The Other Eurydice

[Vorn]

Vorn sat next to Isabel's bed. The ship had been docked inside of Iskrins so he had the time to stay at the Captain's side. She had been raving and laughing the entire way here. He couldn't find the words to respond to her. Hell he couldn't even look her in the eye. A miserable sense of failure had taken hold of his chest, as though the woman he had saved from that bounty hunter wasn't Isabel.

The thought that she might not recover made him sick to his stomach. A sound like howling winds and gnashing teeth began to make itself known, first at the edge of hearing, then slowly louder. Vorn shook it off. He nearly went to a very dark place. He couldn't afford to do that, not now.

He took Isabel's hand in his, though he couldn't stop his from shaking, and at last dared to look at Isabel directly. "Captain... Look. We're in the ship. This is your room. Everything is alright. I'm here."

[Isabel Lydeck]

Isabel's laughing ceased suddenly when her back touched the bed again, and she fell suddenly to sleep. When she awoke some hours later, Vorn was still there. She turned her head left and blinked at him.

"You're right," she said slowly. "This is my room. Thanks for bringing me here, but it's still dark. Hmm."

She sat up and looked around. The weakness in her motions was gone, but they'd become a little too quick, manic. "That means it's actually you! And you're here too! You made it! This...This calls for a celebration!"

She reached into her bedside remote and snatched a remote. A song began blaring over the sound system, loud enough to make the entire injured craft shake. The loose parts rattled impressively along with the beat. The captain jived in place.

[Xanathe Sadarii]

Elsewhere a body slept in Iskrin's bed, but it was not him. Xanathe had drunkenly declined to sleep there, she could have sworn. Dreams and reality had been indistinguishable for so long she couldn't quite remember. She dreamed of Xanatos, of the crack of lightning that was the whip. Her restlessness would have likely been worrying to the unaware, as she groaned and kicked occasionally in her sleep. But there was also blackness, sleep so deep it was like she had been switched off. She would only wake when her body could manage it, and her mind could deal with it again. To come from such a deep pit of sorrow to where she now laid, it would take resilience and patience to be given such a gift and try again.

The cool air filtered in through her senses first, followed by the comfort beneath her. It surpassed by miles her cot on Dathomir, eclipsed entirely the bunks on the Jade Eagle. She shifted a bit, not truly realizing where she was, trying only to sink deeper into where she lay. It was such a comforting sensation, the softness she was wrapped within. It smelled familiar, warm, like it was somewhere she could call home. Then she remembered, the blurry visions of the recent past hours before. Her body prone upon the medical table, dim voices relaying instruction. They were electronic, like VR-3P0, as though her past and present had suddenly melted together. It was the thought of being back on Dathomir that finally pulled her from the blackness.

She gasped aloud, lifting her head up before holding her breath at the sharp pain that came with. Xanathe found herself laying on her left side, adhesive bandages spider-webbed across her back, pulling her skin and burning. Along with them came a deep throbbing pain, like a bruise pressed down on, and it covered the tips of her shoulders to the Dimples of Venus along her spine. Her face crossed with anguish and the reminder of what she had endured and she took in a deep breath, aching all the while as she carefully, and stiffly sat up onto her hands.

Her eyes scanned the room, going wide slightly. She had never been in a room this big, unless a cave on Tatooine counted as a room. It smelled like him, it was a scent she couldn't forget, and with his absence she was made to finally understand how deeply it had branded itself on her memory. Finally she was given a glimpse of what life for a Lydeck Prince was truly like, and she hesitated to move, lest she disturb the serenity of the sight. Instead she satisfied her need for distraction by running her hands across the blanket she lay beneath, it's soft burnt orange color accented with fine golden embroidery. Upon it she witnessed a familiar pattern, one from long ago, but she didn't remember at the moment.

Then she realized a thumping, music outside the door so many feet away. It sounded strange, almost as though it were a forceful deceleration of happiness against all that had happened. Caution remembered kept Xanathe uncertain as she carefully lifted from bed in her black nightgown that haltered at the top, and fell all the way to the floor when she stood. Thankfully she had nothing against her back as she moved carefully on bare feet towards the door, then moved out into the corridors of yet another ship. Xanatos felt far away, and for now, she was thankful for it.

[Vorn]

Vorn might've enjoyed the music if not for the circumstances in which it was played. "Captain, turn it down!" he called out. "Please, Captain, this is not the time!"

She was too busy jamming out to listen. Great. Vorn, already under stress from his Captain's apparent breakdown and now further frustrated, attempts to take the remote from her, or at least hit the "off" button. "Damn it all Isabel, what has gotten in to you?! I'm trying to help you!"
he shouted angrily.

[Isabel Lydeck]

Isabel had begun clapping, bobbing and weaving to the chorus when Vorn reached for the remote. Unlike him, she'd had time to rest. She grabbed his arm when he outstretched it and pulled him forward. By the time the second verse started, her knees were on his back as she shimmied. "This is not the time, dear Vorn? Were you not listening? There's no time in this place." She leaned forward and put her elbows on his back, swaying her tail to the beat. "So we'll have to make the most of the moment we have. You chose to come here with me, after all." She giggled again, maniacally, leaning in close to his ear. "How about you help me find those cables?"

[Vorn]

This is honestly not the first time this has happened to Vorn. Isabel toyed with him sometime, and he never did really know why. Maybe she did it to relieve some pent up frustration or something. He had come to just accept it as part of the job and usually resigned himself to his fate. She'd normally get bored after a few hours, or something would have to get fixed and she'd be forced to end her little game.

Not today though. No, he was sincerely worried about her wellbeing and she was either trying to distract from it or trying to get away, and in her state there was no telling what she'd to do herself.

Vorn would argue Isabel was strong, but his military training was better. He swung one of his legs around and clamped it around her chest, then used the new leverage to push Isabel off of him and onto the bed, where he quickly turned the tables and pinned her beneath him instead. Now she was on her back, and he was face-to-face with her, keeping her arms pinned beneath his hands in an attempt to keep her subdued.

"Isabel!" he yelled uncharacteristically angrily. "Stop playing around and tell me what's wrong! You have a responsibility to your crew! To me! What am I supposed to do if you've lost your marbles?! Lock you in your room and assume command until you regain your senses?"

He calmed down quickly after that outburst, and his voice took on a more somber tone. "I can't just...Take over. Please, talk to me."

[Isabel Lydeck]

Isabel hit the bed laughing. Though her mobility was restricted by the male above her, she still writhed perceptibly to the beat. "Now that's what I'm talking about. Things are already better. Ha ha ha." She smiled and stuck out her tongue, curled. "And why can you not lock me in this room and take over? You've wanted to for a long time, haven't you? And I don't mean a mutiny." She chuckled deep in her throat. "Ah, all of you are the same, but nothing's stopping you this time."

[Vorn]

Vorn's frustration bled away and was instead replaced by confusion, maybe even a degree of hurt feelings. "What... What the hell are you talking about?" he asked, though he wasn't really wondering that. He was more concerned with how she knew. Sure he'd always had "certain" feelings about Isabel, but the first time he saw her was his first time seeing a woman in four years.

That wasn't criminal. In fact he had been nothing but loyal and dutiful towards her, never even so much as attempt to flirt. She was his Captain.

Now, however... Well, she was beneath him, twisting and writing against his body. Plus there was a certain aroma in the air that seemed to rush straight down to his pants.

To say Vorn wasn't tempted when she basically offered herself to him would've been a massive lie, but at the same time, there was a part of himself that he liked far better that recoiled at the idea of indulging himself with the Captain in her current mental state. It was all kinds of wrong.

Moreso, he felt hurt. Hurt that after all this time the captain would insenuate that he was just "like all men" or something. It was the first conclusion he drew from the last thing Isabel said, and it felt like she had just stepped on all the service he had provided for her.

"Fine," he said as he let her hands go and got off of her. "Do whatever you want. Go crazy. I'm leaving."

[Isabel Lydeck]

Thus liberated, Isabel rolled over onto her elbows, her hands against her cheeks. "Ah, you've gotten tired of this place already, have you? I don't blame you. Do be careful when you go. The sea is frightfully hazardous and I can't swim. I would follow you and watch over you, but the vent is too high and the chain is too short. How about a parting story, what do you say?" She sank down onto the mattress and hugged it. "A creature as lowly as myself deserves that much, don't I?"

[Vorn]

He straightened his coat. He was seriously contemplating just leaving. However, he felt obliged to at least hear the Captain out.

"Fine, what's this story?" he asked, only turning his head so that he could keep an eye on Isabel.

[Iskrin Lydeck]

"That was incredibly stupid."
"Yes, I know."
"We trained you far better than that."
"I know."
"And if you'd-"
"I know. I get it. You aren't paid to lecture me."
"Your family doesn't pay me anything."

Iskrin cursed aloud as the tiny medical probe stuck him once more, the diminutive creation caring little for it's patient's comfort and completely about how well it's job was done. Ever since the prince had awoken this is how things had been for the most part, first being lectured by Sven and then more of the same while being stuck like a pin cushion by one of the many medical probes on the ship. Iskrin had insisted that they all tend to Xanathe first, and then took her to rest in his quarters. It was larger and more comfortable than the other cabins, and Iskrin was okay with taking one of the others for the duration of the trip.

"We paid you with the gift of life, Sven." The lording replied with a grin, "At least, that's what mother always yelled at me when I was being a little shit as a kid. Good thing that didn't last very long, eh?"

The man, or rather android elaborately developed to look like a man, furrowed his brow in response. His actual designation was SEVEN, but Iskrin had taken it upon himself as a child to call him Sven. The prince had firmly declared that, "All members of the family have names!" and had continued ever since. Seven was different from the other androids his mother had created, having a much more advanced and elaborate A.I. than the others and of course it's physical appearance. It'd been designed from the beginning as a friend and mentor, serving as both tutor and combat instructor for both children. Belhom and Brahlis couldn't be around all the time, and when they were gone Seven had provided the parental figure in their stead. Or Sven, as it was.

"Oh, you ever stopped?" Sven finally responded. Look at that personality matrix go! The android paced around behind Iskrin, carefully inspecting the handiwork of the ship's medical staff. Stitching had been applied to all of the cuts that had needed it, and ample kolto ointments applied throughout the entire area. Internally there was a cracked rib, but nothing could be done about that other than giving it time. A contusion to the face would heal up without scarring on it's own. The droids finished by wrapping the prince in bandages along the torso to cover the whip wounds, making his stomach, chest, and back look like a mummy.

"Everything looks in order. I'd tell you to not over do it, but if the Sadarii girl can survive her wounds then I'm sure the great Prince Iskrin can as well. Though, if I'm worried about anyone it's Lady Isabel. She's been acting strange since you all returned. I'd like you to go check in on her."

"Isabel?" Iskrin asked. He could hardly remember anything that would have messed her up besides seeing her brother being whipped like a pack mule. That was probably disturbing in it's own right, but nothing that should have damaged her psyche. Iskrin wouldn't be able to get over the guilt if he was responsible for breaking his sister's mind. "Y-yeah, of course. I'll head over there now."

Iskrin slid off the examination table and gingerly put on an unbuttoned black shirt, wasting no time in setting off towards his sister's cabin.

[Xanathe Sadarii]

Confusion and worry bled into Xanathe's expression as she found her way deeper into the much larger ship. It was silent, save the thrumming of music through the halls. She made a quick mental note that whatever these horn sounds were, she did not particularly like them. Aside that, there was no one, no Iskrin, no crew that she could see. The dimmed lights in the halls wound her stomach in knots, and as she continued her cautious exploration she was relieved when the structure opened up into a great room with a kitchen, dining area and the medical bay on a dais next to a lounge.

But Xanathe halted the moment she saw movement, ducking behind a corner like a frightened child before peaking out again and peering into where she vaguely remembered she had been. There was a person there working in the medical bay, small droids flitting about him in their predetermined roles. He looked very serious, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Her emotional upheaval was still fresh, like one of the many open wounds this person must have closed, and she certainly was not in the mood to have some stranger poking their fingers in it with awkward conversation.

She brought her focus back to the thrumming music closing her eyes as she listened close. It was coming from the hallway on the right hand passage across the room from her. She was unaware that Iskrin had recently gone that way, but as she focused she could sense him too. Anything that brought her closer to him was the right answer; it was a simple truth of the universe. but first she had to avoid awkward introductions with this strange man in the med bay.

Very slowly she brought herself against the exposed side of the hall , her eyes flashing around for a moment as she realized she was totally exposed. All the man needed to do was glance right and see her in stark contrast to the structure of the ship. If that wasn't a viable option, then perhaps she could only move as quickly and quietly as she could and hope to slip passed unnoticed. The First Born Sadarii took a deep breath, wishing she knew how to disappear the way Iskrin could. Then, she simply began to ascend the ramp at a speed walk, silent and smooth as she could to get to the hall way only a handful of feet away. She kept her eyes on the ground as she made sure to not accidentally make eye contact.

[Isabel Lydeck]

Isabel drew herself up and shouted over the music.

"Once there was a very rich lady who found a man in a very cold, very dark place. This place was so dark, and so cold it reminded her of where she had been born, so she did everything she can to pull the man out of it. As long as she was in a good place herself, the man was loyal, because the good places make you good. But when her family made her go to a very cold, very dark place of her own, he left her alone there, because that place showed her the truth. And it was good, because the lady wanted him gone hours ago. Being a deserter was fine, but she didn't want to see him slowly turn into an accursed monster."

The music ended. She laid back down.

"So leave, drunk."

[Vorn]

Vorn turned his head away from Isabel. His hand balled into a fist. Suddenly, everything in the room began to shake as though the whole ship was caught in an earthquake. Within seconds the tremors stopped, as though a wave of motion just passed invisibly through the ship. Monster. Why did she have to say that? Even though she wasn't specifically refering to him, Vorn's mind immediately leapt to the conclusion that she meant him. His mind went back to what Sephlyl told him, just a day or two ago.

"Sephlyl told me... That I'm force-sensitive," he said softly. "But I am not like them. I am nothing like them. So please do not call me some kind of monster."

He turned back to Isabel. His expression had become saddened. "I would never abandon you, Captain. I pledged myself to you, and I aim to keep my word. If there's anything I can do to help you through... This... I will."

[Iskrin Lydeck]

Every movement hurt. With each step a dull ache permeated his body, and with each breath his ribs stung him in protest. The prince moved with a slight hobble despite his pride and he began to realize that engrossing yourself in the life of the Sith wasn't nearly as easy as he'd assumed. It should have been obvious that his father had always held back in training, and there had certainly never been any vicious whippings for the lordling.

The rhythmic vibration of the walls provided all the direction Iskrin needed, as he merely following them to it's source. Whether it was the audible assault from his sister's music or the pain he was in, Iskrin didn't notice Xanathe trailing behind him. The Sadarii progeny had managed to avoid Sven, the android's watchful eye having actually spotted her but deciding to let the girl be. SEVEN was well aware of Brahlis' plans for the girl, and any instance of her following the prince wasn't going to be interrupted.

Owing little to privacy the doors slid open with a hiss as Iskrin approached them, the hallways suddenly overflowing with Isabel's music. Given what Sven had told him, Iskrin wasn't sure what to expect. So leave, drunk. The music had finally ended and he was able to hear his sister's voice despite the ringing. Just looking at her really didn't provide much of an indication that something was wrong.

Iskrin acknowledged Vorn with a nod of the head after the man's appeal, "You're not a monster, and I'm glad my sister has friends like you around." Iskrin leaned against the inside of the door frame "Must you play that drivel on my ship, Izzy?" Iskrin teased her, using humor as an attempt to quell the unease he was feeling. Appearances were often deceiving, and while he couldn't see anything he could feel something wrong.

[Xanathe Sadarii]

In the dark, a shape colored like a ghostly shadow approached the trio ahead, her momentary calm faltering as she thought back on what had happened hours before. As she observed the unmistakable shape of Iskrin at that door way, his face unseen as he leaned in to speak with his sister. Xanathe stopped, frowning at his presence. It was an expression of worry and of need. After it had ended, she remembered her body upon the ground, the pit of sorrow she had fallen into when she realized he wasn't there to comfort her. Oh how her heart ached to have him in her arms again.

Almost without her realizing it she came to within arm's reach, her back aching and her heart throbbing with nervousness over what he would say when he noticed her there. The unease deepened as though she had come into a stranger's house and was doomed to have an awkward conversation about where the bathroom was. Xanathe didn't want to interrupt, if it was important, and she didn't want to end up under the stabbing ire of Isabel again. And so she waited, just beyond where she hoped Isabel could see.

[Isabel Lydeck]

Isabel was searching for something to throw at Vorn when she saw someone familiar.

Her face brightened again. She jumped off of the bed and made her way over to Iskrin, dragging her feet as though wading through knee-high water as she passed the ex-soldier. She walked a little past the doorframe, bringing both her brother and his lover into a hug with each arm. "Mom! Daddy! You came to see me! Oh I am so happy you're here. I'll stop the music." She released them. "I'll stop everything. In fact, I'm never leaving Imecka again. You won't believe the awful things that happened around those Sith. Well, of course you would. You were right all along." She looked at Xanathe, smile wide with relief. "I had almost forgotten how dreadful they were. Almost. I shouldn't have left. There are enough wonders in our home, where it's safe. Oh I can't believe how blind I've been. I thought I was a goner."

[Xikkesh Qes]

Elsewhere in Isabel's ship, Xikkesh was in his oft neglected quarters. It was extremely spartan as the alien always carried only what he could wear on his person and thus had little in the way of decorations as he refused to ever buy anything to do so. He sat on the edge of his bed, leaning forward slightly while one palm rested against the top of his knee as he stared across the room.

During the events of the other day at the outpost on tatooine, he had been largely absent. When they reached the cantina he practically vanished from sight. But he had been listening to all the goings on, carefully judging the situation as best he could thanks to his bat like ears. Then when they retreated back to their little hideout in the desert he had remained far away from the group, continuing to observe the sith with scrutiny.

Sith... Nothing but trouble, and at this time in his point of view, truly were a blight on the galaxy. And Sejo did not paint an enticing picture of what they were, and he could not help but question how anyone could follow their path. They likened themselves warriors, masters, and rulers. But to the Kaleesh's eyes they were no better then the common underworld thugs he had worked with for years, simply trying to gain power to laud it over others about how great they are and how others should bow down to them and that they were the true path of the galaxy. That was not the way of warriors, but self entitled fools who saw themselves as gods without earning that right. And to him, this felt like a grave insult, as such status can only be earned in death to the worthy.

In all his thinking he had drowned out the loud music echoing through the hull from the captains room, though catching snippets of the conversation between Vorn and Isabel, and the arrival of her sibling and his woman. He continued to stare across the room at his bag stuffed to the brim with supplies. Not simply the stuff he had brought with him onto the surface of tatooine, but what few belongings he possessed had been shoved inside.

With a swift and smooth movement he stood up and walked to the bag, picking it up and slinging it around his shoulders followed by his rifle, sitting comfortably besides it while taking his spear in hand. He patted his thigh, rousing his two hounds from their comfortable nap on the bed behind him, since he decided they deserved it, before stepping out of his room and heading towards the captain's quarters, stopping short behind the female Sadarii and the male Lydeck, as his slitted eyes felt like they started to bore holes through the back of their skulls, as if they were the cause of all these tribulations lately for his crew....But he remained silent. For now.

[Vorn]

Vorn ran his hands through his hair. He was so completely lost in trying to deal with this situation. He wasn't a psychiatrist. Hell, he barely had any medical training to speak off. His Captain's entire world seemed to have come down around her and he had no idea how to help her put the pieces back together.

At the end of his wits he instead adressed Iskrin and Xanathe. "She's been like this since the whipping. She's seeing things that aren't there, people that aren't there, and I have no idea how to snap her out of it. I'm the only person she even recognizes and I have no idea what to do."

[Isabel Lydeck]

"How many times must I tell you to leave?" Isabel snapped slowly releasing the hug. "You've been nothing but insubordinate since we got here."

[Xanathe Sadarii]

Quietly, Xanathe did her best to go unnoticed for a moment. But it was to be short lived, her fate snapping in the opposite direction as she suddenly found herself pulled into the light. An arm wrapped about her body, for a moment her mind assumed it must have been Iskrin. But as the grip tightened she realized it wasn't him, looking at him with surprise for a moment before finding Isabel against her. Immediately Xanathe went stiff as a board, her face crossing with dismay. This was not how she had expected to bridge the gap.

" Uh..." Xanathe whimpered as she listened to the girl's nonsensical ranting. MOM?! What in chaos made her think that?! Outwardly the Sadarii Daughter metered her response, " I'm not your-" Her eyes flashed up to the one she'd come to know as Vorn and the awkwardness was forgotten for a moment when she saw the weariness on his face. His explanation brought Xanathe pause, and she looked down at Isabel with new, and suddenly understanding eyes. Trauma was such a frightful thing, and seeing her brother be brutalized must have caused something to give way. Without a thought Xanathe switched gears in her mind, and fell into what the Sith looked down upon.

" Isabel this is Iskrin's ship. You are here with your brother, and Vorn..." She hesitated," and me..." Her hands stayed close to her chest now, and she felt caution prepare her for a virulent storm if Isabel where to return.

[Vorn]

Vorn visibly struggled with himself. On one hand, he didn't want to leave Isabel alone in this state. On the other hand, she was ordering him to leave.

If not for Iskrin he would've ignored the order, but as long as her brother's with her it was unlikely anything disasterous would happen. He sighed deeply and stepped past Iskrin out of the room. He toyed with the idea of going back to his quarters and pouring himself a cold one, but decided to stay in the hallway and listen in.

[Iskrin Lydeck]

Of all the things he expected on this trip his sister losing her marbles wasn't one of them. Vorn's explanation made some sense, but part of him couldn't help but be a little perturbed. She wasn't even the one that had gotten beaten like a pleb! It didn't add up, though. Isabel had been pirating about the systems for several years now, and she was sure to have seen worse things in her time, not to mention all of the fraked up shit she'd seen on Nogatan. No, something else must have happened and he knew she needed patience.

"It's Iskrin, Izzy. Your brother. Not dad. And that's not mom, it's Xanathe." Iskrin informed her, his hand affectionately patting his sister's head. His tail - which up to this point had always been wrapped around his waste like a belt - snaked around his torso and danced in the air before her. "See?Dad doesn't have a tail, Izzy." It suddenly shot forward and tapped the prince's sibling on the nose, then retreated like a mischievous fuzzy serpent.

"I used to wring it when I was anxious as a boy and you always scolded me, remember?"

[Isabel Lydeck]

Isabel took a step back from Xanathe as she explained the situation. The heiress didn't recognize the voice, but she knew the names. Vorn finally obeyed an order, and she had some answers. She ran a hand through her hair, straightening it back down, successfully, unlike the last time. She pulled her clothes straight, casting a calmer look around the room. "Okay, so this is not the afterlife. This is some kind of a misunderstanding."

Everything still looked like her bedroom in the Barghest flooded with shadows and water, but the voice made it sound like the real present might be something more reasonable. She rubbed her nose, suppressing a sneeze. "Of course I remember my own brother," she said, smiling despite everything. "I never forget anything. Least of all you, but my eyesight..."

She didn't like Vorn's explanation of her condition. She felt it beneath her, despite her overtly humble demeanor from moments ago. Besides, she didn't want to worry Iskrin, if he was really there. "...my eyesight is a little blurry. You have to admit you look a little like Dad. And this person... umm..." She regarded Xanathe with one arm folded and the other hand cupped around her chin. "It looks like a fountain of blood in the shape of a woman." She extended her hand for a shake. "Please do not take that poorly, my dear. It's quite the flattering look. I'm jealous. Xanathe, was it? Iskrin must have told you about me."

[Xanathe Sadarii]

When the hail of horrid insults didn't come, Xanathe let out a breath of relief, though her concern simply shifted more heavily on the words Isabel did speak. Her face remained crossed with confusion as she listened, and felt an uncharacteristic wave of worry for a girl who had been held at arms length. But there was her ability to empathize, both blessing and curse, that crumbled the barrier as though it were ash.

"Perhaps... a visit to the Med bay might be a good idea?" She said, trying to remain casual as she glanced at Iskrin for a split second, "And then we can have something to eat. I'd very much enjoy something to eat. I'm starving. Perhaps something will jog your memory, Isabel. Does that sound good?" Xanathe carefully combed her long hair behind her ear, and smiled sweetly, with a tinge of awkwardness.

[Iskrin Lydeck]

Iskrin's brow furrowed at his sister's utterly bizarre explanation about their surroundings and who she was with. Surely this was all some kind of joke on her part? He supposed it wasn't entirely out of the question but it wouldn't have been like her to play such a cruel trick after what they'd just gone through. She knew how much Iskrin both worried and depended on her, and seeing his beloved twin in such a state bore a pit in his stomach like nothing he'd ever experienced before.

"Izzy..." He tried to find words, any words, that would make things better. Instead, he simply wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into the hug. She mentioned the afterlife - did she feel unsafe. "You're safe. We're all safe." The question hadn't even been asked but he wanted to reassure her, "You're on my ship. Not the afterlife, and not Imecka. Xanathe is the daughter of Uncle Vakar, you remember him, don't you?" Probably not the best person to mention but he felt the need to give her some familiar reference.

"Did someone do something to you while we were on Tattooine? What happened? What's wrong with your eyes? You need to talk to me." Despite the totality of Iskrin's cool demeanor he attempted to maintain, there was a hint of panic in his voice. It was then he remembered Xanathe's suggestion, "Are you hungry? Do you think food would help?" A stupid thought, but what else was he to do?

[Isabel Lydeck]

Isabel had no idea how one would attack a fountain of blood. Such a thing itself was usually indicative of injury, but she was more annoyed with reality for failing to work properly. She could feel the fountain's concern, but it would have been helpful to know what exactly it was.

She withdrew her hand. Perhaps shaking hands wouldn't have been very hygenic anyways. She closed her eyes and sighed when Iskrin hugged her and finally offered some answers. At least two people still made sense. She almost regretted sending Vorn away, but if he hadn't worried Iskrin they would have all been better off.

Maybe I should just stop speaking, she thought, despite Iskrin's suggestions. Despite Vorn starting everything off on the wrong foot and her mistake making things worse, she still didn't want him to worry. Him and this... thing next to him. She didn't feel any particular negative feelings towards it, but it was a rude thing. Hadn't shook her hand when offered, hadn't introduced itself, and had immediately suggested she go to the med bay.

But it was the daughter of "Uncle Vakar." Honestly she didn't remember them having an uncle, but that would make Xanathe her cousin.

She hugged back tightly. "Oh no, nobody did anything to me on Tatooine," she said, not remembering a bit of what happened on Tatooine. "I think the sun and the sand were just poor for my vision. Ah! Eyestrain. Yes, eyestrain or sunstroke." She leaned back from the embrace, patting him firmly on the shoulders. "I will be right as rain in the morning. Until then, some food sounds absolutely marvelous."

[Xikkesh Qes]

Xikkesh had been once again quietly observing. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. His intense gaze had softened though at seeing the captains state more closely, but he only felt a more intense hatred to these sith as a result. Something like this had never happened to her before... Sure she could be eccentric sometimes, but never truly mad like she seemed to be now.

He audibly sighed. Seems his intended departure might be delayed, if only slightly...

"Then what does everyone wish to have?" he wasn't exactly a chef, but he knew at least a few things about cooking, and perhaps the offer would assist the captain through her apparent mental issues that have cropped up.

"Do keep in mind, i primarily deal in cooking food with meat as the main dish, but we should have a few different kinds in stock still." that said he'd have to check the cargo bay to figure out what exactly.

[Xanathe Sadarii]

Xanathe's eyes remained confused as she watched on, feeling a pang of longing to hug Xanatos, the way Isabel was hugging her brother now. And then at the end of the Lydeck daughter's words she experienced a start like she hadn't known in a very long time. Suddenly she spun around at the presence that seemed to materialize behind her, and her fright remained for just a second too long at who she witnessed standing there. This was not one of the few Alien Races she had learned about in her teachings on Dathomir, and her fear melted away into a few long moments of curious inspection of the creature before her.

The almost skeletal features of his face, the garb that reminded her of Tatooine; it was fascinating to the one so innocent of the universe. But his words filtered through, and she smiled with confidence on the topic.

" I happen to know a thing or two about cooking myself." She stated with an open grin all of a sudden. Truly she relished in the opportunity to ingratiate her self with those around her; it was a fantastic cure for loneliness, " I even know where the kitchen is." Without bothering to ask for the stranger's name, she took off down the hall from whence she'd come.

" You all coming?" She said loudly as she trailed away.

[Vorn]

Vorn slumped down to the floor as he eavesdropped on the conversation inside the room. He took the bottle of liquor he had taken out of his coat. It was cracked and had leaked somewhat, but there was plenty of liquid still inside. He took out his flask from its compartment and filled it with the bottle's contents.

The smell reminded him vaguely of exotic fruit. He couldn't really get excited about it now. There was too much on his mind, too many worries about the future. He didn't know how he was gonna go on if the Captain was going to stay in this state.

He took a deep swig. The alcohol slowed his thoughts down, and numbed his despair somewhat, but he couldn't find much satisfaction in it. Not this time.

When Xanathe walked out of the room and extended her offer, Vorn shook his head. "Nah. You go ahead. I'm going to stay here for a bit. Just... Keeping an eye on things."