All Stories are True

[Josh Dragovalor]

If she was sure. He would nod his head. And while it was true that Jason would not be safe if they crashed, the belts were so that the small child did not go flying while they shot into hyperspace. It was dangerous for even the two of them to not be strapped in when they went into hyperspace, but Jason? Jason was far lighter, far smaller. And far more incapable of knowing to hold onto something enough to keep the child from flying into the windshield. Thus Josh ensured that he was always strapped in before they jumped to lightspeed. Because no chit.

Soon enough, they would be strapped in and the Dragon would jump into hyperspeed. Once the ship had finished roaring and slowed down, settling into the world of hyperspace, Josh would unstrap himself, and then Jason, and let out a yawn as he would note Madalena heading to the bedroom. Nodding his head, he would pick up Jason, who he noted had begun nodding off himself, and take the child to his bedroom.

After he had left the child, with Porgbert and the stuffed Porg staying with Jason, in his bedroom... Josh decided that perhaps it was time he used this time to himself to polish up on his training. This time with Madalena and Jason had reminded him of what was important, and why he needed to keep training and growing in skill and power.

He knew Madalena could take care of Jason if he was unable, so as he walked into the training room and was followed by what seemed to be a protocol droid, Josh would turn to them.

"Engage combat simulation."

"Which opponent from your memory database would you like to engage today, Master?"

Josh had been extracting his memories of his battles in the past into this droid's memory banks for some time, with the droid being trained to mimic the moves of what he knew of the fighting styles of his opponents. After a moment of deliberation, Josh took a deep breath.

"That Sith Lord. The one from Operation Double-Edged Sword. Hold nothing back."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Something was bothering her. She was asleep, yet her nose twitched, trying to protest… What, exactly? She didn’t know, and flipped over to her other side, ignoring it. It didn’t take long before the sweet darkness of sleep had taken a hold of her. The first stage of sleep, the longest one.

Madalena dreamed.

She was standing on the shore of a place she did not recognize. The sky was a strange hue of dark green and blues, thunderbolts hitting in the distance. In front of her lay the ocean, its waves breaking with violence a hundred feet away from her. The water was dark and menacing, and for a moment, Madalena was glad she didn’t know how to swim, was happy that waters such as that would never seem enticing to her. She knew of the art works of such paintings, knew that some people found the sight seductive. But to her, it only filled her with deep dread.

She looked at the sky again, gazed at the dark clouds that seemed to swell and move with terrifying speed. Something was coming. She knew it inside of her, deep inside, in a place where lizard brains and barbaric instincts took over.

Madalena looked a third time at the sky, noticing only now that it was changing. The clouds weren’t moving the way she had first they were. No, the clouds were… Escaping? Trying to run away? She averted her gaze, looking further away.

It was that thing. That thing she had told Josh about, the nothing-thing… She’d call it the Nothing, for lack of a better word. And the Nothing was eating away at the scene, not destroying it, but… Swallowing it, into a pit of darkness that let nothing out.

She wanted to turn around, to run away with the clouds, but her feet were firmly glued to the cold and dark sands. She couldn’t move.

Madalena’s eyes moved then, looking away from the Nothing in the distance, and back to the waves. She saw her hair before she saw anything else, long and brown, almost like her own, but it was matted, a mass of tangles, and it was flying madly in the winds of the beach, hitting the pale skin of the woman they belonged to, leaving pin-thin marks on her flesh.

She had the strangest sensation that she knew this woman. She wanted to call out to her, to ask her for her help. But the Nothing kept advancing, and Madalena still couldn’t move, couldn’t open a distance between them.

When the Nothing almost reached the shorelines, the other woman raised her hands against it. The Nothing stopped moving. Madalena, even in her dreams, could hear her heart beating wildly in her chest, could feel the fear grip every inch of her body and mind. This was not a good dream, this was not a fantasy dream that ended with a heroic rescue.

The woman, her hands still held high against the Nothing, turned her head, and looked at Madalena.

Madalena woke up screaming and trashing in the bed.


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Blood.

He was bleeding from a gash on the side of his head, toward the top. The training droid had taken the form of a robed and hooded figure that struck with a saber-scythe. They struck with quick, decisive strikes before backing away. The only thing missing was the Force sensitivity, which Josh was unable to replicate using the memory banks. But their saber skills were fearsome enough as it was. The training droid had been programmed to mimic their exact style and mannerisms down to the very detail, using Josh's memories of their encounters. The Jedi Master would wait until the last moment as the scythe would come down, before leaping to the side, flipping through the air as the saber-scythe would cut a strand of his hair while the Master would narrowly dodge the slash.

The second that Josh landed on his feet, he would twist his heel and dash forward, nailing a slash to the side before going for a stab with both hands aiming the saber at the head. The figure would lash out their arm, sending the Master sailing back into the wall as the back of his head collided with metal. Dazed as he was, Josh refused to back down. As his opponent was unable to use the Force, he did not either... While this was not an exact simulation of his prior encounter, it proved to be an exercise of his physical capabilities.

The Jedi would leap into the air as the figure would dash forward, but Josh would be caught this time as the saber-scythe would catch his arm. As they were on low power, Josh did not lose a limb but the burning sensations caused him to let out a growl as he would hold his arm with one hand, using the one with his saber to strike down regardless and nail a strike toward the head. This time, the droid's head came off, and they would drop the scythe as Josh wouldn't be able to land on his feet. The Jedi collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain as he would wince from the drenching sweat and blood mixing together and getting in his eyes. He had been at this since Madalena had gone to bed, fighting at this sort of high speed and pressure nonstop.

He was unable to hear Madalena's screams, due to the silencer in the room.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

It had taken minutes for her to calm down after she had waken up. Madalena breathed hard, clutching the blankets to her chest, trying to make sense of it all. She remembered the dream vividly, remembered being stuck, remembered… No, she couldn’t remember what the other woman had looked like, but she still recalled the expression on her face and the glow of her eyes.

Rising from the bed, Madalena looked around, but there was nothing to drink. She did not want to get into full gear again, and opted instead to wrap the blanket around her body. It still counted as clothes. She wiped the tears off her face on the back of her hand before leaving the room.

She knew Josh was training, and as she passed by, she noticed him on the floor.

“I thought you’d be trying to get some sleep as well,” she said gently, realizing the gash was the result of the training. If Jason was sleeping too, and she was supposed to be trying, why was Josh so wide awake?

Madalena kept her ears open for his response as she made her way to the kitchen to pour herself some water.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

As he tried to inch to his feet, he could feel Madalena's approach. He knew that he had pushed himself to his limitations again. The droid that had reverted to it's form after Josh had cut it's head off would suddenly return to life, picking up their head and screwing it back on.

"It appears you need another trip to the bacta tank, Master DragonsFlame. I say, is it truly necessary to push yourself to this level so constantly? It's almost like it's a trip to the bacta tank everytime."

Josh didn't answer as he got himself to his feet, his legs wobbling as he'd lost a fair bit of blood. "Maddy" He spoke calmly but firmly. "Watch Jason should he wake up."

It was the ultimate sign of trust, to let anyone near Jason in a capacity where he was not there. It spoke of how far they had come. Of course, HK and R4 would be nearby, they would intervene should something happen, and Josh could be let out of the bacta tank quite quickly if need be. The droid would lead the Jedi away toward the med bay in order for him to heal up after pushing himself in brutal fashion.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Madalena blinked. Watch Jason? Was Josh sure? It had been little over an hour since she’d tried to sleep at all, she was deadly tired, he was hurt and needed bacta… But she’d do it. Emptying down a bottle of water, there was little else she could actually do, even if she’d wanted otherwise. Not that she wanted otherwise.

Once she’d had her water, Madalena skipped back to the bedroom to get dressed, and then ran over to the door outside of Jason’s room. She knew she couldn’t fall asleep here. She was watching Jason, and starting to scream because of her nightmares would have the exact opposite effect. Besides, Josh trusted her not to do that.

Madalena leaned against the wall and folded her knees, letting herself slide down to the floor. She had to find a way to busy herself, to keep herself from falling asleep until Josh was out of the bacta.

Moments later, she began to hum a soft lullaby from a nearly forgotten memory. A lullaby that Josh might recognize, if he remembered the memory of being a baby that a certain woman that no longer existed had shown him not so long ago.



[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Jason slept soundly throughout, there wasn't much work for Madalena to do in this case. Jason had a very eventful day, after all. Instead, eventually the Jedi would find his way out of the bacta tank as the droid would hand him his clothing and he would dry off and dress before exiting the room. He was still quite sore, but it would go away. The bacta just needed a little more time to absorb in his skin and the soreness and pains would stop. The gash had been patched up and healed, and he was all cleaned up now, which was good. Aside from him walking a little bit more slowly, one could hardly tell the difference.

The first place he went to was Jason's room. He knew he needed water, and needed it badly, but Jason was more important. Jason was always the top priority. Inside, he would find Madalena humming a lullaby. While he recognized it, he couldn't recall off the top of his head where.

"Thank you" He managed to get out in a whisper toward Madalena as he would sit beside her, looking toward Jason. "Everything alright in here?"

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Thought she was still humming the lullaby, Madalena’s eyes scanned Josh as he returned to the room. She noted the gash on his head had been neatly closed, though she couldn’t help but wish he’d have stayed in the tank a little longer. With his own lack of sleep and hard work, Force knew he needed rest as much as she did, if not more.

Madalena took a sip from the water bottle she’d brought with her, and nodded.

“Jason’s sleeping like an angel,” she whispered back with a smile, “but I had the same nightmare again. Guess that room really is soundproofed.”

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I never heard a thing. And by the looks of it, neither did Jason" Josh would admit with his voice clearly waned from a parched and dry throat, shrugging his shoulders in turn as Madalena would announce that she had the same nightmare as before. The Jedi would lean over to wrap his arms around the Sithling in turn, pulling her into a tight hug to comfort her the best that he could. He didn't know how to solve this problem of hers, but he wished that he did. He wished he could just make it all go away. He had hoped it would when she wiped her memory, but... They still had work to do, it seemed.

"You're free to use it for the trip if need be, if it will give you some peace" Josh would promise, with a gentle smile. "You going to be alright?"

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

She nestled into Josh’s hug, letting him comfort her. It didn’t really help to change how she was feeling, but she let him do it anyway, since it didn’t make her uncomfortable or hurt either of them in any way. She wished Brayden was with them, but it’ be another two and a half years before that happened.

“Thank you,” she kept whispering, not wanting to wake Jason up. Would trying again bring her more peace? She somehow seriously doubted it. And then a question; was she going to be all right? “I’m going to have to be tired enough to stay asleep sooner or later, aren’t I?” she asked right back. She was, despite everything, still human, and humans needed their sleep. So it seemed like a logical conclusion.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He held her tight as the Sithling would nestle into his embrace. He still wasn't used to being in any sort of embrace with her, the old Scherezade was always averse to touch in any sense of the word... At least when it wasn't something like having it out in bed. But that had been... He wasn't sure what that was, if he was being honest here. For him, it had been a result of his being depressed and drunk. And for her, apparently it was because she had misinterpreted his promise. But he got the feeling she'd say no if he were to suggest going to bed now. Not that he minded at all.

To her question, he nodded his head. "Mhm" The Jedi spoke quietly. "You're going to have to try eventually. The question is, are you willing to keep trying and trying until sleep comes?"

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

“Do I have any other choice?” she asked, looking up at him, “I can’t imagine staying sane without sleep. Or alive.” No, the idea of no sleep at all was unthinkable. There were absolutely no intentions on her part on somehow trying to avoid sleep. She loved to sleep! Who didn’t? Sure, she didn’t like sleeping a full eight, since that felt like a waste of time, but five to six hours were perfect for optimal efficiency, and they still left her most of the day.

“Maybe I’ll get a list of things that might work off the holonet or something,” she mumbled, “like meditation, or scented candles, or…” Well. She could get temporary liaisons that would tire her out enough in ways that sparring couldn’t. But she wasn’t about to mention it out loud with Jason in the room, even if he was asleep. “I could always ask some Confederacy doctors to check me up,” she hypnotized, “but this is a problem that needs to be solved, one way or another.”


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"No, not really, I'd say you wouldn't have much of a choice at all" He spoke jokingly with his voice a bit raspy from the lack of water. He knew he should probably go and get it but he didn't want to leave Jason's side - nor hers. He couldn't imagine going through this. I mean, he could. He had been averse to sleeping for a long time after the nightmares started. But the nightmares went away eventually and he'd grown to love sleep! Though he never did get enough of it. Not with a two - almost three year old in tow.

"A doctor's appointment couldn't hurt. Look up some HoloNet methods... Just try this and that" Josh would suggest. He doubted it would work considering she had linked it to this whole Darkness dealio, but... There was no efficient way to try and explain this to her. None that wouldn't cause issues. "I'm sure you'll get it, one way or another. You usually do."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

She must’ve been more tired than she thought, considering it took her until now to realize his voice indicated he needed water. Madalena shook her head and called the water bottle to her hand before offering it to Josh. How could he finish such a training session and not drink a single drop? Ugh, men.

Madalena didn’t know yet that she’d not end up seeing that doctor. Life was about to get much too hectic and there wouldn’t be time to hit a sleeping lab. She also didn’t know at this point that all the scented candles weren’t going to work. Madalena, to be honest, knew nothing about the source of her nightmares, or how to deal with them.

But she knew she wanted to try again.

With a sigh, she carefully peeled herself away from Josh, and stood up. “I’m going to go and try again.”

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

-End Thread-​