Star Wars: Jedi Prodigy

Moving On

Preparations for the next decisive battle saw Daliss back in Ayro city with Wac and a small squad of diamond squad troopers. The young knight has tried to deal with her master's death as best as she could and do so in a healthy way as Qerreth tried to instruct her. But understandably, Daliss is still having quite a bit of trouble dealing with it. Wac notices, so he and his brothers decide to take her to a restaurant for a nice meal to try and cheer her up. The troops take Daliss to a busy restaurant full of life. There are Xexto chefs chopping up ingredients and preparing food with their four arms, in an impressive display which patrons of the restaurant can enjoy as they sit and dine. The people of Ayro are generally very pro-republic, and since Daliss and her troops didn't need to be disguised for the mission they've recently completed, they are given a warm welcome as they all sit together at a bunch of tables pushed together.
"I don't think I could wear a full suit of armor while eating." Daliss says in the middle of a playful conversation regarding the troops and how they're all still in their armor. "I don't know how you all wear that armor ALL the time."

"Its just normal for us, I guess." Hoarse says. "We've been wearing gear like this for most of our lives."

"True!" Crater adds with a chuckle. "About 90 percent of our time is spent in this armor."

"I don't even know what we'll wear normally once this war is over." Wac says. "Personally, I think I'd look great in a suit."

"Mia - I bet you would!" Daliss says happily, feeling a little bit better about things. "You should all get suits once we win! Crater - you should open a bakery, I know you have a sweet tooth!"

Daliss had always been worried about what the clone troopers would do after the war was over. She's hoping that the republic will let them choose what path they'll take, but sometimes Daliss thinks that the republic treats the clones like property rather than people. But whatever happens, Daliss will stand by her troops and make sure they are treated properly after the war and during. She would hate to see them mistreated and then leave them all behind after all that she's been through with them. These troops are the closest thing to family that Daliss has left. Thinking about the fate of the clone troopers after the war is convincing Daliss to leave the Jedi order like Todak told her in the holocron. These troops have taken care of her, and she always wants to be there to take care of them.

Suddenly, Daliss feels a little tug on her sleeve from behind her, and turns to see a little Dofomian girl there, holding a piece of paper out for the Jedi. She takes it, and gasps - seeing a wonderful little drawing of herself and some clone troopers. It also has Todak on it. It's possible that the citizens are not all aware that he died... Daliss loves the drawing though.
"This is wonderful!" Daliss says to the child, genuinely touched by the drawing. "Thank you so much, little amica."

The child giggles, and says something in her native language, and hurries off, returning to her family who smiles at the Jedi.
"These folks are really taking a liking to you." Wac says, looking happily at the drawing. "What do they call you? Mori or something?"

"Flying Morai, I believe." Daliss answered.

"Hey, yo yo Morai!" A Dofomian says loudly, walking into the restaurant. Then he turns to a xexto waitress. "Yo, bring Morai and her crew some Dofomian mead - on me."

Indeed, the people are taking a liking to Daliss. She hasn't experienced their appreciation quite like this before, since she's always at the battlefront, but it is nice to feel special. To feel the admiration these people have for her. She wishes her master was here to see her though. Daliss knows how happy he'd have been to see that drawing some random child made for Daliss. She looks at Todak, depicted on the drawing, and starts to tear up before excusing herself. Daliss steps outside through the back into an alleyway, and leans against the wall, starting to cry into her hands. She misses her master so much... Wac followed her, and leans on the wall next to Daliss and starts rubbing her back.
"I don't know what to do without him, Wac..." Daliss wept, covering her eyes. "I miss him so badly!"

She starts to sob, and Wac wraps his arm around Daliss' shoulders and pulls her a little closer. He sighs deeply.
"I miss him too, kid." Wac says, his voice cracking a little bit. "I feel lost too... But there is one thing I'm certain of. He would want us to move forward and keep fighting."

"You're right..." Daliss says, calming down just a little bit. "But it's so hard... I feel like I have no time to process anything with all of my duties in the war...!"

"Believe me when I say that I understand." Wac says genuinely. "I've lost so many of my brothers fighting in this war. And there is never time for a memorial, or grieving... It's not fair, it's not right, but we have to keep fighting anyway, not for the republic, but for our loved ones who couldn't see the end to all of this mess. For all of the people in there - that little girl who sees you as a hero."

Daliss' cries turn into sniffles, and she wipes the tears off her face, and the two are quiet for a few seconds.
"Thank you, amica..." She says. "I think that helped a lot... Hearing what you said, and letting myself cry."

"Any time, Daliss." Wac says, smiling. "I'll always be here when you need me. Now, let's get back inside, I bet you're still hungry."

Trying to move forward without Todak isn't going to ever get easier, but with Wac by her side, Daliss knows that she can be strong enough heal.