No one was Surprised when they found out James had a Child.....

[James Justice]

At last he pulled the lever down, the streaks of hyperspace began to roll past them in blue waves. James let out a breath of ease, 'Than the--ugh language."

He needed a smoke. Badly. He rose to his feet and stalked into his living quarters in the ship. It wasn't that big of a ship, and though small, the best commodities money could buy were all here. He grabbed a pack of his cigarettes off the dresser and lit up, huffing away as fast as his lungs could let him. His eyes half closed as nicotine filled his blood and brought comfort. Smoke, likewise filled the air. He needed it to think clearly. It was the worst habit he had, well, perhaps being drunk all the time was a little worse.

There, that was better, he shook his head and sat down, brushing sweat from his brow.

"I were no older than you when ye granddad died right in front of me," he said with a sad smile. "I watched the--" no, details, remember? He had to be age appropriate. He began again, "I saw him die, way out on Tat. I know how it feels," he pulled her close, they were about eye to eye now. She had pretty eyes, he would need to remind her of that--sometime, "I dun't have no one--I never knew me mother. She left kinda--" Kinda the way I left you.

God. Damn. It.

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Dad where will we go?" She says trying to be strong although it is hard she wipes her eyes and sits back down on the bed swinging her shoeless feet up onto it with her. She knew that she was probably the shortest girl in the galaxy "Dad will people make fun of me for my size?"

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

At her second question, James snorted and tried not to laugh. He playfully pinched one of her toes, "If they do, I will blast holes in them six inches wide."

Wait--was that appropriate? He didn't know. All the same, her first question needed answering too. He had to level with her sometime, and now was as good a time as any. Honesty was not something he held a lot of faith in but still....

"Brookie, I ain't exactly what ye call a 'model citizen,'" he said scratching his head, "My business, Justice Shipping, is," he searched for the word, "we're smugglers. Pirates. Mercenaries. Privateers. We work for the good guys, to protect the regular people, fight the bad ones--other pirates, Sith, dictators. That lot. I know places where no one can find you, that's where I am taking you. Our shadow port, LC-2."

He paused before continuing, "There also be someone after me. I dun't know who they are. Why, or how, but they be called the Prosecutor. Me guess is they found out I was coming, f--heck they might have been one of your mum's connections, and they went for ye, and her. They want--to destroy me."

Great first day James. Great, your totally winning the awards for dad of the century..... NOT.

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Dad I love you so much." The small girl says looking up at him smiling "And I don't care Pirate, smuggler or unicorn I will always love you." She says and smiles

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James thought for a moment. Unicorn, I should name the next ship that.

He shook himself out of it and pat her head. Poor child. Poor, poor child, he thought. Of all the men in the world she had to be related to--it was him.

He pitied her, he really did. James knew he was anything but a good man, and how exactly he was going to manage being a dad, he had no clue. But what he did know was he would do anything to take care of her. Anything. He guessed that said something. Eh, he'd probably have to cut back on the womanizing. Part of him hurt at the thought, and not the part you'd probably think. He couldn't afford to let his heart get broken again.

Should he tell her? Well she was damn sure bound to find out sometime. And if he was in the middle of a bear-all truth day, well now was a good a time as ever, he supposed.

"Brookie," he began, taking another deep breath. This would be the hardest thing he had ever done--and that was coming from a man who willingly and knowingly ran head long into danger, "Brookie, something else ye should know. I--," he hesitated. DAMN IT JUST DO IT SON! "Y-you have a sibling," Great James, great, way to start off. "I--a few years ago I were married. And not to ye mother. Her name--" a lump caught in his throat as he willed himself to say it, "was, Leighlah Chaser," he finally let out a breath. He did it. He had told someone. At last. It was only fitting he told his daughter. The emotions were strong, it was hard to go on, but he had to.

"Leighlah, we were married five months, and then--then, then," a tear slid down his cheek, he willed himself to go on, pushing it all down once more, "she were pregnant. I got a steady job, working in Merchant-type things in the Core. W-went to w-work one day, w-when I came back," he fell appart like a meteor on re-entry, sobs crushing his body from years of repression and denial.

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

As Brook sat there listening to her father she shivered at not only the cold but her dads story. When he began to break down Brook quickly sprang to her feet jumping down from the bed and she ran to her dad wrapping her arms around him and holds him close letting him cry. She thought about their situations and how similar they were. Brook losing her mother and him losing his wife. She began to tear up once again. But despite her best attempt pretty soon the tears began to flow.

[member="James Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

As Brook sat there listening to her father she shivered at not only the cold but her dads story. When he began to break down Brook quickly sprang to her feet jumping down from the bed and she ran to her dad wrapping her arms around him and holds him close letting him cry. She thought about their situations and how similar they were. Brook losing her mother and him losing his wife. She began to tear up once again. But despite her best attempt pretty soon the tears began to flow.

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James just savored the moment, if--well if such a moment could be savored. The release was almost like a watershed. Something he had never really experienced before. He would have to do this more often. Today had been a torrent of emotions, and it felt so good for him.

Part of him wondered how many more children he had. Dozens, if statics were anything to go by. It was strange the things one thought when crying.

He didn't know how long he had been there, sobbing with his girl until he had no more tears to cry. Enough. No more feeling sorry for yourself, James-y, you got a girl to tend to. A real daughter, you wanted a family for so long---now you have one. Treat her good, like a princess. Never let anything bad happen to her. He would, he avowed inside, he would.

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and began wiping his daughter's tears away.

"I'mma take care of ye," he promised, "I'mma not let anyone hurt ye, I promise. I'mma not let you end up like me, and I ain't gonna let anyone ever hurt ye. Ever."

Only a fool would dare touch her--especially when one considered the rage he was known to go into when someone tried to harm his friends, now he could only imagine if someone tried to hurt his daughter, what he would do.

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Brooklyn looks at her dad and felt inspired. She was still crying but she tried to stop so she climbed up onto her dads bed and curled up and closed her eyes

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

Well, if he was going to be good at this daddy-business.... he had to start somewhere. Even if it was strange. And weird to say the least. Metaphorically rolling up his sleeves, the spacer snuffed his cigarette out and curled up behind his daughter. He resisted the urge to grab a bottle of ale. It--was better not to. Later, yes, perhaps when she was asleep.

Maybe... Then...... He fought off drowsiness. The post adrenaline state of decline was starting to take its toll on his body.

I'm.... not..... as young...... as I was..... he thought dismally, fighting a loosing battle against sleep. However, he still had moves that would put most to shame, he knew. And skills beyond many a man's wildest dreams.

Must......

stay.....................

awake...........................

His inner dialogue slowed to a halt and consciousness slipped from his fingers.

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Brook woke up to her own screams. She had had the worst dream ever everything in her dreams screamed her her mom the man who had attacked them her dad. She sat upright in the bed before crawling over her dad and landing hard on the floor.

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

Brooklyn's screams woke him up like a loud, mind shattering blow to the head. It was never a good thing for a man who had his history to be awoken that way--even worse when it was his daughter's scream.

His hand whipped his DeathHammer out and he searched for whoever was the perpetrator--

But there was no one. He holstered his weapon and scooped Brookie in his arms again. His body felt like had been asleep--a few hours?

"Its alright darling," he murmured gently running his fingers through her hair, "I got you, girl."

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Ow. I'm ok dad." She says as her leg begins to throb.

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

The control panel in the cockpit dinged. James grinned as he picked her up gingerly. She was surprisingly light.

"Well lucky for you, we are here," he said trotting into the cockpit.

He set her in his gunner/copilot chair and with a flick of his wrist. The Angel came out of hyperspace in the Roche asteroids. The ship did a few wild maneuvers, threading through the massive rocks before coming to rest in a base built into one of the larger ones.

As his ship powered down James lifted his princess out and carried her to the Medical bay. Princess. Yes that felt and sounded right.

"Welcome to LC-2," he grunted. "One of the safest shadow ports in the Galaxy. And I own it."

A mechanical medic began working on her leg, examining and assessing it's damage.

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I can't move my leg Dad I think it's broken." She says as she tries again to move it but can not with a cringe on her face she purses her lips.

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

"Easy girl, it will be alright," James assured her, holding her hand. He shot the droid a look; it better be or the scrap pile would be its next stop--after a long stay at hotel agony.

The droid nodded in agreement, "All shall turn out well, it is only a minor break, highly amendable."

An initial shot of local anesthesia quickly was administered to numb the pain. Next a small pair of mechanical hands aligned the bones in perfect position. A longer needle prodded into her skin and administered a quick-setting bone mend. At last it pulled out, the hands held her leg in place a few more minutes before releasing.

"Thank you for being a brave girl," the droid said harmoniously, "You have been repaired."

"There, all better, Princess?" James asked, giving her a nervous smile.

The whole opperation had taken 15 minutes max, but for James it felt like a lifetime.

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Yea dad so what now will it take a while to set or is it good?" She asks looking at the droid

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

"Affirmative, that is the fastest setting bone bend on the market," the droid confirmed.

James chuckled, relieved as he fished for a fresh cigarette.

"Master, I am afraid I must notify you that this is a non-smoking zone," the mechanical medic intone.

James nodded. Right, nervous habit. He gingerly led his daughter out into the common area. And instantly realized how un-child friendly this place was. The bar. The sabbaac tables. The gambling dice. The holograms that blared non-child friendly lyrics. He cringed inside. How long had he been living in a world like this? How would he take care of his daughter when he was so used to-- to--

"The usual boss?" asked the bartender from a few yards away.

He glanced at ginger-headed daughter, "Soda, two of em."

The burly man gave a hearty laugh, "You funny boss, what you want?"

James shot him a serious look, his employee quickly obeyed, "Who the pretty lady, boss?"

James scowled, "My daughter."

He laughed again, harder, "Boss you fulla funnies today."

James fingered his firearm, almost drawing it. But--Brookie. No, not now, not in front of her. He nodded to a nearby guard, "Nelson escort Mr Dufwah to the Pit please."

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

At first Brook was unstable as though the bone wasn't completely set and even as they sat down it still didn't feel set right "So dad what will happen to me will I go to school or will I stay here with you?" She asked.

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James watched as his now-former employee was being carried away in a sobbing mess. Pity, he liked that guy......

"Both," he said taking a pull from his bottle of soda and scooting hers toward her.

He gave satisfied sigh and reached for a fresh cigarette, lighting up and relishing the nicotine before continuing, "Ye ain't leavin me side. And ye are also getting the best education money can buy. I'll get ye a droid cause--well I want ye to be smarter than me. I never been schooled proper. Ye are gonna take all this," he waved at the crime world around him, "And put it in the past."

He leaned in close, "We got a lot of lost time to make up for, I gonna try to make up for everything I missed. I sorry I wasn't there, Brookie. I be so sorry."

[member="Brooklyn Justice"]