Blood is on the Knife (D9 EE)

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I think that is going to be taken care of, tonight. I don't know if the Navy is going to pay for it or not, but that doesn't matter right now," she said, nodding slightly.

"If you can do what's needed to prep the rest for the cyber doc, I'd be very grateful Mr. Ormont?" with a hesitant smile.

[Cole Ormont]

"Cole is fine," he soothes, "and if the Navy won't cough up for replacement, then something's gone wrong in your chain of command." His delivery is barely more humourous than deadpan. "The wound is clean and dressed, and the bone is ready to take an anchor graft. I don't foresee your medical staff having any problems." Not if they're competent.

"However, depending on where the surgery is going to take place, I can certainly make time to assist, if that would make you feel more confident."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I don't want to be more of a burden... Cole. Your guarantee will be more than enough..."

She then laughed a tiny laugh.

"Navy surgeons are always better anyway, hm?"

[Cole Ormont]

"No burden, guaranteed. I'd be a piss-poor doctor if I didn't follow-up on my patient's care."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I'll ask the doc for a recording then, so you can double check his work," she said, smiling weakly.

[Cole Ormont]

"You must be feeling better, then," he smiled, roguish and charming, "you need to rest a little longer, but I can get you something to eat or drink if you feel up to it?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Some water might be nice. I think field rations might make a mess of your operating theater though..." she answered, offering a small, grateful nod.

[Cole Ormont]

"Of course." He fetched the water, and gently took her hand and pressed the glass to it, to keep her from reaching for it with the one that was gone.

"Colonel Moraal. If you don't mind me asking, do you support the Peace Talks?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Hala, please Cole?" she asked as she drank too fast, spluttered, and dribbled some water down her neck. She sighed with embarrassment and reluctantly sipped before swallowing carefully.

"And check my jacket if you like. I'm an official member of the diplomatic entourage. I have to balance the competing interests of the various Sith Lords and factions, some of which has spilled out into the public as you may have heard, but yes. I want the talks to succeed. That is one of the reasons I have been even more struck by the Crescent than their actions alone since they threaten the stability of the Hutts' fickle opinions and they could well cancel the talks before they conclude."

[Cole Ormont]

With eternal patience, Cole wiped Hala's chin, "easy does it."

Her words seemed to relax him somewhat, "I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for all your efforts."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Want to lobby me while you have my undivided attention?" she said, trying to force a weak grin again while letting the cup rest at her side on the table.

[Cole Ormont]

"I'm afraid that's above my pay grade," he chuckled. Cogs in his mind were turning, "I know it's not as bad in the Empire as the Republic propaganda machine makes it out to be, but, what has it been like? Being a member of the Empire? serving the Imperial Navy?" He seemed to be searching for something.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I get shot at more often than I like, though that's because I was part of a marine detachment before my initial injuries. And there is politics up in the brass and the admiralty, just like I'm sure there is in the Republic, but innovation and skill have always been praised in my experience and though the Empire is lead by the force adept, I feel my efforts have not gone unrecognizable and unappreciated. Even if the only easy way to show that appreciation is to put a ribbon on my chest and take me off the line. But when I was on the line I put my life into protecting my troopers and tried to make sure they understood I expected the best and wanted to make sure they had what they needed to be the best. And that they weren't just serial numbers to feed to the grinder.... Why, was there something you were curious about specifically?"

[Cole Ormont]

"Nothing specifically, no. Though being shot at, at all, seems to me should be more than anyone would like." He ran a hand through his hair, "you grow up with these stories, y'know? Some of them are outrageous, some of them are true, some of them are both and that's enough to make you believe the rest for a while."

"But I'm starting to feel like peace is really possible, not just a bone tossed to a dog to keep it quiet for a while."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"It's more than a bone, but even if an agreement is signed it will take work on both sides to maintain. The corrupt and the war-hungry are on both sides and peace is no less of a struggle," she said faintly, letting go of the cup to give Cole's hand a soft squeeze in hers.

[Cole Ormont]

Cole squeezed her hand in return, taking reassurance from the gesture. "It will be interesting, to say the least, to stand on the forefront of change." There was an optimism in his tone. "But I'm a simple country doctor. It's not my job to usher in sweeping change." His lopsided smile grew, "but wherever I end up, I'll be rooting for peace."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

She shook her head.

"Simple country doctor? Life saving surgeon. How many lives have you changed by being here? How many more will you change through your career. The last time I was like this, my last doctor wasn't as good. Losing much of the use was a sweeping change for me. And getting prepped for surgery, cleaning up the wound? That is another."

She slipped her hand away from his and leaned up clumsily with a hiss so she could take another sip of water. Once she did, and then a second and third, she settled down again and replaced her hand.

"If you ever decide to muster out and need a job, let me know? I'm sure we can find you some place where you can make more sweeping change. On the small scale, and maybe more?"

She would have shrugged supportively, but what remained of her right arm did not truly answer the commands from her brain.

[Cole Ormont]

Cole smiled, "I'd like to think the place I can affect the greatest change is on the Outer Rim, providing care on the hardest hit worlds. It's about as far from the diplomacy table as I can imagine anything being."

He ran his free hand through his hair, "but I appreciate the offer." It all seemed so easy, talking like this, as if there wasn't entire institutions of difference between their cultures, their lives, their expectations.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Then run," she said, her lips curling slightly into a smile again, "Run from diplomacy as fast as you can."

[Cole Ormont]

"Indeed. I'm a doctor, not a diplomat." He squeezed her hand reassuringly, "but the galaxy needs you just as much as it needs me. So if I've changed your life, then it was the least I could do."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Thank you, Cole," she said, reciprocating his squeeze.

[Cole Ormont]

He sat quietly with her, not feeling any pressing need to fill the silence. Updates from the mediscanner occasionally flashed in front of his vision. Eventually, he murmured and broke the silence, "well, you're not ready to be walking about, but you can try to stand if you feel up to it."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala nodded and obediently pushed herself to the edge of the table. She swung her legs over and gently leaned down onto them, but almost as quickly began to buckle and at least tried to collapse back on the table.

"Might need a bit more," she said sheepishly.

[Cole Ormont]

Cole was there to catch her, lanky frame surprisingly strong as he supported her and helped her back onto the table. "I might have just the thing," and he ducked out of the room for several long moments. When he returned, he was carrying two mugs, curls of steam coming from the surface of the drink they held.

Sitting again, he put one of the mugs down and gently pressed the other into Hala's hand. Once she had it, however, he continued to support the bulk of the mug's weight. "Now, don't get me wrong," he chuckled, "I'm a caff addict of the worst sort. But when it comes to soothing the soul, not the mention the heart, mind, and the unsettled stomach, that calls for a proper cup of tea. Strong, with just a little milk."