Chapter 10: Sleep

The cantina's started to fill up, and the noise level has grown considerable since I cam in a few hours ago. Zeke and I have almost run out of things to talk about, but I think he's started to consider asking me about my disappearance again. He's on edge, unsure…

"Question: How many missions can a Jedi run over a 6 year period?"

"Answer: So many I've lost count."

I don't reply, just sit and listen to the chatter. It's soothing; it washes some of the memories I have of this place away for a while.

"Wil and Syra went looking for you six months after you were reported missing. Did they ever find you?"

I blink. Why does he have to bring them up? I'm trying to forget them right now. Of course, he doesn't know that…

"They were so devastated when the news cam back. Syra cried for days, and the Masters were afraid of what Wil might've done if-"

"Stop." My voice is cold, without feeling. It masks the raging swirl of emotions inside of me: despair, sadness, anger. "I don't want to hear it."

Zeke looks surprised. "I've never heard you sound like that before… What happened to you, Kaie? What made you like this?"

I open my mouth to snap at him, but find my eyes starting to tear up and I'm unable to produce sound. I stand up abruptly and head for the door.

"Kaie!"

Where are you going?

I don't know.

Do you care?

No.

You have to be going somewhere.

Do I? Do I really?

You can't wander forever.

I roll my eyes. I can still hear Zeke behind me. How long is he going to follow me?

"Kaie!"

He sounds desperate. If he gives me some corny line about how he doesn't want to lose me again, I swear I'll hurt him. Or something.

I'm power walking now. I won't run. I won't.

"Kaie, watch out!"

I look up. My eyes widen. That speeder hadn't been there before. And why is it so clo- kriff kriff kriff! Pain rips through my body, and I'm falling. No, I've been run over. I can hear my friend calling for help. I want to tell him I'm alright, but I'm not. I can't feel my left leg, and my chest burns with every breath I take. At least I'm breathing at all.

You shouldn't be conscious, Kaie. Go to sleep.

Why?

Go to sleep. The pain will go away.

For a little while. I close my eyes and sleep.