Owner	Pose
Cayde Alexis	The day following the search party's success in finding Cayde, the padawan is laid up at the clinic in Kublop, waiting for his immune system to calm down. Which might take a bit longer. The initial reaction...reactions...had been rather severe. If those farmers hadn't found him and managed to quell it at least a little bit, he may well have actually died.
Navi	Navi walks into Cayde's hospital room quietly. She can't tell if the swelling in his face has gone down enough to allow him to open his eyes, and is still amazed that he survived the reactions. Her own eyes are somewhat swollen and red, for different reasons. She looks at his swollen hands, and that reason nearly comes back to the forefront in a rush. She hastily scrubs at her eyes with her fists "Cayde? It's me. We need to talk," she says, barely loud enough to be heard over the medical instruments. "And this is the only time I know you won't talk back."
Cayde Alexis	When Navi enters the room, there is a nurse standing in front of a monitor and examining scans and other readouts while talking to someone on her holocomm. "Yes, it'll have to be re-aligned--" she is saying as the Sephi enters. "...oh, one moment." she looks over at Navi. "Ah, Ms. Valrennan, here to see Cayde I take it? I'll give you two a moment." She then exits, leaving the two of them alone in the room.     It would appear that Cayde is -somewhat- better, although his hands and eyes are still covered with medicated bandages. Her present efforts through the Force help some as well, and she might notice the readings on the monitors improve even as she's speaking. He sighs and sits up, attempting to turn in her general direction, although he can't see her. <What> She can feel his presence in her mind--it's the first time he has initiated this with her in...quite some time.
Navi	Navi sighs, a sigh that can be felt across the telepathic connection. << I don't want to lecture you, Cayde... not with you lying here like this, >> she says, a hint of pain and regret filtering over the connection. << I don't want to. But I have to. I have to at least say /something/ about why you're here. /I'm sorry/. >> << I know I played a role in this, and I'm sorry for that. Maybe you can forgive me. But what were you /thinking/? Walking off into the wilderness when you know you're allergic to, like, 90 percent of everything here? With 'Crane', of all people? The one ally /I/ know /I/ can trust the least, and /I/ share a /bond/ with him? That goes beyond arguments and being angry and hurt. That's angry-stalking right into recklessness and negligence territory. >>
Cayde Alexis	<You're forgiven...>     <...I wasn't with anyone> Cayde points out. He's not lying about that, at least. He had been alone, Amarik/Crane or whatever she calls him by hadn't been with him, he'd only seen him briefly before he left the settlement.     She can also tell that his memories of what happened are somewhat...fuzzy. But there had been a roiling sea of emotions resulting from various things that had happened, and that had been said to him. Frustration, self-doubt, even self-hate. But most of all, he's just desperate. Desperate to prove himself worthy of the title of Jedi Knight to the Council and the Order as a whole, but at the same time desperate to help his friends too, instead of causing them pain. That he could be more than just an incompetent child who can't control his gifts. And desperate to prove all of these things to himself on top of it all. Much of his energy is spent trying to keep it all contained, to not let it show. To not let it hurt anyone else. But sometimes, it's just too much. The only thing he could do then, is to isolate as much as he can, so that it won't touch anyone else.     <I needed alone...>     And yet, he'd failed at even that. He'd forgotten about those farmsteads. Stupid.
Navi	Navi's eyes widen a little in surprise. << I stand corrected... >> she observes, very softly. << What happened out there? Where did you go? >> she asks, worry overtaking her sense of duty. << I couldn't come find you... someone had to be back at Whatever Bend to remind the more lawless types that we do, in fact, have law and order in the colony. It was two days before I could get free. Right after you unfriended me, I was too angry to even /look/ at you, anyway, so I removed myself from that situation and went to do my job. Two mynocks with one blaster bolt. After that, I thought the doctor was dealing with the search, but I never heard anything else. It just seemed like all I could do was go look for you. At least we found you, and you were alive. >>
Cayde Alexis	<I don't know...I passed out....and then...farm...they tried to help> Cayde answers, shrugging. Really, that is all he can remember of what happened before they'd found him.     But he doesn't seem to remember that unfriending part. <No, you are a friend....sorry if I said not> Although deeper down, there is a sense of dread. He is sorry, but somehow it has only made him feel worse.
Navi	<< It doesn't matter. I've mostly forgiven you for unfriending me. And I won't unfriend you back. >> Navi's thought voice is quiet, almost brittle. << Not ever. There are other places you can be alone. Ones that won't put you in danger like this. And if you tell me to go away without being mean about it, I'll go away. >> She tries not to pace beside his bed. << You have got to start /thinking/, Cayde... between being a Jedi and being appointed Deputy Marshal, your life is not your own. You have responsibilities. Right now, Whatever Bend is without a Deputy Marshal. That means we lose ground on keeping that place from turning into a criminal dump, and we both know where that leads. We need you on your feet and able to help as soon as possible without risk to your health and mental well-being. I can only speed the healing process along so much. This is really Master Windu's area of expertise. >>
Cayde Alexis	<Thank you> Cayde replies. He does appreciate that...even if she won't ever really understand. Not that anyone will, anyway.     He nods as she starts reiterating how important his responsibilities are. Yes of course...he needed to get back out there soon. <Tomorrow> he promises, completely arbitrarily, and not at all based on what Dr. Cassias or any of the other medical staff had said or thought. Although in the back of his mind, there is that feeling of dread again. What would he screw up next?
Navi	<< /Not/ tomorrow... you look like a half-naked Padawan balloon attached to a thousand plastoid tubes, and I'm sure you get around like one, too, >> Navi replies, shaking her head. << You're probably going to be down for at least a week getting over this. Maybe more. >>
Cayde Alexis	Cayde pouts at that...a -week-? A week of this? But she just got done telling him that he needed to get back out there ASAP. He sighs and slumps against the wall behind the bed, his spirits sinking even lower.     There is a light and a beep coming from his commlink which is sitting on a table near the foot of the bed. Another new message, on top of the many unreads he already has.
Navi	<< That's just what happens when you walk off into the wilderness on a planet you're allergic to. I'm sorry. I'm doing everything I can to speed things along, but... >> Navi sighs quietly. << Allergies are the Dark Side's sense of humor, or at least that's what I believe. They're disgustingly slow to heal. >>
Cayde Alexis	Cayde doesn't respond to this, just continues to sit there and sulk. Overall, he is still in just as terrible of a mood as he had been before he'd run off, and she'll be able to feel it. Maybe even worse. Just less angry, and more depressed and frustrated with himself.     After a minute or so, there is a knock at the door, and the nurse from earlier pokes her head in. "Ms. Valrennan? I hope I'm not interrupting anything..."
Navi	<< I'm sorry, Cayde... I wish I could do more, >> Navi replies. She looks up at the nurse enters. "No, Ma'am. If you need to do anything, I can wait here out of your way, like a good little Deputy Marshal, until you're done." Her gentle tone makes it clear she's making a weak joke.
Cayde Alexis	The nurse chuckles. "I'm all for the 'good' part, I don't know about 'little'. As far as I can tell, you're a young woman with wisdom beyond your years." she compliments, finally coming in. She's carrying a small crate with some equipment in it that looks like some sort of probe with a camera on the end of it.     "But actually, I was going to ask you if you might be able to help me with something," she continues. "A...procedure that your friend here needs."
Navi	"How can I help?" Navi asks, rising. "And thank you for your kind words, even if I don't begin to feel worth of them." She studies the crate of equipment thoughtfully, wondering if her medical training will help her recognize just what it is the nurse is asking of her.
Zetha Rumir	Zetha makes her way into the hospital and it's likely not hard to find out where Cayde's room is. Though once she gets to the room and spies Navi talking to the nurse, the stands in the doorway. Maybe now isn't the best time to visit, but she's already here so the worse she could be told is to come back later. After a quick debate in her head, she gives a little knock. "Is another visitor alright?"
Cayde Alexis	Navi will be able to tell from studying the device in the box that it is a medical probe used for performing certain moderately invasive procedures without needing to cut someone open.     Just then, Zetha appears in the doorway. The nurse looks up and smiles warmly to her. "Certainly, come right in. I was just about to ask Navi here to help me with a procedure, but you're welcome to observe, if you'd like. Are you another friend of Cayde's?" she asks.
Navi	"What sort of procedure will this be?" Navi asks the nurse thoughtfully. "I'm a trained healer and have studied first aid and medicine, if that helps our present situation any." She smiles faintly to Zetha. "Hi, Zetha. I'm glad you seem to be okay. It was a very trying day yesterday," she says sympathetically.
Zetha Rumir	"I..." Zetha looks to Cayde and then frowns gently. "I think we're still friends." Admitting that much before she glances to Navi and shrugs. "Seeming and being are two different things. But I exist." She offers with a shrug before stepping into the room fully. Her gaze goes back over to Cayde. "How's he holding up? What sort of procesure are you doing?"
Cayde Alexis	"Better," the nurse answers Zetha, as she begins to get the equipment out of the box and start powering it up. "Physically, anyway. I'm not too sure about the rest of it."     She smiles at Navi. "I had heard that, which is why I decided to request your help." She finishes setting the probe up, connecting it to one of the holopanel monitors, then turns her full attention back to the Sephi. "It should be a fairly basic procedure, just the re-alignment of a simple laryngeal 'shutter' implant that was knocked a bit out of whack from all that inflammation. If I can guide the probe down into his throat, do you think you could you watch the video data from the feed and use the Force to push it back into place?"
Navi	"I remain your friend, Zetha," Navi replies softly. "That won't change. I think cayde will, too. Sadly, the allergic reactions are taking a long time to sort out, even with what assistance I can provide through the Force." "That would be a telekinetic ability... I am not trained in such things. I could do so by means of healing powers, but that will be more difficult," she explains. "You may want to have a standby procedure on hand just in case." She looks to the nurse. "I'm not familiar with a pharyngeal shutter... what does it do?" she asks softly.
Zetha Rumir	There's a glance given to Navi and Zetha gives a single nod of her head. "Thanks Navi." She offers and then she tilts her head a little while the nurse does some explaining. It's all Zabrakian to her because she doesn't understand but it sounds really important. She moves to the unoccupied side of Cayde's bed and reaches to place a hand over his. "Have we figured out why his allergic reaction caused people to have freakish, live nightmares?"
Cayde Alexis	"Ah. Well, I will say this first, that Cayde did give us permission to share this information with those who put the effort in to searching for him." The nurse adds quickly. "Anyway, I'm sure you've both noticed that he not only doesn't speak but has never made a sound from his throat. That's because he doesn't have vocal chords. Instead, there's just a hole. Not sure why, perhaps it was a birth defect, or they were surgically removed a long time ago. But at any rate, this device only closes his airways whenever and eating or drinking, to prevent anything from going into into his lungs. I believe your Force healing skills should suffice, Navi."     "I'm afraid that is a question for someone with more expertise in Force telepathy." the nurse replies to Zetha with a sigh. "It is a somewhat esoteric gift, I think. I did overhear Master Yutelli saying he must have lost control for some reason, and if I had to guess, not feeling well physically could well have contributed to it."
Navi	Navi /almost/ says something in the wake of the nurse's explanation. Almost. But one look at Cayde's swollen face and hands kills the thought instantly. "I'll do my best. In Sephi years, I'm barely older than Cayde." Which in real Galactic Standard years, makes her a few years too young to be his mother. Right now she feels the weight of every one of those years. "Zetha, can you seat yourself close by? I may need a friend's moral support right now."
Zetha Rumir	"I'm right here, Navi. I'm not going anywhere." Zetha says gently. "But while you two work on him, I'd like to keep a hold of his hand. In case he can sense it somehow. So he knows people are here with him." Cause she isn't sure how conscious Cayde is. Likely not very if at all just so his body can heal with the help of medication, the Force, and other such notions. Though she does glance about for a moveable chair she could drag over in order to sit where she currently stands.
Cayde Alexis	"Thank you Navi, I truly appreciate your help. With the aid of the Force, we will not have to make any sutures. As someone with a measure of medical skill, I'm sure you know this eliminates a lot of risks." the nurse says, nodding. She takes out a bottle and hypodermic syringe, going over to the bedside. "Hey," she says softly to Cayde. "Nurse Lienne here, I'm just going to give you something for gag reflex suppression, for the implant procedure like we discussed. Navi is going to help, so we won't have to do any actual surgery, isn't that great?"     He nods almost imperceptibly, then she inserts the needle into his arm quickly, administering the drug. "Now we'll just have to wait a few minutes for it to kick in, then we can get started." She says to Navi.
Navi	"You can talk to him normally, Zetha. He can't really respond, but he can hear you." Navi gives Zetha a grateful if slightly weary smile. Then she prepares herself, taking a few slow, calming breaths to center herself. Just because the procedure is routine doesn't mean it's without risks. So she waits, quietly meditating, ready to take the next crucial step.
Cayde Alexis	Lienne can't say she isn't grateful that Navi is taking this seriously. Mistakes could have grave consequences, and it seems the Sephi already knows this so she's glad she doesn't have to remind her.     After a few minutes, she picks up the probe and leans over him. "Okay we're ready now, open up nice and wide." Once he has done so, she carefully guides the probe down his throat, as the video feed shows on the monitor. It's not long before Navi will be able to spy what looks like a disc-shaped device down there, only it has been bent out of shape a bit. But it is made from flexible plastics, so she should be able to just use the Force to get it back into place.     "See it yet?" Lienne asks, keeping a firm grasp on the probe.
Navi	"I see it," Navi says softly. "I might need a moment to get it into place..." She reaches into the Force, adjusting flows of precious energy around the implant to get the individual muscles of the pharynx and esophagus to relax and contract as needed, until the implant is in place, with one last artificially induced swallow to bring parts of the pharynx and esophagus into play just when they are needed.... "It's in," she reports softly. "Let's watch it for a minute or so, just in case it jumps back out."
Cayde Alexis	"Perfect. And sure. Cayde, we're almost done. Just a few more moments." Lienne holds the camera there, keeping her gaze fixed on the video feed for the time being.     Fortunately, it seems to stay right in place.
Navi	Navi breathes a quiet sigh of relief as the implant seems content to stay in place. "Well, that's /one/ hurdle down. Just a couple hundred to go," she murmurs. "How long do you estimate he'll have to be in hospital care?" she asks Nurse Lienne.
Cayde Alexis	Lienne also exhales audibly, shutting off the camera and withdrawing it from Cayde's throat. "Okay! We're all done now, Cayde. That... went incredibly smoothly. Thank you, Ms. Valrennan. The Force is truly your ally." she says gratefully.     "One step at a time." she encourages, smiling at Navi. "Impossible to know for sure, but at least another day or two. We'll have to see how things go. I..." she pauses, then lowers her voice (for all the good it'll do). "...I hope someone will be able to get him into better spirits."
Navi	"I'm not good with good spirits or good cheer... but I'll do my best," Navi replies wearily. "Nurse? If I could impose on you for one last thing before you go?" she asks, just as wearily.
Cayde Alexis	"Oh don't say that. I'm sure you're better than you think." Lienne replies, starting to gather up the equipment and put it back into the crate. "Well, I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing before I came in--oh. Sure, what is it?" she asks.
Navi	"Cayde isn't alone in needing his spirits lifted," Navi replies sadly. "Forgive me for imposing, but I really need a hug right now..."
Cayde Alexis	"Oh, darling--of course." Lienne says softly, pulling her into an embrace. "I know it's been a rough few days for you. But you're doing great. More than could have ever been expected of you. Cayde will be all right, just give it a little time."
Navi	Navi accepts the hug gratefully and gladly, tears stinging her eyes. She doesn't dare lose her grip on her own emotions right now. It's not a good time to suddenly find herself weeping helplessly into the blouse of a busy nurse. But it's so hard... It's almost as hard to relinquish the hug when the time comes. Somehow she manages. "Thank you," she whispers, head bowed. "I really, /really/ needed that..."
Cayde Alexis	"You are most welcome." Lienne says softly, after pulling away. "Now I'd best get back to it. Feel free to spend as much time with Cayde as you'd like. And thank you again, for you help. I'm very glad a doctor didn't need to perform surgery, thanks to you." With that, she takes her leave.     Cayde's commlink flashes again, bleeping annoyingly.
Navi	"Take care, Nurse. And thank you for being so understanding," Navi replies gently to the Nurse, letting her take her leave. Rolling her eyes at the comlink, she strolls over and thumbs the Mute button on the side of the device. "I think this thing just needs to shut up for a while," she observes softly. "I've already put out word that you're in the hospital. They could at least /pretend/ to leave you alone." She takes a seat next to Cayde's bed. << I'm sorry for every mean thing I've ever said to you. Maybe I felt you needed corrections at times, but I'm not your Master, and never have been. Maybe you make mistakes, but at least you try, >> she observes telepathically.
Cayde Alexis	As Navi goes to shut off the signal on the device, she'll see that most of the messages are from Amarik. Well, more like 'Crane'. The messages are definitely crafted as part of the 'Crane' persona.     There is a mix of emotions she can feel from Cayde. A lot of self-doubt. He feels terrible about everything, especially that family who'd tried to help him. But he just doesn't know what else he could have done. Retreat even farther into the wilderness?     <You are not mean...you always cared> He reaches out, trying to find her hand but brushing the side of her leg instead.
Navi	Navi rests her hand atop his as he touches her leg, gently squeezing it. The feel of those swollen fingers under her grip almost breaks her heart. << I didn't care enough... and that was when I didn't care too much. I'm not good at balance. You've probably noticed, >> she says quietly. It's not true. She is surprisingly good at balance. But sometimes balance comes at the expense of the needs of others. That's where she either falters or pushes too hard.
Cayde Alexis	Well, they are at least somewhat less inflamed than yesterday, and she'll be able to tell by touching them, so perhaps that is somewhat heartening. <Balance is overrated>     He squeezes her back weakly, then sits up again and reaches out with the other hand, going for a shoulder...or something. Hopefully he doesn't accidentally end up anywhere awkward. Anyway, he'd forgotten how much he'd missed her touch. <...thank you>
Navi	<< Hey..! Those are my /breasts/, Cayde..! >> Navi protests, blushing, hastily shifting to sit on the bed and adjust his position so he's seated and she's hugging him. And, mercifully, he's not touching any naughty bits, even through her clothes.
Cayde Alexis	<Sorry> Cayde quickly withdraws at her protest. He can't see her blushing, but the awkward moment is certainly felt.     However, once she repositions everything and hugs him instead, he returns it, stroking her back gently. Upon this contact, she'll be able to sense that this had helped significantly. Although there is still a cloud of doubt and suspicion surrounding Xera.
Navi	<< Let me take care of Xera, >> Navi replies gently, hugging him tightly. << She may be deceptive and manipulative, but I don't believe she would harm me. Besides, her life is in as much danger as ours. If this colony falls into anarchy, they'll kill her first. I'm sure she knows that. >>
Cayde Alexis	Cayde slumps into her arms a bit, but doesn't respond to her comments about Xera. After a few moments of this, she may realize that he has either passed out or fallen asleep on her, as his mind is no longer alert.
Navi	Navi smiles faintly, and wryly, as she realizes Cayde has fallen asleep. Gently laying him back into bed and covering up, she surprises herself as much as Cayde with a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Rest, and be at peace," she whispers, quietly taking down her pigtails and tying her hair ribbons around his right wrist as a token of their shared responsibility. Only then does she leave the sickroom.