Operation Double-Edged Sword (SJO/CIS Mission)

[Josh Dragovalor]

The two were taken to the bacta tanks in the med bay within the ship. Some time passed after that, and Josh would be eventually let out, as would Scherezade. The Jedi would grimace when he tried to move his arm as he made his way out. As much as the potion and the bacta stabilized it, he wasn't going to be able to use it for some time he knew. It was annoying, but it was the price that Josh would have to pay for what he had done. The medical droid on board would help him tie up a sling for his arm and shoulder to assist in the recovery process. After the treatments were administered, and Josh had been given an anesthetic to lessen the pain temporarily, he would find himself wandering the ship while it was en-route for Kashyyyk, until Scherezade came along.

When she finally did, he looked down a moment, clearly still torn up about the lives that had been lost. But he did have something to say as he would look toward her.

"... Thank you" He spoke softly. "For helping me. And for making sure I got onto the ship in time."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

She'd had her eyes closed when they dragged her into the bacta tanks. She was too tired to protest, too exhausted to ask them to just leave her alone. Dunked in, the Sithing tried to close her eyes, but no matter how hard she tried, sleep did not come. She was conscious for every moment of it, and there was no escaping it.

Once she was released, Scherezade went straight to where her stuff was, removing a bottle from the pile, and taking down at least half of it before she allowed herself a moment to breathe. Only then, walking in a vrey slight zig zag, she made her way to where Josh was.

Even drunk again, she could see Josh wasn't quite pleased with the results of the mission. Scherezade sighed and gave him a nod.

"You're a fool for not dropping me and leaving," she said with a shrug. "You don't have the privilege of self-sacrifice. You have a son. Don't you dare ever try to that again."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Scherezade was not happy with him for not leaving her there, for trying to sacrifice himself for her own good. He shook his head at that as he took a breath breath and spoke calmly.

"Scherezade" He spoke. "I've lived my life. I've had my years, I've had my goods, I've had my bads, my ups and my downs, my successes and failures. I've had joys and sadnesses, I've had everything that I could ask for in this life. But you haven't. You've barely lived a year, as you've told me. You haven't had the chance to experience life, you haven't had the chance to make something of yourself. You haven't had a chance to find who you are... And what you want to do. And what will make you happy."

He let out a sigh. "And because I care about you. I care about you deeply" He would admit. "I couldn't let you give everything up before you'd found your path. Not for my sake. You were there in the first place because you refused to let me go."

As much as he hated to say it... Jason had people. He knew they'd take care of Jason. He knew Jason was in good hands. He trusted them. And Josh had his path and had seen it through. Scherezade deserved better than to die here, in his eyes.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

He was speaking calmly, but all Scherezade could do as he spoke was shake her head.

"Yeah, you've done all that," she responded, "and now you have a son. It's not about you anymore. Can you imagine how my not even a year of existing would've been different if I'd had at least one of my parents around?"

Her voice nearly broke as she said the words. Scherezade longed for her parents more than she longed for air to breathe.

"I care about you too," she admitted at last, "but there are priorities. Loving fathers to toddlers come before broken messes that have no one waiting for them at home."

She leaned against the wall and took another swig from her bottle.

"Priorities."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

She was right, and he lowered his head again when she said it. It wasn't about him anymore. His life wasn't his to give. It belonged to Jason. And what she said struck a chord too... He yearned for his parents too, his life would have turned out so differently if he had them there, at least one parent, to guide him, to nurture him, to love him... Not to use him and try and turn him into a weapon like the old Order did. Maybe he wouldn't be so messed up for as long as he'd been, still struggling even today to regain himself, if not for losing them.

He was surprised when Scherezade admitted she cared for him, but she would put emphasis on the point of all this... Priorities.

"Priorities" He repeated. "I know. My life isn't mine to give. I know that. You're right. But I just... Couldn't leave you there either. I had to do something."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"You didn't," she replied, "we got lucky this time. We might not next time."

Scherezade sighed and just let herself sink onto the floor, leaning against the cold metal wall, before she took another swig from her bottle.

It was a mess. The whole thing was a mess. She wanted to go home and to be alone, but there was nothing to do at home either. She could sit on the floor and feel miserable here as well. If Josh had died there and she had lived, it would've been… Horrible.

"If you make me the death of you, I'll never forgive you," she said without a hint of compassion. There would be no one dying for her. Not now. Not ever. If anyone wanted to die for anyone else, they'd better go off and find people who were worthier of that than she was.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He heard her, loud and clear. All he could do was nod his head. His life was his to give no longer, he knew... But he knew he wanted to protect Scherezade too. He'd just have to figure out how to do both, he decided. How to make sure that he would keep her safe, while also ensuring he was there to give Jason the childhood, the life, that he deserved.

Though with this arm, he wouldn't be doing much for awhile he realized. But before long, a few weeks probably, it would heal and he would be back on the field. And better able to fulfill the promises that he had made.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

[End Thread]​