The Honorable Ones

[Cassius Droma]

Cassius let out a short sigh of relief as the doctor vouched for him. For a fleeting moment, he thought that she might still turn on him, but she was helping sell his act as well. “No weapons,” he assured the trooper, again gesturing over to the doctor. “She’s got the only one.” This was of course a lie, but even the doctor didn’t know that he still had his lightsaber on him, in a cylindrical tool pouch at the small of his back.

He took her hand and pulled as he stood, dusting himself off and letting his breath become steadier. “Well, when I heard the sound of that pod dropping, I figured I’d come back,” he continued the story the doctor had told, providing his fake explanation. “I guess climbing that tree to get a better vantage point wasn’t entirely the best idea…” he winced in false pain.

It was only then did he realize how absolutely ragged they must look. With the doctor’s arm in a sling, her head bloodied, as well as the patch on his chest and overall exhausted and sweaty look for the both of them, one would have thought they’d been out here for a full week. They certainly looked like they needed a hot shower and a meal. Luckily, rescue had come… but not exactly in the form Cassius had hoped.

“So… are we gonna get out of here?” he asked Ando. “You got a shuttle coming to pick us up?”

Even still, the gears were whirring in his head. When would he steal the shuttle? Likely after it picked them up and returning to their mothership. Then he could take the guards, get to the cockpit, and plot a hyperspace course out of the system before the First Order knew what was going on. Granted, that all depended on what happened next.

[member="Dr. Aes'ona Terrani"] | [member="Luther Ando"]

 

[Luther Lewis]

Moon
Equipment: G-11F Blaster Rifle, FO-X1 'Shadow Trooper' Armour, Stun baton.
[member="Dr. Aes'ona Terrani"] | [member="Cassius Droma"]

​

Luther said nothing, looking back and forth between the two. Eventually, he let out a sigh and lowered his weapon. “Very well” Luther said, addressing Cassius. “You’ll have to submit to a full inspection and background check when we board. Providing you have no crimes registered, you will be deposited at the nearest civilian outpost”. He struggled to keep the distaste out of his mouth. The man looked like a vagrant, and Luther had little time for those indebted to gangs.

Luther’s comms crackled to life and he once again tapped the side of his helmet. “Sweep is clear for outside the camp, Luther. I don’t mean to alarm you, but you have a signature on your twelve”. Luther sighed, starting to get frustrated at Ander’s glib tongue. “I’ve found another survivor, a slave” he replied. “Send a shuttle to my location, with a squad of Stormtroopers. I want to salvage some of the wreckage and recover the pod”. He closed communication without waiting a reply.

“There, you have your shuttle. I know it must…” Luther trailed off and swore as he noticed Terrani’s wounds. “Blast Aes’ona” Luther said, unconsciously using her first name for the first time in months. “You should have told me you were wounded”. He dropped his rifle to the ground and moved over to the Doctor.

He removed his helmet and rounded her, examining the head and ignoring any protests. “Not bad stitching, a little sloppy” Luther dug around in his medkit for the antibacterial cream. “But you couldn’t have done this, Doc”. Luther paused, looking over at Cassius. “Tell me about yourself, friend. You must have done this” Luther gestured to the stitched wound. “Are you a medical professional too?”

 

[Cassius Droma]

Ando called in the shuttle, and one would think that Cassius would feel some sense of relief, but it was countered by a furthering rise in tension for him. Transport was coming, yes… but so was a whole squad of stormtroopers. Not only that, but he would be subject to a search and background check. They’d no doubt find the lightsaber, determine his identity as a Jedi, and execute him on the spot. He’d need a way to deal with them and steal the ship… all while still being drained from the day’s events.

The trooper noticed the doctor’s wounds, and Cassius thought about how much worse it could have been. After all, she very well could have been a corpse by the time he’d gotten here. That being said, she still looked the worse for wear out of the two of them, with Cassius’s only visible injuries being the burn mark on his chest and a few bumps and bruises.

Then, Ando’s attention was turned once more to him. “Hm?” he hummed, his eyebrows popping up as he was snapped out of his thoughts. “Oh, well, you know…” Cassius nonchalantly shrugged. “I’m just a cargo pilot – moving supplies, passengers, and the like. I’ve had to do a few patch jobs over the years… but really, the doctor just walked me through it.”

The point now was to seem simple and insignificant, like he was just some sort of ancillary character in a larger story. If one listened closely to his tone of voice, it was even a little loftier than usual, with an Outer Rim tinge to it – just a simple guy who got involved with some bad people. That’s all he was.

“I’m surprised she still stuck around after I was pullin’ that needle through her without any painkillers or anything,” a small smile – an attempt at humor.

[member="Prennis Keeoli"] | [member="Luther Ando"]

 

[Prennis Keeoli]

Aes'ona kept her head aright and level as the agent examined her and then applied the cream. First, she offered a small, tight-lipped smile and said apologetic but slightly monotone in order to minimize her movements, "Sprained left arm too." He might as well know now.

Then, she adverted her gaze, directing in in the direction of Cassius. Her view of him was not good at all, as she kept her head perfectly in place. When Luther had finished, though, she glanced over properly, just in time to chuckle at the joke. Well, maybe not a joke--it had hurt quite a bit. Her laugh died off, killed by both sudden realization and slight fear:

There was a shuttle. She was being taken back to the First Order. No, nothing would possibly be alright.

Her eyes widened ever so slightly at Cassius. She didn't know how else to communicate, or really what to either, but hopefully that would get across enough.

Miraculously, Prennis was able to keep from shaking. She steeled herself, the confident face of the First Imperial doctor coming over her once again. With a quick nod, she confirmed, "A quick learner. Pity you didn't go to nursing school."

~ † ~​

[member="Luther Ando"], [member="Cassius Droma"]​