Reed and Schyrt had been a bit disappointed in not being able to go planet-side. They knew something must be down on the planet with no name other than an alpha-numeric designation, especially since they would be dropping off someone in dire need of medical supervision. But as usual, they devoutly went about their appointed tasks with no questions asked and no answers given.
The Jet Razor un-docked from the Twilight Stalker after the capital ship had been put into stationary orbit, and began it's descent into the gray orb of the perpetually fog-enshrouded planet. The planet's surface itself was mostly dense forest with several small freshwater oceans covering the surface, but from space all the planet's features were masked by the Dark Side imbued water vapor which some long-forgotten Sith Lords had created, presumably as some sort of defense against Jedi invasion. If it served any other purpose, those intentions had been lost to the ages.
The comm beeped in the cock pit and Raezyr hit the button to answer. "Get back here as soon as you can. Mannix is still thrashing around."
"I thought you sedated him before we brought him aboard," Raezyr answered.
"I did. In fact, I gave him enough tranq to knock out a gundark," Trychon confirmed.
"Then why is he thrashing?"
"How in Chaos should I know? I'm not a med droid."
The big Sith punched in the coordinates, and the codes to the ancient base on the surface of THX1138 and after confirming they had landing clearance, started the automatic landing cycle, then headed back to give his brother a hand.
Sure enough, their small apprentice was thrashing around even though unconscious. Raezyr helped strap him down, but despite his size and strength it took all they had to get the boy immobilized.
Once the ship had landed, they exited the ship while using the Force to levitate their charge, now strapped to a backboard with his arms across his chest and even a strap across his forehead. They moved quickly through the dimly lit hangar as a few lights here and there slowly flicked on as the base itself was still initiating it's power up.
The walked the corridor to what they assumed was some sort of ancient laboratory. Mannix had stopped his thrashing and gone completely limp on the short walk through the base and the two brothers were able to strap the boy down into an examination chair of some sort.
"Now what do we do with him?" Raezyr asked.
"Well, help me get these monitoring cables hooked up to him so the computer can monitor his vitals," Trychon instructed. "That's the first step." When it was accomplished, Trychon picked up a scanner and began taking full body readings of the boy.
"What do you think he's gonna need?"
"Dammit, Raez," Trychon exhaled through clenched teeth, showing a bit of rare exasperation. He was about to snap at his brother, chewing him out when he remembered the last time they were here. The fog, imbued with the Dark Side, had an unsettling effect for anyone trying to fight it. He took a deep breath, allowing the Force to flow through him and felt the misplaced anger dissipate.
"Look brother," Trychon began again. "I'm not a doctor. Your guess is as good as mine. He's from a tiny unknown race and I'm sure his physiology is going to be different than ours, maybe too different... oh wait a tick." The ancient Sith computers suddenly came up with a file full of medical information on the Taxl race, then started cross referencing it with the scans that had just been taken.
"Looks like those monks were known to the Sith for some time," Raezyr said, noting the activity happening on the computer screens.
"This is perfect," Trychon noted. "It might take me a bit, but I'm going to the main computer room. From there I'll create a program that will interface with not only the computers here in the lab, but the computers that keep the colony of... worker drones, I guess... running smoothly.
"My program will monitor Mannix's status, figure out what he needs to return his condition to acceptable standards for the Taxl race, and then order the worker drones to attend whatever has to be done, whether it's food or exercise or whatever," Trychon finished explaining, then hurried out the door.
Raezyr stood alone with the boy. Suddenly Mannix' eyes flared open and strained against the straps holding him in place until Raezyr was worried the boy may cause injury to himself. Dark! Bad! Dark! the boy's thoughts screamed unbidden into Raezyr's mind, and the Sith quickly closed off the unwanted contact. He needn't have bothered as the boy slumped back into unconsciousness as if the incident hadn't happened.
It took Trychon several hours to get his program implemented, and he explained to his brother the reason was all the logistics which needed to be taken care of: power, lights, heating and cooling and various other systems which normally deactivated when the base was not in use.
Raezyr brought up Mannix' recent outburst on the way back to the ship.
"You know, the kid's mind may be shot," Trychon speculated. "I mean, we inadvertently put him through more than a living being is normally capable of surviving."
The other Sith thought about it for a long time and they walked in silence. They were powering up the Jet Razor before either spoke again. "But if he's insane, how was he able to send his thoughts so clearly? He's never been able to do that before."
Trychon thought a moment, then grinned. "C'mon Raez, you know that ancient Sith saying: 'The difference between insanity and genius is two seconds under a flame thrower."
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