A Quiet Moment (part 2) – Jan 2003

Ginna Wilcoxen and Dana Terry

"I know, we discussed that, just like its' going to be hard to hide it from anyone in the house." Octavia looked up at him.

"Whether we hide it or not, I'll leave to you," he said. "You're the one who has to live here." He smiles.

Octavia stopped and looked up at him. "I see no reason to hide anything Tor, to hide means you're ashamed, and I'm not. Especially about my feelings for you."

"I guess that's decided." He smiled.

"Do you know what I like about walking at night?"     

"What?"     

"The quiet and he way the stars light up the sky. It's as if you are safe from anything touching you."           

Tor frowned a little.  "You don't get to feel like that very often, do you?"           

"Not often, but I appreciate when I do." she leaned against him. "It's life."           

"I guess," he said.  "It does make you understand just how rare it is to feel like that."           

"Yes, and teaches us to be thankful for what we have. I try not to take anything for granted, even Lord Du'Cruet's protectiveness. Though that is the hardest part to get used to.  Will you be joining the morning exercises?"          

"I've been asked to."         

"What do you think of the ones you've attended?"        

He chuckled a little.  "Well, I've learned just how much at a disadvantage I'm at without being able to use the Force."  He frowned a little.  "And I didn't realize Jedi could train like that, too."

"They don't." Octavia answered. "Even with the Force this is totally new, and you have to be alert. I realize just how much I don't know."

He thought for a long moment.  "What's new for you?  I don't know much about how Jedi train, either."

"The hardest thing to get use to is the attacking, at the temple we were taught that it's used for defense only and you never use it in aggression, yet I'm starting to realize there are times you have to be a little aggressive in order to defend."    

He nodded.  "You can't always wait for the other guy to make the first move.  You might not get a chance to make the second move."  Tor looked at her.  "Octavia, don't take this wrong, but... could that be why the Jedi aren't seen as being very strong right now?  Wouldn't it help if more of them learned to attack like you and Master D'med are?"   

Octavia fell silent. "I think that is part of it. I do believe they need to be seen more.  Their voice is drowned out by the Sith and the Empire.  Many won't view it that way, and many more won't understand why Master D'med and I are doing what we are doing."

"What is she doing here?" he asked.  "I know why you are."

"That isn't for me say, her business is her own." Octavia paused. "Why don't we sit over there it's quiet and we can talk."

He looked at her sideways.  "All right."

"This way I can give you my full attention, Tor, and not worry about who we may pass. You have other questions?"

Octavia looked at him. "Hurting myself?" she asked, confused.

"That whole thing with the drugs on Shardakour.  I really don't understand it."

Octavia lowered her a head for a few moments

He sighed. "Never mind, Octavia. You don't have to tell me."

"I didn't at first either, and it's not that I don't want to tell you." she raised her head to look at him. "When Master Fer'rer first approached me about it, I was against it, it was something that ... well I could never see and it seemed cruel."

"Then what is it?"

Octavia laid a hand on his arm. "But I've come to see pass that part. It builds the resistance up and allows you to focus to complete what needs to be done, and that could lead to you keeping your life or not being captured. Remember the morning practice with your one officer, where I injured my ankle?"

He nodded. "That morning would be kind of hard to forget."

"I had a milder version of the enhancer still in my system then. And I was able to still finish the drills."

"Milder? What is it you use?"

"There are different levels of enhancer, Tor, and for one who isn't used to it, you have to start low and build from there."

He shook his head. "How long have you been taking them? Do you have to?"

"A couple of times before I joined the workout with you. As for now it's normal practice."

He sighed. "I just don't like seeing you in pain."

"It's not something I look forward to, Tor, I just view it as part of training now and a way to be able to defend those I care about.'

He nodded slowly. "If that's what you think is best."

"Tor, I would never do or allow anything to be to me that would cause serious injury," She curled up next to him enjoying the breeze. "I've got too much to live for."

He put his arm around her. "Good. I'd hate to think you would."

"Don't worry, I'm not as reckless as many view me."

"You? Reckless?" he seemed startled by the idea.

Octavia laughed. "Yes, the Jedi council seem to think I'm a bit too impulsive." she paused. "To think back, they weren't far from being wrong, else I would have never been in the Empire's hands."

"How did that happen?" he asked.

"Came here to Telos, looking for information on some voices that Master D'med was hearing. And instead walked into a trap laid by the former Governor."

"The former... not Governor Wilson, then." Tor relaxed a bit. "What happened after that?"

"A Jedi Knight by the name Kaliandra, I talked her into coming with me, we were suppose to take a vacation time to rest ... Instead we came here and we both were invited to see Governor Brimmer, only thing is when we entered his office ..."

"It wasn't him waiting for you, was it?" he asked.

Octavia moved in closer . "Oh Brimmer was there grinning. There were stormtroopers too and Lord Vader. We tried to escape.  Kali went to jump out the window and moved a desk in front of Vader, but ... it didn't happen. He's so strong in the Dark Side of the Force." Octavia paused remembered kneeling as her air was cut off as the Force was used against her.

"After that our sabers were taken, we were led away and taken to his ship."

He tightened his hold on her. "Octavia..." He couldn't imagine going up against Lord Vader. But she had.

"Nothing we've heard about Imperial interrogations can prepare you for them. I don't know if they are different for force users or not, but even when you are telling the truth, they don't believe it."

"But you survived." He looked down at her, awe in his eyes. "You did it."

She nodded slowly, she had survived twice, if there was a third time would her luck hold. "By the will of the Force, yes I survived. So that is how I was reckless ... I'm learning to be more cautious."

He put a finger under her chin, tilting her head slightly to look at her. "I told you I knew you were special."

Octavia grinned. "Why?  Because I'm reckless?"

"Because you're a survivor."

"That's all I've known how to do, survive. i realize that now."

"But you're learning different things now, aren't you?"

"Yes, it's still hard to trust, but I'm learning to do that, and I'm learning that it's okay to feel."

He smiled. "What do you feel now?"

"Right now?" Octavia mused. "Very happy and content to be here with you alone."

He leaned down to kiss her.

Octavia smiled as she leaned up to meet him.

Tor held her close. She could feel his pleasure. With being here. With everything.

"You know we're going to have to head back, or we'll find ourselves out here all night." Octavia said at last hating to break the moment.

He groaned. "I know. But... this is nice."

"Yes, it is." she agreed. "Guess, it wouldn't hurt to stay like this for a while longer."

"We could go back to your quarters," he suggested with a smile.

"Yes, we could, but I can't guarantee I'd let you leave."

He laughed. "I think I could handle that."

She reluctantly pulled away and stood up, reaching for his hands. "Come on."

He took her hands and got to his feet. "I guess it is getting late and we have to be up early."

He led her back toward the estates.

"Tor, I just want to make sure, you only saw Lord Du'Cruet's questions as caring and nothing more?"

He stopped and frowned down at her. "No, nothing more, Octavia. Why?"

"I just want to make sure. I .don't want you to ever feel pushed in anything."

"If anything, he said he wouldn't interfere, that everything is up to you."

Letting out a breath and relaxing. "We already know my answer, and I only have half a say. I think you have a voice in where this goes as well."

He laughed. "Okay, that it's up to us."

Octavia nodded. putting her arm around him. "It's going to be a little colder to sleep when you leave."

"I could leave you one of my jackets," he teased.

"I don't think that would help."

"No?" he asked lightly, pulling her close. "Hm... we should think of something to keep you warm."

Octavia found herself smiling. "I think we have that solved, at least 'til you leave."

"It's afterwards I'm worried about."

"Have no fear, I will find plenty of use for meditation and memories."

Octavia could see the guards as they approached the estates, she went to pull away from Tor.

He stopped her. "No hiding, right?"

"Right." she agreed leaning back into him. *Old habits die hard, Tor.*

He smiled. "We'll work on it."

"Yes, we will."

"Evening Miss Jinn, Captain Kyrsk." Sgt. Glen greeted.

Tor nodded at him. "Sergeant." He kept his arm around Octavia. "Quiet night?"

"Yes, and for that we are quiet grateful. Enjoyed your evening?"

"I know I did. How about you, Octavia?"

"Yes, it was very nice. Town was quiet."

"Give it another 24 -48 hours, it'll get noisy enough," Glen said.

Tor frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"The market area, they have a big gathering every two weeks or so, you can hear the music up here."

"Oh." He smiled.

"The most any have to worry about are the ones who get too much drink." Glen shook his head. "Good night."

"Sounds like fun," Tor said with a grin. "Good night."

"Good night." Octavia echoed.

Tor held open the door for her. "Your quarters?"

"Yes," she said as they entered the house.

He smiled and led her through the halls. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"No, it wasn't," she smiled "Well, not as bad I thought it would be."

He laughed. "What was 'bad' about it?"

Octavia shrugged. "I don't know, guess I always imagined whispers and the such. I remember hearing the men of the Electra after they would return from R&R ..."

"No one is going to talk, Octavia," he assured her. "Even if they did, is it going to change how we feel?"

"No, nothing will change that."

"What kind of whispers?"

She opened the door to her rooms. "The usual, how easy it was to find a conquest ... or worse." Octavia walked over and sat down the bed and removed her shoes, then reached up for the clasp that held her hair back.

He put his hands on her shoulders. "That's the talk of men when they can't think of anything else to brag about" He leaned down to kiss the nape of her neck.

Octavia leaned against him. "True then they couldn't understand why I wouldn't see any of them."

"You were the only woman on board?"

He massaged her shoulders and neck.

Octavia nodded. "After a while I was viewed more as the one to be protected and watched."

"You went from a potential conquest to... being protected?" He shook his head. "That must have been just as irritating for you."

"It was, but I did my job. Got the best prices on parts, kept the books and even got the captain out of trouble from time to time .... well most times."

"Duty," he said lightly. "Always duty, even then."

She looked up at him. "I never thought it that way, it was just something that had to be done."

"It's who you are," he said.

'Even now?" she asked.

"Yeah, in a way. Didn't we agree that our duty comes first?"

"Yes, we did."

Octavia closed her eyes as he eased out the tension in her neck.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"Yes."  Opening her eyes, she looked at him. "You?"

"I'm fine."  He massaged her neck and shoulders a while longer. "Tell me when I'm putting you to sleep."

Octavia turned to look at him. "I think I would rather lay next to you and fall sleep that way."

He laughed. "Then I'd better stop."

Taking his hands, Octavia laid back. "Just enjoying spending time with you."

He followed her down to the surface of the bed. "I'm going to miss this when we leave."

"I know, I will too."

"We'll worry about that when the time comes."

"Agreed, no worries tonight."

He laughed and leaned in to kiss her.  She smiled as she reached up to pull him closer, welcoming his kiss.


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