I’m going to post this here out of a sort of desperation.. and I know that I should have acted differently last night, but I wasn’t thinking clearly.
I’m an Axia pilot. Last night, I was part of a convoy that passed through the Odia/Sedina wormhole. We’d have never made it, to be honest. There had to be two dozen pirates there.. but all of them were chasing this single wraith, and... well their aim sucks, and the wraith pilot had some fancy moves. There were just too many though, and they got him. Can’t cheat the odds forever.
Well, one of our pilots picked up his escape pod as we hit the wormhole. She got clever and pulled the last number he called off of his damaged communicator. So, she called it to try and learn who our mystery pilot is. I’ve included her cockpit recording, along with some of my own. I want to find out who he belongs to, because.. I have a funny feeling about what happened last night.

*channel opened*
<A young female Axia pilot is the speaker> Hello.. I'm sorry to bother you. You don't know me..
Not exactly.
I'm sorry, I should have started there. heh. I'm a pilot with an Axia convoy.. we found an ejected pilot near the Odia wormhole.. I've no idea who to call to find out who he is, but his com had your number for the last call..
I'm not sure I know what you mean?
Me?
Oh. I don't know maam.. That is why I called. There isn't much left of his.. effects.
Oh! Sure I'm sorry..
<Transmitted image of the damaged face of a pilot>
His name is Nolan?
Where should I take him?
<Long pause>
I'll have to call you back maam, we're *distortion* ion *more white noise*
*channel closed*

It was at this point our convoy entered an ion storm. Our pilot, the one who picked up the body, lost her behemoth to a combination of an asteroid and a very aggressive hive bot. What follows is from my logs. This is a little embarrassing..

*channel opened*
Yes?
Oh my space gods...
They got her!!
I.. I couldn't.. she just had to slow down to dodge a roid..
The damn thing shot her like it was cool..
Shit.. thats right! She picked up that guy too
I'm gonna need to find someone who can handle some of the hive's meanest to get in there.. my moth can't take any more.. I'll call you back alright?
*channel closed*

I got in contact with Remley Orbital, and they sent a pair of vultures to retrieve our pilots, and the unidentified guy as well. When I had them on board, I called back to the only contact number we had.

*channel opened*
Good evening maam.. We spoke a bit ago.. I'm with that Axia convoy.. those TPG boys know their stuff... I've got both of our flyers back, more or less, they had to go drive off another one of those corvus bastards.
She's.. she's not looking too good though..
<Audibly shaken by the trauma to his fellow pilot>
You can tell her.. I have her here in the cockpit.. she wanted to look at the stars..
<The female pilot, voice very weak> Maam?
Is.. is he.. <hard swallow> is he special to ya? He means somethin', yeah?
He's.. not hurt any worse.. I shoved him out before they got me...
<Speaking to the male pilot in a whisper> I don’t wanna die for no reason.. he better mean somethin’ to ‘er..
<Sounds of movement in the cockpit>
<Male pilot speaking again> Just a moment maam..
No.. stay here Robyn.. don't..
<Loud abrupt sound, like someone hitting a bulkhead really hard>
Dammit!
She was so young! We gave her a hard time, but she.. better than all of us..
<A muffled sob>
Her name was.. Robyn.
Shit, I'll have to write a report on this.
<A deep breath>
You want this guy to Eo? I can do that.
We have to stop in Dau first, but Eo is no problem.
It isn't you.. its those damn pirates..
What?
He didn't crash.. there were two dozen damn rats, he had no chance
We only made it because they were chasing HIM
I half expected he'd be in a Viper uniform. I've never even heard of CDC.
Alright. Axia convoy 653 out.
*channel closed*

I was instructed to take him immediately to the medical facility on Dau, despite the plans mentioned in the log. They weren't interested in the party we contacted from his com records. That is where his body left my sight. I called back after about an hour to see how he was doing, and I was told he was transferred, but no one knew where. I just feel like I have to tell someone.. to be sure he got home safe.. so our pilot’s life isn’t gone for no reason. If you know this pilot.. Nolan was all I got for a name.. contact me please, let me know he is taken care of.

Menendel was sitting in the lounge of Remley Orbital while he was waiting for the repairs of his Revenant Mk III. As in any station lounge or bar, he heard the usual talk of "My ship's better than yours," and "Let's take this outside!" It wasn't this that caught his attention but rather the quiet whispers of a group of pilots in Axia flight suits. He heard something about a pilot being picked up and the name "Nolan."

"Excuse me," Menendel said as he approached the pilots.

Looking startled, one of the Axia pilots responded, "Can I help you?"

"This wouldn't have anything to do with the broadcast about the Odia pilot you guys picked up would it?"

"Yeah, why"

"Do you have a picture of the pilot? I have a student by the name of Nolan Faux. Haven't heard from him in a day or two, which is highly unusual for him."

"We don't, but it's plastered all over every Axia station. If you head to Orun Mining in Dau...Hey hold up..." was all Menendel heard before he left the lounge to check on his ship. With his repairs still not complete, he headed to his temporary quarters to think this over. It was only a matter of time until he found out the truth, but still couldn't help but be worried about the health and condition of his student and friend.

It takes little time at all for Menendel to be introduced to the TPG pilot who retrieved Nolan for the Axia convoy.

"Nolan is a student of yours, eh? Wish I'd met you last night. I don't have a clue where he is.. I can only guess Eo somewhere. That is where that Miharu we got in contact with wanted him taken."

Miharu's address on Eo is well known to the Vipers, of course. It is somewhere to start, at least.

Menendel's response to the pilot is very concise, like most everything he does. "So then I'm off to Eo. If he's in Miharu's hands, he's in good hands but best to make sure."

And with that he was off to Eo, now that his repairs are completed.

I sat in the lounge of yet another hospital. How many times had it been this past year? Two? Three? Eight? No matter, yet again, I'm sitting in another waiting room while another person lies in a patient's bed. Not only was I sad, I was furious. Furious that I had to come up all the way to Eo to deal with a problem caused by Miharu, again.

To backtrack, I was in my home when Sparky (I didn't give the name okay? Axia did), my holographic assistant came on. He'd scanned the newsfeeds that morning, like he did regularly every day for hints of Jex's whereabouts. This time he saw Nolan's name and the CDC mentioned so he brought it to my attention. I had to bolt out the door and into my valkyrie, racing for Odia. Why odia when he was in Eo? Well, at the time, I had been told most of the report. And in it, it said that the pilots who picked him up had contacted the last person called on his comm. Going on a hunch, I went to the Makchuga in Corvus Hold.

Of course, it was empty. Nothing but an automated Barbot. Joyce had gone to Dau in the meantime, where Nolan should've been. The hospital staff had delayed and argued, even getting the IT Union involved with the biometrics. All it took was a few threats and my heading towards Dau now (leaving a note in the deserted bar) to make them cave. They released that Nolan had been released to Miharu's care. What's worse is she had Daggoth, a subordinate in Sigma, drag Nolan's comatose self from Dau to Eo the night before.

Well, that tore it. I headed up to Eo and grabbed an EMT from the medlabs facility in orbit, taking him down to the planet to her home. We didn't see Miharu, or her lover Daggoth for that matter, but Maharu (her sister in case you didn't know) was there and pointed us to the guest room where Nolan lied, a simple AI construct with no medical experience to monitor him. After a few minutes of pointless argument, the EMTs and the AI cleared Nolan, saying he could be moved safely.

Now, I don't know about you, but if I were hurt in a fight and comatose, I'd rather be in a hospital under constant care then even at home. Plus the hospital released him to a "self proclaimed friend" (their words, not mine). Now Nolan is in a proper medical facility on the surface of Eo. Being monitored by professionals.

And so, I can now go find out how exactly this all happened...

It felt like a bad dream all over. At least it was a dream.. or was it? Pirates lighting up the radar like a christmas tree.. the subtle shudder of my ship launching rockets till the tubes ran dry... just rockets, only rockets.. why just the pathetic iceflare rockets?
I must be running. Flying backwards toward the wormhole, warding them off with useless toys while the megapositron under my feet remains silent, to save up the energy for the jump to safety. Why a heavy cell? I'd be away if I'd used a fast charge, did I come expecting to fight?

Fire everywhere now, a change to zero G.. there wasn't anything else you could do Nolan, nothing else. Cold now.. fire on a limb or something, but cold all over. What irony. I've ditched a hundred ships before, why is this time different? Why does it feel so hopeless...

Cold gives way to uncomfortable warmth, and zero G to a hard metal surface with a myriad of grooves and indentations. This.. this is the floor of a Behemoth. Non-slip grooves on the floor. I never thought of how they'd feel against my face before. A voice.. no more than a girl. She seems to be concerned.. must not be Corvus. Or maybe so, since she is rooting through my pockets. Either way..

The cold of space again.. that doesn't even make sense! Since when are pilots pickpockets? Oh, no hundreds in his wallet, jettison him into space? Something isn't making sense. The cold lasts longer this time.. and an eerie light flows around. I know this light.. charged particles. I'm adrift in an ion storm. I'll never see another human being. A hornet with four radar extenders and no weapons won't even see me. The cold will finish the job soon. No need to waste effort on regrets.

The warmth and hardness returns again, worse than the last time. There is very little space around me this time.. Nothing like a 'moth. Why did a fighter pick me up, why bother? No pocket-picking this time, just.. there is someone here though. Another pilot sharing the floor with me, but while I can't seem to move, she seems to writhe in pain. I wouldn't want to be her, still feeling my parts and pieces.

Now a Behemoth floor again. Maybe I dreamed the fighter. The girl is gone too, poor thing. Time seems to pass uncounted, rivaled only by the cold that is only a memory...

People in coats of white, bright light, and a soft surface. Why so much accursed light? The dancing charged particles were more inviting. Why talking so loud? I thought the silence of space swallowed me...

Finally the talking ceases. A silent, dim room, and what must be a bed. Finally some rest.. or have I been resting the whole time? The world moves around the bed, complete with hallways, doctors, nurses, the inside of a small spaceship.. who knew they attached spaceships to hospitals? Is it like a training thing, where they practice unloading wounded men? What a grizzly way to train..

But the movement stops. I'm alone again, for a moment.. but only a moment. A soft voice, a soft touch. Maybe I've died, this seems so right. She just sits there, whoever she is, watching. She caresses my head now and then, only to sit down in thought all over again. Don't look sad miss, I've never been happier.. Now she has changed.. shorter somehow, different, with more concern. As if she blames herself, but why assign blame? I'm happy this way.. But wait, you're like you were before again. Silently watching, and taller again. Is she changing with her mood, or are there two of them taking turns?

Why does the world keep moving when I want it still? Loud voices, voices full of anger.. voices of apology, voices of contempt, retorts of disagreement.. Whirling round as if it matters. They don't understand, any of them. It DOESN'T matter, I know that now. Just sleep, like me.. let go, you'll find a quiet room with a quiet lady watching, like I did. Go away so she comes back. I don't need my spaceships anymore.. go get inside and play with the self-destruct. I won't charge any of you a dime.

Light again. Accursed light. The light of being examined. At least the arguers are gone. Maybe I'll learn to ignore the light. I wish it would go away. Maybe if I think about something else.. here's something. It feels exciting, I'm winning, and yet-

It felt like a bad dream all over. At least it was a dream.. or was it? Pirates lighting up the radar like a christmas tree.. the subtle shudder...

OOC:
Maybe a coma is just an infinite loop in the mind? I'll try not to let that one keep me up tonight. 0_0

*mumble* *mumble* Grrr, Mick won that race... *grumble*

I sat in the room, leaning back with datapad in hand, updating the Deneb Run compile as Nolan slept. So many races... and not enough wins.

Daggoth sat at the desk, leaning on his arm, squinting, and pinching the bridge of his nose. This was not what was supposed to happen...

He remembered picking up Nolan from Dau, ferrying him up to Eo. After Daggoth woke, Nolan had already been taken, and assumptions had been made. Had Nolan even gotten to tell his side?

"Kuso..."

Ooo, this is one for the Riddler:

How does a person in a coma tells his side of the story?

Pantomime? Winking? Astral Projection? The Intertubes?

Inquiring Minds want to know!

The stream of visitors wasn’t much, since the Eo was on the wrong side of the galaxy. A few people did come though, in fact Erik never left. The various visitors used every tactic they could think of to rouse Nolan from the coma...

sense of duty
<Erik C.> You’ve probably got mothloads of deliveries that you’re falling behind on.

attempts to anger
<Erik C.> It all started when I was one..

plain funny shit
* Erik C. poses Nolan’s hand to give all pirates the finger

brutal honesty
<Erik C.> You’re a good guy, in a bullheaded stubborn sort of way.

apology
<Miharu> ... for what it's worth, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have let you leave the bar after you drank that... -_-

score! wait, nevermind
<Miharu> The pilot... she...
* Miharu smiles slightly
<Miharu> she hoped you were someone important to me... a boyfriend or spouse..
<Miharu> you're neither of those... but you are important
<Daggoth> Heh...

compliment
<Daggoth> You're an honest man, Nolan.

impatience
<Miharu> Dammit, Nolan
<Miharu> T_T
<Miharu> Wake up already

pleading
<Miharu> Nolan, please wake up
<Miharu> Wake up, let us know you're okay -_-

vulnerability
<Miharu> Nolan, if you care, if you think I'm your friend, tell me
<Miharu> Those are words I never hear.... never with sincerity -_-

debt collection
<Miharu> Nolan, you still owe me a smoothie.
<Daggoth> Hehe.
<Miharu> I'll hold it against you if you never wake up to pay up.
<Miharu> I will. >_>

more begging
<Miharu> Nolan, please... T_T
* Miharu crosses her arms and cries onto Nolan's bed
<Miharu> Wake up... T_T
<Miharu> please... for me... T_T

special talents..?
* Miharu tries to concentrate
<Miharu> I...
<Miharu> He's confused
<Miharu> it's hard to get anything
<Daggoth> I would think so...
<Daggoth> Any emotion you could pick out?

And so the visitors began to piece together the events running through Nolan’s mind. It was slow going, with many dead ends. The first breakthrough was realizing that it was a loop. With this piece of information, they sought to break it. They met with no more success. Then, giving up, exhausted with trying to outwit nature, literally falling asleep in the guest room, an accident...

* Miharu closes her eyes and falls asleep on Daggoth's shoulder
<Maharu> ... dak, she's asleep, turn off the lights already -_-
<< Daggoth spends a minute searching for the light-switch.. don’t ask >>
* Daggoth pulls the lever all the way down
* Miharu yawns and rests her head on Nolan's stomach
* Daggoth stretches his feet out, and blinks sleepily
* NolanFaux lies there for a while... then..
<< dramatic pause!! really!! >>
* NolanFaux runs his fingers through miharu's hair, kinda subconsciously
<Miharu> ....?
<Maharu> He's moving
* Miharu sits up
<Miharu> nolan...?
* NolanFaux seems to scrunch his eyes shut tighter.
* Maharu puts a hand on Nolan's shoulder
<Maharu> You awake?
* NolanFaux mutters sorta inaudibly, but the silence makes it plain
<NolanFaux> nnoo its night time
<Daggoth> o_O
<Daggoth> Nolan?!
<Maharu> ... yes, it is night time. Wake up already
* Daggoth jumps out of his chair
<NolanFaux> whats he goin on about?
* Miharu starts crying and hugs him as tightly as she can
<NolanFaux> ow! agh, it’s like my skin is all torn up..

Nolan was naturally disoriented for some time, having been shuttled about as far from Odia as possible. He asked questions more than he said anything in particular, and finally when all the excitement died down and he was left alone...

* NolanFaux mutters after they are out of hearing.. crazy people..
<NolanFaux> Yo, Erik! You could sleep through a war, couldn’t you!
* NolanFaux throws the remote at his sleeping mentor. It is time he heard the news.

Edit: Took out some of the length, I couldn't stand to read it myself.

I snored... and snored... not too restful a sleep... some annoying sounds... a probe... I almost woke up once... wish I'd batted off the probing figure.. mmm.... pies... sleep through a war...? Hell yeah... sleep is good... haven't slept this much in... so... long... zzzzzzz...