Path of the Hunters [PART 3]

"Mm..." They walked into the bathroom, Aurélie idly rocking her son. "It's possible. Per'aps. Kane did make them to stop the Tuefel blade's effects."

*

He nodded. "Okay..."

"Hmm... Then there's that. Well, whatever happens, we'll be ready." After getting his damp cloth, Nova got ready to change Aurora, grimaced. "Not out the womb a day, and already got such a mess! Jeez, I knew we'd get some kind of trouble!"

*

Cross looked up to the sky above him. I just hope it stays that way...

The hours passed and both pelicans landed on two neighboring pads.

Cross stood outside Trip's craft. "One down, one to go," he said quietly.

Mani was prepared to administer treatment for Sunny. "Let's see how bad a shape she's in."

Both hatches opened up, the ODSTs piling out of both pelicans, giving either a wave or a nod to Mani and Cross as they headed off. The medics waved Mani over to Sunny's pelican.

Wary, the fox walked out and, the moment he saw Cross, he ran for the echidna, tears in his eyes.

*

When she walked in, Sunny scowled. "Hey, Mani. My fucking legs feel like they're on fire. How the hell're you?"

"Gotta be one of the most interesting patients we've ever had." Remarked one of the medics with a chuckle.

Cross hugged the kit lovingly, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm so glad you're okay..."

"That she is," Mani said to the medic, then turned back to Sunny, grimaced. "Damn, they did a number on you." She pulled out a silver syringe, injected the neon blue contents into Sunny's leg. "This won't heal you fully, but it will stop the pain and bleeding, and all the minor injuries are gone. The major ones have been reduced to just over a small cut."

"Fucking awesome," she muttered. "How soon before I can walk? Sitting down's hurting my ass."

*

Trip snuggled as close as possible, sniffling. The hologram had been strange; not the real Cross. "I want Mom," he whimpered.

Both medics laughed, "Her type of patient is one that is few and far between, but one that is a favorite amongst us." Stated one.

"Hey Mani, mind sharing your formula for that stuff with us? We sure could use that stuff." Asked the other.

"It'd be a hell of a lot better than that biofoam shit. Hurts like a fucker, but whatever. It works."

"Hey, it does its job of sealing the wounds and preventing further bleeding, and so far, the only complain is how long it takes for the numbing agent to kick in."

"You can walk now, just fine. Though you might stumble a little. The nerves are still waking up." She turned to the medics. "And sorry, but that's impossible. Only I can make the stuff I do. It's my special power."

*

"I know. I want her, too." He let the tears flow freely. "I'm going to bring her back, I promise."

"...Yeah, we're gonna bug R&D about that. Your powers are genetic, so there must be a way of replicating the process and getting similar results."

"Actually, they're bio-engineered, but good luck with that. Besides, the process is extremely painstaking, even with my powers. The slightest mistake, and my meds could turn into a deadly poison."

"So we'll figure it out. R&D loves challenges."

"Yeah, I'm sure they do," she muttered. "Look, this isn't something you can just blow up, should anything go horribly wrong. If this got into the wrong hands, you would have a near invincible army to face."

Sunny smirked. "Good luck, you guys."

*

He nodded, pressing his face into Cross's chest. "Sunny couldn't stop 'em. And we didn't know what they were saying."

"Hey, now you're just insulting us." Stated the first medic as he glared at her. "The best way to counter such things is the standard method we do with all our stuff. Stick a small, but incredibly powerful, explosive charge on it. Therefore, if it is lost or stolen, it blows up. Effectively destroying the object and severly harming or killing anyone near it."

The second chuckled, "Besides, destroying hazardous materials is as simple as tossing them into a plasma disposal device. Hell, we once disposed of a compropised nuke that way."

Mani sighed. Humans, every one of them more stubborn than anything. And no respect for personal feelings. "Go ahead and try all you want. But you're on your own."

*

"Nova and his family knows. They're old enemies of theirs."

"That's why we were going to ask if you were willing to help. Can't work on something like this with nothing but theory, that's just asking for disaster..."

"Now there's something we agree on. If it's any consolation, maybe I can modify your biofoam formula to make it painless, maybe even last longer."

Sunny grinned. She liked these guys. They knew what was up. "After I don't need it? Thanks."

*

The fox made a soft, whining sound. He was so tired, so worried... He wanted everything to go back to normal. But he had Cross and he knew that Sunny was okay, too. So he wasn't all the way alone. He remembered the dark rooms, always waiting for a chance to escape, always waiting for his nightmares to become reality again and again.

His breath hitched. "Don't leave me alone. Mom said you wouldn't."

"Yeah, well, even if I figured it out, we wouldn't be able to get it to you. Besides, they can still get some mileage out of it."

*

He sighed, held him tighter. As much as he wanted to, he knew he couldn't. He would have to go back into battle again, and when he did... "I'll always be there to protect you, Trip. Always."

"So long as you share everything. I'm certain Katherine or someone else can lead you to the local R&D lab on base." Stated the first medic.

The second chuckled, "Sunny, we've been using this stuff for so long, that the only improvements on it were how effective it was. Personal comfort is not high on any military's list of necessities."