Echo Station - Private Hanger

The first thing Aden noticed was the heat.

It blasted his face and he had to squint to protect his eyes.

The second thing he noticed was the light. Red. Bright red. It illuminated the space around him in blood tint. Aden could see the light shoot out from his palm in a thick beam. Through half closed eyes he could see the air distort around the beam. The commander was the first to get hit. It didn’t just knock the him back, it blasted them half way across the room.

The last thing Aden noticed was the movement. With the commander taken care of Aden tried to point the beam at the men still holding Julian but it felt like moving lead. He had to grab his wrist with his free arm and pull on the prosthetic. It hit one of the men and dragged him across the floor.

The last man dropped Julian and tried to get out of the beams way by launching himself at Aden. Unfortunately he miscalculated the trajectory and Aden could see his eyes light up as he blasted the mercenary in the face. It didn’t last long, the beam stopped before it could launch the mercenary like his comrades, but it ended even worse from him. Aden saw the glimpse of red skin on his face as the mercenary covered his face with gloved hands, screaming all the while.

But none of that mattered at the moment. Aden felt numb. With his arm’s weapons turned off he could finally see Julian on the ground, his jacket soaked in blood and leaving an every growing pool of it on the floor. Julian groaned but did not move.

He had to get him out of there.

Aden tried pulling on Julian’s body and dragging him to the Nighthawk but it was no use. He only managed to drag him a couple of steps before he would collapse. Aden started yelling but whether it was for Julians sake or for himself he couldn’t say.

“Jules. Hang in there, where almost to the ship. We’ll get you patched up, just hang in there. ”

Then a couple more steps.

“Jules please. Stay with me, just a little longer. Please”

Then the hot tears started streaming down his face. The lump in his throat choking him.

“Jules! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry” he cried, “I should’ve never called you. I should’ve left you alone. I’m sorry! Just stay alive! Please”

Aden didn’t notice when the Nighthawks engines roared behind. He didn’t notice the per-recorded voice of the hanger rattle on its safety precautions. He didn’t notice anything until another set of human hands came to help him lift Julian up and onto the Nighthawk.

It wasn’t until he got on the ship that Cassandra called out to him.

“Lets get him to the med-bay, Meren is prepping for him right now”

Aden didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He let Cassandra guide him to a clean looking silver room where some hospital beds lay. Meren was already there, running commands on the screen of the med-bots. He gestured for them to lay the body on the bed.

Aden watched as they started to tear apart the jacket and shirt Julian had on. Meren put the blood stained rags into a waste container on the side.

How long had it been since they were on Echo Station buying those clothes?

He could see the wound clearly now. It was on his stomach, a hole the size of a baseball. He didn’t want to watch but he was frozen. It looked worse than any wound Julian had gotten during the Galactic War.

Cassandra brought him back to reality again. She placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him towards the door.

“This way. Meren and the bots are going to work on him but I need to show you something.” She said.

Again Aden didn’t respond but this time Cassandra grabbed his hand and pushed him out the door. She guided him through some large hallway towards the front of the ship and then down a flight of circular stairs to some metal door. She stopped in front of the door and jerked her head toward it.

“Jon’s inside. He’s wants to talk to you but be brief. Meren still needs to talk to him.” said Cassandra.

Aden was ashamed to say that in all the commotion he had forgotten about the old man. He was even more shocked that Jon Azor was conscious.

What does he want with me? I don’t really want apologies. It’s too late for that. Thought Aden.

It was as if Cassandra read his mind. She knocked on the door and then gently opened the door for Aden.

“He is going to apologize but its more than that. Just listen to him” said Cassandra.

Aden nodded and walked into a dim lit bedroom with a large bed in the middle. Jon Azor lay there, his chest rising and falling under the covers. There was no bandages or med-bots or anything attending him. Everything else in the room was still except for Jon Azor’s wheezing breaths. His only working eye was open just a crack and looked at Aden when he walked in.

“Come. In.” Said Jon Azor. His voice was frail and weak. Aden didn’t even feel as if the voice was coming from him. It was as if someone older was miming the words in Jon Azor’s mouth.

When Aden crouched next to him Jon placed his burned right hand onto Aden’s shoulder. Even his touch was frail.

“I’m sorry” he whispered.

Aden didn’t know what to say. He felt split in two. His mind was still with Julian but sitting down here with Jon his eyes knew. Jon was almost there.

“Jon why aren’t you in the med-bay? Or in the stasis chamber? What are you doing here?”

Jon Azor wheezed and each sentence seemed to require a full breath.

“I told Meren.” He said. “I told him to use it for you. I know. I’ll never make it.”

“I’m sorry” said Jon Azor.

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault. Just- don’t worry about that right now. We knew going in the gig was dangerous”

“I should’ve known.”

“It’s OK. Just relax.”

Aden wanted to try and calm the old man down. His breath was coming in longer gasps now.

“One last job for you. My brother. In Alsefina. Let him know what happened. He needs to go to Galactic Council.”

“You want your brother to lead the fight against KhazorCorps?”

“Not just KhazorCorps. Others. Government too. No choice for him. Tell him I’m sorry.”

"Can't we just go to the Galactic Union? Tell them your story?"

"They'll never believe. Not from you. Will brand you as petty criminals. Especially on Earth. Your words against the corporation. Need someone who can testify against the Board."

Jon Azor wheezed again.

“Please, I need your help. I’ll pay.” Said Jon Azor.

His wheezing was getting worse and worse now. Aden jumped, he wanted to call for help but Meren was already standing at the door. He took one last look at the old man and held his hand.

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll find your bother and take care of everything? You don’t have to worry. I promise.” Said Aden.

The old man gave the slightest of nods. Meren took his spot next to Jon Azor and motioned for Aden to wait outside.

“I’ll join you when I’m finished.”