Re: Joint Post
"Gray..." She sighed. "He'd of been known by a number...How did he get free?"
Jack sighed. "Well, not really sure... it's not something we're quite comfortable talking about." What with all the pain and suffering between them. "It... it was kind of my fault he got taken."
Mizuki frowned at the pregnant man. "Your fault? What. You sold him to the slavers?"
"No!" Jack replied, feeling sick at the idea. He shook his head. "We were attacked. I was supposed to protect him, keep him safe and I... I let go of his hand and lost him."
"Well...How old were you at the time?" She kicked at the sand slightly.
"Twelve." And it had haunted him the rest of his life. "I was his older brother. Our father told ME to take him and keep him safe." And he had failed.
"Hell. Most my soldiers didn't pick up a weapon till they were fourteen, thirteen youngest. And you were going up against trained slavers."
Mizuki sighed. "And you tried yes?"
Jack sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He wasn't ready to forgive himself. "Of course... but ... I didn't even know he was gone until after the attack. And I looked for him when I grew up and couldn't find him anywhere." He didn't know why he was telling her all this.... other than the pain was still so fresh even after all these years.
She sat up. "You were a child and afraid. I see it often enough when I go to our colonies to defend them. The enemies attack the people scatter, the children worst of all." Mizuki closed her eyes.
Jack glared at the ocean. Her father had no issue with raping his brother who had been taken in a situation like that. He rubbed his own swollen belly. "I... I'm sorry but I really don't want to talk about this anymore."
"Fair enough." She stood and brushed the sand off herself, shaking her pink hair faintly. "I can't leave here can I."
Jack shrugged. "No idea. I'm not exactly in a rush to go." He shifted. "It's a bit dangerous where I live." And he wasn't able to wander about. "And I like the rest. It's good for the kids."
"Yeah." Mizuki looked down at Jack. "I don't suppose I can find out where I'm suppose to crash?"
"Ah." Jack rubbed the back of his head. "Actually... near as I can tell Gray is in charge of that."
Mizuki gave him a blank look. "Right. I'll just find a comfy tree."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Come on, don't be like that. Near as I can tell, it's pick and choose whatever you want. It'll be fine. Though if you REALLY want to avoid him, you can always try sharing with someone else."
"Listen. If this was my home world and someone found out I was a slave’s child I'd be stripped of my house position and my commander’s rank and turned into a slave my self. And the slave children born from noble lines have a very very short life span."
Mizuki shook her head. "It's too much to take in... Way too much."
Jack blinked. "He said you’d have a better life away." He hadn't realized how much. Jack shifted his weight again. "Well you can stay with us if you want. Meredith might like having another girl around."
The pink haired woman studied Jack and then looked back out at the ocean. "Thank you. I think I'll take you up on the offer."
"He does stop by to visit." Jack warned her. "But I am sure you could manage to avoid him until you are ready."
She nodded slowly. "I...I'm glad he survived though...Doctors don't really care if a slave lives or dies."
Jack shuddered, remembering his time on the Valiant. "It's getting a bit cold out here." He said. "Want to help me up to the house?"
Mizuki gave him a kind smile, features soften as she offered him a hand. "Sure. Have nothing better."
Jack needed her help to get out of the chair semi gracefully. He took a few deep breaths and gestured to his house. "It's right up there."
She nodded, hooking her arm though his. "How long have you been here?"