thefinaljedi | Appointments

[Anakin doesn't interrupt as Luke continues. It's a hard topic to listen to, even after having seen visions for himself. He almost wishes he could shut himself off and not listen anymore.

But that wasn't possible.]

A hero wouldn't have done the things I did. A hero would have saved the galaxy and not hurt everyone. A hero wouldn't have let Padme die!

[He spoke the last part with a strike of his mechno-fist into the ground.]

I am not a hero. I failed.

[Luke gave his father a level look, his eyes somewhat downcast.]

Anakin, you saved my life. You killed the man responsible for all of the things the Empire did. You did not fail.

[He closes his own synthflesh fist.]

The person you became was not you. It was...something twisted by the Dark Side. But when you passed into the Force, I saw you for the first time as you are now. A young man, and a hero who saved countless trillions.

That does not change what I did. The monster I become. I ... I need to stop it from happening.

[Anakin's gaze finally drifts up to meet Luke's, his emotions now a mix of anger and desperation. He does not want this future. He does not need it. And if he has his way, it will never happen.]

I can't just sit back and do nothing!

[He stands back up at that.]

There has to be a way to change the future ... even from here.

[Luke's eyes meet Anakin's steadily, unblinking. He knows the feeling, truly. And he's been there himself.]

I believe there is. But, you must realize that it's a long way off.

[He rises as well.]

Nothing is written in stone, Anakin. Perhaps that's why the Force sent the two of us here, together. When we manage to break this world's hold over us and go home of our own will, I believe our memories should stay intact. That means we can alter the future, change it so that Palpatine never finds power. I know it might sound crazy, and it will take time, but I think it can happen.

[Skywalkers don't do things by half measures. Stop the cycles, defeat the Malnosso and the Third Party, and find a way home to fix things. Doable, right?]

But you have to control your temper here, or risk losing yourself before we even have the chance at that.

Edited 2014-03-15 04:31 (UTC)

[Luke's words uplift Anakin's emotion to a sense of determination. He's right. They could do this. They could change it all.

He takes a step forward and nods at Luke.]

I promise you, I will not let that future happen. I'll prevent it all ... no matter what.

[And perhaps no matter the cost. He had a much larger goal now that went way behind simply finding a way home and helping to win the war.]

Thank you. I ... almost forgot myself for a moment ... forgot who I am and what I stand for.

[Luke closes the space between them and pulls his father into a hug. Hearing that from Anakin is all he could really have hoped for. Now the man knew the stakes and there weren't any more secrets between them, and that meant volumes to him. He spoke softly now, a lot of tension gone in his voice.]

Of course, Anakin. That's why I'm here to remind you. The Force will guide us, as it always does. And I'll guide you how I can, and I expect the same from you.

[He pulled back and grinned.]

Trust me. If there's a way, we'll find it.

[There are small blessings in the world. It's early in the morning when Ginia wakes up in Luceti, thrown back in the flimsy cotton sundress of all new arrivals. It takes her a bit to process everything; dirt and grass instead of the sterile and cold floor of the cell, running water nearby, cloudy grey sky above, cold fresh air.

Everything is so real Ginia's not sure if it really is. It could be a trick, she could still be captured and this could be a test. To see how she reacts, to see what she will do.

Her eyes dart around. River. Ginia pulls herself over to the river, every part of her body heavy and sore. Nothing feels broken - the bones they did break were all healed up, luck her - but everything hurts. She plunges her hands into the cold water, the shock welcoming. She splashes water onto her face, gargles and spits to wet her mouth, scrubs her arms and hands to remove dried blood and dirt.

She wants to believe she's back in the village, that her torment is over, but it's just one cage back into another. Once she feels a little more focused, a little more awake, Ginia slowly stumbles to her feet and peers at the buildings around.

...Clinic. Right. With each step slow and dull, Ginia pulls herself over to the clinic, swings open the door, and practically falls inside.

Morning.]

[The clinic is usually fairly slow, and today is one of those mornings. Luke had taken care of some records housekeeping, filing away information on departed residents, brewed up tea in the little kitchenette, sorted some supplies, and was just settling into a book when tremors of pain and confusion ripple through the Force not far away. A sign of danger, or perhaps of someone injured?

He's on his feet quickly, and already moving towards the door when it opens to reveal a bloodied Ginia. As she droops, the Jedi is there to catch her, easily taking her weight and keeping her upright. Wordlessly, he pulls her inside, the door closing behind them with a flick of a finger as he begins to concentrate on her, attempting a Delving to access her injuries.]

Don't worry. I've got you.

[While he concentrates, he's beginning to move towards one of the examining rooms, slowly so as not to strain her.]

[Ginia manages a tiny wave and a bare smile as she leans heavily on Luke, following after him. Her head throbs, though more from the drugs wearing off. Her injuries aren't bad, certainly better than what she endured over her week of captivity. Perhaps the cruelest thing was breaking her bones and healing them back up.

But there's bruising on her face, arms, and torso, and spots of blood dot the back of the new feather dress from cuts and scratches around the base of her wings. Not bad, but still rough.]

[Things he easily picks up on in the Force. The Delving gives him a place to start at least. Only, treatment with a patient who can't communicate might be hard, which is why his next move is something he doesn't like doing and often makes people freak out, but...it may be necessary.]

Ginia, I'm going to need to ask you some questions. I know you can't speak, so if you'd just...think at me, I'll hear it. I'm not probing your mind, but I can hear surface thoughts.

[Were it anyone else, Ginia would regard the question with a bit more skepticism and wariness. However, it is Luke Skywalker and there's a degree of trust she'll allow. She's not quite in the state to write either. So she nods, doing her best to keep focus on a thought.]

-Is this working?-

[It comes through just fine. The Jedi nods and replies vocally.]

Perfect. Just like that. Again, this is just surface thoughts. Now, can you tell me who did this?

[He assumes it's the Malnosso, but just checking.

And while he does this, he'll open an examining room door and help her onto one of the exam tables if she'll allow that.]

-Malnosso. Kidnapping. What day is it?-

[Because it's hard judging time when sleep is nearly impossible and there's no way to tell whether it's night or day. It's an effective form of torture in itself.

She takes a seat on the exam table, arms wrapping defensively around herself.]

-Is this even the village?-

The second day of the fourth month. April, I think.

[The Galactic standard is actually similar, but he's not going to try and ever explain that. Easier to just use Earth months.

Luke gently puts a hand on her shoulder, nodding.]

It is. Where else would it be?

[April second. A week then. A shorter stay than she thought and she's all the more grateful for it.

Ginia looks at Luke, her thoughts jumbled and unfocused as she tries to find the right words. Her eyes are tired, but there's wary caution behind them, the look of an animal that's been beat down but still ready to fight.]

-Could be a trick. Could still be in a cage.-

[Luke meets her cautious gaze with a collected one of his own, his blue eyes completely calm and relaxed. He's seen it before, someone convinced that it might be a trick, and he doesn't blame them. But then, he can't treat her if she won't let him.]

You are in a cage. A gilded one, but a cage all the same. Lay back and let me do what I can for you. I won't hurt you, I promise.

[A very nice gilded cage. One with plenty of food, water, supplies, and nice comfy apartments you can be snatched out of at any moment. A wonderful place indeed.

Ginia still regards Luke with cautious skeptism even as she carefully lowers herself onto her back, adjusting and spreading her wings to lay easier. With her wings out, it's easy to see two primary feathers are missing from her left wing.]

[Luke sets to work, washing his hands and putting on a pair of gloves before beginning to clean her injuries, applying ointments to the cuts first. He'll hold off on the Force, for the moment but after a bit it's to the point where he feels he'll need it.]

Ginia, I'm going to do something that may make you feel a little cold. Don't worry, it'll pass, and it'll help speed the healing.

[Ginia lays as still as she can while Luke works, hands slowly clenching and unclenching. She's not bound, she can move as she wishes. It's all things to remember.

At his question, Ginia glances at him, hesitates, then nods.]

[With assent given, Luke gently lays one hand on her chest and the other on her stomach and closes his eyes. Taking a series of deep breaths, he begins to focus, drawing on the Force, a great sea of light blazing just beyond the corporeal world. His hands begin to glow with a soft, blue light as the Healing begins. Ginia's body would feel cool, perhaps a little numb in the worst injured areas as Luke speeds up her body's regenerative processes.]

There, see. It's not so bad, is it?

[Were the circumstances any different, Ginia would be full of questions, awe, and maybe a bit of giddiness. She had her phase of stick lightsabers and bathrobe jedi robes, reenacting or quoting scenes with her brother or friends. It'd practically be a dream come true for her.

But instead she accepts the healing with tense anxiety, breath hitching at the cold numbness. But when it finishes, no, it wasn't that bad. The persistent dull ache over her body and the sting of cuts is lessened, if not gone. There's still a lingering feeling of weakness from the missing feathers, but those will grow back in time.]

-Thank you.-

[Frankly, for Luke, this is vastly preferable. He doesn't mind people asking questions about the Force or being curious about his identity. He's used to that, and gets it at home as well. But it does often leave him feeling strange.

He keeps at it, maintaining the link for a moment more before removing his hands.]

Of course. It's why I'm here.

[Why he's here. Because he's a healer, a doctor, an accepted medical professional in the village. Use your gifts for healing, not harm. Such is the Hippocratic Oath, though that didn't stop the Rogue Malnosso.

(But they're scientists, not doctors, and there's a difference.)

Ginia pushes herself upright and lets her hands rest on her lap, a bit at a loss still.]

-I should probably go. Thank you again.-

I don't think so. Not just yet.

[Luke places a firm hand on her chest, unrelenting. He figures she won't like this, but he'd be remiss if he just let her wander off in this condition.]

You need to rest. The healing I used draws on your life energy. You won't make it far. Give it an hour, have some tea, and I'll let you go.

[No, she really doesn't. All she wants is to head back to her apartment, check on her dog, take a shower, and clean up before taking a long nap. She wants to be alone again as much as she doesn't want to get alone because she knows herself and her habits. Her head is in a bad place and it's easy isolating herself or falling into drink or doing any number of destructive things as a distraction.

It's better she stays. Ginia knows that. Even if she doesn't like it, she knows that, and she's too tired to argue anyway.]

-Just an hour.-

Appointments

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