Nar Shaddaa

Just because they were on Nar Shaddaa didn't mean that the discipline of Republic soldiers should be allowed to falter. A small group of them had behaved badly in minor ways throughout the first two days; drunkeness, disruptive public behavior, that sort of thing. And so, while their companions were out having fun, they were under Captain Niall Organa's watchful eye, as he lead them through drill after drill.

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Side job D2 ME to LE, using leadership: 2eP+2eA+2eD 3 successes, 1 Triumph


300 credits, I believe.

It was a little after 2000 hours when Cole was crossing the Republic Compound, heading back to his quarters. He was intent on the datapad he was holding, paying more attention to that than his surroundings, eyes flicking up periodically to check he wasn't about to trip over anything.

Leadership was one of Cole's greatest military shortcomings, he simply was not born a leader, to the unending frustration of Group Commander Ormont. But he recognised it when he heard it, though not always with the best of connotations.

Captain Organa's authoritative instructions penetrated Cole's concentration via a reflexive kick in the gut. A self-defensive instinct had him absorbing the words before he registered the voice delivering them. He looked up, finally noticing how close he was passing by the group of soldiers.

The soldiers had just finished a drill, performing on an obstacle course that Niall had them set up for the purpose. He frowned down at the datapad in his hand. "Good, but not good enough, soldiers." He said, his voice lightly disappointed. He was stern, but not overly so, managing impressively fatherly for a man of twenty standard years. "Alright. Let's see you do better this time." They saluted before lining up to run the course again.

Niall turned, spotting Cole. "Ah, Officer Ormont." Niall wandered a bit closer, maintaining his air of authority, keeping his posture straight. "I hope you had a pleasant day?" He relaxed a little as he moved away from his group of soldiers.

Glancing past the Captain, Cole straightened and snapped a salute, "I'd call it interesting, sir."

Niall turned a little, the better to be able to converse with Cole, and keep one eye on the troops as well. He returned the salute. "Interesting, you say?" His eyebrows went up. "Would that be something besides the talks and the Huttball? Although those were plenty interesting themselves, I felt."

Cole mirrored the Captain, standing at an angle and watching the soldiers more than his conversation partner. He seemed less stiff than he had that morning, but still rather formal, "I mentioned a clinic in the Red Light District when I saw you this morning?"

"You did. I must say, I approve." He gave Cole a quick glance. "Stay safe, though." His lips twitched. "If our roles are reversed, I don't know how to operate a kolto tank." He said, dryly humorous.

"Still, I gather something happened?"

"I've been fortunate, sir. It was Jedi Vyliis who showed me the place, and she turned up there again today. I've been providing what I can, medically, but it's never enough." The Captain's sentiment twisted something in the region of his upper digestive tract, but he appreciated the concern, nonetheless.

"Jedi Vyliis? I haven't had the pleasure." Niall said. He sighed. "And you're right. It's never enough. This is a good place only for those with money or power, and the two are hopelessly entwined, here."

"Your file didn't list a planet of origin, Ormont. Spaceborn?" Niall's tone was politely curious.

Cole pushed a hand through his hair and cleared his throat slightly, "uh, Ashla? Ashla Vyliss," he elaborated, knowing the Togruta wasn't big on formalities.

He nods at the question, "yes, sir, Naval Medical Frigate Haysil."

"Oh, of course." Niall said. "I only knew her by her first name. And the Jedi did not see fit to provide me with files on all of their personnel. Not that they should be required to, of course. Although if we are going to be working together..."

"Mmm. And did you grow up aboard ship? I should like to hear about that, if you don't mind."

"I have a dossier, her master asked me to at least meet her. She's a highly competent medic." There's something in Cole's guarded expression that suggests a sense of approval, perhaps even pride.

"I did, sir. Me and Mother followed the Group Commander on his postings. It wasn't bad, if you're not so fond of fresh air or open spaces."

"I see." Niall's lips twitched again. "I'm from Alderaan. I'm very fond of fresh air and open spaces. Have you ever been? Or do you know much about it?"

"No and no, sir. I wasn't so bothered by it. The Group Commander treated much of my childhood like boot camp. Wanted to instil a strong sense of discipline in me." Cole's rigidity suggested that the indoctrination had worked, for better or worse.

Niall frowned, turning to face Cole. His mind was piecing together what the man was saying. "The Group Commander? I didn't think that the position usually granted that much influence over how families raise their children." It was as much question as it was statement.

Cole's expression darkened, jaw tightening, "well, he was only Commander Ormont back then," he offers by way of explanation.

"Ah." That was enough pieces. There didn't seem to be more to say to that, but it nevertheless help to create a more complete picture of the medical officer.

Niall looked back at the soldiers, still drilling. "Tell me, Cole." He used the man's given name, indicating a switch to more casual conversation. "What is your impression of me? As on officer, and as a man. And please, speak freely."

Cole's stomach plummeted. As a man... rattled around in his head uncomfortably.

"Sir?" His sense of discipline prevented him from asking why. He watched the soldiers going through their paces, "you're a natural leader, sir. On the battlefield, on the huttball court, on the yard," he indicated to the soldiers, "and flexible enough to know the difference. You're respected as a C.O. and you have the finest training available to anyone, both military and before that." Medical privilege had given him access to the Captain's files, and at the time Niall's prestigious and expensive schooling brought his own, sometimes ad-hoc, tutoring to mind.

The second part of the question was more difficult to answer, and he needed more time to gather his thoughts...

Niall listened carefully, his grey eyes difficult to read.

Finally, he nodded. "A natural leader, you say. So, born with a gift. Can I ask, Cole, do you feel that you were born with any great gifts? I mean, obviously you've worked very hard throughout your education. Was that aided by a natural aptitude, or natural intelligence?"

"Sir, great men are forged, not born. Natural talent won't take you anywhere without opportunity and direction. A man without a chance and a goal will never get there."

Cole sucks his teeth thoughtfully as he considered the question he'd be asked, rather than the one he'd answered. As a man? Looking at the Captain's impassive expression, not knowing if he was failing to read the other man, or if something was being hidden from him. You can ask, he thinks, but I don't know what answer you're looking for.

If Niall was aware of Cole's inner turmoil, he didn't show it. Indeed, he continued to show little.

"That may be. And in fact, I would agree that it is. But it was not the direction of my inquiry. In fact, I was wondering this: if you do have a gift, what should you do with it? And to what end?"

His lips twitched. "I hope you don't mind me practicing my rhetoric upon you in such a way, Cole. In fact, you are helping me to work through something that has been much on my mind, lately."

"I don't mind at all, sir."

It was a weighty question, but the admission of wanting help changed everything. It unshackled something, bringing down several layers of emotional shielding, the vaguely suspicious hardness about his eyes softening. "Captain Organa, Niall," he inhaled, "why don't you come see me when you have the chance? Call it a medical follow-up, if you like, your mental well-being is as much my concern as your physical health."

The ghost of a concerned frown haunts his brow, "I want to answer your question. If you need an answer right now, I'll do my best."

"Hmmm." Niall looked at Cole another moment longer, then back at the nearby soldiers. "If you insist, Officer Ormont. But I feel that I may have misled you with my words. This is entirely an intellectual problem that I'm working out." The lips twitched again, and he glanced back. "Well, mostly anyway. But to answer your question, no, I don't need an answer right now. If you would, meditate on the question with the Sith in mind. That is the issue I've been considering."

A slight flare of the nostrils, "sir, if I've offended, just say so plain. I take pride in my work."

Privilege of rank, he thought with a little bitterness, he gets to pretend like we're all friends here, but I'd better not forget that he's in charge.

Niall waved a hand. "No no, you're all right." A few moments passed.

"I'm sorry, Cole." He said. "We all have our weaknesses, I expect. Emotional fragility is not something that either a Captain or an Organa is permitted to have. The... I think, perhaps, I was defensive." His lips twitched. "If I'm going to ask your opinion, I should listen to it."