Ark 7: The Sariel

Chapter 5: Consequences

"When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action. When you desire a consequence you had damned well better take the action that would create it."
― Lois McMaster Bujold

The evacuation was well underway when we hit the first bump, the Riot Core of the Arcadian was doing its best to hold back the crowds, all hell had broken loose. I could see the animal instinct in the peoples eyes, the need for self-preservation, people clawed at each other, I'd seen several mangled corpses dragged out of view from the crowds. Things were getting worse and worse as the evacuation went on, Las and I were doing our best to help Jõrge keep the reactor stable until we got everyone we could off the Ark.

The last shuttles were starting to take off and we were headed back to our shuttle with Jõrge and the captain when I heard Troy make a surprised noise from behind us. I turned to see a civilian standing over Troy, a bloody knife in his hand and a deep wound in Troy's side. Las and I froze, unable to take our eyes off of the growing pool of blood around Troy, Alyx saw the civilian standing above her brother and lifted her gun and fired off two shots, the rounds hit home with a sickening thunk. The civilians chest exploded in a spray of red, splattering the walls in an abstract pattern, the civilians lifeless form landed with a thud next to Troy. Unfrozen Las and I ran to Troy and started examining his wound, Troy sputtered out some blood.

"Al...Alyx.....I...I'm cold....." Troy spat blood as he talked.

"TROY!!" Alyx yelled as she shoved us out of the way to kneel by her brother.

"Hold on big bro, you're going to be fine, you hear me? You will be ok, Jax and I will make sure of it ok?" Alyx looked at her brother who was drifting in and out of consciousness.

"Alyx.....I'm....I'm scared..." Troy whispered feebly.

"It's ok brother, I got you, I got you" Alyx was in tears.

"Hilf mir" Troy said as he fell unconscious.

"Ich werde" Alyx whispered as she started to pick up her brothers limp form.

I moved in to help carry Troy to our shuttle, he was fading, fast, I knew if we didn't get him back to a medcenter soon he wouldn't make it, even if we do make it he will have a low chance of survival. Once aboard the shuttle we wasted no time getting off the Arcadian, we launched out of the bay and went full speed back toward The Sariel. Alyx was losing it, Las looked seconds away from having a mental breakdown and neither Jõrge nor the Arcadians Captain knew Troy well enough to understand the way Alyx and Las were acting.

"Jax?" Las asked in a small voice.

"Yea Las?" I asked .

"Do.....do you think Troy is gonna make it?" His voice trembled.

"I....I don't know Las.....I don't know, I'm sorry...." I replied as I looked towards Troy.

"Hey....guys?" Jõrge looked over at us with a concerned face.

"Yea Jõrge?" Las asked.

"I'm really sorry, I hope Troy makes it, if there's anything I can do to help, just say it" Jõrge looked at us.

"Thanks, I'm just worried for Alyx" Las said glancing over at Alyx.

The pilots called out that we were nearing Ark 7, we had clearance to land in the emergency medbay. Within minutes we had landed and the med team stormed aboard to take Troy, I told Alyx to go with her brother, I'd handle the debrief with Chief. Las and I sent Jõrge and the Captain to get checked out, with that we had set off for debrief, I had no clue how to explain this to Chief if Troy doesn't make it. I guess this comes to show every path has it's own harsh reality, we all have to face the consequences, some more than others.

A/N: Translations:
Hilf mir- "Help me" in German
Ich werde- "I will" in German
As for some feedback, if you emails me an OC I'll pick my fave and add em in somewhere. Also who's your favorite character so far? Which one would you like to know more about? Ask away!