Family is What you Make it

[Kay-Larr]

Kay had followed [member="James Justice"] with her own tea in hand. And it was not surprising to see where he had gone. What was surprising was some of the stories he told. She hadn't heard them before. If she had known that he was this tormented, then she wouldn't of asked him to try to capture Thraxis for her.

Soon [member="Jessica Justice"] and [member="Mystique "]followed inside. Everyone was drawn here, in this room, drawn to both [member="Ryn'Dhal"] and James. Neither one of them wished for pain of the other. And it was very touching. Too touching.

Kay clenched her jaw tight as she looked down to Ryn, giving his nose a gentle touch as she had done twice before to be sure that he was real. Then she stepped back. This was all too familiar. Friends that were like family, each always there for the other. She had that kind of life before. With her late husband and their friends, up until he was sacrificed and their adopted children were taken away from her.

She quietly slipped out of the room to get away from all of the emotion. Kay didn't want to let herself get too close. She had enemies and the last thing that she wanted was for there to be more sacrifices. Without a word she went back to the table and sat down, sipping her tea while she watched the readouts on the holo-projector. Let them have their moments. It was safer for her to be alone.

[member="Ultimatum"]

 

[Ultimatum]

It was good to see that [member="Ryn'Dhal"] had the strength to speak, even if he probably should have actually been quite to reserve what strength he had. This was not a good time to test his body's limits. The fact that he had made it thus far was proof of the creature's resilience. He believed that Ryn would make it, the med droids seemed to have everything under control. It was a question of what scars would Ryn carry away from this, emotional and physical.

Ultimatum had begun to learn that the organic mindset was a very fragile thing. It could take the death of millions without blinking an eye, yet a particularly death could cause such trauma that the organic would never really recover. It was all attached to the organic's priorities in life, Ultimatum guessed. It struck him as most intriguing and disturbing. That the otherwise sufficiently hardy beings were so easily harmed.

The droid noted that [member="Lady Kay"] had walked, probably to think and calm herself. He bet the [member="James Justice"] was not doing the best either. But then, that was probably one of the reasons Ultimatum was here, a relatively steady rock in this turbulent time. He could feel the emotions, but they did not overwhelm him. He sometimes wished he could feel the powerlessness to emotions, just to understand the organics better. He decided not to interrupt the moment that Ryn and James seemed to be having. It was important that the wounded being had support and right now the biggest giver of that was James.

 

[James Justice]

James grabbed his daughter from behind himself and cried. He cried his heart out as he held her close for comfort. He was deathly afraid of loosing her next.

He had been so sure that Ryn would be secure, yet he was here broken in a bed. And [member="Lady Kay"], he was sure, would one day soon be taken from him. Loss, pure loss. That was all it was. Years of repressed grief came flowing out like a torrent until James had no more tears to cry.

Enough. It was time to get up and start taking care of the people who needed him. His iron will steeled his soul and his emotions. He reached out, subconsciously through the Force and willed Ryn to live. He wouldn't die. Not here, not now. The spacer knew ways to motivate those on staff to save his brother.

"See this," he said turning to the droid on staff, "if he dun't pull through, this be what is gonna happen. I will test the myth that droids dun't feel pain. And if not, I'll find a way."

The mechanical medic gave a robotic "blink." "Yes sir."

James gave his daughter's head a kiss, "Ye alright babe?"

When she had answered he looked to Ultimatum, "I'm sorry I been a bad host, what do ye need? Anything I can get for ye? A tune up, a charge, anything?"

He looked around, where was Kay now?

[member="Ultimatum"]
[member="Jessica Justice"]
[member="Ryn'Dhal"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was back at the table, sipping her tea, lost in her own thoughts as she pushed her emotions back down. They did no good to her being so out in the open. Enemies often took advantage of that and although she didn't consider either of them as her enemies, you never know who could be spying on them.

As [member="James Justice"] returned she just gave him a small, brave smile. She didn't need to ask about [member="Ryn'Dhal"] 's condition. She could see the readout in front of her. Kay had another sip of her tea, wondering if she should say hi first, or if she should let him do it. Seconds later, she decided on the former. "Hey...Feeling better? You should get some sleep..."

 

[Ultimatum]

Ultimatum smiled politely as he responded, "There is nothing that I require. However if there is anything more that I can do to help, then let me know."

The droid was quiet after that. This was a time of silence and thought more than anything else. Organics needed that to overcome the emotional stress of the moment, it was an important step. It would probably later require some sort of more full release, especially when [member="Ryn'Dhal"] pulled through and made a quick recovery. He looked forward to seeing his friend restored to his full health.

He also looked forward to perhaps finding who it was that was behind all of this and giving that person a piece of the droid's mind, and a few blaster shots beside. He found it slightly amusing that [member="James Justice"] had threatened the medical droid. He had no doubt that the organic would carry out his threats, but it was funny to hear. The droid's part would probably be spread throughout the galaxy should it fail.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

Stirring slightly after James left, one eye slowly opened, just slightly. That molten golden pool had great difficulty focusing, but that shock of bright red hair was unmistakable. "M....Myst....." The large beast almost purred the word. The reverberation was so strong, that the slender woman would feel her name rumbling in her core. The massive, feline face seemed to almost smile, partly due to the strong pain-killers pumping into his system, and also the proximity to one he adored so.

Had he been in his right mind, he'd have understood her distance and reservations in approaching him at the moment.... but, drugs are a wonderful thing. He had no real idea that she didn't know who he was. Again.... drugs.

"M.....Missed..... you....." He'd purr, his eyes closing again, as he kind of.... nuzzled.... the bed.... The way felines tended to do when experiencing a feeling of contentment in the presence of one they care for. That large lid slowly slid open once again, one solitary eye, watching the red in his blurred vision, hoping, and silently praying, that it'd come closer. His red. His red.

[member=Mystique] | [member="Ultimatum"] | [member="Lady Kay"] | [member="James Justice"] | [member=Jessica Justice]​

 

[Dancer]

It sounded almost as if the being on the bed was trying to say her name. She swallowed, slightly afraid and slightly tenative. She could feel something resonating, was it the medical machinery? Or was it him growling for her to come over or else?

She took a quick glance around. Most everyone was gone except for the Metal Man (@Ultimatum) she gave him a requesting look, as if to ask for permission to approach the being on the bed. He needed comforting after all. She guessed from his reaction, Captain James' display of emotions, and the daughters too that this was some sort of important person to them. The last thing she wanted to do was make them angry.

She bowed her head submissively and walked to the bedside. He looked almost happy, like she was bringing him comfort. She thought of her Masked Man, [member="Ryn'Dhal"]. He would want her to comfort him, to be brave and not be scared. She nodded, she could be brave fro him.

One hand laced her fingers in his, the other began to gently stroke his furry head. Her pheromones and low-level telepathics giving one signal: peace. Her fingers found a soft spot behind his ear, and began to gently scratch, a feeling that gave most beings, especially the feline variety, a feeling of comfort and ease.

"It-tt-tsss o-oo-k-kaaay," she said managed to say in broken, stuttering syllables. "Y-yoouu ar-rrree g-g-gg-o-ooinn-nnng t-to b-bee o-o-k-kk-kk-aay."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Jessica Justice]

Following her father from the room, she had given Mystique a light hand on her shoulder, and a weak smile, before disappearing back to the cafeteria with the others. At her fathers tender gesture, she would offer an encouraging smile. "I be fine da, but how 'bout yeself?" She said, concern knitting her brow. She'd kind of 'guide' her father into a seat across from Kay, before scampering off to get some fresh water boiling. She kind of liked the ladies idea of tea, to help to ease the over-all tension in the room.

After she got the water starting to warm, she'd acquire a larger kettle, one capable of at least a half dozen glasses of tea, before securing a fresh tea mixture for steeping. She'd sniff the herbs, and realize, "Dried berries?" Yes, this was a pleasant aroma. Smelled almost like a sweet fruity dessert! Surely this would bring a slight lifting of ones spirit! Unconsciously, her latent powers of Force Persuasion began to go into effect, giving an general vibe of soothing calm to the room. Coinciding with her wishes for her fathers peace of mind.

After all was prepared, she'd have added the piping hot water to the kettle, and start the steeping process. About five minutes till tea-time! Arriving back at the table, the kettle would be set on a pad, and some fresh glasses would be arrayed around the kettle. "Perhaps.... Perhaps we can, speak on more pleasant things?" She'd ask, eyeing the projected read-out on the massive cat's status, all looking to be moving towards the positive. "Like, how ye met? And the like?" A cautious glance towards her father, before looking towards the Droid and the woman again. "I mean, if'n ye be friends with me da, I'd like ta count ye among me own if'n it be possible."

[member="Mystique "]| [member="Ultimatum"] | [member="Lady Kay"] | [member="James Justice"]​

 

[James Justice]

"I'll be dandy, darling," James said, in a more than half lie, it was what she needed to hear. That was what mattered.

James gave Kay a chuckle and a smile as he plopped in a chair.

"Sleep be for the weak," he said with a playful voice. "Besides, this be nothing. I once went a full 4 days without a bit of shut eye when holed up on Nar Shaddaa. Gang wars were breakin' out, there were shootings outside the streets and bombings so bad that even I weren't fool enough to try and walk to the nearest bar," he gave a dismissive shrug, "I can swing this, miss."

The story was completely fabricated, but it did its work. And it was believable enough, that was what mattered. Two lies in a row. Darn. But rule number one: The Justice Lies.

At Jess' next question, the spacer poured Kay a glass first, knowing he needed to fulfill her deep addiction, then grabbing one for himself as he recalled the answer.

"Well, if me memories serve me right," he said nursing the cup in his hands, "I believe it were that business on Rattatak. The Senator wanted some side work and we went to give a bit of relief to those who needed it. We saved a whole village of them poor peoples."

He looked at his daughter, letting her beauty drown out the horrors he had committed to make that happen. Kay had never learned the price that had been paid to buy time for the fugitives to make it to safety. The spacer remembered, he would never forget the blood that had coated him so thickly he forgot whether it was his friend's or his enemies. He had watched his friend and his son get gunned down and single handedly avenged their deaths and killed more murderers and genocidal maniacs than he could count. Some were even still in their beds or half dressed when he loaded the bullets into their skulls.

James smiled and let the dark expression on his face leave, snapping himself from his reverie, "Remember that, darling. Always help the common people," his hand ran through her hair as he added to himself, "No matter the cost. No matter the cost."

[member="Jessica Justice"]
[member="Ryn'Dhal"]
[member="Ultimatum"]
[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay knew that [member="James Justice"] was lying about not needing any sleep. But at some point it will catch up to him. She knew what that was like. She went through it herself when her husband was killed and their adopted kids hidden away from her.

She gladly took the tea, having felt more at peace when [member="Jessica Justice"] arrived to make it. Such a sweet girl. It made her wonder what Rae-Anna would be like. She'd be about 15 now, probably had her name changed. Kay wondered if her and her big brother Bradshaw ever thought about them? Or have they forgotten? It had been nearly 10 years since Shaw died.

Kay sipped her tea, nodding as James told the story of how they met. The tea was wonderful, almost as good as her Sapir tea. "It was quite the adventure. Not exactly what I was expecting when he asked me for help, but we managed to save a lot of lives." She then looked to Jessica and smiled. "You make a nice tea. I'm sure that we'll be great friends."

[member="Mystique "][member="Ultimatum"] [member="Ryn'Dhal"]

 

[Ultimatum]

Ultimatum listened to the organics as they spoke. He felt somewhat out of place, after all he only knew two of these people by sight and name. The others seemed relatively acquainted while he knew nothing of them beyond the name of one. He was glad that they were all together, that they could take comfort in each other. It was perhaps a bit melodramatic, but he felt somewhat isolated. A strange feeling, loneliness, one that he had only occasionally had the privilege of feeling before. Maybe it was because he had been given organic emotions, maybe it was because he was a droid, or perhaps because he was an artificial intelligence that had yet to meet another of his own. The only other intelligence of near equal quality to himself had been his 'brother' another droid made to be Ultimatum's undoing by their master. Ultimatum had not seem him in a long time. Frankly, he did not look forward to a meeting with him.

They all seemed to be enjoying themselves. That was good. Perhaps it was here that alliances were formed, here that true friends were made. People who would die for one another. Perhaps there was more hope for the organics than he had first believed. Maybe they all just need a traumatic event to cause them to think. But what could be done? He did not want to cause the death and destruction he had been made for, but that seemed to be the only surefire way of making organics work, for the most part, together. It was a problem that had him baffled at how to help the organics as a whole.

[member="Ryn'Dhal"] [member="Mystique "][member="Jessica Justice"] [member="James Justice"] [member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

The beast gave a broad yawn, eyes slowly slipping shut, as the scarlet-haired woman touched him. When she knocked telepathically, and opened the door, to deliver the impulse of peace directly into Ryn'Dhal's mind, she inadvertently enabled him to reach to her as well. She'd received a vivid series of images, memories. All of them, every last one of them, of her. But, she would see herself in these images, obviously clear that these images were memories from another's point of view. She'd recall that these memories matched up with her own, of the day she first met Ryn'Dhal. The moment he saved her from the creeps in the club. Him providing her some water and friendly company after her performance. Him providing a warm body to use as a pillow to fall asleep against. And even the picnic on that moon over Soceras.

As the great beast that was her Masked-man, Ryn'Dhal, drifted off to sleep, he softly murred her name once more. "Mysssssst......"

Spoiler

OOC: As Ryn is now unconscious, I would like to jump forward a few hours if at all possible. Maybe a nap, whatever. I'd like to make my next post as him after a jump. I'll leave it to you guys to decide when we jump!

[member="Ultimatum"] | [member="Lady Kay"] | [member="James Justice"] | [member="Mystique "]| [member="Jessica Justice"]​

 

[Dancer]

Mystique..... wasn't sure what to do with this. She swallowed and blinked. What she saw were things that only Ryn could have known, but this--wasn't her Masked Man. In some ways, she guessed, he looked like him. They were both felines. Had someone hurt him? Who did this to him? She was so very confused, it looked like Ryn, it smelt like Ryn, it thought like Ryn, but it didn't look like Ryn.

"What have they done to you?" She whispered, feeling her tattered heart teetering on the verge of breaking.

She remembered him saying how he was a freak, and others had enjoyed hurting him. The dancer wondered if this was what had happened when someone hurt him. She wondered if someone, some freak had committed some sort of experiments on him. And if they did, she wanted to know why he didn't use his Magics to save himself. Were there stronger Magics out there?

All of this was just too much for the simple dancing girl. Too much, too strange, too befuddling for her to understand. Still, she stayed by his side for hours, gently running her fingers through his fur, not saying a word, just being there. That was all she could do, even if it wasn't enough.

[member="Ryn'Dhal"]
[member="Ultimatum"]
[member="Lady Kay"]

OOC:

Spoiler

Time shift granted my man

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

~Several Hours Later~

The signs on James' holo-readout were growing more and more stable over time, when suddenly there was a faint elevation of heart-rate. Mystique had returned to the cafeteria at some point. During that time, consciousness returned to the felinoid, along with a ravenous hunger.

Likely a minor panic would have stricken James and the group as the readout suddenly flat-lined, as sensors were removed. No sooner had any of the others started to rise to their feet, a voice could be heard approaching down the corridor. Two voices actually. "Sir! Sir, I must insist you return to the infirmary!" "Yeah? And I must insist you get karked can-head!" The familiar, melodic voice spat back. The lead medical droid rushed into the cafeteria apologizing profusely to James. "I'm terribly sorry sir! But he simply would not remain sedated to finish his healing!"

Limping slightly, clad in only a make-shift 'kilt' from hospital garb, black furred and heavily scarred torso bared to all, Ryn'Dhal bore a scowl, until he saw familiar, one one unfamiliar, faces. "Yeah.... sedation was no match for a vacant tummy...." He'd state, ears cocked at odd angles, and a wry smirk cutting across his feline-features. "Hope.... Hope I didn't worry you guys too much...." He'd say, eyes moving from face to face, before stopping and remaining on James' in particular.

The droid gave the equivalent of an exasperated sigh, shaking it's head, before looking to James. "His infections are managed, and his fever is severely reduced. Nothing more we can do asides from providing pain-killers and fever reducers. His remaining healing is really in his own hands now at this point.... A Miraculous healing, to be sure.... Never witnessed anything like it...."

"The Force can be quite impressive sometimes...." Ryn retorted, chuckling slightly, before a sudden, slight gasp would be given. "Ow..... bruised ribs do not make for pleasant laughter.... Word to the wise......"

[member=James Justice] | [member=Jessica Justice] | [member=Lady Kay] | [member=Ultimatum] | [member=Mystique]​

 

[James Justice]

James didn't know if he wanted to slap Ryn or hug him. Chances were the spacer would do both. His urge to protect was only dwarfed by his flood of relief to see his adoptive brother was alive and safe. It made his limbs almost weak, but not from the severe lack of sleep. It was like his whole body had been turned to jello all of the sudden.

James willed himself to stand, pushing off the table and stumbling toward Ryn. Then he steeled himself and gave his brother's head a playful tussle. He was so relieved he hadn't noticed Ryn's less-than-normal vocabulary and behavior. The most astute of observers would have noticed a slight increase in the moisture on James' eyes. Not tears, but certainly not as dry as they generally were.

"Took ye long enough, boy," James said with playful gruffness, "I were wondering if ye were gonna sleep in all day or get up anytime soon," James cracked a grin. It was clear he was playing. Not only by the tone of voice but--that he was James Justice after all. Letting the guise drop for a moment he said, "I be glad ye are alright, Ryn."

[member="Ryn'Dhal"]
[member="Ultimatum"]
[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Ultimatum]

Ultimatum was surprise as [member="Ryn'Dhal"] walked into the room. The was amused at the plight of the medical droid, trying to work with its own information yet unable to actually stop the organic. It was a feeling that he had had often enough. The best way was to just allow the organic to do as they saw fit, little else could really be done. The organics were enjoyable that way, even if it was incredibly difficult to work with. He understood that they had a want to not give up, but it did not stop him from being irritated just slightly for their lack of understanding the dangers of such things.

Ultimatum was glad to see that his feline friend was doing very well. He had had no doubt that the organic would heal with time, just not so soon. He stayed away, for now. The two adopted brothers were enjoying meeting each other again, there would be time later for the droid to say hello. He had no problem waiting, it was their special time. He turned his attention to work being done of the ship being repaired on Mustafar, his mind for a few seconds looked over the work logs. The stealth field generator was in place and was responding well to tests. That was all he needed to know. It was that that was most important to him. There was other work being done but that was standard and taking time. It was good to see Ryn was up, his mind jumped back to the physical and immediate.

[member="James Justice"] [member="Lady Kay"] [member="Mystique "][member="Jessica Justice"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay of course was ever so glad that [member="Ryn'Dhal"] seemed well on the road for recovery. And was stubborn about it too. She sat there at the table, where just moments before the monitor had made her heart stop when he removed the wires and they just got a flatline. Yet here he was, walking, talking, joking and doing his best to not hurt himself even more while he did it. She gave him an encouraging smile, but that was about it. Poor guy was getting crowded and she didn't want to add herself to that pile. Of course she cared for him, like a little brother, but she didn't want to smother or hurt him either. Kay wasn't used to having family, outside of her late husband. She didn't grow up with one, so she was really unsure with how to act. Most especially as she's been living on her own for nearly ten years.

She looked over to [member="Ultimatum"] who seemed to be just as quiet as she was. "Looks like everything's going to get back to normal." Whatever normal was. Were any of them really normal? Nah. They were all a bunch of misfits. That's probably why they got along so well.

 

[Dancer]

He was ok. Mystique stood, swept in it all. Yes, it was Ryn, and Ryn was ok. Before she realized it, Mystique's arms were around his shoulders as she leaned up on the tips of her toes. She had pressed passed James, shouldering him aside with her small framed body to have Ryn exclusively. Her eyes looked into his, shimmering with tears of relief. A few fingers caressed his face, sweetly, gently, running along it in a kind, loving expression. As her hands wrapped around the back of his neck she pulled him, her lips meeting his.

Her kiss was passionate, intense and enamored, like the kiss of someone who had just almost lost their love. Her Masked Man had almost been lost to her forever, she kissed him like she had been waiting and wanting too for--since he first rescued her. Again. Again. And again, she kissed him, pressing deeper and firmer into each one with her delicately thin ruby lips. She didn't care that it most likely made the bystanders feel awkward. She didn't care what came next. He needed to know what she felt and more than that to feel it. She knew her words were hard to say. And it made speaking through actions all that much more important for her.

At last she pulled back, just enough to breath and look in his eyes. Her own cyan eyes glittered with tearful relief. She swallowed and prepared to let herself say her next words. Talking with Ryn had always been easier, even when it wasn't so easy.

"Next time, use your magics," she reproached him. "I can't lose you."

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Ultimatum"] [member="Ryn'Dhal"]

 

[Jessica Justice]

The Big Cat.... thing? Yes, that which her father called 'family', seemed to be able to change form! In it.... he.... walked, much smaller, and on two legs! Had the strange, furry, humanoid not been so injured, and obviously still recovering, she'd almost hazard to give a girlish squeal at how cute the being was. He was different, unique, and holding a dangerous, predatory air about him. But, then her father, in an uncharacteristically emotional exchange, sundered her heart. She longed to develop that level of familial familiarity with her father. Yes, she was certain the spacer would burn through worlds for herself, or her sister.... but, she was certain he'd ruin star-systems if left unchecked to save that feline-humanoid before her.

She moved over to Kay and the droid, having held light conversation with them over the last few hours while the furry-man healed. "Where did ye find 'im? He's.... kind of beautiful, in a strange way.... Kinda like yeselves...." She murmured softly to the two, glancing at them in turn. Firstly to the droid, "Ye with ye whole existence, striking and marvelous in the same breath." Then to the woman, "And ye with ye soft heart, ye compassion."

Her gaze drifted back to her father. Her temperamental, violent, alcohol consuming, chain-smoking, charismatic father. The man she was so shockingly similar to. The man she was certain she'd one day end up like. "How did he find himself surrounded by so many beautiful people...." She'd murmur, her words seem to imply she did not mean physical beauty, but all encompassing beauty.

Then....

The shy, nervous, scarlet-haired woman all but bumped her father out of the way, and.... kissed the cat?! There was passion, fire, the likes of which Jessica had never experienced, outside of holodramas. And.... the young woman could only blush furiously witnessing the display.... Largely because, being a young woman, who's heart hadn't been dashed like her father's, she still held out hope and desire to one day have that self-same fire within her heart for a lover. Seeing that sliver of herself in the scarlet-haired woman, she would avert her gaze, an awkward grin cut across her face. "Well then.... Um.... I'll.... I'll see about making some more tea...." She'd sputter, before scurrying off to make herself scarce for a few moments.

[member=James Justice] | [member=Lady Kay] | [member=Ultimatum] | [member=Ryn'Dhal] | [member=Mystique]​

 

[Ryn'Dhal]

Ryn couldn't help but offer a warm smile in regard to his 'brother', even going so far as to lean in to the hair-tussle. "I... I am sorry.... That I made you worry...." He'd say, softly, those molten golden eyes lifting to James', ears folded back slightly in apology, before shifting his gaze towards Ultimatum and Kay, nodding to them. "And you as well, my friends." His gaze then drifted to the new face in the room. Ears cocked at odd angles. She was young.... Kin to Kay? Or.... No, James wasn't that predatory, right? The felinoid prepared to inquire about her, when he saw a color flood most of his field of vision. His head turned, eyes snapping forward once more, as the lithe form of Mystique muscled James out of the way. Just as he prepared to say something, a soft smile forming across his face, her hands ran through the fur of his cheeks, her face closing in on his, and then his world went white for a few moments.

A complete blankout, his senses having been overloaded by the affection she showered him with. His ears were shifted in awkward angles, and his eyes both were at differing levels of closure, when she broke away from the kiss. He'd sputter momentarily, his capacity for speech momentarily rendered useless, as she chastised him for failure to keep himself safe. Then she confessed her inability to lose him. And he knew, he couldn't disappoint her. He couldn't allow himself to become lost to any of them, but for some reason, her words made him realize he needed to remain for her, in particular. His eyes balanced out, as his ears leveled off, not up and perky, but not back and submissive. He smiled, softly, his golden hues locked on her sea-colored ones, before speaking softly, uncaring whom else heard his words. "As you wish...."

[member=Mystique] | [member=James Justice] | [member=Ultimatum] | [member=Lady Kay] | [member=Jessica Justice]​