>>6346681“What?” you ask, more memories from the night before coming back. Flashes of Cesha, the young Togruta latching on to Goar, touching him more aggressively as the night went on. “Kissed who?”
“Cesha!” he replies, thoughts full of self-loathing, shame, anger, and others. “I was supposed to protect her, and instead I...”
“Okay. Then, how about instead of running away, you get your ass back here to my house right now, and talk to her yourself?” you ask, feeling his shock. “She's here, she's the one who asked me to help her find you because she couldn't find you anywhere herself. You worried her sick.”
“She's... Worried? About me?” he asks, stunned. “I thought for sure she was going to hate me, think I was just like those monsters who took her.”
“And running away was going to make that better?” you reply, a hard edge to your thoughts as you challenge him. “Did I EVER teach you to run from a problem?”
Silence hangs between you for a beat, than another. And, as if sensing something, Cesha releases you, taking a timid step back.
“No sir.” he finally answers, tone now more shamed than before.
“That's right. So stop running away from this, get your ass back here, and handle this like a man.” you tell him, ending the telepathic communication before he can answer. Turning your gaze down to Cesha, who's looking up at you. Part worried, part hopeful as you sense his ki starting to come back towards you all. “I found him. He's on his way back.”
Cesha lets out a huge sigh of relief, shoulders slumping, body drooping a moment before straightening back up.
“Thank you, General Karn.” she says, and suddenly gives you a close approximation of a Saiyan salute. No doubt something Goar taught her, before she turns and takes off at a run. Heading to the exit, no doubt to greet Goar as he returns.
“Well, that was... Something.” your wife says, expression slightly conflicted. “Do you think we should...?”
“That's their issue to solve. We have our own to take care of, unless they ask us for further help.” you reply, turning and walking the opposite way, towards your kids' room. Meloka and Haathe fall in behind you, but right as you reach the door, it opens. Revealing Okira and Karn Jr are both already dressed, ready to go.
“Dad! We're ready!” Okira says, clenching her fists up by her shoulders. “We're gonna save a city!”
“And I'mma help!” Junior shouts, pumping a fist in the air. The kids clearly excited, you chuckling at their enthusiasm.
cont
