Ask Unexplored Possibilities

Haji Sigidi

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Styx
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Upper Coruscant
Cross Guard Heights
–​


"So, uhm, that's what happened."

Haji could barely see the man's face, this Lieutenant Ghotti, his seated silhouette haloed in sunlight coming in through the glass wall window behind him. His glasses glared silver. The visual portrayed a sense of anonymity, despite having introduced himself, and ambiguity, in terms of his intensions and role here. The sun rays were bothering Haji for some reason. With the distance between them, light reflected off the floor and generally overwhelmed him. It made him feel like he was under a microscope. If it weren't for the man's connection to the Sector Rangers, Haji would've disliked him outright. But because of Bast, Corran, and Falynn, he cooperated. Still, it didn't mean he had to trust him.

"Haji? What brought you to Coruscant?"
"What brought me here? Like, what ship?"
"Haji. I'm going to be crystal clear. Did Ranger Emblai invite you to participate in a mission with her team in the lower sector?"
"..."
"You are completely safe here, Haji. You've done nothing wrong. I'm only interested in Ranger Emblai."
"Why?"
"It's my job."
"To hurt people?"
"Haji. Ha, ha. No. What would give you that idea? It's my job to keep everyone safe. You. Ranger Emblai. Everyone."
"Miss Bast saved me. They all did. I was kidnapped. She saved me. That's all. Can I go now?"
"One last thing. Have you ever made something happen that you couldn't explain? Have you ever seen or done something special?"
"No. There's nothing special about me."

And with that, Haji pushed off of his seat with a frown and a huff and walked toward the door. It slid open, and closed behind him. His fingers clutched at the outline of Corran's personal device that rested in his side pouch underneath his signature cloak. A part of him was worried someone had noticed he'd swiped it in the aftermath of the events in The Narrowlands. He was itching to use it, reciting Corran's badge number in his head ever since. There had to be some information he could use, Sector Ranger resources that could fix the mess he'd made. He just hadn't figured out how. And with the constant presence of personnel in Cross Guard Heights tower, he worried he'd never find a moment alone to make the call.

"Hey did you hear? Grody's here."
"Ew, that guy? You know he tried to get me demoted once?"
"No way. He tried to slap me with criminal charges for using funds in a fake weapons' deal."
"Hate that guy! Who's he here for this time?"
"I don't know, but I'd watch your back."


Haji walked passed the two rangers leisurely chatting in the hall next to two vending machines, focused on his own troubles but catching part of their conversation and taking note. His head lowered, still uncomfortable around others. He'd managed to hide from the team so far, keeping to himself even as he wished to rejoin the others. But today Corran was scheduled to be released. And it felt like a deadline to apologize to him personally, before he forgot about the wounds that Haji had caused. Also, there was something else he needed to say. And if he went now, he might avoid Falynn and Bast, seeing as how they probably wouldn't be there until after he was released at the soonest. At least that's what he was hoping for.

He'd walked these halls many times in the short time he'd been here. He didn't expect to be practicing stealth so much during his recovery, but he didn't want to be probed. He didn't like being seen. He could hear their thoughts. Well, not actually. But he imagined the questions in their heads. Who was he? Why was he here? How did he get into a private area meant for Rangers? But he'd managed to escape attention, slipping away just as soon as someone saw him standing outside Benjamin's room where they kept him sedated or wandering too close to the hallway that supposedly led to Whistler's room where he was being questioned. Hearing that someone had been looking for him only inspired him to stay away from his room even more. It had been difficult. He didn't sleep last night. He just wanted to be left alone, until he could do something that made him feel better.

Haji walked up to the door, Corran's chart taken from the door folder, and he waved his hand. But the door lock chirped, denying him entry with a flickering red light. He frowned at the inconvenience. He had to speak with him. So he waved his hand again, this time applying the Force to the mechanism. Then it clicked and chimed, flashing green, and the door slid open.

Walking into the middle of a question aimed at determining Corran's well being, Haji caught sight of Corran sitting shirtless in front of his interviewer.

"Oh, I uh, I was hoping I could uhm... Hi," he waved to Corran. "Could I talk to you? Can I talk to him, for a minute? It won't take long. Please. In private? It's important."

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Corran Velt

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Recovery had been a somewhat pleasant experience. All his assignments had been relocated to other desks temporarily. The food was decent. He slept pretty good. He had all the time in the world to write a thorough and accurate report on the accounts of the Level 1469 Narrowlands incident. The male Ranger always enjoyed completing paperwork with precision. It felt right that a document or log filed away could be considered an original and trusted source.

It also helped that he didn't really need that much healing time. Falynn Tikarsis had done such a wonderful job in the field that the hospital didn't need any intensive surgery. Just regular bacta baths and bandages. There might not even be a scar. After just a few days, Corran could have been discharged by the Sector Rangers had mandatory recovery time depending on the wound reported. As always, the young man was eager and oath-bound to follow the rules. That time was finally up and Corran was a little thankful for it. The last two days had been a little boring.

Corran sat upright on the side of the bed, feet on the floor. The medical attendant, a polite Rodian, knew they were completing a mere formality. The Rodian had him remove his shirt to give a final record of the wound. A bacta patch still covered his right pectoral, but it would heal on its own naturally if they wanted. That's when the door clicked and slid open. The Ranger was pretty certain the door was locked. The medical attendant turned around immediately to see who entered without permission. In the doorway stood Haji.

The Rodian didn't get a chance to react first as Haji was quick off the draw. Instead the Rodian turned to their patient, looking for how to proceed. "He's fine. Is everything in order?" Corran asked the attendant. A few taps on the datapad in hand. The Rodian nodded their green head, "Yes. I will mark you as Released for Duty. Have a good day, Ranger Velt." With a quick scan of the teenager in the cloak by the medic and a few steps, the door sealed, and the two of them were alone.

There was a brief silence as Corran rose up from the hospital bed and stretched his arms. Also took the opportunity to crack his neck with a twist of the head. He was a little stiff. The Ranger folded his arms and nodded to the force-user, "Citizen Haji. What's so important that you broke into another hospital room to get to me?" The honorific was honest but the question was asked in mild jest. In truth, it was good to see the younger man in solid health. Corran had no idea what the Jedi could possibly want with him though.

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Falynn Tikarsis

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Two days since the events in the Narrowlands and Falynn already found herself back at a hospital. How ironic. Even after becoming a Ranger, she couldn’t seem to stay away from them. Falynn had gotten some much needed rest in the past couple of days, using the time to take inventory of her current medical supply stock. It had been a while since her last resupply, and now was as good a time as ever to make the trip. Since she was going to be there anyway, Falynn could also made herself useful. There was always something to be done at a hospital.

The Cross Guard Heights station was a typical Sector Ranger base complete with interrogation rooms, holding cells, its own hospital attachment, and more. Being a medic, Falynn spent most of her time there in Health Services. After stating her business and information to the man at the security desk, she entered the employee area and made her way to the medical supply depot. It most certainly would have been a more efficient use of time to complete this whole process from her datapad at home, but Falynn enjoyed the freedom of being able to specifically choose the items she received. That way she could ensure their quality met her standards. Once she was done, a droid logged the items under her name and prepared them for shipping.

With that task completed, Falynn headed back to ask the supervisor how she could make herself useful. “Hello, ma’am, is there anything I can do to help while I’m here?” The older woman gave her an incredulous look as if wondering why Falynn would actually go out of her way to complete tasks that were generally considered mundane. Ones that people had to be asked to do.

“Ranger Tikarsis,” she scrolled through a list on her datapad, “I see here that someone was just released for duty from 0106. Would you do the room inspection and clear it for the cleaning droid?”

“Certainly.” Giving her a polite nod, Falynn took a quick look at the floor diagram and walked towards the direction of the room. The inspections were typically a precaution. Just in case the patient happened to leave a few of their belongings in the room, or a device hadn’t been returned. More often than not, nothing was found and all she would have to do is straighten the room before calling in the droid. Falynn approached the door, her fingers grazing the lock. She could hear muffled voices coming from inside, yet the patient’s chart had already been taken. That was strange, under normal circumstances the files were removed after the room’s occupant left. It made her wonder who was still inside, but Falynn wasn’t about to make another unexpected entrance into a hospital room. She’d likely find out soon enough anyway. For now she was content to just wait outside.


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Bast Emblai

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The past two days had been about as pleasant as wearing a thermo-jacket on Mustafar for Bast. As soon as she had returned, she was called in by Lt. Ghotti. Apparently, the news she’d brought a Jedi kid on the mission was becoming more widespread and it didn’t exactly reflect good judgement. Each scolding word from the lieutenant stung, reinforcing her own failing faith in herself. She was just filling out paperwork on the Sapphire Crescent in solitude, leaving plenty of time for the ranger to marinade in a sea of her own doubts. Despite the lectures and many expressions of disappointment in the detective, no further consequences were deemed necessary. According to her interviewers, Haji refused to admit any fault on her part. That kid was loyal. She made a mental note to thank him.

Her hand hesitated at the door. The whole ordeal would blow over in a few days, but she was nervous. Duty gave the Sector Ranger the courage to walk in. She was here to see her partner. Corran was scheduled to be released, and she wanted to be there for him. Head held high, she walked through the familiar halls towards the Health Services wing. Mercifully, no one blinked an eye or whispered. So the news hadn’t gotten that far yet. Rounding the corner by the vending machine, she stopped. The bright lights advertised ‘Galaxy’s Best Fizz Droplets’, ‘Mieloorun Flavored Energy Pills for On-the-Go’, ‘Classic Crisps’, and a dozen other products. Not surprisingly, Corran’s taste in vending machine food had never been brought up, so she’d have to guess. Finally selecting chocolate-covered, dried Shuura. Since he had brought Bast flowers, she felt she should repay the favour as best she could.

Arriving at room 0106, Bast noticed the charts were off the door. Her heart dropped. Had she missed him? The subtle frown quickly shifted into a smile when the ranger noticed the other woman. “Ranger Tikarsis. Are you here to see Ranger Velt?” Hazel eyes flicked over to the door, presumably locked. Perhaps he was there, but not taking visitors? The previous day, she’d been turned away by a skeptical desk attendent. Clearing her throat, she prompted again. The detective wouldn’t be sorry to know Falynn better. Unfortunately, their meetings seemed to coincide with hospital visits or missions gone wrong. “How are you doing? That was a tough first mission.”

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Haji Sigidi

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Haji's eyes sought the floor tiles as the Rodian walked passed, stepping aside timidly and cupping his wrist in hand. Upon achieving solitude with the Ranger, Haji suddenly didn't know what to say. He looked up at the windows. They weren't quite the same as the last ones, from that one time. They weren't individual sliding panels, but took up the entire wall. And where there had been rain, there was now bright sunlight. He'd never be able to sneak in that way. A quiet solace reassured him he wouldn't be tackled. But it bothered him that he already knew that. His confidence in Corran had grown, and that made him a little uncomfortable.

The honorific made Haji grimace. Then mixed emotions morphed into mild defensiveness, like fending off an older brother's teases.
"I didn't break it. It still works. I just turned the lock. They can turn it back. I just. I just needed to tell you something."

He half turned away, folding his arms and checking Corran for remorse out of the corner of his eyes. He felt all mixed up and out of sorts with himself. He wasn't sure who was talking, but it wasn't the Haji he was used to. He felt a yawn coming, but moved his mouth around, tight-lipped, to stifle the urge. The desire to apologize was quickly becoming at odds with his state of mind. He'd only caught a glimpse of Corran at one point back at that place after all, so he'd learned of Corran's injuries through hearsay and peeking at his charts. The latter was more confusing than helpful, however. And he didn't trust anything that Ghotti had told him.

His throat was dry.
"I," am sorry. For everything. "I," heard about your injuries. it's my fault. "Can," you walk okay? Can you forgive me?

He deflated. Then he looked back up, purely hoping for forgiveness.
"Are you feeling okay?"

He hadn't quite worked everything out about the mission. He just felt a burdening guilt. He'd wanted to ask about so many things. He wanted to know their stories, what they'd experienced. He felt stuck in this isolation, wishing he could share in their adventures but knowing he was cut off somehow. Their story was one, and his was another. He wondered what they had gone through, but knew it boiled down to his getting captured. All night he had focused on the fact that he'd been caught by a mere goon, a Forceless trickster that duped him into turning his back and lowering his guard. The jail guards' voices mocked him relentlessly. His Master's lectures reprimanded him, an entire padawan's carrier's worth of lectures on loop. And the consequences were real. Lives were lost. Friends, or what he hoped to be, were hurt. He wondered what they thought of him. He wanted to ask, so many things.

His arms hung helplessly at his sides, looking up at Corran.
"Are the others okay?"

He tried to work out how he might bring things up. But all he could do was look at Corran, begging for help in a look. His round eyes asked what his mouth could not manage. They asked what he did wrong and what he could do to make it right. They asked how to speak, how to ask for forgiveness. It was so easy with his Master, he'd never thought about it before. It almost didn't mean the same thing. With them, these three Sector Rangers, it felt closer.


His fingers nervously twisted the sides of his cloak now.
"Can you pass something on for me? That man, Benjamin. The one you caught. He isn't who he says he is. In case he can't speak clearly. He's a body double. He's not the one you were looking for. He was going to trick his boss. I'm- I guess it was all for nothing."

A ghostly reflection of himself stood in the window, reflected light highlighting panels along his arms and face. He wanted to march away, to run, afraid to stay in the room any longer, afraid of himself. Always back to the beginning, always stuck at the same trial, he was afraid to look at himself. But his spine straightened, sensing something familiar. Close, maybe outside the door, he could sense a familiar presence, two on second thought. He started to reconsider the possibility of opening the window.

Outside the room, another presence closed in.
"Ah. Ranger Emblai. A pleasure to see you again. Ranger Tikarsis, is it? I am Lieutenant Ghotti. Here, my card. I'd like to extend a line of communication should you ever feel the need to voice any concerns. I'm also in the market for a good physician should you ever be available. Here to assess the collateral damage are we?"

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Corran Velt

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Sky blue eyes watched the young force-user explain himself and then struggle with words. The warm sunlight lit up Corran's unclothed back as he stood statuesque, letting the teenager work through his thoughts. It was odd to the male Ranger. Haji was incredibly powerful. With a thought, Corran could be thrown through the window. An unseen force could strangle him. Lightsabers cut through almost anything. And yet... the young force-user looked worried. A plea in his face. A visible expression of understanding would appear on the Ranger's face.

"I'm good as new. Falynn did a fantastic job in the field. Practically didn't even need hospital time." Corran gestured to the white patch on his bare chest. It truly was incredible work. It also helped that the blast vest had taken most of the damage and spared his flesh the worst of it. "Don't worry about me. I took risks because people needed us." There was a pause. "You needed us." The male Ranger didn't want to guilt the victim. Haji wasn't guilty of anything. Criminals had kidnapped an innocent and drug them into cages with murderous and torturous intent. It was more important that the Force-user was able to bury any shame he had and move on.

Another question. Haji was a good guy - checking up on people. There was real heart there. A lot of people, if they had gone through what he had, would be more worried about themselves. Instead the Force-user had come all the way here, likely got grilled in witness interviews, and still built up the courage to face people that might be upset with him. None of them were, but that possibility was there. Corran glanced to the unlocked door for a moment. Was someone out there? No matter. His gaze returned to Haji. "Bast and Falynn, you mean? They are more than fine. Falynn I haven't heard from recently, but she isn't in the hospital. And Bast... she's tougher than durasteel. I wouldn't worry yourself about them." The two women wouldn't want Haji to lose sleep over their conditions, even if they were bad. Thankfully, they weren't. They would want him to feel at ease.

The Ranger cocked an eyebrow when the Force-user brought up suspect Benjamin. What came out of his mouth was a bit jumbled, but Corran could piece it together. The suspect was recovering and could piece together sentences. He could type in complete sentences. It was surprising that Haji had any empathy for the man who was going to sell him off and did in fact torture him. Even if Benjamin was going to double-cross someone more criminal than himself, that didn't absolve him of the crimes committed. "Depends what you want me to pass a long, Haji. If it isn't contraband, I'm sure I can see to it," Corran said with assurance in his voice.

A quiet settled into the hospital room. Haji looked shaken. Maybe skittish. This whole time, the kid seemed to be suffering from visible guilt. He didn't need to carry that weight. The Ranger inhaled shallowly through his nose and exhaled in a sigh. "Look, Haji... It's not your fault. Whatever happened back there isn't your fault. Bad people did bad things and they won't anymore." More needed to be said. Corran just wasn't entirely sure how to say it. If Bast were here, she would say it. She could read his thoughts in that way. Without her here, Corran would have to try his best. He placed his hands on his hips and started again, "I don't think less of you. The others don't either. We're glad you're okay."

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Falynn Tikarsis

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Falynn hadn’t been waiting for too long when a familiar face appeared around the corner. Bast was walking down the corridor, a snack in hand, presumably here to visit someone. Just as Falynn was about to ask what had brought her to the hospital, the Ranger’s greeting provided an answer. 0106 was Corran’s room? She hadn’t known he was being released today. “Oh, I was unaware that this is his room. I was actually about to clear it for a cleaning droid but heard voices inside and decided it would be best not to startle anyone with my sudden entrance.” Falynn smiled back at Bast, referring to the first time they had met.

When the Ranger asked her second question, she took on a more serious tone. “I’ve been doing pretty well. There were some aspects I was unprepared for on the mission, but that’s probably to be expected.” The medic knew she should say more—after all, Bast was only being kind—but couldn’t bring herself to. “And what about you? How are you handling all of this?” She waved her hand in the air hoping Bast would catch her meaning. Falynn was sure their last assignment hadn’t been the smoothest for her either.

The longer the two Rangers stood outside, the more side glances they received from passersby. Finally, Falynn looked back at the door in front of them. “Shall we knock? Otherwise we might be waiting out here for quite some time.” Before she could make a move to do so, the precise and clipped sound of military-style boots against the polished tile could be heard heading straight for them. Falynn visibly straightened as the man approached and introduced himself as Lieutenant Ghotti. She’d only heard of him in passing, but he seemed to know who she was. Wordlessly, she took the card extended to her. Falynn didn’t appreciate what he was implying. If the Lieutenant believed she would stoop to that level, then he didn’t know her as well as she had originally thought. There was something unsettling about the way he had greeted Bast and spoken to her. So far the Lieutenant‘s actions had cast a shadow on her impression of him. It was made worse by his next question.

Collateral damage was, in Falynn’s opinion, a rather casual way to speak of injury. Especially the injury of a team member. The phrase was too impersonal and imprecise to actually hold any weight. Perhaps she only felt that way because she was a medic and valued life. Either way it upset Falynn enough for her to say something about it. “No sir, we are not here to assess collateral damage, but to visit a mutual coworker who is recovering from an injury.” While displeased, she still spoke as respectfully as possible. One look at the Lieutenant and Falynn saw the coldness in his eyes. Although generally not one to believe in first impressions, it was evident they were not off to a great start.

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Bast Emblai

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Smiling at Falynn’s joke, the other woman deftly deflected the question concerning her. “Just writing up the typical reports.” It was probably best not to mention the sleepless nights and general disappointment of other rangers that had been consuming her thoughts. Pleasantries aside, Bast was glad to have the excuse to enter the room and see her friend. She couldn’t help but feel partially responsible for his injury. If she had never brought Haji, she would’ve been less concerned about the kid and noticed Whistler. He took the bolt to the chest to warn her. The detective would have been dead before she knew what was happening if not for him. How was she supposed make up a life-debt twice? The rookie needed to stop being such a hero. She didn’t deserve a partner like that.

Lt. Ghotti was apparently of a similar opinion. The man seemed to take great joy in making her uncomfortable and as the well dressed and stiff man approached, a grin stretched wide across his face. Was the man not done reprimanding her? Her current count of apologies directed at him was five, and she was unsure of how many he could possibly want. Her commanding officer stood too close to her, his height bearing the weight of a threat. Bast didn’t step back, but her eyes burned with a smoldering fury. If Ghotti’s intention was to ruin her career and sully her name, he was almost halfway there. She wouldn’t give him the pleasure of open disobedience, nor of bending to his will. A pleasure to see her. Sweet words with a rotten tongue. “Sir,” was her only response. False flattery and open threats were both below her.

The air was thick enough to cut with a vibroblade at the lieutenant’s next words. Bast’s face was tinged with red and hard as stone, her neck marked starkly by the jutting lines of her tendons and collarbone. The man had had the nerve to bribe a colleague to snitch on her right in front of her very eyes. The offer was disguised by false concern and politeness, but laced with manipulation and envy. Thankfully, Falynn appeared just as taken aback. Bast admired the medic for standing up for an officer she barely knew, and made a mental note of the display of character. It was a relief to know her team couldn’t be paid off.
“Ranger Velt was a front line casualty. I do not leave collateral damage, Lieutenant.“ Perhaps the tone was a bit too cold to be considered professional, but with all typical gestures of formality, the man’s title was used. “Request to take my leave, sir. I must attend to my partner.” Untrusting eyes scanned her face, and his own countenance fell slightly, disappointed to end his little game so early. Still, he could not keep her under any reasonable pretense. He had already used every excuse to bring her into his office in the book. “Dismissed, Ranger Emblai.”

A sharp knock sounded on the door of room 0106, and after a few seconds pause Bast stepped through the door. The room smelled of chemicals, bacta gel, and stale sweat. Two shocks awaited her. The first was Haji, looking as if her were in the middle of expressing great grief. Absentmindedly, she wondered how the force user had gotten in. Either it a hobby of his to break into hospital rooms, or he’d been let in by staff. Both situations seemed rather unlikely. The second shock was Corran. Or rather the blond man‘s lack of typical attire. A large white patch covered part of his chest, and she didn’t look long enough to see anything else. Blushing intensely, the woman stuttered. “Sor- I am sorry for interrupting. I will be back in a bit.” It wasn’t that she’d never seen a shirtless man before, after all, in basic everyone shared a locker room, but this felt different. She was terrified of embarrassing her partner. Their boundaries were already blurred and the detective wanted no discomfort or violation of their relationship. Ears still burning, she ducked back through the door and turned to Falynn. “They need a moment.”

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Haji Sigidi

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Corran kept hold of Haji's penitent focus, despite the recurring urge for his eyes to shrink to the floor. His chin was stuck to his chest, but his round eyes stared up at the man. A model of confidence and kindness, golden and bright in the light like an award of achievement, Corran was everything Haji hoped to be in that moment. He could never tell him that. Oops, his eyes bounced back up off the floor.

Specifically called out, he felt both reassured and even more guilty. But his feet shifted, stifling the sudden impulse to rush Corran with a big hug. He stayed in place. His face contorted, not quite ugly crying. He blinked, thoughts at odds. Corran knew he'd needed them, and they came for him. They saved him. He thought he knew they would, but he didn't really understand how much it meant to him until they had. But the fact remained that if he hadn't been caught, then they wouldn't have had to come for him. Maybe no one would've been hurt. Maybe Paki wouldn't have been drawn into it. Maybe he was just a weak link, just a kid.

"Good. Good," he added in after the news of Falynn's and Bast's wellbeing. That much was comforting. He sniffled.

He didn't quite catch Corran's pitch about contraband, brows twitching as that one flew right past Haji. But when he struck right down the middle, it hit Haji square in the chest. He was responsible, for everything. But what Corran said was also true. It was just odd. It was different the way he addressed it. His Master usually spoke in terms of ripples from a single stone or cracks that fractured into countless directions. No one ever said bad people did bad things. But they didn't think less of him. And that confused him. But it also held his chin up.

"Corran..." He paused, thinking about how the name sounded coming from him. Then a sharp knock on the door.

Haji's head lead a curious twist of his shoulders, feet remaining planted, looking back at the door until it opened. His brows flexed with panic. It was Miss Bast! He spun back around away from her, like a doe frozen in spotlight, expression of shock and open mouth stuck on his face pointed at Corran. He waited for her to say her piece, stuttering, then closed his mouth with a nervous gulp once she had gone.

He shared a glance with Corran in silence, gauging his own reaction to Bast's intrusion. He nearly huffed a little giggle out his nostrils. It seemed they were not only there for him when he needed them, they were there for each other. They were good people.

After a pause to recover, he slowly continued.

"Uhm. Just one more thing. When I was with him, Benjamin, and he was thinking about his businesses. He planned to fake his own death, and then come back. He was going to buy them all out. Well, there was this Twi'lek girl he wanted to take care of. Everything he was doing was for her, I think. And I think she had a baby. But I don't know if she knew that he knew. He was investing in markets, fighting pits, and other things. And I saw one of his ships. I know they were his because I saw him there. They had a silver falcon on the sides with three long lines. I don't know what they were loading, but I remembered it because I knew it was important. It was the only thing he'd tried to hide from me. I remember something he said to her, when I saw it. He said, 'I hope you can forgive me'. When he said you, he meant the both of them. And what he wanted forgiveness for was for leaving them. I could tell those weren't his own words. They echoed. He'd taken them from someone else, someone who'd told him to pass that message along with that meaning. And when I heard it, I knew it was meant for you... I hope you can forgive me. Don't give up hope."

The Force worked in mysterious ways, but he knew what he knew because he allowed it to flow through him. Often times he didn't know why he knew things or how they applied, but he knew this was one of those crucial messages that had to make it to its recipient. He felt Corran in that memory and in those words. It was important, albeit frustratingly vague. It also doubled as his own apology, giving him an excuse to say it.

Haji turned around to face his fears, begrudgingly making for the door. He considered using the Force to trick Bast into hearing something down the hall so that he could make his escape. But he figured the best way to do this was to march right through, with his head down of course. He reached for the door, but stopped. He checked back over his shoulder to see if Corran wanted to put his shirt on, and also to mention one last thought.

"Oh, and that man. There's a Lieutenant Ghotti here. I don't like him."

Then Haji waved the door open to finally signal the all clear. His head lowered, hands at his sides. He couldn't hide from them forever.

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Corran Velt

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Whatever the young Ranger said, the force-user didn't seem to respond. Quiet. Inward. A few sniffles or eyes shifting between the floor and the face of the other being in the room. Corran couldn't read minds, no, but Haji kept his head down. All indications pointed to the blond youth's words not quite connecting with the teenager. Inwardly, that caused some remorse. He had hoped his words would have made Haji feel better or at least on the path to. Then the cloaked figure before the Ranger uttered his name. Was that the first time Haji had ever said it?

A knock on the door. Sky blue eyes looked up from the force-user and saw none other than Bast Emblai. Corran was so thrilled to see her that he had completely forgotten his lack of torso attire. He opened his mouth to greet her but suddenly lost his voice when he noticed the crimson, flushed cheeks of his partner. The young man had never seen Bast blush before. Then it hit. He was shirtless. In front of a woman he respected more than anyone in the galaxy, save his mother. The male Ranger's cheeks flushed in return, more out of embarrassment than anything else. When Bast excused herself and shut the door, the crimson hue receded, even if the initial embarrassment did not. Other than the change in color, Corran did not show any other outward changes in expression. A type of discipline drilled into him long ago granted a relief in situations like this. He might need to apologize for that later, even if he dreaded bringing it up to his closest friend.

A few moments of silence allowed the atmosphere to settle. Haji didn't talk much and if he did, in the Ranger's experience, it was often choppy or short. The force-user was now talking a lot. The stream of words didn't feel like rambling though. What started out as a tale about Benjamin, the suspect taken into custody, began to feel oddly... personal. Corran's eyebrows slowly began to furrow as he focused on the force-user before him. A mother and child. A father, disappearing and seeking forgiveness. "A message... meant for me?" The Ranger repeated, a curious, searching look in his eyes. The message. I hope you can forgive me and don't give up hope. All of it didn't make any sense from a logical standpoint, but somehow... a feeling in his chest said it meant something. The blond youth parted his lips slightly, as if to ask something, but then merely closed them again and a brief shake of his head followed. "There's nothing to forgive, Haji. Come on, let's not leave the others standing in the hallway." It was a rational reply, but a lingering feeling that something was lost in translation. He'd have to think on it later.

Corran grabbed a white t-shirt off the end of the hospital bed and drew it over his head. He winced a little pull it down. The wound was a little sore still in certain places. With the shirt tucked in and creased smoothed out, the Ranger was finally presentable. A recognizable jacket completed the whole ensemble. When the blond youth approached the medical room door, Haji warned of Lt. Ghotti being here. The Force-user seemed unsettled by the internal investigator. Corran never had any issues with Lt. Ghotti - of course, the young man was exceptionally thorough in his conduct and after-action reports. Ghotti, more like than not, found Corran more frustrating than the other way around.

A hand rested on Haji's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll handle him together," the Ranger with confidence in his voice. With the door opened, Corran stepped forward and found the previously seen Bast Emblai, the aforementioned Lt. Ghotti, and Falynn Tikarsis, to his surprise. Had the two other Rangers and Haji come to see him? Corran repressed a grin only due to the presence of a superior officer. "Lieutenant Ghotti, sir. Nice to see you again." the male Ranger supplied along with professional posture. A similar curt nod of respect was granted to the two women Rangers present, "Ranger Emblai and Ranger Tikarsis. Pleasant greetings to you as well." It was formal and stiff. All necessary in front of a man like Lt. Ghotti.

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Falynn Tikarsis

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Based on the way Lt. Ghotti had greeted Bast, it was no surprise to hear the cold tone in her voice as she asked for leave. With a long stare, he dismissed her and fixed his full attention on Falynn. The medic did the same as she assessed the man standing before her. Plausible height, weight, and age were all noted, the information stored for later. A spark of interest gleamed in Ghotti’s eyes as he began asking a series of questions regarding her medical experience. For an unfathomable reason, Falynn had caught the lieutenant’s interest.

Bast emerged from the doorway, as his fourth question was asked. Surprised at her short visit, Falynn turned around to find the Ranger’s cheeks and ears brushed with a slight hue of red. Ranger Emblai didn’t strike her as a person who was easily embarrassed, but it was clear something had. Curious as she was, the medic knew better than to ask. Especially in the presence of the lieutenant, who was still focused on gleaning information from her. Any relevant details were surely on file, which made his motive unclear. With each passing moment, Falynn could feel her patience thinning. Either he would finish soon, or she would find a way out.

“You seem very qualified.” As before, his words held a double meaning. “Thank you, sir.” Behind her, the door opened. A convenient exit. “Request to take my leave as well. I must resume my duties.” If the lieutenant wished to continue their conversation in private, that was fine, but as of now the medic still had a task to complete. There was a short pause before she too was dismissed. Turning around, Falynn was met by the sight of Corran Velt, and more surprisingly, Haji.

The former greeted her with formal pleasantries, which she returned. “Ranger Velt, Haji, a pleasure to see you both in good health.” To her relief, both seemed to have recovered from the various physical injuries they had sustained. The latter stood nearby, head cast downward, as if uncomfortable. Although at the moment, no one was at ease. Under other circumstances, Corran, Bast, Haji, and Falynn would have been beyond these formalities, yet a fifth presence made the atmosphere thick with discomfort. Ghotti was still standing in the hall. Any previous warmth was immediately extinguished.

Falynn excused herself and quietly slipped into Room 0106, the door closing behind her. Out of the lieutenant’s gaze, she allowed herself to relax. His demeanor reminded her of a Loth-Cat awaiting its next catch. The tone of voice, the hidden meanings, it was all rather disconcerting. She chided herself for such thoughts. Falynn barely knew the man. Who was she to judge his method of inquiry? Returning to the task on hand, the medic performed the customary touch-ups and deemed the room ready for cleaning. Tapping a datapad mounted to the room’s wall, she alerted a droid. It would arrive shortly. In the meantime, Falynn walked back out to join the others. They would all handle Lieutenant Ghotti. Together.


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Bast Emblai

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Lieutenant Ghotti had yet to leave. As far as Bast was concerned, he was overstaying his welcome, and Falynn seemed to hold a similar position. Tenseness from the standoff of wills quickly overshadowed any residual embarrassment from her earlier encounter. The medic was putting on a brave face, but the other woman could tell she was uncomfortable, perhaps even offended. Her lips were becoming an ever thinner line. Perhaps the younger woman had enough grace to excuse herself politely, but the detective was done with her team being pushed around. Hazel eyes bore directly into his as she dismissed Falynn. It was technically not interfering with chain of command. She was Falynn’s senior officer and the woman had not requested leave specifically from the lieutenant. “Dismissed, Ranger Tikarsis.” If the man was so interested in her, let him have her. She was ashamed of her decisions, but she was not going to let someone with power over her use that shame as manipulation, especially over the people she lived and died for. The name Ranger Emblai could be sullied, but she would not let the man touch the names Velt, Tikarsis, or Sigidi. “What do you want, sir?”

“I am worried about your condition, Ranger.” The detective had serious doubts. “I read the Outpost Blue reports, and I think it was a mistake to send you in. Not a personal reason, of course, but perhaps an experienced man would have been better able to withstand the... conditions. It was not your fault. I think a break from duty would be wise.” An attempt at concern was inelegantly and unconvincingly sitting on the man’s face. Crimson returned to the woman’s cheeks, but this time in anger. All the female Ranger could do was blink in shock.

“Are you suggesting, sir, that if I was not part of the task force, the men would still be alive? Or perhaps that my replacement would have been able to withstand days of brutal torture with no adverse effects?” The monotonous voice was interrupted with an occasional quaver. In her anger, the typically thought out words were raw. She stood straight as a board, chin up, but her breathing was becoming shallow.

“I said nothing of the sort. I— Hello, Ranger Velt, Haji.” Wheeling around, Bast caught sight of Haji and Corran. There was no telling how long they had been standing there. Falynn seemed to be in the midst of slipping into the room. Immediate relief washed over her, shortly followed by humiliation. The man had the nerve to criticize her in front of her own team, directly after one had been kidnapped and the other shot to the chest because of her poor judgement. The woman understood what she’d done without having the evidence stand right there.

“Haji, Ranger Velt.-“ What was she supposed to say? Sorry for making you uncomfortable? Please forget you heard this? I’ve missed you? How are you feeling? Are you alright? Haji seemed to be carrying a heavy weight. She would need to talk to him privately later. Instead, she mimicked the other woman’s words, hoping she wouldn’t come off as ingenuine “- Good morning. I am thrilled to see a quick recovery by both of you.” Swallowing, she finally backed up, the others’ presence offering a sort of emotional shield. Regretfully, she looked to both men, trying to get a silent message across. This is not how I wanted this to happen. I’m sorry. You need to get out of here before you get in trouble as well. As if to spite Bast’s intent, Falynn re-emerged. Apparently they planned to be all in.

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Haji Sigidi

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Jedi Knight

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Styx
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Corran was amazing. He wasn't shaken in the slightest, as far as Haji could see. Watching him stonewall miss Bast's entrance was a sight to behold. It helped him hold back the laughter, keeping the room silent until they recuperated and continued. He analyzed Corran a bit then, thinking back on his first impressions of the pair of them. What were they to each other, he wondered. He could feel something there, but rediscovered the strange and foreign formalities of soldiers. They were too reserved, straight edges all of them. One day he'd have to pry about their feelings for each other.

The delivered message didn't seem to take root, as intended. But it had planted a seed, of that Haji was certain. Or perhaps he was hopeful, and the Force helped in that regard. Anything could happen if he believed, and everything would happen, eventually, if he saw things through. This could manifest positively or negatively, but that wasn't the point. Corran's reassurances were more impactful though. Even if he hadn't picked up on everything Haji had seen, not quite connecting the invisible link to his past that even Haji didn't fully understand, Corran had calmed Haji in his uneasy return to public life. The rangers weren't mad at him. They weren't dissatisfied with him, according to Corran. It didn't wipe away his guilt or change his attitude, depressive and remorseful, but inside he was changed for the better.

His neck shirked, slightly wincing to Corran's touch. He wasn't prepared to handle such familiarity yet, but warmed to the sentiment regardless. Keeping his head down, he allowed Corran's hand on his shoulder to let their togetherness sink in. Well, so much for hating the mean one of the bunch. He couldn't help but like Corran now. Oops! He straightened up his head after realizing he almost tilted it to embrace the man's hand with his warm ear. Nope, he could not let Corran know how he felt. He liked their at odds dichotomy. It felt fun that way.

Falynn's was the first face he saw, and it was most disarming. When his eyes unexpectedly lifted up to process her image, they immediately buckled under the weight of her kindness. Though she hadn't said anything particularly profound, it just felt different. And her crossing exit from the situation outside of the room masked his and Corran's entrance into it. His eyes darted down, then flicked from one set of toes to the next, assessing who was before him and how it made him feel. Falynn was well, good. Miss Bast was also uninjured and well, good. His sigh of relief was cut short when he recognized the third person's pristine pair of footwear and trousers and he immediately shot up a disapproving glare at Ghotti. What was he doing here?

Things were made abundantly clear when Haji heard Ghotti's doubts voiced for all to hear. Haji took note of the term Outpost Blue, and likewise Bast's mention of lives lost and brutal torture. He could hear the change in miss Bast's voice, and it quickened Haji's breaths. His fists clenched and he brimmed with hurt, a pain in sympathy and a desire to protect. He couldn't work out what he wanted to say even by the time Bast had finished her veneered greeting, deaf to her words in a fit of focus on the villain Ghotti.

"There is no one better than Miss Bast! You couldn't fill her shoes with your tiny feet if you put ten men in to make up for your small feet!"

Blurting out his jumbled frustrations as he did caught the eyes of several others nearby and silenced the area for a moment. The Lieutenant looked taken aback, surprised by the blunt force of Haji's verbal attack. But after a pause, he looked down at his feet. He lifted one up, and then the other.

"And here I thought my feet were average size. I had no idea I was so paltry," Ghotti admitted self-deprecatingly. Then he returned to his upright posture and presented an unbreakable, thin-lipped smile.

Haji diminished as soon as he realized how embarrassed he was, his criticism bouncing off of the Lieutenant's hard shell with resounding defeat. He wished Bast and the others hadn't heard that. He sounded stupid, came across childish, and was too honest for comfort. Yet again, he could only look at the floor, feeling closer and closer to it.

"Nevertheless, I remain unconvinced my young friend. Reports don't lie. They are impartial, whereas I am quite partial to Ranger Emblai. It is for her safety, and yours, that I question, what was it you said, the size of her shoes. Ranger Velt, do you recall Project Tetras? It was quite a chaotic time. But through the chaos and reshuffling of personnel, order was reestablished anew, more deserving leadership was set in place. I believe a similar tactic might serve us best here in this predicament as well. Ranger Emblai, before you go and take up your next mission, I would like to offer you a chance to redeem yourself. Because, I simply cannot sit by and watch as your reputation is tarnished. We've received a distress call from a Providence-Class carrier. I'll send the briefing to your personal devices. I'd like for you to assemble a team and answer the call. I've arranged for Ranger Gravestone to accompany you. He will be your acting oversight and team leader. He will supervise the mission and record the results. If you decide not to accept my offer, I dare say I fear for your future career, Ranger Emblai."

Haji didn't understand anything that was going on, focusing only on his sympathy for Bast. He couldn't stand the beating she was taking. It made him lose control, despite looking like a wide-eyed statue just standing there in silence. He felt completely helpless, a feeling that hung around too often for his tastes. But he was stuck in the mud in a sense, trying to figure out what exactly this mud was made of. But one thing he knew for sure, that it was all because of this Lieutenant Ghotti.

After a pause, welcoming any other futile attacks or questions, Ghotti would inevitably take his leave with a final goodbye. He'd calculated this encounter perfectly, playing at the role of benevolent benefactor. This was his game. He knew it well. The leader shuffle, it was an exercise that allowed him to scout lower ranking soldiers to replace higher ranking ones he didn't like. In a mission evaluation, each team member would be allotted time as team leader. And each team member would be ranked by their performance in several categories ranging from cooperative to quality of command. No matter what role they played in each round, they would be under evaluation. And the entire exercise would act as an affront for Bast's redemption, in actuality a checkmate for her termination as team leader. And though Ranger Gravestone had his redeeming qualities, he was specifically chosen for his hardline approach and adherence to protocol.

The summoned droid would eventually roll along towards the group and stop at the obstacle of all these bodies, frustratedly asking for them to move so that it might enter the room and do its job.

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Corran Velt

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Outside the hospital room that had served as Corran’s sanctuary and solitude in recovery, the hallway served as a bucket of cold water on how things would go with a quick return to duty. While Falynn returned Corran’s initial greeting on her way into Room 0106, and he in turn replied with a nod, Bast was already in a vocal spar with Lt. Ghotti. By the sound of it, the two were hashing it out over her past operations. A sensitive topic for his partner at the best of times and brought up in such a public way too. While the Ranger Lieutenant's words were sweet, they stung like venom.

Haji made it that much worse. The tantrum, while true in spirit, was like tripping over his own feet into a trap. Corran’s face remained as solid as stone, but internally he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. The young Force-user lacked the discipline and soldierly-restraint that the others did and likely made things worse because of it. Just when the male Ranger had been friendly to him too.

Project Tetras. Corran wasn't participatory, but archives at the Ranger HQ on Coruscant spoke of it. It was something short of an internal, bureaucratic coup only clamped down on by Chief Hudson. It was rumored to be an attempt by some political factions in the Free Worlds Alliance to gain greater control over the internal workings of the proudly independent Sector Rangers, but no proof ever came to light. The male Ranger didn't share Lt. Ghotti's enthusiastic memory. That's when the superior Ranger officer sprung his trap. An oversight mission. It sounded routine on the face of it. A distress beacon, a ship in need, but something stood out.

A Providence-class carrier? Corran’s thoughts dove into the archive of historical holobooks that were neatly organized back on the Crimson Venture. No, it wasn’t an Imperial ship. Wait, no… a CIS capital warship? How could a relic that old still be transmitting a distress beacon? Who would even be operating one? If memory served, the ships didn’t have many accommodations for an organic crew, unless they were the Rebellion refits from the Galactic Civil War. Regardless of the circumstances, this mission would be unlike anything any of them had tackled together.

"If Ranger Emblai is assembling a team, then let me be the first to volunteer for such an assignment. In all my successful operations, I have never had a more dedicated and competent team leader," Corran sounded off, his voice a professional and courteous retort, "My service record will hopefully be acceptable evidence of my talents for your squad, Ranger Emblai." The young man's eyes darted towards Ghotti, voice professionally chilling, "As the Lieutenant said himself, reports don’t lie." It was both a bureaucratic shout of support to Bast and a slight against Lt. Ghotti. It was all public knowledge that Corran had been noted for valor during Outpost Blue, even going beyond mission parameters to save lives and secure the station with the survivors of Alpha and Omega squads. That didn't even include the Transport Automaton Unlimited cases. The company had detailed a specific memo for Corran's meritorious efforts in service to their organization on behalf of the Rangers. Even if the Lieutenant thought less of Bast, a Ranger with the noted reputation supporting her, in record, word, and deed, make his accusations that much harder to prove.

On the surface, Corran gave a manual-precise salute to the departing Lieutenant. It looked every bit a respectful farewell to a higher authority. Underneath that veneer of practiced discipline, raw ambition bubbled. If he were an officer rank, then a man like Lt. Ghotti wouldn’t be protected by the chain of command and use authority like a cudgel . Things could be done the way Corran wanted and others would obey. If... no, not if. When. The blond youth's drive was too strong to deny forever. It was only a matter of time.

With the meticulous and strict officer now out of sight, the male Ranger finally released the cadet-like rigidity in his shoulders and stance. He took a few steps to stand in place where Lt. Ghotti had just stood and about-faced to look at the assembled gang. With with hands on his hips and a playful tone, the male Ranger said, “If you wanted some team bonding against a common obstacle, maybe just start a bar room brawl outside my hospital room next time. Might be easier for us.” A boyish grin punctuated the sentence. Even if Lt. Ghotti had interrupted what Corran had hoped would be a jovial return to his coworkers and friends, there was nothing stopping them from getting right back on track.

It was hard to put into words how happy the young man was to see his friends. All those days in the hospital and they were back together again. They all had been wounded -a uniting trial by fire together - and all had recovered to full health. If it wasn't a professional setting, in public, he might have hugged them. His eyes lingered on Bast as that thought passed through his head. That's when he noticed the packet in her hand. "Are those chocolate-covered Shuura?" Corran asked pointing to the snack bag, "I love those."

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Falynn Tikarsis

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Falynn emerged from the room into a conversation about feet. Straight in front of her, Haji stood facing the Lieutenant. Oh Haji. He lacked discipline, but made up for it with his good intention. Ghotti, unfazed by this petty insult, brushed it aside and launched into the next phase of his plan. Every word was precise, every sentence thought out in advance. He knew the light it would cast Ranger Emblai in. He knew it was offer she wouldn’t refuse. If he hadn’t been using this plan for his own selfish means, Falynn would have been impressed. Lieutenant Ghotti had effectively ensnared them in a tangled web of his own making where the only real way out was to play his convoluted game.

One mission included investigating a slave ring, and the next one involved a ship? And not just any ship, but a Providence-class carrier. Falynn had learned enough history to know those hadn’t been in use since...well, since the Galactic Civil War. For one to still be out there and operational was deeply intriguing. She wondered if there were any organic life forms aboard. The notion seemed improbable, especially for a ship as old as the carrier. But the other option was droids, which was just as unlikely considering their power cells would have long since been depleted. No, something else had to be at play.

Deep brown eyes trailed the Lieutenant as he briskly walked down the hall. Falynn knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would see him again. It seemed as if everyone relaxed once he left, and the natural bustle of the building returned. Corran immediately expressed how delighted he was to see them. Even if he hadn’t directly stated the fact, his stance and speech told her so. Falynn was struck with the thought that she hadn’t seen such a display of joy from him before. It suited him. Seeing such joy from anyone was refreshing in light of recent events. This moment of peace and camaraderie was one she would cherish indefinitely.

When there was a break in the conversation, Falynn addressed Bast. “So I hear you’re assembling a team.” The words were merely used as a lead in. After all, she had been standing right there during the conversation. “If you have need, I’m at your service.” Corran could offer his service record as proof of his abilities. He had participated in the infamous Outpost Blue mission with the outrageously high casualties—around 85%—or so he had mentioned. The medic didn’t need to read the report to know it had made a lasting impact on several Rangers, Bast and Corran included. Falynn, on the other hand, had no notable record within the Rangers. She could only offer her medical talents and insight from a different perspective.

Looking around, Falynn discovered that she too was happy to be in the presence of these people. The feeling was unexpected, but welcome. Other than Lt. Ghotti’s visit, this was as good a reunion as she could have hoped for. A whirring noise sounded behind the medic. The droid had arrived at last. Stepping aside to allow it to pass, Falynn turned to look at Haji. Though he didn’t look any different, something was off. She had always been pretty good at reading people, and Haji seemed to be troubled. “Haji, is something wrong?” Falynn asked as she would gently pull him aside.

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Bast Emblai

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Captain

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There was absolutely nothing the woman could do besides stand there and take the beating from her commanding officer, eyes straight forward, boring into the wall behind him. It was then that Haji’s childish nature got the best of him. Bast knew the immaturity herself but was simply able to resist it because of professional discipline. Slapping the Lieutenant would get her nowhere, except perhaps, on trial for assault. Verbal agression would also be a blatant case of subverting chain-of-command. So, she swallowed in discomfort and buried her frustration, albeit in a shallow grave. A small bit of embarrassment for Haji twinged in her chest, however. It was an unnecessary and provocative move to involve him in her fall from grace. The force user was a citizen and a child, under her protection. Haji, stay out. This is not your battle to fight.

Then the conversation took a turn for the worst. ‘Reports don’t lie’ No insult could have stung worse than the truth. The Outpost Blue reports did not lie. They laid out in detail the death of every man and woman there. That was damning enough. No need for embellishment. No need to remind the female Ranger what the carnage had looked like.

The hardest part was that Ghotti was right. The man knew how to hit where it would hurt and he used his knowledge ruthlessly. Bast’s face slackened. There was no choice in the matter and the Lieutenant’s threat was thinly veiled. The detective must complete the mission with the Providence Class Carrier, and do so perfectly.

Corran stepped up valiantly, remaining respectful while backing Bast up completely, using his own impeccable record to shield her. Falynn was quick to follow, offering her skills and company for the mission as well. Gratitude overwhelmed the Corellian woman. Ghotti had finally taken his leave, satisfied with the trap he’d sprung. Bast wanted nothing more than to be alone.

It was her partner’s humor that finally coaxed a smile to her face, despite her clouded eyes. She hoped that would be enough to convey a silent thank you. What a relief. I had no idea what sort of snack you enjoyed, but this seemed like the way to go. Oddly enough, that sort of information rarely comes up in high-stakes missions.” The medic had cornered Haji and was discussing something in hushed tones. To respect the mutual, unspoken attempt at privacy, she walked closer to him. Suddenly, Bast felt a great confusion about what to do. Was she too close? The woman took a step back, caught up in her awkward waltz with emotion. She’d been worried, in truth. The medical officer had not let her visit when he was recovering. Rather than being productive, her nights had been restless, with alternating nightmares and insomnia. Then there had been the Ghotti situation. She stepped closer again. “Sorry about earlier.” A small smirk pulled at the edge of her mouth. “How are you feeling? Really?”

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Haji Sigidi

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When Corran filled the void, closing their circle, Haji looked up at him. He bit his lip. Here it comes, the very hitch in his heart. Haji watched silently with dread as the first domino piece was set. Corran's offer to join the team was as gut-wrenching as it was light-hearted. His other words didn't matter. Haji only focused on the inevitability of his exclusion. He was no Ranger. He was never part of the team, nor would he ever be.

Then Falynn offered to join in. He looked at her, catching her subtly perky tone just as he had Corran's, like a knife to the gut. The next piece was set, as predictable as ever. The circle was closing, and Bast would start the sequence. She was their leader, and she had no choice but to follow her chain of command and take the mission, assemble her team and go. Corran's joke only made Haji feel a greater emptiness. And again, he found himself staring at the floor, fingers toying with the side of his clothes.

He would not burden them with his presence. He would not volunteer.

Haji would've been shocked, or maybe just embarrassed, to be called out in front of everyone like this, but he was too deep to see above water. So he just meandered aside with Falynn and felt his delayed reaction catch up with him upon realizing he'd been caught. He looked up at her, timid eyes sneaking a quick beat in Bast's direction to make sure he wasn't being seen, and then assimilated the question and all its implications through a series of eye movements up Falynn's clothes to their conclusion. He wore his thoughts on his sleeve, but his lips were reluctant to move.

"I-I," shouldn't have come, he nearly said. "I have to go to the bathroom," he entrusted to her in a quiet voice that begged her ear closer. He was thinking about the previous mission, but was channeling the notion through the current situation. Maybe he meant both, he wasn't sure. He shouldn't've endangered everyone then. And he shouldn't've gotten involved now. He shouldn't be here. When each of them volunteered, he knew he must withdraw. He couldn't act like nothing was wrong. But even as he asked permission to walk away, making an out for himself, his feet wouldn't move. His fingers nervously fondled the secret in his side pouch.

The PA systems chimed. Unusually, a man's monotoned voice called for a Dr. Green to report to delivery. He repeated the vague message. Then he was gone. A cheery, automated, feminine voice returned in intervals as per usual shortly thereafter. Eventually she relayed a message directly to Ranger Emblai, that transport was awaiting her arrival.

Haji stared into Falynn's eyes with a burning question. His eyes asked if the others wanted him. They asked if he was a burden, if he was allowed to be here. The pressure started getting to him. He could no longer just think it. He felt compelled to ask.

"I guess... This is a Rangers only? Thing?" It was hard to get out, but he managed to say it if only for Falynn to hear. He couldn't help it if others heard, but he'd only said it because he felt secluded enough then.

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Corran Velt

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Lieutenant

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It was a strange little thing, the little bag of chocolate-covered fruit snacks. No. He was wrong. It wasn’t strange. Looking into Bast’s clouded eyes that conflicted with a grateful smile, it was obvious that she understood him. Understood him so much that she could use intuition alone to pick out a snack the young man liked. It wasn’t strange at all. Corran couldn’t help but chuckle at the Corellian woman’s jest about high-stakes missions, even if it was unintended. Falynn had delicately guided Haji aside on some other matter and so the two long-term partners were alone. As alone as two people could be in a medical ward hallway in the daytime.

Bast stepped closer, then back, then forward again. Was she nervous? Anxious? He wasn’t until she stepped backwards. Had he done something offensive? Did his breath stink? Did he look particularly unflattering today? When she closed the distance for the final time, it put Corran at ease. None of this appeared on his features, of course, but it played inside his chest and head. The blond youth shook his head at her apology, “No need. It probably won’t be the last time you see me shirtless.” A beat. An awkward chuckle erupted and Corran rubbed the back of his head bashfully, “You know, because of getting torn in an engagement or if I get nicked again.” He had meant it innocently. Had the young man's social skills gotten rusty while in isolation? Maybe he was more anxious than he thought. If she were kind, Bast would give him a pass.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I mean that. Ranger Tikarsis did a phenomenal job at first aid. The staff here were astounded.” There was a certain pride in the male Ranger’s voice and assurance clear in the tone. Still, he placed a hand over his shoulder and rotated his arm in slow circles, “I’m a little sore, though. Can’t tell if that’s from the wound or laying around for as long as I did.” Woe if he ever disobeyed protocol and professional advice from trained doctors. Corran would have laid up in bed as long as ordered. “I did miss you though,” the young man confessed, looking directly at Bast for a moment before glancing over her shouldering at Falynn and Haji and nodding once, “I missed everyone. Shame we had to reunite under these circumstances.” A warm and heartfelt grin grew on the male Ranger’s face. “I’ll take reunited over not every time though. No matter the circumstances.”

Mechanical and disinfected voices chimed over the PA system. A transport had arrived already. Lieutenant Ghotti really had moved all the chess pieces into place for this. It didn’t matter in the end. All his plans didn’t account for that incalculable effort that people did for each other. In the background, Haji tugged at his cloak and seemed jittery – beyond his normal. Falynn couldn’t be grilling the teenager that bad. “You… considering taking him along?” Corran asked in a whisper, only briefly shifting his eyes from Bast to Haji over her shoulder and back again, “Your call. I’ll support your decision, squad leader.” It was her mission. Her test. Whatever Bast said was the way it went.

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Falynn Tikarsis

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Falynn waited as Haji found his words. He was like an open book, expressing his thoughts through his eyes, posture, and movements. When he did muster a response, it didn’t provide very many answers. There was clearly something else that was upsetting him. “If that’s really what is bothering you, the restrooms are down that hallway on the left,” Falynn said as she gestured with her arm to the hall behind them. But they both knew that wasn’t it. Haji still didn’t move, so Falynn continued to stand there, patiently waiting for him to be ready to speak again. Her gaze flicked to his fingers that were fidgeting with a pouch. What was he carrying? Just then, an announcement over the intercom stated there was a transport waiting. Falynn looked at Haji, imploring him to say what was on his mind. She wanted to help him, but they were running out of time. Her eyes were met with his own intent stare. Questions flickered by too fast to catch, but Falynn recognized the look. It was the look of someone who didn’t know if they were in the right place, who wondered if they belonged here.

Finally, Haji voiced his question. Everything he’d hinted at before clicked into place.

“Not necessarily.” Falynn knew what Haji was asking. Bast was assembling a team, she and Corran had just volunteered to go, of course he would be uncertain of where he stood in all of this. The question in his answer revealed so much more than what was said at face-value. This wasn’t just about this mission, or the past one. No, he wanted to know if he was a part of the team. “Rangers also work with a variety of other citizens. Sometimes it’s even helpful to go into a situation with an outside perspective.” Not being a Ranger meant he wasn’t bound by the same ideology and goals that they were. He wouldn’t have the same shortsightedness they might. Holding his gaze, she spoke in a lower tone. “Tell me, Haji, would you like to go with us?”

Glancing to the side, Falynn saw Bast and Corran engrossed in their own conversation. Good, there was still more time. She knew that for the young man in front of her, the answer wasn’t as simple as a yes or no. Especially because he was still burdened by the events in the Narrowlands. While Haji thought over her question, the medic tried to assuage his insecurities and continued. “The past doesn’t define your skills, abilities, or who you are. It doesn’t prove you’re a liability. A bit inexperienced, perhaps, but experience is gained over time.” Falynn had always found that to be true. In her opinion, there was no better way to learn than to participate. “And like it or not, you’ve already been linked to us ever since Ranger Emblai invited you for the last mission.” Bast and Haji seemed to share a special connection, established from the first day back in the hospital. Try as he might, Haji would find it more difficult to break his tie with her, with all of them, than he could imagine.

Having done all she could to reassure the boy, Falynn concluded with her final thoughts. “It’s okay to walk away from all this. I understand. But remember this: just because you aren’t a Ranger, doesn’t mean you’re not one of us.” There was nothing more to be said. If Haji wanted to join them, he could. If he wished to follow another path, he could. The choice was his.

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Bast Emblai

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For the first time that day, or perhaps even that week, the Correlian woman felt peace. She had a mission to think about, but that seemed distant, her closeness to Corran making it feel more so. His easy smile communicated that he had not a care in the world, and although likely untrue, the notion was comforting. Her partner’s comment about the shirt, however, sent Bast reeling in surprise. What exactly was he implying? She couldn’t quite hide the shock in the widening of her eyes, but relaxed when he explained, clearly embarrassed, even laughing a bit from relief herself. The tension was gone, replaced by the simple good nature of their... friendship. Placing a word on the relationship was difficult. The two were certainly more than partners, but now was not the time to sort out tangles of attraction and emotion. The woman silently mused whether there would ever be a time. “I prefer reunited as well. Next time, however, let’s avoid a rendezvous at a hospital.” A pause, as if the former CorSec Officer was considering saying more. “I missed you as well. Tried to visit you earlier, but the desk attendant practically forbade me.” The female Ranger left out the detail that she had tried every day.

A woman came over the public address system, politely and clearly informing Bast of her transport. Apparently, Ghotti was as efficient as he was manipulative. Her face fell, but the expression was quickly disguised behind a placid, stoic expression. Falynn and Haji were still talking. It was as if the young Force user had placed a wall between himself and her. The desire to reach out fought with the knowledge the kid would likely turn her away and suffer in silence. Perhaps he felt guilty or like he did not belong. Perhaps he found her strangely intimidating. Gratitude swelled up within Bast for her medic. Not only did Falynn excel at her job, she also had a knack for putting others at ease. Not for the first time, the other woman was likely handling the situation better than Bast ever could. The detective could not help with everything and do it well.

Haji saw to her heart and helped her through whatever burden she carried. Falynn was always where she needed to be, when she needed to be there. Corran was her anchor. She had spent years putting together teams, and the task force minus Haji simply did not gel perfectly. Although the three rangers might be a good team, they were incomplete. There was no obvious logical or tactical reason, but gut feeling told Bast so. A nod to Corran indicated her answer. She appreciated his backup more than the man could ever know.

“Haji.” There was no hesitation in the voice. It was warm and clear. She motioned him over. “You are coming along as well, under my orders. I need a competent associate.” Once the doe-eyed boy was closer, she gave him a small smile. “If someone gives you trouble, give them badge number 1214.”

——

The transport was a medium ship, painted in uniform silver and white sections with a blue stripe stretching from dorsal to port. The pilot, an older man, waited by the ramp, datapad in hand. After the check in, he waved his passengers inside and settled in the sectioned-off cockpit. Five rooms were provided as the trip would likely take around eighteen hours. Bast settled next to a holotable. The air smelled of cleaning chemicals and soap. The carpet looked newly cleaned. Although they were not traveling in luxury, the woman could not complain about her team’s accommodations. Taking a few moments to run her fingers contemplatively through pulled-back hair, she finally spoke. “This assignment is going to be anything but easy. I... need to accomplish the objective perfectly and I need your support to do that. I know you volunteered, but should you like to back out, the ship will remain in the area until I return.” This was her battle to fight, and bringing others into it seemed foreign and strange, yet they had asked. She doubted she would sleep any of the eighteen hours.


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