That was always going to be a possibility. He and York had talked it out -- fatalistic, but realistic, they needed a plan if it happened. Ratchet was apparently capable in combat, but not like the two of them were, and Lakshmi, clearly capable as she is, would be in no condition to it. If it came down to it, they were going to hold their ground, fight, and buy time for Lakshmi to escape. If she needed someone to help her, Ratchet could. But it's still impossible to tell how much could go wrong, no matter how they plan, no matter how much they fret and worry, no matter how many damned times Wash goes over the patrols in his head, wandering the corridors, counting by the seconds as he watches guards pass in the halls.
Everything always goes to hell so fucking quickly. One guard walking the wrong way, and there's nothing they could've done about that. Luck. Luck of the draw. No amount of preparation would have helped. One unlucky moment and then their smooth, silent escape is turning into running and yelling, rushing people forward, move move fucking move we need to keep moving, the sound of guards shouting in the distance. They've made it outside, at least, and they're far enough ahead that if they keep pressing, they can make it to the tree line. Just like they planned. Make it to the trees, break line of sight, divide if they have to, group up again as soon as possible. One moment it looks like they might have a chance, the next it looks like everything is falling apart and they're going to have to fight, and then there's a scream, loud and harsh, York buckling to the snow.
Wash immediately whips around -- he's been leading the group, for the most part, and Ratchet was closer behind, already falling back with York, no, fuck, no, they need to get out, they need to all get out. He looks back to Lakshmi struggling along, Daryl close by her side, and it's clear from the way she leans on him that she needs the help. There's Daryl for her, though, there's Daryl, Daryl seemed capable enough and she clearly trusts him, he'd be able to get her out, and Wash is already starting to move back for York even as the sound of plasma and stunner fire starts ringing out.
Lakshmi's voice, calling for him, calling his name, ringing loud and clear somehow even though it's hoarse, she's still not well but she knows how to cry out over a battlefield. He hears the words, we have to move, we can't stay here, he hears them but he doesn't hear them. There's York, half-collapsed in the snow, Ratchet trying to help him up but they're both down, now, York firing back, and --
( Another recovery beacon. There's been too many, Wash isn't surprised, anymore, doesn't know how he's supposed to feel about it. He answers the call and heads right for the coordinates. There's something going on, here, someone going after them, picking up the pieces and putting it together, and whose fucking crumpled body does he have to walk up to but York's. Already cold, he hadn't gotten there too quickly, it'd taken some time, bullet wounds in the side, different from the others. He crouches down next to him, activates the protocol for Delta to report, and the feeling in his chest is empty, hollow, he can't even bring himself to really fucking mourn, anymore. Add another one to the list. )
It's York's voice that snaps him out of it, when Wash is already trying to head back for him, York not even daring to look back at them, keeping his eyes back on the guards closing in as he fires to keep them at bay. Get out. Get out, it's fine, get out, and he's right Wash knows he's right but he can't, he fucking can't, there's York in front of him asking him how long he has left, asking him if he ever got him back, for the others, for me, running back and telling him, Carolina, Carolina is there, Wash, she's there, she's fucking there, we need to go.
He turns to Lakshmi, to Daryl. ]
-- Come on. [ His voice raised loud enough for them to hear. ] We need get to the tree line, you have her, Daryl, you have her?
[ Wash forces himself not to look back. He can come back, he promises himself, he fucking lies to himself he knows it's a lie but it'll have to do for now. He can come back, just after he gets Lakshmi and Daryl out in the clear, after he makes sure they're safe, he can come straight back. ]
no subject
That was always going to be a possibility. He and York had talked it out -- fatalistic, but realistic, they needed a plan if it happened. Ratchet was apparently capable in combat, but not like the two of them were, and Lakshmi, clearly capable as she is, would be in no condition to it. If it came down to it, they were going to hold their ground, fight, and buy time for Lakshmi to escape. If she needed someone to help her, Ratchet could. But it's still impossible to tell how much could go wrong, no matter how they plan, no matter how much they fret and worry, no matter how many damned times Wash goes over the patrols in his head, wandering the corridors, counting by the seconds as he watches guards pass in the halls.
Everything always goes to hell so fucking quickly. One guard walking the wrong way, and there's nothing they could've done about that. Luck. Luck of the draw. No amount of preparation would have helped. One unlucky moment and then their smooth, silent escape is turning into running and yelling, rushing people forward, move move fucking move we need to keep moving, the sound of guards shouting in the distance. They've made it outside, at least, and they're far enough ahead that if they keep pressing, they can make it to the tree line. Just like they planned. Make it to the trees, break line of sight, divide if they have to, group up again as soon as possible. One moment it looks like they might have a chance, the next it looks like everything is falling apart and they're going to have to fight, and then there's a scream, loud and harsh, York buckling to the snow.
Wash immediately whips around -- he's been leading the group, for the most part, and Ratchet was closer behind, already falling back with York, no, fuck, no, they need to get out, they need to all get out. He looks back to Lakshmi struggling along, Daryl close by her side, and it's clear from the way she leans on him that she needs the help. There's Daryl for her, though, there's Daryl, Daryl seemed capable enough and she clearly trusts him, he'd be able to get her out, and Wash is already starting to move back for York even as the sound of plasma and stunner fire starts ringing out.
Lakshmi's voice, calling for him, calling his name, ringing loud and clear somehow even though it's hoarse, she's still not well but she knows how to cry out over a battlefield. He hears the words, we have to move, we can't stay here, he hears them but he doesn't hear them. There's York, half-collapsed in the snow, Ratchet trying to help him up but they're both down, now, York firing back, and --
( Another recovery beacon. There's been too many, Wash isn't surprised, anymore, doesn't know how he's supposed to feel about it. He answers the call and heads right for the coordinates. There's something going on, here, someone going after them, picking up the pieces and putting it together, and whose fucking crumpled body does he have to walk up to but York's. Already cold, he hadn't gotten there too quickly, it'd taken some time, bullet wounds in the side, different from the others. He crouches down next to him, activates the protocol for Delta to report, and the feeling in his chest is empty, hollow, he can't even bring himself to really fucking mourn, anymore. Add another one to the list. )
It's York's voice that snaps him out of it, when Wash is already trying to head back for him, York not even daring to look back at them, keeping his eyes back on the guards closing in as he fires to keep them at bay. Get out. Get out, it's fine, get out, and he's right Wash knows he's right but he can't, he fucking can't, there's York in front of him asking him how long he has left, asking him if he ever got him back, for the others, for me, running back and telling him, Carolina, Carolina is there, Wash, she's there, she's fucking there, we need to go.
He turns to Lakshmi, to Daryl. ]
-- Come on. [ His voice raised loud enough for them to hear. ] We need get to the tree line, you have her, Daryl, you have her?
[ Wash forces himself not to look back. He can come back, he promises himself, he fucking lies to himself he knows it's a lie but it'll have to do for now. He can come back, just after he gets Lakshmi and Daryl out in the clear, after he makes sure they're safe, he can come straight back. ]