The Red Hospital

[Kay-Larr]

After her successful meeting with [member="Daxton Bane"] , Kay took it upon herself the very next day to head back to the hospital where she had met Judah. She had a few questions for him and as she had not gotten the list of supplies that the hospital needed, she grew a little concerned. Was he that busy? And if he was, then they desperately needed help.

She brought one guard with her as she stepped into the hospital, and even dressed plainly so that she could attract as little attention as possible while on her way there. So far, so good. Hopefully the good doctor wouldn't be too busy for her.

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

A few discrete inquries would direct her to the roof of the building where she would find Judah wearing rumpled scrubs as he puffed furiously on an old style vapor condenser. The chrome and wood designed tool was used by recovering nicotine and deathstick users, allowing them to puff harmless flavored smoke with none of the deadly drawbacks.

Exhaling a particilarly voluminous amount, in what purists would call the Dragons Breath, the comforting smell of cinammon and cocoa would be cartied through the air.

No one else was on the roof and the doctor seemed deep in thought, staring at some distant clouds as he puffed away.

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

The rooftop. It was an odd place to look for a doctor. But once she was up there and saw Judah smoking, well, it all made sense then. He was deep in thought and she caught the smell of the 'smoke' in the air. It was a wonder people didn't get hungry around him.

Not wanting to startle him, Kay cleared her throat a bit and then started speaking as she approached. "Lovely day for some fresh air. And I must say this is a pretty view. It's no wonder that you come up here."

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

He coughed when he heard someone else was on the roof with him. Waving his hands to dispel the smoke, he said, "Sorry about this. Usually no one comes up here so I go here to think. How can I be of service?"

Up close she would see telling signs of stress, dark circles forming under his eyes, the nervous uncontrolled twitching of fingers, the slightly haunted look of a man who has had very little sleep.

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

At first she had figured that the cough had to do with his smoking. But then the look on Judah's face and the way in which he moved, suggested that there was a heck of a lot going on.

"No, no, I'm sorry for interrupting your break. I just didn't get the list if the items that you need for the hospital, so I came to find out what they were myself...."

She had wanted to ask what was bothering him, but for the moment, she just let it go.

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

"Oh right. It sort of slipped my mind with everything going lately. Where are my manners? I would invite you for some coffee but I have to be honest the stuff we have downstairs is a bit weak and I'm tired of cold donuts. Once or maybe twice but not evrry single day. Can I invite you for some coffee? My treat naturally, perhaps you might know one that serves a decent kaff?"

Judah was lonely for some company, he just wasn't sure if were proper to ask.

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

It was an unusual request, but not unheard of. Often she has had meetings over at one of the tea houses, so this wouldn't be all that different. Kay offered him a polite smile. "Sure, I know of a place. Come on." Of course he really needed a good night's sleep. Or a good nap. Maybe he'll get that too.

She led him off of the roof and through the hospital, her guard keeping an eye out as he walked with them. Kay was just going to walk, but due to the fact that Judah looked so exhausted, she decided to take the transport that she arrived in instead. "How long has it been since you've had a day off?"

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

"A day off?" Chuckling softly as it was a joke before realizing how stange he sounded, "I am sorry. That was very rude of me. I haven't had a chance to take some time off. Too many chances for the nightmares to haunt me in my sleep."

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

Well, to be fair she didn't get any days off either, especially as President. She was on call every minute of every day. Kay raised a brow at his talk of nightmares. "How long has it been since you've slept? And what has caused your nightmares? If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay. But sometimes it helps."

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

For the longest time he was silent as if he were thinking about it. Finally when they had their coffees, he stirred his for a good two minutes before he cleared his throat.

"Dreamless sleep is a very rare thing for me. Often I wake up screaming or drenched in a cold sweat every time I remember. It is not something I share lightly with anyone but I feel I can trust you."

"Back when the Ravens first banded together, I was hired to be Daxton's bodyguard. In fact there were dozens of us since he wasn't really that popular. At that time there was this crazy mermaid who was obsessed with him and wrangled a crew of blood thirsty mercs to snatch him. Unfortunately I was the body double that day and got snatched before anyone was the wiser.Suffice to say mermaid wasnt too happy and decided to skin me alive just to teach a lesson. Believe me getting skinned was no picnic. I thought I was going to die..."

"Bane came though before they could finsh the job and rescued my behind. To understand how much I owe him you need to know he spend a fortune to make sure I received bacta treatments as well my rehab for free asking for nothing in return. Still it didn't end there....."

 

[Kay-Larr]

The transport had stopped by this point. But Kay didn't make any move to leave. She just listened to [member="Daxton Bane"] tell his story. She couldn't imagine what it was like to be skinned alive, but she was no stranger to being tortured, both physically and mentally.

Kay was just about to tell him of different ways that he could get a good night's sleep, when he indicated that the tale wasn't over yet. "Go on...."

 

[Daxton Bane]

Draining his cup as if to draw courage from it, he nervously licked his lips before continuing his tale to [member="Lady Kay"]. "The worst part was they used my flesh to create an abomination with my face, with my name. My doppleganger walking, breathing, claiming to be [member="Judah Dashiell"]. Then to add injury to insult, the merfolk temptress married my doppleganger and spawned more monsters. I have tried to stop them but I am only one man. Had they killed me, the lie they sought to perpetuate would be complete. But I was able to make her pay. No longer will she pollute the space lanes with her temptations and deceit. Now I am here, Bane denies my right to correct the wrong. He feels I have lost so much already. But I cannot rest while that damned creature still breathes. It haunts my dreams, when I close my eyes. How can I sleep with that kind of burden on my shoulders?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

Kay frowned a little as she heard the tale. It brought back memories of the circumstances surrounding her husband's death almost thirteen years ago, and when his killer changed his appearance to look like him, tricking her in an attempt to break up her marriage.

"I know what it's like to carry burdens and not be able to sleep. But I got over it. Even though there was nothing that I could do about the situation at the time, I knew that there would be another chance when I was ready. You are not ready, Judah. You don't have the energy and fatigue is clouding your mind. Besides supplies, I'm going to send a call out for more staff for you. Then you will be able to rest. If you don't, your body will just shut down and you could die. Now how would that help you in confronting your doppleganger?"

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

"That it would. Good staff is something we are in short supply. Not for lack of enthusiasm mind you. But it will take awhile for me too fully train staff up to the standard I need from them. The hours will be long but I would rather do something positive than dwell on dark thoughts. Thank you for taking time and hearing my story."

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

"I understand that they would require some training to fit your standards, but our University is one of the best in the Galaxy. They have superior training." She chewed the inside of her cheek as she thought for a moment. "You're not going to force me to have to order you to get some sleep, now are you?" Kay offered a little smirk that one really couldn't tell if she was telling the truth or not.

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

Laughing softly, he raised his hands in mock surrender. "Ok I give up. You win. I will try to get some sleep later. Deal?"

Maybe he would get some sleep later when the coffee wore off. Right now he was enjoying her company and the chance to talk with someone who wasn't looking for his medical opinion.

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

Kay smiled as Judah seemed to have given up. She raised a brow ever so slightly. "If by later you mean within the next day or two, then yes, it's a deal."

She chewed the inside of her cheek a bit. A full tummy tends to make people sleepy. Maybe that could work. "Care for a bite to eat? I haven't had lunch yet, myself."

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

"Ever the negotiator I see. Ok fine. You have a deal but on one condition. Lunch is my treat." his eyes wrinkled in boyish charm that was sorely lacking in the recent days. It would be good to kick back and relax without a care in the galaxy.

Besides his work was allowing him unprecedented access to the raw data for which to create a genome map. What his master's purpose would eventually be revealled in good time.

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

"To be a good President and diplomat, one would have to be a good negotiator. And buying me lunch? Well....I suppose that that is a worthy trade off." She smiled, catching that boyish twinkle. At least he seemed to have found a bit of hope again, instead of being so downtrodden.

"Where shall we go for lunch, Judah? I don't need any place fancy. Soup and sandwiches works for me."

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Lady Kay"]

"Among the Ravens we have a saying, its Dealer's Choice. Where would you suggest we eat, my dear?" It was these little steps which would build a foundation between the Raven and the Politician.

The next few weeks were spent visiting various locations, while enjoying good food and each others company.

Like in all good things time flew by quickly and soon the hospital was about to open.