Scene 7-XII

“Lieutenant.” Lawrence says, and Jase jerks awake, eyes snapping open. He carefully pries himself away from Luke, and shuffles off the mattress, socked feet thumping softly to the floor.

“Sir.” He says, and rubs his eyes. “I’m sorry, I fell—”

“It’s alright, Jase.” Lawrence says softly, and Jase sighs, letting his hands drop to his sides.

“What time is it?”

“Seven in the evening.”

“What the fuck was with the cuffs?” Jase says suddenly, and the dark anger is back in his eyes, the tightness of his mouth.

Lawrence cannot help but take a half step back.

“Jase,” he starts, and pauses, and breathes. “Luke—he killed someone.”

Jase throws his hands up in the air. “Is that all?!” he shouts. “Is that fucking all? It wouldn’t exactly be the first time, would it, Lawrence, I know you’re keeping count.”

“No, it isn’t.” Lawrence says. “But this, this is the first time—as far as I know—that he meant it.”

“Oh, so that makes his life not worth saving? We can forget all those hundreds of other people, because they were just collateral damage, but no, now that he means it, its enough, is that what you’re trying to tell me?”

“Jase, you know—”

“No. I don’t. I don’t. Some, some backwater hick doctor tells you that ‘he meant it,’ and all of a sudden it’s okay that they have Luke in chains, are leaving him to die? After all he’s done for you, for them, at this fucking cost, that’s all it takes for you to, to let them kill him.”

“Jase…please—”

“Get out.”

Lawrence frowns. “N—”

“Get out!” Jase screams. “Get out, get out, get out!” He’s angry, god, so angry, and it’s only a tight grip on Luke’s blankets that keeps him from forcibly removing the commander from the room, and, and, they need a window down here, because there’s no air, and this room is so small, and his head is spinning. His fingers scrabble for purchase on the scratchy blanket, and the walls are heaving, and he’s going to be sick, because this is Luke, and this is Lawrence, and is everyone going insane?

Lawrence turns on his heel and marches out of the room, shoulders stiff, and the door slams behind him, echoes, metal ringing.

Jase gulps for air, hand clenching and unclenching.

Luke opens his eyes.

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Scene 7-XII

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