740. Omicron Delta Facility - Trychon

Dianna stared at the video in silence as Raezyr, Trychon and Rhox all waited for her reaction.  She was silent for several moments after shutting it off.  She could see expectation, hesitation, and anticipation in the faces she found when she finally turned around.  They were all unsure how she'd react, and rightfully so.  She wasn't sure how she wanted to react herself.

Dianna found it odd that in the moments of her greatest crisis ever, both personal and professional, and while feeling completely lost... she found herself able to read her companions so easily.

Raezyr kept glancing over at his brother, likely hoping that he knew better than to fire off one of his smart remarks, or even a joke hoping to cheer everyone up.  Her lover was truly sorry for the losses that she'd had and for letting her down.

Trychon, for his part, was mostly staring at the ground and not saying a word.  As much as he got on everyone's nerves with his poorly timed jokes, and for the bad taste they often showed... he too felt hurt and guilt over what had happened, and did not seem to be in the mood to joke.  Even if he was, the hidden care and intelligence in him held him in check.

Rhox had a look of simple concern for her friend and boss.  She knew she'd probably already thrown in too many comments and looks with 'I told you so' behind them to add anything of the sort at this point.  Now she simply was with the Sith that she largely reviled, in wishing she could help the pain disappear.

Dianna looked back to her lover, Raezyr.  This wasn't his fault.  Rather, it was partly his fault though he would never intentionally hurt her or those close to her.  He had tried to help her in the ways he knew how best.  Yet, she wasn't sure how things would have turned out for her without him.  Part of her never wanted to leave his side, and the other part wished that they'd never met and had a chance to fall in love.

Since the latter wish was impossible, she really was tempted to give up control and just follow him.  Give up control, she nearly laughed at the thought of her, Dianna Kingsdoom giving up control.  Yet though she never wanted to find herself in this horrible situation, here she was.  What made more sense than to go with a man who would always love her, always protect her, and always do his best to ensure that she was taken care of.  She'd probably never have to work another day in her life, if she could allow herself to relax that far.

Yet, she was still torn.  She felt as though everything and nothing was suddenly clear to her at once.  She loved the man underneath the mask, but no longer knew if that kind of safety was truly safe.

She was reminded of a story her father used to tell her.

A solayan scorpion once came out of the desert to the banks of The Great River, whereupon he accosted a drocodane. "My dear chap," he said to the drocodane, "could we form an alliance to get to the other side of the The Great River?"

The drocodane answered, "Do you think I am stupid? I would be at your complete mercy. You could sting me and kill me at any time during the crossing."

"Of course not," said the scorpion. "I could not sting you, because if I did, I would drown."

The drocodane thought for a second and then agreed this made sense and took the scorpion on his back. 

About midstream, the scorpion became agitated and stung the drocodane.

As the two were about to go under, the drocodane turned to the scorpion and said, "Why did you do that? Now we will both die."

"I cannot help it," said the scorpion, "It is my nature."

Was Raezyr like the solayan scorpion?  Would he bring nothing but death and destruction to even those closest to him, simply because it was in his nature?  In her heart she did not feel that it was so, but in her head, she was unsure.

In the end, that was what settled it for her.  She was unsure what to do... but she knew she couldn't really come to a decision when she was around him.  She opened her eyes, only half aware that she'd closed them.

"We're done here."  She spoke firmly.  "We have nothing else to stay here for."

She could see the continued hope in Raezyr's eyes.  She knew what he wanted, and she knew she couldn't give it to him now.  "I have a few things I'd like to fix and clean up here before we leave, but you should go."

Everyone in the room knew who the 'you' referred to.  "I'll walk you both to the airlock."

Dianna did not wait for acknowledgement from either of the Sith as she walked past them and towards the docking area.  She could hear them following her.  The clanking of boots behind her was the only sound for the next minute.

Finally she turned around and locked gazes with Raezyr, her friend, her confidant, her lover.

Trychon also looked to Raezyr, who nodded ever so slightly to show that they were indeed going to acquiesce to her demands.

Raezyr and Dianna stood there while Trychon entered the airlock and began putting on his airtight helmet to give them some privacy.

"When..." The Sith began to ask her, but stopped knowing that she knew his question, and would not answer.

"Don't write, don't call, don't try to find me."  She told him, tears now streaming from her eyes as though a dam had broken.  "I can't tell you where I'm going or for how long because I don't know."

"I..."  He started, as a million things he wanted to say raced through his mind.

"I love you, Raezyr."  She finished for him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him as she buried her lips on his.  It was as passionate and meaningful kiss as they'd ever shared.  It was too long and too short.  It threatened to break her resolve, so she pulled away.

Raezyr took a step back into the airlock.  She reached into her knapsack and retrieved a small package for him.  She tossed it to him and hit the button on the wall, shutting the airlock and beginning the cycle of the air release.  Raezyr fumbled to get his helmet secured before the atmosphere was gone entirely.

Dianna walked away.

---------------------------

Both Sith pretended to be all business as they flew the Jet Razor away from the secret Omicron Delta Facility.  Sensors and computers beeped, sometimes on their own and sometimes in response to the typing of programs and coordinates that Trychon was entering.

"We're about ready...." Trychon began.

"Just do it."  Raezyr responded as he reached out and touched his hand to the transparisteel viewport, reaching out towards Dianna one last time.

As the stars stretched into lines and the distance grew exponentially between the Sith and the secret base, Raezyr looked at the parcel in his lap and finally decided to open it rather than wait until he had a private moment.

As he opened it, he felt a soft cloth covering something much harder.  Withdrawing it from its container, he recognized the cloth immediately and its contents were obvious.  Still, he had to finish uncovering it and see with his own eyes.

He unfolded the dark velvet liner and saw the only thing it could have been, though not exactly as he'd expected it.

Dianna Kingsdoom had returned to him the Tingel Governor's Blade he'd given her.  His heart finally broke as he searched the parcel for the missing piece.  It was not there.  She'd returned the blade to him, but she'd kept the sheath.

She had given back to him the object and the promise that went with it that was greatest between them.  Yet she had kept a part of it.

Trychon had tried to provide privacy, but he could not help but glance over.  Immediately, the customary meaning was as clear to him as it was to his brother.  More uncertainty.