Mirage

Chapter Sixteen

He turned and moved in the direction of the small blast, his eyes darkening even further with worry. One of the newer Peace Officer's was in that area. Worry and stress flooded through him as he broke into a run.

"This is Officer Strix, I'm heading there now." Panther spoke through his coms, replying to someone at HQ who was on the line and directing coordinated movements between Officers. Panther rounded the corner and his face paled.

Blood was dripping from the scaffolding and down the wall and the scent of burning sulfur and chemicals made his stomach churn. He slipped his gas mask on, barely conscious of the act as he glanced around, searching for a way up.

"Be advised. Air pollution has reached dangerous levels." Panther relayed the information from his unit on the coms as he moved.

He couldn't remember the newbie's name. Brandon, Blitz, Brooks......something with a B. He called out, trying to get a response from the scaffolding. His voice sounded muffled through the gas mask as he found a way up.

The chemicals wafted around him on the smoky haze that had been triggered after the explosion. He let out a low grunt as he hauled himself up onto the scaffolding then carefully climbed higher. He should have warned the newbie to stay out of The Needles. The Crows sometimes rigged sections of the structures, laying traps for anyone stupid enough to come after them in their territory. And this had been an attack by The Jackels in Crow territory.

Panther pulled himself up onto the next level and then cautiously moved through the haze, calling for the other officer as he kept an eye out for any other traps. The haze was so thick he almost plummeted off the edge of the scaffolding and he cursed as he reached for the nearest railing to steady himself. He paused, listening for a response, something that the officer was still alive.

To his right he heard a soft noise, like a strangled gasp. He turned to his right, trying to peer through the smoky haze. He started waving his hands in desperation, trying to clear the haze faster. As it slowly dissipated a form began to emerge through the smoke.

Panther dropped to his knees then pulled the form towards him, and a low choking noise made him grimace. The officer was soaked in blood, his right arm mangled and torn. The officer's right leg was missing, and he was covered in so much blood Panther couldn't make out any details about his face.

For a moment, he was somewhere else. A battlefield, the earth beneath him stained with blood, the screams and cries of agony rising around him nearly drowned out by the sounds of gunfire and blades. He was staring down at another face, mouth open in a scream of agony. Panther sucked in a deep breath as the panic threatened to overwhelm him and he quickly forced his emotions back.

"I need an Evac team, immediately!" Panther barked into his unit as he reached for a spare gas mask. He managed to get it on the officer's face and then went for his med kit in his pouch. The adrenaline was rushing through his system, and it gave him a clear head, helped him focus. It kept his emotions at bay.

This wasn't his first time patching someone up and he certainly seen others in worse condition, but it still sent a surge of emotion through him as he quickly tied tourniquets to stop the bleeding.

He was heedless to everything, his expression focused and grim as he worked. He didn't notice the haze had almost disappeared. He didn't notice the other officer's warm blood coating his hands and uniform. He didn't hear the medical evac team scrambling up the scaffolding with their supplies or the low hum of the drones or the UAV that hovered overhead.

He couldn't lose another Officer.

"Its ok. We got him. Let go." The voice broke him from his spell as gentle, yet firm hands pulled him back and guided him away from the unconscious officer. Panther moved down the scaffolding and past the small group of people until he found fresh air then ripped off his gas mask.

"Hey man, let's get you to a medical team." Evan's voice came to him dimly over the sounds the swirled around them. Panther opened his mouth to protest but his partner was already pulling him away towards a medical transport. Someone was wrapping a blanket around his shoulders and then he leaned back against the transport as black spots danced in front of his vision.

"Sit down." It was an EMT, his voice firm but gentle. Around Panther the medical team had erected a makeshift contamination room. The white material jogged something in his brain because reality came crashing back.

"Easy. We're just doing some tests to make sure you're ok." The man said with a smile that was hidden behind his protective gear. Panther sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes. He hadn't had a panic attack in a while. Nor that specific flashback. It took him a moment to realize he was trembling where he sat.

He gained control over his breathing and cracked his eyes open, grounding himself as he watched the EMT work. His thoughts spun to Ryder. The smaller man had the most delicate, gorgeous facial features and a smile that warmed Panther to his toes. He'd aged extremely well in a society where you could live for millenniums. Ryder was 20,000 years old and didn't look a day past 20. Hell, he was around the same age as Emperor Sibeum by a few thousand years.

"You're all clear but we'd like to send you home for a week, ok?" The EMT's voice made him lose his train of thought and he blinked then glanced over at the man. He felt a small pang of sadness. For some reason he'd been expecting to hear Ryder's voice. Then the man's words sank in.

For a moment, he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. His family, The Peace Corps, needed him. He couldn't leave. There was a gang war erupting on his streets and his family would be out there without him. He sucked in another deep breath as he noticed the EMT's eyes go wide underneath the gear, and he took an unconscious step back. Panther glanced down at his curled fists and exhaled slowly, feeling a pang of guilt for scaring the guy.

He probably wouldn't be much help for anyone in his current mental state, he realized. HQ had probably already picked up the subtle signs he needed a break. Evan had probably told them about his panic attack. He sighed with disappointment this time realizing he was about to be talking to his shrink in less than 24 hours.