Even Monsters go to the Doctor

[Gavin XIII]

Sleep was an alien thing for Gavin. He simply didn't need it. Instead, he'd simply sat on the bed in the cabin Sera had let him borrow, and stared at the starlines that marked their travel through hyperspace. As a purely habitual thing, he'd made himself coffee and was nibbling on some kind of sugary pastry. That was all he needed to maintain enough energy for the whole morning.

A proximity alert blinked its pleasantly gentle light at him, and the Thirteenth vaguely wondered if he should wake his friend up yet. She was either asleep or meditating, and either of those was probably important enough that he didn't want to interrupt her for what was basically a social call to her mom on Cambria.

Of course, she'd probably argue that it wasn't a social call, that it was urgent. But, Gavin didn't feel nearly as much urgency as she did over what he thought was just a small bit of internal bleeding. The fact that it'd been his ear bleeding didn't give him much pause. He'd had plenty of worse wounds that had healed up without the fussy, if very pretty, Twi'lek who'd stopped him from killing somebody or her mother.

But who was he to argue if a certain Byzantine-skinned lady wanted to drag him around? He'd probably enjoy it.

[member='Seraphina Shel'tah']

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

...Proximity warning.
.....Entering planetary atmosphere.
.........Landing sequences initialized.
.............Firing reverse thrusters.
................Transferring ship ID, manifest, and occupant list to dock authority.
....................Docking cleared.
Sera enjoyed sleeping, probably moreso than was actually considered healthy. So when being woken by the pulsating, repetitive, and blaring alarms on the ship indicating atmospheric breach began sounding off, her eyes blinked open, full of annoyance. One day I'll be aboard a ship that can pilot its own landing. Climbing out of her comfortable bedding she dragged herself to the cockpit, and began systematically pressing a series of buttons and switches.She would have shouted for Gavin to come helo, but she couldn't even fathom listening to her own voice yell right now. It was too early after waking. No loud noises would be permissable once she deactivated those obnoxious alarm notifications.

Navigating the ship down to the docking pad, the young Jedi cut the power to the engines, and deactivated all of the life support systems to conserve power, before calling out for Gavin to follow her out of the ship. They had to catch a cab to reach their destination from here - the hospital. That wound would require careful repair, and she wasn't taking no for an answer. This was anything but a social call, no matter what Gavin thought. It was simply the only place he could conceivably be taken to where someone would treat him. Seeing her mother was simply a bonus.

[member="Gavin XIII"]

 

[Gavin XIII]

Gavin stepped off the boarding ramp of the ship, noting the relatively shabby hangar they were parked in, probably as a precaution. It was an ingrained practice in him, and he assessed every bit of cover and movement in the room around them. Finally, he looked at Sera, grinning.

"Old habits die hard. I don't like spaceports."

He picked a piece of dried blood out of his ear, and flicked it away in slight annoyance. Stupid Force Scream. Now he was going to be put through a hospital visit just because a certain mercenary had taken exception to the first conversation he and Sera had been having. Of course, the Thirteenth conveniently left out the part where he shot first. Another reflex.

"I hope they don't scan me. That'd be... awkward."

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Sera glanced over at Gavin. How does he not like spaceports if his profession is hunting people? Strange. "Don't worry. We're safe here. Of course it has been several years now since I've been back here on Cambria, so I don't exactly know if my mother is still at the same hospital, or if they even still live in our home."

Leading him out of the spaceport she paused and waited for an available cab to arrive, hailing it as it approached. "Municipal Union Hospital please."

The young Twi'lek placed her hand on his lap and smiled. "Don't worry, we'll get you fixed up. My mom is a wonderful surgeon. You'll be in good hands, I promise you that."

[member="Gavin XIII"]

 

[Gavin XIII]

Gavin gently squeezed the hand in his lap, and shook his head as he smirked at Sera. She didn't get it. Nobody ever really got it until they saw the scans. The Thirteenth wasn't just an enhanced human, like he appeared to be.

"I'm not worried about that. I trust you a little too much. What I am worried about is what exactly comes out on medscans. I really don't need that kind of trouble."

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Twi'lek's nose twitched side to side and she bit the inside of her cheek, forcing her lips to slide towards the opposite side of her face. She was mildly curious and entirely confused about what exactly he was afraid of showing up on those scans. While she didn't want to pry into his personal affairs, she did sort of need to know what he was getting at before they got there, so that they could either handle the situation, or give warning to her mom about whatever it was she needed to know.

"What is it Gavin? Spit it out. What kind of trouble are you referring to? That they'll know you are Sithspawn? My mom treats patients, not Republic citizens. It wouldn't matter where you came from. These people are here to treat patients, and they take no political or idealistic sides when it comes to the care and welfare of others, if that is what you are worried of. Besides, if my mom was going to try and kill you or something, don't you think I'd not have suggested this? Afterall, if I wanted you dead I'd just poke you with this glowstick of mine."

She smirked, nudging him on the shoulder as the cab continued onwards.

[member="Gavin XIII"]

 

[Gavin XIII]

Gavin rolled his eyes at Sera, and tapped her nose. It was kind of cute when she twitched it at him. Like she was teasing him, or something. The shoulder nudge was definitely a tease. He didn't reply in kind, because he simply didn't want to squish his new friend in the cramped space of the speeder.

"It's about me being a Sithspawn, for sure. It's pretty obvious when you combine the medscans, the tattoo I keep hidden on my chest, and the gun I carry. I was an assassin for Lord Chronos for over a decade. Nothing could stop me, and Chronos was beyond ecstatic. My biggest hit... was here on Cambria. Two years ago, to the day. The same day I killed my master."

The Thirteenth looked Sera straight in the face.

"Whatever you get dragged into, here, I apologize for in advance. I'm built for it, you're not."

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Sera raised an eye toward his comment. She wasn't entirely sure of all of the differences between sithspawn, some were hideous, grotesque monsters, while others passed as every day humanoids. It was an oddity for her that she couldn't fully grasp.

"That is quite a life story, Gavin. But what could we possibly get dragged into, here? We're going to a hospital. I can assure you that my mother will treat you kindly. If you think I am a kind hearted person, you will be in for a surprise. I have her genes, but she vastly surpasses me in overwhelming kindness. It makes me nauseous sometimes."

She laughed as they continued on. It wouldn't be long before they reached the destination.

[member="Gavin XIII"]

 

[Gavin XIII]

A hospital… if it was that hospital… If the place was still standing after everything he'd had to do to kill that one last mark, he'd be impressed. He'd been an angel of destruction, two years ago. Gavin wondered if that was how he looked to Sera... Some kind of predatory thing.

"Oh, I wouldn't count myself so lucky as to not be going to the one place on the planet where I might be hunted down and killed. You see, I shot up a hospital to kill ten people. Sure, ten people who were corrupt, and probably totally evil, but still… People don't take kindly to the murder of Senate officials. There's gonna be a lot of me trying to sniff out toxins in my food while we're here. A lot of me drawing my gun at shadows. And almost certainly a lot of me threatening people who ask questions I won't answer. Are you okay with that?"

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Sera shrugged, she still didn't entirely understand him. He was neither good nor evil. He certainly didn't feel neutral either. He hated the Sith, that was surely a plus, but he was also quite squirrly around the Republic. Why he was so confident in her she had no real answer for. Maybe he just liked her skin tone. That seeemd as logica lan answer as any right now.

"Let's not draw our weapons unless we're forced to, okay? If you draw, someone else will draw, and then I will have to, and nobody wants that. At least I don't."

They stopped at the entrance of the Galactic Union hospital. She looked over at Gavin with a hopeful look, as if to pray to the gods that nothing terrible would happen this time.

[member="Gavin XIII"]

 

[Gavin XIII]

The Thirteenth looked around at the building, grinning like a wolf. So, they'd built a new hospital over the old one. Awesome. It was unlikely that any holos of a man with an "XIII" marking were left over from the old building, which had been wrecked, anyway. So, they were safe unless somebody had a long memory for faces. Gavin grinned, and shrugged happily.

"That makes this a lot safer for me. It's just a new building they put on top of the wreck of the old one. Phew."

And then he noticed that Sera had said something about weapons.

"Don't draw your weapon on my account, Sera... I'm a big Sithspawn, now."

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

"I wasn't here for the destruction of the hospital. I remember the old one. Thanks for telling me ahead of time of your little transgression here."

She rolled her eyes and pulled on his hand for him to follow her into the building. Her lightsabers well hidden, and ensuring that Gavin's were as well she approached the front desk. The woman was a fat, odorous woman that looked roughly middle aged. Her voice was crass and mildly indignant at their approach. "Ya? Can I help you?" Sera smiled despite the woman's irritated overtone.

"Yes. We're both here to see Dahlia Shel'tah, please." The woman raised an eyebrow. "Girl, this is a hospital, not a doctor's office. You don't get to simply pick who you are here to see." Sera's face was beginning to look slightly irritated herself. "Dahlia is my mother. Please page her. Tell her that her daughter Seraphina is here. I'm sure she can make an exception this one time." The woman scoffed and paged for her as instructed. Rolling her eyes just so Sera knew she didn't care that her mother worked at this hospital.

Turning back to Gavin she shrugged. "Some people are just rude."

[member="Gavin XIII"]

 

[Gavin XIII]

Gavin just shrugged back and reached into his pocket, wondering if he still had candy left. He did, and it tasted appallingly sour. Grinning at Sera, he did a mocking facsimile of the secretary's tone.

"So, giiiirl, does everybody talk like that here? That was hilarious."

He snorted and went back to scrounging through the candy wrapper.

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

A burst of laughter came from Sera as she listened to Gavin, then again as he dug like an animal through his pockets for candy. "What are you? Addicted to candy?"

She shrugged, mocking him as she mimicked his movements. "I don't know how they talk really, I left here when I was young, and haven't been back since."

Exhaling through her mouth, the Twi'lek puffed out her cheeks in anticipation. What is taking her so kriffing long? Her daughter is here! A moment later she saw the turbolift open and out walked Dahlia. She was an older Twi'lek, aged 47, or 48, Sera had forgotten. She was a deep red coloration, with a number of small markings on her Lekku and across her face that made her look very unique. She was wearing typical doctor garb, a white coat. As Sera's eyes locked on to her mother she immediately shot up and ran to embrace her. "Mother! I've missed you! How are you?!" Dahlia put her arms around her over-excited child and smiled. "Phina? My, you've grown up quite a bit haven't you! Look at you!"

Sera hoped that Gavin didn't hear her nickname. That's all the ammo he would need to taunt her for days. "Mother, I need your help. We need a bacta tank, or some way to fix up my friend there. His name is Gavin. We....Had a bit of an encounter." She motioned for Gavin to come with them toward wherever they would need to go to treat him.

[member="Gavin XIII"]

 

[Gavin XIII]

Gavin found another sour candy and popped it in his mouth before grinning back.

"Very addicted to candy, though it takes a long time for my body to burn through the extra sugar."

The Thirteenth watched as Sera huffed sort of impatiently. Of course, he was still rummaging through his pocket for stray sours like a little kid. Sugar-crazed Sithspawn is sugar-crazed. When her mother actually came out of the elevator, he felt a twinge of sadness, and then tried not to snort too obviously at Sera's nickname. He finally looked up when he heard the word 'bacta', and he walked up, grinning.

"Ah, it's not that bad... Just dropped a rock on myself."

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Dahlia looked over towards the Sithspawn with a peculiar look, before turning back to Sera. "A rock fell on him so you came from wherever you were in the galaxy here? Specifically to me? Why would't you just take him to a hospital somewhere close?"

A slightly irritated look was cast over to [member="Gavin XIII"] as Sera glared at him. "Well, you see, it is a bit more complicated than that. He got himself into a bit of a tussle, and a rather large chunk of duracrete collapsed on to his back, and now he seems to be bleeding from his ears. I believe that is cause enough for concern. Would you mind taking a look at him? I can always hold him down if he won't cooperate." A devilish grin would cast itself on her face as she spoke the final sentence looking at Gavin.

 

[Gavin XIII]

Gavin just grinned back and fished another candy out of his pocket. Threats of force (and/or Force) from people didn't unduly worry him. Especially not in the half-joking manner that Sera seemed to say it. But, he still wasn't too sure about letting people scan him... Even quiet people.

"I have no doubt you would, Sera. The bleeding did stop, though. I think I'm hearing fine."

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

"Just because the bleeding stops doesn't mean there isn't damage to the tissue. Now, mother, would you tell him?" She would roll her eyes at Gavin and look back to Dahlia for her say-so, and to make [member="Gavin XIII"] get checked out, scanned, and fixed up. He was going through with this whether he liked it or not. And Sera would restrain him if need be to get it done. "Well, she is right. The bleeding may have stopped, but that is a natural bodily function. There may still be tissue damage, and if left unchecked, may render you with permanent healing loss in the future, or deafness, if severe enough. This should take no more than 30 minutes and will be pain free, if that is your worry. Come." The older Twi'lek would motion them into an exam room with a number of high-tech equipment devices just waiting to be used on Gavin.

"You heard the woman, come." She emphasized that last word, faking a Jedi Mind Trick to let him know that she wasn't letting him get out of here without being given the green light first.

 

[Gavin XIII]

Gavin smirked at Sera, and rolled his eyes right back. He was pretty good at that sort of thing. And he would've laughed, and probably said something derisive, about the mind trick the lady was trying on him except that her mother was right there. The Thirteenth looked into the room, and saw... Bioscanners. Everywhere. Oh, well. He'd almost snorted at the idea that pain from a medical procedure would worry him. The whole reason he was here was because he was totally unafraid of pain.

"Ah, well... Tell me when you find the second heart and the third lung on the scans. Oh, and the muscle enhancements. Those are fun."

He stepped into the room, and hopped onto the medical table. His look of innocence was once again ruined by the grin on his face.

"Not like you weren't going to see them, anyway."

There were extra ribs, too... But who needed to spoil that surprise?

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]