Babel Fish Out Of Water [Jakarn and Illena]

[Coci Heavenshield]

Nar Shaddaa
Refugee Sector

It was difficult to tell when night fell. This place, this Nar Shaddaa was alive with so many beings from all parts of the galaxy and each of them trying to find their way in which to survive it. No matter how much one had or how little, the threat of death was always close behind, but Vik was learning quickly, this was par for the course no matter where you went. That day he arrived here, not knowing where he would end up, or what to expect was still very vivid in his mind. After all his belongings had been stolen, he wandered the streets directionless, hungry and scared until fate played a merciful hand and he found one gentle soul that lived here among the trash bins and offered him a piece of food that he did not have to share, nor could he afford to.

That kind moment lead to another, or rather future smiled on him. It just so happened that the alley in which he had found himself was the back end of a hostel in which weary travelers seek out for the night and find a place to sleep among the scuttling creatures. One of the workers tasked with taking out the trash, found him clinging to his knees, cold and afraid and took him in, gave Vik a hot meal which tasted wonderful but in reality, how knew what was in it. But nothing ever comes free in this galaxy, so payment was .. work for your supper.

And so, Vik took up a job taking out the trash, giving the sheets a good shake, there was no laundry, and cleaning the facilities which took more of his strength than anything. He did not know whatever happened to the previous night manager of the hostel, only rumours about him being killed at some place call the Romping Rugger, someone looking for repayment on gambling debt for the like. However, Vik was given the job and that suited him more and at night he did not have to deal with people as much, as they mostly all head out for the night.

He kept to himself mostly, as he always has done, when not on duty he would stay in his room and wait for the day in which he could leave this place. It was just far too busy for him, too many people with too many secrets .. and those where the worst secrets his mind could deal with.

He sat the front counter, sipping a hot drink called caf, he discovered and he took a liking to. It was quiet tonight, just the way he liked it.

[member="Jakarn Verd"] | [member="Illeana Croft"]

 

[Lief]

She could hear them from behind, their boots slapping against duracrete pavement with all the grace of a bergruufta. Their heavy breathing was easy for her to pick up on as their pace began to slow and the need for a breather took over their bodies. She could practically feel the burning of their lungs.

Despite this, she did not let up.

Each muscle in her body was pushed to its limits, and when the painful signs of lactic acid build up became known to her she reached for the ever present metaphysical energy and allowed it to wash over her. The respite it provided was ecstasy, the hard hitting adrenaline which accompanied it forced sweat to break out over her skin.

One corner was cut, then he vanished down the side of an alleyway. The first open door she spotted was entered, and swiftly closed behind her as finally the fatigue caught up with her.

Panting, shivering from the chilled air which struck her overworked body, the woman stumbled inside the almost dead establishment and pressed her back against the wall. She could feel her lekku twitching uncomfortably as she clung to the shadows and simply listened.

No sounds came from outside the door she had just closed, and so with a heavy sigh of relief she peeled away from the wall.

Slowly but surely her body began to change; luminous blue skin darkened, lekku shrunk inward to be replaced by dark brown hair, and all of the womanly curves gave way to brute strength. Her shadow grew a good foot, shoulders broadening, before the transformation was complete.

And then, with an air of casualness, Jak stepped forth into the heart of the hostel, away from the darkness he had just found himself within.

He hadn't realized that there were still people in the foyer. How had he allowed himself to overlook such a glaring fact?

Too busy focusing on what lay outside. Gonna get yourself killed with that sort of chit.

Playing it cool, he sauntered up to the counter and managed a slight grin of greeting to the man sat sipping at what smelled to be caf. "Ey, any chance you got a room spare man?" Not that he had anything in the way of credits, of course. In that moment he regretted switching from the twi'lek, he found some men were more than eager to help a woman in need. At least, more so than their fellow men.

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"]

 

[Lief]

Asha could not breathe.

As she came upon the building whose sign she could barely see through blurred vision she all but collapsed. Through strength of will and urgency alone she managed to push open the main entrance where she finally faltered and slumped to her knees. Blood was pooling from somewhere at her chest, though her crimson-stained clothing made it difficult to tell at a glance exactly where. Her tangle of red hair was windswept and matted, and somehow she seemed to be missing one boot.

It had been quite the unexpected turn of events which had brought her to that point in time, and as she lay there in the entrance foyer it all relayed within her mind like a really bad holoflick.

Landing on Nar Shaddaa during the New Year Celebrations, making her way down the Promenade, only to be met with the sounds of explosions and blaster fire. Even now her ears rang, every other bit of noise drowned out by the whine of enhanced tinnitus. The frag had gone off right by her, the earsplitting sound it produced was the last thing she could really remember before disorientation kicked in. A warmth had spread over her chest, unexpected yet oddly comforting in that moment.

From there she'd merely stumbled on. Each step had her vision blur further, before the comfort turned to a searing pain as the warmth turned to outright heat.

Her first thought had been her ship, or more precisely her lack thereof. She hadn't dared bring it to Nar Shaddaa of all places, she'd opted instead to hitch a ride to the Smugglers' Moon. How foolish she had been to come here on the busiest night of the year. Alone. Without her ship.

As she lay there, all too aware of the blood she was losing, the only thought left in her mind was who was going to take care of [member="Caedyn Arenais"] in her absence.

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

"What...HEY!"

The credits were swiped from the table in a heartbeat. Distracted by the one "paying" her for a smooth job well done, his accomplice sneaking across the bar from behind was to take back the money in a staged theft. They got the weapons, and the credits. Illeana got nothing. Fat chance!

Without thinking, she grabbed her bottle of ale and smashed it against the head of her now "ex" client, covering him in glass and drink as he collapsed off his stool. She didn't stick around to gloat, she simply took him down and ran after the lackey with HER payment.

Thundering across the crowded bar, Illeane side-stepped and barged through the baying crowd here to drink, schmooze and watch sports on the Holofeeds.

"Move! Move it!"

Her shouts were drowned out in the crowd, and she was losing her man as he headed to the neon illuminated doors leading outside to the streets of the refugee sector. There WAS a quicker way out however. Illeane darted right, mounted a plush sofa still in mid-run, up onto the table full of drink and then...out the window.

She leapt, knee and elbow pointed out to impact first against the glass, one arm covering her face. The window smashed into thousands of splinters across the ground and few shocked passersby, but Illeana crunched onto the ground and continued running, forgoing the few slices against her skin.

The girl was not going to lose her credits! She needed them - it was her life. Illeana looked this was and that, and it appeared she had lost him after all.

A crowd was gathering around the entrance to one building, a hostel. Perfect place for the creep to try and mingle with, looking through at what appeared to be an injured woman. Still, the creep didn't care, he just feigned interest and kept his head down.

The out of nowhere, Illeana's hands grabbed the man's arm, twisting it behind his back tight in the crowd.

"Think you'd lose me that easily? You stick out like a sore thumb with your stench!" With pleasure, she grabbed the bundle of credit chips from his grip and pocketed them in her greatcoat. "Thanks, sleemo."

She bent his fingers back, all four in her grip, and the bones cracked like pencils. His feeble cry caught little attention as Illena led him away from the crowd more interested in the drama of the hostel. With a kick to the arse for good measure, she sent him groaning and nursing his broken fingers back to the slums. Not wanting to appear dishevelled, Illeana Croft brushed down her coat and swept a stray lock of red hair from her face. She then turned to the crowd and walked through, interested herself, and saw the girl on the floor.

Something inside her called out that this girl was like her...she was a Force user, and one she had felt before...somewhere...

"For feth's sake," she sighed, pushing through to kneel by the girl, bleeding out, "someone get some help, don't just gawp!" Her hands were already bloodied from resting them on the ground. She looked up to see more on-lookers, the man behind the counter and one in front. "Get some help then!"

Bloody men.

[member="Asha Hex"] | [member="Jakarn Verd"] | [member="Vik Fagrrowan"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

His head was lowered over is journal reading the last line he had wrote back to himself, as he took a sip of cafe. He scratched out the last line, not happy with the wording as he sighed at the thought that he had probably more time to remain in this place, before having enough credits to buy his ticket out of here. He was smarter about where the next destination would be this time, Umbara. He did not relish the idea of remaining in Hutt space any more. His contemplation was interrupted by a new comer to the hostel, a young man tall and athletic, Vik ascertained from only looking him over up till his chin before his eyes lowered again.

“Yeap”, Vik stood up from his chair to take one of the keycards off the hook and the less words spoke to the patrons the better. They were only ever fly by nighters anyway, no point in getting friendly. Not that he would anyway. And it was best to keep ones business to one’s self, and the patrons preferred it that way as well, if someone was ‘wanted’ by the authorities it was best to keep your nose clean of them. Authorities, now that was a joke. Vik slide across the keycard to the young man, “Pay up front. Ten credits if you want use of the facilities, if not than five”.

Before a transaction could be made, his Aelvarian ears were assaulted by the sudden intrusion of noise from the outside, as the doors burst open and a girl entered in haste and collapsed to the floor in a bloody mess. He shot up from his chair once more and quickly moved from behind the counter and then another before he had time to slam the doors shut again. Whatever or whoever had done this to her might be close behind to finish off the job. So much for his quiet night.

“Get help? Who do you think is going to come to help? This is the refugee sector, no one cares here”. He did not look at the young woman that sprang in out of nowhere, making eye contact with people was not an option and he pulled the rim of his hat down over his eyes. Besides the girl on the ground was in a bad way and there was no time for debate.

“Help me get her off the floor and into that room”, he inclined his head toward a room at the back of the counter. It was his room, the cleanest room in the place. He would not sentence this young lady to her death by placing her bleeding in any of the other germ infested rooms. Vik gently as he could slide his arms under the red head girl’s upper body and waited for someone to take hold of her legs. They could find out the extent of her injuries once she was made more comfortable.

“So what is your name?” he asked her in an attempt to keep her from falling into unconsciousness.


[member="Illeana Croft"] | [member="Asha Hex"] | [member="Jakarn Verd"]

 

[Lief]

Ten credits a night?

Did this fool think he was made of credits? Truth be told he didn't even have one to his name, yet he wasn't about to admit as much just yet. Not with the keycard in his sights... Thankfully, before any non-existent credits could be asked for, the door swung open and chaos ensued within the lobby.

Taking full advantage of the distraction as the man hurried over to where a girl lay dying, Jak slipped the keycard from the front desk and pocketed it. Then and only then did he even contemplate feigning care and offering to help. He didn't give a rats arse what happened to the redhead, but he knew better than to let his humanity slip in moments like these. Nobody liked to judge a man more than when he was heartless.

Cruel. That was the word they used.

"I got this," he said, rolling his shoulders as he approached the mass of bodies. He completely ignored the woman who had begun yelling at them before they even really had a chance to react, instead taking up the lower half of the one bleeding out and hefting her toward the room the man had indicated toward.

"Better fetch something to stop the bleeding, Lady," he directed at [member="Illeana Croft"] who had been left the only one without role in that moment, "Don't just gawp."

Maybe to most now wasn't the time to get petty, but hey she had been the one to start out by yelling. Wasn't so easy to be useful all the time, was it?

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"] [member="Illeana Croft"]

 

[Lief]

Her vision had begun to tunnel, fading at the edges until a faint speck of light remained dead center. A pinprick amidst an ocean of black, like one solitary star in the void of space.

There was no pain anymore, she just felt... Cold. A tremor had taken over her body, and she breathed as though she stood within a tundra. Long bated breaths... The only sound that made any sense to her aside from the never ending hum in her ears.

She had experienced so much in her short lifespan. Wonder and awe, mystery and majesty, bright lights and a suffocating darkness... She had known elation, and misery, acceptance, and rejection, freedom, and enslavement. Hers had been a life of endless adventures, one journey bled into another. Was this to be the longest journey of all? That which spanned the rest of forever?

Asha had never really given much thought into what came after life. Though everything returned to the Force, she did not know exactly what that would entail. A distinct lack of anything? An afterlife? Would she even have a consciousness as she did now?

The latter made her heart race, though she held her breath. For what was she without her thoughts? What were any of them if not vessels for imagination and ideas?

She had not spoken to [member="Jericho"] in weeks. Had not told her Father how much he meant to her, how much she loved him, in so very long... Theirs was an unorthodox relationship at best, but it had always worked for them. Very little affection, and much less in the way of physical manifestations. That thought brought with it a slurry of regret, she should have expressed herself more, she should not begin the dance of death without him knowing.

Yet already that grim harbinger of desolation had her within its embrace. The music, mellow yet haunting, floated through the infinitely turbulent passages of her mind. Sweet, intoxicating, alluring... It called to her, and while her body succumbed her mind rejected.

Voices broke through the whine of violins. Eyes already distant tried to focus, until the shadow of a man all but eclipsed the former pinprick of light. Her mouth moved though she did not know what - if anything - was said. She did not comprehend what had even been asked of her. Yet somehow... Somehow she had responded all the same. A single word, broken, mumbled, barely audible at all.

"Asha."

In the end, when it came down to it, that was all she was. A name.

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"] [member="Illeana Croft"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Iellla placed a bloodied hand on the girl’s side, and one to check her pulse. But she was distracted by the almost matter-of-fact casualness of these men. At least they both came to help, one who she assumed was the night manager and another just a visitor?

Either way, he had a bad attitude. Iellana scoffed and couldn’t believe her ears.

"Gawp? That’s just what you were doing, you fool. Just watch where you’re walking."

With a scowl, she un-looped her red scarf and gave the injured girl her attention, not the ego-bruised men carrying her. There was a wound, somewhere, and Illeana had to pull open a layer of bloodied clothing until she found the dark crimson core resting on the gash. It looked like a stab wound? She was no doctor – she had no idea.

She held her folded scarf over the gash to try stem some of the blood, and she called over her shoulder.

"You better have called the emergency services or I’ll come out here and break your fingers!"

Illeana had to have faith they would actually get the professionals here.

When the girl croaked her name, it didn’t mean anything.

"Okay, Asha, just stay calm, don’t talk and help will be here soon.” She looked up at the night manager. "Do you have anything to give her to help? Where’s your first aid kit?"

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"] | [member="Jakarn Verd"] | [member="Asha Hex"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

It was moments like these that reminded Vik of why he had decided to pull back from associations with people, the yelling of the woman that had blundered into the place was hurting his Aelvarian ears, as they are sensitive to such high pitched noises. Besides, she had not listened to a word he had said, no one was going to come to their aid let alone his poor unfortunate girl bleeding all over his bed sheets. The big lad had placed her down with a care and lightness that would be normally counter to the look of him, but Vik was grateful for the help and nodded as much to the man with a slight smile. Any sense of propriety was left to the wind in situations like these and all that mattered was trying to help the pretty girl.

With a soft voice he spoke to the other young girl in the room, "I don't know where you think we are, but this is the refugee sector and the only help that this girl is going to get is from us. Over there... ", he pointed to a small cupboard, "Is a clean sheet. Can you please get it and start ripping it into sections so I can bandage the girl and try and stop the bleeding. If you want her to get good help and a chance to survive, then we need to get her off this planet", and to somewhere less unforgiving. "You know anyone with a ship?", the question was asked with a strong sense of hopelessness as anyone down in this sector very rarely has two credits to rub together, let alone own a ship.

Now his attention returned to the girl on his bed, after the wounds had been revealed it was clear that she had something sticking into her chest. A piece of metal or glass it was hard to tell but it had penetrated her just below the collar bone and dangerously close to an artery but good fortunate had played a part in this and she would survive it. With the scarf that the young lady had pressed against the wound, Vik tried his best to clean away the blood. Water would have been better but no one can trust the water here, it is barely fit for consumption, and never to be applied to an open wound.

He pulled up the only blanket he had and covered her as best he could trying to keep Asha warm to keep away shock setting in, "Asha, that is a pretty name", he continued to keep her awake. "Don't try and speak but keep awake and concentrate on my voice". And little by little the wound area become somewhat more visible, there was smaller pieces of debris embedded into her skin but they were not a concern just yet. And once the young lady had the ripped sheet prepared, they would all need to assist Asha upward so Vik could bound her torso, and maybe providence would also come to their aid and they would find a way out.

​

[member="Illeana Croft"] | [member="Asha Hex"] | [member="Jakarn Verd"]​

 

[Lief]

By this point Jak was done trying to point out the conscious woman's holier than thou hypocrisy.

In an attempt to keep the attention on the dying girl, as opposed to the credits he'd owe for the room, he decided the best thing to do was simply play along with the current plight. He set the redhead down gently, more so than he had even really meant to, before stepping back so that [member="Vik Fagrrowan"] could get a good look at her. He seemed to be the one in charge around these parts, not just where the hostel was concerned but also with regards to their current situation. Jak could tell this wasn't by choice, that he would have been happier if his night had never been interrupted at all, even had there not been so much blood to deal with.

He could respect that. Other people weren't fun to be around, unless they had something to offer.

While [member="Illeana Croft"] was asked to fetch something to use as a bandage, Jak found himself left floating without purpose. "Got any liquor in this place?" He knew that Miss High-and-Mighty over there would love to jump down his throat for that statement, but he looked to the man expectantly anyway, "I've seen it used to sterilize before. Unless either of y'all carry a laser sword," Now there was a novel idea, what would be the chances of him running into a fellow Forcie in a rundown spot like this? " 'cause then we could just cauterize it."

The keycard in his pocket was a heavy reminder of his desire to drop down and rest for a few hours. He kinda envied Miss Bleed-Out for being able to do exactly that if she wanted. Well... Sort of. She did have the hostel worker trying to keep her awake.

Realizing that the man was trying to lift the girl up so that the make-shift bandages could bind the wound, Jak gently reached out to take the load off him. The girl's face was rested to his shoulder for support, one hand on the back of her neck to keep her in place. The shrapnel would need to be removed of course, but first they'd need something to properly clean the wound. And hopefully the woman's query on the medkit would prove fruitful, as most carried some sort of wound-closing device, whether bacta-glue or a vibroneedle for sutures.

 

[Lief]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAWFcAfN3kc​

​

A steady swaying overcame her senses, a motion she had not experienced since she was a babe.

She could picture it now, a tiny redheaded toddler in the arms of her doting Father. [member="Jericho"] had taken on the role of single parent without question or complaint, regardless of how suddenly Asha had been dropped in his lap; she had been barely a few weeks old when the woman who had birthed her finally tracked him down, of course she hadn't been the one to actually take the child to him. Heavens, no, she had no plans of ever looking upon the Lorrdian or their child again.

Memories floated through her mind, piercing the black which had become all she could see since falling upon the foyer floor. The sounds around her were muffled beyond recognition, the odd hint of a word breaking through yet even then she couldn't be certain it was what she deduced it to be. It was as though her head was submerged under water. It was... Isolating. Harrowing. Haunting.

Another tremor ran through her. Why was she so cold?

Something soft gave way beneath her, and she let out a quiet groan. More voices she couldn't comprehend, definitely more than one from the way they overlapped. Lay there she felt so helpless, so useless. She wanted to stand up, in fact she made a move to sit before her chest set her on her back again with a barely concealed whimper of pain.

Her eyes fluttered open, but still all she could see was a pinprick of light. That wasn't right...

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"] [member="Illeana Croft"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Illeana looked at the proprietor when he asked about a ship. She had one, and it was close, yes. But she didn’t know him. At all. Nor this abrasive talking fool. Or the bloodied girl. Was this something she was willing to throw herself into head-first? To be honest, she wanted to get away from this place as fast as she could.

About to speak, the arrogant one talked about laser swords - it was a good idea to be fair. Yet she wouldn’t dare reveal her sisters lightsaber hilt. This was not a tool – it was a symbol, and she was not going to wield it around common folk. Besides, she would probably take her head off with it.

"No, sorry, I don’t have a lightsaber, I take it that’s what you mean."

She didn’t technically. Her sister did. Illeana just carried it.

The girl opened her eyes.

"Well she’s not dead, that’s good. For God’s sake where is help? Did anyone actually call for any?"

She stood up and scoffed, shaking her head – she didn’t need this now! Maybe she should just take off, slink out to the crowds and head back into the stars. There was nothing to gain from being here. Grabbing the sheet from the cupboard, Illeana began to rip it up. It was difficult to do, but with a few grunts and strains through gritted teeth, she managed to pull strands away.

"Here," she handed them to the decent one of the two men and continued ripping. She looked to the arrogant one. "How about you go find your drink and stay out of the way until we get her sorted, right?”

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"] | [member="Jakarn Verd"] | [member="Asha Hex"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

First aid kit, nope did not have one but Vik sure wished they had, any patron in this place was lucky to get clean sheets. As for calling for help, the young lady did not seem to understand that in the refugee sector no one would hear you scream, let alone come to your aid. It was too dangerous to do so as most of the time if anyone did they were the ones that ended up dead as it was a ruse for theft or worse. But Jakarn had a good idea, strong booze would do the trick in cleaning the wound but this piece of debris needed to be removed, but first things first he needed a clean area on her body to work with or infection would set in.

"Across the wall", he pointed to a door directly opposite his, "Is the bosses office, in a locked cupboard you will find some", Most of the time when the boss was here he would drink himself into a stupor, Jakarn would need to break into both to get to it though and Vik knew he would loose his job over it too. Vik laid the girl Asha gently back on the bed and revealed the wound more as the other two talked about lightsabers and swords which Vik no no knowledge of, he did not even know what they were, his focus was on the wound. You can do this, he convinced himself. He had experience in mending creatures in Averlorn on Midvinter that had injured themselves mostly through others attacking them for food. He had spent most of his young life within their company rather than the Aelvar or beyond the enchanted mists in the realm of the Valkyri.

Before him dangled the first piece of the torn sheet, and just at this point, Vik forgot to avert his eyes from her's. As she made eye contact with him, while admonishing Jakarn, the images of her secrets flashed through his mind. There was so much hidden in this girl, that she kept locked in the back waters of her mind but his 'gift' was able to see them all. He drew in a deep grasping breath and shook his head trying to rid his mind of them, he hates this 'gift' it is the entire reason he withdrew from all forms of society in the first place. She had lied to them, for reasons that common sense would permit in the fact she did not know them at all, but still she had the means by which to help this girl and would not. Even through all her ranting that no one would come to help. She stood there not willing to do so herself.

Once Jakarn had gone to get the booze, "Why did you lie?", he asked her softly and he pulled his gaze from her back to the wound of Asha. The bleeding was subsiding and congealing around the debris he would have to remove the piece of metal sooner rather than later, Jakarn had to hurry.

​

[member="Jakarn"] | [member="Asha Hex"] | [member="Illeana Croft"]​

 

[Lief]

"Look, Lady," he began, finally seeming as though he was losing his patience with how many times she'd asked the same questions and gotten the same answer, "There's no help to get. Maybe you should focus on what we do have to work with, rather than what's absent, no?"

Her comments about the alcohol made him roll his eyes. Was she so dense?

"I ain't trusting you to hold the lass up while he binds her wounds. No offense, love, but you don't look like you can manage dead weight."

Turning his attention back to the employee he gave a short nod of thanks and ever so slightly eased the girl until her head settled against the pillow. No sense in making the damage she'd sustained any worse, besides the longer this went on for before she died the more chance he had of keeping the keycard and getting a free night of boarding.

"On it, thanks man."

Hurrying toward the door, at least he rushed until he was on the other side of it and then his pace slowed ever so slightly, Jak ventured into the office and tested a few of the cupboards until he found the one which was locked. His fingers dug into his back pocket, digging out a small ion device which could disrupt basic elecromagnetic frequencies like the ones which most often kept simple locks closed. Such as those found in rundown establishments like this one. No sign of forced entry when all was said and done. Just the way he preferred it.

Inside he found quite the stash of items beside the alcohol, and as he pulled a bottle or two free he also slid a few credit chips into his pocket. Just incase the man remembered and demanded those ten credits. He'd earned his supper, no?

Shutting it, and removing the device from the lock so it could remain closed, he began to venture back to the room...

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"] [member="Illeana Croft"]

 

[Lief]

The longer she lay there, listening to the odd sounds that were muffled and incoherent, the more she realized something was wrong.

Beyond the blood loss and the sore head, beyond feeling dizzy and numb and strange, two of her key senses were completely out of whack. No matter what she did she could not focus enough to see beyond the slight pinprick, nor hear beyond the droning hum.

"I can't... see..." she said, or at least... That's what she thought she said. It was likely a little more unintelligible than that in execution, slow and slurred. She moved one bloodied hand, grateful that she was actually capable of doing so, and brought it to her face. The tiny pinprick disappeared, before she dropped her hand back to her side and saw it reappear once again.

Whatever she was lay on was at least soft. Softer than what she recalled being placed upon a few minutes before when she'd finally collapsed.

"D-Did you say something..?"

Her head turned toward the direction of [member="Vik Fagrrowan"] when he asked the question, concerned that it might have been directed at her though not entirely certain. There had been other voices in the room, if she'd been able to deduce them correctly.

As her mind began to return from the brink it had been suspended on, she could feel her frustrations growing. She hadn't felt so isolated since leaving the Durasteel Graveyard many moons ago.

[member="Illeana Croft"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Illeana held her hands up in defeat and stood back, before tossing the rags down.

"Fine. Do it yourself. I don’t want to be ‘dead weight’ to anyone do I."

No help was coming, so why was she bothering so much? As always, taking things personally and on the chin to sort out. What had that done for her? Nothing. She couldn’t help anyone, and when she did she just looked stupid. Or desperate.

Brushing past the arrogant one, not looking at him, Illeana walked to the counter and took a bottle in her hand. It was open, and it smelt strong. So she took a hefty swing, the liquid sloshing against the glass, and then slurped as she sat it back down.

Wiping some excess from her mouth, the girl’s body shook a little at the strong alcohol, and she perched on a thick stool, looking back into the room at the injured girl being treated.

"If she’s talking, she’s not dead, so let her rest. You’ll get nothing out of her until she’s composed herself. Check her vitals at least."

She looked away, feeling the weight of the credits in her side pocket. Why hadn’t she just carried on walking? She didn’t even want to be here, not with this sort of degrading, irritating company and a girl mumbling in a near death state.

What a mess.

[member="Asha Hex"] | [member="Jakarn"] | [member="Vik Fagrrowan"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

The environment in which he worked was not conducive for healing to say the least, what with the state of the place and that girl. The only sensible one was the man and the injured girl had a good excuse for not being coherent. For all her protesting, the highly strung girl did little and lied for whatever reason, Vik assumed she had reasons for it outside of not knowing them. Vik watched in complete bewilderment as the nagging girl took one of the bottles and began to drink, she had just admonished the man for wanting to do the same, when he had no intentions of it but to help get something to disinfect the wound area, but now was not the time to speculate on the state of mind of the girl.

Vik gave the man a thankful nod and took one of the bottles from him, before drenching the rag in the liquid. With the wound area revealed, he began to swab it and soon the open wound was visible without the congealed blood. "She is in no fit state to compose herself, that is a good part of the problem. If he don't keep her awake she will fall into shock .. unconsciousness from where she might not come back from". He said with a growing irritated voice.

The pretty one laying on his bed, for a brief moment, came back to them which he was pleased about, "Your sight will return, don't worry just try and remain listening to my voice". Vik raised his hand and placed it directly over the wound, not touching her but allowing his hand to remain hovering. It was strange to him how he could still feel the presence of the Frostvatn as far away from Midvinter as he was, and there was something else within him that he could not place. A power that come from somewhere else, different and stronger which scared him. It was an unknown and would manifest in him when he was under stress or placed in danger.

He looked down into the girls face, her eyes a blank canvas with her sight temporarily gone and nothing happened, no flashes of images to plague his mind and for once he was taken aback by it, it was the first time he was able to look at someone without them, maybe this was a clue on how he could stop it? "I am going to try and remove the piece of metal in your chest", it was difficult to know if she would feel much pain but he would try and reduce that as much as possible.

From his palm, the green tendrils of power issued forth, swirling in a thin line toward the wound and entered it, to Asha his 'touch' would be as cold as ice. Vik centered his concentration on the metal piece, the tendrils wrapping around it, he could see it in his mind's eye and slowly it lifted from it's resting place and moved toward his palm. Once the piece was out of her body, a balloon of blood followed it, spilling on her skin and immediately Vik covered it with the soaked rag. Yet he continued his work, as best he could knitting the flesh to mend the cuts and broken vessels before sealing the wound.

The most dangerous part of the 'operation' was passed, the rest of the smaller piece embedded in her could be removed when they find her a better place to do so. He placed his hand on the girls forehead, she was very warm, her temperature high and so he soak a fresh rag and wiped away the beading sweat. "Your wound is sealed and the debris gone, but it will take time to mend properly, but you are out of danger".

​

[member="Asha Hex"] | [member="Illeana Croft"] | [member="Jakarn"]​

 

[Lief]

The room was virtually silent when he slid back inside, hazarding a swift glance toward the woman who had decided it was the time to start drinking - and rolling his eyes in the meantime - before handing off the bottle of clear alcohol (something which he rarely saw in slums such as these) to the man.

While he worked to clear and clean the wound, Jak remained silent. Some might have taken it as a thoughtful quiet which had settled over him, but in truth he just couldn't be bothered with risking more arguments with the high strung woman who seemed more likely to snap at them than anything else. At least she had stopped asking them to go and get help.

"Do you want me to lift her, so you can wrap the wounds? Last thing you want right now is an infection."

How many times had he suffered through such? The stench was bad enough, but by the time his Masters had given a damn enough to get it seen to he'd been sick, almost septic, and had he not been at risk of death he doubted that they'd have done anything at all. No, the more protection the better.

"Nice work, by the way, I didn't take you for a Forcie..." The last few words he'd said in a hushed tone, in case the woman hadn't noticed what he'd done to heal the wound. Some were zealously against Force Users, no sense in causing further anguish this evening. Jak himself was just wanting to go to bed, which now the girl seemed stable was looking to be a very real option in the near future.

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"] [member="Illeana Croft"]

 

[Lief]

She could feel a moment of pressure within her chest, before a sharp exhale escaped her.

The same warmth which had flowed from her freely earlier could be felt pooling around her chest, though whoever it was that stood over her seemed to find a way to control it rather swiftly. There was a stinging sensation which had her wincing, a frightfully cold liquid wiping away the warmth, and as much as it pained her it also brought back her breath and kick-started a fight for survival within her.

More words she couldn't understand, three distinctly different tones. If she had to guess two males, and one female. Her mind began to wander as she could feel the pain begin to lessen and numb. Wondering who it was who stood in the room with her. Who it was who had - as far as she could tell - saved her life.

Reaching out through the Force, she began to focus on the area around her. Turning her head, she began to see strange colours painted on an otherwise dark backdrop. The faint signs of objects which made up the room, and the glowing vibrancy of three distinct lifeforms. Some calmer than others.

She turned her head to look toward the one who stood over her, taking in his presence in the Force with curiosity. Her lips moved, and though she knew what she had said - a quiet "Thank You" - she did not actually hear it for herself.

Asha could only hope and pray that the effects were not permanent.

[member="Vik Fagrrowan"] [member="Illeana Croft"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

A small smile tweaked at the corner of his lips as the girl spoke in all but a whisper but the thanks was felt from the heart he knew that. His back pushed into the chair and Vik rested his hands on his knees feeling somewhat fatigued from the use of the Frostvatn. Jakarn had been a great help but he turned toward the man with a puzzled look, "What is a Forcie?". This was not a term Vik knew of, nor would understand but although the force was most present in his kin and himself it was something very different to them. Vik pushed his back side off the chair and let out a long breath of relief, "If you would, that would be great", he had one last clean bandage in which to wrap the girl and her wound.

Once Jakarn had the girl secured, Vik bound her as best he could and made sure the blanket was tucked around her to keep her warm regardless of her temperature. Her fate was her own now, he had done all he could save for getting her out of this place, which come the morrow, he would have to do. He doubt that once the boss returned he would have a job, not that that mattered to Vik, it had been a means to an end and he was certain he had enough credits tucked away to be able to get the young girl off planet. Where he would go with her, he had no idea.

Vik cast a look toward the other girl, [member="Illeana Croft"] now sitting still and asleep, she was probably a good soul deep down under all that bluff. So he took up his jacket, the only thing in the room that would serve as a blanket and placed it over her sleeping form. She was quite now, a blessing to them at this point and come the morning she might be gone, or she might stay .. either way, she had tried to help and held concern in her that was rare in these parts.

Something inside of Vik tweaked, a small flicker of a flame kindled into life as he turned toward Jakarn. A sense of mischief playing on his features as his mouth bared his teeth in a smile. "Give me back the keycard", he asked placing out his hand for it. "After all your help I am not going to give you that room". Vik walked to a draw and took out another, and handed it to Jakarn. It would be the keycard to the boss quarters, the best rooms in the place and there is a cabinet filled with drinks.

"When the boss finds out what has happened here, I doubt I will have my job. You will ... also, find a .. strong box", that is all Vik said as he was certain Jakarn would understand the meaning.

[member="Asha Hex"] | [member="Jakarn"]