In Command (#1 Post-Order 66 Series)

In Command - Part 27

"How did we escape?" she whispered. "The Inquisitor-"

"I landed a shot on him. He was so focused on you, I guess his guard was down, but we ripped the deck to pieces getting out of there. There's no way he survived it. He..."

Rex's voice faded in her ears as cold tendrils crept into Senna's mind. "He's still alive," she whispered.

"What?" Rex stopped short.

"That is highly unlikely," Tech said.

"No...no he's still alive. I can...feel him," she whispered, shuddering. Fear overtook her as she saw his yellow eyes in her mind and his sharp toothed grin. She became frantic, sitting up. "He knows where I am. I have to go. You have to let me off this ship. HE'S GOING TO FIND US! HE CAN SEE ME! I HAVE TO GO!"

"Rex, hold her. Hunter, give me the anesthetic."

Tech loomed over her again as the fear rose in her gut, threatening to tear her insides apart. "TECH, NO! I HAVE TO-" His gloved hand grasped her shoulder firmly, and she felt another prick in her neck. She became quieter. "You're all...in danger...because of me," she whispered before the world around her went black again.

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A bright light shone through her eyelids and Senna slowly opened her eyes. She was in a very sterile-looking, white room, laying back in a bed. Her hair was stuck to her face and her throat felt raw. A mechanical whirring sound followed by a pinching sensation in her left arm brought her attention to the medical droid that was working diligently on her arm. The droid noticed she was awake. "Specialist Aven, you're awake. How are your pain levels?"

Senna hesitated, still taking in the room around her. Echo was sitting on the floor in the corner, his head tipped back against the wall, snoring softly. Tech was in a chair next to him, asleep as well with his neck bent at yet another perilous angle. Wrecker and Hunter weren't in the room, but a slight shifting and rustling on the right side of her body caused her to turn her head. Rex was doubled over on the bed, resting his head on his crossed arms near her knees. He too was asleep until she slightly shifted her legs. His eyes snapped open, and he stood, slipping his hand into hers as he pressed a kiss against her forehead and stroked her cheek. "Hey," he whispered.

"Hey yourself," she whispered back. She sucked in a breath as the droid pinched a nerve again.

"Apologies. I will increase your pain management dosage," the droid buzzed.

"What's happening? Where are we? Alderaan?"

"Yes, we made it back," Rex replied. "We're trying to get the muscle and nerves repaired on your arm where they were severed, and once that's done, we can start looking at...options."

"You're very lucky," the droid said. "You lost a substantial amount of blood from this."

Senna gave a pained smile. "Yeah, can't say that I'm feeling very lucky at the moment."

Rex squeezed her hand. "You're alive, and that's what's important."

She met his eyes and pulled him in for a kiss. "Thank you, but you should have just left me."

"He never leaves anyone behind," a voice from behind the droid said. Echo was pushing himself to a standing position against the wall and Tech was stirring in his sleep. Echo walked over to the bed, placing his hand on her leg. "He never gave up on you."

She smiled, running her thumb across the back of Rex's hand. "Is everyone else alright? No other injuries?"

Tech stood, rubbing the soreness from his neck. "That is correct. I'm afraid you got the brunt of it." He moved to stand at the foot of her bed.

"Glad I could take one for the team," she laughed dryly. Rex could see that even through her humor, the loss of the limb was affecting her. "At least I'm right-handed," she joked.

"Once you have fully healed, I will work with you to get you a prosthetic if you desire," Tech said. "I'm afraid we can't make good on the scomp-link arm Rex promised you since that's tapped into Echo's nervous system, but I'm sure we can find a desirable and useful alternative."

"Thank you, Tech," she whispered softly. She dropped her eyes to her lap and Echo could see she was internally fighting something.

"Tech, let's go find Hunter and Wrecker. They'll want to know she's awake," he said, gently pushing Tech towards the door. For once, Tech took the hint, and they both exited with a hiss of the door.

"Are you alright?" Rex asked once they were alone. "I mean, obviously you're physically not, but there's something else. I can see it."

Her teeth were buried in her lip again. "He...he said he can track me through the Force, Rex. If that's true, then I'm putting everyone here in terrible danger."

Rex recalled her outburst on the Marauder, and a sinking feeling filled the pit of his stomach. "Are you sure that's possible?"

"How else could he have found us on Bracca? Only a few knew we were going there."

"Perhaps the Scrapper Guild spotted us and reported it in without us knowing."

"Rex, I-"

"Why wouldn't he have followed us to Alderaan the first time if he could track you, Senna? Think about it. Why isn't he here now if he's alive as you say?"

"My connection to the Force is strengthening. I fear I'm just brightening my beacon to him."

"There's a million ways he could have found you. You can't blame yourself. Please don't. We'll get this sorted and leave as soon as you're better, alright?" he asked, and she could see that there was no point in arguing with him, but that didn't stop the fear and worry from nagging at her insides. She decided that for now, she had to put it aside.

Leaning into his hand, she met his eyes. "Alright."