I Need Some Help

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

The little office really wasn’t anything to look at, not in a fancy way anyway, but that suited Val just fine.

Generally speaking he preferred simple over complex, and although over the years he’d stayed in dozens, if not hundreds, of different kind of hotel rooms he always found that the more simple something was, the easier it was to get used to. He stepped into the room, trying his best to squeeze through the doorway without hitting his head.

”No need to trouble with the meal.” He had eaten half a nerf before getting here, and the meat would sustain him for another few days before he really got hungry again. Besides she was already helping him enough.

”I have allergies.” Was his honest excuse. ”Don’t want to be more of a bother than I already am.”

Val was already taking her away from other patience, paying patience, and he didn’t want to put even more of a burden on her or anyone else.

 

[Kuzo]

Irajah watched him for a moment, then nodded very slowly. There was a lot here that wasn't quite adding up. But she didn't pry. If anyone understood the need for privacy, it was Irajah Ven. As long as it wasn't interfering with her ability to do her job, well, it wasn't her business.

"Well, if you change your mind, let me know," she gestured to the comm set into the desk. "You can reach me at extension 709. Otherwise, rest. Is there anything else you need before I go?"

She'd done what she could- hopefully an OR would open up sooner than expected.

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

”I’ll be alright.” Val assured her.

There wasn’t much for him to do in this tiny office, and he wasn’t much for snooping, so he would probably just end up taking a nap on the couch.

That seemed like the best thing.

He also didn’t mention to her that the words “extension” didn’t really mean much to him. Val could barely operate a Datapad at the best of times, and a digital phone? Yeah that was highly unlikely. He wasn’t a simpleton, but he’d probably get so frustrated with the damn thing that he tore it off the wall and smashed it to bits.

”Thank you.” He said with a smile. ”I appreciate it.”

 

[Kuzo]

It would be several hours before Irajah was able to return to her office. Looking slightly more haggard than before, she came bearing two cups of caf.

Normally, at a time like this, she'd be returning for a quick nap on the very couch her 'guest' was occupying. While there was a part of her that wanted nothing more than to attempt that in the lounge, she was still not entirely comfortable with leaving him alone in her office for hours and hours on end. Sure, she didn't keep anything truly private in there. But that wasn't the point.

While the office was simple, it was personal. The holos cycling were of her, [member="Cait Falcor"], [member="Boo Chiyo"] and several of her parents. The two paintings on the wall she had done herself. One, unmistakably the skyline of Coruscant. The other, a front garden that could be from any under developed planet- but was actually her mother's from her childhood home. Not perfect, painted from memory. While Irajah was an extrovert in public places, there was something about having strangers in her personal space that never sat particularly well with her.

So, rather than finding somewhere to cat nap, she stepped into her office quietly. If [member="Valkyrien Aurelios"] was asleep, she'd just as quietly step out. Otherwise, well, that's what the second cup of caf was for.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

He wasn't asleep, though he was laying on the couch.

The scene would likely be somewhat comical to Irajah, if only because...well it was.

The Viking was laying on the couch about as splayed out as one could imagine. His boots were neatly placed besides the door, though the rest of his clothes still adorned him. He had arranged himself comfortably enough on the couch, laying lengthwise with his head on one armrest and half of his legs dangling off the other. His toes seemed to be wiggling, as though he were trying to warm them up simply by keeping them active and in motion.

"Hello there." Val said as his head slowly turned.

It was clear that he was somewhat bored.

 

[Kuzo]

Since he was awake, Irajah bumped the door closed with her hip.

"Brought caf," she said, awkward and a unnecessary, seeing as how she was carrying the cups fairly prominently.

Putting the cup on the small side table next to the couch, she settled, leaning slightly against her desk as she blew on her own for a moment before-

"You've been bumped up," she said, taking a tentative sip. The caf from the Doctor's lounge was never reliable. "They'll be ready for you in prep in about an hour and then we'll get that knife out of your back."

She frowned slightly, studying him for a moment. "Have you ever had surgery before? Do you know if your.... increased healing will interfere?"

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

He took the cup. "Thank you."

Caf was one of the few drinks that he could actually have. Most of the processed stuff from the galaxy gave him a pretty bad stomach ache, but caf was generally just boiled water and some roasted beans. He never particularly liked the taste, but his mother had raised him well enough to accept a drink when offered. He blew on the hot liquid for a moment and then took a sip, drinking the liquid without complaint even though the bitter taste made him want to shake.

"It doesn't quite work that way." He told her.

Though Val had never had surgery he was pretty sure his healing wouldn't interfere much.

"It's not an instant thing." Val told her. "I'm not sure why it happens, but it's...well it's faster but not as fast as a Bacta patch or anything. For a regular Human a deep cut might take a month to heal, for me a week. A gash for a regular man would require stitches and two months, for me...just a month."

He shrugged. "It won't interfere with the surgery...just don't leave anything behind."

 

[Kuzo]

She chuckled, despite herself at that last part.

"I've never left anything behind before, and I don't intend to start now."

The amusement faded slightly, a small, thoughtful frown on her face. She sipped the caf contemplatively for a moment before-

"There are plenty of species across the galaxy with a faster than human healing factor. But, that doesn't really explain how you ended up with it. Are- are you curious? Is that something you'd like to find out more about?"

Irajah was. Faced with a physiological mystery, she had a hard time ignoring it. That didn't mean she would pry without his permission. She wouldn't root around in him or take samples without asking first. But. Well. She was of course going to *ask*.

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

He shrugged. "I suppose."
The truth was he'd given up on that a long time ago. The idea of genetic testing had come up once or twice, before with Taheera and he'd thought about it a long time ago...but the mystery wasn't really solved by just finding out who...or rather what he was. Even if he knew what species he was Val wouldn't suddenly find his father, nor would he know where his mother came from or...he frowned for a few moments and then looked up at her.

"Those tests are expensive." He reminded her of his lack of funds. "Running my genetics against the...millions of species in the galaxy will take weeks."

Even with modern computers. "I don't tend to stay in one time long enough for something like that.

He smiled.

"I've thought about it though." It would certainly give him some clarity.

 

[Kuzo]

"Well, you're right. It would be...."

She suddenly grinned, a little slyly.

"If I did it here."

Taking another sip and shifting slightly as she leaned across the desk, she elaborated.

"I have access to two other labs, both privately funded."

Altruistic? Not particularly. She was curious- and she had a hard time walking away from a curiosity. If he didn't want to, didn't care himself, well, she wouldn't understand, but she'd respect it. But he didn't have to not know. Irajah had never subscribed to the idea that ignorance was bliss.

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

He smiled up at her. "I don't think I'm funding either of them."

It was difficult to tell if he simply wasn't catching the hint or just telling her no.

"If you want to, I won't object." Neither apparently. "I don't know how you'd tell me the results though, I don't have a datapad or even a communicator. Usually stuff like that doesn't like my method of living. They tend to break within a short amount of time."

He shrugged, It wasn't like he wasn't careful or anything, he was. Electronics just didn't like constant camping outside mixed with extreme temperatures and weather. Taheera had learned that rather quickly when they had been stranded, and since then...well he hadn't bothered getting anything new because he knew it would all just break eventually. It was easier just to wander up to a pay-communicator and make a call to a number he had memorized.

That was how he checked in at home every now and again.

A bit low tech but it suited him just fine.

 

[Kuzo]

As momentarily tempting as his 'whatever' was, Irajah knew that from an ethical standpoint she needed better than that. An ehhhhh whatever wasn't enough for her to sate her curiosity on. But she'd made the offer, and at least if he ever did want to find the answer, he knew it.

Inwardly, she sighed. It would be easier if it was good enough. Ah well.

She didn't get it. The lack of desire to know. But it wasn't her life, or her call to make.

So she nodded instead, spreading her hands slightly. Taking a sip of her own caf, she pushed off of the edge of the desk with her hip.

"We should be able to head down to prep now. Are you ready?"

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

"Yes." Val said as he slowly rose from the couch.

For a second he hesitated. He had rejected her help more than once now, and in truth he felt a bit guilty. This doctor had helped him, was going to continue to help him. He couldn't just throw her off like she was nothing. A frown settled on his lips.

"I'm sorry If I've seemed rude." He said quietly. "I'm not really used to dealing with places...like this."

Big cities scared him in a way. "Nor am I used to mooching off of other people."

Val had made it a point to pay his debts throughout his entire life. Aerith had always called him a credit pincher because of that, but it was what his parents had taught him. Times had been difficult during the waning years of the Gulag Plague, and that had meant his parents had saved every little credit that they could whenever they could. They had never allowed themselves to fall into debt, and those lessons had been learned by Val at a young age.

That stuck with him, even all these years later.

 

[Kuzo]

Irajah paused, her face softening slightly.

"You have nothing to apologize for," she said quietly, shaking her head.

"You came here for a particular problem, and I've been nosy and pushy."

She smiled, a touch crookedly. Sometimes, she forgot that everyone else's problems weren't hers to fix. Or even that they required fixing at all.

"So really, I should apologize to you. I'm sorry you are uncomfortable here, and if I've contributed to that."

She paused in the doorway, looking him over for a moment.

"But, so we're clear-" she grinned, "It wouldn't be mooching."

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

"If you would like to look into..." How did someone even phrase something like that? "...Whatever I am."

He was human, probably? He had no idea, something close to it. Val had lived for almost a hundred and fifty years, walking the Outer Rim for half that time and living as a simple farmer for the other half. It was an utterly unique situation, with everyone he'd loved having long since passed. "I would be grateful."

Simple truth.

Val had no idea how exactly she would find him to tell him the results, but at the very least it would be something to have to look forward to. The mystery of exactly what allowed him to heal so quickly and live so long was something that had half haunted him for his entire life.

He still felt like a bit of a mooch, but he wouldn't say anything about it.

 

[Kuzo]

She nodded, smiling gently. Knowing was always better than not knowing, as far as she was concerned. It was clear she thought it was making the right choice.

"I'll take a sample during the surgery," she said with another nod. "I know you don't have a way for me to contact you with the results, but in a couple of weeks, I should have something for you. You can find me here any time you want."

Her grin widened slightly. They paused outside of a pair of double sliding glass doors. A nurse was waiting for them on the other side to prep [member="Valkyrien Aurelios"] ready for surgery while Doctor Ven scrubbed in. He gave them both a little finger wave. Irajah chuckled, glancing back at Val.

"Ready to get that trash out of your back?"

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Irajah Ven"]

"Alright." He nodded to her.

That was...something.

Maybe he would be able to find out more about himself, maybe he'd even be able to find out who his father was. The idea was of course a bit far fetched, just because he knew what he was didn't mean that he could find out about his father, but even centuries old monsters could dream. He frowned for a moment, shifting slightly to look at Irajah before giving her a nod.

"Aye." He told her. "Do I get to keep it after?"

The question wasn't a serious one, the blade had snapped off in his back, meaning it probably wasn't all that well made.

He deserved a little humor in that moment though, mostly because this was still a rather serious procedure. The blade was close enough to his spine to cause problems, and a slight hint of worry clung to him. He frowned for a moment and then slowly stepped through the door that the Nurse had opened just a second before. "Hello everyone, I'll be your doctor today."

That got a few laughs.

 

[Kuzo]

Irajah was heading to scrub in when the joke and laughter came floating through the swinging doors at her. She smiled to herself, shaking her head and chuckling for a moment. If [member="Valkyrien Aurelios"] could joke on the way into surgery with a knife blade pressing against his spinal chord, well, she suspected he could joke at just about anything.

The surgery went off without a hitch, though due to the delicate nature of the procedure it stretched on for longer than even Irajah had first expected it to. When she finally deposited the broken blade on the tray, there was more than one relieved face around the table.

"Get that cleaned off," she said, clearly smiling behind her mask. "See if you can find a bow to put on it."

Attention off of her for a moment, she moved quickly. Normally, all samples were registered with the hospital, but for this situation, that simply wouldn't do. Blood and skin, and before anyone had even turned back, she had slipped the slim sample containers into her labcoat pocket.

"Let's get him closed up," she said quietly.

She had taken a bigger sample than she needed for the task she had promised him. She didn't allow herself to think about it too much. It was easy to tell herself it was just in case something went wrong with the test and she had to repeat it- after all, she wouldn't be able to give him a call for another sample.

Of course. It was a good reason.

Just in case, right?