Ask Nar Shaddaa Another World

[Dr Ilana Morata]

-Theme-​

It had been a long night. But nights on the Smuggler Moon lasted much longer than other planets, and she was used to these odd hours. She was curled up on an unfamiliar bed, under familiar skies, but she was warm. It was almost... comfortable. She kept her eyes closed and her breathing shallow, to suspend all feeling, all thought. It was so easy to deceive herself into a feeling of security, but something about this night was different.

Perhaps it was because someone else was there as well.

She could feel the arm; a weight. For two seconds, it was like he was alive again. It was like reality stopped, and old times started. But the breathing, the warmth, the closeness, it was all wrong. No cigara smoke, just clean sheets, and when she slipped back into sleep, a single tear escaped onto the pillow. Now she remembered, and it was... right, somehow. She pressed back closer, and fell back into sleep, not once opening her eyes to see if he was awake or not.

---

He was panting, boots thudding hard on the pavement. The chemicals were harsh in lungs as he sprinted down one alleyway and then another. Sirens blared behind him as more footsteps echoed after him. He had to get to the boss, warn them ahead of time.

"HALT OR WE'LL SHOOT!"

He didn't look back, but kept running on, and he was at the door, it began to open when he suddenly felt a searing pain in his back--

They were almost all dead. But one remained, hiding, and the doorman. He pressed his hand against the boss' stomach wound, sweat beading down his back. "Call her," he hissed, and the humanoid clenched his jaw. Shaky hands beeped out on the commlink, and it began to buzz.

She snapped eyes open. She could hear the ringtone, and couldn't remember where it was. Her slacks, her shirt... no... reluctantly she peeled away from the warmth, jaw gritting as she began pawing in the dark, face set in a scowl of irritated sleeplessness. At last it was located, and she pressed to answer. "Yes?"

A low voice crackled on the comm. "Help Doc. We need ya, we been attacked--"

"Location, number of wounded, and how many dead," she spoke crisply, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Goosebumps prickled along her arms at the chilly air, but she ignored it. There was a location rattled, and she sighed, turning off the call to glance back.

"Duty calls," she sighed, running a hand through long white hair. Amber eyes glanced back, lips pursed. "You're welcome to sleep in, or join. I could use extra hands." She waited a few moments for a reply before she would start trying to find her clothes, getting dressed in unhurried care. Time was of the essence but there was also practicality. Running in half-dressed was hardly professional after all... and Corran was there. No need to show herself a professional wreck, this was simply time for good business.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

It had been a void. An uninterrupted slumber. No dreams, no nightmares, not even waking up in the night to roll over. That type of sleep only young men, full of energy, seem to have when they sprawl across the mattress. Even the frosty touch of the woman beside him didn't rouse him. In fact, it might have made his deep sleep that much better. The young man's body ran hot anyway; he even often slept shirtless. This restful hibernation was interrupted by a repeating, technical sound and the shuffling of another. It wasn't his punctual alarm. Corran forced one eye barely open to make sense of his return to consciousness.

A lithe, wintery frame was sitting on the edge of the bed. She was talking to someone but Corran's mental functions had not quite rejoined the living. The first thought to appear was but a single name: Ilana. The young man propped himself up on one elbow and blinked sleepily with one eye. She was still here. There, at the edge of the mattress. Some part of his logic claimed the Ranger was still dreaming. His other drowsy eye opened to the world to confirm the truth. The Arkanian doctor had not fled before the delayed sun-rise on this darkened moon. A touched warmth rose in his chest. Corran pushed off his elbow and allowed a soft groan. He was a tad groggy from the unexpected wake-up call.

That is, until he heard the phrase "Duty calls." His eyes opened to full alertness. The words noticeably acted like an alarm to battle stations for the Ranger's senses. If there was anything Corran valued, it was the responsibility one took to their duty. Dr. Morata requesting an extra pair of hands was all the young man needed to hear. The bed sheets were thrown off and Corran was already buckling up his utilitarian pants and sliding his boots on. It would remind someone of a cadet roused from their bunk - a certain attention to detail was there. The pants were not sloppily buckled and smoothly tucked into boots. "What's the situation?" Corran inquired in an even tone, "Do I need to fly you to the location or hail a speeder?" That was somewhat a question on the urgency. It would appear surprising how quickly the Ranger had gone from drowsy to vigilant, especially without the help of caf. There was a second-nature feel to it all. It depended on the observer if the behavior intrigued or annoyed.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

A far cry from the last time she invited anyone along to work with her; she had barely asked and already he was up and ready to go. She blinked once... then a slight smile touched her lips. Perhaps there were some perks with working with Rangers after all...

"Mob hit," she answered simply, pausing with slacks in hand. Sometime before, her droid came to drop off her medical bag and a spare change of clothes for this very reason; she was grateful for the foresight. She was also already dressed, donning on black slacks, a black blouse, and the familiar white armored coat he saw her in on Corellia. Cleaned and neatly pressed, she gave it a small tug for fit and then caught his question, nodding once.

"Speeder, please. Their location wasn't too far." Her tone was professional as well, not mincing any words. But then she paused midway to snagging her bag, glancing towards the rigged room for their other passengers. "You think they'll be fine?" she queried, jerking her chin in their direction.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Mob hit? Almost any other world in the galaxy that would have been self-explanatory. On Nar Shadaa, it was just vague enough to be accurate but when most everyone is a criminal – who was the truly wronged party? As Corran rifled through his folded tee-shirts, his head gave a quick shake. Sector Ranger jurisdiction here extended to the room in which a Ranger stood. Besides, just because someone was a criminal didn’t mean they should die. Justice wasn’t revenge.

“Speeder. I’ll take care of it,” Corran confirmed as he tucked in his shirt and straightened out the creases. While he was securing up his blast vest and strapped his blaster holster on, the young man allowed brief glances at the woman in his quarters. Out of all the ways he’d seen Ilana so far, the pressed and professional look appealed to him the most. Though the black and white gave her something of a ghostly appearance. Like she wasn’t quite among the realm of the living.

The doctor nodded towards the brig down the hallway in mild concern for the prisoners they took captive recently. Corran hadn’t forgotten about them. There were rules of civility and care towards prisoners and the Ranger adhered to them all. “I don’t know what was in that dart, but a stun keeps people out cold for a while. I’ll leave them some ration packs for when they wake up, if they aren’t already,” the young man said, “They’ll be bored, but that’s it.”

Donning his signature jacket, the Ranger left the room in large steps. Using a secured bolted slot, he tossed in the ration packs that contained food and water for captives before bolting it closed again. Ilana would see him walk past the open door of his room on the commlink, summoning an automated speeder to their location. When it was business, the young man clearly got to work. He had ordered them something a bit more discrete than a limousine this time. While awaiting for their ride, Corran would scarf down a protein ration bar and some water. When she came to the common era, he would offer her some similar options, "Can I get you anything? It's a shame I couldn't make you breakfast. That's the meal I'm best at cooking." Unfortunately, cooking wasn't something he often had time for. Plus he was a young bachelor with all that entailed.

Corran's commlink chirped after a brief amount of time, "Speeder's arrived. Would you like me to drive or would you do the honors?" For the first time this morning, the young man playfully smirked. Maybe he wasn't all business around her.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She gave a one-shouldered shrug in answer about the dart, glancing back to Corran. "Non-allergic reaction, he's down for another hour or so." She was impressed he was already up and ready to go; not many that she knew of, outside of soldiers, could be drilled to alertness so quickly and prepared to bolt ahead. He even got them a speeder.

She made sure the blankets and pillows were straightened up before she left the room. Perhaps it didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things... but she was never comfortable leaving any sort of mess behind. Striding out with a tall poise, amber eyes found him already waiting in the small mess area, and at the offer of food and water she wordlessly nodded, taking up the offering and not even bothering to sit to eat.

At the mention of breakfast, however, she blinked in surprise. "Perhaps after, but... I would like that," she answered quietly, intrigued. She rarely cooked unless she was starved, and though she could, she often barely had time to scarf something down before collapsing into bed.

At the mention of driving, a spark of something glinted in her eyes. A wry humor quirked in them, and she tilted her head. "Tell you what, you drive, I'd love to see what you think of Nar Shaddaa streets." It would no doubt be an interesting thing to witness; Coruscant driving itself was a difficult prospect even in the best of days, but on a lawless moon like Nar Shaddaa, it was borderline suicidal. Tucking away the wrapper of the bar into the disposal unit and snagging the bottle of water, she tilted her head towards the exit ramp, before ducking to step down.

Even in the early hours, the moon was bright with neons, signs and traffic pulsing to life. The speeder was a typical pedestrian, and for once she was grateful it was nothing that cried out to be looked at. The boss who called her, and if she recalled correctly, the area he lived in, was notorious for gunning down big money of any kind. Laying low was their best option, and having a Ranger by her side helped. Not just for the muscle, either; these jobs were tough, gritty, and unpredictable, and sometimes wound up by getting shot at by the opposing side. She glanced his way.

"Make sure to pack heat. I don't know what we'll find."

And with those heartwarming words, she slipped into the passenger's side calmly, bag resting between her knees. She wouldn't tell him, and perhaps deny if he asked... but she was thoroughly impressed with how quickly he tied everything together. Not for the first time was she grateful to have the company, and perhaps just this one time, she could treat a patient without being gunned at. A girl could hope.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

It sounded like a challenge. Corran was beginning to think that Ilana liked to push buttons. At least his buttons. If that was a sign of the Arkanian beauty’s favor, then the young man could endure that and more. He’d driven on packed airways on Coruscant and even intentionally caused a collision to capture a suspect. Nar Shaddaa couldn’t be more difficult than that, right? The Ranger likewise tossed his wrapper and empty water container into the trash and followed Ilana down the exit ramp. He pressed a few buttons on the external console, causing the ship’s ramp to raise back up and lock down. One could never be too careful on the Smuggler’s moon.

From the large launch pad, the vast city-scape was already awake or rather that it never slept. A non-descript speeder hovered in the similar spot where the hover-limo had been the night before. The Ranger had learned long ago that if you could avoid announcing your presence, you could save yourself a lot of problems. At least, at first. As the neared the vehicle, the doctor glanced over her shoulder to come armed.

The young man replied with a curt nod, “I never leave home without it.” A hand patted the holster secured on his hip. He also had a vibro-blade tucked in a sheath on his waist, just below the small of his back. If things got truly desperate, it would be the last solution before fists. Hopefully, any weapon wouldn’t be needed. A medical house-call ending in a shoot-out would be a truly disastrously turn of events. Not to mention it could significantly slow Corran’s return to New Republic space. Besides, if things went well, he would get an opportunity to cook her breakfast after. That was plenty incentive enough.

As Ilana entered on her side, the Ranger walked around the front of the car and opened the driver’s side door. An astromech head spun around and beeped in greeting. “Hello. Why don’t you take a break? I’ll let you know if we need you,” the young man replied in kind. A few beeps and then the astromech dome shifted downwards into its console between the two passenger seats. It was all manual from here on out.

With the door sealed, Corran adjusted the seat and strapped the seat-belt across his chest and waist. “I have to warn you, I usually drive pretty conservatively. Unless I don't have a choice,” the Ranger confided to his passenger, “Oh, and seat-belts. Please.” He wasn’t sure if the Smuggler’s Moon had traffic cops or even rules of the road. Didn’t matter in his mind; basic safety regulations applied when he was driving. With a shudder of the repulsor-lifts, the speeder rose from the launch pad and soared through the urban skyline. It seemed smooth at first - no different from any other driving on a heavily developed planet. That is until Corran tried to merge into traffic in the skyways. Almost immediately, a speeder-bike from the on-coming lane served directly into a collision course. There wasn't even enough time to alert Ilana. The young man instinctively reached his right arm over her chest acting as an organic brace as his left hand pushed the vehicle into a nearly on-its-side elevation. The speeder-bike darted under the driver's side of their flying craft, almost without care. With the potentially lethal wreck avoided, a pull on the steering mechanism righted the speeder to its stable position and they steadied into the flow of traffic.

"Oh, um, sorry about that," Corran apologized bashfully and immediately withdrew his arm from Ilana's personal space. Mentally, the Ranger kicked himself. Doctor Morata didn't need protecting. Everything up to this point indicated she was more than capable of handling herself. The young man was a little worried she'd take offense. Instead, a quick switch to the topic at hand could ease him out of trouble. Corran cleared his throat, eyes forward to the windshield, "So, what's our destination?"

@Killa

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

For some reason, it surprised her somewhat he drove conservatively. She opened her mouth as though to say something, but then seemed to decide otherwise, merely nodding. "Of course," she replied simply, making a show of buckling it across her lap, adjusting it over her bust, and even pulling her hair out of the way. Amber eyes flicked in his direction, and lips seemed to threaten a faint smile. And for the first few moments, it was going smoothly.

At the sudden banking, she was already beginning to brace herself when his arm shot across her chest. She grunted in surprise, twisting to look at him with both brows raised. They raised slightly at his apology, head cocked in absent curiosity. "Sorry... for protecting me?" she rasped quietly, and though there was no expression except for utmost calm, if he was observant enough, and if she were any emotive person, she would have been smiling in mild amusement. As it was, she merely glanced at him.

"Nothing to be sorry about," she replied calmly, adjusting the belt with a detached coolness. At the address, however, she nodded ahead, double-checking the location. "Mid-level, Duros sector. Rough place; you'll want to keep on this mainline until the seventh exit; I'll guide from there."

The ride from then on would be practically eventless, apart from the occasional suicidal driver and angry cutting speeder. The further in they went, the grittier the neighborhoods became, until finally they stopped by a narrow alleyway. The further in they went, the more the mask slipped into place, and by the time they arrived the Doctor persona once again took hold. Her eyes were calm, cold, and her posture, though seemingly relaxed, was not without a wary edge.

"Stop here."

The alley was dark, grimy, and stank horribly of old rust and trash... and something else. Burnt flesh and the ozone of blaster fire.

She rose from the passenger side as soon as he would go into park, not sprinting or running, but walking with measured haste, ducking around the corner. One hand on her hip, resting just over the blaster. A body of a young man laid not far beyond, in the open doorway of a duracrete building.

She could sense nothing else. Pacing over, she knelt to assess. Pulling out her comm to begin recording, her voice was clinical, almost dispassionate.

"Duros male, late adolescent. Shot to the spine and head, instant death," she spoke calmly, lightly turning him over to look over his front. White brows dented as she gazed through the gloom of the rest of the room.

Dim light flickered just beyond, illuminating the room. Tables were overturned, at least ten more bodies strewn in much the same manner. But as she began to step further in, a low cough interrupted. Instantly her hand lashed out her stun, and she crouched low, glancing over to Corran.

Her head tilted left slightly, indicating he take the other side of the bar while she swept to the right. Just as she began to move, however, a rattling voice split the silence.

"Doc? That you?" She sighed, holstering her blaster and hurrying over. "Talos, good to see you're still alive," she nodded once, and the man gave a wry, grimacing grin. "Tryin'," he replied gruffly. His hand was pressed over something covering his stomach, his face pale even beneath the sweat and grit. "Let me take a look at that," she spoke calmly, stepping over, then glancing over her shoulder.

"Mind checking for vitals or any other survivors?" she rasped at Corran, her features calm. "This may take a little while." Just how long she really had no idea, but the more survivors the better.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

At the first meeting, he wouldn’t have noticed it. Even now, the expression had been in her golden eyes and only for the fraction of a second. Was that a gleam of amusement? The blond youth had expected cold indifference as a signal of Dr. Morata’s displeasure. Instead her face was placid, even with the recently-passed excitement. As favor goes, Corran felt that was reassuring enough.

There wasn’t much time to dwell on the briefest exchange, as the doctor provided methodical directions and the Ranger followed her orders with mechanical precision. They were a good team, in that regard. Once they were off the well-travelled airways, after surviving the occasional enraged driver and whiplash stunt bikers, the path began to display the true side of Nar Shaddaa. The high-rises provided a lot of luxury, but further and further down in the Duros sector buildings and infrastructure were bleaker and grimy. Ilana herself seemed to withdraw with the sunlight itself as the speeder descended. Her face and eyes adopted a distant, almost robotic demeanor. Corran dented his eyebrows, realizing things were more serious than anticipated.

With the command to stop, the speeder came to a controlled, immediate halt. The alley seemed like countless other alleyways across urban worlds – no discernible characteristics or unique traits. The doctor was already out of the vehicle without a word. The Ranger opened his door to follow her but was immediately struck frozen by the smell. Carbonized materials. Burnt flesh. The hovering specter of a firefight. While Dr. Morata didn’t draw her weapon, Corran did not hesitate. As soon as the speeder was locked, he drew his Power 5 from the holster with a firm two-handed grip; the barrel pointed toward in a controlled fashion.

By the time the young man caught up to her, the Arkanian was already kneeling over a cadaver. In her recording, she practically narrated the Ranger’s thoughts. The fatal wounds to the head and spine indicated either incredible aim by the shooter or a whole lot of blasters were firing a torrent of red lasers. A faint light, as if illuminated by death itself, revealed the room the deceased Duro was running into it when he had fallen. Furniture had been tossed about, overturned, shot to bits. The corpses were in the same condition. Corran had seen this type of carnage only once before – Outpost Blue. Memories immediately flooded his mind. Ranger bodies strewn about. Twenty ID tags clanking together in his hand. First Wave Massacre.

A labored cough. Training and instincts alike made the Ranger raise his weapon swiftly but silently. He noticed Dr. Morata’s voiceless gesture to cover her flank. One careful footfall after the other, Corran was about to cross the threshold of the bar when the voice called out. The doctor seemed to know the individual, this Talos, as she soon rushed to his side. The young man was surprised they found anyone alive in this mess, though his face didn’t show it. That was sloppy of the hostiles. If they even survived.

Talos, for his part, looked in pretty grim shape. The pair had not arrived a moment too soon. It was noticeable that even among this chilling scene, the doctor seemed entirely unphased. Either she was that iron-willed in her medical work or foretold darker chapters in her life. At Ilana’s command, Corran nodded, “Affirmative.” His reply was disciplined and controlled.

The Ranger took great care to not disturb the scene. Each step was calculated and his eyes panned the room for possible hostiles or hazards. He stopped near a dead human, eyes staring lifelessly skyward, laying on top of a table. Two fingers checked his pulse. Deceased. Next a Weequay, leaned back against a toppled chair. Dead. One by one, the young man checked one lifeless body after another. With all the blaster holes, it was unlikely any had survived.

A soft shuffle in the corner. Corran raised his blaster in the direction of the movement. He froze, eyes staring through iron sights. Nothing happened. Blaster at the ready, the Ranger gingerly moved towards an overturned table and toppled alcohol cases. A Rodian laid there, his chest barely rising and falling. No visible injuries at present. They looked like they had attempted to barricade themselves in the debris and passed out from fright or dehydration. Corran glanced over his shoulder around the moribund room. There were no other signs of life.

Backtracking a few steps, the Ranger kept his eyes peeled at their surroundings. He spoke once he got within earshot of the doctor, speaking in a low and deliberate voice, “One contact in the corner of the room. Rodian. No visible injuries. No other survivors.”

Whatever had happened here, it was ruthless.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

As Corran reported the other living body, Ilana was already gingerly moving aside the bar rag/makeshift bandage away from Talos' stomach. The male Pantoran made a grimace, jaw gritting, and at last she could see the problem.

Dark, viscous blood already pooled beneath him; the hole had been shot at close range, burning straight through. "Is Keela with her mother?" she asked him calmly, pretending as though this were normal, and Talos looked at her, golden eyes calm. He already knew. His head shook ever so slightly, and she could feel her jaw tense. "Upstairs?" she managed to utter out, and he moved as though to shrug, but groaned instead. "My week, if ya can imagine," he managed, giving a wry smile. "Wanted nothin' to do with me, Doc, stayed up in her--" she shook her head, and he faltered, still gripping the rag. She could see how soaked it was.

The shot had been done maliciously. Whoever did it wanted him to die a slow, steady, unfixable death of agonizing pain, and even from here she knew there was nothing she could do. And by his face, Talos knew it too. At the sound of another living, his eyes swiveled up to the Ranger, frowning. "Rodian? Doorkeep. Good."

He shifted again, then made a snarled gasp of pain, slumping down further. "Can't feel nothin'," he growled, focusing on Ilana once more. "Take 'em both to Aida; patch 'em up on my dime, Doc." He handed her a chip, one of which amount made her scowl. "That's too much," she replied shortly, and he shook his head. "Use it. Get them and go before they come back."

"...Do you want something for the pain?" she rasped quietly, and he nodded once. She reached in her bag and drew a hypo, dialing for a dose of painkiller. She couldn't look at Corran while she did it; part of it was she was in her role, but part of her was afraid he thought she gave in too easily.

The shot went in, and he scowled once, then his features relaxed. Even though it was a useless gesture, she wrapped up his torso tightly, his blood on her gloves. By the time she was done, his breathing was thin, reedy, his blue face almost white. "Go," he managed, and she nodded once.

She glanced up at Corran then, and for the briefest moment he would see clearly through, how much it killed her to be powerless and do nothing, the agonizing idea of not fighting. She took great pride on her skill as a physician, and hopeless cases were the ones that nettled the most.

So instead she stepped past him to the Rodian. He must have been the one that dialed in. She shucked off her soiled gloves, putting them in the small 'biohazard' marked bin in her bag, then checked him. Vitals were strong, but a bump on his head suggested he fainted; she slipped an ice pack beneath his neck and slid a chunk of wood under his feet, then glanced up at Corran.

"There's a child upstairs; small. Could you get her, please? I have to stabilize him first."

Without waiting for an answer, she bent to work on the other survivor, her pale face a smooth mask of concentration. They were on borrowed time, she just hoped she could get them out of here before whomever tried to slaughter them all would decide to double-check on their handiwork.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

While Doctor Morata worked, Corran had his back to them. In such an unknown and dangerous environment, the Ranger was constantly scanning their surroundings in case of a sudden attack. His eyes panned the room like an automated turret. There was an obvious rigidness in his shoulders, like a bouncer at a nightclub. Even as he faced away, the young man overheard the conversation between Ilana and Talos. There was someone else here besides the unconscious Rodian. Someone very dear to the wounded mobster. A woman? No. A child. A daughter. Corran slowly closed his eyes and exhaled softly through his nose at the realization.

When men went to war, the innocent always suffered.

The gangster and Dr. Morata spoke some more. About credits. About easing his pain. Corran didn’t even need to see his wounds. Talos was dying. Either she was close with this man or… Ilana was sensitive to the passing of life. She was soft on her patient. The Ranger respected her for that. Even if Talos was a mobster, he deserved time in jail – not cruel death. Easing his passing was a kindness; assuring his last wishes were fulfilled was a duty.

Corran felt the amber eyes of his companion looking at him. He turned his head to look over his shoulder. Only for an instant did he see Ilana’s powerful feelings. Powerlessness. Agony. With all her talents and intellect, there was no power over death among mortals. She couldn’t stave off the inevitable. Then it was gone. No longer visible to the outside observer. Corran faced forward again. You did your best, he reassured her in his thoughts.

The doctor left Talos to pass in peace and moved onto the unconscious Rodian in the corner. Corran followed a little bit behind, staying in his role as look-out and bodyguard, though he avoided crowding her as she worked. A new order came. Find the child.

“Yes, ma’am.” The affirmation came across like a cadet following the command of their superior officer. The young man loathed to leave Ilana for an instant in this place, but she was capable. This young girl, Keela, needed help.

Unlike the parlor below, the stairway and second level were untouched. Nevertheless, the Ranger proceeded with textbook care in his search. One foot after the other, blaster ready to be drawn if some assailant appeared. An open door on the left. Corran peered inside. An empty restroom. A closed door sat on the right at the end of the hall. The floor creaked as the young man advanced. She would know he was coming. The Ranger holstered his blaster steadily as he approached the door. It slowly opened, as if the room itself was gripped by fear.

Compared to the rest of the duracrete building, the bedroom was lavish. Nice furnishings. A vanity. Toy boxes and a dress closet. If nothing else, Talos provided for his child. The young man raised his hands up, palms forward, in a sign of professed innocence. He couldn’t tell if someone could see him, but children could often sense intent. “Keela? My name is Corran. Your father sent me to help,” the blond youth muttered to the dark room. A perfect silence. Perhaps another name would help. “Ilana. Do you know Dr. Ilana Morata? She’s here.”

A faint gasp, quickly silenced. The Ranger slowly turned around and saw two yellow eyes staring back at him in the darkness. A Pantoran girl, maybe seven or eight years old, stood hidden beside a dresser; a blunt object in her hand. It seems her father had taught her well. Corran didn’t move towards her and kept his hands up, “Keela, my name is Corran. I’m here to help you. Ilana is downstairs. We are going to take you to Aida.” He had no idea who that was, but it was the truth.

The Pantoran girl shuffled a half step forward but stopped herself. Her yellow eyes were a perfect mix of fear and hope. They pleaded for rescue to finally be here, but was terrified of it being too good to be true. In response, Corran got to one knee to be at equal height and stared back emotively with his sky blue eyes and began to extend his arms outward in offering of an embrace. “I’m not going to hurt you. It’s alright,” he reassured her in a whisper. Hope conquered fear. Keela dropped the blunt object and surged forward and threw her arms around the stranger. Heavy, muffled sobs sank into his jacket. The blond youth hugged her in return, gently rubbing her back, “Shhh. Shhh. It’ll be alright. No one will hurt you. It’ll be alright.”

Keela cried until her eyes could no longer produce tears. In his arms, the young girl felt too weak to stand. Constant fear had exhausted her. The Ranger picked her up in the crook of his arm and used his other hand to support her back. The child had her arms around Corran's neck like a vice and her face pressed tightly into his shoulder. If she saw nothing, the world would stop being painful. All the way back to the ground floor, the blond youth offered narration to every action he took in a gentle whisper and careful reassurance. When the two reached the parlor, Corran made sure he gave a wide berth to where Keela's father laid for now, lest he shatter the girl with the sight of her dead parent.

"Hey Keela," Corran pleasantly coo'd as he brought the Pantoran girl to Dr. Morata near her rugged workspace by the downed Rodian, "Do you want to see Ilana? She's right here. She's right here." He gently patted her back to coax her into looking up from his tear-soaked shoulder.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

The Rodian was gaining consciousness by the time Corran was making his way back to the main area, but it was slow going. By the time Keela and Corran were back, he was beginning to open his eyes, and when he came close she stood, seeming conflicted. She could see the girl's shoulders still trembling, though it seemed she was out of tears. "Hey kid," she spoke softly, hand reaching out tentatively, then lightly patting her on the back. "Come here, come to Doc Ila."

What she didn't expect was her flinging from Corran's arms and wrapping her arms around her neck. She grunted, staggering under the sudden weight, and the little girl sobbed harder, her grip almost a vice around the doctor's neck. She swallowed hard, giving a panicked glance to Corran over Keela's shoulder. Then, something strange began to happen.

Immediately, the icy exterior dissolved. She hugged her close to her, murmuring soft words into the girl's ear, her voice gentle. "It's okay, kid, we've gotcha. Liito's here too, and we're gonna bring you both back to Aida, okay? Shh, it's okay, kiddo, it's okay..." she continued to murmur, amber eyes flicking back up to meet blue eyes.

Worry, anxiety, and a fierce need to protect all warred in her features, so much so they were almost overwhelming, and almost despite her best intents empathetic tears threatened to well to the surface. She forced them down with a deep breath, and squared her shoulders.

"C'mon, kiddo, and hold on tightly. We gotta pick up Lii and get out--"

As soon as she was about to say, get out of here, two red bolts shot from the open doorway. She immediately ducked down, arms wrapped tightly around the child, face a cold mask of fury.

Time was up, the hitmen came back.

"Perhaps they aren't so dead after all," a voice called out, seeming to someone else also aimed to shoot. "Perhaps we ought to check that Talos is as good as dead, we have the place surrounded."

Liito was slowly rousing, but he would be useless in a firefight, and Ilana couldn't access her blaster. She glanced up at Corran, her features calm, almost hard in the dim light.

I'm so sorry I dragged you into this. You deserve better.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Almost as soon as Ilana affectionately touched the little blue girl's back, Keela practically leaped off Corran's chest and clung to the doctor. The blond youth almost stumbled backwards from the sudden loss of weight and force exerted. When he steadied himself, the Ranger was greeted by the panic-stricken eyes of his Arkanian companion, encumbered and embraced by the child. The unease did not last long. It soon drained from Ilana's face and something like maternal care rose to replace it. The once intractable, icy exterior warmed to Keela. Golden eyes rose to meet his; true tenderness in their reflection. Many other emotions seemed to shift in Ilana's gaze, like a tempest. Corran could only look at her with one: endearment. The stoic, methodical doctor. The sultry, mysterious underworld agent. They melted away when confronted with no option but to care for the innocent and vulnerable. Maybe they weren't so different after all.

Red lights brightened the dark-shrouded room. Instinct and training combined forced the Ranger to immediately dive for the nearest cover - an overturned table. The bolts slammed into the distant wall, leaving scorched black rings in the duracrete. Somehow after the opening shots, Corran's hand had withdrawn his blaster. No further blasts came. Arrogant boasts came in their stead. Good. Overconfidence led to the downfall of many a gunmen in Corran's experience. Back to the table, but otherwise safe for the time being, the Ranger searched for Dr. Morata and the others in the dim light to check on their status. Amber eyes, calm and serious, met his almost immediately. Ilana held Keela close to her, covering the child. The blond youth couldn't read the thoughts in them, but he didn't need to. Innocent people where in danger by violent criminals. This is what it meant to be a Sector Ranger.

A vibroblade was deftly unsheathed and angled around the edge of the overturned table, the metal acting as a mirror. Corran had learned this trick fighting in the confines of space station hallways. Two armed beings were approached the open doorway, most likely to come in and finish off Talos and anyone else they found. For the moment, the Ranger had the element of surprise. A lonely bottle sat near his boot. With a free hand, the young man silently picked it up. His blue eyes flicked to Ilana's gold. Trust me.

There would only be a fraction of a second. When the two gunmen entered into the parlor, their eyes would need time to adjust before they could tell shapes from people. No better time. Two pairs of boots stopped in the entryway, one after the other. A bottle rolled across the floor and clattered against the leg of a chair. Both thugs swiveled their blasters to look at it. "Wha-"

A blue bolt slammed into the chest of the nearest shooter. The Ranger had swiveled from behind the table onto one knee. The other goon, disoriented, took an instinct step back from danger as his comrade fell to the floor. Heavy footfalls raced toward him in the darkness. In a panic, the gunmen tried to bring his blaster to bear. A shoulder slammed him into a wall. Something sharp pressed against his throat and something hard against his belly. "Wai-!" A blast silenced him. The stunned body slummed to the floor.

With controlled but ragged breath, Corran pressed up against the wall next to the door. No immediate return fire responded. He returned the vibroblade to its sheath and then motioned with a hand for Ilana to move. Any cover was likely better than where she knelt now.

If what the now-unconscious hit-men was true and their group did have the building surrounded, negotiations or retaliation would soon follow. The Ranger's aggressive plan might intimidate them for the time being. Corran quickly padded down the stunned thug nearest to him for a commlink, in case the gang outside attempted the former. In any other situation, the best option would be to shoot their way through the thin encirclement and make a hasty retreat in the speeder. With Keela and the barely mobile Rodian, that option might be too risky. Without taking his view away from the door, Corran asked in a low voice, "Any other way out of here?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Watching Corran change from the gentle young man she began to know last night and the Ranger was a lesson unto itself. He was calculated, fast, and more importantly, prepared on his feet. She hadn't held much respect for the Ranger profession before, but perhaps there was some merit in being with their task force.

At the motion, she merely nodded once and half-stepped, half-crouched her way to further cover, Keela no longer sobbing but trembling hard with her face mashed into her shoulder. Liito had fully roused, but he looked weak on his feet. The Rodian caught what Corran murmured to the Doc, and before she could respond he did.

"Sewer access," he grunted out quietly. "Dry this time of year; hatch by the..." he grimaced as a wave of nausea rolled in his stomach, then kept talking. "by the bar. Hey, Doc."

At first glance, the Rodian looked roughly their age. But if anyone looked closer, they would have noticed he was much older. Several snaps and pops followed as he tried to roll himself upright, grunting at the ice pack to his neck. "Let's go," he whispered to the two before shuffling off towards the bar, but then remembered.

Talos. She shouldn't see him like that.

When they got closer, she held her hand on the back of Keela's neck, keeping her pressed against her. It was hard to manage with a small child and a bag, but she'd manage somehow. She glanced over her shoulder at Corran, and seemed about to say something, but a boom shook the other side of the building. Liito gritted his teeth, and yanked open something hidden beneath a rug; an access hatch.

Without waiting, Doc slipped in. Straight into darkness. If Corran came behind them, Liito would follow, taking care to see the rug covered as much of the hatch as possible.

As soon as they touched ground, their guide would stagger forward, panting.

"Can't stay here," he grunted, glancing to the two behind him. "They'll find. Let's move. Got a speeder aboveground?" The tunnel was barely lit by yellow lighting, a narrow metal walkway suspended over the duracrete floors, which seemed mostly clear of any debris. Somehow, she had a bad feeling about all this. She glanced over at Corran, still holding Keela, amber eyes calm.

"You did well, up there. I'm impressed." Her words were soft, still holding on to the little girl with a calm gaze. And then she gave a small, brief smile before following after Liito. No time to waste, after all, especially if they had been followed.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

With the Rodian returning to consciousness, their options opened up. The alien offered up a secret passage to the sewers. That was a far-sight better than any plan Corran had at the time. The Ranger kept watch at the door as Dr. Morata and the Rodian - Liito, was it? - opened the hatch near the bar. He glanced back to check on Ilana and Keela. Her eyes suggested she wanted to say something, but a muted boom accented the danger of the situation. If the young man had to guess, the gang outside was trying to make a new entrance. Liito gestured for Corran to hurry after the doctor and her charge had descended first. The Ranger walked backwards, keeping his blaster at the entryway, until he reached the bar. Corran only then allowed himself to turn around and make for the escape hatch. He only paused to look at Talos. The Pantoran mobster looked peaceful in death. Freed. The young man hoped that Keela hadn't seen her father like that. Corran never saw his father's corpse and only retained the good memories of him because of it. The Pantoran girl deserved a similar blessing.

Boots clanked against metal rungs as the male Ranger descended into the dry darkness of the sewer system. Feet firmly on the metal walkway, Corran stared up the ladder until Liita had finished pulling the rug over the hatch, sealed it, and began his descent. The hit squad would likely take some time to find the hatch, the rug aside. Once they entered the bar, they'll assume hostile fire and be diligent in protecting their own skin. Then they'll likely search all the rooms and floors for survivors. Not to mention, their stunned comrades will slow them down. Thugs could pass over dead allies. They're dead; they aren't going anywhere. Stunned ones required some sort care, or at least someone to watch over them until they came to. The group in the sewers had the best possible advantages to get a head start.

Almost as soon as the Rodian made footfall, he began limping down the walkway to get as much distance between them and the hatch as possible. The dull yellow guide-lights strung above made the alien look more desert tan than green. "We've got a speeder above ground. In an alleyway, not a block or more from the bar," Corran responded to Liito. If they were lucky, the hit squad hadn't found it yet. And if they did, ignored it as a just another parked vehicle.

As Litto advanced down the walkway, clearly eager to get out of danger, Ilana said something... touching. Her words acted as a hand to the Ranger's chest. Impressed. Between the two of them, Corran might have been more impressed by his own feats. Months ago, that maneuver would have been impossible for him - even if he knew how to do it. Which he wouldn't have. At the start of his Sector Ranger career, he barely had the sense to take cover from the swinging arms of a deadly beast and now... he had come further than he realized.

"Thanks. Hard won experience." The reply was curt and serious. The kind a professional gives to ward off a compliment on skills expected of them. Ilana's gentle smile, only there for a moment, pushed through the disciplined focus. Corran's hardened and stoic features softened and a playful smirk curled at the corner of his mouth, "If I told you how often you impressed me, you would get sick of hearing it."

Corran brought up the rear, occasionally stopping to check if they were being followed. Once they made a turn that got them out of the sight of where they had entered, he would catch up to the doctor and Liita. "How's she doing?" The young man would ask, genuine care in his voice. Children were too innocent to be mixed up in the problems of the world. If he managed to get Keela out of here, it would have been worth all the risk.

As the group proceeded, the blond youth would flick his eyes to the ceiling duracrete. Maybe they had passed the alleyway already? The Ranger had no idea where they were going and if he was alone, likely would have gotten lost by now. "How well do you know these tunnels?" he asked aloud.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Though she didn't look at him when he mentioned giving her praises every time she impressed her, but she tasted the compliment in it and felt an odd urge to duck her head or flush again, and it was alarming. Veiled threats she could deal with. Anger, aggression, even bluntness she could deal with, but praise, compliments no less, were difficult to accept. And from him, a man that spoke so earnestly to her... it was almost incredible.

When Corran caught in stride to her, lambent amber eyes flicked up to meet his, pale face taut with worry and care. She held onto the little girl even though it was physically exhausting to keep hurrying up to keep up, even with Liito's staggering pace. Keela had gone mostly quiet, but bitter, muffled sobs trickled warm, wet tears that dampened through her armored coat. The emotions that poured from her were complex, a kaleidoscope of fear, anger, and grief, a terror so deep that for once, the Doctor felt helpless. Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to speak. "Scared," she rasped quietly, arms still wrapped protectively around the little girl. "Tired. Don't worry, Kee, we'll get you out of here soon," she hushed as the girl began to shudder in another gasp.

The Doctor staggered when a small piece of the walkway buckled underfoot, hissing in a yelp of pain as she stumbled forward, and the little girl yelped out as well when she collapsed. "I'm fine, I'm fine," she gritted out, and Keela scrabbled away, dashing instead towards Liito.

She pulled herself back up, when the screech of metal behind them echoed down. "Time to go up," she snapped out, and Liito nodded both to the Doctor's order and Corran's question. "Hatch soon," he clipped out roughly, his breathing labored. He continued limping forward, and Ilana forced herself up. As soon as she did, Keela gripped her hand, the other gripping Corran's pant leg as well.

Footfalls were starting to echo down, but then there it was! The ladder. Doc drew out her blaster as Liito once again clambered up. Keela paused, and she jerked her head up, and she began ascending up as well.

Her eyes focused on Corran, unrelenting. "Go. I'll be right behind you." She wasn't going to take no for an answer; someone needed to protect Keela and Liito after all. And though he may not have known it, the Doctor always made good on her promises. She just hoped they would get up there before they would be found by their pursuers.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Metal shrieked. A part of the walkway gave way. A cry of surprise and pain. The doctor stumbled over and the little girl in her arms fell with her. Corran moved to help Ilana up, but she made clear she was alright and Keela already darted towards Liita for comfort. The echo of collapsed metal bounded down the sewer tunnels behind them. If anyone was listening, that secret hatch was bound to be discovered now. Doctor Morata ordered a return to the surface and the Ranger agreed. Any more time down here was going to get them cornered or someone hurt. The Rodian sluggishly moved ahead, dark eyes skyward, looking for the nearest exit hatch he claimed was close.

Something tugged at Corran's pants. He looked down expected rusty metal but saw the tight grip of a little blue hand. Keela held Ilana's hand in a more determined grip of trust. It was surprising how quickly the child had warmed up to him. What was more surprising was how strongly the Pantoran girl trusted Dr. Morata. The Arkanian had been unexpectedly... motherly. A hidden facet of her true self, perhaps? The Ranger wondered how deep the layers went.

Back the way they came, footsteps clanked against metal. Had the hit squad discovered the secret hatch already? Luckily on their end, Liito had already discovered their street-exit hatch and began exhaustively ascending. Ilana pulled out her blaster, a determined defense in her eyes. With a commanding nod from the doctor, Keela began climbing the ladder next. The blond youth didn't want to abandon her, but her promise gave him the will. Corran took one last glance at the doctor, looking fierce and aiming down the sewer corridor, before clambering up the metal rungs. She didn't seem like the 'Last Stand' type. He prayed she wasn't. It was on him now to make sure Ilana didn't end up with her back to wall.

It was still dimly lit on the surface, this far down from the skylines. The sewer hatch didn't lead directly to their speeder, but instead to a dilapidated courtyard between the buildings. How close were they? Keela and Liito sat with their backs to a duracrete building, not moving. After Corran had pulled himself out of the hatch and crouched over to duo, it became apparent that the Rodian wasn't doing well. The physical exertion was troubling him. Just sitting down and taking a breath looked like an oasis in the desert for the man. Despite that though, Liito managed to utter breathlessly, "Trouble." A thin green finger pointed to the corner of the building they leaned against.

Corran slid along the wall and used the vibroknife as a mirror again. The speeder! It was in the same alleyway across the street. Two armed thugs stood in front of it, backs to the powered down headlights. From this distance, it was hard to tell if they were guarding it or just happened to be standing by it. If it was just the Ranger, Corran would have tried to stun them both. However, if he missed or the blasting drew the attention of the other hit squad group, Keela and Liito would be put in danger. No, he needed to do this another way. Let's hope the meter's still running.

Using the same method that originally summoned the automated taxi, the blond youth input directions to their location along with some special requests. A few silent moments ticked by. In the reflection of the knife, a dome popped up in the middle of the front seats. It slowly swiveled all the way around until a single red light stared back into the reflection. Hopefully the astromech's self-preservation matrix was still intact. The speeder lifted off the ground barely an inch - enough to avoid debris - and began hovering backwards slowly. No other sounds or lights turned on the vehicle. A guard coughed. The speeder froze in place halfway across the street. When the goon didn't turn around, the droid pilot resumed reserving.

The air temperature wasn't humid, but Corran started to feel his forehead perspire. When the speeder pulled back far enough, he returned the blade to its holder on his back. Once the droid had pulled back into the courtyard far enough, the Ranger immediately put his fingers to his lips to shush any beeping of the astromech. Silently, he opened the rear door and shuffled Liito and Keela in. The girl required a little more coaxing. A gentle hand had to help her in. Corran glanced to the sewer hatch. All they were waiting for was her. Ilana, where are you?

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

When Corran began ascending, her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. She was relieved he didn't argue; perhaps he began trusting her, a surprising turnaround, but she wasn't going to question just yet why he would in the first place. But then again... she trusted him. Seeing him understand was worth far more than any argument. But when he got to the surface and she started as well, the footsteps were louder, echoing down the chamber. She began to climb faster, each rung seeming so far away. She gritted her jaw, trying to climb faster, but once she was almost there they rounded the corner.

"Stop!"

Blaster fire rang out from below, some bolts flying dangerously close. One grazed past her cheek, and when she finally scrabbled out of the hole she dashed low for the passenger side, slipping in. Her breathing was hard, still gripping the blaster in her left and shutting the door with her right, amber eyes flashing at Corran. The two guards turned as soon as the door slammed shut, and she merely said two words.

"Floor it."

Once they would be in motion, one hitman managed to get close to the surface of their exit, aiming his blaster. The shot went wide, but more began to step through from the building they were in before, also taking aim. They weren't out of the woods yet, but if they could get a head start they could possibly lose their pursuers. Meanwhile, Keela had curled up tightly against Liito, eyes wide with terror, and though Ilana wished she could say something comforting, now wasn't the time. Instead, something else came out of her mouth.

"Seatbelts. Clip in, and let's get out of here."

Almost as soon as she spoke, however, another shot pinged, this time striking the side of the car. The droid blared in alarm, and the speeder began to zoom forward on autopilot, and she snarled something under her breath, hefting up her blaster. If they made it out alive, she would be perfectly content to turn off her comm to any signals until a decent hour, because this was even starting to get outside her own realm of patience.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Only the shallow breaths kept the speeder from being totally quiet. Keela and Liito were laying as low as they could as to be invisible. Corran, for his part slouched in the driver's seat, holding his blaster tight. Each passing millisecond felt like an hour. The two guards across the street could stop the idle chatter and turn around at any moment. The Ranger stared unblinkingly across the dash. Would he have to leave Ilana behind to save the others?

Weapons fire screamed from behind the vehicle. As the Ranger turned around to look, the passenger-side door slammed shut. Swiveling his head immediately, the sight of Dr. Morata greeted him. The two hitmen who were standing idly across the road turned around at the sound of the slamming speeder door. Her gritted voice and intense eyes told the young man the same thing. It was time to get out of here. Without the astromech's input, Corran pressed the ignition and slammed forward the acceleration. Headlights temporarily blinded the two goons ahead of them. Behind the speeder, a blaster fired wild and more enemies came rushing out of the deserted bar. The speeder made a sliding turn out of the alley. Above the din of the chaos, Ilana said something that immediately caught Corran's attention, "Seatbelts. Clip in, and let's get out of here."

Pride. Affection. Connection. Surprise. All these complex feelings melded. Corran's face grimaced, both from the current hostile environment and this feeling. Damn. I think I'm starting to like her. A stray shot deflected off the side of the accelerating speeder. The droid swung its head around in a full 360 degrees, screaming. Without any driver input, the craft picked up speed rapidly, practically shoving the organics back into their seats. Luckily, Corran already had his seatbelt on. A few more streaks of red chased after the speeder as it began to go airborne. Sparks flew as the wild shots collided with metal, buildings, and street signs. As they ascended, the blaster fire tailing them trailed off until it ceased entirely. With the droid at the controls, taking them as far away from the firefight as possible, Corran took a moment to take stock. "Is everyone alright? Any injuries?" He would glance into the back seat first, to check on the more vulnerable two. Even though Ilana would be more than capable of diagnosing and patching up herself, the blond youth would offer to check her over as well.

If everyone would survive, Corran would holster his blaster and exhale slowly. That was all too close. Running one hand through his hair, the Ranger would ask the doctor, "Do we want to go to Aida's place? Will they be safe there? Right now the droid is likely scattering us in a random pattern. Harder to chase." A few beeps from the astromech would confirm that thought. It's self-preservation matrix was finely tuned.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Her cheek still throbbed from the brush of the bolt. Emotions just within the small bubble of space rushed in all at once, and she could hardly process them all without feeling an edge of panic herself. Pride was one of them. And others, relief, anxiety, and others. Liito slumped back, huge lidless eyes glazing over as he took a deep breath, then swallowed. "Just a bit... dizzy..." he managed out, still gripping onto Keela and struggling to sit upright. "M'head hurts like he--" he paused, looking at Keela, then shook his head gingerly. "Hurts," he clipped out, tugging on the belt around his lap.

Keela didn't answer at first, but gave huge golden eyes to the two adults in front, then the one beside her. Ilana could feel a spike of fear crowding her throat, then anxiety, and a crushing grief. She reached a hand back to touch her on the knee, her voice low. "It's okay kiddo, Aida will bring you to your mom. We'll look after you." She sniffled, but nodded, and finally, a small, thready voice piped up. "And my daddy...?" she finally managed, looking between all of them again.

Ilana paused. She glanced between Corran and Liito, and forced herself to look the girl in the eyes, as much as she could twist around. "He saved you, Kee," she replied quietly. "And Lii's gonna look after you too." The little girl nodded once, but still tears slowly trickled down her cheeks. They weren't out of danger yet, but they bought some time between Corran and the droid driver; she would have to remember to leave a bigger tip.

"You alright?" she asked quietly, glancing up at Corran. Her gaze tracked over him with a clinical air, and yet... her gaze wasn't as frigid. The faintest shadow of concern touched her eyes when she glanced back up at him, then nodded once. "Not straight to Aida's, no, but in twenty minutes I'll guide you there. It should be long enough to get them to safety."

She doubted the thugs would pursue them much longer anyways, instead perhaps to wait at the duracrete residence of Talos. Hopefully they would be safer off-planet, especially if Keela's mom came along to pick them up. Within a few minutes though, their passengers had fallen asleep, Lii's arm already slung protectively around Kee's small, huddled form.

When Ilana stopped checking on them she sighed, leaning back.

"Keela was my first pediatric patient," she replied quietly, closing her eyes. "Her mother was pregnant with her at the time of my residency on Coruscant... when we met again, she was only two years old." She glanced over at the little girl, frowning absently. "Talos was my patient, along with most of his crew one way or another. And several like him. It's not the most savory business, treating people like him, but some of them don't have a choice in the galaxy. I hope, with Aida's help, she'll have a better place in the galaxy. No child..." she paused, then slowly exhaled, leaning back and rubbing the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. "No child deserves that life... and he was trying to keep her clear of it. I only hope she gets a chance now."

She didn't know why she felt compelled to say anything. But somehow, losing this small patient felt... almost bittersweet. Though most of her patients were the type she hoped never to meet again, children were different. They were curious, filled with potential and light, and in a way she envied that happiness. They were also trouble, but yet looking at the few she treated... made her almost wish for more. But when she finally opened her eyes again, she exhaled, shaking her head. "She's a smart, good kid. She'll be fine."

However, that was mostly stated to comfort herself. She could never tell what the galaxy held in store, and yet there was a small, fragmented hope for the better somehow.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

All of the passengers were largely not injured - at least anything gained from when the Ranger and the Doctor found them. Liita had his head injury, possibly concussion, but no blaster wounds. Keela maybe had a bruise or scraped knee. Ilana's cheek looked raw. A light burn or something struck her in the scramble. Something indescribable wanted Corran to place his hand on her cheek. To sooth it better, even though he knew that things didn't work that way. The young man gave his head a shake and turned to look forward through the windshield, even though he wasn't driving. A twinge of embarrassment hoped Ilana didn't feel that in him. These youthful emotions were going to get him in trouble someday with this woman and her empathic abilities.

While their physical wounds were manageable, the unseen of wounds were more concerning. Doctor Morata was doing her best to soothe the little Pantoran girl. It felt like it was beyond the normal support a medical professional would provide - more personal. Corran glanced back when Ilana flicked her amber eyes in his direction before answering the hard truth. It was the right thing to do. Keela, like all survivors, would need time and support to overcome the tragic loss. For some it would take weeks - for others, it would drive their entire lives. But they eventually recovered, somehow. The young Ranger himself had to deliver a number of notices of the deceased in his short time as a Ranger. Weeks after Outpost Blue, it was practically all he did. That and funerals. It was around that time the blond youth met Dr. Morata. Maybe that had something to do with some of the choices he made.

"You alright?"

The question caught Corran off guard. He turned his head to see a clinical face observing him. In her golden eyes, though, expressed something more than medical curiosity. A closer concern. The Ranger responded with a shallow nod, "Yeah, I'm fine." The answer sounded tired, but a faint grin appeared on his face to reassure her before receding back to stoic features. The astromech followed the doctor's orders to randomize their pattern for another twenty minutes. Unless they were being tailed, or the hit squad knew their final destination, it would be a major challenge to find them after awhile.

As the time passed and the gentle hum of the repulsor-lifts carried the craft to increasingly distant parts of the Smuggler's Moon, the exhausted passengers in the back seat slipped into safe sleep. For the first time in the entire day, a calm silence took hold. Ilana checked on the pair in the back one last time before unwinding. Then the Arkanian woman did something Corran thought he wouldn't ever see. She started talking about her life. Unprompted. Like she was... opening up. Ilana had been part of Keela's life from the first, even if the time between was sporadic. Talos and his ilk were of similar intimacy. The doctor had a sympathy for the mobsters that Corran hadn't considered before. They were people with families who cared about them. That conflicted with the young Ranger's code. Justice was clear cut. The law was black and white. Ilana may not agree, but Talos had a choice but... he didn't deserve to die. He couldn't fault her for feeling for them.

But she was right about Keela. That little girl didn't deserve that underworld life and Talos was a good father. Corran gave him that. Whatever it may have been, Ilana clearly had a bond with this family and especially the young Pantoran. It didn't take an observant person to see the mixed emotions on the doctor's face. When her eyes opened again, the blond youth nodded at the final assessment on Keela before taking a risk. Uninvited, he reached over to Ilana and took hold of her hand comfortingly. "You have done all you could to give her the best chance. Before tonight even. I believe the galaxy brings people who care together. You'll see Keela again - in better times." If the empath felt anything, it would be only one emotion coming from the young man. Heartfelt assurance. A confidence that things would turn out alright.

@Killa Ree