Jiri's eye's fluttered open as he came back to consciousness. He sat upright, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen as he did so. His face turned into a grimace as his hands reflexively clutched it. He noticed as his hands covered the wound that it had been bandaged. He took in his surroundings, he was in a medbay. Across the room, he wookie Roruk was putting away medical supplies.
Jiri tried to stand, struggling to do so. Roruk put his paw to Jiri's chest, 'ruurrurrurr' he said using his series of growls. Jiri couldn't understand what the wookie was saying, but he knew what he meant. 'I'll take it easy, thanks Roruk'.
The wookie went back to stocking the medical supplies back into their place. Jiri sat up, still wondering how they got back to the ship. 'What happened?' he asked the wookie. Roruk begun to reply, 'ruuruurrr urrrrrurrrur'. Jiri stared at him blankly for a few moments. 'What?' he said, trying not to sound insulting. Roruk stared at Jiri. A few moments of silence passed. Roruk then took Jiri's hand and walked him into the cockpit of the ship where Plex was sitting.
Plex swiveled her seat around to face Jiri, she saw him standing up. His stomach had been patched up and he was walking with a slight limp, but he was alive.
As she addressed Jiri, her voice was full of jest, 'Aaaand he lives! Looks like you owe me fifty credits Roruk! Told you I'd keep the kid alive!'.
Jiri couldn't help but smile at this, Plex was ever joking with him, acting aloof and care free, but he saw it as soon as he walked through the door. He saw the relief on her face as she turned and saw that he was alright.
Roruk begun a series of growls and grunts towards Plex. After listening to her companion, she turned her attention back towards Jiri, 'What happened you ask? I'd like to ask you the same question. We saw you both staggering towards the ship, then you just collapsed. Good thing we had Roruk to carry you both, or the chances are you might never have made it back to the ship. What the hell happened to you guys down there?'.
Jiri explained what happened, the temple, the lack of answers, the sudden appearance of the masked Cypher, the journey back, right up to the point where he mentioned carrying Tyken on his back… He stopped mid sentence, 'Tyken… where is he?'.
Plex's expression dropped and she looked away. Jiri feared the worst, his heart sank. She begun… 'he… he's in a bad way. We patched him up as best we could, but he needs surgery. He will die without being operated on'. Jiri was speechless. He finally answered with the only thing he could think of saying, 'so… where is he now?'.
Plex responded, 'he's in a cryo-tube. It will slow down most of his bodily functions to help keep him alive longer, but it won't last forever'. She stared out the windshield of the ship.
Jiri was still shocked, his words almost fumbled out of his mouth, 'so… what do we do?'.
Plex sighed, her head lowered as she spoke, 'we get him surgery. Only problem is it ain't common in this part of space. Most stations and planets nearby with medical centers are run by gangs, thugs and warlords. If we go there they will probably use their medical tools to take all of our organs to sell. We have to go somewhere where we can trust the staff'.
Jiri wondered the way she said it that she might already have somewhere in mind. She continued, 'some of friends of ours are part of a group acting to fight some of the… less savory aspects of this part of space. Roruk and myself mostly avoid the place because of our… affiliates… but they will help us if we go there'.
Jiri saw that the ship was already moving. He figured where they were headed, but needed to make sure, 'we are headed there now?'. Plex nodded slowly.
Jiri felt a wave of reassurance wash over him, but at the same time he felt indebted to Plex. She saved the lives of both Tyken and himself, and he had nothing to offer aside from his gratitude. 'Listen Plex', he begun, 'I know you need money to do jobs…. And we don't have any way to pay you…'.
Plex gave Jiri a frustrated look, 'uurrg, you had to bring up money didn't you?'. She flashed Jiri a hard look, clearly annoyed that he had mentioned it, 'I'm not charging you for this alright? I couldn't just let you die outside my ship. Don't mention money to me again'.
Jiri tried to hide his smile as he lowered his head, his heart actually melted a little at this apparent queen of ice who was helping them for no personal gain. For all of her outward jaggedness, she was actually a caring soul. Jiri offered all he was able in return; his appreciation. 'What I mean to say is thank you, we would be dead right now if you hadn't helped us', he said in a somber tone.
Plex turned her seat back towards the ships front window, 'I know. And your welcome'.
Jiri left the cockpit to check on his friend, Plex shouted behind him, 'don't tell anyone that I'm doing this without pay though, or every cheapskate in the sector will be begging me for free work!'.
Jiri crossed into the ships cargo hanger. There the Cryo-unit sat with it's occupant, Tyken. Surrounded by near freezing liquid, he was breathing through a repository mask. Jiri looked at Tyken's body, he could see the damage, the stomach wound in particular looked deep.
Jiri put his hand on the tank, speaking to his unconscious friend, 'just hold on as long as you can buddy, we'll get you help. You'll be your old self in no time'. Jiri gave a satisfied grin as he told his friend, 'and don't worry, I got that masked bastard for the both of us. Chances are he's rotting in hell right now'.