Wounded Warrior

Posted on Sun Jun 27th, 2021 @ 5:46am by Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor] & Lieutenant Clara Lawson & Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece]

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Black Watch sickbay
Timeline: MD14 01h30
1624 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

***ON***

Mattias lay on the sole biobed, facedown and unconscious, as he bled freely from the numerous gashes and deep lacerations, caused by the inner armor of the Andorian suit rupturing inward, following the rpg blast.

"This is my fault!" Malakai said. "I should have been paying closer attention but I missed a sentry."

“It’s not your fault!” Kara looked up at her husband as she surveyed her brother’s wounds, “You brought him back to me alive that’s what matters!” She quickly grabbed what she needed. “Right... I’m going to need hands here! I need to remove this suit but the wounds need to be tended as I do it, or Matt will bleed out.” She looked down at her brother sending him a telepathic message. Hang on Matt, I’m not letting you go.

Kara had just removed the last of Arrianna's hand restraints when Mattias and Malakai entered the sickbay. She was more mobile now, but still weak from five days of torture. But these two. They risked their lives for her and Josie. She owed them greatly. Arri moved and grabbed a medkit to assist Kara, even though her fingers were in pain. She was going to help these people.

"How is he Kara?" He asked his wife.

Kara looked up at her husband. “He’s... not great, but he’s holding his own” she looked at Arri. “Watch out for any shrapnel, I don’t want any severed arteries.”

"I am now attempting to locate any foreign objects in his body, Kara. I'm just now forming a profile of penetration objects for you, Kara. It should allow you to more easily remove them without jeopardizing his life." Arri noted.

Kara offered a warm smile. “Thank you Arrianna. If you can get any out then please do so, the less time these wounds are open the better!”

"I am beginning the process of removal of the shrapnel. Watch for trauma." She noted as she began the process of removal.

“I will” Kara kept a close watch on the readouts as they both worked to save Mattias’ life.

It took several minutes to get the suit free from Mattias’ back, and more minutes just to check there wasn’t any remaining suit shards. Finally she hooked him up to a supply of his own blood, something she’d requested of all members prior to the mission starting just in case of such an occasion. Now all they could do was wait. She stood looking at him, talking to him telepathically I said on that extra special birthday that I love you Matt, I meant it. She kissed him on the cheek before walking towards the others. “We’ve done what we can for now, it’s up to Matt now.”

Lily was standing by the wall watching in silence. She had not said a word since they had brought him in. Her mind whirled. She was pissed at him for this. She knew logically, it was not his fault. But, she was pissed. Her hands were shoved into the pockets of the slacks she had changed into after their return. Gone was the gown and jewels and Lily was back to her normal tunic and slacks. She stared at Mattias and her gaze didn't waver. Between the situation with Arri and Josie and now with Matt, her emotions were on a roller coaster and she was shoving it deep inside so not to burst.

Kara walked across to Malakai, “Are you Okay? Are you hurt?”

Malakai shook his head, No, I'm not hurt Kara." His head down. He didn't look at Phoenix, he knew she was pissed with them but doing her best to keep emotions in check.

Finally Lily pushed off the wall. "Call me when he wakes." She said and all but ran from the room.

a few minutes later, Malakai got up as well and left Medbay. He was going to the holosuite to see what he had done wrong. His guilt eating at him.

“Imzadi... wait!” Kara caught her husband up. “I don’t blame you for this, neither would Matt. He did this to save you didn’t he?, because he knew I’d be devastated if anything happened to you.”

Malakai turned at the sound of Kara's voice. He stood quietly as she talked to him. "I love you Kara. I love your goodness and compassion. I know you don't blame me. I blame me." He then caressed her cheek softly and kissed her before turning and heading for the holosuite.

===Three hours later===

As the Black Watch neared their asteroid base, the mood aboard was a somber one. Yes, they had saved and freed dozens of individuals who had been taken against their wills and turned, through drugs and torture, in willing sex slaves. Yes, they had saved a member of the Elysium's crew, and one of Phoenix's closest friends, Arrianna. However, those successes, while wonderful, paled in comparison to the fact that they had not only lost track of Cragen, they had not been able to save Josi. Also, Mattias, severely injured during the destruction of Cragen's headquarters, was just barely clinging to life and still unconscious. If ever there had been a low point in tbis mission, this surely must be it.

Kara sat at her brother's bedside, having pulled up a chair she was dozing while holding onto his hand.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, Mattias's limp fingers twitched.

Kara felt the twitch and shot up from her seat. “Matt!? Can you hear me?”

Slowly, his eyes started to move under his closed lids. His hand twitched again, more noticeable this time.

“Hey...” a few happy tears ran down Kara’s face dripping onto Mattias’ face. She gently wiped them away. “Don’t try and move, you were badly wounded.” She paused to reach for the comms. “Sickbay to bridge! Mattias is waking up!”

Softly, Mattias started to moan.

Lily was the first to reach the medical bay. She had been contemplating breaking cover and contacting the Elysium for use of their full medical bay but she held off, trying to be confident.

“Are you in pain?” Kara was assessing Matt’s condition when Lily joined her. “Matt hasn’t spoken yet, but he’s showing signs of consciousness.” She offered a confident smile.

Mattias groaned a little louder, his face scrunching up in pain. In a weak voice, he said, "Someone tell the Gorn to take his fucking fangs outta my back...."

Kara winced. “Ow! Yeah... I’m feeling that too.” She walked over to a tray and grabbed a hypo pressing it to his neck. “That should help lessen the pain, anything stronger and you’ll be out like a light. Let me know if you need any more and we’ll see how it goes.” She looked to Lily. “Phee is here to see you..” she stepped aside so they could speak more privately.

Mattias's features softened when the meds entered his system. He then smiled when he saw his love . "Hey you," he said quietly.

Lily stepped up to his side and took his hand. "You know, I expected you to be careful right?"

Arri left the ship and walked through the base. Wearing what clothes were available to her. If there were telepaths on the base, her pain was incredible. She wanted to be alone. Anna suddenly watched as the woman walked past. "Holy mother of god. What happened to her?" Anna mused.

"Cragen." Clara said. "Hey get her to a bunk would you Anna?"

Back in the ship, Mattias gave Phoenix a weak smile. "Hey, I had to protect my...my brother-in-law." His face then turned a bit more serious. "Don't break our cover.... not for me...mission...too important. If...you break cover...we lose Cragen...and Josie! Promise me, my love!" Tears began to fill his eyes, both from the pain in his body and the knowledge of how things were going.

"Kara has you. You are going to be fine." she whispered. "

Blinking the tears away, he squeezed her hand a little tighter. Though he was still very weak, the increase in pressure was noticeable. "Promise me, Phee!" He whispered, momentarily forgetting that there could be ears nearby that didn't know her real name.

"Ok.. I won't" she replied. "But you need to get better." She said softly.

Calming down, Mattias slowly nodded. "Kiss me, for the pain?" He gave her a weak impish smile.

She rolled her eyes. "Men, such babies" she teased and kissed him gently. "Hurry up and get better. I need you with me" She whispered against his lips. "Don't make me live without you again"

His usual bravado gone, Mattias replied to her truthfully. "You're not getting rid of me this easily."

"Good." she lowered her head to his ear. "Because next year, I want us to have our own child. You better be around for it." she whispered.

His eyes lit up at those words. "I love you, Phoenix Lalor," he whispered to her. His eyes misting over with happiness.

"Then get better Love." she kissed him gently. "I need to get Arri settled. Kara will take good care of you. Listen to your sister."

Nodding slowly, Mattias still had a grin on his face when he said, "I will, my love. I promise."

Lily smiled and stepped back. "Be back soon" And she slipped from the room, leaving him with Kara.

Seeing Lily go Kara walked across to Mattias. “Right, get some sleep. You need the rest.” She smiled warmly. “I’ll be right here with you.”

Shaking his head slightly, Mattias closed his eyes, and slowly drifted to sleep.