Torn took another drink, leaning forward; "She seemed to know everything that the Baron was doing to the people, and went on her own vendetta to stop him." He couldn't believe that he didn't see it before.
"So what she was like a spy for the Underground before you were even in the Underground?" Jak said, kinda taken aback by the new info. He always thought that he was the reason behind the Underground, that he sought out Samos and lead the rebellion. Though, he should've guessed that he was a brainwashed Captain in denial until someone shown him the light.
On his off duty hours, Cara and Torn met in private. There was something about her that kept him coming around. Her presence was this overwhelming feeling of warmth and kindness, which was rare during a war.
These days were always ones he looked forward to, not that he didn't see her while he was on duty, but because they had a moment to talk. About what, he didn't care. He just wanted to watch her eyes shine with the enthusiasm that overflowed from her when she talked, or told a story.
"I was an orphan by the time I hit puberty, and was a soldier by adulthood." Cara explained. "My family died from an illness and I had no idea that they were even sick." Her face was sad, her eyes welling up with tears. "They were good people, always showing kindness even if the person didn't deserve it."
Torn remembered hearing this story in particular after a hard mission. They had almost died that day, they pulled through by the skin on their teeth.
"I know this might sound like a stupid question…" she began, turning to him. "But do you think they'd be proud of me? Even if I'm not going by their example?"
Torn had laughed hard at her. He didn't mean to, he supposed they fought along side eachother so much that he forgot she was indeed a woman, a walking body of fears, doubts and many other emotions. Or maybe because it seemed too outworldly of her to even ask such a thing.
"What's so funny?!" She snapped, wiping her eye and shoving him.
"Nothing!" He said, trying to quell his laughter; "I'm sorry, Cara its just--"
"What? Did you forget I was a girl or something?!"
"No! Of course not!" Who vpuld forget that she was indeed a lady? Just look at her. He thought to himself scratching the back of his head. "Its just... I've just never expected you to be the strong willed heroine type. The one with the weight of the world on her shoulders, miss touchy feely."
Torn was definitely the kind to keep his weaknesses bottled up, even the slightest hesitation made him a target. Hell, even now, years later he still kept his emotions to himself. He was like a brick wall, with hints of sarcasm. Ashlein would say that was his charm, but Cara never bought it for a second. She tried to dig at him so much, to find the real person behind the mask, the wall.
Unfortunately, by the time she broke down his walls, he was forced to put them back up.
Torn shook his head, trying to ignore the heaviness in his heart. He took another drink, emptying his glass. "Cara had been mysterious, but sweet. She could easily get by on her looks, you know? It was weird having a girl like her around." He was trying to explain.
"Like her face was girly, but she was ripped?" Jak asked, trying to picture it.
"No, she wasn't like a… priss? She was very much one of the boys. Just that day it was like a turning point. I was just realizing that she wasn't one of the guys."
Now that Torn was thinking about it, that was the only time he had ever laughed that hard. Any time after that and they saw eachother they exchanged smiles and side glances but didn't speak. The other guardsmen tried to give Torn a hard time about it, but always snapped at them to drop it.
Then, that was when she began to go missing.
Torn now had a new work load, and felt that there was suddenly more work than usual. That they didn't see one another very often then.
It went on like this for about a month, she was no where to be found, and he was almost certain that she had breathed her last breath. Until one day she showed up at their meeting spot. She was covered in blood, and she was coughing.
"H-hey, Captain…" She chuckled lightly, she really over did it this time.
"Cara!" There was this sudden feeling that washed over him then. He almost ran to her as of she was a lost lover at war.
But it wasn't like that.
He wished it were. That he told her how he felt.
Today was not that day.
"By the precursors… What happened to you? Where have you been?!"
Even though she was in pain, she still had that smile on her face, it almost made him angry. In fact. It did make him angry.
"What the hell are you smiling at? You think your life is some fucking joke?!" He pulled her up by her shirt then, looking into her tired emerald eyes.
And she just laughed.
"It's okay… I'm fine really. I just. Need to rest."
She passed out a few moments later. Torn's blue eyes widened for a moment, watching her go limp then ultimately falling into his arms.