Chapter 247 - Losing A Brother (1/2)

Dageer could feel his muscles being ripped apart as he held not only his own weight, but also Tech's, using just one hand. His legs hovered above the deep hole inside the destroyer, and, to make matters worse, he could feel his fingers slipping.

”Dageer, Tech!”

Three-four yelled concerned above them, having to fight the clanckers at the same time. He had only seen Tech fall off the bridge, and then Dageer jump, disappearing himself. The only proof that the two of them were still alive was Dageer's fingers on the side of the bridge.

”Three-four, hold them off! Tech, I can't lift us both! You gotta climb yourself!”

Tech nodded, and tried to curl in a ball, aiming to grab Dageer's hand. The movement, however, made them both swing, and Dageer groaned in pain as his fingers slipped even more. Tech almost fell once more, and now Dageer was holding him by his ankle.

”Come on, Tech! I can't hold on for much longer!”

”Just a second, sir!”

Once again, Tech tried to grab Dageer's hand. This time, the fact that they were swinging actually helped.

Using the extra impulse, Tech grabbed Dageer's wrist. His commander then let go of his leg, and Tech was upside down no more. He weaved a sigh of relief, although he was still in a very similar predicament to the one he was before.

”Tech! You know this isn't my good shoulder! Don't just hang in there!”

Dageer almost let go of the bridge. His entire body, and especially his arm, was burning. He didn't know for how long he could hold on. The fact that several lasers almost hit his hand didn't help.

Thankfully for him, Tech was fast to recover from his relief, and quickly climbed, using Dageer's body as a ladder.

Just when he put his head above the bridge, trying to get on it, he was forced to duck down again. Feeling Tech's weight on his shoulders once more, Dageer couldn't help but groan.

”Tech!”

”Sorry, sir. Hang on in there, I will help Three-four take care of the seppies and we will pull you up.”

”Just get off me, and I can get up myself!”

Tech chuckled, completely unfazed by Dageer's anger. He knew his commander for too long to believe he really was angry.

When he finally got up, he and Three-four quickly took care of the ten or so clanckers that remained. The medic had been hit in the chest, but - once again - thanks to the blast padding, he wasn't too hurt. According to himself, all he felt was a slight pain in the chest.

After killing the droids, both troopers turned around, and helped Dageer. When he finally was up in the bridge again, Dageer made sure the two clones were all right.

”How are you two?”

”I'm good.”

”I'm okay too, sir. Thanks to you.”

Dageer nodded, and kept walking, kicking the droid bodies off the bridge. It was weirdly satisfying.

He and the clones under his command had been through so much, and had saved the lives of each other hundreds of times. That was just another one.