The Adventures of a Healer and a Viking: Pirates, Part II

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

The planet with the burned down village and the lush forest with a very specific cave was just a speck of bright, white light on the observation deck. Myrtle-ellipses narrowed in thought. The Outback group had stopped a large chunk of the pirate army but a significant group escaped with plenty of currency to cause trouble. The Jedi were still debating what to do. The Outback was still on-planet, helping the villagers rebuild and checking out what was left of the mines.

She was tired of the committees. She knew what needed to be done, even if she had to do it by herself. First, though, she had to check on the Viking stranger. Mister manbun. He'd been knocked out still when she last went to the medbay. It had been two days since she'd found him in their little cave, half alive.

He'd been muttering about something. He was feverish. Probably due to infection. She finally had to dose him with a mild sedative just so she could move him with all that pain. They boarded the Jedi's EF76 Nebulon B escort frigate and he'd been in the medbay ever since.

She'd try to push down the feelings of when she first found him again. It was a mixture of relief and anger. She was starting to care for him but she wasn't over someone else. It was an odd place to be, especially for a Jedi. Especially with a man she knew almost nothing about.

With chestnut strands of hair pulled back, a pair of boots over dark, grey pants, and a green shirt beneath a white, medical coat, she entered the medbay to check on the patient.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Val was still asleep when she walked through the door, or perhaps he was unconscious. He appeared peaceful for the time being, the cuts and bruises on his skin had mostly healed, the swelling had mostly gone down and in truth he looked like his old self. A large gash still remained on his chest, a vibro-blade having nearly split him open there, but it appeared that the wound was healing as well.

Taheera wandered slowly towards the bed, and Val remained still for a second more.

Then the steady and calm beep of the heart rate monitor suddenly began to speed up. His eyes began to dart around beneath their lids, and then very suddenly The Viking sprang to life. A loud and deep breath filled his lungs as he nearly tore himself from the bed, the IV that had been in his arm ripped clean off as panic consumed him wholly.

The heart rate monitor began a shrill beep as Val tore its caples off his chest.

With a liquid smooth motion Val jumped out of bed, muscles rippling, eyes searching in a panic.

He had no idea where he was, no idea what was going on. Fear consumed him, the last memory he held in his mind being chased by pirates. He prepared to fight, prepared to kill. He wouldn’t die on this day, he was sure of that.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

Medical alarms were ringing in the sterile bay. Several medical droids paused what they were doing and wheeled over. She froze and slowly rose her hands in a calming gesture. He was going through shock. She'd seen it a million times over.

The problem was, he was a half ton hulk of a man. In a scant, hospital gown.

"Val. Val. It's okay. It's Taheera. You're safe." She took a cautious step forward, then another until she was within arms length. "You're safe. You're in a medbay. I found you in that cave almost three days ago. Remember? Do you remember me?"

Now she was worried he'd suffered trauma to the head.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

For a few seconds he didn’t realize who was speaking, but then he caught sight of her. Val froze for a moment, trying to think, and then realizing what was happening. He heard Taheera speak, and slowly his demeanor began to change.

The odd, almost animal sort of stance he’d taken on reverted to something more human. His gaze became less fierce, and everything about quickly began to appear more calm. The changed happened within only a handful of heart-beats, as if a monster had broken free from it’s cage only to be pulled back in a few seconds later. His fingers slowly unfurled as the tension eased away from his muscles, eyes settling on her as he drew himself up.

”Where am I?” Val asked, voice calm as could be.

His eyes darted around the bright white room. He recognized medical equipment of course, still heard the shrieking loud beeps behind him, even saw the bed that he had been lying in. He knew it was a med-bay, but the question of course was much greater than that. Where was the med-bay? Where had they taken him?

He didn’t like not knowing where he was.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

Silently, she released her hold on the force. The power was at her fingertips and she'd been prepared to use it on Val, if necessary. "We're on one of the Jedi's EF76 Nebulon B escort frigates. We're still in the outerim. We've been traveling through hyperspace for the last few days but they can drop you off wherever you need to go. Wherever you want."

She left 'we' out on purpose because she had no intentions of traveling with the Jedi to their final destination. She was going to 'borrow' a starfighter and track the pirates herself.

"You've been through a lot," she stepped forward and placed a gentle, but firm hand on his arm. "You should rest," chin tipped toward the bed. "What do you remember....when you were back planet side?"

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Val didn’t move an inch as she gently tried to push him back into bed, instead he simply looked down at her.

For a moment his mind sat blank, but as he thought about it and tried to piece events together it quickly came flooding back to him. He remembered the fight he’d had, the Aurodium being loaded onto the ship, the pirates getting away, and then he remembered Taheera finding him in the cave. He frowned for a moment, wondering exactly how she had gotten him onto the ship, though obviously there had likely been others.

Val considered everything for a moment, putting it all together and then thinking on his next move. His body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder, his ribs hurt and the gash on his chest still stung, but at least he had his head. A frown pulled at his lips as he gave the med-bay one last look, and then he let his eyes fall on Taheera.

He saw genuine concern in her eyes, though whether it was for him, or just another patient he couldn’t quite tell.

The pregnant pause eventually got to him, and Val finally spoke. ”You didn’t wear a cute outfit.”

Lips just barely touched into a smile.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

He didn't budge. Stubborn ol' mule. Funny how she felt like she knew his character more than she'd known him. Hand fell away from him and perched on her hip. She gave him a stern look though her eyes remained impish. "What are you talking about? This medical coat is amazing. And we can't all wear hospital gowns that open in the back."

Stepping to his side, she leaned over and flipped off the beeping and hollaring medical equipment. "If you aren't going to answer my questions or obey a healer's medical advice, then I'll leave you with the droids. I have business to take care of."

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

“Me too.” Val said as he reached over his head and pulled off the medical gown.

He hadn’t thought about his clothes yet.

“One of the ships got away.” Val said as he turned towards her. “I need to go after it.”

It was only then that he started looking around for something to wear.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

She turned around to face him and was met with a naked Viking. "Wow," she whistled and stepped over to a sealed and hidden cabinet in the wall. Cheeks reddened just slightly. Sure, she'd seen the male anatomy all before but not his. After punching in a code, a drawer slid out. Hands dipped inside and she found a pair of pants and a shirt. She threw them at Val. "Your clothes. Cleaned. And your armor is in there too. It's what we recovered from the cave when we found you."

Walking over to the medbay door, she gave once cautios glance outside, then sealed it shut. She approached Val again, keeping her gaze well above his waistline. "I know about the ship. But you're not going anywhere. You're going to stay here and rest. I'm going. Even if it's against orders." Voice was just a whisper.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

He perked an eyebrow, catching the clothes and trying not to let the amusement of her reaction to him show.

She wandered over to him just as he slipped on the pair of pants that she had thrown him, a bit of dismay filling him as he realized that they hadn't taken his underwear apparently. Briefly Val wondered what had happened to it, but decided that it was better not to question, maybe someone had taken it as a souvenir. "What."

He began, buttoning his pants and looking Taheera in the eyes.

"In gods name would make you think I would do anything like that." His shirt stayed off for the time being. "I know what the ship looks like, I know its ID tracker, and I know the man whose in command of it. There is no possible way I'm staying on board this ship."

She couldn't make him, no one could.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

Eyes narrowed. She could certainly think of some ways to make him get some rest. But his booming voice caused her to step in even closer. "Shh, okay." A worried glance over her shoulder at the sealed doors.

"Fine. You're free to go. And how exactly are you going to track these pirates down? Last I remember, you don't have a ship and would rather not fly. And you're clearly still recovering."

She pointed out some bruises.

"You sure that's such a good idea?"

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

She was right of course. He could still feel the pain of bruises, the cracked ribs in his side, the gash on his chest. He wouldn't be fully healed for at least another few days, and in the end he had no way of even chasing the pilots. He could track them easily enough, he had done it before and knew all of the outpost in this sector of space, but...well he had no way of getting there. A frown settled on his lips for a few moments as he considered her words.

Was she stalling?

It was entirely possible. She knew that she couldn't exactly keep him here, at least not without injuring him any further. Eventually other Jedi would show up however, and together they'd likely be able to make him stay. He frowned for a few seconds, thinking. He didn't have a ship, but she had mentioned stealing one. Could he do the same? Auto-pilot would work well enough, he already had the coordinates and beyond that everything was fairly simple.

Another silent moment passed, and then Val made a decision.

Without a single second of hesitation he stepped forward, his arm came up and suddenly swept around her.

Val scooped Taheera up into his arms, lifting her from her feet and giving her a deep and passionate kiss. For a moment his lips lingered, his fingers pressing gently on her lower back in a small massaging motion, and then he let her go. Before she could say a word he slipped passed her and out the door.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

She sputtered as he kissed her. Head spun slightly as he set her down. And just as quickly, he was gone. That scoundrel! Next time she was going to shoot him. The doors swished open a second time as she followed, quickly on the viking's heels.

"Val! What're you doing? You are totally ruining my plans," she finally caught up to his side and whisper-yelled, "of stealing a starfighter and following the pirates on my own." That's what she meant when she'd said against orders earlier. He clearly hadn't gotten the subtle hint. "Just slow down. You've got two options. Go on your own and I'll go on mine. We'll see who gets further. Or...,"

She said the last part begrudgingly.

"We work together."

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

He stopped, still shirtless and standing in the middle of the hallway outside of the med-bay. A frown pulled at his lips. Was she telling the truth? He thought she was, though with the way his day had been going to far anything was still possible.

Val didn't think Taheera was capable of the type of deception that would lead to them going to a hangar and then somehow being captured by nurses to bring him back to the med-bay. He mused for a second more, and then ultimately decided that she was telling the truth. Back on that little planet she had wanted to chase and stop the pirates just as badly as he had so it made sense that she still wanted to go after them. A frown turned into a smile, very slowly though. "Fine."

At least he wouldn't be alone.

"We need a shuttle." He didn't fit in most starfighters. "I know where the pirates probably stopped."

Shadowport to the galactic North of here, The Eerie as it was called.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

"Fine." She whispered back. She really wanted that starfighter. "Meet me in the hangar and pick out a shuttle. And just...," she eyed his bare chest. "Try not to draw too much attention."

Without another word, she spun around and made a beeline for her quarters. She had a travel bag already packed and she would ditch the medical coat. She imagined meeting there would cause less suspicion than if they were together. Plus it would cut back on some of the Jedi gossip.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

He smiled at her, and then turned as she walked away.

The shirt was quickly slipped over his head, though he noted that Taheera hadn't given him any shoes. A frown settled on his lips, but he decided that the problem could be dealt with later. For now the most important thing was grabbing that shuttle and heading off of this ship. He shifted and moved towards where he guessed the hangar to be, though in truth he had absolutely no idea where he was going. Eventually however he managed to find a sign and somehow stumble into the hangar bay.

He peered around the hangar deck.

It was surprisingly devoid of life, though there were about a dozen or so ships.

For a moment he looked at the starfighters, shaking his head and quickly deciding that none of them were big enough for them to actually used. Then he peered at the larger vessels, skipping over the ones that looked too fancy and luxurious. Eventually he settled on what appeared to be an old cargo hauler. Large enough to have a room or two but small enough that it wouldn't be noticed. He slowly slipped towards it and stopped by a stack of crates, waiting for Taheera to join him.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

She had a bag slung over one shoulder. Soft-leather boots made no sound as she walked across the nearly empty hangar. If they stopped her, she had an entire story about going on a bacta run. If they stopped her and Val together, she'd explain that she was dropping him off. All lying which was very unbecoming of a Jedi. She just hoped it would be worth it in the long run.

It had to be.

It was hard to miss Val's towering form by the crates. Green-gaze tracked from him to the cargo hauler. It made sense. But she couldn't help give one last, longing glance at the starfighter. One day.

"Good choice," she whispered and cracked a smile. "I'm surprised you actually waited." Walking past him she paused at a keypad for the ship, pecking in a code with her fingers. With a snap, hiss, the ship's ramp lowered.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

"Why?" He asked as he wandered past her onto the loading ramp.

The ship was perfect for them. Not too big, not to small. He made a quick inspection of everything, peering around. There was a central Cargo Hold and four rooms that jutted off of it, one bedroom, the cockpit, a refresher, and what appeared to be a small kitchenette. It was clear that this ship was probably used for small cargo or supply runs, never meant to be a long haul freighter, but that was fine. After his small inspection he turned back to Taheera.

"I said I'd wait." He continued as he beckoned her on board. "I'm a man of my word."

He was.

There was also the matter of fact that he couldn't fly this ship. He could turn on the auto-pilot and punch in where he wanted to go, but he doubted that he would actually be able to turn the vessel on without an access code or something along those lines, codes that Taheera clearly had.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Valkyrien Aurelios"]

"Because less than ten minutes ago you were ready to storm out of here half naked, on your own. And you almost ruined my plans," she muttered. She quickly followed him, giving one worried glance over her shoulder. She went straight to the cockpit.

"Just like I hoped." There was a P761 piloting droid attached to the ship as a back-up. Perfect. She switched it on and it began going through the pre-flight checks. "That little guy should keep us covered and if something happens...," voice trailed off. "We'll improvise." The ramp began to close and she walked past the hulk of a man and dropped her bag in the single bedroom.

Things felt different with Val since she'd found him half dead. He seemed like a different man. Or, perhaps like when they first met. There was a measure of mistrust. It was giving her a headache.

 

[Valkyrien Aurelios]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Val moved to the cockpit and powered up the droid. He might have grown up in back-galactic country, but he still knew how to operate droids. He talked to the creature for a moment and then gave it the proper coordinates to get to the Eerie. There was a moment of silence as the droid seemed to contemplate the request, and then suddenly the ship began to power up its engines. Val's eyes widened slightly as the unexpected lurch of the starship lifting off the deck, his hand coming up to grasp the side of the doorway.

He didn't say anything as they lifted off the deck, and surprisingly, neither did the comm-systems.

There had been an expectation that someone would try to stop them, at least radio them, but apparently the command system of the frigate had simply decided that they had been meant to leave. Perhaps there had already been a scheduled flight for the same time as their departure, a stroke of luck that neither he nor Taheera had expected. Either way they passed from the Frigate with no real issue, cutting into the darkness of space a second later.

Val tensed slightly, watching as the droid punched something into the computer ahead of it.

A second passed, and then they jumped into hyperspace.

The instance that happened Val seemed to relax. The odd grim look on his face seemed to drain away, the tension in his muscles fell, and his stance became far more at ease. Everything about him seemed to change at the drop of a hat, as if he had been a prisoner just freed.