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Missing Scenes
Post Revenge of the Sith: With This Dying Breath, I Leave One Last Gift
The landing didn't go as planned but Saché couldn't complain. She was still alive and though she knew it wouldn't be for long she could only pray that it would be long enough to accomplish what she had set out to do.
The thought filled her with new determination and prevented her from slipping into the inky blackness of unconsciousness. Only a little while longer she told herself as she stumbled out of the damaged ship not caring nor paying heed to the wounds she now carried.
While Saché had initially planned to leave her final gift with Sabé before departing on her final mission things grew complicated leaving little time left for her final wish of a warriors end to come to pass. The Alliance needed her help sooner than expected and like a loyal fighter she did not question it and went to the front lines to ensure they received her aid. While part of her was tempted to make this attack on the outer rim weapon cache the one mission she never returned from another part of her knew she had to survive. Not for any other reason than but for the information she carried within her uniform to reach its proper destination.
However even with this in mind fate saw it fit to ensure that she would not escape without being scathed. It was an honour Saché accepted willingly for she knew almost all the others of the attack crew made it out untouched and unharmed. Yet even so the damage done to her ship and to herself was severe; a side effect of the massive explosions that would not wait any longer for its creators to depart.
But she escaped none the less and by some miracle of the gods managed to make to the end of her ‘run’. However her time was running out all the same and though she tried to keep a strong face it was hard to hide the effect her many wounds caused by shrapnel was even now causing her.
Even so she was determined to complete the final task and so she ventured onward. Her destination wasn’t too far ahead her contact said and so she focussed her fading attentions on this. Though Sabé’s connection tried to help tend to her wounds Saché would only shrug him off reminding him time wasn’t’ on their side and that she wouldn’t forgive herself if she didn’t complete this one last task. As such the man gave into her demand and tried to help her reach the location where her presence was needed. For the Alliance rebel would not stop for anything or anyone until Sabé held the data crystals in her hand.
“You must have death wish to keep trudging onwards like this, gods even I can see you desperately need medical help.”
The man stated trying to make light of the moment though the concern was too evident in his voice to quite pull it off. Saché remained silent and said nothing though she visibly bristled and gave him a dark look that silenced him quickly. My life is my own to destroy she inwardly thought as she struggled to ignore the dizziness that was beginning to consume her. But to her relief the man said nothing further on the matter thought it was obvious even in her weakened state that he was none impressed by her stubborn decision.
Eventually her destination was reached and Saché tried to argue with the contact saying in whispered tones that she was fine now that his aid was no longer necessary. Though nodding to her words and backing off slightly he still remained near and kept a sharp watch over her. Saché then moved forward to speak to the older woman to ask her for Sefa’s presence but try as she might the words didn’t quite come. Instead the room began to spin and the inky blackness that had been dancing behind her eyes suddenly grew overpowering as did the need to rest her eyes. I’ll just close them for a moment, till Sabé comes and then it will be alright she inwardly thought as she placed a hand to the counter and closed her eyes.
Sabé on the other hand was in the middle of completing her duties in the back of the Darklighter’s shop before the sound of Mrs.Darklighter cry for help drew her attentions. Quickly she rushed to the front of the store to help the older woman. But almost as soon as she emerged from the back the sight that greeted her caused her eyes to widen as a sharp gasp escaped her lips.
The old woman was instantly by Saché’s side and calling to her husband to bring anything that could help with the fallen handmaiden’s many wounds. Sabé swiftly joined her and her contact but Saché was already beginning to fade and could barely register her friend’s presence.
“Saché!? Saché! Oh gods…Please hang in there, you’re safe now. You’re in good hands…”
The voice was familiar but sounded like a million miles away as Saché struggled to maintain her consciousness. The inky blackness was overwhelming, just as she found herself growing physically cold, all the while feeling a strange warmth calling to her soul beckoning her to answer. But there was something she had to do, something important what it was she couldn’t quite say anymore but it was enough to force her attentions back to the task at hand.
“I…have, I have a gift…it’s my last gift…But I can’t remember…where I put it…”
She whispered weakly to no one in particular as she could barely registering Sabé trying to help her friend up from the floor where she had fallen moments ago.
The Alliance contact that went by the alias of Beyon moved quickly as well to lift the petite woman from the floor. Once she was carefully placed in his arms he proceeded to follow the old shopkeeper’s husband to the back area where Saché was then placed on a series of neatly folded sheets normally used to shield their wares from the blowing sand.
Sabé couldn’t say what happened to her friend but knew from a glance that these were mortal wounds. She appeared to have suffered severely from shrapnel that was no doubt a result of a massive explosion. While the more severe parts of her had been bandaged it was a quick job one that wasn’t meant for long term repair as much as it was for basic survival. Even so the bandages were soaked through with blood and showed signs of haven’t been cleaned for some time. Worse was the fact that upon closer examination Sabé was able to find shards of metal that hadn’t been removed and was now showing signs of infection.
Saché tried as best she could to focus her eyes on her friend but it was hard and in truth she no longer had any idea of her location anymore. All that matter was that her friend was near and that she had something important she had to give her. If only she could remember what that was.
She saw Sabé attempting to draw back the blood soaked material of her uniform and struggled to shake her head while trying to move her hand to stop her. It was too late now for such things and from the corner of her eyes she thought she could see Soren and it brought a smile to her features. It was almost time and in her hallucinated state of thoughts she could almost hear his voice reminding her of where the gift was located.
“My friend...I have something for you…I can’t remember what it is anymore…but he says its important…that its here…”
Saché murmured relaying the words she weakly moved to lift open the secret pocket she had sewn in on the sleeve of her tattered and blood soaked jacket. She could vaguely hear her friend trying to tell her to hang on not to give up but the words fell on deaf ears as Saché only shook her head weakly once more as a peaceful smile crept into her features.
“Take it…I cannot rest until you take it…”
She insisted in barely audible tones as her eyes were no longer focussed on Sabé but rather to the phantom form that only her dying mind could see and recognize as Soren.
Sabé’s eyes wavered in concern and sorrow at her friends soft words. She tried yet again to draw back the blood soaked material but was stopped by Saché's pale hand touching her wrist. It felt icy cold to her warm flesh and it was almost shocking by comparison to the powerful heat of their surroundings. But soon it slipped to the sleeve of her dirtied jacket as her fingers fumbled to open a hidden compartment that revealed a series of data crystals.
But while the sight surprised Sabé her thoughts were more distracted and focussed on her dying friend who needed help and quickly. Desperately she tried to unravel the dirty gauze and the torn jacket that had become embedded into the wounds. Just as all the while she continued to speak quickly attempting in any way possible to get her friend's attention,to keep her focussed on the present so as not to lose her. But she knew she was failing miserably as she saw Saché's eyes beginning to glaze over and stare at something behind her.
"Hang in there, please don't slip away. Listen to my voice I'm going to clean your wounds, I'm going to patch them up and it will all okay. You're safe now, you've done well your mission is over. Now just focus on my voice-"
Sabé continued to plead softly forcing down her emotions until she was interrupted by Saché's soft whisper. Sabé studied her briefly hesitant to answer her friend's final request even though she knew deep down that it was too late. In the end she quietly nodded in reply before removing the small collection of data crystals from the hidden pocket. Then without another word she slipped her free hand into Saché's cold palm and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I have them now see? They are in my hand, you can rest now."
Sabé whispered struggling to keep tears from falling as she showed the dying woman the data crystals in her hand before watching as the smile on her friend's pale features widened slightly. Then without another word the former handmaiden and sister to Sabé took one last breathe before slipping to the realms of harmony.
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