Upon Arriving on San Juan Marcus led Tyber to where James was being cared for.
Marcus had informed him that he'd been in a coma for an extended period of time, but it did nothing to prepare him for the sight of his friend on the table. In his mind Tyber'd imagined him sleeping peacefully in a bed. Far from restful, he looked to be at death's door. Machines did their work to maintain life; wires and tubes providing nurishment, meds, and monitoring his condition. Apparently a steady dose of Cardamine is a critical part of his treatment. God knows what that'll mean for him should he ever wake up.
A metal clank drew Tyber from his thoughts. An orderly smiled sheepishly as he bent to recover the chart he'd dropped. The patient rarely had visitors, and the sight of the grizzled junker in the room had startled him. Not that junkers were a rare sight here on San Juan, but this particular person had been the subject of a good bit of workplace gossip lately. He'd been gone a long time and was only now returning. Junkers aren't keen on talking openly to outsiders about their business so the medical staff had been mulling over various rumors and conspiracy theories amongst themselves about where he may have been and why. Some of the possibilities were more than a little disturbing.
"Doing okay there brother?" Tyber asked casually, as the orderly pressed a button to administer a dose of meds."Uh, sure sir... ah, brother". the orderly stuttered out. He silently chastised himself for entertaining the wild theories running through his head."I'm well... and you?" "I'd say I'm on the fair side of middlin, all things considered". Tyber smiled,"It's good to be home, that's for sure. More'n a might unhappy to find ol' JT in this condition though" He's not so bad, seems nice actually, the orderly thought to himself.
The orderly reached over and pushed a button to administer the daily dose of Cardamine. A moment too late he realized what he'd done. In his distraction he'd accidentally given twice the prescribed amount. "Damn!"he exclaimed under his breath.Tyber nodded goodbye to the oderly as the man hastily made his way out the door.
Realizing he had no reason to stay either, Tyber turned to leave himself. He paused, then reached over and grabbed JT's arm and gave a little shake... nothing. Sighing, he said out loud"Had to give it a try, right?"Silence. A slight pang of embarrassment pricked him as he realized he was essentially talking to himself. Trying to insert a bit of levity into the situation Tyber called from the door
"You really need to quit layin about like a bum and git back to work fella!"
As the words leave Tyber's mouth James Trenton's body jerks slightly. The sudden hot dose of cardamine surges thru his veins and with an almost violent reaction his head turns to Tyber with his eyes open wide. Even though he is weak, famished and his voice cracks slightly he says..
NO ONE tells me what to do!?!
His eyes close again and his head faces the ceiling as he lifts his hand to his forehead. He continues..
Still maybe your right..
Opening his eyes once more his vision still blurry he begins to see all of the wires and leads from machines attached to him.
Uhm.. what tha fu*k is all this?
What the fu*k happened??
How fu*king long have I been out!?!
Not able to focus clearly he sees the blurred image of Tyber still standing in the doorway he finishes by saying..
Before the man in the doorway can answer James yells out...
MARCUS!!!!!
Just outside in the hallway the large metal beast hears James's roar. At once standing at attention he barrels through the door pushing Tyber out of the way. In a flash the huge metal monster is at his side.
JT YOUR AWAKE SIR!!! What do you need?
He looks at Marcus when he says..
Get me the fu*k outta here..
Marcus's head swivels slightly pointing towards Tyber still standing at the door he starts to say something when James yells..
NOOOOW!!!!!
Yessir.. RIGHT AWAY SIR!!
Marcus removes the mechanical devices from James's body leaving the cardamine dispenser attached. Ripping and smashing anything that might prevent him from moving the weakened Junker boss. Machines smoke and sparks fly as the metal beast tears up everything in the room in his way. He then lifts up the former Arbiter in one hand while holding the cardamine machine in the other. Holding both the man and machine in his arms he turns towards the door. As the two exit the room they close in on the blurry silhouette that James spoke to a second before. Once James is close enough to the image of the man it becomes clear that it is Tyber. For a brief moment James wants to stop to speak with his oldest and dearest friend but he doesn't. His overwhelming need for cardamine has overcome any and all logical thought or previous wants and desires. He doesn't say a word and instead slips in and out of consciousness while being carried away. With much haste Marcus rushes James Trenton out of the medbay and returns to his ship the Helepolis still docked on San Juan.