Hold Back the River (Open)

[KitKat]

When immortality is given, it violates the natural law. All living things must die, so Nature finds a way to keep balance by creating mortal shadow selves. Dopplegangers. They’re powerful, mystical, naturally recurring. ​

Hospital (you choose the planet)

The heart monitor pattered away in rhythmic sounds. The woman lying on the bed could look as if she were sleeping, had she not been in a coma. Medical staff came and went, making notes on her chart as they measured vital signs. On the chart she was listed as “Jane Doe” since nobody knew who she was. All they knew about her was that she must be a Force user because a lightsaber had come in with her. It was lying on the table next to her bed but it looked extremely odd. The technology didn’t seem of this galaxy, and perhaps seemed ancient compared to what was used now by the Force users of the galaxy. Her clothes were also weird. The hospital saved what they could, though most had been covered in blood from the accident. They normally wouldn’t bother but the fabric was just so odd they didn’t want to throw it out. Wherever this girl was from it certainly wasn’t local.

The local investigators had searched around, looking for some family or friend to come claim the woman. Her coma was medically induced and soon the doctors would be waking her but after that they had no idea what to do with the girl.

 

[Placeholder 0128]

He'd been told that she carried a Jedi's weapon.

The brainwork had finally concluded, and the doctors had more or less agreed to let Cedric go on his way. The mental rupture he had suffered on Mygeeto was now a faint memory, one that Cedric was having more trouble than he would have liked recalling in any significant way. It had never occurred to the youth that networking with so many minds might leave him mentally stunted. His will had been too strong for them to ever effect him as they had on the banking world.

A few weeks of solitude had been his price for such reckless action, but then he did not regret his actions. No, if anything the damage only justified them. If nothing else, he knew his limits now, and he could test them without bringing himself harm.

Word had been spoken of a woman kept within the hospital that carried a lightsaber. The gossip had kept Cedric preoccupied during his downtime, and now that he was free to move there was nothing to give him pause. The doctors most certainly weren't going to stop the Archlord.

Clad in a simple hooded jacket, Cedric looked more the part of an average youth than a man of power. He supposed that would suit him for now. A brief conversation with the nurse bought him entry, and then he was walking along the room, gray oculars lingering upon the oddly crafted weapon as the unconscious woman's side. It was not of a design he had ever seen before.

"You're far from home," he murmured, strolling over to pick up the weapon and examine it for himself. There was nothing of substance to this little examination, save for Cedric's own curiosity, and the blade had certainly captured the Archlord's mind for the moment.

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

She felt the presence before she heard the voice. The nurse had told the man she wouldn’t be awake for at least a few hours when they came to deliver the adrenaline to wake her from the medical coma. Surprisingly her eyes started to flutter and finally the lids slid back revealing deep green eyes full of confusion.

“Where am I?” Her voice, usually so musical was rough from lack of use. She tried to sit up but pain in her midriff alerted her to the bandages there. Her ribs were cracked, perhaps broken judging by how tight the bandages were.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Placeholder 0128]

A voice momentarily drew his attention.

Gray oculars flickered down to the unconscious woman, only she was far more lucid that just a few moments before. Cedric's brow furrowed with confusion. the doctors had explained that she would be out of it for some time; he had not expected to actually have to converse with her. The plan was to examine the lightsaber and be on his way, perhaps leave a message for the girl once she awoke if things panned out how he wanted. Still, this was a turn of events could work with.

"A hospital on Ventooine," he explained, his voice soft for the sake of drowsy ears. "You were severely wounded, though the doctors do not know how. They never got a name for you either. No one claimed you, but you had this," the Archlord waved her lightsaber about before setting it back down on the table.

"It made them a little nervous, so I thought I'd take a look."

Arms folded about his chest as he drew back his cowl, revealing a youthful, albeit tried face. His eyes were cold and carried the weight of many years, but his visage was that of a young adult. "My name is Cedric. Who are you?"

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Vantooine? How had she ended up there? She tried to think back to the last thing she remembered but it was all fuzzy.

His mentioning of her lightsaber made her frown. She was used to the anti Force user paranoia but it often caused problems and the last thing she needed was more problems.

"It's nice to meet you Cedric." She closed her eyes and winced. Now that she was awake she was in a bit of pain.

"My name is Katarine."

She fell silent as the door slid open and a nurse walked in. She was humming and stopped in shock to see Kat awake.

"You are awake? Goodness. I will go get a doctor. "

Deep green eyes watched the nurse retreat before looking back at Cedric. "So are you the go to guy when peole cause nervousness in hospitals?" She was wondering who he was and why he had come to see her.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Placeholder 0128]

"Hospitals, warzones, senates," Cedric waved a hand about. "I come when there is nervousness revolving around just about anything, though I am no guardian of this particular place." The red-cloaked youth began to wander about the room, evidently rather unperturbed about the nurse's shock. he gave the woman a simple nod, as if to say that he would hold down the fort until she could return with professional help. "Well, I suppose I am, but in an indirect way."

The words hung in the air for a few moments that some might have considered awkward.

With a slight smile upon his face, the youth turned once more to face the patient. He paced about her bed, coming to stop on the side opposite of the table that held her lightsaber. "Call me a friend," the smile he wore was one of warmth. "I am the protector of this world. Of many worlds, in fact. It just so happens that we were interred in the same hospital for similar injuries."

Green eyes met gray. The Archlord decided she was a rather pretty creature.

"Sitting around in a place like this is a little boring, so I would listen to gossip. When I heard a woman carrying a lightsaber had been brought in, and without a name or any record to show for herself - well, that sounds a little interesting doesn't it? Like the beginning to a good novel."

He pulled up a chair alongside the woman as the doctor came in. "To be candid, I came to make sure you weren't going to start murdering people when you awoke. Sith tend to do that, and we are in former Sith space. You'll have to understand my caution, with the lightsaber and all."

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

Vantooine a Sith world? Since when? The Sith were in the corner of the galaxy licking their wounds while the Nightsisters took over everything. Weren't they? How long had she been asleep?

She smiled at his joke. Katarine used sarcasm to hide her real feelings, so she always appreciated when it went over well. He explained about his injuries.

"It does sound like the beginning of an excellent story." She agreed and pushed her hair out of her face. His description of the Sith sounded terrifying and she could understand the concern.

"I'm no Sith and certainly not a murderer. Actually I'm not even sure why I am here. Everything is a little fuzzy. " She had been an undercover investigator with the Jedi but now that she looked around at the room she realized she didn't even recognize half this technology.

"Very fuzzy."

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Placeholder 0128]

" I didn't take you to be one, if I'm going to be honest. However, one can never truly be sure." Cedric mused as he listened to the woman. He fell silent as the doctor did his work; particularly with making sure the young woman wasn't going to be falling apart anytime soon. Cedric took a moment to decide whether or not he would examine such injuries himself, but thought better of it. he was no healer, and mental intrusions were rarely welcomed.

"I suppose we'll have to see just how interesting that story is." The youth rumbled with quiet laughter as the doctor finished his check-up. Satisfied that the woman wasn't going to be disintegrating at any given moment, the man took his leave, leaving the duo alone to the room.

"You have trouble with your memories? Perhaps you were concussed." Cedric's brow furrowed, his arms folding about his chest. It was possible that the woman was lying, though Cedric felt no deception coming from her. No, it was more likely she was just a bit...confused.

"I might be able to help with that. Reconstructing a mind is something I've experience with," he paused, "But, that's up to you. We only just met, and many people see that sort of thing as intimate. A crossing of bounds."

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

 

[KitKat]

The conversation took a nervous turn for the girl. Katarine had suffered years of torture and abuse to her mind as a child. Her mental defenses were so high now that she often hurt people who even tried to connect with her, even if she didn't want to. On the other hand offering to help a perfect stranger was a nice gesture and Kat did not want to dismiss kindness.

"Let's see what the doctor says first? Maybe I had a stroke or something."

"No stroke. Apart from a few broken ribs and some bruising you are healthy. Though we did notice some odd scaring on your neck."

Katarine rubbed her neck subconsciously and smiled. "Scars are just past mistakes and surely not enough to keep me here?"

The doctor smiled at her wit. "Do you have somewhere else to go?"

Her face faltered. Truthfully she didn't even know where she was and as the seconds passed she was starting to think she wasn't in Kansas anymore.

"I'm sure I'll figure something out."

"It's not really customary to release a patient without someone to look after them." Clearly the doctor was curious about who she was too. "Is there someone we can call?"


[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Placeholder 0128]

Cedric simply nodded his agreement.

The Archlord fell silent as the doctor explained her predicament. It was as he had suspected, though the severity of her mental loss could range anywhere between minor to a complete collapse of her primary faculties. Still, if the doctor believed she was alright to go, then perhaps she was.

"I will stand as her watcher for now, if she wishes." He piped up. The notion seemed random, though it was a calculated one. The woman carried a blade unseen in this corner of the galaxy. It was only natural that Cedric was curious, and she may very well have been lying about her loss of memories. It was better to keep her close for a short time and see what she might be capable of, and if her intentions proved to be of a malignant sort, then he could deal with her quickly.

"I don't believe I need to speak for my credentials," he offered the doctor an easy smile, one that drifted to the woman. "What do you think, Katarine? Would that suit you, or would you rather I mind my own business in this situation?"

[member="Katarine Ryiah"]