Let the wookie win

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Medical facility
Sullust Jedi Temple

"And now?"

"Erm..."

Trextan moved the fingers across the sheet of sandpaper. It was hard to concentrate on the test. It was necessary of course. They needed to calibrate the sensors in a multitude of ways to bring the sensation of touch as close to it had been before.

Still, it was hard.

His arm had been... His arm. The back of his new forearm was now open and a technician had plugged several cables into it and connected them to her datapad. They were literally pulling a part of him apart and then putting it back together at will.

"Too rough or too smooth?" She asked again. Everyone had been very nice here, he reflected. He'd woken to find Jacen at his bedside. The medical team at the frigate had, by then, removed his arm. He'd woken to a nightmare. Raw wires and cables where his arm had been. Apparently they had to start the process immediately for a prosthetic to be fitted later, otherwise the wounds would heal forever.

"Too smooth," he replied. She tapped on her tablet.

"There?"

"That's about right. Is that..."

"Yes of course, we can finish any time," she replied. She reached into his forearm and popped out the cables, using a small tool to seal it up.

"It hurts still," he replied quietly. "Every time I move it. Where it... you know... ends and I begin."

"It will," the duros replied with a slow nod. "You're still healing up around it. Even after the bacta tank. Trextan, try and see it as a part of yourself now. It will help the integration. The pain will go."

Trextan lifted the metallic hand and wrapped it in his other one. It did feel a little more natural now. The artificial hand had been telling him the sheets were hot, whilst the rest of him knew them to be cool before they'd finished the calibrations.

"I'll leave you in peace for a while. Rest up."

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

The Mirialan hadn't seen Trextan since their time at the factory against those possessed droids, the time they shared with Xena. She'd been contracted out to Naboo shortly after their little trio survived that, to help with high profile prisoner evaluations. Vrak Nashar was beginning to be a growing thorn in her side.

Being a healer and with the Alliance now, it didn't take her long to hear word of what happened to Trex. She didn't know the details, she just knew he'd lost an arm. That was serious stuff. She'd just pulled a ten hour shift in the medical facility but was working in the other wing. Normally, she would've found a moment to slip by and visit him but things were too busy to get away.

Until now.

Leaning in the doorway of where they'd housed Trex, worried myrtle-ellipses watched him silently for a moment. He hadn't seemed to notice her yet. How long had she been staring?

Throat cleared and a tired smile pulled at her purple lips. "Hey Broody Pants," smile widened at the nickname as she strolled in. She stopped at the foot of his bed and pulled the two items she nabbed off the food cart on the way over. "Got a surprise for you. Ceto Chocolate pudding. It's coveted stuff around here. Want some?"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Trextan looked up from his hand. There had been a deep set frown on his face as he had opened and closed the first and tried to convince himself it was a part of him now.

He wasn't in the mood for nicknames really, but he knew she'd meant well so he smiles anyway. It was just a slightly forced expression. It wasn't as if he had many friends around to come and visit. Close to zero in fact.

"That'd be nice thanks," he replied with a soft chuckle. His eyes turned towards the chair beside the bed and back again. He let his mechanical hand come to rest by his side again. The bar across the back of the bed had a distinctly hand shaped indentation. It was a good job he hadn't held anything too breakable before they'd finished calibrating it. "Especially when you consider that might highlight of the day has been being permitted to play ball with my new hand. Do you work here?" He asked, noting a name badge hanging off her belt.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She handed over the pudding. Unopened. A spoon quickly followed. Green-form eased into the chair.

"I do," myrtle-ellipses flickered up from the pudding as she opened the seal. "Seems like healers and empaths are in short supply across the verse." She grinned and dipped her spoon into the chocolately concoction. "Job security, I guess."

Chestnut strands of hair dipped in front of her tattooed-face as her chin tipped toward his arm. "You wanna talk about it? Wrestling droids again?"

Eyes sparkled at her attempt at humor.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

He found he wasn't sure what to say about the arm. Like most things in his life he was still struggling to genuinely come to terms with it. So for the moment he concentrated on the pudding.

"Ah, the hospital's finest," he remarked as he took a spoonful. "Compared to everything else they have it is distinctly... edible."

Trextan realised he was being rude. If he was rude he imagined she might not come back. It was dreadfully lonely here in the hospital.

"Thank you," he said quickly. There was a slightly fearful look in his eyes as he turned up to face her.

"Kaeshana turned into a warzone," he said in soft tones. "I helped bring one Ren down, but another nearly took thersm of..."

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She chuckled, clearly not offended by the remark on the hospital's food. "Gotta live up to the stereotypes," spoon mixed in the chocolately-goodness. She took a quick bite, setting the spoon back down. Not bad. Maybe the caramel was better. Wynona probably took the last too packs.

Green-form leaned forward slightly. Fingers found his for a moment and gently squeezed as if they'd been long-time friends. Just as quickly, she went to release him. "It's okay. If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. War is...," tattooed-face scrunched up. She'd been on Kashyyyk back when the Republic was a thing. Kriff, she'd actually died fighting pirates not too long ago.

She of all people knew what Trex was going through but didn't want to sound disingenuous.

"Painful," she finally finished, settling on that. "But you get pudding after," lips curved into a quick, small smile.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

"No, it's alright," he said. His eyes fell to where she'd placed her hand over his. He hadn't really expected that. "I don't really remember much of it then. The blade coming down, the sharp pain. Sinking into cold mud then that's it.

"The worst... The worst was waking up on the medical frigate on the way home." It was clear that memory was the more disturbing. "No matter how weird this feels," he said as he held up and clenched the fist, "it was better to wake up to this than..."

There had been part of a stump still, tubes and wires coming out of it at all angles. Trextan shook his head and the memory away.

"Quite strong though. I could probably steal all the puddings from the vending machines," he said, trying to mirror her smile. "Borrow your hand again? Let me test something."

He placed his artificial hand flat on the mattress next to the left she had squeezed already.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

"Yeah," she spoke hesitantly, as if shy, "sometimes the worst part about an injury is waking up, after the adrenaline has worn off. The shock...," voice trailed off. The the shock of one's soul forcing out another ad ending up in a new body entirely. Purple lips pursed closed.

Her smile returned with his.

"ALL the puddings?" Chestnut-brow lofted. "I'll pretend I didn't hear any of that." Myrtle-ellipses flickered between his face and the offered hand. She leaned forward slightly, so one elbow propped on his bed.

"Sure, just. Try not to break anything." She was joking, mostly. Green palm slid forward.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Trextan stored that little bit of information away for another day. He didn't know Taheera very well at all, so it didn't seem right to start prying into her own affairs. Clearly she'd suffered herself. He'd started to come to realise that the cost of war wasn't always as visible as this from his own father. Jacen had sacrificed a great deal, but now so had his son.

"Alright," he said. He slid the artificial hand underneath hers. "It's warm," he said with a chuckle. "Doesn't have to be, but they use some of the power to keep it at body temperature."

He nodded slowly as he felt the pads of her fingers across the back of his hand. "Better, still not the same, but much better than before we started calibrating it. You still feel warmer to this hand than the other."

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She laughed quietly. "At least you'll only have one clammy palm if you get nervous. Unless, they calibrated that too?" These types of cybernetics were a modern marvel. Fingertips absently brushed over the synthetic skin. He was right, still felt warm. If she held his hand long enough, maybe she'd start to feel the difference. With her healer's eye through the force, she could see the difference.

Regardless, it was remarkable. Not to mention that dent in the metal near his head.

"Hey," she squeezed that synthetic palm. Definitely less give. "Wanna sneak out of here for a bit? When're you being released officially, tomorrow morning?" She hadn't looked too closely at his chart when she walked in.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

"Yeah," he replied. "I think I'm out tomorrow, but I need to come back every other day for physio and... Actually I don't know what the cybernetic equivalent to physio is? Fine tuning? Makes me sound like a speeder."

He realised he was rambling and pulled his hand back. He looked down at the artificial thing. It was clearly artificial, but her touch had felt very real. It boggled the mind to imagine how they got it to send signals to match the range of sensations his other hand could communicate.

"And I'd love to get out for a bit," he said with a smile. He leaned forwards and his unkept hair flopped forwards. He brushed it back with his artificial hand. Realising he'd done that without thinking gave him pause.

"Huh. Anyway, Jacen is off... Planning his next war or whatever. And I... Well I just don't really know anyone here."

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She laughed. It was light, quick, and very real. "At least you're an updated model." Speeder model, obviously. "And okay. Let's do this thing. Just...don't tell anyone it was me if we get caught. Don't wanna get fired."

She wouldn't really get fired. Probably just put on bathroom duty for a few weeks. That would be just as worse. She stood and eased the chair back so it wasn't so close to Trex's bed. Had she scooched that close without realizing it?

Moving to end of the bed, she held up a box of Trex's belongings. "And here. Your pants should be in there." She grinned and set the box at the foot of his bed. "Not that I'm against you traipsing around in a hospital gown or the ward clothes. But, you know." She winked and turned toward the doorway. "I'll be just outside."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

At least she was smiling, he thought as he placed the case next to him. No one around here smiled very much as they worked. Jacen tried to, but there was pain in his expression every time he looked at the arm. Trextan could understand it, but he didn't like to see that mix of pity and guilt. The clothes he had been evacuated in were long gone. Shirt torn to shreds as they removed it piece by piece, trousers soaked in gore and mud. Jacen had brought the box of his things in case he was discharged.

Manipulating a zipper and button was a delicate task and took him a few seconds to coordinate both hands. At least his grip strength seemed to be easier to moderate now. He tried a shirt from the box and gave up. Bending the new arm at the elbow was tolerable, but lifting it high from the shoulder put too much strain on the joins between muscle and artificial fibre and metal. That was too painful so he found a button up shirt. Unfortunately that meant more buttons.

"Sorry, I won't be much longer!" he called as loudly as he dared through the curtain as he bravely took on the challenge of a tiny plastic button.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

Chestnut-haired head peaked in. Amusement flickered in her green orbs. What Trex was doing was its own form of therapy. It was forcing him to get used to the movement of the new arm.

Throat cleared and she took a step closer. "I...uh, could help you with that?" She felt a little heat rise to her tattooed cheeks. Perhaps that was too bold of a suggestion. Buttoning up his shirt might be seen as a little....intimate.

And if a superior like Jacen walked in. She'd die.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Trextan looked up, aghast. "Erm..."

He looked down at the first button that he was still attempting to push through without snapping it free from its thread. Part of him thought there would be no harm in letting the slender mirialan finish the job. But the larger part was as stubborn as his father.

"I'll be alright, need to work it out," he replied as he looked up with a softer expression. There was a mix of frustration and determination in his gaze though.

"Unless you're that impatient to get out of here?" He called after her. It was a half-hearted attempt to cover his awkwardness at the situation.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She smiled. She admired that he said no. Even with the awkward butterflies still fluttering in her stomach. She leaned against the doorframe but kept her gaze away from his partially exposed chest and out the hallway instead.

"Of course. I've been working here all day," she quipped back. "If the orderly sees me lazy-gaggling about they'll put me on another shift."

She smirked. It wasn't exactly true but the again, it might be. "And if we run into your dad, don't tell him I busted you out," she teased. Feet shifted and she allowed her gaze to flicker back to broody pants. He wasn't so broody anymore.

"What do you want to hit up first? The roof has some nice views. There's a library that even houses some books on flimsy. Cafeteria if you want more than pudding...a garden?"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Oh, she was just going to stand there and wait. Well, she was medical staff he supposed. There was a pattern as the bottom button of his shirt went bouncing across the floor.

"Didn't need that one anyway," he mumbled. The next one seemed easier to manipulate. He just used his metal fingers to hold the button and pushed the fabric over it with his left hand.

"It's easier without looking at it," he thought out loud as he considered the question. "I think I can trick myself into believing it's the same if I'm not looking at metal fingers and trying to convince my brain they're mine."

When he looked up he could almost imagine this was just as simple as it had always been. His shoulders relaxed as he let out a relieved sigh. It wouldn't have been the best escape of he'd been stuck fiddling with buttons for half an hour.

"I think he's busy planning a war anyway," Trex replied. His left hand encircled his right wrist and ran up and down his sleeve. It felt odd through clothes. The curves of the arm were shaped like musculature but there was no give, no flesh or artificial skin. There was less resentment in his tone when discussion Jacen, or at least it was less raw.

He grinned as he looked around for shoes, long strands of hair flopping over his face. "Would you consider sneaking out the front door? If there is somewhere that does proper food nearby?"

That expression darkened a moment later. There were still laces to do battle with. The second sigh was of frustration, not relief.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

Amusement flickered in her eyes as she watched the button roll and ping across the floor. His suggestion was good. The cafeteria was...okay. Still typical clinic food. And she ate enough of that as is.

"Yeah. We can do that. Maybe I'll swipe you a hat from lost and found. Hopefully they'll have one without pink and flowers." Her grin widened and it was hard to tell if she was joking. There was a whistling down the hall. Eyes widened slightly. Night rounds.

As Trex sat to begin the arduous process of tying shoes for the first time with a new appendage, slender legs took her quickly to his side. "Okay Mister Macho. You start physio tomorrow not officially tonight. I'm going to help you but just because we need to escape."

She knelt in front of him with an apologetic smile on her purple lips. Fingers brushed against his as she gently pushed them away. Yes, even the metal ones. She began to quickly make the appropriate ties and loops.

"How do you feel about nerf burgers and shakes?"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

He narrowed his eyes in consternation at having his hands shooed away. Perhaps, he thought, the buttons had been enough of a challenge for now. After a moment's reflection he found he was able to see humour in his own stubbornness. He smiled and for the first time it wasn't forced.

"I guess it wouldn't be much of an escape if the morning shift found me still here swearing at my own laces."

He slid off the side of the bed. His chest and back ached to be standing and taking the weight of the new arm, but he felt far more human to be dressed properly again.

"I would say I feel hungry about those things. Well, hungry and thirsty respectively. Not that I didn't appreciate the extra steamed, frozen and reheated pudding."

He made for the corridor then slowed to a stop. He actually didn't have any idea what the layout of the facility was. "We can skip the hat, I'm wasn't so bad a patient they have my face stuck behind the front desk, I don't think."

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She stifled a laugh as she saw the back of a night nurse disappear around the corner. "Yeah. Let's hope you weren't put on THE list for acting out." Truth was, she doubted he would be considering whose son he was. Went with the name. Most people would be scared to mess around with Trex or make him mad.

Good thing the Mirialan wasn't most people. Plus, she trusted Trex and knew he wasn't so petty or vain. If anything, he wanted to distance himself from voidstalker. Well, maybe not anymore.

"Come on," she whispered and took him through the maze of hallways. Right. Left. They slid into a lift and she pressed the button for the main level.

"How're your sneaking skills? There's a sign out desk we'd have to dodge."

Bland music strummed off through the speakers in that stretcher-long lift as they descended.