[one | action] [this is not the end]

[noguardian]

[Baze Malbus was dragged back into consciousness slowly, his lips moving slowly as if he were finishing an interrupted thought. He repeats the litany once more, still waiting, still wanting to believe more than actually believing once more.

[But through his grogginess he realizes that he is uninjured. That he cannot hear the ocean any longer, cannot hear fighting any longer. He wonders for a brief moment if he has somehow despite it all entered the Force. Then he opens his eyes, finally, and stares into the dim cavern, and becomes more conscious of his own breathing.

[He squeezes his eyes shut once more, feeling almost foolish for the thought and watches again as Chirrut Imwe dies in his arms.

[Baze jerks his eyes open again, and turns his attention to the slight weight on his chest. He squints down at the pamphlet as he sits up, skimming more than reading. His grip on the smart phone increases, almost without his thinking about it as he reads the suggestion to try it out. The screen cracks and with it, it's as if a switch has been flipped.

[Baze had been angry for a long, long time. Had been angry since the first Stormtroopers had set foot on Jedha. Since the first casualty. Now though, he felt as if that anger had been carved out - along with everything else.

[With almost mechanical movements he stows the contents of the box into his pockets, then moves to his feet, careful of his balance and of the added weight of his weapon and it's pack on his back. It's an easy trudge through the shallow water, to another room bright enough his eyes take a minute to adjust.

[He pays only half attention to the hologram, gleans information the best that he can with the groggy stillness that is his mind.

[Not the Empire, is the conclusion he comes to, though the revelation wasn't new. He had known that since the feel of the tank digging into his back. Since finding out he still had his weapon. It occurs to him also that the others probably will not be there. They were probably dead – it had been a suicide mission, after all. Dead like Chirrut. Dead like he should be now, if this hadn’t happened.

[The sky is brighter yet, once he finally makes it outside. Bright enough to make them water before he squeezes them closer. Baze takes a deep breath before opening his eyes and starting to walk with no particular direction in mind.]

I am one with the Force, [He echoes more than speaks as he walks, though the words have never tasted so much like a lie.] And the Force is with me. [This time he cannot bring himself to repeat them.]

[He makes for a sight - a giant of a man with a weapon meant to be mounted on tanks strapped to his back, mostly silent as he wanders the streets of Genessia and utterly, utterly lost.]

Comments

[generalgrievous]

[Baze certainly stood out in a crowd and so did the being currently striding toward him. It's the weapon that gives the cyborg most pause though, and he halts out of interest. He's less concerned of there being trouble since this is in Genessia but still, that does appear to be potentially dangerous.]

Do you always carry such a large weapon around?

[noguardian]

[Baze frowns at the figure before him, recognition tickling the edges of his brain. His mind was far from clear though, and it had been a long time since he had seen those holos. The who doesn't click, but neither does Baze reach for his gun.]

Yes. [His reply was blunt.] It makes it harder for someone else to use.

[generalgrievous]

Then you need a more secure location to store it if you are concerned about theft.

[At least, that's what he's assuming was the problem.]

Displaying it may invite trouble.

[noguardian]

Something like that.

[He doesn't care to go into it now, and he meets Grievous's eyes with a tilt of his head.]

Are you trouble?

[generalgrievous]

No, I am one of the deputy guardians of Nova City. I am General Grievous.

I take it you have newly arrived.

[As he expects people who were already here would have seen him over the network.]

[captain_by_the_book]

[ As a rule, Cassian avoids going anywhere near the bay, but living and working in Genessia City, he spends a fair amount of time walking the streets of the city - sometimes getting closer to the bay than he wishes to, strictly speaking.

Three months in this place have only made him relax his guard marginally, between the accursed circus and bounty hunting he's had enough reminders how dangerous this place is. Thus, caught in his errands or not, Cassian immediately takes note of the familiar figure walking down the street.

He sees, he just doesn't believe his own eyes.

Nothing for months, and then Jyn and Baze almost at the same time? It's alarming.

But first things first. He speeds up to catch up to Baze, steadfastly ignoring his own quickened heartbeat, the anticipation that is gripping him. He stands there looking not too unlike he had before, wearing a brown jacket that could almost pass for his uniform jacket, a blaster strapped to his hip, same grim face.]

Baze Malbus. You... are alive.

[noguardian]

[For all that he had not known it long, Baze recognizes Cassian's voice and it stops him in his tracks. He is relieved and not to see the familiar face, to find someone who he knows.

He makes a noise of acknowledgement, almost more of a grunt as Cassian approaches.]

So are you.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ It may not be the warmest welcome outwardly, but Cassian's eyes eagerly take in the sight of the Jedhan who had helped make Operation Fracture a success.

He gulps. It's harder when it's meeting in person. He doesn't even know what to say. ]

We. [ He exhales. Inhales. ] There are five of us now. [ He lets half a heartbeat pass. It feels heavier. ] But Chirrut isn't here.

[noguardian]

[Baze opens his mouth and starts to speak, before closing it again to try to wet his tongue. Five, Cassian said, and even knowing that Chirrut would not be among them the fact that this many of them had, however this had been possible, survived... It gave a little light back to Baze's eyes. His throat was still dry when he tried to speak again.]

That's surprising. But good. [Again he tried to wet his throat, swallowing this time. It should not, he thinks, be so hard to admit the truth.] Of course not. The old fool is with the Force now.

[That much, he wants to believe, even if he cannot believe it will of himself. His voice is flooded with fondness, with a breath of irritation in his voice and the knit of his brow. At Chirrut? Cassian? Himself? The Rebellion? the Empire? Whatever had brought him here, sometime between his last breath and the end? He couldn't say.]

[captain_by_the_book]

[ It's a calmer response than what he had been bracing himself for, but then again, Cassian belatedly realizes that he shouldn't have expected anything else. This place, dealing with people who wore their hearts on their sleeves, had skewed his expectations of normal.

He nods firmly, and gulps hard. ] I suppose he is.

[ His gaze strays. This moment feels too private to intrude, but here he is, and there are necessities to take care of. But first... ] Walk with me. [ He's brimming with questions about these last moments on Scarif, and yet it's the wrong time for them. Maybe it will never be a good time. ] I'm sorry.

Action

[k2so]

[These last days, when Kay isn't working, he takes walks near the bay. Not because he enjoys them, he actually hated the sand quite a lot, but he does it because new arrivals had been showing up. He calculated that there's a 1,5% of chance that people arriving could be from his world.

It's a small chance but still a chance, so he is looking out for familiar faces. What his audios pick up in the distance is a familiar mantra and the turns, looking around until he spots the man.]

Blaze Malbus. You came just right in time. [Ky looks around, expecting to see Chirrut, and it's clearly disappointed that he doesn't seem to be here.]

Re: Action

[noguardian]

[He hears him before he sees him, making a gesture to K2-SO to follow him. Stillness, at that moment, was not something that would suit him. His mouth forms into a thin smile, surprised and almost relieved. It does not quite touch the rest of his expression.]

Chirrut won't be coming. [Baze tells the droid as he sees him looking around. His voice sounds hollow, and he knows that he is avoiding the full answer. It's the only answer he can bring himself to give, just then, around the ache in his chest. The situation he was in now was unreal, there was no need to bring that level of reality into it.]

But tell me, what did I make it in time for?

[k2so]

Oh. I...see. [Baze sound certain of that fact and it makes Kay wonder how can he know, yet he has to disagree.] Sometimes it takes more time than others. Bodhi and I were here for a few weeks before Cassian showed up. And Jyn appeared this week as well.

[Kay has no issue following Baze around if moving is what the man needs. Honestly, he's just glad to see more members of his team in the city. The other option is...not good.]

I was hoping that more of us would appear. Everyone wakes up at the bay. Have you seen the hologram yet already? And are you injured?

[noguardian]

[The numbers baffle him, but then, there was no way to tell how long he had been asleep. Or was unconscious a better word? He clenches his jaw, thinking, but the news does nothing to change his mind.] Not this time.

[He keeps walking, careful to avoid anyone else who may be there, looking at but not quite absorbing the scenery around him.]

I saw it, and the book. [Baze tells him dismissively.] Do I look injured to you?

[He looks tired, more than anything.]

[k2so]

Hm. [Again, the certainty in Baze's voice is upsetting but this time Kay doesn't argue further. Not about that point, at least.]

You wear so many weapons that you look more metal than human to me but we both know that's not the case. Looks aren't relevant. Internal injuries are.

[Kay's ways of showing concern is mostly nagging, yet is still a way to show concern.] Don't you have questions?

[reachnotflexibility]

[ Garrus had been doing his daily sweep of the Velvet Lust area when Baze passes him. If it weren't for the turret on his back Garrus would have just let him go, but if there's one thing that never fails it's an opportunity for justice new tech.

He doesn't recognize him, and if the look on his face is anything to go by, the guy has no idea where he is. ]

Hey, you need help finding something?

[noguardian]

[Baze halted at yet another voice, surprised, just a little, by the fact that he did not recall anyone like him having come to NiJedha. It was more curiosity than bother though, and that itself was dampened by his mood. By the something official about the being before him.]

No.

[Don't let it be said that he wasn't a man of few words. But what he had lost was not something that could be found.]

[reachnotflexibility]

[ Wow rude ]

Okay, let's try that again. Do you know where you're going with that turret on your back? Is there a building I should be evacuating?

[ He doesn't look like the humor type, but hey, it's worth a shot, right?

...He really hopes he isn't actually planning on using that thing. ]

[noguardian]

[Baze meets his eyes, his own still tired but otherwise strangely...calm.]

For a walk.

[The words make him wince, just a hair, and he realizes he can't leave them sitting there.]

I just got here.

[reachnotflexibility]

[ Either this guy is oddly okay with being kidnapped, or he's in shock and Garrus has no idea which it is. ]

Then I don't suppose there's anyone I could call for you, is there?

[Either way this guy probably shouldn't be left alone in his current state.]

Action

[klutzette]

[ Colette can't help but notice the mammoth of a man looking decidedly lost as he walks down the street. Well that won't do. She patters over to him and calls out when she's just a few steps away. ]

Hey, are you okay?

Re: Action

[noguardian]

[Baze almost doesn't hear her, and once he looks down he's almost at a loss for words. Almost.]

I'm fine.

[It's a bold-faced lie, of course.]

Re: Action

[klutzette]

[ Colette winces very slightly; she's all too familiar with those two words and how much of a lie they were; was she that unconvincing, too, when she used to say them all the time? ]

O-Oh. Um, okay. [She bites her lip, hesitating before she responds.] You don't have to tell me anything, but you look like you could really use a friend right now. Is it okay if I walk with you?

Re: Action

[noguardian]

[Baze considers, his gaze resting on her, but eventually he lets out an almost inaudible sigh, and nods.]

If you want. Might not be good company.

Colette is meeting all the grumpy faces in this game I swear

[klutzette]

[Colette smiles brightly at him.] It's no worry at all! My name's Colette. Are you new here? I don't think I've seen you before.

[She will do all the talking if she has to.]