Chapter Text
Tech woke up to the sounds of medical equipment buzzing.
Not an unusual sound, he found himself rather accustomed to the familiar sounds of heart monitors and the smell of a sterile room. His and Crosshair's room never smelt this clean, though.
Speaking of, shouldn't he be in his own room? Instead of a hospital? Why was he even–
The events were still blurred, out of reach and hard to recall. He forced his heavy eyes to open. The lights weren't as bright as he remembered them to be. This was somewhere new.
"Good morning."
He turned his head slowly. A man stood there, writing something on his clipboard. There was a curtain drawn behind him, with a heart monitor directly beside the bed. This was an open ward, this was new.
Where was he now?
The doctor didn't look unkind, stern maybe, but he was old. If needs be, Tech figured he could at least outrun him. The doctor glanced at him over the clipboard and smiled, catching him off guard.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, setting his things down to focus fully on Tech. He blinked heavily, trying to articulate himself as he took a mental stock of his physical condition.
He was sore, his head hurt. His arms and legs also felt weak, unused. Where were his glasses, too?
All he managed was a strangled whine. The doctor let out a chuckle, nodding in what seemed to be agreement.
"Yeah, I feel you there, Ace," He laughed. "After what you've been through, I'd call this the worst headache of your life."
Tech tilted his head, because what on earth was that meant to mean? The doctor just turned away, checking his clipboard again.
"You're probably wondering what happened," He said, giving Tech another glance. "It'll come back to you eventually, we want to make sure of that before the police see you again."
Again? The police had already been here?
He opened his mouth, trying to ask for his brothers. All he could get out was another whine, this one lower.
"I know, kid," The doctor at least seemed sympathetic. "You'll feel better, promise. Sleep it off."
The sedatives were pumping through him before he could even blink.
He woke again, alone. Or, he looked alone. He sat up, much more alert than last time. The room seemed brighter, the afternoon breeze flowing through an open window.
The curtain was drawn on one side, revealing another bed. He squinted, curiously taking it in. The lump on the sheets moved, startling him slightly.
"Hey," The other patient whispered, waving. "You awake long?"
Tech blinked, and shook his head. "Me either," The patient sat criss-crossed on the bed. "They woke me up for some meds earlier, but I wasn't tired anymore."
His throat burned, but he found himself speaking. "When was that?" He asked. The patient shrugged. "An hour ago." He responded, then brightened.
"My name's Tup," He told Tech with a smile. "It's nice to meet you, uh..?"
He startled. "Tech," He said shortly. He noticed two clear tubes running from Tup's nose into an IV tube. He wondered what they were for.
"That's a pretty cool name," Tup smiled. "Are you a Fett, too?"
Tech nodded slowly. "Cool, cool.." Tup leaned closer. "What're you here for?" He tapped his head. "Is it for the wicked scar they bandaged up?"
Tup waited patiently for an answer. Tech touched his head, feeling the thick bandage, and curiously tilted his head.
"I think so." He answered eventually.
"Cool, cool," Tup nodded enthusiastically. "My brother was telling me about a case he was on that had a guy with an injury just like yours, it was kinda crazy!"
"He did?" Tech tilted his head. "Who?"
"Who's my brother or who's the guy?" Tup asked. "Because I wasn't told the guy."
Slumping in disappointment, Tech still pressed for information. "Your brother?"
"Oh, his name is Fives!" Tup told him happily. "He kinda took me in after this whole messy situation with my family, I live with him now!"
Fives? Tech lit up. "I know Fives." He said quietly. "Do you know Echo?"
"Echo?" Tup repeated. "No, I've only heard about him." He reported sadly. "I'm not well enough."
Tech frowned. "It's this whole thing," Tup waved his worry off. "I'm sick- but I'm getting better! They said I was gonna get out of here soon, just as long as I stay recovering!" He smiled wide.
Nodding, Tech mumbled. "I'm glad to hear that."
"Thanks," Tup said softly, then, perking back up, he stood. "You want a jello pot?"
Tech blinked. "A jello pot?"
"Yeah!" Tup was already tugging his portable IV station towards Tech's bed. "Romar always lets me take extra, I'll share with you!"
"Romar?" Tech felt utterly lost as Tup, in all his boundless energy, began making his way towards the door.
There was a tilt in his step that Tech didn't like, worried for his newfound friend as he scurried out of bed to hobble after him.
"Romar's the long-term carer," Tup supplied, easily taking Tech's hand as he caught up, stabilising them both. "He watches over us to make sure we're recovering okay!"
Tech nodded along. "I see," He said simply. The two of them walked until the door, peering out.
There were two officers standing there, talking lowly to the doctor from earlier. That must be Romar, then. Tech could only recognise one of the officers, and so did Tup.
"That's Fives!" He whispered, pointing. "I wonder what they're talking about."
Tech wondered, too. They were peeking from around the doorframe, curiously taking in the two well armed officers. The other officer had longer hair, a scruffy beard, and a serious expression.
Fives was doing most of the talking, calmly explaining something. Tech strained to hear.
"He's not well enough for an interrogation," Romar told them both firmly. "He barely remembers the incident himself."
"With all due respect," Fives responded evenly. "We're not just visiting as officers. He's here as a friend, and I'm here as family. We just wanna know if he's okay, right now."
The scruffy looking officer suddenly looked directly at them. Panicked, Tup swung them both back around the doorway with a gasp.
They backed away from the door, sharing a look. "Maybe he didn't see us," Tup whispered. "Maybe we're fine?"
Tech shook his head, doubtful. Though, something about that officer made his head swim. He was familiar, he just wasn't sure how.
He had definitely seen him before.
His head exploded with a burst of agony. He clutched the bandages, hissing in pain. Thinking about that officer triggered something in his head.
"Tech?" Tup's voice was distorted. "Tech, are you okay–?"
No, no there was something decidedly wrong with him. His head felt like it was about to pop, images and flashes of memories that he was sure were his faded in and out of his rapidly blurring vision.
He knew that officer, how did he know him?
"Should I get a doctor?" Tup's voice seemed to suddenly crack through the fog, pulling him back. The pain dulled to a throb, and the images were gone.
"I'm–" Tech gasped. "No, I'm fine. Sorry, Tup."
Tup smiled in relief. "Let's get back to bed." He suggested. "That might make your head feel better, come on."
Tech let himself be led. He felt miserable, melting into the bed and sighing. Tup was right there with him, sitting up close enough to feel his presence.
It was oddly comforting.
"I'll keep watch," Tup assured. "Get some sleep."
Tech did just that, eyes slipping shut. It didn't take long for Tup to join him, the invitation of sleep was too sweet to resist, Tup curled up beside Tech, and the two were comfortable asleep.
Romar sighed from the door, letting the two officers look in quickly. "See?" He grouched.
Fives smiled at the sight of his younger brother and Tech curled up together. "Thats all we wanted," Fives said with a small smile.
"Not really." The scruffy officer spoke up, arms folded. "Has he shown any signs of recalling what happened?"
Romar shook his head. Fives pat the other officers arm. "I know, Mayday," He said quietly. "It'll come back to him, and we'll have that guy locked up."
Mayday huffed, shrugging him off. "The sooner he recovers," He snapped. "The sooner we can get him home to his brothers."
He thought of Crosshair, the young man he thought would quicker punch him in the mouth than help with this investigation. Crosshair, who ended up being one of the only reasons anyone in that lab had been found at all.
Keeping his younger brother from him was torture, to put it lightly.
"It's already been four months," Fives tried to joke. "What's a little more waiting?"
Mayday glared, then his gaze softened when he looked back into the room. To the two patients curled up on the one crappy hospital bed.
He shuddered, thinking about the very real possibility that this could not have happened.
He won't soon forget that night, storming the labs. His mind finds new ways of torturing him with the moment too often. Still, he himself is surprised by his brains ability to conjure up all these nightmares.
It was over, thats all that matters.
"So," Romar spoke up, clearing his throat. The two officers look to him. "What happened?" He asked.
The two share a look. "I'm in charge of his recovery," Romar reminded them. "I need to know, so I can best handle anything that comes up."
Mayday sighed, heavy, and Fives pat his back sympathetically. "Mayday was there," Fives told the doctor. "I was only on outside support. You'd have to ask him."
Romar turned to him expectantly. Mayday sighed again, but nodded. "Sit down." He ordered. "This is a long story."