Roma-Ah-Ah-Oh-Oh [SJO] [Ra]

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I said nothing of the Force" He responded calmly. "Not everyone has had the opportunity to train in the matter we have in mental fortitude... And some are just not as capable. That's life" Josh would remark. "But do not act as though you are without fault for the permanent damage you have done. You said it yourself when you did it... Most of them would not leave with their sanity. You clearly knew what would happen going in.

You knew exactly what you were doing."

He only nodded when Ra would suggest she serve as a decoy. When the truck pulled in, he would let Ra take the lead as he followed shortly behind with the White Current. As soon as it was verified it was the right truck, and the slaves began to be rolled out, Josh let Ra make her diversion. As soon as she did, he would spring into action. Deciding to exercise a fair bit more muscle after the slavers made it clear their threat level earlier, Josh would pop out from within the Current and become hurling fireballs within seconds. Catching his opposition by surprise, Josh would then swap to telekinesis as he would start hurling them around, slamming them into objects with the intent to knock them out as quickly as possible. He had considered using his lightsaber, but Josh wanted to remain non-lethal. It was also why he didn't use more powerful techniques such as Force Repulse considering the numbers game - if he were to use Force Repulse he would risk harming the slaves. He refused to allow casualties now, especially when they were so close.

It wasn't long before they - along with their compatriots within the base - had been cleared out. A shuttle would arrive as the slaves would begin to board par instructions of the Rangers dispatched to provide support for Josh and Ra on this mission.

But when Josh and Ra would begin to head up to the shuttle, they would be stopped by a Ranger at the ramp.

"I'm afraid I can't let you two board. I'm sorry."

Josh would quirk a brow, a bit surprised. He stared at them, awaiting an explanation.

"It's the slaves that you two freed earlier. They're afraid of you. They refuse to stay on board if you two are intending to be on the shuttle. You're going to have to find your own way back."

"Afraid of us? Why?"

The Ranger would look past Josh then, to stare at Ra.

"Whatever she did to the slavers back at the first base, after you two left they started to act madly. According to the slaves you freed and left at the base... They screamed, and screamed, and screamed... Their screams were bloodcurdling, they had gone truly mad and just would not stop screaming as though they were slowly and agonizingly dying."

The Ranger shook his head.

"They were forced to kill them before we got there. They claimed they had no choice, the screams were just too much to bear."

Josh's eyes widened.

"They're... All dead? All of them? All of the slavers?"

"Yes. The rescued slaves are afraid of you both. Her, for what she did... And you, Master DragonsFlame, for they saw you use your powers as well and think you might be capable of doing the same. They're terrified of the both of you, and refuse to go near you. I'm sorry, again... You're going to have to find your own way back."

Josh let out a sigh, and nodded his head. "It's alright. I can call the Dragon from orbit. It's small enough to get to us without raising any suspicion. Just get them back to their homes."

The Ranger would nod his head. "Thank you, Master DragonsFlame. I apologize again. I... Also apologize as well, as I have no choice but to write this incident up to Grandmaster Nooran. It's my job. Perhaps you might need to reconsider the company you keep on missions."

"I understand. May the Force be with you."

With that, the shuttle would be loaded and would leave without them. Josh would lower his head, clearly upset over what had transpired. He let out an exasperated sigh as he would get out his communicator and call for R4 to get them.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"Training or not, most wouldn't come out unharmed. Do you know what they faced down there? My deepest fear, Josh. To be alone. Not to have anybody..."

Not meeting his eyes, Ra activated her helmet's visor and covered her face again. Working together with Josh to accomplish the task at hand, she kept her diversion bloodless and allowed him to do any fighting. Taking what prisoners they could from the real transport, they were stopped from entering the shuttle by one of the Rangers. What he said had quite a sobering effect on Ra.

It also made her angry for a moment and her eyes might have glowed like when she had been using her emotions to focus her powers. Barely waiting for the Ranger to finish speaking, she stalked off in a huff.

Turning her head up to watch the shuttle leave, Ra crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. Leaning against one of the trees, she slowly slid down its trunk and sat down on the ground. That anger had passed and she was in control of herself again. Maybe Josh would notice that change in her and how she taken herself away from the situation to calm down. Much like they had on Veradune, but this time she had done it on her own.

"I'm sorry. I do my best and what I can. What feels right isn't always the right thing to do. I will think harder next time before I take any action."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

It had taken a bit to process the fact that the two of them had been an unintentional accessory to manslaughter. Josh didn't say anything for a long while after he had gotten in touch with R4. He just... Sort of stared outward, upset, devastated and overall frustrated over all that had happened. For all the lives they had saved... They had taken just as many. To Josh, this mission was at least partially a failure when one considers that those deaths were not necessary ones. For all that they were... They didn't have to die. This was completely preventable.

He had seen Ra's reactions, but he was in too much of a state of shock himself at the time to really process it, and likely wouldn't until later. When Ra finally spoke out, he took a deep breath as his mind seemed to be in the process of a reboot of sorts. He considered over and over again what he could say to her, as he noticed the Dragon coming down to pick them up...

"Be better than them" Was all the advice he could think to give her when it came to next time. If Jyoti even let him work with Ra anymore after this incident. "Don't stoop to their level. Give them more than they deserve, as painful as it might be. If I can do it even when facing a living reminder of my own pain... Then I'm confident you can as well."

With that he would board the ship, waiting for Ra to follow behind.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

Maybe they were in similar situations of shock and dealing with it in their own ways. She recovered first and broke the silence between them. It took him a little longer to put his own words out to her and all she did was nod. Her arms across her chest as if she was hugging herself, she did not look at him.

She would have to be better than them. He expressed confidence she could do that, but only time would tell if that natural instinct would break or if it remained.

Following him onto the ship, she stopped when she caught up to him and nodded slightly. Faith would have to do and a constant active thought before she acted next time. Something she would have to work on.

Not saying anything, Ra just leaned against him like she had the tree outside. Right now, he was the rock she clung to and would do her best to support him if he needed it.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He knew that it was going to be a hell of a trip to get to where she needed to be, but... He was willing to support her the whole way through. As she leaned against him, he didn't say anything. Just brought his arm around her and didn't let go as the ship would go into hyperspace. He wanted her to know, in some way, that he was here... That he wasn't going away. That whatever problems she was going through... He'd be there to help her see it all through.

He just hoped it'd be enough.

[member="Riamah"]

[End Thread]​