Winter nervously laughed. "Believe it or not, it was the bunk. It looked so familiar. It looked almost exactly like the room I hid in back on Hoth. When I saw it, it triggered the memory of when everybody died in my clan. Except when I passed out, it was so vivid, and so real, that I relived it, and instead of being myself in my dream, I was everybody that died. I felt every blaster shot, every broken bone, everything…" Winter was crying now. "I almost wanted to stay down in my dream. What was the use of coming back? Then, my conscious self let me know that I had friends and a boyfriend that cared, and who was probably trying his best to bring me back. So I started fighting, and then, I was awake…"
Essar nodded. "I'm sorry Winter, I guess I should have checked to make sure the room didn't trigger anything."
Winter looked at Essar. "You didn't know. I didn't know until I really looked at it. I looked and instantly it triggered a memory. You couldn't have stopped that anymore than you could have stopped a raging wookie…"
Shiloh got up, but her knees buckled and she caught herself on the iron bedpost. The cold still ate at her, and she was afraid that she would never be warm again.
"Well, I've never met a wookie, so I wouldn't know. Anyway. Are we ready to turn up the temp?"
"Yes," Shiloh whispered, feeling on the verge of collapse. She eased herself into her bunk.
"I'll got the stuff up and running." Essar walked to the cockpit and turned the ship back on.
Elias welcomed the warmth that appeared out of nowhere when Essar turned the rest of the systems back on. He hated seeing Shiloh and Essar suffer through the cold. Still he knew that it was necessary to save Winter. He was still worried because she hadn't regained her footing quite yet, and she was trying to avoid his help. He wouldn't let her be alone until she could walk like a normal person, and he hoped she recovered fast. They were almost to Naboo, and he needed her to be able to fight by the time they were there…
Essar walked back in. "I've got caf if anyone's interested."
Winter looked up. "What is caf? I've never heard of this caf before. All I know that is drinkable is water… and the weird thing that I ordered from the cantina, but that's besides the point." Elias was just as confused.
"Caf. Uhh… It's a drink made out of coffee beans. You grind the beans and steep it in water and… then you drink it." Essar made his way to the tiny kitchen. "Siprian Caf is particularly good."
Winter looked at Elias. "This caf sounds interesting. I would like to try it. Elias is going to try it too." Elias looked at Winter. He had to try it. If he didn't, WInter would pour it down his throat. One of the things that he loved about this girl, was that she didn't take no for an answer. "Essar, bring out two cups for me and Winter."
"Okey dokey." He looked over at Shiloh. "How old are you? Caf is usually to much of a stimulant for younger teens."
Winter looked at Shiloh. "Yeah. How old are you? Elias and I are eighteen, and running from Imperials. Not a decent way to live a life. But. it's the life we chose, and we are enjoying every minute of it."
(Hi. Waiting for Erudite.)
Shiloh bit her lip, still shivering. "Um…" She was afraid of what they would say. Would they decide that she was too young to be involved and kick her out of- Out of what? The gang? Still, she had to tell them that she was, "16."
"Alright. I think maybe you a bit on the young side for caf, but you can have some if you want. And I've got fresh ground Siprian beans so you guys are in for a treat." He stepped into the kitchen and set some ground beans into a press.
Winter laughed. "Ah. That's not too bad. You are just two years younger that Elias and me. Plus, I bet it would warm you up faster…" Winter's eyes glowed a vivid blue that meant that she was in a playful mood.
"I'm not really fond of caf," Shiloh whispered, but she coughed to cover it up. Maybe it could get her warm.
Essar set some water to warming.
Elias sighed. He had never drank caf before, but it couldn't hurt…
(Anyone going to ask Essar how old he is?)
