Board Thread:The Company/@comment-24930445-20140615054833/@comment-24866242-20140628060153

Marissa stood in the Vextis' hangar bay and watched as Sandra guided the Darwin to a stop. She had sat out the test flight since there wouldn’t be anything for her to do, and instead taken some time to gather some additional field hospital equipment. The Darwin didn’t have what she considered a proper infirmary, and she was worried that Ben would need medical attention when they pulled him out. It turned out to be a good thing she had stayed behind because she’d just gotten a call from the Vextis’ medical chief offering them some additional gear. She wasn’t sure Sandy was going to appreciate the reason it was being offered.

The Darwin’s port loading ramp lowered and Lenits and Lauren disembarked, nodding to her as they passed. Marissa hadn’t been properly introduced to either of them so she nodded back and said a soft hello as they passed. She glanced over her shoulder at the med tech. He had rushed up with the equipment only moments before, but the reason for the extra equipment was still absent. He stepped forward and pulled the cart up the ramp behind her.

Jarrid met them at the top of the ramp. He kissed her hello and gave her a quick hug before eyeing the medtech and his cart. “More gear? You planning on setting up a mobile hospital or something?”

“Something like that,” she answered before motioning the med tech past them to the infirmary. “Need to tell Sandra that we have to wait for a passenger.”

“Chaz won’t like that,” Jarrid said as they walked along the hall around to the cockpit.

Chaz poked his head out of the engine room as they passed. “I won’t like what?”

“Sounds like you’re bunking with someone after all,” Jarrid pushed him back into the engine room and grinned as the cursing started.

“Maybe not,” Marissa said. “It’s Ryax. Dante says he was hurt pretty badly in the attack. Might keep him in the infirmary.”

They reached the ramp up to the cockpit and met Sandra on her way down. “I saw you bringing some more equipment aboard. Anything else before we leave?”

“Yeah,” Jarrid said. “Sounds like we’re waiting for Ryax.”

“Like hell we are! We’ve waited long enough already.” Sandy fumed.

“Sandra!” Marissa scolded. “He’s in just as much of a hurry to get to Kat and Aerli as we are to get to Ben. Ry’s been a friend to us, now’s our chance to be a friend to him.”

Sandra stomped past them through the common room, taking a shortcut across the ship to the open ramp. They heard her clanging down the metal gangway to the floor of the hangar.

“She’ll see reason in a minute or two,” Jarrid assured her.

Marissa nodded. “It’ll be easier if Ry gets here soon though. Marissa grabbed Jarrid’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Sandy’s anxious for Ben. Maybe she and Ry being anxious together will calm them both down a bit. I know how I’d feel if it were you instead of Ben.”

Sandra stomped over to the deck master and tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. The man glanced at her without stopping what he was doing. “What can I do for you?”

“Apparently I’m waiting for a passenger. Can you find out what the hold up is?”

“Haven’t heard anything. Who’s the passenger?”

“Ryax.”

He raised his eyebrows and yelled at a passing worker. “Charlie! Get on the horn to the bridge, will ya? Find out if Captain Ryax is planning on accompanying the Darwin.”

The worker nodded and jogged over to the intercom, but stopped when a trio of people walked into the bay. One of them was Ryax, one side of his face was bandaged, and a compression bandage was wrapped around his ribs.

“Looks like he’s here,” the deck master said.

“Thanks,” Sandra said dryly before walking over to meet the group. “Captain Ryax.”

He interrupted. “Just Ryax.”

Sandra nodded. “Are all three of you coming?” She glanced at Red and Dante. “It’s gonna be pretty crowded if so.”

“No,” Dante answered. “Marissssa isss more than competent to handle hissss care.”

“We just came to see him off,” Red smiled.

Ry growled, but said nothing. He seemed to be just as impatient to get going as Sandy was.

“Times wasting," she said. "Let’s get going.”

He nodded his head and moved towards Darwin, not needing to be told twice. He waved over his shoulder at Dante as the doctor called after him. “Marissssa hasss a portable bone knitter. Usssse it!”

The med tech that had brought the equipment aboard before was climbing down the ramp with the empty cart as they approached. He nervously nodded to Ryax as he passed.

Ry didn’t notice. He was intent on reaching the ship and keeping his own pain levels down as much as possible.

He and Sandra climbed the ramp. She noticed he kept his arms close to his sides and she had to resist the urge to help him along. It wasn’t just that he looked like he could use the support… She was in a hurry.

Marissa met them at the top of the ramp and ushered Ryax into the infirmary and, although he went with her, everyone on board could hear him protesting the entire way.

Sandra closed the ramp behind her and cut back through the common room towards the cockpit.

Jarrid was there waiting for her. “Chaz says everything is green,” he told her. “Let’s boogie.”

She dropped into her chair and signaled hangar control. “Darwin is ready to leave,” she spoke into the comm. “Please tell me the pattern is clear.”

''“Darwin, you have priority clearance. Good luck.”''

LaeAnne sat in the captain’s chair on Vextis’ bridge and watched the Darwin speed away. “We’re all going to need it,” she muttered to herself.