Work Text:
"The gas was already filling the cabin. Wrecker got the first big whiff of the dirty blue vapor, coughed twice, then collapsed. It hit Tech and Phee next. They fell together."
- Star Wars: Sanctuary (A Bad Batch Novel) by Lamar Giles
*
Being rendered unconscious by gas was not a pleasant experience by any means, but compared to being hit on the back of the head with the butt of a blaster, or being thrown onto the ground head-first by another trooper, or all the myriad ways Tech had lost consciousness in his life, he really would just choose the gas if given the option. Of course, he was partial to staying conscious above all else, but Sohi and Ponder hadn't cared to check on his preferences.
Oh well.
Hunter's face was the first thing he saw when he came to. He was shaking Tech's shoulder quite roughly, all rushed frustration that had been his trademark since they left Pabu.
"I am awake," Tech said quickly between coughs, stating the obvious if only to make Hunter stop jostling him.
Hunter did. "You good?"
Unfortunately, the squad had been exposed to knockout gases in both training and battle more times than Tech could count. Healing always followed a familiar track: their breath would likely remain shallow for a handful of hours, their bodies sore from their falls for a rotation or two. A strange privilege, to be sure, to have such familiarity with a weapon that it lost its edge. For anyone else, the experience would likely be deeply unsettling.
Tech settled on: "I am fine."
Satisfied, Hunter turned his attention elsewhere. Tech sighed, rubbing at his temples as he cleared his throat, wheezed out a few deep breaths. At least Sohi and Ponder hadn't dumped them somewhere and stolen the ship in earnest. That meant he could address other priorities first.
Omega was out of sight, coughing roughly. Yes, he needed to check on her, ensure she was recovering, along with—
Tech sat up so quickly his vision swam.
Phee.
She was beside him on the floor, still unconscious, one arm folded across her stomach, the other at her side, face turned away from him. Tech could hardly remember falling himself, much less seeing Phee go down — the substance Sohi and Ponder threw out certainly had been potent.
When Tech reached her, he rested a hand on her shoulder. "Phee?"
He studied her for a response.
Nothing. Just her steady, slow breathing.
He tried again. Squeezed one shoulder, then both.
Not even a flutter of her eyelashes.
Everyone responded differently to incapacitating agents, he reminded himself, particularly those administered recklessly in small spaces with no consideration for body weight and ventilation. The strength of gas needed to render someone as large as Wrecker unconscious would almost certainly have a more lasting impact on someone of Phee's stature. Then again, Omega was up and about, albeit sluggishly…
A bubble of unease rose in Tech's chest and settled stiffly beneath his sternum. He rested his hands on either side of Phee's face and gently tapped his thumbs on her cheeks.
"Phee," he said more forcefully, the tension in his chest making its way to his voice. "Phee."
If she was having an unexpected response to the vapor, or hit her head when she fell, or any number of other unideal, dangerous possibilities which were running amok in Tech's brain, he would need to administer some kind of emergency aid, and quickly. A stim, perhaps, or an oxygen mask.
But before he could reach for either, Phee gasped raggedly and jerked onto her side, coughing sharply.
The relief was so profuse that Tech squeezed his eyes shut, steadying himself for a moment against it. Then, a bit unsure how else to help amidst her coughing, he began rubbing small circles between her shoulder blades, stopping only when her breathing settled. "Are you alright?"
Phee nodded and turned onto her back, eyes glossy. "I'm alright."
Tech held out his hands. She took them without a word and let him pull her to sitting. He let go, hesitantly, to reach for his datapad. "Please do not get up too quickly," he began, opening a blank note. "How is your head?"
"Spinning."
Tech documented that, along with the time. "And your breathing?"
"Better."
As he was preparing to ask another question, Phee gave him a small smile, and reached out to gently lower his datapad. "I'm fine, really."
Tech studied her, unconvinced.
"Really," she said, amused. "Not my first time. And won't be the last" — she coughed again into the crook of her elbow — "if I had to guess."
Given their respective lines of work, that was likely true for both of them. Be that as it may, Tech still felt it prudent to complete at least a preliminary assessment. He told her as such, utilizing the same tone he used when his siblings were trying to brush off some injury or other.
Clearly familiar enough with Tech to know he wouldn't budge unless she presented a suitable alternative, Phee offered: "How about we skip the exam for now, and I just let you know if anything changes."
Tech sighed. Their standoff could continue for a while; an entertaining possibility in any area but her health.
"At least allow me to check your pupils," he said, resigned, reaching for the small penlight in one of his pouches. The thing had gotten a fair bit of use on his siblings — anything involving them, however, typically required a healthy amount of wrangling. As a result, he'd become quite adept at assessing the pupils of moving targets.
Phee was turning out to be a much more amenable patient, giving him the go-ahead, then holding perfectly still as Tech completed a quick check. Satisfied, he tucked the light away. "If anything is amiss—"
"I'll let you know," she said, grinning, then tapped his chin with the knuckle of her first finger. "Thank you, Brown Eyes."
Despite her assurances, he would certainly be keeping a close eye on her and fully expected that she would be doing the same to him, even if she made no mention of it. Tech could live with that.
"Of course," he said, fiddling with his goggles, desperately hoping his cheeks did not look as warm as they felt.
Around them, Wrecker was beginning to rally, Omega thumping him roughly on the back. Hunter looked close to exploding.
Phee got to her feet with a groan. Tech let out a long breath, attempting to shake off the remnants of adrenaline, then stood to assess what damage, if any, Sohi and Ponder had caused to the ship.