THE RECRUIT

GREK: Blueprints

Classified Imperial Base
Medical Bay 02
Daro
LST: 03:40:10 // DAY: 07
RC-5570

Captain Mech leans against the medical pod in the middle of the room. It gently hums against his back.

"She's going to get herself lost," he says recalling Taipan's blank face the last time she was told to go to the medical bay. I should've gone to retrieve her.

"Retrieving her would draw too much attention," Tapcaf says managing to read Mech's mind as he fiddles with the buttons on the pod's control panel. "If she's smart, which I'm betting she is, she'll be here shortly."

The room falls silent except for the hum of the machine. Mech thinks back to the night Taipan was brought in. Even beneath the shadow of her hood, he could see the bright red of her skin. Sparkstick said the Zabrak tattoos were ceremonial. Removing them must be difficult for her, not to mention painful. Her screams still echo in his head from time to time. Just like his vode, his brothers, who were too injured to move calling out for their comrades.

Mech watches Tapcaf as he continues dialing in settings on the medical pod. He formulates the question even though he knows there isn't. He asks anyways despite how his doubtfulness could affect squad morale. "Do we really have to do this?"

"It's either us or them. You already know that ner vod." My brother. Tapcaf replaced Cardshark's role in the squad about a week after. It was a pretty smooth transition, all things considered. But there was an unsaid condition that the replacement was only temporary. It wasn't until the terrible night of Order 66, when Tapcaf lost his wife, that his place in the squad became permanent. Mech always found it easier to confide in him than Sparkstick or Hardcopy even on his first day in RYNO Squadron. Maybe it's his ability to take everything in stride. At least Walon Vau taught Tapcaf one thing, life goes on even if you don't.

"It's always us or them."

Before RYNO Squadron was formed and after they had all lost their pod brothers on the first Battle of Geonosis, each of them had been assigned to different GAR legions to cross-train infantry troopers. They spent significant time with the white jobs and were closer to the troopers than most other commando squads. Mech saw all Fett clones as his brothers even if the troopers regarded the commandos as wanna-be-Mandalorians. Not all the commando sergeants were Mandalorians either. He's just glad RYNO is united under the Mando bond.

The medical door swishes open. A stormtrooper stands there a moment before entering the room. No visible weapons and is shorter than most. The recruit takes off their helmet tucking it under an arm and strikes a salute. "Captain. Commando Medic." Taipan's pale face is just as ghostly as her armor.

Mech raises an eyebrow. Perfect salute.

"Taipan," says Tapcaf, "Take a seat." He uses his datapad to point at a nearby chair.

Her head turns to look at the seat, then at each of the RC-troopers, and back to the seat.

Mech steps forward. "Tapcaf has adjusted a few settings so it shouldn't be too bad."

Taipan takes a step backward staring at the medical pod. "What?" Her voice is barely above a whisper.

Tapcaf gives a questioningly look at his Captain. Mech nods in approval.

"Admiral Rampart is keeping track of your experimental processing. Unfortunately, it's not a one-and-done deal," says Tapcaf. "The effects will wear off unless the nine-month treatment is completed."

Taipan slowly shakes her head almost in disbelief. "I've been shot, exploded, set on fire, impaled, sliced open, mauled, and eaten alive." She pauses a flicker of something crosses her voided eyes. Fear? "I like pain as much as the next guy but I think I'll pass."