[D6LE] Needs of the Many

[Niall Organa]

"-And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not." Niall gave a final nod to the assembled soldiers, his expression serious. It had been a long, difficult day. And it wasn't quite over yet. But that didn't mean he wasn't able to deliver stirring speeches at the drop of a hat.

"Dismissed." He said. The soldiers, under the watchful eye of a sergeant, began to leave in an orderly manner. Niall moved over to one of the nearby benches, rubbing his face with his hands.

[Cole Ormont]

Some habits were impossible to break, like the immediate reaction to a medical call. No questions, grab your kit, get there.

Cole had been jogging across the yard, he'd just stepped out of the refresher after the Huttball game when the call had come in. For a moment, the Captain's expression made him forget about the agonising electric jolts shooting through his right thigh, and he slowed, almost to a stop.

[Niall Organa]

It was a few moments before Niall noticed Cole, his face still buried in his hands. But carefully, away from the rest of the troops, so that they might just see him looking thoughtful. Not tired, injured, or weak.

Lifting his head and spotting Cole, Niall gave a wan smile and a vague wave.

[Cole Ormont]

Cole closed the distance without limping, though the painkillers hadn't kicked in yet.

Internally, he was cussing himself out with all the best insults he could think of on such short notice, reminding himself that he was still furious with the Captain. Dropping onto his left knee, the stable one, he set his pack down next to him. "Niall?"

[Niall Organa]

"Thanks for coming." Niall said, his voice pitched low. "Ah... I've actually asked you here for two reasons. Only one of them is medical. The other is more a favor, of sorts. Something I could use your help on."

His lips twisted. "I leave it to you to decide which one you want to deal with first."

[Cole Ormont]

Cole's lips press together into a line, he was starting to come to the conclusion that the Captain was a flashbang without a pin, one wrong move and you'd be blindsided. He takes the mediscanner from its pouch and adjusts some settings, "normally I wouldn't ask what happened, but you're looking worse for wear, Captain."

[Niall Organa]

"Yes." Niall sighed, straightening a little as Cole began to work. "It's been a busy week, and today was exceptional. First there was the excitement on the planet. Which you were witness to, I believe." He gave Cole a nod.

"And then earlier this evening. Suffice to say, it's been a day." He sighed. "And... ah, yourself? How have you been holding up?" His tone was polite, but just a touch guarded.

[Cole Ormont]

Something flashes behind Cole's eyes at the mention of the mess at that day's wedding reception, "I didn't go planetside, sir, but I'm aware of what happened." He held in a sigh at Niall's avoidance of the rest of the details, let him have his secrets, now I have a few of my own.

Though his jaw tightens, he makes a conscious effort not to mirror the Captain's defensiveness, "it's holding, sir, I can't say much more than that."

[Niall Organa]

"That... sounds like a start, anyway." Niall said with a nod. "I was rather concerned. I am pleased to hear that you're holding, as you say, at the very least."

He sighed again. "Right. But perhaps I should tell you about the other matter, the one I needed your help with. Have you heard about the abductions of Force sensitive children?"

[Cole Ormont]

That broke his concentration, and he lowered the mediscanner, thinking of Jeebu and realising that the little Rodian could have easily been next to go missing, and the only person to care would be Jo's accountant.

Cole's nostrils flare, and his grip tightened on the mediscanner, "I've heard."

[Niall Organa]

"Yes, well." Niall cleared his throat. "I've been tracking down some leads on that. It's been a bit of a roundabout path, but I've managed to determine that they're being delivered to a frieghter docked at the spaceport. And it apparently belongs to Czerka."

He grimaced. "How much do you know about Czerka?"

[Cole Ormont]

His jaw tightens and Cole runs a hand through his hair, "Czerka are huge. They have their fingers in just about every pie there is. If they weren't as shady as a Hutt cartel under their guise of being a legitimate corporation, they'd be the shining poster child for these peace talks. They're probably the only thing in the galaxy that transcends the Imperial/Republic rift. Apart from propaganda and hatred for the unknown."

[Niall Organa]

Niall was silent for a few moments. "Yes, well, it's their shadiness that's the focus for the moment. Whatever they want these children for, well, I'm sure it's not good. And that's putting aside the abductions in the first place."

He gave Cole a nod. "Also, they do a lot of biotech. It's one of their major enterprises. Which would be where you come in, potentially. If you're up for it. I know you have the necessary background."

[Cole Ormont]

It might have been the pain in his leg, but Cole experienced a momentary sense of detachment, his life was a holonovel, playing out in front of him. Someone needs to fire the writer, he thinks absurdly. Needing to anchor himself, he adjusts the mediscanner and takes a wide scan of the Captain.

"What did you have in mind?"

[Niall Organa]

"Hmmm." Niall's lips twitched. "I'm not... quite sure. But I was thinking that you might be able to use your medical knowledge to gain entrance, somehow, on some sort of pretext. Or... even without that, you might be able to make sense of whatever it is they're doing."

He spread his hands. "And... if I read you correctly, you'd put all your effort into it."

[Cole Ormont]

Cole is taken aback by the Captain's words, enough that the confusion shows on his face, he's not accustomed to Niall being so... nice? Maybe I should check for head injuries, I swear he's had something knocked loose.

He narrows the mediscanner beam, unnecessarily, the readouts already telling him that there's no injuries beyond a few cuts and abrasions, but he takes a few sweeps of the man's heart and lungs, just in case, and checking for microfractures of the ribs and sternum.

"I can work with that."

[Niall Organa]

"Good." Niall said with a sigh and a slight smile. "I knew I could count on you, really. Or, at least, I very much hoped that I could."

"I'll forward you the information." Somewhat gingerly taking his datapad out of his uniform jacket, he did so. "I've been working a bit with Yslane... and Layne, actually." He included her contact information as well. "I hope to be able to see this through, but I just received another mission." He grimaced. "But this Czerka business is to important to let go."

[Cole Ormont]

Shutting off the mediscanner, Cole considered bringing up a certain matter of a large number of credits that the Captain had cost him, but it would be a shame to bring out 'Captain Alderaan' for another lecture. I'm letting it slide for now, that's all, he reassured himself.

"I'm recommending you get some rest," and annoyingly he realised that he cared if Niall was pushing himself too hard. "I'm not going to prescribe you something to help you sleep unless you force my hand. Delegate more, and set your alarm back by two hours."

[Niall Organa]

"I can change my alarm." Niall said. "But it wouldn't do any good. I always wake up on my own, anyway." Nevertheless, he nodded.

"Perhaps I'll turn in early, though. But..." He frowned suddenly, pulling out his datapad once more. "Actually, I do need to send a few messages, perhaps make a call. There was something I was going to do." He cleared his throat. "Personal, not business. I promise that I'll try to relax."

[Cole Ormont]

Personal, that would explain it, and a sting of jealousy threatens his resolve to play nice. He declines to point out that relaxation is not the same as rest; he also declines to comment that he doesn't know how the Captain can possibly relax with that rod up his ass, that kind of joke is more Ashla's taste, he figures.

Cole grunts as he gets to his feet. He keeps from grimacing, but the pain in his leg is getting towards pissing him off.

[Niall Organa]

Into the silence, Niall continued to speak. "Or perhaps not." He said, leaning back on the bench, his eyes half-closing. "Huttcon was fun and all, but perhaps it would be better to call it a night."

He glanced at Cole. "What about you? Are you planning to attend the dance party? Or..." He frowned. "Does your leg still pain you?"

[Cole Ormont]

Cole blinks, pressing his lips together. After a moment, "strictly no raves," he shakes his head, "that would be exact opposite of relaxing." Though, Captain Tightass at a nightclub is a sight you could charge admission for...

Again surprised by the Captain's inquiry, "it's to be expected, sir, following an injury like this. It's only thanks to Ashla's manipulation of the Force that saved me from having a pin in that bone, which'd probably hurt more."

[Niall Organa]

Niall's lips twitched. "Fine, fine. No raves. Although I think my Foekiller costume wasn't half bad." He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Well..." His lips twisted again. "Take care of yourself. Please. You have a lot of spirit, Cole. I admire that, but..." He frowned a moment. "I know how easy it is to give too much of yourself."

[Cole Ormont]

"I'm sure it was great." If he says that he saw the Captain's cosplay, that would be getting dangerously close to Niall realising that Cole had been there as well.

His jaw works as he digests the Captain's comment. It was easier being mad at him, he still cost me 1000 credits, not that it was ever about the credits, Cole reminds himself. But his face still feels hot and he's immensely grateful that they're out on yard, with people constantly bustling back and forth. "I'll take as good care of myself as you do, sir."

[Niall Organa]

Niall smiled. "It's a deal, then."

Slowly, he stood, stretching. "And, with that in mind, I think I should turn in. It's been a rough day. And frankly, I'm not optimistic about tomorrow, either." For just a moment, he looked incredibly tired, a shadow seeming to cross his aristocratically handsome features. It passed, and his expression was as pleasantly unreadable as ever. "Goodnight, Cole." He said politely.