Nar Shaddaa

Though the line was even longer when Cole arrived at the shelter, when they saw the uniformed soldier that accompanied him, a number of people dropped out and melted into the alleys of the Red Light District. The Republic Private stands behind Cole while he works, arms crossed, while the medic does his level best to ignore his bodyguard.

Ashla comes at the usual time. "Yo."

"Missed you yesterday," Cole states simply. The soldier carefully looks the Togruta up and down, saying nothing.

"Yeah. Yesterday wound up being busy. I had to do some surgery somewhere else. Sorry about that."

"You're not obligated to be here," he shrugged, "you missed out on the cookies though."

"........... Damn. What kind?"

A shrug, "just sugar cookies. Not very interesting, but I figured no one can say no to a sugar cookie, right?"

"Hey, who can say no to free cookies? What's with him?" Ashla nods to the bodyguard.

"Private Finama? That was Captain Organa's idea. Apparently there's some order saying that no Republic soldier can be in the Red Light District alone, so," Cole glances back over his shoulder at the young man, "he's been assigned."

"Oh. Makes sense. I guess, we could have met up beforehand."

"Have you met Captain Organa?" he says with a look that is halfway between incredulous and deadpan. "That's a man who gets his way." Cole can feel his face heating up, and hopes that he isn't actually turning red. His headache is starting to return.

Ashla thinks. "I don't know if I have. He's your superior I take it?"

"Not directly," he studies Ashla, and is satisfied that she hasn't noticed anything. "Technically an entirely different chain of command, but military is military."

"Yeah, but chain of command is a thing, right? I mean, a Captain can't go around ordering other people's minions, right?"

Cole points to Private Finama, "minion here is a ground pounder, like the Captain. It's very clever, when you think about it. He follow's Organa's orders, not mine."

Ashla nods understanding. "I see." After taking care of the next patient, Ashla asks, "You're an officer, right? Do you have minions?"

"The Medical Corps doesn't work that way. If the Fleet Admiral himself was standing in front of me with a vicious case Devaronian Flu, I could order him to stand down from duty until I decided he was well enough to work again. But anything non-medical? I'm a mushroom."

"Well, I know that, but do you have doctors below is what I'm asking."

"Doctors below Petty Officer are still training. I mean, I guess I could boss them around?"

"I mean you should. You're good at it." And that was as close to a compliment as he was going to get.

"I'm sorry, have we met?" Cole deadpans, leadership was not his forte.

"Memory loss? Clearly you need brain surgery. Should I pencil you in next?"

"I think you're the one that needs the check up. You're clearly mistaking me for someone with leadership skills. Captain Organa is the one with the dark hair." He points to his messy curls, "I'm Cole, I'm the blonde one."

Ashla pinches the bridge of her nose. "OK. I'm not going to sit here and keep complimenting you. Get over yourself. A captain leading grunts needs to be different than a doctor in the operating room. As someone whose been following you, I should be able to see it."

Cole cocks an eyebrow at Ashla's sudden change of mood, "sorry, just having some fun with you."