Bankor

Durasay had finally been cleared to leave the medical tent. While not fully healed, he at least felt much better than he had the night before, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Ormont and Rekara.

He made his way to the Resistance Base, back in his heavy armor, helmet removed. The thermal cloak whipped behind him, keeping him comfortable from the oppressive heat. At least at night he wouldn't need it.

The tall Pantoran had his yellow amber eyes peeled, as he made his was to Lelia' s freighter.

She was laying in a hammock connected to her freight, still recovering from her own injuries. Garish cantina music belted out with some odd crooning over the music and samples of goats. It was a cacaphanous mess.

Maybe she felt his presence or saw him from her hammock and she said, “Mr. Republic Man, first Mister Chin and now you… glad to see you can walk again.”

"Lelia. I'm glad to see you're not stuck in a tank." He smiled, more of a grin, really. His arms were loose at his side, as he stepped closer. The music, such as it was, was different. Yellow-amber eyes focused on her features, and he found himself missing a certain crimson-hued twi'lek just a little more.

"Are the others recovering well?" His words were soft, as if wanting to draw the conversation deeper.

“Probably,” she responded.

“I doubt they will want to stay in bed for long, not that they could at the Republic base anyways.”

He pursed his lips at that. "It's unfortunate. A step back in how things have been needing to go, if you ask me." A slight, disapproving grunt, before stepping closer, and taking a seat next to the Zeltron's hammock.

"I'm glad we were able to get to you all in time. I had a vision of it, that morning."

“I don’t care; Republic has to look out for their own, first and foremost. Resistance would do the same, no harm no foul I say. Some people will complain, but if they are not complaining they ain’t living,” she responded swaying in the hammock.

“Oh man a fancy vision could have used that a few hours before things went belly up. You get these visions a lot? If so, there are a few casinos we should hit up.”

"No. Not with any detail, anyway. This was the first that had anything. I saw the firefight, and I knew I had to get there. When the call came out, I was already in my gear." He didn't add any volume, still speaking quietly.

"So I don't think it would help at casinos. I'm fairly good at Sabaac myself, without having to rely on the Force." Durasay smirked, combing his fingers through his hair. "Though we did say attacking that complex as a trap before hand..."

“You going to say you told us so?” she replied.

"No." He shook his head in response. "Just pointing out that a vision a few hours earlier wasn't necessary." Durasay turned slightly, looking at the swaying hammock. "Besides, why would I want to rub your nose in it? You got blasted, just like I did. All that would do is strain our friendship."

“Hasn’t stopped people before, just saying,” she replied.

"You are right. But that's not me, Lelia." He shrugged again, before leaning back, relaxing against a crate of... He didn't know what, but it didn't matter.

"But in the end, we got out of there. Maybe that's why I saw it in a vision. That feeling of the Force bringing me where I need to be, getting to be something more tangible."

“You put a lot of faith in this Force,” she said in reply. “Maybe we just got out because we were luckier than stupid. Well if it gets better for you, that’s good I guess. Not sure I would put all my nerfs in the same pasture though.”

“We made it out, that’s about all I care about. Hopefully we’ll be better next time.”

"Of course I do. Because I can feel it. In the sand. In the wind. In you. In me. In the dead. In the living. And I can exert my will upon it, when I need to. Just because I am not a Jedi, doesn't mean that I am excluded from knowledge of that great unknown."

Because while it guides me, it also obeys my commands. The Force will free me.

"Luck. Destiny. Fate. It's all part of the will and power of the Force."

“Tone it down Mister Republic, I don’t like sermons,” she countered.

“Thanks though for pulling our butts from the fire. I don’t do apologies, usually, or thank yous… or any of that but thanks. That’s the best I got for you.”

Lelia added, “Where to next for Mister Republic?”

"It wasn't meant to be a sermon." He grinned. "You don't need to thank me. I did what anyone else would do. I don't like losses. Especially losing friends. I've already seen too many funeral pyres."

He thought for a moment. "Well, where ever the next op is. Looks like we're going to see some monks, from what I hear. After Bankor?" He paused. His thoughts drifted.

"Pantora, to check in with the chairperson, and then back to Coruscant and the Senate."

Before that, finding her somewhere in the Outer Rim, to continue her tutelage. Maybe I'll bring her something nice.

Lelia nodded and said, “Well I hope you find whatever the Force is trying to guide you to. Your self assurance is alien to me, but pretty cool.”

“For a politician you like getting shot.”

"Wasn't always a politician." Durasay smirked, pushing the dull pain of his agonizing wound from his mind. "Not the first time I've been shot at. Likely won't be the last. Have a bad habit of needing to be in the action to help." His laugh matched his gravelly drawl, warmth in his words.

"I don't know if I'm looking for something. But whatever it is, I'll find it here."

“That sounds like a bad habit for a politician, your security detail is going to hate you,” she responded.

"I... don't really have one, unless I'm on Coruscant. At least, not one on a taxpayer some. I still got with my old crew, and years of military training." Durasay couldn't help but laugh at her joke.

"I'm sure that the Chancellor's chief of staff wasn't thrilled with the idea of two Senators entering a warzone."

“I don’t know if I was a Senator I wouldn’t be on the front lines trying to get shot. Give me a nice office with a good view, staff to fetch me kaff, and pretend smiles for everyone,” she said in response.

“Easy life for me.”

"I've never been one for the easy life. Too restless. Adventure and excitement, and all that business. I felt I could do more goos out here, than just sitting in committee." Durasay turned, looking to her.

"So. Gonna tell me about how you got Thazos onto the transport? My friend Illyria had footage of the escape."

Lelia shrugged and said with a smirk, “I guess he jumped… because I don’t remember.”

"Well. It was an impressive jump. Especially considering it was from bad footing." He said back, cooly. "I suppose in times of stress, talents one keeps hidden can come out unbidden."

"T-Haz is one bad nerf herder," she replied laughing.

"I'll believe it. I admire his courage, and his dedication to his team." He nodded in agreement, as he kept his focus on the Zeltron woman. "I think Bankor will be a better place with him sticking around."