A factory full of civilians on a war torn backwater was the last place Jazira expected to find him. She was sure he’d still be flying, be a hired gun, be doing what he loved.
Years changed a person. She knew too well.
Clifford Gentry - one of the lead engineers in the facility now. Married. Children. She’d gone back to wearing her old hooded robe before she tried to take the base, her other stuff still needed repairs.
He didn’t recognize her. Not her voice, not her Force… Too much time had passed. They were different people now.
Some comfort that thought is.
When they got back to the Canyon base his wife ran up to him - beautiful woman, strong curves, no nonsense attitude, knew how to handle a blaster - leaped into his big strong arms and kissed the daylights out of him. His co-workers applauded and cheered.
He isn’t the same man she abandoned when she fled, fearful of how he’d take the news she was Force Sensitive. Not the same man who kissed her under the crystal stars of Ruusan. Not the same man who taught her everything of a life she ran from.
That could be you a little voice in her head tells her.
“Are you all right my…” Tharan reaches out to touch her shoulder, seeming to know she’s upset. She turns, far more venom in her voice than needed, as she jerks away from his touch.
“I am not your Jedi, Tharan.” She snaps. Holiday appears and hides behind Tharan. “We know perfectly well why.”
Something tugs on her robes and she looks down. The child can’t be more than 7, blond hair like her mother, bright green eyes and freckles like her papa.
“Did you save my Daddy?” She asks, the gap in her teeth makes her ‘s’ whistle. Jazz kneels down to be on her level and smiles.
“I did. Your Daddy is a brave man.” She notices the tear tracks on the girls face. “Bet you are brave like him too.”
“Na’uh… I cried.” She looked down, embarrassed. “Brave people don’t cry.”
“Sure they do.” Jazz reached under her hood and undid the knot in her necklace. The necklace that didn’t come off, even got into a fist fight with a Jedi master over it. She held it out to the girl. “Here. When you feel like you’re going to cry or you got something to worry about… rub the glass. It’s helped me.”
“But what’s gunna help you now?” Those bright green eyes blinked at her and for a moment she almost said her answer out loud.
“Jessie, come on over and give your Papa a hug!” the girl’s mother called and she did. She jumped up and got spun around and giggled. Jazira turned and headed for the shuttle launch point. She had other places to go, more good to do.
She didn’t turn around when she heard him call her name… he gave her the necklace after all. He ought to recognize it. Tharan didn’t say anything, nor did Holiday as they got on the shuttle and left.
Jazira’s hand went to her throat for the last comfort that wasn’t there anymore. She gave up and fiddled with her Lightsaber instead. She had her new life. He had his. That’s just how it was now.
Didn’t stop Jessie’s little question from running circles in her head. She lets it stew for a few minutes before she feels misty and shoves it all back. She has a planet to free, a job to do, too much riding on her shoulders to regret something that’s her own damn fault. When they arrive Tharan looks at her expectantly, sure she has something on her mind to say.
I’m not brave. I’m not a hero. Nothing’s gunna help me now kid.
“Lets get to work.”
(Source: derpsidejedi)
