Coronet City Medical Center, Corellia
Talon Karrde followed the Supreme Commander through the hospital hallway with Mara following closely behind. The corridor was wide enough for three to walk abreast, but the hospital was busy with stretchers being rolled up and down the halls delivering patients to their rooms. It made sense to walk single file, but he suspected Mara took up the rear to stop him from backing out on seeing Karrina.
He did feel apprehensive. He desperately wanted Karrina to recognize him. For the first time in his life he felt truly happy...and Karrina was the reason. It didn't seem fair that fate stepped in to squash that blissful relationship.
Skywalker stopped to ask directions from a nurse. The young man wearing scrubs pointed down the hallway and then gestured to the right. "Room 57, Sir."
Skywalker thanked him and continued toward the direction indicated. When he arrived to the room, he stopped so suddenly that Talon almost bumped into him. "What is it?" he asked.
Luke turned back to him with a confused expression on his face. "There is a visitor in the room. I'll go find out who it is?"
Talon watched as Luke approached a human male probably twenty or thirty years older than Karrina. His appearance was that of a military man—physically fit and with closely cropped hair. The man stood when Luke entered and extended his hand in greeting. Mara came up next to Karrde and asked, "Who do you think he is?"
Talon shrugged. "Probably one of Karrina's superiors. I don't recognize him from the Officer Club, so I'm not sure."
Luke finished up his conversation and walked back to the doorway. "It's Karrina's father, retired Colonel Jonathon Shotts. He had moved to the outer core and, unfortunately, Karrina hadn't updated her contact information in her Defense Database System file. He was notified through a friend that saw Karrina was on the list of injured fleet personnel. He said we are welcome to come in. The doctor will be here any minute to wake her up out of her induced coma."
"Her father," Talon muttered before taking a step backwards. "I'm not sure dear old dad is going to like meeting the smuggler dating his young daughter."
"I guess you'll find out in a minute," Mara said as she placed her hand on Talon's shoulder and pushed him into the room.
He turned and glared at his former employee. She gave him her best innocent look and silently mouthed the word, 'What?'
"Colonel Shotts," Luke said as he gestured to his friends. "I would like you to meet Mara Jade, my advisor, bodyguard, confidant, speech writer, and...well, she is everything to me."
Talon suppressed a snicker when Mara rolled her eyes before flashing a smile to the man and greeting him warmly.
Luke turned to Talon. "And this is Talon Karrde, Imperial Tradesman and good friend."
The Colonel's eyes narrowed. "Talon Karrde? Karrina talked about you." He looked to Skywalker and then back to Talon. "When she told me about this trader that bragged that he was friends with the Supreme Commander I thought she was getting scammed by some lying-sack-of-scat, smooth-talking, womanizer." He chuckled before stepping forward and shook Talon's hand. "It is nice to know she wasn't getting taken by some con artist." He tightened his grip on Karrde's hand and pulled him slightly closer. "Because she is very fond of you. I've never heard my daughter gush about a man before. I don't know what I would have done if some cad broke my baby's heart."
Talon wasn't sure if he should feel relieved or nervous. The older man's words sounded liked a veiled threat. "I understand your concern. I wouldn't want her heartbroken either."
Colonel Shotts looked Karrde up and down before releasing his grip. "Good to know."
The awkward exchange was mercifully interrupted by a doctor entering the room. "I am Doctor Acton, neurologist and physician in charge of Lieutenant Shott's neural repairs."
After brief introductions he gave a short medical explanation. "Lieutenant Shotts experienced traumatic brain injury, but I am confident that our neural repairs have mitigated most of the damage...but we won't know the extent of any residual impairment until further cognitive testing can be done." He looked to the people in the room. "Please do not be upset if she is confused or has memory gaps. Seeing friends and family in distress can be more upsetting to the patient than the memory loss itself. She has just begun the recovery process. She needs encouragement during her rehabilitation journey." He dimmed the overhead lights before turning toward a complex looking medical device located next to Karrina's bed. He pushed a couple buttons and then turned to his patient and waited silently.
After a moment Lieutenant Shotts' uninjured eye fluttered open, blinking at the soft overhead light. She reached up and touched the gauze pad covering her damaged eye, before looking around the room and the people surrounding her. She had a confused, almost panicked expression until she saw her father. It was then a wide smile blossomed across her face. "Dad."
The older man stifled a sob as he moved forward and leaned over the bed to embrace his daughter. "I was so worried about you."
As he pulled back everybody could see her look of confusion. "Worried? What happened?"
He opened his mouth to say something but then stopped and looked at the doctor questioningly.
Dr. Acton stepped forward and gently explained to Karrina about the attack on Corellia and the extent of her injuries. The woman grimaced as she raised her right arm only to find a stump just past her elbow. Karrde saw her lower lip tremble slightly before she put on a brave face. "I know I can get prosthetics for my limbs...but how about my eye?"
"Yes, of course," the doctor assured her.
"Standard military issue?" she asked sounding less than thrilled. Everybody in the room understood her displeasure. Military optical bionics were high in utility and durability, but less so when it came to realism. A civilian visual prosthesis was much more realistic, but so expensive that only the wealthy could afford them.
"We'll get you a Keyton bionic eye," Karrde blurted out, referring to the most elite prosthetics company in the galaxy...one who catered to political elite, celebrities, and other high-net-worth individuals.
Karrina turned her attention to Karrde with an expression of surprise and incredulity. "The government is not going to spend a million credits to make me look pretty." She gazed at Talon for a long moment before asking, "Where do I know you from?"
Talon's stomach dropped with sadness as his chin dipped to his chest. His eyes squeezed shut for a brief second before he regained his composure. He looked up to Karrina and forced a smile on his face. "We're friends. We were together at a restaurant when the attack happened." He waited for any spark of recognition to register on her face. When none came, he decided to introduce himself. "My name is Talon Karrde, Imperial Trader. We met on the Star Destroyer Redeemer. I...uh...I would make regular supply runs to your ship."
She stared into his blue eyes for a long moment before raking her gaze down his body... which made him extremely uncomfortable while standing next to her father. That was an expression he was familiar with; it was the lustful look she would get before pulling him into bed for a night of lovemaking. Eventually her gaze returned to his face. "I look forward to getting to know you... again."
His cheeks flushed as a broad grin spread across his face. When he saw Colonel Shotts disapproving look, he tampered down his obvious joy that this lovely lady might not remember him but was obviously interested in getting to know him once again.
Luke cleared his throat as he took a step toward the door. "I think we should give Colonel Shotts some time alone with his daughter."
Talon gave Karrina a warm smile before turning and following Luke and Mara down the hall. When they were out of earshot Mara gave her former boss a playful shove. "And you didn't want to come here. She was undressing you with her eyes." She chuckled. "She obviously has a type."
Karrde gave a smug grin. "If you mean she is attracted to tall, dark, handsome and dangerous looking smugglers...then, yes, she has a type."
"And you offered to purchase a Keyton bionic eye," Luke smiled at the older man. "That is very generous of you."
Karrde nodded. "With my newfound wealth I have decided to become a philanthropist. I would like to help out all survivors of the attack. I need to talk to a solicitor about setting up a foundation."
Luke's brow rose in surprise. "That is beyond generous."
Talon shrugged as they walked down the corridor. "It's not like I worked for the money." He paused momentarily. "I would like to leave a legacy...to be remembered by future generations not as a smuggler, but an altruistic entrepreneur." He gave Luke a sideway glance. "I think you know what I mean. All your reforms, all the positive changes...you won't be remembered as the son of a Sith Lord. A thousand years from now you will probably be known as Luke the Virtuous."
"I hope that is the case. I know if my sister has her way I will be known as Luke the Traitorous Tyrant."
"She'll come around," Mara whispered to Luke.
Skywalker shook his head sadly. "I am not so sure she will." He sighed deeply as they exited the hospital. "I'm not sure at all."
.
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Coronet City Medical Center, Corellia
"You two go ahead," Talon said to Mara and Luke as they exited the hospital. "I'm going to stick around and hopefully get a chance to talk to Karrina today."
Luke gave a nod. "Okay. Contact me if you need a ride back to your ship." As Talon disappeared down the street Luke turned his attention back to Mara. "We should go back to the Death Star. I need to tell my father about Leia and Han."
Her brow rose in surprise. "You didn't tell him yet?"
He shook his head. "I wanted to wait until the Grand Admiral gave his speech. I knew if I told my father then Thrawn would be informed. I didn't want him to have to avoid questions when he addressed the public."
"That was probably a good idea," Mara commented as they moved down the overcrowded street toward the imperial docking bay where their shuttle was berthed.
Luke glanced over to Mara. "Sorry about your introduction to Colonel Shotts."
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you sorry about?"
He stepped closer and reached out and grasped her hand, halting their stroll. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but he was in uniform and military regulations were strict about public displays of affection. "I introduced you as everything but what you truly are to me. It didn't feel right to introduce you as a girlfriend, not because I don't love you, but because you mean so much more to me than that particular title would indicate."
She raised an eyebrow. "What title would be more appropriate?"
He looked up to the sky that was now ablaze with the setting sun. "I would prefer wife, but I would settle for fiancée."
She groaned and turned away.
"What?"
She turned back to him. "Did you really just propose to me on a litter strewn sidewalk of a busy downtown street?"
A sheepish expression crossed his face. "Maybe. If I did, would you say yes."
She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. "Skywalker, I am not giving you an answer to that particular question here and now because I'm not going to tell our future children how completely unromantic their father's proposal was."
A mischievous grin split his face. "I can think of some very romantic situations in which I could pop the question, but all the scenarios I envision would be completely improper to discuss with children."
Her lips twitched with amusement. "Really? I guess we can rehearse some of those scenarios."
He smiled widely, knowing he had his answer even if it wasn't official. "Let's get back to the battle station. After I talk to my father, we can have dinner delivered to your room along with a bottle of sparkling wine...and we can discuss our future."
She nodded approvingly. "That sounds much better."
.
.
Coronet City Medical Center, Corellia
Talon Karrde paced the hospital corridors while sneaking peeks into Karrina's room. He was hoping to catch her alone, but her father was determined to stay at her bedside. Eventually, the Colonel caught a glimpse of Talon prompting him to duck back around the corner. He blew out a nervous breath, knowing his actions had to appear foolish...a grown man ducking for cover to avoid his girlfriend's father. He squared his shoulders and came back into full view. Through the clari-crystalline doors he could see Karrina's father whispering something to her before kissing her on the forehead and leaving the room.
The retired officer walked up to Karrde, giving him a curt nod. "Sorry that I have been preoccupying all her time. The doctors said she's starting physical therapy tomorrow and the remainder of the week will be spent getting fitted for prostheses. This might be the only day she won't be busy." He reached up and put a hand on Talon's shoulder. "I'll give you some time together. She has questions about the attack, and I don't have any answers."
"Thank you," Karrde replied as he watched the older man walk away. He fought down his nervousness as he approached her room, knocking lightly at the door before entering.
She smiled widely. "Hi."
"Hello, yourself," he said mirroring her smile as he sat in a chair next to her bed. "How are you feeling?"
She shrugged. "I am thoroughly medicated, so I'm not in pain."
"That's good," he said before lapsing into an uncomfortable silence, not knowing what to say. Luckily, Karrina was never one to be at a loss of words.
"My father said you were outside stalking the halls."
Karrde put a hand to his chest and gave a mock expression of indignation. "I was not stalking the halls. That sounds so...unseemly. I was lurking."
"I have a lurker." Her laughter trailed off. "We were together when the attack happened?"
He gazed at her solemnly. "Yes. We were dining in a tavern when the insurgents did a space-to- ground attack. The Imperial Training Center was the target, but we were close enough to be collateral damage. The building we were in had the roof blown off. A support beam fell crushing your arm and foot." Talon took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. This is the first time he told anybody what happened in any detail. "There was a lot of blood...so much blood. I improvised tourniquets to stop the bleeding from your arm and leg. Luckily medics arrived within five minutes."
She gave him a soft smile. "You saved my life."
He blushed slightly. "I don't know about that. I just kept you alive long enough for the medics to arrive. They are the ones who truly saved you."
"Handsome and humble."
His smile widened. "I don't think I have ever been accused of being humble...handsome, yes, but not humble."
They lapsed into another long pause before she broke the silence. "My father said I was dating you."
Talon nodded, not knowing how much he should tell her.
"Were we...intimate?"
He felt a hot blush heat his face. "Umm...yes, but I don't expect for us to start where we left off."
Her smile faded a bit as she held up her mangled right arm. "Is that because of this?"
Talon was taken aback by the question and answered a bit harsher than he intended. "No! Not at all! Karrina, we had something special together and..." he waved toward her injuries. "None of this diminishes the way I feel about you."
"Sorry," she said quickly. "I'm a bit overwhelmed over my disfigurement. I didn't mean to..."
"No, no. I'm sorry." Karrde cut her off apologetically before running a hand over his face in frustration. "I didn't mean to snap at you." He took a long calming breath before continuing. "I didn't want to rush back into a relationship because of the circumstances. I don't feel it's proper for me to say to a woman with amnesia 'Hi, I'm Talon. I know you don't remember me, but we used to have mind-blowing sex for hours on end and I can't wait until we can do that again.'"
She struggled to keep a straight face before breaking out in laughter. "I guess that would be an awkward way to get reacquainted." Her smile lapsed as her melancholy returned. "Dad held up a mirror for me. There are scars on my face that the bacta couldn't fully heal. I look like a circus trainer mauled by a performing nexu."
Talon rose from his chair and approached her bed so he could reach out and lovingly caressed her cheek. "No, you look like the girlfriend of a roguish smuggler."
She furrowed her brow. "I thought you were an Imperial trader."
He gave a lopsided smile. "I am...now. Before I was a smuggler. I went legit so I could see you more often." He pulled his hand away from her face, thinking it perhaps was too much too soon.
"You mentioned a Keyton cybernetic eye...are they really giving those out to military personnel?"
He hesitated slightly, wondering what to tell her. "I will make sure you get one...I have connections."
She gave him a knowing look. "You mean the Supreme Commander? He never introduced himself while here, but I recognize him from the holos."
"Yes...I know him mainly through the woman he was with, Mara Jade. She was my employee until recently. It seems your Supreme Commander is smitten with her."
"I can see why...she is very beautiful." She shifted in the bed until she was facing him fully. "For the longest time I was against a former rebel having authority over the military that he once swore to destroy...but I have to admit, he has done a lot of good."
"He's trying to make amends for his part in the rebellion." He looked at the chrono on the wall and realized it was way past visiting hours. "It is getting late. I should let you sleep. Work on getting better. We have time to get reacquainted...gradually and naturally."
"Okay," she said softly.
He considered what type of farewell would be proper. He wanted to kiss her but decided to instead reach out and gave her uninjured left hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll always be here for you, Karrina."
"I know," she said softly, her uninjured eye misting over. "I don't know how I know, but I believe you."