Six


The first thing I remember hearing was her laugh.

I was always aware of the blurred images moving around me, but in all honesty, I didn't care.

Her infectious giggle would come and go in time with the darkness.

I, I can't comprehend whether I am sleeping or dreaming. Thinking, is just too fekking hard.

One minute I'm back in the apartment I shared with her on Coruscant, then wham - I'm on a larty, bumping around and heading, I don't even know where.

The crew are all around me; Hardcase with the rotary to the right, Kix and Jesse behind, but I think they're all gone; it just doesn't make any sense!

Then the general is dishing out orders before he turns and looks at me, his eyes all aglow. I know then he's Sith and I try to scream out to the others but no one's listening.

No one seems to care! I look in my arms and I see Piia. She's there in the larty for feks sake!

I'm sad and angry at the same time.

No one stood up and asked the question.

Why?

Then I am being moved, and a familiar voice is constantly guiding me all the time gently urging me not to give up, to try, to wake, but I can't.

I don't want to.

Maybe I'm afraid?

The truth, I know is going to be harder than any battle I fought.

But she keeps talking to me; the whole time, she never stopped.

Silly stories about my past.

Our past.

"Hey big guy, remember that time on Teth when we thought we were all gonners? We managed to fight out way out that one didn't we? And what about those commando's that needed their shebs rescuing, Ion wasn't it? Yeah, that's right, Ion. Climber owes you one remember. You have to wake up Rexie, you just have to wake up."

I want to laugh and answer her but I can barely make a mumble let alone something that makes any sense.

Where was I anyway and why do I have this dull ache under my rib that just won't go away? I would rather the sharp pain from a decent injury than this slow, relentless one that tires me out.

Then I remember, and I don't want to wake up.

But then that laughter again; I'm pulled, pulled between the memory of the past and my uncertain future.

Without her.

I move slightly, more to reposition myself to quell the nagging pain, but I have no energy and I give in to the exhaustion and the next round of nightmares.

I don't even know how long I have been here. Day and night mean nothing to me.

More laughter.

How I want to see her. I ache to see her so I bring myself back; forward to the present.

It was like waking from a dream within a dream.

Every layer brought a fresh memory with it and each one was a little harder to push through.

As I become more and more conscious I gasp as I peel away the final layer and my eyes spring open in fright.

I look around and see her beautiful, familiar face staring down at me, smiling and welcoming.

It had happened.

It wasn't some bad dream.

My wife was murdered and I was perilously injured.

Piia.

My left hand begins to tremble.

But Piia was saved. Sitting in her arms and laughing, innocent of everything.

Her cherubic face didn't know such hate.

But I did.

I strained to refocus my eyes and moved my hand down to my hip, where my blaster should have been.

"Get away from her you witch!" I hiss as I attempt to lift myself off the bed.

"Well, well. Looky here," her painted, malformed face unmistakable. "Daddy's finally awake."