Operation Darkness: The Pains of a Slow Death
by Vickie Boyd



Pain.

Excruciating pain.

My side hurt. It was like fire flowing through my veins.

The Vong. They were at fault. They caused my pain.

I'm surrounded. There is no way out. I'm drowning.


My eyes snapped open. The pinkish haze before me alerted me to the fact 
that I was in a bacta tank. Outside, a Mendellian nurse rushed over to 
the control panel. She tried to pump more sedative into the tank, but I 
stopped her.

Kicking to the top, I pulled myself up to the edge of the tank. I began 
to wonder how long I had been in there. How long have I been back on 
Terra? I dropped the facemask over the side and reached for the towel 
that was being held up to me. "Thanks," I said as I began to wipe my face.

"Anytime," came a familiar voice.

I looked down, glad that I had finally had the surgery to fix my 
eyesight, and saw Josh, my former Padawan, looking at me with worried 
eyes. "How long have I..."

"A day," he replied before I could finish. "I was beginning to worry. 
You've never been out that long. And I was having problems sensing you 
at times."

I pulled myself from the pink goo and stepped carefully down the ladder. 
"It must be the poison. Syl's medicines made it retreat, but..." I 
sighed as I wrung the bacta from my now long hair. "I can still feel it. 
I still feel the sting of the amphistaff. These things are horrible. We 
have to stop them."

"We will," he replied somberly.

His serious demeanor hid something. I searched his face and found it. 
"I'm sorry about Alison."

His aura changed quickly then settled back to the steel he'd set up in 
defense. "It... it's in the past. We must concentrate on the future."

"Doesn't make it hurt any less." I took a step towards the showers and 
suddenly found myself being supported by Josh.

"You have no strength. Is that from the poison?"

Of course it was from the poison. I knew it was, but I couldn't admit 
that to him. "No, just too long in the tank."

He looked at me sternly. "I'll get the nurse to help you to the shower."

I nodded and leaned against the tank while he went to get help. My mind 
began dissecting the battle I had been in on Dantooine. Experienced 
troops with Jedi leading them barely escaped. How were they going to 
stop this menace?

He returned shortly with the same nurse who was going to sedate me 
earlier. "Let me know when you're ready to talk again. We have much to 
discuss."

"Of course. I must speak with Sci as well."

Josh stiffened again.

I knew what that meant. "He's dead as well."

"Sort of. His spirit seems to be attaching itself to people. Even in 
death, he can't stay away from us." A grin cracked the corners of his 
mouth, barely.

I let myself smile, though I felt horrible. "Then perhaps he will attach 
himself to me for a moment so I can discuss with him what we should do. 
Now go so I can get this sticky mess of me and get back to work."

He nodded curtly and walked off.

"Josh," I called as he neared the door.

He turned to look at me. "Yeah?"

"May the Force be with you."

"'May the Force be with you, Master,'" he replied in kind.