Alright all, this is the very last part I had saved in my dox from a year ago. From now on I will be adding to these chapters as I write them fresh, so I might be a bit slower in posting. Hope readers have enjoyed it so far!
Please leave comments!
Ace sat in his room, rubbing his eyes. It was the fifth day being at the medical station and he was miserable. Already, he was missing his squad, his ship, his general, heck even the war. He missed it and wanted back. It was the only place in this world he knew he would ever belong and that was where he wanted to be.
He tried to be patient, he really did. Ace wasn't stupid and he realized darn well that there where plenty of other clones on this ship with injuries far worse then himself. But he did wonder why the ones without major damage weren't tended to first, that way they could be sent out faster to save other clones temporarily from their inevitable deaths?
If he were out in his ship and helping his squad with those secret trade routes that Count Dooku had his war ships smuggling goods from, he would be exploiting a very big issue concerning half the battles in the galaxy.
Ace sighed and leaned back on the bed. His eyes were beginning to actually hurt now. Not only did they impede his sight and annoy him to no end but now they had started to ache. He got up and went to his bathroom to try looking in a mirror, but that didn't end well when all he could see was a bunch of bright blur. In fact, Ace was beginning to think the haziness was getting worse. He was sure they weren't this bad when he'd first got here. This thought made his gut tie in a knot. If they were still gradually getting worse, it would only be a matter of time before he was completely sightless.
Where was that healer nurse?!
He flung himself out of the bathroom in an act of total panic, nearly hitting the door but touching it just in time with his hand to notice it was there. He'd learned keeping his hands in front of him was a wise move to make when having to find your way through a maze of whiteness. Storming out of his room, he rapped on the door just left of his in the hall. He waited only a moment to listen for movement.
Nothing. He knocked again, not disregarding the idea that Miss Vee may perhaps be ignoring him as she'd done before. Nothing. Ace frowned and glanced around the hall way. A clone in charge of keeping patient records was walking by.
"Excuse me," Ace said, catching his attention. The clone turned to face him.
"Where is Vee?" he questioned.
"If you are referring to Miss Kaveechee, she is currently at the docking station," replied the med clone, looking Ace up and down with scrutiny. Ace couldn't see why she would be there, except for...Oh no! As soon as a thought occurred to him, he launched off, praying he reached the docking station on time.
It was somewhat difficult to make out where he was going, especially when all doors and halls looked the same (blast Kaminoan designers) but he managed. There was no way Vee would be leaving this station today, not until his eyes were healed properly.
Ace was a fast runner, unfortunately however, his boots weren't accustomed to freshly cleaned and slippery floors. Upon his arrival at the docking station, Ace's balance was lost when his boots' grip on the floor lost traction. He slid right past the door way and onto the floor. Lucky for him, no one caught his blunder and he recovered extraordinarily fast. Jolting up he glanced out the dock door way and onto the bay platform.
He spotted a shape that looked like Vee but she was neither on a ship nor getting on one. He wondered if he was looking at the wrong person but then he heard her voice. She was saying good bye. Vee was shaking hands and giving hugs to four armored clone soldiers, one by one beginning to board the nearest vessel. Ace carefully stepped down onto the dock and made his approach.
Despite them all looking alike, Ace could see that these four were the group which Vee usually spent time with. Apparently they were on the same work force and were being sent back to war. He felt a slight envy but it melted away the moment he came close enough to see Vee's face. She departed with Jar last and this farewell was undoubtedly the longest. Ace tried not to watch and kept his distance, simply standing by, glancing about the dock casually though it was a pointless act since all he saw was hazy shapes anyway.
"I'll miss you," Jar was saying.
"And I will too. You take care of yourself. I don't want to see you back here again, you hear me?" Vee had replied.
"Well, I don't know. I might get shot just to come visit again," Jar teased. Was there something between these two? Ace couldn't tell but it sounded like it.
"Can you write to me or..call or something? Forgive me I don't know how this all works," Vee was embarrassed.
"Sure I'll write, I have your holopad contacting number," Jar said.
"Alright then good bye,"
"Good bye,"
This was the segment where they parted. Ace didn't want to watch for some reason. Whether they kissed or simply hugged or shook hands, he didn't know and tried not to care. Only after all the clones had loaded up and the ship's engine thrummed to life did Ace look over. He decided to make his approach over to Vee now.
"They'll be fine. They've got the right stuff," he said. Vee didn't turn around to face him but watched the ship until it was far into the stars.
"Yes, they'll be fine," she repeated, as if to comfort herself. After a moment she continued, "I really hate this job," she sighed, "One minute you're saving lives and the next you're watching them go off to war again...back into danger."
Ace had never considered the effects of a clones life on ordinary civilians or medics. Clones were always looked at as simple tools made of flesh. This is how Ace had been raised, and to see someone care about it so much was odd. It actually made him uncomfortable. Why, he couldn't figure out. Ace stood just beside her and she looked over towards him finally.
"Even your annoying shebs will be gone before I know it. It seems I can't hold on to anything here. I have nothing to cling to in this line of work." This was a new side of Vee Ace hadn't seen nor known possible. She was open like a book, showing her discomfort and sadness, her vulnerability and fears; something he himself had never done. He strove to change the subject.
"I wasn't aware you knew Mandoa',"
"Only swears which I've picked up from being around all these Mando men," she answered with a guilty smile.
"Ah," Ace sniffed and rubbed his eyes briefly.
"They getting worse?"
"How'd you know?" Ace asked.
"Why else would you be down here? Not to say goodbye to my friends I'm sure," she remarked. Ace grimaced. That burned a little.
"Well... you'd be right," he confessed.
"Come on," Vee took his arm as she had done before and began to guide him away, "How many walls did you hit getting to me this time?"
"No walls but you missed an epic face plant to the floor a minute ago," Ace replied, "Who was the genious to clean the floors and not leave a cation sign?"
Vee laughed. It felt good to make her laugh; it was an unexpected pleasure which Ace found in that moment.
...
My hands were cool on his flesh. Ace's eye lids were practically burning up and it frightened me a moment. But it was this time, and only this time, that when I closed my eyes to search out the issue, I saw something. I felt something. I retracted a minute later with the expression of new understanding dawning on my face.
"The toxins which your eyes are reacting to have gotten into your eye veins and are infecting your pupil fluids. You can't see anything clearly because your pupils will not dilate," I informed him, "And I know how to fix it now," I added smiling even though he probably couldn't see it. Ace's own expression lit with relief and excitement.
He leaned forward from the chair quickly as if the realization it itself was healing him.
"Excellent! So now you can fix me and I'll be on my way tomorrow," he said.
"Well, not tomorrow. I'm not sure how many days of concentration and healing trances it will take to bring your eyes to full health," I explained.
"That's alright, as long as I know they can be fixed," Ace answered resolutely, still exuberant despite his strong tone. He was smiling and it was the first time I'd seen him do that with genuine meaning.
"So I have a few other clones I must to attend to and then I'll be back around lunch to start the healing process," I said, standing up from the chair that faced him.
"Very well," he replied nodding. Was it just me or was he actually acting patient? I couldn't believe my ears and as I walked out I kept my gaze on him watchfully. He just stood there, all calmness, watching what he saw of me in return until I shut the door. Unbelievable...
I did not return to him until later that day and when I did, the process of getting him to relax was quite hectic. Despite his realitively calm demeanor, when I touched him with the Force, his spirit was restless and caught up with strife. I didn't know why, perhaps because of his tumultuous role in the war as a fighter pilot but, consequently, it was harder to get him into that trance. I knew how to initiate the process since it was my field of expertise but it was still difficult. He layed down just fine for me.
It wasn't that he wasn't willing, after all he wanted to be healed, but it was that he would not relax mentally. I was becoming annoyed.
Sighing, I reached out and placed a hand on his chest. Maybe I could manage to flow some peace right into him. However, when I tried this, instead of my spirit influencing his, it went the opposite direction. His pent up stress and anxiety reached into me and I found myself caught up in it.
"Why won't you just relax already?!" I burst, frustration flooding my chest.
"I'm trying alright! You don't think I want to get healed?! I'm as relaxed as I've ever been!" he spat back, in turn bursting in retaliation.
"If you were relaxing I wouldn't be yelling at you!" I denied.
"Then I don't know what you're talking about!" Ace shouted, his hands flailing with his steaming vent of anger, "Your relax and my relax are two different things!"
I went to retort and say something about him being delusional but refrained and bit my lip when he suddenly said,
"Show me. Show me how to find peace then," he ordered. I swallowed. How would I do that? None the less, it was my only option.
"Okay..." My mind settled and I forced myself to think about things that made me calm. Usually I meditated but he was a clone and wouldn't understand that concept. I had to sift further into what it meant to have peace. I swallowed again, this time breathing slowly and sat down beside him on the bed.
"Breath deeply and slowly," I said first.
I became an example and did so myself. I put a hand on his chest to make sure he was doing the same.
"Deeper," I commanded, feeling his breath still somewhat short. Only when I could feel his whole chest move slowly up then down was I satisfied.
"Keep your eyes closed," I said next, "And become one with the moment," I said, still breathing deeply.
"One with the moment? What the heck does that me-,"
"It means stop thinking about the future! Embrace where you are now and what is going on. Let all worries or excitement for what will happen or what could happen fade to black," I interrupted.
"But-"
"Embrace!" I cut him off again quickly, not wanting to hear his excuses. He growled and I slapped his chest for punishment. After a moment he continued to breath deeply and I rested my hand on his chest once again, trying to funnel what peace I could into him.
"Feel the moment, take in where you are, the smells the sensations and simply breath," I continued. I watched Ace slowly begin to sink into a comfortable rest.
His face after a while displayed small signs of relaxation in the way his eye lids rested, the way his mouth was softly shaped, the way his eye brows lifted slightly. I rubbed his chest slowly to reward him. He was doing it and I could sense a different spirit in him now. It was one of tranquility, calmness...enjoyment.
I leaned forward, knowing this was the best time, and gently touched his forehead, removing my forefinger as softly as I had first lain it. He was out. The trance had begun. From this moment on I watched him intently. He somehow became so attractive when he lay in peace. His face, though the same as his brothers at first glimpse, was different and appealed to me.
I let him remain in this trance for the total of an hour before I woke him. It was simple, I just slammed a pillow in his face and he was awake. (Just kidding!) No, I didn't do that. I tapped his forehead similarly to the way I had done before and he stirred. His eyes flashed open and what I saw was amazing. An even darker brown then before, but they were clearer and looked beautifully alive.
"What do you see?" I asked him curiously, my heart longing for a positive responce. "White," he answered with a smirk. My expression drooped.
"Just, white?" I inquired, hopefully.
"And a girl. A Zabrak I think," he answered, reaching up to touch the tip of one of my crown horns.
"I hadn't seen those before," he said in wonder.
"Still blurry?" I asked him.
"Only a little. Not as bad as they were. In fact, I'm seeing just like my eyes were when they first started acting up," he said, sitting up and almost into me. He was smiling and we were close. I leaned away from him, feeling awkward.
"Thanks. That was...an interesting experience, but I'm appreciative," he said. I smiled back softly.
"It's my job."
