Brave New Worlds: Visiting Hours (Sanis, Rebels)

[James Prent]

I don't know how long I was out for. Opening my eyes was difficult, but the greenish goo I found myself suspended in did not alter my vision too much. There were people outside the tank, standing, looking at me. Before I could get my bearings I started floating upwards.

At the top of the tank hands pulled me out of the bacta, carefully pulling me on to a padded grate that nearly covered the tank. I gagged as the breathing tube was carefully extricated from my throat, and found my muscles to be completely unresponsive. "Don't try to stand," a calm male voice said, and the excess bacta was efficiently removed from my body, dripping back into the tank below. I shivered, but was powerless to help myself as I was moved again.

Down from the tank, I was put on a table. A bright light was shining in my eyes, and they teared up in defense. I closed them, trying to ask what was going on, but the breathing tube had left me unable to speak.

"Your voice will come back, just give it some time." Someone was washing my hair, using water. "In your condition we cannot use a traditional ion shower to remove the rest of the bacta," the male voice continued to explain. "You have suffered burns over about twenty-five percent of your body. You are a very lucky lady - we got you just in time to prevent permanent scarring."

I didn't feel lucky. At his words the memories flooded back, and tears welled up. While I was washed, my wounds bandaged with ryll enhanced bacta paste, and dressed, I cried.

[Sanis Prent]

I worked up the nerve to go see her a few hours after she'd been admitted to the medical ward. The guard held me up briefly, but I was allowed in. Inside, I saw James laying on a cot, draped in a comforter up to her neck. A med droid stood nearby, as did an intravenous stand adjacent to the bed. Her hair had been trimmed up short, probably to make her easier to manage for the doctors.

[James Prent]

I opened my eyes, turning my head slightly so I could see my visitor better. "Hi Sanis." My voice was scratchy from the smoke and the breathing tube for my dip in the tank.

I smiled, glad to see a familiar face. "Guess I've been a lotta trouble for you."

[Sanis Prent]

"Well..."

I sat at the foot of her cot, mindful not to touch anywhere that may be sensitive.

"I'm not the one fresh out of the bacta. Who cares about my trouble?"

[James Prent]

I chuckled, but it was a bad idea. I coughed, my eyes tearing up from the pain in my chest. The medical droid came over, helping me drink a little water, and settled me back into my bed.

Sanis looked worried, but he was trying to hide it. I smiled, attempting to make him feel better. "Well, I care about your trouble. Stopping... its expensive for you not to be... working."

I wished I could move my arms, but they were immobilized until my skin could heal. "I... I have an itch on my nose..."

[Sanis Prent]

"It's more expensive to be out a navigator."

I leaned forward, gingerly scratching at the tip of her nose with my thumb.

"And we'll have better jobs come around. Sometimes I can't see the galaxy for the stars, and I get mad at the little things."

[James Prent]

I smiled wryly, "I didn't do much navigating and you know it." I sighed, resting my head on the pillows and closing my eyes briefly. "But, thank you."

He seemed to be fiddling with something in his hands, and I raised an eyebrow. "Whatcha got there?"

[Sanis Prent]

My eyes looked down, and after a few seconds of hesitation, I passed the flimsy to her.

"Something you dropped back on the ship when you left."

[James Prent]

He stuck it between my wrapped fingers - the hologram of my father. "You kept it for me?" I smiled, almost crying again. Gods but I was emotional. "Its my father. When my mother died her friends gave this to my social worker."

I looked up from it, not noticing the change in his expression. "Thank you, Sanis. Really. For everything."

[Sanis Prent]

"Did you know your dad?"

I glanced back at her as I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

[James Prent]

I shook my head slowly. Carefully. My muscles were sore. "No. I never met him."

The holo slipped between my bandaged fingers, resting on my palm. "This flimsy is all I have to connect me with him." I bit my lip, "My mom died in childbirth. She was a prostitute, he was a john. At least, that's what I think he was to her. Good riddance to them both, right?"

[Sanis Prent]

"Yeah."

I replied to her without any zeal. Then again, I'd had a little more insight into dad than she did, and so far in my life, I'd made sure the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree.

Old Man Prent was a space addict, a drifter, and a rolling stone. He'd bedded probably as many people as he'd visited planets, and he'd probably killed a few people along the way. And for what? The only thing he'd left me was a name, and half of a reputation.

How far from the mark was I, then?

"Good riddance."

Was I melancholy that my dad was a no-show in my life, and that I was more or less the same kind of person. At times, yeah. I really couldn't get that worked up about it. Where else was there to go but straight ahead anyway?

[James Prent]

I closed my eyes, resting. "Sometimes I wonder what he was like. What they both were like."

I opened one eye, "When I was little I pretended they were a king and queen of some faraway planet and I was a lost princess." I blushed, "Silly kid stuff, really. Helped me get through some rough foster homes though."

[Sanis Prent]

"I knew exactly what my dad was. I just thought that he'd come back."

I didn't even know why I was talking about this. I didn't even know if I wanted to yank her out of her own ignorance. Then she'd just be like me.

[James Prent]

I sighed, "People like us, we know that people don't always come back. Makes us stronger." I turned my head to look more directly at him.

"Sanis, what's wrong?" I'd never seen a look on his face like the one he was giving me.

[Sanis Prent]

"I know the guy in that picture."

[James Prent]

My eyes widened. "You do? How? Who is he? Where is he?"

[Sanis Prent]

"He's my father."

My eyes met hers and my expression was blank.

"And I haven't seen him in fifteen years."

[James Prent]

"Your father..?" I fumbled for words, my mind reeling. "But he's my father. He can't be your..."

My voice trailed off and the gravity of what he said sank in. "But... I... I mean ...we... you know..."

[Sanis Prent]

Somehow, I'd completely forgotten about that.

My face slowly changed, from grim understanding, to confusion, and suddenly to shocked disgust.

"Oh GOD!"

[James Prent]

I turned beet red at his outburst, and wished I could disappear. "And here I thought being burnt alive was the worst thing that happened to me this week."

I'd had a crush on, kissed.. no made out with my own brother!? Half-brother. Kin, nonetheless. After blushing, my face paled, and I whispered, "We're going to have to tell Cirr, aren't we..."

[Sanis Prent]

"We can always just kill him, I think that would be easier really."

I'd leapt off the bed as if branded by a hot iron. Somehow, through all the duress of tracking her down, fending off crazy hillbillies to get her to safety, etc...I'd conveniently forgotten that half the reason I'd brought her aboard my ship was an attempt to get into her pants.

Guh, this was unspeakable.

"I go halfway across the galaxy and back, blast off with a random cute girl, and she just so happens to be related to me, thanks to our rolling stone dad. If there's a higher power in this galaxy, I think he has it out for both of us."

I threw a wordless fit and flailed my arms.

"I just said cute didn't I? No, I didn't. I never said it! Not that you're...dammit!"

[James Prent]

I weakly smiled, "Take it easy or the med droid is going to sedate you."

Sanis sat finally, uneasily, pulling up a chair this time. "Hey it could be worse."

We both thought about that for a moment, and I burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it all, "Oh gods, please this is too much." My laugh quickly turned into a cough.

[Sanis Prent]

"Well, I officially take my name out of the hat. Cirr can have you, sis."

I buried my head in my hands in a laugh/sigh.

"Sis. What the hell am I doing? Dad hung his hat in two corners of the galaxy and suddenly its a family reunion. I don't even know what this means."

[James Prent]

I considered that after I got my cough under control. "Well, not really. We were both born on Nar Shaddaa, after all."

If I hadn't left with him during the middle of my shift that night at the diner... I never would have seen and done all the things I had since then. I would never have been tied to a stake and ... My mood shifted at that dark thought, and I turned my face away so Sanis wouldn't see me cry. He'd probably think it was because of him.

[Sanis Prent]

"Look, uh..."

I carefully walked closer to the bed, fiddling with a button on my jacket as I did.

"...we're new to this sort of thing, I guess. Really, I don't see it much different than you being a member of my crew. I'll be here for you. Sure, I might yell at you and say things I regret, but I end up doing that to everybody. But I told you that I'd be there to back you up if you stayed on, and its the same now.

Except now I'll back you up regardless. I don't know what you wanted when you came with us, but I'm glad to know you."

[James Prent]

I turned back, my cheeks a little wet. "I didn't know what I wanted, either, but I'm glad I came along for th' ride. Thank you... thank you for coming after me..." My voice trembled at the thought of how close I'd come to dying, and I fought tears again. Gods! I don't think I've ever been this emotional before.

Sniffing loudly, I added, "Give Daani and Tak a hug from me, ok? I don't want them seein' me like this."

[Ira Yahff]

Yawn.

Faint tears sprinkled at the tips of clenched lids. The features of an exhausted man lifted with his spread jaw, allowing the tired call to escape his grasp. Soon the haggard clamor concluded, and the stretched frame went into lax. Taxed from the bore of the ride, he watched the vessel go through the routine inspection in the chaos mistaken for a hangar bay.

"Boring..."

Echani were a patient beast. Mistaken commonly for human, their ancestry rode the stroll of activity, battle, yet maintained a calm. Jehkran was a rare case amongst his dwindling people. The scatter of the culture throughout the aged galaxy left many at fault to their legacy. No longer were they the emotionless combatants of the past. Some fester on the edged of treachery or spice. The young Padawan nestled his status somewhere in between the numerous failures to resume the trend set long ago.

The typical icy flare wrapped Jehkran's scalp, the reflection of the small shuttle twinkling in his moist silvers. Sharpened vision left the gray scale coating the hangar all the more dull. Impatience slither it way through his spine as his vivid view was thrown about in interest. Something about the busy hangar had to wield slight intrigue.

"Dren"

Jehkran's search came to no avail. There was no loose wires to the vessel, so without a goodbye he treaded out the wide, wild docks. Certainly there had to be worth in the numerous rooms that riddle the walls of the corridor. Hopefully one would lead to the medical bay. A few injuries had been reported sent to the frigate and he felt indebt to those many fallen men.

[James Prent]

I'd been sleeping again. Blinking my eyes open I saw that I was alone. Panicking slightly, I had the terrible thought that Sanis had taken the Layla and left, but two homemade get well soon cards on the stand by my bed brought a smile to my face. Daani and Tak must have spent hours on the cards, and all the glue and glitter the girls had used showed how much they missed me.

A nurse propped me up and helped me drink some water.

[Ira Yahff]

"Nope, I'll be fine."

A nod curved the Echani's neck as a smile graced his face. The Squib had been quite polite for the most part, but she held an interest in some of the clothing. Beside the rather unprofessional talk of purchase, it had been a fine encounter. Especially in respect to the rather dire meetings he had ahead.

The return to the Rebellion had been harsh. Realization of war ran it's tide over the galaxy, leaving every planet attire in a tier of death. Demise arose from the deepest depths of every sector, allowing the clash of troopers to merit the Empire more power. Even in victory the herald heights of the Imperial hierarchy had still be unaffected. Despite the lost of Emperor and Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker had also fallen.

Many had fell to the turmoil realize in Battle of Endor. Formidable enemies and worthy allies disgruntle attacks fell to no avail. Assails seemed less worthwhile in regards of the fact, but the war wasn't about fact. Nothing was practical about fighting against the numbers behind the scamper troop armor or operative handles the Alliance garner.

Only a smirk tamper Jehkran's face as his mind scour the stir of thoughts. Despite the rather foul stampede which tirade his life, he sustained and was proud. Beside the growth as a Jedi, he had become a man aligned with a rightful cause. In the corridors tread a man of purpose, and Jehkran was all alone.

Pride could be a downfall, and it's root showed itself to the youthful Echani as his eyes ran over the rooms. Critical condition cases were down the branch, but without any further questions he had no knowledge of the place. Confidence led him astray, and so did his appendages. Luck and hope threw him forth as he reached onto knob.

"Maybe he is here," Jehkran mused. The thought soon came to a faulty end as a bandaged figure lay in bed, a drink perched to it's side. He...or she was hurt.

How could he leave her without a guilty conscious?

"Umm...hey!"

[Sanis Prent]

"What are you doing?"

I'd caught the interloper in the doorway as I returned with something for James to eat and drink. I hadn't expected to see additional guests, and my first instinct was on the aggressive side.

[Ira Yahff]

A blink and everything went away for the slightest of moments. Another blink captured an anew being to the room, with more aggression than a ronto. One more blink and confusion painted around his icy blue eyes.

So much could happened in a blink of an eye. Too much for Jehkran's case, for his face turned into a shriveled excuse of a cute kid. A helpless entrance had turned upside down in a matter of seconds. It was too much for the youth to swallow, but he did, with a coated smile.

"Uh! I'm just here to say..."

A blank erased the oncoming words. He stood there, flat, and lifeless. Time had sent him face-to-face with the Empire, battle, Jedi training, and all he could muster was silence.

Absolute silence.