Paneau: capital city of Dalon
Dalon Medical Center
6.0 APC

Though Garran had been awake for almost an hour, he had been alone in his room the entire time. He had considered getting the attention of the medical staff passing by in the hall, but they seemed so busy. He didn't want to bother them needlessly; except for slight fatigue, he felt alright. He was comfortable in his bed, he wasn't hungry or thirsty, so he remained quiet, left to wonder how he had cheated death, and what had become of the children...and the Kel Dor.

His father had to have confronted the Kel Dor, since his was the last voice he had heard before blacking out, but Cade had been at Garran's side as he woke up with Elena's help. Had Cade defeated the mercenary? Had he been wounded, too? How had the Kel Dor even been able to get into the Rys'tihn Retreat? So many questions were swirling through his head, he was beginning to get a headache thinking about it all. He closed his eyes briefly to calm himself, but he must have fallen back asleep at some point. Before he had noticed much time passing, he heard a soft voice beside him, waking him from his light slumber.

"Garran?"

He took in a slow breath as he opened his eyes to his visitor, and seeing Elena seated calmly beside him, he smiled at her, much to her relief.

"Elena..."

Not expecting his voice to sound so terribly hoarse and gruff, his expression immediately fell as he reached up and massaged his throat. It didn't hurt, but he sounded awful...

"Your doctors said there's some residual swelling," Elena was quick to soothe, "but it'll go down on its own. Unless it's hurting you..."

Garran shook his head. "I sound a lot worse than I feel."

She smiled at him again, brushing her hand against his cheek affectionately. It was a gesture his mother had been fond of in his youth, but to keep himself from getting lost in memories of her, he realized there was someone else's attention he craved, someone he expected to walk into the room behind Elena, as he had promised...

Elena was able to read his gaze. "He had to leave, Garran... I'm sorry. It's too public here, especially after all that's happened."

Though he tried to hide his disappointment, he knew she had seen it on his face. Still, he nodded, moving on to the other questions he had. "How did the Kel Dor get into the Retreat?"

She sighed, almost reluctant to answer. "He held onto the outside of the shuttle as it left the abandoned factory where they rescued Milowi. She was so critical after her rescue, she had to be treated almost immediately. They didn't know it, but...they brought him exactly where he wanted to go."

"Are the children okay?"

"Yes," she smiled once more, "they're just fine, thanks to you. Even Cordira."

"And Yhren?"

"She's...mending. She had to help her brother before she was completely healed, so she's had to rest a little more." She paused a moment as a strange expression rolled over her face and her eyes glistened, her voice quavering as she continued softly. "She told us what you did, Garran, hiding them in the tunnel... That was so...brilliant, and brave of you... I don't know how to thank you."

Believing himself unworthy of her praise, he simply shrugged. "I just...reacted. It was a reflex. All I knew was I had to protect the kids. Everything else just...happened."

Surprising him, she laughed lightly as she shook her head. "You are definitely your father's son." She took in and released a slow breath, gently rubbing her large belly in a moment of thought before she returned to him. "There's...someone else who'd like to see you. Do you feel up to another visitor?"

Unsure who else it could be since his father wasn't able to stay, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Still so appreciative, she stood from her seat and carefully leaned over him, giving him a light kiss at his temple to further express her thanks. "I'll be just down the hall."

He watched her leave, amazed at how large her stomach really was compared to her petite frame. She had to be close to delivering her third child, but still she checked on him, worried for him as one of her own children...

Hearing footsteps echoing into his room, he turned to see his new guest...only he wasn't sure who exactly was standing beside him. It was a woman, he could tell that much, but a hooded cloak hid her identity until she pulled it back. Her short, spiky black hair threw him off, but the longer he studied her pale, gaunt face...he realized he knew her. He could hardly breathe in his shock.

"Dee!"

His closest friend and cousin he hadn't seen for months smiled broadly back at him, quickly pulling him into a generous embrace as he sat up in his bed. He held her back tightly, afraid she might disappear if he let go. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

Pulling back from him, she brushed a stray tear from her cheek as she laughed. "After I heard what you did for my niece and nephew...I had to come and thank you myself. And scold you," she teased. "When I sent you here, I never told you to take over my job."

Garran had to laugh, too. "I guess it's just in our genes."

Deilia shook her head at him, still grinning from ear to ear. She had begun to say something more, but he spoke up first.

"So are you home? Do you get to stay?"

As her expression slowly fell...he already knew the answer before she responded.

"No, Garran, I...I can't stay. I'm not even supposed to be here. See? I had to change my look so no one would recognize me." She weakly gripped a handful of her short hair, normally long and blond, still seemingly unused to its new style. Looking at him apologetically, she gave him a faint smile. "But I had to come see you, even if it's just for a short time. You deserve that much."

Defeated, Garran sank back down onto his bed, struggling to accept her fate. Though it had been brewing in his mind for some time, he never thought he'd actually get the chance to act on it...

"Then I want to go with you."

Stunned, Deilia blinked. "What? Why? Why would you want to leave? You can have anything you want here."

But he had prepared his arguments well. "It's not that I've been treated poorly here, but the very opposite. Koril and Elena have been nothing but kind and gracious to me, but... I've never really felt that I belonged. It's like everyone tiptoes around me, and I guess I understand why, but...I'm just so out of place here."

Sympathetic, she carefully sat on his bed just beside him. "Garran, it's something you get used to over time. You're still acclimating to everything, to everyone. It's not going to happen overnight."

He continued, undaunted. "There are too many people here."

Looking more worried for him, she picked up his hand and held it between both of hers on her lap. "Listen...I know you've been through a lot of changes these past few months. You've been exposed to things that you never knew growing up. But this... Garran, this is the life you were supposed to have. This is the life your mother was denied."

He couldn't tell her she was wrong, but he had already made up his mind. "I think I did well enough without it all these years, don't you?" He didn't expect her to answer, and she didn't. "Dee, I want to go with you. I promised you I would. And I owe it to you."

Confused, she shook her head. "You don't owe me, Garran. If anything, I am the one in your debt. You saved me from that fire."

He could only partially remember that day, and he still wasn't sure how he had been able to drag her unconscious body the entire way up the hill from his burning home completely on his own. He felt tired just thinking about the exertion it had to have taken, though he had no recollection of any fatigue after the ordeal.

"It's not enough."

Deilia watched him closely. "What do you mean?"

He took in and released a careful breath, swallowing to hopefully soothe his rough voice. "Dee...you were a friend to me when I was absolutely certain...that no one else in this galaxy knew or cared about me. There's no way I can repay that...but I want to try. I told you, wherever you go, I go, until you can come home."

Dumbfounded, she could only stare at him as she struggled to find her voice again. "Garran, it's not that simple..."

"Yes, it is."

Her gaze hardened, determined to change his mind. "I am always on the move. I can't stay in one place for very long."

He shrugged. "I was in the same place for seventeen years too long. I need to explore, see what I've missed."

"I am always isolated," she continued, her voice shaking just slightly. "It is a solitary, lonely existence."

"I know." With as much emotion and pleading as he could force through his ragged vocal chords, he went on. "Deilia...I wasn't aware of it until recently, but I have been an exile all my life. I learned that my mother chose that for me, for us. And even in our exile...she was never alone. She always had me." Already holding her hand, he tightened his grip, lightly emphasizing his words. "You don't deserve to be alone, Deilia. Please...let me be there for you, like you were for me."

With her expression softening by the moment, she released a trembling sigh, biting her lower lip as she thought. He waited patiently for what felt like minutes, imploring her as he held her gaze until she finally spoke.

"Okay," she answered softly, "but...only under one condition."

Relieved, he nodded enthusiastically. "Anything."

"You have to say goodbye to your father...properly." She gave a bitter laugh, rolling her eyes slightly at herself. "He may never speak to me after this, taking you away from him again."

Garran grinned. "I'll talk to him. And I'll make sure he knows...that it was my choice."

Her expression fell once more as she shook her head. "I'm afraid that might make it harder on him..."

Understanding what she meant, he nodded sadly. His mother had done the same thing to Cade more than eighteen years prior, choosing to leave him in the same manner.

Still, Deilia smiled fondly as she stood from his side, still grasping his hand. "I'll come back for you in a few weeks. Hopefully I won't change my mind between now and then."

"I won't let you."

She shook her head with a short laugh, knowing how evenly their stubbornness was matched. She squeezed his hand one last time and released it, pulling her hood back over her head as she quickly left his room. He watched her go sadly, wishing he could leave with her then, but he knew he still had some mending to do. With such a tremendous weight lifted from his shoulders, he sighed happily and returned to a light sleep.

Paneau: capital city of Dalon
Jax Residence
6.1 APC

Before Koril had even made it to the front step of the Jaxes' home, the door swept open, and Major Jax stood just beyond it in anticipation of his guest. What Koril didn't expect, though, was the completely blank expression on his cousin's face. It had been several weeks since they'd seen each other; Koril had ordered the major to take time off to recuperate and care for his family for a month at the very least. Though he knew it would drive Major Jax crazy, being forced to relinquish his duties at the Rys'tihn Manor, Koril had insisted. Surely Jax wasn't still upset with him, was he?

"Major," he addressed him with a curt nod, hoping to get a response out of him. When Jax remained silent, his left hand in a fist and trembling at his side, Koril arched his eyebrows with a cautious expression. "May I come in?"

Major Jax remained stoic, hardly seeming to breathe for long, tense moments before he snapped himself out of his stupor, nodding slightly and stepping aside to invite the High Commander into his home. With a quick wave of his hand to stay his Royal Guard escorts outside, Koril entered alone and followed Jax's lead. The major brought him to a spacious, humble living room, where Milowi was comfortably reclined on a lounge chair. At first she appeared asleep, breathing slowly and deeply, but the sound of their footsteps must have woken her. She raised her head and smiled wanly in greeting, awaiting an introduction as her sightless eyes searched in their general direction. Her smile began to fade with the passing silent moments, prompting Koril to speak up in Jax's stead.

"Hello, Milowi."

Her smile returned. "High Commander. Please, come in, have a seat, Sir."

"Thank you," he accepted kindly, stepping over to a couch just beside her. Expecting Jax to follow him, he looked back to him when he heard no footsteps behind him. Jax's blank expression had returned, and before Koril could speak, Jax suddenly turned squarely on his heel and left.

"I'll be outside."

Surprised by his curt exit, Koril immediately looked to Milowi just as her face turned pale in pain and embarrassment. He slowly sat beside her, unsure how to comfort her.

"Please," she began softly, "...forgive my husband. He's taken the reality of my...condition...very hard. He blames himself."

Koril took in and released a deep breath, saddened by her explanation. "I think he blames me, as well."

She didn't deny it, but his suspicion furthered her sorrow. "He's been getting better."

Somehow, Koril was able to keep the incredulous tone out of his voice. "That was...'better'?"

"Had you come here a few days ago...he wouldn't have even answered the door."

Understanding the major's state of mind, Koril leaned forward, supporting himself on his knees with his elbows as he stared at the floor between his feet. "Honestly...if I were in his place, I think I'd be the exact same way."

At that, Milowi finally smiled once more. "Sometimes I forget just how closely you two are related."

Glad to see her spirits lifted, he smiled, too, and continued onto the reason for his visit. "How are you doing, Milowi?"

"I'm alright, Sir," she answered appreciatively. "I'm still very...tired, and my stamina isn't anywhere near where it used to be. It's not coming back to me fast enough for my liking, either."

He suppressed a laugh. "I know that feeling very, very well."

She nodded with a small smile. "I remember."

Refusing to dwell on his own past, he returned his attention to her, keeping his voice quiet. "I know you've been recovering these past few weeks... Are you okay?"

Finally understanding that he wasn't concerned about her physical well being, her posture sagged the slightest bit as she rested her head back against the pillow behind her. She still had her face turned toward him, though, so he could read her resigned expression as she thought through her response before speaking.

"Sir...I had somewhere close to three weeks...to come to terms with the loss of my sight. I went through all the stages, and thankfully I was mostly alone through them all. At first, I was sure that he had just blocked out all the light to trick me into thinking I was blind as part of my...torture... Then came the anger, the desire to bargain with my captor...the depression... Eventually I decided that there was no way I was going to leave that room alive. I knew there was only so much of that electric current my body could survive before everything shut down, not just my vision.

"So when I heard that Elite Guard team as they found me in the mine," she continued, tears slowly forming in her eyes, "...I'd never been so happy to be half alive. I was hardly conscious," she laughed lightly, "but I knew I'd be okay. Sure, it's been a difficult transition, for us all, but...I can live with it." Pausing a moment, she seemed to be struggling to summon the strength to continue. "I get to hear my daughter's laugh again. I get to feel the warmth of my husband's touch again. I get to be with my family again, and I will always be nothing but grateful for that.

"I don't regret what happened to me, Sir, at all. I want you to know that. Aurin thinks he should have been the one the Kel Dor took. But when I swore my oath of loyalty to the Rys'tihn Royal Family, we both knew what dangers I had the potential to face in the field. He was made very much aware what might happen to me, but what he's seemingly forgotten is the fact that I was specifically trained for these situations. Interrogation, manipulation, torture... I was the best, and the worst, target the Kel Dor could've taken. I'm glad he chose me as his target. Anyone else might not have survived."

Moved deeply by her confession, Koril could hardly speak himself. "What can I do to help you, Milowi? How can I make it easier for you and your family?"

Genuinely taken aback by his question, she fumbled for an answer. "Really, Sir, we're okay... We've just been adjusting."

"How about a nav droid to help you during the day? When Tavyna returns to school and Major Jax comes back to the Manor - "

"High Commander," she interrupted with a kind smile, "...it's okay."

Determined, he sighed lightly. "There has to be something I can do, Milowi, please. You know I won't leave you alone until you let me help somehow."

Shaking her head with a resigned laugh, she gave in. "Alright. There is one thing that I need."

"Name it."

She drew in a slow breath, closing her eyes briefly. "Obviously there's no way I can continue to serve your family as a covert agent in the field. But, that does not mean that I forfeit my oath entirely. There's still a way that I can be involved. If you can put me in touch with the instructors of the next class of agents...I can share everything that I know. I can teach my replacement all the skills and techniques they need to do a better job than I did."

"Milowi..."

"I don't have to be able to see to pass on my knowledge to those who need it now. This is the one thing I will allow you to do for me, so please...let me share what I can."

Though still reluctant, he sighed after a moment and nodded. "Okay. I'll talk to Cade and get those instructors to contact you. In the mean time, you focus on resting and getting your energy back. I can tell you from experience...it takes a lot of patience. Just when you think you don't have any left...your family gives you just enough to keep going."

Appreciating his advice, she smiled and weakly extended her hand to him to shake his. An absurd gesture, he thought, and instead, he stood and delicately held her hand in both of his, which broadened her smile even more.

"Thank you, Sir, for coming to visit. It means a lot to me. And I know it means a lot to Aurin, too, he just...has a hard time expressing it right now."

"You let me know if I need to have a talk with him."

Surprising him, Milowi laughed as if he had told her a bad joke. "Would you listen to one of your officers telling you to shape up?"

He had to laugh, too. "I guess you're right."

Still smiling, she released a slow breath, fatigued from their lengthy discussion. "He'll come around."

He didn't doubt it. "Take care, Milowi. We'll talk again soon."

Easing her arm back down to her, he released her hand and quietly left. Through the front window, he watched from the back of his landspeeder as Major Jax returned to his wife's side in their living room. As Koril signaled to his guards to leave for the Manor, he saw Jax carefully drape a blanket over Milowi as she slept, his left hand trembling even more.