“It has oft been said by great generals and legendary soldiers that ‘he who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother’. It is unfortunate, in a galaxy ever shifting from light and dark to shades of gray, that the modern soldier cannot afford to be so vague. He who sheds his blood alongside me is not always my brother, for the victory means nothing if it is at the expense of our ideals. For it to be a true victory in the hearts of the people, morality cannot be compromised. I have met many men in my time willing to shed their blood for a cause I viewed as just that I could never call brothers. For not only were they willing to shed their own blood, but the blood of innocents. And that is unacceptable…”
He had been watching her off and on for a good portion of the journey through hyperspace. Between the consistent typing and the occasional interruptions to involve himself in the conversation surrounding him, his senses had nearly had their hands full. But still, whenever he got a chance, he would glance around to locate her whereabouts. He never fixed his eyes upon her, she was too perceptive not to notice if he had slowed his glance as he passed her for just a moment. But he would note her position on the ship and as much information as he could gather in the brief second his eyes skittered over her.
He wasn’t sure what it was about her, but he could just tell that something was different. Perhaps a social oddity’s ability to detect another social oddity, but he could almost
sense a difference in her. After a few passes with his deceptive glancing he noted how much she stood out from the rest of the crew. In any ferry as decrepit as this one had become, the glum atmosphere provided by the age of the vessel and the hopelessness of the passengers was bound to rub off on the crew, but she seemed completely unaffected by the bleakness surrounding her.
She hadn’t been born into it, he could tell. The two of them had that in common, at least. She probably only viewed this is a temporary predicament until things smoothed out again. But would they? Perhaps, perhaps not. Ajay could tell that she had the capability to invoke that change herself, but he had also become familiar, in his travels, with people of that background and in that mindset. They believed that change would find them, and often times it never did.
But sometimes…
Some people have change thrust upon them.
The words stung just as bitterly then in his mind as they had when they were first spoken to him four years ago. It felt like an eternity now…almost like a vague dream from long ago, his time at the monastery. He had changed much since then, but in many ways he was still that same, scared and angry thirteen year old kid.
“All passengers, due to our new destination, it is necessary that we perform a standard inspection. Please do not resist. Security teams will be coming around to perform the inspection. The inconvenience will be minor, I assure you, and you will soon be able to return to your business.”
His mind snapped back into focus.
Do not dwell on the past. Never get lost in that reverie. It is a distraction and a distraction only. You make a mistake, you learn from it, and you move on. Never look back. Never look back.
The outcasts surrounding him were staring intently for a reaction. So far, he had showed very little signs of being conscious. His eyes had been glazed, and he had been staring off into the distance. The sentients all around him had been drawn in by this, expecting some sort of revelation. Some of them were sweating, he noted. Probably carrying weapons or contraband of some sort.
Ajay himself was carrying a blaster pistol, but had no qualms with it being confiscated. There was more weaponry already in safe houses on Thyferra. And if the resistance on Mon Calamari ended up being as strong and as organized as he suspected, he imagined that he would have no problems procuring a weapon of some sort there as well.
His only concern was his datapad. Security crews on liners like these did not have the highest reputation for being delicate with personal effects. So far, it had survived just as many journeys as Ajay had, but he hesitated before handing it over every time he was searched. The crowd was still staring at him, awaiting a response, and he gave a token nod and grim smile of grim acceptance.
They a grumbled lightly, but none said anything.
Ajay noticed only a few moments before she reached him who his inspector was to be…the same woman who he had been half-watching earlier. His expression remained passive, but mentally his interest was sparked. Her eyes kept shifting to him slightly as she searched the last few people before him, and he realized that he was likely the prime suspect.
But to his surprised, when she reached him she didn’t even search him.
“Sir, if you could come with me. I'd like to speak with you in private.”
Those within earshot looked up in alarm, and a couple even took half steps forward. Ajay met their gazes with a reassuring smile and a nod. He rose to his feet and, without glancing at her as he stood, followed silently with his head down. But his eyes were roaming, ever roaming. He was studying her intently.
She led him into small quarters with a table and two chairs, the typical interrogation room. How many times had he found himself in one of these? Unfortunately, this was likely the most inviting one of the bunch. There wasn’t even any blood on the walls, and the furniture wasn’t bolted to the floor. A good sign, he supposed. Whoever she was, she didn’t seem sadistic. He had endured worse interrogators.
Before she had a chance to speak, he slowly reached into his jacket with exaggerated movements.
“I’m pulling out a blaster,” he said impassively, “The safety is on.”
He produced the blaster and, in movements just as exaggerated, placed it on the table in the middle of the room. Taking a seat it the chair opposite the door, and farthest from the blaster, he stared at her directly for the first time, and grinned.
“I’d say…ex-military,” he commented, “It’s the posture more than anything. It never really goes away completely. Deserter? No…too proud still. Fallen government then? Only one that fell recently that let women serve was Onyx…you Onyxian?”
