Ask By The Books

[Dr Ilana Morata]

-THEME-​

Smoke.

Something sizzling.

A flash of blue, of green. Something hurtling past the viewports.

Someone shouting her name.

She could taste blood on her tongue; thick, sluggish. It was hard to breathe; there was smoke, something sparking in front of her. Her head hurt.

She blinked again, groggily. She couldn't remember what happened; one moment, she was talking to.. to...

A flash of memory. Blue eyes. A small smile. He was saying something, but her brain couldn't piece it.

Core... Corran...

"Corran..." she managed to rasp out weakly, struggling from the restraints.

Was he alright? She had to get up and check--

Her head bobbed woozily, and she sank back down with a groan, eyes squeezing shut. No breaks, no bruises... but where was he?

Was he next to her? She had to get her bearings first, if she could only think straight.

She tried again.

"Corran?"

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Grey.

It was all grey.

That dark, inorganic, unmoving grey. Did the sky always look like that? Corran's vision was a blur, like opening your eyes under water. His eyes lids weighed several metric tons and he could only barely gaze forward through light lashes. As his eyes struggled to regain focus, the rest of the young man's body began to function, like a computer restarting. Feeling returned to his extremities first. A finger twitched. Something cold and metallic brushed it. Corran finally managed to blink. Once. Twice. His vision became clearer. That wasn't the sky. It was the ceiling of something. Metal.

As sensation slowly crept up his back, the blond youth only now realized his orientation. He was laying flat on his back. Had he fallen? Where was he? As the feeling returned to his neck, the young man's brain finally flickered to life. A ship. That's right. He was on a ship. The Crimson Venture? No. This wasn't it. Someone else was piloting. Who was it? That line of thinking didn't last long.

Pain shot up the man's body. Once the body had learned it could feel again, it decided to remind itself it was hurt. He ached all over, but there wasn't any major injuries he could feel. No unsettling angles of his arms or feet. No bones jutting out. Only his mouth tasted faintly of iron. Fallen. He had definitively fallen. Or rather been thrown. What force could have thrown him? Wait. A ship. A crash. Her.

"Corran?"

He immediately sat up when he heard her voice, eyes wide. He gulped down air, chest rising and falling rapidly. "Ilana?" His voice was coarse. Dry, like the Dune Sea. The young man swallowed, trying to right himself. "Ilana?" That sounded better. Corran crawled towards the pilot's chair only a few steps away. A hand grasped a console that was flickering and weak. He hauled himself up onto his knees. Compared to everything else, the wintery Arkanian stood out like a light house. "Ilana," Corran reached out to the arm of her chair, "Are you alright? Are you injured?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

At the first rasp of her name, she snapped straight back to awareness, amber eyes flicking over to give him a side eye, unclipping the harness. "That's my line," she replied dryly, wincing at the more ragged tone to her voice than usual. Pain, no small edge of worry, but thoughts were becoming clearer now, free of the slog that felt like her brain. She could feel a hard knot on the side of her head; no doubt attributing to the lack of memory.

Another flash of blue and green flickered through her thoughts. A scream of an engine. Hers? She wasn't too sure... it was all so hazy.

"I'm fine," she answered curtly, forcing herself to move, unclip from the seat harness and turn to him, hand resting lightly over his. "But you shouldn't be moving, you must have fallen hard. Nothing seems broken?"

Speaking of... she couldn't even see out the viewport. It looked like... vines. Something, some trees in the way. She stood up shakily, then stumbled, wincing at the pain sharpening behind her eyes.

"Must've been an engine short..." she muttered, then flicked her gaze down to Corran, offering a hand. "Let me examine you first, before we move any further."

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

A joke.

The viewport was covered in foliage and the nose of the ship likely in the dirt and she made a joke.

Corran huffed out of his nostrils. All the adrenaline-fueled concern and worry in his face receded and his shoulders went from squares to slouched. He knew Ilana was fine before she even claimed to be. There didn’t even seem to be any blood from a head wound – usually very common when it came to planetary collisions in spacecraft. Either she had put them down for a soft landing or they got very lucky.

Her hand ghosted over his and the cold aura chilled his aching muscles. The young man felt an urge to turn the tables and hold onto her hand, but the energy just wouldn’t come. Why was he so tired? Medical as ever, inquired to his own status. “Nothing feels broken,” Corran replied thoughtfully, “But I drank a lot of milk as a kid, so I’m pretty tough.” A clearly weakened boyish smirk willed itself at the corner of his mouth before collapsing back to an exhausted frown. As fatigued and achy as he felt, if his injuries were all superficial, this would be one of the better hard landings in his life. The crash on Dxun had about split the Ranger’s head open and the delicate intervention of a young Jedi woman saved him. This he could handle. Plus the company was better.

Ilana rising to her feet and stumbling caused Corran to reach up to brace her, but it turned out to be just a precaution as the doctor caught herself. Her assessment of the potential cause of the crash would need to be investigated. An engine short was possible, but with her background, sabotage was equally as likely. The Ranger weakly glanced around the cockpit, both taking in the damage and trying to gather information on their immediate surroundings as his brain now seemed capable of taking in new inputs. A white, elegant hand out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Doctor Morata wanted to check him over. Maybe he would get to hold her hand after all.

Taking hold of the offered hand and gripped the arm of the pilot's chair, Corran lifted himself up to his feet. Like Ilana prior, he wobbled and nearly toppled over. Only the firmly bolted chair prevented a spill. The young man didn't initially think he needed medical attention, but now he was thankful the option existed. Releasing the grip on her hand, the man limped sluggishly to a nearby undamaged console and leaned against it. Not quite an examination table, but it have to do. Sky blue eyes swept over the Arkanian. "Are you sure you're in any condition to be performing an assessment? You seem about as shaken up as me," Corran said with a weakly cocked eyebrow. He didn't question her overall abilities, nor come off as sassy. It was so immediate after impact that most people were still suffering from shock. To her credit though, Ilana wasn't most people.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Concern, professional and personal, touched the corners of her lips into a faint frown. The lighting in the cockpit wasn't very bright to begin with; they were in emergency lighting, which meant the main power drive was shot. Not a good sign. She didn't even know where they were... but time to prioritize their worries first.

He was first.

Typically the image of a professional in stress, the fact that he was cracking jokes as well was not a good sign. And when he stumbled she reached a hand out as though to stabilize him, but he already did. She frowned, white brows knitted in concern as he leaned against the nearest console.

Hearing his concern as her own capability as a professional, she drew herself up, forcing herself to meet his eyes squarely. A clinical calmness shut down any emotion in her gaze, and she nodded once.

"I'm fine. But after this... I might suggest some rest. For both of us... at least long enough to recover. And then gather our bearings from there." She kept her touches light, mindful for any possible abrasions. She learned since Corellia and the night raid. But those blue eyes swept over her, and she glanced up at him again.

Her lips parted as though to say something... then she sighed, running a hand through her hair. A bitter twitch to her lips marked the self-disdain in her eyes.

"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have insisted on one ship, and now you're stuck here..." She didn't know why, exactly, but a small piece of shame gnawed through her conscious. And she didn't like it at all.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

It felt like a scolding from a teacher in middle school. In her stare alone, not only did she forcefully push back against any questions of her ability, but also called Corran to attention. The doctor was right. It wasn't really the time or place. Her advice about recovery and recuperation was spot on as well. If there was another bump on the young man's head, it was two too many. He nodded softly before cold fingers brushed along his neck, head, and extremities. Expecting pain, Corran kept perfectly still. None came. Only the softest of chilly touches; like snowflakes landing on bare skin. Either the Doctor Morata had acclimated to the young man's particularly pain points already or he wasn't as injured as he thought. Maybe somewhere in between.

The dim emergency lights didn't make it easy to see the Arkanian or much of anything else for that matter. The blond youth could have sworn she was about to same something. The look in her amber eyes, which reflected even in the dark, betrayed the self-admonishment she was giving herself. What she said next confirmed it. Her fault? It was shocking to hear an admission of guilt. Of weakness. The stoic curtain had opened. Corran was so taken aback that he wasn't even sure how to react. The natural instinct was to embrace her, but not here. Not now. He reached out uncertainly but hesitated. His hand began to shyly recoil. A sense of... bonding or... closeness with Ilana just wouldn't let the young man not comfort her. Corran's fingers brushed lightly against the wintery hand that had brushed back icy hair, as if asking permission by touch, before fully clasping it entirely. "Hey. It's not your fault. Accidents happen. We're both okay and that matters." His voice was soft and sincere.

Still, countless regulations and survival guides bubbled up in his recovering memory. A downed ship was a dangerous place. Fire, smoke hazards, fractured debris, chemical leaks - the whole vessel could still be unstable. Corran gently pulled on Ilana's hand, as a motion to lead her away from the cockpit. "We shouldn't stay here. Let's grab what survival gear you have and get outside where the light is better. We can assess medical and hull damage from there." Thankfully, the Courier wasn't a very large ship. Getting out wouldn't be that much of a problem as long as the hull was mostly intact. If they got outside and the vessel remained stable and didn't catch fire, it would be safe enough to embark again and do what repairs they could.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She flinched back slightly in surprise at his touch to her hand, the sudden warmth a shock and his quiet voice even more so. She was so bound up in the odd fact that she felt guilty that she had forgotten he even noticed her and what she said. It was... nice... that he held her like this, but they needed professional distance.

She exhaled slowly, jaw working. How could he be so forgiving? They could be stuck here ages, depending where they were, and he was acting as though nothing was wrong. Though then again.. he had been nothing but considerate. Kind even. The Doctor wasn't quite sure how to process that thought just yet. Dizziness still threatened to be a contender of her added miseries though; she wobbled slightly, but forced herself to stand, nodding once.

"Let me get what I need..." she rasped, resting her other hand against his chest. "You go ahead, I'll be right out."

Not waiting to affirm or deny she turned and stumbled out, staggering towards the cargo hold and her medical examiner bag. All the equipment was in there, but... she hesitated.

This was her home. For months now, years, really. Retrofitted to be her medical mobile center... she would have to use Kai's old ship, not that it mattered. But she liked this one.

Corran would have gotten an impression of spartan living. No pictures on the walls nor figurines, but a bed that looked like it once belonged to a pet. Holobooks on medical research... but something that may have surprised the Ranger if he was particularly watchful. The entire collection of the holo series Anatomy of Romance, Space of Time, and Twin Suns Lonely Hearts.

She packed what she needed, and whistled. An R2 unit beeped to life, then whistled in alarm at the subtle unbalance of the ship. Giving her a series of trills in dismay at the state of her ship, and she waved it off, gripping the wall as though to keep from falling over.

"Send a distress signal," she ordered weakly. "And full diagnostics. We'll be outside."

However... she wasn't too keen to go camping. Especially on such an unknown planet. But what choice did they have?

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Leaving her was the last thing Corran wanted to do, especially after an unsettling collision with the ground. But Ilana had clearly made up her mind and departed for elsewhere in the ship. Besides, she had told the young man to head out first and he was good at following orders. Hobbling through the ship was more challenging than expected. It felt like it was leaning at an angle. His sore joints maneuvering that much harder. Along the way to the rear ramp exit, it struck the man at how unadorned everything was. In this case, it made moving about that much easier without walkways covered in debris or smashed belongings. It was due to this spartan style that something particular stood out to him. A collection of romance drama holo series. Everything else made sense. Medical holobooks. Practical tools and datapads. But this? It was a window into the Arkanian woman. What she enjoyed alone. What entertained her. How she spent her sparse free time. At any other time, he would have asked about them. Unfortunately, the present forbid much.

A door lay sealed shut in the dim light. If memory served, and it struggled to right now, this was the way he had originally boarded. Cautious hands fumbled about in the semi-darkness, looking for controls of some kind. His palm slapped against a square box that stood out from the wall. There. Flipping open the latch, Corran pressed the button that opened the rear hatch. It hissed and began to rise slowly. The light outside wasn't particularly bright, as a wall of light grey clouds coated the sky, but the blond youth still rose a hand to cover his eyes from the sudden change. So disoriented by the increased light, Corran didn't immediately notice his surroundings. Boots splashed into the surf. When he looked down, wet sand greeted him. That curiosity and basic investigation skills that all Sector Rangers were required to possess kicked in. At the aft of the ship lay a shallow beach that led directly to a pleasing, pristine blue lake. On the opposite side of the waters lay trees both coniferous and deciduous that blocked the view of the base of two twin peaks with an unnatural and jagged V separating them. Glancing back the the downed Quad Five, the crash site alone suggested that Ilana had threaded the needle between the two rocky twins and avoided flattening them against the mountain face. Was she aiming for the water then?

The wet sand gave way to soft grass and other lower plants as the young man continued to explore. Up on actual soil, the scenery seemed much of the same. Pleasant rolling green until trees of higher elevation species grew thick, followed by a clear distant mountain range in the near-distance. That's when it became clear. They were in a bowl. The mountains circled all the way around the crash site until split apart in that jagged V. This wasn't natural terrain. A meteorite had impacted here millions of years ago and formed the lake and likely much of the mountains. All that remained now was forgotten wilderness. The air felt thin, meaning they were higher up than first expected. That meant less bugs at least. Temperature felt pleasant, only with that hint of chill that only mountainous climate could provide. It was a good thing he wore his lucky jacket, though he left it unsecured. He wasn't on duty or else the badge of the Rangers would be over his heart.

Corran's headache made itself know by causing his temples to feel like they were about to burst. He sluggishly walked to the edge of the lake and got down on his knees. Blue eyes searched in their reflection, examining the water carefully. It seemed safe. Drinkable. Untouched even. Cupping the life-giving liquid in his hands, Corran splashed his face with it lightly. Like part of a morning routine. It was crisp and it helped ease the pain behind his eyes for the time being. Whenever Ilana left the ship to join him, the young man would report his findings. "Local environment seems safe so far. You put us down in some soft soil and likely saved our lives by gliding through that," he pointed to the unnatural and sharp-cliffed V in the mountainous bowl. "I haven't given it a thorough look-over yet, but cursory observations suggest the ship's hull is relatively intact. Commendable piloting, Doctor Morata."

He looked at the snowy-toned woman with searching eyes. "What's the plan?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She grabbed rations, water, purifying materials... just about anything she could think of that would help to survive however long it took; she didn't even know their location yet. But Corran had left, and for a short while, she stopped by her old lab.

Looking at all of it, she felt a gnawing pit in the base of her stomach. A sense of trepidation, of guilt. So many emotions at once, they were hard to control. She shook with the overwhelming sense of it all, and sat on the patient chair, gritting her jaw. But the tears came, hard and fast, and she could feel her control slipping, ever so subtly.

The scream of a few well-aimed shots...

Her eyes snapped open at that, all other emotions evaporating. She hadn't imagined it. The shriek of another ship's engines, the shot so well-placed to her own fuel cells and to the rear of the courier... she hadn't imagined it. It was a clear memory, but the sheering of that memory to the surface of her mind dragged out a hiss of pain, pressing her palm to her forehead.

A few more seconds, and the pain subsided.

Wiping off her face to the best of her abilities, she squared her shoulders in determination, gathering up whatever else they would need. The ship was outfitted with emergency survival gear in case of something like this... but she wasn't certain what laid outside the viewports.

When she came out to the grey-skied world they landed on, she wasn't above gaping at their surroundings. Nature all around them... not a single building to be seen, not a single other ship gracing the skies. Everything still, silent... almost idyllic, really. For a moment she closed her eyes, sighing. Descending the ramp, it was then she registered Corran's voice, and merely nodded once, features unreadable.

She carried with her several packs, and staggered away from the beach, towards the treeline to deposit them and assess where they were. When she came back, she knelt by the sand with him, feeling the water dampen her pants, her hands. Her head still throbbed, her throat was raw, her chest and back ached with a thousand minute bruises. Every single one of her bones felt like they ached, and she felt tired enough to sleep the night through, and then some.

"I have no idea where we are, apart from the Outer Rim," she said softly, looking up. "Ar-Two is sending out a distress signal, but I don't know if anyone friendly to us will find it anytime soon... We need to get shelter and sleep," she finally spoke, dragging her eyes from the lake to meet his eyes firmly. "After that, assess damage, recon... and wait."

Waiting was the best she could do right now, really. That, and make sure they would be all right.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

As plans goes, it was the trusted and tried wait-for-rescue approach. Despite all the talents and capabilities between the two, it was probably the only plan available to them. Climbing down from the caldera and then wandering into the unknown wasn't going to be easy and not even a certainty to find any aid. At least here they had basic access to a ship, even one that may never fly again. Corran squinted at the Quad Five. Blackened carbon scoring, though only near the fuel cells, suggested they had been hit. Either accidentally or intentionally, the courier had been forced down. Whoever or whatever had been targeting them must have assumed they scored or a kill or had to peel off due to hazards. The upside was that as it would take a ship to access their little natural fortress. This place must be inaccessible by speeder or foot and that warded off any surprises sneaking up on them.

He turned to meet her amber eyes and nodded slowly in agreement, "If we are in the Outer Rim, rescue could take awhile." The former space trader knew in some places out there, only dumb luck allowed downed ships to be found or worse; found by slavers or pirates. He extended a hand to take some of the bags Ilana had brought with her from the ship, "Either way, we should avoid the ship for a little while. If things seem quiet, we can come back and shelter here." The young man scanned the edge of the lake for any obvious advantages. He wanted something nearby the fresh water and a place they could keep an eye on the Quad Five in secret. "There," he pointed to what looked like a shallow creek that flowed from the lake into the woods. Maybe a secondary pond had formed over the years and the trees would provide shelter and cover. Maybe even a cave or toppled rock formation could provide a roof until the ship was deemed safe to return to. It was a little ways from their current location but still near the lake itself.

On a normal day, walking the rim of the lake might have been a pleasant stroll, but in their fatigued conditions, it might be more laborious than enjoyable. Rising to his feet with a grunt, the off-duty Ranger would offer to help the Arkanian to her feet so they could being their trek. He made sure to walk beside her, both to support her if she stumbled and to hopefully be caught by her if he lose his footing. Thankfully, the rim of the lake was not rough terrain. It was... nice even. Corran couldn't think of a place more untouched and still than this ancient crater they had disturbed by crashing here. If they got out of here, the young man considered possibly marking it down as a personal colony claim. On the other hand, keeping it off the galactic maps might have its advantages too.

When they made it to the outlet they spotted early, Corran looked both ways as blue, fresh water glided over smooth stones and followed its natural curves into the dark green trees. It was likely only 2-3 feet deep at most and shallower in other places. The blond youth turned his head to look at his fellow survivor, "What do you think? Follow the stream and set up a camp under a tree or stay by the lake rim?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Seeing him reach a hand down, she took it, amber gaze panning over their surroundings. As far as landings went, they hit the jackpot on both location and planetary atmosphere. She merely nodded numbly to his words, the true luck of it all finally filtering through. They could have smashed to a horrible death a thousand different ways. She didn't even consider herself a particularly skilled pilot. Perfectly average to be honest, yet somehow their descent was so gradual even the pattern of hitting the ground wasn't as deep as it could have been.

If only she could properly remember.

"You're right; better to stay out of sight, I don't think we crashed at random," she replied woodenly, amber eyes hooded. Still the guilt wouldn't go away; she felt like all of this was her fault, somehow. But no way for him to know that; she knew he would be the type of person to say it wasn't, that she was a good pilot, that they were both alive, but truth be told she wasn't certain about this place, if there were any dangerous fauna. She couldn't protect him if push came to shove right then.

When she began walking, she stumbled a few times, accidentally brushing against him a few times and feeling goosebumps trail up her arms. He was a practical furnace, radiating heat, and there was something about that that was just so... nice. So she did her best to maintain some distance, but the clear path between the vegetation and the water wasn't very much.

If things weren't so dire, she would have been more appreciative.

The deeper they went, the dimmer the light seemed. And yet, she could sense no danger. No sentient emotions flickered through, apart from his, but she forced herself to keep walking, following the stream down.

A small pool formed at the end of the stream, shaded by trees. A few local birds were perched by the edge, but otherwise it seemed undisturbed. She didn't recognize any of the flora or fauna; as soon as they approached the flock vanished in a flurry. She stopped at the base of one tree, then sighed, glancing at him. She parted her lips as though to say something... then paused, shaking her head slightly.

"Will this work?" she rasped quietly, looking away and down to the ground. The further out from the epicenter of the caldera they went, the firmer the ground became, the less sandy.

It was almost... cozy, this location. And she could still just barely make out the ship from where they were.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Trees crowded closer together as they followed the stream beyond the edge of the lake. Corran occasionally glanced to the canopy above and stared into the woods. Quiet. Only the songs of birds and a mild breeze made any sound. Was this place only truly accessible by wing? Maybe no other creature bound to the earth lived in this caldera. That would make striking camp that much easier. Along the way, the blond youth was mesmerized by the practically clear water floating down the stream. Not watching where he was going caused him to miss a step and lean into his companion. That jolt that almost always came from her touch raced up his arm after his fingers danced with hers for the briefest of moments. He didn't apologize as he was fatigued and Ilana had done the same earlier. In his own naive way, he liked it.

When they reached that natural conclusion of the stream emptying into a clear pond, the doctor stopped at the trunk of a great tree and glanced at him. Her mouth opened but stopped herself. That was the second time today it had happened. What did she want to tell him? The young man wanted to ask but Ilana spoke first. Corran didn't reply immediately. He took a few paces around the proposed camp site, scoping out the terrain and foliage. The ground was even and firm. Trees provided cover and even something of a roof from rain. A fresh water source nearby. The young man looked over his shoulder and they could even see the Quad Five between the tree trunks and across the lake. He put his hands on his hips and returned his gaze to Ilana, "Yes. This'll do. Good eye." Despite being outdoors, it was quite welcoming.

Shrugging his own pack, Corran pointed to the ones Ilana carried, "So, which one is the portable shelter? I'll get it set up." It wasn't that the doctor wasn't capable. The young man knew his tank was nearing empty and he wanted something of a camp site set up before he collapsed. Choosing a spot that was somewhat more elevated than the rest of the ground and far enough from the stream to not get wet but close enough to not be far, the off-duty Ranger got to work setting up the survival tent. It was a small thing. Meant for two people only semi-comfortably, but could handle three in a desperate pinch. It was sturdy and only took a few pegs in the ground to secure it. It had some unfortunate bright colors on some sections that made stealth more difficult, but the canopy of trees provided the necessary cover to hide it from the air. Once finished, Corran allowed a tired sigh. "I think we're done. It's all set." He turned to look at Ilana for approval of the structure or point anything out that needed fixing. The young man was getting to the point of exhaustion where food didn't even really appeal. After he slept, he would certainly be famished, but right now his body cried out for shut-eye. Staring at the tent entrance flap, still secured up, a thought anxiously dawned on him. Sleeping arrangements. "If you don't have another portable shelter packed away, you can have it. I could sleep outside," his voice was uncertain, awkwardly trying to supply solutions, "We could also take shifts, I take the first watch and then we trade. Or... or...." The young man's voice trailed off into silence.

Normally, he would try for every creature comfort available, but the current survival scenario and Ilana complicated things. Not that the two hadn't shared a bed before. Well, once. They shared a bed for one night. A long night on Nar Shaddaa, granted, but still. Not to mention, permission to lay next to someone one time was not permission for all time. The off-duty Ranger really could sleep outside too. He had done it before and his eye-lids were telling him that if he slouched against a tree, he'd probably nod off the same if he was in a luxury hotel bed. It was Ilana's call.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She would have helped, but he seemed keen to set up the tent first, and she was too worn to protest. Leaning against the tree trunk, she stared after him dully, then got up from her position to look it over. Her arm was still tingling from the warmth that he brushed against her with, and absently she rubbed at her arm to look it over again, then glanced.

At Corran's words, she raised her brows in tired surprise, and let the words trail into silence. "Or we can just sleep together," she finally answered, too tired to be aware of the double entendre that might be misconstrued. "We're both injured, tired, stranded on a foreign planet of unknown location and predation... and you look just about ready to drop asleep." Was he trying to be courteous, or professional?

"Unless there's objectives to sharing space?" she asked quietly, tilting her head. "I trust you, Corran. And..."

She hesitated, then swallowed, looking away. "People need you to be around. You're a Ranger. And if there's any medical complications with our landing... we'll watch each other's backs."

Not waiting for a response, she ducked into the tent, hardly able to resist anymore. She just wanted to sleep for a few nights through, and hopefully she could remember more of what happened, and get some mental clarity. But she knew even before the sleeper was set up she would at least have one dreamless night.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

His eyes pulled away from the tent and looked to the doctor when she completed his faltering sentence. She was right about all of it. Injuries, exhaustion, the unknown, and his own fatigue. The young man would want nothing more than to sleep in a little bit of civilization. To avoid a night exposed to the elements. He could handle it, of course. He had before. But with the option to avoid that fate, who was he to say no? Corran shook his head at objecting to sharing space. That wasn't necessarily the issue. Ilana's double entendre didn't even register in the blond youth's mind. If food wasn't even something he cared about right now, that was much lower on the list of priorities. It was more about permission. To be respectful. To not be pushy. Even in his wearied state, his upbringing guided and persisted.

The admission of trust sounded different to him than everything said before. More sincere. Honest. Heartfelt. Corran subtly parted his lip ever so slightly in something like wonder. Even when the Arkanian woman turned away, he couldn't help but keep his eyes drawn to her. People needed him? Something in the way she said that didn't seem... right, but his thoughts were garbled. Nothing coherent would come. All his mind, body, and soul yearned for was sleep. Sleep for a week. After Ilana entered the tent, the off-duty Ranger remained outside for a few moments. He stood in the same spot but rotated around, trying to look for any possible threat or problem. Any hint. Any trace. Nothing. There would be no excuse. A part of the young man was troubled and relieved in equal measure. Wordlessly, he entered the portable shelter and zipped up the flap.

By now Corran was almost too exhausted to talk. He clumsily plopped down on the sleeping mat and began pulling off his boots, one after the other. Then his blaster holster which was set beside him. The process was a ragged affair - something short of a drunk person trying to maneuver themselves. The blond youth only managed to take his jacket off before collapsing onto his back. His eyelids fought against gravity, trying to stay open a little longer. Ilana. He wanted to ask her something. It felt important. One eye closed. He fluttered his eye lid to keep it open a moment longer. What was it that he wanted to say? Wait. That was it. "Ilana..." Corran sounded like a sleepy toddler in a grown man's body, "What did... you...."

The world had gone dark. A soft exhale signaled that the Ranger had drifted into an instantaneous deep slumber. There would be no dreams. It was the type of rest only made possible by the body trying to recover from injury. Corran was entirely comatose; his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. Only once in this long darkness did he wake and only minimally. His eyes did not open. There was something cold near him. A person. Why were they cold? Instinctively, the young man slid his arm over the icy person and immediately receded back into slumber.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She didn't like feeling vulnerable.

The few times people had gotten her without her defenses were people that never stuck around. She knew better. She was stronger than that. And yet there was something about the Ranger that instilled trust, and a want to do better than she had. Whatever was going on wasn't going to be long-lived; you didn't have to be psychic to know that anything intimate in this galaxy never lasted.

She curled up on her sleeping mat, and though she slipped easily into sleep, it was haunted by dreams.

A cold sweat broke out as she moaned once, quietly in her sleep, a voice of soft despair and the thousand small pressures of her profession. But that must have woken up Corran somehow, because when she woke again she was suddenly hot.

The warmth he gave was... oddly soothing. For a sleepy moment, she considered moving away, but it was so nice. Yet the physician in her had to check; pulse was regular, as was breathing. He was warm but not feverish. No obvious breaks or bleeds. Yet even as she tried to marshal those clinical thoughts together, that proximity, and the calm breathing of her partner lulled her back to sleep.

This next bout of sleep was deep, and dreamless. Any tension from before had eased away, and the next time she woke it was an early morning, and even through the shelter the light seemed thin and grey. Peeling off the thermal blanket, she sighed and started getting up, and though yesterday... perhaps longer than that...? she had ached and hurt all over, now she felt clear-headed, calm.

However, she was also suddenly ravenous. Golden eyes panned, seeking out to see if Corran was still sleeping inside or had already left.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Time had ceased. There had been only the quiet void. Lightless. Unmoving. Corran had been adrift in it. No thoughts. No visions. Just the nothingness a deep slumber allowed. Then a low, grey light intruded. It did not come on swiftly, but gradually. Then there was a rustling. It was near. Close. The young man squeezed his eyes tightly, trying to ignore his coming consciousness. But it was too late. He had returned to the living. Blue eyes opened, half-lidded. His body felt stiff, like it had been frozen in carbonite. It was a good stiffness. A sign of a long and undisturbed rest. Other than that, there was a noticeable lack of pain. No aches or soreness. How long had he been asleep? Hours? Days? A week?

As consciousness gathered, the young man began to feel his surroundings more. The air was crisp and cool. Morning, most likely. Someone was with him. He turned to look at them with half-open eyes. It was Ilana. Serious amber eyes met his. She was already awake. Then he felt it. A soft cold in his hand. Hauntingly, his eyes flowed downwards. His hand sat on the wintery woman’s thigh. Corran immediately recoiled his arm and sat up at a ninety-degree angle. Eyes wide, he was fully awake. “H-hey. Good… morning,” the blond youth greeted bashfully, doing his best, worst attempt at trying to ignore his own embarrassment. How long had he been touching her? Did he sleep like that? He didn’t intend anything untoward, did he?

Mercifully, the Ranger’s stomach growled a deep, commanding demand for sustenance. He scratched his empty tummy anxiously. “I think food is next up in the hierarchy of needs.” It was also an attempt at a joke. Based on their surroundings, if memory served, options for food were slim pickings. No cities or outposts were nearby, or if they were, not easily reachable. Hunting would take awhile and that was only possible if there were animals to hunt in this old crater. Fishing seemed more plausible, but would take just as long. They didn't even have a heat source going. Anything worth cooking was probably still on the crashed Quad Five. Ration bars it is. Corran cleared his throat, recognizing his voice was rough from thirst, "Pass me a ration bar, if you would please." Eating something quickly was probably a wiser idea anyway. His thoughts returned to the Quad Five. It could be swarming with enemies by now. He hadn't heard any ship pass over though, but he was sleeping like a rock. Corran reached for his blaster holster and began putting the belt on. "We should check on your ship soon as well."

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

"Hey yourself," she commented quietly, rising to stretch absently. She perked a brow at his flushed face, his wide eyes. Was he... blushing? She gave him a quizzical stare, and turned away, riffling through one of the bags. A soft chuckle slipped past her lips at his statement, digging out two bars and handing one to him. "Not going to deny that," she replied, sitting back on her haunches to peel the wrapper.

"You talk in your sleep often?" she asked calmly, taking a bite from her bar to watch him. "Or is that something new?" Testing the waters, keeping the man and the Ranger a little off-kilter for now. She had a feeling if she let him, he'd make this all business, and that was exhausting after a while. Not that there was a need to keep him from being strictly professional; for once, the Doctor didn't want too much distance.

She was tired enough as it was keeping the entire galaxy at bay. For once... she wasn't against a galaxy. They were alone; even without her powers, she could feel it.

"Eventually, yeah," she nodded at his comment to her ship. "But first, let me check on you. You slept very heavily, I could barely rouse you earlier."

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Normally, ration bars are dull, tasteless things that are only ingested to hold someone over for a real meal in the future. Right now, they might as well have been the most savory bite in the galaxy. Eagerly, the young man tore open the wrapper and took a big bite. He hummed with satisfaction. Having anything to put something in his stomach was enough to put him in a good mood. That is until the doctor asked him about something she noticed as they slept. That hungry feeling was joined by a nervous pit. The blond youth froze still, the bar hovering near his mouth, but his eyes looking back into the gold watching him. "I talked in my sleep?" Corran asked innocently. He took another bite of the ration bar and chewed it carefully before swallowing. "What did I... say?" He had never been told he spoke in his sleep before. To be fair, the young man hadn't shared sleeping quarters with many people since his merchant fleet days. Ilana was the only one, actually. Was this a new thing? Had he admitted something in slumber that he never would have sober? A shy unease settled in him. Nothing powerful, but noticeable.

In this state, occasionally chipping away at the life-sustaining ration bar, the Ranger watched the Doctor searchingly. He didn't necessarily realize it until now, but this was a way he hadn't seen her before. They were always in a rush or on some heavily populated world with things to do. Now... she only sat across from him. Her voluminous snowy hair, messy but in that attractive way, from the long rest. A tension that was so constant before that he only now recognized it in its absence. But there was something familiar as well. In her eyes. That feline gleam. The one she had went they first met on Corellia.

It wasn't in him to turn down a medical look over. Considering the circumstances, better safe than sorry. Any unknown or unreported injury was bound to be a problem down the road. "By all means, doctor," Corran invited her to begin the examination as he stretched to loosen up. His neck gave a quiet pop as he twisted his head from one side to the other. He didn't want any hard muscles being confused for bodily damage. As a matter of experience, the young man did not enjoy check-ups. They usually involved poking and prodding of alway painful bruises and marks that would heal just fine on their own. On the other hand... Ilana had gotten better at being careful and she was fairly gentle with him to begin with. Being close was always soothing when it came to the Arkanain.

Well. Not always soothing. Other feelings too. It was only natural. Corran turned his whole body to face her, sitting cross-legged in the small portable shelter. The thought of her icy hands on his neck and chest caused something else to mix with that emotion of unease from earlier. Blue eyes glanced at her figure quickly when she approached him. Maybe there was some silver-lining to falling out of the sky to this desolate place. He disliked camping, except for the uninterrupted star-gazing but being here with Ilana... maybe that made it alright.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She smiled ever so slightly, powering down her own ration bar. No sense dwelling over nonexistent taste; it was sustenance, enough to keep them going for a while anyways. When he asked about talking in his sleep, he seemed slightly anxious, and she shook her head, pausing to swallow. "Nothing too bad," came the soft reply, shrugging one shoulder. "Just my name... and then you hugged me." A smile still lurked on the corner of her lips, amber eyes seeming to glint in the low light. "Not that I mind, I'm usually cold at night."

She knew she hardly looked professional. Wearing the grey tee shirt of yesterday, with mussy hair and black leggings. Hardly the garments of a professional physician; though he had seen her with much less before, she never felt so underdressed. And he kept staring at her, why? Was there something on her face, a twig in her hair perhaps? And yet... he seemed to be feeling something else.

Something she didn't quite understand herself, but brought a keen ache into her chest.

At his consent, she leaned up on her knees. She'd learned before, deliberately keeping her touch feather-light, careful to check his eyes, ears, pulse, breathing. She paused midway through ghosting a hand over his wrist to check his pulse, gaze flicking to meet his.

A thought seemed to linger in the back of her mind, panning his face. Again, words failed her... but then she sighed, and reached her hand up.

A rare gesture happened; her hand brushed lightly against his cheek, as cool and wispy a touch as might have been mistaken for a snowflake, her voice low, hushed. "How's your head? Aching anywhere?" She couldn't deny there was a feeling of responsibility for any ailments the Ranger might have suffered, but it was more than that. It was genuine concern... an assurance to make sure he really was fine. It felt like her fault they were in this mess, even though he told her it wasn't yesterday.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

A visible release of tension and relief drained from Corran's shoulders. Just said her name. Could have been anything. Wait; then he hugged her? The tension returned just as quickly. The young man pursed his lips and closed his eyes for a second, suppressing embarrassment. The roller-coaster didn't stop there. She then admitted that being held wasn't so bad at night. Corran opened both eyes with a blink and was immediately greeted by an almost hidden smile and kittenish, amber eyes. His shoulders lowered like starship hydraulics once again. He feared she would have found his sleepy embrace immature or possibly childish, but she seemed to be fine with it. Was that something like permission?

Lithe, alabaster fingers dutifully searched for injury in common areas on the human body. The Ranger expected pain, but none seemed to come. Just the gentle, chilly touches of a thoughtful doctor. Without the fear of a bruise being prodded roughly, Corran found his eyes wandering for something to pay attention to as he sat patiently and still for the examination. Ilana's attire preoccupied his thoughts. He had seen her resplendent in gold and armored in dark, practical coating. The grey tee and plain black leggings appealed to him in their own way. It seemed to reduce the inequality between the two, with the young man sporting his own white tee that tucked into his pragmatic, dark-colored pants. It gave her something of a girl-next-door-vibe. He liked that. The young man's attention was immediately summoned when golden eyes flicked up to look into his sky blue. There seemed to be something in her stare that he couldn't quite make out. He tilted his head slightly, as if to ask what's the matter?

Her hand rose and the blond youth dared not move. Ilana's touch was tender. It barely would register on his skin if not for her usual chill touch. Corran inhaled sharply, but softly, between barely parted lips. The gesture was different. It felt rare. Like seeing a falling star in the Core Worlds. Even her questions sounded different. They were worded like a typical medical assessment, but felt more sincere. Had she always cared this much, hidden behind noblesse oblige, or was this new? The young man didn't leave her inquires unanswered for long. He winced a little, closing his eyes, feigning pain, "Yeah, it hurt a lot earlier." Corran's eyes then immediately opened and he reached up and pressed her hand against his cheek with his own, gently keeping her icy touch on his face. His other arm looped around her waist to keep Ilana close. A boyish grin slowly appeared on his face and he looked at her through half-lidded eyes, "But I'm feeling much better now."

@Killa Ree