Open Ryloth Roadside Assistance

[Zad Ruzed]

“I can’t speak for Ember, but I think I’m-“ Corran groaned as he adjusted in his chair, “… I’m fine.”

"I am fine, I just need some time to rest."

Zad gave Ember a once over, satisfied that the Jedi had simply expended a bit of energy, and nodded slowly at Corran’s attempt to mask his injury. He could understand. Wounds were a nuisance at best, obstacles to slow you down and get in your way, and at worst they were pitfalls that pulled you in and dared you to fight your way out. Whatever had inflicted Corran when that gutkurr had hit him could have been either or, but he hadn’t collapsed just yet, so there was that.

“As for the ship, unless something worse happened to it, has been correctly diagnosed. You were mostly right about the ion flux stabilizer. It isn’t operating. When I was adjusting power distribution, though, I realized that it wasn’t working because the power converter connected to it had blown. A simple fix, really. Just… a tad ashamed I didn’t think of it sooner.”

The ship, meanwhile, sounded to be in better shape, at least as far as having figured out what the issue was. The gutkurrs had been shot down before they could slice up the paint job or dent the hull, so there was that. Zad had stated a few possibilities for the problem but, in the end, the only way to diagnose a ship was to diagnose a ship, and voilà!—problem solved. We hope. You can never think of everything.

Corran rose and stumbled, and Zad was suddenly no longer leaning against the doorway but stood ready to pace forward while hesitating to. Just then, something shiny amid a jacket and metallic interior of a starship caught the Ranger’s eye, for it was unmistakable that the badge he was looking at was the symbol of a Sector Ranger, before Corran’s tongue all but confirmed it.

“Velt…” He began, in shallow breaths, “Corran Velt is my full name. Sector Ranger.”

"I haven't met a Sector Ranger before." Ember said, as she stood up and walked over to Corran. "But then again, not that many people I've run into have met Jedi's before."

No kidding. Zad smiled at the turn of events as Ember stole his attention, moving to assist the other man and reminding them both that Jedi were among the more cryptic characters out there in the galaxy besides Sector Rangers and gutkurrs. A galaxy that saw it fit to bring one Jedi and two Rangers together to kill said gutkurrs. Because why not.

"What about you? Have any secrets you want to share?"

Zad blinked his thoughts away at the same moment as thinking about what to say. “Ruzed”, he said, feeling that last name introductions was a good start. “Zad Ruzed. I’ve got more secrets than I have to share but, believe it or not, I’m— Wait, what're you . . . "

"That is about what I can do for now, but it should help with the pain."

The Jedi had been doing much more than placing a comforting hand on Corran. The way she moved, concentrated, and stepped away from Corran with a statement that a doctor might make after injecting anesthesia. Only I didn't see any needle. From his angle and the other man's garments, Zad could only guess but he had a pretty a good one.

“I’ve seen a couple of your kind do some crazy things before,” he spoke to Ember without looking away from Corran’s torso. “But fixing bruises or broken bones is certainly up there beside swinging lightswords.” Finally, he searched for the Jedi’s gaze, wondering if her green eyes would look more like galaxies, and shrugged. “Jedi, I mean. I guess we’re all one of a kind in this crazy universe.”

With that, Zad returned his grin to Corran. “That’s twice you owe her, partner. That ion flux stabilizer came out of her mouth before it came out of mine.”

 

[Corran Velt]

Corran looked Ember up and down uneasily as she approached him. “A Jedi?” He asked quizzically in a low voice. She didn’t respond directly to that astonished question, merely asking Zad about any mysteries he may be withholding himself. The Force user placed her hand on the injured man’s chest, causing Corran to wince in anticipation of pressure being applied to his wound but no pain appeared.

Opening his eyes slowly, he glanced between Ember’s hand and his chest. A feeling of soothing warmth flowed into the contused stripe across his torso. The constant jolts of pain subsided and endurance returned. Almost as soon as the mystic process began, it trailed off, and Ember stepped back. Corran placed a careful hand on his previously injured abdomen. It felt sore still, but nothing beyond an ordinary bruise. Compared to the almost crippling pain and low breaths the Sector Ranger had to contend with previously, what the Jedi had done was nothing sort of miraculous.

Ember warned that was all she could do at the present, but whatever she had done was considered impossible to Corran just moments before. “How… did you?” He stuttered. The formerly impaired Ranger stood up from the wall of the ship, no longer hobbled the injury. He took a painless deep breath and stood at his full height. Corran stared at Ember with confused wonder. “A… Jedi.” He said with more certainty, as if confirming his reality.

Zad Ruzed – as the stoic gunslinger had confirmed was his full name – had similar amazement at the curing capabilities of the Force, though he seemed to pick up on it before Corran did. In a galaxy with trillions of sentient beings with countless being pirates, slavers, or worse, a Jedi, a real one had saved him. If Velt was a gambler, he wouldn’t have taken those odds. Zad, with perfect timing, reminded him that he actually owed Ember two times.

Corran chuckled with mild embarrassment to Zad’s comment, “I owe you both quite a lot. I would have been hard-pressed to get out of here alive if not for you two.” The Ranger took a few steps over to the engineering suite and picked up the datapad. After a few taps, he extended the device in the general direction of the two acquittances – no, friends. “To repay that debt, should you ever need my services, all you need to do is contact me with this information. I feel duty-bound to oblige. Beyond that, I’m sure I can extend my oath to favors.” A coy smirk appeared on his face.

“As for the ship, I believe I will forgo indebting myself any further and take care of it myself. I’ll just exchange a power converter from the weapon systems to the ion flux stabilizer. That’s enough to get me orbital and to a station where I can pick up a spare.”

 

[Zad Ruzed]

Corran certainly felt the effects of the Jedi’s handiwork, his voice suddenly as smooth as it had been when they had first met. Zad chewed on the words and tried to figure out what ones to respond with. He could shrug off the thanks, settle for humor, ensure that the debt would be repaid one way or the other, or finally reveal himself as he had intended to moments earlier before Ember had dazzled the two with her heals.

“Well,” he smiled at Corran, accepting the datapad’s information. “In my line of work, I’m duty-bound to oblige a distress call when I hear one. It’s part of the job, and the job is my law.” With that, he pulled back one side of his coat to reveal the same badge that Corran was wearing. “Sector Rangers don’t owe each other a thing, partner. If we did then we’d never be able to repay our debts. Just keep helping make this galaxy a safer place and we’ll call it even.”

Returning the datapad with a wink after transferring what was needed, Zad reached into his jacket, pulled out a cigarette and sparked it. Just as he inhaled the first drag, he caught himself, concern in his voice as he spoke with trapped breath.

“Uh, sorry, can I smoke in here?”


@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Corran's facial expressions went from curiosity, to confusion, to finally realized surprise. Zad Ruzed - Sector Ranger Zad Ruzed - had been a kindred spirit the whole time. It certainly did explain his skill with a blaster and willingness to help so freely. When Corran had flipped on the emergency beacon, he expected at least owing someone some money at best, a few stun blasts at worst. Instead, his luck held out and a fellow Ranger had come to his rescue. Corran nodded with understanding, "A safer galaxy. Consider me recommitted, sir."

The rust-blond Ranger took the returned datapad and looked over the contact information briefly before saving it. He hoped he wouldn't need to call in help like this again in the future, but it was comforting that he knew another Sector Ranger on a first name basis. Things could get rough out there and Zad seemed like the kind of person you would want in your corner.

Corran grew visibly alert when Zad pulled out a cigarette from his coat. The Coreworlder followed the smoke trailing ceiling-ward with his eyes. To his credit, Zad at least asked him after the fact it her had permission to light up on the ship. Corran hesitated for a moment, considering the best answer to a man that had just saved his life and his own principles. "I rather you didn't," Corran replied as politely as he could, "Getting rid of the smell and smoke inside a vacuum-proof ship would take awhile." He hoped the other Ranger wouldn't be too offended.

 

[Zad Ruzed]

When Corran gave a firm but friendly refusal of smoking aboard his vessel, Zad gave a blink or two and quickly acted accordingly. Smoke still held in his lungs, he looked left, looked right, and ashed his cigarette upon the handle of the pistol holstered at his hip for lack of a better choice. He held open one side of jacket, tucked the snuffed out cigarette into a pocket, and blew a cloud of smoke into the jacket's depths so that it might dissipate against the garment. Finally, his hands frantically swatted the air to ward off the haze.

“Sorry about that, friend.” The words came out with some measured shame. “You know, though,” he coughed, gradually winning the battle in the air. “You should consider investing in some air scrubbers. Great for moments like these and if you ever end up cooking kimchi in the galley.”

Well, he had done his best, but probably some certain sense of scent would linger at least for a little bit. “I guess I’m gonna owe you one too, huh…” He looked around as he spoke, watching thinly veiled curls of smoke drift along and away. Sniffing awkwardness up his nose, Zad held out his right hand and hoped that some Ranger love would cover over any trespasses, and whatnot and something-such.

“Well, it’s sure been an interesting day, Corran Velt.” Breaking hands, Zad straightened his jacket as though he were standing in salute, and in a way he was. “If you change your mind about wanting some more help to get you off the ground, don’t hesitate. I’ll be leaning against my ship with a cigarette 'tween my teeth, counting clouds before I take to ‘em.” With that, he would listen to his new friend’s farewell and nod his head before the two men parted ways—for now, anyway.


@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Corran was a bit surprised at the dedication Zad took to disperse the exhaled smoke. It wasn’t a battle he won, but the valiant effort was appreciated. The room smelled faintly of cigarette smoke, but nothing that would make the blond Ranger gag like usual. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll need to check the quality of the air scrubbers, if this old bird has any.” Corran mused, looking at the low ceiling of the Crimson Venture.

When offered, Corran shook the folksy gunslingers hand firmly. He respected Zad and not just because of their similar employment. The frontiersman had offered aid and expected nothing in return and was downright kind about it. If the Sector Rangers were supposed to be good, honest people, Zad certainly seemed an exemplar of that character. “No debts between friends and especially Rangers.” Corran smirked before releasing his grip.

The Coreworlder waved off the Outer Rimmer and watched him walk out of sight towards his own ship. Corran couldn’t help but think how bad things would have gone if Zad and Ember hadn’t shown up when they had. He likely would be bug food. Another nameless corpse left abandoned to the elements on the fringe of the galaxy. But fate had intervened, carried by good people that he considered friends. Corran recalled the descended ramp and turned to get to work on the engine.

A quick removal of a sheltering panel revealed the burnt out power converter; its once eggshell white coating now a grotesque brown. An hour later, cables ran along the floor connecting an adjacent power converter into the connections where the damaged one once was. Corran wiped his forehead and observed his handy work. “That’ll do it. I think we’ll be able to limp along to the next station.” He reassuringly pounded his fist against the wall of the Crimson Venture. Finally relaxing in the pilot seat in the cockpit, Corran held his breath as he activated the YT-1300 and the propulsion system. It laboriously floated into the air and slowly angled upwards toward the blue Rylothian sky. The ship then blasted in a sluggish take-off, gaining speed as it went. As the light freighter screeched towards the atmosphere, Corran looked out the window of the cockpit. Back towards where the dead gutkurrs lay, looking more like burnt grass from the rising altitude. He wondered if Zad Ruzed was watching him even now. “Safe travels, Gunslinger.”

[End Thread]