trans_9 | Second chances at life lost [Bendytimed to post-plot]

There was a lot of cleaning up to do after SHODAN and her robot armies had been defeated. Among the structural damage was parts of the Drunken Dragon Tavern: the store room and everything in it had been utterly destroyed, the pots that had rarely been used on-ship were strewn around the kitchen, and a couple of tables, one bench and a chair, and a portion of the stage needed repairs. The building next door that Kang used for half of his storage and called home had managed to escape relatively unscathed.

He had sustained some damage himself, with a few minor cuts and bruises, and a rough hole slightly larger than an orange missing from the membrane of his right wing. It hadn't healed completely yet, and the bandages didn't hide it very well at all.

He had personal matters to attend to before reconstruction could begin, though. Two draconians had been killed in the pod caverns, two that he'd known personally; they had served under him for over thirty years when he'd been Commander of the First Dragonarmy Engineering Regiment. Unlike the others that had been killed, there was nothing left of them. Vlemess, as a kapak, had melted into a pool of acid, and Urul the baaz had turned to stone, and then dust.

It was customary, because of the nature of draconian deaths, to simply place a headstone along with any personal possessions that could be salvaged. Sakura had helped Kang procure two suitable stones from the wreckage of the Great Wall, and he'd decided to place them in the little herb garden Kali had started before she'd gotten repodded (said garden hadn't been cared for since). It was visible from the tavern, and he felt that it was appropriate to have them near a piece of home.

He knelt down to clear a space on the north side of the garden, digging shallow holes for Urul's belt and one of Vlemess's bracers. He'd gotten lucky in finding their few possessions in the lockers.

[OOC: He invited/mentioned it to anyone that he counts as family or a friend, but it's cool for others to stop by too if they'd like. Threadjacking is also encouraged!]

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It's not exactly common to find me in the same place you last saw me, Rhiow said, her mental voice dry. I don't blame you.

Now that she thought about it, her mouth was dry and she felt shaky. She could feel Kang rooting around in the cabinets next to her and braced herself in case something shook loose. I'm just next to that. Be careful.

Once Kang got the hinges off, it became easier, and finally, he saw a patch of black fur, and picked up the scent of blood. "I see you. I should have you out in a minute or two." He took extra care with the last bits and cursed when he saw the state she was in.

I've had worse, Rhiow said, although she couldn't really remember when. She was mostly saying it to make him feel better. I can't long-jump it into the infirmary in this state, so unfortunately you'll have to carry me.

She didn't enjoy being a burden on her friends, but she wasn't so prideful she refused to ask for help.

"Alright, brace yourself." Kang knew this was going to be painful for Rhiow. Carefully, he picked her up, trying not to shift her broken leg any more than was necessary.

Kang was lucky he had scaly skin. Despite her best efforts at manners, her claws came out and she latched onto Kang's hands and yowled. "Owwwwwwwwww!"

Her ears were flat to her skull and her tail lashed, but she tried her best to hold still. She couldn't make herself sheathe her claws, though, not while she was in this much pain.

Kang'd expected that, and he only winced slightly at the claws on his left hand. He didn't feel a thing in the other because of the nerve damage he'd gotten in the past. "It's okay, I've got you." She was cradled up against his chest with one arm.

It took a force of will, but she retracted her claws slightly and made an effort to relax in Kang's grip. Her eyes were still squeezed shut and she panted from the pain of the broken leg. "Sweet Queen Iau, it didn't hurt this much when I was still in the cabinet."

Laughing dryly, Kang began picking his way out, "I know how that goes. Here's to hoping someone in the med bay has any vet experience."

"How hard can mending a bone be? If I wasn't so tired I could do it myself."

Actually, Rhiow didn't even want to think about healing this herself with wizardry. It wasn't exactly life-threatening, but the energy expenditure was daunting for someone her age.

Speaking of which... "It's hard to keep track, but I think I've been here for a year, now." That made her seven, and middle-aged. In her fifth life... she was on the downhill slide.

"...seems like longer," Kang frowned. He and Rhiow had woken up in the same pop, though they hadn't met until a few days later. "A lot has happened."

"It does," she said, and fell silent. After a moment she sighed. "I'm getting used to the feeling of being middle-aged. It's a little disconcerting."

What if she spent the rest of her life on this ship? What if it was another three or four years before she made it home? She would be old, feeble and useless.

I'm sure the Senior in your area would love to hear you call him useless, The Whisperer purred in her ears.

He would shred my ears and stuff them down my throat, Rhiow thought in response.

Kang hadn't ever really thought of that before. Even with not knowing what his kind's natural life span was, it was pretty obvious that a few years wouldn't make much of a difference for him. For Rhiow, though... chronologically, she was younger than his daughter (it would always feel strange considering Kali to be anything older than what he remembered), but she was well into her adult years. He would definitely miss her. He gave her a gentle scritch behind the ears, reaching the transport tubes, "I still don't have any idea if I'm even close to being middle-aged."

"Don't think about it," Rhiow advised. "I try not to think about it very often," she said. "But I'm seven now, and in my fifth life. I may have four left but it's doubtful I would spend them on Stacy. When this life is over... the Powers will send me where they need me. That may be here, that may be somewhere else."

She flicked one ear and switched her tail, thinking about it. "Although it would most likely be here. Even if it weren't - the People retain their important memories to their next life. I wouldn't forget you."

"I'm glad for that," Kang smiled. "There will always be a place for you at the bar, no matter where you are."

"And I will always be glad to be there when I can," Rhiow said. "Thank you, Hh'ann. It's comforting to know that I have somewhere to return to besides Grand Central - that place gets lonely after a little while without the worldgates in the basement and my team around me."

Arhu was repodded - again. The Eye disagreed with him on board Stacy and it seemed he needed more recuperation than most. She just wished that Urruah or Saash would arrive, or another wizard - someone she could interact with from her world.

Kang gave her another scritch, frowning slightly at the reminder of Kali being repodded. "My home, too, both here and in Teyr."

"Ahh, listen to us," Rhiow said. "I feel like we're both getting old now. Your species might live for a very long time, but you've had several lifetimes of experience as the People count it."

She switched her tail. As he was carrying her through the City, she could see the scarring of what must have been a truly furious battle. No wonder they hadn't returned until now. "Did we... lose anyone?" she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"...yes. In the pods. Not many, thankfully, but most of them were close in some way to current crew," Kang's wings rustled. "I knew two of them."

Rhiow pressed her ears back and squeezed her eyes closed. Deaths in the pods upset her so much more than deaths aboard the ship. At least the people who were awake had some idea of what was happening. "I'm sorry," she said. "Truly."

Not for the first time, she wished that she could take people who weren't wizards into Auw'ht, the Hearth, where what was loved survived in the memory of wizardry.

"It was a better death than the one they received on Krynn," Kang said quietly. "Quick, painless. I can at least take comfort in that."

Second chances at life lost [Bendytimed to post-plot]

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