.
It's okay. She's going to be okay. Scout didn't know where that thought had come from – and he knew Jennifer was far from out of the woods. But there it was – instinct or gut feeling or whatever label one could put on it.
Hawk put another cold pack on her forehead, and Jon picked
her up – gently cradling her against his chest as he headed for the ramp of the Jumpship.
Hawk rose to his feet, gave them a parting glance – then turned back to Scout and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think any of us could have taken better care of her with the limited resources you had at hand, and I'm sure the Captain will be the first to agree with me."
Hawk wasn't inclined to exaggeration, and he knew he should just accept praise for a job well done. Even so… "I should have asked for her name sooner."
"We got it out of her in the end, and you kept her alive. That's all that matters."
He couldn't argue with that.
"Hey." Hawk's hand tightened on his shoulder. "You did good today, Sergeant. Maybe more good than any of us can know right now."
"Yeah," he allowed himself.
Another patented Hawk half-laugh as the major let him go.
"So, we're taking her home with us?" Scout asked as he picked up his helmet and they walked toward their transports.
"Much closer than the Passages. Besides, can you imagine the reaction if we brought a girl in a Dread Youth uniform there? Better to look after her ourselves – at least for now."
"And Tank?" The lieutenant had been off on a separate mission of his own – all the way out on the coast.
"On his way back. We gave him the nutshell version. We'll fill him in on the rest when he gets home. Speaking of which…" Hawk glanced back at the Skybike. "I want you to stick close to us - and call out if you start to feel off in any way. Jennifer's not the only one who's been through an ordeal today."
He nodded. "I will."
"And get yourself some protein, a large electrolyte drink, and at least half an hour of rest right after you land. That's an order," Hawk called over his shoulder as he trotted up the ramp of the Jumpship.
"Yes, sir." Just the thought of all three of those things felt as good as a steak dinner, vintage champagne, and a night's unbroken sleep.
But he'd had reward enough already. He'd saved a life today.
"And whoever saves one life, saves the world entire."
His mother had taught him that, too.
Maybe tomorrow, he'd get to teach that to Jennifer.