A Savage Heart: Shyra's Tale
Part 2: The Droid and the Fool.
The human wasn't taking this seriously.
Shyra growled as she kept to the shadows outside his private clinic. She watched with both her eyes, and through the Force as the various creatures walked, crawled, and slithered in to see the doctor, seeking either advice, or medical attention.
The padawan sighed.
This was not what she had expected when her master asked her to take on this mission. She had met with Senator Antilles, and he had explained everything to her. The negotiations with Alderaan, the involvement of the Zugg crime family, and his own son's stubbornness.
Shyra had not been concerned.
She had assured the Senator, that, whatever the problem was, she and Master Vey would be able to handle it, to end this threat in no time at all.
It was with that thought in mind that she had descended to the lower levels, seeking out his son.
Looking back, she realized she should have taken the senator's warnings far more seriously.
Kort Antilles was a difficult man…to say the least.
She had been surprised during their first meeting. His father had been a mountain of a man, his size and personality hinting at the soldier he had been. His son was different, slender where the father had been muscular, soft spoken, where the older Antilles had been boisterous. The first time she had looked into his eyes, eyes hidden behind the lenses of this glasses. She realized that her mission would be far more difficult than it should have been.
The younger Antilles was not interested in making her task easy, if anything…he seemed determined to hinder her.
He seemed to resent her presence, even though her only desire was to keep him safe.
The situation, everything about it was frustration in its purest form.
She would have preferred a more aggressive assignment, at least, then, she would have something to hit.
Alas, she could not hit Antilles, as much as she wanted too.
She was sworn to protect him.
If only he would let her do her job.
More people made their way into the clinic, again she reached out with the Force, sensing no deception or ill intent. She let them pass, without revealing herself, as the young man had instructed.
She shook her head.
He took too many risks…
…She hoped that his behavior would not serve as the signing of the young man's death warrant.
Though she was confident in her abilities to sense danger, she didn't like the fact that Kort Antilles insisted that she not remain at his side, and she certainly didn't like that he exercised no caution what so ever, in dealing with the stream of patients coming here at all hours of the day.
He was reckless, she thought.
Reckless, and a fool.
How could she keep him safe like this?
It was if he wanted to be kidnapped or killed.
After their initial introduction, he had insisted that she remain outside his clinic. The people living down here survived and thrived based on their own code of doing things.
A Jedi, even a padawan, was not a welcome sight down here. Many in the lower levels considered Jedi servants of the elite, and went out of their way to avoid them.
That admission surprised Shyra.
The Jedi served the Republic and its citizens did they not?
Why would they not take comfort in her presence, if they had nothing to hide.
She found it hard to believe that most viewed a Jedi in their midst as more of a problem than a solution. Even in the age where the Sith empire threatened the very existence of the Republic, there were those that still thought the Jedi as nothing more than pawns of the senate.
It seemed that the young doctor shared such views.
In other words, he didn't think he needed her help, and that her very presence was making any threat on his life more certain.
Reckless, she had thought.
Reckless…and foolish.
The young man was asking for a bad end.
She leaned back, sitting on her haunches, her claws flexing beneath her robe.
She took a cleansing breath, and repeated the Jedi code for the twenty third time this day.
She was not used to be among such crowds, they…they made her antsy at the best of times, and now was definitely not one of the best of times.
She felt like she wanted to jump out of her own skin, the burning in her blood remained, even with the two injections she had taken this morning. They kept her centered, mostly, but mere chemicals could not still the desires in her completely.
The smells and sounds of this place filled her senses, making her weak. The presence of so many males drew her attention, seeking to distract her from her duties.
She tried to keep her eyes on the window of the clinic, catching glimpses of the doctor at work.
She tried to remain focused on him.
The fool, she thought.
The handsome fool!
She placed her large paws on the ferrocrete before her, digging them deeply into the street, gouging at them with her claws.
She…she had come to desire to see the young man at work, it reminded her of her duty, but…at the same time…
She shook her head.
He was not without his own appeal.
She tried not to think about that, it was just the burning talking.
Urges of her flesh had no power over her.
So she found him attractive, so what?
Her will and soul belonged to the order; she was committed to the Jedi code.
There was no emotion, there was peace.
There was no passion, there was serenity.
She licked the roof her mouth, it had gone dry again, another side effect of the burning. Kort Antilles appeared in the window again, her eyes drawn to him.
I can do this, Shyra thought, Master Vey knows that I can do this.
She sniffed the air, even from here, she could catch a hint of his smell, the doctor smelled of kolto and healing herbs, a pleasant enough smell, but beneath that…she could feel it, his…maleness.
She shook her head.
She pushed her instincts back down.
You can do this Shyra.
You will do this, there is no such thing as try.
She nodded gamely, her claws digging into the ground beneath her feet.
There…was…no…try.
IOI
Kort had just finished attending to a young Ithorian, when his eyes drifted to the window, despite her promise to be discreet, he could still see her there, the Jedi.
He shook his head.
She was…not what he had expected.
She had introduced herself as Shyra Viel, a padawan of the Jedi order, and a consular in training.
Upon their first meeting, he had been…curious to say the least.
As a doctor, he had seen many species here on Coruscant, the lure of the core drawing many beings from throughout the galaxy.
This Jedi…he…he had never seen anything like her before.
Her long solemn face, large brown eyes, and figure suggested that she was human, but the large muscular hands, feet, and claws hinted at something more…exotic.
Something new perhaps, a new species that the Jedi had discovered after their resettlement off of Coruscant…?
…or maybe…a being of mix heritage. A creature born from two different humanoid species?
If so…incredible.
It was rare that such unions occurred, but there were records of such rare births.
The scientist within him was immediately intrigued.
Most beings of mixed species didn't survive long, their mortality rate was quite high. Those that did manage to reach maturity tended to live solitary lives. They were often shunned by either of their parents' species.
One such being, strong in the Force, might have attracted the attention of the Jedi, they may have offered this girl's parents a chance for their child to have a life of note. It was also possible that the parents may have been slain during the war, and the Jedi had claimed Shyra as an orphan.
After decades of war with the Sith Empire, many young Jedi had been taken in for that reason, or so the holonet reports said.
Regardless, Kort Antilles was intrigued.
He had offered, politely, to examine her, a quick check up, just to make sure she was well after her travels, it was standard procedure for one having arrived from off world, and such an exam would also give him a chance to get a closer look at her. It might have seemed strange, forward, but new species fascinated him.
She had glared at the mere suggestion of it.
She had refused him outright, the Jedi representatives had already cleared her at the spaceport, and the look she gave him…it was of pure disgust.
He had not pushed the issue, he had meant well, though he supposed she might have misinterpreted his suggestion.
He let the matter drop.
He didn't want the girl to think him some drooling lecher.
The Jedi had immediately launched into a list of things he would need to do, just until the danger to his person had passed. He had thought it better that they discuss things, surely matters were not as bad as all that.
"I'm here," the young Jedi had said, "If things weren't in a bad way. I wouldn't be."
She had given him cold look.
"You must trust my judgment, doctor. It is the only way to keep you safe."
She had all but ordered him to close the clinic, to only see patients by appointment. She said she would remain at his side, screening any who came in. The people that were after him were dangerous and cunning, and they had no qualms about harming innocents to get what they wanted.
Kort had listened, but had refused most of her requests.
She…the girl didn't understand.
This was not some Jedi temple, or up-world hospital where a droid could tend to even the most minor of burns with a day's worth of care.
Things were hard down here for the people that called these streets home, they had little, and deserved so much more.
The lower levels, life here, it fostered a strong sense of community. It had taken him months to be accepted, and even then, it had only been because his mother's face had been known here.
An outsider would not find it easy to sneak up on him. Warnings of outsiders were sent to all businesses on this block, his datapad had dinged the moment the Jedi had entered the district.
People looked out for each other down here. His neighbors watched out for him, and he, in turn, watched out for them. He tended their sicknesses and wounds with no thought of reward.
He would not turn them away just because it made things easier for her to watch out for a threat that likely wasn't even going to materialize.
No, he couldn't do what she wanted.
He wouldn't.
She had accepted, but had promised to remain close. She gave him a light pen to keep her alerted of any trouble within his clinic. If anything suspicious happened, he would flash it out the window, and into the alley.
She would see it, and be at his side in moments.
He accepted that, though he still thought this whole cloak and dagger thing was ridiculous.
"You need not worry, doctor," she said, "My master will deal with this matter quickly. My presence here will be unnoticed and short."
Kort had nodded, but again his curiosity was peaked.
This…strange young woman, this Jedi seemed so detached. He could tell that she didn't want to be here, likely resenting the thought she had to babysit a senator's offspring.
She was also so cold. So professional, normally that would impress him, but it did not fit what he had heard about the Jedi.
Jedi were said to be compassionate. Champions of truth, and the defenders of justice, a Jedi should have been more open to the plight of the people in this district.
Instead, they had sent a droid. She was so cold, that any water that fell on her head likely would have turned to ice.
She was so…stand offish, like it hurt her to be around people. Such opinions would not work for someone in the Jedi order, would they?
During one of his glanced out the window, he had thought he had caught her injecting something into her neck.
Again, he was curious.
As far as he knew, Jedi didn't engage in the use of controlled substances.
Of course, if she was a creature of mixed species, those injections might serve some type of medical purpose. Some DNA didn't combine right in hybrids. They sometimes require enzyme injections, or the introductions of nutrients their bodies were unable to create themselves.
Again, he wished there was a polite way to get her to consent to an exam.
He remembered what he had thought when he had first seen her.
Some might have called her features plain, by human standards, but she moved with a grace that drew his eye. The large brown eyes, flecked with gold were lovely.
His first thought when he had seen her…magnificent.
He had quickly dismissed such thoughts; a Jedi was not someone to be ogled.
Besides, once his father's allies dealt with whatever problem he had created, he would likely never see the Jedi again.
Any question would go unanswered.
He would have to come to terms with that. He…
PING!
He looked down at his datapad, an update from someone in the district.
He picked it up.
Four Malladi pilgrims were seen entering the neighborhood.
Kort's brow furrowed.
Malladi were a strange species, they had hidden themselves beneath heavy robes and masks, and rarely left the confines of their temples in sector three.
For four to be this far away, and not heading in the direction of a space port was…strange to say the least. They usually preferred the company of their own kind, the elect as they called themselves.
He had almost discounted the report, but…
He raised his light pen and went to the window.
It was likely nothing, probably was…nothing.
Still…he had given the Jedi his word.
He signaled to her, not the get in here now, signal, but the one of something suspicious.
Three quick flashes emerged from the alley.
The Jedi had received his warning.
Kort sighed, and got back to work.
A female Aqualish was having trouble with her left mandible.
He would need to take a look at that.
IOI
Shyra noticed the four Malladi as soon as the appeared on the street.
Her brown eyes narrowed.
The elect of Malladi were a stand-offish race, they didn't even like Jedi entering their district. Their home world had fallen into the Sith early in the galactic war, and the survivors had never forgiven the Jedi for not aiding in its liberation.
She could not say what might have drawn four of the creatures out of their enclave.
She sniffed the air, but the presence of so many beings, and the burning in her blood made catching any clear scent impossible.
She reached out with the Force, and sensed the hostility most common in the elect, but hostility was not an exclusive trait to their species.
She watched the four carefully. She watched as they approached the clinic. Their robes, masks, and hoods completely hid their features.
Two moved further down the street, but two stopped right in front of the clinic. The malladi on the right reached into its robe.
Shyra's eyes widened.
She finally noticed something; the elects' hands were uncovered. Malladi pilgrims were known for their dark yellow or orange skin tones.
These pilgrims had green grey skin; their hands more humanoid than a Malladi.
The hands and skin of Duro!
Shyra had no time to move, but she did have the Force.
She reached out as the Duros struck.
She caught the firebomb as it left the impostor's hands.
The bomb went straight up and detonated. Fire filled the sky, like a misfired firework, sparks and flame rained down on the district.
"The Malladi" drew their blasters. Two made for the clinic entrance.
Shyra leapt.
Her green lightsaber filling the shadows with emerald light.
"OVER HERE HUTTSPAWN!" she shouted.
The Zugg assassins turned.
She grinned hungrily.
"Come get some!"
IOI
The street exploded, fire, blaster shots, and the hum of a lightsaber sent the beings who called it home into a panic.
Kort Antilles did his best to calm his patients, to see them safely out the back of the clinic in an orderly fashion.
"No running," he shouted, "One by one, that's it. Take the path, and follow it down to the exit on the left."
He nodded as his patients obeyed his commands, several offering thanks and prayers for his aid.
The back path opened up at the entrance to the district, that would make sure that any of them didn't get caught up in the violence outside.
It was the best he could do, he…
He noticed them then, the three Duro coming up the path, pushing his patients out of the way, snarling in their native tongues.
All three were armed.
Kort cursed and sealed the door to his clinic. It would not hold long, but…
He cursed again.
Damn you, father!
Damn you!
He realized he had no choice.
He would need to either hide here, not the smartest idea, or take his chances out on the street.
He would need to walk into the light-fight outside and try to reach the Jedi.
He didn't like that idea much either, but the rumble of an explosive at the back door made his choice for him.
Kriff it, he thought.
No choice.
He stayed low, hoping to make it to one of the shops across the street, one of his neighbors would help, he believed. If he made it out of the district…
He paused.
The Jedi was engaged with his attackers, two were down already, the remaining two, still dressed in the tattered remains of their disguises tried to meet the Jedi on her terms, vibro-swords against lightsaber.
That didn't appear to be a good idea. The Jedi…Shyra…she…
Kort's eyes widened.
What in the Force!
As he watched, Shyra Viel's features changed, her humanity seemed to fade, melt away, and in its place, a far more animalistic shape. A long powerful neck led to a long muzzle; sharp white fangs snapped as she drew fire, and pushed the remaining Duro back.
The doctor blinked.
The girl had literally changed her bone structure! She…she must have been some kind of changeling!
He had heard of changelings, but had never seen one before.
He had so many questions!
It was impossible! Amazing!
FASCINATING!
She swept her lightsaber before her, taking the hand of one of the assassins. The last one fell back and drew his blaster.
Shyra whirled around bringing up her blade at the last moment, deflecting the shot back at the Duro, killing him instantly with the ricochet, a ricochet that struck him in the head.
He fell with a gurgle.
She looked right at the doctor, her eyes flaring with gold light.
"GET DOWN!" she snarled.
He hit the pavement as the three Duro who had come in through the back of his clinic opened fire.
She thrust out her large hand.
Two of the Duros were lifted off their feet and flung back into his clinic, one crashing through a window.
The third lunged at Kort either to kill him or try to take him hostage.
Shyra was there. Her blade flashed once.
The Duro cried out as he lost his right arm. He stumbled to the pavement, crying out in pain.
Kort Antilles stared in a mix of horror and fascination.
The Jedi creature grabbed him, pulling him to his feet.
"FOLLOW!" she shouted, "MORE WILL BE COMING!"
He had no words to argue.
He followed.
She didn't run, not like a human would.
She sheathed her blade and moved on all fours. More like a kath hound, or felinx.
"The speeder on the left," the Jedi shouted. "GET IN! I'M DRIVING!"
He obeyed the sound of angry voices behind them, suddenly punctuated by blaster bolts flying over their heads.
More killers, he realized, more Duro!
Shyra leapt into the speeder, her large, clawed hands worked the controls, taking them up and out of the district, barely missing two hover trucks, and a luxury speeder.
Kort was breathless.
What…what had just happened.
He…
They…
She…
He took a deep breath.
He looked down at his normally steady hands, surgeon hands.
They were shaking like leaves.
"Are you injured?" the Jedi snarled.
He shook his head no.
As he watched her features changed again, returning to the human face that she had worn when they had first met.
She shook her head.
"That was too close," she spat, "I told you; you should have closed your clinic. You put all those people at risk!"
Once, He would have snapped back, an hour ago, he would have reminded her that it was his father that had caused this with his stupid politicking.
That was how he would have responded once, but now…
He just stared at the Jedi, this strange…amazing young woman that had stood between him and death.
He…he had so many questions, but only one came to his lips at that moment.
"What? What are you?"
Her eyes narrowed.
Again, he got the feeling he had insulted her.
"I'm a Jedi," she hissed, "And I'm sworn to keep you safe, that is all that you need to know."
He nodded, part of him wanted to argue, but the shock of their escape had left him a little tongue-tied.
He was not used to this. Yes, he had seen violence in the district, but nothing like this.
Never…like this.
Shyra piloted the speeder expertly through the lines of traffic, dodging incoming vehicles with the skill of a trained racer.
She shook her head.
"I need to contact my master. See what I need to do next."
She looked over at him, a cursory glance, perhaps checking for injuries.
"We might have to get you off world, the Zuggs have many contacts here on Coruscant."
"I…I can't leave," he said, rubbing at his glasses, realizing they had gotten smudged in their escape.
"My patients…"
"I will contact the Jedi; they will see about sending healers to check on your people. You can't help them now, you can't. More killers will come, and they will all be looking for you. Right now, you are a bigger threat to your people then their personal illnesses and injuries."
Kort nodded.
She had a point, but…but…
He shivered.
Part with fear, and part with excitement.
This had been the most violent thing he had ever had to deal with, personally.
Shyra growled as she blended in with one of the traffic lanes.
She reached for her belt. Kort noticed the sheath there, the one containing four injection needles.
Yes, he had seen those before, her taking injections.
She pulled one out, realizing that it was damaged. She growled and pulled out the other three.
Kort saw that they were ruined too, likely broken during the Jedi's fight with the Duros.
He might have been wrong, but he thought her heard her whimper. A worried sound that seemed strange after what he had just witnessed.
She had taken down seven-armed assassins single handed.
Why were some broken syringes such a problem?
"Are you sick?" he inquired, "Maybe I can help."
"You can help by following my instructions from now on," she said.
She took one longing look at the broken needles, and then cast them over the side of the speeder.
"I'll be fine," she said.
Kort nodded, but he had heard that tone before, seen it in many of his patients.
She was trying to convince herself that nothing was wrong, that she didn't need help.
He…he didn't know what to say, or to do.
You're a doctor, he reminded himself, whatever her needs, it falls to you to help her.
She saved your life, and even if she hadn't, you owe it to her.
You swore and oath to aid and do no harm.
Despite the danger, despite her cold attitude towards him, he nodded.
Whatever was wrong, he would find a way to help her.
She had saved his life, and proved him wrong in the process.
She was no droid.
She was a brave, fierce young woman, and it was up to him to ensure that she had what she needed to complete her mission.
He nodded.
That he could do.
He was…a doctor.
IOI
Shyra tried not to think about the lost medicine, what it meant.
She suppressed and angry growl.
The fool man…
…didn't he realize what had just happened!
He...
No, she realized.
No, that was unfair, and beneath someone trained in the Jedi way.
She took a deep breath and let it out through her nose.
She tried to remain focused on the here now, where her focus needed to be.
The Zuggs had sprung their trap, and they had escaped…for now.
She needed to contact Vey, find out what to do next.
She glanced at the young man sitting next to her.
She could sense his shock, but also a sense of acceptance.
He was smart enough not to question, not after what had happened.
She had been wrong, he may have seemed like a spoiled fool, one who thought his wealth and name protected him.
Yet, that wasn't who he was.
He was no fool, dedicate, yes…
…but he wasn't a fool.
His first concerns were not for himself, but the people he aided on his street. Those who came to him for aid.
That was a rare thing in one of the wealthy here on Coruscant. She had experienced enough of that during her travels with her master.
Now, she could see why Vey had asked her to come. The Senator may have seemed a bit brisk, but his son…
His son was quite brave, not brave in the way of a soldier, but in the way of a dedicated healer.
She took another shuddering breath.
He was worried about her too, she could sense it. She should have felt insulted, but she wasn't…
A compassionate man, that was not wrong…or foolish.
The fact that he was a bit on the handsome side doesn't hurt either, hm?
She ignored that thought, or rather, she tried to.
Right now, she was fine, the Force was steadying her after the battle, guiding her to get her charge to safety.
Once they reached safety, she would need to come up with something, all her medicine had been lost.
Vey said that this matter would be solved quickly, but what if it wasn't?
She had no medicine. she had been surviving on two injections a day but would need more as the burning peaked.
And the burning had not peaked yet, it would get far worse before it got any better.
She shivered.
The doctor, Kort, looked at her.
"Are you hurt," he inquired, "If you need medical help…"
"It's okay," she lied, trying not to think about what it would be like in a few days, how bad the burning in her blood would get.
This had been a mistake, accepting this mission, but it was hers now and she had to deal with it.
Dr. Antilles needed her help, and she would give it.
Her will was strong, and with the Force as her ally it was stronger still.
She would make it through this.
It was just a couple of days.
She could do this.
"I'm fine," she repeated under her breath.
"I'm fine.