Chapter 15: Out
I'm still trying to absorb what Zeke's told me, and I'm not doing a very good job. The hospital walls, so bleak and white and somehow depressing, aren't helping. I need out. I need out now.
"Zeke?"
"Yes?"
"Get me out of this place."
He frowns at me. "Kaie, you-"
"I can't stand another minute in this bed. It's driving me crazy, and I don't see how they expect anyone to heal in a room like this."
I can just see the wheels turning underneath his skull.
"If you go into a healing trance once we're out…"
I nod eagerly. "I will, I promise."
He eyes me dubiously.
"Don't you trust me?"
"I'll be right back," he sighs as he pushes himself out of his seat.
Poor man, having to take care of you.
At least he doesn't live in my head.
That would interesting.
Shove it, buddy.
Ma'am, yes ma'am!
"Can you walk?" Zeke asks when he comes back into the room.
I roll my eyes. "I have a broken ankle and a couple of broken ribs. Do you think I can walk, Zeke?"
"You're just determined to make this as difficult for me as you can, aren't you?" He's grinning. Why is he grinning?
"You don't seem to mind much."
"Oh, really?"
He's still grinning. "Yes, really."
"Would you care for a hoverchair, or shall I carry you?"
I blink. The man can't be serious. Either one of those options would hurt like crazy, but he doesn't have to ask me that question.
"I'll take a hoverchair, if you please."
"Stang."
I smile sweetly at my friend. "I'm sure you'll find other opportunities to attempt to 'carry me off', Zeke. You're smart like that."
He flashes me his best debonair smile.
Soon (though not soon enough), we're back at the spaceport where my ship is docked.
"You're sure you won't stay on Coruscant?" He's been bugging me about that for the past half hour.
"I'm sure. I need to get away from humanity for a while."
"But why?"
And, finally, I snap. The dam's just broke and everything comes rushing out. "I need to because all I've ever done for the galaxy is hurt it. I hurt everyone when I got captured, and when I was offered the chance to come back and didn't take it. I can tell you've been hurting lately. You're too easy to read. I didn't just hurt Wil and Syra, I killed them. And, Jeren, too. They're all gone because of me. I even killed my own Sith master. I'm not who I used to be, Zeke." I don't stop to register the look on his face or the words he's attempting to form. I just push myself out of that hoverchair and limp my way up the ramp. Once it's shut, I go straight to the cockpit, take off, lay in my destination and jump to hyperspace. And then I go sit down on my bunk and sob.