Star Wars is owned by Lucasfilms and Disney I own NOTHING

45ABY

Deep space

Ship soared silently thought the black void of space transfixed completely on his intended destination, yet also aware of the two passengers within him.

Vestara Khai sat within breathing heavily as her companion Mirta Gev attempted to apply first aid to the blaster wounds on her right ankle and left knee, the wounds however were severe and they both knew that if Vestara was to avoid permanent damage to her legs, she had to receive proper medical attention.

"We need to get her to a hospital."

Ship however remained silent to Mirta who could not hear his voice, Vestara however could and turned to her "He says we don't have time." Mirta scoffed at this "Are you serious?! She has HOLES in her legs! What could POSSIBLY be so important?!"

"We have very nearly reached our destination"

Vestara's eyes flared at this "What differance does that make?"

"We will very soon be amongst the sith, you will be able to receive whatever treatment is necessary upon arrival." Vestara was not pleased with that answer "Define 'soon'." "If I maintain my current course and speed, we should be arriving within a matter of hours." Vestara let out a small growl "THAT IS NOT 'SOON'! MY LEGS REALLY KRIFFING HURT!"

Mirta was left guessing as to the exchange between them, she was not force-sensitive and therefore could not communicate with the Meditation sphere. "Look here -a-flying-metal-space-eyeball! These wounds are severe and if they get infected she could lose her legs altogether!"

Ship began to slow down to a near halt.

"Loss of limb would not serve us. Lady Khai would be weakened as a result, and she will require all the strength she has for her future endeavors."

"So what's it going to be?"

"There is a world nearby with adequate medical facilities where you may receive treatment. I shall find a landing site as close to the medical center as possible without alerting any authorities of my presence."

"Thank you for seeing reason,yougiantflyingeyeball"

Ship redirected his course to a small planet they were passing nearby, Vestara and Mirta could see through ship's 'eye' the world they were entering, the cities seemed advanced much like Corucant or Narr Shaada though not as monolithic, but the planet still had natural vegetation, it was not a Ecumenopolis, on the outskirts of the cities dirt paths and open fields could be seen.

Vestara examined the landscape, the name or location of the planet itself,much less the city they were now in, was of little to no importance, so long as she received medical treatment and was allowed to safely rest without fear of the Jedi discovering her.

"I have located a minimally occupied section of the city several blocks from a medical center." Vestara grimaced at the word 'blocks' "So I'll have to walk my way there on these useless appendages?" Mirta let out a light chuckle in response to the question"More...limp your way there." "Go get borked!" "Hahahaha"

Ship landed amongst an assortment of warehouses that seemed unoccupied,allowing the two passengers to disembark"Make contact once you are able to travel, we have already lost precious time."

Ship then levitated away before soaring into upper orbit as Vestara watched him tentatively"In spite of the fact that he is technically an elaborate teaching aid, he certainly enjoys ordering me around." "Yeah...now, LIMP!""KRIFF YOU!"

Within a short period of time the two managed to reach the medical center, upon entering they were quite surprised to find the hospital quite busy, as numerous injured civilians were being rushed in.

Vestara wide eyed examined the scene"What the..." Mirta however was not paying her any mind as her attention was fixed on a nearby holo"There seems to be some sort of incident taking place nearby, some petty crime gone wrong or what-have-you, there were civilian...bystanders." Letting out a deep sigh Vestara turned to Mirta

"So...of all the places ship could have dropped us, he chooses a place presently involved in a SHOOTOUT?!""Look on the bright side." "Pardon?" "We don't have to explain WHY you have been shot." "Or why your nose is broken.""Shut up! HEY CAN WE GET A DOCTOR HERE?!"

Within moments an aqua skinned Twi'Lek doctor came to to assist them."What's the problem?" Mirta motioned towards her companion,"My 'FREIND' here was fleeing the incident downtown and was shot in her ankle and knee." "And she got trampled, look at that nose!" Mirta shot Vestara a look that could burn through the hull of the Death Star itself, while Vestara held an innocent grin on her face. The doctor however was not interested in their banter and stared at Mirta's face. "That fracture is already healing, it's too old to be from the riot.." She then reached up and grabed her nose with one hand and quickly jerked it to the side causing an audible snap.

"SHABUIR!"

The Twi'Lek shot her an unamused look "I know what that mean' now your nose is properly set. Your Welcome." She then turned to Vestara "As for follow me."

The Twi'Lek doctor led them to a hospital bed in an adjacent room with a single bed. "Please lie back." Vestara complied with her request laying down as the doctor took out a small light to examine the blaster wounds on her legs "These wounds are...not recent, and someone.." turning to Mirta "...Has tried to apply VERY crude first you did sustained these injuries from the 'Incident' presently taking place, then you would have had to have done so when the shooting first started yesterday...Why did you wait so long to com in? "

Mirta and Vestara nervously stared at each other "Weeeell...we didn't have a means of conveyance to reach the hospital, we literally walked here!" "Don't you mean limped" "SHUT UP!" The doctor stared at them with her head cocked before resuming her examination of Vestara's legs. "Wait one moment." The doctor then departed the room Leaving the two alone.

Mirta stood up and ,after briefly examining her nose in a nearby mirror, followed by grumbling in Mando'a which Vestara assumed was a series of expletives, she then turned her attention to her Sith companion"So we'll get you taken care of here, and then rendezvous with ship?"

Vestara however held a rather forlorn expression on her face. "Not...just...yet..."

"Is there something wrong?" Mirta asked raising an eyebrow. "I thought your big objective was to join this hidden group of Sith." Vestara continued to sit there, her expression, difficult to read.

"It's...not that anymore."

Mirta stared inquisitively at her companion at slowly stepped towards her"What do you mean 'not that simple'?"

Vestara slowly turned her eyes downward as if in contemplation "I've had something on my mind for a while now, and I...I'd rather not talk about it here, where we have...limited privacy."

Staring silently Mirta gave a small nod in agreement as the doctor returned carrying a small tray holding several bottles of various unknown liquids, a couple syringes and various medical tools.

"If you could, Please remain still" she then opened one of the bottles and poured some of the clear liquid within on to a small round of cotton, which she then held in a pair on tongs "Before you ask this is a disinfectant for your wounds,Oh, andbythewaythiswillreallysting" Without warning she began pressing the cotton round into her legs.

"GYYAAAARGH YOU HEINOUS-MMMPH" before Vestara could finish her profane insult Mirta quickly covered her mouth"Leeeeet's avoid saying something that might make the doctor do something...vindictive." as the doctor continued to clean her wounds Vestara clenched her fists and bit down on the pillow of her bed.

"If your experiencing that much discomfort then your wounds are already quite infected" The doctor then reached for another bottle of clear liquid and a syringe laying next to it,as she began to fill the syringe she turned to Vestara"This is an antibiotic to help you fight any infection from you injuries, this wont hurt untilIsticktheneedledirectlyintoyour..."

"GAAAGH"

Without even giving any decent forewarning the doctor pressed the needle into the tissue surrounding Vestara's blaster wounds, taking Vestara by surprise.

"ARE YOU SOME SORT OF SADIST?!"

"No, I just find it's typically better to just go ahead and do something, rather than coddle or baby you."

After she finished with the injection she grabbed another syringe and another bottle of liquid, after she filled this syringe she turned back to Vestara's wounds.

"This is a bacta shot, this will help your injuries heal and promote cell reproduction, and help repair any nerves damaged by the blaster fire, andnowifyoucouldsitstillwhileI..." Once again she pressed the needle into the tissue surrounding her wounds on both time however Vestara was expecting it and readied herself simply gritting and grinding her teeth in response.

Once the doctor finished she took a roll of bandages from her tray and carefully wrapped both injuries tightly. "I have done all I can at the moment but..." turning towards both Vestara and Mirta "The wounds are...severe...enough that a simple Bacta injection, and patching it up, will not fix the issue...and..."

Vestara and Mirta gave each other quick glances to illustrate their confusion to the doctor's sudden pause. The silence remained until Mirta stepped towards the doctor. "Aaaaand?"

"My apologies, it's just I realized with all the injured patients I've been treating the last two days my mind has somewhat vacated, and in the midst of everything, I never got either of your names, for records of course."

The two suddenly stared wide eyed at the mutual realization until Vestara sat up. "Ooof...course, my name is VessSSevara Raine" Her near error did not go unnoticed by Mirta who turned towards the doctor. "Sintas Vel."

The doctor stared at the both of them with an inquisitive look that suggested she didn't believe them, but her expression quickly shifted to indifferent signifying she didn't really care. "Well anyway as I was starting to say, her injuries are extensive, to the bone, she will need surgery."

Vestara shot straight up in the bed to the sound of the word 'Surgery'."HOLD ON, SURGERY?! What about that stuff you just shot me up with, like the bacta?!"

"That was to help with tissue damage, your ankle and knee themselves are damaged,and you still have gaping wholes in the tissue. The bacta will help the tissue damage heal, but the wounds need to be sealed, and the bone damage needs to be repaired, that the bacta wont fix,not on it's own."

As the doctor continued her explanation an increasingly aggravated look spread across Mirta's face, as though something she dreaded was coming.

"Now before we start that I do have to ask,do you possess any form of medical insurance?"

Vestara sat slightly baffled"Nnnnooo." "I can cover the entire cost of her treatment." Vestara immediately took notice of her less than pleased expression.

"Are you sure? Her treatment will be slightly expe..." "I'm sure, just go make preparations."

With that the doctor simply nodded and left, after she was gone Mirta silently walked over to the door and shut it. "Sintas Vel?" "My Maternal grandmother's name." She then proceeded to shut the window blinds, before slowly advancing towards Vestara,and she did not look pleased, upon reaching her companion she reached out and tightly gripped her shoulder and pulled here slightly closer to her.

"You did me a favor with the Columi brother, you showed me they were manipulating me for their own gain, that there was nothing left for me with them, that my goal,my objective, would not be achieved through them. AND for that I owe you, so I made sure you would receive medical attention. HOWEVER, I do not owe you so much that I'm going to just put a hole in my accrued credits for you, like it's nothing! The surgery and the bacta injection, these things are not cheap at any hospital, BUT, I said I'd make sure you were taken care of." Mirta then slightly loosened her grip on Vestara's shoulder. "You now owe me, and wherever you plan on flying off to with -flying-metal-space-eyeball-with-wings, you aren't going anywhere until you have paid me back!"

Vestara gave a reflexive scowl at the rather threatening tone in Mirta's voice, but Mirta knew what was passing through Vestara's mind and responded simply by holding up her hands, in one she had a cylindrical metal object Vestara quickly identified as her lightsaber, and in the other Vestara's shikkar.

"Before you get any ideas, know I have taken these."

"WHAT? HOW?!"

"I'm a skilled bounty hunter, I know how to pick someone's pocket, and I don' .Sith. ESPECIALLY after one broke my SPINE, and poisoned the ENTIRE atmosphere of my WHOLE PLANET!"

Vestara know looked concerned.

"I won't hurt you, or do you any harm, so long as I don't see any sparks fly off your fingers." She then sat down in a nearby chair. "But I intend to be compensated, the fund I have saved I need to continue my current endeavor, so your going to work off what you owe me." "How?" "Well...when you can actually stand you aren't that bad in a fight, and the fact that you can use the force, weeeell, that makes you uniquely qualified to deal with certain situations."

"I DON'T like to be used!"

"And that I understand, I simply ask for your aid, and when I believe you have helped me enough,I have no problem with you going off and doing what-the-kriff-ever! But as I said, I need the money I'm spending on your legs, and so I will need to replenish my funds,which means putting my mission on hold, and I personally think that matter has waited LONG enough, so in short . !"

"Do I have a choice?" "I could always walk away and not cover your expenses, and we can see how the authorities of this world like that."

Vestara let out a heavy breath,"FINE! I will pay off my debt, it might give me the time I need to think anyway."

After a few silent moments the doctor returned,"Alright, I was able to procure a surgery room, it's currently unoccupied, and no one else will need it for several hour. So let us go while we still have the opportunity."

With that several nurses came into the room one carrying a hospital gown. "They will help you change and start an I.V. and then we can take you back."

Mirta stood up and made for the door, but was stooped by the Twi'lek doctor,"I'm afraid you can't leave just yet, as with all injuries resulting from violent crimes, a statement needs to be given to the authorities." Mirta scowled at the thought of involving the authorities into their business but understood convenience wasn't a luxury in this particular instance "I am simply going to speak to a 'Friend'..." Turning to Vestara who understood to whom she was referring "...and tell him we won't be needing a ride until later."

"Very well."

Vestara knew Mirta could not contact or speak to ship, and so Mirta ,in her own way, let her know she herself had to. And so Vestara tried to reach out with the force and contact him.

"Ship...Can you hear me?"

"Yes lady Khai, I hear you, when shall you make your return."

"My injuries are more...problematic than we anticipated.I require surgery, and that will take a few hours, not to mention the down time I will require for recovery. "

"That is unacceptable, we have wasted too much time, the sith are waiting, these distractions are..."

"ALLOW ME TO MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR! YOU labeled ME a SITH LORD! A title I don't want as I know I haven't earned it, BUT, YOU insist I bare this title so now i am! And I am making something abundantly clear, YOU are a meditation sphere, you are a means of conveyance and a tool for teaching others,I ,according to you, am a sith lady, and thus I DO NOT take orders from YOU! NOW I will contact you when I am able to travel, NO SOONER! And if you have a problem with that, I DON'T CARE!"

For a time there was utter silence between them.

"Very well Lady Khai, I shall await your summons."

Vestara could not help but let a small giggle escape her, she had long grown tired of Ship's domineering behavior and it felt quite exhilarating to finally tell him off. And now with a newfound sense of relaxation Vestara laid back as she was taken back to surgery, patiently awaiting what came next.

A/N To all readers please be advised this is my first FanFic so if my grammar or storytelling is poor, or utter Schiesse, please let me know but do be gentle.