When Rance began to come to, all he could see was a soft yellow light that checked his focus as he opened his eyes. He was in a familiar place and he felt safe--that he knew. Blinking a few times to get his bearings, he noticed all around him was medical equipment and he lay on an infirmary bed. Immediately he realized he was on The Kalikori, he tried to sit up but his chest and ribs screamed white-hot with pain. He looked down at the expertly wrapped heavy bandaging. There was no blood? But he could feel a few broken ribs. He touched the wrapping and immediately flashed to the suicide that wounded him. Shaking his head, Ransom rested his hand on his chest and put the other up to his head. The pain was excruciating but he controlled his breathing, isolated the sensation, and focused. He gave the room a more in-depth examination. It didn't take long for him to notice that he was not the only one here. Cawdry was in the bed next to him sleeping with a large bandage wrapped around his head. Shaking the stupor out of his foggy mind he looked at his vital signs. His student was fine. His own? He was fine. He turned his head the other direction.
There was yet another infirm. The Jedi. No way she was injured in the fight. How had she wound up here? What had happened? As he mused hypotheticals, he noticed he hadn't stopped looking straight at her. It was as if he couldn't turn away but more that he didn't want to and felt no reason to. In this moment, everything but her seemed a kind of blurry. Unable to turn his gaze, his chest started to warm and sooth itself. A great deal of pain and anxiety was ebbing. Rance noticed her wince in her sleep and instinctively bring her hand to her own chest,
That was strange, she has no apparent injuries, he thought.
Mid thought he winced and brought his own hand to his chest, as he did he noticed her breathing lighten and some of her apparent discomfort subside. Letting his head fall back, his eyes went white with pain and his mind was splitting with confusion. Luckily for him, Risho came in and turned a small dial on the plasteel apparatus situated next to him. He felt a euphoria wash over him. Oddly enough, it seemed his Jedi counterpart was soothed even further. Now motionless save for a slight, steady breathing.
"Hi doc, you're safe on the Kalikori. We've begun total excavation of the site. What a discovery. You did it. But you shouldn't be awake yet. Though, before you zonk out again, you should know--that woman... saved your life. It was a miracle. Dream of a way to thank her."
Risho turned the dial a little more and he was out like a light. But his dreams were not that of thanks. They were nightmares. Flashing images of harpoons thudding against hide, lances cutting skin and bone, cries from unwitting victims, fleshy masses being reconstituted into various grotesque shapes, blood being boiled, slaves and demons toiling, and a final image of a tortured apparition fiending hungrily for some uncurbed vice.
Ransom did not sleep soundly. He tossed and turned longing to once again live in the waking world.
@Corbeau
There was yet another infirm. The Jedi. No way she was injured in the fight. How had she wound up here? What had happened? As he mused hypotheticals, he noticed he hadn't stopped looking straight at her. It was as if he couldn't turn away but more that he didn't want to and felt no reason to. In this moment, everything but her seemed a kind of blurry. Unable to turn his gaze, his chest started to warm and sooth itself. A great deal of pain and anxiety was ebbing. Rance noticed her wince in her sleep and instinctively bring her hand to her own chest,
That was strange, she has no apparent injuries, he thought.
Mid thought he winced and brought his own hand to his chest, as he did he noticed her breathing lighten and some of her apparent discomfort subside. Letting his head fall back, his eyes went white with pain and his mind was splitting with confusion. Luckily for him, Risho came in and turned a small dial on the plasteel apparatus situated next to him. He felt a euphoria wash over him. Oddly enough, it seemed his Jedi counterpart was soothed even further. Now motionless save for a slight, steady breathing.
"Hi doc, you're safe on the Kalikori. We've begun total excavation of the site. What a discovery. You did it. But you shouldn't be awake yet. Though, before you zonk out again, you should know--that woman... saved your life. It was a miracle. Dream of a way to thank her."
Risho turned the dial a little more and he was out like a light. But his dreams were not that of thanks. They were nightmares. Flashing images of harpoons thudding against hide, lances cutting skin and bone, cries from unwitting victims, fleshy masses being reconstituted into various grotesque shapes, blood being boiled, slaves and demons toiling, and a final image of a tortured apparition fiending hungrily for some uncurbed vice.
Ransom did not sleep soundly. He tossed and turned longing to once again live in the waking world.
@Corbeau