It Started With a Vacation

Chapter Thirty

You stare at yourself in the mirror, focusing on your eye bags and the lack of your normal skin tone. You probably shouldn't even be standing much, but you want to get the trial over with as soon as possible.

Aid walks over to you, meeting the reflection of your eyes in the mirror. "I still don't think you're well enough to go."

You sigh, turning to look at him directly. "I know. You've told me...what, 27 times now?"

He rolls his eyes. "You're exaggerating."

"And you're overbearing," you reply smoothly.

He just pinches the bridge of his nose before shaking his head and walking back over to check your data again. "Your blood levels aren't even normal yet," he mutters to himself.

"I'll be fine," you reply, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. You are feeling a bit tired already, standing this long has you winded. You don't know how you're going to make it to the Republic Center for Military Operations, but you at least hope you'll get to ride in a transport for some of the way, and not walk it all. "You think they'll take pity on me since I almost died?"

"I think they'll take pity on Krell because you didn't kill him." You scoff at his response, and turn back to the mirror. "You need to sit down."

"I'm fine," you reply. "I feel fine."

"You're far from fine," he replies. "You should have been put in a bacta tank until your body replenished the blood you lost. You definitely should not be standing, let alone standing trial."

"I'll be fine," you reply simply, watching as your cheeks move with your words. You glance to the side of your reflection and watch as Aid turns to look at you again, locking eyes in the mirror for a second time.

"I threw up about a dozen times while treating you." You close your eyes, knowing that his reactions only get worse the more he has to treat people. "Sans had to hold my arms down to stop me from pulling my hair out. Once I calmed back down, he redid my braid while humming that old song."

"Which one?" you ask, a small smirk coming to your lips.

"You know the one. Ye-ye-ye-ye-yeh ye-ye-yeh ye-ye-yeh, oh hohohooooooooooo!" You let out a laugh, and quickly clutch your stomach and hold out an arm to catch you as you immediately feel lightheaded. Aid is there instantly, holding you steady. "I told you."

You sigh, pushing away from him once you regain yourself. "And I told you, I'm fine. I want to get this trial done and over with so I can clear my name."

"Why do you care so much about what they think?" he asks, folding his arms. "With as much as you complain about them, why does it matter so much to you?"

"Because, this is where I'm meant to be," you reply, "the Jedi Order is my home."

"I thought your home was Dohbar?"

You let out another sigh, closing your eyes. "My home is where the people I love are."

"The 17th isn't in the Jedi Order. Don't you love us? Ahni and Kwol aren't in the Jedi Order. Don't you love them? The Bad Batch aren't in the Jedi Order. Don't you love them? And Cyar'ika-"

"Do not bring my daughter into this argument," you snap, turning to look at him, once again fighting to stay upright. You swat away his hand as he tries to help you. You watch as pain briefly washes over his expression. "I'm sorry," you mumble, "I just...the Jedi Order is what took me away from my father, my real father. It's the only way I feel like I can have a connection to him. He was born on Coruscant, and had only visited Dohbar a handful of times. This was his home. He was a Jedi. And I am his daughter..."