Casualties of War

[Josh Dragovalor]

The war with the Mandalorian Empire - The terrorist organization that called themselves the Clans Under Mandalore, had begun whether the Silver Jedi Order liked it or not. What they and their Sith Empire allies were doing was unforgivable, on planets like Eshan and Tabaab. And for the first time in many years, their atrocities had drawn Jedi Master Josh Dragonsflame into battle.

News had spread quickly of the Sith Empire’s Darth Prazutis enacting a dark sided ritual that attempted to lay waste to the entire planet as well as the Jedi that had come to liberate Azure from UCM’s stranglehold. Hundreds died in the Sith attack, forcing Josh to quite nearly sacrifice his life to enact a Shield of Light in order to save as many lives as possible while the Jedi evacuated civilians, but even if he had somehow narrowly survived, the cost was great. The Jedi was severely wounded as a result in a way that bacta wasn’t going to heal right away. He’d spent extensive hours comatose, possibly not to wake up at all while he was worked on. But they managed to save his life, though it would be some time before he recovered full mobility.

And that meant he was absolutely bored.

The fact of the matter was that aside from a short venture off-world, Josh had scarcely left Kashyyyk while he had been on injury leave. And the Jedi Master was going a little stir crazy. Sure, he had Jason to keep him company but sitting around doing nothing, and having to walk around with a walking stick, was getting to be too much. At the least, he would be meeting up with [member="Scherezade deWinter"] who was coming around to check on him and spend some time together. It had been a bit though, and he would surely be happy to see her.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

She had been indisposed after the war above Azure. While others had gotten hurt in a variety of creative ways, Scherezade herself had nearly been sliced into two by the weapon that the damned Mandalorian had wielded. She'd managed to undo some of it with her acid, but not enough. It had only been stupid luck that her armor had not shattered, keeping the wounds from being able to stretch openly more. And still, recovery had lasted longer than she would have liked. The scar that ran from her right shoulder all the way down to her left hip was still an angry red, but she paid it no mind, knowing that it would heal soon enough anyway.

But when the information began to pour in… Scherezade had been sitting, for a change, at one of the makeshift offices the Confederacy offered its birds. She'd just wanted to sit somewhere that wasn't on her ship, and would not attract the annoying gazes that she wasn't sure what to do with. In the past, they had been openly mocking her with them. Now… Now she simply didn't know, and wasn't in the mood to guess.

Flicking through the files, she did not pause until she came by a name she knew very well. Josh Dragonsflame. Her best friend. One she had not seen much since returning her failed attempt at killing herself. He had been on Azure too, but on the ground. Which meant… Scherezade sighed. She'd heard about what happened on the grounds. He was lucky to even be alive after that. Sighing, the Crow that everyone thought was a Pathfinder rose. Minutes later, she was already aboard her ship, flying straight for Kashyyyk.

Not too long after that, she marched directly to where she could sense Josh was kept. She'd sent word ahead, feeling it inappropriate to just barge in and kick his bed for having the gall to get injured like that. Following solid advice she'd received from Madalena, she also had a small present in tow for Jason, who wasn't as little as he used to be anymore.

Tapping on the door, the Sithling waited patiently. The file had said that mobility had been hurt. She just hoped it wasn't too badly hurt.

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

A child answered the door. A five year old with short blonde hair, with a Padawan braid flaying from the back. The braid looked a bit messy and like it had been played with and adjusted a bit too much, which was fairly typical for someone of Jason's age and disposition. The child stared up at her a moment, as if trying to tell which one she was, before looking back into the room.

"Dad! Chezade is here!"

Well, it was close enough to her name for a five year old. After a few moments, Jason opened the door fully to let her in. Josh was sitting on a chair in his office. There were some building blocks near his feet, indicating he and Jason had been playing at some point recently while waiting for her. When she came in, Josh smiled warmly as he gingerly made his way up, using a walking stick to get to his feet.

"Hey!"

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Scherezade stared at the little kid with the braid, her jaw dropping open for more than a second. That was Jason now?! Wasn't he supposed to be the size of an Ewok? And where the heck had that braid come from?! Sure, Madalena mentioned something about Jedi training but… Wait, wasn't he supposed to be a smaller munchkin? And the way he said her name… She wanted to be upset about it, really. Mispronunciations of her name were a sore spot. But instead her insides turned to mush and she wanted to… Pat his head. Yes. It was awkward. She wasn't sure what to do about it.

Moments later, she was in Josh's office. The look of slight bewilderment was still on her face, but it was nothing compared to her expression when she realized Josh was using a stick to walk. "The krak?" she asked, "sit your butt down." Came an order. Ever the gentle woman. "You don't need to get up because I'm here. Rest that body."

Leaning against the nearest wall, Scherezade folded her arms across her chest. She still didn't like being touched; being dead had not changed that. But still, once she'd gotten used to seeing him like that, the smile on her face was as warm as the one he had given her but moments ago. "Why'd you go get hurt like that when you have the kid to raise?" she asked. Scherezade was completely hopeless when it came to small talk. She just didn't know how to do it. Jumping straight to the point was… Pretty much the only thing she did know, "And why is he in Jedi training? You people are too damned gentle and nice and all of that to give him proper tools."

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

It was a complicated name, she couldn't blame a five year old for that. He'd get it eventually, if she came around more. Maybe tried to actually teach him the name. Though Josh was surprised when Scherezade gave him a warm smile. He was used to that from Madalena, but Scherezade? He actually notably squinted a moment, as if trying to see if this was Madalena playing a prank. But no, this was very much Scherezade. For all their similarities, he had very quickly learned how to tell them apart.

Another thing that told him it was Scherezade was that she jumped straight to the point.

"Yeesh, you and my brother would get along swimmingly" Josh joked, chuckling slightly as he sat back down at her order. "Well, maybe not... He's still kind of sore around Sith. Can't say I blame him, they effectively ruined and dominated most of his life until now."

He shrugged his shoulders. He had figured Scherezade would be upset at him for putting himself at risk when he had Jason to raise.

"This is part of the job" He remarked, looking her in the eyes. "I have upheld our promise and haven't taken unnecessary risks to my life. This was necessary. I am one life, and there are hundreds of kids out there just like Jason who were losing their moms and dads all around me. I took a risk so even more didn't die."

He looked to Jason who had occupied himself with running after Porgbert, who had started flying around the room. And he couldn't help but smile.

"See that there? That innocence? That laid back, unbridled joy? That would have been destroyed if I had died, yes. And I will do everything in my power to prevent that. But in that moment, I knew that I couldn't be selfish. Not when my decision not to act could have destroyed that same innocence in so many."

He let out a sigh. "It's also why I have contemplated returning to the battlefield once more if it becomes necessary. Azure opened my eyes to what organizations like the Sith Empire and UCM are doing. Mass genocide is nothing to them. The hundreds of innocent lives lost mean nothing to them, nor how many times they break up a family like this one. They did it in the hundreds in an instant, I watched it happen. I know you probably don't care about that, but... I do. And if you ever have kids yourself one day, I think you'll understand where I'm coming from."

To answer the question about the Jedi training though... "There are places that I do not wish us be found. Jason being there with a Force Presence made him a danger to that, and I refused to take him away from those places when he loves them so much. The main reason for his training was to allow him to control it and hide it if need be, which he can now do. As far as why he's still training now... We made the decision that perhaps it is best that he learn to use his abilities, at least. An untrained Force User is dangerous to themselves and others. And you know Jason's safety means the world to me."

He looked to Jason, then. "Hey Jason? Why don't you show Scherezade what you've learned?" He asked Jason, who perked up at that. Josh knew that Jason was very proud of what he had learned, and it was written all over his face. To a child, these were like magic tricks. Though Josh had stressed the importance of hiding his presence enough for Jason to understand it.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

His brother. Between the things Madalena mentioned, she'd said something about brother and other family, but Scherezade couldn't remember what exactly it was just there and then. Wasn't his brother supposed to be dead? That was what he'd told her anyway, before… Before the thing happened. "What's his story, anyway?" she asked with a shrug. She couldn't even remember a name or a face. There would have to be awkward re-introductions.

She looked to Jason again as Josh spoke. Innocence. Unbridled joy. Those were not things she actually knew. Sometimes she thought about putting Jason in a cage, not to hurt him or take his freedom away, but just to study how that thing all worked, how it sat together. But she wouldn't. One, because it was Josh's son. Two, because it would probably not help or work anyway.

"The other children aren't yours bundles of innocence and joy though," she pointed out as a matter of fact, "you can't be responsible for everyone. And you can't sacrifice your child's innocence and joy to save others. That's not a choice that you get to make, that's a choice only Jason gets to. Have you ever asked him if he was okay with that?"

He could speak all he wanted about wanting to protect her own children, but he was either ignoring or forgetting the fact that Scherezade was fiercely protective for those she cared about. Even, too often, when they cared nothing back to her. She had thrown herself between her friends and certain death on multiple occasions in the past, and she knew she would again in the future. She also knew that she too had no issues with mass genocides or massacres. It was just an easy excuse to let her loose on the field of battle, give her an enemy to point at.

But there was something she heard in his words…

"We?" Scherezade asked as Jason made their way to them with that pride that Josh had spoken of. But what we had he meant? Was Ra part of the decisions about Jsaon's life? That sounded… All wrong.

"If ever a danger so fierce arrives that you need to hide him," she said quietly, only for his ears, "I will take him to Endelaan." And she would do it. Despite it meaning she would have to face the shame of showing herself there. But at least… In case of need, it was a place where Jason could truly remain hidden. For as long as needed be.

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Which was probably for the best. She probably knew by now that despite being a Jedi, Josh was not above murdering anyone who treated Jason so cruelly. He was daddy first, Jedi second.

"He's not old enough to understand" Josh pointed out. "And I understand the risks of doing what I do. I made that decision a long time ago, and I will stick to it. Because somebody has to. Because if I didn't have these powers, these abilities... I'd want someone there to keep Jason safe and happy, if I can't. I'd want someone to protect his innocence, protect his happiness, if I can't. In a galaxy full of the biggest monsters, and we both know after Azure just what I'm talking about... That's the one thing I would want the most. And I made the decision to be that person for someone else. Just as if it were someone else, they'd have to take a risk too."

He let out a sigh. "I did consider it, you know. Walking away. But if I walk away... All those lives lost are on me. And I can't live with that. So I have to do this. And in terms you might understand better... It is because I have to do this that I bust my arse to learn more. To be more knowledgeable, to be stronger, to be someone that won't have to deal with the worst. So Jason won't have to."

Scherezade asked about a "we" and he nodded his head. "Ra had some input in the discussion of what to do. I never wanted him to live this life. But she pointed out that if Jason doesn't learn control, we will never be able to go anywhere and have a guarantee that he's safe."

She told him she would take him away if need be, and he shook his head.

"I appreciate it. But unnecessary. If we are discovered..."

His eyes showed a look that told that "Jedi second" story very well.

"I'll kill them first. Nobody touches Jason. But these precautions are to ensure that will never be necessary."

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"You will not be discovered on Endelaan," Scherezade smiled, "It's not on any known map, and it's been secret and hidden since before the Gulag. Prior to my parents becoming its rulers, it was kept hidden and secret for thousands and thousands of years. If you need to go into hiding, the only safer option would be to jump into another dimension, and even that's not a guarantee because you never know what other dimensions hold. Wouldn't wanna land in a Darkness of your own, you know?"

Sighing, she poured herself a glass of water. It wasn't an easy thing. She could understand the fierce need to protect your loved ones; there was no need for her to have children of her own to know that. Where she and Josh differed was mostly on their view about strangers. As far as Scherezade was concerned, if someone wasn't a specific loved one, they could burn. There was a very small amount of energies she was willing to expand to save those she did not hold very close to her heart.

"You never know what might be necessary in the future," she sighed again, "my mother never thought she would have to hide me and my brother. And yet here we are, with her hiding having succeeded, and every possible thing that could've gone wrong after that having gone absolutely wrong in all the horrible ways."

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"What you've told me so far of Endelaan doesn't strike me as a place that would be suitable for raising Jason" Josh pointed out. "Not that I don't appreciate the offer, of course. I know your heart is in the right place, Scherezade. But while it might not seem like it, what with me being so willing to risk myself if it comes to it... I need to look out for Jason not just in the short term, but in the long term. If he must be hidden, it will be somewhere that he is safe. And what you've told me of that world, a world that I would not be welcome in, if I recall... I don't think that Jason would be safe there. Not that safety is my biggest concern, as Kashyyyk is a safe place."

The whole thing about it being a Sith-run world that would look down on Scherezade for not being like them, and probably kill Josh if he stepped foot on that planet? He was not bringing Jason there. Nah uh. No way. It would be even more dangerous than staying on Naboo if they were found. But it wasn't the only reason, either.

"If it becomes necessary, we'll likely just have to stay on Kashyyyk as a permanent residence. As much as the thought doesn't sit very well with me" He admitted, letting out a sigh. "Right, I suppose I haven't had a chance to tell you, I told Madalena while you two were still together and I'm still trying to differentiate what I told each one of you" He spoke up, considering how to best word this. "We get away from Kashyyyk and move to a private residence at times because it's impossible for Jason to have a normal life there. It's impossible for me to get away from being the Jedi Master... And impossible for Jason to get away from being another student with expectations. It's impossible to get away from constantly being harassed by business and other things. Where we go, we can have that... And Jason will be safe.

And be able to have a real childhood, be part of a real family... For once. That is what I mean by Jason being discovered. If our home... Is discovered. That is why Jason needed to learn control. Where we go, we do not wish to be found. And if people that may wish to harm us found it... Well, we would never have that again. If we cannot have that, then Jason would be better off staying at Kashyyyk. At least there, he would be safe and surrounded by people that will protect him. It just wouldn't be a very happy existence. And I don't think Endelaan would make him any happier."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]