Ask Coruscant The End of All Things

[Talak Rand]

The Nomad had made all speed back to Coruscant, but the trip had been fairly long nonetheless. That had given him plenty of time to worry about everything on the trip. How badly was Trys hurt? Had she lost a limb? Had she died during his trip here? Was she even going to be conscious?

Calm down, Talak. You can't control any of that. Focus on what you can control, he told himself, forcing air into his lungs as the speeder raced to the hospital. He had no idea what he would find, but that didn't just apply to her physical state. The two hadn't exactly parted ways on the best of terms. This seemed to be a running theme, and he could only hope that she wouldn't immediately throw him out or have him shot or something else.

None of it mattered. He was going and kriff the consequences.

It took no small amount of restraint to actually be discreet as he worked his way inside to find her. The staff members were eager to help, but he knew that in short order he'd be reaching the floor where Trys was being kept. And he had no doubts that there were going to be half a police force standing guard around her after what had happened.

Okay, mind trick? Going in through the window? Trying to find...

Talak, is that you!? he heard from behind him and spun. It was the same crime scene tech he'd run into several times, and he marveled at his luck.

Oh man, are they not letting you in to see her because you don't have a badge? he frowned sympathetically.

He's with me, guys, he said to the two guards standing at the door before helping Talak through the perimeter.

A moment later Talak rounded the corner with the young investigator into Trys's room, unsure of how precisely he'd find her.

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys was awake only for an hour or two, and she was already back to work from her bed. She could barely speak, having to mostly write down what she wanted to say or using minimal words. A doctor had to come by to train her to use her voice again. She was still bandaged up and hooked up to IV. Even then, she had a datapad in her hand and the Holo on to play the latest news footage.

Her room was completely filled to the brim with flowers and sugary goods, an overwhelming about of love and support pouring in from other Rangers, Jedi and people she had never met before in her life. The community stood by her, and even the FWA Prime Minister had sent something over. It was beyond surprising and heartwarming, but her focus was on work.

She was rapidly typing a message to other Rangers about the intel they had gotten from the Knight of Ren’s ship. Trys wanted to plot a course to those coordinates as soon as possible. She saw another replay of the Chief announcing that the terrorist had been captured. Though it was a few days ago, it made her grimace.

Trys would never have wanted any of that announced. It was asking to have a retaliation, and the rangers were getting cocky. She shook her head, glancing over at the cup of broth. She had a hard time eating anything but liquid foods, and she was tired of how long this recovery was taking.

She sighed and leaned back against the pillow behind her. After a moment, she heard someone step into her room. Trys’s jaw tightened at once, and she wanted to do nothing but to throw something at him. She said nothing, but her vitals monitors were abruptly spiking. He would be able to tell she was incredibly enraged, but she didn’t have the strength to shout at him.

It was nothing but the erratic beeping of her vitals and a silent, cold glare.

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak finally made it into the hospital room and could see that Trys was definitely in bad shape. Tubes were sticking out of her all over, she was hooked up to telemetry equipment, and she looked like she was in a great deal of pain.

Look who came to visit! the CSI tech said happily with a smile, assuming that Trys and Talak were actually friends, and not knowing... any of the history. He looked down at his beeper and his eyes went wide as he realized he had a call to take and rushed out of the room, leaving Trys and Talak alone.

Now that he was here, he wasn't so sure it was a good idea. He could see her heart rate spike, the look of rage in her eyes, and in the Force... he could sense nothing but streaks of bright red. Did she really hate him so much? Could he really blame her?

Trys... he said, but what could he say? He didn't know? He wanted to help her? He was glad she was okay? All of it was going to fall far short, and he knew she didn't want to hear any of it.

I'm leaving them, Trys. I'm done, and I'm sorry for what happened to you, he said. He could hear the holonet playing behind him, probably a news channel it sounded like, but it was far away and distant.

And... I know there's probably nothing I say or do that'll make it up to you, he said, keeping a distance away from her. He somehow half expected her to manage to shoot him even though she could barely move. If looks could kill...

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, exhaling softly. She had to calm herself down for her own good. It took a moment for all the vitals to relax again, and she finally opened her eyes to look at him again. Trys didn’t have the ability to speak telepathically, but he could probably see the disappointment in her eyes clear as day.

She pondered on his words for a moment, shaking her head as she glanced down at her datapad. She typed something into it, lifting it up to show him, ‘When does it stop?’ There was a sense of defeat in her demeanor. It was very out of character for her, but she felt entirely lost and unable to do anything about the rising problem that threatened innocent lives.

Trys couldn’t bear to look at Talak. She wanted to throw things at him, she wanted to yell at him, she wanted to do so much, but nothing came. Him leaving didn’t stop the atrocities. Him leaving didn’t undo the past. What did he hope to accomplish by telling her this?

She wrote something else in the datapad before finally holding up for him to see, looking hard into his eyes.

‘What do you want from me?’

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak could see the hurt and feel it in the Force. There was anger and defeat in her eyes. He could tell she'd never forgive him. Maybe she even hated him.

I don't know, Trys... am I responsible for every crime they commit? You know me... he said quietly, but he knew it didn't matter. She didn't even think she knew him anymore, he wagered. She'd seen the deaths of her people and it had snapped... whatever they had in two.

He opened his mouth as she held up her second question when the holonet caught his eye. He knew the faces on the screen. The news flashes were appalling and the color flushed from his face. He felt his knees go weak but he didn't fall.

It was on Coruscant. There was fire and death. He could almost feel it even from here. He could also feel the rage and hatred from Trys. She wouldn't ever give him a moment's thought again after this, would she? He felt a sinking feeling in his gut, and he couldn't bring himself to look back at her. He knew what he'd see in her eyes if he did.

I have to go stop this. They're not my people anymore, Trys, he said. His feet weren't quick toward the door and he looked back at her. It hurt him to see her like this. Physically and emotionally she was hurt, and she seemed devoid of the warmth he had once felt from her.

Without waiting further, he moved to the door to leave. He knew who the Champions were, and he knew how powerful they were. He knew that walking into a fight against his own was courting imminent death. He didn't expect to return, but perhaps if he did, she would think better of him.

I love you, Trys, and I always will, he said, and then he was gone. It was the truth and if he died, he wanted her to hear it. There was no point in denying it any more, and there was little chance of returning from this. Even if he did... who knew if she would ever see him again. He couldn't look back. The challenge and danger were ahead. Goodbye, Trys. Be safe and live well, he told her in his mind, but she wouldn't ever hear.