Rebel Roleplayers Alliance

Volar's Story - part 11

As the hovercar moved in an evasive pattern back toward the mountain, Volar placed his hands on her neck and stomach (the only parts of her not covered) and stretched out with his feelings. He felt...nothing. Was she already dead!? He took off his gloves, placed his hands directly on her, and stretched out with his feelings again. He could barely feel any life in her at all. Then Volar remembered; he had been working with people who had become his friends. People he knew were easier to reach than strangers. He concentrated, and exerted his full strength to reach her. Now he could see/feel her body and emotions; they felt like...resignation. She thought she was dying and was giving up. Volar concentrated totally upon her. He directed her body's healing to the terrible wounds in her stomach. He willed her intestines back to their proper place using his hand to guide them. He willed her blood to stop flowing to internal wounds. He willed those wounds to close and seal. He poured all of his gift into her. He knew nothing less would suffice. He shored up her emotional state as well. He poured himself into her: his strength, his hope, his will to live. He told her she would recover. He told her she would live.

He became dimly aware of other hands. Other hands were lifting her out of the hovercar. Other hands were lifting him out of the hovercar. Looking around he saw they were at the cave. He had so totally focused upon her care he did not see anything else. Others spoke to him but their words were muted as if through several thick blankets. Volar took a deep breath, sounds came flooding back to him, and his knees buckled. The others who were helping him out of the hovercar now helped him into the cave.

Volar said "Put me in a chair next to her bed. I'm not done yet." The soldiers from first platoon did as he directed; delivering both of them to the multipurpose room. Half was set up as a hospital. Volar ran the imager over her body: no fragments but there were several broken bones and bruises everywhere. When a rescueman stepped beside Volar, he ordered "Two canisters of artificial blood! Administer oxygen and sugar/carbohydrate solution." The rescueman did as directed. Volar asked "What about our people?" The rescueman responded "Four dead, four wounded. We can handle the wounded. I hope this pilot is worth the price we paid."

He awoke with a start just before firstlight with strength renewed. Looking around, he saw four of his friends, wounded, resting on beds, recovering under the care of Granst the Rescueman. He also noticed an armed guard watching the unknown pilot from the doorway. Examining her, he noted her vital signs were steady. He placed his hands upon her forehead and abdomen, and stretched out again. He poured the full measure of his gift into her again: accelerating her healing, reassuring her with feelings of friendship, bolstering her will to live. Then he took proper stock of her injuries and went to work. He fused bones, sealed wounds, combated infections with antibiotics (This allowed her body to concentrate on healing wounds) and applied a neural suppresser. He fell asleep pouring the last of his strength into her. His hands still upon her, he dreamed.

He dreamed she opened her eyes and asked "Who are you?" He answered in a calm voice "I am Volar the Healer". In his dream there was nothing beyond him sitting in his chair and her laying on her bed. He wore the traditional white Healer's smock. It was so clean, it shone. She wore a faded red jumpsuit with many pockets and loops. On a small table beside her bed was her fusion cutter, filtered breathing mask, and miner's helmet. Wiping dirt and sweat from her brow, she asked "Where am I?" Using his best bed side manner he told her "You are in a hospital. I am assigned to take care of you." Her eyes went wide with fear when she looked over his shoulder. Volar continued "We are not Imperials. We fight them as you do. You are safe. Now rest." She accepted his words, closed her eyes and slept. In his dream Volar also fell back asleep.

He was awakened by Stirip the Reader. "Volar, my friend, come. Someone needs help." Volar stood, but was unsteady. Stirip lifted Volar's arm across his shoulder and helped him to the mess hall. Volar sat heavily as Stirip set food and drink on the table in front of him. "Where is this person that needs help?" asked Volar. Stirip sat opposite the table and answered "Right in front of me. You are exhausted. You must eat." Volar was hungry and he ate a double meal thinking aloud as he did so; "Four men are dead because I did not help them. I don't have the strength to heal so many injuries so quickly." Stirip countered "Four men are dead because the invaders killed them. You are not responsible for that. If you haven't the strength to heal them all, then you're not expected to. The Holy Writings tell us we are each expected to do what we can. Your orders were to bring back the pilot for questioning. You did that. The rescuemen tell me she lives only because of your skill as a healer. If she had died, those four men would have died for nothing. We are soldiers, my friend, we carry out our orders." Volar looked at his friend and muttered "I suppose it'd be foolish to debate responsibility with a reader." Stirip smiled and said "No more foolish than debating health tips with a healer; which is, of course, exactly what I am going to do. You are pushing yourself too hard. You must take better care of yourself." It was Volar's turn to smile as he answered "I appreciate your concern. There are just so many demands placed on me...between...

He was interrupted by the second calling "Healer! I am told you haven't stepped away from the captured pilot since we retrieved her. Since you are here, I take it she will live?" "She will live" replied Volar "but I was uncertain until a few tipas ago." The second appeared not to hear the answer "When can we question her?" Volar thought before he answered again "Firstlight? The next after that at the latest." The second slapped Volar on the shoulder "Good Job!"

After the second left, Volar looked at his friend. Volar was about to say something when a trainee in a bodysuit ran in calling "Reader! The Evets are arguing again. Sharon the Painter asks if you can do something about it." Stirip answered "I'll be right there. Until next time, Volar." Stirip then walked after the trainee.

Volar put the tray away and went to check on the four wounded Lazaveltians. The rescueman on duty reported their condition. Volar responded "I am impressed. Your analysis and treatment is absolutely first rate." The rescueman answered " These men and women gave their best for our people knowing the risks. They deserve the best I can give them. We must all do what we can, Healer." Volar looked at him a stipa before saying "Yes, that is The Way." He then moved to the five wounded, opening his gift to each of them in turn. After using the last of his strength on the rescued pilot, he looked over at the table where her stuff was kept. He saw her comlink, datapad, damaged flight suit with life support system, and her flight helmet; which is not what he expected to see. He wasn't sure why. Then he returned to his own bed, removed his armor, and slept a good sleep.

At firstlight, The lights came on and Nan the Machinist hollered: "O.K. boys and girls, it's time to do some work. We will continue making more suits and weapons to supply other units. Supply, I want another block of chemiplastic from storage. Communications, It's the first day of the tentim, time to change all of the codes. Healer, the second wants you at medical. Let's get to it! The invaders aren't laying around resting!" The sleeping quarters went from zero to full speed in one stipa.

Volar pulled on his bodysuit and armor, armed himself, and was out the door in less than one tipa. Arriving at the multipurpose room, he found the pilot was awake. There were now two guards watching her. The Second was waiting for him.

The Second greeted him with: "If you think she's well enough I'd like to question her." Volar responded only "Understood". The rescueman briefed him with "Her wounds are healing; no sign of infection. She ate and drank everything put in front of her. She tried to remove the neural suppresser. I prevented her, but it's obvious she doesn't like it. And the first thing she did when she woke up was ask for you by name." That stopped Volar. He asked "How would she know my name?" The rescueman shrugged his shoulders and answered "I thought it unusual enough to mention."

Volar nodded, then sat in the chair beside her bed. Remembering his bed side manner, he smiled at her and asked "So, how are you feeling?" Recognition showed in her eyes. She smiled back and said his name: "Volar!" "Yes" he said "I am Volar. How do you know me? I don't recognize you." She answered him with several sentences in the language of the invaders. They spoke back and forth; he in Lazaveltian, her in the invader's language. After a tipa, the Second asked "Do you understand her?" Volar looked up, shook his head, and said "Not a word". When she saw him shake his head, it was obvious she was frustrated by her inability to be understood. She switched to a second language. None of the Lazaveltians recognized it, either. It was obviously a second language as it sounded completely different from the first. The second language sounded like a lot of 'B' sounds strung together with a couple of other letters thrown in randomly. Volar spoke to her in a calm voice knowing she responded to his tone, if not his words.

When he attempted to pass a medical scanner over her, she grabbed it. At her sudden motion both of the guards took a step forward. She seemed afraid of it. Volar gave it to her. He pointed to his eye, then to the display screen, indicating where she was supposed to look. Then ran his own hand under the scanner. Even though she couldn't read the information on the display, she could see the image of his hand. She seemed to recognize it as a medical scanner and allowed Volar to move it over her body. She seemed to relax when she saw Volar repeatedly scan her injuries. She pulled uncomfortably on the neural suppresser around her neck while he did so. Knowing she was mostly recovered, Volar removed it. She immediately clutched her abdomen from the pain. Volar put his hands on her stomach wound and stretched out with his feelings. He willed the nerves to shut down. He balanced the return of sensation with the wound's healing. See/feeling her wounds, Volar thought she would be recovered by first light. When he opened his eyes, he saw she was looking at the terrible scar across her torso. She carefully inspected the neural suppresser, turning it over slowly in her hands, then looked at Volar. Looking in her eyes, it was obvious she understood. Volar told her "Rest, You'll be up and around at firstlight". Leaving, he told the Second "She's all yours."

The Second ordered her datapad to be brought. He also ordered a small tool kit, assorted electrical parts, and one of their own datapads with nothing on it but a language file. Bjorn the Comtech was to link the two datapads together and begin translating her language. Once her datapad could be downloaded, her language file would be transmitted to headquarters so they could use the universities' computers. Bjorn nodded, then pulled a chair up next to the pilot's bed. He already had everything the Second had asked for in his bag. He laid the two datapads next to each other, laid some wire between them, then laid down two small tools. He handed one to the pilot, then began opening the back of the Lazaveltian datapad. The pilot watched for a stipa then picked up her datapad. Rummaging around in Bjorn's bag, she pulled out a different tool and began opening her datapad. Each worked by watching the other.

Volar walked outside the cave. Having made up his mind to run the obstacle courses, he ran down the trail until he came upon a squad from second platoon. They were walking up the trail, tired and dirty. They told him they had just come from a counter-patrol; and no, none of them were injured. They were attempting to deceive the Invaders as to where the base was hidden. When asked if it was working, they replied they were uncertain. The Invaders were scrutinizing this area since the raid that captured the pilot from them. Before that, they'd showed no interest. The squad of soldiers also told him how the Leader had ordered this plan after consulting the old war files with Wendell the Gamer (who was the acknowledged master tactician of third company). Only they would know if the soldiers' efforts were succeeding. Volar thanked them and continued down to the obstacle courses. He completed them in good time.

Over the next several littims, many things were happening in and around the hidden mountain armory. The counter-patrolling was not working. The Imperial Army continued to bring more and more troops into the area. Reconnaissance flights overflew the mountain every littim. Wendell the Gamer said flatly something else was needed. He suggested first platoon be sent out several tsan to the east. They would launch a diversionary attack, break contact, move several tsan, and attack again - always from the east. If it worked the invaders would turn east to search or just to protect themselves. Redel thought it was a brilliant idea. Wendell said "It's brilliant if it works. If it doesn't, we'll have one whole platoon unavailable to defend the mountain." Redel turned to the Second and ordered "Do it! I don't intend to defend the mountain. Then begin packing for an evacuation." Nan the Machinist countered with "If we evacuate, we'll be abandoning all of our support. Without it we won't be of any use to our people." The Second threw an angry look at the platoon leader, then asked Redel "Shall we seal the tunnel entrance? We have enough explosives; that's for sure." "No", replied Redel " They already have scouts out. It would only identify where we are. We will camouflage it with plasticrete and dirt. Also set up one or two decoy sites on other mountains. Use all of our men as you wish, but I want one platoon to disperse per dark for the next five darks. You and I will leave last to ensure everything is accomplished." The Second nodded and began organizing all the tasks he had been assigned.

Bjorn the Comtech reported he did not have what was required to link the two data pads so they could exchange information, but he knew who did. He requested to go to Indus. The Leader approved his request. Bjorn was directed to make it work and pass on what he had learned of the Invader's technology to the Shadow Army in Indus. He was given an address. Bjorn departed wearing civilian clothes that same littim.

The pilot, her name was Starla, recovered from her wounds, though she was left with a terrible scar across her torso. Through voice and hand signals, she made it clear she wanted to stick next to Volar. The Second wouldn't allow her to move anywhere without an armed guard watching her. Volar said he didn't mind the pilot following him around, but thought the guard unnecessary. With the other three platoons working outside and the trainees evacuated, fourth platoon was tasked with the night watch. Nan chose two men to man the lookout position on top of the mountain. Volar was glad he wasn't chosen to stay up all night.

At middark the entire underground base shook. Alarms sounded, lights flashed, and automatic defenses engaged. The ventilation shafts slammed shut with a staccato of echoes throughout the base. The air pressure increased just enough to be easily noticeable. Blast doors dropped and sealed. One dropped at the entrance to the cave. The other two dropped on each end of the hallway that led from the cave to the base itself. As fourth platoon donned their armour, the shaking continued. It was not violent, but it was constant. Computers throughout the base announced and flashed "BOMBARDMENT ALERT".

Nan the Machinist hollered "Don full armour and weapons, then gather in the multipurpose room". Within three tipas fourth platoon, was assembled. Also present were Redel, Jocham, and Starla. Redel started giving orders: "Fourth Platoon Leader! You will take one squad and spread out amongst the vehicles. You will kill any Invaders which enter the cave. The blast doors will be sealed behind you. Go." After they left, Redel ordered "Second squad will wait for me at the supply room. We will defend the base to the last. Go." After second squad had left the room, Redel turned to Jocham and said quietly "You will take third squad. Get out through the secret exit and take her (pointing to Starla) to Indus. If that's not possible get her to any Shadow Army unit. She is invaluable as an intelligence asset. I will hold their attention here as long as I can then destroy the base." Jocham looked at the company Leader and asked "Why are you staying? Why don't we all escape?" Redel placed his hand on Jocham's shoulder and said "My friend, I don't have time to explain. I will see you on the other side. Carry out my order."

Jocham nodded. Turning to one of the rescuemen he asked "Do you have an oxygen mask in your medical bag?" When told all the rescuemen and the Healer carried oxygen, Jocham turned to the rest of the squad and said "Follow me." He led them to the water storage room, plugged his datapad into a panel, then hit two switches on the farthest water storage tank. As it began to drain, he explained: "The water for the base comes from an underground spring. It's brought up a pipe, purified, then stored here. We are going down the pipe, then swimming for two tsan where the spring emerges above ground as a stream. This will hopefully put us outside of the Invader's troops. We will then try to quietly slip away. Any questions?" Volar thought to himself "Only about a hundred" but didn't ask any of them. Neither did anyone else.

As the Second opened the water tank and climbed in, Volar placed the breathing mask on Starla. He then gave her the small flashlight from his healer's bag. Although the Lazaveltian combat armour had light amplification visors, Starla was wearing only a body glove. That meant she would be blind underground. He had no idea if the body glove would keep her warm enough. They moved forward in a line, waited five stipa, then dropped into the pipe one at a time.

Source:

Mark Nielipinski

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