Once Again

Chapter Forty-Two - Remedy

Ugh, not another slow chapter ...

Remedy

Braken wasn't doing any better, even after the star's help. But the scary part, the part that worried Echo the most - it didn't look like anything was wrong with him. He looked almost perfectly normal. There was a gash on his forehead, but other than that, he looked perfectly healthy. He wouldn't stop coughing, and sometimes he'd spit out bits of blood. His breathing was rough and uneven, and he was constantly in a state of half-consciousness. Maybe, Echo thought, it would have been easier on him to just have let him die, instead of insisting the star saved him.

When they hit back in their home dimension, right in the middle of their camp, Tristam wandered away, deep in thought, leaving Alyssa and Echo to carry Braken to Fij's tent. It was still dark, so nobody was awake to help, or even show a bit of concern.

"Stay awake, Braken," Alyssa murmured as they set him down on the floor and woke Fij. "Tell me where it hurts."

"Ev-every - wh-where," Braken breathed, barely to keep his eyes open.

"What does it feel like?" Fij asked gently, immediately concerned.

"Like ... someone-ne t-took a sle-sledge-ge-ham-m-mer to my ribs." Braken closed his eyes and tried to take a deep breath, but just lurched and let out a weak and pitiful cry.

"How do you know what a sledgehammer feels like?" The healer glanced back nervously.

"I re-remember ... something ..."

"Whatever it is, it's not important," Echo said, getting frustrated. "He's dying. Do something!"

"Alyssa, get him a pill. There's nothing else I can do. It's up to fate." Fij sighed loudly. "I wish I could help him. I really do, but I don't know what's wrong. I think it's something in his lungs, but I have nothing to check it with. No equipment, no tools, nothing. I'm useless." His voice cracked and he gently took Braken's hand. "All I can do is alleviate his pain, just for a moment."

Braken sighed softly and actually seemed to relax, and Echo felt tears in his eyes. He hated feeling useless more than anything.

Feeling useless.

Rogue.

Echo quickly shoved the curtain open, expecting to find a horrible sight, or nothing at all, but instead, Rogue was still there. But ... he didn't look sleep. He looked unconscious. Echo shifted him a little gasped in disbelief.

Someone had ripped open the wounds in his back. Rogue had passed out from blood loss.

"Uh ... Fij ...?" Echo said softly, his mind going blank. Who had done this?

The healer pushed Echo out of the way and cursed under his breath. "Something is going on here, and I don't like it at all. Not if it's killing good Raiders." Braken let out a wail as Fij lost physical contact with him, all the pain returning. Fij looked back and sighed, getting frustrated. He clenched his fists and tensed up. "Alyssa, get some more bandages, cloth, anything you can find. I promised him he'd live, and I'm not about to break that promise. Echo, stay with Braken. I don't know what to do for him. I'm sorry."

Echo nodded numbly and sat down next to his friend, watching his chest rise and fall as he struggled to breathe. Fij and Alyssa closed the curtain again, after getting some sort of needle and thread, and Echo was almost glad for the privacy.

He didn't know how to feel. He didn't know what to do. He was terrified, and yet he had such deep feelings of guilt, he didn't know which one was dominating. He should've let Braken stay dead. At least then he wouldn't have to endure such horrible pain.