Before Rift Apart (Complete)

Search and Rescue

Outskirts of Apogee Base- 3 hours later, Rivet's POV

I sat across from Talwyn, eating some kind of dinner. Didn't matter what it actually was. It tasted better than rations. "I wanted to thank you Rivet." Talwyn said. "For what?" I asked, curious. "Well, you know. For successfully destroying the beacon and getting that scout ship to turn away from us. Not to mention getting the cloak to work." Talwyn said. Rivet looked at her confused."What is it?" Talwyn asked. "It's just, it's funny because I don't... I don't quite remember it going that way if I'm going to be honest." I said.

I looked down as I felt some kind of warmth on me, only to look down as see my side bleeding. In that moment I woke up with a gasp and a cough, only to realize I was dreaming and was just simply trapped under rubble and debris from the crash. A piece of metal was in my side. "Good job Rivet... You always get into these types of messes..." I said to myself as I tried to lift the debris off me. With my new arm, turns out I didn't need to try so hard.

I whined out as I lifted the debris that had the piece of metal in my side. It came out easily due to the strength the new arm had given me. Now the problem was stopping the bleeding. Since I get into this mess all the time, I always had a personal medkit with me at all times now. While reaching for my medkit I wondered how long I had been out for, and wondered what my chances of being rescued were at the moment. I could only hope that Talwyn didn't quite hate me that much to just leave me out here.

Outskirts of Apogee Base- Search Team

Talwyn walked around with her warbots Cronk and Zypher as well as a few others in search of Rivet. "Bad news, I think the Rookie's crash site was spotted by a couple of Nefarious Troopers." Cronk reported. "They're digging through the mess to get to her. If they get that whipper-snapper before we do they'll report our location to Nefarious." Zypher added. Talwyn sighed, considering the option to fall back and evacuate everyone. Rivet saved alot of lives by them not having a warship upon them versus some troopers and so Talwyn made the decision.

"We're going after her. I'm more than willing to bet she'd do the same for us. Move it everyone! Now!" Talwyn ordered. The warbots acknowledged the order made everyone move out when her order wasn't originally heard. "We're coming Rivet. Just hang in there." Talwyn said to herself quietly. All the while she hoped Rivet was alright. They detected life signs out in the distance but the registered readings didn't seem very good. They certainly indicated serious injury. Nothing that would kill Rivet instantly but given time, it was incredibly likely she would become a casulty.

As Talwyn walked she couldn't help but focus on Rivet in her thoughts. Something about Rivet facsinated her although she wouldn't admit it. "Something on your mind Talwyn?" Zypher asked. Talwyn looked at him. Despite being an old senile war bot, Zypher was fairly observant. "You're fidgeting with your side arm. You have to be pretty worried to be doing that." Talwyn smiled a bit. "I guess I am worried. Despite the disagreements we've had... I really like Rivet." Talwyn admitted. "I don't want to see anymore harm come to her, after all she's done, especially today. I mean, she saved all of us."

Talwyn grabbed her device that was connected to the sensor grid. The Scout ship was still leaving. Everyone could thank Rivet for that. Talwyn sighed to herself, wondering if she did the right thing by letting Rivet run off to do her usual heroics. If she hadn't, they may very well be in the middle of being eliminated by a cruiser or a warship instead of looking for Rivet. "Are you coming Talwyn?" Asked Cronk. Talwyn looked up from her thoughts while fiddling with her side arm. "Yeah, I'm coming. Let's go." She smiled and started walking with the rest of her team.

Rivet's POV

I laid there, trying to mess with my nav-unit to distract myself given my side injury and head injury. "Stupid thing work!" I yell as I hit it and then it turns on. "Seriously?" I almost giggle to myself. "Well, at least they'll be able to find me." I said to myself as I looked around. Suddenly I could hear movement and after giving it a listen, I figured it must be the rescue team. "Hey! Down here! I'm down here!" I yelled aloud and waited for a response. Except all I heard was the sound of robots.

I gulped slightly and arranged myself, wincing from the pain as I grab my weapon and aim at the most likely place the bots would get through from. I started to make peace with my thoughts. "I had a good life right? I'm pretty happy." I said to myself with a loud sigh. I closed my eyes to clear my head for when I finally had to defend myself. I gently hold my weapon making sure I'm not nervously fiddling with the trigger. I hold my breath as I hear the clanging of debris being tossed aside.

They were getting closer and closer. I slowly let out my breath while they get closer to me. They move the last piece of debris blocking me and all I see are bright, blinding lights which make me wince and unable to take a clean shot. I hear wepons fire while blinded and I feared the worst, yet I felt no worse than I did a moment before. I slowly open my eyes to see 2 smoking Nefarious Troopers having been shot, and an old warbot looking at me. "You ok there Rookie?" Cronk asked.

After he asked me, I seen Zypher and Talwyn lean over. "Cronk! Zypher! Talwyn!" I smiled, simply happy they found me and not a moment too soon. "You ok Rookie?" Cronk asked again. I shook my head and showed them my side. The injury made Talwyn cringe and wince. "Ouch. Alright let's get her out of here!" Talwyn ordered. "Glad you guys came after me. Thought I wasn't gonna make it for a second there." I said. "You know us. We like to cut it close appearently. Makes us look like heroes." Talwyn said and I giggled at the comment.

Me and Talwyn looked at eachother for a moment. "Sooo. Dinner? At my place? I'm willing to bet you haven't had a good meal in a bit." I smile and nod. "Anything besides rations." Talwyn gave a nod. More came by to help with the debris to get me out. "I'm glad you made it. Not sure what I- What we.. would do without you." Talwyn said. I winked at her and smiled. "You can't get rid of me that easily. You're all stuck with me." I said. She smiled back. "I have no issues with that 'hero'. Just get better." She said.

As I was carried out Talwyn whispered under her breath. "I need you."