Take It or Leave It (Cryax)

[Kerrick Sereta]

Of all the oddities or simple horrors that Kerrick had encountered during their time wandering the galaxy looking for this or that odd job or simply traveling just to sightsee, this one was definitely at the top of the list. A Chiss male, brutally crucified and left for dead on a planet they couldn't quite recall the name of, though it was little matter now. So the Epicanthix hybrid did what hardly any other smuggler would have done and gotten the man down with as little trauma to his obvious injuries as they could manage, bringing him back to their ship, the Vagabond, laying him down in what had become the makeshift medbay and tending to the numerous injuries present with what their limited knowledge of medicine allowed, which was really just a combination of too much experience field dressing their own wounds. But it sufficed, and once the man's condition was deemed stable, they moved on to the next task at hand: navigating at least some distance away from the system, so that whoever was responsible for this wouldn't find them, or at least not find them easily.

Piloting them at the very least a few hours away from the planet didn't prove all that difficult, and soon enough they were left with nothing but their own thoughts as they waited for the stranger to inevitably awaken with a number of questions, the first most likely relating to their current location. Seeing the injuries he'd sustained only brought memories of their own childhood abuse back, though they did their best to suppress them with a shake of their head, sighing quietly and spinning absently in the pilot's chair. Patience had never been a virtue they were exactly proud of, and this situation was no exception. In fact, it was anything but, due to the simple fact that they were intensely curious about the man and where he was from, not to mention how he'd ended up in the state they'd found him in in the first place.

So, once the errant smuggler was certain that there were no other ships in the immediate area to pose a threat they made their way back to the medbay, simply leaning up against the wall across from the improvised bed the Chiss was laying in, leaning their head back and closing their eyes as they waited, for what they weren't sure. Either this man would awaken soon or he wouldn't, but either way, he remained a curiosity. Only time would tell whether that fact was for better or for worse, but it was something they were willing to wait for.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax didn't exactly wake up so much as wrench himself from unconsciousness with a ragged gasp, his torso rising up out of the unknown bed with in one violent motion. Breathing heavily, his red eyes adjusting to his new surroundings, the Chiss lowered himself back down on the bed very gingerly. Everything hurt. And what didn't hurt was gone. Such as his lower legs. He suddenly realized that he wasn't alone, and he turned his head to face a human woman or man. He wasn't quite sure. It's not like it mattered. Especially since she wasn't a Yuuzhan Vong. The unknown being was leaning against the wall staring at him placidly.

Cryax wondered if he was back inside his head in a Yammosk-created nightmare. There wasn't anyway to be sure, but he supposed he'd know if her face started to melt or she tried to stab him. Then he remembered that in the dreams, his legs had been intact, and not severed, the wounds cauterized shut. He raised his palms up to his face to inspect the new ragged puncture wounds. He didn't remember being crucified so perhaps that happened after Dredge punched him unconscious. Then he faced the human again.

"Where am I?" asked the mutilated Chiss in a soft voice, barely above a whisper.

[member="Kerrick Sereta"]

 

[Kerrick Sereta]

"Right now? The Vagabond." Kerrick hooked their thumb back in the general direction of the planet that had only recently been left behind courtesy of the ship they were now on. "As for where I found you, your guess is as good as mine. But I'm not going to try to hurt you, or kill you, so you can relax. I took care of your wounds the best I could, which is admittedly not too great. I'd say you're lucky to be alive more than anything, because whoever left you there wasn't betting on you making it out. Honestly, you looked like fething hell, and you still do. But you look better than you did, if it's any consideration." A small smile turned up the corners of their mouth, and they ran their fingers through their dark hair. "You've got a few broken ribs, so I'd recommend staying lying down for the time being. They're set relatively well, but I don't want to change that. I'm no doctor." Not in a professional sense, at least. Improvisation was one thing, proper schooling was another.

Now their smiled turned a bit more crooked, though they remained leaned against the wall, having already done all they were able in terms of medical care. "Name's Kerrick, by the way. Kerrick Sereta. Freelance smuggler, wandered by and decided to help you out, for better or for worse. I can drop you somewhere if you have friends, or we can see about finding a better hospital somewhere along the way. And if you want something to help with the pain..." Pushing off of the wall, they rummaged through a nearby medkit, coming up with a bottle of pills, their one good eye quickly scanning the label. Finally, something that would prove just a bit more helpful. Stepping out of the room for a moment they returned with a cup of water, shaking out two of the pills and passing them over to the Chiss, offering the water as well. "This'll help. Or at least, dull it enough for the time being."

With another easy smile they regarded the stranger for another moment. "Do you mind telling me your name? It's always nice to know who I've got on my ship, all things considered. But as long as you're not going to try something once you're healed up, I guess I can't complain much." That was true, for the most part. Being one who tended to stray towards the less than legal side of things in terms of business, getting caught by any number of galactic authorities wasn't at the top of their list. Even if it would all be chalked up to a warning, that was valuable time that could be spent elsewhere. And, considering they already had this man on their ship, there wasn't much that could be gone in the way of things.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

It took a few minutes of blinking his red glowing eyes at the smuggler for the concept to finally dawn on Cryax. He was free. Dredge had made good on the terms of his release, although he'd left him to die hanging on a cross on some godforsaken planet. At least the wounds on his hands seemed to tell that story anyway. Exhaling a large whoosh of air, Cryax leaned back in the bed and took a few moments to compose himself, covering his face with his shredded hands. Then he sat up on his elbows. He smelled like death, especially since he hadn't bathed in days and some of his wounds, particularly the ones with large squashed insect bodies left inside, were starting to weep pus.

When Kerrick handed him the pills he simply said, "Thank you," and took them with a trembling hand, gratefully washing them down his excessively dry throat. "My name is Cryax. Cryax Bane." he paused and looked around the smuggler's ship, his mind still in disbelief that he wasn't going to blink and find himself in Dredge's throne room. "Thank you for your kindness," said the Chiss, his voice cracking. "I don't know how to repay you but trust me, I'll find a way." He didn't think it was the smartest thing in the galaxy to tell her that he was a loaded crime boss. While she seemed like a pretty straightforward person, he was still unaware of her intentions. She could be a smuggler masquerading as a bounty hunter after all. "What planet did you find me on anyway?"

[member="Kerrick Sereta"]

 

[Kerrick Sereta]

A shrug at the last inquiry. "Dunno. I was passing through, really. I don't pay much attention to the names of planets I don't intend to return to anytime soon, and this was one of those incidences. But if it really matters, I'll keep the coordinates and figure it out later. Right now I'd say your biggest concern is resting up until we get you back home, wherever that happens to be. They'll probably be able to get you better medical attention than I'm able to give." Gesturing to his legs, they stepped closer to check the bandages wrapped around the gashes there, frowning slightly. "You're lucky those were cauterized. It's the only kindness that was granted you, it looks like." Fishing around in a medkit once more, this time producing both a few larger bacta patches and a roll of bandages. "I didn't want to waste these, in case there was something more serious with your injuries that I wasn't seeing, but you need them now."

Looking to Cryax briefly they spoke, "This probably isn't going to feel the best, but it will after." They peeled off the bandages as gently as they could, cleaning the wounds with a clean rag before applying the bacta patches to both of the gashes on the upper portion of what was left of his legs, wrapping them once more with the clean bandages and disposing of the previously used ones before looking to the Chiss again with another smile, this one more apologetic in nature. Even with her past, they still had a sense of empathy, only extended towards those that truly deserved it in their eyes. Which invariably included the grievously wounded Chiss they were currently attending to. "You don't have to worry about paying me back. We'll likely cross paths later. Smugglers always have their uses."

They stepped back to give him a bit of breathing room, attempting to lighten the mood with the next words spoken, unsure of how effective things would be. "Listen, I know you're probably wondering, so I'll address things before you decide to ask." They gestured to their no doubt androgynous appearance. With the loose jeans, dark shirt and flight jacket thrown on unceremoniously over it all, their countenance wasn't all that remarkable. "I'm not exactly male or female, in a non-biological sense. Sometimes on, sometimes the other, at times both or neither." Another smile, and they shrugged again. "Not saying you were wondering, or even going to ask, but it's a common enough question."

Turning the conversation to something a bit more serious, they tilted their head slightly. "Do you have somewhere you'd like to me to take you? I have to assume you aren't just another freelancer. No one would have bothered with all of this if you were someone like me. We tend to not draw so much attention to ourselves. And something tells me you're in the crime business, too. The higher ups don't get as roughed up as this usually, or ever. Miff the wrong crime boss?"

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

As Kerrick cleaned and dressed Cryax's festering wounds, he winced and gritted his teeth in pain. "Mother-Karker," growled the Chiss, clutching the sides of the bed until the anguish stopped. Once they were finished, he let out a long sigh and leaned back down down on the bed, his energy spent. Between his severed limbs and the letters carved into his chest, his lower body was a mess and the sight of it filled him with revulsion. He turned his head and looked at Kerrick instead.

When they explained their gender to him, he nodded. He wasn't quite sure how that worked, as he himself identified as staunchly male, despite his romantic interest in other men. But the galaxy was filled with all kinds of creatures like hermaphrodites and aliens that reproduced asexually. It wasn't the strangest thing he'd ever heard.

The kinder Kerrick was to him, the more his reluctance to share personal details was fading. And after what he'd been through, the Chiss badly needed someone to talk to. It might have been careless but decided to let his guard down with the smuggler. They weren't Dredge. That was a start. "You can take me to the hospital near the Dragon Palace Casino on Antecedent. And yes, I'm in the crime business. I didn't miff the wrong boss. I am the wrong boss. Well, usually. I was captured by Yuuzhan Vong during one of our operations. Oh, and by the way, don't take any jobs that take you to Teth unless you've got a hankering to become a Rakghoul. Give it a little time before you set foot on that planet."

Furrowing his brow, Cryax frowned. "I hate to ask, but I'm starving. Do you have anything to eat?"

[member="Kerrick Sereta"]

 

[Kerrick Sereta]

That was quite a bit of information to process in such a short amount of time. First there was the entire idea of the Yuuzhan Vong was an ordeal in and of itself, even without one being captured by them in the first place. Then there was making a point not to stop by the planet Teth, which shouldn't be too much of a difficulty, even with their being a smuggler. Finally, you had exactly where he'd requested to be taken back to. Although Kerrick wasn't one to stick around much in any one place, they still kept an ear out in the galaxy enough to know which syndicate was rising to power and which were beginning to fall into their death throes. And the Dragon Palace Casino on Antecedent definitely rang a bell. Anyone who had worked in the crime business for a short time would know the name of the base of operations for the Red Ravens.

Still, it was a few good seconds before words finally found their lips. "The Red Ravens, huh? Now it all makes a bit more sense. You've made quite the names for yourselves, even to a smuggler like me. Not bad, Mr. Bane." With their new awareness of his position, it didn't change anything from what was expected of his response to their efforts in saving him. Sure, he more than likely had access to a number of credits that they could only dream of, but that didn't change much. Even though they certainly were one on the lookout for any amount of money to help them along, that didn't mean they were one to rip someone off. Or at least, not someone they'd just met.

At the last question they blinked and nodded. "By the way, you don't have to worry about all of the formality. I appreciate it, but we're all criminals here." Grinning with a quiet chuckle they ducked out of the room on a search for food that wouldn't be too much for him to handle in his likely malnutrated state. Finally they settled on a ration kit, deciding that it was light enough to not cause him any sickness, but enough to sate his hunger plenty for the time being. So they made their way back into the room, opening the container and handing it to him with a smile. "This should settle, for now. Don't eat too much too fast, however hungry you are, because you'll regret it later. Trust me on that one."

Leaning up against the wall once more they paused for a moment. "Well, I guess since I've interrogated you enough for the day, it's time for you to ask what you want. Any questions, shoot. I'll answer the best I can."

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax took the ration kit gratefully, tearing into it with shaking fingers, and trying to eat as slowly as he could. It wasn't easy because his hunger was ravenous, and a couple of times he felt his gag reflex kicking in as he took too big of a bite. Staring at Kerrick as he ate, he marveled at the perfect androgyny of the smuggler, and when they agreed to answer his questions, he only found himself with a few. But the two had time to kill before they got to Antecedent and conversation would take his mind off his wounds.

"You already answered my biggest question which was going to be in regards your affiliations. But since you're a freelancer, I'm assuming you don't have any and if you do, that your loyalty follows the credit trail." Having had enough of the ration kit, the Chiss put it aside and lay his head back, turning so that he could fully recline as they talked. He ran his fingers through his matted, blue-black hair and gave them a weak smile. "But I do have one question, and I don't quite know how to put it so bear with me. It's probably a stupid questions, but how do you decide what you're going to be on a given day? As in man or woman?"

[member="Kerrick Sereta"]

 

[Kerrick Sereta]

Having expected a question perhaps in regards to the sightlessness of their left eye or how they'd gotten into the smuggling business in the first place, so Cryax's inquiry caught them off guard for a moment. It wasn't that no answers came to mind, but more so that there were no analogies to connect things in a way that he would be able to completely understand. And besides that, it was a question Kerrick had never been asked before in the first place. But it would have been rude to leave him without an answer. "I guess the simplest way to put things is that I don't. Think of it as a spectrum instead of black and white. I just wake up one day and feel or a particular way, but it can change by the hour." They shrugged. "Not much to tell about it, really. There's probably some kind of scientific explanation for it all, but I don't get into the terminology of it. I choose that just as much as you decide to breathe in order to survive. It's not really a deciding matter. It just is."

The comments about their affiliation were something they could answer to with a bit less difficulty. "It's either the credits or what happens to be the most convenient at the time. I try not to get involved with whoever's in control of a particular planet unless it complicates the smuggling route. And I try to avoid anything that takes me into Republic or Imperial space specifically. Other than that, yeah, freelance work. So if you ever need an outside hand with something, give me a call and I'll try to be there." They'd only included 'try' in that sentence due to the nature of both of their jobs that, more often than not, had them working odd hours in the farthest stretches of the galaxy at any given point in time. It was chance that they had met this first time, and up to much of the same if the two would ever cross paths again.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax nodded at Kerrick's first response. He was still intensely curious about the subject, but figured that the question was probably too personal to keep poking at them about so he just let it lie. Same for their sightless eye. Instead he switched the topic back to their profession. "The Red Ravens could always use good smugglers to call on," said the Chiss, the blue color in his cheeks deepening now now that he had some food in his system. "We could have plenty of work for you once I get back to Antecedent. If you want to work for us that is."

The Chiss's thoughts turned to his Morellian lover back home, and he felt himself getting choked up. Their relationship was new and they had just started to call each other "boyfriend," so wasn't sure what kind of effect his trauma was going to have on his burgeoning partnership, but he knew one thing. He was dying to see the Morellian slicer. "I'm not sure what would have happened to me if you hadn't found me. I guess I'd be bird food by now. There's someone I care about who I'm eager to see, and I think he's eager to see me, too." Here he smiled widely for the first time since Kerrick had picked him up. "My lover back on Antecedent. Is there anyway I could use your ship to try and contact him?"

[member="Kerrick Sereta"]